Characterisation of pregnancy-induced alterations in apolipoproteins and their associations with maternal metabolic risk factors and offspring birth outcomes: a preconception and longitudinal cohort study.

Background: Apolipoproteins as an integral part of lipoproteins are crucial for the transport and metabolism of lipids. However, there is a lack of longitudinal studies to quantify the concentrations of maternal apolipoproteins from preconception to postpartum and their associations with maternal metabolic health and offspring birth outcomes.

Methods: Quantification of apolipoproteins was performed on maternal plasma samples (N = 243 trios) collected at preconception, 26-28 weeks' pregnancy, and three months postpartum in the Singapore PREconception Study of long-Term maternal and child Outcomes (S-PRESTO) cohort study.

Life satisfaction around the world: Measurement invariance of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups.

The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) is a widely used self-report measure of subjective well-being, but studies of its measurement invariance across a large number of nations remain limited. Here, we utilised the Body Image in Nature (BINS) dataset-with data collected between 2020 and 2022 -to assess measurement invariance of the SWLS across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups (N = 56,968). All participants completed the SWLS under largely uniform conditions.

Improving Therapeutic Adherence and Reducing Therapeutic Inertia in the Management of People with Cardiometabolic Diseases: A Call-to-Action from the Middle East.

Hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes are highly prevalent and poorly controlled cardiometabolic diseases in the Middle East. Therapeutic non-adherence and therapeutic inertia are major contributors to this suboptimal disease control. Regardless of the cardiometabolic disease, evidence-based solutions may be used to improve therapeutic non-adherence and overcome inertia, and thereby help to alleviate the heavy burden of cardiovascular disease in the Middle East.

Machine learning-based sales forecasting during crises: Evidence from a Turkish women's clothing retailer.

Background: Retail involves directly delivering goods and services to end consumers. Natural disasters and epidemics/pandemics have significant potential to disrupt supply chains, leading to shortages, forecasting errors, price increases, and substantial financial strains on retailers. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for retail sectors to prepare for crisis impacts on sales forecasts by regularly assessing and adjusting sales volumes, consumer behavior, and forecasting models to adapt to changing conditions.

Transient right bundle branch block (RBBB) and S1Q3T3 in a transit passenger due to acute pulmonary embolism- a case report.

Intermittent or transient right bundle branch block (RBBB) can occur in various clinical situations but is rarely described in acute pulmonary embolism. We present a unique case involving a 57-year-old male who experienced a syncopal episode during transit. He displayed signs of a transient right bundle branch block (RBBB) and S1Q3T3 on the initial EMS ECG, which reverted to normal ECG later.

Sociodemographic characteristics and vaping motives as potential correlates of early vaping initiation.

Background: Vaping's popularity has particularly increased among young people, with its prevalence varying across different regions, including the Middle East. The health impacts of vaping, especially when initiated early, are a growing concern.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the correlates of early vaping initiation (EVI) and explored the sociodemographic characteristics and vaping motives influencing EVI among vapers from Arab countries.

Psychosocial wellbeing and risk perception of older adults during COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria: perspectives on the role of social workers.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic presented a 'double-edged sword' for older adults: not only were they more susceptible to the virus, but its broader consequences also exacerbated other challenges, particularly those related to psychosocial well-being. Limited evidence exists on how older adults perceive the pandemic and its impact on their well-being and the role of social workers in addressing these challenges, particularly in resource-limited settings like Nigeria.

Aim: This study explored older adults' perceived risks regarding COVID-19, its impact on their psychosocial well-being, and the role of social workers in addressing these challenges in Nigeria.

A disturbed communication between hypothalamic-pituitary-ovary axis and gut microbiota in female infertility: is diet to blame?

Female infertility is a multifactorial condition influenced by various genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Recent research has investigated the significant impact of gut microbiome dysbiosis on systemic inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and hormonal imbalances, which can potentially impair fertility. The gut-brain axis, a bidirectional communication system between the gut and the brain, also plays a significant role in regulating reproductive functions.

Oral health promotion: a qualitative study to explore perspectives of kindergarten nurses at Qatar.

Background: The oral health of preschool children remains a concern globally. Kindergarten and school nurses can improve oral health by reducing the incidence of Early Childhood Caries (ECC) among children. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of kindergarten nurses about a proposed oral health promotion program to be implemented in primary health centres and kindergartens.

Maytansinoids in cancer therapy: advancements in antibody-drug conjugates and nanotechnology-enhanced drug delivery systems.

Cancer remains the second leading cause of death globally, driving the need for innovative therapies. Among natural compounds, maytansinoids have shown significant promise, contributing to nearly 25% of recently approved anticancer drugs. Despite their potential, early clinical trials faced challenges due to severe side effects, prompting advancements in delivery systems such as antibody-maytansinoid conjugates (AMCs).

Trueness and precision of facial scan and virtual patient representation workflow.

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility and accuracy (trueness and precision) of facial scanning and virtual patient representation (VPR).

Materials And Methods: One participant was recruited and informed consent was obtained. VPR was performed 30 times with a custom fabricated intraoral scan body (ISB).

Prevalence and Causes of Blindness and Vision Impairment in the State of Qatar - Results of a Population-based Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: A population-based survey of the prevalence and causes of blindness and vision impairment among people 50 years and older living in the State of Qatar.

