Public Acceptance of Living Donor Liver Transplant for Colorectal Liver Metastases: A Web-Based Survey.

Background: Recent advancements in cancer treatment and post-transplant management have expanded the population of living donor liver transplant (LDLT) candidates. We aimed to examine variations in public acceptance of LDLT based on patient diagnosis, including unresectable colorectal liver metastases (uCRLM).

Methods: A web-based survey collected demographic information and general perceptions about organ donation in different settings.

The value and significance of nucleolar organizer region proteins as markers of malignancy in breast cancer patients.

Objectives: To assess argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) in 60 patients with primary breast carcinoma and evaluated their association with clinical prognostic parameters of breast cancer.

Methods: Argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions were stained in paraffin sections of the tissues using Ploton's silver method. For each sample, the number of AgNORs within the nuclei of 100 tumor cells was counted.

Substance misuse disorder in Saudi Arabia: A comprehensive examination of current demographic patterns, trends, and intervention requirements.

Introduction: This review examines substance misuse disorder (SMD) in Saudi Arabia, drawing insights from 43 prior studies. It explores the prevalence and patterns of SMD across diverse demographics.

Methodology: Our analysis integrated data from various studies involving adolescents, university students, psychiatric patients, and the general population as well as postmortem cases.

A critical review of workplace drug testing methods for old and new psychoactive substances: Gaps, advances, and perspectives.

Workplace drug testing (WDT) is essential to prevent drug abuse disorders among the workforce because it can impair work performance and safety. However, WDT is limited by many challenges, such as urine adulteration, specimen selection, and new psychoactive substances (NPS). This review examined the issues related to WDT.

The Obeid-coronal malalignment classification is reliable and helps guiding decision-making and surgical management of adult spinal deformities: letter to the editor of BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders.

A recently published article by Zhang et al. in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders reported that the classification of coronal deformity based on preoperative global coronal malalignment for adult spinal deformity is questionable. The aim of the paper was to specifically discredit the Obeid-Coronal Malalignment (O-CM) classification.

How does Linkage to the National Death Index Affect Population-Based Net Survival Estimates for Women with Cervical Cancer in Saudi Arabia?

Background: Population-based cancer survival is a key metric for the assessment of cancer control strategies. Accurate estimation of cancer survival requires complete follow-up data for all patients.

Aim: To explore the impact of linking national cancer registry data to the national death index on net survival estimates for women diagnosed with cervical cancer in Saudi Arabia during 2005-2016.

First insights into the phylogenetic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Kuwait and evaluation of REBA MTB-MDR assay for rapid detection of MDR-TB.

Early detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in clinical specimens, its susceptibility to anti-TB drugs and disruption of infection transmission to new hosts are essential components for global tuberculosis (TB) control efforts. This study investigated major Mtb genotypes circulating in Kuwait and evaluated the performance of REBA MTB-MDR (REBA) test in comparison to GenoType MTBDRplus (gMTBDR+) assay for rapid detection of resistance of Mtb to isoniazid and rifampicin (MDR-TB). M.

Appendix diverticulosis in a patient diagnosed on pathology after laparoscopic appendectomy for appendicular mucinous mass-case report and literature review.

Diverticulum of the appendix is uncommon cause of right iliac fossa pain and inflammation with delayed diagnosis and high risk of complications, as it mimics acute appendicitis. Here we present a case of an elderly male patient who had lung cancer post-treatment. During the follow-up, appendicle lesion was discovered and suspected to be mucinous appendix.

Saudi association for the study of liver diseases and transplantation position statement on the hepatology workforce in Saudi Arabia.

The field of hepatology has evolved significantly over the last two decades. Hepatology practice in Saudi Arabia (SA) was dominated by hepatitis B and C viruses but is now being overtaken by patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. These patients require greater medical attention as their care is more complex compared to patients with viral hepatitis.

Incidence and Trends of Liver Cancer in the Gulf Cooperation Council States, 1998-2012.

Background: Liver cancer has been identified as the fifth most common cancer in males and ninth in females in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States. Taking into consideration that GCC states have comparable cultural and demographic backgrounds, this study aimed to examine the trends and patterns of liver cancer cases in the GCC states and to compare these with other regions.

Materials And Methods: The data were obtained from the Gulf Centre for Cancer Control and Prevention, which has maintained its database for GCC states since 1998.

Identification of Gene Signature as Diagnostic and Prognostic Blood Biomarker for Early Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Integrated Cross-Species Transcriptomic and Network Analyses.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is considered the most common type of liver cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. Since the disease is usually diagnosed at advanced stages, it has poor prognosis. Therefore, reliable biomarkers are urgently needed for early diagnosis and prognostic assessment.

Novel variant in glycophorin c gene protects against ribavirin-induced anemia during chronic hepatitis C treatment.

Background: The current use of ribavirin in difficult-to-cure chronic hepatitis C patients (HCV) and patients with severe respiratory infections is constrained by the issue of ribavirin-induced hemolytic anemia that affects 30% of treated patients, requiring dosage modification or discontinuation. Though some genetic variants have been identified predicting this adverse effect, known clinical and genetic factors do not entirely explain the risk of ribavirin-induced anemia.

