Lipid Accumulation Product Outperforms BMI and Waist Circumference in Metabolic Disorders.

Obesity is a global health issue intricately linked to metabolic syndrome (MetS), insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. Anthropometric indices, particularly those measuring central obesity, have emerged as more reliable predictors of these metabolic disorders than general obesity indices such as body mass index (BMI). However, the relative predictive power of these indices remains debated, particularly across sexes.

Removal of Toxic Lead from Wastewater by Seed Hull.

In this work, we address two concerns at once: waste reduction and the development of a lead removal adsorbent. The potential of seed hull (LSH) powder as an efficient, innovative, and economical adsorbent for Pb(II) absorption was examined in this study. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy investigations were used to determine the structural and morphological properties of the LSH adsorbent.

Rodent-borne zoonoses in Qatar: A possible One-Health framework for the intervention of future epidemic.

The increasing frequency of spillover of zoonotic pathogens from animals to humans in recent years highlights a need to develop a more comprehensive framework to investigate and prevent pathogens of animal origin, including rodents. Despite the presence of several species of rodents, there is a certain knowledge gap regarding rodent-borne zoonoses in Qatar. The current review provides an update on rodent-borne zoonoses in Qatar, its possible drivers and transmission dynamics, and proposed a One Health framework for intervention.

A new One Health Framework in Qatar for future emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases preparedness and response.

One Health is increasingly recognized as an optimal approach to address the global risk of health threats originating at the human, animal, and ecosystem interface, and their impact. Qatar has successfully practiced One Health approach for investigation and surveillance of zoonotic diseases such as MERS-CoV, and other health threats. However, the current gaps at institution and policy level hinder the sustainment of One Health.

Endocrine Complications and the Effect of Compliance with Chelation Therapy in Patients with Beta Thalassemia Major in Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Background: Endocrinopathies and metabolic complications are common in beta thalassemia major patients receiving blood transfusions. Chelation therapy has a role in preventing or delaying such complications. However, patients may face difficulties adhering to chelation therapy for several reasons.

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in animals of the Arabian Peninsula between 2000-2020: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a zoonotic parasite that can be transmitted from animals to humans, with felids acting as its definitive host. Thus, understanding the epidemiology of this parasite in animal populations is vital to controlling its transmission to humans as well as to other animal groups.

A novel green preparation of zinc oxide nanoparticles with L.: photocatalytic performance, evaluation of antioxidant and antibacterial activity.

This study investigates the eco-friendly synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) utilizing an aqueous solution of L. flower extract, which is acts as reducing agent as well as capping agent. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results revealed the presence of flavonoids and phenols in the plant extract, indicating that they were the major agents capable of reducing zinc nitrate salt.

Diversity of bacterial pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance profile among commensal rodents in Qatar.

Rodents are sources of many zoonotic pathogens that are of public health concern. This study investigated bacterial pathogens and assessed their antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns in commensal rodents in Qatar. A total of 148 rodents were captured between August 2019 and February 2020, and blood, ectoparasites, and visceral samples were collected.

Multidrug resistance, biofilm formation, and virulence genes of from backyard poultry farms.

Background And Aim: Backyard chicken flocks have traditionally been regarded as an essential food source in developed countries; however, they may act as reservoirs and spread various zoonotic bacterial pathogens. This study was designed to investigate the prevalence, phenotypic resistance, biofilm formation (BF), and pathotypes of isolates from backyard poultry farms.

Materials And Methods: Cloacal swabs (n=150) and internal organs (n=150) were collected from 30 backyard chicken flocks; 20 of them were experiencing systemic infection, and the other ten were apparently healthy.

The Impact of Simulation-Based Education on Nurses' Perceived Predeployment Anxiety During the COVID-19 Pandemic Within the Cultural Context of a Middle Eastern Country.

Anxiety related to the COVID-19 pandemic is prevalent among the nursing workforce and has the potential to affect well-being and performance in the workplace. This paper reports on a joint education/nursing and midwifery workforce quality improvement initiative in the State of Qatar to address an urgent need for COVID-19 preparedness during the second wave of infection. A Simulation-Based Education (SBE) program was developed and delivered over a period of 2 months (February to April 2021) to prepare nurses for deployment to COVID-19 facilities.

Human AGR2 Deficiency Causes Mucus Barrier Dysfunction and Infantile Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background & Aims: The gastrointestinal epithelium plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis with the gut microbiome. Mucins are essential for intestinal barrier function and serve as a scaffold for antimicrobial factors. Mucin 2 (MUC2) is the major intestinal gel-forming mucin produced predominantly by goblet cells.

Qatar Biobank: A Paradigm of Translating Biobank Science into Evidence-Based Health Care Interventions.

Biobank science is progressively becoming indispensable for the development of novel diagnostic tools in health care, by pairing standardized high-quality biological samples, phenotypic, and omics data required to best characterize the underlying biological mechanisms of response to therapy and survival. Qatar Biobank (QBB), Qatar's National Repository Centre for biological samples and health information, aligning with these endeavors, has developed a strategic framework to enable biobanking science that can be transformed into tangible health care diagnostic tools. In this concept, QBB works closely with multidisciplinary stakeholders: (1) governmental authorities ( = 2), (2) health providers ( = 3), (3) academic institutions ( = 28), (4) other research institutions ( = 6), and (5) the Qatar National Research Fund, by providing data and biospecimens to research projects.

The Implementation of an Integrated Management System at Qatar Biobank.

