Impact of Skills for Change Program on metabolic control, diet and physical activity levels in adults with type 2 diabetes: A cluster randomized trial.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is highly prevalent in the Arab Gulf countries. Despite this, limited culturally-adapted lifestyle intervention studies have been conducted in this region.

Methods: In this culturally adapted 12-month cluster randomized trial, 382 patients with type 2 diabetes, aged 20-70 years were recruited from 6 public healthcare centers (3 interventions and 3 controls) in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, Antimicrobial, and Anticancer Activities of Pomegranate Juice Concentrate.

Pomegranate juice concentrate (PJC) is a rich source of polyphenols, which exhibit significant antioxidant activity and potential health benefits for disease prevention and therapy. In this study, the polyphenolic profile of PJC was investigated for the first time, and it was found that PJC can inhibit oxidative damage to bovine serum albumin (BSA) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), as well as acetylcholinesterase, α-amylase, and tyrosinase activities. The primary polyphenols identified in PJC were 4-Hydroxy-3-Methoxybenzoate, epicatechin, catechin, rutin, ferulic acid, P-coumaric acid, and cinnamic acid.

Palm Fruit ( L.) Pollen Extract Inhibits Cancer Cell and Enzyme Activities and DNA and Protein Damage.

Palm fruit pollen extract (PFPE) is a natural source of bioactive polyphenols. The primary aim of the study was to determine the antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, enzyme inhibition, bovine serum albumin (BSA), and DNA-protective properties of PFPE and identify and quantify the phenolic compounds present in PFPE. The results demonstrated that PFPE exhibited potent antioxidant activity in various radical-scavenging assays, including (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) (DPPH), 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), nitric oxide (NO), ferric-reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC).

A case of atrial fibrillation complicated by complete atrioventricular block.

Atrial fibrillation and complete atrioventricular block are two well-established arrhythmias that can share common aetiologies and risk factors. Although the two arrhythmias can co-exist, only a limited number of cases of atrial fibrillation complicated by complete atrioventricular block have been reported. Correct recognition is essential due to the risk of sudden cardiac death.

Polyphenol-Rich Date Palm Fruit Seed ( L.) Extract Inhibits Labile Iron, Enzyme, and Cancer Cell Activities, and DNA and Protein Damage.

Date palm fruit seed ( L.) extract (DSE), an under-utilized resource, is a rich source of polyphenols with high potency for disease prevention and antioxidative activities. For the first time, the present study demonstrated that DSE inhibits labile iron activity and DNA and BSA damage and inhibits acetylcholinesterase and tyrosinase activities.

Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract inhibits DNA and protein damage and labile iron, enzyme, and cancer cell activities.

Grape seed extract from (Vitis vinifera) (VGSE) is an excellent source of various polyphenols that exhibit highly potent antioxidant and disease prevention properties. Although numerous biological activities, with potential for improving human health, have been reported for VGSE, there is a lack of data relating to the health benefits of VGSE on DNA damage, protein damage, labile iron activity, and enzyme inhibitory effects. This investigation demonstrated, for the first time, that VGSE inhibits DNA and BSA damage and labile iron activity in-vitro.

An Online Management System for Streamlining and Enhancing the Quality of Learning Outcomes Assessment.

Learning outcomes assessment is an effective academic quality assurance tool that enables educators to review and enhance the alignment between planned, delivered, and experienced curricula. Accurately assessing what students know and are able to do after completing a learning module is the first step to decide on the strategies to implement and the proper actions to take in order to ensure the continuous improvement of the student learning experience. Nonetheless, learning outcomes assessment processes in higher education are still facing major challenges that affect their proper and effective implementation.

Investigation of Polyphenol-Rich Date (.) Seed Extract Bioactivity.

Date seeds are a by-product of the date fruit processing industry with minimal human use; however, they are a rich source of polyphenols with a range of potential biological properties. The current study investigates the cytotoxicity of date seed polyphenols against cancer cell lines, its ability to combat hyperglycemia, its antioxidant potential and its anti-adipogenic effect. The present work aimed to establish the usefulness of date seeds in the food industry as a functional ingredient.

Inhibitory effects of honey from arid land on some enzymes and protein damage.

Although arid land honey is outstanding for its conventional uses in food and medicine, there is an absence of data regarding its health benefits from the perspective of enzyme inhibitory effects that are affirmed by the current study. For the first time, this investigation demonstrates that different types of honey exert inhibitory effects on the activities of angiotensin, tyrosinase, xanthine oxidase, -α -amylase, acetylcholinesterase, and lipase, in addition to the inhibition of bovine serum albumin damage. The present study also provides a comparison with perceived healthy honey from non-arid areas.

The role of iron in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and possible treatment with lactoferrin and other iron chelators.

Iron overload is increasingly implicated as a contributor to the pathogenesis of COVID-19. Indeed, several of the manifestations of COVID-19, such as inflammation, hypercoagulation, hyperferritinemia, and immune dysfunction are also reminiscent of iron overload. Although iron is essential for all living cells, free unbound iron, resulting from iron dysregulation and overload, is very reactive and potentially toxic due to its role in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Intestinal Development and Histomorphometry of Broiler Chickens Fed Degraded Date Seed Diets.

A study was conducted to investigate the impact of degraded date pits (DDP) on the development and morphology of the intestine in broilers. was used to produce the DDP using a solid-state degradation method. One hundred and eighty broilers were divided into six treatments in triplicate groups of 10 chicks each.

