Application of CRISPR-Cas9 technology in diabetes research.

Diabetes is a chronic disorder with rapidly increasing prevalence that is a major global issue of our current era. There are two major types of diabetes. Polygenic forms of diabetes include type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its monogenic forms are maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) and neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM).

Clinical improvement may not reflect metabolic homeostasis normalization in subjects with and without Roux-En-Y bariatric surgery after 12 years: comparison of surgical subjects to a lean cohort.

Background: A 12-year study comparing clinical outcomes following Roux-en-Y bariatric surgery showed long-term weight loss with remission/prevention of type-2-diabetes (T2D), hypertension and dyslipidemia. However, it is unknown whether the underlying homeostatic metabolic processes involving hepatokines, adipokines and myokines also normalize. Using this 12-year study, we determined whether metabolic indices improved in post-surgical (BMI:34.

The role of efferocytosis and transplant rejection: Strategies in promoting transplantation tolerance using apoptotic cell therapy and/or synthetic particles.

Recently, efforts have been made to recognize the precise reason(s) for transplant failure and the process of rejection utilizing the molecular signature. Most transplant recipients do not appreciate the unknown length of survival of allogeneic grafts with the existing standard of care. Two noteworthy immunological pathways occur during allogeneic transplant rejection.

Challenges in the Management of Invasive Fungal Infections in the Middle East: Expert Opinion to Optimize Management Using a Multidisciplinary Approach.

Invasive fungal infection (IFI) is a significant global healthcare concern among critically ill and immunocompromised patients. In Middle Eastern countries, IFI has been steadily increasing among hospitalized patients in the past two decades. Diagnosis of IFI at an early stage is crucial for efficient management.

Effect of Bariatric Surgery on Serum Amyloid A Protein: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Obesity is a chronic inflammatory condition and this meta-analysis evaluated the impact of bariatric surgery on SAA.

Methods: Studies included all types of bariatric surgery where SAA was measured before and after the surgical procedure.

Results: Meta-analysis of 11 clinical studies (n = 394 individuals) confirmed a significant reduction in SAA following bariatric surgery (SMD: - 0.

Role of gastrointestinal health in managing children with autism spectrum disorder.

Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or autism are more prone to gastrointestinal (GI) disorders than the general population. These disorders can significantly affect their health, learning, and development due to various factors such as genetics, environment, and behavior. The causes of GI disorders in children with ASD can include gut dysbiosis, immune dysfunction, food sensitivities, digestive enzyme deficiencies, and sensory processing differences.

Statins as a Potential Treatment for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Target Deconvolution using Protein-protein Interaction Network Analysis.

Background: The hallmark of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is aberrant buildup of triglycerides (TGs) in hepatocytes. Many genes promote NAFLD development. Using bioinformatics tools, we investigated the possible effect of statins on genes involved in NAFLD progression.

Autoantibody Positivity in Two Bahraini Siblings With a Novel Alpha-Methylacyl-CoA Racemase Mutation.

Bile acid synthesis disorders (BASD) are a group of rare autosomal recessive disorders. Of the nine different versions, BASD type 4 is characterized by a gene mutation in alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase (AMACR), which is located on chromosome 5p13. These disorders generally present with a normal gamma-glutamyl transferase with cholestasis, absence of pruritis, and malabsorption of fat, which can lead to fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies.

Complement Dysregulation in Obese Versus Nonobese Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Patients.

Introduction: Upregulation of complement system factors are reported to be increased in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and may be due to obesity and insulin resistance rather than inherently due to PCOS. We directly compared complement factors from an obese, insulin-resistant PCOS population to a nonobese, non-insulin-resistant PCOS population in a proteomic analysis to investigate this.

Methods: Plasma was collected from 234 women (137 with PCOS and 97 controls) from a biobank cohort and compared to a nonobese, non-insulin-resistant population (24 with PCOS and 24 controls).

Oxidative Stress Markers and Heat Shock Proteins in Non-Obese Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Are Not Elevated and Show No Correlation with Vitamin D.

Introduction: Oxidative stress (OS) is recognized in the pathophysiology of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). OS results in intracellular reactive oxygen species generation, causing oxidative protein damage that is protected by heat shock proteins (HSPs). Vitamin D is thought to reduce and protect against OS; therefore, OS, HSP, and vitamin D levels may be associated with PCOS.

Impact of curcumin on p38 MAPK: therapeutic implications.

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is a herbal remedy which possesses numerous biological attributes including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-cancer properties. Curcumin has been shown to impact a number of signaling pathways including nuclear factor kappa B (NF-KB), reactive oxygen species (ROS), Wingless/Integrated (Wnt), Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and transcription (JAK/STAT). P38 belongs to the MAPKs, is known as a stress-activated MAPK and is involved in diverse biological responses.

Safety and efficacy of pimecrolimus versus vehicle for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in adults and paediatric population: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Unlabelled: Atopic dermatitis remains a widespread problem affecting various populations globally. While numerous treatment options have been employed, pimecrolimus remains a potent and viable option. Recently, there has been increasing interest in comparing the safety and efficacy of pimecrolimus with its vehicle.

