VOL.8 2020 Issue 1 (January-April)
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Item Curcumin-loaded mesoporous silica particles as wound-healing agent: An In vivo study(2020) Hamam, Fayez; Nasr, AbdulrahmanBackground: Curcumin likely has wound-healing properties, but its poor pharmacokinetic attributes inhibit its potential. To overcome these limitations, a novel nanoformulation was previously developed, wherein curcumin was loaded into mesoporous silica particles. Objectives: The objective of the study is to assess the efficiency of this nanocurcumin formulation as a wound-healing agent in an animal model. Materials and Methods: Curcumin was loaded onto mesoporous silica particles. Eighteen healthy, test-naive male Wistar rats were randomly separated into two groups of 9: Group 1 (control) rats were treated topically with a standard drug (sulfadiazine) and Group 2 with 1% curcumin formulation. A circular excision wound was made, and topical application was performed twice a day. The excision diameters were measured on days 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21 of treatment. Three rats from each group were sacrificed on days 7, 14 and 21, and a cross-section from skin specimen in the excision injury was obtained for histological assessment of inflammation, angiogenesis, fibroblast proliferation, presence of collagen and reepithelization. Results: Wound contraction percentage in rats treated with curcumin nanoformulation was nonsignificantly higher than that in the control group ( P > 0.05). In both groups, inflammatory reactions considerably reduced by day 21 of treatment, the angiogenesis process was almost complete by day 7, fibroblast proliferation noticeably rose by day 14, and a high degree of wound reepithelization was achieved by day 21, with no significant differences between the groups. Interestingly, by day 21, the level of collagen significantly increased in curcumin nanoformulation-treated rats compared with those treated with sulfadiazine. Conclusions: Curcumin nanoformulation likely enhanced wound repair by inhibiting the inflammatory response, stimulating angiogenesis, inducing fibroblast proliferation as well as enhancing reepithelization and synthesis of collagen. Therefore, the curcumin nanoformulation used in this study may have potential as a wound-healing ethnomedicine.Item Asymptomatic falciparum malaria and its effects on type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Lagos, Nigeria(2020) Udoh, Bernice; Iwalokun, Bamidele; Etukumana, Etiobong; Amoo, JosephBackground: Asymptomatic malaria (ASM) constitutes a reservoir of malaria parasites that sustain transmission and threaten elimination efforts. Studies have also shown a significant relation between insulin resistance and malaria infection. However, data on the clinical effects of ASM and its patterns of carriage among adult malaria patients is limited. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of ASM due to Plasmodium falciparum among adult type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients in Lagos, Nigeria; to assess the diagnostic performance of light microscopy and histidine-rich protein 2 rapid diagnostic test (HRP-2 RDT); and to determine the effects of ASM on glycemic control and anemia. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 208 afebrile, nonobese, nonhypertensive T2DM patients, aged 40–70 years, undergoing treatment (adherence, ≥95%) at six private health facilities in Lagos, Nigeria, between March and August 2015. Sociodemographic data were obtained using a semi-structured questionnaire and clinical case files. Venous blood samples were collected and processed for fasting blood sugar estimation, packed cell volume determination and malaria parasite detection by HRP2-RDT, light microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The mean age of the patients was 54.5 years. ASM was diagnosed in 16.8%, 7.2% and 4.3% of the patients by PCR, light microscopy and HRP2-RDT, respectively. ASM was significantly ( P < 0.05) associated with poor glycemic control, anemia and insulin resistance. The overall parasitemia ranged from 85 to 3789 parasites/μL (median, 1580 