Proteomic analysis of Class IV lupus nephritis.

Background: There have been several attempts to standardize the definition and increase reproducibility in classifying lupus nephritis (LN). The last was made by the International Society of Nephrology and Renal Pathology Society in 2003 where the introduction of Class IV subcategories (global and segmental) was introduced.

Methods: We investigated whether this subdivision is important using a proteomics approach.

A rare case of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm of the left brachiocephalic vein after central venous catheterization treated with thrombin injection.

Rupture of the central veins with venous pseudoaneurysm formation is an unusual complication of central venous catheterization. Only seven cases of brachiocephalic venous pseudoaneurysm have been reported in the literature (among these only one was secondary to central venous catheterization). Plain radiographic examination of the chest may show widening of the mediastinum, pleural effusion (haemothorax), and/or opacity overlying the hemithorax of the injured vein.

Antenatal embolization of a large placental chorioangioma: a case report.

Introduction: A chorioangioma is the most common benign tumor of the placenta. The majority of pregnancies with chorioangiomas are asymptomatic. Pregnancies with large chorioangiomas are associated with maternal and fetal complications, such as growth restriction, cardiomegaly, congestive heart failure, fetal anemia, thrombocytopenia, nonimmune hydrops and intrauterine fetal death.

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).

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging: A teaching atlas with emphasizing current clinical indications.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is an amazing technology that continues to provide new innovative approaches for evaluating the heart and blood vessels. It can assess cardiac morphology, function, perfusion, viability, coronary and peripheral arteries, and metabolism and tissue characterization. The basic pulse sequences of CMR include; Spin Echo, Gradient echo, and Steady stet free precision.

Comparison between the two-step and the three-step algorithms for the detection of toxigenic Clostridium difficile.

Purpose: To evaluate usefulness of applying either the two-step algorithm (Ag-EIAs and CCNA) or the three-step algorithm (all three assays) for better confirmation of toxigenic Clostridium difficile. The antigen enzyme immunoassays (Ag-EIAs) can accurately identify the glutamate dehydrogenase antigen of toxigenic and nontoxigenic Clostridium difficile. Therefore, it is used in combination with a toxin-detecting assay [cell line culture neutralization assay (CCNA), or the enzyme immunoassays for toxins A and B (TOX-A/BII EIA)] to provide specific evidence of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea.

Methylation-related mutations in the BRCA1 promoter in peripheral blood cells from cancer-free women.

Early-onset breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies and causes of death among young women, and its incidence is increasing. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the epigenetic modifications of the breast cancer type 1 susceptibility gene (BRCA1) in breast tissues and blood cells derived from women with breast cancer and women without breast cancer. BRCA1 promoter methylation was examined by methylation-specific PCR in 47 breast cancer tissues and in peripheral blood cells derived from 7 breast cancer patients and 73 healthy women.

Prophylactic steroids for pediatric open heart surgery.

Background: The immune response to cardiopulmonary bypass in infants and children can lead to a series of postoperative morbidities and mortality i.e. hemodynamic instability, increased infection and tachyarrhythmias.

Stent angioplasty: an effective alternative in selected infants with critical native aortic coarctation.

Management of native aortic coarctation during early months of life poses therapeutic challenges, and there is no consensus among medical professionals regarding a management plan. Much can be argued about the benefits, limitations, and/or complications of transcatheter versus surgical intervention in such cases. Occasionally, the complexity of the lesions limits management options.

Usefulness of molecular techniques to identify ongoing tuberculosis transmission in Saudi Arabia.

This study represents the first time that molecular tracing techniques have been used to identify patterns of tuberculosis TB infection in Saudi Arabia. The 2 strains were isolated from a socio-economically advantage family who share a number of common facilities including a car and a driver. There are several factors that may play vital roles in on-going transmission of TB in Saudi Arabia including a high number of expatriates, the Hajj pilgrimage, and the social habits of Saudi citizens.

The Glu27 genotypes of the beta2-adrenergic receptor are predictors for severe coronary artery disease.

Background: The role of the Beta2-adrenoceptor (beta2-AR) Gln27Glu polymorphism in the manifestation of cardiovascular diseases is still unclear.

Methods: In the present study, we evaluated the potential relevance of the c.79 C>G (p.

Up to 16 years follow-up of aortic valve reconstruction with pericardium: a stentless readily available cheap valve?

Objective: There is lack of information regarding the long-term behavior of aortic valve reconstruction with pericardium (AoR). A 16-year follow-up is reported here.

Methods: Between 1988 and 1995, 92 consecutive patients had AoR with bovine (Group I, n=27) or glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium (Group II, n=65).

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging in leukodystrophies.

