Predictors of a follicular nodule (Thy3) outcome of thyroid fine needle aspiration cytology among Saudi patients

Abstract Objective A retrospective study was performed to evaluate predictors of thyroid fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) outcomes among Saudis with a thyroid nodule. Socio-demographic data, thyroid function status, thyroid parameters, ultrasound and cytology results were collected from 269 files of patients with thyroid nodules. Result The patients’ age was 40 ± 1.4 years (mean ± SD), and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 30.3 ± 1.2 kg/m2. The thyroid statuses were euthyroid (85.5%), hypothyroidism (7.4%) and hyperthyroidism (7.1%). Young age, an absence of irradiation history, and multinodular goitre were protective against Thy3 [(OR = 0.05, CI = 003–0.6, P = 0.024), (OR = 0.4, CI = 0.2–0.8, P = 0.012) and (OR = 2.5, CI = 1.2–5.3, P = 0.016), respectively]; a lower FT3 was protective against Thy4 (OR = 0.4, CI = 0.2–0.99, P = 0.046), the absence of cervical lymphadenopathy was associated with Thy2 (OR = 2.7, CI = 1.4–5, P = 0.001), and a solid nodule was associated with Thy2 and Thy3 [(OR = 1.2, CI = 0.3–0.97, P = 0.040) and (OR = 2.2, CI = 1–4.8, P = 0.039), respectively]. In a multivariate analysis, younger age, multinodular goitre, an absence of irradiation history and cervical lymphadenopathy were protective against Thy3 [(OR = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.002–0.96, P = 0.047), (OR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.0–5.60, P = 0.039), (OR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.16–0.94, P = 0.036) and (O R = 0.39, 95% CI = 1–5.6, P = 0.039), respectively]. In summary, younger age, multinodular goitre, the absence of an irradiation history and cervical lymphadenopathy were protective against Thy3 in a thyroid nodule

Factors associated with amputation among patients with diabetic foot ulcers in a Saudi population

Abstract Objectives A prospective study was conducted at the Armed Forces Hospital, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, between January 2015 and December 2016 to identify the risk factors associated with amputation among diabetic foot ulcers DFUs patients. Results In total, 82 patients were recruited. Fifty-five of the patients were males (67.07%), the mean (SD) age of the participants was 60 (± 11.4) years, the mean duration of diabetes was 8.5 (± 3.7) years, and the mean haemoglobin A1c was 4.8 (± 2.8)%. In Univariate analysis, older age and high white blood cell count (WBC) were factors associated with amputation (OR = 1.1, 95% CI = 1–1.1, P = 0.012; and OR = 383, 95% CI = 7.9–18,665, P = 0.003, respectively). On the other hand, an ischaemic ulcer was half as likely as a neuropathic ulcer to lead to amputation (OR = 0.5, 95% CI = 0.3–0.9, P = 0.036), and a higher Wagner’s grade was found to be protective against amputation OR = 14.5, 95% CI = 4.3–49.4, P < 0.001. In conclusion, the current study showed that although a number of factors have been described to complicate diabetic ulcers by different researchers, none of those factors were identified in our study apart from older age and high WBC