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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Nov 1 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC) has achieved a significant milestone by successfully conducting liquid biopsies on patients spanning various age groups. This innovative approach offers a safer alternative to conventional tissue biopsies. Notably, KFSH&RC stands out as the first healthcare facility in the Middle East to adopt this cutting-edge technology. 

This groundbreaking method is distinguished by its ability to detect approximately 50 genes associated with cancer and over 3,000 genetic mutations. This represents a pivotal advancement in patient care, eliminating the need to extract tissue from the affected area for examination. This transformative step greatly enhances healthcare outcomes and elevates the overall patient experience.

Liquid biopsy offers advantages over traditional tissue biopsies. It’s less invasive, involving a simple 10 ml blood sample that can be repeated during treatment. Additionally, it provides high accuracy in swiftly detecting tumor biomarkers, predicting treatment responses, identifying emerging mutations, and confirming the absence of tumor recurrence, marking a significant advancement in cancer science.

This technology presents a safer alternative to traditional biopsies for patients facing challenges in accessing affected tissue without surgical intervention, as seen in cases like lung cancer. It is particularly beneficial for elderly patients, for whom a lung tissue biopsy may not be suitable due to the potential for severe complications associated with it.

As a strategic health partner at the Global Health Exhibition in Riyadh from October 29 to 31, KFSH&RC will showcase its pavilion in the accompanying exhibition, where visitors can explore Liquid biopsy technology and various other healthcare solutions and technologies.

Liquid biopsy technology holds promise for other stages of cancer treatment at KFSH&RC. Through the routine use of the test, it is possible to build a database of tumor-causing mutations in the local community, which helps in early diagnosis of cancer before tumors form, in addition to tracking changes in the patient’s condition, frequently during treatment, allowing timely adjustments to treatment plans and preventing worsening of the condition.

This achievement is a part of KFSH&RC’s ongoing commitment to harness advanced technologies for enhancing operational excellence and patient care. The test facilitates swift clinical decision-making for cancer patient management and reduces both the testing time and its process through full automation.

KFSH&RC stands as one of the world’s prominent institutions in delivering specialized healthcare, leading the way in innovation, and serving as an advanced hub for medical research and education. Furthermore, it actively endeavors to advance medical technologies and elevate global healthcare standards through collaborations with significant local, regional, and international organizations, aiming to deliver world-class clinical, research, and educational services.

Contact information:
kfshrc@mcsaatchi.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3ba7a2cd-ae09-4d9a-8658-a5efc2b198c3

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9de0dc61-7dc5-47e4-af70-09088ad689e1

Source: King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre

–BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 (Bernama) — The King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC) celebrated its success in treating the 100th patient with lymphoid leukaemia using Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR T-cell) therapy, aligned with its vision to be the optimal choice for specialised healthcare.

CAR T-cell therapy is an innovative treatment that enhances the ability of T-cells to recognise and destroy cancer cells after genetic modification in the laboratory to improve their targeting ability.

According to a statement, this approach overcomes the challenge of distinguishing between cancer and normal cells, offering a promising method for treating lymphoid leukaemia.

KFSH&RC emphasised that this innovative technology provides hope for patients with resistant leukaemia and lymphoid tumours, especially those not effectively treatable with traditional methods.

As a strategic healthcare partner, the hospital is sharing information about CAR T-cell therapy, its positive impact on healthcare improvement, and various healthcare solutions and innovations during the Global Health Exhibition taking place in Riyadh from Oct 29 to 31.

The hospital explained that this advanced therapy consists of four stages, namely, extracting blood from the patient to obtain specific cells; and then genetically modifying them in the lab for three to four weeks.

Next, shortly before CAR T-cell therapy, the patient receives a low dose of chemotherapy to enhance its effectiveness and the body’s ability to fight cancer. Ultimately, CAR T-cells are infused into the patient’s arm, which is closely monitored for four weeks to ensure the body’s adaptation.

The application of this advanced treatment in the Kingdom represents a qualitative addition to specialised medical care, reducing the financial, social and health burdens of sending such cases abroad, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 and its healthcare objectives.

— BERNAMA

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct 30 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC) is presenting its pioneering journey and prospects in space biomedical research and its role in enhancing human health at the Global Health Exhibition, where KFSH&RC is also participating as a strategic healthcare partner.

