Annals of Saudi medicine最新文献

Background: Investigating survival in endometrial cancer (EC) is crucial to determine the effectiveness of overall management as it will reflect on the level of care provided among this population.

Objective: The study was conducted to analyze the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in treated endometrial carcinoma and to determine the associated predictors.

Design: Retrospective SETTING: Department of obstetrics and gynecology in university tertiary hospital PATIENTS AND METHODS: Baseline demographic and clinical data, tumor characteristics and perioperative and outcome data were collected from consecutive patients treated for EC between 2000 and 2018. Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate Cox regression were used to analyze factors and predictors of OS and PFS.

Main outcome measures: OS, PFS and prognostic factors SAMPLE SIZE: 200 RESULT: Endometrioid type was the most common type accounting for 78.5% of the cases, followed by papillary serous carcinoma (18.5%). At diagnosis, 21.5% were stage III, and 12.0% were stage IV. Invasiveness features showed involvement of the myometrium (96.5%), lymph vessels (36.5%), cervix stroma (18.5%), lower segment (22.0%), and parametrium (7.0%). The majority of patients had open surgery (80.0%), while 11.5% and 7.0% had laparoscopy and robotic surgery, respectively. Staging and debulking were performed in 89.0% of patients, and 12.5% of patients had residual disease of more than 2 cm. The mean OS and PFS were 104.4 (95% CI=91.8-117.0) months and 96.8 (95% CI=83.9-109.7) months, respectively. The 5-year OS and PFS were 62.5% and 46.9%, respectively. The majority of the factors we assessed were significantly associated with OS or PFS. However, reduced OS was independently associated age ≥60 years (hazard ratio [HR]=1.99, P=.010), papillary serous carcinoma (HR=2.35, P=.021), and residual disease (HR=3.84, P=.007); whereas PFS was predicted by age ≥60 years (HR=1.87, P=.014) and residual disease (HR=3.22, P=.040).

Conclusion: There is a need for a national strategy to tackle the growing burden of EC, by identifying the locally-specific incidence, delayed diagnosis and survival outcome.

Limitations: This was a single-center study conducted at a tertiary center, which may question the generalizability of the findings, as the sample may be biased by overrepresentation with patients who were diagnosed at an advanced stage.

Background: The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a universal disease of increasing prevalence, but the prevalence varies depending on ethnicity. There is a crucial need to assess the validity of anthropometric indicators and determine appropriate cut-off values for MetS screening.

Objective: Determine cut-off anthropometric indicators values for screening of MetS.

Design: Cross-sectional SETTING: Rural and urban areas of provinces with a high prevalence of MetS in the central region of Thailand.

Subjects and methods: The subjects were recruited based on the International Diabetes Federation definition of MetS, which includes four anthropometric indicators. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity for different cut-off values of all novel indicators.

Main outcome measures: The cut-off values for screening of MetS, which included neck circumference (NC), body roundness index (BRI), conicity index (C-index), and body shape index (BSI).

Sample size: 2520 participants RESULTS: The BRI and NC were the indices with higher areas under the curve, followed by the C-index and BSI. The optimal cut-off values for BRI and NC were 4.1 and 36.5 cm for males and 4.0 and 34.5 cm for females.

Conclusions: This study defined the specific cut-off values for Thai working adults.

Limitations: The participants might not be representative of all Thai adults and we may have overestimated MetS for Thai working adults because our research focus was on the highest prevalence of MetS in the central region of Thailand.

Background: The most common and lethal consequence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The persistent inflammation present in CKD increases hepcidin levels. Iron accumulates in the arterial wall in atherosclerosis. Hepcidin-25 was thought to accelerate the development of atherosclerotic plaques by blocking iron release from macrophages. Therefore, we sought to determine the relationship between hepcidin-25 and asymptomatic atherosclerosis in non-dialysis CKD patients.

Objectives: Investigate the relationship between hepcidin-25 and subclinical atherosclerosis in non-dialysis CKD patients.

Design: Cross-sectional SETTINGS: Outpatient clinic for urology and nephrology at a university hospital SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Participants above the age of 18 years included a group of healthy controls and a group of CKD patients who were not routinely maintained on hemodialysis. The latter group was further divided according to eGFR into CKD-3, CKD-4 and CKD-5 subgroups. We excluded patients with comorbidities, patients with chronic liver disease, and other conditions or habits. CBC, kidney function tests, and serum levels of hepcidin-25 (SH-25), TNF-α, IL-6, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C were assessed. To measure carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and determine presence of plaques, carotid ultrasonography was performed. The near or far walls of common carotid artery, bulb, and internal carotid artery were used to measure CIMT.

Main outcome measures: SH-25 association and indicators of subclinical atherosclerosis.

