Publications by authors named "AlAshqar A"

Background And Objectives: Racial and ethnic disparities in access to minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and the rate of surgical complications in minority groups remain profoundly underinvestigated. This meta-analysis aims to compare the rate of MIS utilization for benign hysterectomy as well as the surgical morbidity among racial and ethnic minority patients in the United States.

Methods: Studies comparing utilization rate of MIS for benign hysterectomy among non-Hispanic white, Black, and Hispanic populations were considered eligible.

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Background: Uterine teratomas are a rare entity with a debated origin. Given its rarity and limitations of diagnostic imaging, diagnosis is typically determined pathologically following surgical resection based on the presence of tissue derived from all germ cell layers. Unlike its ovarian counterpart, the developmental origins are poorly understood; however, recently introduced molecular testing has revolutionized our understanding of these rare tumors.

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The prevalence of squamous cell carcinoma is increasing, and efforts that aid in an early and accurate diagnosis are crucial to improve clinical outcomes for patients. Cornulin, a squamous epithelium-specific protein, has recently garnered attention due to its implications in the progression of squamous cell carcinoma developed in several tissues. As an epidermal differentiation marker, it is involved in skin anchoring, regulating cellular proliferation, and is a putative tumor suppressor.

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Background: Women with gynecologic disorders requiring a hysterectomy often have co-existing psychiatric diagnoses. A change in the dispensing pattern of antidepressant (AD) and antianxiety (AA) medications around the time of hysterectomy may be due to improvement in gynecologic symptoms, such as pelvic pain and abnormal bleeding, or the emotional impact of the hysterectomy. Unfortunately, these dispensing patterns before and after hysterectomy are currently undescribed.

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Collagen is an essential constituent of the uterine extracellular matrix that provides biomechanical strength, resilience, structural integrity, and the tensile properties necessary for the normal functioning of the uterus. Cross-linking is a fundamental step in collagen biosynthesis and is critical for its normal biophysical properties. This step occurs enzymatically via lysyl oxidase (LOX) or non-enzymatically with the production of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs).

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Objective: To describe the surgical and oncologic outcomes in surgically treated oldest old women (≥80 years) with endometrioid endometrial cancer as a function of their comorbidities.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, patients aged 80-99 years who underwent surgical management of stage I endometrioid endometrial cancer between 2006 and 2018 were included. Low- and high-intermediate risk disease was defined using the Gynecologic Oncology Group-99 criteria.

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In the last few decades, our understanding of the complex pathobiology of uterine fibroid development has grown. While previously believed to be a purely neoplastic entity, we now understand that uterine fibroids possess different and equally important aspects of their genesis. An increasing body of evidence suggests that oxidative stress, the imbalance between pro- and antioxidants, is an important factor in fibroid development.

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In recent years, transcriptomics has enabled us to gain a deeper understanding of fundamental reproductive physiology, including the menstrual cycle, through a more precise molecular analysis. The endometrial mRNA transcript levels fluctuate during the normal menstrual cycle, indicating changes in the relative recruitment and abundance of inflammatory cells, as well as changes in the receptivity and remodeling of the endometrium. In addition to providing a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular underpinnings of pathological gynecological conditions such as endometriosis, leiomyomas, and adenomyosis through RNA sequencing, this has allowed researchers to create transcriptome profiles during both normal menstrual cycles and pathological gynecological conditions.

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Study Objective: To evaluate whether surgical start time is associated with clinical and financial outcomes of hysterectomies performed for benign indications.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: University 5-hospital healthcare system.

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Background: Limited data exist on the risk profile and outcomes among young patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI) in low-and middle-income countries(LMICs). This study explored differences in the clinical characteristics, medical care, and outcomes of AMI in young adults in India with a subanalysis focusing on sex disparities amongst the young.

Methods: Using the Acute Coronary Syndrome Quality Improvement in Kerala trial database, we compared baseline characteristics, management, and outcomes amongst the young patients(≤50 years) and their older counterparts.

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Objective: This meta-analysis was conducted to (1) assess the quantity and dose of perioperatively dispensed opioids for benign hysterectomy by procedure route and (2) identify the predictors of persistent opioid use after the procedure.

Data Sources: PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were systematically searched from study inception to 25 March 2022.

Study Eligibility Criteria: Studies reporting data on opioid dispensing among patients undergoing benign hysterectomy were considered eligible.

