Clinicopathological Features of Patients Nominated for Head and Neck Biopsies: A One-Year Series.

Background Head and neck lesions, which are predominantly benign, were widely reported. Some of these tumors are potentially neoplastic and others are non-neoplastic. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the clinicopathological features of patients nominated for head and neck biopsies. Methodology In this study, data regarding head and neck biopsies were retrieved from the Department of Pathology at King Khalid Hospital, Hai'l, Northern Saudi Arabia. Data referring to head and neck biopsies of patients who were diagnosed during the period from January 2018 to December 2018 were included. Results The initial clinical presentations were stated for 50/64 (78.1%) head and neck lesions, 12/64 (18.8%) head and neck cysts, 1/64 (1.6%) keloid, and 1/64 (1.6%) ischemia. With regard to the biopsy's site, most were taken from the nose followed by oral cavity, scalp, ear, face, and eye, constituting 19/64 (29.7%), 15/64 (23.4%), 9/64 (14.1%), 5/65 (7.8%), 4/64 (6.2%), and 3/64 (4.7%), respectively. Conclusion Head and neck benign lesions, predominantly inflammatory lesions, are common in Northern Saudi Arabia. Accurate identification of these lesions is important during histopathological diagnosis, as some have pathological features that mimic some potentially neoplastic lesions.

The common motives for appendectomy in Hail Region Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Appendectomy remains the most common emergency surgery. With the lack of literature from Saudi Arabia regarding the treatment for appendix disorders, this study aimed to identify the common motives for appendectomy in Northern Saudi Arabia. METHODOLOGY: Data referring to be resected appendix patients who were diagnosed during the period from January 2018 to December 2018 were included in the present study. The diagnosis of the resected appendix was confirmed by conventional histopathology. RESULTS: The most common cause for the appendectomy was acute appendicitis followed by gangrenous perforated appendicitis, chronic appendicitis, and lymphoid hyperplasia, representing 85/129(66%), 33/129(26%), 8/129(6%), and 3/129(2%), in this order. CONCLUSION: Appendectomy is a common procedure for the treatment of a large section of patients with appendicitis and appendicitis like clinical features. Acute appendicitis was the most motive for appendectomy followed by gangrenous perforated appendicitis in Northern Saudi Arabia.

Molecular cloning, expression, purification, and functional characterization of SP-22 gene from Bombyx mori.

Serine protease (SPs) is one of the immune enzyme's molecules that play a main role in the variation of a physiological process by controlling protease actions in vertebrates. For example, signaling cells, protector and improvement, which are included in melanization, are utilized to cascade with the meddling pathogens and defense the harmed tissue in insects. In this study, we explore the biochemical process of (SP-22) from Bombyx mori. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) discloses that BmSP-22 is expressed in all tissues including the fat body. The formative expression profile of BmSP-22 reveal that BmSP-22 messenger RNA is expressed constitutively in larvae. Injection of recombinant BmSP-22 into B. mori larvae reduces significantly the transcript levels of antimicrobial peptides in the fat body. Our results suggest that BmSP-22 plays an important role in the innate immunity of B. mori and possibly in other insects.

A Synopsis on the Role of Human Papilloma Virus Infection in Cervical Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Understanding of cervical cancer severity is still an important health issue across the world, especially for developing countries. Cancer or abnormal growth of the cell is one of the major health problems of the world. There are about two hundred types of malignancies reported till date. An updated statistic of all the main types of cancer and pathophysiology of cervical cancer is a significant need for designing the future treatment strategy. OBJECTIVE: In this review, a brief update on cancer, its causes and different types has been discussed along with updated statistics of patient's mortality. A brief overview of cervical cancer and its pathophysiology has been discussed with special emphasis on its causative agent, human papilloma virus (HPV). A brief introduction and update on genetics, molecular pathogenesis and prevalence of HPV and its role in cervical cancer have been added. CONCLUSION: This review delivered an updated status of cervical cancer and provide novel therapeutic approaches for targeting HPV. The detailed molecular and genomic information of the HPV help the researchers to develop more effective and efficacious therapeutic strategies and preventive vaccines that will significantly contribute to the control and anticipation of cervical cancer. Ultimately this may open new vistas to get rid of this deadly disease and may offer significant reduction in the numbers of advanced cervical cancers and deaths from cervical cancer in the affected nations.

Elevated antibiotic resistance of Sudanese urinary tract infection bacteria.

