Biomedical subjects

Mustafa Salih

Publications and source records attributed to Mustafa Salih.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Maximal thymectomy in children with myasthenia gravis.

OBJECTIVES: We performed this study to evaluate the benefit of thymectomy in children with myasthenia gravis (MG). METHODS: Over a period of 15 years from 1986 to 2001, we collected data on 30 children with MG and retrospectively reviewed the outcome of maximal thymectomy. RESULTS: There were 23 females and seven males with a mean age of 13.2 years (range 4-16). The mean duration of the disease was 19.3 months (range 2-144). According to Osserman classification, there were 14 children in class II; 12 in class III; and four children in class IV. One child in class IV required postoperative ventilation and one was re-explored to drain a pericardial effusion secondary to central line leak. We found ectopic thymic tissue in 10 cases (33.3%). During a mean follow-up period of 53.5 months (range 9-180), complete remission was noted in 13 children (43.4%) and improvement in 14 (46.6%). The remaining three children (10%) did not improve following surgery. Univariate analysis (P < 0.05) showed that ectopic thymic tissue is a significant prognostic factor for outcome. CONCLUSION: Maximal thymectomy appears to provide a high rate of remission and improvement in children with MG. However, the presence of ectopic thymic tissue has poor prognostic value.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Molecular analysis of the spinal muscular atrophy and neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein genes in Saudi patients with spinal muscular atrophy.

OBJECTIVE: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a common, often fatal, autosomal recessive disease leading to progressive muscle wasting and paralysis as a result of degeneration of anterior horn cells of the spinal cord. The prevalence of SMA cases in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is much higher than the European and North American population. Deletions or mutations in 2 genes, telomeric form of the survival motor neuron (SMN1) and the neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP), are known to be associated with SMA. The aim of this study is to examine the deletions or interruptions of the SMN1 and NAIP genes in Saudi patients. METHODS: The study included 121 Saudi SMA patients [type I (60 patients); type II (26 patients); and type III (35 patients)]. The deletions or interruptions of the SMN1 and NAIP genes were detected by using polymerase chain reaction. The study was carried out at the King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, KSA between 2000 and 2002. RESULTS: The homozygous deletions of exons 7 and 8 of the SMN1 gene were found in 94% and 87% of the patients. Exon 5 of the NAIP gene was deleted in 70%, but its deletion was more frequent in SMA type I (93%) as compared to type II (54%) and type III (43%). Seven patients with SMA diagnosis did not show any of the above homozygous deletions. All 230 control subjects had at least one copy of both SMN1 and NAIP genes, as expected. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that the deletion rate (94%) of the SMN1 gene in Saudi SMA patients is similar, irrespective of types, compared with patients of other ethnic groups. We also show that the incidence of NAIP deletion is higher in the more severe SMA cases and the dual deletion of the SMN1 and NAIP genes are more common in Saudi SMA type I patients compared with patients of other ethnic groups.

Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein↗

PubMed2002

Diagnostic approach to prostate cancer using total prostate specific antigen-based parameters together.

This prospective study investigated the value of serum total prostate specific antigen (tPSA)-based parameters in the diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa). Serum tPSA, free to tPSA ratio (f/tPSA), PSA density (PSAD), and PSA transition zone (PSAT) were evaluated in 110 patients with histologically confirmed benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and 98 patients with PCa. Once the serum tPSA was elevated (greater than 4 ng/ml) or digital rectal examination (DRE) was suspicious, transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsies were recommended. The tPSA, f/tPSA, PSAD, and PSAT levels were significantly different between the BPH and PCa groups. In patients with a tPSA level of 4.1-9.9 ng/ml or an abnormal DRE finding, only PSAT was found to have discriminating power. The cut-off values were 0.15 for f/tPSA, 0.30 for PSAT, and 0.15 for PSAD. The diagnostic sensitivity of a positive result for one of these parameters in the whole group was 84%, but 75% in patients with a tPSA of 4.1-9.9 ng/ml or an abnormal DRE finding. The diagnostic specificity of positive results for 3 parameters was 92% in the whole group and 93% in patients with a tPSA of 4.1-9.9 ng/ml or an abnormal DRE finding. All parameters were influenced by the histological grades. Histological grades showed a negative correlation (r = -0.56) with f/t PSA and a positive correlation (r = 0.44) with PSAT. No diagnostic marker investigated heretofore was able to rule out or detect early PCa in patients with a PSA level of 4.1-9.9 ng/ml. Using the PSA-based parameters together can be helpful in management of these patients. If all of the PSA-based parameters are negative, biopsy might be postponed; patients who have three positive PSA-based parameters should be biopsied. In case of one or two of the parameters, the patient's age and race should be considered in clinical decision-making.

Aged↗