Mediators of Impaired Adipogenesis in Obesity-Associated Insulin Resistance and T2DM

Obesity has become a global health issue due to its high prevalence and associated comorbidities including insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Obesity is associated with the expansion of adipose tissues through hypertrophy of mature adipocytes and differentiation of local preadipocytes in a process known as adipogenesis to store excess triacylglycerols (TAGs). Impairment of adipogenesis leads to ectopic fat deposition in skeletal muscles, liver, and kidneys, triggering IR in these tissues and increased risk of T2DM. Many factors contribute to impaired adipogenesis including obesity-associated mild chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and fatty acid signaling. This review summarizes recent literature covering mediators of impaired adipogenesis and underlying molecular pathways

Compilation of an Arabic Children’s Corpus

Inspired by the Oxford Children's Corpus, we have developed a prototype corpus of Arabic texts written and/or selected for children. Our Arabic Children's Corpus of 2950 documents and nearly 2 million words has been collected manually from the web during a 3-month project. It is of high quality, and contains a range of different children's genres based on sources located, including classic tales from The Arabian Nights, and popular fictional characters such as Goha. We anticipate that the current and subsequent versions of our corpus will lead to interesting studies in text classification, language use, and ideology in children's texts

WHAT ARE THE FACTORS THAT MAY CAUSE THE UNDERREPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN TOP MANAGEMENT IN QATAR?

This research addresses the following question: “What are the factors that may cause the underrepresentation of women in top management in Qatar”. This phenomenon is present all around the world, but for the means on this research concentration will be on how it exists in Qatar. An extensive review of research related to the subject of women in management worldwide including countries in the Arab world is provided. This research presents probable factors that might be a cause of this phenomenon and potential solutions all of which were obtained during this research. The factors revealed during the research conducted in Qatar are somewhat related to factors which were discussed in previous research conducted in other countries. Potential solutions that were presented are also very valuable and feasible. This research will open the door to research ideas that will add value into the subject of women in management for Qatar

Recycling of Date Pits Into a Green Adsorbent for Removal of Heavy Metals: A Fractional Factorial Design-Based Approach

Date pits (DPs) have been recycled into a low-cost adsorbent for removing of selected heavy metals (HMs) from artificially contaminated aqueous solutions. Adsorption of targeted HMs, both by raw date pits (RDP) and burnt date pits (BDP) was tested. Results showed that BDP is more efficient as an adsorbent and mostly adsorbing Cu(II). A novel approach; fractional factorial design (2k−p – FrFD) was used to build the experimental pattern of this study. The effects of four factors on the maximum percentage (%) of removal (Y) were considered; pH, adsorbent dose (AD), heavy metal concentration (HMC), and contact time (CT). Statistically significant variables were detected using Pareto chart of standardized effects, normal and half-normal plots together with analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 95.0 confidence intervals (CI). Optimizing (maximizing) the percentage (%) removal of Cu(II) by BDP, was performed using optimization plots. Results showed that the factors: pH and adsorbent dose (AD) affect the response positively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the surface morphology of both adsorbents while fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was employed to get an idea on the functional groups on the surface and hence the adsorption mechanism. Raman spectroscopy was used to characterize the prepared adsorbents before and after adsorption of Cu(II). Equilibrium studies show that the adsorption behavior differs according to the equilibrium concentration. In general, it follows Langmuir isotherm up to 155 ppm, then Freundlich isotherm. Free energy of adsorption (ΔGad) is −28.07 kJ/mole, when equilibrium concentration is below 155 ppm, so the adsorption process is spontaneous, while (ΔGad) equals +17.89 kJ/mole above 155 ppm, implying that the process is non-spontaneous. Furthermore, the adsorption process is a mixture of physisorption and chemisorption processes, which could be endothermic or exothermic reactions. The adsorption kinetics were described using a second order model.Funding. This work was made possible by UREP award [UREP 20-116-1-020] from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of The Qatar Foundation). The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors

Clinical and Pharmacokinetic Outcomes of Peak–Trough-Based Versus Trough-Based Vancomycin Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Approaches: A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Vancomycin therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is based on achieving 24-h area under the concentration–time curve to minimum inhibitory concentration cure breakpoints (AUC24/MIC). Approaches to vancomycin TDM vary, with no head-to-head randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparisons to date. Objectives We aimed to compare clinical and pharmacokinetic outcomes between peak–trough-based and trough-only-based vancomycin TDM approaches and to determine the relationship between vancomycin AUC24/MIC and cure rates. Methods A multicentered pragmatic parallel-group RCT was conducted in Hamad Medical Corporation hospitals in Qatar. Adult non-dialysis patients initiated on vancomycin were randomized to peak–trough-based or trough-only-based vancomycin TDM. Primary endpoints included vancomycin AUC24/MIC ratio breakpoint for cure and clinical effectiveness (therapeutic cure vs therapeutic failure). Descriptive, inferential, and classification and regression tree (CART) statistical analyses were applied. NONMEM.v.7.3 was used to conduct population pharmacokinetic analyses and AUC24 calculations. Results Sixty-five patients were enrolled [trough-only-based-TDM (n = 35) and peak–trough-based-TDM (n = 30)]. Peak–trough-based TDM was significantly associated with higher therapeutic cure rates compared to trough-only-based TDM [76.7% vs 48.6%; p value = 0.02]. No statistically significant differences were observed for all-cause mortality, neutropenia, or nephrotoxicity between the two groups. Compared to trough-only-based TDM, peak–trough-based TDM was associated with less vancomycin total daily doses by 12.05 mg/kg/day (p value = 0.027). CART identified creatinine clearance (CLCR), AUC24/MIC, and TDM approach as significant determinants of therapeutic outcomes. All patients [n = 19,100%] with CLCR ≤ 7.85 L/h, AUC24/MIC ≤ 1256, who received peak–trough-based TDM achieved therapeutic cure. AUC24/MIC > 565 was identified to be correlated with cure in trough-only-based TDM recipients [n = 11,84.6%]. No minimum AUC24/MIC breakpoint was detected by CART in the peak–trough-based group. Conclusion Maintenance of target vancomycin exposures and implementation of peak–trough-based vancomycin TDM may improve vancomycin-associated cure rates. Larger scale RCTs are warranted to confirm these findings.Open Access funding provided by the Qatar National Library. We would like to thank Dr. Hani Abdelaziz and Dr. Eman El-Mekaty for their efforts and contributions in the design and implementation of this study. We would also like to thank all staff at HMC who helped to conduct the study

Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy involves activation of p90 ribosomal S6 Kinase

Studies using pharmacological and genetic approaches have shown that increased activity/expression of the Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1) play a critical role in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy. Despite the importance of NHE1 in cardiac hypertrophy, severe cerebrovascular side effects were associated with the use of NHE1 inhibitors when administered to patients with myocardial infarctions. p90 ribosomal S6 Kinase (RSK), a downstream regulator of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, has also been implicated in cardiac hypertrophy. We hypothesized that RSK plays a role in the NHE1 induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophic response. Infection of H9c2 cardiomyoblasts with the active form of the NHE1 adenovirus induced hypertrophy and was associated with an increase in the phosphorylation of RSK (P<0.05). Parameters of hypertrophy such as cell area, protein content and atrial natriuretic mRNA expression were significantly reduced in H9c2 cardiomyoblasts infected with active NHE1 in the presence of dominant negative RSK (DN-RSK) (P<0.05). These results confirm that NHE1 lies upstream of RSK. Increased phosphorylation and activation of GATA4 at Ser261 was correlated with increased RSK phosphorylation. This increase was reversed upon inhibition of RSK or NHE1. These findings demonstrate for the first time that the NHE1 mediated hypertrophy is accounted for by increased activation and phosphorylation of RSK, which subsequently increased the phosphorylation of GATA4; eventually activating fetal gene transcriptional machinery.Qatar University Internal Grant (QUUG-CPH-CPH-11/12-1) and by the Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP11-027-3-005) provided by the Qatar National Research Fund, Doha, Qatar.Scopu