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Climate change is the greatest existential challenge to planetary and human health and is dictated by a shift in the Earth's weather and air conditions owing to anthropogenic activity. Climate change has resulted not only in extreme temperatures, but also in an increase in the frequency of droughts, wildfires, dust storms, coastal flooding, storm surges and hurricanes, as well as multiple compound and cascading events. The interactions between climate change and health outcomes are diverse and complex and include several exposure pathways that might promote the development of non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study evaluated how obesity impacts outcomes and costs related to minimally invasive hysterectomy across five hospitals.
  • It analyzed data from 2,483 women, finding that increased body mass index (BMI) correlated with longer operating room times and higher estimated blood loss, particularly in those classified as class III obesity.
  • Though obesity influenced clinical outcomes, it did not significantly affect hospital costs once other factors were taken into account, with no major differences in charges between laparoscopic and robotic procedures based on BMI.
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Background: Emerging evidence suggests that cardiometabolic risk factors contribute to uterine leiomyoma development, but cardiometabolic profiles of women with the tumor remain poorly defined. This study aimed to determine the association of cardiometabolic comorbidities and cardiometabolic medication use with a leiomyoma diagnosis.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, aggregate-level data from 2013-2020 were collected using the SlicerDicer feature of Epic (Epic, Verona, WI, USA) electronic medical record system.

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Background: Despite substantial reductions in the past decade, prescription opioids continue to cause widespread morbidity and mortality in the United States. Little is known regarding patterns and predictors of opioid use among women undergoing benign hysterectomy.

Objective: This study aimed to identify the incidence and predictors of new persistent opioid use after benign hysterectomy among opioid-naïve women from a set of demographic, operative, and opioid prescription characteristics of patients.

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Objective: To identify predictors of same-day discharge after benign minimally invasive hysterectomy.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we identified women (n = 1084) undergoing benign minimally invasive hysterectomy from 2009 to 2016. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine demographic, operative, and surgeon factors associated with discharge on postoperative day 0.

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Introduction: Renal echinococcosis is of rare occurrence, and although often asymptomatic, it can present with various mild to drastic presentations, of which hydatiduria is pathognomonic. Diagnosis can be preliminarily established by imaging, and treatment is primarily surgical. We present a patient with renal echinococcosis treated successfully with exclusive antiparasitic pharmacotherapy after refusing surgery despite extensive renal involvement.

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Although cancer is still one of the most significant global challenges facing public health, the world still lacks complementary approaches that would significantly enhance the efficacy of standard anticancer therapies. One of the essential strategies during cancer treatment is following a healthy diet program. The ketogenic diet (KD) has recently emerged as a metabolic therapy in cancer treatment, targeting cancer cell metabolism rather than a conventional dietary approach.

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A healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet play a paramount role in promoting and maintaining homeostatic functions and preventing an array of chronic and debilitating diseases. Based upon observational and epidemiological investigations, it is clear that nutritional factors and dietary habits play a significant role in gynecological disease development, including uterine leiomyoma, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and gynecological malignancies. Diets rich in fruits and vegetables, Mediterranean diets, green tea, vitamin D, and plant-derived natural compounds may have a long-term positive impact on gynecological diseases, while fats, red meat, alcohol, and coffee may contribute to their development.

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Fibroids are benign tumors caused by the proliferation of myometrial smooth muscle cells in the uterus that can lead to symptoms such as abdominal pain, constipation, urinary retention, and infertility. While traditionally thought of as a disease process intrinsic to the uterus, accumulating evidence suggests that fibroid growth may be linked with the systemic vasculature system, although cell-intrinsic factors are certainly of principal importance in their inception. Fibroids are associated with essential hypertension and preeclampsia, as well as atherosclerosis, for reasons that are becoming increasingly elucidated.

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Emerging evidence supports the notion that inflammation fosters the development of common benign gynecologic disorders, including uterine leiomyoma, endometriosis, and adenomyosis. Numerous cytokines, chemokines, and growth and transcription factors have indisputable roles in the establishment and maintenance of benign gynecologic disorders by initiating complex cascades that promote proliferation, angiogenesis, and lesion progression. The interaction between inflammation and benign gynecologic disorders is orchestrated by a plethora of factors, including sex steroids, genetics, epigenetics, extracellular matrix, stem cells, cardiometabolic risk factors, diet, vitamin D, and the immune system.

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Article Synopsis
  • Primary headaches, particularly migraines, are highly prevalent among Kuwaiti primary and middle school students, with a reported overall prevalence of 42.78% in a recent study.
  • The study involved 1,089 students aged around 11.5 years and used a comprehensive questionnaire to assess various types of headaches and their impact on students' lives.
  • Findings indicated that headaches were more common in middle school students (50.37%) compared to primary school students (30.48%), with a notable gender difference showing girls reporting headaches significantly more than boys at the middle school level.
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Introduction: Hysterectomy is a commonly performed procedure with widely variable costs. As gynecologists divert from invasive to minimally invasive approaches, many factors come into play in determining hysterectomy cost and efforts should be sought to minimize it. Our objective was to identify the predictors of hysterectomy cost.

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