ABSTRACT
Objective Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has been widely accepted as a diagnostic safe method for preoperative assessment of salivary gland lesions. This diagnostic tool is inexpensive, easy to perform, relatively painless and it provides useful information to differentiate between benign and malignant salivary gland tumors that helps in the management and surgical planning. This study was undertaken to compare FNAC results with permanent histopathological findings of salivary gland tumors in order to assess its diagnostic accuracy. Materials and methods A total of 37 archived salivary gland FNAC specimens collected between January 2001 and January 2018 were correlated with proven histopathology findings. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and diagnostic accuracy were calculated. False negative and false positive cases were determined. Results There were 20 female and 17 male patients. Parotid tumors count for 62.2% and submandibular tumors 37.8%. All cases of malignancy on FNAC were proven to be malignant on the final pathology findings. All cases that were suspicious for malignancy on FNAC were proven to be malignant as well. In addition, three false negative cases were seen and no false positive cases among all FNAC cases. In our series, the overall sensitivity and specificity were 90.3% and 100%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 100% and 57.1%, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy was 91.4%. Conclusion This study demonstrated that FNA cytology of the salivary gland is a useful technique for diagnosis of salivary gland lesions. Insufficient cellularity was the most important factor that resulted in incorrect cytological interpretation.
ABSTRACT
Objective The use of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in patients with idiopathic short stature (ISS) has been an area of concern since some studies reported less desired effects of the drug in this group of patients as compared to patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). In addition, there were no studies addressing the effects of rhGH in Saudi children. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective study to observe the effects one year of treatment with rhGH on the mean height gain in patients with ISS and GHD. Methods This retrospective study took place at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Jeddah. The study subjects included two groups of patients (GHD vs ISS). Patients' files were reviewed from January 2000 to January 2018 using the following parameters: chronological age, bone age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), growth hormone stimulation test, and growth velocity (GV). After one year of treatment, the height, weight, and BMI of the study subjects were monitored and assessed. Results The total number of patients was 55, 36 of which were diagnosed with GHD while 19 were diagnosed with ISS. The mean age of patients with GHD and ISS were 10.7±2.38 and 10.91±2.74 years, respectively. Both groups showed a significant increase in height. The initial height for patients with GHD was 125.26±12.27 cm, and they achieved a mean height of 134.231±12.88 cm after one year of treatment. For the other group, the initial height for ISS patients was 125.51±10.94 cm, and they achieved a mean height of 134.04±10.90 cm after one-year therapy. However, after the treatment, there was no significant difference in the height gain between GHD and ISS patients (134.231±12.88, 134.04±10.90, respectively, P=0.437). Conclusion The short-term use of rhGH has a potent and similar effect on increasing the height of both patients diagnosed with ISS as well as GHD.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The current study was intended to evaluate the knowledge and awareness toward Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) of pilgrims from Saudi Arabia and from different Arabian countries. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted among pilgrims from Saudi Arabia and those from other Arab nations. A total number of 2120 participants including 736 Saudi pilgrims (436 males and 300 females) and 1384 non-Saudi Arabian pilgrims (1384; 909 males and 475 females) were included in the study. The responses of the participants were descriptively analyzed. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to screen the possible correlations among different variables. The differences in the responses between the two groups were evaluated using Mann-Whitney analysis. RESULTS: The responses of the Saudi pilgrims showed statistically significant results in comparison to non-Saudi pilgrims in answering all questions except those related to the presence of efficient vaccination or treatment and the source of information. It was clear that the Saudi pilgrims were more oriented about different aspects of MERS-CoV including the nature of the causative agent, the signs, the severity of the disease, the animals that can transmit the infection to humans, the risk groups, and when one need to be screened for infection. In both Saudi and non-Saudi pilgrims, the official websites of health organizations constitute the main source of their information. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that Saudi pilgrims possess good knowledge about the MERS-CoV although more orientation is still required.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate maternal and neonatal outcomes in patients with placenta previa (PP) and placenta accreta (PA). METHODS: The study population comprised all patients who had a cesarean section for PP and PA at a tertiary referral hospital in Taif, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from December 2009 to December 2012. Maternal and neonatal data were obtained from medical records and the hospital database system. PA cases were managed by a multispeciality team, including two obstetric consultants. RESULTS: In total, 122 patients with PP were identified, with PA found in 25 cases. The median intraoperative blood loss in cases of PA was 2,000 (mean 3,000) mL, with a loss of ≥2,000 mL occurring in 72%, and ≥5,000 mL in 20%. The median packed red blood cell transfusion requirement was 6 (mean 7.7) units, and 28% received ≥10 units. Fetal growth restriction was diagnosed in two cases with known maternal medical disorders. Four cases (3.3%) were diagnosed as small for gestational age. The mean birth weight of the neonates was at the 10th-50th percentile according to Hadlock fetal growth charts. CONCLUSION: The presence of a second obstetric consultant among the multispeciality team during surgery for PA was associated with a reduction in blood loss and a decreased need for large-volume blood transfusion. The rate of fetal growth restriction/small for gestational age in PP was average, but the babies were relatively small (level 2 evidence).
