Impact of Altitude on Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate: A Cross-Sectional Study Using National Laboratory Data from Saudi Arabia.

Background: The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a widely used haematological test that indirectly measures inflammation in the body. It is influenced by various factors, including age, sex, and physiological condition. Altitude is another critical factor due to its impact on red blood cell physiology and plasma protein composition.

Exploring somatic mutations in , , and as therapeutic targets in Saudi colorectal cancer patients through massive parallel sequencing and variant classification.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the leading cancer among Saudis, and mutations in , , and genes are therapeutically significant due to their association with pathways critical for cell cycle regulation. This study evaluates the prevalence and frequency of somatic mutations in these actionable genes in Saudi CRC patients and assesses their pathogenicity with bioinformatics methods.

Methodology: The study employed the TruSight Tumor 15 next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel on 86 colorectal cancer (CRC) samples to detect somatic mutations in , , and genes.

Lipoprotein(a): Levels and Reference Intervals Among People in Saudi Arabia.

Purpose: Blood Lp(a) concentration is recognized as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Population-based lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) research in Saudi Arabia is rare. Thus, the primary goal of this pilot study was to identify age- and sex-specific reference ranges for Lp(a) levels, in addition to the associations between Lp(a) levels and other atherosclerotic markers in Saudi individuals.

Exome sequencing revealed variants in SGCA and SIL1 genes underlying limb girdle muscular dystrophy and Marinesco-Sjögren syndrome patients.

Background: Inherited neuromuscular (NMD) and neurodegenerative diseases (NDD) belong to two distinct categories that disturb different components of the nervous system, leading to a variety of different symptoms and clinical manifestations. Both NMD and NDD are a heterogeneous group of genetic conditions. Genetic variations in the SGCA and SIL1 genes have been implicated in causing Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD), a type of neuromuscular disorder, and Marinesco-Sjögren Syndrome (MSS) which is a neurodegenerative disorder.

Assessment of eye health programme reach by comparison with rapid assessment of avoidable blindness (RAAB) survey data, Talagang, Pakistan.

Background: The purpose of this study was to quantify how much of the burden of visual impairment (VI) and unmet need in Talagang, identified by Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) survey data, has been addressed by Community Eye Health (CEH) programme efforts.

Methods: A RAAB survey was carried out in November 2018, with 2,824 participants in Talagang Tehsil, Punjab, Pakistan, aged 50 and over. Census data were used to extrapolate survey data to the population.

Melatonin induced reversibility of vanadium toxicity in muskmelon by regulating antioxidant defense and glyoxalase systems.

Agricultural lands with vanadium (V), pose a significant and widespread threat to crop production worldwide. The study was designed to explore the melatonin (ME) treatment in reducing the V-induced phytotoxicity in muskmelon. The muskmelon seedlings were grown hydroponically and subjected to V (40 mg L) stress and exogenously treated with ME (100 μmol L) to mitigate the V-induced toxicity.

Pediatric Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis: A Narrative Review on Measles and the Future of Vaccination.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is a rare complication due to persistent measles infection, characterized by cognitive and motor deterioration. Because subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is considered a potentially fatal complication of measles and usually presents in young populations, particularly those with measles infection under the age of 2 years, new approaches to implement vaccination programs must be devised to help avoid the worsening of patient outcome. Until the disease is eradicated globally, children in all regions of the world remain at risk of measles infection and its respective complications, and therefore, the vaccine is considered the optimal preventative measure.

A novel equation for the estimation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the Saudi Arabian population: a derivation and validation study.

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is typically estimated by the Friedewald equation to guide atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) management despite its flaws. Martin-Hopkins and Sampson-NIH equations were shown to outperform Friedewald's in various populations. Our aim was to derive a novel equation for accurate LDL-C estimation in Saudi Arabians and to compare it to Friedewald, Martin-Hopkins and Sampson-NIH equations.

RETRACTED: Alhakamy et al. Optimized Icariin Phytosomes Exhibit Enhanced Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis-Inducing Activities in Ovarian Cancer Cells. 2020, , 346.

