HIV-1 p24 antigen testing in blood banks: results from Saudi Arabia

HIV-1 p24 antigen testing was introduced to increase sensitivity in the early detection of HIV infection in blood donors. Since the introduction of HIV-1 p24 antigen testing in Saudi Arabia, we have failed to detect a single positive case. Over a three-year period, only four indeterminates were detected out of 24,654 blood donors. All four proved negative by confirmatory testing. Based on this experience, we believe that resources would be better directed to pooled nucleic acid testing and that p24 serological testing should be abandoned.     

Treatment with Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonist Reduces Severity of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Induced by Cryptosporidium parvum

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, debilitating disorder of uncertain and perhaps multiple etiologies. It is believed to be due in part to disregulation of the immune system. Neuroimmune interactions may be involved in induction or maintenance of IBD. In the present study, we examined the potential role of a neurotransmitter, substance P, in a mouse model of IBD. We found that binding sites for substance P, and more specifically, neurokinin-1 receptors, were upregulated in intestinal tissue of mice with IBD-like syndrome. Dosing of mice with LY303870, a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist, reduced the severity of IBD, and treatment of mice with preexisting IBD allowed partial healing of lesions. We hypothesize that blocking the binding of substance P to the neurokinin-1 receptor interrupts the inflammatory cascade that triggers and maintains intestinal lesions of IBD.     

A study on p53 gene alterations in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and their correlation to common dietary risk factors among population of the Kashmir valley

AIM: To systematically examine the extent of correlation of risk factors, such as age, consumed dietary habit and familial predisposition with somatic Tp53 molecular lesion causal to elevate carcinogenesis severity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) among the Kashmiri population of Northern India. METHODS: All cases (n=51) and controls (n = 150) were permanent residents of the Kashmir valley. Genetic alterations were determined in exons 5-8 of Tp53 tumor suppressor gene among 45 ESCC cases histologically confirmed by PCR-SSCP analysis. Data for individual cancer cases (n = 45) and inpatient controls (n = 150) with non-cancer disease included information on family history of cancer, thirty prevailing common dietary risk factors along with patient's age group. Correlation of genetic lesion in p53 exons to animistic data from these parameters was generated by Chi-square test to all 45 histologically confirmed ESCC cases along with healthy controls. RESULTS: Thirty-five of 45 (77.8%) histologically characterized tumor samples had analogous somatic mutation as opposed to 1 of 45 normal sample obtained from adjacent region from the same patient showed germline mutation. The SSCP analysis demonstrated that most common p53 gene alterations were found in exon 6 (77.7%), that did not correlate with the age of the individual and clinicopathological parameters but showed significant concordance (P<0.05) with familial history of cancer (CD=58), suggesting germline predisposition at an unknown locus, and dietary habit of consuming locally grown Brassica vegetable "Hakh" (CD=19.5), red chillies (CD=20.2), hot salty soda tea (CD = 2.37) and local baked bread (CD=1.1). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that somatic chromosomal mutations, especially in exon 6 of Tp53 gene, among esophageal cancer patients of an ethnically homogenous population of Kashmir valley are closely related to continued exposure to various common dietary risk factors, especially hot salty tea, meat, baked bread and "Hakh", that are rich in nitrosoamines and familial cancer history.     

Therapeutic benefits of zinc sulfate on neonatal hyperbilirubinemia

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is a common phenomenon shortly after birth and a frequent cause of prolonged hospi-talization[1].     

Adjunctive rifampin therapy for native valve Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis in a neonate: A case report and literature review

Infective endocarditis in neonates can be fatal. Adjunctive rifampin therapy might be effective as salvage therapy in critically ill patients with Staphylococcus aureus native valve endocarditis (NVE). We present a case of a full‐term neonate with NVE who had a favorable clinical outcome after adding rifampin to standard therapy.     

