308 research outputs found
Caffeine Consumption among Zayed University Students in Dubai, United Arab Emirates: A Cross-Sectional Study
Background: Over the past decade, the global caffeine consumption rate has increased dramatically. Coffee and tea are among the common sources, but energy drinks are becoming an important contributor to total caffeine consumption. Recommendations for daily caffeine intake is not being followed due to the perceived benefits of caffeine which include mood improvement, concentration, social factors, and energy boosting. This study was important to add to the limited data about caffeine consumption in the Gulf region and mainly in the UAE.Objectives: The objectives were to determine the prevalence of caffeinated beverage consumption among university students and perceived benefits in addition to the estimation of daily caffeine consumption (mg/day).Design: Data was collected through a self-reported questionnaire from a total of 175 participants (129 females and 46 males) who were conveniently selected from different settings at Zayed University - Dubai. Usual Caffeine intake was calculated from all caffeine containing beverages. Results: Eighty-six percent of the 175 participants, both males and females, at Zayed University-Dubai consumed caffeinated beverages with an average intake of 249.7±235.9 mg. The intake among the 150 caffeine consumers varied from 4.2 mg/day to 932.2 mg/day. Average intake of caffeine was not significantly different between genders (P=0.125). Thirty-five percent of the population consumed more than 400 mg/day of caffeine, with no statistical difference between males and females (P=0.202). Coffee was the most commonly consumed drink among both genders, followed by tea. Most perceived benefits of caffeine consumption were not significantly different except for the relationship between caffeine and improved exercise performance (P=0.018) and caffeine in relation to weight loss (P=0.001) among males.Conclusion: The prevalence of caffeine consumption at Zayed University was high among both males and females. Further research is necessary to estimate the total caffeine intake from all dietary sources, mainly the cultural foods and beverages, and to determine the relationship between accessibility to caffeine containing beverages and caffeine consumption among University student
Caffeine consumption among Zayed University students in Dubai, United Arab Emirates: A cross-sectional study
Background: Over the past decade, the global caffeine consumption rate has increased dramatically. Coffee and tea are among the common sources, but energy drinks are becoming an important contributor to total caffeine consumption. Recommendations for daily caffeine intake is not being followed due to the perceived benefits of caffeine which include mood improvement, concentration, social factors, and energy boosting. This study was important to add to the limited data about caffeine consumption in the Gulf region and mainly in the UAE. Objectives : The objectives were to determine the prevalence of caffeinated beverage consumption among university students and perceived benefits in addition to the estimation of daily caffeine consumption (mg/day). Design: Data was collected through a self-reported questionnaire from a total of 175 participants (129 females and 46 males) who were conveniently selected from different settings at Zayed University - Dubai. Usual Caffeine intake was calculated from all caffeine containing beverages.  Results: Eighty-six percent of the 175 participants, both males and females, at Zayed University-Dubai consumed caffeinated beverages with an average intake of 249.7±235.9 mg. The intake among the 150 caffeine consumers varied from 4.2 mg/day to 932.2 mg/day. Average intake of caffeine was not significantly different between genders (P=0.125). Thirty-five percent of the population consumed more than 400 mg/day of caffeine, with no statistical difference between males and females (P=0.202). Coffee was the most commonly consumed drink among both genders, followed by tea. Most perceived benefits of caffeine consumption were not significantly different except for the relationship between caffeine and improved exercise performance (P=0.018) and caffeine in relation to weight loss (P=0.001) among males. Conclusion: The prevalence of caffeine consumption at Zayed University was high among both males and females. Further research is necessary to estimate the total caffeine intake from all dietary sources, mainly the cultural foods and beverages, and to determine the relationship between accessibility to caffeine containing beverages and caffeine consumption among University student
The modified two-by-one fixed orthodontic appliance for bodily movement of canine: a case report
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens
Synthesis, X-ray structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and antimicrobial assessment of tetranuclear s-triazine hydrazine Schiff base ligand
