10 years of experience in adopting, implementing and evaluating progress testing for Saudi medical students.

Objectives: The progress test (PT) is a comprehensive examination that is designed to match the knowledge acquisition necessary at graduation and monitors progress during the entire period of an undergraduate program. Qassim College of Medicine (QCM) began using the multi-institutional PT in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). This study aimed to determine if the PT can be utilized to assess the progress of medical students at different Saudi medical colleges with different educational approaches, as well as whether this testing modality could be accepted by other colleges.

Functional role of human interleukin-32 and nuclear transcription factor-kB in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Objective: Inflammation and its associated cell signaling events have been well documented in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. However, the potential for interleukin (IL)-32 and its associated signaling to provoke an inflammatory response or to contribute in the pathogenesis of psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis are still in early phase. This study determined the role of IL-32 and nuclear transcription factor (NF)-κB in patients with plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Elevated Gene Expression of Interleukin-32 Isoforms Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta in the Peripheral Blood of Chronic Psoriatic Patients.

Inflammatory-mediated reactions have been implicated as contributors in a number of dermatological disorders, including psoriasis. However, the potential of interleukin (IL)-32 and its isoforms to contribute to the pathogenesis of psoriasis remains unexplored. This study was undertaken to investigate the role of IL-32 and its isoforms IL-32α, IL-32β, IL-32γ, and IL-32δ in the peripheral blood of psoriatic patients.

Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate up-regulates microRNA-199a-3p expression by down-regulating the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in stimulated human osteoarthritis chondrocytes.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a most common form of arthritis worldwide leading to significant disability. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs involved in various aspects of cartilage development, homoeostasis and pathology. Several miRNAs have been identified which have shown to regulate expression of target genes relevant to OA pathogenesis such as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, etc.

Integrated Study of Globally Expressed microRNAs in IL-1β-stimulated Human Osteoarthritis Chondrocytes and Osteoarthritis Relevant Genes: A Microarray and Bioinformatics Analysis.

This study was undertaken to identify and characterize the globally expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-induced joint damage and to predict whether miRNAs can regulate the catabolic effects in osteoarthritis (OA) chondrocytes. Out of 1347 miRNAs analyzed by microarrays in IL-1β-stimulated OA chondrocytes, 35 miRNAs were down-regulated, 1 miRNA was up-regulated, and the expression of 1311 miRNAs remained unchanged. Bioinformatics analysis showed the key inflammatory mediators and key molecular pathways are targeted by differentially expressed miRNAs.

Sepsis in Buraidah Central Hospital, Qassim, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: Severe sepsis is a major public health concern and a frequent cause of intensive care unit (ICU) admission with a high fatality rate. Higher (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score) SOFA score and co-morbidity of acute renal failure (ARF) are risk factors contributing to fatal outcome. This work was meant to study the epidemiology of sepsis in Buraidah central hospital.

Molecular Genetic of Atopic dermatitis: An Update.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic multifactorial inflammatory skin disease. The pathogenesis of AD remains unclear, but the disease results from dysfunctions of skin barrier and immune response, where both genetic and environmental factors play a key role. Recent studies demonstrate the substantial evidences that show a strong genetic association with AD.

MicroRNA-26a-5p regulates the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase via activation of NF-κB pathway in human osteoarthritis chondrocytes.

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression is associated with the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). This study was undertaken to investigate whether interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-mediated induction of iNOS can be regulated by microRNA-26a-5p (hsa-miR-26a-5p) in OA. Bioinformatics approaches show that 3'UTR of iNOS mRNA contained the 'seed-matched-sequence' for hsa-miR-26a-5p.

Recognition of oxidized albumin and thyroid antigens by psoriasis autoantibodies. A possible role of reactive-oxygen-species induced epitopes in chronic plaque psoriasis.

Objectives: To investigate the role of reactive-oxygen-species (ROS) induced epitopes on human-serum-albumin (HSA) and thyroid antigens in psoriasis autoimmunity.  

Methods: This study was performed in the College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia between May 2014 and February 2015. The study was designed to explore the role of ROS-induced epitopes in psoriasis autoimmunity.

Oxidized tyrosinase: A possible antigenic stimulus for non-segmental vitiligo autoantibodies.

Background: Vitiligo is a common pigmentary disorder, the precise etiology of which remains obscure. Tyrosinase, a key enzyme involved in melanin synthesis, has now been implicated as an autoantigen for vitiligo patients, but it is not clear how this prevalent protein becomes antigenic in vitiligo.

Objective: To investigate the status and contribution of oxidized tyrosinase in vitiligo and to explore whether oxidized tyrosinase has a role in disease progression.

Interleukin-4 -590 T>C and interleukin-4 receptor Q551R A>G gene polymorphisms in Saudi cases with alopecia areata.

Objectives: Immunogenetic factors are known to play a role in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata (AA). This study aimed at investigating the association between AA with the polymorphisms of interleukin-4 (IL-4) promoter and receptor (IL-4R) genes.

Patients And Methods: This work is a case-control study that was conducted on 76 AA patients from Qassim region, Saudi Arabia.

