Objective To evaluate the cytological changes of the oral mucosa among smokers using Argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) counts and Papanicolaou (Pap) staining. Methodology The oral mucosal exfoliate smears of 500 individuals (200 nonsmokers and 300 smokers) aged between 18 and 80 years were prepared in Al Madinah. The AgNOR count and Pap stain were used to generate a cytogenic smear to assess the presence of cytological changes suggestive of atypia, inflammation, dysplasia, keratinization, and proliferative activity of epithelial cells. Results Smokers have a considerably higher number of AgNORs per nucleus than nonsmokers (1.99 3.53 vs. 0.42 1.22). There were inflammatory changes in 127 (42.3%) of the cases and 40 (20%) of the controls. Multinucleated cells and atypia were found in 33 (11%) and 14 (4.5%) of the cases but not in the controls. The results indicate higher proliferative activity in smoking patients compared to nonsmoking patients, even in the absence of clinical lesions. Conclusion To detect the effects of smoking on the oral mucosa, Pap staining alone is insufficient. Combining Pap staining with the AgNOR technique produces the desired results.

In this study, we aimed to assess cytological changes and p53 expression in oral mucosa among waterpipe users in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). A case-control study was conducted in KSA from January to October 2022. Two cytologic oral smear samples each were taken from 500 volunteers; 300 were waterpipe users (case) while 200 did not use a waterpipe (control). They were then stained using the Papanicolaou staining procedure and immunocytochemical method to show the expression of P53. The interpretation of the Papanicolaou staining outcomes showed the presence of four results with different proportions: inflammation, infection, atypia, and keratinization. Cytological inflammation was identified among 77/300 (25.6%) waterpipe smokers, which was higher than that among non-users (12/200, 6%). The reverse cytological infection and atypia were also higher in waterpipe smokers compared with controls (9% vs. 4.5% and 4.3% vs. 0.5%, respectively), and keratinization was detected only in waterpipe users (3.6%) compared with controls. Waterpipe users had higher p53 protein expression than non-users. Using a waterpipe is an effective way to change the oral mucosa. In atypia and keratinization, there was high p53 expression. These results could indicate that p53 is involved in both the change from normal to cancerous cells and the growth of new cells, but the presence or absence of p53 staining could not be used to predict the outcome of potentially cancerous oral mucosal lesions.

Objective. This study aimed to associate the expression of P53, BCL2, PTEN, and HER2/neu tumor markers in specific breast cancer lesions. Methods. This study analyzed the immunohistochemical expression of P53, BCL2, PTEN, and HER2/neu tumor markers for 306 patients who presented with lesions. Tissue blocks and patients identification data were retrieved from the department of pathology, AL Madinah Almonwarah hospital, Al Madinah, UAE. Results. Of the 306 patients, 104 had benign lesions and 202 had malignancy (including 194 females and 6 males). Most females were presented with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), followed by infiltrating ductal carcinoma, and invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), representing 70, 23.2, and 3.7, respectively. Positive P53, BCL2, PTEN, and HER2 were identified in 20.8, 11.9, 91, and 18.3, respectively. Conclusion: The expression of P53, BCL2, PTEN, and HER2/neu tumor markers among Saudi patients with breast cancer is relatively similar in many parts of the world.

Background Self-medication during pregnancy constitutes a considerable public health issue, presenting potential hazards to both maternal and fetal health. Notwithstanding global awareness initiatives, there is a paucity of research on self-medication habits among Saudi women, especially in Madinah. Objective The study aims to assess awareness levels of self-medication during pregnancy and identify primary factors affecting knowledge among Saudi women in Madinah. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed at designated healthcare facilities in Madinah from October to December 2024. A validated questionnaire was conducted with 400 pregnant women via face-to-face interviews. We classified awareness scores as poor, moderate, or good and conducted statistical analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26 (Released 2019; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). Results Among the 400 participants, 194 (48.5%) were aged between 31 and 40 years, and 182 (45.5%) held bachelor’s degrees. The most used over-the-counter (OTC) medications were analgesics/antipyretics (369, 92.4%) and folic acid (394, 98.5%). Only 50 (37.5%) demonstrated good awareness of self-medication risks. Higher education (p = 0.001), employment (p = 0.028), and higher income (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with increased awareness. Conclusion Although the majority of pregnant women had a moderate understanding of self-medication hazards, targeted educational initiatives are essential, especially for individuals with lower socioeconomic levels. Enhancing public health policies and awareness initiatives can mitigate the hazards associated with self-medication during pregnancy.

Objective This study aims to determine how electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use contributes to the spread of the human papillomavirus (HPV) and to assess the potential cellular proliferative activity it may produce. Methodology In Madinah, a case-control study was conducted between October 2022 and March 2023. Two oral cytologic smear samples were collected from each of the 500 volunteers; 250 consumers of electronic cigarettes and 250 non-smokers each provided two samples. To detect cytological changes and HPV infection, these samples were stained using Papanicolaou and immunocytochemical techniques. Results Twelve (4.8%) of the electronic cigarettes exhibited cytological atypia, while only one (0.4%) of the nonsmokers' group did. Infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) was detected in eight (3.2%) of the e-cigarette users, but it was only found in two (0.8%) of the nonsmokers (P ≤ 0.05). Conclusion Electronic cigarette smoking increases the likelihood of contracting HPV and developing cytological atypia, both of which, if left untreated, can contribute to the development of precancerous and cancerous lesions in the mouth.