Rotavirus and adenovirus in children evaluated for viral gastroenteritis at a single healthcare center in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia: A perspective of two decades.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of rotavirus and adenovirus in pediatric patients evaluated for viral gastroenteritis in a hospital in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia for 22 years.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective study based in a secondary healthcare center in Saudi Arabia. Laboratory and demographic data were collected from hospital records for all pediatric patients (up to 14 years old) evaluated for viral gastroenteritis by rotavirus/adenovirus antigen detection kit from January 2000 to December 2022.

Utility of the Xpert Xpress CoV-2/Flu/RSV Plus Kit: A Glance at RSV Infection in Adults and Coinfection Rate.

Background: Viral infection is responsible for the majority of respiratory tract infections (RTI). This retrospective study evaluates the advantages of using the multiplex Xpert Xpress CoV-2/Flu/RSV plus kit in laboratory diagnosis of RTI caused by the most related viruses.

Materials And Methods: Data were obtained from medical records between November 2021 and May 2023 for any sample tested using either the Xpert Xpress Flu/RSV kit, Xpert Xpress Flu kit, Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 kit, and Xpert Xpress CoV-2/Flu/RSV plus kit.

Diagnosis of group A streptococcal pharyngitis in the paediatric emergency department using a fluorescence-based RADT: predicted impact on antibiotic prescription.

. Using rapid antigen diagnostic tests (RADTs) in clinical practice has shown excellent specificity but often has diminished sensitivity..

Gut microbiota analyses of Saudi populations for type 2 diabetes-related phenotypes reveals significant association.

Background: Large-scale gut microbiome sequencing has revealed key links between microbiome dysfunction and metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes (T2D). To date, these efforts have largely focused on Western populations, with few studies assessing T2D microbiota associations in Middle Eastern communities where T2D prevalence is now over 20%. We analyzed the composition of stool 16S rRNA from 461 T2D and 119 non-T2D participants from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Prevalence of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 antibodies among individuals screened in a tertiary hospital in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia.

The epidemiology of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections varies among populations depending on their demographic characteristics and exposure. This study describes the prevalence of HSV 1/2 IgG and IgM antibodies among individuals over a period of 5 years. A retrospective study was conducted to collect data on cases tested for HSV-1 and HSV-2 IgG and IgM antibodies for different medical conditions over five years between January 2014 and December 2018.

The Scope of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in a Tertiary Hospital in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and the Change in Seasonal Pattern during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background and Objectives: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of morbidity and hospital admission due to respiratory tract infection among infants and young children. The current study aims to describe the prevalence and the seasonal pattern of RSV during the previous seven years. Materials and Methods: Clinical data and RSV antigen and PCR test results were collected from patients’ medical records at King Fahd Hospital of the University in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia between January 2015 and February 2022.

Molecular characterization of clinical isolates from Eastern Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: To describe the frequency of () and () virulence genes and clarithromycin resistance-associated mutations among () clinical isolates from Eastern Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out between July 2020 and June 2021 in a tertiary hospital in AL-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. A total of 34 isolates were obtained from gastric biopsies of patients with dyspepsia.

Low levels of soluble DPP4 among Saudis may have constituted a risk factor for MERS endemicity.

Most of the cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) were reported in Saudi Arabia. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) was identified as the receptor for the virus. The level of soluble DPP4 (sDPP4) was found to be reduced in MERS-CoV infected patients while high levels of sDPP4 were suggested to be protective against MERS-CoV in animal models.

Susceptibility to Rubella Infection and Incidence of Congenital Rubella Infection: 6 Years Retrospective Study.

Introduction: Rubella is considered one of the most serious and most common congenital infections. Despite global efforts for elimination, rubella cases are still being reported in many parts of the world. The purpose of this study is to determine the level of immunity to rubella in the community and most importantly among women at childbearing age in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia and compare it with the target set by the World Health Organization (WHO) along with the incidence of acute rubella infection and the associated congenital rubella infection and congenital rubella syndrome.

Pooled Specimen Testing Using Automated Cartridge-Based System for COVID-19: The Cost on Sensitivity.

Background: Pooled specimen screening for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can improve laboratory testing capacity. This study assessed the impact of pooling and retesting individual swabs on the overall detection rate and reduction in the frequency of retesting.

Methods: One hundred respiratory swabs specimens were tested individually and in pools of three or five samples using the Cepheid's Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 test kit.

Serological Evidence of West Nile Virus Infection Among Humans, Horses, and Pigeons in Saudi Arabia.

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the seroprevalence of WNV antibodies in humans, horses, and pigeons in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Materials And Methods: Blood samples were collected from 323 humans, 147 horses, and 282 pigeons from two regions, Al-Ahsa and Al-Qatif, in East of Saudi Arabia. Serum samples were tested for anti-WNV antibodies by ELISA.

