Association between Young People's Neighbourhoods' Characteristics and Health Risk Factors in Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: A neighbourhood's environmental characteristics can positively or negatively influence health and well-being. To date, no studies have examined this concept in the context of Saudi Arabian youth. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the association between a neighbourhood's environmental characteristics and health risk factors among Saudi Arabian youth.

The prevalence of sedentary behavior among university students in Saudi Arabia.

Background: A considerable body of research has demonstrated that reducing sitting time benefits health. Therefore, the current study aimed to explore the prevalence of sedentary behavior (SB) and its patterns.

Methods: A total of 6975 university students (49.

Factors Influencing Saudi Youth Physical Activity Participation: A Qualitative Study Based on the Social Ecological Model.

Background: The growing improvement in urbanisation, modes of transportation and the expansion of sedentary behaviour, both at work and home, have resulted in declining rates of physical activity (PA) worldwide. Nearly one-third of the global population aged 15 and over are insufficiently active. The negative effect of physical inactivity has been evidenced and ranked fourth as the lethal cause of death globally.

The Correlation of Built Environment on Hypertension, and Weight Status amongst Adolescence in Saudi Arabia.

The prevalence of hypertension is becoming more common in children and adolescents than ever before. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between the built environment on physical activity, sedentary behaviour, waist circumference, and health amongst adolescents in Saudi Arabia. A systolic and diastolic blood pressure, resting heart rate and waist circumference of 380 boys and girls aged between 15-19 years old (male = 199 and females = 181) were measured.

An investigation into the lifestyle, health habits and risk factors of young adults.

This project examined the lifestyle, health habits and risk factors of young adults at Qatar University. It explored the clustering and differences in dietary habits, body mass index (BMI) and physical activity (PA) amongst male and female students, both Qatari and non-Qatari. Seven hundred thirty two students aged 18-25 years completed a self-reported questionnaire and an objective measure of BMI.

Obesity, physical activity and sedentary behavior amongst British and Saudi youth: a cross-cultural study.

This study explores differences in weight status, obesity and patterns of physical activity (PA) in relation to gender and age of youth from two culturally, environmentally and geographically diverse countries, the United Kingdom (UK) and Saudi Arabia (SA). A total of 2,290 males and females (15-17 years) volunteered to participate in this study. Participants completed a validated self-report questionnaire that contained 47 items relating to patterns of PA, sedentary activity and eating habits.

The Prevalence of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviours Relative to Obesity among Adolescents from Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia: Rural versus Urban Variations.

Purpose. The aims of this study were to explore the lifestyle of young people living in Al-Ahsa Governorate; to investigate differences due to gender, age, school type, and geographical location. Methods.

c-Met inhibitor synergizes with tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-induced ligand to induce papillary thyroid carcinoma cell death.

The Met receptor tyrosine kinase is overexpressed and/or activated in variety of human malignancies. Previously we have shown that c-Met is overexpressed in Middle Eastern papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and significantly associated with an aggressive phenotype, but its role has not been fully elucidated in PTC. The aim of this study was to determine the functional link between the c-Met/AKT signaling pathway and death receptor 5 (DR5) in a large cohort of PTC in a tissue microarray format followed by functional studies using PTC cell lines and nude mice.

FoxM1 and its association with matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) signaling pathway in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Context: Forkhead boxM1 (FoxM1) transcription factor has been shown to promote pathogenesis of several malignancies. FoxM1 has also been shown to be associated with matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) in various cancers. However, little is known about its function in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

Demethylation of TMS1 gene sensitizes thyroid cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis.

Context: TMS1 is a tumor suppressor gene that encodes for caspase recruitment domain containing regulatory protein and has been shown to be hypermethylated in various cancers. However, its methylation status has not been investigated in thyroid cancer. Therefore, we studied the methylation of TMS1 and its functional consequence in thyroid cancer.

Prognostic value of postoperative and post-ablative serum thyroglobulin levels in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer.

Background: The study was designed to examine the value of post-operative and post-ablative serum thyroglobulin levels and diagnostic whole body scan in predicting remission in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Methodology: Serum TG levels and diagnostic iodine-123 whole body scans performed prior to and 6-12 months after 131I ablation for DTC were evaluated in 100 consecutive patients at King Faisal Specialist Hospital Riyadh. Patients were followed up for a period of 7.

Fatty acid synthase and AKT pathway signaling in a subset of papillary thyroid cancers.

Context: Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is an enzyme that plays a critical role in de novo synthesis of fatty acids. FASN is overexpressed in variety of human cancers, but its role has not been elucidated in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

Objective: Our objective was to investigate the role of FASN and its relationship with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT activation in a large series of PTC in a tissue microarray format followed by studies using PTC cell lines and Nude mice.

Polymorphisms of selected xenobiotic genes contribute to the development of papillary thyroid cancer susceptibility in Middle Eastern population.

Background: The xenobiotic enzyme system that enables us to detoxify carcinogens exhibits identifiable genetic polymorphisms that are highly race specific. We hypothesized that polymorphisms of these genes may be associated with risk of thyroid cancer. To evaluate the role of genetic polymorphisms of xenobiotic genes in thyroid cancer, we conducted a hospital-based case-control study in Saudi population.

