Capital adequacy implications on Islamic and non-Islamic bank's behavior: Does market power matter?

AbstractAfter each crisis, reforms are carried out to prevent a new episode of financial crises. In this context, our objective in this study is to examine and simultaneously compare the behavior of Islamic and conventional banks in relation to the ratio of the capital adequacy in different competitive circumstances. We used data from 12 MENA and South East Asian countries characterized by the coexistence of Islamic and conventional banks. We concluded that the funding ratio has a significant impact on the behavior of 70 conventional banks and 47 Islamic banks. However, competitive conditions have no significant effect on the relationship between the weighted assets ratio and Islamic bank behavior, which means that this type of banks is applying theoretical models based on the prohibition of the interest

Drosophila as a Model Organism in Host–Pathogen Interaction Studies

Owing to the genetic similarities and conserved pathways between a fruit fly and mammals, the use of the Drosophila model as a platform to unveil novel mechanisms of infection and disease progression has been justified and widely instigated. Gaining proper insight into host–pathogen interactions and identifying chief factors involved in host defense and pathogen virulence in Drosophila serves as a foundation to establish novel strategies for infectious disease prevention and control in higher organisms, including humans.We acknowledge Qatar University (QUST-1-CHS-2020-4) for funding this publication

Dysregulation of Signaling Pathways Due to Differentially Expressed Genes From the B-Cell Transcriptomes of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients - A Bioinformatics Approach.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder that is clinically complex and has increased production of autoantibodies. Via emerging technologies, researchers have identified genetic variants, expression profiling of genes, animal models, and epigenetic findings that have paved the way for a better understanding of the molecular and genetic mechanisms of SLE. Our current study aimed to illustrate the essential genes and molecular pathways that are potentially involved in the pathogenesis of SLE. This study incorporates the gene expression profiling data of the microarray dataset GSE30153 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the B-cell transcriptomes of SLE patients and healthy controls were screened using the GEO2R web tool. The identified DEGs were subjected to STRING analysis and Cytoscape to explore the protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks between them. The MCODE (Molecular Complex Detection) plugin of Cytoscape was used to screen the cluster subnetworks that are highly interlinked between the DEGs. Subsequently, the clustered DEGs were subjected to functional annotation with ClueGO/CluePedia to identify the significant pathways that were enriched. For integrative analysis, we used GeneGo Metacore, a Cortellis Solution software, to exhibit the Gene Ontology (GO) and enriched pathways between the datasets. Our study identified 4 upregulated and 13 downregulated genes. Analysis of GO and functional enrichment using ClueGO revealed the pathways that were statistically significant, including pathways involving T-cell costimulation, lymphocyte costimulation, negative regulation of vascular permeability, and B-cell receptor signaling. The DEGs were mainly enriched in metabolic networks such as the phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-triphosphate pathway and the carnitine pathway. Additionally, potentially enriched pathways, such as the signaling pathways induced by oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS), chemotaxis and lysophosphatidic acid signaling induced via G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), and the androgen receptor activation pathway, were identified from the DEGs that were mainly associated with the immune system. Four genes (, , , and ) were identified to be strongly associated with SLE. Our integrative analysis using a multitude of bioinformatics tools might promote an understanding of the dysregulated pathways that are associated with SLE development and progression. The four DEGs in SLE patients might shed light on the pathogenesis of SLE and might serve as potential biomarkers in early diagnosis and as therapeutic targets for SLE

Challenges in Laboratory Diagnosis of the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

The recent outbreak of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has quickly spread worldwide since its discovery in Wuhan city, China in December 2019. A comprehensive strategy, including surveillance, diagnostics, research, clinical treatment, and development of vaccines, is urgently needed to win the battle against COVID-19. The past three unprecedented outbreaks of emerging human coronavirus infections at the beginning of the 21st century have highlighted the importance of readily available, accurate, and rapid diagnostic technologies to contain emerging and re-emerging pandemics. Real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) based assays performed on respiratory specimens remain the gold standard for COVID-19 diagnostics. However, point-of-care technologies and serologic immunoassays are rapidly emerging with high sensitivity and specificity as well. Even though excellent techniques are available for the diagnosis of symptomatic patients with COVID-19 in well-equipped laboratories; critical gaps still remain in screening asymptomatic people who are in the incubation phase of the virus, as well as in the accurate determination of live viral shedding during convalescence to inform decisions for ending isolation. This review article aims to discuss the currently available laboratory methods and surveillance technologies available for the detection of COVID-19, their performance characteristics and highlight the gaps in current diagnostic capacity, and finally, propose potential solutions. We also summarize the specifications of the majority of the available commercial kits (PCR, EIA, and POC) for laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19

