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Current understanding of region-specific relationships and trends in amputation related parameters for the Saudi Arabian population is limited. The purpose of this study was to look at a cross-section of the Saudi population who had experienced traumatic upper and/or lower limb amputations over a ten-year period in terms of the epidemiological parameters (age, gender, and amputation side) and nationality (locals versus expatriates). Data were obtained from the medical records of five tertiary care hospitals in Al-Madina Al-Munawarah, Saudi Arabia. Data relating to 398 amputees were analyzed (age: 32.96 ± 22.68 years), of which 74% were males. Amputation frequency was found to be inversely related to the age group of the amputees. No statistically significant relationship of gender or annual distribution of amputations was found in relation to level of amputation. A considerabl e effect of nationality was found in relation to the level of amputation, side of amputation and gender. Further research to categorize these amputations based on the type of trauma to better underst and the relationship between demographic parameters and amputation level is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Local data in Saudi Arabia regarding pediatric SARS-CoV-2 infection is limited. This study is aimed at adding insight regarding the effect of the novel coronavirus on pediatric patients by studying the presentation, laboratory parameters, and disposition of SARS-CoV-2-infected pediatric patients in one center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methodology. A retrospective study was conducted at the International Medical Center (IMC) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to assess features of pediatric patients admitted with COVID-19 from April 2020 to September 2020. Results. A total of 43 patients were found to meet the study inclusion criteria. The most common presenting symptom was fever (53.5%) in study participants followed by complaints of cough, runny nose, and shortness of breath (37.2%). Lymphocytopenia was evident among 60% of those studied. Elevated C-Reactive Protein was remarkable in 24.9%. More than half of those (53.5%) studied required only supportive treatment. Conclusion. COVID-19 disease for the most part is mild in children with a varying clinical picture and nonspecific laboratory parameters. Further, large-scale national-based studies are needed to help in the early identification of pediatric cases at risk of complication due to COVID-19 infection hence providing proper and timely management, identifying population-specific disease pattern and perhaps targeted immunization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The monotypic subfamily Pseudophotopsidinae Bischoff, 1920 (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) from the Arabian Peninsula is revised. Six Pseudophotopsis species are reported from Saudi Arabia, Oman and Yemen. Two new species, P. dhofarensis sp. nov. (male) from Oman and P. subaurea sp. nov. (male) from Saudi Arabia, are described and illustrated. The hitherto unknown female of P. mascatiana Invrea, 1962 is described and P. aegyptiaca (Bischoff, 1920) (female) is associated and synonymized with P. maura Bischoff, 1920 (male). An illustrated key for the species and their distribution in the Arabian Peninsula are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The present study is one in a series of planned studies aiming to catalogue the whole order Diptera in both Egypt and Saudi Arabia. New information All known Egyptian and Saudi Arabian conopid taxa are systematically catalogued in the present study. Three species are recorded herein for the first time from Saudi Arabia: Conops (Asiconops) elegans Meigen, 1804 and Thecophora atra (Fabricius, 1775) (Al-Baha region, south-western of Saudi Arabia), and Conops (Conops) quadrifasciatus De Geer, 1776 (Tabuk region, north-western of Saudi Arabia). Physocephala variegata (Meigen, 1924) is also recorded for the first time from Gebel Elba, the south-eastern triangle of Egypt. Considering that Gebel Elba in Egypt and Al-Baha in Saudi Arabia are affiliated to the Afrotropical Region, this is the first time Physocephala variegata and Thecophora atra have been recorded from the Afrotropical Region. An updated taxonomy, world and local distributions, dates of collection and some coloured photographs are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) targeted therapy regimens can improve tumor response in HER-2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC), with overall survival benefits. Objective: We evaluated the efficacy of dual HER-2 blockade combined with chemotherapy for HER-2-positive MBC patients as a first-line therapy in our patient population. Patients and Methods: We identified 75 patients at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center that received trastuzumab, pertuzumab, and docetaxel as a first-line therapy in HER-2 positive MBC in 2013–2016. Results: Median age at diagnosis was 45 years; 54.7% were estrogen receptor (ER)-positive. 