Camel milk is a neglected source of brucellosis among rural Arab communities.

The World Health Organization describes brucellosis as one of the world's leading zoonotic diseases, with the Middle East a global hotspot. Brucella melitensis is endemic among livestock populations in the region, with zoonotic transmission occurring via consumption of raw milk, amongst other routes. Control is largely via vaccination of small ruminant and cattle populations.

Short-term impact of low air pressure on plants' functional traits.

Lower atmospheric pressure affects biologically relevant physical parameters such as gas partial pressure and concentration, leading to increased water vapor diffusivity and greater soil water content loss through evapotranspiration. This might impact plant photosynthetic activity, resource allocation, water relations, and growth. However, the direct impact of low air pressure on plant physiology is largely unknown.

Molecular diagnosis and phylogenetic analysis of a Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus human case in Jordan.

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is an important zoonotic pathogen. The aim of this paper is to report one polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive case of MERS-CoV in a 27-year-old man who was involved in a nationwide longitudinal surveillance study of certain zoonotic diseases in Jordan including MERS-CoV. Whole-blood and nasal swab samples were collected from the man and five camels in the vicinity of his living area.

Serological prevalence of spp. at the livestock-human interface in Jordan.

Despite its endemic status in the Middle East, key knowledge gaps persist regarding the prevalence, transmission rate, and geographical distribution of both human and livestock brucellosis in Jordan. This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of human and livestock brucellosis as well as the incidence of brucellosis in humans in Jordan. A total of 500 human participants (202 exposed and 296 unexposed to livestock) were enrolled in the study.

From silos to synergy: a consortium approach to air pollution and public health in Abu Dhabi.

Financial resources alone cannot guarantee effective public health policy. In Abu Dhabi, massive economic growth in the desert climate resulted in concentrated urbanization and led to challenges in the regulation of air pollution. The Environment Agency in Abu Dhabi commissioned us to scope the regulatory challenges for air pollution.

Vincristine in Cancer Therapy: Mechanisms, Efficacy, and Future Perspectives.

Cancer remains one of the predominant causes of mortality globally, accounting for over 10 million deaths each year. Despite advancements in medical treatments, the challenge of resistance and treatment failure persists, necessitating innovative approaches. Traditional cancer treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and pharmaceutical therapy.

Using Adaptive Choice-Based Conjoint Approach to Facilitate Shared Decision-Making in Osteoarthritis Management: A Patient Perception Study.

Objective: This study examines the application of the adaptive choice-based conjoint (ACBC) method to facilitate the shared decision-making (SDM) process for osteoarthritis (OA) treatment.

Methods: The study recruited adult patients with OA attending the rheumatology/orthopedics clinics in a local urban hospital in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Participants completed a questionnaire regarding who influences their decision in selecting OA medication, followed by an ACBC questionnaire about OA medication preferences and a questionnaire about the potential contribution of ACBC to the SDM process.

Saudi consensus guidance for the diagnosis and management of inflammatory bowel disease in children and adolescents.

The management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children and adolescents is challenging. Clear evidence-based guidelines are required for this population. This article provides recommendations for managing IBD in Saudi children and adolescents aged 6-19 years, developed by the Saudi Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Saudi Society of Clinical Pharmacy and the Saudi Gastroenterology Association.

MERS-CoV exposure and risk factors for MERS-CoV ELISA seropositivity among members of livestock-owning households in southern Jordan: a population based cross-sectional study.

Background: Although dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) are known to be the host reservoir for MERS-CoV, the virus causing Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), zoonotic transmission pathways and camel subpopulations posing highest transmission risk are poorly understood. Extensively managed herds, ubiquitous across the Arabian Peninsula, present a major potential source of primary infection. In this study we aimed to address key knowledge gaps regarding MERS epidemiology among high-risk communities associated with such herds, which is essential information for effective control strategies.

Precision Nutrition Unveiled: Gene-Nutrient Interactions, Microbiota Dynamics, and Lifestyle Factors in Obesity Management.

Background: Obesity is a complex metabolic disorder that is associated with several diseases. Recently, precision nutrition (PN) has emerged as a tailored approach to provide individualised dietary recommendations.

Aim: This review discusses the major intrinsic and extrinsic components considered when applying PN during the management of obesity and common associated chronic conditions.

Saudi consensus guidance for the management of inflammatory bowel disease during pregnancy.

The management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in pregnant women is challenging and must be addressed on a patient-by-patient basis. Optimal patient management requires a multidisciplinary team and clear evidence-based recommendations that cater to this subset of patients. In this article, we provide concise guidelines and clinical care pathway for the management of IBD in pregnant women.

Assessing the competency of pharmacists in writing effective curriculum vitae for job applications: a cross-sectional study and readability index evaluation.

