Cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 3 (CDKN3) upregulation is associated with unfavorable prognosis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma and shapes tumor immune microenvironment: A bioinformatics analysis.

Cell cycle regulatory proteins plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of many human malignancies. Identification of their biological functions as well as their prognostic utility presents an active field of research. As a continuation of the ongoing efforts to elucidate the molecular characteristics of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC); we present a comprehensive bioinformatics study targeting the prognostic and mechanistic role of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 3 (CDKN3) in ccRCC.

Hybrid G/BN@2H-MoS Nanomaterial Composites: Structural, Electronic and Molecular Adsorption Properties.

Hybrid structures often possess superior properties to those of their component materials. This arises from changes in the structural or physical properties of the new materials. Here, we investigate the structural, electronic, and gas-adsorption properties of hybrid structures made from graphene/hexagonal boron nitride and 2H-molybdenum disulfide (G/BN@MoS) monolayers.

Non-invasive prenatal testing for autosomal recessive disorders: A new promising approach.

In pregnant women at risk of autosomal recessive (AR) disorders, prenatal diagnosis of AR disorders primarily involves invasive procedures, such as chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis. We collected blood samples from four pregnant women in their first trimester who presented a risk of having a child with an AR disorder. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) was extracted, amplified, and double-purified to reduce maternal DNA interference.

Towards a better understanding of the psychosocial determinants associated with adults' use of smokeless tobacco in the Jazan Region of Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study.

Background: Most diagnosed oral cancer cases in Saudi Arabia are in the Jazan region. A common type of smokeless tobacco "Shammah" is prevalent in this region. This study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the possible psychosocial determinants of Shammah consumption among adult Shammah users in Jazan region.

Late outcomes of surgical reconstruction of peripheral pulmonary arteries.

Objective: The ideal management of peripheral pulmonary artery stenosis is still controversial. We adopted a primary surgical approach to this complex lesion with excellent early outcomes. In this study, we analyzed our late outcomes.

Late Outcomes After Pulmonary Arterial Reconstruction in Patients With Arterial Tortuosity Syndrome.

Background: Surgical pulmonary artery reconstruction in patients with arterial tortuosity syndrome has excellent outcomes. In this study, we report our late outcomes after more than a decade of experience with such complex interventions.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 33 arterial tortuosity syndrome patients who underwent pulmonary artery reconstruction.

Peripheral Pulmonary Artery Stenosis Is Not a Contraindication to a Single-ventricle Pathway.

Background: The presence of peripheral pulmonary artery stenosis (PPAS) involving lobar and/or segmental pulmonary artery (PA) branches might preclude proceeding to a single-ventricle pathway. We adopted a strict strategy for PA rehabilitation and surgical reconstruction in patients who are unable to progress to a single-ventricle pathway.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 22 patients with single-ventricle physiology who underwent surgical reconstruction for PPAS from April 2008 to March 2020.

Next Generation Sequencing Based Non-invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT): First Report From Saudi Arabia.

Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for aneuploidy in pregnant women screening has been recently established in Saudi Arabia. We aim from this study to report our experience in the implementation of this new technology in clinical practice and to assess factors influencing cell-free fetal (cffDNA) fraction and successful NIPT reporting. In total, 200 pregnant women were subjected to the NIPT test using standard methods.

Incidence of hypoglycemia and its risk factors among diabetics during Ramadan in Abha city, Aseer Region, KSA.

Background And Aims: This study aims to explore the incidence of hypoglycemia and its risk factors among diabetic patients attending primary health care center during Ramadan Abha city, Aseer region, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among adult diabetic patients attending Primary health care centers (PHCCs) in Abha city, southwest of KSA. A questionnaire in Arabic language was used.

The expression of sirtuins, superoxide dismutase, and lipid peroxidation status in peripheral blood from patients with diabetes and hypothyroidism.

Background: Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) proteins have an important role in counteracting oxidative stress. Although diabetes and hypothyroidism (HT) are both characterized by oxidative stress, the mechanisms are not fully understood. This study investigated the effects of type 1 diabetes (T1D), type 2 diabetes (T2D), and HT on the expression levels of SIRT1, SIRT3, and manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2).

Phenotypic and Functional Characterization of Mesenchymal Stem/Multipotent Stromal Cells from Decidua Basalis of Human Term Placenta.

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapies for the treatment of diseases associated with inflammation and oxidative stress employ primarily bone marrow MSCs (BMMSCs) and other MSC types such as MSC from the chorionic villi of human term placentae (pMSCs). These MSCs are not derived from microenvironments associated with inflammation and oxidative stress, unlike MSCs from the decidua basalis of the human term placenta (DBMSCs). DBMSCs were isolated and then extensively characterized.

Surgical experience in the rehabilitation and reimplantation of disconnected pulmonary arteries and its effectiveness in restoring pulmonary haemodynamics and function.

Objectives: We established a policy to restore disconnected pulmonary arteries (PAs), regardless of aetiology or cardiac pathology, using a protocol-based strategy. There are conflicting reports of the need to restore disconnected PA especially if severely hypoplastic with some groups advocating surgical repair of cardiac defects to single lung with moderate to high risk.

Methods: All patients referred to our PA reconstruction programme (2007-14) with complete separation of one branch PA were included.

Surgical Reconstruction of Peripheral Pulmonary Arteries: Strategies, Outcomes, and New Classification.

Background: Pulmonary artery stenosis (PAS) is classified as central (types 1 and 2) and peripheral (type 3 affects proximal part of lobar arteries, type 4 affects proximal part of segmental arteries, and type 5 affects distal part of segmental arteries). In this study, we examine the outcomes of surgical reconstruction of peripheral PAS.

