AIM： To determine the seroprevalence of Hepatitis A （HAV） amongst Saudi children and compare it with previously reported prevalence data from the same population. METHODS： A total of 1357 students were randomly se...AIM： To determine the seroprevalence of Hepatitis A （HAV） amongst Saudi children and compare it with previously reported prevalence data from the same population. METHODS： A total of 1357 students were randomly selected between the ages of 16 and 18 years （689 males and 668 females） from three different regions of Saudi Arabia （Madinah, AI-Qaseem, and Aseer） and tested for anti-HAV-IgG.RESULTS： The overall prevalence of anti-HAV-IgG among the study population was 18.6%. There was no difference between males and females but there was a significant difference in the seroprevalence （P = 0.0001） between the three different regions, with Madinah region showing the highest prevalence （27.4%）. When classified according to socioeconomic status, lower class students had a prevalence of 36.6%, lower middle class 16.6%, upper middle class 9.6%, and upper class 5.9% （P = 0.0001）. Comparing the current study results with those of previous studies in 1989 and 1997 involving the same population, there was a marked reduction in the overall prevalence of HAV from 52% in 1989, to 25% in 1997, to 18.6% in 2008 （P 〈 0.0001）.CONCLUSION： Over the last 18 years, there has been a marked decline in the prevalence of HAV in Saudi children and adolescents. The current low prevalence rates call for strict adherence to vaccination policies in high-risk patients and raises the question of a universal HAV vaccination program.展开更多
AIM:To correlate cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)expression profile with clinical and pathological variables to assess their prognostic/predictive value in colorectal carcinoma(CRC).METHODS:Archival tumor samples were analyzed...AIM:To correlate cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)expression profile with clinical and pathological variables to assess their prognostic/predictive value in colorectal carcinoma(CRC).METHODS:Archival tumor samples were analyzed using immunohistochemistry for COX-2 expression in 94 patients with CRC.Patients were diagnosed and treatedat the Departments of Surgery and Oncology,King Abdulaziz University Hospital,Saudi Arabia.RESULTS:Fifty-six percent of the tumors showed positive cytoplasmic COX-2 expression,whereas 44%of cases were completely COX-2-negative.There were no significant correlations between COX-2 expression and sex,age,grade or tumor location.However,COX-2 expression revealed a significant correlation with tumor stage(P=0.01)and distant metastasis(P=0.02),and a borderline association with lymph node involvement(P =0.07).Tumors with high COX-2 expression showed a higher recurrence rate than tumors with no expression(P<0.009).In univariate Kaplan-Meier survival analysis,there was a significant(P=0.026)difference in disease-free survival between COX-2-positive and negative tumors in favor of the latter.COX-2 expression did not significantly predict disease-specific survival,which was much shorter for COX-2-positive tumors.In multivariate(COX)models,COX-2 did not appear among the independent predictors of disease-free survival or disease-specific survival.CONCLUSION:COX-2 expression seems to provide useful prognostic information in CRC,while predicting the patients at high risk for recurrent disease.展开更多
The paper addresses the youth＇s perception towards jobs and career opportunities in Saudi Arabia, based on the school-to-work transition model. The study is based on a sample survey covering 600 youth cohorts in Yanb...The paper addresses the youth＇s perception towards jobs and career opportunities in Saudi Arabia, based on the school-to-work transition model. The study is based on a sample survey covering 600 youth cohorts in Yanbu and Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study reveals that school-to-work transition is not a smooth one and is influenced by the perception of youth towards employment and its various dimensions along with the ambitions towards career improvement. The 14 indicators framed in the paper reveal that essentiality, confidence to get a job that satisfies the needs, job availability, and qualifications are found to be important determinants of youth＇s attitude towards work; whereas, willingness to do any job did not get much acclaim. Job selection of youth is determined by location （especially hometown job）, sectoral preferences, training options, and work environment.展开更多
基金Supported by Grant Number 113-27-AT ON6/6/2007 from King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
文摘AIM： To determine the seroprevalence of Hepatitis A （HAV） amongst Saudi children and compare it with previously reported prevalence data from the same population. METHODS： A total of 1357 students were randomly selected between the ages of 16 and 18 years （689 males and 668 females） from three different regions of Saudi Arabia （Madinah, AI-Qaseem, and Aseer） and tested for anti-HAV-IgG.RESULTS： The overall prevalence of anti-HAV-IgG among the study population was 18.6%. There was no difference between males and females but there was a significant difference in the seroprevalence （P = 0.0001） between the three different regions, with Madinah region showing the highest prevalence （27.4%）. When classified according to socioeconomic status, lower class students had a prevalence of 36.6%, lower middle class 16.6%, upper middle class 9.6%, and upper class 5.9% （P = 0.0001）. Comparing the current study results with those of previous studies in 1989 and 1997 involving the same population, there was a marked reduction in the overall prevalence of HAV from 52% in 1989, to 25% in 1997, to 18.6% in 2008 （P 〈 0.0001）.CONCLUSION： Over the last 18 years, there has been a marked decline in the prevalence of HAV in Saudi children and adolescents. The current low prevalence rates call for strict adherence to vaccination policies in high-risk patients and raises the question of a universal HAV vaccination program.
基金Supported by Scientific Chair for Colorectal Cancer,King Abdul-Aziz University,Jeddah,Saudi Arabia
文摘AIM:To correlate cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)expression profile with clinical and pathological variables to assess their prognostic/predictive value in colorectal carcinoma(CRC).METHODS:Archival tumor samples were analyzed using immunohistochemistry for COX-2 expression in 94 patients with CRC.Patients were diagnosed and treatedat the Departments of Surgery and Oncology,King Abdulaziz University Hospital,Saudi Arabia.RESULTS:Fifty-six percent of the tumors showed positive cytoplasmic COX-2 expression,whereas 44%of cases were completely COX-2-negative.There were no significant correlations between COX-2 expression and sex,age,grade or tumor location.However,COX-2 expression revealed a significant correlation with tumor stage(P=0.01)and distant metastasis(P=0.02),and a borderline association with lymph node involvement(P =0.07).Tumors with high COX-2 expression showed a higher recurrence rate than tumors with no expression(P<0.009).In univariate Kaplan-Meier survival analysis,there was a significant(P=0.026)difference in disease-free survival between COX-2-positive and negative tumors in favor of the latter.COX-2 expression did not significantly predict disease-specific survival,which was much shorter for COX-2-positive tumors.In multivariate(COX)models,COX-2 did not appear among the independent predictors of disease-free survival or disease-specific survival.CONCLUSION:COX-2 expression seems to provide useful prognostic information in CRC,while predicting the patients at high risk for recurrent disease.
文摘The paper addresses the youth＇s perception towards jobs and career opportunities in Saudi Arabia, based on the school-to-work transition model. The study is based on a sample survey covering 600 youth cohorts in Yanbu and Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study reveals that school-to-work transition is not a smooth one and is influenced by the perception of youth towards employment and its various dimensions along with the ambitions towards career improvement. The 14 indicators framed in the paper reveal that essentiality, confidence to get a job that satisfies the needs, job availability, and qualifications are found to be important determinants of youth＇s attitude towards work; whereas, willingness to do any job did not get much acclaim. Job selection of youth is determined by location （especially hometown job）, sectoral preferences, training options, and work environment.
