Implications of Synchronous IVR Radio on Syrian Refugee Health and Community Dynamics

With 1,033,513 Syrian refugees adding a strain on the Lebanese healthcare system, innovation is key to improving access to healthcare. Our previous work identified the potential for technology to improve access to antenatal care services and increase refugee agency. Using (1) paper mock ups and a mobile based prototype, (2) process mapping, (3) focus groups and interviews and (4) key informant meetings, we explored the concept of refugee led community radio shows to deliver peer-led healthcare. We observed the influence of community radio shows on Syrian refugee health education, community dynamics and community agency in relationships between healthcare providers and refugees. Refugees were positively impacted through situating the technology within the community. We highlight issues around trust, agency, understanding, sel-forganization and privacy that resulted from running the shows through mock ups and a mobile based prototype. Our findings inform future work in community run radio shows

Ziziphus nummularia attenuates the malignant phenotype of human pancreatic cancer cells: Role of ros

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the fourth leading cause of all cancer-related deaths. Despite major improvements in treating PC, low survival rate remains a major challenge, indicating the need for alternative approaches, including herbal medicine. Among medicinal plants is Ziziphus nummu-laria (family Rhamnaceae), which is a thorny shrub rich in bioactive molecules. Leaves of Ziziphus nummularia have been used to treat many pathological conditions, including cancer. However, their effects on human PC are still unknown. Here, we show that the treatment of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells (Capan-2) with Ziziphus nummularia ethanolic extract (ZNE) (100–300 µg/mL) attenuated cell proliferation in a time-and concentration-dependent manner. Pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine, an ROS scavenger, attenuated the anti-proliferative effect of ZNE. In addition, ZNE significantly decreased the migratory and invasive capacity of Capan-2 with a concomitant downregulation of integrin α2 and increased cell–cell aggregation. In addition, ZNE inhibited in ovo angiogenesis as well as reduced VEGF and nitric oxide levels. Furthermore, ZNE downregulated the ERK1/2 and NF-κB signaling pathways, which are known to drive tumorigenic and metastatic events. Taken together, our results suggest that ZNE can attenuate the malignant phenotype of Capan-2 by inhibiting hallmarks of PC. Our data also provide evidence for the potential anticancer effect of Ziziphus nummularia, which may represent a new resource of novel anticancer compounds, especially ones that can be utilized for the management of PC

Reproducibility of adipogenic responses to metabolism disrupting chemicals in the 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte model system: An interlaboratory study

The 3T3-L1 murine pre-adipocyte line is an established cell culture model for screening Metabolism Disrupting Chemicals (MDCs). Despite a need to accurately identify MDCs for further evaluation, relatively little research has been performed to comprehensively evaluate reproducibility across laboratories, assess factors that might contribute to varying degrees of differentiation between laboratories (media additives, plastics, cell source, etc.), or to standardize protocols. As such, the goals of this study were to assess interlaboratory variability of efficacy and potency outcomes for triglyceride accumulation and pre-adipocyte proliferation using the mouse 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte cell assay to test chemicals. Ten laboratories from five different countries participated. Each laboratory evaluated one reference chemical (rosiglitazone) and three blinded test chemicals (tributyltin chloride, pyraclostrobin, and bisphenol A) using: 1) their Laboratory-specific 3T3-L1 Cells (LC) and their Laboratory-specific differentiation Protocol (LP), 2) Shared 3T3-L1 Cells (SC) with LP, 3) LC with a Shared differentiation Protocol (SP), and 4) SC with SP. Blinded test chemical responses were analyzed by the coordinating laboratory. The magnitude and range of bioactivities reported varied considerably across laboratories and test conditions, though the presence or absence of activity for each tested chemical was more consistent. Triglyceride accumulation activity determinations for rosiglitazone ranged from 90 to 100% across test conditions, but 30–70 % for pre-adipocyte proliferation; this was 40–80 % for triglyceride accumulation induced by pyraclostrobin, 80–100 % for tributyltin, and 80–100 % for bisphenol A. Consistency was much lower for pre-adipocyte proliferation, with 30–70 % active determinations for pyraclostrobin, 30–50 % for tributyltin, and 20–40 % for bisphenol A. Greater consistency was observed for the SC/SP assessment. As such, working to develop a standardized adipogenic differentiation protocol represents the best strategy for improving consistency of adipogenic responses using the 3T3-L1 model to reproducibly identify MDCs and increase confidence in reported outcomes.Over-arching project supported by grants [R01 ES016099 to HMS; R00 ES030405 to CDK] from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS); University of Turin; European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement GOLIATH No. 825489; Brunel University London; NIEHS (1K22ES026208 and R01ES027863); NIEHS (Z0ES102785); Spanish Institute of Health Carlos III (grant FIS-PI16/01812)

