Effect of Pregnancy on Haematological and Biochemical Profiles in the Mountain Gazelles (Gazella gazelle)

Abstract: The propose of this study was to investigate the effect of pregnancy on hematological and biochemical parameters. This parameters were measured in 20 blood samples collected from 10 pregnant and 10 non-pregnant captive mountain gazelles (Gazella gazella) in Saudi Arabia. The effects of pregnancy on the intracellular concentrations of sodium (Na + ), Potassium (K + ), Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), Alanine amino Transferase (ALT), Aspartate amino Transferase (AST), Total protein, albumin, Alkaline Phosphatase (AP), Creatinine, Cholesterol and Triglyceride were analyzed. The levels of Sodium ions, GGT, ALT, AST, cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly (p<0.01) increased in pregnant group compared to non-pregnant group. These result due to the physiological and metabolism changes during pregnancy. So this study suggested to supply pregnant Gazelles with proteins during pregnancy

Integrating spatial data and shorebird nesting locations to predict the potential future impact of global warming on coastal habitats: A case study on Farasan Islands, Saudi Arabia

AbstractOne of the expected effects of the global warming is changing coastal habitats by accelerating the rate of sea level rise. Coastal habitats support large number of marine and wetland species including shorebirds (plovers, sandpipers and allies). In this study, we investigate how coastal habitats may be impacted by sea level rise in the Farasan Islands, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We use Kentish plover Charadrius alexandrinus – a common coastal breeding shorebird – as an ecological model species to predict the influence of sea level rise. We found that any rise of sea level is likely to inundate 11% of Kentish plover nests. In addition, 5% of the coastal areas of Farasan Islands, which support 26% of Kentish plover nests, will be flooded, if sea level rises by one metre. Our results are constrained by the availability of data on both elevation and bird populations. Therefore, we recommend follow-up studies to model the impacts of sea level rise using different elevation scenarios, and the establishment of a monitoring programme for breeding shorebirds and seabirds in Farasan Islands to assess the impact of climate change on their populations

Factors Affecting Hemodialysis Patients' Satisfaction with Their Dialysis Therapy

Aim. To assess the degree of satisfaction among hemodialysis patients and the factors influencing this satisfaction. Methods. Patients were recruited from 3 Saudi dialysis centers. Demographic data was collected. Using 1 to 10 Likert scale, the patients were asked to rate the overall satisfaction with, and the overall impact of, their dialysis therapy on their lives and to rate the effect of the dialysis therapy on 15 qualities of life domains. Results. 322 patients were recruited (72.6% of the total eligible patients). The mean age was 51.7 years (±15.4); 58% have been on dialysis for >3 years. The mean Charlson Comorbidity Index was 3.2 (±2), and Kt/V was 1.3 (±0.44). The mean satisfaction score was (7.41 ± 2.75) and the mean score of the impact of the dialysis on the patients' lives was 5.32 ± 2.55. Male patients reported worse effect of dialysis on family life, social life, energy, and appetite. Longer period since the commencement of dialysis was associated with adverse effect on finances and energy. Lower level of education was associated with worse dialysis effect on stress, overall health, sexual life, hobbies, and exercise ability. Conclusion. The level of satisfaction is affected by gender, duration on dialysis, educational level, and standard of care given

Medication risk communication with cancer patients in a Middle East cancer care setting

Purpose: Cancer treatments are frequently associated with adverse effects, but there may be a cultural reluctance by care providers to be forthcoming with patients regarding these risks for fear of promoting nonadherence. Conversely, research in a number of countries indicates high levels of patient desire for this information. We sought to explore cancer patient experiences, satisfaction, and preferences for medication risk communication in a Middle East care setting. Methods: We developed and administered a ten-item questionnaire (Arabic and English) to a convenience sample of consenting adult patients receiving treatment at the National Center for Cancer Care and Research in Qatar. Results: One hundred and forty-three patients were interviewed. Most (88%) stated that the level of side effect information they received was sufficient, with physicians (86%) followed by pharmacists (39%) as the preferred sources. The majority (97%) agreed that knowing about possible side effects would help them recognize and manage the reaction, and 92% agreed that it would help them understand how to minimize or prevent the risks. Eighteen percent indicated that this information would make them not want to take treatment. Two-thirds (65%) had previously experienced intolerance to their cancer treatment regimen. Conclusion: Most patients surveyed expressed preference for the details of possible side effects they may encounter in their treatment. However, one in five considered such information a factor for nonadherence, indicating the need for patient-specific approaches when communicating medication risks.Undergraduate Research Experience Program award (UREP 14-001-3-001) from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation)