Background: In today's competitive job market, pharmacists must have a well-crafted curriculum vitae (CV), cover letter, and personal statement. However, non-native English speakers may face challenges in crafting effective job application documents. Jordan is one such country where English is a second language for many, and little is known about the CV/job application writing skills of Jordanian pharmacists.

successful community-based PrEP delivery demonstration program for men who have sex with men and female sex workers in Morocco.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective HIV prevention tool, recommended for persons at substantial risk for HIV, such as female sex workers (FSW) and men who have sex with men (MSM). We present Morocco's and the Middle East/North Africa's first PrEP demonstration project. Our pilot aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a community-based PrEP program for FSW and MSM in Morocco's highest HIV prevalence cities: Agadir, Marrakech, and Casablanca.

Exploring the therapeutic efficacy of crocetin in oncology: an evidence-based review.

With cancer being a leading cause of death globally, there is an urgent need to improve therapeutic strategies and identify effective chemotherapeutics. This study aims to highlight the potential of crocetin, a natural product derived from certain plants, as an anticancer agent. It was  conducted an extensive review of the existing literature to gather and analyze the most recent data on the chemical properties of crocetin and its observed effects in various in vitro and in vivo studies.

Assessment of COVID-19-related olfactory dysfunction and its association with psychological, neuropsychiatric, and cognitive symptoms.

Purpose Of Review: To provide a detailed overview of the assessment of COVID-19-related olfactory dysfunction and its association with psychological, neuropsychiatric, and cognitive symptoms.

Recent Findings: COVID-19-related olfactory dysfunction can have a detrimental impact to the quality of life of patients. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, olfactory and taste disorders were a common but under-rated, under-researched and under-treated sensory loss.

Exploring patient treatment decision making for osteoarthritis in the UAE: a cross-sectional adaptive choice-based conjoint study.

Objective: To assess osteoarthritis (OA) patients' preferences for pharmaceutical treatment via Adaptive Choice-Based Conjoint (ACBC) method.

Methods: A United Arab Emirates (UAE) based Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) group designed the ACBC questionnaire with 10 attributes and 34 levels. The questionnaire was developed using Sawtooth Software and analyzed through Hierarchical Bayesian (HB).

Using the theory of planned behavior to predict factors influencing fast-food consumption among college students.

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to examine the behavioral factors that impact fast food consumption (FFC) among college students in Pakistan by applying the theory of planned behavior (TPB).

Methods: Cross-sectional survey was distributed to college students in Pakistan. The questionnaire examines the factors associated with six categories: demographics, FFC pattern, intention for FFC, attitudes toward FFC, Subjective Norms (SN), and Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC).

An updated pharmacological insight into calotropin as a potential therapeutic agent in cancer.

Calotropin is a pharmacologically active compound isolated from milkweed plants like and that belong to the Asclepiadaceae family. All of these plants are recognised as medical traditional plants used in Asian countries. Calotropin is identified as a highly potent cardenolide that has a similar chemical structure to cardiac glycosides (such as digoxin and digitoxin).

Efficacy and safety of vesatolimod in chronic hepatitis B: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Vesatolimod is a toll-like receptor (TLR) agonist that is thought to suppress chronic hepatitis B (HBV) infection. This systematic review aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of vesatolimod in treating chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: We included randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that assessed vesatolimod in patients with hepatitis B infection without hepatocellular carcinoma or liver transplantation and with reported levels of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or liver transaminases post-intervention.

Postmortem lung and heart examination of COVID-19 patients in a case series from Jordan.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as a pandemic for more than 2 years. Autopsy examination is an invaluable tool to understand the pathogenesis of emerging infections and their consequent mortalities. The aim of the current study was to present the lung and heart pathological findings of COVID-19-positive autopsies performed in Jordan.

A mechanistic updated overview on lycopene as potential anticancer agent.

The potent relation between lycopene intake and reduced incidence of a variety of cancers has an increasing interest. This comprehensive review aims to highlight the in vivo and in vitro research evaluating the anticancer mechanisms of lycopene by underlining the experiment conditions. In addition to these, the general characterization of lycopene has been explained.

The Role of Web-Based Adaptive Choice-Based Conjoint Analysis Technology in Eliciting Patients' Preferences for Osteoarthritis Treatment.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of using adaptive choice-based conjoint (ACBC) analysis to elicit patients' preferences for pharmacological treatment of osteoarthritis (OA), patients' satisfaction with completing the ACBC questionnaire, and factors associated with questionnaire completion time.

Methods: Adult patients aged 18 years and older with a medical diagnosis of OA, experiencing joint pain in the past 12 months, and living in the Northeast of England participated in the study. The participants completed a web-based ACBC questionnaire about their preferences regarding pharmaceutical treatment for OA using a touchscreen laptop independently, and accordingly, the questionnaire completion time was measured.

A cross-sectional study of Q fever in Camels: Risk factors for infection, the role of small ruminants and public health implications for desert-dwelling pastoral communities.

Q fever represents an important 'neglected zoonosis', with high prevalences recorded across the Middle East region. Among rural desert-dwelling communities in the region, camel milk is largely consumed raw, due to perceptions of dromedaries as a uniquely clean livestock species mentioned in the Qur'an and Islamic hadith, while milk from other livestock species is usually boiled. As a result, camels present a unique public health threat among such communities from milk-borne pathogens, including Coxiella burnetii.