Prognostic value of vascular endothelial growth factor in both conventional and drug eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization for treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma in HCV patients.

Objectives: This work aimed to measure serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels before and after Conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) versus drug-eluting beads (DEB)-TACE and evaluate its efficacy in predicting response to therapy and tumor recurrence.

Methods: 114 patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma complicating hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis were included. They underwent cTACE (58) or DEB-TACE (56).

Second Uterine Curettage and the Number of Chemotherapy Courses in Postmolar Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To investigate the effect of second uterine curettage on the number of chemotherapy courses and relapse rate in low-risk postmolar gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.

Methods: In a phase III trial, patients with low risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia were randomised (1:1) to a second curettage or no curettage group before methotrexate treatment. Eligibility criteria were serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) level 5,000 international units/L or less and fit for treatment with methotrexate.

Evaluation of a communication skills training course for medical students using peer role-play.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of using peer role-playing in learning the communication skills as a step in the development of the communication skills training course delivered to pre-clinical medical students.

Methods: This study was conducted at the King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between September 2014 and February 2015 and comprised medical students. Mixed methods design was used to evaluate the developed communication skills training course.

Is rotavirus still a major cause for diarrheal illness in hospitalized pediatric patients after rotavirus vaccine introduction in the Saudi national immunization program?

Previous studies in Jeddah, western Saudi Arabia, showed rotavirus (RV) prevalence around 40% in pediatric inpatients with gastroenteritis (GE) with a maximum level during cooler months. Currently, there are no data on impact of rotavirus vaccine (RVV) on RV-GE in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess impact of RVV on incidence and severity of RV-GE in hospitalized pediatric patients; 3 years after introduction of RVV in Saudi immunization program (SIP) in January, 2013.

Evaluating the long-term impact of faculty development programs on MCQ item analysis.

Purpose: Evaluating the long-term impact of faculty development programs (FDPs) can help monitor the effectiveness of the program and identify areas for development. This study examined long-term differences in confidence, knowledge, behaviors, and policies of faculty members who attended FDPs on multiple choice question (MCQ) item analysis and faculty members who did not attend the FDPs.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used, by administering a 24-item survey to a representative sample (simple random selection) of 61 faculty members at King Abdulaziz University Faculty of Medicine.

Extracurricular leadership development programme to prepare future Saudi physicians as leaders.

Objective: To describe and evaluate an innovative approach for developing leadership skills in a cohort of medical students through an extracurricular programme.

Methods: The study was conducted at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from April to June of the academic year 2014-15, and comprised medical students from all batches. Mixed-method design was used to evaluate the leadership development programme.

Risk factors and predictors of uncontrolled hyperglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus in Jeddah, western Saudi Arabia.

Background: Little is known about levels of glycemic control and risk factors for uncontrolled hyperglycemia in Saudi children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). The aim of the present study was to identify levels of glycemic control, risk factors and predictors of uncontrolled hyperglycemia (HG) and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in children with T1DM.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed on Saudi children and adolescents with confirmed T1DM who were followed at the Pediatric Endocrinology Clinic of the Maternity and Children Hospital, Jeddah, from 2000 to 2014.

Impact of Physiological Symptoms and Complications of Colorectal Cancer on the Quality of Life of Patients at King Abdulaziz University Hospital.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is common worldwide. The high prevalence of the disease raises concerns about how CRC influences the health-related quality of life (QoL). To explore the impact of physiological symptoms and complications of CRC on patients' QoL, we conducted a cross-sectional survey using the FACT-C self-report instrument.

Development and cognitive functions in Saudi pre-school children with feeding problems without underlying medical disorders.

Aim: This study was conducted to assess development and cognitive functions in relation to growth in Saudi pre-school children with feeding problems (FPs) without underlying medical disorders.

Methods: Three hundred fifteen pre-school children with FPs (221 with normal growth (FP-N), 62 with failure to thrive (FTT) (FP-FTT), 32 with overweight (FP-OW)) and 100 healthy children (Ref group) underwent in-depth assessment by anthropometric measurements, dietetic history, Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale, Denver Developmental Screening test (DDST) and Stanford Binet fifth edition intelligence scales (SB-5).

Results: The main FPs detected in Saudi children were picky eating in 85.

Characteristics and risk factors of candidemia in pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary care children's hospital in Egypt.

Introduction: This study was conducted to determine characteristics of Candida colonization and candidemia in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a tertiary care children's hospital.

Methodology: Patients between 6 months and 15 years of age consecutively admitted to the PICU of Mansoura University Children's Hospital in Mansoura, Egypt, during one year period, were evaluated for Candida colonization and candidemia. Susceptibility of Candida species isolated from blood to fluconazole and amphotericin B was determined by Etest.

Unique features and risk factors of Helicobacter pylori infection at the main children's intermediate school in Rabigh, Saudi Arabia.

