The effect of genetic polymorphisms of RARA gene on the adverse effects profile of isotretinoin-treated acne patients.

Objective: Isotretinoin is a vitamin A-derived medication that is associated with significant adverse effects including arthralgia/ myalgia, nose bleeds, headache, dyslipidemia, liver dysfunction and depression. The mechanism for development of such adverse effects remains elusive, and it is not known why adverse effects develop only in some patients. In this study, we examined the association between rs9303285, rs2715554 and rs4890109 genetic polymorphisms in the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARA), one of the main targets of isotretinoin, and the adverse effects of oral isotretinoin therapy.

The role of adiponectin gene variants in glycemic control in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between glycemic control in Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and common genetic variants of ADIPQO gene. A total of 427 Type 2 diabetes patients were recruited in the study and divided into two groups: 172 patients with good glycemic control and 249 with poor glycemic control. Genotyping of C11377G, G276T and T45G ADIPQO SNPs were carried out using restriction fragment length polymorphisms-polymerase chain reaction.

Vitamin E prevents high-fat high-carbohydrates diet-induced memory impairment: the role of oxidative stress.

Memory and learning are impaired by imbalanced diet consumption. High-fat high-carbohydrate diet (HFCD) induces oxidative stress, which results in neuronal damage and interference with synaptic transmission; hence, a decline in cognitive function. Vitamin E is a fat soluble antioxidant that is believed to have positive effects on learning and memory.

Tempol prevents genotoxicity induced by vorinostat: role of oxidative DNA damage.

Vorinostat is a member of histone deacetylase inhibitors, which represents a new class of anticancer agents for the treatment of solid and hematological malignancies. Studies have shown that these drugs induce DNA damage in blood lymphocytes, which is proposed to be due to the generation of oxidative lesions. The increase in DNA damage is sometimes associated with risk of developing secondary cancer.

The contribution of platelet glycoproteins (GPIa C807T and GPIba C-5T) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2G-765C) polymorphisms to platelet response in patients treated with aspirin.

Objective: Aspirin is an antiplatelet agent commonly used in treatment of patients with high risk to develop stroke and myocardial infarction. However, inter-individual variability regarding the inhibition of platelet function by aspirin is well documented. In this study, the correlation between platelet glycoproteins (GPIa C807T and GPIba C-5T) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2G-765C) polymorphisms and antiplatelet response in patients treated with aspirin was investigated.

CO exposure and puff topography are associated with Lebanese waterpipe dependence scale score.

Introduction: Waterpipe tobacco smoking involves self-administration of the dependence-producing drug nicotine. Few studies have examined if dependence in waterpipe smokers influences toxicant exposure and smoking behavior.

Method: Current waterpipe tobacco smokers were categorized based on Lebanese Waterpipe Dependence Scale-11 (LWDS-11) score (LWDS-11: LOW < 7; N = 59; HIGH > 13; N = 59).

Evaluation of the effect of pentoxifylline on sleep-deprivation induced memory impairment.

In this study, we examined the ability of Pentoxifylline (PTX) to prevent sleep deprivation induced memory impairment probably through decreasing oxidative stress. Sleep deprivation was chronically induced 8 h/day for 6 weeks in rats using modified multiple platform model. Concurrently, PTX (100 mg/kg) was administered to animals on daily basis.

Frequency of MDR1 single nucleotide polymorphisms in a Jordanian population, including a novel variant.

The multidrug resistance gene (MDR1 or ABCB1) codes for P-glycoprotein, which plays an important role in regulating absorption, distribution, and elimination of drugs. We examined MDR1 gene variants in 100 unrelated subjects from various regions of Jordan. The MDR1 gene was scanned using direct sequencing.

Genotoxicity of structurally related copper and zinc containing Schiff base complexes.

The utilization of Schiff bases in the industrial and pharmaceutical fields has led to an increase in their syntheses and evaluation of their biological activities. In this study, we described the synthesis and genotoxicity of two Schiff bases that share common platform in their construction, namely, naphthalene, and are complexed to either Cu(II) or Zn(II). The genotoxicity of these complexes was evaluated in cultured lymphocytes using sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and chromosomal aberrations (CAs), and in rats using the urine 8-OH-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) assay.

Forced and voluntary exercises equally improve spatial learning and memory and hippocampal BDNF levels.

Multiple evidence suggest the importance of exercise for cognitive and brain functions. Few studies however, compared the behavioral and neural adaptations to force versus voluntary exercise training. Therefore, spatial learning and memory formation and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were examined in Wister male rats after 6 weeks of either daily forced swimming, voluntary running exercises, or sedentary.

In vitro determination of the antibiotic susceptibility of biofilm-forming Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus: possible role of proteolytic activity and membrane lipopolysaccharide.

We carried out a comprehensive overview of inhibitory effects of selected antibiotics on planktonic and biofilm cells of Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) strains. The possible involvement of protease activity and the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) profile of P. aeruginosa were also analyzed.

Awareness of patients who undergo cesarean section about venous thromboembolism prophylaxis.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is a potentially life-threatening condition and the most well-known cause of postpartum maternal death, especially in patients undergoing cesarean section (CS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of awareness of VTE among patients who undergo CS. This study was cross-sectional, involving 230 patients who underwent CS at a major university hospital.