Assembly of infectious Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus progeny requires formation of a pORF19 pentamer.

Herpesviruses cause severe diseases particularly in immunocompromised patients. Both genome packaging and release from the capsid require a unique portal channel occupying one of the 12 capsid vertices. Here, we report the 2.

Predictors of Illness Severity in COVID-19 Cases in Saudi Arabia.

Purpose: Multiple studies worldwide have reported the clinical and epidemiological features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with limited reports from the Middle East. This study describes the clinical and epidemiological features of COVID-19 cases in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and identified factors associated with the severity of illness.

Patients And Methods: This was an observational study of 341 COVID-19 cases.

Prevalence of Hepatitis E Virus Infection Among Blood Donors in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Purpose: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes acute hepatitis in humans and constitutes a major problem for immunocompromised patients, patients with hematological diseases, and pregnant women. It is transmitted mainly through fecal oral route; however, transmission through blood and blood products is reported globally and becoming a health concern. We sought to determine the prevalence of HEV among blood donors in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia using molecular as well as serological assays to assess the safety of blood transfusion and the need for HEV screening among blood donors.

mCIM test as a reliable assay for the detection of CRE in the Gulf region.

Carbapenem resistant (CRE) are one of the leading causes of systemic and nosocomial infections and are multidrug-resistant organisms producing different carbapenemases. There are many genotypic and phenotypic methods for detecting the carbapenemases; however, there is a limitation for each. Modified carbapenem inactivation method (mCIM) assay is a recent phenotypic method which has been published by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute.

Laboratory tests for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection: basic principles and examples.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has circulated throughout the world causing the worst pandemic since 1918. All efforts have been marshalled towards testing different treatment approaches, obtaining clinical and epidemiological information, developing suitable diagnostic tests, and developing new vaccines. New ribonucleic acid (RNA)-based and viral vector-based vaccines have been developed and licensed under emergency use in many countries; however, there is a huge demand for vaccines, and it will take some time before a sufficient number of people are vaccinated to stop the circulation of the virus.

Development of multiplex real-time RT-PCR assay for the detection of SARS-CoV-2.

The outbreak of the new human coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (also known as 2019-nCoV) continues to increase globally. The real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) is the most used technique in virus detection. However, possible false-negative and false-positive results produce misleading consequences, making it necessary to improve existing methods.

Seropositivity of syphilis among individuals screened in a tertiary hospital in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Background: Sexually transmitted infections are a serious public health problem. Syphilis, a multistage, curable chronic disease caused by the spirochete , remains a major health problem worldwide. The disease re-emerged in the era of HIV in many countries despite the accessibility of curative therapy and continuing public health efforts to eliminate it.

Polymorphic Variants in 5'-UTR Regions of the RAD51 Gene are Associated With RAD51 Expression and Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC): A Case-Control Study.

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease at morphologic and molecular levels, which is considered the most commonly occurring cancer in women. RAD51, a DNA-repairing protein, involves homologous recombination and has a vital role in genome stability. Polymorphism of the RAD51 gene, and its overexpression, has been proposed to be associated with the development of breast cancer.

Investigations of a Possible Role of SNPs in KAI1 Gene on Its Down-Regulation in Breast Cancer.

Objective: KAI1 (CD82) is a metastasis suppressor gene known to be down-regulated in carcinomas of breast, prostate and many other organs. The mechanism of KAI1 down-regulation is complex and not well understood. Here, we investigate the role of 8 SNPs (not previously studied) in KAI1 gene that could influence its expression in tumor tissue samples of breast cancer patients from the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia.

Surgical site infections in a tertiary hospital over 10 years. The effect of hospital accreditation strategy implementation.

Objectives:   To analyze the rate of surgical site infections (SSIs), the type, and the frequency of the commonly-associated microorganisms. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia between December 2018 and June 2019 comprising data from August 2008 to August 2018 from patients with culture-confirmed surgical site infection at a tertiary hospital. Results: Out of 2716 wound infection cases during the study period, a total of 289 patients were diagnosed with SSI.

Pathway-Affecting Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in RPS6KA1 and MBIP Genes are Associated with Breast Cancer Risk.

Background: Genetic mutations and polymorphisms play an important role in the transformation of primary cells to malignant cells as it may lead to disturbance of vital pathways regulating cell cycle, DNA damage repair, and apoptosis. In this study, we genotyped single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) which were predicted to affect certain pathways and to increase the risk of breast cancer.

Methods: The study included 81 Saudi breast cancer patients and 100 matching healthy controls from the Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia.

Pattern of increased antimicrobial resistance of isolates in the Eastern Province of KSA.

Objectives: The antimicrobial resistance of species is increasing worldwide. This study was conducted to determine the pattern of antimicrobial susceptibility of species in a tertiary hospital from 2011 to 2018.

Methods: In this retrospective study, the medical records of all patients with infections were reviewed.