Explore the vast range of titles available.

Breast cancer (BC) is a growing global public health concern, affecting millions of women worldwide. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are no exception to this trend. Mortality rates in GCC nations are still high despite improvements in BC treatment. This article examines the changing picture of BC incidence, prevalence, and mortality in the GCC region from 1990 to 2019 and predictions up to 2030. Using data from the Global Burden of Disease study, we analyzed BC incidence, prevalence, and mortality rates per 100,000 individuals across different age groups and countries. The study reveals a significant rise in Age-Standardized Incidence Rates (ASIR) for breast cancer among females in Saudi Arabia from 1990 to 2019, with Oman experiencing the highest increase and Kuwait the highest decrease. Bahrain also saw a significant increase in male Age-standardized death rate (ASDR), despite all other countries experiencing a decrease. Also, the data demonstrated a statistically significant positive correlation between ASIR and Human Development Index (HDI), evident across all countries. Metabolic risk and tobacco use were identified as primary contributors. A ten-year BC prediction predicts a significant increase in female cases, with Saudi Arabia expected to experience the highest rise. This study underscores the urgent need for improved BC awareness, early detection through screening programs, enhanced access to quality healthcare services, and the addressing of sociocultural barriers in the GCC countries.

Background Lower respiratory tract infections (LRIs) are the fourth leading cause of death globally, affecting all age groups and leading to over 2 million deaths annually. Saudi Arabia faces a significant burden from LRIs, affecting more than 15% of the population each year. This study aims to provide an overview of LRI mortality, etiologies, and risk factors in Saudi Arabia from 1990 to 2021. Method Data on LRI mortality in Saudi Arabia from 1990 to 2021 were extracted from the 2021 edition of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Result Tool. The analysis encompassed mortality rates across all age groups, with particular emphasis on children under five and adults over 70. Four primary etiologies influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) were examined, alongside 14 associated risk factors. Results The total LRI deaths in Saudi Arabia decreased by 6% from 1990 to 2021, with a significant reduction observed among children under five years old (96%). In contrast, LRI mortality among adults over 70 increased by 16% during the same period. The age-standardized mortality rate decreased by 47%, with significant reductions in deaths associated with pneumococcus and RSV. However, risk factors, such as smoking and ambient particulate matter pollution, showed minimal declines or even increased mortality rates in older adults. Conclusion Over the past three decades, Saudi Arabia has made significant progress in reducing LRI mortality, particularly among children under five. However, the increasing mortality rates among the elderly highlight the need for targeted interventions to address their unique vulnerabilities. Continued investment in public health infrastructure, vaccination coverage, and environmental health initiatives is essential for further reducing the burden of LRIs in Saudi Arabia.

The incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (EO-CRC) has been consistently rising leading to a significant cancer burden among younger adults in Asian and Middle Eastern high-income countries. The study aims to investigate the survival outcomes of EO-CRC among high-income Asian and Middle Eastern populations from 1990 to 2019 using the mortality-to-incidence ratio, with a focus on examining the differences in gender. This is a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 study. We include individuals aged 15 to 49 years old in high-income Asian and the Middle Eastern countries. The colorectal cancer mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) was calculated for both genders by dividing the age-specific mortality rate per 100,000 for colorectal cancer by the age-specific incidence rate per 100,000 for each nation in the sample for a given year. An overall decline in male and female MIR was observed from 1990 to 2019 in Asian and Middle Eastern countries. Ten out of thirteen Asian and Middle Eastern countries had a higher female MIR compared to their male counterparts. The global male MIR was found to be significantly higher than that of female (p-value 0.008, coefficient estimate: 1.51). In Middle Eastern countries, Saudi Arabia had a significantly higher female MIR compared to their male counterparts (p < 0.0001, coefficient estimate: 12.65). This research addresses the knowledge gap concerning gender-based differences in EO-CRC survival outcomes in high-income Asian and Middle Eastern countries, providing insights into the factors influencing these disparities in these regions. Policymakers should focus on developing targeted prevention and treatment programs for women, and addressing cultural and social barriers that may prevent women from seeking timely medical care.

