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Al-Korbi H, Al-Hamdani MA, Ghareeb A, Al-Asmakh M, Abdallah AM. Facilitating inclusive education: Assessing faculty awareness and attitudes towards students with special educational needs at Qatar university. Heliyon 2024; 10:e31076. [PMID: 38774336 PMCID: PMC11107362 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction An increasing number of students with special educational needs (SEN) are attending higher education institutions. Faculty members are key players in the implementation of inclusive policies, the success of which depends on their attitudes and awareness to help students with SEN. Purpose The aim of this study was to assess faculty attitudes toward SEN students and awareness of the support provided by the university for SEN students. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of Qatar University (QU) faculty conducted via an online survey. Demographic data such as gender, years of experience, and academic discipline were collected and associated with previous exposure to SEN students and survey responses using SPSS. Results Three hundred and thirty-one QU faculty responded out of 1107 registered faculty in 2022, a 30 % response rate. About a third of respondents did not know about available support services for SEN students, and only half of those with awareness of the services attended. After controlling for sociodemographic variables, previous contact with SEN students had a significant effect on attitudes, such that faculty with no previous contact with SEN students (M = 1.47, SD = 0.62) had higher positive attitudes towards SEN students relative to faculty with previous contact with SEN students (M = 1.31, SD = 0.47). However, faculty with contact with SEN students were more likely to report awareness of the availability of workshops and were more likely to be aware of assistive technology compared to being unsure, while those with no previous contact with SEN students were more uncertain about the availability of workshops and assistive technology. Conclusion The findings suggest a need for targeted interventions to improve faculty awareness of support services and attitudes towards students with SEN in higher education, highlighting the importance of professional development and training initiatives to promote inclusivity in the classroom. Faculty members need to be aware of existing support services for SEN students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Halah Al-Korbi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar
| | - Mohammed A. Al-Hamdani
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar
| | - Alia Ghareeb
- Department of Strategy Program Development, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar
| | - Maha Al-Asmakh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar
| | - Atiyeh M. Abdallah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar
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Allouch A, Al-Barazenji T, Al-Shafai M, Abdallah AM. The landscape of genetic variations in non-syndromic primary ovarian insufficiency in the MENA region: a systematic review. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 14:1289333. [PMID: 38737775 PMCID: PMC11082268 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1289333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a primary cause of infertility with variable clinical manifestations. POI is a multifactorial disease with both environmental and known genetic etiologies, but data on the genetic variations associated with POI in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are scarce. The aim of this study was to systematically review all known genetic causes of POI in the MENA region. Methods The PubMed, Science Direct, ProQuest, and Embase databases were searched from inception to December 2022 for all reports of genetic variants associated with POI in the MENA region. Clinical and genetic data were collected from eligible articles, and ClinVar and PubMed (dbSNP) were searched for variants. Results Of 1,803 studies, 25 met the inclusion criteria. Fifteen studies were case-control studies and ten were case reports representing 1,080 non-syndromic POI patients in total. Seventy-nine variants in 25 genes associated with POI were reported in ten MENA countries. Of the 79 variants, 46 were rare and 33 were common variants. Of the 46 rare variants, 19 were pathogenic or likely pathogenic according to ACMG classification guidelines and ClinVar. No clear phenotype-genotype association was observed. Male family members carrying pathogenic variants also had infertility problems. Discussion To our best knowledge, this is the first systematic review of the genetic variants associated with POI in the MENA region. Further functional studies are needed to assess the disease-causing molecular mechanisms of these variants. Knowledge of the genetic basis of POI in the Middle East could facilitate early detection of the condition and thus early implementation of therapeutic interventions, paving the way for precision medicine options in specific populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asma Allouch
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Tara Al-Barazenji
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mashael Al-Shafai
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Atiyeh M. Abdallah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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3
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Awwad S, Al-Hamdani M, Abdallah AM, Abu-Madi M. Laboratory testing efficiency during the COVID pandemic: Findings from the Primary Health Care Corporation laboratories in the State of Qatar. J Infect Public Health 2024; 17:681-686. [PMID: 38471258 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2024.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about how the COVID-19 pandemic altered laboratory testing efficiency in the State of Qatar. The aim of this study was to assess laboratory testing efficiency with respect to the total number and proportion of C-reactive protein (CRP), complete blood count (CBC), and comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) tests completed on time in 2019-2021 in several ordinary and COVID-converted Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) health centers across Qatar. METHODS Secondary data from 2019 to 2021 were accessed from the PHCC-Clinical Information System center. Six randomly selected centers from three regions of Qatar (Northern, Central, and Western), two of which were COVID-converted, were analyzed. RESULTS A total of 404,316 laboratory tests were analyzed. There were decreasing, U-shaped, and inverted-U-shaped patterns in the numbers of tests conducted in different regions between 2019 and 2021 according to test type. The proportion of urgent (STAT) CBC and CMP tests increased from 2019 to 2021, and the proportion of tests completed by COVID-converted health centers increased for CRP and CBC and decreased for CMP between 2019 and 2021. Northern and Western regions in Qatar showed higher efficiency than the Central region with respect to the proportion of STAT tests completed on time in 2019-2021. COVID-converted centers completed fewer STAT CBC tests on time than ordinary centers. CONCLUSION Pandemics such as COVID-19 shift the allocation of resources from routine tests to urgent tests, as exemplified by the increase in STAT test proportions in 2019 to 2021. High population densities, as noted in the Central region of Qatar, may require additional resources during pandemics to complete urgent tests more efficiently. The conversion of centers to COVID-converted centers may not necessarily translate into higher urgent test efficiency, as exemplified by the STAT CBC test results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Awwad
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mohammed Al-Hamdani
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Atiyeh M Abdallah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Marawan Abu-Madi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
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Fouda H, Ibrahim WN, Shi Z, Alahmadi F, Almohammadi Y, Al-Haidose A, Abdallah AM. Impact of the MIF -173G/C variant on cardiovascular disease risk: a meta-analysis of 9,047 participants. Front Cardiovasc Med 2024; 11:1323423. [PMID: 38476376 PMCID: PMC10929265 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1323423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Many factors contribute to the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), an umbrella term for several different heart diseases, including inflammation. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is an important immune modulator that has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of different heart diseases, so understanding pathogenic variants of the MIF gene is important for risk stratification. We therefore conducted a meta-analysis to investigate whether the MIF -173G/C (rs755622) polymorphism is associated with CVD. Methods The PubMed, Science Direct, and Embase databases were searched from inception to June 2023 for case-control studies of the MIF -173G/C polymorphism and its relationship to any type of CVD. Correlations between the MIF -173G/C polymorphism and CVD were estimated by pooling the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals in allelic, dominant, and recessive models using random-effects meta-analysis. Results A total of 9,047 participants (4141 CVD cases and 4906 healthy controls) from 11 relevant studies were included. In the total population, there was no significant association between the MIF -173G/C (rs755622) polymorphism and the risk of developing CVD in the three different models. In a stratified analysis by ethnicity, the allelic model (C vs G) was significantly associated with CVD in the Arab and Asian populations (OR = 0.56, CI 0.42 -0.75 and OR = 1.28, CI 1.12 -1.46, respectively); the dominant model (CC+CG vs GG) was significantly associated with CVD in the Arab population (OR = 0.42, CI 0.30 -0.61); while the recessive model (GG+GC vs CC) was associated with CVD susceptibility in the Arab population (OR = 3.84, CI 1.57 -9.41). There were no significant associations between the MIF -173 G/C polymorphism and CVD risk in the European population. Conclusion, the MIF -173G/C polymorphism is associated with CVD in some populations. Systematic Review Registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, PROSPERO (CRD42023441139).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamas Fouda
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Wisam N. Ibrahim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Zumin Shi
- Human Nutrition Department, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Fahad Alahmadi
- Pediatric Department, College of Medicine, Taibah University, King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yousef Almohammadi
- Pediatric Department, Security Forces Medical Centre, Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amal Al-Haidose
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Atiyeh M. Abdallah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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Abouhasera S, Abu-Madi M, Al-Hamdani M, Abdallah AM. Exploring Emotional Intelligence and Sociodemographics in Higher Education; the Imperative for Skills and Curriculum Development. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:911. [PMID: 37998658 PMCID: PMC10669286 DOI: 10.3390/bs13110911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
There is increasing interest in understanding the nature and impact of emotional intelligence (EI) in educational institutions and the workplace since EI is associated with academic performance, career success, job satisfaction, and management skills. Here we measured EI levels in students and employees at Qatar University and examined associations with sociodemographic variables. This cross-sectional study used the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form (TEIQue-SF) questionnaire to quantify EI. Of 517 respondents, 315 were students and 202 were employees. The mean global EI level across all participants was 4.80 ± 0.78, with EI highest in the well-being domain (5.43 ± 1.04). Overall, older respondents had higher EI than younger respondents. There was no significant effect of gender, marital status, or employment position on EI. However, there were significant two- and three-way interactions. As a standalone variable, age was the most important factor influencing EI development in our cohort. However, three-way interactions revealed complex effects between age, gender, and marital status and EI. Our findings support a need for workshops on EI for employees and integrating dedicated courses into existing curricula to equip students with effective interpersonal relationship skills that foster EI development. Developing such interpersonal skills could help to promote personal, professional, and academic success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanaa Abouhasera
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar; (S.A.); (M.A.-M.)
