Management of humoral secondary immunodeficiency in hematological malignancies and following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Regional perspectives.

Secondary immunodeficiency (SID) can occur as a result of multiple factors, including hematological malignancies, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), immunosuppressive treatment, biologics, and anti-inflammatory drugs. SID includes disorders resulting from impairment of both cellular and humoral immunity. This review focuses on the current risk factors, implications, and challenges in managing SID patients with impaired humoral immunity, which includes quantitative (hypogammaglobulinemia) and/or functional antibody and B-cell deficiencies specifically related to hematological malignancies and post-HSCT.

Small Bowel Neuroendocrine Tumors-10-Year Experience of the Ottawa Hospital (TOH).

(1) Aim: The prevalence and incidence of small bowel NETs have increased significantly over the past two decades. This study aims to report the 10-year experience of SB-NET management at a regional cancer center in Canada. (2) Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective study of the clinical and pathological data of patients diagnosed with biopsy-proven SB-NET at The Ottawa Hospital (TOH), Ottawa, Canada between 2011 and 2021.

Consensus Recommendations for the Diagnosis, Biomarker Testing, and Clinical Management of Advanced or Metastatic Non-small Cell Lung Cancer With Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transition Exon 14 Skipping Mutations in the Middle East, Africa, and Russia.

Mesenchymal-epithelial transition exon 14 (METex14) skipping mutations occur in about 3%-4% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This is an aggressive subtype associated with poor prognosis. METex14 skipping is a potentially targetable mutation.

Factors That Affect Knowledge-Sharing Behaviors in Medical Imaging Departments in Cancer Centers: Systematic Review.

Background: Knowledge management plays a significant role in health care institutions. It consists of 4 processes: knowledge creation, knowledge capture, knowledge sharing, and knowledge application. The success of health care institutions relies on effective knowledge sharing among health care professionals, so the facilitators and barriers to knowledge sharing must be identified and understood.

Effectiveness of Public Health Digital Surveillance Systems for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control at Mass Gatherings: Systematic Review.

Background: Mass gatherings (MGs; eg, religious, sporting, musical, sociocultural, and other occasions that draw large crowds) pose public health challenges and concerns related to global health. A leading global concern regarding MGs is the possible importation and exportation of infectious diseases as they spread from the attendees to the general population, resulting in epidemic outbreaks. Governments and health authorities use technological interventions to support public health surveillance and prevent and control infectious diseases.

Chitin and chitosan derived from crustacean waste valorization streams can support food systems and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Crustacean waste, consisting of shells and other inedible fractions, represents an underutilized source of chitin. Here, we explore developments in the field of crustacean-waste-derived chitin and chitosan extraction and utilization, evaluating emerging food systems and biotechnological applications associated with this globally abundant waste stream. We consider how improving the efficiency and selectivity of chitin separation from wastes, redesigning its chemical structure to improve biotechnology-derived chitosan, converting it into value-added chemicals, and developing new applications for chitin (such as the fabrication of advanced nanomaterials used in fully biobased electric devices) can contribute towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Current Status of Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in The Gulf Region: Challenges and Recommendations.

The burden of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is on the rise in the Gulf region, with most patients being diagnosed in the intermediate or advanced stages. Surgery is a treatment option for only a few, and the majority of patients receive either locoregional treatment (percutaneous ethanol injection, radiofrequency ablation, transarterial chemoembolization [TACE], radioembolization, radiotherapy, or transarterial radioembolization) or systemic therapy (for those ineligible for locoregional treatments or who do not benefit from TACE). The recent emergence of novel immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors has begun to change the landscape of systemic HCC treatment in the Gulf.

A qualitative exploration of goals-of-care discussions with seriously ill patients in Jordan.

Objectives: This study aims to explore seriously ill patients' experiences during goals-of-care discussions and perspectives of end-of-life (EOL) decision-making in the Middle Eastern country of Jordan.

Methods: This is a qualitative descriptive study with semi-structured, one-on-one interviews. Settings were 2 large hospitals in Jordan.

Changing Patterns of SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence: A Snapshot among the General Population in Kuwait.

We sought to assess pre-vaccination and post-vaccination seroprevalences of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Kuwait and to compare antibody levels between vaccine types. In phase 1 (pre-vaccination period, = 19,363), blood samples were collected before the launch of COVID-19 vaccination in Kuwait between 1 September and 31 December 2020. Blood samples for phase 2 (post-vaccination period, = 4973) were collected between 1 September and 30 November 2021.

Paediatric metastatic ganglioneuroblastoma on 68Ga-DOTA NOC PET-CT.

68Ga-DOTA NOC PET-CT imaging has been shown to have high accuracy for the evaluation of neuroendocrine tumours. We report a case of a 3-year-old boy who presented with a right paravertebral soft tissue mass. Biopsy showed ganglioneuroblastoma.

Progress Against Cancer in Kuwait: Trends in Incidence, Survival and Mortality.

Introduction: To assess progress against cancer, trends in incidence, survival and mortality need to be interpreted simultaneously.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Kuwait Cancer Registry (KCR) for all Kuwaiti children (0-14 years) and adults (15-99 years) diagnosed with one of 18 common cancers during 2000-2013, with follow-up for vital status to 31 December 2015. World-standardised average annual incidence and mortality rates were calculated for 2000-2004, 2005-2009, 2010-2013.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Effect on Resident Physicians' Mental Well-Being: A Cross-Sectional Study in Kuwait.

