Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole versus levofloxacin for the treatment of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infections: A multicentre cohort study.

Background: Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) has long been considered the treatment of choice for infections caused by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Levofloxacin has emerged as a potential option for treating these infections. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes in patients who received TMP-SMX versus levofloxacin for treating S.

Self-assembling Organogels Loaded with Tenoxicam for Local Intensive Pain and Inflammation Cure: In Vitro and In Vivo Correlation.

Due to tenoxicam (TX)'s poor aqueous solubility (0.072 mg/ml), it is poorly absorbable in the GIT, and the long-term oral administration of TX may cause severe GIT disturbances. Topical administration of TX can help in bypassing the GIT adverse effects.

Successful utilization of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and dexamethasone in a patient with total artificial heart and COVID-19: A case report.

Rationale: Management of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been the subject of extensive research and study, leading to the development of strategies and treatments. Nonetheless, there remains a dearth of information concerning patients who require mechanical circulatory system support. This case report presents one of the first documented cases of successful utilization of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) and dexamethasone in the treatment of a patient with a total artificial heart.

Oncofertility care and influencing factors among cancer patients of reproductive age from Saudi Arabia.

Background: More cancer survivors and a greater burden of long-term side effects have resulted from rising cancer incidence, improved treatment modalities, and younger age at cancer diagnosis. Treatment- related Infertility (TRI) is a well-known sequelae. This study looked at current oncofertility support and fertility preservation (FP) in men and women of reproductive age with cancer in Saudi Arabia, where there is little knowledge on the subject.

Outcomes of Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Treated with Trifluridine/Tipiracil beyond the Second Line: A Multicenter Retrospective Study from Saudi Arabia.

Background: The outcome of patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treated with trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) beyond the second-line has not been studied in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this multicenter retrospective analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of FTD/TPI.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective analysis included five centers in Saudi Arabia.

Incidence of trastuzumab-induced cardiotoxicity and impact of body mass index in patients with breast cancer: Results from a Saudi tertiary cancer center.

The effect of BMI as a risk factor in trastuzumab-induced cardiotoxicity in Saudi patients with HER2-neu positive breast cancer treated with trastuzumab and anthracyclines is not fully understood. The present study retrospectively evaluated the overall incidence of cardiotoxicity and the effect of BMI as a risk factor for cardiotoxicity. A retrospective study performed between 2011 and 2015 of patients with Her2-neu positive early breast cancer who were treated with either a combination of trastuzumab and anthracycline or a combination of trastuzumab with non-anthracycline or hormonal treatment in the adjuvant settings was carried out.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with heart failure admitted to the intensive care unit with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): A multicenter cohort study.

Background: Patients with underlying heart failure (HF) in the setting of COVID-19 who require admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) might present with a unique set of challenges. This study aims to extensively describe the characteristics and outcomes of patients with HF who were admitted to ICU with COVID-19.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective analysis for all adult patients with HF and an objectively confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 who were admitted to ICUs between March 1 and August 31, 2020, in Saudi Arabia.

Ceramide expression in relation to breast cancer molecular subtypes in Saudi women.

Background/introduction: Despite advances in the diagnosis and management of breast cancer (BC), it is still associated with high mortality rates. New biomarkers are being developed for the diagnosis, treatment, and prediction of responses of BC. Ceramide (CER), a bioactive sphingolipid, has emerged recently as a useful diagnostic tool in several types of tumors.

Platelet count patterns and patient outcomes in sepsis at a tertiary care center: Beyond the APACHE score.

Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE-II) scoring system is used to classify disease severity of patients in the intensive care unit. However, several limitations render the scoring system inadequate in identifying risk factors associated with outcomes. Little is known about the association of platelet count patterns, and the timing of platelet count and other hematologic parameters in predicting mortality in patients with sepsis.

Prognostic significance of estrogen, progesterone and HER2 receptors' status conversion following neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced breast cancer: Results from a tertiary Cancer Center in Saudi Arabia.

Background: The prognostic impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) on the receptor expression status in patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) is still not fully understood. We aimed to evaluate the changes in hormone (estrogen and progesterone) receptor (HR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status post-NAC and their correlation with survival.

Methods: Patients with LABC who have received NAC between 2008 and 2015 and have been followed up till December 2019 at the Oncology Center, King Saud University, KSA were analyzed retrospectively.

Prognostic Significance of HER2 Expression Changes Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Saudi Patients With Locally Advanced Breast Cancer.

Background: Progesterone receptor (PR), estrogen receptor (ER), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) significantly influence disease prognosis and therapeutic response in patients with breast cancer. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) can change the receptor status, affecting the disease characteristics.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective chart review was carried out at a single tertiary care hospital in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from December 2008 to December 2014, where 91 adult female patients diagnosed with locally advanced breast cancer planning to receive NACT were included.