parasites/μL). Benchmarking against the PCR results, light microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests were found to have a sensitivity (95% confidence interval) of 42.9% (26.5–59.3) and 22.9% (12.1–39), respectively, in diagnosing ASM. Conclusion: This study revealed that T2DM patients in Lagos, Nigeria, are potential reservoirs of asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum , which has a significantly negative effect on glycemic control and anemia. The study also found PCR to be the most effective diagnostic method.Item Dynamic thiol/disulfide balance in patients with seborrheic dermatitis: A case–control study(2020) Emre, Selma; Kalkan, Göknur; Erdoǧan, Serpil; Akta, Aktaş; Ergin, MerveBackground: Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease, in which many endogenous and exogenous factors play a role. Recent studies have shown that oxidative stress increases in these patients. The role of the dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis, an important component of the oxidative stress, in the pathogenesis of seborrheic dermatitis has not yet been investigated. Objectives: The objective was to investigate the relationship between the dynamic thiol/disulfide balance in the plasma of seborrheic dermatitis patients and disease severity. Methods: In this case–control study, 70 seborrheic dermatitis patients and 61 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included. Thiol/disulfide homeostasis was calculated from venous blood samples, and tests were performed by automated spectrophotometric method. The thiol/disulfide balance between the patient and control groups was compared. In addition, disease severity and other demographic characteristics and thiol/disulfide balance parameters were compared. Results: Native and total thiols were significantly higher in the patient group than that in the control group ( P < 0.001). Disulfide levels were nonsignificantly lower in the patient group than controls ( P = 0.821). Patients' age and age at the onset of disease were found to have a negative correlation with native and total thiol levels. Conclusion: Higher levels of thiols in the serum may be responsible for the increased proliferation of seborrheic dermatitis lesions. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report on the correlation between thiol/disulfide homeostasis in patients with seborrheic dermatitis.Item Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in a non-small cell lung cancer patient on chemoradiotherapy: A case report(2020) Doello, Kevin; Amezcua, Víctor; García, Javier; Valdivia, JavierPneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia is a very uncommon complication in lung cancer patients. We report the case of a 59-year-old, Stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer (epidermoid) patient who was receiving concurrent chemotherapy scheme (cisplatin + vinorelbine) and radiotherapy and developed fever and dyspnea not controlled with classical antibiotics. The patient developed respiratory distress. A high-resolution computed tomography showed a crazy-paving pattern, and a bronchoalveolar lavage confirmed the diagnosis of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia. The patient was successfully managed with intravenous trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and voriconazole. Few such cases have been reported in the literature, and in most cases, the infection has been found to be associated with aggressive oncological treatments. Therefore, Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia should be considered in lung cancer patients with its presenting symptoms, especially if the patient is undergoing aggressive chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.Item Severe methemoglobinemia secondary to Ferula asafoetida ingestion in an infant: A case report(2020) Al-Qahtani, Saleh; Abusham, Sara; Alhelali, IbrahimMethemoglobinemia is an increase in the methemoglobin levels in the blood. Infants are more susceptible to develop secondary methemoglobinemia because of the limited activity of methemoglobin reductase B enzyme. We report a case of life-threatening methemoglobinemia