Localized blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm associated with progressive clonal hematopoiesis and myelodysplastic syndrome.

Clonal hematopoiesis is highly prevalent in elderly patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN), and around 20% of BPDCN patients have an associated myeloid malignancy. We present a patient with localized BPDCN and concomitant myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), previously followed for several years due to clonal cytopenia of unknown significance. Compared targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the skin tumor and sequential bone marrow samples showed shared variants in ASXL1 and TET2 with a de novo NRAS variant in both BPDCN and MDS compared to preceding bone marrow samples.

Bidirectional glenn surgery without palliative pulmonary artery banding in univentricular heart with unrestricted pulmonary flow. Retrospective multicenter experience.

Background: Although pulmonary artery banding (PAB) has been generally acknowledged as an initial palliative treatment for patients having single ventricle (SV) physiology and unrestrictive pulmonary blood flow (UPBF), it may result in unfavorable outcomes. Performing bidirectional Glenn (BDG) surgery without initial PAB in some selected cases may avoid the complications associated with PAB and reduce the number of operative procedures for these patients. This research aimed to assess the outcome of BDG surgery performed directly without doing initial PAB in patients with SV-UPBF.

2-Methoxyestradiol inhibits carotid artery intimal hyperplasia induced by balloon injury via inhibiting JAK/STAT axis in rats.

Intimal hyperplasia (IH) is a common complication of vascular interventional procedures that leads to narrowing of the vessel lumen. 2-Methoxyestradiol (2ME), an estrogen metabolite, has numerous pharmacological actions, including vasoprotective and antiproliferative activities. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential of 2ME, prepared as a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS), to inhibit IH induced by balloon injury (BI) in the rat carotid artery.

A national Danish proof of concept on feasibility and safety of home -based intensive chemotherapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Technological advances have made it possible to offer home-based chemotherapy to patients without health care professionals being present. Prior studies on effects of home-based treatment lack inclusion of patients with hematologic malignancies. We present data from a multicenter single-arm feasibility and safety study of home-based intensive chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia and their quality of life and psychological wellbeing.

A Nano-Pharmaceutical Formula of Quercetin Protects from Cardiovascular Complications Associated with Metabolic Syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is closely associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases. We recently developed a nano-preparation of the flavonoid quercetin (QU) in a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS). The latter comprised a mixture composed of pumpkin seed oil, D-α-Tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1,000 succinate and polyethylene glycol.

Antiglycation Activities and Common Mechanisms Mediating Vasculoprotective Effect of Quercetin and Chrysin in Metabolic Syndrome.

Multiple risk factors combine to increase the risk of vascular dysfunction in patients suffering from metabolic syndrome (MetS). The current study investigates the extent to which quercetin (Q) and chrysin (CH) protect against vascular dysfunction in MetS rats. MetS was induced by feeding rats a high-salt diet (3%) and fructose-enriched water (10%) for 12 weeks.

2-Methoxyestradiol ameliorates metabolic syndrome-induced hypertension and catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibited expression and activity in rats.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a common disorder that is associated with hypertension and poses a significant cardiovascular risk. Deactivation of extra-neuronal norepinephrine is mediated by catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT). Endogenous 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME) is a product of COMT activity.

Interference with AGEs formation and AGEs-induced vascular injury mediates curcumin vascular protection in metabolic syndrome.

Vascular dysfunction predisposes to cardiovascular complications of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The current study investigated the mechanism(s) of curcumin's (CUR) protective effect against vascular reactivity irregularities in MetS. MetS was induced by feeding rats on high fructose high salt diet.

Unplanned hospital readmissions following congenital heart diseases surgery. Prevalence and predictors.

Objectives:   To estimate the rate of unplanned hospital readmission following surgical repair of congenital heart defects (CHD) and investigate the related causes and risk factors.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of all the patients who underwent surgical repair of CHD at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The study outcome consisted of any hospital admission during the 12 months following the first reparative surgery.

Mentha longifolia alleviates experimentally induced angina via decreasing cardiac load.

Angina occurs due to imbalance between heart oxygen demand and supply and is associated with serious morbidity and mortality. Here, the possible antianginal effect of Mentha longifolia extract was studied in experimental model of angina. Aerial parts of M.

Predictors of Extended Length of Hospital Stay Following Surgical Repair of Congenital Heart Diseases.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate post-operative length of stay (LOS) following surgical repair of congenital heart defects (CHD) and to investigate baseline pre-operative factors and predictors of post-operative LOS (pLOS). Retrospective chart review of all cases of corrective surgery for CHD performed at the Pediatric Cardiology Unit, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah during January 2013-December 2016. Baseline demographics, clinical factors, pre-operative, intra-operative, post-operative cardiac and extra-cardiac complications were analyzed as independent factors of pLOS using stepwise linear regression.

Determinants of successful medical education of caregivers of children with congenital heart diseases.

Objective: To assess the implementation and efficiency of medical education among the caregivers of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) and to investigate its success factors.

Material And Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2014 to March 2014 in a tertiary healthcare center. Study included 120 caregivers of children with CHD visiting the Paediatric Cardiology Clinic that included 93% mothers, aged 31.