Health risk assessment of methyl mercury from fish consumption in a sample of adult Qatari residents

Fish constitutes an essential source of high-quality protein and is, at the same time, the source of exposure to many hazardous contaminants, namely mercury and methyl mercury (MeHg). This study aims at assessing the risk that MeHg poses to the health of adult Qatari residents through fish consumption. Data on fish consumption were collected using a self-administered online survey composed of three sections that collected information about the fish-eating patterns of the participants. The fish species that were reported to be consumed by ≥ 3% of the respondents were sampled and analyzed for their total mercury (T-Hg) content levels. MeHg concentrations were derived from T-Hg content levels using a scenario-based approach. Disaggregated fish consumption and contamination data were combined using the deterministic approach to estimate MeHg intakes. The average, 75th, and 95th percentiles of the MeHg intake estimates were determined and compared to the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) set by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) (1.3 μg·kg−1·w−1). All fish samples contained T-Hg at levels ˂ 0.3–0.5 µg/g with a mean value of 0.077 µg/g. The study population had an average fish consumption of 736.0 g/week. The average estimated weekly intakes of MeHg exceeded TWI for some fish consumers including females of childbearing age and those following a high-protein diet. Our study highlights the need to establish regulatory guidelines and dietary advice based on risk/benefit ratio.The study was supported by the central Food laboratory of the ministry of public health.Scopu

Do income and consumption growth cause CO 2 emissions in Qatar? Implications for climate policy

Qatar has experienced a remarkable surge in all four components of gross domestic product (GDP)—consumption, government spending, investment, and net exports as well as significant growth in population over the past thirty years. Despite a potential link between increasing production and consumption and a corresponding rise in CO2 emissions in Qatar, there exists a significant gap in the literature addressing this linkage. Using sectoral data, this article investigates the long-term trends of GDP growth and expenditure and their nexus with CO2 emissions in Qatar. Least square regression analysis (multiple regression approach) and Granger Causality tests have been used to examine the long-term association between GDP-expenditure and its components and CO2 emission patterns. Additionally, the study discusses the environmental implications and the necessity for effective natural resource management in climate policy. Our analysis reveals consistent average annual increases in Qatar over the past three decades: 4.8% in total expenditure, 5.4% in GDP, 4% in government spending, 4.7% in household consumption, and 1.77% in CO2 emissions. During this period, production- and consumption-based emissions surged by 700%, while consumption-based emissions rose by 500%. The energy sector alone accounts for 86% of Qatar's total CO2 emissions. Significant Granger causality was found between CO2 emissions and various economic growth and GDP components, suggesting a potential inverted U-shaped Kuznets Curve, indicating a possible decline in CO2 emissions in future. However, achieving this decline in CO2 emissions in accordance with UN SDG Goal 12 requires additional policy measures focussed on carbon capture and storage, circular economy practices, carbon pricing, and complementary climate policies. Specific policy actions include establishing CO2 observatories, promoting clean energy initiatives, and engaging the private sector

Metabolomics Approaches for the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Better Disease Management of Viral Infections

Metabolomics is an analytical approach that involves profiling and comparing the metabolites present in biological samples. This scoping review article offers an overview of current metabolomics approaches and their utilization in evaluating metabolic changes in biological fluids that occur in response to viral infections. Here, we provide an overview of metabolomics methods including high-throughput analytical chemistry and multivariate data analysis to identify the specific metabolites associated with viral infections. This review also focuses on data interpretation and applications designed to improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of these viral diseases.This research was funded by the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), grant number (NPRP11S-1212-170092).Scopu