Factors Affecting the Decision to Initiate Anticoagulation After Spine Surgery: Findings From the AOSpine Anticoagulation Global Initiative.

Study Design: Cross-sectional, international survey.

Objectives: To identify factors influencing pharmacologic anticoagulation initiation after spine surgery based on the AOSpine Anticoagulation Global Survey.

Methods: This survey was distributed to the international membership of AOSpine (n = 3805).

Perioperative Anticoagulation Management in Spine Surgery: Initial Findings From the AO Spine Anticoagulation Global Survey.

Study Design: Cross-sectional, international survey.

Objectives: This study addressed the global perspectives concerning perioperative use of pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis during spine surgery along with its risks and benefits.

Methods: A questionnaire was designed and implemented by expert members in the AO Spine community.

Restructuring the inpatient advanced pharmacy practice experience to reduce the risk of contracting coronavirus disease 2019: Lessons from Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization announced the rapidly spreading epidemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Almost all countries started to take proactive precautionary measures to reduce the risk of contracting the virus. The education sector, including pharmacy education, has been drastically impacted by this pandemic.

A Multicenter Study of the Impact of Body Mass Index (BMI) on the incidence of Pathologic Complete Response (pCR) Among Saudi Patients with locally advanced Breast cancer (LABC) post Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy (NAC).

Purpose: Obesity was reported to be a poor prognostic factor for breast cancer. There is a growing evidence of increasing prevalence of obesity among Saudi women across all age groups (44%). Since the prognostic significance of obesity was not studied in Saudi patients with breast cancer, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of BMI on pCR in LABC patients post NAC.

Bilateral adrenal hemorrhage in antiphospholipid syndrome. Anticoagulation for the treatment of hemorrhage.

A 43-year-old man with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and previous thromboembolic events treated with warfarin for 6 months, presented with right flank pain accompanied with vomiting, dizziness, and altered mental status 2 weeks after discontinuation of warfarin. His clinical examination findings were unremarkable. Routine blood work showed lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, and hypoosmolar hyponatremia.

Prevalence of Bleeding Symptoms among Adolescents and Young Adults in the Capital City of Saudi Arabia.

Background: Bleeding disorders vary in prevalence. While some are rare, some can be common in both sexes. Most bleeding disorders manifest as chronic bleeding tendencies or as an increase in bleeding during surgical procedures or trauma.

Influence of ABO blood group on von Willebrand factor tests in healthy Saudi blood donors.

: Von Willebrand disease is a common bleeding disorder. The wide variation in von Willebrand factor (VWF) levels between and within normal individuals highlights the clinical challenge of defining its cutoff value. Although studies on the influence of ethnicity on ABO phenotypes and the levels of VWF have been carried out on different ethnicities, there is a lack of such data among Arab population.

Saudi lung cancer management guidelines 2017.

Background: Lung cancer management is getting more complex due to the rapid advances in all aspects of diagnostic and therapeutic options. Developing guidelines is critical to help practitioners provide standard of care.

Methods: The Saudi Lung Cancer Guidelines Committee (SLCGC) multidisciplinary members from different specialties and from various regions and healthcare sectors of the country reviewed and updated all lung cancer guidelines with appropriate labeling of level of evidence.

Predictive and prognostic significance of CD8 tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in patients with luminal B/HER 2 negative breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

The immunobiology of breast cancer (BC) subtypes, including luminal cancer, remains unclear. Cluster of differentiation (CD)8 tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) are essential components of tumor-specific cellular adaptive immunity. However, only few studies have addressed the significance of cluster of differentiation 8(CD8) TIL in patients with luminal BC.

Cathepsin B expression in colorectal cancer in a Middle East population: Potential value as a tumor biomarker for late disease stages.

Cathepsin B (CTSB), is a cysteine protease belonging to the cathepsin (Clan CA) family. The diagnostic and prognostic significance of increased CTSB in the serum of cancer patients have been evaluated for some tumor types. CTSB serum and protein levels have also been reported previously in colorectal cancer (CRC) with contradictory results.

Beware of positive pressure: coronary artery air embolism following percutaneous lung biopsy.

Patients undergoing percutaneous lung biopsy are at risk of developing a systemic air embolism. Air embolism may manifest as a catastrophic iatrogenic event with ischemic insult to the end organs, with sites of least resistance such as coronary and cerebral circulation the most susceptible. We review the available literature and present a case of iatrogenic air embolism during computed tomography guided percutaenous lung biopsy under general anesthesia.