AI-Driven Models for Diagnosing and Predicting Outcomes in Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

(1) Background: Lung cancer's high mortality due to late diagnosis highlights a need for early detection strategies. Artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, particularly for lung cancer, offers promise by analyzing medical data for early identification and personalized treatment. This systematic review evaluates AI's performance in early lung cancer detection, analyzing its techniques, strengths, limitations, and comparative edge over traditional methods. (2) Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis followed the PRISMA guidelines rigorously, outlining a comprehensive protocol and employing tailored search strategies across diverse databases. Two reviewers independently screened studies based on predefined criteria, ensuring the selection of high-quality data relevant to AI's role in lung cancer detection. The extraction of key study details and performance metrics, followed by quality assessment, facilitated a robust analysis using R software (Version 4.3.0). The process, depicted via a PRISMA flow diagram, allowed for the meticulous evaluation and synthesis of the findings in this review. (3) Results: From 1024 records, 39 studies met the inclusion criteria, showcasing diverse AI model applications for lung cancer detection, emphasizing varying strengths among the studies. These findings underscore AI's potential for early lung cancer diagnosis but highlight the need for standardization amidst study variations. The results demonstrate promising pooled sensitivity and specificity of 0.87, signifying AI's accuracy in identifying true positives and negatives, despite the observed heterogeneity attributed to diverse study parameters. (4) Conclusions: AI demonstrates promise in early lung cancer detection, showing high accuracy levels in this systematic review. However, study variations underline the need for standardized protocols to fully leverage AI's potential in revolutionizing early diagnosis, ultimately benefiting patients and healthcare professionals. As the field progresses, validated AI models from large-scale perspective studies will greatly benefit clinical practice and patient care in the future.

The effect of systemic Isotretinoin on salivary tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases 1 and 2 and salivary flow rate in periodontal disease.

AIMS: To evaluate and compare changes in salivary flow rate and salivary levels of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in individuals taking oral Isotretinoin (INN) with those who do not take INN. To assess the variation in TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 as well as salivary flow rate observed at different stages of periodontal disease in comparison to those observed in the case of healthy periodontium. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An examiner-blind case-control study involving 180 human adults divided into six groups based on their periodontal status. Clinical parameters, including pocket depth, clinical attachment level, and bleeding on probing were measured at six sites per tooth. Whole unstimulated saliva samples were collected from all subjects to evaluate salivary flow rate (SFR). Salivary TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 levels were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Software. The Kruskal Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U-tests were employed to verify any significant differences between the groups for all parameters. Multi-regression analysis was performed for each parameter tested in each group. All tests were compared at a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: SFR was statistically significantly lower among all INN groups in comparison to the control groups (P < 0.001). TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were significantly higher in all INN groups in comparison to the control groups, in both gingivitis cases (P = 0.004, P < 0.0001 respectively) and periodontitis cases (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Although INN reduces salivary flow rate, the findings of the present study revealed that it had an anti-inflammatory effect in periodontal biomarkers. Specifically, it was positively correlated with an elevation of salivary TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. Hence, INN might be a future additive medication to be further evaluated for the treatment of periodontal diseases.

Quality of life assessment among patients suffering from different dermatological diseases.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the quality of life (QoL) of patients with different dermatological diseases. Multiple international studies have evaluated the QoL among patients with different dermatological diseases; however, few studies of this kind have been conducted in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This quantitative, observational, cross-sectional study was carried out in the dermatology outpatient clinics of King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from September 2019 until February 2020. Data was collected using the validated Arabic version of the Dermatology of Life Quality Index (DLQI). RESULTS: A total of 391 patients ≥18 years participated in the study. The mean age of participants was 33 years (18-75 years). Most participants in this study reported that their dermatological disease had a small or no effect on their QoL (62.5%). The majority of patients who had acne vulgaris (79.7%), vitiligo (79.3%), hair disorders (76.9%), or rosacea (71.5%) reported a small to no effects on their QoL. However, diseases that reflected the largest percentages of a large to extremely large effect on QoL were urticaria (37.1%), eczema (26.6%), and psoriasis (24%). A total of 42.9% of the participants suffered from lichen planus and 66.7% of participants suffered from cutaneous neoplasms reported a moderate effect on their QoL. CONCLUSION: Understanding the impact of different dermatological diseases on QoL can help dermatologists to improve thier patients' QoL. Therefore, we recommend that further studies on this topic be conducted in multiple health centers.

Antimicrobial Effect of Isotretinoin Therapy on Periodontal Pathogens: A Case-Control Study.

Isotretinoin (INN), a drug used to treat severe acne, has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. INN may affect periodontal pathogenic bacteria, so we aimed to study the effect of INN on intraoral microbial profiles of periodontal disease and healthy periodontium. Our case-control study divided 180 subjects into six groups according to periodontal health status and INN usage as follows: healthy periodontium receiving INN (HINN; n = 30); those with generalized plaque-induced gingivitis receiving INN (GINN; n = 30); and those with stage I generalized periodontitis receiving INN (PINN; n = 30). Subjects not taking INN, were categorized in the same manner: those with a healthy periodontium (HC; n = 30); those with generalized plaque-induced gingivitis (GC; n = 30); and those with generalized periodontitis stage I (PC; n = 30). Plaque samples were collected to determine the prevalence of four periodontal pathogens (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, and Fusobacterium nucleatum) in each study group using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS software, and multiple regression analysis was performed for each parameter tested in each group at a significance level of 0.05. All INN groups showed significantly lower levels of P. gingivalis, T. forsythia, and T. denticola and higher levels of F. nucleatum (p < 0.001). INN had an observable antimicrobial effect on the periodontal pathogen count in patients with plaque-induced gingivitis and chronic periodontitis. INN may have a potential additive antimicrobial value in the treatment of periodontal disease.