secondary to ingestion of Ferula asafoetida herbal remedy in an infant who presented with cyanosis and severe respiratory distress. The patient had two brothers who had a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and the patient's deficiency status was unknown, and thus, methylene blue was not initiated whereas ascorbic acid was unavailable. Accordingly, the patient was successfully treated with hyperoxia. Based on this case, the authors suggest that the use of F. asafoetida as an herbal remedy should be avoided in infants, and pediatricians should be aware of such toxicity and inform parents appropriately.Item A case report of intraparenchymal neurocysticercosis in a postpartum female in Saudi Arabia(2020) Alshamrani, Foziah; Alsulaiman, Abdulla; Shareefi, Ghadah; Turkistani, AlaaNeurocysticercosis is a neurologic disease caused by infection with larvae of Taenia solium . It is most commonly transmitted by consumption of pork, water contaminated with T. solium or poor hygiene habits. As only few cases of neurocysticercosis have been documented in Saudi Arabia, the authors report a case of neurocysticercosis in a young Indian female residing in Saudi Arabia who presented with generalized tonic–clonic seizures 6 days after a normal vaginal delivery. Her physical and laboratory investigations as well as chest X-ray and electroencephalogram were all normal. Computed tomography of the head revealed multiple calcified nodular lesions, and magnetic resonance imaging showed ring-enhancing lesion in the left frontoparietal area. Serum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (qualitative) was positive for immunoglobulin G antibodies for cysticercosis. A diagnosis of neurocysticercosis was made, and the patient was treated with dexamethasone and levetiracetam for 4 days before discharge. At the 3-month follow-up, the patient's condition had significantly improved, and her seizures had not recurred. This report recommends considering neurocysticercosis as a differential diagnosis in patients presenting with new-onset seizures, even if the symptoms do not initially indicate neurocysticercosis or if the patient resides in an area where the disease is rare.Item Association between hepatitis C virus viremia and the rs12979860, rs2228145 and rs1800795 SNP (CT/AC/GG) genotype in Saudi kidney transplant recipients(2020) Alkharsah, Khaled; Alzahrani, Alhussain; Obeid, Obeid; Aljindan, Reem; Guella, Adnane; Al-Ali, Amein; Al-Turaifi, Hussain; Sallam, TalalBackground: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major health problem, particularly in high-risk groups such as kidney transplant recipients, where it can adversely affect graft survival and increase the relative risk for mortality. Recently, the role of genetic variation among HCV patients in determining the outcome of infections has been under investigation. Objective: To investigate the association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs12979860 (located within the interleukin-28B locus), rs2228145 (interleukin-6 receptor) and rs1800795 (interleukin-6 promoter) with HCV viremia in renal transplant patients. Materials and Methods: In this analytical cross-sectional study, 149 kidney transplant recipients, 82 males (median age: 41 years) and 67 females (median age: 45 years), were screened for HCV RNA in blood using real-time polymerase chain reaction and genotyped by sequencing (rs12979860) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (rs2228145 and rs1800795). Results: HCV RNA was detected in 17 (11.41%) of the 149 patients. There was no statistically significant association between the studied SNPs and HCV viremia. However, a combination of the CT/AC/GG genotype was significantly associated with HCV viremia (odds ratio: 5.4). The genotype AA of rs2228145 in the IL-6 receptor was associated with viremia levels of >105 copies/ml (odds ratio: 5.96). Conclusion: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that has shown that the CT/AC/GG genotype has an impact on HCV viremia in kidney transplant patients. Therefore, such SNP genotypes may potentially be used to identify transplant patients at risk of HCV infection.Item