Establishment of reference intervals for free light chains and immunoglobulins in Saudi population.

Objectives: Testing of serum-free light chains kappa (κ) and lambda (λ), along with ratio (FLCR) is essential for the diagnosis and management of monoclonal gammopathies. Accurate clinical diagnosis depends upon appropriate local population reference intervals (RIs). This study examined the Saudi population for serum-free light chains and other immunoglobulins to establish RIs and to explore variations in the test results by using the International Federation for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine's global protocol for harmonized implementation of RI study.

Comparison of Point-of-Care and Laboratory Glycated Hemoglobin A1c and Its Relationship to Time-in-Range and Glucose Variability: A Real-World Study.

Introduction The main objective of the current study was to perform a comparison of point-of-care testing for hemoglobin A1c (POCT-HbA1c) versus the standard laboratory method (Lab HbA1c) and their relationship to time-in-range (TIR) and glucose variability (GV) among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) presented to the outpatient diabetes clinics. Methods This single-center cross-sectional study was carried out on diabetic patients (aged ≥14 years of both genders) who undergo routine follow-up at our institution and whose physicians ordered HbA1c analysis for routine care. The included patients were those using the intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) Abbott's FreeStyle Libre system for at least three months and regular CGM users with at least 70% use.

Level of Agreement and Correlation Between the Estimated Hemoglobin A1c Results Derived by Continuous or Conventional Glucose Monitoring Systems Compared with the Point-of-Care or Laboratory-Based Measurements: An Observational Study.

Introduction: Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) is an important marker for diabetes care management. With the increasing use of new technologies such as continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and point-of-care testing (POCT), patients and their physicians have been able to monitor and continuously check their blood glucose levels in an efficient and timely manner. This study aimed to investigate the level of agreement between the standard laboratory test for HbA1c (Lab-HbA1c) with point-of-care testing (POCT-HbA1c) and glucose monitoring index (GMI) derived by intermittently scanned CGM (isCGM) or estimated average glucose (eAG) derived by conventional self-monitored blood glucose (SMBG) devices.

Immunohistochemistry of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in spleens of mice treated with gold nanoparticles.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) possess considerable biocompatibility and therefore gaining more attention for their biomedical applications. Previous studies have shown the transient increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines expression in different organs of rats and mice exposed to AuNPs. Structural changes in the spleen of mice treated with AuNPs have also been reported.

Biomarker potential of C-peptide for screening of insulin resistance in diabetic and non-diabetic individuals.

Insulin resistance is a hallmark feature of type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We determined the homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and evaluated its association with C-peptide, insulin, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in T2DM patients and non-diabetic subjects. This study comprised a total of 47 T2DM patients and 38 non-diabetic controls.

Assessment of gender-related differences in vitamin D levels and cardiovascular risk factors in Saudi patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) including stroke, coronary heart disease, and peripheral artery disease. It remains a leading cause of mortality throughout the world, affecting both women and men. This investigation was aimed to study gender based differences in cardiovascular risk factors of adult population with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to check the correlation between serum HbA1C, lipid profile and serum vitamin D levels, in T2DM patients of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Double diabetes in Saudi Arabia: A new entity or an underestimated condition.

Aim: To determine the clinical and biological characteristics of double diabetes (DD) among young people in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive chart review study including 312 young newly diagnosed diabetic patients (aged 12-20 years), whom were admitted over a five year period (January 2009 to December 2013). Family history of diabetes mellitus (DM) (first degree), physical body mass index (BMI), acanthosis nigricans, history of auto-immune disease and laboratory information for glycosylated hemoglobin, basal C peptide level and diabetes autoantibody response (anti-GAD, anti-IA2 and anti-ICA) were collected from medical report.

Evaluation of HbA1c criteria for diagnosis of diabetes mellitus: a retrospective study of 12 785 type 2 Saudi male patients.

Recently, American Diabetic Association has recommended glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c ≥6.5%) as an alternate to fasting plasma glucose (FPG ≥7.0 mmol/L) for diagnosis of diabetes.