Objective: Concerns about COVID-19's long-term consequences on the mental health of frontline health professionals are mounting as the entire world strives anew to contain it. The primary objective of this research is to describe the impact of working during the COVID-19 pandemic on resident physicians' mental health.

Subject And Methods: A cross-sectional online survey using the Google Forms platform was conducted from May 1 to May 30, 2021, on 311 residents currently enrolled in a residency program at the Kuwait Institutional of Medical Specialization (KIMS).

NKX3.1 Expression and Molecular Characterization of Secretory Myoepithelial Carcinoma (SMCA): Advancing the Case for a Salivary Mucous Acinar Phenotype.

Background: Secretory myoepithelial carcinomas (SMCA) are rare, mucinous, signet ring predominant tumors with primitive myoepithelial features. While many mucinous salivary gland tumors have now been molecularly characterized, key drivers in SMCA have yet to be elucidated. Recently, NKX3.

Functional Characterization of Posttraumatic Heterotopic Ossification of Tibiofibular Syndesmosis with Dynamic Bone Scan and Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography/Computed Tomography.

A 53-year-old man was investigated for ongoing right ankle pain and lateral malleolus swelling following a traumatic inversion injury 12 weeks prior. The initial ankle radiograph was normal with no evidence of fracturing. The follow-up radiograph showed bridging ossification in the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis.

Tuning chitosan's chemical structure for enhanced biological functions.

Chitosan, an amino polysaccharide mostly derived from crustaceans, has been recently highlighted for its biological activities that depend on its molecular weight (MW), degree of deacetylation (DD), and acetylation pattern (AP). More importantly, for some advanced biomaterials, the homogeneity of the chitosan structure is an important factor in determining its biological activity. Here we review emerging enzymes and cell factories, respectively, for in vitro and in vivo preparation of chitosan oligosaccharides (COSs), focusing on advances in the analysis of the AP and structural modification of chitosan to tune its functions.

FIP1L1-PDGFRA fusion gene in T-lymphoblastic lymphoma: A case report.

Background: T-lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) is an aggressive malignancy of T-lymphoid precursors, rarely co-occurring with myeloid/lymphoid neoplasms with eosinophilia (M/LNs-Eo), with consequent rearrangement of tyrosine kinase (TK)-related genes. The FIP1L1-PDGFRA fusion gene is the most frequent molecular abnormality seen in eosinophilia-associated myeloproliferative disorders, but is also present in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (TLL), or both simultaneously. T-LBL mainly affects children and young adults, involving lymph node, bone marrow, and thymus.

Dasatinib-induced Chylothorax in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.

Dasatinib is a potent second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) used in the first- and second-line treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Chylothorax is a rare presentation that results in chyle leakage from the lymphatic system into the pleural space as a consequence of thoracic duct damage. Pleural effusion has been reported frequently in patients treated with Dasatinib however chylothorax has been rarely reported.

Middle East and North Africa Registry to Characterize Rate of RAS Testing Status in Newly Diagnosed Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

Background: Rat sarcoma virus mutational status guides first-line treatment in metastatic colorectal cancer. This study was a multi center, multi-country ambispective, observational study in the Middle East and North Africa assessing regional rat sarcoma virus testing practices in newly diagnosed patients.

Methods: The retrospective arm (2011-2014) included adults with metastatic colorectal cancer who had initiated first-line therapy with ≥1 post-baseline visit and survival data.

Fatal COVID-19 is Associated with Reduced HLA-DR, CD123 or CD11c Expression on Circulating Dendritic Cells.

Purpose: Severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is linked to insufficient control of viral replication and excessive inflammation driven by an unbalanced immune response. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are specialized in the rapid production of interferons in response to viral infections, and can also prime and activate T-cells. Conventional DCs (cDCs) are critical for the elimination of viral infections owing to their specialized ability to prime and activate T cells.

Primary Breast Lymphoma Mimicking Metastatic Breast Cancer on 18F-FDG PET-CT.

18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET-CT is an excellent imaging modality for the evaluation of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). We report a case of a 45-year-old woman presented with a large right breast mass and suspicious right axillary lymph nodes referred for 18F-FDG PET-CT for staging. 18F-FDG PET-CT images show large hypermetabolic right breast mass infiltrating the skin, multiple hypermetabolic right axillary and subpectoral lymph nodes, along with multiple hypermetabolic bone lesions at axial and appendicular skeleton.

Rosai-Dorman disease mimicking lymphoma on 18F-FDG PET/CT.

Rosai-Dorman Disease (RDD) is an uncommon benign disorder of proliferative histiocytes. RDD is usually self-remitting yet has been shown to mimic lympho-proliferative disorders clinically as well as on imaging studies. We report a-47-year-old female who was referred to our department with the presenting complaint of bulky abdominopelvic nodal masses suspicious of lymphoma where 18F-FDG PET/CT played a role in the evaluation and staging.

Management of Early-Stage Resected Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Consensus Statement of the Lung cancer Consortium.

Background: Management of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (ES-NSCLC) has evolved over the last few years especially in terms of work-up and the use of systemic therapy. This consensus statement was developed to present updated guidelines for the management of this disease.

Methods: Multidisciplinary team (MDT) of lung cancer experts convened to discuss a set of pertinent questions with importance relevance to the management of ES-NSCLC.