MHC IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS: A STUDY ON A KUWAITI POPULATION

HLA alleles were studied in Kuwaiti patients with Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Although significant association of B5, B8, and DR3 has been reported in the literature, the most common phenotype for our patients is A3, DR2 as susceptible alleles and DQ1 as a protective gene.     

Pharmacological evaluation of natural product analogues. I. Preliminary pharmacological evaluation of O-methylgortschakoine and O-methylpetaline

The synthesis of O-methylgortschakoine and O-methylpetaline was achieved through an unambiguous route. Pharmacological testing of O-methylgortschakoine in comparison to papaverine and 7,8-dimethoxy-N-methyltetrahydroisoquinoline, indicated that it possesses hypotensive, neuromuscular blocking and smooth muscle relaxant activities. 7,8-Dimethoxy-N-methyltetrahydroisoquinoline showed only nonspecific smooth muscle relaxation in our testing system. The 1-(p-methoxybenzyl)-substituent of O-methylgortschakoine appears to be required for this hypotensive and neuromuscular blocking effect. The quaternary analogue O-melthylpetaline was found to possess a more potent neuromuscular blocking activity.     

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. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to investigate genetic alterations like PIK3CA gene mutation, PIK3CA amplification, RAS, and RAF mutations and to further explore the relationship of these genetic alterations with various clinicopathological characteristics in Middle Eastern PTC. DESIGN: We used the fluorescence in situ hybridization technique for analysis of PIK3CA amplification from 536 PTC cases, and selected amplified samples were further validated by real-time quantitative PCR. Mutation analysis was done by direct DNA sequencing of PIK3CA, N2-RAS, and BRAF genes. RESULTS: PIK3CA amplification was seen in 265 of 499 PTC cases analyzed (53.1%); PIK3CA gene mutations in four of 207 PTC (1.9%); N2-RAS mutations in 16 of 265 PTC (6%); and BRAF mutations in 153 of 296 PTC (51.7%). N-RAS mutations were-associated with an early stage (P = 0.0465) and lower incidence of extrathyroidal extension (P = 0.027), whereas BRAF mutations were-associated with metastasis (P = 0.0274) and poor disease-free survival (P = 0.0121) in PTCs. CONCLUSION: A higher incidence of PIK3CA alterations and the possible synergistic effect of PIK3CA alterations and BRAF mutations suggest their major role in Middle Eastern PTC tumorigenesis and argue for therapeutic targeting of PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways.     

Academic advising and student support: Help-seeking behaviors among Saudi dental undergraduate students

Objective

The purpose of this study was to assess the use of and satisfaction with the academic-advising and student-support systems available to undergraduate students in the College of Dentistry at the University of Dammam. In addition, the study aimed to also identify factors that explained the help-seeking behavior of students which they used to solve academic issues.

Materials and methods

Students enrolled in the five-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) program in 2012–13 and 2013–14 first-year students were invited to respond to a self-administered questionnaire.

Results

The results showed that 66.2% of students had discussed academic issues with their advisor at least once, with a frequency ranging from zero to six times. Most students reported that their advisors were readily available, listened intently to their needs and questions, and helped them solve their problems. However, only 7.6% of students relied primarily on advisors for help with academic issues, whereas 51% depended first on colleagues and 13.8% did not seek help and relied on themselves. In total, 17.2% of students were very or somewhat satisfied with the academic advising system. Males had lower odds of discussing issues with their advisors, and the odds were higher with advisors who were more available (OR = 0.25 and 3.74, respectively). Alerting students to important dates in the academic calendar significantly increased the odds that a student would depend primarily on academic advisors for advice related to academic issues (OR = 6.53).

Conclusions

Few students were satisfied with the academic support system. We need to train advisors to help them develop their skills and knowledge and to enable them to provide the support needed by the students.     

Molecular characterization of Indian sheeppox and goatpox viruses based on RPO30 and GPCR genes

Sheeppox and goatpox are economically important diseases of small ruminants caused by sheeppox virus (SPPV) and goatpox virus (GTPV), respectively. Although SPPV and GTPV have host preference, some strains may infect both sheep and goats. As capripox viruses (SPPV, GTPV and LSDV) are antigenically related but genetically distinct, their differentiation requires analysis at molecular level. In the present study, RPO30 and GPCR genes of eight Indian SPPV and GTPV isolates were PCR amplified, cloned and sequences are genetically and phylogenetically analyzed. The RPO30 gene of SPPV and GTPV had lineage-specific signatures, and deletion of 21-nucleotide exclusively present in SPPV. Similarly, GPCR gene also had lineage-specific signatures for SPPV and GTPV. Phylogenetic analysis of capripox viruses based on RPO30 and GPCR genes revealed three distinct lineage-specific clusters as per their host origin. Our study supports that both RPO30 and GPCR genes could be used for differentiation of SPPV and GTPV as well as for molecular epidemiological studies. The study also highlights the distinct lineage specificities of the Indian SPPV and GTPV isolates including vaccine strains.     

Impact of Preoperative Breast MRI on Surgical Decision Making and Clinical Outcomes: A Systematic Review

Background

Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly used in the workup of breast cancer patients and could lead to changes in surgical management. It is unclear how the information gained from MRI studies affects surgical decision making and influences clinical outcomes. These issues are addressed in this review.

Methods

PubMed database searches were performed to retrieve and analyze respective original research and review articles on preoperative MRI in the evaluation of breast cancer patients.

Results

Preoperative MRI is a highly sensitive but nonspecific method that leads to changes in surgical management with increased numbers of more extended surgical interventions. It appears that a relatively large proportion of MRI-driven changes in surgical management result in overtreatment without conclusively proven beneficial effects on such clinical outcomes as decrease in reoperation rates or improved patient survival.

Conclusions

Thus, routine use of supplementary preoperative breast MRI should be discouraged until compelling evidence of its effectiveness is available.     

Microleakage of Ormocer-based restorative material in primary teeth: an in vivo study

This in vivo study aimed to compare, by means of dye penetration, the microleakage values of an Ormocer-based material (Admira) and a commonly-used composite resin (Restorative Z-100) and to assess the differences in the degree of microleakage according to the cavity wall location for both tested materials. No statistically significant differences were found in the degree of microleakage between the 2 materials or the location of cavity walls. Additional preventive measures should be considered to minimize leakage since none of the restorative systems used, eliminated microleakage.