10% of patients presented with only bone metastasis. The median follow-up time was 36 months with an objective response rate of 74.7% (complete response [CR] 18.7%; partial response [PR] 56%). The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 21% and 71.9% respectively, with a median PFS of 36 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 23.6–48.4). The 5-year OS for ER-negative and ER-positive patients was 93.9% and 59.4% respectively (p = 0.189); 23 patients experienced grade 1/2 toxicity and 2 patients had grade 3/4 toxicity. In terms of OS and PFS, the site of metastasis did not make any significant difference. Conclusions: First line pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and docetaxel for HER-2-positive MBC patients was found to be an effective and safe therapy in the Saudi population. This finding was consistent with the results seen in the CLEOPATRA trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phylogenetic study based on 25 species of Phasgonophorinae (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) and 36 characters was carried out for ensuring the generic placement of three new species from Saudi Arabia. As a result of this study, the genera Trigonura Sichel, 1866, Bactrochalcis Kieffer, 1912, Centrochalcis Cameron, 1913, Centrochalcidia Gahan & Fagan, 1923, Chalcidellia Girault, 1924, Urochalcis Nikol'skaya, 1952, Trigonurella Bouček, 1988, and Muhabbetella Koçak & Kemal, 2008 are synonymized with Phasgonophora Westwood, 1832. This genus is recorded in Saudi Arabia for the first time, represented here by P. rubens (Klug), and newly described species P. baiocchii Soliman & Gul, sp. nov., P. granulis Delvare, sp. nov., and P. magnanii Gadallah & Gul, sp. nov. An illustrated key to species of the Arabian Peninsula is provided. The relevant specimens were mostly reared from buprestid species infesting Acacia sp. and Dodonaea viscosa in Al-Baha, Asir and Riyadh regions, Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The species of the genus Micatagla Argaman (Bradynobaenidae: Apterogyninae) in Saudi Arabia are reviewed. A single species, M. antropovi Pagliano, 2002, has previously been reported from Abu Arish (Jazan region, Saudi Arabia). Four new species based on females are described and illustrated in the present paper: M. fuscogaster sp. nov. and M. reemae sp. nov. (Garf Raydah Natural Reserve, Asir region), M. saudita sp. nov. (Wadi Hanifah, Riyadh region) and M. similis sp. nov. (Shada Al-Ala Natural Reserve, Al-Baha region). An illustrated key to the females and an annotated faunistic list of all Micatagla species of Saudi Arabia are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The apoid wasps of the families Ampulicidae and Heterogynaidae of Saudi Arabia are revised. In Ampulicidae, four species in three genera are reported, of which three species are recorded for the first time from Saudi Arabia (Al-Baha, Asir and Riyadh regions):Ampulex assimilisKohl,Dolichurus arabicusOhl andTrirogma caeruleaWestwood. Additionally, the family Heterogynaidae is reported for the first time from Saudi Arabia (Asir and Riyadh regions), and a new species,Heterogyna sauditasp. nov., is described, diagnosed and illustrated. An illustrated key to the species ofHeterogynafrom the Arabian Peninsula is provided. www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C23C70A7-AA1C-47C0-951A-D164E7B20001 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new species of the genus Macroocula Panfilov, 1954 from Saudi Arabia are described and illustrated: M. atuberculata Soliman & Gadallah sp. nov. (Al-Quwayiyah, Al-Aflag, Al-Zulfi, and Riyadh), M. zulfiensis Soliman & Gadallah sp. nov. (Al-Zulfi and Riyadh), and M. khorimensis Soliman & Gadallah sp. nov. (Muzahimiyah and Riyadh). A key to Macroocula species with a ventral protuberance on the hind trochanter is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The study meant to define the prognostic factors that help in prescribing intrauterine insemination (IUI) for infertility treatment which remains an area of continuous improvements. Methods: The diagnostic indications of a cohort of IUI-treated patients and their corresponding pregnancy rates (PRs) were randomly and prospectively studied among Saudi cohort of 303 patients for a period of 20 months. The indications of IUI cases were statistically analyzed for those eligible patients over a period of twenty months (January 2010 till August 2011), and the PR that corresponded to each group was investigated as well. P-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The highest PR, 18.87%, of the polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)-only diagnosed patients, was significantly higher than the average PR of all other indications combined, 7.22%, (p=0.011, compared to all other groups combined). The second highest PR, 14.0%, of the tubal factor (TF)-only indication, was double the PR average of all other indications combined, though it did not reach significance. However, PCOS and TF accompanied by other indications caused the PR to drop to 5.88% and 5.56 %, respectively. However, a group of some hormonal-imbalance based indications had the least PR (0.0% to 2.70%). Those indications were elevated serum FSH, hyperprolactinemia, hypogonadotrophy, hypothyroidism and endometriosis. The rest of the indications had an average PR (8.33% to 11.11%). Conclusion: There is a reasonable chance of conception after IUI treatment for female factor infertility except in cases with sever hormonal imbalance. The PCOS cases having the best success chances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]