Efficacy of routine post-operative head computed tomography on cranial surgery patients outcome

Objectives:To identify the role of routine postoperative head CT in changing postoperative management after elective craniotomies.Methods:We conducted a retrospective study on adult patients who underwent cranial surgery. Exclusion criteria includes cranial CTs done postoperatively for urgent clinical indications, pediatric patients, CSF diversion procedures and sedated patients. Patients were placed into “positive” group if the physical assessment changed from the baseline in the form of clinical deterioration, and the “negative” group if the exam did not change. The data then were analyzed to identify which patients needed further medical or surgical management based on CT findings only with “negative” physical examination.Results:Total of 222 were included in the study. 151 patients had negative physical examination. Only 8 out of 151 patients had positive CT findings. Two patients out of 222 (0.9%) had a negative physical exam and positive CT findings that required additional action that wouldn’t be done urgently without routine postoperative brain CT. Only one patient out of 222 (0.4%) who was re-operated urgently based CT findings only and negative physical examination.Conclusion:Routine postoperative routine brain CT did not alter the course of medical management, even in the presence of significant radiological findings.

Neurosurgical patients have high early postoperative complications in comparison with other surgical domains.1 Postoperative brain CT is done routinely after cranial procedures to predict the possibility of early complications, including hemorrhage and significant brain edema.2 Other less urgent indications are the gross assessment of the extent of resection and ventricular catheter placement in cerebrospinal fluid diversion procedures.3 Imaging studies in our institute are done routinely for the postoperative cranial surgeries, even in the absence of clinical indication or postoperative complications; thus, raising suspicion about the role and efficacy of routine postoperative imaging.In this study, the aim is to determine the necessity of postoperative head CT scan in cranial surgeries to identify early complications, and its role in patient care, outcomes, and costs, with a review of the literature.     

The evaluation expression of non-coding RNAs in response to HSV-G47∆ oncolytic virus infection in glioblastoma multiforme cancer stem cells

Journal of NeuroVirology - Glioblastoma multiforme is the most aggressive astrocytes brain tumor. Glioblastoma cancer stem cells and hypoxia conditions are well-known major obstacles in treatment....     

Treatment with neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist reduces severity of inflammatory bowel disease induced by Cryptosporidium parvum

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, debilitating disorder of uncertain and perhaps multiple etiologies. It is believed to be due in part to disregulation of the immune system. Neuroimmune interactions may be involved in induction or maintenance of IBD. In the present study, we examined the potential role of a neurotransmitter, substance P, in a mouse model of IBD. We found that binding sites for substance P, and more specifically, neurokinin-1 receptors, were upregulated in intestinal tissue of mice with IBD-like syndrome. Dosing of mice with LY303870, a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist, reduced the severity of IBD, and treatment of mice with preexisting IBD allowed partial healing of lesions. We hypothesize that blocking the binding of substance P to the neurokinin-1 receptor interrupts the inflammatory cascade that triggers and maintains intestinal lesions of IBD.     

Undergraduate medical students’ perceptions of their learning experience in pediatric rotation at King Abdulaziz University Medical College in Jeddah,Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate fifth-year medical students' perception of their learning experience during pediatric rotation at the medical college of King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted by distributing a questionnaire to fifth-year students who attended the pediatric rotation at KAU, during 2013–2014.

Results: Three hundred fifty-six out of 360 students agreed to participate, representing a response rate of 99%. More than 90% were satisfied with the module, and 80% reported the usefulness of the orientation session. The mean scores for the usefulness of morning experience and afternoon activities were 7.20?±?2.40 and 6.40?±?2.70, respectively. A significant difference in the mean scores for supervision was observed between the clerkship sites (p?=?.0001), with the highest score for consultants’ supervision (7.01?±?2.90) and lowest for interns’ supervision (4.81?±?3.30).

Conclusions: Overall, although the program was satisfactory to the majority of participants, areas of concern were identified. Students reported more effective learning and development of clinical skills , during the morning rounds, when supervised by consultants and senior specialists, and in activities that involved examining patients, presenting cases, and participating in discussions.