Physicians' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perception Toward Pediatric Palliative Care in Saudi Arabia: A National Exploratory Survey.

Background: Pediatric palliative care (PPC) helps maintain the quality of life for both children and their families. It has been identified as an important goal within the global health agenda. In Saudi Arabia, the discipline remains in its infancy, as illustrated by the absence of PPC programs in academic and health care institutions.

Effectiveness of exergaming in reducing cancer-related fatigue among children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Little is known about the effectiveness of the newly emerging technology of exergaming in reducing Cancer Related Fatigue (CRF).

Objectives: The study's primary aim was to examine the effectiveness of exergaming in reducing CRF; the secondary aims were to improve functional capacity/endurance and promote physical activity (PA) among children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Methods: In this Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT), 45 children aged 6-14 years were randomly assigned into group-I,  = 22, and group II,  = 23.

Rhabdomyosarcoma in children: Retrospective analysis from a single tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children occurring most commonly in the head and neck region. The treatment involves using a multimodality approach including chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. Survival for patients with localized disease has improved markedly, but the treatment of advanced disease remains a challenge.

Changes in Hematological, Clinical and Laboratory Parameters for Children with COVID-19: Single-Center Experience.

Background: COVID-19 wreaked havoc on the healthcare system, with more than 36 million cases reported globally. Although the pediatric population makes up a lesser proportion of total COVID-19 patients than adults, the clinical status, age and comorbidities warrant identifying possible prognostic factors associated with disease severity in this group. The current study aimed to explore the incidence of thrombosis, overall outcome, and different hematological and coagulation markers in children with COVID-19.

Pediatric high risk neuroblastoma with autologous stem cell transplant - 20 years of experience.

Background And Objective: Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor found in pediatric patients. High-risk neuroblastoma (HR-NBL) can be characterized by metastasis, age, and other tumor characteristics that result in an adverse outlook for this patient cohort. The standard of care includes induction chemotherapy, surgery, followed by stem cell autologous transplant (ASCT), and later, antidisialoganglioside (anti-GD2) antibodies.

Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumors (ATRT): King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre experience.

Background: Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor is an uncommon aggressive central nervous system tumor. All retrospective series have shown a short mean overall survival rate. Considering the rarity of the disease, few prospective clinical trials addressed treatment recommendations for such aggressive tumors, and consequently no definitive treatment guidelines have been established.

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma characteristics, management of primary and relapsed/refractory disease and outcome analysis: the first comprehensive report from the Middle East.

Background: Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is an uncommon variant of Hodgkin lymphoma. There is limited data on treatment, management of refractory and relapsed disease, and long-term outcome. Many registries or country-wide data reports are unable to provide detailed primary and subsequent management.

Experience of treating pediatric hepatoblastoma at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Timely surgical intervention playing a key role.

Background: Many studies have demonstrated that outcome in patients with hepatoblastoma is determined by tumor resectability and the presence or absence of metastatic disease.

Purpose: To evaluate and disseminate information on diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of hepatoblastoma patients at a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-four pediatric patients with hepatoblastoma were treated at our institution between January 2005 and December 2012.

Risk of hematological malignancies in the families of patients treated for nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma.

Background: Familial clustering of lymphoid and/or hematological malignancies (FHM) provides an opportunity to study the responsible genes. The data is limited in patients with lymphoid and hematological malignancies.

Methods: The lymphoma database was used to identify patients seen in our institution from 1998 to 2019 with nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL).

Excision of pediatric craniopharyngioma: pattern of recurrence in 35 patients at a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Background And Purpose: Craniopharyngiomas are benign tumors of central nervous system which are known to affect both adults and children. Despite their benign origin, the recurrence is still one of the main postoperative challenges. The aim of this study was to investigate in retrospect factors related to recurrence of craniopharyngioma in a tertiary center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Incidence, clinical distribution, and patient characteristics of childhood cancer in Saudi Arabia: A population-based analysis.

Purpose: Information regarding the incidence and patterns of childhood malignancies is disproportionately overrepresented by high-income countries, representing mainly the Caucasian population. There is a need to evaluate and disseminate information for other ethnicities, particularly from the Middle East.

Methods: Data from the National Cancer Registry, Saudi Arabia (SA-NCR), for pediatric patients (age 0-14 years) diagnosed between 2005 and 2009 and for similar patients at our institution during the same period were analyzed.

Risk-adapted stratification for optimally intensive treatment assignment of pediatric patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma is an effective strategy in developing countries.

