Detection of Insulin Resistance in Obese young men and its association with metabolic abnormalities in Najran, Saudi Arabia

Abstract: The association between obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been recognized for decades. The major basis for this link is the ability of obesity to engender insulin resistance (IR). Homeostasis Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) is an indirect marker of IR. The present study evaluated the usefulness of HOMA-IR in the prediction of the risk of the development of T2DM among overweight and obese individuals in Najran, Saudi Arabia. This study was carried out on 116 male individuals divided into 3 groups. Of these, 20 healthy control (GI), 44 prediabetic overweight and obese individuals with high normal serum glucose levels (GII) and 52 diabetic overweight and obese individuals with high serum glucose levels (GIII). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated for all individuals. In addition, fasting serum glucose and insulin levels, lipid profile and liver and kidney function tests were estimated for all individuals. The mean BMI was 21.84±1.28 kg/m 2 in GI, 28.68±2.42 kg/m 2 in GII and 33.82±2.78 kg/m 2 in GIII. The mean fasting serum glucose was 128.29±27.92 mg/dl in GII and 159.46±44.86 mg/dl in GIII. Such findings were correlated with increased fasting serum insulin levels (21.57±2.58 µU/ml in GII and 37.28±6.15 µU/ml in GIII) compared to GI (16.22±6.23 µU/ml). The mean HOMA-IR was 5.77±1.71 in GII and 12.67±4.07 in GIII compared to GI (4.07±1.04). We conclude that, increased BMI was associated with increased incidence of Insulin Resistance, dyslipidaemia and hyperuricaemia among overweight and obese individuals in Najran, Saudi Arabia.

Developing a contemporary community clinic for patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction within the current National Health Service model

INTRODUCTION: The diagnostic and therapeutic arsenal for heart failure with preserved ejection (HFpEF) has expanded. With novel therapies (eg, sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors) and firmer recommendations to optimise non-cardiac comorbidities, it is unclear if outpatient HFpEF models can adequately deliver this. We; therefore, evaluated the efficacy of an existing dedicated HFpEF clinic to find innovative ways to design a more comprehensive model tailored to the modern era of HFpEF. METHODS: A single-centre retrospective analysis of 202 HFpEF outpatients was performed over 12 months before the COVID-19 pandemic. Baseline characteristics, clinic activities (eg, medication changes, lifestyle modifications, management of comorbidities) and follow-up arrangements were compared between a HFpEF and general cardiology clinic to assess their impact on mortality and morbidity at 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: Between the two clinic groups, the sample population was evenly matched with a typical HFpEF profile (mean age 79±9.6 years, 55% female and a high prevalence of cardiometabolic comorbidities). While follow-up practices were similar, the HFpEF clinic delivered significantly more interventions on lifestyle changes, blood pressure and heart rate control (p60% of hospitalisation, including causes of recurrent admissions. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that existing general and emerging dedicated HFpEF clinics may not be adequate in addressing the multifaceted aspects of HFpEF as clinic activities concentrated primarily on cardiological measures. Although the small cohort and short follow-up period are important limitations, this study reminds clinicians that HFpEF patients are more at risk of non-cardiac than HF-related events. We have therefore proposed a pragmatic framework that can comprehensively deliver the modern guideline-directed recommendations and management of non-cardiac comorbidities through a multidisciplinary approach

Association of the gut microbiota with clinical variables in obese and lean Emirati subjects

BackgroundGrowing evidence supports the role of gut microbiota in obesity, yet exact associations remain largely unknown. Specifically, very little is known about this association in the Emirati population.MethodsWe explored differences in gut microbiota composition, particularly the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio, between 43 obese and 31 lean adult Emirate counterparts, and its association with obesity markers, by using V3-V4 regions of 16 S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing data. Furthermore, we collected anthropometric and biochemical data.ResultsThe two major phyla in obese and lean groups were Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. We observed a significantly lower alpha diversity (Shannon index) in obese subjects and a significant difference in beta diversity and phylum and genus levels between the two groups. The obese group had higher abundances of Verrucomicrobia and Saccharibacteira and lower abundances of Lentisphaerae. Acidaminococcus and Lachnospira were more abundant in obese subjects and positively correlated with adiposity markers. No correlations were found between the gut microbiota and biochemical variables, such as fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.ConclusionWe reveal significant differences in the gut microbiota between obese and lean adult Emiratis and an association between certain microbial genera of the gut microbiota and obesity. A better understanding of the interactions between gut microbes, diet, lifestyle, and health is warranted