Qatar Biobank (QBB) is a platform that will make vital health research possible through its collection of samples and information on health and lifestyle from the local population of Qatar. The goal of QBB is to collect, process, store, and finally share high-quality biological samples and associated data for research purposes with the research community. To do this, a series of standardized procedures following evidence-based practices are required, and QBB is achieving this by implementing an integrated management system (IMS) that incorporates ISO 9001: 2015 and ISO 27001: 2013 standards.

Qatar Biobank Cohort Study: Study Design and First Results.

We describe the design, implementation, and results of the Qatar Biobank (QBB) cohort study for the first 10,000 participants. QBB is a prospective, population-based cohort study in Qatar, established in 2012. QBB's primary goal was to establish a cohort accessible to the local and international scientific community, providing adequate health data and biological samples to enable evidence-based research.

Clinical exome sequencing in 509 Middle Eastern families with suspected Mendelian diseases: The Qatari experience.

Background: Clinical exome sequencing (CES) is rapidly becoming the diagnostic test of choice in patients with suspected Mendelian diseases especially those that are heterogeneous in etiology and clinical presentation. Reporting large CES series can inform guidelines on best practices for test utilization, and improves accuracy of variant interpretation through clinically-oriented data sharing.

Methods: This is a retrospective series of 509 probands from Qatar who underwent singleton or trio CES either as a reflex or naïve (first-tier) test from April 2014 to December 2016 for various clinical indications.

The Qatar genome: a population-specific tool for precision medicine in the Middle East.

Reaching the full potential of precision medicine depends on the quality of personalized genome interpretation. In order to facilitate precision medicine in regions of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), a population-specific genome for the indigenous Arab population of Qatar (QTRG) was constructed by incorporating allele frequency data from sequencing of 1,161 Qataris, representing 0.4% of the population.

Apoptosis inducing ability of silver decorated highly reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites in A549 lung cancer.

Recently, graphene and graphene-based materials have been increasingly used for various biological applications due to their extraordinary physicochemical properties. Here, we demonstrate the anticancer properties and apoptosis-inducing ability of silver doped highly reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites synthesized by employing green approach. These nano composites (PGE-HRG-Ag) were synthesized by using Pulicaria glutinosa extract (PGE) as a reducing agent and were evaluated for their anticancer properties against various human cancer cell lines with tamoxifen as the reference drug.

The Qatar Biobank: background and methods.

Background: The Qatar Biobank aims to collect extensive lifestyle, clinical, and biological information from up to 60,000 men and women Qatari nationals and long-term residents (individuals living in the country for ≥15 years) aged ≥18 years (approximately one-fifth of all Qatari citizens), to follow up these same individuals over the long term to record any subsequent disease, and hence to study the causes and progression of disease, and disease burden, in the Qatari population.

Methods: Between the 11(th)-December-2012 and 20(th)-February-2014, 1209 participants were recruited into the pilot study of the Qatar Biobank. At recruitment, extensive phenotype information was collected from each participant, including information/measurements of socio-demographic factors, prevalent health conditions, diet, lifestyle, anthropometry, body composition, bone health, cognitive function, grip strength, retinal imaging, total body dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, and measurements of cardiovascular and respiratory function.

Green Approach for the Effective Reduction of Graphene Oxide Using Salvadora persica L. Root (Miswak) Extract.

Recently, green reduction of graphene oxide (GRO) using various natural materials, including plant extracts, has drawn significant attention among the scientific community. These methods are sustainable, low cost, and are more environmentally friendly than other standard methods of reduction. Herein, we report a facile and eco-friendly method for the bioreduction of GRO using Salvadora persica L.

Pulicaria glutinosa extract: a toolbox to synthesize highly reduced graphene oxide-silver nanocomposites.

A green, one-step approach for the preparation of graphene/Ag nanocomposites (PE-HRG-Ag) via simultaneous reduction of both graphene oxide (GRO) and silver ions using Pulicaria glutinosa plant extract (PE) as reducing agent is reported. The plant extract functionalizes the surfaces of highly reduced graphene oxide (HRG) which helps in conjugating the Ag NPs to HRG. Increasing amounts of Ag precursor enhanced the density of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) on HRG.

Hepatitis B and C viral infections in chronic liver disease: a population based study in Qatar.

We investigated the incidence of hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) virus infection among patients with liver disease in Qatar from 2000 to 2005. The grading and staging of HBV and HCV cases were obtained from pathology reports at the principal reference laboratory for Qatar. Of the 915 liver patients studied, 29.

Adiponectin changes in HCV-Genotype 4: relation to liver histology and response to treatment.

Recently, attention has been focussed on adiponectin and its changes in different types of chronic liver disease. Its relation to hepatic fibrosis and insulin resistance in post-hepatitis liver disease is not clear. The aim of this study was to clarify the adiponectin changes in genotype 4 hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patient in relation to liver histology and insulin resistance, and its usefulness as a predictor of hepatic fibrosis and response to treatment.

The epidemiology of viral hepatitis in Qatar.

Viral hepatitis is a major public health problem in many countries all over the world and especially in Middle East, Asia, East-Europe, and Africa. The aim of our study was to assess the incidence of viral hepatitis A, B and C in Qatar and compare it with other countries. This is a retrospective cohort study, which was conducted at Hamad General Hospital, State of Qatar from 2002-2006.

Viral kinetic of HCV genotype-4 during pegylated interferon alpha 2a: ribavirin therapy.

Kinetics of hepatitis C virus (HCV) during pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and early monitoring of viral decline were recently described to predict treatment outcomes and in turn reduce the course of treatment, adverse effects and cost. However, there is limited (if any) information on the viral dynamics of HCV-4. Our aim is to follow the HCV-RNA kinetics during PEG-IFN alpha 2a and ribavirin therapy and the best time for predicting sustained viral response (SVR) in genotype-4 patients.