How does Linkage to the National Death Index Affect Population-Based Net Survival Estimates for Women with Cervical Cancer in Saudi Arabia?

Background: Population-based cancer survival is a key metric for the assessment of cancer control strategies. Accurate estimation of cancer survival requires complete follow-up data for all patients.

Aim: To explore the impact of linking national cancer registry data to the national death index on net survival estimates for women diagnosed with cervical cancer in Saudi Arabia during 2005-2016.

Identification of Gene Signature as Diagnostic and Prognostic Blood Biomarker for Early Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Integrated Cross-Species Transcriptomic and Network Analyses.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is considered the most common type of liver cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. Since the disease is usually diagnosed at advanced stages, it has poor prognosis. Therefore, reliable biomarkers are urgently needed for early diagnosis and prognostic assessment.

Thyroid surgery in 103 children in a single institution from 2000-2014.

Background: Data on thyroid surgery in children are scarce.

Objective: Analyze outcome data on thyroid surgery in a pediatric population.

Design: Medical record review.

BRAF and KRAS mutations in papillary thyroid carcinoma in the United Arab Emirates.

Background: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common malignant thyroid neoplasm comprising 80-90% of all thyroid malignancies. Molecular changes in thyroid follicular cells are likely associated with the development of PTC. Mutations in serine/threonine-protein kinase (BRAF) and Rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (RAS) are commonly seen in PTC.

Proportion of cancers attributable to major lifestyle and environmental risk factors in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

Cancer is a major contributing cause of morbidity and mortality in the Eastern Mediterranean region. The aim of the current study was to estimate the cancer burden attributable to major lifestyle and environmental risk factors. We used age-, sex- and site-specific incidence estimates for 2012 from IARC's GLOBOCAN, and assessed the following risk factors: smoking, alcohol, high body mass index, insufficient physical activity, diet, suboptimal breastfeeding, infections and air pollution.

Neonatal severe hyperparathyroidism secondary to a novel homozygous gene mutation.

Neonatal severe hyperparathyroidism (NSHPT) is a rare autosomal recessive disease. Children present within the first 6 months of life and more commonly in the first few weeks. Common presentation is poor feeding, polyuria, dehydration, lethargy, failure to thrive, hypotonia, gastrointestinal dysmotility, osteopenia and symptoms of respiratory distress due to a poorly developed chest cage.

Human papillomaviruses: The cervical cancer saga in developing countries.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer affecting women, with worldwide annual incidence and mortality rates of 528,000 and 266,000, respectively, according to the World Health Organization. It is well established that cervical cancer is predominantly caused by a persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection of cervical cells. Increasing numbers of studies have investigated HPV and cervical cancer, contributing greatly to the global knowledge and unraveling some of the critical questions regarding HPV transmission, infection, and prevention.

Profile of cancer in the Eastern Mediterranean region: The need for action.

Background: Many countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR) are undergoing marked demographic and socioeconomic transitions that are increasing the cancer burden in region. We sought to examine the national cancer incidence and mortality profiles as a support to regional cancer control planning in the EMR.

Methods: GLOBOCAN 2012 data were used to estimate cancer incidence and mortality by country, cancer type, sex and age in 22 EMR countries.

Validation of an Arabic Questionnaire for Symptom Assessment.

Background: Impeccable assessment of symptoms is central to palliative care (PC) practice.

Objectives: The study objectives are (1) to test the validity of the Arabic Questionnaire for Symptom Assessment (AQSA) as a self-administered (SA) tool for assessing the severity of the listed symptoms among PC patients and (2) to test the validity of AQSA when completed by a proxy.

Methods: The AQSA is a tool for assessing the severity of 11 symptoms in addition to the overall suffering experience on a 0 to 10 numeric scale.

Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis in a Saudi patient complicated by life-threatening arrhythmia.

Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) is rare in non-Orientals, and sporadic case reports were reported world-wide. Eight cases were reported in Arabs, including 3 Saudis. We present an additional case of TPP in a 38-year-old Saudi man, and review the literature on TPP in Arabs.