Risk of malignancy and the use of disease-modifying therapy in multiple sclerosis: exploring the role of DMT in a multi-center study.

Background: The potential link between disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) and malignancy in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients has generated significant concern, particularly given the immunosuppressive nature of these treatments. Conflicting evidence in the literature has left this issue unresolved, underscoring the need for definitive research to inform clinical practice. This study addresses this gap by examining cancer occurrence among MS patients on DMTs treated at two tertiary-care centers in Saudi Arabia.

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Receptor Agonists: Exploring Their Impact on Diabetes, Obesity, and Cardiovascular Health Through a Comprehensive Literature Review.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1-RAs) are a novel class of medications promising for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity-related conditions such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This comprehensive literature review examines available research on these medications, focusing on their mechanisms of action, clinical effectiveness, safety profiles, and socioeconomic implications. A comprehensive search was performed using the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases.

Association Between Cardiovascular Disease and Chronic Kidney Disease Prevalence and Characteristics in Saudi Arabia.

Introduction Cardiovascular disease (CVD), including coronary artery disease (CAD), is a leading global cause of death. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant risk factor, particularly in data-scarce Saudi Arabia, due to shared risk factors. A study aims to assess the CVD-CKD relationship, identifying clinical characteristics and risk factors to improve prevention and care in this context, filling a knowledge gap in Saudi Arabia's healthcare map.

Acceptance, Awareness, Attitude, and Practices Toward Heart Transplantation: A Saudi Based Survey.

Introductions: The awareness of brain death and heart donation (HD) among the Saudi population remains limited, coupled with negative attitudes toward heart donation, resulting in a significant gap between the demand for donor hearts and the available supply. This study aimed to comprehensively understand the current perceptions, attitudes, and practices of the Saudi population regarding HD, as well as identify the obstacles. The ultimate goal was to strengthen the local donor pool.

Analyzing Cardiovascular Characteristics of Patients Initially Diagnosed with Breast Cancer in Saudi Arabia.

Introduction Cancer is a condition where abnormal cells proliferate uncontrollably, leading to metastasis, which can be related to death. Breast cancer is the most prevalent type among women worldwide. Early detection with screening mammography has contributed to the decline in breast cancer incidence and mortality.

Case report: A late and isolated presentation of meningoencephalomyelitis uncovers a novel pathogenic variant in the gene.

Background: Bare lymphocyte syndrome type II (BLS II) is a rare form of severe combined immunodeficiency caused by mutations in the gene, which regulates major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) expression.

Objective: We report the case of a Saudi boy with a novel mutation in the gene who presented with acute and late meningoencephalomyelitis, resulting in severe neurodevelopmental regression.

Methods: We reviewed the patient's clinical and laboratory data obtained from medical records and performed a literature search on BLS II.

Investigation of composed charged particles with suspension of ternary hybrid nanoparticles in 3D-power law model computed by Galerkin algorithm.

Transport of heat visualizes a vital role in many industrial developments. Current study is discussing the role of Joule heating, solar thermal radiation, heat generation/absorption, reactions (homogeneous and heterogeneous) with variable thermal conductivity on partially ionized power law material past over a three-dimensional heated stretched surface. The power law model is assumed to have the thermal characteristics of ethylene glycol material.

Early Cytokine Signatures of Hospitalized Mild and Severe COVID-19 Patients: A Prospective Observational Study.

Background: The severe manifestation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is known to be mediated by several cytokines and chemokines. The study aimed to compare the early cytokine profile of mild and severe COVID-19 patients to that with COVID-19-like symptoms and tested negative for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 in the Reverse-Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test.

Methods: This was a prospective, observational study on COVID-19 patients admitted to King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University Medical City from June to November 2020.

Evaluation of solid-lipid nanoparticles formulation of methotrexate for anti-psoriatic activity.

Background & Objectives: Methotrexate (MTX) is commonly used to manage psoriasis. The drug has erratic absorption characteristics and shows several complications. The present study uses different experimental models to evaluate the solid-lipid nanoparticles of MTX (SLN-MTX) for the anti-psoriatic effect.

Rare predicted loss-of-function variants of type I IFN immunity genes are associated with life-threatening COVID-19.

Background: We previously reported that impaired type I IFN activity, due to inborn errors of TLR3- and TLR7-dependent type I interferon (IFN) immunity or to autoantibodies against type I IFN, account for 15-20% of cases of life-threatening COVID-19 in unvaccinated patients. Therefore, the determinants of life-threatening COVID-19 remain to be identified in ~ 80% of cases.

Methods: We report here a genome-wide rare variant burden association analysis in 3269 unvaccinated patients with life-threatening COVID-19, and 1373 unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals without pneumonia.

The Effect of High Altitude on Short-Term Outcomes of Post-hemorrhoidectomy.

