Joint Analysis of Phenotypic and Genomic Diversity Sheds Light on the Evolution of Xenobiotic Metabolism in Humans.

Variation in genes involved in the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs (ADME) can influence individual response to a therapeutic treatment. The study of ADME genetic diversity in human populations has led to evolutionary hypotheses of adaptation to distinct chemical environments. Population differentiation in measured drug metabolism phenotypes is, however, scarcely documented, often indirectly estimated via genotype-predicted phenotypes.

Rational drug design strategies for the development of promising multi-target directed indole hybrids as Anti-Alzheimer agents.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurological disorder that leads to dementia i.e., progressive memory loss accompanied with worsening of thinking ability of an individual.

Drug Prescribing Practices in Dental Care Patients at a Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic in Oman.

Objectives: We sought to assess medications prescribed to patients attending the Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery (DMS) clinic at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), Oman.

Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study covering a six-month period from January to June 2018 including a sample of patients attending the DMS clinic. Drug utilization data like drug name, type, administration route, dosage frequency, and anatomical and therapeutic class were assessed.

Ameliorative Effect of Gum Acacia on Hookah Smoke-Induced Testicular Impairment in Mice.

We investigated some reproductive actions of hookah smoke (HS) exposure (30 min/day, for 30 days) in male mice, and the possible mitigative effect of the prebiotic agent gum acacia (GA) thereon. Control mice were air-exposed (AE). Twenty-four hours after the last exposure, the levels of some plasma reproductive hormones, biochemical markers of inflammation, oxidative and nitrosative stress and testicular histopathology were assessed.

Potassium bromate-induced kidney damage in rats and the effect of gum acacia thereon.

Potassium bromate (KBrO) is used in many countries in cosmetic and food industries. In this work, we investigated in male Sprague-Dawley rats, the effect of four graded oral doses of KBrO (5, 15, 45 and 135 mg/kg/day for 28 days) on renal function tests, inflammation, oxidative damage, and apoptosis, as well as on histopathology, using several traditional and novel renal injury biomarkers in plasma, urine and renal tissues. We also tested the possible ameliorative action of the renoprotective prebiotic agent gum acacia (GA) on the actions of KBrO when given concomitantly with it in the drinking water at a concentration of 15%.

Prescribing Pattern of Antifungal Medications at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Oman.

Introduction: Inappropriate use of antifungal agents is implicated in the global burden of antifungal resistance, adverse outcomes like persistent infections, unnecessary exposure and increased cost. Data collection from time to time is to be done in order to have a check on the resistance/sensitivity pattern of the commonly prescribed antifungal drugs.

Aim: To describe the pattern of antifungal drug prescription and administration to patients attending a university hospital in Oman.

Reproductive toxicity to male mice of nose only exposure to water- pipe smoke.

Background/aims: Water-pipe smoking (WPS) is popular in the Middle East and is starting to gain popularity in several Western countries as well. It is widely and erroneously perceived to be less harmful than other forms of tobacco use. The reproductive adverse effects of cigarette smoking have been studied before with conflicting results, but data on the possible adverse reproductive effects of WPS are lacking.

Renoprotective effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid on cisplatin-induced acute renal injury in rats.

To investigate the effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on acute renal injury (ARI), we used here a rat model of acute tubular necrosis induced by the anticancer drug cisplatin (CP). GABA was given orally (100 or 500 mg/kg/day for ten consecutive days), and on the 6th day, some of the treated rats were also injected intraperitoneally with either saline or CP (6 mg/kg). Four days after CP treatment, urine was collected from all rats, which were then anaesthetized for blood pressure and renal blood flow monitoring.

Does swimming exercise affect experimental chronic kidney disease in rats treated with gum acacia?

Different modes of exercise are reported to be beneficial in subjects with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Similar benefits have also been ascribed to the dietary supplement gum acacia (GA). Using several physiological, biochemical, immunological, and histopathological measurements, we assessed the effect of swimming exercise (SE) on adenine-induced CKD, and tested whether SE would influence the salutary action of GA in rats with CKD.

Glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes at a primary health care center in Oman.

Aims: To determine the status of blood sugar control by using fasting blood sugar (FBS) of ≤6.1 mmol/l and glycosyted hemoglobin A1c (HbAc1) of <7% as indictors of glycemic control and to assess the influence of demographic, blood pressure (BP) and lipid characteristics on glycemic control.

Methods: This retrospective study included all Omani patients with type 2 diabetes (N=177) attended a primary health care center in Al-Dakhiliya region, Oman.

Genome-wide association and large-scale follow up identifies 16 new loci influencing lung function.

Pulmonary function measures reflect respiratory health and are used in the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We tested genome-wide association with forced expiratory volume in 1 second and the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity in 48,201 individuals of European ancestry with follow up of the top associations in up to an additional 46,411 individuals. We identified new regions showing association (combined P < 5 × 10(-8)) with pulmonary function in or near MFAP2, TGFB2, HDAC4, RARB, MECOM (also known as EVI1), SPATA9, ARMC2, NCR3, ZKSCAN3, CDC123, C10orf11, LRP1, CCDC38, MMP15, CFDP1 and KCNE2.

Frequency of CYP2C9 genotypes among Omani patients receiving warfarin and its correlation with warfarin dose.

Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the frequency of CYP2C9 alleles in Omani patients receiving warfarin and to correlate genotyping data with warfarin dosage. The Omani population has Asian and African ethnicities.

Methods: CYP2C9 genotypes were determined by the polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism method.

Beta2-adrenoceptor polymorphisms and asthma from childhood to middle age in the British 1958 birth cohort: a genetic association study.

Background: Functionally relevant polymorphisms of the beta2-adrenoceptor gene (ADRB2) are common in white populations, but their contribution to the burden of airways disease in the population is uncertain. We aimed to relate the long-term prevalence of asthma or wheeze to functional coding region polymorphisms in the ADRB2 gene.

Methods: The British 1958 birth cohort consisted of all people born in Britain during a week in 1958.