High rate of persistent/recurrent disease among patients with differentiated thyroid cancer in Saudi Arabia: factors affecting nonremission.

Background And Objectives: A fairly high number of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) in our center had locally advanced disease at presentation and/or persistent disease after standard treatment. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective study to find the rate of successful ablation and remission and the factors affecting these outcomes.

Methods: The study included 100 consecutively treated patients (20 males, 80 females; median age 36 years) diagnosed with DTC.

Clinicopathological analysis of papillary thyroid cancer with PIK3CA alterations in a Middle Eastern population.

Context: Genetic aberration in phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway has been detected in numerous and diverse human cancers. PIK3CA, which encodes for the catalytic subunit of p110alpha of PI3K, is amplified in some cases of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Mutations in the PIK3CA have also been identified in thyroid cancers and, although relatively common in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, are uncommon in PTC.

Genome-wide expression analysis of Middle Eastern papillary thyroid cancer reveals c-MET as a novel target for cancer therapy.

In an attempt to find genes that may be of importance in malignant progression of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in the Middle East, which therefore can be targeted in cancer therapy, we screened and validated the global gene expression in PTC using cDNA expression arrays and immunohistochemistry (IHC) on tumour tissue microarrays. Twenty-nine PTC tissue specimens were compared with seven non-cancerous thyroid specimens by use of cDNA microarray. Results for selected genes were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR.

Pattern and factors associated with glycemic control of Saudi diabetic patients.

Background: The pattern and factors which can be associated with the glycemic control of Saudi adult diabetic patients were examined in this study.

Patients And Methods: Confirmed diabetic patients from all regions of Saudi Arabia constituted the study population. Random blood glucose <10 mmol/L and >10 mmol/L was used to categorize patients into good and poor glycemic control patients, respectively.

The impact of a multi-disciplinary management approach on diabetic control in young Saudi patients.

The increasing incidence of diabetes mellitus worldwide makes traditional approaches to its management inadequate. The involvement of young people in this diabetic "epidemic" provides an opportunity to apply a multidisciplinary approach to its management, to help reduce the huge burden of the disease and its complications. In 1998, we established a diabetic clinic for young adults, located within a privately owned company health center, because they were not receiving adequate attention in the adult clinic.

Tea consumption and the prevalence of coronary heart disease in Saudi adults: results from a Saudi national study.

Background: The aim of the study was to determine whether there was a relationship between tea consumption and the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: The relationship between tea consumption and the prevalence of CHD was investigated using multiple logistic regression analysis in the Saudi Coronary Artery Disease Study. A total of 3,430 men and women aged 30-70 years was studied.

Growth hormone: do we have a national perspective of indications for its use?

Objective: Presentation of indications for growth hormone use in children, from the view of physicians practising in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A questionnaire containing a list of common possible indications of growth hormone use was collected from 52 physicians practising in Saudi Arabia who were attending a didactic endocrinology course.

Results: All (100%) physicians considered growth hormone deficiency to be an indication.

Prevalence and determinants of smoking in three regions of Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: To study the prevalence and determinants of cigarette smoking among Saudi nationals in three regions of Saudi Arabia.

Participants: A sample of 8310 individuals aged 15 years and above from both sexes, randomly selected from the three regions, using a stratified cluster sampling technique.

Design: A cross-sectional, household, community-based survey.

Childhood obesity: referred cases to a tertiary health center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Objective: To show the pattern of etiology of childhood obesity referred to our endocrinology clinic between December 1989 and December 1994.

Subject And Methods: All the children referred to our clinic at the above stipulated dates were studied. This is a retrospective medical records review of these patients.

Pattern of thyroid lesions and role of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNA) in the management of thyroid enlargement: a retrospective study from a teaching hospital in Riyadh.

The study aims to determine the cytological pattern of thyroid lesions, in addition to the utility and accuracy of fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology as an initial diagnostic method in the investigation of these lesions among Saudi patients. Four hundred and seventy-nine (479) FNAs were performed on patients presenting with diffuse or nodular thyroid enlargement to the endocrinology clinic at King Khalid University Hospital in Riyadh during the period September 1993 to September 1996. The results of the FNA and the 125 histological diagnoses obtained from the subsequent partial and subtotal thyroidectomies were retrospectively and independently reviewed and compared by two cytopathologists.

Obstetric outcome in the unbooked mother.

This study aimed at determining the outcome of pregnancy in unbooked mothers with regard to maternal complications and foetal outcome. This retrospective study was based on investigations of medical records of 467 unbooked mothers who presented for delivery at the Obstetrics Unit at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, during the period 1991 and 1992, and 415 booked mothers with regular clinic attendance selected as controls. Data collected from the records included patients' socio-demographic characteristics, past obstetric history, prevalence of pregnancy-related diseases, and data relating to labour, delivery, and foetal outcome.

Population-based epidemiological study on characteristics of risk factors of hypercholesterolemia in Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: To study the characteristics of risk factors for hypercholesterolemia among the Saudi population.

Design: Population-based cross-sectional national epidemiological randomized household survey.

Subject: 4548 Saudi subjects, aged 15 years and above.