Clinicopathological analysis of BRAF and non-BRAF MAPK pathway-altered gliomas in paediatric and adult patients: a single-institution study of 40 patients.

Aims: Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway alteration is a major oncogenic driver in paediatric low-grade gliomas (LGG) and some adult gliomas, encompassing BRAF (most common) and non-BRAF alterations. The aim was to determine the frequency, molecular spectrum and clinicopathological features of MAPK-altered gliomas in paediatric and adult patients at our neuropathology site in Kuwait.

Methods: We retrospectively searched the data of molecularly sequenced gliomas between 2018 and 2023 for MAPK alterations, revised the pathology in view of the 2021 WHO classification and evaluated the clinicopathological data for possible correlations.

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) switched macrophage into M2 phenotype and mitigated necroptosis and increased HSP 70 in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity.

Background And Aim: Many attempts to control acute kidney injury (AKI) have failed due to a lack of understanding of its pathophysiological key components. Macrophages are a crucial determinant of AKI, which can be categorized functionally as M1 pro-inflammatory and M2 anti-inflammatory macrophages. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is currently being investigated as an immune modulator.

Assessing the utility and efficacy of e-OSCE among undergraduate medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its quick progression to a global pandemic has urged medical schools to shift from didactic to distance learning and assessment approaches. The quality of clinical training and assessment have been jeopardized due to the regulatory restrictions and potential hazards to human lives. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the utility and efficacy of an electronic Objective Structured Clinical Examination (e-OSCE), which attempted to transform the format of a face-to-face OSCE to an e-OSCE.

Vitamin D Supplementation Improves Uterine Receptivity in a Rat Model of Vitamin D Deficiency: A Possible Role of HOXA-10/FKBP52 Axis.

Synchronized uterine receptivity with the time of implantation is crucial for pregnancy continuity. Vitamin D (VD) deficiency has been linked to the failure of implantation. Therefore, we tested the link between the Homeobox transcription factor-10/immunophilin FK506-binding protein 52 (HOXA-10/FKBP52) axis and the uterine receptivity in VD-deficient rats.

Dietary Adherence of Saudi Males to the Saudi Dietary Guidelines and Its Relation to Cardiovascular Diseases: A Preliminary Cross-Sectional Study.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major public health problem in Saudi Arabia. Dietary intake plays a major role in CVD incidence; however, the dietary intake status in Saudi nationals with CVD is unknown. We aimed to investigate whether the dietary patterns of Saudi males, using the Saudi dietary guidelines adherence score, in parallel with the measurement of a selective number of cardiovascular disease-related biomarkers, are contributing factors to CVD risk.

Oxidative stress contribution to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children with epilepsy.

Children with epilepsy have a high incidence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Oxidation stress and disturbed neurotransmitters are suggested mechanisms; however, their role is not fully explored. This study evaluates the association between circulating malondialdehyde as an oxidation stress marker, apelin neuropeptide, and ADHD in children with epilepsy.

Impact of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Vitamin D on Transforming Growth Factor Beta Signaling Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Rats.

Background: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling is recognized as being critical for carcinogenesis. Vitamin D has proved to exert numerous tumor suppressive effects. Effects of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) on tumor progression are still controversial.

CD209-336A/G promotor polymorphism and its clinical associations in sickle cell disease Egyptian Pediatric patients.

Objectives: To detect the frequency of CD209 A>G polymorphism in sickle cell disease (SCD) Egyptian patients and to evaluate the use of CD209 A>G polymorphism as a genetic predictor of SCD clinical heterogeneity.

Methods: A total of 100 Egyptian children with SCD and 100 Egyptian controls were tested for CD209 A>G polymorphism and were followed up prospectively between June 2012 and December 2014.

Results: Comparison of CD209 A>G polymorphism among cases and controls did not show statistically significant difference (p = .

Crude Flavonoid Extract of Medicinal Herb Inhibits Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells.

There is an urgent need to improve the clinical management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most common causes of global cancer-related deaths. Zingibar officinale is a medicinal herb used throughout history for both culinary and medicinal purposes. It has antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, and free radical scavenging properties.

Combined effect of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells and nitric oxide inducer on injured gastric mucosa in a rat model.

Aim: To study the effect of intravenous injection of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs), alone and combined with NO inducer in gastric ulcer healing in a rat model.

Methods: Rats were divided into controls, gastric ulcer, gastric ulcer receiving mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), gastric ulcer receiving NO inducer (l-Arginine), gastric ulcer receiving MSCs plus NO inducer (l-Arginine) groups. MSCs were given in a dose of (10cells) by intravenous injection.

Harmal Extract Induces Apoptosis of HCT116 Human Colon Cancer Cells, Mediated by Inhibition of Nuclear Factor-κB and Activator Protein-1 Signaling Pathways and Induction of Cytoprotective Genes.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, being the second most common type of cancer worldwide in both men and women. It accounts yearly for approximately 9% of all new cases of cancers. Furthermore, the current chemotherapeutic regimens seem unsatisfactory, so that exploration of novel therapeutic modalities is needed.

Mechanism of Action of Nigella sativa on Human Colon Cancer Cells: the Suppression of AP-1 and NF-κB Transcription Factors and the Induction of Cytoprotective Genes.

Background And Aims: Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the growth-suppression potentiality of a crude saponin extract (CSENS) prepared from medicinal herb, Nigella sativa, on human colon cancer cells, HCT116.

Materials And Methods: HCT116 cells were subjected to increasing doses of CSENS for 24, 48 and 72 h, and then harvested and assayed for cell viability by WST-1.

Differential control of growth, apoptotic activity and gene expression in human colon cancer cells by extracts derived from medicinal herbs, Rhazya stricta and Zingiber officinale and their combination.

Aim: To investigate the effects of extracts from Rhazya stricta (R. stricta) and Zingiber officinale (Z. officinale) on human colorectal cancer cells.

Effects of crude extracts from medicinal herbs Rhazya stricta and Zingiber officinale on growth and proliferation of human brain cancer cell line in vitro.

Hitherto, limited clinical impact has been achieved in the treatment of glioblastoma (GBMs). Although phytochemicals found in medicinal herbs can provide mankind with new therapeutic remedies, single agent intervention has failed to bring the expected outcome in clinical trials. Therefore, combinations of several agents at once are gaining increasing attractiveness.

The role of bone marrow derived-mesenchymal stem cells in attenuation of kidney function in rats with diabetic nephropathy.

Background: Stem cell therapy holds a great promise for the repair of injured tissues and organs, including the kidney. We studied the effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) on experimental diabetic nephropathy (DN) in rats and the possible paracrine signals that mediate their action.

Materials And Methods: Rats were divided into controls, DN rats, DN rats receiving MSCs.

Signaling mechanisms of a water soluble curcumin derivative in experimental type 1 diabetes with cardiomyopathy.

Background: Curcumin exhibits anti-diabetic activities, induces heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and is an inhibitor of transcriptional co-activator p300. A novel water soluble curcumin derivative (NCD) has been developed to overcome low invivo bioavailability of curcumin. We evaluated the effect of the NCD on signaling mechanisms involved in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and studied whether its action is mediated via inducible HO-1.

Computer modeling technology to assess extracapsular tissue coverage of whole mount sections after retropubic and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

Purpose: The introduction of new surgical approaches to radical prostatectomy requires methodologies that permit valid comparison that are more expedient than long-term outcomes of biochemical local and distant failure and survival. We used a computer modeling program to assess the percent of extracapsular tissue coverage of prostate glands removed by the open retropubic and laparoscopic approaches.

Materials And Methods: Specimens were available for 15 and 17 patients who underwent open and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, respectively.