Publications by authors named "Ammar Al-Rikabi"

Arterial tortuosity syndrome (ATS) is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by elongation and tortuosity of the large- and medium-sized arteries. ATS patients display features that are also found in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) patients. ATS is caused by pathogenic mutations in the SLC2A10 gene, which encodes for the glucose transporter, GLUT10.

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Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is an aggressive and rare variant of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, which is thought to occur in immunocompromised individuals, specifically HIV-positive patients. We report the case of a 27-year-old Saudi male with PBL. The patient had a low CD4 count at presentation, however, he was HIV negative at the time of diagnosis; also Human herpesvirus-8 was negative on immunohistochemical stain, but Epstein-Barr virus showed expression in scattered cells through the utilization of EBV-EBER.

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Background: Diagnosing primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS)-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) is complex and can be very challenging. In addition, information about the prognostic factors is limited.

Aims: We aimed to determine the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors that impact pSS-ILD survival.

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Background: The prognostic impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) on the receptor expression status in patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) is still not fully understood. We aimed to evaluate the changes in hormone (estrogen and progesterone) receptor (HR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status post-NAC and their correlation with survival.

Methods: Patients with LABC who have received NAC between 2008 and 2015 and have been followed up till December 2019 at the Oncology Center, King Saud University, KSA were analyzed retrospectively.

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Background: Progesterone receptor (PR), estrogen receptor (ER), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) significantly influence disease prognosis and therapeutic response in patients with breast cancer. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) can change the receptor status, affecting the disease characteristics.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective chart review was carried out at a single tertiary care hospital in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from December 2008 to December 2014, where 91 adult female patients diagnosed with locally advanced breast cancer planning to receive NACT were included.

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Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a common subtype of interstitial lung disease (ILD). Information about the associated comorbidities and predictors of survival among Saudi patients with IPF is limited.

Aims: The aim of the study was to determine the clinical characteristics, associated comorbidities, and prognostic factors that impact IPF survival.

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The causes of dysphonia or hoarseness are numerous and can be classified as functional or organic. The report will highlight the clinical presentation, histopathological features and management plan of laryngeal epidermal inclusion cysts (EICs). Laryngeal EICs are rare.

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Background: Significant overlap may occur between idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) and connective tissue diseases (CTDs) that do not meet the established classification criteria for any known CTDs (i.e., occult CTD).

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MicroRNAs (miRs/miRNAs) play a key role in posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression and are implicated in a number of physiological and pathological conditions, including cellular malignant transformation. In the current study, we investigated the role of miR-3148 in regulating human stromal (mesenchymal) stem cell (hMSC) differentiation and transformation. Stable expression of miR-3148 in telomerized hMSC (hMSC-miR-3148) led to significant increase in in vitro adipocytic differentiation and suppression of osteoblastic differentiation.

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BACKGROUND Sebaceous gland carcinoma (SGC) is a rare malignant lesion that occurs on the eyelids. It is known to mimic other benign or malignant lesions in clinical presentation, such as a chalazion, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. The histopathological diagnosis is the mainstay for diagnosis and is often challenging.

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Breast cancer (BC) is the foremost cause of cancer-related deaths in women. BC patients are oftentimes presented with lymph node metastasis (LNM), which increases their risk of recurrence. Compelling data have recently implicated microRNAs in promoting BC metastasis.

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Dermatomyofibroma is a rare cutaneous mesenchymal tumor of benign fibroblastic and myofibroblastic derivations. It predominantly affects young women, and it usually presents as a reddish-brown plaque or nodule, which is commonly located over the upper trunk. We report the case of a 41-year-old female patient who presented with progressive linear dermatomyofibroma over the nape of her neck.

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Hyperpigmentation was induced in the skin of experimental animals using UVB at 6 J/cm three times a week for three consecutive weeks. Subsequently, glutathione was injected intraperitoneally in the experimental animals at doses of 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg body weight three times a week for three consecutive weeks. At the end of the experiment, blood samples and lung, kidney, liver, and skin tissue specimens were collected from animals for hematological, biochemical, histological, and electron microscopy examination.

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Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is rare and life threatening syndrome. There are only a few reported cases of HLH with GI symptoms. We describe the case of an 18 months old boy who presented with a history of fever for 40 days, abdominal distention and hepatosplenomegaly.

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Purpose: Obesity was reported to be a poor prognostic factor for breast cancer. There is a growing evidence of increasing prevalence of obesity among Saudi women across all age groups (44%). Since the prognostic significance of obesity was not studied in Saudi patients with breast cancer, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of BMI on pCR in LABC patients post NAC.

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Bone marrow stromal (Mesenchymal) stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent bone cells capable of differentiating into mesoderm-type cells, such as osteoblasts and adipocytes. Existing evidence suggests that transformation of MSCs gives rise to sarcoma. In order to identify the molecular mechanism leading to spontaneous transformation of human bone marrow MSCs (hBMSCs), we performed comprehensive microRNA (miRNA) and mRNA profiling in the transformed hBMSC-Tum line compared to the parental clone.

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Background: Carfilzomib (CFZ), a proteasome inhibitor approved by the FDA to treat multiple myeloma, may cause nephrotoxicity.

Hypothesis: Rutin is a bioflavonoid with antioxidant properties. We aimed to examine whether rutin protects the kidney from CFZ-induced nephrotoxicity.

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Gastric xanthelasma is a rare benign tumor-like lesion which is usually observed as an incidental finding due to its asymptomatic presentation. Grossly, it is a well-demarcated yellow-white plaque which is microscopically formed by clusters of foamy macrophages in the lamina propria. The pathogenesis and clinical significance are not clear.

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Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is reported virtually in every anatomic location of the body, but most cases are commonly identified in the mesentery and omentum. The etiology of this tumor is unclear with many suggestions of viral, inflammatory, or oncogenic mutational factors that establish it as a clonal neoplasm. Clinical and laboratory workup, including roentgenography, is not usually helpful to reach a pre- or intraoperative diagnosis.

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Background: Primary orbital peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified is an exceedingly rare disorder with a very poor outcome, and to the best of our knowledge only a few cases have been reported in the English literature. We present the youngest reported case describing the successful outcome after management with a thorough review of the English literature of all the reported cases of primary peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified.

Case Presentation: Our patient is a 3-year-old Syrian boy who presented with gradual progressive orbital swelling.

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Acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau (ACH) is an uncommon inflammatory disease manifesting as sterile pustular eruption of the fingers and toes. The disease is of a chronic relapsing nature and is often refractory to treatment. With longstanding disease, osteitis with consequent bone resorption of the underlying phalanges can occur, leading to disability.

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Endometrial stromal sarcoma rarely occurs as an extrauterine neoplasm and it is even more unlikely to be found in the vagina. To the best of our knowledge, only six cases of primary vaginal endometrial stromal sarcoma without association with endometriosis have been published to this day. We describe a case of a 58-year-old female with a history of vaginal heaviness caused by a mass lesion.

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Background:: Varicose veins and the complications of venous disease are common disorders in humans.

Objective:: To study the effects of bleomycin as a potential new sclerosing agent and its adverse events in treating varicose veins.

Methods:: Bleomycin-loaded liposomes 0.

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