Methods: We reviewed 31 patients with peripheral PAS who underwent surgical repair.

The dual targeting of EGFR and ErbB2 with the inhibitor Lapatinib corrects high glucose-induced apoptosis and vascular dysfunction by opposing multiple diabetes-induced signaling changes.

The epidermal growth factor receptors, EGFR and EGFR2 (ErbB2), appear important mediators of diabetes-induced vascular dysfunction. We investigated whether targeted dual inhibition of EGFR and ErbB2 with Lapatinib would be effective in treating diabetes-induced vascular dysfunction in a rat model of type 1 diabetes. In streptozotocin-induced diabetes, chronic 4-week oral or acute, ex vivo, administration of Lapatinib prevented the development of vascular dysfunction as indicated by the attenuation of the hyper-reactivity of the diabetic mesenteric vascular bed (MVB) to norephinephrine without correcting hyperglycemia.

Human Chorionic Villous Mesenchymal Stem Cells Modify the Functions of Human Dendritic Cells, and Induce an Anti-Inflammatory Phenotype in CD1+ Dendritic Cells.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells derived from the chorionic villi of human term placenta (pMSCs) have drawn considerable interest because of their multipotent differentiation potential and their immunomodulatory capacity. These properties are the foundation for their clinical application in the fields of stem cell transplantation and regenerative medicine. Previously, we showed that pMSCs induce an anti-inflammatory phenotype in human macrophages.

Human placental mesenchymal stem cells (pMSCs) play a role as immune suppressive cells by shifting macrophage differentiation from inflammatory M1 to anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have a therapeutic potential in tissue repair because of capacity for multipotent differentiation and their ability to modulate the immune response. In this study, we examined the ability of human placental MSCs (pMSCs) to modify the differentiation of human monocytes into macrophages and assessed the influence of pMSCs on important macrophage functions.

Methods: We used GM-CSF to stimulate the differentiation of monocytes into the M1 macrophage pathway and then co-cultured these cells with pMSCs in the early stages of macrophage differentiation.

Phenotypic and functional characterization of mesenchymal stem cells from chorionic villi of human term placenta.

Background: Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) are used extensively in transplantation but their use is associated with many problems including low abundance in BM, low overall number, decreased differentiation potential with age and the invasive isolation procedures needed to obtain BM. We report a novel method of isolating placental MSCs (pMSCs) from chorionic villi, which exhibit the phenotypic and functional characteristics that will make them an attractive source of MSCs for cell-based therapy.

Methods: A novel explant approach was used to isolate pMSCs from chorionic villi of human placentae.

Early outcomes of total pulmonary arterial reconstruction in patients with arterial tortuosity syndrome.

Background: Arterial Tortuosity Syndrome (ATS) is an autosomal recessive connective tissue disease that can present with complex pulmonary arterial stenosis, causing right ventricular (RV) hypertension and dysfunction. In this study, we review our experience and early outcomes with single stage surgical repair.

Methods: From 2008 to 2010, 7 patients with ATS and severe bilateral pulmonary artery stenosis underwent surgical repair that involved extensive reconstruction of the pulmonary arterial tree bilaterally, including the central, lobar and segmental branches.

Successful surgical pulmonary artery reconstruction in arterial tortuosity syndrome.

The outcomes of surgical repair for diffuse pulmonary artery stenoses due to arterial tortuosity syndrome are unknown. We report a 1-year-old girl with tortuosity syndrome who presented with suprasystemic right ventricular pressure due to distortion and stenoses of the pulmonary artery branches. We describe the operative findings of this unique pathology and the surgical techniques used to completely reconstruct the pulmonary arterial tree, with normalization of the right ventricular pressure.

Repair of aortic arch atresia with diffuse hypoplasia of the descending thoracic aorta.

We report successful repair of a rare combination of aortic arch atresia and diffuse long-segment hypoplasia of the descending aorta in a 2-month-old infant with PHACES association. Intraoperative findings and surgical techniques are discussed.

Wound healing complications with de novo sirolimus versus mycophenolate mofetil-based regimen in cardiac transplant recipients.

Sirolimus was introduced in de novo immunosuppression at Stanford University in view of its favorable effects on reduced rejection and cardiac allograft vasculopathy. After an apparent increase in the incidence of post-surgical wound complications as well as symptomatic pleural and pericardial effusions, we reverted to a mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)-based regimen. This retrospective study compared the outcome in heart transplant recipients on sirolimus (48 patients) with those on MMF (46 patients) in de novo immunosuppressive regimen.

Heterotopic heart transplant combined with postoperative Sildenafil use for the treatment of restrictive cardiomyopathy.

We report successful management of a 22-month-old child with restrictive cardiomyopathy and severe pulmonary hypertension using the heterotopic heart transplant technique. Additional lessons learned from postoperative management, including the novel use of Sildenafil (Viagra, Pfizer, NY) for controlling pulmonary arterial pressure are described.

Outcome analysis of donor gender in heart transplantation.

Background: Several studies have shown a detrimental effect of female donor gender on the survival of solid-organ transplant recipients, including heart, kidney and liver. We evaluated our own experience in heart transplantation in the cyclosporine era, since 1980, to determine the effect of donor gender on survival.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 869 consecutive patients who underwent primary heart transplantation at Stanford University Medical Center between December 1980 and March 2004.

Successful repair of blunt injury of aortic arch branches in the setting of bovine arch.

Intrathoracic great vessels injuries are usually fatal and represent a special surgical challenge. We report a successful surgical repair for blunt disruption of the three aortic arch branches in the setting of bovine arch anatomy. The repair was achieved without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass or arterial shunts.