Treatment of vitiligo patients by excimer laser improves patients' quality of life.

Background: Vitiligo can negatively affect patients' quality of life (QoL). Assessment of QoL provides relevant information about treatment benefits.

Objectives: To examine the effects of excimer laser treatment on vitiligo patients' QoL and to identify overall patient satisfaction.

Treatment of vitiligo patients by excimer laser improves patients' quality of life.

Background: Vitiligo can negatively affect patients' quality of life (QoL). Assessment of QoL provides relevant information about treatment benefits.

Objectives: To examine the effects of excimer laser treatment on vitiligo patients' QoL and to identify overall patient satisfaction.

Mitochondrial DNA acquires immunogenicity on exposure to nitrosative stress in patients with vitiligo.

Vitiligo is a common pigmentary skin disorder of unknown etiology. Many studies show the defective mitochondrial functionality in vitiligo patients, but the potential role of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in the pathogenesis of vitiligo remains to be investigated. Recent evidences demonstrate that mitochondria possess their own nitric-oxide-synthase and can produce endogenous peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)).

Correlation of clinical efficacy and psychosocial impact on vitiligo patients by excimer laser treatment.

Background And Objectives: Vitiligo is a difficult disease to treat. Recently, a 308-nm excimer laser has been shown to be effective in treating vitiligo. In addition, the patients with vitiligo have impairment in their quality of life.

Oxidants and anti-oxidants status in acne vulgaris patients with varying severity.

Acne vulgaris is a common dermatological disorder with a multifactorial pathogenesis. Oxidative status has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several skin diseases, including acne. This study was aimed to investigate the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers in acne vulgaris patients with varying severities.

Biochemical and immunological studies on erythrocytes superoxide dismutase modified by nitric oxide in patients with alopecia areata: Implications in alopecia patchy persistent and alopecia universalis.

Alopecia areata (AA) is a non-scarring hair loss disorder that ranges in severity from patchy loss of scalp hair (AA patchy persistent; AAP) to loss of all scalp and body hair (alopecia universalis; AU). The cause of AA is unknown but most evidences support that AA has an autoimmune etiology, where free radicals play an important role. This study was undertaken to investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO) modified erythrocytes superoxide dismutase (eSOD) in AA.

Patients seen at the Dermatology ambulatory office in a tertiary care center in Qassim region, Saudi Arabia.

Background: In Saudi Arabia where there is lack of dermatologists in primary health care centers, patients with simple or minor skin conditions have to attend to hospitals to be treated. We analyzed the data of patients with cutaneous disorders attending the tertiary referral hospital in Qassim region of Saudi Arabia, with the aim to identify the most common conditions that patients complain of, in order to define the areas where the education of General Practitioners in Dermatology must focus.

Methodology: All patients seen at the Dermatology ambulatory office in the Emergency Department of Qassim University affiliated hospital from January 2011 to December 2011 were included in this retrospective analysis.

Pattern of bacterial colonization of atopic dermatitis in saudi children.

Background: Atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory skin disorder. Although it is not a life threatening condition, it may become infected with microorganisms, especially in children.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine bacterial colonisation in children with atopic dermatitis.

4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal modified histone-H2A: a possible antigenic stimulus for systemic lupus erythematosus autoantibodies.

Protein modifications by 4-hydroxy-2-nonenals (HNE) are involved in various diseases. Histones are DNA protective nucleoprotein, which adopt different structures under oxidative stress. This study was undertaken to test the role of HNE-modified-histone-H2A (HNE-H2A) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Clinical and histopathologic characteristics of skin malignancies in Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia.

Background And Objective: The present study was undertaken to assess the pattern of skin malignancies in Qassim region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Methods: Data of histopathological confirmed cases of skin malignancies were collected from all the referral hospitals of Qassim region during a period from January 2000 to July 2009.

Results: Out of 94 cases majority (90.

Knowledge and practice of primary healthcare physicians for management of acne vulgaris in Qassim region, Saudi Arabia.

Background: The management of acne in its early stages is important for disease prognosis. Patients with acne usually present at the primary healthcare (PHC) centers during the early stages of their disease. Assessment of the current knowledge and practice of the physicians treating these patients is required.

Immunological studies of reactive oxygen species damaged catalase in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: correlation with disease activity index.

Objectives: This study was undertaken to investigate the status and contribution of oxidized catalase in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to explore whether oxidized catalase has a role in disease progression.

Methods: Catalase (CAT) was modified by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Sera from 50 SLE patients with varying levels of disease activity according to SLE Disease-Activity-Index (SLEDAI) and 45 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were evaluated for antibodies against oxidized CAT.

Biochemical markers of oxidative and nitrosative stress in acne vulgaris: correlation with disease activity.

Background: Acne vulgaris is a multifactorial skin disorder of unknown etiology. Free radical-mediated reactions have been implicated but their role in eliciting this response and contributing to disease progress remains unexplored. This study was undertaken to investigate the status and contribution of oxidative/nitrosative stress in patients with acne vulgaris.