Publications by authors named "Saad C"

Four genes-DAND5, PKD1L1, MMP21, and CIROP-form a genetic module that has specifically evolved in vertebrate species that harbor motile cilia in their left-right organizer (LRO). We find here that CIROZ (previously known as C1orf127) is also specifically expressed in the LRO of mice, frogs, and fish, where it encodes a protein with a signal peptide followed by 3 zona pellucida N domains, consistent with extracellular localization. We report 16 individuals from 10 families with bi-allelic CIROZ inactivation variants, which cause heterotaxy with congenital heart defects.

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Geroderma Osteodysplastica (GO) is a rare autosomal recessive connective tissue disease characterized by wrinkled skin and osteoporosis, two distinct aging-related features. A loss of function mutation in results in the disease. Immediately after birth, a cyanotic female neonate was found to have transposition of great vessels (TGV) that was corrected with an uneventful surgical recovery.

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Diabetic autonomic neuropathy (DAN) and its associated cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) can lead to potentially fatal complications. We analyzed two distinct cases of DAN/CAN based on comprehensive cardiovascular autonomic reflex tests (CARTs). Case 1 involves a 27-year-old patient with T1DM suffering from recurrent severe hypoglycemic unawareness due to DAN.

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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in social communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors. Despite considerable research efforts, the genetic complexity of ASD remains poorly understood, complicating diagnosis and treatment, especially in the Arab population, with its genetic diversity linked to migration, tribal structures, and high consanguinity. To address the scarcity of ASD genetic data in the Middle East, we conducted genome sequencing (GS) on 50 ASD subjects and their unaffected parents.

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Pregnancy is a period of transition with physical changes in the maternal body but also mental and psychological ones. This phase may be accompanied by symptoms of anxiety, depression or irritability, which are part of non-pathological adaptation mechanisms. These symptoms can, however, be intense and constitute real psychiatric syndromes, particularly when the woman presents vulnerability factors.

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Obesity is a significant public health concern. GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RA), predominantly in use as a type 2 diabetes treatment, are a promising pharmacological approach for weight loss, while bariatric surgery (BS) remains a durable, but invasive, intervention. Despite observed heterogeneity in weight loss effects, the genetic effects on weight loss from GLP1-RA and BS have not been extensively explored in large sample sizes, and most studies have focused on differences in race and ethnicity, rather than genetic ancestry.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on inherited metabolic disorders (IMDs), estimating that 2-3% of live births globally are affected, with a high prevalence in consanguineous regions due to the autosomal recessive nature of many IMDs.
  • Utilizing genome sequencing data from over 14,000 Qatari adults, the research analyzed genetic variants linked to 115 treatable IMDs, uncovering 253 significant genetic variations across 69 disorders.
  • The findings indicate that about 8% of unrelated individuals carry pathogenic variants for at least one treatable IMD, highlighting conditions like phenylketonuria with the highest carrier rates, suggesting that such studies could enhance public health initiatives like screening programs.
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Objectives: To evaluate the tuberculin skin test (TST) conversion in chronic inflammatory arthropathies (CIA) patients on TNFα inhibitors (TNFi) and without previous latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) treatment.

Methods: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) with negative LTBI were retrospectively evaluated for TST conversion and active tuberculosis (TB) after six months of exposition to TNFi. Two groups were compared: patients who repeated TST (TST-repetition) during the follow-up and patients who did not (non-TST-repetition).

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Nonspecific orbital inflammation (NSOI), also known as orbital pseudotumor, is a condition characterized by inflammation in the tissues around the eye socket (orbit) without a clearly identifiable cause. This inflammatory disorder can affect various structures within the orbit, including muscles, fat, and connective tissues, leading to symptoms such as pain, swelling, and changes in vision. A 74-year-old man with a history of previous orbital trauma presented with acute-onset head and orbital pain, followed by restricted left eye movements in all directions, left ptosis, and a dilated left pupil.

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Arabic populations are underrepresented in large genome projects; therefore, the frequency of clinically actionable variants among Arabs is largely unknown. Here, we investigated genetic variation in 14,392 whole genomes from the Qatar Genome Program (QGP) across the list of 78 actionable genes (v3.1) determined by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG).

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Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of anti-infliximab (IFX) antibodies on three different points of care: response/tolerance to IFX, tapering strategy, and in a subsequent treatment with a second tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi).

Methods: A prospective cohort of 60 patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis who received IFX were evaluated retrospectively regarding clinical/laboratorial data, IFX levels, and anti-IFX antibodies at baseline, after 6, 12 to 14, 22 to 24, 48 to 54, 96 to 102 weeks, and before tapering or switching.

Results: Anti-IFX antibodies were detected in 27 patients (45%), of whom 23 (85.