Sample size: 128 participants, the control group (n=25) and the non-hemodialysis CKD patients (n=103) RESULTS: The CKD patients had significantly higher serum levels of markers of inflammation including IL-6, TNF-α, and hs-CRP (P<.001 for each) compared to the controls. There was a significantly higher level of TC, TG and LDL-C (P<.001 for each) and a lower level of HDL-C (P<.001) in the CDK patients compared to controls. SH-25 was considerably higher in all CKD subgroups, especially with progression of CKD. CIMT was increased in CKD patients especially CKD-4 and CKD-5 subgroups when compared to healthy participants (P<.001 for each). In the patient group, CIMT showed a positive correlation with SH-25, (r=.65 and P<.001), IL-6 (r=.65, P<.001), TNF-α (r=.71, P<.001), and hs-CRP (r=.52, P<.001). The ROC curve study showed that SH-25 (AUC=.86, P<.001), IL-6 (AUC=.83, P<.001), hs-CRP (AUC=.72, P<.001), TNF-α (AUC=.82, P<.001) were strong predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis in the CKD patients.

Conclusions: SH-25 and CIMT had a positive relationship in CKD patients. The ROC curve showed that SH-25 is a reliable predictor of carotid atherosclerosis. Theref

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a vector-borne disease prevalent in Algeria since 2000. The disease has significant impacts on affected communities, including morbidity and social stigma.

Objective: Investigate the association between environmental factors and the incidence of CL in the province of Ghardaïa and assess the predictive capacity of these factors for disease occurrence.

Design: Retrospective SETTING: The study area included both urban and rural communities.

Methods: We analyzed a dataset on CL in the province of Ghardaïa, Algeria, spanning from 2000 to 2020. The dataset included climatic variables such as temperature, average humidity, wind speed, rainfall, and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Using generalized additive models, we examined the relationships and interactions between these variables to predict the emergence of CL in the study area.

Main outcome measures: The identification of the most significant environmental factors associated with the incidence and the predicted incidence rates of CL in the province of Ghardaïa, Algeria.

Sample size and characteristics: 252 monthly observations of both climatic and epidemiological variables.

Results: Relative humidity and wind speed were the primary climatic factors influencing the occurrence of CL epidemics in Ghardaïa, Algeria. Additionally, NDVI was a significant environmental factor associated with CL incidence. Surprisingly, temperature did not show a strong effect on CL occurrence, while rainfall was not statistically significant. The final fitted model predictions were highly correlated with real cases.

Conclusion: This study provides a better understanding of the long-term trend in how environmental and climatic factors contribute to the emergence of CL. Our results can inform the development of effective early warning systems for preventing the transmission and emergence of vector-borne diseases.

Limitations: Incorporating additional reservoir statistics such as rodent density and a human development index in the region could improve our understanding of disease transmission.

Background: Abdominal pain is a common and non-specific symptom in children. It is important to be able to distinguish the source of abdominal pain before surgery.

Objectives: Assess importance of the systemic immune inflammation index (SII), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), and other systemic inflammatory response blood cell indices in predicting the diagnosis and prognosis of acute appendicitis in children.

Design: Retrospective cohort SETTING: Single center in Turkey PATIENTS AND METHODS: The files of patients with abdominal pain aged 0-18 years who underwent surgery for appendicitis in our clinic between January 2011 and January 2022 were reviewed. According to the pathology results, patients were divided into two groups, those with pathologic findings of appendicitis (positive for appendicitis) and those without appendicitis. Systemic inflammation markers were statistically compared between the groups.

Main outcome measures: Systemic inflammation markers.

Sample size: 1265 patients RESULTS: Of the 1265 patients, 784 (62%) were male and 481 were female (38%). According to the pathologic examinations, 256 (20.2%) patients did not have appendicitis, and 1009 (79.8%) patients had acute appendicitis. The SIRI level was significantly higher in patients with acute appendicitis compared with patients without acute appendicitis (P<.001). Levels of SII were significantly higher in patients with acute appendicitis (P<.001).

Conclusion: In children presenting with abdominal pain, high SIRI and SII values alone support the diagnosis of acute appendicitis at a rate of 95%. When physical examination findings, duration of pain, and imaging test results are added, the diagnosis becomes clear at a rate of 98%.

Limitations: Single-center study and retrospective.

Background: In adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) has been associated with higher mortality rates. Therefore, its use in children with ARDS is still controversial.

Objectives: Evaluate the overall mortality of HFOV in children with ARDS and explore mortality-related risk factors; compare the outcome of using HFOV post-endotracheal intubation early (≤24 hours) versus late (≤24 hours).

Design: Retrospective (medical record review) SETTING: Pediatric intensive care unit in a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia.

Patients and methods: Data were collected from medical records of all pediatric patients with ARDS aged one week to 14 years, who were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) from January 2016-June 2019 and who required HFOV.

Main outcome measures: PICU mortality.

Sample size and characteristics: 135 ARDS patients including 74 females (54.8%), and 61 males (45.2%), with a median age (interquar-tile range) of 35 (72) months.

Results: The overall mortality rate was 60.0% (81/135), and most died in the first 28 days in the PICU (91.3%, 74/8). Of non-survivors, 75.3% (61/81) were immunocompromised, and 24.7% (20/81) were immuno-competent patients, 52 (64.2%) received inotropic support, 40 (49.4%) had a bone-marrow transplant (BMT) before HFOV initiation. Although the prone position was used in 20.7% (28/135) to improve the survival rate post-HFOV ventilation, only 28.6% (8/28) survived. In addition, altered code status or chemotherapy reported a significant association with mortality (P<.05). Interestingly, early HFOV initiation (≤24 hours) did not seem to have a high impact on survival compared to late initiation (>24 hours); (57.4% vs. 42.6%, P=.721).