Efficacy and efficiency of papacarie versus conventional method in caries removal in primary teeth: An SEM study(2020) AlHumaid, JehanBackground: Chemomechanical methods such as Papacarie were developed as alternate dental caries removal methods to overcome major disadvantages of the conventional drilling technique. However, few studies have demonstrated the efficacy of Papacarie for caries removal using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and efficiency of Papacarie and the conventional bur method in caries removal from primary teeth. Materials and Methods: In this in vitro study, 30 freshly extracted, human primary molars with dentinal caries were obtained from the outpatient clinics at the Dental Hospital of Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Each tooth was sectioned mesiodistally into two halves through the center of the lesion, and each half was randomly subjected to caries removal by Papacarie (Group I) and excavation using the conventional bur method (Group II). Time taken (efficiency) for removal of caries was noted using a stopwatch. Samples were then examined under SEM for presence of bacterial colonies (efficacy). For efficiency, data were analyzed using chi-square, and for efficacy, using t -test. Results: There was no significant difference in the presence of bacteria in both groups under SEM (Papacarie = 23.3%; conventional method = 16.7%; P = 0.52). However, significantly more time was taken for caries removal with Papacarie (mean = 351.56 s) than with the conventional bur method (mean = 158.41 s) ( P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Papacarie is as effective in removing dentinal bacteria as the conventional caries removal method but is less efficient, as the time taken for excavation was longer.Item Locan & International Medical Conferences/Meetings ( January – April 2020)(2020)International Medical Conferences/Meetings January – April 2020 #Jan 8 – 12 /11th International Course on Ophthalmic & Oculo-Plastic Reconstruction and Trauma Surgery/ Venue: Vienna, Austria #Jan 8 – 12 /16th Asia-Pacific Medical Education Conference/ Venue: Singapore #Jan 9 – 11 /2020 Fertility Conference/ Venue: Edinburgh, UK Jan 10 – 11 /International Conference on Medical, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences (ICMBPS)/ Venue: Madrid, Spain Jan 12 – 16 /Orthopedics Today Hawaii 2020/ Venue: Koloa City, Hawaii, USA Jan 17 /2020 Allergy & Respiratory Medicine Conference/ Venue: Abu Dhabi, UAE Jan 17 – 19 2020/ American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders Annual Meeting (APSARD) / Venue: Washington DC, USA Jan 23 – 25/ Crohn’s & Colitis Congress 2020/ Venue: Austin, Texas, USA Feb 3 – 5/ ESMO Sarcoma & GIST Symposium / Venue: Milan, Italy Feb 10 – 11 /3rd International Summit on Dermatology/ Venue: Lisbon, Portugal Feb 12 – 15/ ECCO IBD 2020 – 15th Congress of the European Crohn’s & Colitis Organization/ Venue: Vienna, Austria Feb 13 – 15 /2020 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium / Venue: San Francisco, California, USA Feb 26 – 28 / 6th International Medical & Elderly Care Expo & Conference Osaka – Medical Japan 2020 / Venue: Osaka, Japan Feb 26 – 29/ 2020 Pan-Arab Interventional Radiology Society Annual Congress/ Venue: Dubai, UAE March 2 – 3 /25th International Conference on Clinical Nutrition / Venue: Rome, Italy March 2 – 4 /TAT 2020 – International Congress on Targeted Anticancer Therapies/ Venue: Palais des Congres, Paris, France March 9 – 10 /2020 Middle East Heart Congress/ Venue: Abu Dhabi, UAE March 11 – 13 /17th Annual Conference of the European Neuroendocrine Venue: Barcelona, Spain March 12 – 13 /World Heart Summit 2020 /Venue: Singapore March 13 – 17 /2020 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Meeting /Venue: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA March 20 – 24/ 35th Annual Congress of the European Association of Urology /Venue: Amsterdam, The Netherlands March 23 – 24 /21st World Dermatology Congress /Venue: Tokyo, Japan March 26 – 29 /WCN 2020 – The International Society of Nephrology Congress/ Venue: Abu Dhabi, UAE March 28 – 31 /EPA 2020 – 28th European Congress of Psychiatry /Venue: Madrid, Spain April 2 – 5 /WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2020 – World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Muskuloskeletal Diseases /Venue: Barcelona, Spain April 18 – 21/ ECCMID 2020 – The 30th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases/ Venue: Paris, France April 20 – 21 /29th World Neonatal, Pediatric & Family Medicine Conference/ Venue: Dubai, UAE April 22 – 23/ 7th World Congress on Human Genetics & Genetic Diseases/ Venue: Dubai, UAE April 22 – 26 /Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology Congress 2020 /Venue: Xiamen, China April 29 – 30 /3rd Annual Meeting on Pediatric Nursing & Healthcare /Venue: Dubai, UAEItem Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in classifying thyroid nodules compared with fine-needle aspiration(2020) Al-Ghanimi, Ibrahim; Al-Sharydah, Abdulaziz; Al-Mulhim, Saqar; Faisal, Sarah; Al-Abdulwahab, Abdulrahman; Al-Aftan, Mohammed; Abuhaimed, AbdulrahmanBackground: Classifying thyroid lesions is challenging; nonetheless, using ultrasonography may allow for accurate diagnosis, differentiation and management of thyroid lesions and help avoid unnecessary biopsy. Objectives: The main objective of the study is to determine the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in classifying thyroid nodules compared with fine-needle aspiration. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included all 68 patients diagnosed with thyroid nodules at King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, between June 1, 2014, and November 30, 2016. Parameters were selected based on the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound criteria. Ultrasonographic features, namely, nodule margins, echotexture, vascularity and calcifications, and fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) results were reviewed by two radiologists blinded to each other's findings and validated by another experienced interventional radiologist. Ultrasonography results were compared against that of FNAC to calculate sensitivity and positive- and negative-likelihood ratios, and the nodule types were compared using Fisher's exact test. Results: Of the 68 nodules analyzed, 59 were reported as benign using FNAC (specificity = 95%; P &< 0.001). Of these 59, 56 were also reported as benign using ultrasonography. The specificity of ultrasonography in determining benign nodules was 94.9%, and the positive- and negative-likelihood ratios were 13.0 and 0.35, respectively. Six of the nine suspicious nodules were confirmed as malignant using FNAC, and the ultrasonography and FNAC findings were strongly associated ( P = 0.001). According to the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound criteria, FNAC and ultrasonography findings were significantly associated for nodule calcification ( P = 0.001) and echogenicity ( P = 0.001). Conclusion: The diagnostic specificity of ultrasonography and FNAC in this study are consistent with those reported previously, indicating that ultrasonography reliably classifies thyroid nodules, and thus can assist in the decision-making regarding need for biopsy.Item Alterations of mitochondria and related metabolic pathways in leukemia: A narrative review(2020) Al Ageeli, EssamDysregulation of mitochondrial function often precedes malignant transformation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Mitochondria have a direct role in the maintenance of HSC functions. For example, D-2-hydroxyglutarate, generated due to the activity of mutated mitochondrial isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), has been implicated in the pathogenesis of leukemia. Furthermore, disturbances in the fatty acid breakdown and pyruvate oxidation are often seen in leukemic cells. These and other abnormalities expedite leukemogenesis and chemoresistance of leukemic cells. However, it needs to be elucidated whether these aberrations are the result or cause of leukemogenesis. Accordingly, for this review, a search was carried out in PubMed and Google Scholar databases until June 2019 to assess the relationship between metabolic pathways in altered mitochondria and leukemia