use of dietary supplement in Iraq

Background: Dietary supplementation is a common strategy to achieve a specific health status or performance benefit. The aim of this study was to describe the use of dietary supplement in Iraqi genders. Patients and Methods:  several questions on dietary supplement use were asked as a part of single performed on 112 female and 247 women aged 35–74 years in 2021 .n = 359) ,reported the frequency and prevalence of supplement use by sex and type of supplement . Results: the mean percentage of dietary supplement use varied among female and men. Use was higher in women than in men. Vitamins, minerals were the predominant types of supplements reported, but there were striking differences between genders. Vitamins, particularly D, C, were the most frequently used ingredients by both genders. Herbals use in female more than male. Conclusions: This study indicates that there are wide variations in supplement use in Iraq, which may affect individual and population nutrient intakes. The results underline the need to monitor consumption of dietary supplements, as well as to evaluate the risks and benefits. Keywords: Abstract Background: Dietary supplementation is a common strategy to achieve a specific health status or performance benefit. The aim of this study was to describe the use of dietary supplement in Iraqi genders. Patients and Methods:  several questions on dietary supplement use were asked as a part of single performed on 112 female and 247 women aged 35–74 years in 2021 .n = 359) ,reported the frequency and prevalence of supplement use by sex and type of supplement . Results: the mean percentage of dietary supplement use varied among female and men. Use was higher in women than in men. Vitamins, minerals were the predominant types of supplements reported, but there were striking differences between genders. Vitamins, particularly D, C, were the most frequently used ingredients by both genders. Herbals use in female more than male. Conclusions: This study indicates that there are wide variations in supplement use in Iraq, which may affect individual and population nutrient intakes. The results underline the need to monitor consumption of dietary supplements, as well as to evaluate the risks and benefits. Keywords: Dietary supplements type; Iraq; vitamins; minerals, herbals

Identification of genes responsible for neurological diseases by high-throughput sequencing

Mes travaux de thèse, réalisés en cotutelle entre l’Université Saint-Joseph au Liban et l’Université d’Aix Marseille en France, ont consisté à identifier des gènes impliqués dans des maladies génétiques rares à transmission autosomique récessive, en particulier des maladies neurologiques, dans des familles consanguines libanaises. Les maladies neurologiques constituent un groupe de maladies caractérisées par un défaut de structure et de fonction des différentes régions du système nerveux central et périphérique. Ainsi, j’ai cherché à identifier le défaut moléculaire à l’origine des pathologies étudiées, par l’utilisation du séquençage à haut débit (NGS) (exome, génome). Dans un premier temps, j’ai effectué l’analyse bioinformatique des données issues de NGS, ainsi que la confirmation, par séquençage Sanger, et la ségrégation familiale des variants candidats identifiés. Dans certaines maladies, pour lesquelles une nouvelle mutation ou un nouveau gène ont pu être identifiés, j’ai réalisé des analyses fonctionnelles plus poussées afin de démontrer les mécanismes physiopathologiques enjeu.My work is a joint PhD between Saint Joseph University in Beirut (Lebanon) and Aix Marseille University in Marseille (France). My PhD project aims at identifying genes responsible for rare neurological diseases by next-generation sequencing (NGS) in consanguineous Lebanese families. Neurological diseases are characterized by extensive phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity, and affect the structure and function of different regions of the central and peripheral nervous system.During my PhD work, I have studied several of these families, trying to identify the molecular basis of the studied disease, using NGS technologies. First, I performed the bioinformatics analysis of the exome and genome data, as well as the segregation by Sanger sequencing, and the family segregation of the candidate variants identified by NGS. In some diseases, for which a new mutation or gene has been identified; I have carried out more functional studies, in order to understand the physiopathological mechanisms bases

Role of vitamin D3 level and Apo-B/Apo-A1 ratio in patients with unstable angina in Kerbala province, Iraq

Objectives Vitamin D deficiency may be responsible for endothelial dysfunction which in turn affects the onset and progression of coronary artery disease and its risk factors. The Apo B/Apo AI ratio indicates the balance between atherogenic and anti atherogenic particles, the higher the value, the higher is the cardiovascular risk. The aim of study is to find a possible association between unstable angina and vitamin D3, Apo A1, Apo B, and Apo B/Apo A1 ratio and other risk factors (age, body mass index and smoking). Methods This case-control study was conducted during the period from Nov. 2015 to Sep. 2016. A total of 40 patients of unstable angina presented with typical chest pain to the coronary care unit in Al-Hussein Teaching Hospital, Al-Hussein Medical City/ Kerbala. The diagnosis was based on the clinical history and electrocardiography. A total of 50 persons were matched in age, gender and BMI as a control group. The procedures were measured using Auto Immunoassay Analyzer. Results Vitamin D3 deficiency (< 30 ng/mL) was prevalent in unstable angina (UA) compared with controls (vitamin D3 ≥ 30 ng/mL) (odds ratio [OR], 21.93; 95%, confidence interval [CI], 5.91–81.31; P < 0.001). The results obtained that serum 25(OH) D3 was highly significant in smoker compared with non-smoker in both groups (P < 0.001, P < 0.05, respectively). The serum Apo B, Apo A1 and Apo B/Apo A1 ratio were highly significant between both groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively). On the other hand, vitamin D3 recorded significant correlation with each of the age and BMI in control group (all P < 0.01). Conclusion The present study showed a highly significant association between vitamin D3, Apo B, Apo A1 levels, Apo B/Apo A1 ratio and unstable angina as compared with the control group, and significant correlation between vitamin D3 and age, BMI and smoking. Keywords unstable angina, vitamin D3, ApoA1, Apo B, Apo B/Apo A1 rati