Antibacterial activity of some medicinal plants grown in Jordan.

In the present study, we evaluated the antimicrobial activity of 16 Jordanian medicinal plant extracts against four reference bacteria; Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter faecalis, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhi. For that purpose, whole plants were extracted and antimicrobial susceptibility testing and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were determined. Ethanolic extracts of most medicinal plants exerted a dose-dependent cytotoxiciy against different reference bacteria.

Effect of statin therapy on vaspin levels in type 2 diabetic patients.

Background: Statins are commonly used antihyperlipidemic agents, with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties that are thought to account for a significant portion of their ability to protect against atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Vaspin, a visceral adipose tissue-derived serine protease inhibitor, is an emerging adipokine with important insulin-sensitizing, cardioprotective, and antiatherosclerotic properties in patients with diabetes. In this randomized controlled clinical trial, we evaluated the effect of statin therapy on vaspin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Implementation of clinical pharmacy services at a university hospital in Jordan.

Objective: Clinical pharmacy services are still in the early stages of implementation in the Middle East. This study assessed the implementation of clinical pharmacy services at a major university hospital.

Methods: All recommendations and services provided by clinical pharmacists were recorded for a period of 7 months.

Factors that contribute to clopidogrel resistance in cardiovascular disease patients: environmental and genetic approach.

Background And Objective: Clopidogrel is a potent antiplatelet drug that reduces the risk of vascular events in patients with cardiovascular disease. However, several studies have shown that about a quarter of patients showed low or no response to clopidogrel therapy. In this study, factors that contribute to clopidogrel resistance were investigated in 270 cardiovascular disease patients from Jordan.

The role of type II deiodinase polymorphisms in clinical management of hypothyroid patients treated with levothyroxine.

Study Objective: Several factors can affect achieving the goals with levothyroxine (L-T4) therapy. This study investigates the clinical and biochemical response to L-T4 replacement therapy in hypothyroid patients in correlation with genetic variation in Deiodinase type || (DIO2) gene.

Design And Setting: This is a cross-sectional correlation study.

Preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis practice and guideline adherence in Jordan: a multi-centre study in Jordanian hospitals.

Introduction: The use of antimicrobial prophylaxis for surgical procedures is one of the measures employed to prevent the development of surgical site infections (SSI). The appropriate choice of antimicrobial agents, dosage regimen, timing, duration and use of intravenous route must be evidence based. This study aimed to assess the practice of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis and adherence of practitioners to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) guidelines for antimicrobial prophylaxis in surgery and to explore reasons for non-compliance.

Role of α7- and α4β2-nAChRs in the neuroprotective effect of nicotine in stress-induced impairment of hippocampus-dependent memory.

We have previously shown that nicotine prevents stress-induced memory impairment. In this study, we have investigated the role of α7- and α4β2-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the protective effect of nicotine during chronic stress conditions. Chronic psychosocial stress was induced using a form of rat intruder model.

Association of adiponectin with hypertension in type 2 diabetic patients: the gender effect.

Adiponectin is an adipokine involved in the regulation of body metabolism and immune response. Circulating levels and/or activity of adiponectin were reported to influence susceptibility to several diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome. In this study, serum adiponectin levels and the association of adiponectin gene (ADIPQO) single-nucleotide polymorphism (G276T SNP) with hypertension in type 2 diabetic patients were examined.

Caffeine prevents cognitive impairment induced by chronic psychosocial stress and/or high fat-high carbohydrate diet.

Caffeine alleviates cognitive impairment associated with a variety of health conditions. In this study, we examined the effect of caffeine treatment on chronic stress- and/or high fat-high carbohydrate Western diet (WD)-induced impairment of learning and memory in rats. Chronic psychosocial stress, WD and caffeine (0.

Changes in spatial memory and BDNF expression to simultaneous dietary restriction and forced exercise.

Previous literature suggests that learning and memory formation can be influenced by diet and exercise. In the current study, we investigated the combined effects of forced swimming exercise (FSE) and every other day fasting (EODF) on spatial memory formation and on the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus of Wistar male rats. The radial arm water maze (RAWM) paradigm was used to assess changes in learning and memory formation, whereas ELISA assay was used to measure BDNF protein levels.

The prevalence and factors associated with aspirin resistance in patients premedicated with aspirin.

Objective: Aspirin is a key drug used in treating patients with a high risk to develop stroke, myocardial infarction and other cardiovascular events. However, a considerable fraction of the patients develops aspirin resistance, which is a multi-factorial process that can occur due to patient's non-compliance, improper dosing, other co-morbidities or drug-drug interactions.This cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence and factors associated with aspirin resistance among Jordanians.

The combined effect of sleep deprivation and Western diet on spatial learning and memory: role of BDNF and oxidative stress.

Either sleep deprivation or Western diet can impair learning and memory via induction of oxidative stress, which results in neuronal damage and interference with the neurotransmission. In this study, we examined the combined effect of sleep deprivation and Western diet on hippocampus-dependent spatial learning and memory. In addition, possible molecular targets for sleep deprivation and Western diet-induced cognitive impairments were investigated.