- Division of Transfusion Medicine, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha 3050, Qatar
| | - Marawan Abu-Madi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar; (S.A.); (M.A.-M.)
| | - Mohammed Al-Hamdani
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar;
| | - Atiyeh M. Abdallah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar; (S.A.); (M.A.-M.)
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Kohil A, Abdalla W, Ibrahim WN, Al-Harbi KM, Al-Haidose A, Al-Asmakh M, Abdallah AM. The Immunomodulatory Role of Microbiota in Rheumatic Heart Disease: What Do We Know and What Can We Learn from Other Rheumatic Diseases? Medicina (Kaunas) 2023; 59:1629. [PMID: 37763748 PMCID: PMC10536446 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59091629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) represents a serious cardiac sequela of acute rheumatic fever, occurring in 30-45% of patients. RHD is multifactorial, with a strong familial predisposition and known environmental risk factors that drive loss of immunological tolerance. The gut and oral microbiome have recently been implicated in the pathogenesis of RHD. Disruption of the delicate balance of the microbiome, or dysbiosis, is thought to lead to autoimmune responses through several different mechanisms including molecular mimicry, epitope spreading, and bystander activation. However, data on the microbiomes of RHD patients are scarce. Therefore, in this comprehensive review, we explore the various dimensions of the intricate relationship between the microbiome and the immune system in RHD and other rheumatic diseases to explore the potential effect of microbiota on RHD and opportunities for diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amira Kohil
- Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha 34110, Qatar
| | - Wafa Abdalla
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar (M.A.-A.)
| | - Wisam N. Ibrahim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar (M.A.-A.)
| | - Khalid M. Al-Harbi
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Al-Madinah 41491, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amal Al-Haidose
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar (M.A.-A.)
| | - Maha Al-Asmakh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar (M.A.-A.)
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Atiyeh M. Abdallah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar (M.A.-A.)
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Ibrahim WN, Shi Z, Abdallah AM, Abu-Madi MA. Sex distinctive patterns in the association between serum bicarbonate and uric acid levels among healthy adults. Qatar biobank data. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1021217. [PMID: 37332752 PMCID: PMC10272753 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1021217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Uric acid is the final product of purine metabolism and is a potent plasma antioxidant but with pro-inflammatory effects. At high levels, it may increase the risk of developing multiple chronic diseases, such as gout, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and renal diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the sex-specific association between serum bicarbonate and uric acid levels among healthy adults. Methodology This retrospective cross-sectional study included 2,989 healthy Qatari adults (36.4 ± 11.1 years) from the Qatar Biobank database. Serum uric acid and bicarbonate levels were estimated alongside other serological markers. Participants free from chronic diseases were divided into four quartiles based on serum bicarbonate levels. The sex-specific relationship between serum bicarbonate and uric acid levels was assessed through univariate and multivariate analyses. Results In men, low serum uric acid levels were significantly associated with higher quartiles of serum bicarbonate levels after adjusting for age. The association remained significant after further adjustment for BMI, smoking, and renal function. The subgroup analysis using the restricted cubic spline method confirmed a significant dose-response association between the variation coefficients of uric acid by serum bicarbonate level in men with adjustments for age, BMI, smoking, and renal function. In women, no significant association was found between quartiles of serum bicarbonate and uric acid levels following the same adjustments. However, using the restricted cubic spline method, a significant bidirectional relation was demonstrated between serum bicarbonate and the variation coefficients of uric acid that were positive for serum bicarbonate levels below 25 mEq/L and negative at higher levels. Conclusion Serum bicarbonate levels are linearly associated with reduced serum uric acid levels among healthy adult men, which may be a potential protective factor against hyperuricemia-related complications. Further research is needed to determine the underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wisam Nabeel Ibrahim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Zumin Shi
- Department of Human Nutrition, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Atiyeh M. Abdallah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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Almazroea AH, Yousef S, Ahmad SMS, AlHiraky HN, Al-Haidose A, Abdallah AM. The Impact of ACE Gene Variants on Acute-Phase Reactants in Children with Rheumatic Heart Disease. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13101672. [PMID: 37238156 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13101672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the most important sequela of upper respiratory group A Streptococcus (GAS) infection. The role of the common angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) variant in the disease and its subtypes remains uncertain. The acute-phase reactants (APRs) C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) form part of the Jones criteria for diagnosing RHD, and genetic factors are known to influence baseline CRP and ESR levels. Therefore, here, we investigated the relationship between the ACE I/D polymorphism and APR levels in RHD. A total of 268 individuals were recruited, including 123 RHD patients and 198 healthy controls. There was a trend toward a higher D allele frequency in RHD patients. The ACE I/D polymorphism genotype frequency and DD+ID allelic carriage were significantly associated with a high APR level (p = 0.04 and p = 0.02, respectively). These results highlight the importance of ACE I/D polymorphisms in RHD for disease stratification, but not for disease predisposition. Further studies in larger cohorts and different populations are now required to confirm this association and to explore the mechanism of this effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulhadi H Almazroea
- Pediatrics Department, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Al-Madinah 30001, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sondos Yousef
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Salma M S Ahmad
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Hanin N AlHiraky
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Amal Al-Haidose
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Atiyeh M Abdallah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
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Al-Haidose A, Yassin MA, Ahmed MN, Kunhipurayil HH, Al-Harbi AA, Aljaberi MA, Abbasi SA, Kordasti S, Abdallah AM. Distinct Clinical and Prognostic Features of Myelodysplastic Syndrome in Patients from the Middle East, North Africa, and Beyond: A Systemic Review. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12082832. [PMID: 37109168 PMCID: PMC10143809 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12082832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) describes a group of bone marrow malignancies with variable morphologies and heterogeneous clinical features. The aim of this study was to systematically appraise the published clinical, laboratory, and pathologic characteristics and identify distinct clinical features of MDS in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. We conducted a comprehensive search of the PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases from 2000 to 2021 to identify population-based studies of MDS epidemiology in MENA countries. Of 1935 studies, 13 independent studies published between 2000 and 2021 representing 1306 patients with MDS in the MENA region were included. There was a median of 85 (range 20 to 243) patients per study. Seven studies were performed in Asian MENA countries (732 patients, 56%) and six in North African MENA countries (574 patients, 44%). The pooled mean age was 58.4 years (SD 13.14; 12 studies), and the male-to-female ratio was 1.4. The distribution of WHO MDS subtypes was significantly different between MENA, Western, and Far East populations (n = 978 patients, p < 0.001). More patients from MENA countries were at high/very high IPSS risk than in Western and Far East populations (730 patients, p < 0.001). There were 562 patients (62.2%) with normal karyotypes and 341 (37.8%) with abnormal karyotypes. Our findings establish that MDS is prevalent within the MENA region and is more severe than in Western populations. MDS appears to be more severe with an unfavorable prognosis in the Asian MENA population than the North African MENA population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amal Al-Haidose
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Mohamed A Yassin
- Medical Oncology Department-Hematology Section, National Centre for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha 3050, Qatar
| | - Muna N Ahmed
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Hasna H Kunhipurayil
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | | | - Musheer A Aljaberi
- Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Taiz University, Taiz 6803, Yemen
| | - Saddam A Abbasi
- Statistics Program, Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Physics, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
- Statistical Consulting Unit, College of Arts and Science, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Shahram Kordasti
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK
- Haematology Department, Guy's and St. Thomas NHS Trust, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Atiyeh M Abdallah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
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Kohil A, Abdallah AM, Hussain K, Al-Shafai M. Genetic epidemiology of Woodhouse-Sakati Syndrome in the Greater Middle East region and beyond: a systematic review. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2023; 18:22. [PMID: 36721231 PMCID: PMC9887781 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-023-02614-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Woodhouse-Sakati syndrome (WSS) is a rare, autosomal recessive genetic disorder with variable clinical manifestations mainly affecting the endocrine and nervous systems. The aim of this study was to systematically review the genetic basis of WSS and report the genetic variants and clinical phenotypes associated with the disease. METHODS PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched from the time of inception until June 2022. Broad search terms were used to capture the literature describing all genetic variants associated with WSS. The search keywords used are "Woodhouse Sakati" along with the term "mutation" OR "gene" OR "variant" OR "polymorphism". RESULTS Twenty-five eligible studies were included in this study. One hundred and eighty-five patients in 97 families from 12 different countries were diagnosed with WSS. In patients from the Greater Middle East (GME) region, consanguineous marriages were common (67%). Thirteen different DCAF17 variants were associated with WSS development (including 8 identified in the GME region). The most frequent variant was a frameshift deletion variant (c.436delC, p.Ala147Hisfs*9) unique to Arabs that was reported in 11 cases from Tunisia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. There were no clear genotype-phenotype correlations for the different variants. CONCLUSIONS This systematic review highlights the molecular basis and clinical manifestations of WSS globally, including the GME region, where the disease is prevalent due to consanguinity. Additional studies are now needed to understand the genotype-phenotype correlation for different DCAF17 variants and their impact on the phenotypic heterogeneity observed in WSS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amira Kohil
- grid.412603.20000 0004 0634 1084Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, 2713 Doha, Qatar
| | - Atiyeh M. Abdallah
- grid.412603.20000 0004 0634 1084Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, 2713 Doha, Qatar
| | - Khalid Hussain
- grid.467063.00000 0004 0397 4222Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mashael Al-Shafai
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, 2713, Doha, Qatar.
