New insights on genetic background of major diabetic vascular complications.

Background: By 2045, it is expected that 693 million individuals worldwide will have diabetes and with greater risk of morbidity, mortality, loss of vision, renal failure, and a decreased quality of life due to the devastating effects of macro- and microvascular complications. As such, clinical variables and glycemic control alone cannot predict the onset of vascular problems. An increasing body of research points to the importance of genetic predisposition in the onset of both diabetes and diabetic vascular complications.

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and sleep quality are inter-correlated with flash glucose monitoring (FGM)-measured glycemia among children with type 1 diabetes.

Background: We examined the inter-correlation between diet quality, objectively measured sleep duration, and subjectively measured sleep quality with flash glucose monitoring (FGM)-measured glycemia among young patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Materials And Methods: Following cross-sectional design, Fitbit accelerometers were used to objectively assess sleep duration, while the validated questionnaires Pittsburgh sleep quality index and Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence were used to subjectively assess sleep quality and diet quality, respectively. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and FGM-reported glycemia components among children with T1D were assessed as well.

Assessment of cytotoxin-associated Gene A (Cag A) protein and its association with ferritin and vitamin B12 deficiencies among adult healthy asymptomatic residents in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) serves as an effective epidemiological site for assessing () infection due to its diverse population. However, comprehensive studies on the prevalence of in the UAE are notably scarce. In depth prevalence studies are needed as a preventive measure against gastric cancer and other emerging extra gastric diseases associated with infection.

Investigating the Impact of IL6 on Insulin Secretion: Evidence from INS-1 Cells, Human Pancreatic Islets, and Serum Analysis.

Interleukin-6 (IL6) is a pleiotropic cytokine implicated in metabolic disorders and inflammation, yet its precise influence on insulin secretion and glucose metabolism remains uncertain. This study examined expression in pancreatic islets from individuals with/without diabetes, alongside a series of functional experiments, including siRNA silencing; IL6 treatment; and assessments of glucose uptake, cell viability, apoptosis, and expression of key β-cell genes, which were conducted in both INS-1 cells and human islets to elucidate the effect of IL6 on insulin secretion. Serum levels of IL6 from Emirati patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) were measured, and the effect of antidiabetic drugs on IL6 levels was studied.

Unraveling the significance of PPP1R1A gene in pancreatic β-cell function: A study in INS-1 cells and human pancreatic islets.

Background And Aims: The protein phosphatase 1 regulatory inhibitor subunit 1A (PPP1R1A) has been linked with insulin secretion and diabetes mellitus. Yet, its full significance in pancreatic β-cell function remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the role of the PPP1R1A gene in β-cell biology using human pancreatic islets and rat INS-1 (832/13) cells.

Investigating the role of an immediate early gene FOS as a potential regulator of autophagic response to hypoglycemia in embryonic hypothalamic neurons.

Hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure (HAAF) is a well-established complication of diabetes. Although HAAF has serious outcomes such as recurrent morbidity, coma, and death, the mechanisms of HAAF and its pathological components are largely unknown. Our previous studies have revealed that hypoglycemia is associated with the upregulation of an immediate early gene - FOS.

Predictive factors of perinatal depression among women with gestational diabetes mellitus in the UAE: a cross-sectional clinical study.

Background: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is responsible for the development of 30-50% of type 2 diabetes mellitus that predisposes later to adverse consequences among affected mothers and their offspring. Several studies have suggested that GDM increases the risk of developing perinatal depression (PND); however, factors that are involved in this association are yet to be determined. This study aims to identify factors that interrelate GDM and PND among pregnant and postnatal women in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Cryopreservation and validation of differentiated PDGFRα-positive cells for long term usage in experimentation.

Objective: Differentiation of immortalized Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (iMSCs) into PDGFRα-positive cells under controlled growth conditions has several vital implications in functional studies concerned with the pathogenesis of Diabetic Gastroparesis (DGP). A study published previously by our research group demonstrated the importance of these cells as a novel, in-vitro model for investigating the functional role of neuronal nitric oxide synthase. The currently available methods require fresh differentiation of PDGFRα-positive cells for each round of experimentation.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Weight Change Among Adults in the UAE.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic which started in November 2019 and since then has led to multiple lockdowns aimed towards controlling the pandemic, these lockdowns contributed to major changes in individuals' lifestyles including eating patterns and restriction of physical activity due to continues house confinement. Such changes have significantly contributed to weight change, with increasing rates of obesity in the UAE, COVID-19 have posed a major concern to the country's obesity levels.

Aim: To measure the prevalence and investigate the views related to weight change among adults in the UAE during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Role of Lifestyle Interventions in the Prevention and Treatment of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common pregnancy-related endocrinopathies, affecting up to 25% of pregnancies globally. GDM increases the risk of perinatal and delivery complications, and the chance of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complications, including cardiovascular diseases. This elevated risk is then passed on to the next generation, creating a cycle of metabolic dysfunction across generations.

Investigating the Association between Diabetic Neuropathy and Vitamin D in Emirati Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

(1) Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a common public health problem in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and globally, and interestingly, improvements in diabetic neuropathy after taking Vitamin D supplementation for a short time have been reported. Despite living in a country that is sunny all year round, hypovitaminosis D, indicated by an obvious low serum vitamin D level, has been recurrently noted in the UAE, as well as in the surrounding Arabian Gulf countries. This problem is receiving much attention and attracting clinical and academic interest.

Identification of novel differentially expressed genes in type 1 diabetes mellitus complications using transcriptomic profiling of UAE patients: a multicenter study.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder that mainly affects children and young adults. It is associated with debilitating and long-life complications. Therefore, understanding the factors that lead to the onset and development of these complications is crucial.