Zingerone alleviates the delayed ventricular repolarization and AV conduction in diabetes: Effect on cardiac fibrosis and inflammation.

Background: The study aims to analyse the action of zingerone in diabetes-related cardiac arrhythmias.

Methods: Diabetes was induced by streptozocin while treatment groups received 20 mg/kg zingerone daily. Following extra seven weeks, electrocardiography, extraction of blood, urine and heart for biochemical analysis, histopathology and immunofluorescence were undertaken.

Cardiovascular complications in paediatric-onset systemic lupus erythematosus in Saudi Arabian patients.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence and types of cardiovascular complications in Saudi patients with paediatric-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (pSLE).

Methods: Retrospective record review of pSLE patients following from January 2014 to September 2015 at the rheumatology clinic of King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital, Jeddah. Laboratory data such as C-reactive protein (CRP), antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-double stranded DNA antibody (anti-dsDNA), C3 and C4 complements, were collected.

A Sizable Aortic Root Paravalvular Mycotic Pseudoaneurysm.

Mycotic aneurysm is an established condition first identified in 1885 by Sir William Osler. It is linked to malignant endocarditis. With prevalence of 0.

Safety and efficacy of transthoracic versus transesophageal echocardiography in transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects. Reporting a single center experience from Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: To assess the safety and effectiveness of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in monitoring transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect (ASD), in comparison with conventional technique using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).  Methods: A retrospective review of all cases of transcatheter closure of isolated ostium secundum ASDs operated from 2005 to 2015, at the Pediatric Interventional Cardiology Department, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Exclusion criteria included age ≤3 years at the time of the procedure and rim size ≤3 mm.

Lipoic acid and Calligonum comosumon attenuate aroclor 1260-induced testicular toxicity in adult rats.

Aroclor 1260 is one of the more representative polychlorinated biphenyls found in biota. This study was designed to delineate the testicular toxicity of Aroclor 1260 and to elucidate the potential protective role of Calligonum comosum (C. comosum) and lipoic acid in adult rats.

The impact of congenital heart diseases on the quality of life of patients and their families in Saudi Arabia. Biological, psychological, and social dimensions.

Objectives: To assess the impact of congenital heart diseases (CHDs) on bio-psychosocial aspects of the quality of life (QOL) of patients and their families.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out between May 2014 and August 2015, including children aged less than 16 years, and followed-up at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for CHD. A broad questionnaire was administered to investigate biological, psychological, and social dimensions of afflicted children, their parents, and siblings.

Antiproliferative effects of triterpenoidal derivatives, obtained from the marine sponge Siphonochalina sp., on human hepatic and colorectal cancer cells.

Three triterpenoidal derivatives [Sipholenol A (1), sipholenol L (2) and sipholenone A (3)] were isolated from the Red Sea sponge Siphonochalina sp. The structures were determined based on spectroscopic measurements (NMR, UV, IR and MS). The isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against three cancer cell lines; HepG2, Caco-2 and HT-29.

Pentalogy of Cantrell: first case reported in Saudi Arabia.

Pentalogy of Cantrell (PC) is a rare congenital anomaly involving defects in the anterior diaphragm, supraumbilical abdominal wall, diaphragmatic pericardium, and lower sternum, and other congenital intracardiac abnormalities. Here, we report the case of a newborn infant who was born at 32 weeks of gestation and had all 5 features of PC, in addition to absent kidneys and a deformed left hand. Medical intervention would not be able to save the patient, so we allowed her to die in peace.

Congenital cardiac anomalies and imperforate anus: A hospital's experience.

Objectives: We aimed in our study to determine the incidence and type of congenital cardiac anomaly (CCA) in newborns associated with imperforate anus (IA), the outcome of surgical reconstruction of the anorectum in our center, and the need for performing echocardiography in all patients with IA.

Materials And Methods: The preoperative echocardiography reports of all cases born with IA and managed at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia over a period of 11 years (Jan 2000-Dec 2010) were reviewed. The average annual delivery rate of this hospital is 5500.

Risk factors for coronary artery lesions in Kawasaki disease.

Aim: To identify the risk factors associated with the development of coronary artery lesions (CAL) in pediatric patients with Kawasaki Disease (KD).

Methods: A retrospective chart review of the medical records of pediatric patients diagnosed with KD who were admitted to King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia between January 2001 and December 2011 was performed. Odd ratio (OR) with 95 % Confidence interval (CI) was measured for each risk factor for CAL.

Methoxychlor induced biochemical alterations and disruption of spermatogenesis in adult rats.

Adult male albino rats were treated orally with methoxychlor at doses of 0, 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg/day for 15 consecutive days. Testicular weight, sperm count and motility were significantly decreased. Methoxychlor at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg significantly inhibited α-glucosidase activity, while plasma testosterone was significantly decrease by the three dose levels in a dose-related pattern.

Pediatric idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: A single center experience.

Context: Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) is a severe illness with high mortality in the pediatric population.

Aims: To highlight our experience about clinical course and outcome of IDCM.

Settings And Design: Patients' files were reviewed retrospectively for diagnosed cases of IDCM in the pediatric cardiology unit of King Abdul Aziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from Jan 2003 to Jun 2011.