Computer vision syndrome, visual ergonomics and amelioration among staff members in a Saudi medical college.

Nearly 60 million people suffer from computer vision syndrome (CVS) globally, resulting in reduced work productivity. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of CVS, describe the working conditions, visualize ergonomic factors and determine preventive measures application among university staff members. .

Human umbilical cord blood-mesenchymal stem cells transplantation renovates the ovarian surface epithelium in a rat model of premature ovarian failure: Possible direct and indirect effects.

This study aimed to isolate mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from human umbilical cord blood (HCB) and to explore their influence on the ovarian epithelium after paclitaxel-induced ovarian failure. Ninety-five rats were divided into 6 groups: control, paclitaxel, paclitaxel and saline, HCB-MSC-treated for 2 weeks, HCB-MSC-treated for 4 weeks, and HCB-MSC-treated for 6 weeks. HCB cells were studied for CD34, CD44, and Oct ¾ using flow cytometry.

Serum amyloid a gene polymorphism and its association with lipid profile in Saudi females with osteoporosis.

Background And Objective: Osteoporosis can be defined as a systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and micro architectural decline of bone tissue. Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a family of protein that increases up to 1,000-fold in blood during inflammation. In this study, we aimed to study the relationship between SAA1 gene polymorphism (rs12218) and lipid profile and osteoporosis.

Platelet rich plasma enhances the immunohistochemical expression of platelet derived growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in the synovium of the meniscectomized rat models of osteoarthritis.

This study was carried out on a rat model of surgically-induced osteoarthritis (OA) to assess the histological and immunohistochemical changes in the synovial membrane and to evaluate the effects of intra-articular injection of platelet rich plasma (PRP) in such cases. Forty five male albino rats were divided into 3 equal groups; control, surgically-induced OA and surgically-induced OA followed by intra-articular injection of PRP. Knee joints were processed for histological and immunohistochemical staining with anti-platelet derived growth factor (PDGF-A) and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the area percentages of immunostaining were measured by digital image analysis.

Placental growth factor and soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 in diabetic pregnancy: A possible relation to distal villous immaturity.

This study aimed to describe the prevalence of chorionic distal villous immaturity (DVI) in overt diabetic/gestational diabetic (OD/GD) women compared with normoglycemic ones and to analyze the relation of DVI index (DVII) to placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1). Three groups were studied; normoglycemics (n=21), OD (n=17) and GD (n=20). Maternal blood samples were evaluated regarding serum levels of PlGF and sFlt-1.

Type 1/type 2 cytokine serum levels and role of interleukin-18 in children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome.

Introduction: In view of the conflicting evidence of helper T cell type 1 (Th1) or type 2 (Th2) pattern of cytokine synthesis in steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS), this study aimed to assess type-1/type-2 cytokines level in different stages of SSNS and to evaluate the role of IL-18.

Methods: We prospectively studied thirty children with SSNS, aged 2-12 years. The children were evaluated in the active stage before treatment initiation and re-evaluated again during remission while still on steroid treatment.

Ovarian volume assessment in relation to histologic findings and sex hormone levels in women with postmenopausal bleeding and thickened endometrium.

Background And Objectives: In postmenopausal women, ovarian stromal hyperplasia and endometrial cancer are often identified concurrently. The aim of the present study was to verify the association of ovarian volume with histologic findings and sex hormones levels in women with postmenopausal bleeding and thickened endometrium.

Design And Setting: Prospective observational study conducted in a teaching hospital between March 2008 and February 2010

Patients And Methods: Ninety women with postmenopausal bleeding and thickened endometrium (>=5 mm) were enrolled.

MAGE-4 gene m-RNA and TGF in blood as potential biochemical markers for HCC in HCV-infected patients.

Progression from chronic hepatitis C virus infection to cirrhosis then to hepatocellular carcinoma usually results in some protein changes in peripheral blood. We evaluated MAGE-4 mRNA, TGFβ1 and AFP in peripheral blood as potential biochemical markers for diagnosis and prognosis of some complications of HCV infection. MAGE-4 mRNA in blood by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, serum TGF-Β1 and AFP by ELISA was assayed in seventy-five individuals who were classified into five groups: group I (control) comprised fifteen apparently healthy volunteers, group II involved fifteen HCV-infected patients without cirrhosis, group III involved fifteen HCV fifteen HCV-infected patients with cirrhosis, group IV included fifteen HCV-infected patients with cirrhosis and early stage HCC, and group V included fifteen HCV cirrhotic patients and late-stage HCC.

Association of CD4 enhancer gene polymorphisms with rheumatoid arthritis in Egyptian female patients.

CD4 is a candidate gene in autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Because the CD4 receptor is crucial for appropriate antigen responses of CD4+ T cells, changes in CD4 expression and CD4+ T-cell activity may influence tolerance or tissue destruction in autoimmune diseases and contribute to their risk. We analyzed two polymorphisms of the CD4 in 172 female Egyptian patients with RA and in 112 matched healthy control.

Vitamin A status in wheezing Saudi children.

Objective: To examine the serum retinol levels of wheezing children, and to investigate the relation as an biochemical indicator of vitamin A status in wheezing children between serum levels of retinol and severity of wheezing.

Methods: A prospective cohort study including 400 wheezing Saudi children aged 3-36 months, who were treated in the pediatrics ward of Ohoud Public Hospital in Al-Madinah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between January 2009 and August 2010. Patients were subdivided according to the course of wheeze into 93 patients with persistent wheeze, and 307 patients with acute wheeze.

Interleukin-13 receptor A1 gene polymorphism and IL-13 serum level in atopic and non-atopic Egyptian children.

Objectives: To assess serum interleukin (IL) 13 levels in atopic diseases and to determine the role of IL-13R A(1) gene polymorphism (+1398 A/G) in pathogenesis of these diseases.

Methods: Serum total immunoglobulin (Ig) E and IL-13 levels were measured by ELISA and the IL-13R A(1) gene (+1398 A/G) was screened by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in 240 asthmatic children (120 atopic and 120 nonatopic) and 120 allergic rhinitis patients compared with 120 age-matched controls.

Results: No significant association was observed between genotype frequencies of the IL-13R A(1) +1398 A/G polymorphism in patients groups compared to in controls.

Assessment of cell-free DNA with microvascular complication of type II diabetes mellitus, using PCR and ELISA.

In order to assess the potential biochemical markers in the development, diagnosis, and prognosis of diabetic patient with microvascular complication represented with retinopathy, we analyzed the levels of cell-free DNA by two different techniques. The levels of cell-free GAPDH assayed by quantitative PCR were significantly higher in the plasma samples of diabetic patients with and without diabetic retinopathy than in those of the control group; thus, it is a better biomarker than nucleosomes assayed by ELISA in patients with type 2 diabetes for the early detection of development of microvascular complications as retinopathy.