Primary leiomyosarcoma of the atrium with heterologous differentiation
We report a case of a 47-year-old female who presented with breathlessness and palpitations for two weeks. On clinical evaluation, bilateral pedal edema was noticed. A CT pulmonary angiogram showed a mass in the left atrium causing significant obstruction to cardiovascular outflow. After extensive work-up, the mass was surgically resected. Histopathological findings from the acquired specimen revealed a high-grade leiomyosarcoma with extensive necrosis and heterologous (cartilaginous) differentiation. The early postoperative period was complicated by cardiac tamponade and the patient died on the second postoperative day du...
Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine - October 8, 2017 Category: General Medicine Tags: ISSUE 5 Source Type: research
Cardiac rhythm recorded by implanted loop recorder during lightning strike
Lightning strikes cause severe injuries and fatalities. Injuries vary from self-limiting skin manifestations to cardiac arrest and death. Because the event is sudden and unpredictable, assessment of the direct effects of the lightning on the human heart is usually impossible. In this case, a 16-year old boy who had an implanted loop recorder subcutaneous cardiac monitor was hit by lightning during a picnic and survived. A cardiac rhythm strip was recorded live during the strike. SIMILAR CASES PUBLISHED: 0 (Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine)
Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine - October 8, 2017 Category: General Medicine Tags: ISSUE 5 Source Type: research
Preoperative thrombocytosis as a prognostic factor in endometrioid-type endometrial carcinoma
CONCLUSION:The frequency of preoperative thrombocytosis is not uncommon. Also, preoperative thrombocytosis is associated with poor clinicopathological prognostic factors, and poor survival outcomes in a univariate but not multivariate analysis. LIMITATION:The retrospective study design, sample size and lack of exploration of other clinicopathological factors. (Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine)
Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine - October 8, 2017 Category: General Medicine Tags: ISSUE 5 Source Type: research
Prevalence of congenital heart diseases in children with Down syndrome in Mansoura, Egypt: a retrospective descriptive study
CONCLUSION:More than one-third of children with DS have CHD with ventricular septal defect, which is the most common. Avoidance of passive maternal smoking and consanguineous marriage together with maternal folic acid supplementation could contribute to further reduction of CHD in children with DS. LIMITATIONS:Single-center study and retrospective. (Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine)
Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine - October 8, 2017 Category: General Medicine Tags: ISSUE 5 Source Type: research
Drug shortages in large hospitals in Riyadh: a cross-sectional study
CONCLUSIONS:The relatively high reported rates of drug shortages in some hospitals should encourage health policymakers to address this serious public health problem. LIMITATIONS:The generazibility of the study’s findings were limited by the small sample size, convenience sampling technique, self-reported data, and the fact that only pharmacists were invited to participate. (Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine)
Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine - October 8, 2017 Category: General Medicine Tags: ISSUE 5 Source Type: research
Efficacy and safety of a generic rosuvastatin in a real-world setting: prospective, observational clinical study in Lebanese patients
CONCLUSIONS:Generic rosuvastatin was efficacious and safe in reducing LDL-C levels and helping the majority of patients achieve LDL-C targets after a short treatment period. LIMITATIONS:The observational nature, and a control group, and the relatively short duration of follow-up limit the generalizability of results. The authors received fees for study activities at patient visits from an independent clinical research organization subcontracted by the sponsor. (Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine)
Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine - October 8, 2017 Category: General Medicine Tags: ISSUE 5 Source Type: research
Prevalence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in neonates in Egypt
CONCLUSION:The overall prevalence of G6PD deficiency emphasizes the importance of neonatal screening for early detection and prevention together with proper intervention and genetic counseling. LIMITATION:Lacked authority to collect the samples for testing directly from the local centers. (Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine)
Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine - October 8, 2017 Category: General Medicine Tags: ISSUE 5 Source Type: research
Validation of the Arabic version of the score for allergic rhinitis tool
CONCLUSION:These findings demonstrate that the Arabic version of the SFAR is a valid tool that can be used to screen Arabic speakers with suspected AR. LIMITATIONS:The absence of objective allergy testing (Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine)
Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine - October 8, 2017 Category: General Medicine Tags: ISSUE 5 Source Type: research
Risk of pneumonia among patients with splenectomy: a retrospective population-based cohort study
CONCLUSIONS:Although not a novel finding, we confirmed that splenectomy increases the relative risk for developing pneumonia in a large study population. Even in the absence of any comorbidity, the risk remains high. Patients with splenectomy should receive preventive interventions for pneumonia, such as vaccination. LIMITATIONS:ICD-9 codes do not differentiate if pneumonia is caused by a viral, a bacterial or unspecified organisms, and some behavioral factors like smoking could not be ascertained directly. (Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine)
Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine - October 8, 2017 Category: General Medicine Tags: ISSUE 5 Source Type: research
Risk of pneumonia among patients with splenectomy: a retrospective populationbased cohort study
CONCLUSIONS:Although not a novel finding, we confirmed that splenectomy increases the relative risk for developing pneumonia in a large study population. Even in the absence of any comorbidity, the risk remains high. Patients with splenectomy should receive preventive interventions for pneumonia, such as vaccination. LIMITATIONS:ICD-9 codes do not differentiate if pneumonia is caused by a viral, a bacterial or unspecified organisms, and some behavioral factors like smoking could not be ascertained directly. (Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine)
Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine - October 8, 2017 Category: General Medicine Tags: ISSUE 5 Source Type: research
Erratum
In Ann Saudi Med 2016; 36(3) 190-196:“Tocilizumab efficacy and safety in rheumatoid arthritis patients after inadequate response to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs or anti-tumor necrosis (Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine)
Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine - August 1, 2017 Category: General Medicine Tags: ISSUE 4 Source Type: research
Reply
We would like to thank the authors of the letter commenting on our recent paper on the association between anti-CCP and the shared epitope status (Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine)
Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine - August 1, 2017 Category: General Medicine Tags: ISSUE 4 Source Type: research
Eleven-year review of data on Pap smears in Saudi Arabia: We need more focus on glandular abnormalities!
CONCLUSION: We recommend that pathologists and cytotechnologists be vigilant in screening Pap smears in our population, particularly for glandular abnormalities. We also recommend use of Pap smears in the initial workup of women with suspected gynecological abnormalities, regardless of evolutions in HPV testing. LIMITATIONS:The pooling of data instead of analyzing by study year. (Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine)
Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine - July 31, 2017 Category: General Medicine Tags: ISSUE 4 Source Type: research
Hepatitis B and C virus prevalence in couples attending an in vitro fertilization clinic in a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia: comparison with ten years earlier
CONCLUSION:The significant drop in HBV prevalence was most likely due to the introduction of the vaccination program in 1989, while reasons for HCV prevalence remaining unchanged are unclear. LIMITATION:No data on confounding factors that may have affected the prevalence. (Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine)
Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine - July 31, 2017 Category: General Medicine Tags: ISSUE 4 Source Type: research
Utilization and adherence to guideline-recommended lipid-lowering therapy at an academic medical center
CONCLUSION:Approximately one-third of patients received statin therapy at an inappropriate intensity according to the guideline recommendation. Wide application of the 2013 ACC/AHA cholesterol guidelines in our practice would optimize the utilization of statin therapy at the ideal intensity in high-risk patients. LIMITATION:Drug-drug interactions and intolerance to statin therapy were not considered when we evaluated adherence among high-risk patients. (Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine)
Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine - July 31, 2017 Category: General Medicine Tags: ISSUE 4 Source Type: research