Prion diseases are a group of rare neurodegenerative disorders that develop as a result of the conformational conversion of normal prion protein (PrPC) to the disease-associated isoform (PrPSc). The mechanism that actually causes disease remains unclear. However, the mechanism underlying the conformational transformation of prion protein is partially understood—in particular, there is strong evidence that copper ions play a significant functional role in prion proteins and in their conformational conversion. Various models of the interaction of copper ions with prion proteins have been proposed for the Cu (II)-binding, cell-surface glycoprotein known as prion protein (PrP). Changes in the concentration of copper ions in the brain have been associated with prion diseases and there is strong evidence that copper plays a significant functional role in the conformational conversion of PrP. Nevertheless, because copper ions have been shown to have both a positive and negative effect on prion disease onset, the role played by Cu (II) ions in these diseases remains a topic of debate. Because of the unique properties of paramagnetic Cu (II) ions in the magnetic field, their interactions with PrP can be tracked even at single atom resolution using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Various NMR approaches have been utilized to study the kinetic, thermodynamic, and structural properties of Cu (II)-PrP interactions. Here, we highlight the different models of copper interactions with PrP with particular focus on studies that use NMR spectroscopy to investigate the role played by copper ions in prion diseases.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. High-income countries have a greater incidence and mortality rate of breast cancer than low-income countries. As a result, raising awareness about breast cancer is crucial in increasing the chances of early detection and treatment. Social media has evolved into an essential tool for Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaigns, allowing people to share their breast cancer stories and experiences while also providing a venue for education and support. The aim of this study was to assess the level of public interest in searches linked to breast cancer among a sample of high-income nations with a sizable internet user base from 2012 to 2022. We also sought to compare the proportional search volume for breast cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month with that during other months of the year. Google Trends was used to retrieve data on internet user search behaviors in the context of breast cancer from 2012 to 2022. Seven countries were evaluated in this study: Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, in addition to global data. Breast cancer relative search volume trends were analyzed annually, monthly, and weekly from 2012 to 2022. The annual percent change (APC) was calculated for each country and worldwide. Monthly and weekly data were used to identify potential trends. A fluctuating pattern in APC rates was observed, with a notable increase in 2018 and a significant decrease in 2020, particularly in Saudi Arabia. Monthly analysis revealed a consistent peak in search volume during October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month) each year. Weekly trends over a 20-year period indicated significant decreases in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States, while increases were noted in Ireland. Heatmap analysis further highlighted a consistent elevation in median search volume during October across all countries. These findings underscore the impact of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and suggest potential influences of governmental COVID-19 pandemic control measures in 2020 on internet search behavior.

Lactoferrin (LF) is a primarily protein derived from the degranulation of neutrophils in plasma, and has been identified as a potential biomarker for dry eye disease (DED) and type 2 diabetes patients (T2D). This study aims to investigate the correlation between plasma lactoferrin and other inflammatory biomarkers, such as lactoferrin to neutrophil ratio (LFNR) and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C), in type 2 diabetic patients with dry eye disease (T2D-DED). This study was conducted at the Diabetes Center outpatient clinics at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The study included two groups: 26 healthy individuals and 41 T2D-DED patients. The plasma samples were collected and analyzed in the hospital for laboratory routine tests for neutrophil, lymphocyte, C-reactive protein (CRP), glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C), and albumin (ALB), and data were collected retrospectively from hospital medical records. The same plasma samples were tested for LF using an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The plasma lactoferrin to neutrophil ratio (LFNR) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were calculated. All statistical analyses were performed using PRISM software, with a -value < 0.05 were considered significant. LF concentrations were found to be 1.10 ± 1.0 μgmL in T2D-DED patients and 0.5 ± 0.4 μgmL in healthy individuals. Inflammatory biomarkers, LF, CRP, HbA1C, and LFNR, showed elevated levels in patients with T2D-DED, with statistically significant differences groups compared to healthy individuals. Additionally, there was a significant positive correlation in T2D-DED patients between LF with LFNR in T2D-DED patients ( = 0.0001) and HbA1C with LF ( = 0.035). The study indicated that LF levels and other inflammatory biomarkers are elevated in patients with T2D-DED. There are significant positive correlations between LF and HbA1C, as well as LF and LFNR in T2D-DED patients, which differ from the correlations found in healthy individuals. This suggests that the diagnostic and prognostic relevance of these biomarkers depends on whether the disease is present.

