REVIEW ARTICLE
Expression of sex-determining region Y-box protein 2 in breast cancer and its clinical significance
Feng & Lu discuss the role of sex-determining region Y-box protein 2 (SOX2) in breast cancer, including its occurrence, invasion and metastasis, diagnosis and treatment, relapse, resistance, and prognosis. Studies have shown that SOX2 is associated with multiple cancers and is overexpressed in many different phenotypes of breast cancer. To study the relationship between SOX2 and clinicopathological parameters of breast cancer patients, they found that the expression of SOX2 was closely related to the increase in tumor size, histological grade, lymph node metastasis, and high invasiveness. Therefore, studies on the role of SOX2 in breast cancer may provide effective biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
Specific mechanism of SOX2 in the development, invasion and metastasis, diagnosis and treatment, recurrence, and resistance of breast cancer
see page 685
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
GeneXpert technology. A breakthrough for the diagnosis of tuberculous pericarditis and pleuritis in less than 2 hours
Saeed conclude that GeneXpert assay is an innovative tool, for prompt detection of MTB and drug resistance. It is definitely an attractive point of care test, with high sensitivity and specificity along with turn around time of 2 hours, which facilitates timely diagnosis and appropriate management of TB pleuritis and pericarditis. Every sample was processed for Ziehl-Neelsen (Zn) smear, Lowenstein Jensen (LJ) culture, GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay according to standard protocols. Validity of GeneXpert assay for the detection of MTB was evaluated using LJ culture as gold standard.
Frequency of different techniques for the detection of tuberculosis in 286 specimens including 158 pleural and 128 pericardial fluids samples
see page 699
Attitude of the Saudi community towards heart donation, transplantation, and artificial hearts
AlHabeeb et al discuss the attitudes of the Saudi population towards heart donation and transplantation. A survey using a questionnaire addressing attitudes towards organ transplantation and donation was conducted across 18 cities in Saudi Arabia. A total of 59.7% of respondents believe that organ donation is regulated and 31.8% fear that the doctors will not try hard enough to save their lives if they consent to organ donation. Approximately 77% believe the heart is removed while the donor is alive; although, the same proportion of respondents thought they knew what brain death meant.
Demographics characteristics of 1250 respondents
see page 742
CASE REPORT
Infantile scimitar syndrome with unusual associations
Al-Shamrani et al present a newborn Saudi male antenatally diagnosed with congenital hydrocephalus developed mild respiratory distress soon after delivery. On examination, he had marked decreased breath sound on right sided chest. Head circumference was within normal range, loud heart sound in the pulmonary area. A chest x-ray showed right lung collapse with a rim of pneumothorax on the left side. A chest CT scan performed after intravenous contrast with CT angiography showed a hypoplastic right pulmonary artery and large feeding vessels supplying the lower lobe; these findings were consistent with sequestration of the right lower lobe.
A coronal view produced by chest CT, showing a sequestrated right lower lobe with a large feeding vessel (arrow) from the abdominal aorta and a hypoplastic right lung
see page 764
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