دراسة فاعلية المضادات الحيوية لبعض النباتات المائية ومستخلصات اطحالب بالأردن

The antimicrobial activity of the extracts of three fresh water green algae, four marine green algae, two brown marine algae and five red marine algae from the Jordanian part of the Aqaba Gulf, together with four aquatic higher plants were screened against E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The inhibition zones were observed and measured from the margin of the well containing the plant extract to the beginning of the bacterial growth on nutrient agar plates. The fresh water algae extracts showed the highest antimicrobial activity against both indicator bacteria, while the marine algae were active against Staph. aureus only. The green algae were the most effective followed by the brown and red marine algae. The extracts of Lemna minor, Potamogeton sp., Nastorium officinale and Apium nodiflorum were also active against Staph. aureus only.في هذا البحث أجريت دراسة لتأثير فاعلية المضادات الميكروبية المستخلصة من العينات الاتية : ثلاثة أنواع من الطحالب الخضراء في المياه العذبة ، أربعة أنواع من الطحالب البحرية ، اثنين من الطحالب البنية البحرية ، خمسة أنواع من الطحالب الحمراء البحرية . في مياه خليج العقبة بالأردن بالاضافة إلى أربعة عينات من النباتات الراقية وذلك ضد بكتريا الأيشيريشيا كولاى ، والاستفيلوكوكس أوريس . وقد قيست المناطق الجرداء الخالية من النمو حول حافة الحلقة المحتوية على المستخلص النباتي إلى بداية نمو البكتريا وذلك ببيئة الآجار المغذي . وقد أثبتت التجارب أن مستخلص طحالب المياه العذبة تفرز أكثر أنواع المضادات الميكروبية تأثيرا ضد هذين النوعين من البكتريا ، وكانت مستخلصات الطحالب البحرية نشطة فقط ضد بكتريا الأستفيلوكوكس أوريس ، كما أن مستخلصات نباتات اللينا مينور والبوتا موجيتون كانت فعالة فقط ضد بكتيريا الأستفيلوكوكس أوريس

Host country responses to non-communicable diseases amongst Syrian refugees: a review

Abstract Background Since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey have hosted large refugee populations, with a high pre-conflict burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Objectives We aimed to describe the ways in which these three host country health systems have provided NCD services to Syrian refugees over time, and to highlight the successes and challenges they encountered. Methods We conducted a descriptive review of the academic and grey literature, published between March 2011 and March 2017, using PubMed and Google searches complemented with documents provided by relevant stakeholders. Results Forty-one articles and reports met our search criteria. Despite the scarcity of systematic population-level data, these documents highlight the high burden of reported NCDs among Syrian refugees, especially amongst older adults. The three host countries utilized different approaches to the design, delivery and financing of NCD services for these refugees. In Jordan and Lebanon, Ministries of Health and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) coordinate a diverse group of health care providers to deliver health services to Syrian refugees at a subsidized cost. In Turkey, however, services are provided solely by the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), a Turkish governmental agency, with no cost to patients for primary or secondary care. Access to NCD services varied both within and between countries, with no data available from Turkey. The cost of NCD treatment is the primary barrier to accessing healthcare, with high out-of-pocket payments required for medications and secondary and tertiary care services, despite the availability of free or subsidized primary health services. Financial impediments led refugees to adopt coping strategies, including returning to Syria to seek treatment, with associated frequent treatment interruptions. These gaps were compounded by health system related barriers such as complex referral systems, lack of effective guidance on navigating the health system, limited health facility capacity and suboptimal NCD health education. Conclusion As funding shortages for refugee services continue, innovative service delivery models are needed to create responsive and sustainable solutions to the NCD burden among refugees in host countries