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.

Development, implementation, and evaluation of an undergraduate family medicine program in the United Arab Emirates.

Background: Healthcare systems rely on well-trained family medicine physicians who can offer continuous quality services to their communities and beyond. The American Academy of Family Physicians and the World Organization of Family Doctors recommend that medical curricula should have adequately supervised education and training of the learners in family medicine during their preclinical and clinical placements. However, some medical schools don't have a comprehensive family medicine program to prepare graduates who can meet the community needs.

Fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene is essential for insulin secretion and β-cell function: In vitro studies using INS-1 cells and human pancreatic islets.

Aims: In this study, we investigated the role of the FTO gene in pancreatic β-cell biology and its association with type 2 diabetes (T2D). To address this issue, human pancreatic islets and rat INS-1 (832/13) cells were used to perform gene silencing, overexpression, and functional analysis of FTO expression; levels of FTO were also measured in serum samples obtained from diabetic and obese individuals.

Results: The findings revealed that FTO expression was reduced in islets from hyperglycemic/diabetic donors compared to normal donors.

Embedding patient safety in a scaffold of interprofessional education; a qualitative study with thematic analysis.

Background: Regardless of a proliferation of interest in reducing unsafe practices in healthcare, threats to patient safety (PS) remain high. Moreover, little attention has been paid towards the role of interprofessional education (IPE) in enhancing PS. This qualitative study was conducted to unfold the insights of the senior medical, dental and health sciences students at the University of Sharjah (UoS) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) about PS in an online IPE-based workshop.

Health professions students' approaches towards practice-driven ethical dilemmas; a case-based qualitative study.

Background: In healthcare practice, ethical challenges are inevitable and their optimal handling may potentialy improve patient care. Ethical development in medical education is critical for the transition from a medical and health sciences student to an ethical healthcare practitioner. Understanding the health professions students' approaches towards practice-driven ethical dilemmas could harness i the effective ethical development in their medical education.

The role of autophagy in colorectal cancer: Impact on pathogenesis and implications in therapy.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is considered as a global major cause of cancer death. Surgical resection is the main line of treatment; however, chemo-, radiotherapy and other adjuvant agents are crucial to achieve good outcomes. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a well-recognized key player in CRC progression, yet the processes linking the cancer cells to its TME are not fully delineated.

Reduced Retinoic Acid Receptor Beta (Rarβ) Affects Pancreatic β-Cell Physiology.

Various studies have suggested a link between vitamin A (VA), all-trans-retinol, and type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the functional role/expression of vitamin A receptors (Rarα, β, and γ) in pancreatic β-cells is not clear yet. Accordingly, we performed a series of bioinformatics, molecular and functional experiments in human islet and INS-1 cells to evaluate the role of Rarβ on insulin secretion and pancreatic β-cell function.

Identifying Immunological and Clinical Predictors of COVID-19 Severity and Sequelae by Mathematical Modeling.

Since its emergence as a pandemic in March 2020, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outcome has been explored several predictive models, using specific clinical or biochemical parameters. In the current study, we developed an integrative non-linear predictive model of COVID-19 outcome, using clinical, biochemical, immunological, and radiological data of patients with different disease severities. Initially, the immunological signature of the disease was investigated through transcriptomics analysis of nasopharyngeal swab samples of patients with different COVID-19 severity versus control subjects (exploratory cohort, n=61), identifying significant differential expression of several cytokines.

Profiling Levels of Serum microRNAs and Soluble ACE2 in COVID-19 Patients.

The main mechanism of viral entry in COVID-19 infection is through the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor present in the lungs. Numerous studies suggested a clinical significance of risk factors, such as gender, obesity, and diabetes on the soluble form of ACE2 (sACE2) and related miRNAs in COVID-19 infection. This study aims to investigate the serum level of sACE2 and 4 miRNAs (miR-421, miR-3909, miR-212-5p, and miR-4677-3p) in COVID-19 patients and assess their associations with clinicopathological parameters.

EXOC6 (Exocyst Complex Component 6) Is Associated with the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes and Pancreatic β-Cell Dysfunction.

EXOC6 and EXOC6B (EXOC6/6B) components of the exocyst complex are involved in the secretory granule docking. Recently, EXOC6/6B were anticipated as a molecular link between dysfunctional pancreatic islets and ciliated lung epithelium, making diabetic patients more prone to severe SARS-CoV-2 complications. However, the exact role of EXOC6/6B in pancreatic β-cell function and risk of T2D is not fully understood.