Funding: The Deputyship for Research and Innovation, “Ministry of Education”, King Saud University (IFKSUOR3-188-3), Saudi Arabia.The unexpected tetranuclear [Cu4(DPPT)2Cl6] complex was obtained by self-assembly of CuCl2.2H2O and (E)-2,4-di(piperidin-1-yl)-6-(2-(1-(pyridin-2-yl)ethylidene)hydrazinyl)-1,3,5-triazine, ( HDPPT ) in ethanol. In this tetranuclear [Cu4(DPPT)2Cl6] complex, the organic ligand acts as mononegative chelate bridging two crystallographically independent Cu(II) sites. The DPPT− anion acts as a bidentate ligand with respect to Cu(1), while it is a tridentate for Cu(2). The Cu(1)N2Cl3 and Cu(2)N3Cl spheres have square pyramidal and square planar coordination geometries with some distortion, respectively. Two of the chloride ions coordinating the Cu(1) are bridging between two crystallographically related Cu(1) sites connecting two [Cu2(DPPT)Cl3] units together, leading to the tetranuclear formula [Cu4(DPPT)2Cl6]. The packing of the [Cu4(DPPT)2Cl6] complex is dominated by C-H…Cl contacts, leading to one-dimensional hydrogen-bond polymeric structure. According to Hirshfeld surface analysis of molecular packing, the non-covalent interactions H…H, Cl…H, Cl…C, C…H, and N…H are the most significant. Their percentages are 52.8, 19.0, 3.2, 7.7, and 9.7%, respectively. Antimicrobial assessment showed good antifungal activity of the Cu(II) complex against A. fumigatus and C. albicans compared to Ketoconazole as positive control. Moreover, the [Cu4(DPPT)2Cl6] complex has higher activity against Gram-positive bacteria than Gentamycin as positive control. The opposite was observed when testing the tetranuclear [Cu4(DPPT)2Cl6] complex against the Gram-negative bacteria.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe
Impairment of DHA synthesis alters the expression of neuronal plasticity markers and the brain inflammatory status in mice
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a ω-3 fatty acid typically obtained from the diet or endogenously synthesized through the action of elongases (ELOVLs) and desaturases. DHA is a key central nervous system constituent and the precursor of several molecules that regulate the resolution of inflammation. In the present study, we questioned whether the impaired synthesis of DHA affected neural plasticity and inflammatory status in the adult brain. To address this question, we investigated neural and inflammatory markers from mice deficient for ELOVL2 (Elovl2−/−), the key enzyme in DHA synthesis. From our findings, Elovl2−/− mice showed an altered expression of markers involved in synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory formation such as Egr-1, Arc1, and BDNF specifically in the cerebral cortex, impacting behavioral functions only marginally. In parallel, we also found that DHA-deficient mice were characterized by an increased expression of pro-inflammatory molecules, namely TNF, IL-1β, iNOS, caspase-1 as well as the activation and morphologic changes of microglia in the absence of any brain injury or disease. Reintroducing DHA in the diet of Elovl2−/− mice reversed such alterations in brain plasticity and inflammation. Hence, impairment of systemic DHA synthesis can modify the brain inflammatory and neural plasticity status, supporting the view that DHA is an essential fatty acid with an important role in keeping inflammation within its physiologic boundary and in shaping neuronal functions in the central nervous system
High Genetic Diversity of Human Rhinovirus among Pilgrims with Acute Respiratory Tract Infections during 2019 Hajj Pilgrimage Season
OBJECTIVES: Acute Respiratory tract infections (ARI) due to Human Rhinoviruses (HRV) are common in pilgrims during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The objective of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity of HRV among pilgrims with respiratory symptoms during Hajj 2019. METHODS: HRV infection was detected using multiplex real time RT-PCR. Cycle sequencing was performed on positive samples and the sequences were subjected to phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS: 19 HRV-positive respiratory samples were sequenced. All three serotypes of HRV were identified: HRV-A (13; [68.42%)) was more common than HRV-B (2; [10.53%]), and HRV-C (4; [21.05%]). HRV-A species were found to be of genotypes A101, A21, A30, A57, A23, A60 and A11. HRV-B species belonged to genotypes B4 and B84, and HRV-C species were of genotypes C15, C3 and C56. CONCLUSIONS: Sequencing studies of respiratory tract viruses in pilgrims are important. We provide preliminary evidence of high diversity of HRV genotypes circulating in pilgrims in a restricted area during Hajj. This requires further clinical and sequencing studies of viral pathogens in larger consorts of overseas and local pilgrims
Impairment of DHA synthesis alters the expression of neuronal plasticity markers and the brain inflammatory status in mice.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a ω-3 fatty acid typically obtained from the diet or endogenously synthesized through the action of elongases (ELOVLs) and desaturases. DHA is a key central nervous system constituent and the precursor of several molecules that regulate the resolution of inflammation. In the present study, we questioned whether the impaired synthesis of DHA affected neural plasticity and inflammatory status in the adult brain. To address this question, we investigated neural and inflammatory markers from mice deficient for ELOVL2 (Elovl2-/- ), the key enzyme in DHA synthesis. From our findings, Elovl2-/- mice showed an altered expression of markers involved in synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory formation such as Egr-1, Arc1, and BDNF specifically in the cerebral cortex, impacting behavioral functions only marginally. In parallel, we also found that DHA-deficient mice were characterized by an increased expression of pro-inflammatory molecules, namely TNF, IL-1β, iNOS, caspase-1 as well as the activation and morphologic changes of microglia in the absence of any brain injury or disease. Reintroducing DHA in the diet of Elovl2-/- mice reversed such alterations in brain plasticity and inflammation. Hence, impairment of systemic DHA synthesis can modify the brain inflammatory and neural plasticity status, supporting the view that DHA is an essential fatty acid with an important role in keeping inflammation within its physiologic boundary and in shaping neuronal functions in the central nervous system
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