No study has been published yet in the Arab world regarding response and outcome of imatinib in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). This study evaluated a total of 122 patients with CML treated with imatinib between 2001 and 2012. Survival, hematologic, cytogenetic and molecular responses and adverse events were assessed. The 5-year overall survival (OS), event free survival (EFS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were: 95.4 ± 2.3%, 81.4 ± 4.6% and 90.8 ± 3.2%, respectively. Significant differences in OS (p = 0.001), EFS (p = 0.001) and PFS (p = 0.001) were noted when patients were stratified by cytogenetic response. Survival by Sokal risk groups was not significant (p = 0.293). Complete hematologic response was achieved in 94 patients (93.1%), cytogenetic response in 84 (83.2%), major molecular response in 62 (61.4%) and complete molecular response in 34 (33.7%). This article presents the first evidence on the effectiveness of imatinib in patients with CML from Saudi Arabia and highlights similarities and differences in response patterns in published studies.

Introduction:Thyroid dysfunctions are considered one of the most important endocrine disorders. Alterations in the level of thyroid hormones cause various subclinical or clinical manifestations. Salivary glands act as the biological media for food and the first line of defense for oral cavity and teeth. Any alterations in their integrity and activity can affect the patient's health. Aim: This study aimed to compare the possible histo-functional alterations that may occur in the parotid gland structure in an experimentally induced hyperthyroid and hypothyroid state. Materials and Methods: Twenty four adult male rats were divided into three equal groups. Group I: served as euthyroid.Group II (hyperthyroid group): rats received Eltroxine in a dose 600 μg/kg/day via an oral gavage feeding needle for three successive weeks. Group III (hypothyroid group): rats received Neomercazole in a dose of 1.35 mg /kg/day via an oral gavage feeding needle for three successive weeks. At the end of the experiment, all animals were weighed, blood samples were collected then all were sacrificed. The parotid glands were weighed and sampled for histopathological, Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies. Results: Examination of parotid sections of treated groups showed histopathological changes in the form of swollen serous acini, vacuolation, dilated duct, changes in secretory granules density, congested blood vessels and cellular infiltration. That is accompanied by significant changes in parotid gland weight, rat's body weight, mast cell number, Bcl-2 positive cells and serum amylase. Conclusion: It is recommended in cases of thyroid dysfunctions to monitor oral and dental health to follow salivary glands dysfunction.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a serious common metabolic disease. It causes a variety of functional and structural disorders in the central nervous systems. It induces alterations in the brain glucose metabolism and increase oxidative stress. Melatonin is a potent free radical scavenger and stimulates the major antioxidant enzymes. Aim: This study was aimed to evaluate the possible protective role of melatonin on the histological changes in the cerebral cortex and meninges after induction of diabetes in a rat model. Materials and Methods: In this study, forty adult male albino rats were divided into four groups (ten rats for each): Group I control rats, group II rats received intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotocin (STZ) (60 mg/kg, single dose), group III rats received intraperitoneal injection of melatonin (10 mg/kg/d) for six weeks, group IV received same previous doses of of STZ and melatonin for six weeks. At the end of experiment, the cerebral cortex was dissected and processed for light microscopic examinations and also for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) to demonstrate the astrocytes. Morphometrical and statistical analyses were carried out. Results: Examination of cerebral cortex of group II showed separation of the pia mater, congestion in the blood vessels and hemorrhage in intermediate lamella. There were multifocal histological changes and depletion of the cellular elements. The neuropil showed vacuolation. There were multiple areas of microinfarction and pericellular halos. Cresyl Violet stained sections showed karyolysis and immunohistochemical study showed significant increase in GFAP positive astrocytes. In contrary, Examination of cerebral cortex of group IV showed apparent improvement in almost all layers. Cresyl Violet stained sections showed darkly stained Nissel's granules. Immunohistochemical study showed significant decrease in GFAP positive astrocytes. Conclusion: Melatonin can ameliorate the effect of diabetes on the cerebral cortex and meninges through its antioxidant effect.

Introduction: Zinc nanoparticles (ZnNPs) usage is evolving in different industrial and medical applications. However, recently nanoparticles were reported for their harmful effects. Rutin is a flavonoid that presents in plants, many veg¬etables, and fruits. It is considered a strong antioxidant. Aim: To detect the effect of ZnNPs on the adult rat prostate gland and evaluating the possible protective effect of Rutin. Materials and Methods: Fifty adult male albino rats were divided into four groups: Group I (control), Group II (ZnNPs group) rats received ZnNPs in a dose of 100 mg/kg via oral gavage feeding needle for 28 days. Group III (Rutin group): rats received rutin in a dose of 50 mg/kg via oral gavage feeding needle for 28 days. Group IV (ZnNPs-Rutin group): rats received Zn NPs and rutin at a dose and route as groups II, III. After 28 days, rats were weighed; blood samples were collected then sacrificed. The prostate glands were dissected and processed for histological (LM and EM), immunohistochemical, and biochemical studies with morphometric analysis. Results: Light microscopic examination of Group II sections revealed degeneration of acini, vacuolation, and pyknotic nuclei of their lining cells. A highly statistically significant increase in thickness of the fibromuscular stroma (P ˂ 0.001) in Masson Trichrome sections and a highly statistically significant increase (P ˂ 0.001) in positive PCNA immunoreactions in the nuclei of epithelial cells were detected. Ultrathin sections showed vacuolations in acinar cells cytoplasm. Those findings are associated with a highly significant increase in Malondialdehyde, and Prostatic specific antigen. On the contrary, Group IV sections displayed restoration of prostatic acini arrangement with areas of hyperplasia and a statistically decrease in MDA, PSA. Conclusion: These findings evidenced that Rutin had a natural protective role against ZnNPs induced prostatic cell injury in rats.

Diabetes mellitus is the most common chronic metabolic disorder that progresses slowly and silently. As hyperglycemia becomes chronic with time, it leads to serious consequences in several tissues, especially those that are insulin-insensitive (retina, neurons, kidneys). Although synthetic oral hypoglycemic drugs alongside insulin are the main route for controlling DM, they fail to reverse the course of its complications completely and further worsen it by the fact that they also demonstrate prominent side effects. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is one of the most important herbs of Ayurveda "the traditional system of medicine in India. Ashwagandha root and leaf extract demonstrated a hypoglycemic activity comparable to the standard drug glibenclamide in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Due to its neuroprotective properties, preclinical and clinical studies have supported the use of ashwagandha for the treatment of a wide range of neurological conditions. Ashwagandha has strong antioxidant properties, which aid in the prevention of cellular damage caused by free radicals.