Background: This study was conducted to determine characters and risk factors of Helicobacter pylori infection and its relationship with recurrent abdominal pain and other gastrointestinal symptoms at the main children's intermediate school in Rabigh, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a boys' intermediate school. A questionnaire for the gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and relevant personal and socioeconomic risk factors related to H.

Impact of maternal breast cancer on school-aged children in Saudi Arabia.

Background: We examine whether mothers with breast cancer told their children about the diagnosis, explore mothers' perceptions of the impact of doing so on the mother-child relationship, and assess perceptions of how this affected the children.

Methods: A convenience sample of 28 women with breast cancer ages 35 to 60 was interviewed using a 39-item close-ended questionnaire at the Al-Amoudi Breast Cancer Center of Excellence, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Inclusion criteria were having a diagnosis of breast cancer and having school-aged children (ages 5 to 16 years).

Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism as possible risk factor in rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatoid related osteoporosis.

Objective: To study the role of VDR polymorphisms as risk factor for RA and osteoporosis, and whether osteoporosis complicating RA is due to RA or VDR polymorphisms.

Methods: VDR gene polymorphisms ApaI, TaqI, BsmI and FokI were typed by RFLP for 128 RA patients, 30 postmenopausal osteoporotic females and 150 healthy controls.

Results: Significant differences were found between patients and healthy controls in the frequency of BsmI and TaqI (Pc<0.

Social impact of dialysis on children and their families.

Objectives: To evaluate the social consequences of dialysis on children and their parents.

Methods: From January through June 2012 short structured interviews with parents or caregivers of children on peritoneal dialysis (PD) or hemodialysis (HD) who were followed up at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, King Faisal Specialty Hospital and Research Center, or the Kidney Center at King Fahad Hospital were conducted. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences.

Experience of establishment of multiple mini structure interview as part of student admission policy at Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, 2011-2012.

Faculty of Medicine (FOM), King Abdulaziz University (KAU), requested for international recognition by the Laison Committee of Canadian Medical Education (LCME) during the period 2008-2010. Selection of medical students was a must standard in LCME. After obtaining a written permission from higher administration at KAU, a committee for the establishment of multiple-mini-interview (MMI) was formed and they conducted workshops to train faculty members at FOM on such process.

Prevalence and characters of Entamoeba histolytica infection in Saudi infants and children admitted with diarrhea at 2 main hospitals at South Jeddah: a re-emerging serious infection with unusual presentation.

In this study, Entamoeba histolytica had high prevalence and unusual presentation by affecting high proportion of infants under 1 year; severe clinical manifestations, and laboratory findings that were known to be usually encountered in invasive amebiasis as significant leukocytosis for age, neutrophilic leukocytosis for age, and positive C-reactive protein were found among more than 50% of admitted Saudi infants and children with E. histolytica infection in our locality. E.

Growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 axis: a possible non-nutritional factor for growth retardation in children with cerebral palsy.

Objective: To assess growth hormone (GH)/insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) axis as a possible non-nutritional factor for growth retardation in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: A case-control study was conducted at a tertiary university hospital. Thirty children with CP (seven children with normal growth [CP-N] and 23 with retarded growth [CP-R]), 30 children with protein energy malnutrition (PEM), and 30 healthy children (REF group) underwent an assessment of growth parameters, serum IGF-1, basal GH, and peak GH after stimulation with insulin.

Prevalence and desire for body contouring surgery in postbariatric patients in saudi arabia.

Background: Morbid obesity has become a common problem worldwide and as a result the demand for bariatric surgery has increased as well. Most patients develop skin redundancy and sagging at many body parts after major weight loss procedures which increased the demand for body contouring procedures.

Aims: The study was to address the prevalence and patient's desire for body contouring procedures.

Benchmarking the post-accreditation patient safety culture at King Abdulaziz University Hospital.

Background And Objectives: Accreditation is an internationally recognized evaluation process used to assess, promote, and guarantee efficient and effective patient care and safety. Saudi Arabia is one of the first countries in the eastern Mediterranean region to implement health care accreditation standards. This study provides valuable information pertaining to the impact of accreditation in the unique multicultural, multilingual competitive environment at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Association of CTLA-4 (+49A/G) gene polymorphism with type 1 diabetes mellitus in Egyptian children.

Objective: To investigate the distribution of cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) (+49 A/G) gene variants and the association of these variants with the clinical and laboratory findings in Egyptian children with Type-1 Diabetes (T1D).

Methods: A case control study was done for 104 Egyptian children with T1D and 78 age and sex matched healthy control. CTLA-4 (+49 A/G) gene polymorphism typing was done by PCR amplification followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method.

Proinflammatory cytokines (IL-12 and IL-18) in immune rheumatic diseases: relation with disease activity and autoantibodies production.

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) and its inducer IL-12 have multiple biological activities that are important in generating Th1 responses and inflammatory tissue damage. We investigated serum concentration of the novel proinflammatory Th1 cytokine; IL-18, and its inducer IL-12 in patients with immune rheumatic diseases. Group I comprised32 patients of systemic lupus erythmatosus (SLE), Group II comprised 36 patients of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).