Association between isotretinoin (Roaccutanne) use and changes in periodontal clinical parameters and MMP-8 and MMP-9 salivary levels.

Aims: to evaluate changes in clinical periodontal parameters, salivary levels of MMP-8 and MMP-9, in individuals taking Isotretinoin (INN), and compare with individuals not taking the medication and to compare findings among different stages of periodontal disease and healthy periodontium. Material and methods: A case-control study was conducted with a total of 180 human adults divided into six groups. Clinical parameters, including pocket depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and bleeding on probing (BOP) were measured at six sites per tooth. Whole unstimulated saliva samples were collected from all subjects to detect salivary level of MMP-8, MMP-9 using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Software. Kruskal Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U-tests were used to test any significant differences in any of the groups on all parameters. Pearson Chi-square test was used to compare the distribution of categorical responses across the study groups. All tests were compared at a significance level of 0.05. Results: In Gingivitis cases, INN group was found to have significantly less BOP (P < 0.0001). In Periodontitis cases, INN group showed significant difference in BOP (P < 0.0001). MMP-8 and MMP-9 were significantly lower among Periodontitis cases taking INN compared to the same group not taking the medication (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: INN assists in reducing clinical and biological signs of inflammation related to periodontal disease progression. INN may be a future additive medication to be further evaluated for treating periodontal disease.

The cost-effectiveness of sequential versus standard triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication in Saudi Arabia.

Background: The utilization rate of different treatment regimens for Helicobacter pylori infection is believed to be high; however, the cost-effectiveness of these regimens has not been examined before. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the cost-effectiveness of the two commonly prescribed treatments for H. pylori infection. Methods: The data of.an open-label, single-center, randomized trial that compared the efficacy of sequential therapy (SQT) (i.e., esomeprazole 20 mg twice daily for 10 days, amoxicillin 1000 mg twice daily for 5 days, then clarithromycin 500 mg and tinidazole 500 mg twice daily for 5 days) to standard triple therapy (STT) (i.e., esomeprazole 20 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg, and clarithromycin 500 twice daily for 14 days) in the eradication of H. pylori, as confirmed by the negative urea breath test (UBT), were used. Propensity score matching bin bootstrapping, with 10,000 replications and bias correction was conducted to generate the 95% confidence limits. Moreover, probabilistic sensitivity analysis was conducted by varying both the eradication rates and the costs of treatment regimens. Results: There were 82 and 88 patients who were on SQT and STT, respectively. Patients' mean age was 47 years, and approximately 55% of them were females. The mean treatment costs were SAR 2,075.51 (USD 553.47) and SAR 2,629.26 (USD 701.14) for SQT and STT, respectively. The mean eradication rates for SQT and STT were 63.41% and 67.05%, respectively. The mean difference in costs and eradication rates for SQT versus STT were SAR - 550.75 (95% CI: -563.84- -537.69) and - 3.64% (95% CI: -6.98- 5.88). The use of SQT was more likely to be cost saving and more effective with 56.25% confidence level, in comparison to STT. Conclusion: The use of SQT in the treatment of H. pylori seems to be more cost-effective than STT.

The Prevalence of C-Section Delivery and Its Associated Factors Among Saudi Women Attending Different Clinics of King Khalid University Hospital.

Objective Cesarean section (C-section) is one of the most common surgical procedures worldwide that may be performed to deliver one or more newborns. The objective of our study was to determine the prevalence of C-section delivery among Saudi women attending different clinics of King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH) who were pregnant, previously pregnant, and had delivered. Methods A quantitative observational cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire that has been handed to the participants after explaining the purpose of the study. A total of 524 pregnant and non-pregnant women were enrolled in the study randomly collected from all female clinics of KKUH. The study sample were given a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 21 (IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, NY) to analyze the data. Results Of the 524 study participants, 32.6% underwent C-section. There was a statistical significance in women aged 23 years old, as well as teachers, in relation to undergoing C-section (p-values = 0.0001 and 0.044, respectively). We concluded that malpresentation is the most common medical indication, with an overall percentage of 25%. There was no evident statistical association between body mass index (BMI), the highest level of education, marital status, Income status, mode of delivery, and the number of normal births or stillbirths. Conclusion It was found that the prevalence of Saudi women attending KKUH who underwent C-section was 32.6%. Medical indications to undergo C-sections, in comparison to the non-medical ones, were higher. Malpresentation was the most common medical indication, with an overall percentage of 25%.

Maxillary Sinus Pneumatization Following Extractions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction It is generally agreed that tooth extraction may lead to maxillary sinus pneumatization, resulting in a union between the sinus floor and the crest of the remaining bone in extreme cases. Studies that compared pre- and postextraction radiographs suggest that maxillary sinus pneumatization may occur after posterior tooth extractions. This study's aim was to establish the prevalence of maxillary sinus pneumatization following extractions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Material and methodology In this cross-sectional study, 282 panoramic images were randomly selected from the radiology department of the Dental University Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from the years 2015 to 2018. The radiographs included were of patients who had one of the following teeth extracted: the second premolar, the first molar, or the second molar. These radiographs were then evaluated for sinus pneumatization following extractions. The distance between the sinus floor and the inferior border of the alveolar ridge after the extraction was reviewed and assessed for all images. Result The six teeth that were assessed in this study were: 17, 16, 15, 25, 26, and 27. In relation to distribution (unilateral and bilateral), the results showed a statistically significant difference, especially for tooth numbers 16, 15, and 26. The mean values of change in sinus were significantly higher in the unilateral site than the bilateral site. However, the data did not provide any significant difference for the other three teeth (17, 25, and 27). The gender and molar side groups showed no statistical significance. Conclusion The results of the study showed that maxillary sinus pneumatization may occur after posterior tooth extraction.