Prognostics and Clinical Outcomes in Patients Diagnosed With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Background Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a hematological cancer that causes an accumulation of immature cells in the bone marrow. The count of white blood cells (WBCs) is an independent predictor of survival. Integrating first-line treatment, such as intensive chemotherapy, with prognostic factors aids in developing critical therapeutic decisions and improving long-term outcomes.

Immunogenicity of The BNT162b2 COVID-19 mRNA and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccines in Patients with Hemoglobinopathies.

Introduction: Studies assessing immune responses following Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 (Pfizer) and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 AZD1222 (AstraZeneca) vaccines in patients with hemoglobinopathy are non-existent in the literature despite being thought at high risk of infection.

Methods: Prospectively, we collected serum from patients with hemoglobinopathies at least 14 days post vaccine and measured neutralizing antibodies (nAb) in addition to binding antibodies using in-house assays.

Results: All 66 participants mounted a significant binding antibody response (100%), but nAbs were detected in (56/66) post-vaccine with a rate of 84.

Low clinical utility of testing for anti-platelet factor 4 in asymptomatic individuals after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine.

Introduction: The development of anti-platelet factor 4 (PF4) antibodies is linked to a rare thrombotic complication described now as vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT). This clinical syndrome with thrombosis and thrombocytopenia was reported after exposure to the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AZD1222), and Ad26.COV2.

Prognostics and Clinical Outcomes in Patients Diagnosed With Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in a Teaching Hospital.

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disease. Prognosis and survival depend on several factors that determine tumor behavior and response to therapy. AML has a poor prognosis that depends on several factors: patient's age, gender, body mass index (BMI), baseline white blood cells count, and bone marrow blast (BMB) cell count at the time of diagnosis.

Mutations Encountered in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Retrospective Study in a Teaching Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Background Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is an invasive cancer that results from the malignant conversion and rapid replication of white blood cells and hematopoietic stem cells that supply multiple lymphocytes. Harmful gene mutations occur in more than two-thirds of patients with ALL; however, these mutations have not been extensively identified in Saudi Arabia. Aim The aim of this study was to identify the types of mutations in patients with ALL at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) in Jeddah.

A Novel Nanoformulation of Ellagic Acid is Promising in Restoring Oxidative Homeostasis in Rat Brains with Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: Aluminum toxicity induces neurodegenerative changes in the brain and results in Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Objective: Here, the aim was to evaluate the antioxidant therapeutic effects of ellagic acid (EA) and EA-loaded nanoparticles (EA-NP) in an aluminum chloride-induced AD rat model.

Methods: The nanoparticles' loading of EA was 0.

Untargeted Metabolomics Identifies Key Metabolic Pathways Altered by Thymoquinone in Leukemic Cancer Cells.

Thymoquinone (TQ), a naturally occurring anticancer compound extracted from oil, has been extensively reported to possess potent anti-cancer properties. Experimental studies showed the anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, and anti-metastatic effects of TQ on different cancer cells. One of the possible mechanisms underlying these effects includes alteration in key metabolic pathways that are critical for cancer cell survival.

Consensus Statement by an Expert Panel on the Diagnosis and Management of Iron Deficiency Anemia in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries.

Background: Iron deficiency (ID) and ID anemia (IDA) are common in the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The unique genetic and lifestyle factors of the patient population in the region have necessitated the development of recommendations to help educate health-care professionals on appropriate diagnosis and management of ID/IDA.

Methods: A panel of regional experts, including gastroenterologists and hematologists with expertise in the treatment of IDA, was convened to develop regional practice recommendations for ID/IDA.

Knowledge and attitude toward hemoglobinopathies premarital screening program among unmarried population in western Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: To assess the knowledge and attitude toward hemoglobinopathies premarital screening (PMS) program among unmarried population in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1039 unmarried males and females from the general population who fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Data was collected from July-December 2017, using an electronic questionnaire to assess the socio-demographic data, knowledge and attitudes of the participants regarding PMS.

Antimicrobial effect of different types of honey on .