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51st Conference of the European-Society-of-Human-Genetics (ESHG) in conjunction with the European Meeting on Psychosocial Aspects of Genetics (EMPAG), Milan, ITALY, JUN 16-19, 2018International audienc

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51st Conference of the European-Society-of-Human-Genetics (ESHG) in conjunction with the European Meeting on Psychosocial Aspects of Genetics (EMPAG), Milan, ITALY, JUN 16-19, 2018International audienc

Involvement of the ACE2/Ang-(1–7)/MasR Axis in Pulmonary Fibrosis: Implications for COVID-19

Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic, fibrotic lung disease affecting 3 million people worldwide. The ACE2/Ang-(1–7)/MasR axis is of interest in pulmonary fibrosis due to evidence of its anti-fibrotic action. Current scientific evidence supports that inhibition of ACE2 causes enhanced fibrosis. ACE2 is also the primary receptor that facilitates the entry of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the current COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 is associated with a myriad of symptoms ranging from asymptomatic to severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) leading to respiratory failure, mechanical ventilation, and often death. One of the potential complications in people who recover from COVID-19 is pulmonary fibrosis. Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for fibrotic lung diseases, including the idiopathic form of this disease (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis), which has a prevalence of 41% to 83%. Cigarette smoke increases the expression of pulmonary ACE2 and is thought to alter susceptibility to COVID-19. Cannabis is another popular combustible product that shares some similarities with cigarette smoke, however, cannabis contains cannabinoids that may reduce inflammation and/or ACE2 levels. The role of cannabis smoke in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis remains unknown. This review aimed to characterize the ACE2-Ang-(1–7)-MasR Axis in the context of pulmonary fibrosis with an emphasis on risk factors, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus and exposure to environmental toxicants. In the context of the pandemic, there is a dire need for an understanding of pulmonary fibrotic events. More research is needed to understand the interplay between ACE2, pulmonary fibrosis, and susceptibility to coronavirus infection

Role of Human Antigen R (HuR) in the Regulation of Pulmonary ACE2 Expression

Patients with COPD may be at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 because of ACE2 upregulation, the entry receptor for SARS-CoV-2. Chronic exposure to cigarette smoke, the main risk factor for COPD, increases pulmonary ACE2. How ACE2 expression is controlled is not known but may involve HuR, an RNA binding protein that increases protein expression by stabilizing mRNA. We hypothesized that HuR would increase ACE2 protein expression. We analyzed scRNA-seq data to profile ELAVL1 expression in distinct respiratory cell populations in COVID-19 and COPD patients. HuR expression and cellular localization was evaluated in COPD lung tissue by multiplex immunohistochemistry and in human lung cells by imaging flow cytometry. The regulation of ACE2 expression was evaluated using siRNA-mediated knockdown of HuR. There is a significant positive correlation between ELAVL1 and ACE2 in COPD cells. HuR cytoplasmic localization is higher in smoker and COPD lung tissue; there were also higher levels of cleaved HuR (CP-1). HuR binds to ACE2 mRNA but knockdown of HuR does not change ACE2 protein levels in primary human lung fibroblasts (HLFs). Our work is the first to investigate the association between ACE2 and HuR. Further investigation is needed to understand the mechanistic underpinning behind the regulation of ACE2 expression

Fluorinated Benzofuran and Dihydrobenzofuran as Anti-Inflammatory and Potential Anticancer Agents

Benzofuran and 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran scaffolds are heterocycles of high value in medicinal chemistry and drug synthesis. Targeting inflammation in cancer associated with chronic inflammation is a promising therapy. In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of fluorinated benzofuran and dihydrobenzofuran derivatives in macrophages and in the air pouch model of inflammation, as well as their anticancer effects in the human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line HCT116. Six of the nine compounds suppressed lipopolysaccharide-stimulated inflammation by inhibiting the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and nitric oxide synthase 2 and decreased the secretion of the tested inflammatory mediators. Their IC50 values ranged from 1.2 to 9.04 µM for interleukin-6; from 1.5 to 19.3 µM for Chemokine (C-C) Ligand 2; from 2.4 to 5.2 µM for nitric oxide; and from 1.1 to 20.5 µM for prostaglandin E2. Three novel synthesized benzofuran compounds significantly inhibited cyclooxygenase activity. Most of these compounds showed anti-inflammatory effects in the zymosan-induced air pouch model. Because inflammation may lead to tumorigenesis, we tested the effects of these compounds on the proliferation and apoptosis of HCT116. Two compounds with difluorine, bromine, and ester or carboxylic acid groups inhibited the proliferation by approximately 70%. Inhibition of the expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and concentration-dependent cleavage of PARP-1, as well as DNA fragmentation by approximately 80%, were described. Analysis of the structure–activity relationship suggested that the biological effects of benzofuran derivatives are enhanced in the presence of fluorine, bromine, hydroxyl, and/or carboxyl groups. In conclusion, the designed fluorinated benzofuran and dihydrobenzofuran derivatives are efficient anti-inflammatory agents, with a promising anticancer effect and a combinatory treatment in inflammation and tumorigenesis in cancer microenvironments

Additional file 1: of Next-generation sequencing in familial breast cancer patients from Lebanon

Cancer genes explored in this study. (DOCX 11 kb