Gene Expression Profiling of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Type 2 Diabetes: An Exploratory Study.

: Visceral obesity is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation that predisposes to metabolic syndrome. Indeed, infiltration of adipose tissue with immune-inflammatory cells, including 'classical' inflammatory M1 and anti-inflammatory 'alternative' M2 macrophages, causes the release of a variety of bioactive molecules, resulting in the metabolic complications of obesity. This study examined the relative expression of macrophage phenotypic surface markers, cholesterol efflux proteins, scavenger receptors, and adenosine receptors in human circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), isolated from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), with the aim to phenotypically characterize and identify biomarkers for these ill-defined cells.

Emotional Intelligence and its Association with Academic Success and Performance in Medical Students.

Background: Emotional intelligence (EI) is potentially associated with higher academic performance. However, no study from the Gulf region has previously assessed if EI affects academic success and academic performance in medical students.

Objectives: To examine the relationship between EI and academic success and academic performance in a sample of Saudi Arabian medical students.

Cervical spine clearance in unconscious pediatric trauma patients: a level l trauma center experience.

Purpose: To radiographically assess cervical spine clearance in unconscious pediatric trauma patients.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to review pediatric patients with suspected cervical spinal injuries between 2005 and 2018 at King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All pediatric patients aged 15 years and less, who sustained trauma (motor vehicle accident, pedestrian, fall, all-terrain vehicle accident, and sports injures) and were intubated at the scene or in the emergency department, were included.

O-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase promoter methylation and isocitrate dehydrogenase mutation as prognostic factors in a cohort of Saudi patients with glioblastoma.

Background: Treatment of glioblastoma (GB), the most common malignant primary brain tumor in adults, can include alkylating chemo-therapeutic agents. Two molecular biomarkers of treatment response are MGMT (O-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase) promoter methylation and IDH (isocitrate dehydrogenase) mutations, which prevent repair of tumor cell DNA damage caused by alkylating chemotherapy. The status of MGMT promoter methylation and IDH mutation are associated with longer survival and a better response to chemotherapy.