This study determined the prevalence of urinary tract infections in the Sudanese state of Khartoum and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of isolated bacterial species. 200 adult patient urine specimens were collected and cultivated to identify the growing bacteria and their susceptibility to antibiotics. 35 % of specimens had significant bacterial growth. The most frequent isolates in this study were E. coli, E. faecalis and S. aureus. Most of the isolates were resistant to many antibiotics; Gram-negative and Gram-positive isolates were resistant to 67 % and 44 % of the examined antibiotics, respectively. E. coli was the most frequent bacterium in the studied samples and it was highly resistant to first-line antibiotics. The most resistant bacteria isolated were Pseudomonas species and the lowest was for S. saprophyticus. The results highlighted the need for knowledge about antibiotic susceptibility profile of the bacteria causing UTI prior to antibiotic prescription in order to ensure optimal treatment.

Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus subtypes 16 and 18 among Yemeni Patients with Cervical Cancer

Background: The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a DNA tumor virus that causes epithelial proliferation. There are more than 100 HPV subtypes, of which 13 subtypes are regarded as high risk subtypes that can cause cancers of epithelial mucosal surfaces. High risk human papilloma viruses (HR-HPV) subtypes 16 and 18 plays a major role in the etiology of cervical cancer worldwide. Therefore, the aim of this study was to screen for the existence of HPV16 and HPV18 among Yemeni women with cervical lesions. Methodology: Formalin fixed paraffin wax processed tissue blocks were retrieved for 200 patients (150 were previously diagnosed with cervical cancer and the remaining 50 were diagnosed with different benign conditions). Results: Of the 200 cervical cancer tissue specimens, HR-HPV 16 was identified in 74/200 (37%) samples and couldn't be recognized in 126/200(63%) tissue samples. HR-HPV 18 was identified in 32/200 (16%) specimens and couldn't be recognized in 168/200(84%) tissue specimens. Conclusion: HR-HPV subtypes were prevalent among Yemeni women with cervical cancer, with significant increase of HR-HPV subtype 16 over the HR-HPV subtype 18.

Molecular Screening for P53 Mutations among Tobacco Smokers in a Survey of Awareness of Links between Tobacco, Alcohol Use and Cancer in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Roles of tobacco and alcohol use in etiology of cancer are well established. Alterationin in P53 have essential roles neoplastic change by preventing genome mutation; the aim of this study was to assess the association between P53 mutation and tobacco and alcohol consumption, as well as to assess the epidemiology of tobacco and alcohol use as risk factors for cancer in the adult population of northern Saudi civilians. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey from October 2014 to January 2015, covering 3,398 adults, was performed. P53 mutation molecular detection was performed for 100 tobacco and alcohol users, using DNA extracted from buccal cells. RESULTS: Of the 3,398 participants 3,253/3398(95.7%) responded, with a male female ratio of 1.10: 1.00. Out of these, 24.8% had smoked tobacco in their lifetime and 2.7% were consumers of alcoholic beverages. None was identified with any P53 mutation. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of tobacco smoking among the northern Saudi civilians was relatively high. Females' attitudes in tobacco and alcohol related issues were found to be affected by social stigma. Tobacco and alcohol use has no link to P53 gene mutations.

Molecular screening for Epstein Barr virus (EBV) among Sudanese patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to screen for the presence of Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) among Sudanese patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: In this study, 150 tissue samples that were previously diagnosed as having NPC were screened for the presence of EBV using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). PCR was performed to amplify two viral genes; EBV nuclear antigen-4 (EBNA-4) and latent membrane protein-1 (LMP1). RESULTS: EBV genes were detected in 92/150 (61.3%) tissue samples. Of the 92 infected samples, 58/92 (63%) were found among males and 34/92 (37%) were among females. CONCLUSION: EBV is prevalent in the Sudan and responsible of the vast majority of cases of NPC.

Immunohistochemical expression of cytokeratins and epithelial membrane protein 2 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its potential implications.

BACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an aggressive disease and tends to involve surrounding tissues, and biomarkers for better management are yet to be identified. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and fifty tissue samples with NPC diagnosis were were investigated using pan cytokeratin (CK) and epithelial membrane protein 2 (EMP2) antibodies. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical expression of CK was identified in 144/150 (96%) and of EMP2 in 120/150 (80%). CONCLUSIONS: There is a high loss of EMP2 in NPC, especially high grade examples. Loss of CK expression is also linked to high grade NPC types.