Production and optimization of surfactin produced from locally isolated Bacillus halotolerans grown on agro-industrial wastes and its antimicrobial efficiency.

Introduction: Optimal exploitation of the huge amounts of agro-industrial residuals that are produced annually, which endangers the ecosystem and ultimately contributes to climate change, is one of the solutions available to produce value-added compounds.

Aim And Objectives: This study aimed at the economic production and optimization of surfactin. Therefore, the production was carried out by the microbial conversion of Potato Peel Waste (PPW) and Frying Oil Waste (FOW) utilizing locally isolated Bacillus halotolerans.

Protective effects of microbial biosurfactants produced by Bacillus halotolerans and Candida parapsilosis on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice: Impact of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties via TGF-β1/Smad-3 pathway and miRNA-326.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an irreversible disease which considered the most fatal pulmonary fibrosis. Pulmonary toxicity including IPF is the most severe adverse effect of bleomycin, the chemotherapeutic agent. Based on the fact that, exogenous surfactants could induce alveolar stabilization in many lung diseases, the aim of this study was to explore the effects of low cost biosurfactants, surfactin (SUR) and sophorolipids (SLs), against bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice due to their antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.

The mechanistic interplay between Nrf-2, NF-κB/MAPK, caspase-dependent apoptosis, and autophagy in the hepatoprotective effects of Sophorolipids produced by microbial conversion of banana peels using Saccharomyces cerevisiae against doxorubicin-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Background: Doxorubicin (DOX) is a well-known chemotherapeutic agent which causes serious adverse effects due to multiple organ damage, including cardiotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and hepatotoxicity. The mechanism of DOX-induced organ toxicity might be attributed to oxidative stress (OS) and, consequently, activation of inflammatory signaling pathways, apoptosis, and blockage of autophagy. Sophorolipids (SLs) as a glycolipid type of biosurfactants, are natural products that have unique properties and a wide range of applications attributed to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Production and optimization of novel Sphorolipids from Candida parapsilosis grown on potato peel and frying oil wastes and their adverse effect on Mucorales fungal strains.

Brief Introduction: Mucormycosis disease, which has recently expanded with the Covid 19 pandemic in many countries, endangers patients' lives, and treatment with common drugs is fraught with unfavorable side effects.

Aim And Objectives: This study deals with the economic production of sophorolipids (SLs) from different eight fungal isolates strains utilizing potato peels waste (PPW) and frying oil waste (FOW). Then investigate their effect against mucormycetes fungi.

Sophorolipids produced by Yarrowia lipolytica grown on Moringa oleifera oil cake protect against acetic acid-induced colitis in rats: impact on TLR-4/p-JNK/NFκB-p65 pathway.

Objectives: Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) activation plays a major role in triggering oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation implicated in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). Due to sophorolipids (SLs) antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, they are interestingly becoming more valued for their potential effectiveness in treating a variety of diseases. This study was designed to explore the effect of SLs produced by microbial conversion of Moringa oleifera oil cake using isolated yeast Yarrowia lipolytica against UC induced by acetic acid (AA) in rats.

Opto-electrical bimodal recording of neural activity in awake head-restrained mice.

Electrical and optical monitoring of neural activity is major approaches for studying brain functions. Each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, such as the ability to determine cell types and temporal resolution. Although opto-electrical bimodal recording is beneficial by enabling us to exploit the strength of both approaches, it has not been widely used.

Prediction of Cranial Radiotherapy Treatment in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients Using Machine Learning: A Case Study at MAHAK Hospital.

Background: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is the most common blood disease in children and is responsible for the most deaths amongst children. Due to major improvements in the treatment protocols in the 50-years period, the survivability of this disease has witnessed dramatic rise until this date which is about 90 percent. There are many investigations tending to indicate the efficiency of cranial radiotherapy found out that without that, outcome of the patients did not change and even it improved at some cases.

Stratified analyses of genome wide association study data reveal haplotypes for a candidate gene on chromosome 2 (KIAA1211L) is associated with opioid use in patients of Arabian descent.

Background: Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) have been conducted to identify genes and pathways involved in development of opioid use disorder. This study extends the first GWAS of substance use disorder (SUD) patients from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by stratifying the study group based on opioid use, which is the most common substance of use in this cohort.

Methods: The GWAS cohort consisted of 512 (262 case, 250 controls) male participants from the UAE.

Further delineation of the phenotype caused by a novel large homozygous deletion of GRID2 gene in an adult patient.

Different mutations in glutamate receptor ionotropic delta 2 (GRID2) gene cause cerebellar ataxia in human. We report the largest homozygous deletion of the GRID2 gene reported to date, most probably causing complete loss of the gene product. Our patient presents mainly early onset cerebellar ataxia, cerebellar atrophy, nystagmus, and developmental delay with the least amount of intellectual disability.

A case-control genome wide association study of substance use disorder (SUD) identifies novel variants on chromosome 7p14.1 in patients from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Genome wide association studies (GWASs) have provided insights into the molecular basis of the disorder in different population. This study presents the first GWAS of substance use disorder (SUD) in patients from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The aim was to identify genetic association(s) that may provide insights into the molecular basis of the disorder.

Including gaming disorder in the ICD-11: The need to do so from a clinical and public health perspective.

The proposed introduction of gaming disorder (GD) in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) has led to a lively debate over the past year. Besides the broad support for the decision in the academic press, a recent publication by van Rooij et al. (2018) repeated the criticism raised against the inclusion of GD in ICD-11 by Aarseth et al.

The frequency of rs1076560 and rs1799971 in substance use disorder patients from the United Arab Emirates.

