Enhancing the quality of lentil proteins via combination with whey proteins based on a dual process: a novel strategy through the incorporation of complexation and fermentation.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in developing a distinguished alternative to human consumption of animal-based proteins. The application of lentil proteins in the food industry is typically limited due to their poor solubility and digestibility. An innovative method of balancing lentil-whey protein (LP-WP) complexes with higher-quality protein properties was established to address this issue, which coupled a pH-shifting approach with fermentation treatment.

Omega-3 Supplementation in Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Patients: Impact on ICU Stay and Hospital Stay-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

: Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is associated with inflammation and complications, potentially leading to prolonged ICU and hospital stays. Omega-3 PUFA has anti-inflammatory properties, thought to potentially reduce complications in CABG patients. This study aims to systematically review and meta-analyze the impact of perioperative omega-3 PUFA supplementation on total ICU and total hospital stays in CABG patients; : Randomized controlled trials examining the effects of omega-3 PUFA supplementation (IV/oral) on ICU and hospital stays in CABG patients were included.

Genetic polymorphisms and their association with neurobiological and psychological factors in anorexia nervosa: a systematic review.

Background And Aims: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder. This systematic review synthesizes evidence from diverse studies to assess and investigate the association between gene polymorphisms and psychological and neurobiological factors in patients with AN.

Methods: A systematic search across PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, along with manual searching, was conducted.

Effects of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Docosahexaenoic Acid and Eicosapentaenoic Acid, on Post-Surgical Complications in Surgical Trauma Patients: Mechanisms, Nutrition, and Challenges.

This paper aims to provide an in-depth review of the specific outcomes associated with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), focusing on their purported effects on post-surgical complications in trauma patients. A comprehensive investigation of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids was conducted until February 2023 using the PubMed database. Surgical trauma is characterized by a disruption in immune response post surgery, known to induce systemic inflammation.

Zebrafish Model in Illuminating the Complexities of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders: A Unique Research Tool.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychological condition that may develop in certain individuals following exposure to life-threatening or traumatic events. Distressing symptoms, including flashbacks, are characterized by disrupted stress responses, fear, anxiety, avoidance tendencies, and disturbances in sleep patterns. The enduring effects of PTSD can profoundly impact personal and familial relationships, as well as social, medical, and financial stability.

The Interaction Between Body Mass Index Genetic Risk Score and Dietary Intake on Weight Status: A Systematic Review.

Background: The escalating global obesity epidemic and the emergence of personalized medicine strategies point to the pressing need to investigate the interplay between genetic risk scores (GRSs), dietary intake, and their combined impact on weight status. This systematic review synthesizes evidence from diverse studies to elucidate how dietary patterns and individual foods interact with genetic predisposition to obesity.

Methods: Literature searches were conducted in the PubMed, Embase, Science Direct, and Scopus databases until August 2023, following PRISMA guidelines.

Efficacy and Clinical Outcomes of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The world has witnessed one of the largest pandemics, dubbed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). As of December 2020, the USA alone reported 98,948 cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection during pregnancy, with 109 related maternal deaths. Current evidence suggests that unvaccinated pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 are at a higher risk of experiencing complications related to COVID-19 compared to nonpregnant women.

The Effects of Spirulina Supplementation on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: A Narrative Review.

Spirulina ( is a cyanobacterium associated with multiple health benefits. Cardiometabolic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and diabetes are prevalent yet usually preventable non-communicable diseases. Modifiable risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases include excessive body weight, body inflammation, atherogenic lipid profile, and imbalanced glucose metabolism.

Dietary Intake Is Not Associated with Body Composition nor with Biochemical Tests but with Psychological Status of Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy can negatively affect cancer patients' eating patterns, psychological status, body composition, and quality of life. In this study, we aimed to investigate the correlations between dietary intake/care and the psychological status of cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. An observational study was conducted on 75 participants during their first cycle of chemotherapy treatment, and they were followed up for three cycles.

The association between screen time and depression symptoms severity among adults with diabetes: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: To investigate the association between time spent on screen-based sedentary behavior (SBSB) and depression symptom severity (DSS) among adults with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: A cross-sectional study employing secondary data collected by Qatar Biobank (QBB) on 2386 adults with type 2 diabetes aged ≥ 18 years. Self-reported data on DSS measured using the Patient Health Quationnaire-9 and daily time spent on SBSB per week was used.

Association of Vitamin D Genetic Risk Score with Noncommunicable Diseases: A Systematic Review.

The genetic risk score (GRS) is an important tool for estimating the total genetic contribution or susceptibility to a certain outcome of interest in an individual, taking into account their genetic risk alleles. This study aims to systematically review the association between the GRS of low vitamin D with different noncommunicable diseases/markers. The article was first registered in PROSPERO CRD42023406929.

