Psychological Symptoms of COVID-19 Pandemic Among Community-Dwelling Older People in Oman and Associated Risk Factors.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic loss of human lives worldwide.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the psychological factors of the COVID-19 pandemic in the community-dwelling older population.

Method: This was a cross-sectional study of older people aged ≥60 years with no mental or psychological illnesses.

Exploring Factors Associated With Depressive Symptoms Among Patients With Chronic Pain: A Cross-Sectional Multicenter Study.

This cross-sectional study examined the factors associated with depression among people with chronic pain (PwCP) attending specialized pain clinics in Muscat, Oman. Two-hundred eighty-seven participants were recruited for the study, and univariate analyses were used to investigate the difference between individuals who scored above/below the cutoff points for depressive symptoms. A multiple regression analysis was used to detect the independent predictors.

Awareness of Breast Cancer Risk Factors, Symptoms and Breast Self-Examination Among Omani Female Teachers: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess knowledge of breast cancer (BC) risk factors, warning signs and symptoms and breast self-examination (BSE) practice among Omani female teachers in Al-Dhahira Governorate.

Methods: A cross-sectional sample of female teachers aged 20-50 years was collected from January to December 2018 from three (provinces) in Al-Dhahira-Ibri, Dhank and Yunqal. A questionnaire that included the Breast Cancer Awareness Scale and demographic characteristics was administered.

Diversity, distribution and conservation of the terrestrial reptiles of Oman (Sauropsida, Squamata).

In the present work, we use an exceptional database including 5,359 records of 101 species of Oman's terrestrial reptiles together with spatial tools to infer the spatial patterns of species richness and endemicity, to infer the habitat preference of each species and to better define conservation priorities, with especial focus on the effectiveness of the protected areas in preserving this unique arid fauna. Our results indicate that the sampling effort is not only remarkable from a taxonomic point of view, with multiple observations for most species, but also for the spatial coverage achieved. The observations are distributed almost continuously across the two-dimensional climatic space of Oman defined by the mean annual temperature and the total annual precipitation and across the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of the multivariate climatic space and are well represented within 17 out of the 20 climatic clusters grouping 10% of the explained climatic variance defined by PC1 and PC2.

Writing a Research Proposal to The Research Council of Oman.

Writing a research proposal can be a challenging task for young researchers. This article explains how to write a strong research proposal to apply for funding, specifically, a proposal for The Research Council (TRC) of Oman. Three different research proposal application forms are currently used in TRC, including Open Research Grant (ORG), Graduate Research Support Program (GRSP), and Faculty-mentored Undergraduate Research Award Program (FURAP).

The Role of Inflammatory Mediators in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder associated with advanced age, is the most common cause of dementia globally. AD is characterised by cognitive dysfunction, deposition of amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles and neuro-inflammation. Inflammation of the brain is a key pathological hallmark of AD.

Analysis of inflammatory mediators in type 2 diabetes patients.

The main aim of this study is to assess the inflammatory markers in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by measuring some cytokines concentrations and lymphocytes subset and correlate them with other laboratory investigations. Fifty-seven patients with type-2 diabetes and 30 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Data for the C-reactive protein (CRP), haemoglobin, HbA1c, and autoantibody levels were obtained from the patients files.

Effect of gum arabic on oxidative stress and inflammation in adenine-induced chronic renal failure in rats.

Inflammation and oxidative stress are known to be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease in humans, and in chronic renal failure (CRF) in rats. The aim of this work was to study the role of inflammation and oxidative stress in adenine-induced CRF and the effect thereon of the purported nephroprotective agent gum arabic (GA). Rats were divided into four groups and treated for 4 weeks as follows: control, adenine in feed (0.

Evaluation of anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin antibodies, anti-cyclic citrullinated Peptide antibodies and rheumatoid factor in omani patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid factor (RF) is currently used in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The discovery of anticitrullinated protein autoantibodies has led to the development of various new tests, such as anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies, and anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin (anti-MCV) antibodies, to diagnose RA. The aims of this study were to determine the sensitivity and specificity of anti-MCV antibodies in comparison with anti-CCP antibodies and RF in Omani Arab patients with RA and compare our findings with published values from different ethnic groups.

Pro-inflammatory cytokines in Omani type 2 diabetic patients presenting anxiety and depression.

Background: The relationship of inflammatory cytokines with anxiety and depression has been reported, but their role in diabetic patients has not been fully elucidated.

Objective: We examined whether an association between prevalence of anxiety and depression in Omani type-2 diabetic patients (n=30) and the levels of inflammatory markers such as IL-1ß, TNF-α, IFN-γ and C-reactive protein (CRP) exists.

Methods: Symptoms of anxiety and depression were screened using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) through self-rated questionnaires.

Effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine on Cytokine Production by Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells.

Objectives: This study investigates the in vitro effect of the antioxidant drug, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), on cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).

Methods: PBMC were isolated by Ficoll-Hypaque, and stimulated with anti-CD3 antibodies, phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24 hours in the presence or absence of 5 mM NAC. The cytokines produced were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Reference ranges for lymphocyte subsets in healthy adult male Omanis.

Objective: To determine the reference ranges of lymphocyte subsets in serologically HIV-seronegative healthy male adults in Oman.

Methods: A cohort, of 118 healthy male blood donors ranging in age from 18-51 years, was included in the study. The average age was 25 years.

A comparative study of interleukin-1beta production and p2x7 expression after ATP stimulation by peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from rheumatoid arthritis patients and normal healthy controls.

Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1beta) is a proinflammatory cytokine that is considered to play an important role in the progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A stimulus such as ATP is necessary to cause the release of mature IL-1beta, via activation of the P2X(7) receptor on monocytes. In this study, the production of IL-1beta in whole blood after ATP stimulation and expression of P2X(7) receptors in RA and healthy subjects were examined.

Prognostic value of auto-antibodies in the serum of Omani patients with gastric cancer.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of a group of different autoantibodies, in Omani patients with gastric cancer, and to examine whether their presence correlates with clinical course of the disease.

Methods: Ninety-three Omani patients with gastric cancer, and 100 gender-matched blood donors were investigated for the presence of 15 different auto-antibodies against nuclear antigens (ANA), extractible nuclear antigens (ENA), Scleroderma antigen (Scl-70), Sjogren syndrome antigen A/B (SSA/B), Smith antigen (Sm), ribonucleoprotein (RNP), Jo-1 antigen, double stranded DNA (ds-DNA), parietal cell antibodies (APCA), reticulin antibodies (ARA), smooth muscle antibodies (ASMA), proteinase 3 (PR3), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and mitochondria antibody (AMA). Antinuclear antigen were detected using human epithelial cells-2 (Hep-2 cells).

Rheumatoid arthritis, cytokines and hypoxia. What is the link?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disorder that affects approximately 1% of the population, in a female to male ratio of 3:1. The disease can occur at any age, but it is most common among those aged 40-70 years. Despite many years of study, the etiology of RA is still undefined.