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Ahmad MN, Abdallah SA, Abbasi SA, Abdallah AM. Student perspectives on the integration of artificial intelligence into healthcare services. Digit Health 2023; 9:20552076231174095. [PMID: 37312954 PMCID: PMC10259127 DOI: 10.1177/20552076231174095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Healthcare workers are often overworked, underfunded, and face many challenges. Integration of artificial intelligence into healthcare service provision can tackle these challenges by relieving burdens on healthcare workers. Since healthcare students are our future healthcare workers, we assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and perspectives of current healthcare students at Qatar University on the implementation of artificial intelligence into healthcare services. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of QU-Health Cluster students via an online survey over a three-week period in November 2021. Chi-squared tests and gamma coefficients were used to compare differences between categorical variables. Results One hundred and ninety-three QU-Health students responded. Most participants had a positive attitude towards artificial intelligence, finding it useful and reliable. The most popular perceived advantage of artificial intelligence was its ability to speed up work processes. Around 40% expressed concern about a threat to job security from artificial intelligence, and a majority believed that artificial intelligence cannot provide sympathetic care (57.9%). Participants who felt that artificial intelligence can better make diagnoses than humans also agreed that artificial intelligence could replace their job (p = 0.005). Male students had more knowledge (p = 0.005) and received more training (p = 0.005) about healthcare artificial intelligence. Participants cited a lack of expert mentorship as a barrier to obtaining knowledge about artificial intelligence, followed by lack of dedicated courses and funding. Conclusions More resources are required for students to develop a good understanding about artificial intelligence. Education needs to be supported by expert mentorship. Further work is needed on how best to integrate artificial intelligence teaching into university curricula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muna N Ahmad
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Saja A Abdallah
- University of Birmingham Medical School, Edgbaston Campus, Birmingham, UK
| | - Saddam A Abbasi
- Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Physics, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- Statistical Consulting Unit, College of Arts and Science, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Atiyeh M Abdallah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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12
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Shibeeb S, Ajaj I, Al-Jighefee H, Abdallah AM. Effectiveness of Convalescent Plasma Therapy in COVID-19 Patients with Hematological Malignancies: A Systematic Review. Hematol Rep 2022; 14:377-388. [PMID: 36547236 PMCID: PMC9778836 DOI: 10.3390/hematolrep14040052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Immunocompromised patients, including those with hematological malignancies, are at a high risk of developing severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) complications. Currently, there is a limited number of systematic reviews into the efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy (CPT) use in the treatment of COVID-19 patients with hematological malignancies. Therefore, the aim of this review was to systematically appraise the current evidence for the clinical benefits of this therapy in COVID-19 patients with hematological malignancies. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted up to April 2022, using four databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Scopus. Two reviewers independently assessed the quality of the included studies. Data collection analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel 365 and GraphPad Prism software. Results: 18 studies met the inclusion criteria; these records included 258 COVID-19 patients who had hematological malignancies and were treated with CPT. The main findings from the reviewed data suggest that CPT may be associated with improved clinical outcomes, including (a) higher survival rate, (b) improved SARS-CoV-2 clearance and presence of detectable anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies post CP transfusion, and (c) improved hospital discharge time and recovery after 1 month of CPT. Furthermore, treatment with convalescent plasma was not associated with the development of adverse events. Conclusions: CPT appears to be an effective supportive therapeutic option for hematological malignancy patients infected with COVID-19. To our knowledge, this is one of the first systematic reviews of the clinical benefits of CPT in COVID-19 patients with hematological malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sapha Shibeeb
- La Trobe College Australia, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Ilham Ajaj
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Hadeel Al-Jighefee
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Atiyeh M. Abdallah
- La Trobe College Australia, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-974-4403-6551
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13
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Loganathan L, Al-Haidose A, Ganesh Kumar A, Sujatha LB, Carlus FH, Alharbi A, Alhyassat S, Muthusamy K, Carlus SJ, Abdallah AM. An in silico analysis of the impact of POLE mutations on cladribine docking. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2022; 26:7580-7593. [PMID: 36314330 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202210_30033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Polymerase ε exonuclease (POLE) is an enzyme involved in DNA replication and may be an attractive therapeutic target in various cancers. Here we sought to model the impact of specific POLE mutations on protein function. Due to the lack of a crystal structure, the tertiary structures of the wild type and four common mutants were modeled using I-Tasser server. MATERIALS AND METHODS Molecular docking and dynamic simulation studies were performed, and the structure and function of the mutants analyzed through residue conservation analysis and protein folding energy changes. RESULTS All mutants of POLE gene had favorable binding affinities compared with their wild type of counterpart. The P286R variant, but not the other variants, disrupted cladribine binding to the protein. Similarly, dynamics studies revealed instability of the P286R mutant, while V411L, L424V, and L424F appeared to favor cladribine binding. CONCLUSIONS Since P286R is a hotspot mutation in endometrioid carcinomas, patients with this variant may not respond to cladribine. Population-based pharmacogenomics studies will be required to validate our results.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Loganathan
- Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India.
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14
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Sharma A, Abunada T, Said SS, Kurdi RM, Abdallah AM, Abu-Madi M. Clinical Practicum Assessment for Biomedical Science Program from Graduates' Perspective. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:12420. [PMID: 36231715 PMCID: PMC9565152 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The clinical practicum for biomedical science students aims to provide graduates with the knowledge and skills required to work in diagnostic laboratory settings. This study examines graduates' perspectives on content, teachers and clinical training and their satisfaction rates based on the skills gained during training. The study was conducted on females who graduated from Qatar University between 2015 and 2020. We used a previously validated questionnaire called CPAT-QU. Telephonic interviews were conducted and were analyzed using SPSS. The results showed a high satisfaction rate, of 80%, for the content and organization of the clinical training. The participants' main concerns included the evaluation criteria, as 8.7% were not satisfied. The students suggested increasing the length of the training in order to obtain experience that was more practical. The students' satisfaction with the teachers was 70% in terms of their attitude, command of knowledge and ability to convey knowledge. In total, 69.5% of the graduates claimed that their instructors were interested in teaching and 4.4% claimed their instructors conveyed disinterest in teaching. The Qatar University graduates were satisfied with the content of their clinical training. However, they reported some gaps in this training. Identifying these gaps will help in restructuring clinical training to improve student experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aarti Sharma
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Taghreed Abunada
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Sawsan S. Said
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Rana M. Kurdi
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Atiyeh M. Abdallah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Marawan Abu-Madi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
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15
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Talafha QM, Al-Haidose A, AlSamman AY, Abdallah SA, Istaiteyeh R, Ibrahim WN, Hatmal MM, Abdallah AM. COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance among Vulnerable Groups: Syrian Refugees in Jordan. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10101634. [PMID: 36298498 PMCID: PMC9609904 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10101634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the wide distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, refugees remain last in line for the intake of vaccines. Syrian refugees in Jordan reach up to 700,000 registered and almost up to 700,000 unregistered refugees. This study aims to assess the willingness of Syrian refugees in Jordan to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Participants in the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan were invited through social media to complete the survey between January and March 2022. A total of 230 refugees participated in our study, with almost half the participants of male gender. The majority of the participants had secondary school as their highest education level and were unemployed, being below the social poverty line. Interestingly, Syrian refugees showed a high vaccine acceptance rate, as 89.6% were willing to take the vaccine. Moreover, they showed high knowledge regarding the vaccine, the disease, and the virus. Our findings highlight the importance of knowledge and awareness of the COVID-19 vaccine to increase the acceptance rate. This is very important as refugees represent a vulnerable group to infection and complications and require close attention, especially with their significant numbers in Jordon and challenges of providing adequate vaccine supplies at their camps. We hope that, with proper dissemination of knowledge and awareness and with easy accessibility to the vaccines, it will ensure high immunization to reach herd immunity in Jordan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qusai M. Talafha
- Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, The Hashemite University, Zarqa 13133, Jordan
| | - Amal Al-Haidose
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Ala Y. AlSamman
- Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, The Hashemite University, Zarqa 13133, Jordan
| | - Saja A. Abdallah
- University of Birmingham Medical School, Edgbaston Campus, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Rasha Istaiteyeh
- Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, The Hashemite University, Zarqa 13133, Jordan
| | - Wisam Nabeel Ibrahim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Ma’mon M. Hatmal
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, The Hashemite University, Zarqa 13133, Jordan