Methods: We assessed the associations of previously identified variants in inosine triphosphatase (ITPA), solute carrier 28A2 (SLC28A2) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) genes with ribavirin-induced anemia defined as hemoglobin decline of ≥30 g/L on treatment, followed by a staged discovery (n = 114), replication (n = 74), and combined (n = 188) genome-wide association study to uncover potential new predictive variants.

A Neonate with Acquired Factor VII Deficiency Successfully Managed with Immunomodulatory Therapy.

Acquired factor VII deficiency secondary to circulating inhibitors is rare in children but is a potentially life-threatening condition. Such a disease is challenging to diagnose and often difficult to manage. Here, we report on a newborn that presented with a catastrophic intracranial hemorrhage who failed to respond to conventional supportive measures including multiple doses of fresh frozen plasma and factor VII replacement; however, he had a complete correction of prothrombin time 8 h after immunomodulatory therapies in the form of steroid and intravenous immunoglobulin.

Trends in Thyroid Cancer Incidence in the Gulf Cooperation Council States: a 15-Year Analysis.

Introduction: Thyroid cancer is a predominant malignancy in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. Explicit regional assessments of incidence are crucial among countries that share similar demographic, cultural, and economic characteristics. This study provides an assessment of trends in thyroid cancer in the GCC over fifteen years.

Comparison of performance of medical students between two teaching modalities "Flip the classroom" and traditional lectures: A single center educational interventional study.

Objectives: This study aims to compare the students' performance in Obstetrics and Gynecology by using two teaching modalities, i.e., Flip the classroom (FTC) compared to Traditional lectures (TL) among final year medical students and assessment of the students' satisfaction towards FTC as learning modality.

Chemotherapy readiness in pediatric oncology: Assessing an automated method to measure urine specific gravity.

As part of the evaluation for chemotherapy readiness, urine specific gravity is measured to assess the patient's overall hydration status. Depending on the accuracy of the methods used, patients may be adversely affected by having their chemotherapy delayed or prematurely started. To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a new automated urine dipstick readout device (Clinitek), we tested 196 consecutive urine samples for urine specific gravity and compared them with the practical gold standard, a urine refractometer.

Infliximab-induced autoimmune hepatitis requiring liver transplantation.

Autoimmune hepatitis is an infrequent but significant side effect of infliximab treatment. Diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis is based on clinical, laboratory, and histological findings. Initial treatment involves cessation of infliximab and trial of prednisone.

Cervical Cancer Incidence and Trends among Nationals of the Gulf Cooperation Council States, 1998-2012.

Background: Cervical cancer is the ninth most common female malignancy in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States. We describe trends in cervical cancer incidence among GCC nationals. GCC states include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates; which share similar demographic, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

Influence of ABO blood group on von Willebrand factor tests in healthy Saudi blood donors.

: Von Willebrand disease is a common bleeding disorder. The wide variation in von Willebrand factor (VWF) levels between and within normal individuals highlights the clinical challenge of defining its cutoff value. Although studies on the influence of ethnicity on ABO phenotypes and the levels of VWF have been carried out on different ethnicities, there is a lack of such data among Arab population.

Hydroxyurea for lifelong transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia: A meta-analysis.

Objective: Chronic blood transfusion remains the most feasible therapeutic option for lifelong transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (lifelong TDβT). However, it is associated with serious risks and complications. Hydroxyurea (HU), an oral chemotherapeutic drug, is expected to increase hemoglobin levels, thereby minimizing the burden of blood transfusion and its complications.

Hydroxyurea for hemoglobin E/β-thalassemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Hemoglobin E-beta thalassemia (Hb E/β-thalassemia) is a distinct, yet common, type of β-thalassemia, in which the patient co-inherits a β-thalassemia allele from one parent, and a structural variant, Hb E, from the other parent. This co-inheritance leads to remarkable clinical heterogeneity, varying degrees of chronic anemia, and a wide spectrum of complications due to ineffective erythropoiesis and iron overload. Hydroxyurea (HU), an oral chemotherapeutic drug, is expected to decrease disease severity.

Hydroxyurea for nontransfusion-dependent β-thalassemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective/background: Nontransfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (NTDβT) syndromes consist of β-thalassemia intermedia and moderate hemoglobin E/β thalassemias. They are characterized by varying degrees of chronic anemia and a wide spectrum of complications due to ineffective erythropoiesis and iron overload from chronic transfusions. Hydroxyurea (HU), an oral chemotherapeutic drug, is anticipated to decrease disease severity.

Assessment of bone health in breast cancer patients starting adjuvant aromatase inhibitors: A quality improvement clinical audit.

Introduction: Adjuvant Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs) predispose breast cancer patients to accelerated bone loss. Guidelines recommend initial screening and follow up of bone mineral density with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan. In this audit we assessed the rate of adherence to these guidelines and introduced awareness measures to improve it.