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Aim Hindquarter amputation (HQA) has a high incidence of postoperative wound complications. We aim to use the HQA procedure as a model to investigate the potential advantages of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) on wound healing complications in high-risk pelvic oncology wounds. Method We conducted a retrospective analysis of all patients undergoing hindquarter amputation at a single tertiary centre between January 2009 and November 2020. Patients were divided into groups who had and hadn't undergone neoadjuvant radiotherapy (RT) to the pelvic tumour. Results One hundred six patients were included in the study. 43.4% had NPWT. There was no difference in the incidence of reoperation in the patient group without neo-adjuvant RT between NPWT and conventional dressings (odds ratio [OR], 1.01; p=0.983, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.365–2.8). However, the use of NPWT decreased the incidence of reoperation among the patients who had NPWT who had received radiotherapy [OR], 0.087; p=0.033, 95% CI, 0.009–0.818). The incidence of wound complications has declined with the increasing use of NPWT between 2009–2020. Conclusions The application of NPWT reduces the incidence of wound complications in high-risk pelvic oncology wounds. We demonstrated a reduction in the incidence of reoperation due to wound complications in patients who received NPWT following HQA.

Pediatric malignant adrenocortical neoplasms are among the rarest tumors encountered by pediatric surgeons and oncologists. In Saudi Arabia, only case reports exist due to the rarity of the condition. In this case series, we present five cases of malignant adrenocortical neoplasm and their clinical outcomes from two tertiary centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2012 to 2021. Patients ranged in age from one to eight years. We report the cases of three female and two male patients. All cases presented with hormonally active tumors. In two cases where tumors were excised with negative margins, only surgery and close follow-up were performed. In three cases, neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant therapy was required. In conclusion, for malignant adrenocortical neoplasms, the timing of diagnosis played a vital role in outcomes. Best outcome can be achieved with complete surgical excision as malignant adrenocortical neoplasms show a poor response to other treatment modalities.

Objective The aim of the study was to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes, and current practice of primary healthcare physicians and nurses employed at the National Guard affiliated Primary Care Centers related to child abuse and neglect. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted at four National Guard affiliated Primary Care Centers, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from May to September 2019. A total of 308 physicians and nurses participated in the study, using a convenience sampling technique. After obtaining informed consent, data was collected with a self-administered questionnaire. Results The overall attitude score was excellent in 64.2% of the sample. The majority (90.3%) had an excellent knowledge score. The study indicated that the married group and participants with more than 10 years of experience were more aware of child maltreatment reporting procedures compared to the non-married group and less experienced participants. Almost two-thirds of the sample (67.2%) agreed that child abuse and neglect are underreported in Saudi Arabia. Lack of knowledge was the most frequent reason for underreporting. Conclusion Our study highlighted that most of the primary care physicians and nurses at King Abdulaziz Medical City had excellent knowledge and positive attitudes related to child maltreatment. However, a major knowledge deficit exists in terms of the reporting procedures of suspected child maltreatment cases.

BACKGROUND The mature human insulin receptor (INSR) has two isoforms: The A isoform and the B isoform. INSR upregulation has been suggested to play a role in cancer. OBJECTIVE To establish quantitative PCR method for INSR transcript variants and examine their differential expression as a diagnostic tumor marker in breast cancer. METHODS The differential expression of IR-A and IR-B were evaluated by TaqMan qRT-PCR assay in the commercially available Breast Cancer Disease cDNA and Cancer Survey cDNA arrays. RESULTS The mRNA expression levels of IR-A was statistically significantly higher in breast cancer when compared to normal breast tissue while IR-B mRNA expression was down regulated significantly in breast cancer. Stratification of patients into groups according to metastatic stages indicated statistically significantly higher levels of IR-A mRNA in clinical stage (CS)-IV, and lower IR-B levels in CS-IIA, CS-IIIB and CS-IIIC. However, IR-A:IR-B ratio showed a statistically significant increase in all stages. Cancer Survey cDNA array demonstrated lower levels of IR-B mRNA in breast adenocarcinoma, liver carcinoma and lung carcinoma only while IR-A expression was significantly altered in kidney carcinoma without any significant differences in IR-A:IR-B ratios. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrate an increased IR-A:IR-B ratio in all clinical stages of breast cancer. Thus, IR-A:IR-B ratio may have a diagnostic biomarker utility in breast cancer.