Genetic and Morphological Diversity Assessment of Five Kalanchoe Genotypes by SCoT, ISSR and RAPD-PCR Markers

Determining the appropriate parents for breeding programs is the most important decision that plant breeders must make to maximize the genetic variability and produce excellent recombinant genotypes. Several methods are used to identify genotypes with desirable phenotypic features for breeding experiments. In this study, five kalanchoe genotypes were morphologically characterized by assessing plant height, number of inflorescences, number of flowers, flower length, flower diameter and number of petals. The analysis showed the distinction of yellow kalanchoe in the plant height trait, while the orange kalanchoe was distinguished in the number of inflorescences, the number of flowers and flower length traits, whereas the violet kalanchoe possessed the largest flower diameter and the highest number of petals. The molecular profiling was performed by random amplified polymorphism DNA (RAPD), inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) and start codon targeted (SCoT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tools. Genomic DNA was extracted from young leaves and the PCR reactions were performed using ten primers for each SCoT, ISSR and RAPD marker. Only four out of ten primers showed amplicon profiles in all PCR markers. A total of 70 bands were generated by SCoT, ISSR and RAPD-PCR with 35 polymorphic bands and 35 monomorphic bands. The total number of bands of RAPD, ISSR and SCoT was 15, 17 and 38, respectively. The polymorphism percentages achieved by RAPD, ISSR and SCoT were 60.25%, 15% and 57%, respectively. The cluster analysis based on morphological data revealed two clusters. Cluster I consisted of violet and orange kalanchoe, and cluster II comprised red, yellow and purple kalanchoe. Whereas the cluster analysis based on molecular data revealed three clusters. Cluster I included only yellow kalanchoe, cluster II comprised orange and violet kalanchoe while cluster III comprised red, and purple kalanchoe. The study concluded that orange, violet and yellow kalanchoe are distinguished parents for breeding economically valued traits in kalanchoe. Also, the study concluded that SCoT and RAPD markers reproduced reliable banding patterns to assess the genetic polymorphism among kalanchoe genotypes that consider the basis stone for genetic improvements in ornamental plants

Home automation and security

The main objective in this project is to modernize any home in order to make life more convenient. And to make a full access to all features of this smart home with different platforms (e.g. PC, web application, Android mobile application) In order to carry out this work, a suitable design for house consisting of bedroom, living, kitchen, reception and garden was made to work as a model to simulate the real life and real controlling of the home features. The Project mainly focuses on the controlling of Light, Air conditioner, fan and providing security (camera) by the user away from his home or place .This system is depending on the microcontroller (Arduino) that is like a small computer that controls any device automatically without any human interference that the user could control any device at home from his Mobile Phone. This system provides ideal solution to the problems faced by home owners (user) in daily life. The system is consists of hardware and software development, a controlling system that works on clicking on the ON and OFF buttons on the Android Application that takes the Public IP address that connected the Router (Internet) in the place that the Arduino exist, where the Arduino is connected to the devices through the Relay board, That help the user to be more safer and comfortable to make life easy to him

Using lysis therapy to treat five critically ill COVID‐19 patients who show echocardiographic criteria of right ventricular strain

Abstract New options for treatment escalation in critically ill COVID‐19 patients are unmet need. Five critically ill patients were treated using a low‐dose protocol thrombolytic therapy in the form of intravenous alteplase infusion over 15 min (0.6 mg/kg). This therapeutic intervention yielded an immediate favorable outcome on follow up and all five patients were extubated and transferred to the ward. This report suggests that bedside echocardiography can be a beneficial tool in the urgent assessment of the right ventricle—to—pulmonary vascular coupling in mechanically ventilated COVID‐19 patients, and thrombolytic therapy may be beneficial in hemodynamically unstable patients who show echocardiographic criteria of right ventricular strain