The journal retracts the article, "Optimized Icariin Phytosomes Exhibit Enhanced Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis-Inducing Activities in Ovarian Cancer Cells" [...

RETRACTED: Awan et al. The Enhanced Cytotoxic and Pro-Apoptotic Effects of Optimized Simvastatin-Loaded Emulsomes on MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells. 2020, , 597.

The journal retracts the article, "The Enhanced Cytotoxic and Pro-Apoptotic Effects of Optimized Simvastatin-Loaded Emulsomes on MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells" [...

RETRACTED: Alhakamy et al. Thymoquinone-Loaded Soy-Phospholipid-Based Phytosomes Exhibit Anticancer Potential against Human Lung Cancer Cells. 2020, 761.

The journal retracts the article, "Thymoquinone-Loaded Soy-Phospholipid-Based Phytosomes Exhibit Anticancer Potential against Human Lung Cancer Cells" [...

RETRACTED: Ahmed et al. Application of Nanopharmaceutics for Flibanserin Brain Delivery Augmentation Via the Nasal Route. 2020, , 1270.

The Journal retracts the article "Application of Nanopharmaceutics for Flibanserin Brain Delivery Augmentation Via the Nasal Route" [...

Modern approaches to the management of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in the Middle East and North Africa.

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HoFH) is a severe form of FH in which inheritance of two defective or null mutations in genes associated with metabolism of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) results in extremely high LDL-C, premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and mortality. Treatment of HoFH comprises a multi-modal approach of statins, ezetimibe, lipoprotein apheresis; and inhibitors of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type, angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3) and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein. These treatments are generally costly, and patients also often require treatment for ASCVD consequent to HoFH.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles from plant and evaluating its anti-diabetic activity through indepth and analysis.

One of the most widespread metabolic diseases, Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is defined by high blood sugar levels brought on by decreased insulin secretion, reduced insulin action, or both. Due to its cost-effectiveness and eco-friendliness, plant-mediated green synthesis of nanomaterials has become more and more popular. The aim of the study is to synthesize AgNPs, their characterizations and further and studies.

Optimizing Eco-Friendly Degradation of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Plastic Using Environmental Strains of Species and .

Worldwide, huge amounts of plastics are being introduced into the ecosystem, causing environmental pollution. Generally, plastic biodegradation in the ecosystem takes hundreds of years. Hence, the isolation of plastic-biodegrading microorganisms and finding optimum conditions for their action is crucial.

Molecular Study of the Protective Effect of a Low-Carbohydrate, High-Fat Diet against Brain Insulin Resistance in an Animal Model of Metabolic Syndrome.

Brain insulin resistance is linked to metabolic syndrome (MetS). A low-carbohydrate, high-fat (LCHF) diet has been proposed to have a protective effect. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the brain insulin resistance markers in a rat animal model of MetS and the protective effects of the LCHF diet.

Protein structural insights into a rare PCSK9 gain-of-function variant (R496W) causing familial hypercholesterolemia in a Saudi family: whole exome sequencing and computational analysis.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a globally underdiagnosed genetic condition associated with premature cardiovascular death. The genetic etiology data on Arab FH patients is scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the genetic basis of FH in a Saudi family using whole exome sequencing (WES) and multidimensional bioinformatic analysis.

Lipid distributions in the Global Diagnostics Network across five continents.

Aims: Lipids are central in the development of cardiovascular disease, and the present study aimed to characterize variation in lipid profiles across different countries to improve understanding of cardiovascular risk and opportunities for risk-reducing interventions.

Methods And Results: This first collaborative report of the Global Diagnostics Network (GDN) evaluated lipid distributions from nine laboratory organizations providing clinical laboratory testing in 17 countries on five continents. This cross-sectional study assessed aggregated lipid results from patients aged 20-89 years, tested at GDN laboratories, from 2018 through 2020.

Rare variant burden analysis from exomes of three consanguineous families reveals and as potential key proteins in inflammatory bowel disease pathogenesis.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by severe inflammation and mucosal destruction of the intestine. The specific, complex molecular processes underlying IBD pathogenesis are not well understood. Therefore, this study is aimed at identifying and uncovering the role of key genetic factors in IBD.