| | - Atiyeh M. Abdallah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
- Correspondence:
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16
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Aljaberi MA, Lee KH, Alareqe NA, Qasem MA, Alsalahi A, Abdallah AM, Noman S, Al-Tammemi AB, Mohamed Ibrahim MI, Lin CY. Rasch Modeling and Multilevel Confirmatory Factor Analysis for the Usability of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:1858. [PMID: 36292305 PMCID: PMC9602035 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10101858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several instruments are currently used to assess Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) -induced psychological distress, including the 22-item Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). The IES-R is a self-administered scale used to assess post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The current study aimed to examine the construct validity of the IES-R, based on the Rasch model, with COVID-19-related data, as well as to test the multilevel construct validity of the IES-R within and among countries during the pandemic crisis. METHODS A multi-country web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted utilizing the 22-item IES-R. A total of 1020 participants enrolled in our survey, of whom 999 were included in the analyses. Data were analyzed using Rasch modeling and multilevel confirmatory factor analysis (MCFA). RESULTS The Rasch modeling results of the IES-R demonstrated that the IES-R is a satisfactory instrument with the five-point Likert scale, asserting that its 22 items are significant contributors to assessing PTSD as a unidimensional construct covered by the items of the IES-R. The MCFA confirmed that the 22-item IES-R, with its three factors, including intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal, demonstrates adequate construct validity at the within- and among-country levels. However, the results of the Akaike information criterion (AIC) model determined that the 16-item IES-R is better than the 22-item IES-R. CONCLUSION The results suggested that the 22-item IES-R is a reliable screening instrument for measuring PTSD related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and can be utilized to provide timely psychological health support, when needed, based on the screening results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Musheer A. Aljaberi
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Taiz University, Taiz 6803, Yemen
- Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43300, Malaysia
- Faculty of Nursing and Applied Sciences, Lincoln University College, Petaling Jaya 47301, Malaysia
| | - Kuo-Hsin Lee
- Department of Emergency Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, No. 1, Yi-Da Road, Yanchao District, Kaohsiung City 824, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, I-Shou University, No. 8, Yi-Da Road, Jiao-Su Village, Yan-Chao District, Kaohsiung City 824, Taiwan
| | - Naser A. Alareqe
- Department of Educational Psychology, Faculty of Education, Taiz University, Taiz 6803, Yemen
| | - Mousa A. Qasem
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Abdulsamad Alsalahi
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Sana’a University, Mazbah District, Sana’a 1247, Yemen
| | - Atiyeh M. Abdallah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Sarah Noman
- Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43300, Malaysia
| | - Ala’a B. Al-Tammemi
- Migration Health Division, International Organization for Migration (IOM), Amman 11953, Jordan
| | | | - Chung-Ying Lin
- Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
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17
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Mohammed LA, Aljaberi MA, Amidi A, Abdulsalam R, Lin CY, Hamat RA, Abdallah AM. Exploring Factors Affecting Graduate Students’ Satisfaction toward E-Learning in the Era of the COVID-19 Crisis. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ 2022; 12:1121-1142. [PMID: 36005228 PMCID: PMC9407398 DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe12080079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Shifting the educational system from a traditional to an online context during COVID-19 necessitated several considerations to assure students’ satisfaction with e-learning. Aim: This study aims to explore the factors influencing students’ satisfaction with e-learning during the COVID-19 crisis. In particular, it tests multiple mediations, student factors, and system quality between students’ satisfaction and each course evaluation and instructor’s performance. Methodology: In this cross-sectional study, 258 undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled in online courses at multiple Malaysian universities were recruited using non-probabilistic purposive sampling. Data were collected using a questionnaire that assessed four factors that influenced students’ satisfaction with e-learning during the COVID-19 crisis (i.e., instructor performance, course evaluation, student factors, and system quality) and analyzed using the partial least squares route structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Results: The results indicated that the four factors were significantly associated with students’ satisfaction with e-learning during COVID-19. Student factors and system quality were the most factors predicting students’ satisfaction with e-learning. Findings indicate statistically significant relationships between the instructor’s performance, student factors, course evaluation, and system quality on students’ satisfaction. Furthermore, the results depict that both course evaluation and system quality serially mediate the relationship between instructors’ performance and students’ satisfaction. Conclusion: This study finds that improving and enhancing student factors and system quality is critical for students’ satisfaction with e-learning. Furthermore, e-learning platforms should contain new advances of computer-mediated technologies that enable collaboration, which is a critical factor in the success of e-learning systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lubna Ali Mohammed
- Faculty of Social Science, Arts, and Humanities, Lincoln University College, Petaling Jaya 47301, Selangor, Malaysia
- Correspondence: (L.A.M.); (M.A.A.); (A.M.A.); Tel.: +00974-4403-7578 (A.M.A.); Fax: +00974-4403-4801 (A.M.A.)
| | - Musheer A. Aljaberi
- Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
- Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Taiz University, Taiz 6803, Yemen
- Faculty of Nursing & Applied Sciences, Lincoln University College, Petaling Jaya 47301, Selangor, Malaysia
- Correspondence: (L.A.M.); (M.A.A.); (A.M.A.); Tel.: +00974-4403-7578 (A.M.A.); Fax: +00974-4403-4801 (A.M.A.)
| | - Asra Amidi
- Faculty of Social Science, Arts, and Humanities, Lincoln University College, Petaling Jaya 47301, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Rasheed Abdulsalam
- Faculty of Dentistry, Lincoln University College, Petaling Jaya 47301, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Chung-Ying Lin
- Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Rukman Awang Hamat
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Atiyeh M. Abdallah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
- Correspondence: (L.A.M.); (M.A.A.); (A.M.A.); Tel.: +00974-4403-7578 (A.M.A.); Fax: +00974-4403-4801 (A.M.A.)
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18
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Abunada T, Abdallah AM, Singh R, Abu-Madi M. Development and Validation of a Clinical Practicum Assessment Tool for the NAACLS-Accredited Biomedical Science Program. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:ijerph19116651. [PMID: 35682236 PMCID: PMC9180805 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19116651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Student perspectives on their final year clinical placements in biomedical sciences at Qatar University are assessed using the clinical practicum assessment tool (CPAT), which was developed in-house following accreditation body requirements. The tool, which we call the CPAT-Qatar University (CPAT-QU), covers the three clinical practicum domains: practicum content, preceptors, and competencies. Here, we validate this tool. The CPAT-QU has 27 Likert-scale questions and free-text open questions. CPAT-QU readability was calculated using the Flesch–Kincaid Reading Ease (FKRE) instrument. Content validity was assessed using the average and universal average scale-level content validity indices (S-CVI/Average and S-CVI/UA). For construct validity, 50 employed graduates who had completed the practicum were consented for study participation, and the validity was calculated by a principal component analysis (PCA). Reliability was analyzed by Cronbach’s alpha. The S-CVI/Average and S-CVI/UA were 0.90 and 0.59, respectively, indicating that an adequate proportion of the content was relevant. The PCA extracted two core components, which explained 63% of the variance in the CPAT-QU. Cronbach’s alpha values for the items were within the acceptable range of 0.60–1.00, showing that internal consistency has a good level. CPAT-QU appears to be a useful tool for assessing student perspectives on their clinical placements; however, construct validity needs continuous improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taghreed Abunada
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar; (T.A.); (A.M.A.)
| | - Atiyeh M. Abdallah
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar; (T.A.); (A.M.A.)
| | - Rajvir Singh
- Cardiology Research, Heart Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha P.O. Box 3050, Qatar;
| | - Marawan Abu-Madi
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar; (T.A.); (A.M.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +974-4403-7578; Fax: +974-4403-4801
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19
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Hatmal MM, Al-Hatamleh MAI, Olaimat AN, Alshaer W, Hasan H, Albakri KA, Alkhafaji E, Issa NN, Al-Holy MA, Abderrahman SM, Abdallah AM, Mohamud R. Immunomodulatory Properties of Human Breast Milk: MicroRNA Contents and Potential Epigenetic Effects. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10061219. [PMID: 35740242 PMCID: PMC9219990 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10061219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Infants who are exclusively breastfed in the first six months of age receive adequate nutrients, achieving optimal immune protection and growth. In addition to the known nutritional components of human breast milk (HBM), i.e., water, carbohydrates, fats and proteins, it is also a rich source of microRNAs, which impact epigenetic mechanisms. This comprehensive work presents an up-to-date overview of the immunomodulatory constituents of HBM, highlighting its content of circulating microRNAs. The epigenetic effects of HBM are discussed, especially those regulated by miRNAs. HBM contains more than 1400 microRNAs. The majority of these microRNAs originate from the lactating gland and are based on the remodeling of cells in the gland during breastfeeding. These miRNAs can affect epigenetic patterns by several mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modifications and RNA regulation, which could ultimately result in alterations in gene expressions. Therefore, the unique microRNA profile of HBM, including exosomal microRNAs, is implicated in the regulation of the genes responsible for a variety of immunological and physiological functions, such as FTO, INS, IGF1, NRF2, GLUT1 and FOXP3 genes. Hence, studying the HBM miRNA composition is important for improving the nutritional approaches for pregnancy and infant's early life and preventing diseases that could occur in the future. Interestingly, the composition of miRNAs in HBM is affected by multiple factors, including diet, environmental and genetic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ma’mon M. Hatmal
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, The Hashemite University, P.O. Box 330127, Zarqa 13133, Jordan;
- Correspondence: (M.M.H.); (R.M.)
