Impact of COVID-19 restrictions on health and well-being in the United Arab Emirates

BackgroundRestrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic are thought to have impacted both the physical health and well-being of individuals where lockdown was applied. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was one of the leading countries in implementing the international guidelines to limit the intensely contagious nature of the outbreak.AimTo identify the impact of COVID-19 on changes to exercise and general physical activity habits, changes to the consumption of various foods and potential weight gain, as well as any differences in smoking habits among individuals residing in the UAE during the COVID-19 quarantine.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional analytical study that used a quantitative electronic questionnaire sent by the Ministry of Health and Prevention to individuals on its platform in order to collect data on the physical health and well-being of a UAE sample population. A total of 2,362 responses were received to specific questions on physical activity, eating habits, and tobacco use for the period before, during, and after the COVID-19 lockdown. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to display the sample’s demographic data and the changes in physical health and well-being. Paired t-test was used to show the changes in dietary habits.ResultsThis study reveals concerning changes in health risk behaviors during the COVID-19 lockdown in the UAE. Physical activity levels declined across mild, moderate and vigorous ranges in most participants. Alarmingly, sedentary behavior dramatically increased with 71% of participants spending an average of 4–8 h per day sitting and over 54% of participants spending more than 4 h watching TV on an average day during lockdown. Fast-food consumption and snacking rose, hence weight gain was observed in over 53% of participants. Smoking habits, especially among cigarette smokers, may have worsened, with 45.2% reporting an increase in cigarette smoking, 16.8% declaring an increase in shisha smoking and 35.3% reporting an increase in smoking other tobacco products. These unfavorable behaviors during confinement could have serious long-term health consequences.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that long periods of home quarantine may have led to unhealthy consequences that increase the risk of developing disease. This study therefore aims to highlight these health impacts, and recommend strategies and policies that can encourage healthy habits

Human ether-a-go-go related gene (hERG) potassium channel gating and drug block

hERG encodes the a-subunit of the rapid delayed rectifier potassium current, a crucial current for normal repolarisation of the cardiac action potential. Pharmacological block of hERG is associated with arrhythmias and sudden death. Given its physiological importance, aspects of both the gating and pharmacology of this channel were investigated.;hERG has unusual gating properties characterised by slow activation and deactivation gating. The roles of conserved S6 glycines (Gly648 and Gly657) in hERG as hinges for activation gating were studied. Glycine residues impart flexibility that is thought to be conducive for channel opening. However, mutations at positions 648 and 657 altered gating in a manner consistent with a role in protein packing rather than flexibility. Deactivation gating in hERG is slow due to interactions between the amino-terminus, the voltage sensor, and the pore that stabilise the open state. The pore mutation V659A dramatically slowed channel deactivation and reduced drug block. Replacing Val659 with larger hydrophobic residues resulted in faster deactivation kinetics, but in contrast, V659G hERG was constitutively open. It was concluded that Val659 mutations influence deactivation through hydrophobic interactions with the S4-S5 linker that couples S6 to the voltage sensor. Effects on drug binding correlated with deactivation rates, indicating that Val659 mutations have allosteric rather than direct effects on drug binding.;Tyr652 is thought to be a critical residue for high affinity drug binding. However, this study showed that the contribution of Tyr652 to drug binding varied considerably among 24 compounds tested, with the majority of low affinity blockers being relatively insensitive to the Y652A mutation. Pharmacophore models generated from the results suggest that higher affinity compounds are longer than lower affinity compounds and simultaneously interact with multiple inner cavity residues. The compact structure of low affinity, Y652A-insensitive drugs permits multiple binding modes, making the compounds less reliant on interactions with Tyr652

Chemical composition and potential health risks of raw Arabian incense (Bakhour)

Burning Arabian incense (Bakhour) is a common indoor practice in the Middle East and the Arabian Gulf region. However, the chemical composition of this substance has never been studied. Three different Bakhour brands were selected for this study. A complete chemical profile for the raw samples was determined using carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen elemental analysis, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and gas chromatography mass spectrometry techniques. A wide range of elements and compounds were identified, many of which are hazardous to health. Nitrogen was found in all samples which should raise concerns due to the known health implications of amines, nitrogen oxides and nitrites. In addition toxic metals such as cobalt, copper, iron, nickel, lead, and zinc were also determined in all samples. The amounts of these metals are equivalent to those in raw tobacco, where they are known to pose health risks. Three types of solvents (acetone, dichloromethane and toluene) were used for the extraction of organic compounds. Carcinogens, toxins and irritants were found along others of different health implications. Isolation of these compounds provides preliminary evidence on the harmful consequences of being exposed to Bakhour

A literature review addressing midwakh and e-cigarette use in the Gulf region

Abstract A notable decrease in conventional cigarette smoking has been witnessed on a global scale. However, this decrease has been accompanied by an equally striking global increase in the consumption of alternative tobacco products (ATPs), namely e-cigarettes and midwakh in the Arabian Gulf region. A literature review was used to outline the chemical composition of these two ATPs and review their impacts on health. The study was conducted using databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, MDPI, and WorldCat. The literature search included terms such as “e-cigarettes,” “midwakh,” “dokha,” “heath impacts,” “psychological effects,” “social influences,” and “cigarette smoking” with emphasis on literature from the Arabian Gulf region. Data shows that midwakh contains markedly high levels of tar, nicotine, and various compounds of notable effects on the human body. Similarly, it was found that e-cigarettes contain non-negligible amounts of nicotine and other chemical compounds that may not have been extensively investigated. Alarming reports of system-specific effects brought about by midwakh, and e-cigarette consumption, have been reported, although further research is needed to deduce the mechanism. We also discussed some of the social and psychological factors leading to their consumption within this population. Hence, this review raises questions around the safety of these two types of ATPs and encourages comprehensive studies globally and regionally

Modified Composite Nanomaterials as Novel Approach to Dental Hygiene Formulation

Oral care and dental hygiene are integral parts of self-care. In the past few decades, there has been increased development in mouthwashes as oral care products. However, existing products maylead to a dry mouth or rely on ethanol. Herein, for the first time, we investigated the antibacterial effects of cetylpyridinium chloride, a cationic surfactant, intercalated with montmorillonite, a smectite clay to form a cetylpyridinium chloride-montmorillonite clay complex. Antibacterial assays revealed that the complex was able to eradicate oral bacteria in human saliva within 2 minutes, at a concentration of 0.05g/L as determined by plating human saliva onto nutrient agar plates post-treatment. These are very encouraging findings that could improve mouthwash formulations to remove stains and plaque against various oral bacteria