Leukodystrophies are genetically determined metabolic diseases, in which the underlying biochemical abnormality interferes with the normal build-up and/or maintenance of myelin, which leads to hypo- (or arrested) myelination, or dysmyelination with resultant demyelination. Although conventional magnetic resonance imaging has significantly contributed to recent progress in the diagnostic work-up of these diseases, diffusion-weighted imaging has the potential to further improve our understanding of underlying pathological processes and their dynamics through the assessment of normal and abnormal diffusion properties of cerebral white matter. Evaluation of conventional diffusion-weighted and ADC map images allows the detection of major diffusion abnormalities and the identification of various edema types, of which the so-called myelin edema is particularly relevant to leukodystrophies.

Gastroesophageal reflux following repair of esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula.

Objective: This study represents the experience of a tertiary care center in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) on the long-term effect on the lungs of esophageal atresia (EA) and tracheoesophageal fistula repair (TEF), and to emphasize the magnitude of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) post-EA or post-TEF repair.

Methods: A retrospective review of all patients referred to the pulmonary clinic with EA/TEF or re-operative evaluations from the period 1993-2004 at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, KSA.

Results: Forty-one patients with confirmed EA/TEF (26 males and 15 females) were included in the study.

Chromosomal instability detected by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization and its relation to p53 alteration in prostate carcinoma in Saudi patients.

Objective: Chromosomal instability (CIN) is a feature of human neoplasm. The p53 mutation has been shown to be associated with CIN in many human dysplastic and neoplastic lesions. The objective of this study was to examine CIN and p53 mutations in prostate carcinoma (Pca) resected from Saudi patients.

Surgical management of breast cancer in Saudi Arabia before and after outreach activities.

We collected management information from the 1996 referral documents of 100 consecutive patients who came to us for continued treatment of breast cancer. Major deficiencies were noted with regard to clinical assessment, surgery, and pathology. Since 1997 we have intensified our personnel contacts with referring surgeons, and we have performed outreach visits.

Colonic neuroendocrine carcinoma in a child.

A 10-year-old boy with congenital immunodeficiency (X-linked agammaglobulinaemia) presented with loss of appetite and weight, right-sided abdominal pain, diarrhoea and low-grade fever. Radiological investigations with barium follow-through, CT, PET and octreotide scans revealed a primary caecal/ascending proximal colonic mass with liver and bony metastases. Urine screen for 5HIAA was positive.

Primary alveolar capillary dysplasia (acinar dysplasia) and surfactant protein B deficiency: a clinical, radiological and pathological study.

Background: Full-term infants with severe and prolonged respiratory distress represent a diagnostic challenge. Plain radiographic findings may be nonspecific or similar to classic surfactant deficiency disease for infants with surfactant protein B deficiency and acinar dysplasia.

Objectives: To describe the similar clinical-radiolgical patterns of two rare neonatal conditions.

Reappraisal of use of X-rays in childhood ankle and midfoot injuries.

Objectives: To determine whether the Ottawa ankle rules (OAR) can be applied in children and what the potential reduction in the use of X-ray studies might be.

Methods: Prospective, observational study of children attending emergency department with blunt ankle and midfoot injuries. X-ray studies were obtained after recording of the physical assessment.

A comparison between derivation optimization and Cz'-FPz for posterior tibial P37 somatosensory evoked potential intraoperative monitoring.

Objective: To compare P37 derivation optimization to Cz'-FPz.

Methods: After induction in 120 patients, monitoring derivations optimized by mapping FPz, Cz, Cz', Pz, C4', C2', C1' and C3'-mastoid to determine the P37 and N37 maximums for use as inputs 1 and 2 were compared to Cz'-FPz. This was repeated later in 35 surgeries.

Induction of p53 and p21 proteins by gamma radiation in skin fibroblasts derived from breast cancer patients.

Purpose: To test the hypothesis that breast cancer patients could have a predisposing defect in the induction of TP53 tumor suppressor protein (known as p53) that could be a marker of genetic instability and increased cancer susceptibility. The accumulation of p53 was triggered by ionizing radiation, and its transcriptional activity was estimated from the induction of CDKN1A (known as p21).

Methods And Materials: Using Western blot, we studied the radiation induction of p53 and p21 proteins in 28 fibroblast cell strains derived from 7 healthy donors (Control), 3 ataxia telangiectasia (AT), 3 AT heterozygous, and 15 breast cancer patients.

Nucleolar precursor body distribution in pronuclei is correlated to chromosomal abnormalities in embryos.

In-vitro generated human embryos have low implantation rates and high chromosomal abnormalities. Embryos are mostly selected on the basis of microscopic morphological examination. The relationship between pronuclear morphology and chromosomal abnormalities was investigated in this study.

Morbidity and mortality data of cystic fibrosis patients.

Objective: To identify factors that contributed to morbidity and mortality of cystic fibrosis (CF) population in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Methods: This retrospective chart review was carried out in King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, KSA, during a 9 year period, November 1993 to November 2002, on confirmed CF patients, for demographic, clinical and mortality data.

Results: A total of 190 CF patients were diagnosed during the 9 years.