Effect of Degraded Date Pits on Antioxidant Enzyme Activities and Biochemical Responses of Broiler Chickens.

The long-term use of antimicrobials as growth promoters in poultry feed leads to antimicrobial resistance in pathogens. Thus, alternatives to antibiotics are essential for reasons associated with both safety and cost-effectiveness. Underutilized plant sources need to be developed to replace antibiotics in broiler feed.

Polyphenol characterisation of Phoenix dactylifera L. (date) seeds using HPLC-mass spectrometry and its bioaccessibility using simulated in-vitro digestion/Caco-2 culture model.

The polyphenolic content in date seeds, a promising functional ingredient for food, was characterised in three forms viz., date seed powder (DSP), date seed pita bread (DSB) and date seed extract (DSE). Bioaccessibility of the polyphenols from the samples was assessed by in-vitro digestion coupled with transport using Caco-2 cells.

Urine Metabolites and Antioxidant Effect after Oral Intake of Date (.) Seeds-Based Products (Powder, Bread and Extract) by Human.

A cross-over study was conducted in 16 healthy adult volunteers to describe the urinary excretion of polyphenols from date seeds and investigate the antioxidant effect after consumption of different doses of date seeds powder (DSP), bread (DSB) and extract (DSE). After 12 h of fasting, one of the six treatments (0.25 g and 0.

Effect of Trichoderma reesei Degraded Date Pits Supplementation on Growth Performance, Immunoglobulin Levels, and Intestinal Barrier Functions of Broiler Chickens.

Background: Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is a dominant fruit crop in most Arabian countries. Date pits, as a major byproduct which remained after consumption of date flesh, proved to be a valuable source of energy.

Bioactivity of arid region honey: an in vitro study.

Background: Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of honey have been largely recognized by various studies. Almost all of the potential benefits are associated with polyphenol content. Honey varieties from the arid region are reported to be rich in polyphenols, but data related to its bioactivity in vitro is greatly lacking.

Production of functional pita bread using date seed powder.

Functional foods represent a novel approach to prevent diet-related diseases. Due to its excellent nutritional and antioxidant properties, date seed was used to develop functional pita bread. Flour was replaced by 5, 10, 15 and 20 % date seed powder.

Physicochemical and biochemical properties of honeys from arid regions.

This study was conducted to evaluate the quality of 11 honeys from arid regions for first time, and compare it with 5 different honeys from non-arid regions. Mean values obtained for physicochemical parameters were: pH 4.76 ± 0.

Polyphenolic compounds in date fruit seed (Phoenix dactylifera): characterisation and quantification by using UPLC-DAD-ESI-MS.

Background: Date fruit seeds have been demonstrated to possess high antioxidant activities due to their high content of flavonoids and phenolic compounds. The objective of this work was to identify and quantify the phenolic composition of date seeds.

Methods: Two UPLC-DAD-ESI-MS analyses were performed on the seed of the Khalas variety as follows: (1) an analysis of simple phenolic compounds [phenolic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonols, flavones, flavan-3-ols (monomers, dimers and trimers)]; and (2) an analysis of all flavan-3-ols (monomers, and proanthocyanidin oligomers and polymers) after depolymerisation.

Mitochondrial superoxide mediates labile iron level: evidence from Mn-SOD-transgenic mice and heterozygous knockout mice and isolated rat liver mitochondria.

Superoxide is the main reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by aerobic cells primarily in mitochondria. It is also capable of producing other ROS and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). Moreover, superoxide has the potential to release iron from its protein complexes.

Camel milk lactoferrin reduces the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells and exerts antioxidant and DNA damage inhibitory activities.

Lactoferrin (Lf), the main iron-binding protein of milk, has biological activities. We have evaluated the potential of camel milk lactoferrin for its ability to inhibit the proliferation of the colon cancer cell line, HCT-116, in vitro, DNA damage and its antioxidant activities for the first time. The antioxidant capacity of Lf was evaluated by different assays, including ferric-reducing/antioxidant power assay (FRAP), free radical-scavenging activity (DPPH), nitric oxide (NO) radical-scavenging assay, total antioxidant activity and DNA damage, compared with vitamin C and rutin.

Oxidative damage and inflammation in obese diabetic Emirati subjects supplemented with antioxidants and B-vitamins: a randomized placebo-controlled trail.

Background: Obesity and related morbidities are reaching epidemic proportions in the Arab populations. Possible mechanisms that link obesity/visceral fat to diabetes and cardiovascular (CVD) complications include inflammation and increased oxidative stress. The aim of this study is to test whether supplementary antioxidants with B-group vitamins enhance antioxidant capacity and/or mitigate oxidative damage and subclinical inflammation in obese diabetic patients.

Nutritional value of 10 traditional dishes of the United Arab Emirates.

In the present study, 10 traditional dishes commonly consumed in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.

Nutritional quality of 18 date fruit varieties.

The aim of the present study was to analyze and compare the chemical and physical properties of 18 varieties of the date fruits from date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), which are regarded as popular fruit commodities among the populace of the Middle Eastern peninsula. Dietary fiber, proximate analysis, micronutrients (micro-elements and macro-elements) and physical properties (weight, length, and density) of the selected 18 leading varieties of dates cultivated in the United Arab Emirates-namely Khalas, Barhe, Lulu, Shikat alkahlas, Sokkery, Bomaan, Sagay, Shishi, Maghool, Sultana, Fard, Maktoomi, Naptit saif, Jabri, Khodary, Dabbas, Raziz and Shabebe-were determined and compared. Significant differences (P < 0.