Effects of Varying Glucose Concentrations on ACE2's Hypothalamic Expression and Its Potential Relation to COVID-19-Associated Neurological Dysfunction.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has negatively impacted millions of lives, despite several vaccine interventions and strict precautionary measures. The main causative organism of this disease is the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) which infects the host via two key players: the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and the transmembrane protease, serine 2 (TMPRSS2). Some reports revealed that patients with glycemic dysregulation could have increased susceptibility to developing COVID-19 and its related neurological complications.

Neural control of pancreatic peptide hormone secretion.

Pancreatic peptide hormone secretion is inextricably linked to maintenance of normal levels of blood glucose. In animals and man, pancreatic peptide hormone secretion is controlled, at least in part, by input from parasympathetic (vagal) premotor neurons that are found principally in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV). Iatrogenic (insulin-induced) hypoglycaemia evokes a homeostatic response commonly referred to as the glucose counter-regulatory response.

Inflammatory Biomarkers Levels in T2DM Emirati Patients with Diabetic Neuropathy.

Introduction: Previous studies have suggested the involvement of chronic low-grade inflammation in the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy (DNP). However, none of these studies have examined the levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with confirmed diagnosis of neuropathy. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the levels of MCP-1 along with IL-6, IL-8 and TGF-β in patients with T2DM and confirmed neuropathy and identify correlations, if any, between MCP-1 and other parameters.

Differentiated PDGFRα-Positive Cells: A Novel In-Vitro Model for Functional Studies of Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase.

It is evident that depletion of interstitial cells and dysfunction of nitric oxide (NO) pathways are key players in development of several gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders such as diabetic gastroparesis (DGP). One of the main limitations of DGP research is the lack of isolation methods that are specific to interstitial cells, and therefore conducting functional studies is not feasible. The present study aims (i) to differentiate telomerase transformed mesenchymal stromal cells (iMSCs) into platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α-positive cells (PDGFRα-positive cells) using connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and L-ascorbic acids; (ii) to investigate the effects of NO donor and inhibitor on the survival rate of differentiated PDGFRα-positive cells; and (iii) to evaluate the impact of increased glucose concentrations, mimicking diabetic hyperglycemia, on the gene expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS).

COVID-19 and Neurological Impairment: Hypothalamic Circuits and Beyond.

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei, China. The virus infection, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), represents a global concern, as almost all countries around the world are affected. Clinical reports have confirmed several neurological manifestations in COVID-19 patients such as headaches, vomiting, and nausea, indicating the involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS).

Identification of Common Pathogenetic Processes between Schizophrenia and Diabetes Mellitus by Systems Biology Analysis.

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by both positive symptoms (i.e., psychosis) and negative symptoms (such as apathy, anhedonia, and poverty of speech).

Differential Expression of Inflammatory Markers in Hypoglycemia Unawareness Associated with Type 1 Diabetes: A Case Report.

The recurrence of hypoglycemic episodes leads to attenuation of the normal counter-regulatory mechanisms that are controlled by the hypothalamus, which results in hypoglycemia unawareness (HU). In this case report, we described for the first time the differential expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IFN-γ in a blood sample that was taken from a 27-year-old patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) who was diagnosed with HU. The anti-diabetic regimen is currently based on insulin injection, but the patient is planning to start the use of an insulin pump to have better control of glucose levels.

Identification of Novel Hypothalamic MicroRNAs as Promising Therapeutics for SARS-CoV-2 by Regulating ACE2 and TMPRSS2 Expression: An In Silico Analysis.

Background: Neuroinvasion of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is well documented and, given the similarities between this virus and SARS-CoV-2, it seems that the neurological impairment that is associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is due to SARS-CoV-2 neuroinvasion. Hypothalamic circuits are exposed to the entry of the virus via the olfactory bulb and interact centrally with crucial respiratory nuclei. Hypothalamic microRNAs are considered as potential biomarkers and modulators for various diseases and future therapeutic targets.

Nitric oxide interacts with cholinoceptors to modulate insulin secretion by pancreatic β cells.

Dysfunction of the pancreatic β cells leads to several chronic disorders including diabetes mellitus. Several mediators and mechanisms are known to be involved in the regulation of β cell secretory function. In this study, we propose that cytokine-induced nitric oxide (NO) production interacts with cholinergic mechanisms to modulate insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells.

Potential role of hypothalamic microRNAs in regulation of FOS and FTO expression in response to hypoglycemia.

Hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure (HAAF) is a serious complication of diabetes which is associated with the absence of physiological homeostatic counter-regulatory mechanisms that are controlled by the hypothalamus and sympathetic nervous system. Identification of biomarkers for early detection of HAAF requires an advanced understanding of molecular signature of hypoglycemia which is yet to be identified. The outcomes of the present study have shown that the viability and the apoptotic rate of the hypothalamic neurons (mHypoE-N39) were decreased significantly due to hypoglycemia in a dose-dependent fashion (p < 0.

Personalized intervention to improve stress and sleep patterns for glycemic control and weight management in obese Emirati patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

There is growing evidence that stress and sleep deprivation are involved in development of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The latter is one of the most challenging health problems in the UAE. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of personalized intervention on glycemic and weight control in Emirati patients with T2DM.

Growth of Diabetes Research in United Arab Emirates: Current and Future Perspectives.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most prevalent metabolic diseases in the UAE. During the last two decades, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has experienced tremendous development in all fields including DM research. The present study sheds light on the growth in DM research in UAE and represents a guide for DM researchers to create more focused future directions in DM research.