development. In the present review, an overview of mitochondria-related mechanisms and their abnormalities in leukemia is presented, with mitochondrial pathways and factors, such as mitophagy, intermediary metabolism enzymes, oncometabolites and reactive oxygen species' generation, discussed as potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets in leukemia.Item Item Item International Medical Conferences/Meetings (January – April 2020) ARABIC ABSTRACTS(2020)1. التغييرات في الميتوكوندريا المتعلقة بالمسارات االيضية في سرطان الدم يعتبر اختالل وظيفة الميتوكوندريا غالبا ً ما يسبق التحول الخبيث للخاليا الجذعية المكونة للدم. تمتلك الميتوكوندريا ً في المحافظة على وظائف الخاليا الجذعية المكونة للدم. إضافة إلى ذلك فان االضطرابات في تعطل ً مباشرا دورا االحماض الدهنية واكسدة البيروفات غالبا ما تكون في خاليا سرطان الدم )لوكيميا(. هذه التشوهات تعجل في حدوث االبيضاض والمقاومة الكيميائية لخاليا سرطان الدم. ومع ذلك يجب توضيح فيما اذا هذه االنحرافات نتيجة او سبب لحدوث االبيضاض. في هذه المراجعة يلقي الكاتب نظرة عامة على االليات المتعلقة بالميتوكوندريا وتشوهاتها في سرطان الدم. 2. دراسة الحاالت والشواهد لدى التهاب الجلد الدهني ً في نشوء المرض. يعتبر التهاب الجلد الدهني التهاب مزمن يصيب الجلد وتلعب العوامل الداخلية والخارجية دورا وتشير الدراسات الحديثة ان االكسدة تنشط لدى هؤالء المرضى، كما ان دور ثاني الكبريتيد في طريقة تطور التهاب الجلد الدهني لم يكشف عنها بعد. تهدف هذه الدراسة لمعرفة العالقة بين توازن ثاني الكبريتيد في بالزما مرضى التهاب الجلد الدهني. والتي خلصت الى ان زيادة الثيول في الدم قد يكون السبب في حدوث هذا المرض. يرى الباحثون ان هذا اول تقرير عن االرتباط بين توازن ثاني الكبريتيد لدى مرضى التهاب الجلد الدهني. 3. الكركم كعالج للجروح يمتلك الكركم خاصية عالج والتئام الجروح ولزيادة هذه الخاصية فان الكركم أضيفت له مادة السيليكا، لتصبح نانو الكركم. أجريت الدراسة لتقييم فاعلية نانو الكركم كعالج للجروح لدى ويستار الفئران. بعد اجراء الجروح عليها قسموا الى مجموعتين، أعطيت احدى المجموعات الكركم بينما المجموعة الثانية أعطيت عالج ضابط، وبعد تحليل النتائج خلصت الدراسة الى ان الكركم عزز وحسن التئام الجروح. وحسب نتائج هذا البحث المستقبلي فان الكركم قد يملك امكانية عالج الجروح والذي يسمى أحيانا بالطب العرقي. 4. مقارنة دقة التشخيص بين االشعة الصوتية واستخراج عينة في تصنيف عقيدات الغدة الدرقية. هدفت هذه الدراسة لتحديد دقة التشخيص لألشعة الصوتية في تصنيف عقد الغدة الدرقية، مقارنة باستخراج عينة من نفس هذه العقد. اجريت هذه الدراسة االسترجاعية في مستشفى الملك فهد الجامعي بالخبر خالل سنتين 2014-2016 . خلصت الدراسة الى ان خصوصية التشخيص لألشعة الصوتية والحصول على عينة من العقد الدرقية متوافقة مع التقارير السابقة للدراسات التي عنيت بهذا الموضوع. وعليه فان االشعة الصوتية تصنف عقد الغدة الدرقية بثقة وبهذا يمكن ان تساعد في اتخاذ القرار عند الحاجة ألخذ عينة من هذه العقد. 5. المالريا وتأثيرها على مرضى السكر من النوع الثاني ً لطفيل المالريا الذي يعزز الحفاظ على انتقاله ويهدد جهود القضاء المالريا المنجلية خالية االعراض تكون خزانا عليه، وبينت بعض الدراسات وجود عالقة بين مقاومة االنسولين والعدوى بالماليا. هدفت هذه الدراسة لتحديد شيوع المالريا خالية االعراض بين المرضى البالغين المصابين بمرض السكري من النوع الثاني في نيجريا. اجريت الدراسة على )208 )مريض يعانون من مرض السكري من النوع الثاني خالل عام )2018 .)والتي خلصت الى ان مرضى السكري من النوع الثاني يعتبرون الحاضن للمالريا خالية االعراض. وهذا بدوره أدى إلى تأثير سلبي كبير على مراقبة نسبة السكري في الدم وعلى فقر الدم كما وضحت الدراسة ان )PCR )افضل وسيلة للتشخيص. 6. الكفاءة والفاعلية إلزالة التسوس بالطريقة الكيموميكانيكية مقابل التقليدية. هدفت هذه الدراسة التقليدية لمقارنة فاعلية وكفاءة الــــ )Papacarie )الكيموميكانيكية مقابل الطريقة التقليدية في إزالة التسوس باستعمال مسح المجهر االلكتروني. أجريت هذه الدراسة في مستشفى طب االسنان بجامعة االمام عبدالرحمن بن فيصل على )30 )سن مخلوع حديثا مصابة بالتسوس. خلصت الدراسة أن كال الطريقتين الحديثة والتقليدية فعالتين إلزالة التسوس بينما تحتاج الطريقة الحديثة وقتا أطول 7. الترابط بين وجود فيروس الكبد )C )وانواعه في دم مرضى الكلى المزروعة أجريت هذه الدراسة على )149 )مريض ممن تلقوا زراعة كلى لهم،)82 )ذكر، )67 )انثى. تم فحص هؤالء المرضى عن وجود فيروس الكبد) C ) في الدم وكذلك أنواع المورثات. اظهرت الدراسة وجود الفيروس ) C ) لدى ً )%4.11 )من بين )149 )مريض. كما وضحت هذه الدراسة حسب معرفة الباحثين أن الموروث )17 )مريضا )89/AC/CT )له تأثير على وجود فيروس الكبد ) C ) في دم مرضى الكلى المزروعة. 