Background: Dopaminergic and opioid systems are involved in mediating drug reward and reinforcement of various types of substances including psychoactive compounds. Genes of both systems have been candidate for investigation for associations with substance use disorder (SUD) in various populations. This study is the first study to determine the allele frequency and the genetic association of the rs1076560 SNP and rs1799971 SNP variants in clinically diagnosed patients with SUD from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Identification of a novel deletion within with Sjögren-Larsson Syndrome.

Sjögren-Larsson syndrome (SLS) is a rare type of congenital ichthyosis with neurological problems and intellectual disability. Homozygous mutations in are known to be responsible for this syndrome. Here, we report an Iranian family with congenital SLS bearing a novel two-base-pair deletion within genomic sequence.

Physicians' experiences of SBIRT training and implementation for SUD management in primary care in the UAE: a qualitative study.

Unlabelled: AimThe objective of this paper is to present a qualitative study of introducing substance misuse screening using the Screening Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) model, in primary care in Abu Dhabi.

Background: Substance misuse in the UAE is an increasing problem. However religious beliefs and fear of legal consequences have prevented this topic from being openly discussed, risk levels identified through screening and treatment options offered.

A controlled trial of screening, brief intervention and referral for treatment (SBIRT) implementation in primary care in the United Arab Emirates.

Unlabelled: Aim This project evaluated the effectiveness of screening brief intervention and referral for treatment (SBIRT) in primary care in Abu Dhabi to manage patients with problematic substance use. This study aimed to determine whether: (i) training primary care physicians on the SBIRT model increased the identification of patients using substances at a harmful, hazardous or dependent level; (ii) training improved physicians' knowledge, attitudes and beliefs in self-efficacy in managing substance use.

Background: Substance use is increasing in the United Arab Emirates yet there has been no formal primary care intervention.

Gaming disorder: Its delineation as an important condition for diagnosis, management, and prevention.

Online gaming has greatly increased in popularity in recent years, and with this has come a multiplicity of problems due to excessive involvement in gaming. Gaming disorder, both online and offline, has been defined for the first time in the draft of 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). National surveys have shown prevalence rates of gaming disorder/addiction of 10%-15% among young people in several Asian countries and of 1%-10% in their counterparts in some Western countries.

Two years follow up of 270 patients treated by transvaginal mesh for anterior and/or apical prolapse.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the 1 and 2 years outcomes of transvaginal single incision mesh surgery (SIMS) for anterior pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

Material And Methods: This was a prospective study including all patients from November 2008 to December 2012 who underwent SIMS for symptomatic anterior prolapse stage≥2, according to the POP Quantification (POP-Q). Symptoms and quality of life were assessed using validated questionnaires: Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20), Pelvic Floor Impact questionnaire (PFIQ-7), and Prolapse/Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12).

The pattern of substance use disorder in the United Arab Emirates in 2015: results of a National Rehabilitation Centre cohort study.

Background: Substance use disorder (SUD) is a global problem with no boundaries, which also afflicts individuals from countries of the Arabian Peninsula. Data from this region is limited. In an effort to develop targeted prevention and intervention initiatives in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), it was necessary to identify the nature of substance use by describing the characteristics of those using different substances.

Energy drinks in the Gulf Cooperation Council states: A review.

Energy drinks have become a popular beverage worldwide. This review was carried out to have an overview among adolescents and emerging adults in the Gulf Co-operation Council states about energy drinks consumption rates and other related issues such as starting age and patterns of energy drink consumption. The Medline and Embase databases were searched separately using different terms such as energy drinks, energy beverages, and caffeinated drinks.

Adolescents' perception of substance use and factors influencing its use: a qualitative study in Abu Dhabi.

Objective: The objective of this article is to gain a deeper understanding of the attitudes and perceptions of adolescents in the United Arab Emirates regarding substance and to identify factors that, in their view, may influence the risk of substance use and suggest possible interventions.

Design: This was a qualitative study that used a focus group approach.

Setting: The study was carried out in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Finding mutation within non-coding region of GJB2 reveals its importance in genetic testing of hearing loss in Iranian population.

Objective: Hereditary hearing loss is the most common neurosensory disorder in humans. Half of the cases have genetic etiology with extraordinary genetic heterogeneity. Mutations in one gene, GJB2, are the most common cause for autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL) in many different populations.

Propranolol-induced Impairment of Contextual Fear Memory Reconsolidation in Rats: A similar Effect on Weak and Strong Recent and Remote Memories.

Introduction: Previous studies have demonstrated that the β-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol impairs fear memory reconsolidation in experimental animals. There are experimental parameters such as the age and the strength of memory that can interact with pharmacological manipulations of memory reconsolidation. In this study, we investigated the ability of the age and the strength of memory to influence the disrupting effects of propranolol on fear memory reconsolidation in rats.

Learning-related neuronal activity in the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus during associative cerebellar learning.

During delay eyeblink conditioning, rats learn to produce an eyelid-closure conditioned response (CR) to a conditioned stimulus (CS), such as a light, which precedes and coterminates with an unconditioned stimulus (US). Previous studies have suggested that the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (LGNv) might play an important role in visual eyeblink conditioning by supplying visual sensory input to the pontine nuclei (PN) and also receiving feedback from the cerebellum. No prior study has investigated LGNv neuronal activity during eyeblink conditioning.

Incidence of gestational diabetes and birth complications in Switzerland: screening in 1042 pregnancies.

To evaluate the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), gestational glucose intolerance (GGI), and birth major complications, a population of 1042 pregnant women was screened after the end of the second trimester with a two-step screening method. Patients with a positive 50-g screening test (plasma glucose ≥ 7.8 mmol/l at 1 h) underwent a 3-h standard 100-g oral glucose tolerance test.