At the Exhibition, KFSH&RC delves into its groundbreaking experience leading four research experiments in cell sciences in space. These experiments encompass testing the immune cell response to inflammation in space, monitoring the activity of thousands of genes in immune cells exposed to inflammation over time, and tracking the changes in the lifespan of ribonucleic acid (mRNA) between space and Earth. Additionally, the pavilion simulates the inflammatory response to drug treatment using an immune cell model to explore its potential applications for prevention and early treatment.

The aim of these research experiments, conducted in collaboration with the Saudi Space Authority, as part of the scientific mission of Saudi astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali Al-Qarni to the International Space Station (ISS), is to contribute to exploratory research and its applications in space medicine to enhance the safety of space explorers and utilize the knowledge gained for the benefit the patient community globally.

The scientific experiments lasted for four days and were overseen by the research team led by Dr. Khaled Saad Abu Khubrah, Head of the Department of Molecular Biomedicine and Research at KFSH&RC, along with Dr. Wijdan Al-Ahmadi from KFSH&RC and Dr. Edward Hattie from the BioServe Space Technologies Center in Colorado, USA.

KFSH&RC is actively pursuing further research in space biomedical science to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the effects of gravity deficiency and cosmic radiation on the human body. They aim to leverage the unique space environment, which provides opportunities for medical experiments that are not feasible on Earth. This includes studying how cells and tissues grow in microgravity conditions, potentially leading to groundbreaking discoveries in disease treatments and opening new avenues in space medicine.

KFSH&RC is globally renowned for its specialized healthcare services and its leadership in innovation. It stands as an advanced centre for medical research and education, aiming to advance medical technologies and raise the standard of healthcare worldwide through partnerships with prominent local, regional, and international institutions in clinical, research, and educational fields.

Contact information:
kfshrc@mcsaatchi.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/78eba5fa-19d6-437c-ab42-c9a09636e91e

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c30c198b-dd13-4d48-8b8c-6667eda49b45

Source: King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre

–BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 (Bernama) — Getty Images, a preeminent global visual content creator and marketplace, has launched “Inclusive Visual Storytelling for Asian Communities” report to help brands expand and deepen Asian narratives.

This guidance is a result of Getty Images’ ongoing global research initiatives, which found that visual representation of Asian communities in Asia Pacific (APAC) advertising remains stereotypical, according to a statement.

Powered by insights from its VisualGPS research, the guidelines stated that less than 10 per cent of most popular visuals for Australasia, Japan, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan accurately represent Asian people and their lived experiences.

Instead, most used imagery tends to lean heavily towards perpetuating common stereotypes, namely, depicting Asians as youthful, slender, possessing lighter skin tones, and predominantly portrayed in work-related contexts.

According to these guidelines, four out of five consumers across APAC agree that simply increasing the representation of individuals from diverse ethnicities, backgrounds, and appearances within advertising and media is insufficient, stating that companies also need to do a better job at capturing people’s true lifestyles and cultures.

Strikingly, three out of five also said to feel they have been discriminated against based on body size, lifestyle choices, race, ethnicity, gender identity, disability and sexuality.

These findings underscore the imperative for the media and advertising industry to not only recognise the intricate diversity and multidimensionality inherent in Asian cultures, but also to align with consumer expectations in delivering authentic and meaningful portrayals of Asian identities.

Despite APAC’s extensive span of cultures and demographics, there is limited diversity in imagery. Representation gaps range from disparities in depicting cultural specificities, to limited portrayals of Asian working life, among others.

To provide a comprehensive guide to visual storytelling centred on Asian communities, this new guidance encompasses various aspects of their identities, passions and lived experiences.

By presenting a robust spectrum of perspectives, the guidelines supply media and advertising professionals with practical and applicable insights, serving as visual checkpoints and equipping them to enrich Asian visual narratives within their brand communications.

— BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Bernama) — About 300 guests from home and abroad shared their views on promoting cultural inheritance and development at the Silk Road (Xi’an) International Communication Forum in Xi’an, the capital of northwest China’s Shaanxi Province.

The two-day event, including dialogues and cultural exchange activities, was sponsored by the People’s Government of Shaanxi Province, Xinhua News Agency, and the Shaanxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Shaanxi Party Chief, Zhao Yide said as the starting point of the ancient Silk Road and an important base for China’s westward opening up, Shaanxi is deeply integrated into the Belt and Road cooperation.

“I hope that the Chinese and foreign media will publicise Shaanxi and promote its exchanges and cooperation in various fields with the rest of the world,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Xinhua News Agency President, Fu Hua said this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and as participants, witnesses, and storytellers of the BRI, the media shoulder the responsibility of sharing the BRI stories with the world.

— BERNAMA