Background Hemorrhoids are caused by the distal displacement of the hemorrhoidal cushions and venous distention. Hemorrhoidal illness is still a prevalent issue. Hemorrhoidal symptoms affect 5% of the general population and 50% of people over the age of 50.

Analyzing Factors Influencing Patient Selection of a Surgeon for Elective Surgery in Saudi Arabia: A Questionnaire-Based Survey.

Background: Nowadays patients are encouraged to partake in healthcare decision making and patient preferences are given increasing weight. Patient's choice is important to reduce waiting time and to encourage competition between providers, as most patients look for high-quality care while minimizing costs, according to different studies this may not be as simple as the attributes and factors that patients value when selecting a hospital or surgeon. Overall, Saudi Arabia has minimal research on how patients select surgeons or surgical facilities.

Clinical and biochemical characteristics of people experiencing post-coronavirus disease 2019-related symptoms: A prospective follow-up investigation.

Background: Post-acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) syndrome, also known as long COVID, is a prolonged illness after the acute phase of COVID-19. Hospitalized patients were known to have persisting symptoms of fatigue, headache, dyspnea, and anosmia. There is a need to describe the characteristics of individuals with post-COVID-19 symptoms in comparison to the baseline characteristics.

Risk Factors for Post-cardiac Surgery Infections.

Background Cardiac surgery infection is a life-threatening complication associated with high morbidity and mortality. One of the main types of these infections, surgical site infections (SSIs), also called postoperative wound infections basically delayed the post-surgical recovery in many patients. These infections rarely happen within 30 days after surgery due to different risk factors.

Community Awareness of Congenital Talipes Equinovarus (Clubfoot) in Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV) or clubfoot is known as a deformity characterized by excessively turned-in feet and high medial longitudinal arches. It is one of the most common musculoskeletal abnormalities. It is estimated that approximately 20% of CTEV cases are caused by another congenital disease or syndromic condition.

Awareness of Coronary Artery Disease Risk Factors Among the Population of Taif City, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is responsible for significant mortality and morbidity among patients. Many factors are associated with the increasing prevalence of CAD in a population, including diet and lifestyle, physical inactivity, high cholesterol levels, and others.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to assess the awareness level and knowledge about CAD risk factors and its prevalence among the general population in Taif city, Saudi Arabia.

Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors among Patients with Positive COVID-19 Test Admitted to ICU.

Background: Studies that show common characteristics among ICU-admitted patients due to COVID-19 are available on the net, but such studies in Saudi Arabia are limited.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study establishing common comorbidities and risk factors among critically ill patients who tested positive for COVID-19 at the National Guard Hospital from March 2, 2020, to March 20, 2021. The data were obtained from the BEST Care System of King Abdulaziz Medical City, computed, and analyzed using SPSS.

Impaired IL-23-dependent induction of IFN-γ underlies mycobacterial disease in patients with inherited TYK2 deficiency.

Human cells homozygous for rare loss-of-expression (LOE) TYK2 alleles have impaired, but not abolished, cellular responses to IFN-α/β (underlying viral diseases in the patients) and to IL-12 and IL-23 (underlying mycobacterial diseases). Cells homozygous for the common P1104A TYK2 allele have selectively impaired responses to IL-23 (underlying isolated mycobacterial disease). We report three new forms of TYK2 deficiency in six patients from five families homozygous for rare TYK2 alleles (R864C, G996R, G634E, or G1010D) or compound heterozygous for P1104A and a rare allele (A928V).

Immune dysregulation caused by homozygous mutations in CBLB.

CBL-B is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that ubiquitinates proteins downstream of immune receptors to downregulate positive signaling cascades. Distinct homozygous mutations in CBLB were identified in 3 unrelated children with early-onset autoimmunity, one of whom also had chronic urticaria. Patient T cells exhibited hyperproliferation in response to anti-CD3 cross-linking.

Favipiravir Effectiveness and Safety in Hospitalized Moderate-Severe COVID-19 Patients: Observational Prospective Multicenter Investigation in Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: There are limited data on the efficacy and safety of favipiravir antiviral in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), particularly in the more progressed disease phase. This study aims to evaluate the favipiravir effect on reducing the length of hospital stay and in-hospital mortality among moderate and severe hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Methods: A prospective, multicenter observational study was conducted that included moderate and severe hospitalized adult COVID-19 patients in four major regions (Riyadh (Riyadh), Eastern (Dammam), Al-Qassem (Buraydah), and Macca (Jeddah) of Saudi Arabia.

Poisoning-related emergency department visits: the experience of a Saudi high-volume toxicology center.

Background: Acute poisoning is a major contributing factor to mortality and morbidity. There is a lack of research on the epidemiology of acute poisoning risk factors in Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: Descriptive overview of poisoning cases at a tertiary care center.