The use of anti-cancer adjuvant therapy is rationalized by potentiating the efficacy, and/or protecting from major side effects of chemotherapeutics. Thymoquinone (TQ) is a naturally occurring compound with cumulative evidence of anti-cancer properties. In this study, we assessed the chemomodulatory potential of TQ to gemcitabine (GCB) against human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), and ductal carcinoma (T47D) cells. TQ showed cytotoxic effects against MCF-7 and T47D with IC₅₀’s of 64.9 ± 14 µM and 165 ± 2 µM, respectively. The IC₅₀’s of GCB against MCF-7 and T47D were 0.9 ± 0.18 µM and 14.3 ± 2.8 µM and were significantly reduced after combination with TQ to 0.058 ± 12 µM and 2.3 ± 0.2 µM, respectively. The CI- values were indicative of synergism in MCF-7 and T47D cells (0.15 and 0.30, respectively). Further investigation showed that GCB caused significant anti-proliferative effect reflected by increasing cell population in S-phase in both cell lines. TQ potentiated GCB-induced anti-proliferative activity in both cell lines. GCB induced considerable apoptosis in T47D cell line, and TQ significantly increased GCB-induced apoptotic effects by 1.5 to 3.6 folds. Interestingly, GCB, TQ and their combination induced significant autophagic cell death in the apoptosis defected MCF-7 cells. In addition, TQ, GCB and their combination depleted breast cancer associated stem cell (CD44⁽⁺⁾/CD24^(−)/(low)) clone within MCF-7 and T47D cells by 3.8% to 27.5%. In conclusion, TQ showed promising chemomodulatory effects to GCB against breast cancer cells via inducing apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy, in addition to depleting tumor associated resistant stem cell fraction.

The current literature on the role of microRNA (miRNA) in tumour metabolism is growing, and a number of studies regularly confirm the impact miRNA can have in energy reprograming in tumours. However, there remains to be a lack of understanding of the larger perspective of the role of miRNA in the metabolism story. In the first part of this review, we provide a comprehensive and up-to-date description of the extensive role of miRNAs in tumour metabolism including glucose, lipid and amino acid metabolism. However, in the second part, we aim to provide a description of the multidimensional role miRNA can be playing in tumour metabolism. Of paramount importance is the role miRNA has in responding to metabolic cues and how it can alter cellular state and fate, including cancer stem cells, in response to such cues. In addition, exosomal miRNAs can provide means by which cells can communicate metabolic signals and messages with other cells within the tumour microenvironment, altering therefore the phenotype and functional capacity of these cells. With this expanding area of research better understanding of the role of miRNA in tumour metabolism in a mechanistic approach, and not only describing which miRNAs can effect which genes, can help to exploit the therapeutic implications behind the extensive role of miRNA in tumour metabolism.

Purpose: Evaluating the long-term impact of faculty development programs (FDPs) can help monitor the effectiveness of the program and identify areas for development. This study examined long-term differences in confidence, knowledge, behaviors, and policies of faculty members who attended FDPs on multiple choice question (MCQ) item analysis and faculty members who did not attend the FDPs. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used, by administering a 24-item survey to a representative sample (simple random selection) of 61 faculty members at King Abdulaziz University Faculty of Medicine. Results: Among respondents, 34% did not attend FDPs; 53% attended 1–3 FDPs; and 13% attended more than 3 FDPs on MCQ item analysis. Results showed that faculty knowledge on elements of MCQ item analysis was significantly greater (p = .01) for members who attended the FDPs. Faculty who attended FDPs on MCQ item analysis were twice more likely to conduct item analysis in general (p = .020) and four times more likely to conduct item analysis for more than 70% of module examinations (p = .005). Conclusion: FDPs focused on MCQ item analysis can yield systematic changes on faculty confidence, knowledge, and behaviors. Moreover, FDPs also need support from the department and need sustained strategic support to ensure continued effectiveness.

It is not clear why cancer cells choose to disrupt their circadian clock rhythms, and whether such disruption governs a selective fitness and a survival advantage. In this review, I focus on understanding the impacts of clock gene disruption on a simpler model, such as the unicellular cyanobacterium, in order to explain how cancer cells may alter the circadian rhythm to reprogram their metabolism based on their needs and status. It appears to be that the activation of the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (OPPP) and production of NADPH, the preferred molecule for detoxification of reactive oxygen species, is a critical process for night survival in unicellular organisms. The circadian clock acts as a gatekeeper that controls how the organism will utilize its sugar, shifting sugar influx between glycolysis and OPPP. The circadian clock can thus act as a gatekeeper between an anabolic, proliferative mode and a homeostatic, survival mode.

Background: At King Abdulaziz University, medical and health science schools depend on admission exams (aptitude and achievement) and preparatory year scores in their students’ selection. However, with the growing number of applicants and the drastic changes in teaching and assessment in these colleges, continuous assessment and development of admission criteria are needed. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the correlation of admission exam scores, in addition to the preparatory year Grade Point Average (GPA), with academic performance in the basic science subjects such as Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Pharmacology in health science colleges.Methods: The study was conducted on four cohort studies, two faculty of nursing cohorts; nursing students (2017-2018,n=146) nursing students (2018-2019,n=81), and two faculty of applied medical sciences cohorts, clinical nutrition students (2017-2018,n=33), and clinical nutrition students (2018-2019,n=28). The students’ scores of General Aptitude Test (GAT), Scholastic Achievement Admission Test (SAAT), and preparatory year GPA were all recorded at the beginning of each semester before the beginning of courses. Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Pharmacology exam results were recorded at the end of the semester. Correlation was done for each cohort and all cohorts pooled.Results: Results showed only a weak correlation detected between SAAT and the overall achievement in Clinical Biochemistry (r= 0.192,P= 0.042) in nursing students (2017-2018), but no correlation was seen with SAAT or preparatory year scores. There was also no significant correlation between admission exams scores and the students’ academic achievement in Clinical Biochemistry or Clinical Pharmacology. On the other hand Clinical Pharmacology exam results showed a significant positive correlation with Clinical Biochemistry results (r=0.688,P=0.000).Conclusion: Our results could indicate the need to revisit the admission criteria for these colleges. Furthermore, specific preparatory year tracks for health science colleges can ensure that students improve the specific skills and knowledge required for their future college years3