Deciphering the role of claudins in lung cancer.

Lung cancer remains a major global health challenge, characterized by aggressive malignancy and poor prognostic outcomes. This review article focuses on the pivotal role of claudins, a family of tight junction proteins, in the pathophysiology of lung cancer. Claudins are integral to maintaining epithelial barrier function and cellular polarity, yet they are intricately involved in the progression and metastasis of lung cancer.

Assessing the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder in a multicultural medical education setting in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Mental health among medical students is an area that has been increasingly garnering world-wide attention. Yet, despite this increased attention, research related to anxiety disorders in Saudi Arabia remain limited. This study aims to address this gap by assessing the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) as well as explore its association with students' sociodemographic factors and academic performance among medical students in a Saudi Arabian institute that has a diverse, multicultural student body.

Associations between total, free and bioavailable 25-hydroxyvitamin D forms with adiponectin and irisin in maternal-neonatal pairs at birth from Greece.

Background: Apart from the well-established skeletal effects, itamin D has been explored as a secretagogue influencing various adipokines, including adiponectin and irisin. Recent evidence suggests that specific forms of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25(OHD), such as free and bioavailable 25(OH)D, may provide more accurate measurements of vitamin D status. The relationship between vitamin D status and serum irisin and adiponectin concentrations remains largely unexplored, particularly during pregnancy.

Cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy and intraoperative radiation therapy in the management of gallbladder cancer: a case report.

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a rare and highly aggressive malignancy, often characterized by nonspecific clinical presentations and late diagnosis, which contribute to its poor prognosis. It is commonly detected at advanced stages, leading to low survival rates. Surgical resection is the primary treatment, with the extent of surgery depending on the T stage of the cancer.

Rare Case of Recurrent Adamantinoma of the Tibia: Limited Efficacy of Pazopanib as a Standalone Treatment.

BACKGROUND Adamantinoma is a rare low-grade malignant bone tumor, usually found in the tibial diaphysis and metaphysis, with histological similarities to mandibular ameloblastoma. The most effective treatment of recurrent adamantinoma is not yet clear. This report is of a 22-year-old woman with recurrent tibial adamantinoma treated with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor pazopanib.

Unraveling the epigenetic fabric of type 2 diabetes mellitus: pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic implications.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a rapidly escalating global health concern, with its prevalence projected to increase significantly in the near future. This review delves into the intricate role of epigenetic modifications - including DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and micro-ribonucleic acid (miRNA) expression - in the pathogenesis and progression of T2DM. We critically examine how these epigenetic changes contribute to the onset and exacerbation of T2DM by influencing key pathogenic processes such as obesity, insulin resistance, β-cell dysfunction, cellular senescence, and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Beyond the curriculum: unveiling medical students' drivers and barriers to research participation at Alfaisal University.

Medical education continually adapts to the needs of future health care professionals, with student motivation in research being a pivotal aspect. This study at Alfaisal University aimed to explore the motivations, benefits, and challenges faced by medical students in extracurricular research activities. Using a mixed-method approach, we combined quantitative surveys with qualitative group interviews.

Claudins in genitourinary tract neoplasms: mechanisms, prognosis, and therapeutic prospects.

Genitourinary (GU) cancers are among the most prevalent neoplasms in the world, with bladder cancers constituting 3% of global cancer diagnoses. However, several pathogenetic mechanisms remain controversial and unclear. Claudins, for example, have been shown to play a significant role in several cancers of the human body.

Brain-inhabiting bacteria and neurodegenerative diseases: the "brain microbiome" theory.

Controversies surrounding the validity of the toxic proteinopathy theory of Alzheimer's disease have led the scientific community to seek alternative theories in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders (ND). Recent studies have provided evidence of a microbiome in the central nervous system. Some have hypothesized that brain-inhabiting organisms induce chronic neuroinflammation, leading to the development of a spectrum of NDs.

A decade in focus: mixed germ cell tumors with choriocarcinoma components.

Introduction: This 10-year registry review aimed to investigate the clinical behaviour and outcomes of mixed germ cell tumours with choriocarcinoma components, a rare and aggressive subtype of testicular cancer, in Saudi Arabia. The study explores the demographic characteristics of affected patients, tumour profiles, and the mortality rate associated with this malignancy.