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Article Synopsis
  • Hemolacria, or bloody tears, can result from various eye issues, including trauma and hormonal changes, as illustrated by a 21-year-old pregnant woman experiencing repeated nocturnal bleeding from her left eye.
  • The patient presented to the ED with a small abrasion and was diagnosed with a pyogenic granuloma, which was initially managed conservatively due to her pregnancy, yet it grew rapidly, leading to complications.
  • After assessing risks, a surgical removal of the growth was necessary due to increasing ocular irritation and worsening visual acuity, showcasing the challenges in treating pregnant patients with eye problems.
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Background: There is a remarkable variability in the frequency of HLA-B27 positivity in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA), which may be associated with different clinical presentations worldwide. However, there is a lack of data considering ethnicity and sex on the evaluation of the main clinical and prognostic outcomes in mixed-race populations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of HLA-B27 and its correlation with disease parameters in a large population of patients from the Brazilian Registry of Spondyloarthritis (RBE).

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  • The study investigates the outcomes and complications of chronic total occlusion rotational atherectomy (CTO RA) compared to non-CTO RA in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) through a meta-analysis of existing research.
  • Four studies with 1,868 patients were analyzed, revealing that while CTO RA showed a slight increase in the risk of coronary perforation, the overall risks for major adverse cardiovascular events, target vessel revascularization, and all-cause mortality were not significantly different from non-CTO RA.
  • The findings suggest that more research is needed to understand the implications of CTO RA better and refine treatment approaches, especially given the potential for increased complications.
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Sleep-disordered breathing is common in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Sleep-disordered breathing is associated with increased perioperative morbidity, arrhythmias (e.g.

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Objective: Postpartum hemorrhage is a common obstetrical emergency. Because the majority of cases respond to conservative medical therapies, trainees have limited clinical experience with hemostatic sutures or placement of a Bakri intrauterine balloon for refractory postpartum hemorrhage. Simulations provide an invaluable adjunct to resident education to learn and practice these hemostatic techniques.

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  • A study evaluated post-acute COVID-19 in vaccinated patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD) compared to non-ARD controls, finding similarities in the frequency and symptoms of the condition between both groups.
  • The study involved 108 ARD patients and 32 non-ARD controls, all diagnosed with COVID-19 after receiving the third dose of the CoronaVac vaccine, and utilized established international diagnostic criteria for post-acute COVID-19.
  • Results indicated that factors like age, sex, and disease severity did not significantly affect the incidence of post-acute symptoms, which were predominantly fatigue and memory loss in both ARD and non-ARD patients.
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Aim: To investigate the association between physical activity and immunogenicity among SARS-CoV-2 seropositive patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases prior to and following a 2-dose schedule of CoronaVac (Sinovac inactivated vaccine).

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study within an open-label, single-arm, phase 4 vaccination trial conducted in Sao Paulo, Brazil. In this substudy, only SARS-CoV-2 seropositive patients were included.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of the HLA-B27 gene in Brazil, using a large national database of healthy bone marrow donors, focusing on various demographics like sex, age, race, and geographic region.
  • - Out of over 5.3 million donors from 1994 to 2022, the overall positivity for HLA-B27 was found to be 4.35%, with variations seen among different racial groups and regions, such as Whites having a higher rate than Blacks or Pardo individuals.
  • - The findings indicate a genetic variation in HLA-B27 positivity across Brazil's regions, hinting that historical factors like colonization and migration play a role in the current genetic landscape.
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Background: Physical activity associates with improved immunogenicity following a 2-dose schedule of CoronaVac (Sinovac's inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine) in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD). This study evaluates whether physical activity impacts vaccine-induced antibody responses to a booster dose in this population.

Methods: This was a phase-4 trial conducted in São Paulo, Brazil.

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Introduction: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic disorder caused by a mutation in the NF1 gene. This disease presents with various system-based manifestations, including cardiac, musculoskeletal, and neuronal issues, which have been well-studied in previous research and have prompted the development of current and emerging treatments. These treatments, mainly medications targeting specific manifestations of NF1, aim to mitigate the negative impacts of the disease on patients' lives.

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Objectives: To investigate factors associated with severe COVID-19 in people with psoriasis (PsO), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).

Methods: Demographic data, clinical characteristics and COVID-19 outcome severity of adults with PsO, PsA and axSpA were obtained from two international physician-reported registries. A three-point ordinal COVID-19 severity scale was defined: no hospitalisation, hospitalisation (and no death) and death.

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Biobanks facilitate genome-wide association studies (GWASs), which have mapped genomic loci across a range of human diseases and traits. However, most biobanks are primarily composed of individuals of European ancestry. We introduce the Global Biobank Meta-analysis Initiative (GBMI)-a collaborative network of 23 biobanks from 4 continents representing more than 2.

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