Surgicel plug technique versus endoclose technique for port-site closure post minimally invasive (robotic and laparoscopic) surgeries: Retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To compares the endoclose technique (ET) techniques and surgicel plug technique (SPT) in terms of port-site related complications. Minimally invasive surgeries (MIS) are widely performed nowadays, nonetheless, port-site closure technique plays a role in the prevention of port-site related complications.

Methods: This retrospective study was carried out at general surgery and urology departments of King Fahad Medical City, Saudi Arabia.

Alternatively Spliced Isoforms of and as Biomarkers for Colorectal Cancer Metastasis.

There is a pertinent need to develop prognostic biomarkers for practicing predictive, preventive and personalized medicine (PPPM) in colorectal cancer metastasis. The analysis of isoform expression data governed by alternative splicing provides a high-resolution picture of mRNAs in a defined condition. This information would not be available by studying gene expression changes alone.

Preference for Visiting Emergency Department Over Primary Health Care Center Among Population in Saudi Arabia.

Introduction Demand for urgent care is increasing, and the pressure on emergency departments (EDs) is of significant concern. Demand growth is to some extent due to the over-utilization of EDs by patients who seek care for non-urgent problems. It has been estimated that up to one-third of all ED visits are non-emergent.

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.

Targeted SLC19A3 gene sequencing of 3000 Saudi newborn: a pilot study toward newborn screening.

Background: Biotin-thiamine-responsive basal ganglia disease (BTBGD) is an autosomal recessive neurometabolic disorder mostly presented in children. The disorder is described as having subacute encephalopathy with confusion, dystonia, and dysarthria triggered by febrile illness that leads to neuroregression and death if untreated. Using biotin and thiamine at an early stage of the disease can lead to significant improvement.

A classification system for split-hand/ foot malformation (SHFM): A proposal based on 3 pedigrees with WNT10B mutations.

SHFM6 (OMIM 225300) is caused by WNT10B pathogenic variants (12q13.12). It is one of the rarest forms of SHFM; with only seven pathogenic variants described in the world literature.

HLA class II polymorphism in Saudi patients with multiple sclerosis.

Several studies have investigated the association of different HLA antigens with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, only few studies have considered the association of high-resolution HLA type and MS with none yet from Saudi Arabia. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of HLA class II alleles with MS in the Saudi population.

Analysis of CCR5 gene polymorphisms in 321 healthy Saudis using Next Generation Sequencing.

Aims: To investigate the extent of CCR5 polymorphism in the healthy Saudi population.

Method: A total of 321 healthy Saudi individuals were sequenced using the ion Ampliseq™ Exome kit (Life Technologies, USA) on genomic DNA following manufacturer's protocol. Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) reads were aligned to the human reference genome (hg19 build) with Torrent Suite Software (v5.

Recyclable, strong thermosets and organogels via paraformaldehyde condensation with diamines.

Nitrogen-based thermoset polymers have many industrial applications (for example, in composites), but are difficult to recycle or rework. We report a simple one-pot, low-temperature polycondensation between paraformaldehyde and 4,4'-oxydianiline (ODA) that forms hemiaminal dynamic covalent networks (HDCNs), which can further cyclize at high temperatures, producing poly(hexahydrotriazine)s (PHTs). Both materials are strong thermosetting polymers, and the PHTs exhibited very high Young's moduli (up to ~14.

HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1 and -DQB1 allele and haplotype frequencies in Saudis using next generation sequencing technique.

Next generation sequencing (NGS) is a promising technique that can reveal the entire gene sequences and to the highest possible resolution without any phase ambiguities. We have used this technique to investigate the frequencies of HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1 and -DQB1 in a Saudi cohort of healthy individuals. We used NGS using the 454 genome sequence (GS) FLX System and Conexio assign atf 454 software to human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotype eight class I and class II loci.

Computational investigations on base-catalyzed diaryl ether formation.

We report investigations with the dispersion-corrected B3LYP density functional method on mechanisms and energetics for reactions of group I metal phenoxides with halobenzenes as models for polyether formation. Calculated barriers for ether formation from para-substituted fluorobenzenes are well correlated with the electron-donating or -withdrawing properties of the substituent at the para position. These trends have also been explained with the distortion/interaction energy theory model which show that the major component of the activation energy is the energy required to distort the arylfluoride reactant into the geometry that it adopts at the transition state.

Carbon deposition and phase transformations in red mud on exposure to methane.

A characterization study detailing the phase transformations and microstructural nature of the carbon deposited during methane decomposition over red mud has been undertaken. In situ XRD was carried out to study the phase transformation sequences of red mud during the reaction. Scanning electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, BET surface area determination and CHN analysis were carried out to investigate the properties of the post-reaction samples.