| | - Mohammad A. I. Al-Hatamleh
- Department of Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kota Bharu 16150, Malaysia;
| | - Amin N. Olaimat
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, The Hashemite University, P.O. Box 330127, Zarqa 13133, Jordan; (A.N.O.); (M.A.A.-H.)
| | - Walhan Alshaer
- Cell Therapy Center (CTC), The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan;
| | - Hanan Hasan
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan;
| | - Khaled A. Albakri
- Faculty of Medicine, The Hashemite University, P.O. Box 330127, Zarqa 13133, Jordan;
| | - Enas Alkhafaji
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan;
| | - Nada N. Issa
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, The Hashemite University, P.O. Box 330127, Zarqa 13133, Jordan;
| | - Murad A. Al-Holy
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, The Hashemite University, P.O. Box 330127, Zarqa 13133, Jordan; (A.N.O.); (M.A.A.-H.)
| | - Salim M. Abderrahman
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, The Hashemite University, P.O. Box 330127, Zarqa 13133, Jordan;
| | - Atiyeh M. Abdallah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar;
| | - Rohimah Mohamud
- Department of Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kota Bharu 16150, Malaysia;
- Correspondence: (M.M.H.); (R.M.)
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20
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Fattouh F, Rifai L, Habanjar K, Abdallah AM, Hassan RS, Yaacoub N, Awad R. Structural and magnetic properties of hard-soft BaFe 12O 19/(Zn 0.5Co 0.5)Fe 2O 4ferrites. J Phys Condens Matter 2021; 33:235803. [PMID: 33794515 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/abf478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Hard-soft nanocomposites of (1 -x) BaFe12O19/x(Zn0.5Co0.5)Fe2O4, forx= 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00, were prepared via co-precipitation and high-speed ball milling techniques, respectively. The synthesized samples were characterized via x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and vibrating sample magnetometer. XRD revealed the formation of hard-soft nanocomposites. TEM indicated that the two phases are well distributed and the particle size distribution is narrower for low content of soft phase, leading to better exchange coupling between the grains. Magnetic measurements were performed at 300 K and 77 K. The results showed a good single-phase magnetic behavior, verifying the good exchange coupling between hard and soft phases. For low (Zn0.5Co0.5)Fe2O4content, the dipolar interactions were dominated by the exchange-coupling interactions. Additionally, the optimum values of saturation and remanent magnetizations, coercivity, and squareness ratio were obtained forx= 0.5. This was attributed to the dominance of exchange-coupling interaction. The enhancement of magnetic properties and energy product (BH)maxfor nanocomposites at low temperature is skilled in the reduction of the thermal fluxes of magnetic moments at the surface. The maximum energy product (BH)maxwas observed in C2 at both temperatures with a smaller value than that of pure BaFe12O19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farah Fattouh
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Beirut Arab University, P.O. Box 11-5020 Riad El Solh, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Lama Rifai
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Beirut Arab University, P.O. Box 11-5020 Riad El Solh, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Khulud Habanjar
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Beirut Arab University, P.O. Box 11-5020 Riad El Solh, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - A M Abdallah
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Beirut Arab University, P.O. Box 11-5020 Riad El Solh, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - R Sayed Hassan
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Nader Yaacoub
- IMMM, Le Mans Université, CNRS (UMR-6283), Avenue Olivier Messiaen F-72085 Le Mans, Cedex 9, France
| | - Ramadan Awad
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Beirut Arab University, P.O. Box 11-5020 Riad El Solh, Beirut, Lebanon
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21
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Chourabi M, Boughattas S, Abdallah AM, Ismail A, Behnke JM, Al-Mekhlafi HM, Abu-Madi M. Genetic Diversity and Prevalence of Giardia duodenalis in Qatar. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:652946. [PMID: 34017691 PMCID: PMC8129557 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.652946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Giardia duodenalis is a common human intestinal parasite worldwide, and the causative agent of diarrhea, with the severity of disease ranging from asymptomatic to intense and debilitating infection. G. duodenalis is known to consist of eight genetically distinct assemblages, named from A to H. No data available on the genotypes and genetic diversity of G. duodenalis circulating in Qatar. Methods We genotyped 54 human Giardia isolates, collected from asymptomatic immigrants in Qatar, using a multilocus genotyping (MLGs) tool. We also investigated relationships between the subjects’ genotypes and their demographic data. Results Genomic DNA from 54 isolates were tested by PCR and sequence analysis at three loci: glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh), β-giardin (bg) and triose phosphate (tpi)). Assemblage A was identified in nine (16.67%), assemblage B in thirty (55.55%), and a mixture of assemblages A+B in fifteen (27.78%) isolates. All assemblage A isolates, genotyped in different loci, were assigned to sub-assemblage AII, and six of them had MLGs AII-1 while one new MLG was identified in two isolates. Sequences of assemblage B isolates have high level of genetic diversity and high presence of heterogeneous peaks, especially within the gdh gene. No significant associations between genotypes and the immigrants’ demographic data were found due to the extensive number of new variants. Conclusions MLGs was used herein to genotype 54 immigrant Giardia isolates. The high level of genetic variability found in our isolates hampered MLGs determination, more investigations are now required to consolidate our findings, and to enable a comprehensive understanding of the diversity within G. duodenalis assemblage B isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwa Chourabi
- Biomedical Research Center, College of Health Sciences-QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sonia Boughattas
- Biomedical Research Center, College of Health Sciences-QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Atiyeh M Abdallah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences-QU Health, Doha, Qatar.,Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research Unit-QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ahmed Ismail
- Medical Commission, Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar
| | - Jerzy M Behnke
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Hesham M Al-Mekhlafi
- Medical Research Centre, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen
| | - Marawan Abu-Madi
- Biomedical Research Center, College of Health Sciences-QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences-QU Health, Doha, Qatar.,Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research Unit-QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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22
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Abdallah AM, Abu-Madi M. The Genetic Control of the Rheumatic Heart: Closing the Genotype-Phenotype Gap. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:611036. [PMID: 33842495 PMCID: PMC8024521 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.611036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a heritable inflammatory condition characterized by carditis, arthritis, and systemic disease. Although remaining neglected, the last 3 years has seen some promising advances in RHD research. Whilst it is clear that RHD can be triggered by recurrent group A streptococcal infections, the mechanisms driving clinical progression are still poorly understood. This review summarizes our current understanding of the genetics implicated in this process and the genetic determinants that predispose some people to RHD. The evidence demonstrating the importance of individual cell types and cellular states in delineating causal genetic variants is discussed, highlighting phenotype/genotype correlations where possible. Genetic fine mapping and functional studies in extreme phenotypes, together with large-scale omics studies including genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, and metabolomics, are expected to provide new information not only on RHD but also on the mechanisms of other autoimmune diseases and facilitate future clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atiyeh M Abdallah
- Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Marawan Abu-Madi
- Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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23
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Younes N, Syed N, Yadav SK, Haris M, Abdallah AM, Abu-Madi M. A Whole-Genome Sequencing Association Study of Low Bone Mineral Density Identifies New Susceptibility Loci in the Phase I Qatar Biobank Cohort. J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11010034. [PMID: 33430342 PMCID: PMC7825795 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11010034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone density disorders are characterized by a reduction in bone mass density and strength, which lead to an increase in the susceptibility to sudden and unexpected fractures. Despite the serious consequences of low bone mineral density (BMD) and its significant impact on human health, most affected individuals may not know that they have the disease because it is asymptomatic. Therefore, understanding the genetic basis of low BMD and osteoporosis is essential to fully elucidate its pathobiology and devise preventative or therapeutic approaches. Here we sequenced the whole genomes of 3000 individuals from the Qatar Biobank and conducted genome-wide association analyses to identify genetic risk factors associated with low BMD in the Qatari population. Fifteen variants were significantly associated with total body BMD (p < 5 × 10−8). Of these, five variants had previously been reported by and were directionally consistent with previous genome-wide association study data. Ten variants were new: six intronic variants located at six gene loci (MALAT1/TALAM1, FASLG, LSAMP, SAG, FAM189A2, and LOC101928063) and four intergenic variants. This first such study in Qatar provides a new insight into the genetic architecture of low BMD in the Qatari population. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to validate these findings and to elucidate the functional effects of these variants on low BMD and bone fracture susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadin Younes
- Biomedical Research Center, College of Health Sciences-QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar;
| | - Najeeb Syed
- Biomedical Informatics Division, Sidra Medicine, Doha 26999, Qatar; (N.S.); (S.K.Y.); (M.H.)