Methods: Utilizing data from the Saudi Cancer Registry, the authors identified 33 cases of mixed germ cell tumours with choriocarcinoma components among 1001 testicular cancer cases recorded between 2008 and 2017.

Associations of free, bioavailable and total 25-hydroxyvitamin D with neonatal birth anthropometry and calcium homoeostasis in mother-child pairs in a sunny Mediterranean region.

Sufficient vitamin D status is crucial for successful pregnancy and fetal development. The assessment of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations is commonly used to evaluate vitamin D status. Our objective was to examine the interrelated biodynamics of maternal and neonatal total, free and bioavailable 25(OH)D in maternal-neonatal dyads at birth and their associations with homeostasis and neonatal birth anthropometry.

Aberrant Expression of Claudins in Head and Neck Carcinomas and Their Prognostic and Therapeutic Value: A Narrative Review.

Head and neck carcinomas have been associated with poor prognosis. Recent studies have highlighted the role of claudins' expression in tumors throughout the body, and their prognostic and therapeutic role. Understanding the role of claudins and how their expression affects the progression of carcinomas in the head and neck region may allow for advances in the prognosis and management of this type of cancer.

Expression of Claudins in Preneoplastic Conditions of the Gastrointestinal Tract: A Review.

Premalignant lesions of the gastrointestinal tract are a group of disorders which act as the harbinger of malignant tumors. They are the ground-zero of neoplastic transformation, and their identification and management offer patients the best opportunity of blocking the progress of cancer. However, diagnoses of some of these conditions are hard to make, and their clinical importance is difficult to assess.

Utilization of the emergency department by kidney transplant recipients: a retrospective cohort study from a high-volume transplant center.

Unlabelled: This study aims to assess the trends of emergency department (ED) visits among kidney transplant recipients in a high-volume transplant centre.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study targeted patients who underwent renal transplantation at a high-volume transplant centre from 2016 to 2020. The main outcomes of the study were ED visits within 30 days, 31-90 days, 91-180 days, and 181-365 days of transplantation.

A Young Patient with Undiagnosed Polycythemia-Paraganglioma Syndrome: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Erythrocytosis results from primary or secondary causes and is characterized by an increased red blood cell count. Secondary erythrocytosis is a result of an underlying cause outside the bone marrow and is often mediated by erythropoietin. Paragangliomas are rare tumors characterized by increased release of catecholamines with symptoms such as hypertension, hematuria, headache, sweating, and post-micturition syncope.

Risk of Breast Cancer Progression after Treatment in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia.

Background: The risk of breast cancer progression is one of the most difficult factors to predict as it is studied in different populations, patient groups, or time frames, resulting in conflicting estimates of incidence rates reported in the literature. The purpose of this study is to identify predictive factors for breast cancer recurrences in a sample of the Middle Eastern population.

Methodology: A cohort retrospective study included all eligible breast cancer patients at the National Guard Health Affairs (NGHA) Hospital in Jeddah, Western region, from 2015 to 2021.

Gemcitabine-Induced Myositis in a Luminal B Breast Cancer patient: A Case Report.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor-positive breast cancer is an aggressive cancer which represents approximately a quarter of all breast cancers worldwide. Recent advances have led to the development of targeted therapies, such as trastuzumab (H), which have significantly improved prognosis. Such therapies are currently used alongside other chemotherapeutic agents, such as paclitaxel (P) and gemcitabine (G).

Heart failure in systemic right ventricle: Mechanisms and therapeutic options.

d-loop transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA) and congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (cc-TGA) feature a right ventricle attempting to sustain the systemic circulation. A systemic right ventricle (sRV) cannot support cardiac output in the long run, eventually decompensating and causing heart failure. The burden of d-TGA patients with previous atrial switch repair and cc-TGA patients with heart failure will only increase in the coming years due to the aging adult congenital heart disease population and improvements in the management of advanced heart failure.

Endoscopic endonasal retrieval of air gun pellet retained in the frontal sinus: A case report.

Introduction And Importance: Foreign bodies in paranasal sinuses are rarely encountered and most commonly present in the maxillary sinus. Guidelines for managing paranasal sinus object removal are limited due to its rarity. However, there are three major management options: open surgery, endoscopic sinus surgery, and observation.