Honey exhibits antimicrobial activities against a wide range of bacteria in different milieu. This study aims to compare the effects of five types of honey (both imported and local Saudi honey) against . The five types of honey (Manuka Honey UMF +20, Manuka Honey UMF +16, Active +10 Manuka Honey, Sidr honey and honey) were evaluated for their bactericidal/bacteriostatic activities against both methicillin resistant and sensitive .

The effect of wet cupping on quality of life of adult patients with chronic medical conditions in King Abdulaziz University Hospital.

To assess the effect of wet cupping on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of adult patients with chronic medical conditions, who were referred to the Cupping Clinic of King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A controlled, quasi-experimental study design was carried out among 629 patients referred for cupping from the KAUH Specialty Clinics, during the period from January to December 2014. Patients in the intervention group (309 patients) completed a pre-test included WHO quality of life-BREF, received one wet-cupping session, and filled-out the post-test (1 month later).

Deviating from safety guidelines during deferiprone therapy in clinical practice may not be associated with higher risk of agranulocytosis.

Background: A risk associated with the iron chelator deferiprone is the development of neutropenia or agranulocytosis. Accordingly, the product label recommends weekly blood monitoring and immediate interruption of treatment upon detection of an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) <1.5 × 10(9)/L, out of concern that continued therapy might lead to a more severe drop.

Regional consensus opinion for the management of Beta thalassemia major in the Arabian Gulf area.

Thalassemia syndrome has diverse clinical presentations and a global spread that has far exceeded the classical Mediterranean basin where the mutations arose. The mutations that give rise to either alpha or beta thalassemia are numerous, resulting in a wide spectrum of clinical severity ranging from carrier state to life-threatening, inherited hemolytic anemia that requires regular blood transfusion. Beta thalassemia major constitutes a remarkable challenge to health care providers.

Flow cytometric assessment of leukocyte function in sickle cell anemia.

Sickle cell anemia is associated with susceptibility to infection due to hyposplenism and the reduced ability of neutrophils to kill pathogenic organisms. In this study, blood samples from sickle cell anemia patients were divided into two groups: the painful crisis group and the steady state group. Flow cytometric assessment of phagocytosis and burst formation of neutrophils and monocytes as well as basophil function were performed, and these were compared to those of age- and sex-matched normal control subjects.

Diagnosis and management of sickle cell disorders.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a wide-spread inherited hemolytic anemia that is due to a point mutation leading to a valine/glutamic acid substitution in the beta-globin chain, causing a spectrum of clinical manifestations in addition to hemolysis and anemia. Acute painful crisis is a common sequela that can cause significant morbidity and negatively impact the patient's quality of life. Remarkable improvements in our understanding of the pathogenesis of this clinical syndrome and the role of cell adhesion, inflammation, and coagulation in acute painful crisis have led to changes in the management of pain.

Pattern of HB F level rise during normal pregnancies.

Fetal hemoglobin (Hb F) is the normal hemoglobin (Hb) that is present in the fetus and usually almost absent in adults. The objective of this study was to assess the changes in Hb F levels during normal pregnancy. The level of Hb F was determined in serial blood samples from women at different stages of pregnancy using cation exchange high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and compared to age and sex-matched controls.

Reduction of painful vaso-occlusive crisis of sickle cell anaemia by tinzaparin in a double-blind randomized trial.

A randomized double-blind clinical trial was performed to test the safety and efficacy of a low-molecular-weight heparin, tinzaparin (Innohep), for the management of acute painful vasoocclusive crisis characteristic of sickle cell anemia (SCA). We studied 253 patients with acute painful crisis but with no other complications of SCA, randomized to treatment or control groups. In the treatment group, 127 patients received tinzaparin at 175 IU/kg, subcutaneous once daily, along with supportive care including morphine analgesia; in the control group, 126 patients received placebo and the same supportive care.

Recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of deep vein thrombosis: a regional consensus.

Considerable progress has been made in the understanding of the risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE). The clinical applications of molecular techniques have allowed identification of important inherited, yet not uncommon, risk factors for VTE, such as mutations that cause Factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A. However, advances in our understanding have raised several questions regarding the need for, and duration of anticoagulation.