Cardioneuroablation can be an effective strategy to treat glossopharyngeal neuralgia-related sinus bradycardia and pauses.

INTRODUCTION: Cardioneuroablation (CNA) has proven effectiveness in addressing hypervagotonia symptoms, such as neurocardiogenic syncope. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this case, we present the first-time application of CNA in a case of vago-glossopharyngeal neuralgia (VGPN). A 59-year-old female with near-syncope, sinus bradycardia, and sinus pauses triggered by recurrent right-sided neck pain was diagnosed with VGPN. The patient underwent successful treatment with carbamazepine and CNA. Subsequent follow-up revealed the sustained absence of sinus bradycardia or pauses, even upon neck pain resurgence after discontinuing carbamazepine. CONCLUSION: In this patient, CNA successfully prevented pauses associated with VGPN, avoiding permanent pacemaker implantation.

The synthetic retinoid ST1926 as a novel therapeutic agent in rhabdomyosarcoma.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most frequent soft tissue sarcoma in children. Despite multiple attempts at intensifying chemotherapeutic approaches to treatment, only moderate improvements in survival have been made for patients with advanced disease. Retinoic acid is a differentiation agent that has shown some antitumor efficacy in RMS cells in vitro; however, the effects are of low magnitude. E-3-(4'-hydroxyl-3'-adamantylbiphenyl-4-yl) acrylic acid (ST1926) is a novel orally available synthetic atypical retinoid, shown to have more potent activity than retinoic acid in several types of cancer cells. We used in vitro and in vivo models of RMS to explore the efficacy of ST1926 as a possible therapeutic agent in this sarcoma. We found that ST1926 reduced RMS cell viability in all tested alveolar (ARMS) and embryonal (ERMS) RMS cell lines, at readily achievable micromolar concentrations in mice. ST1926 induced an early DNA damage response (DDR), which led to increase in apoptosis, in addition to S-phase cell cycle arrest and a reduction in protein levels of the cell cycle kinase CDK1. Effects were irrespective of TP53 mutational status. Interestingly, in ARMS cells, ST1926 treatment decreased PAX3-FOXO1 fusion oncoprotein levels, and this suppression occurred at a post-transcriptional level. In vivo, ST1926 was effective in inhibiting growth of ARMS and ERMS xenografts, and induced a prominent DDR. We conclude that ST1926 has preclinical efficacy against RMS, and should be further developed in this disease in clinical trials.

Research-oriented series: a portal into the culture of biomedical research for junior medical students at Alfaisal University in Saudi Arabia.

Student contributions to research have been shown to effectively reflect on their communication and critical thinking skills. Short-term research courses offer opportunities for medical students to advance their research experience in subsequent high-demanding long-term research opportunities. The purpose of the present study was to describe the development, implementation, and evaluation of a research-oriented series (ROS) on undergraduate students at Alfaisal University in Saudi Arabia. The ROS was designed to comprise eight sessions. Each session addressed core principles and the practice of research concepts and was based on theoretical morning sessions supplemented by afternoon practical sessions delivered by experienced senior medical students and faculty members. Students were assessed comprehensively by the end of the ROS. The series was conducted twice, and 35 students were involved each time. A total of 70 enrolled students (35 men and 35 women) with grade point averages of >3.5 and <3.5 were asked to fill out an anonymous, online, self-administered questionnaire assessing their perception of knowledge, skills, and confidence after attending the ROS and evaluating their senior peers. Ninety percent of the medical students responded to the online survey and rated the ROS highly in improving their research knowledge, skills, and confidence. Male students reported significant gains compared with their female peers (P<0.05). Grade point averages did not play a role in student gains after attending the ROS. Qualitative responses were in support of three recurring themes favoring the unique learning environment in the ROS. In conclusion, the ROS offers a short-term systematic approach to fundamental steps and concepts of biomedical research.

Undergraduate research: an innovative student-centered committee from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

INTRODUCTION: Concern has been expressed in recent times whether medical schools have adapted sufficiently to cater for the increasing demand of physician-scientists. Studies have shown that research involvement at the undergraduate level is vital to accommodate this growing need. Enhanced communication skills, improved problem-solving abilities and better future employment opportunities are among the other many benefits of undergraduate research (UR). Herein, we report projects run by a unique student driven undergraduate research committee (URC) at Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia aimed at providing the future generation of physicians training opportunities for pursuing a research intensive career. METHODS: The article describes the unique structure of the URC and provides an in-depth description of the various programs and activities used in promoting students' research activities. We analyzed students' perception of URC activities via a questionnaire and analyzed research-output of the first graduating batches through their publication record. RESULTS: Overall, more than 60% of the graduating students were involved in the various research programs offered by the URC and around 50% published in peer-reviewed journals with an average impact factor of 2.4. CONCLUSIONS: Research involvement by medical students is an essential need of the twenty-first century and models like URC could provide crucial platform for research training to the new generation of physician-scientists.