The Beneficial Effects of Curcumin on Lipids: Possible Effects on Dyslipidemia-induced Cardiovascular Complications.

Dyslipidemia and altered lipid metabolism are closely involved in the pathogenesis and clinical manifestation of many metabolic and non-metabolic diseases. Therefore, mitigation of pharmacological and nutritional factors together with lifestyle modifications is paramount. One potential nutraceutical exhibiting cell signaling and lipid-modulating properties implicated in dyslipidemias is curcumin.

Viruses and autism: A Bi-mutual cause and effect.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of heterogeneous, multi-factorial, neurodevelopmental disorders resulting from genetic and environmental factors interplay. Infection is a significant trigger of autism, especially during the critical developmental period. There is a strong interplay between the viral infection as a trigger and a result of ASD.

The COVID-19 Pandemic: SARS-CoV-2 Structure, Infection, Transmission, Symptomology, and Variants of Concern.

Since it was first detected in December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has spread across the world and affected virtually every country and territory. The pathogen driving this pandemic is SARS-CoV-2, a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus which is primarily transmissible though the air and can cause mild to severe respiratory infections in humans. Within the first year of the pandemic, the situation worsened with the emergence of several SARS-CoV-2 variants.

The Effects of Curcumin on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Expression in Neurodegenerative Disorders.

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is a crucial molecule implicated in plastic modifications related to learning and memory. The expression of BDNF is highly regulated, which can lead to significant variability in BDNF levels in healthy subjects. Changes in BDNF expression might be associated with neuropsychiatric diseases, particularly in structures important for memory processes, including the hippocampus and parahippocampal areas.

Pancreatic β-cell heterogeneity in adult human islets and stem cell-derived islets.

Recent studies reported that pancreatic β-cells are heterogeneous in terms of their transcriptional profiles and their abilities for insulin secretion. Sub-populations of pancreatic β-cells have been identified based on the functionality and expression of specific surface markers. Under diabetes condition, β-cell identity is altered leading to different β-cell sub-populations.

Environmental Pollution and the Risk of Developing Metabolic Disorders: Obesity and Diabetes.

To meet the increased need for food and energy because of the economic shift brought about by the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, there has been an increase in persistent organic pollutants (POPs), atmospheric emissions and metals in the environment. Several studies have reported a relationship between these pollutants and obesity, and diabetes (type 1, type 2 and gestational). All of the major pollutants are considered to be endocrine disruptors because of their interactions with various transcription factors, receptors and tissues that result in alterations of metabolic function.

The effect of medicinal plants on cirrhosis: A systematic review of clinical trials.

Medicinal plants with minimal side effects, low cost, and liver-protective effects can be a suitable treatment option for cirrhosis. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to determine the effectiveness of herbal medicines on cirrhosis, a life-threatening liver disease. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were systematically searched for clinical trials that investigated the effect of medicinal plants on cirrhosis.

Microarray-based Detection of Critical Overexpressed Genes in the Progression of Hepatic Fibrosis in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Protein-protein Interaction Network Analysis.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent cause of chronic liver disease and encompasses a broad spectrum of disorders, including simple steatosis, steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. However, due to the global epidemic of NAFLD, where invasive liver biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosis, it is necessary to identify a more practical method for early NAFLD diagnosis with useful therapeutic targets; as such, molecular biomarkers could most readily serve these aims. To this end, we explored the hub genes and biological pathways in fibrosis progression in NAFLD patients.

High density lipoprotein-associated proteins in non-obese women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome.

Introduction: Dyslipidemia frequently occurs in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but it is unclear whether dyslipidemia is due to obesity and insulin resistance (IR) or is inherent to PCOS. To address this, proteomic analysis of proteins important in lipid metabolism, particularly for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), was performed in non-obese, non-insulin resistant PCOS women compared to matched controls.

Methods: Weight and aged-matched non-obese subjects with PCOS (n=24) and without IR were compared with control women (n=24).

Glycemia-Induced miRNA Changes: A Review.

Diabetes is a rapidly increasing global health concern that significantly strains the health system due to its downstream complications. Dysregulation in glycemia represents one of the fundamental obstacles to achieving glycemic control in diabetic patients. Frequent hyperglycemia and/or hypoglycemia events contribute to pathologies that disrupt cellular and metabolic processes, which may contribute to the development of macrovascular and microvascular complications, worsening the disease burden and mortality.

Percutaneous Closure of Post-infarct Left Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm: A Review of Literature.

Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm is a well-known complication of myocardial infarction and open-heart surgery and has recently been described as succeeding transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement. While surgical intervention is the conventional therapeutic approach, transcatheter closure can be considered in patients at high risk for surgical procedures. In this article, we present a postmyocardial infarction pseudoaneurysm for which closure was done via retrograde left ventricular access using an Amplatzer Septal Occluder, and provide a review of recent literature focusing on indications and outcomes of the different percutaneous techniques and devices.