GLOBAL METHYLATION PATTERN CHANGES IN BREAST AND COLORECTAL CANCER CELLS TREATED WITH DIFFERENT CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC DRUGS

Cancer in a global threat as it is considered the primary cause of death worldwide. Breast cancer is the most common cancer I female worldwide. In the present study we evaluated the role of temozolomide, carboplatin, sodium phenylbutyrate, and cyclophosphamide in changing the methylation landscape of four tumor cell liness; breast, colorectal, lung, and cervical. Cells were treated with 5 µM of each drug and the cells were incubated with the drugs for 48 and 96 h before reading the changes in methylation patterns. Global methylation quantification was measured in cells after being treated with the drugs. Data obtained indicated that sodium phenylbutyrate, followed by temozolomide were the drugs most efficient in hypermethylation of the DNA, while carboplatin followed by cyclophosphamide were able to reduce the concentration of 5-mC in the DNA. It has been concluded that using carboplatin in combination with sodium phenylbutyrate (PBA) might induce cell cycle arrest of malignant cells. Further studies are needed to highlight the mechanism of action of these drugs when combined in treatment of cancer. Keywords: methylation; breast; colon; lung; cervical; epigenetics

An Effective Wireless Sensor Network Routing Protocol Based on Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm

Improving wireless communication and artificial intelligence technologies by using Internet of Things (Itoh) paradigm has been contributed in developing a wide range of different applications. However, the exponential growth of smart phones and Internet of Things (IoT) devices in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is becoming an emerging challenge that adds some limitations on Quality of Service (QoS) requirements. End-to-end latency, energy consumption, and packet loss during transmission are the main QoS requirements that could be affected by increasing the number of IoT applications connected through WSNs. To address these limitations, an effective routing protocol needs to be designed for boosting the performance of WSNs and QoS metrics. In this paper, an optimization approach using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm is proposed to develop a multipath protocol, called a Particle Swarm Optimization Routing Protocol (MPSORP). The MPSORP is used for WSN-based IoT applications with a large volume of traffic loads and unfairness in network flow. For evaluating the developed protocol, an experiment is conducted using NS-2 simulator with different configurations and parameters. Furthermore, the performance of MPSORP is compared with AODV and DSDV routing protocols. The experimental results of this comparison demonstrated that the proposed approach achieves several advantages such as saving energy, low end-to-end delay, high packet delivery ratio, high throughput, and low normalization load.publishedVersio

Functional pH-responsive polymers containing dynamic enaminone linkages for the release of active organic amines

Dynamic covalent bonds have attracted considerable attention for the development of pH-responsive polymers, however, studies using acid-cleavable enaminone linkages as a means of controlled release are limited. Herein, we report pH-sensitive benzocaine-modified poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether-block-poly[2-(acetoacetoxy)ethyl methacrylate] (mPEGx-b-pAEMAy)/BNZ nanoparticles (NPs) for the aqueous controlled release of benzocaine through enaminone bond cleavage. The system is based on the commercially available monomer 2-(acetoacetoxy)ethyl methacrylate (AEMA) which contains free pendant β-ketoester functionality. Well-defined poly[2-(acetoacetoxy)ethyl methacrylate] (pAEMA) homopolymers and poly[(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether]-block-poly[2-(acetoacetoxy)ethyl methacrylate] (mPEGx-b-pAEMAy) amphiphilic block copolymers were prepared by photoinduced Cu(II)-mediated RDRP to investigate their modification with propylamine (a model amine) and benzocaine (a primary amine containing API) through an enaminone bond. Block copolymers were prepared via two poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether-2-bromo-2-phenylacetate (mPEGx-BPA, x = 43 or 113) macroinitiators synthesised by esterification which acted as the hydrophilic coronas of the ensuing NPs. The self-assembly of both mPEGx-b-pAEMAy and (mPEGx-b-pAEMAy)/BNZ was assessed in water by the direct dilution approach forming spherical NPs as characterised by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and dry-state transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Finally, the in vitro controlled release of benzocaine from mPEGx-b-pAEMAy/BNZ NPs was examined at different pH environments demonstrating faster release kinetics at lower pH with potential utility in applications with relevant chemical environments

Reclassifying variations of unknown significance in diseases affecting Saudi Arabia’s population reveal new associations

