Association of HER1 and HER2 Gene Variants in the Predisposition of Colorectal Cancer.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major health concern worldwide. A series of sequential accumulation of genetic and epigenetic changes are responsible for the initiation and progression of diseases via the normal > adenoma > carcinoma sequence. Genetic variants in crucial cancer-causing genes are known to mediate the risk of cancer.

Expression and Polymorphism of TSLP/TSLP Receptors as Potential Diagnostic Markers of Colorectal Cancer Progression.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Inflammation is considered as a critical driver for CRC development and growth. We investigated the association between polymorphisms/expression levels of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) /TSLP receptors and CRC risk in Saudi population.

NOTCH Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Predisposition of Breast and Colorectal Cancers in Saudi Patients.

Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease and is one of the most common malignancy affecting women worldwide while colorectal cancer (CRC) is estimated to be the third common cancer and second leading cause of cancer related death globally. Both BC and CRC involve multiple genetic and epigenetic alterations in genes belonging to various signaling pathways including NOTCH that has been implicated in the development of these cancers. We investigated four single nucleotide polymorphisms, each in genes encoding NOTCH1-4 receptors for their role in susceptibility to breast and colorectal cancers in Saudi population.

Clinical characteristics, natural history, and outcomes of Crohn's-related intra-abdominal collections.

Background: Intra-abdominal collections in the form of abscesses or matted bowel loops, called phlegmons, might occur in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). The clinical characteristics and management of such conditions are not well described. We aim to characterize CD-related intra-abdominal collections clinically, and identify predictors of need for surgical interventions and the time to surgery.

COVID-19 and endoscopy services in intermediately affected countries: a position statement from the saudi gastroenterology association.

With the global pandemic due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there has been a significant strain on healthcare facilities. The infectivity rate, as well as the rate of healthcare workers who have fallen ill to the disease, has raised concerns globally on the proper management of patients as well as the role of safe healthcare provision utilizing personal protective equipment (PPE). Furthermore, the limited supply of PPEs has mandated rationing their use to achieve maximum utility and preservation.

Frequent Activation of Notch Signaling Pathway in Colorectal Cancers and Its Implication in Patient Survival Outcome.

Colorectal cancer is a major health concern as it ranks third in incidence and second major cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. A leading cause of treatment failure has been attributed to cancer stem cells that can invariably resist existing chemotherapeutic regimens. Notch signaling pathway has been involved in the maintenance of stem cells besides being crucial in cell fate decision and embryonic development.

Drug utilization and cost associated with inflammatory bowel disease management in Saudi Arabia.

Background: There has been an increase in incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) outside the western countries. Treatment costs are an essential component for healthcare planning and priority setting. The utilization patterns and annual administration and cost of IBD medications are largely unknown in countries with an increasing incidence of disease, Saudi Arabia being an example.

Pancreatic tuberculosis in immunocompetent patients. At the University Hospital in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

To raise awareness of practitioners on benign treatable conditions such as pancreatic tuberculosis (TB). Methods: A retrospective study at King Khaled University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia of all patient charts presented with pancreatic mass for a period of 10 years (2007-2017) with a study duration of 4 years between 2013 and 2017. Patients with confirmed diagnosis of pancreatic cancer were excluded.

Association between polymorphisms in PRNCR1 and risk of colorectal cancer in the Saudi population.

LncRNA Prostate cancer non-coding RNA (PRNCR1) is downregulated in many types of cancer. The current case-control study was performed on 144 patients with colorectal cancer and 130 matching controls. Genotyping was performed using TaqMan assays for four Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in PRNCR1.

Genetic variants in the WNT signaling pathway are protectively associated with colorectal cancer in a Saudi population.

The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway has been etiologically implicated in the development and progression of colorectal cancer. We studied thirteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in SFRP3 (rs7775), CTNNB1 (β-catenin) [rs4135385, rs13072632], APC (rs454886, rs459552), LRP6 (rs2075241, rs2284396), DKK4 (rs3763511), DKK3 (rs6485350), TCF4 (rs12255372) and AXIN2 (rs3923086, rs3923087, rs4791171) in patients with colorectal cancer (n = 122) and controls (n = 110). Evaluation of WNT pathway SNPs showed protective association for rs4135385, located in β-catenin.

Toll-like receptor 6 expression, sequence variants, and their association with colorectal cancer risk.

This is the first study to examine the potential correlation of the rs3796508 and rs5743810 SNPs of the TLR6 gene in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) in a subset of the Saudi population. TLR6 gene expression was studied by real-time PCR assaysin 10 matching normal and cancer colon tissues. TLR6 expression at the protein level was determined by immunohistochemistry.

