REVIEW ARTICLE
Quality assessment of systematic reviews and meta-analyses published in Saudi journals from 1997 to 2017
Natto & AlGhamdi conclude that the quality of systematic reviews and meta-analyses published in Saudi journals was distributed in all categories (low, medium, and high) and it can be improved using critical evaluation by authors, journal editors, and readers. The search uncovered 201 unique articles; of these, the researchers screened 110 full texts and included 103 in this review. Most of the included studies were published in Saudi Medical Journal (50 articles, 48.5%), followed by Saudi Journal of Gastroenterology (21 articles, 20.4%), and Annals of Saudi Medicine (16 articles, 15.5%).
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ORIGINAL ARTICLES
The prognostic significance of p63 cytoplasmic expression in colorectal cancer
Albasri et al conclude that p63 expression increased from normal to adenoma to carcinoma sequence. Moreover, p63 cytoplasmic expression seems to be related to high Ki67 indexing, K-ras expression, advanced tumor stage and poor clinical outcome of CRC. These findings suggest a significant role of cytoplasmic p63 expression in tumor progression and prognosis. P63 over-expression was absent in normal mucosa, while 12.5% cases of adenoma showed its over-expression. In CRC, p63 expression was high in 24.1% of cases. There were no significant correlations between p63 expression and gender, tumor location, tumor size and tumor histologic differentiation. However, high p63 expression revealed a significant correlation with age, tumor type, American Joint Committee on Cancer stage, lymph node metastasis, lymphovascular invasion (p=0.006), distant metastasis, high Ki67 expression, and K-ras expression.
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Modelling risk assessment for cervical cancer in symptomatic Saudi women
Al-Madani et al assess whether the utility of cervical cancer screening could be improved by combining multiple factors in addition to the pap test. A high risk of cervical cancer in Saudi women was associated with 4 risk factors: family history, vaginal bleeding, hypertension, and an abnormal pap smear test. The model yields an adequate utility with acceptable goodness-of-fit. The pap smear test alone is inadequate to assess high risk for cervical cancer in our center. Early detection of cervical cancer may require consideration of a combination of factors including the pap test. This study has shown that using a combination of abnormal family history, vaginal bleeding, hypertension, and the pap smear test improved the effectiveness of cervical cancer screening.
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CASE REPORT
Mixed epithelial and stromal tumor of the kidney on 18F-FDG PET/CT in a 21-year-old female
Tian & Cui presented a 21-year-old female and the tumor of the kidney was unexpectedly found with no obvious clinical symptoms during a physical examination. Axial enhanced abdominal CT showed a mass of 46×56×81 mm in the lower pole of the left kidney that was composed of solid and cystic components. A heterogeneous delayed enhancement was found in this mass. 18F-labeled fluoro-2-deoxy glucose PET/CT imaging showed mild FDG uptake in the mass of the left kidney and no abnormal foci in other locations in MIP. Delayed abdominopelvic PET/CT scan still revealed mild FDG uptake in the mass.
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