Knowledge and Attitude towards Ionizing Radiation among Patients Attending the King Khalid Hospital Najran, Saudi Arabia

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate and assess the knowledge and attitude to dose and associated risks caused by Ionizing Radiation (IR) procedures among patients. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 375 consecutive patients, conducted over a period of 4 months from at the radiology unit of King Khalid Hospital in Najran for IR procedures using self-administered questionnaires that was developed and distributed with consents and instructions to the participants. Results: About three-quarter (60%) of the patients reported not being worried to undergo radiological tests. The same proportion of the patients also would not have radiological tests if they can tolerate the disease. About half (50%) of the respondents stated that they would not be satisfied if no further radiological tests were required and 52% did not think that radiological procedures can cause hazards and side effects to the body. Also, over half (53%) of the patients reported not knowing that radiological tests can cause cancer;48% would not repeat the radiological tests within six months;and about 69% did not know the importance of Radiology for diagnosis. Conclusion: There is relatively low knowledge and awareness of the risks associated with Ionizing Radiation among patients in the study population. Therefore, there is a need for educating the public and not only medical personnel, about radiation exposure and associated risks.

A perspective study and financial analysis of different protocols of second trimester maternal serum screening for Down's syndrome

Objective:To compare the efficiency and related financial parameters of the double- and triple-marker test for the second-trimester maternal serum screening for Down's syndrome. Methods:The serum samples were collected from the 2^(nd) trimester pregnant women in this hospital and were examined for three biomedical markers[alpha-fetoprotein(AFP),freeβ-human chorionic gonadotropin(freeβ-hCG) and unconjugated estriol(uE_3)]by TR-FIA.The pregnancy outcomes were followed up and screening efficiency calculated for double-marker(AFP+freeβ-hCG) and triple-marker(AFP+ freeβ-hCG+uE_3) test. Results:(1)A total of 4,707 serum samples of 2^(nd) trimester pregnancy were collected in this study,of which 4,245 pregnancy outcomes got followed up by May 30,2009,with 462 cases lost to follow-up.The follow-up rate was 90.2%.3 cases of Down's syndrome,4 cases of other chromosome abnormalities and 1 case of neural tube defect (NTD) were found.There was no medically induced miscarriage by invasive tests.(2) Detection rate and false positive rate of triple marker test for Down's syndrome screening were 66.7%and 5.26%,respectively,while those in double marker test were 33.3%and 4.01%,respectively.The detection rate of all chromosome abnormalities was 75%in triple marker test and 37.5%in double marker test.The detection rate of NTD was 100%either in double or triple marker test.(3) It costs 499,375 RMB to avoid one Down's syndrome birth by using triple marker test and 781,200 RMB by using double marker test. Conclusion:Triple-marker test is superior to double marker test in 2nd trimester maternal serum screening for Down's syndrome,and costs less to avoid a Down's syndrome birth.

Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-7 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 in human endometrial carcinoma

Objective:To investigate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-7(MMP-7) and its tissue inhibitor (TIMP-2) in endometrial carcinoma and analyze their significance in endometrial cancer's invasion and metastasis. Methods:Endometrial tissues were collected from 64 patients with endometrial carcinoma,20 patients with endometrial hyperplasia and 20 normal women.The expressions of MMP-7,TIMP-2 in endometrium were measured by immuohistochemistry. Results;Expressions of MMP-7,TIMP-2 in endometrium of patients with endometrial carcinoma were significantly higher than those in normal endometrium(P<0.05).MMP-7 expression increased with surgical-pathological staging,depth of myometrial invasion,histologic grades and lymph node metastasis(P<0.05),while TIMP-2 expression was related to lymph node metastasis(P<0.05).TIMP-2 expression in endometrial cancer was significantly higher than that in hyperplastic endometrium(P<0.05).Expressions of TIMP-2 and MMP-7 in endometrium of patients with endometrial carcinoma were positively correlated(r=0.654,P<0.001). Conclusion:Highly expressed MMP-7 and TIMP-2 in endometrium may be related to development,invasion and metastasis of endometrial cancers.