TDG Gene Polymorphisms and Their Possible Association with Colorectal Cancer: A Case Control Study.

Genetic alterations that might lead to colorectal cancer involve essential genes including those involved in DNA repair, inclusive of base excision repair (BER). () is one of the most well characterized BER genes that catalyzes the removal of thymine moieties from G/T mismatches and is also involved in many cellular functions, such as the regulation of gene expression, transcriptional coactivation, and the control of epigenetic DNA modification. Mutation of the gene is implicated in carcinogenesis.

Potential role of Toll-like receptor 2 expression and polymorphisms in colon cancer susceptibility in the Saudi Arabian population.

Background: Inflammation is a fundamental factor that contributes to the development and progression of several types of cancer including colon cancer. Toll-like receptors () and their signaling pathways have been reported to be associated with chronic inflammation and thereby induced cancer. Our aim was to investigate the expression and polymorphisms of and their association with colon cancer.

Findings during screening colonoscopies in a Middle Eastern cohort.

Background/aims: Colorectal cancer is the most common cancer in males and the third most common cancer in females. We aim to determine the polyp and adenoma prevalence in a cohort of patients who underwent opportunistic screening colonoscopies.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using an endoscopic reporting database of individuals seen at three tertiary care hospitals (two public hospitals and one private) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Predictors of failure of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography in clearing bile duct stone on the initial procedure.

Background/aims: The aim of this study is to predict cases where the clearance of the biliary system from stones at the initial endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) might be of value for better risk-stratifying patients. We attempted to identify factors that are associated with a higher failure rate of clearing the biliary system on the index ERCP.

Patients And Methods: This is a retrospective study from January 2008 to January 2015.

The expression of telomere-related proteins and DNA damage response and their association with telomere length in colorectal cancer in Saudi patients.

Background: Colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Saudi Arabia. Cancer has a multifactorial nature and can be described as a disease of altered gene expression. The profiling of gene expression has been used to identify cancer subtypes and to predict patients' responsiveness.

Plasma ghrelin and leptin in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and its association with nutritional status.

Background/aims: Ghrelin and leptin are thought to play a role in the loss of appetite in active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study seeks to probe into the association of these markers with regards to IBD and the nutritional status of these patients. A case-control study was conducted between May 2015 and March 2016 at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH).

Policy of screening for colorectal cancer in Saudi Arabia: A prospective analysis.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Several policies of CRC screening are available in different countries. The idea of screening is to identify patients at risk by detection of precancerous and small cancers early enough before they become advanced.

Association between polymorphisms and colon cancer susceptibility in Saudi Arabian female patients.

Objective: The authors aimed to explore the relationship between the expression/polymorphisms of and susceptibility to colon cancer development in the Saudi Arabian population.

Methods: In total, blood samples from 115 patients with colon cancer and 102 participants without colon cancer were analyzed in this study. Three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected from the gene, including two sites within the gene's promoter region (rs352144 and rs187084) and one site in a intron region (rs5743839).

Thromboembolic events in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background/aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease) is characterized by a chronic inflammatory condition, and is accompanied by abnormalities in coagulation and a hyper-coagulable state. This study was conducted to examine the risk factors for developing Thromboembolic Events in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in a population with prevalent consanguinity.

Patients And Methods: Patients with a definitive diagnosis of IBD who were seen in the gastroenterology clinic of King Khalid University Hospital (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) from 2010- to 2012, were asked to participate in this prospective cohort study, and were followed for one 1 year.

The Effect of Gene 3'Untranslated Region Polymorphism in Colorectal Cancer Risk among Saudi Cohort.

. DNA repair systems are essential for each cell to repair and maintain the genome integrity. Base excision repair pathway is one of the crucial pathways to maintain genome integrity and plays a key role in BER pathway.

Differential diagnosis between pancreatic neuroendocrine and solid pseudopapillary neoplasms on endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration. An immunohistochemical study.

Objectives: To evaluate the role of applying a limited panel of immunohistochemical stains on the cellblock preparation from samples obtained by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) in the aim of differentiating solid pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPNs) from neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). 

Methods: We retrospectively retrieved all the EUS-FNAs of the pancreas that have a diagnosis of NET or SPN that were performed at 2 tertiary care hospitals in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from May 2004 to December 2014. Diff-Quik, Papanicolaou, and Immunohistochemistry stains on cellblock preparations were performed.