Enhancing the sensitivity of rapid antigen detection test (RADT) of different SARS-CoV-2 variants and lineages using fluorescence-labeled antibodies and a fluorescent meter

RT-qPCR is considered the gold standard for diagnosis of COVID-19; however, it is laborious, time-consuming, and expensive. RADTs have evolved recently as relatively inexpensive methods to address these shortcomings, but their performance for detecting different SARS-COV-2 variants remains limited. RADT test performance could be enhanced using different antibody labeling and signal detection techniques. Here, we aimed to evaluate the performance of two antigen RADTs for detecting different SARS-CoV-2 variants: (i) the conventional colorimetric RADT (Ab-conjugated with gold beads); and (ii) the new Finecare™ RADT (Ab-coated fluorescent beads). Finecare™ is a meter used for the detection of a fluorescent signal. 187 frozen nasopharyngeal swabs collected in Universal transport (UTM) that are RT-qPCR positive for different SARS-CoV-2 variants were selected, including Alpha (n = 60), Delta (n = 59), and Omicron variants (n = 108). Sixty flu and 60 RSV-positive samples were included as negative controls (total sample number = 347). The conventional RADT showed sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 62.4% (95%CI: 54–70), 100% (95%CI: 97–100), 100% (95%CI: 100-100), and 58% (95%CI: 49–67), respectively. These measurements were enhanced using the Finecare™ RADT: sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 92.6% (95%CI: 89.08–92.3), 96% (95%CI: 96–99.61), 98% (95%CI: 89–92.3), and 85% (95%CI: 96–99.6) respectively. The sensitivity of both RADTs could be greatly underestimated because nasopharyngeal swab samples collected UTM and stored at −80 °C were used. Despite that, our results indicate that the Finecare™ RADT is appropriate for clinical laboratory and community-based surveillance due to its high sensitivity and specificity.This work was made possible by partial funds from REP29-026-3-004 grant from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation) AND QUCG-BRC-2022/23-578 . The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors. We thank the many dedicated persons at Hamad Medical Corporation, Sidra Medicine, and the National Reference lab for their diligent efforts and contributions to making this study possible. Open Access funding provided by the Qatar National Library

Validation of Selected Commercial Serological Assays for Diagnosis of COVID-19

As researchers around the globe rush to put the available antibody tests to use, concerns have been raised about their precision. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the performance of selected commercial & automated serological assays, that are widely used in different clinical settings in Qatar. We validated the performance of five commercial IgG and IgM ELISA kits, three fully automated immunoassays, and two commercial rapid tests. The sensitivity of all assays was compared to RT-PCR and a surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT). In addition, cross-reactivity was investigated. Among the evaluated kits, Lionex IgG assaydemonstrated the best performance (~88% sensitivity and ~99 specificity). All automated assays showed an excellent correlation with the neutralization test with an overall agreement of 93.6-98.5%. The rapid assays demonstrated a very good performance in detecting IgG antibodies (86.0-88.0% sensitivity and 98.0-100% specificity)

Neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 are higher but decline faster in mRNA vaccinees compared to individuals with natural infection.

Waning protection against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants by pre-existing antibodies elicited due to current vaccination or natural infection is a global concern. Whether this is due to the waning of immunity to SARS-COV-2 remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the dynamics of antibody isotype responses among vaccinated naïve (VN) and naturally infected (NI) individuals. We followed up antibody levels in COVID-19 mRNA-vaccinated subjects without prior infection (VN, n = 100) in two phases: phase-I (P-I) at ~ 1.4 and phase-II (P-II) at ~ 5.3 months. Antibody levels were compared to those of unvaccinated and naturally infected subjects (NI, n = 40) at ~ 1.7 (P-1) and 5.2 (P-II) months post-infection. Neutralizing antibodies (NTAb), anti-S-RBD-IgG, -IgM, and anti-S-IgA isotypes were measured. The VN group elicited significantly greater antibody responses (p < 0.001) than the NI group at P-I, except for IgM. In the VN group, a significant waning in antibody response was observed in all isotypes. There was about ~ a 4-fold decline in NTAb levels (p < 0.001), anti-S-RBD-IgG (~5-folds, p < 0.001), anti-S-RBD-IgM (~6-folds, p < 0.001), and anti-S1-IgA (2-folds, p < 0.001). In the NI group, a significant but less steady decline was notable in S-RBD-IgM (~2-folds, p < 0.001), and a much smaller but significant difference in NTAb (<2-folds, p < 0.001) anti-S-RBD IgG (<2-folds, p = 0.005). Unlike the VN group, the NI group mounted a lasting anti-S1-IgA response with no significant decline. Anti-S1-IgA, which were ~ 3 folds higher in VN subjects compared to NI in P-1 (p < 0.001), dropped to almost the same levels, with no significant difference observed between the two groups in P-II. While double-dose mRNA vaccination boosted antibody levels, vaccinated individuals' 'boost' was relatively short-lived.This work was made possible by WHO grant numbers COVID-19-22-43 and UREP28–173–3-057 from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation). The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors

Diagnostic Efficiency of Three Fully Automated Serology Assays and Their Correlation with a Novel Surrogate Virus Neutralization Test in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic SARS-COV-2 Individuals

Abstract: To support the deployment of serology assays for population screening during the COVID-19 pandemic, we compared the performance of three fully automated SARS-CoV-2 IgG assays: Mindray CL-900i® (target: spike [S] and nucleocapsid [N]), BioMérieux VIDAS®3 (target: receptor-binding domain [RBD]) and Diasorin LIAISON®XL (target: S1 and S2 subunits). A total of 111 SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR- positive samples collected at ≥ 21 days post symptom onset, and 127 prepandemic control samples were included. Diagnostic performance was assessed in correlation to RT-PCR and a surrogate virus-neutralizing test (sVNT). Moreover, cross-reactivity with other viral antibodies was investigated. Compared to RT-PCR, LIAISON®XL showed the highest overall specificity (100%), followed by VIDAS®3 (98.4%) and CL-900i® (95.3%). The highest sensitivity was demonstrated by CL-900i® (90.1%), followed by VIDAS®3 (88.3%) and LIAISON®XL (85.6%). The sensitivity of all assays was higher in symptomatic patients (91.1–98.2%) compared to asymptomatic patients (78.4–80.4%). In correlation to sVNT, all assays showed excellent sensitivities (92.2–96.1%). In addition, VIDAS®3 demonstrated the best correlation (r = 0.75) with the sVNT. The present study provides insights on the performance of three fully automated assays, which could help diagnostic laboratories in the choice of a particular assay according to the intended us

Involvement of Essential Signaling Cascades and Analysis of Gene Networks in Diabesity

(1) Aims: Diabesity, defined as diabetes occurring in the context of obesity, is a serious health problem that is associated with an increased risk of premature heart attack, stroke, and death. To date, a key challenge has been to understand the molecular pathways that play significant roles in diabesity. In this study, we aimed to investigate the genetic links between diabetes and obesity in diabetic individuals and highlight the role(s) of shared genes in individuals with diabesity. (2) Methods: The interactions between the genes were analyzed using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) tool after the compilation of obesity genes associated with type 1 diabetes (T1D), type 2 diabetes (T2D), and maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY). Cytoscape plugins were utilized for enrichment analysis. (3) Results: We identified 546 obesity genes that are associated with T1D, T2D, and MODY. The network backbone of the identified genes comprised 514 nodes and 4126 edges with an estimated clustering coefficient of 0.242. The Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE) generated three clusters with a score of 33.61, 16.788, and 6.783, each. The highest-scoring nodes of the clusters were , , and genes. The genes from cluster 1 were enriched in FOXO-mediated transcription of oxidative stress, renin secretion, and regulation of lipolysis in adipocytes. The cluster 2 genes enriched in Src homology 2 domain-containing (SHC)-related events triggered by , regulation of lipolysis in adipocytes, and GRB2: SOS produce a link to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling for integrins. The cluster 3 genes ere enriched in IGF1R signaling cascade and insulin signaling pathway. (4) Conclusion: This study presents a platform to discover potential targets for diabesity treatment and helps in understanding the molecular mechanism.The APC was funded by Qatar University Internal Grant number [QUST-2-CHS-2020-12

Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women of the Marrakech-Safi region, Morocco

Background: Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection caused by an intracellular protozoan named Toxoplasma gondii. Its prevalence had been investigated in several studies throughout the world showing that it varied from one country to another. In contrast, few studies had been carried out on this infection across the kingdom of Morocco, hence the objective of this work, which is the determination of Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in the region of Marrakech-Safi. Methods: The serological results of a cohort of 5692 patients were reviewed retrospectively. Those patients had been into different public and private medical laboratories in the region of Marrakech-Safi for a toxoplasmosis serology, requested between the 1st January, 2014 and 31st December, 2016. According to each laboratory, the techniques adopted for this serology were ELISA (ELFA, MEIA, EIA) and CMIA. Results: The results showed that for pregnant women, the overall seroprevalence in the study region were 28.88%. Conclusion: The variation of Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence is related not only to climatic factors but also to lifestyle, eating habits, socio-economic status and hygiene conditions. In this study, we noticed that in Morocco, as in other countries, pregnant women encounter several difficulties when serologic screening for toxoplasmosis. Keywords: Seroprevalence, Toxoplasmosis, pregnant women, Marrakech-Safi regio