Assessing the utility and efficacy of e-OSCE among undergraduate medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its quick progression to a global pandemic has urged medical schools to shift from didactic to distance learning and assessment approaches. The quality of clinical training and assessment have been jeopardized due to the regulatory restrictions and potential hazards to human lives. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the utility and efficacy of an electronic Objective Structured Clinical Examination (e-OSCE), which attempted to transform the format of a face-to-face OSCE to an e-OSCE.

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and Associated Risk Factors in the United Arab Emirates: A Cross-Sectional Population-Based Study.

Aims: To estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its associated risk factors among the United Arab Emirates (UAE) residents.

Methods: A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted among adults living in Sharjah and Northern Emirates using the UAE National Diabetes and Lifestyle Study (UAEDIAB) data. Anthropometric measurements and fasting blood samples were obtained.

Prevalence and associated risk factors of hypertension and pre-hypertension among the adult population: findings from the Dubai Household Survey, 2019.

Background: Minimal data is available on the prevalence and correlates of hypertension and prehypertension in Dubai. The study aims to measure the prevalence of hypertension and pre-hypertension and the associated socio-demographic characteristics, behavioral risk factors and comorbidities among the adult population of Dubai.

Methods: This study used data from the Dubai Household Health Survey, 2019.

A hypertension risk score for adults: a population-based cross-sectional study from the Dubai Household Survey 2019.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop a risk score model for predicting hypertension specific to the population of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to facilitate prevention and early intervention.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of data from the Dubai Household Health Survey 2019 was conducted. Demographic and physical parameters, as well as blood glucose levels, were included in the data.

Significance and agreement between obesity anthropometric measurements and indices in adults: a population-based study from the United Arab Emirates.

Background: The rates of overweight and obese adults in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have increased dramatically in recent decades. Several anthropometric measurements are used to assess body weight status. Some anthropometric measurements might not be convenient to use in certain communities and settings.

Circulating Soluble ACE2 and Upstream microRNA Expressions in Serum of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients.

The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was associated with multiple organ failure and comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Risk factors, such as age, gender, and obesity, were associated with COVID-19 infection. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is known to use several host receptors for viral entry, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) in the lung and other organs.

A mixed methods approach to determine the climate of interprofessional education among medical and health sciences students.

Background: High-quality patient care is a complex phenomenon that requires collaboration among healthcare professionals. Research has shown that Interprofessional Education (IPE) carries promise to improve collaborative work and patient care. So far, collaboration among various health professionals remains a challenge.

Vitamin A levels are decreased but not influenced by glucose- or lipid-lowering medications in subjects with type 2 diabetes.

Background And Aim: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex polygenic disease with unclear mechanisms. Clinical studies on the association of vitamin A with T2D in humans are still controversial. Herein, we aimed to investigate the plasma levels of vitamin A, predictor factors, and its correlations with clinical phenotypes in Emirati population.

Combined intake of glucose-and lipid-lowering medications further elevates plasma levels of PCSK9 in type 2 diabetes patients.

Background And Aim: This study examined the status of plasma levels of protein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) in association with glucose-and lipid-lowering medications in subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods: This study comprised 177 diabetics and 115 non-diabetic subjects recruited from the United Arab Emirates National Diabetes Study (UAEDIAB). Clinical and biomedical data were collected by standard techniques.

Let7b-5p is Upregulated in the Serum of Emirati Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Regulates Insulin Secretion in INS-1 Cells.

is a member of the miRNA family and one of the top expressed miRNAs in human islets that implicated in glucose homeostasis. The levels of in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients or its role in β-cell function is still unclear. In the current study, we measured the serum levels of in Emirati patients with T2DM (with/without complications) and control subjects.

Genetic Variants of the Gene Are Associated with Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in the Emirati Population.

Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C X domain 3 has been shown to influence pancreatic β-cell function by disrupting insulin signaling. Herein, we investigated two genetic variants in the gene in relation to type 2 diabetes (T2D) or metabolic syndrome (MetS) in the Emirati population. In total, 556 adult Emirati individuals (306 T2D and 256 controls) were genotyped for two variants (rs319013 and rs9292806) using TaqMan genotyping assays.

Low Vitamin D Serum Level Is Associated with HDL-C Dyslipidemia and Increased Serum Thrombomodulin Levels of Insulin-Resistant Individuals.

Background: Insulin-resistant individuals are known to have dyslipidemia and are predicted to be at high risk of cardiovascular events. Vitamin D deficiency was shown to be associated with dyslipidemia; however, the type of dyslipidemia associated with vitamin D deficiency in insulin-resistant individuals is not determined. Furthermore, there is evidence linking insulin resistance with low-grade inflammation suggesting levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines to be increased in insulin-resistant states.