Publications by authors named "Najjar R"
Objective: To test whether messenger RNA (mRNA) splicing is altered in neutrophils from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and can produce neoantigens.
Methods: RNA sequencing of neutrophils from patients with SLE (n = 15) and healthy donors (n = 12) were analyzed for mRNA splicing using the RiboSplitter pipeline, an event-focused tool based on SplAdder with subsequent translation and protein domain annotation. RNA sequencing from SARS-CoV2-infected individuals was used as an additional comparator.
Background: Morphological and structural abnormalities are common dental anomalies. Identifying DA and determining their prevalence can play an important role in reducing the risk of surgical intervention and improving occlusion, leading to successful dental treatments. Thus, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of DA using panoramic radiographs (OPG) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia according to gender.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInborn errors of immunity (IEI) are a heterogenous group of rare monogenic disorders that affect innate or adaptive immunity, resulting in susceptibility to life-threatening infections and autoimmunity. Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a valuable curative option for children with IEI. We conducted a retrospective single-center study on the outcome of HCT in children with IEI.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeuroinflammation is often characterized by immune cell infiltrates in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Here, we apply single-cell RNA sequencing to explore the functional characteristics of these cells in patients with various inflammatory, infectious, and non-inflammatory neurological disorders. We show that CSF is distinct from the peripheral blood in terms of both cellular composition and gene expression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To evaluate the impact of optical vs. illuminance factors and their duration-dependency on lens-induced hyperopia (LIH) in chick eyes.
Methods: Hyperopia was induced in one eye in chicks (10 groups; n = 126) from day 1 after hatching until day 8 using +10-diopter lenses with fellow eyes as controls.
Background: Coronary artery disease is a prevalent cardiovascular condition and the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The management of orthopedic injuries requiring surgical fixation is particularly complex in patients with comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension (HTN). Coordinating the sequence, timing, and execution of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and orthopedic fixation requires careful consideration of the patient's overall health, surgical risks, and recovery potential.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The profession of nursing currently is examining systemic racism within the discipline. Nursing journals, as the gatekeepers of knowledge in the discipline, can reinforce dominant paradigms of racism in nursing science and scholarship.
Method: This article discusses the hegemonic forces operating in nursing science with examples of research topics and approaches lacking equity considerations.
Plant polyphenols are bioactive compounds touted for their antioxidant effects, and this is often the primary attribute used to explain their health benefits. However, we hypothesize that polyphenols have molecular properties independent of antioxidant function. The objective of this study was to investigate whether polyphenols had distinct molecular effects compared to pure antioxidants.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is a major contributor of premature cardiovascular-related deaths. Patients are typically on numerous medications to manage this condition; however, patients continue to experience poor quality of life. Alternative therapeutic approaches are needed to treat HFrEF.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study focuses on improving the diagnosis of arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AAION) from giant cell arteritis, which can prevent vision loss, particularly when symptoms are subtle or unreliable tests are involved.
- Researchers developed a deep learning system (DLS) to differentiate between AAION and nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) by analyzing color fundus images from a large international dataset involving 961 eyes from 802 patients.
- The DLS demonstrated promising performance metrics, such as area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, validating its potential as a diagnostic tool during the acute phase.
The transition from postdoc to junior faculty is exciting and uniquely challenging. On one hand, it allows for increased creative freedom and the opportunity to grow into an independent scientist. On the other hand, it comes with increasing administrative responsibilities, feelings of isolation, and high pressure to perform.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicroplastics are small plastic particles with sizes ranging between 1 μm and 5 mm. Microplastics can originate from macro plastics and degrade to a smaller size or be produced directly by manufacturers. Few studies have examined microplastic contamination in freshwater sediment cores to estimate changes in microplastic contamination over time.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Albumin is commonly used for various indications; however, there is conflicting data regarding its appropriate use in different clinical cases. This study aimed to determine the pattern and appropriateness of albumin use among cancer patients at the King Hussein Cancer Center in Jordan.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on adult cancer patients who were prescribed albumin between January 2019 and July 2020 in both outpatient and inpatient settings.
Purpose: This systematic review focuses on the effectiveness, safety, and implementation outcomes of light therapy as an intervention to prevent or control myopia in children.
Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, SCOPUS, and Web of Science up to January 27, 2024. Effectiveness outcomes included myopia incidence, and changes in axial length (AL), spherical equivalent refraction (SER), and choroidal thickness (CT).
Article Synopsis
- The study focused on developing a deep learning system (DLS) to differentiate between optic disc drusen (ODD) and papilledema in digital fundus photographs, which is important for understanding different ocular conditions.
- The research involved a large dataset of over 4,500 images from multiple centers worldwide, allowing for robust training and validation of the DLS.
- Results showed the DLS performed exceptionally well, achieving high accuracy in distinguishing between ODD and various severities of papilledema, indicating its potential for clinical use in neuro-ophthalmology.
Article Synopsis
- Climate change is causing serious hypoxia, which threatens productive estuaries like the Chesapeake Bay.
- The study compares three methods for projecting hypoxia: long-term continuous simulations, time slice, and delta methods.
- Results show that while the time slice method aligns well with continuous simulations, the delta method predicts significantly higher increases in hypoxic volume, suggesting the importance of climate variability in these projections.*
Objective: The pathogenesis of inflammatory myopathies is poorly understood and there is a need to dissect the transcriptome in more granular ways beyond gene expression.
Methods: We used a set of muscle RNA-sequencing data from different myositis subtypes grouped by their specific autoantibodies (n = 152). We quantified annotated RNA transcripts for each myositis subtype and identified uniquely expressed RNA as well as transcriptional similarities among myositis types.
Background: The Benign and Malicious Envy Scale (BeMaS) is designed to assess the trait of envy and evaluate individual differences in people's tendency to experience benign or malicious envy towards superior comparison standards.
Objective: This study aimed to examine the factor structure of the BeMaS in Arab culture through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and to ensure the measurement equivalence of the benign and malicious envy scale across three countries in the Arab Maghreb region (Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco).
Methods: The study was conducted on a sample of 1047 students from various universities across three countries, Algeria (n = 401), Tunisia (n = 289), and Morocco (n = 357), and implemented a cross-sectional study design.
Article Synopsis
- ACPA are antibodies specifically associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), linked to proteins modified by PAD4 enzymes, but the mechanism behind PAD4's role in RA remains unclear.
- Recent findings show that RA patients' neutrophils have unique poly-perforin pores, which are not found in healthy individuals, and these neutrophils contained citrullinated proteins near these pores.
- The study indicates that neutrophil destruction mediated by perforin leads to increased citrullination in RA, especially noted in Felty's syndrome, distinguishing it from other forms of cell death that show less citrullination.
Background: In the mammalian retina, intrinsically-photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGC) detect light and integrate signals from rods and cones to drive multiple non-visual functions including circadian entrainment and the pupillary light response (PLR). Non-visual photoreception and consequently non-visual sensitivity to light may change across child development. The PLR represents a quick and reliable method for examining non-visual responses to light in children.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- SLE is a chronic autoimmune disease with fluctuating symptoms and is characterized by immune activation and specific autoantibodies.
- Co-expression and co-localization of proteins Ro60, MOV10, and ORF1p have been observed in certain SLE granulocytes, along with DNA:RNA heteroduplexes and the DNA sensor ZBP1.
- The study suggests that the composition of ORF1p granules in SLE neutrophils may help explain the targeting of these proteins by autoantibodies in the disease.
Background/aim: This study examined the effects of tocotrienols (TT) in conjunction with statin on glucose homeostasis, bone microstructure, gut microbiome, and systemic and liver inflammatory markers in obese C57BL/6J mice.
Materials And Methods: Forty male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and assigned into four groups in a 2 (no statin vs. 120 mg statin/kg diet)×2 (no TT vs.
Palliative Care (PC) is an interdisciplinary specialty focused on relieving symptoms and optimizing quality of life for people living with serious illnesses and their families. A great need for PC exists in Saudi Arabia due to its aging population and prevalence of cancer and other chronic diseases. Home healthcare can make PC more accessible to patients, but clinicians must be equipped with the PC knowledge and skills to perform their roles.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Professional nursing organizations can respond to threats to social justice by strengthening structures to support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
Purpose: Describe implementation strategies and outcomes to advance DEI from the Western Institute of Nursing (WIN).
Methods: In 2019, WIN committed to prioritizing DEI by updating its vision and mission.