| | - Santosh K. Yadav
- Biomedical Informatics Division, Sidra Medicine, Doha 26999, Qatar; (N.S.); (S.K.Y.); (M.H.)
| | - Mohammad Haris
- Biomedical Informatics Division, Sidra Medicine, Doha 26999, Qatar; (N.S.); (S.K.Y.); (M.H.)
| | - Atiyeh M. Abdallah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences-QU Health, Doha 2713, Qatar;
- Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research Unit-QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Marawan Abu-Madi
- Biomedical Research Center, College of Health Sciences-QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar;
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences-QU Health, Doha 2713, Qatar;
- Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research Unit-QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +974-4403-7578; Fax: +974-4403-4801
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Carlus SJ, Almuzaini IS, Karthikeyan M, Loganathan L, Al-Harbi GS, Carlus FH, Al-Mazroea AH, Morsy MM, Abo-Haded HM, Abdallah AM, Al-Harbi KM. A novel homozygous TPM1 mutation in familial pediatric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and in silico screening of potential targeting drugs. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2020; 24:7732-7744. [PMID: 32744700 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202007_22299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common genetic cardiac disease. While sarcomeric gene mutations explain many HCM cases, the genetic basis of about half of HCM cases remains elusive. Here we aimed to identify the gene causing HCM in a non-consanguineous Saudi Arabian family with affected family members and a history of sudden death. The impact of the identified mutation on protein structure and potential drug targets were evaluated in silico. MATERIALS AND METHODS Triplets (two HCM subjects and one patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) case) and unaffected parents were screened by targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) for 181 candidate cardiomyopathy genes. In silico structural and functional analyses, including protein modeling, structure prediction, drug screening, drug binding, and dynamic simulations were performed to explore the potential pathogenicity of the variant and to identify candidate drugs. RESULTS A homozygous missense mutation in exon 1 of TMP1 (assembly GRCh37-chr15: 63340781; G>A) was identified in the triplets [two HCM and one patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)] that substituted glycine for arginine at codon 3 (p.Gly3Arg). The parents were heterozygous for the variant. The mutation was predicted to cause a significant and deleterious change in the TPM1 protein structure that slightly affected drug binding, stability, and conformation. In addition, we identified several putative TPM1-targeting drugs through structure-based in silico screening. CONCLUSIONS TPM1 mutations are a common cause of HCM and other congenital heart defects. To date, TPM1 has not been associated with isolated PDA; to our knowledge, this is the first report of the homozygous missense variation p.Gly3Arg in TPM1 associated with familial autosomal recessive pediatric HCM and PDA. The identified candidate TPM1 inhibitors warrant further prospective investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Carlus
- Cardiogenetics Unit, Pediatrics Department, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Al-Madinah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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25
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Carlus SJ, Almuzaini IS, Karthikeyan M, Loganathan L, Al-Harbi GS, Abdallah AM, Al-Harbi KM. Next-generation sequencing identifies a homozygous mutation in ACADVL associated with pediatric familial dilated cardiomyopathy. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2020; 23:1710-1721. [PMID: 30840296 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_201902_17133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Pediatric familial dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a rare and severe heart disease. The genetics of familial DCM are complex and include over 100 known disease-causing genes, but many causative genes are unknown. We aimed to identify the causative gene for DCM in a consanguineous Saudi Arabian family with affected family members and a history of sudden death. PATIENTS AND METHODS Affected (two children) and unaffected (one sibling and the mother) family members were screened by next-generation sequencing (NGS) for 181 candidate DCM genes and underwent metabolic screening. Fifty-seven clinically annotated controls and 46 DCM cases were then tested for the identified mutation. In silico structural and functional analyses including protein modeling, structure prediction and dynamic simulations were performed. RESULTS A homozygous missense mutation in exon 15 of the acyl-CoA dehydrogenase very long chain gene (ACADVL; chr17:7127303; G>A) was identified in affected subjects that substituted histidine for arginine at codon 450 (p.R450H). The variant was heterozygous in the mother and unaffected sister. The mutation was absent in 57 clinically annotated controls and 48 pediatric DCM cases. The mutation was predicted to cause a significant and deleterious change in the ACADVL protein structure that affected drug binding, stability, and conformation. Metabolic screening confirmed VLCAD deficiency in affected individuals. CONCLUSIONS The ACADVL R450H mutation is an uncommon cause of the DCM phenotype that appears to be autosomal recessive. Targeted NGS is useful for identifying the causative mutation(s) in familial DCM of unknown genetic cause.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Carlus
- Pediatrics Department, Cardiogenetics Unit, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Al-Madinah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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26
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Carlus SJ, Carlus FH, Al-Harbi MK, Al-Mazroea AH, Al-Harbi KM, Abdallah AM. The Polymorphism at the microRNA-155 Binding Site in the AGTR1 Gene is not Significantly Associated with Rheumatic Heart Disease in Saudi Arabia Population. Microrna 2020; 9:266-270. [PMID: 31912773 DOI: 10.2174/2211536609666200108093657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) remains a major cause of cardiovascular diseases and the most devastating effects are shown on children and young adults. RHD is caused due to the interaction between microbial, environmental, immunologic, and genetic factors. The Renin- Angiotensin Aldosterone System (RAAS) has been strongly implicated as the susceptibility pathway in the pathogenesis of the cardiovascular disease. OBJECTIVE The present study investigated the modulating effect of Angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AGTR1) 1166A>C polymorphism on the RHD and its clinical features in Saudi Arabia. METHODS AGTR1 1166A>C polymorphism was genotyped in 96 echocardiographically confirmed RHD patients and 142 ethnically matched controls by the TaqMan allelic discrimination method. RESULTS Genotype distribution of the AGTR1 1166A>C polymorphism was not significantly different between RHD and control groups. Furthermore, AGTR1 1166A>C genotypes are not associated with the clinical features of RHD. These data support that there was no evidence for an association between AGTR1 1166A>C polymorphism and RHD in Saudi Arabia. CONCLUSION To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that has investigated the possible association between AGTR1 1166A>C polymorphism and susceptibility to RHD and its clinical features. Even though the AGTR1 gene, 1166A>C (rs5186), was reported to be associated with hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy and coronary heart disease. The present study did not find any association between AGTR1 1166A>C polymorphism and RHD in Saudi Arabia. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Justin Carlus
- Cardiogenetic Unit, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fiona Hannah Carlus
- Cardiogenetic Unit, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Abdulhadi H Al-Mazroea
- Cardiogenetic Unit, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid M Al-Harbi
- Cardiogenetic Unit, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Atiyeh M Abdallah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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Abdallah AM, Carlus SJ, Al-Mazroea AH, Alluqmani M, Almohammadi Y, Bhuiyan ZA, Al-Harbi KM. Digenic Inheritance of LAMA4 and MYH7 Mutations in Patient with Infantile Dilated Cardiomyopathy. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 55:medicina55010017. [PMID: 30650640 PMCID: PMC6359299 DOI: 10.3390/medicina55010017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Revised: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Background and objectives: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a rare cardiac disease characterised by left ventricular enlargement, reduced left ventricular contractility, and impaired systolic function. Childhood DCM is clinically and genetically heterogenous and associated with mutations in over 100 genes. The aim of this study was to identify novel variations associated with infantile DCM. Materials and Methods: Targeted next generation sequencing (NGS) of 181 cardiomyopathy-related genes was performed in three unrelated consanguineous families from Saudi Arabia. Variants were confirmed and their frequency established in 50 known DCM cases and 80 clinically annotated healthy controls. Results: The three index cases presented between 7 and 10 months of age with severe DCM. In Family A, there was digenic inheritance of two heterozygous variants: a novel variant in LAMA4 (c.3925G > A, p.Asp1309Asn) and a known DCM mutation in MYH7 (c.2770G > A; p.Glu924Lys). The LAMA4 p.Asp1309Asn variant was predicted to be likely pathogenic according to international guidelines. The other two families had no identifiable potentially deleterious variants. Conclusions: Inheritance of two genetic variants may have a synergistic or dose effect to cause severe DCM. We report of a novel p.Asp1309Asn variation associated with DCM. Targeted NGS is useful in the molecular diagnosis of DCM and to guide whole-family management and counselling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atiyeh M Abdallah
- West Midlands Regional Genetics Laboratory, The Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trus, B15 2TT Birmingham, UK.