Conclusion: Immunocompromised and oncology patients, including post-BMT, reported poorer outcomes, and neither the prone position nor early use of HFOV improved outcomes. However, it is recommended to replicate the study in a larger cohort to generalize the results.

Limitations: Retrospective single-center study.

Background: Red blood cell transfusion is common in critically ill children after cardiac surgery. Since the threshold for hemoglobin (Hb) transfusion need is not well defined, the threshold Hb level at which dependent critical oxygen uptake-to-delivery (VO2-DO2) status compensation is uncertain.

Objectives: To assess the effects of blood transfusion on the oxygen extraction ratio (O2ER) and central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) to identify a critical O2ER value that could help us determine the critical need for blood transfusion.

Design: Prospective, observational cohort study.

Setting: Cardiac Surgical Intensive Care Unit at Prince Sultan Cardiac Center in Qassim, Saudi Arabia.

Patients and methods: Between January 2013 and December 2015, we included all children with cardiac disease who underwent surgery and needed a blood transfusion. Demographic and laboratory data with physiological parameters before and 1 and 6 hours after transfusion were recorded and O2ER before and 6 hours after transfusion was computed. Cases were divided into two groups based on O2ER: Patients with increased O2ER (O2ER > 40%) and normal patients without increased O2ER (O2ER < =40%) before transfusion.

Main outcome measure(s): Changes in O2ER and ScvO2 following blood transfusion.

Results: Of 103 patients who had blood transfusion, 75 cases had normal O2ER before transfusion while 28 cases had increased O2ER before transfusion. Following blood transfusion, O2ER and ScvO2 improved in the group that had increased O2ER before transfusion, but not in the group that had normal O2ER before transfusion.

Conclusions: The clinical and hemodynamic indicators O2ER and ScvO2 may be considered as markers that can indicate a need for blood transfusion.

Limitations: The limitation of this study is the small number of patients that had increased O2ER before transfusion. There were few available variables to assess oxygen consumption.

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is rare non-Langerhans histiocytosis with distinctive radiologic and pathologic entities. We report a rare case of which ECD was involving the breast with only eight similar cases reported in the English literature. Our patient was a 52-year-old female patient with ECD involving the breast, mesentery, left kidney, retroperitoneum and the skeleton. The diagnosis was based on distinctive imaging and histopathological findings. The patient received a new novel treatment as part of a clinical trial in the United States and showed clinical and radiological improvement. SIMILAR CASES PUBLISHED: 8

Background: The roots of advanced practice nursing (APN) can be traced back to the 1890s, but the nurse practitioner (NP) emerged in Western countries during the 1960s in response to the unmet healthcare needs of populations in rural areas. These early NPs utilized the medical model of care to assess, diagnose and treat. Nursing has since grown as a profession, with its own unique and distinguishable, holistic, science-based knowledge, which is complementary within the multidisciplinary team. Today, APNs demonstrate nursing expertise in clinical practice, education, research and leadership, and are no longer perceived as "physician replacements" or assistants. Saudi Arabia has yet to define, legislate or regulate APN.

Aims: This article aims to disseminate information from a Saudi APN thought leadership meeting, to chron.icle the history of APN within Saudi Arabia, while identifying strategies for moving forward.

Conclusion: It is important to build an APN model based on Saudi healthcare culture and patient popu.lation needs, while recognizing global historical underpinnings. Ensuring that nursing continues to distinguish itself from other healthcare professions, while securing a seat at the multidisciplinary healthcare table will be instrumental in advancing the practice of nursing.

Background: Exposure to nicotine via tobacco smoking may influence leptin release and decrease food intake among smokers. However, the effect of nicotine exposure on leptin and food intake among different nicotine dependent groups is unclear.

Objective: We aimed to measure leptin and calorie intake among different nicotine dependent groups.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Research department in school of medical sciences.

Patients and methods: Subjects were selected by purposive (non-probability) sampling and categorized as having low, moderate and high nicotine dependency based on the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) score. Diet was recorded by interview. Anthropometry, blood pressure, body composition, lipid profile, and physical activity level were measured accordingly. Fasting serum leptin was measured using a commercial ELISA kit.

Main outcome measure(s): Nicotine dependency, 24-hour diet, clinical anthropometric and clinical measurements.

Results: In 107 Malay male smokers leptin concentration was inversely correlated with nicotine dependence. However, body weight, smoking period, blood pressure, body composition, lipid profile and physical activity level were not significantly different among low, moderately and highly dependent smoking groups. Leptin concentration and total calorie intake were also not significantly different among these groups.

Conclusion: Leptin concentration was inversely correlated with nicotine dependence, but leptin concentration and total calorie intake status were not significantly different among our different nicotine dependency subjects.

Limitations: Purposive sampling for subject recruitment and inaccurate information in the self-administered questionnaire.