Background: Pediatric patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in developing countries (DCs) present with greater tumor load even at lower stages and with comorbidities that impact therapy delivery. This causes toxic mortality with "standard" intensive protocols or recurrences with "gentler" treatment.

Objectives: We developed and evaluated a risk stratification schema that guides intensity of therapy.

Outcome of pediatric patients with lymphoma following stem cell transplant: a single institution report.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is recommended for pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory lymphoma even though the evidence for this is limited. We retrospectively reviewed records of 57 patients (29 Hodgkin lymphoma [HL], 28 non-Hodgkin lymphoma [NHL]) who underwent HSCT between 1995 and 2012. All demonstrated chemoresponsiveness prior to HSCT and 44 patients had a complete response.

Efficacy of vincristine and carboplatin as chemo-reduction for advanced bilateral retinoblastoma, the Saudi experience.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of a 2-drug chemotherapy regimen without external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and/or without enucleation in bilateral retinoblastoma.

Methods: From 1996 to 2010, 79 patients were diagnosed with bilateral RB and were eligible for chemotherapy. Chemotherapy was administered prior to and/or following local therapy to the eye.

Intracranial germ cell tumors: a single-institution experience.

Background And Objectives: Intracranial germ cell tumors (GCTs) are not a common disease. We reviewed the experience of a single institution to determine the variables that affect treatment outcome.

Design And Setting: A retrospective review of patients with the diagnosis of intracranial germ cell tumors treated in a single institution (KFSHRC) during the period from March 1985 to December 2007.

Response of medulloblastoma cells to vincristine and lomustine: role of TRKC, CTNNB1 and STK15.

Background: Vincristine and lomustine are two important chemotherapeutic drugs used for the treatment of different types of neoplasms, including medulloblastomas.

Materials And Methods: We investigated the effects of vincristine and lomustine on 12 primary medulloblastoma cell cultures and the DAOY cell line using the annexinV-flow cytometry and immunoblotting techniques, following treatment of cells for different periods of time.

Results: Both drugs triggered apoptosis and cell cycle delay at the G(2)/M phase and also up-regulated p16.

Clinical characteristics and outcome of pediatric patients with stage IV Hodgkin lymphoma.

Background And Objectives: While treatment outcomes for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) have improved remarkably, patients with disseminated disease still have a poorer outcome. Stage IV HL is often reported with other 'advanced stage' categories, confusing the specific contribution of disease dissemination to the outcome. This single-institution report looks at characteristics and outcomes of this specific category.

Curcumin inhibits the Sonic Hedgehog signaling pathway and triggers apoptosis in medulloblastoma cells.

Medulloblastoma is an aggressive primary brain tumor that arises in the cerebellum of children and young adults. The Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway that plays important roles in the pathology of this aggressive disease is a promising therapeutic target. In the present report we have shown that curcumin has cytotoxic effects on medulloblastoma cells.

Hodgkin lymphoma in very young children: Clinical characteristics and outcome of treatment.

In developed nations, Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is rare in <5-year olds and represent a minority in developing countries. Little is reported about the biology and behavior of these very young patients compared with older children. 18.

High throughput tissue microarray analysis of FHIT expression in diffuse large cell B-cell lymphoma from Saudi Arabia.

Recent studies have suggested a potential prognostic role of alterations of the fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. To evaluate possible mechanisms of FHIT inactivation and to further clarify its potential prognostic relevance, we analyzed a set of 114 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with clinical follow-up information. Tissue microarrays were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for protein expression, and corresponding DNA samples were analyzed for FHIT promotor hypermethlyation.

Precursor B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (PBLL) in children: pattern of presentation and outcome.

Purpose And Background: Precursor B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (PBLL) is a rare subtype of NHL seen primarily in children or young adults. There are approximately 100 immunophenotyped cases of PBLL; reported in the literature; most as single case reports or very small series. In this report, we describe patterns of presentation, and results of a retrospective study looking at patients with PBLL treated at KFSH and RC between 1993 and 2000.

Treatment of a clinically determined lower-risk stage III non-lymphoblastic Non-Hodgkin lymphoma with less intensive therapy does not impact negatively on outcome.

Stage III NHL was divided into lower-risk (LR) or high-risk (HR) groups. Results of treatment were retrospectively reviewed for patients between 1993 through 2000. An intensive multiagent protocol was used for IIIHR, and a CHOP-based, milder treatment for IIILR.