| | - S Justin Carlus
- Cardiogenetics Unit, Pediatrics Department, College of Medicine, Taibah University, 30001 Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Abdulhadi H Al-Mazroea
- Cardiogenetics Unit, Pediatrics Department, College of Medicine, Taibah University, 30001 Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Mohammad Alluqmani
- Cardiogenetics Unit, Pediatrics Department, College of Medicine, Taibah University, 30001 Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
| | | | - Zahurul A Bhuiyan
- Unit of Cardiogenetics Research, Division of Genetic Medicine, BT.02. 251, Beaumont 29, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Khalid M Al-Harbi
- Cardiogenetics Unit, Pediatrics Department, College of Medicine, Taibah University, 30001 Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
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Carlus SJ, Abdallah AM, Al-Mazroea AH, Al-Harbi MK, Al-Harbi KM. Interaction between MTHFR Polymorphisms and Maternal Age Increases the Risk of Congenital Heart Defects in Down Syndrome. PAK J ZOOL 2019. [DOI: 10.17582/journal.pjz/2019.51.3.865.870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Shahba HH, Elbahrawy AM, Helal AE, Alashker AM, Abdallah AM, Hemeda MH, Abd El-Moaty ZH, Salah AM, Abdel-Monem SAA, Abdel-Hafeez HA. Albumin creatinine ratio predicts medical intensive care unit outcome of patients with hepatic encephalopathy. Z Gastroenterol 2016; 54:1343-1404. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1597387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- HH Shahba
- Al-Azhar University, Internal medicine, cairo, Egypt
| | - AM Elbahrawy
- Al-Azhar University, Internal medicine, cairo, Egypt
| | - AE Helal
- Al-Azhar University, Internal medicine, cairo, Egypt
| | - AM Alashker
- Al-Azhar University, Internal medicine, cairo, Egypt
| | - AM Abdallah
- Al-Azhar University, Internal medicine, cairo, Egypt
| | - MH Hemeda
- Al-Azhar University, Internal medicine, cairo, Egypt
| | | | - AM Salah
- Al-Azhar University, Internal medicine, cairo, Egypt
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Al-Harbi KM, Abdallah AM. LGMD2D syndrome: the importance of clinical and molecular genetics in patient and family management. Case Report. Neuro Endocrinol Lett 2016; 37:277-281. [PMID: 27857043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 08/28/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
We report the case of a seven-year-old female from a consanguineous Saudi family with autosomal recessive limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2D (LGMD2D) most likely caused by a rare SGCA mutation. Histopathological and molecular investigations resulted in the discovery of a homozygous mutation (c.226 C>T (p.L76 F)) in exon 3 of SGCA in the patient. The parents and one sibling were heterozygous carriers, but the mutation was not otherwise detected in 80 ethnic controls from the same geographic area. In silico analysis revealed that the mutation resulted in a functional leucine to phenylalanine alteration that was deleterious to the protein structure. This is only the second reported case of the p.L76F mutation in LGMD, and highlights that molecular genetics analysis is essential to deliver the most appropriate management to the patient and offer the family genetic counseling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid M Al-Harbi
- Pediatric Department, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Maternity and Children Hospital, Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Atiyeh M Abdallah
- West Midlands Regional Genetics Laboratory, Birmingham Women's NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
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31
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Abdallah AM, Al-Mazroea AH, Al-Harbi WN, Al-Harbi NA, Eldardear AE, Almohammadi Y, Al-Harbi KM. Impact of MIF Gene Promoter Variations on Risk of Rheumatic Heart Disease and Its Age of Onset in Saudi Arabian Patients. Front Immunol 2016; 7:98. [PMID: 27014277 PMCID: PMC4790191 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Accepted: 02/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Although macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has consistently been shown to be an important immune modulator, data on the association between MIF promoter variations and the risk of developing rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remain inconclusive. RHD is an important complication of streptococcal infections in the Middle East, not least in Saudi Arabia, and identifying risk markers is an important priority. Therefore, we investigated the association between two functional MIF promoter variations and RHD susceptibility and severity in Saudi patients: the MIF-173G > C substitution (rs755622) and the MIF-794 CATT5-8 tetranucleotide repeat (rs5844572). Three hundred twenty-six individuals (124 RHD patients and 202 age-, sex-, and ethnically matched healthy controls) were genotyped using allelic discrimination and fragment analysis. Data were analyzed with respect to disease susceptibility, severity, sex, and age of onset. There was a significantly lower frequency of 173C allele carriage in RHD patients compared to controls [odds ratio (OR) = 0.47; 95% confidence intervals (CIs) = 0.28-0.77; p = 0.003]. Interestingly, the 173C allele was associated with late disease onset (p = 0.001). The 794 5-repeat allele was associated with decreased RHD risk (OR = 0.56; 95% CIs = 0.38-0.82; p = 0.003). In contrast, the 794 6-repeat allele was associated with increased risk of RHD (OR = 1.7; 95% CIs = 1.2-2.5; p = 0.002). MIF promoter variations appear to have a dual role in RHD, with 173C allele non-carriers at higher risk of developing RHD at a younger age. These results require further validation in larger multi-ethnic cohorts, and functional studies are necessary to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms driving the at-risk phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atiyeh M Abdallah
- West Midlands Regional Genetics Laboratory, Birmingham Women's NHS Foundation Trust , Birmingham , UK
| | - Abdulhadi H Al-Mazroea
- Pediatric Department, Maternity and Children Hospital, Ministry of Health, College of Medicine, Taibah University , Al-Madinah , Saudi Arabia
| | - Waleed N Al-Harbi
- Pediatric Department, Maternity and Children Hospital, Ministry of Health, College of Medicine, Taibah University , Al-Madinah , Saudi Arabia
| | - Nabeeh A Al-Harbi
- Pediatric Department, Maternity and Children Hospital, Ministry of Health, College of Medicine, Taibah University , Al-Madinah , Saudi Arabia
| | - Amr E Eldardear
- Pediatric Department, Maternity and Children Hospital, Ministry of Health, College of Medicine, Taibah University , Al-Madinah , Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Khalid M Al-Harbi
- Pediatric Department, Maternity and Children Hospital, Ministry of Health, College of Medicine, Taibah University , Al-Madinah , Saudi Arabia
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32
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Carlus SJ, Abdallah AM, Bhaskar LVKS, Morsy MM, Al-Harbi GS, Al-Mazroea AH, Al-Harbi KM. The MTHFR C677T polymorphism is associated with mitral valve rheumatic heart disease. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2016; 20:109-114. [PMID: 26813460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a serious complication of rheumatic fever (RF). Plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels are increased in RHD patients. MTHFR catalyzes the irreversible conversion of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and plays a vital role in Hcy metabolism. We hypothesize that the MTHFR C677T polymorphism is associated with a risk of RHD. PATIENTS AND METHODS Eighty-six patients with RHD and 130 matched controls without a history of RHD were eligible for the study. The diagnosis of RHD was made according to modified Jones' criteria and echocardiography. Using echocardiography, RHD patients were further divided into mitral valve lesion (MVL) and combined valve lesion (CVL) groups. MTHFR C677T polymorphisms were genotyped by DNA sequencing. The chi-squared test was used to evaluate differences in genotypes. RESULTS Control genotypes were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The C677T homozygous genotype (OR = 4.09; 95% CIs 1.16-14.44; p = 0.020) and recessive model (TT vs. CC+CT; OR = 4.05; 95% CIs 1.17-14.04; p = 0.019) were significantly associated with MVL RHD. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to investigate the association between the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and risk of RHD. The MTHFR C677T polymorphism is associated with RHD in patients with MVLs, perhaps via an Hcy-mediated cytokine effect.
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Black PA, de Vos M, Louw GE, van der Merwe RG, Dippenaar A, Streicher EM, Abdallah AM, Sampson SL, Victor TC, Dolby T, Simpson JA, van Helden PD, Warren RM, Pain A. Whole genome sequencing reveals genomic heterogeneity and antibiotic purification in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:857. [PMID: 26496891 PMCID: PMC4619333 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-2067-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Whole genome sequencing has revolutionised the interrogation of mycobacterial genomes. Recent studies have reported conflicting findings on the genomic stability of Mycobacterium tuberculosis during the evolution of drug resistance. In an age where whole genome sequencing is increasingly relied upon for defining the structure of bacterial genomes, it is important to investigate the reliability of next generation sequencing to identify clonal variants present in a minor percentage of the population. This study aimed to define a reliable cut-off for identification of low frequency sequence variants and to subsequently investigate genetic heterogeneity and the evolution of drug resistance in M. tuberculosis. METHODS Genomic DNA was isolated from single colonies from 14 rifampicin mono-resistant M. tuberculosis isolates, as well as the primary cultures and follow up MDR cultures from two of these patients. The whole genomes of the M. tuberculosis isolates were sequenced using either the Illumina MiSeq or Illumina HiSeq platforms. Sequences were analysed with an in-house pipeline. RESULTS Using next-generation sequencing in combination with Sanger sequencing and statistical analysis we defined a read frequency cut-off of 30% to identify low frequency M. tuberculosis variants with high confidence. Using this cut-off we demonstrated a high rate of genetic diversity between single colonies isolated from one population, showing that by using the current sequencing technology, single colonies are not a true reflection of the genetic diversity within a whole population and vice versa. We further showed that numerous heterogeneous variants emerge and then disappear during the evolution of isoniazid resistance within individual patients. Our findings allowed us to formulate a model for the selective bottleneck which occurs during the course of infection, acting as a genomic purification event. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrated true levels of genetic diversity within an M. tuberculosis population and showed that genetic diversity may be re-defined when a selective pressure, such as drug exposure, is imposed on M. tuberculosis populations during the course of infection. This suggests that the genome of M. tuberculosis is more dynamic than previously thought, suggesting preparedness to respond to a changing environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- P A Black
- DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research/SA MRC Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - M de Vos
- DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research/SA MRC Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - G E Louw
- DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research/SA MRC Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - R G van der Merwe
- DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research/SA MRC Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - A Dippenaar
- DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research/SA MRC Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - E M Streicher
- DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research/SA MRC Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - A M Abdallah
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, BESE Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - S L Sampson
- DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research/SA MRC Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - T C Victor
- DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research/SA MRC Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - T Dolby
- National Health Laboratory Services, Green Point, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - J A Simpson
- National Health Laboratory Services, Green Point, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - P D van Helden
- DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research/SA MRC Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - R M Warren
- DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research/SA MRC Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa.