Alterations in prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) respectively measures the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways of coagulation and are used to determine the bleeding or clotting tendency of blood. We compared PT and aPTT levels in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients and normal subjects. There were significant increases in PT levels in patients with STEMI (15.

Lipid profile of patients with acute myocardial infarction and its correlation with systemic inflammation.

The biomarker potential of using various lipids fractions for predicting risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is controversial. We therefore compared the lipid profiles, including serum total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and triglycerides (TG), in 67 AMI patients. Patients included 28 STEMI (ST-elevated myocardial infarction) patients, 39 NSTEMI (non-ST-elevated myocardial infarction) patients and 25 patients with chest pain.

Blood cell counts and their correlation with creatine kinase and C-reactive protein in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

This study reports differential blood cells counts and their correlations with creatine kinase (CK) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients and normal subjects. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from all 39 AMI patients and 35 controls for blood cell counts and CK and CRP analyses. Total WBC, WBC fractions, RBC and platelets were measured with an automated hematology analyzer.

Assessment of alpha-fetoprotein in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in Middle Eastern patients.

Background: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may vary by geographical region and racial background. No data exists for this test in the Middle Eastern population. In addition, there is limited data on the impact of virological status on AFP levels.

Effect of age on pituitary gonadal hormonal responses of saudi male patients on hemodialysis.

The pituitary gonadal axis of men with chronic renal failure is disturbed even when there is moderate reduction of the glomerular filtration rate. This axis is also disturbed in the ageing male. The present investigation was undertaken to study the pituitary gonadal hormonal response in Saudi male patients, belonging to two different age-groups, on regular hemodialysis (HD).

Paired values of serum fructosamine and blood glucose for the screening of gestational diabetes mellitus: A retrospective study of 165 Saudi pregnant women.

This study reports the utilization of serum fructosamine and blood glucose for the screening of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Blood samples from 165 pregnant women were analyzed for fasting blood glucose (FBG), random blood glucose (RBG) and serum fructosamine. The actual fructosamine levels were corrected for serum protein (c-Fruct) for more precise presentation.

Bromophenacyl bromide, a phospholipase A2 inhibitor attenuates chemically induced gastroduodenal ulcers in rats.

Aim: To study the effect of bromophenacyl bromide (BPB), a phospholipase A2 inhibitor on gastric secretion and to protect chemically induced gastric and duodenal ulcers in rats.

Methods: Acid secretion studies were undertaken in pylorus-ligated rats with BPB treatment (0, 5, 15 and 45 mg/kg). Gastric and duodenal lesions in the rats were induced by ethanol and cysteamine respectively.

HLA-DRB1 association in Saudi rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Association between HLA-DRB1 alleles and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been known for more than three decades. However, the strength of these links varies between ethnic groups. This study examines the frequency of HLA-DRB1 alleles amongst Saudi RA patients.

Impact of gestational diabetes on lipid profiling and indices of oxidative stress in maternal and cord plasma.

Objective: To study the effect of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on indices of oxidative stress and lipid profiles in maternal and cord blood samples.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 40 normal pregnant women and 46 women with GDM during the period 1998 through to 1999 at the Armed Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The GDM patients were subdivided into 2 groups: patients receiving insulin treatment (GDM-I, N=19) and patients under control diet (GDM-D, N=27).

Biochemical detection of minor myocardial injury after elective, uncomplicated, successful percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with stable angina: clinical outcome.

Background: Minor elevations of creatine kinase MB isoform (CK-MB) identified a population with a worse long-term prognosis after successful coronary intervention. Recent studies provide evidence that cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is more sensitive than CK-MB for the detection of minor myocardial injury after coronary intervention. The purpose of the study was to determine the prognostic value of cTnI elevation after elective uncomplicated successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Screening for congenital hypothyroidism.

Objective: To review the screening program for congenital hypothyroidism in the Riyadh Al-Kharj Hospital Programme, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and to investigate the clinical and biochemical characteristics of affected infants.

Methods: The study was carried out from 1985 to 2000 in the Clinical Chemistry Division, Department of Pathology, Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Laboratory data and case notes of infants diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism were used to supply the relevant data and information.