Knowledge and Perceptions of Common Breast Cancer Risk Factors in Northern Saudi Arabia

Background: Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women around the world. The degree of adoption of a preventive lifestyle offers valuable information for planning appropriate intervention programs for improving women’s health. The objective of the present study was to assess the levels of breast cancer related knowledge among a Northern Saudi population. Methodology: In this cross sectional study, data were obtained from 566 Saudi volunteers living in the city of Hail, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Results: With regard to breast cancer risk factors, 427/566 (75.4%) of participants answered in the affirmative to whether breast cancer could be inherited. For early puberty and late menopause, 209/566 (37%) were in agreement with increased risk, for low and delayed child birth, 261/566 (46%), and for overweight and obesity, 210/566(37%). For the question of whether natural breast feeding can reduce the risk of breast cancer, only 35/566 (6.2%) said yes. Conclusion: There is a general lack of knowledge regarding several BC risk factors among the northern Saudi community which necessitates urgent implementation of educational programs.     

Right‐sided endocarditis: eustachian valve and coronary sinus involvement

Infective endocarditis in patients with intravenous drug use commonly involves right‐sided heart valves. Eustachian valve (EV) endocarditis is not commonly seen given the valve's infrequent presence. Involvement of the coronary sinus (CS) with endocarditis is also an unusual finding. We present a case with echocardiographic findings consistent with EV endocarditis along with CS involvement, which appropriately responded to antibiotics.     

New bioactive cyclopeptide alkaloids with rare terminal unit from the root bark of Ziziphus cambodiana

Six new 14-membered ring cyclopeptide alkaloids, cambodines A–F (1–6), and two known compounds, frangufoline (7) and lotusanine B (8), were isolated from the root bark extract of Ziziphus cambodiana Pierre. Their structures and configurations were established based on 1D and 2D NMR, HRMS, ECD, and X-ray crystallographic data. Compounds 1 and 3 are rare 5(14)-type cyclopeptide alkaloids that possess an imidazolidin-4-one ring in the terminal unit. The cyclopeptides were tested for their in vitro antiplasmodial, antitubercular, and cytotoxic effects against three cancer cell lines. Compound 3 showed significant antiplasmodial activity against the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum, with an IC₅₀ value of 6.09 μM.

Six new 14-membered ring cyclopeptide alkaloids, cambodines A–F (1–6), and two known compounds, frangufoline (7) and lotusanine B (8), were isolated from the root bark extract of Ziziphus cambodiana Pierre.     

Chabamide,a novel piperine dimer from stems of Piper chaba

A novel piperine dimer, named chabamide, was isolated from stems of Piper chaba Hunter and its structure was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. Chabamide showed antimalarial activity with an IC(50) value of 2.7 microg/ml and antituberculosis activity with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 12.5 microg/ml.     

Antifungal azaphilones from the fungus Chaetomium cupreum CC3003

Three new azaphilones named rotiorinols A-C (1-3), two new stereoisomers, (-)-rotiorin (4) and epi-isochromophilone II (5), and a known compound, rubrorotiorin (6), were isolated from the fungus Chaetomium cupreum CC3003. Structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by the modified Mosher's method along with an X-ray analysis of its acetate derivative, as well as by chemical transformation. Compounds 1, 3, 4, and 6 exhibited antifungal activity against Candida albicans with IC50 values of 10.5, 16.7, 24.3, and 0.6 microg/mL, respectively.