8. شيوع وتوقع االكتئاب واعراض القلق والضغط العصبي عند المسعفين هدفت هذه الدراسة لتحديد شيوع وتوقع االكتئاب ولمعرفة اعراض القلق والضغط العصبي بين المسعفين في مراكز ً، ومن بين الهالل األحمر السعودي في مدينة الرياض. شملت هذه الدراسة االستبانية المستعرضة)239 )مسعفا هؤالء )%30 )كانوا يعانون من الضغط العصبي، بينما )%40 )يشتكون من اضطرابات القلق، أما االكتئاب فأصاب )%5.26 .)أوضحت هذه الدراسة أن الضغط العصبي، والقلق واالكتئاب يشكلون معظم اعراض المسعفين، فعلية يوصي الباحثون بمراقبتهم والتدخل العالجي اذا دعت الضرورة. 9. التهاب المكورات الرئوية لدى مرضى سرطان الرئة يعتبر التهاب الرئة بسبب بكتريا )PJP )pneumonia jirovecii Pneumocystis من المضاعفات النادرة لدى ً، تعرض مرضى سرطان الرئة. يناقش الباحثون حالة مريض يعاني من سرطان رئوي ويعالج كيماويا وشعاعيا الرتفاع مستمر لدرجة الحرارة وضيق في التنفس. لم يستجب المريض على المضادات الحيوية المعطاة. أظهرت االشعة المقطعية للصدر وجود التهابات حادة في الرئتين، بينما كانت نتائج فحص غسيل الشعب الهوائية وجود البكتيريا المشار إليها أعاله. تم عالج المريض بإعطائه مضادات أخرى استجاب على اثرها. ينصح الباحثون بأخذ اعتبار وجود هذه البكتيريا خاصة لدى مرضى سرطان الرئة الخاضعين للعالج الكيماوي. 10. تكون ميثهمو جلوبينميا، بسبب تناول نبتة الحليت. يتعرض األطفال عند ابتالعهم لمادة هذه العشبة إلى تكون الميثهموجلوبينميا، لنقص في االنزيم الهاضم لها. يستعرض الباحثون حالة طفل تعرض لتهديد حياته عندما تناول مادة هذه العشبة والتي كانت تستعمل كعالج عشبي في بعض المناطق. احضر الطفل إلى المستشفى لمعاناته من ازرقاق في الجلد وصعوبة شديدة في التنفس. وقد تم عالج المريض باألكسجين بنجاح. ينصح الباحثون بعدم استعمال هذا العالج العشبي لألطفال، كما يوجهون اطباء األطفال بمعرفة مادة الحليت والمضاعفات الممكنة عند إعطائها لألطفال، وبذلك توعية األمهات واالباء. 11. التهاب عصبي ناتج عن عدوى بيرقات التينيا سوليوم يعتبر )Neurocysticercosis )مرض عصبي تسميته عدى بيرقات )solium Taenia )والتي تصيب االنسان بعد تناوله للحم الخنزير او شرب ماء ملوث بهذه اليرقات، يندر حدوث هذا النوع من المرض في بالدنا اال عند بعض المقيمين. يناقش الباحثون حالة مريضة هندية تعرضت لتشنجات بعد ستة أيام من والدة طفلها. اظهرت االشعة المقطعية للمخ عقد متكلسة، أما االشعة المغناطيسية فبينت وجود حلقات دائرية في الفص االمامي للمخ، كما كانت ً على نتائج االشعة والمختبر فقد تم تشخيص المرض وأعطيت المريضة مضادات االجسام لهذه العدوى إيجابية. وبناءا .ً العالج الالزم وتعافت منه تمامItem Abstracts of "Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC) - Summer Research Program for Undergraduate Students – 2019" presented at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia, on October 6, 2019(2020)Background: Doxorubicin is an antineoplastic commonly used in chemotherapy. Its major side effect is the cumulative resultant cardiomyopathy. Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a compatible, degradable, core-shell polymer. PCL nanoparticles <600 nm have shown the ability to accumulate in solid tumors in comparison to healthy tissues, possibly because of their defective vasculature. Objectives: The aim of this study is to prepare PCL nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin and study the effect of encapsulation on the drug’s efficacy, solubility and anticancer activity against MCF-7 cells. Materials and methods: The single emulsion method was used to prepare PCL nanoparticles; doxorubicin was incorporated during the synthesis. Nanoparticles were characterized by SEM to determine the size and morphology and by FTIR to confirm encapsulation. UV spectrophotometer was used for study the drug release. ELISA microplate reader was used to study the anticancer activity against MCF-7 (American Type Culture Collection, USA) cell line at different concentrations. Results: SEM showed uniform microspheres with a size 3 µm. FTIR showed defined bands for PCL and doxorubicin at 3400, 3000, 1650, 1450 and 1100 cm−1. Drug release was slow because of the insolubility of PCL in PBS. MTT assay showed a 49% decrease in cell viability at 100 µM. Conclusion: Polycaprolactone nanoparticles are potentially useful carriers for doxorubicin. The single emulsion method was not effective for nano-size particle preparation and different methods could be used to obtain a smaller particle size. PCL may be copolymerized with a hydrophilic polymer to increase the drug release rate.