Introduction: Physicians face diagnostic dilemmas upon reports indicating disease variants of unknown significance (VUS). The most puzzling cases are patients with rare diseases, where finding another matched genotype and phenotype to associate their results is challenging. This study aims to prove the value of updating patient files with new classifications, potentially leading to better assessment and prevention.Methodology: We recruited retrospective phenotypic and genotypic data from King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Between September 2020 and December 2021, 1,080 patients’ genetic profiles were tested in a College of American Pathologists accredited laboratory. We excluded all confirmed pathogenic variants, likely pathogenic variants and copy number variations. Finally, we further reclassified 194 VUS using different local and global databases, employing in silico prediction to justify the phenotype–genotype association.Results: Of the 194 VUS, 90 remained VUS, and the other 104 were reclassified as follows: 16 pathogenic, 49 likely pathogenic, nine benign, and 30 likely benign. Moreover, most of these variants had never been observed in other local or international databases.Conclusion: Reclassifying the VUS adds value to understanding the causality of the phenotype if it has been reported in another family or population. The healthcare system should establish guidelines for re-evaluating VUS, and upgrading VUS should reflect on individual/family risks and management strategies

Brucella bacteremia in patients with acute leukemia: a case series

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Brucellosis may cause serious infections in healthy individuals living in countries that are endemic for the infection. However, reports of brucella infections in immunocompromised hosts are relatively rare.</p> <p>Case Presentations</p> <p>Reported here are two patients with acute leukemia who developed <it>Brucella melitensis </it>bacteremia during their follow up at the Armed Forces Hospital in Riyadh. The first patient developed <it>B. melitensis </it>bacteremia during the transformation of his myelodysplasia into acute myeloid leukemia. The second patient developed <it>B. melitensis </it>bacteremia while his acute lymphoblastic leukemia was under control. Interestingly, he presented with acute cholecystitis during the brucella sepsis. Both brucella infections were associated with a marked reduction in the hematological parameters in addition to other complications. The bacteremic episodes were successfully treated with netilmicin, doxycycline and ciprofloxacin.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Brucellosis can cause systemic infections, complicated bacteremia and serious morbidity in patients with acute leukemia living in endemic areas. These infections may occur at the presentation of the leukemia or even when the leukemia is in remission. Nevertheless, the early diagnosis of brucellosis and the administration of appropriate antimicrobial therapy for sufficient duration usually improves the outcome in these immunocompromised patients.</p

Prospect of genetic disorders in Saudi Arabia

Introduction: Rare diseases (RDs) create a massive burden for governments and families because sufferers of these diseases are required to undergo long-term treatment or rehabilitation to maintain a normal life. In Saudi Arabia (SA), the prevalence of RDs is high as a result of cultural and socio-economic factors. This study, however, aims to shed light on the genetic component of the prevalence of RDs in SA.Methodology: A retrospective study was conducted between September 2020 and December 2021 at King Saud Medical City, a tertiary hospital of the Ministry of Health (MOH), SA. A total of 1080 individuals with 544 potentially relevant variants were included. The index was 738, and the samples were tested in a commercialized laboratory using different molecular techniques, including next-generation sequencing.Result: A total of 867 molecular genetics tests were conducted on 738 probands. These tests included 610 exome sequencing (ES) tests, four genome sequencing (GS) tests, 82 molecular panels, 106 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array, four methylation studies, 58 single-gene studies and three mitochondrial genome sequencing tests. The diagnostic yield among molecular genetics studies was 41.8% in ES, 24% in panels, 12% in SNP array and 24% in single gene studies. The majority of the identified potential variants (68%) were single nucleotide variants (SNV). Other ascertained variants included frameshift (11%), deletion (10%), duplication (5%), splicing (9%), in-frame deletion (3%) and indels (1%). The rate of positive consanguinity was 56%, and the autosomal recessive accounted for 54%. We found a significant correlation between the ES detection rate and positive consanguinity. We illustrated the presence of rare treatable conditions in DNAJC12, SLC19A3, and ALDH7A1, and the presence of the founder effect variant in SKIC2. Neurodevelopmental disorders were the main phenotype for which genetics studies were required (35.7%).Conclusion: This is the sixth-largest local study reporting next-generation sequencing. The results indicate the influence of consanguineous marriages on genetic disease and the burden it causes for the Kingdom of SA. This study highlights the need to enrich our society’s knowledge of genetic disorders. We recommend utilising ES as a first-tier test to establish genetic diagnosis in a highly consanguineous population