Machine learning techniques for the identification of risk factors associated with food insecurity among adults in Arab countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: A direct consequence of global warming, and strongly correlated with poor physical and mental health, food insecurity is a rising global concern associated with low dietary intake. The Coronavirus pandemic has further aggravated food insecurity among vulnerable communities, and thus has sparked the global conversation of equal food access, food distribution, and improvement of food support programs. This research was designed to identify the key features associated with food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic using Machine learning techniques.

Testing the Anticancer Effect of Matcha Using Zebrafish as an Animal Model.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients show the poorest prognosis and survival and the highest metastasis prevalence among all breast cancer subtypes. Matcha has recently been associated with multiple health benefits, and in vitro studies showed the potential effect of matcha in inhibiting cancer development and metastasis. We aimed to determine the safe, non-toxic dose of matcha suitable for zebrafish and to investigate the anticancer effect of matcha on the metastasis and growth of human TBNC cells using a zebrafish xenograft model.

A qualitative assessment of medical students' readiness for virtual clerkships at a Qatari university during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: This study aims to qualitatively examine the readiness of medical students to change to virtual clerkship (VC) during the pandemic, from both the faculty and students' perspectives.

Methods: A qualitative study was conducted based on the framework of readiness to change. Focus group discussions with students, and semi-structured interviews with clinical faculty members were done using appropriate online platforms.

Exploring the challenges of virtual internships during the COVID-19 pandemic and their potential influence on the professional identity of health professions students: A view from Qatar University.

Introduction: COVID-19 has imposed many shared limitations on medical and health education. Just like other health professions programs at most institutions, the Qatar University health cluster (QU Health) applied a containment approach and shifted all learning online, and onsite training was replaced by virtual internships (VIs) during the first wave of the pandemic. Our study aims to explore the challenges of virtual internships during the COVID-19 pandemic and their influence on the professional identity (PI) of the health cluster students from the College of Medicine, the College of Health Sciences, and the College of Pharmacy at Qatar University.

The therapeutic potential of matcha tea: A critical review on human and animal studies.

Matcha is a powdered form of Japanese green tea that has been gaining global popularity recently. Matcha tea has various health benefits, including an enhancing effect on cognitive function, cardio-metabolic health, and anti-tumorogenesis. To date, randomized clinical trials (RCT) showed that matcha decreases stress, slightly enhances attention and memory, and has no effect on mood.

Dietary patterns associated with the risk of pancreatic cancer: Case-control study findings.

Diet is an important modifiable lifestyle factor, but epidemiological studies evaluating the association between dietary patterns and pancreatic cancer (PC) have reported inconsistent findings. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of several dietary choices on the risk of PC among newly diagnosed Jordanian patients. A case-control study was conducted at major teaching and general hospitals, including a Jordanian oncology center.

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on smoking (waterpipe and cigarette) and participants' BMI across various sociodemographic groups in Arab countries in the Mediterranean Region.

Introduction: Tobacco smokers are at high risk of developing severe COVID-19. Lockdown was a chosen strategy to deal with the spread of infectious diseases; nonetheless, it influenced people's eating and smoking behaviors. The main objective of this study is to determine the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on smoking (waterpipe and cigarette) behavior and its associations with sociodemographic characteristics and body mass index.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Physical (In)Activity Behavior in 10 Arab Countries.

Insufficient physical activity is considered a strong risk factor associated with non-communicable diseases. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on physical (in)activity behavior in 10 Arab countries before and during the lockdown. A cross-sectional study using a validated online survey was launched originally in 38 different countries.

Health sciences students' and instructors' perceptions of the emergency switch to virtual internship amid the COVID-19 pandemic: A case from Qatar.

In efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, health colleges at Qatar University shifted their clinical training to virtual internships (VI) and project-based learning (PBL). The shift was new to students and faculty alike, and a major change that posed many challenges. This study aimed to explore the experience of changing to VIs during the pandemic from both the clinical instructors' and health sciences students' perspectives.

Clinical outcomes of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in children and adolescents: A systematic review.

Background & Aims: The BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine is the only vaccine offered to children among all available vaccines. However, limited evidence is available about the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 vaccines, especially among children and adolescents. This review offers a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine's current information on children and adolescents.

Implementation and evaluation of a preceptor educational development programme involving the health cluster colleges at Qatar University.

Background: 'The Practice Educators' Academy Programme' is an innovative educational intervention developed following a preceptor-focussed needs assessment. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the programme's effect on self-efficacy and knowledge amongst multi-disciplinary clinical preceptors who precept students across the Health Cluster in Qatar University. The secondary aim was to assess the preceptors' satisfaction with the programme's comprehensiveness, appropriateness, and relevance.

Effects of different diets on glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes: A literature review.

Globally, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the most common diseases, and the incidence is gradually increasing. Diet management could improve the elevated HbA1c levels. This review aims to examine the effects of different types of diets on glycemic control in patients with T2DM.