Sphingolipids in Childhood Asthma and Obesity (SOAP Study): A Protocol of a Cross-Sectional Study.

Asthma and obesity are two of the most common chronic conditions in children and adolescents. There is increasing evidence that sphingolipid metabolism is altered in childhood asthma and is linked to airway hyperreactivity. Dysregulated sphingolipid metabolism is also reported in obesity.

Prevalence of Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Prader-Willi Syndrome.

Introduction: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is common in patients with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). However, the prevalence of SDB varies widely between studies. Early identification of SDB and factors contributing to its incidence is essential, particularly when considering growth hormone (GH) therapy.

Obesity-Associated Non-T2 Mechanisms in Obese Asthmatic Individuals.

Obesity and asthma are two common health issues that have shown increased prevalence in recent years and have become a significant socioeconomic burden worldwide. Obesity increases asthma incidence and severity. Obese asthmatic individuals often experience increased exacerbation rates, enhanced airway remodeling, and reduced response to standard corticosteroid therapy.

Advances in Cystic Fibrosis Research in Qatar: A Commentary.

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder caused by a Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene defect. Many across the globe suffer the debilitating symptoms. The aim of this commentary is to briefly cover various aspects related to the disease in the Arab world and then in Qatar.

Health research-strengthening and capacity development: Research support system model in an academic healthcare system.

Introduction: Healthcare research contributes to the well-being of a population; hence, it is important to use the right system to ensure that junior researchers develop the required skills. Current research-strengthening and capacity development programs might lack a research process-based common framework or model leading to variable and suboptimal outcomes. This study aimed to describe the development and evaluation of a model for health research-capacity development at both individual and institutional levels in a Joint Commission International-accredited governmental healthcare organization in Qatar.

Role of Obesity in Inflammation and Remodeling of Asthmatic Airway.

Obesity is considered as an important risk factor for the onset of asthma and plays a key role in enhancing the disease's severity. Obese asthmatic individuals represent a distinct phenotype of asthma that is associated with additional symptoms, more severe exacerbation, decreased response to standard medication, and poor quality of life. Obesity impairs the function of the lung airway in asthmatic individuals, leading to increased inflammation and severe remodeling of the bronchus; however, the molecular events that trigger such changes are not completely understood.

The prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema among school-aged children in Qatar: A Global Asthma Network Study.

This cross-sectional study aims to utilize the Global Asthma Network (GAN) questionnaires to estimate the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema among children in Qatar. The study population was comprised of children ages 6-7 and 13-14 years, along with their parents or guardians. The English and Arabic versions of the GAN questionnaires were used to collect data for this study.

TRPV2: A Cancer Biomarker and Potential Therapeutic Target.

The Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid type-2 (TRPV2) channel exhibits oncogenicity in different types of cancers. TRPV2 is implicated in signaling pathways that mediate cell survival, proliferation, and metastasis. In leukemia and bladder cancer, the oncogenic activity of TRPV2 was linked to alteration of its expression profile.

CFTR modulator therapy for cystic fibrosis caused by the rare c.3700A>G mutation.

Background: The c.3700A>G mutation, a rare cystic fibrosis (CF)-causing CFTR mutation found mainly in the Middle East, produces full-length transcript encoding a missense mutation (I1234V-CFTR), and a cryptic splice site that deletes 6 amino acids in nucleotide binding domain 2 (I1234del-CFTR).

Methods: FRT cell models expressing I1234V-CFTR and I1234del-CFTR were generated.

A comparison between high-flow nasal cannula and noninvasive ventilation in the management of infants and young children with acute bronchiolitis in the PICU.

Background: Different modalities of noninvasive respiratory support have been recommended for the management of acute bronchiolitis in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is among the new modalities that have been widely used in the last decade.

Methods: This is a retrospective study involving infants and young children between the ages of 1 month and 2 years during the respiratory season of 2016-2017 (October-May).

Approaching two decades of cystic fibrosis research in Qatar: a historical perspective and future directions.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease caused by a defect of CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. CF affects multiple systems, predominantly with respiratory involvement. In Qatar, researchers have been exploring various aspects of the disease for almost 20 years.

Asthma and obesity in the Middle East region: An overview.

This paper aims to cover the current status of asthma and obesity in the Middle East, as well as to introduce the various studies tying the two diseases; further expanding on the proposed mechanisms. Finally, the paper covers recent literature related to sphingolipids and its role in asthma, followed by recommendations and future directions. In preparation of this paper, we searched PubMed and Google Scholar, with no restrictions, using the following terms; asthma, obesity, Middle East, sphingolipids.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia among Arabs: Where do we go from here?

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), also known as immotile-cilia syndrome, is a rare genetic disease that is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. Several studies have explored certain aspects of PCD in the Arab world, yet much is still lacking in terms of identifying the different characteristics of this disease. In this paper, we aim to briefly cover those studies published about PCD in Arab countries, as well as to provide recommendations and guidelines for future studies.

Evaluation of cationic channel TRPV2 as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target in Leukemia-Implications concerning the resolution of pulmonary inflammation.

Patients treated during leukemia face the risk of complications including pulmonary dysfunction that may result from infiltration of leukemic blast cells (LBCs) into lung parenchyma and interstitium. In LBCs, we demonstrated that transient receptor potential vanilloid type 2 channel (TRPV2), reputed for its role in inflammatory processes, exhibited oncogenic activity associated with alteration of its molecular expression profile. TRPV2 was overexpressed in LBCs compared to normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

Diagnosis of Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia. An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Guideline.

Background: This document presents the American Thoracic Society clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD).

Target Audience: Clinicians investigating adult and pediatric patients for possible PCD.

Methods: Systematic reviews and, when appropriate, meta-analyses were conducted to summarize all available evidence pertinent to our clinical questions.

A new clinical algorithm scoring for management of suspected foreign body aspiration in children.

Background: Foreign Body Aspiration (FBA) is a serious problem in children and delays in diagnosis and management can be devastating. The history is often vague, with subtle physical and chest radiograph abnormalities. This study aims to determine the indications for bronchoscopy in children with suspected FBA and evaluate the key clinical and statistically significant predictors of FBA, based on the patients' historical, physical and radiological findings at presentation.

Two Qatari siblings with cystic fibrosis and apparent mineralocorticoid excess.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) and apparent mineralocorticoid excess (AME) syndrome are both autosomal recessive disorders that result from mutations of specific identified genes for each condition. CF is caused by defects in the Cystic fibrosis trans membrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene which encodes for a protein that functions as a chloride channel and regulates the flow of other ions across the apical surface of epithelial cells. AME is due to the deficiency of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 enzyme (11βHSD2), which is responsible for the peripheral inactivation of cortisol to cortisone.

Genetic, cell biological, and clinical interrogation of the CFTR mutation c.3700 A>G (p.Ile1234Val) informs strategies for future medical intervention.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the molecular consequences of the variant c.3700 A>G in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, a variant that has been predicted to cause a missense mutation in the CFTR protein (p.Ile1234Val).