| | - A Pain
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, BESE Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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Al-Harbi KM, Almuzaini IS, Morsy MM, Abdelaziz NA, Al-Balawi AM, Abdallah AM. Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism in Saudi patients with rheumatic heart disease. Saudi Med J 2015; 36:176-80. [PMID: 25719581 PMCID: PMC4375694 DOI: 10.15537/smj.2015.2.10267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate the association between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in Saudi patients. METHODS A case-control study was conducted in Saudi RHD patients. Genomic DNA was isolated from 99 RHD patients attending the Pediatric Cardiology Clinic at the Maternity and Children Hospital, Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia from March 2013 to June 2014, and from 145 age- and gender-matched controls. Patient clinical records were reviewed to report major and minor modified Jones' criteria for diagnosis. The diagnosis was confirmed by echocardiography. The ACE I/D polymorphism was identified by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS A significant difference in ACE D allele carriage (DD+ID) distribution between RHD cases and controls was identified (p=0.02, odds ratio = 3.6, 95% confidence interval: 1.2-10.8). The D allele carriage was significantly associated with development of mitral valve lesions alone (p=0.03). CONCLUSION The ACE I/D polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of RHD in the Saudi population. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings and to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying this association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid M Al-Harbi
- Cardiogenetics Unit, Center for Genetics and Inherited Diseases, Taibah University, Al-Madinah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. E-mail.
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Mohery M, Abdallah AM, Baz SS, Al-Amoudi ZM. Radon decay products in realistic living rooms and their activity distributions in human respiratory system. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2014; 162:394-399. [PMID: 24324251 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/nct325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
In this study, the individual activity concentrations of attached short-lived radon decay products ((218)Po, (214)Pb and (214)Po) in aerosol particles were measured in ten poorly ventilated realistic living rooms. Using standard methodologies, the samples were collected using a filter holder technique connected with alpha-spectrometric. The mean value of air activity concentration of these radionuclides was found to be 5.3±0.8, 4.5±0.5 and 3.9±0.4 Bq m(-3), respectively. Based on the physical properties of the attached decay products and physiological parameters of light work activity for an adult human male recommended by ICRP 66 and considering the parameters of activity size distribution (AMD = 0.25 μm and σ(g) = 2.5) given by NRC, the total and regional deposition fractions in each airway generation could be evaluated. Moreover, the total and regional equivalent doses in the human respiratory tract could be estimated. In addition, the surface activity distribution per generation is calculated for the bronchial region (BB) and the bronchiolar region (bb) of the respiratory system. The maximum values of these activities were found in the upper bronchial airway generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Mohery
- Faculty of Science, Physics Department, North Jeddah, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Faculty of Science, Physics Department, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt
| | - A M Abdallah
- Faculty of Science, Physics Department, North Jeddah, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - S S Baz
- Girls Faculty of Science, Physics Department, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Z M Al-Amoudi
- Girls Faculty of Science, Physics Department, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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Abstract
In this study, the results concerning the activity size distribution of the long-lived ((210)Pb) radon decay product aerosols and the thoron decay product aerosols ((212)Pb) and ((7)Be) of the outdoor atmosphere are presented. Also, the mass size distribution of the aerosol particles is determined. The low-pressure Berner cascade impactor Model 20/0.015 was used as a sampling device. The activity size distribution of these radionuclides was determined by one log-normal distribution (accumulation mode) whereas the mass size distribution was by two log-normal distributions (accumulation and coarse mode). The activity median aerodynamic diameter (AMAD) of (212)Pb was found to be 305 nm with a geometric standard deviation (σg) of 2.41. The specific air activity concentration of (212)Pb was found to be 0.14 ± 0.012 Bq m(-3). An AMAD of (210)Pb of 610 nm with σg of 1.8 was determined, whereas that of 550 nm with σg of 1.97 was determined for (7)Be. The specific air activity concentration of (210)Pb and (7)Be was found to be 0.0016±2.5×10(-4) and 0.00348 ± 4×10(-4) Bq m(-3), respectively. Using a dosimetric model, the total deposition fraction as well as the total equivalent dose has been evaluated considering the observed parameters of the activity size distribution of (212)Pb. At a total deposition fraction of ∼21 %, the total equivalent dose was found to be 0.41 µSv.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Mohery
- Physics Department, Faculty of Science, North Jeddah, King Abdulaziz University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Abdallah AM, Renzoni EA, Anevlavis S, Lagan AL, Munkonge FM, Fonseca C, Black CM, Briggs D, Wells AU, Marshall SE, McHugh N, du Bois RM, Welsh KI. A polymorphism in the promoter region of the CD86 (B7.2) gene is associated with systemic sclerosis. Int J Immunogenet 2006; 33:155-61. [PMID: 16712644 DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-313x.2006.00580.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease of unknown aetiology characterized by fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, vascular abnormalities and humoral autoimmunity. Strong T-cell-dependent autoantibody and HLA associations are found in SSc subsets. The co-stimulatory molecule, CD86, expressed by antigen-presenting cells, plays a crucial role in priming naïve lymphocytes. We hypothesized that SSc, or one of the disease subsets, could be associated with single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the CD86 gene. Using sequence specific primer-polymerase chain reaction (SSP-PCR) methodology, we assessed four CD86 polymorphisms in 221 patients with SSc and 227 healthy control subjects from the UK. Haplotypes were constructed by inference and confirmed using PHASE algorithm. We found a strong association between SSc and a specific haplotype (haplotype 5), which was more prevalent in patients than in controls (29% vs 15%, OR = 2.3, chi(2) = 12, P = 0.0005). This association could be attributed to the novel -3479 promoter polymorphism; a significant difference was observed in the distribution of the CD86 -3479 G allele in patients with SSc compared to controls (43.7% vs. 32.4%, OR = 1.7, chi(2) = 12.1, P = 0.0005). TRANSFAC analyses suggest that the CD86-3479T allele contains putative GATA and TBP sites, whereas G allele does not. We assessed the relative DNA protein-binding activity of the -3479 polymorphism in vitro using electromobility gel shift assays (EMSA), which showed that the -3479G allele has less binding affinity compared to the T allele for nuclear proteins. These findings highlight the importance of co-stimulatory pathways in SSc pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Abdallah
- Clinical Genomics Group, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, UK
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el-Asmy AA, Khalifa ME, Rakha TH, Hassanian MM, Abdallah AM. Mono and trinuclear complexes of alpha-oximinoacetoacetylpyridine-4-phenylthiosemicarbazone. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2000; 48:41-4. [PMID: 10705472 DOI: 10.1248/cpb.48.41] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Complexes of several transition metal ions with alpha-oximinoacetoacetyl pyridine-4-phenylthiosemicarbazone (H3OAPT) have been prepared. Attempts were made to elucidate their geometries by elemental analysis, molar conductance, magnetic measurements and by some spectroscopic (IR, ESR and electronic) techniques. All the investigated metal ions form mononuclear complexes except for CuII, which forms mononuclear and trinuclear complexes with its chloride and acetate salts, respectively. The IR spectra show that the ligand behaves as a mono or binegative tridentate. Moreover, it acts as a trinegative hexadentate in the trinuclear CuII complex. The protonation constants (logK1H = 9.9 and log K2H = 6.0), as well as the stability constants of the metal complexes, are determined by the pH-titration of H3OAPT and its metal(II) complexes against 0.01 M NaOH. CuII complexes possess square-planar stereochemistry while CoII and NiII have an octahedral one. The crystal field parameters of CoII and NiII complexes are evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A el-Asmy
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Egypt
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Abdallah AM, Nelson LB. A severe form of Crouzon's disease: clinical and radiological correlation. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 1998; 35:230-1. [PMID: 9713797 DOI: 10.3928/0191-3913-19980701-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A M Abdallah
- Ophthalmology Department, Sohag University Hospital, Egypt
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Abstract
The estimation of serum strontium in rabbits before and after death by drowning, in soft or hard water, or by barbiturate intoxication is highly promising as a method in medicolegal practice. It not only diagnoses drowning but also indicates the type of drowning water. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry is a good method for the estimation.
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Abdallah AM, Soukop M, Bell G, Calman KC. A controlled study of 5-fluorouracil versus 5-fluorouracil and methyl-CCNU in advanced gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol) 1977; 3:247-57. [PMID: 334430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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