Drug Overdose Patterns Among Emergency Department Patients at an Academic Hospital in Jeddah.

Background Drug overdose is a significant healthcare issue and remains a common phenomenon in the emergency department (ED). The incidents have increased over the last few years worldwide. There are a few studies about drug overdose in Saudi Arabia in general and Jeddah city specifically.

Role of free style Libre-Flash Glucose Monitoring: Glycemic control of Type-1 Diabetes.

Background & Objective: Type-1 diabetics (T1D) usually do not meet guidelines for glycaemic control. This study aimed to determine the benefit of free style libre-flash glucose monitoring system (FSL-FGM) in lowering glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in poorly controlled T1D patients.

Methods: This prospective two single arm clinical study included 273 T1D patients, and data collected at one, six and 18 months with concomitant extraction of samples for HbA1c basal and at six and 18 months.

Screening of gene sequence variants in Saudi Arabian children with idiopathic short stature.

Purpose: Short stature affects approximately 2%-3% of children, representing one of the most frequent disorders for which clinical attention is sought during childhood. Despite assumed genetic heterogeneity, mutations or deletions in the short stature homeobox-containing gene () are frequently detected in subjects with short stature. Idiopathic short stature (ISS) refers to patients with short stature for various unknown reasons.

Idiopathic hypoparathyroidism with extensive intracranial calcification in children: First report from Saudi Arabia.

Rationale: Pediatric idiopathic hypoparathyroidism with extensive intracranial calcifications outside the basal ganglia (BG) is extremely rare with less than 10 cases worldwide.

Patient Concerns: An 11-year-old Saudi male child presented with tetany with otherwise normal neurological and other body system examination diagnoses severe hypocalcemia for differential diagnosis.

Interventions: Further investigations revealed hyperphosphatemia and undetectable serum intact parathyroid hormone.

A randomized clinical trial comparing 3 different replacement regimens of vitamin D in clinically asymptomatic pediatrics and adolescents with vitamin D insufficiency.

Background: Pediatric and Adolescent populations both have special needs for vitamin D especially for growing bone. Inadequate vitamin D is defined as 25 (OH) D(25hydroxy vitamin D) < 30 ng/ml.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, controlled clinical trial from July 2014 over 1 year, aiming to assess the changes in 25 (OH) D and biochemical outcome on calcium and PTH(parathyroid hormone) using 3 different regimens of vitamin D replacement.

Prevalence and clinical significance of nonorgan specific antibodies in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis as predictor markers for rheumatic diseases.

Autoimmune diseases are considered the 3rd leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the industrialized countries. Autoimmune thyroid diseases (ATDs) are associated with high prevalence of nonorgan-specific autoantibodies, such as antinuclear antibodies (ANA), antidouble-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (anti-dsDNA), antiextractable-nuclear antigens (anti-ENAs), rheumatoid factor (RF), and anticyclic-citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP) whose clinical significance is unknown.We aimed to assess the prevalence of various nonorgan-specific autoantibodies in patients with ATD, and to investigate the possible association between these autoantibodies and occurrence of rheumatic diseases and, if these autoantibodies could be considered as predictor markers for autoimmune rheumatic diseases in the future.

Role of Collagen Conduit With Duloxetine and/or Pregabalin in the Management of Partial Peripheral Nerve Injury.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the analgesic effect of a collagen conduit (Neuragen, Integra LifeSciences Corp, Plainsboro, NJ) using duloxetine (Cymbalta, Lilly, Indianapolis, IN) with or without pregabalin (Lyrica, Pfizer, NY) on pain induced by partial sciatic nerve transection in a rat model.

Material And Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups (n = 10 per group): group 1, nerve damage with no treatment; group 2, nerve damage treated with the application of a collagen conduit and saline; group 3, nerve damage treated with the application of a collagen conduit and duloxetine; group 4, nerve damage treated with the application of a collagen conduit and pregabalin; and group 5, nerve damage treated with the application of a collagen conduit and pregabalin plus duloxetine. Pain levels were evaluated by responses to mechanical and thermal stimuli at baseline before and 3 and 7 days after surgery.

First report of co-morbidity of pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration and three types of chronic hemolytic anemias.

Background: Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN), sickle cell anemia, and thalassemia are autosomal recessive disorders that can cause iron deposition in tissues during childhood. PKAN is characterized by accumulation of iron in the basal ganglia causing progressive extrapyramidal manifestations. Thalassemia and sickle cell disease can cause iron overload and deposition in tissues, including central nervous system.

Changes in the levels of cytokines in both diabetic/non-diabetic type I children living in a moderate altitude area in Saudi Arabia.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible effects of living in moderate altitude area on pro/anti-inflammatory cytokines profile (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10, and IL-4) among type I diabetic (T1D) and non- T1D children compared with those living at sea level area. A prospective clinical study was carried out at pediatric outpatient endocrine clinics in Taif City, which is a moderate altitude area in Saudi Arabia, that stands about 1800-2000 meters above sea-level; and in Mecca City, which is a sea level area, that lies in the middle west of Saudi Arabia. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) percentage was estimated and cytokine measurements were performed in sera by flow cytometry using Cytometric Bead Array (CBA) technology.

Effect of periodontal treatment on serum C-reactive protein level in obese and normal-weight women affected with chronic periodontitis.

Objective: To investigate the effect of conventional periodontal therapy on serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level and periodontal status in obese and normal-weight chronic periodontitis patients.

Methods: This is a controlled clinical trial conducted at the King Abdulaziz University Faculty of Dentistry, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between December 2009 and March 2011. A total of 40 women affected with moderate to severe chronic periodontitis were selected (20 obese [test group] and 20 normal-weight [control]).

Self reported halitosis in relation to glycated hemoglobin level in diabetic patients.

Objective: This study was conducted to examine the relationship between the glycated hemoglobin level (HbA1c) and halitosis status among diabetic patients affected with periodontitis and to examine if there is a relationship between halitosis and different periodontal parameters.

Methods And Materials: Consecutive type 2 diabetic patients were recruited from patients presented for treatment at a University hospital. Age, gender and smoking were recorded.