Pesticide exposure promotes disease activity by decreasing lymphoproliferative activity and increasing IL-4 production in systemic sclerosis patients.

Background: One of the common findings in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients has been long-term exposure to environmental toxins such as pesticides. However, the data available shows an equivocal association between pesticide exposure and autoimmunity in SSc.

Methods: We investigated the levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in blood of 20 SSc patients and 17 healthy controls, and also studied their effect on T lymphocytes and their functional responses.

Exploring the dynamics of human scent in forensic canine analysis: Factors shaping identification accuracy.

Using specially trained canines in forensic analysis to identify individual human scents is a well-established method, capitalizing on dogs' exceptional olfactory abilities. This study investigates the survival of human scent under extreme weather conditions in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Five experienced German Shepherd police dogs, trained for human scent tracking, participated in the experiments.

Comparison between the World Health Organization and Bahraini children growth standards.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the growth patterns of Bahraini female and male infants/young children aged 0-24 months in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Methods: A cross-sectional approach was employed to track the growth parameters among healthy Bahraini female and male infants/children aged 0-24 months. A multistage probability sampling criteria was used to collect information from official records.

Phytochemical thymoquinone prevents hemoglobin glycoxidation and protofibrils formation: A biophysical aspect.

d-ribose, a reducing sugar, in diabetic hyperglycemia provokes non-enzymatic glycoxidation of hemoglobin (Hb), an abundant protein of red blood cells (RBCs). Different types of intermediates adduct formation occur during glycoxidation, such as advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) which lead to amyloid formation due to structural and conformational alterations in protein. Therefore, the study of these intermediate adducts plays a pivotal role to discern their relationship with diabetes mellitus and related disorders.

Nocardiosis at an Organ Transplant Center in Saudi Arabia: 15 years' experience.

Background: Nocardiosis is a rare infection that affects immunocompromised patients on immunosuppressive medications used for transplantation and cancer therapy. Such therapies are becoming more widely available in the Middle East region. Yet, reports on nocardiosis are scarce.

Food Pyramid for Subjects with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases.

Nutritional problems are an important part of rehabilitation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. COPD patients often present with malnutrition, sarcopenia, and osteoporosis with possible onset of cachexia, with an inadequate dietary intake and a poor quality of life. Moreover, diet plays a pivotal role in patients with COPD through three mechanisms: regulation of carbon dioxide produced/oxygen consumed, inflammation, and oxidative stress.

The effect of Berberine on weight loss in order to prevent obesity: A systematic review.

This study provides a critical overview of experimental studies in vitro, in humans, and in animals that evaluated the efficacy of Berberine and its effect on management of obesity and the related metabolic consequences. As a result of this review, we summarized the effects of Berberine in different models and the related mechanism of actions. In preclinical models, Berberine demonstrates that it affects gut microbiota by reducing diversity of microbes starting at a dosage of 100 mg/kg/day.

Association between des-acyl ghrelin at fasting and predictive index of muscle derangement, metabolic markers and eating disorders: a cross-sectional study in overweight and obese adults.

This study aimed to analyse the impact of des-acyl and acyl ghrelin (AG) on a wide range of muscular and metabolic markers and in order to discover the possible relationships and interactions of des-acylated ghrelin (DAG) on eating disorders. A total of 88 subjects (64 women and 24 men, with a mean age of 43 years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 30.20 ± 3.

Evidence-Based Role of Nutrients and Antioxidants for Chronic Pain Management in Musculoskeletal Frailty and Sarcopenia in Aging.

Musculoskeletal disorders in aging and pain are closely connected because of multiple mechanisms leading to loss of mobility and autonomy. Pain is predictive of diability and worsening frailty and the strength of this relationship increases with the severity of pain. This study presents a systematic review of randomized controlled trials, cross sectional studies, and observational studies based on treatment of pain in adults with musculoskeletal disorders using nutritional non-pharmacological (nutrients and antioxidants) interventions.

Optimization of bio-cement production from cement kiln dust using microalgae.

The main aim of this study was to maximize bio-cement (CaCO) production through a waste feedstock of cement kiln dust (CKD) as a source of calcium by deployment of microalgae sp. The effect of process parameters such as temperature, pH and time-intervals of microalgae cultivation, were set as criteria that ultimately subscribe to a process of optimization. In this regard, a single factor experiments integrated with response surface methodology (RSM) via central composite design (CCD) was considered.

Burden of non-tuberculous mycobacterial diseases in Saudi Arabian children: The first nationwide experience.

Background: Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) causing pulmonary and extra-pulmonary diseases are increasing worldwide. A large paucity of data related to pediatric NTM diseases exists globally and particularly in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: The first nationwide exploratory study on existence of NTM diseases among Saudi Arabian children (0-14 years old) has been carried out during 2016-2017.

