The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Osteoporosis among a Saudi Female Diabetic Population

 AIM: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of osteoporosis [lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN)] among patients with type 2 diabetes at King Salman Hospital.MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred seventy patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled in this cross-sectional study in the period from the 1st of January until the 1st of July 2015. Patient selection was based on self-report of the previous diagnosis by a physician, being on an antidiabetic agent, or a fasting glucose of 126 mg/dl as per the American Diabetes Association criteria. A dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan with the bone mineral density (BMD) categorization based on the WHO cut of levels of T-scores and determination of vitamin D levels were performed. A detailed questionnaire was used to collect demographic data.RESULTS: Out of 170 participants, 50 (29.4%) were diagnosed as having osteoporosis, while 68 (40%) were diagnosed with osteopenia. Age was determined as a risk factor for a decreased BMD in patients with osteopenia (odds ratio (OR) = 1.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) = (1.0-1.1), p = 0.039) and osteoporosis (OR = 1.1, CI = 1.0-1.2, p < 0.001). Similarly, oral hypoglycemic agents (OHA) increased the risk of decreased BMD in osteopenia (OR = 2.6; CI = 1.0-6.7; p = 0.023) as well as osteoporosis, (OR = 3.8; CI = 1.3-10.9; p = 0.013), while vitamin D deficiency increased the risk of osteopenia OR = 3.0; CI = 1.2-7.2; p = 0.012). Increased BMI decreased the risk of both osteopenia and osteoporosis (OR = 0.9; CI = 0.9-0.99; p = 0.031 vs. OR = 0.9; CI = 0.80-0.95; p = 0.003).CONCLUSION: Advanced age, OHA and vitamin D deficiency are determinants of decreased BMD in Saudi women with type 2 diabetes, while an increased BMI protects against low BMD

In vivo and in vitro studies evaluating the chemopreventive effect of metformin on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated breast carcinogenesis

Metformin (MET) is a clinically used anti-hyperglycemic agent that shows activities against chemically-induced animal models of cancer. A study from our laboratory showed that MET protectes against 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced carcinogenesis in vitro human non-cancerous epithelial breast cells (MCF10A) via activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). However, it is unclear whether MET can prevent the initiation of breast carcinogenesis in an in vivo rat model of AhR-induced breast carcinogenesis. Therefore, the main aims of this study are to examine the effect of MET on protecting against rat breast carcinogenesis induced by DMBA and to explore whether this effect is medicated through the AhR pathway. In this study, treatment of female rats with DMBA initiated breast carcinogenesis though inhibiting apoptosis and tumor suppressor genes while inducing oxidative DNA damage and cell cycle proliferative markers. This effect was associated with activation of AhR and its downstream target genes; cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) and CYP1B1. Importantly, MET treatment protected against DMBA-induced breast carcinogenesis by restoring DMBA effects on apoptosis, tumor suppressor genes, DNA damage, and cell proliferation. Mechanistically using in vitro human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, MET inhibited breast cancer stem cells spheroids formation and development by DMBA, which was accompanied by a proportional inhibition in CYP1A1 gene expression. In conclusion, the study reports evidence that MET is an effective chemopreventive therapy for breast cancer by inhibiting the activation of CYP1A1/CYP1B1 pathway in vivo rat model

Drugs and the mass media A study of Saudi Arabian mass media prevention of drugs

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:DX188326 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

The effectiveness of teaching using sticky learning strategies in increasing the English vocabulary of first year secondary school students

    هدف البحث إلى الكشف عن فاعلية التدريس باستخدام استراتيجيات التعلم الثابت في زيادة مفردات اللغة الإنجليزية لدى طالبات الصف الأول ثانوي. ولتحقيق هذا الهدف؛ اتبعت البحاثة المنهج التجريبي، واستخدمت آدة الاختبار، فقد صممت الباحثة اختبار المفردات اللغوية كأداة لجمع البيانات، وذلك بما يتوافق مع محتوى مقرر الأول ثانوي المقرر للدراسة ، وقد تم إعداد الاختبار لقياس فاعلية التدريس باستخدام استراتيجيات التعلم الثابت في زيادة مفردات اللغة الإنجليزية لدى طالبات الصف الأول ثانوي، وحللت الباحثة البيانات احصائيا. وأظهرت النتائج  فاعلية التدريس  باستخدام  استراتيجيات التعلم الثابت في زيادة مفردات اللغة الإنجليزية لدى طالبات الصف الأول ثانوي. وأسهم هذا البحث الإجرائي في تحسين تعلم الطالبات وتعزيز الاداء التدريسي للمعلمة الباحثة  وفي ضوء النتائج ؛ قدم البحث توصيات لدعم استخدام التعلم الثابت في تدريس مفردات اللغة الانجليزية لدى طالبات الصف الأول ثانوي.     The research aimed to reveal the effectiveness of teaching using sticky learning strategies in increasing the English vocabulary of first year secondary school students.  And to achieve this goal;  The researchers followed the experimental approach, and used the test tool. The researcher designed the vocabulary test as a data collection tool, in line with the content of the first secondary course of the study. The test was prepared to measure the effectiveness of teaching using sticky learning strategies in increasing the English vocabulary of first-grade students.  Secondary, the researcher analyzed the data statistically.  The results showed the effectiveness of teaching using sticky learning strategies in increasing the English vocabulary of first year secondary school students.  This procedural research contributed to improving students' learning and enhancing the teaching performance of the research teacher, in the light of the results.  The research presented recommendations to support the use of sticky learning in teaching English vocabulary to first year secondary school students

Successful use of combined corticosteroids and rituximab in a patient with refractory cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa

Cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa is a rare subtype of polyarteritis nodosa that lacks significant internal organ involvement. It has a relapsing remitting nature and usually is less responsive to conventional treatments. We report a case of refractory cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa who failed three immunosuppressive therapies and three different biological agents. He was successfully treated with two rituximab 1000 mg infusions with a good efficacy and tolerance. This case demonstrates the safety and efficacy of rituximab in treatment of refractory cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa

Rituximab treatment in patients with systemic sclerosis and interstitial lung disease

There is increasing interest in rituximab (RTX) as an alternative to cyclophosphamide for the treatment of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc). However, no report has addressed its efficacy in Saudi patients with SSc-ILD. To assess the efficacy of RTX treatment in Saudi patients with SSc-ILD, hospital records were reviewed between 2013 and 2016. Four female patients received at least 4 cycles of RTX (I cycle, consisting of two infusions of 1000 mg 2 weeks apart). Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) were performed before and after treatment to assess the response. HRCT revealed improvement in one patient, stable disease in two patients, and worsening in one patient. Moreover, RTX prevented the further decline of forced vital capacity significantly in PFT. These results provide further evidence that RTX is an effective treatment for SSc-ILD