Methods: A Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) methodology, applied from May 2022 to June 2023, utilized stratified two-stage cluster random sampling to select 5060 persons 50 years and older resident in Qatar from 145 communities chosen by probability proportional to size. Communities were stratified by Qatari and non-Qatari nationality.

A rare case of acrodysostosis type 2 with PDE4D mutation in a young female: a case report.

Acrodysostosis (ADO) is a rare form of peripheral dysostosis characterized by skeletal malformations, growth delays, short stature, and distinctive facial features caused by in part by underdeveloped (hypoplasia) of facial bones. Skeletal dysplasia is specific and includes disproportional short stature with short extremities and brachydactyly, multiple cone-shaped epiphyses, scoliosis or kyphosis with spinal stenosis, and advanced bone maturation. Herein, we are highlighting a case that presented with clinical features such as brachydactyly, delayed milestone, growth delay, muscle weakness and nasal hypoplasia.

Acute effects of virtual reality exercise bike games on psychophysiological outcomes in college North-African adolescents with cerebral palsy: A randomized clinical trial.

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurological disorder that can affect motor skills and psychophysiological well-being. Virtual Reality Exercise (VRE) improves cognitive and physical outcomes in patients with CP. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of VRE on attention, vigor, and decision-making abilities in adolescents with CP.

Predictive performance of noninvasive factors for liver fibrosis in severe obesity: a screening based on machine learning models.

Objectives: Liver fibrosis resulting from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic disorders is highly prevalent in patients with severe obesity and poses a significant health challenge. However, there is a lack of data on the effectiveness of noninvasive factors in predicting liver fibrosis. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the relationship between these factors and liver fibrosis through a machine learning approach.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Community Pharmacists in Qatar Towards Contraceptives: A Cross-Sectional Study.

In Qatar, hormonal contraceptives are available over the counter in community pharmacies. However, improper use, particularly by women with specific health conditions, can result in adverse events. Community pharmacists (CPs) play a role in counseling women and assessing eligibility for contraceptives.

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from macroalgae Hormophysa triquetra and investigation of its antibacterial activity and mechanism against pathogenic bacteria.

In this study, brown macroalgae Hormophysta triquetra (HT) collected from the Qatari coast is used to biosynthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from its aqueous (AQ), chloroform: methanol (MCF), and ethanolic extracts (ET). The NPs are characterized using Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Gas chromatography/Mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The NPs were evaluated for their antibacterial activities by disc-diffusion method and their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were assessed.

A customizable multiplex protein microarray for antibody testing and its application for tick-borne and other infectious diseases.

Tick-borne infections are the most common vector-borne diseases in the USA. Ticks harbor and transmit several infections with Lyme disease being the most common tickborne infection in the US and Europe. Lack of awareness about tick populations, specific diagnostic tests, and overlapping signs and symptoms of tick-borne infections can often lead to misdiagnosis affecting treatment and the prevalence data reported especially for non-Lyme tick-borne infections.

Analysing expression of loneliness and insomnia through social intelligence analysis.

Background: Loneliness and insomnia are mutually occurring conditions. This paper investigates whether keywords depicting loneliness and insomnia are expressed together on social media. Understanding loneliness through data fills the gaps or validates the literature on loneliness from sociological and psychological perspectives.

Automatic segmentation of MRI images for brain radiotherapy planning using deep ensemble learning.

This study aimed to develop and evaluate an efficient method to automatically segment T1- and T2-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images. We specifically compared the segmentation performance of individual convolutional neural network (CNN) models against an ensemble approach to advance the accuracy of MRI-guided radiotherapy (RT) planning..

Predictors of glycaemic improvement in children and young adults with type 1 diabetes and very elevated HbA1c using the MiniMed 780G system.

Aims: This study aimed to identify key factors with the greatest influence on glycaemic outcomes in young individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and very elevated glycaemia after 3 months of automated insulin delivery (AID).

Materials And Methods: Data were combined and analysed from two separate and previously published studies with similar inclusion criteria assessing AID (MiniMed 780G) efficacy among young individuals naïve to AID (aged 7-25 years) with glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥69 mmol/mol (≥8.5%).

A Multicenter ICET-A Survey on Adherence to Annual Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) Screening in Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia (TDT) Patients - The Expert Clinicians' Opinion on Factors Influencing the Adherence and on Alternative Strategies for Adherence Optimization.

Background: Current guidelines for screening glucose dysregulation (GD) in patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) recommend an annual 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) starting at the age of 10 years.

Objective: Assessment of adherence to OGTT screening in patients with TDT.

Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to 18 Thalassemia Centers in 10 different countries, targeting factors influencing adherence to annual OGTT screening in specialized multidisciplinary pediatric and adult TDT units and identifying strategies to improve adherence to OGTT in TDT patients.

The Impact of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Among UK Women: An Obesity-Adjusted Analysis.

Introduction: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is known to elevate cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, but the extent to which obesity and IIH-specific factors contribute to this risk is not well understood. WE aim to separate the effects of obesity from IIH-specific factors on the risk of stroke and CVD, building on previous findings that indicate a two-fold increase in cardiovascular events in women with IIH compared to BMI-matched controls.

Methods: An obesity-adjusted risk analysis was conducted using Indirect Standardization based on data from a cohort study by Adderley et al.