Comparison between Bioimpedance Analysis and Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry in assessment of body composition in a cohort of elderly patients aged 65-90 years.

We compare bioimpedance analysis (BIA) with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in the assessment of free fat mass (FFM), fat mass (FM) and percentage of body fat under different conditions in relation to age categories, hydration parameters, body mass index (BMI) and sarcopenia. A cross-sectional analysis of body composition was estimated by BIA and DXA in 379 hospitalized elderly patients. In addition, estimates of FFM, FM and percentage of body fat were investigated across different conditions.

Outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia bacteraemia in a tertiary care centre due to contaminated ultrasound probe gel.

Background: Burkholderia cepacia is an important opportunistic organism in hospitalized and immunocompromised patients, particularly in cystic fibrosis.

Aims: To describe the epidemiological investigation of an outbreak of B. cepacia bacteraemia.

HBsAg clearance in chronic hepatitis B patients with add-on pegylated interferon alfa-2a to ongoing tenofovir treatment: A randomized controlled study.

Background/aims: The ideal end point of treatment for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is sustained off-therapy hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss with or even without seroconversion to anti-HBs. We investigated the role of adding PEGylated interferon (PEG IFN) to ongoing tenofovir treatment in chronic HBV patients for achieving HBsAg clearance.

Patients And Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, chronic HBV patients who have been receiving tenofovir for >6 months with HBV viral load <2000 IU/ml were randomized into two groups.

Infection control and prevention practices implemented to reduce transmission risk of Middle East respiratory syndrome-coronavirus in a tertiary care institution in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Transmission of Middle East respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) among health care workers (HCWs) and patients has been documented with mortality rate approximating 36%. We propose advanced infection control measures (A-IC) used in conjunction with basic infection control measures (B-IC) help reduce pathogen transmission. B-IC include standard and transmission-based precautions.

Extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in the neonatal intensive care unit: does vancomycin play a role?

Background: Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella species cause worldwide problems in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). This study aimed to determine possible risk factors for infection or colonization with ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBLKp) during an outbreak in the NICU.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among neonates admitted to the NICU of a teaching hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during an outbreak of ESBLKp from April to July 2008.

Impact of the revised penicillin susceptibility breakpoints for Streptococcus pneumoniae on antimicrobial resistance rates of meningeal and non-meningeal pneumococcal strains.

Background And Objectives: In January 2008, the Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) revised the Streptococcus pneumoniae breakpoints for penicillin to define the susceptibility of meningeal and non-meningeal isolates. We studied the impact of these changes. In addition, the pneumococcal resistance rate to other antimicrobial agents was reviewed.

High frequency of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in patients with diabetes mellitus in Saudi Arabia.

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii is becoming increasingly prevalent in patients with diabetes mellitus in the Middle East. We examined the relationship of these bacteria and their resistance mechanisms to the diabetic disease status of patients in Saudi Arabia. Susceptibilities of 271 isolates to carbapenems, tigecycline and colistin were determined, followed by detection of carbapenemase genes.

Relationship of interferon-γ-inducible protein-10 kDa with viral response in patients with various heterogeneities of hepatitis C virus genotype-4.

Introduction: The role of serum interferon-γ-inducible protein-10 kDa (IP-10) level in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C genotype-4 (HCV-4) and its various subtypes remains unknown. We aimed to study the impact of pretreatment IP-10 levels on the sustained viral response (SVR) in HCV-4 patients (n=64) undergoing peginterferon α-2a/ribavirin therapy.

Patients And Methods: Pretreatment IP-10 levels and HCV-4 subtypes (4a=48.

Hepatitis C genotype 4: genotypic diversity, epidemiological profile, and clinical relevance of subtypes in Saudi Arabia.

Background/aim: Hepatitis C virus genotypes 4 (HCV-4) is the most prevalent genotype in Saudi Arabia, although it's various subtypes, mode and route of transmission remains unknown. The aim of this study was to analyze (i) the variability of the HCV-4 subtypes, the route and source of HCV transmission and (ii) the influence of HCV-4 subtypes on their therapeutic response.

Patients And Methods: Sixty-four HCV-4 patients were analyzed retrospectively for the prevalence of various sub-genotypes and the possible mode of transmission, and it was correlated with their treatment response to pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) α-2a and ribavirin therapy.

Characterization of Enterococcus faecium isolates and first report of vanB phenotype-vanA genotype incongruence in the Middle East.

We aimed to characterize the vancomycin genotype/phenotype, carriage of putative virulence genes, and genetic relatedness of Enterococcus faecium isolates in Saudi Arabia. E. faecium isolated from inpatients at our medical center were studied.