Mutations in the MCPH1 (Microcephalin) and ASPM (abnormal spindle-like microcephaly associated) genes cause primary microcephaly. Both are centrosomal associated proteins involved in mitosis. Microcephalin plays an important role in DNA damage response and ASPM is required for correct division of proliferative neuro-epithelial cells of the developing brain. Reduced MCPH1 mRNA expression and ASPM mRNA over-expression have been implicated in the development of human carcinomas. Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is characterised by highly aneuploid tumours. Previously we have reported low Microcephalin and high ASPM protein levels and associations with clinico-pathological parameters in malignant cells from ascitic fluids. To confirm these previous findings on a larger scale Microcephalin and ASPM expression levels and localisations were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in two cohorts; a training set of 25 samples and a validation set of 322 EOC tissue samples. Results were correlated to the associated histopathological data. In normal ovarian tissues the Microcephalin nuclear staining pattern was consistently strong. In the cancer tissues, we identified low nuclear Microcephalin expression in high grade and advanced stage tumours (p<0.0001 and p = 0.0438 respectively). ASPM had moderate to high nuclear and low to moderate cytoplasmic expression in normal tissue. Cytoplasmic ASPM expression decreased with tumour grade and stage in the serous subtype of EOC (p = 0.023 and p = 0.011 respectively). Cytoplasmic ASPM increased with tumour stage in the endometrioid subtype (p = 0.023). Increasing tumour invasiveness (T3) and lymph node involvement (N1) also correlated with a decrease in cytoplasmic ASPM in EOC (p = 0.02 and p = 0.04 respectively). We have validated previous findings of deregulated expression of Microcephalin and ASPM in EOC by confirming associations for low nuclear Microcephalin levels and high cytoplasmic ASPM levels in a larger scale tumour tissue study. Microcephalin and ASPM may prove useful biomarkers in EOC.

In recent years, the industry of unproven stem cell-based therapies has been on the rise around the globe, putting patients at great risk of potential harm. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to assess the level of knowledge and awareness of the general public, including patients and/or their relatives, in Saudi Arabia on stem cell therapy and to assess the degree of willingness to try stem cell-based treatment options, should it be offered to them.

Highly aneuploid tumours are common in epithelial ovarian cancers (EOC). We investigated whether NuMA expression was associated with this phenomenon.NuMA protein levels in normal and tumour tissues, ovarian cell lines and primary cultures of malignant cells derived from ovarian ascitic fluids were analysed by Affymetrix microarray analysis, immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF), with results correlated to associated clinical data. Aneuploidy status in primary cultures was determined by FACS analysis.Affymetrix microarray data indicated that NuMA was overexpressed in tumour tissue, primary cultures and cell lines compared to normal ovarian tissue. IHC revealed low to weak NuMA expression in normal tissues. Expression was upregulated in tumours, with a significant association with disease stage in mucinous EOC subtypes (p = 0.009), lymph node involvement (p = 0.03) and patient age (p = 0.04). Additional discontinuous data analysis revealed that high NuMA levels in tumours decreased with grade (p = 0.02) but increased with disease stage (p = 0.04) in serous EOC. NuMA expression decreased in late disease stage 4 endometrioid EOCs. High NuMA levels decreased with increased tumour invasion in all subtypes (p = 0.03). IF of primary cultures revealed that high NuMA levels at mitotic spindle poles were significantly associated with a decreased proportion of cells in cytokinesis (p = 0.05), increased binucleation (p = 0.021) and multinucleation (p = 0.007), and aneuploidy (p = 0.008).NuMA is highly expressed in EOC tumours and high NuMA levels correlate with increases in mitotic defects and aneuploidy in primary cultures.