bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metabolic syndrome and obesity in early pregnancy and birth outcomes: Qatari mother-child cohort study
Authors: Fthenou Eleni , Al-Khanji Jamal , Ali Faleh Mohammed , Sadoun Eman
Published: October 2012

Background:
Metabolic syndrome is associated with the rising incidence of obesity in developed countries, particularly in urban settings and is reaching epidemic proportions. Qatar, a rapidly modernizing country, has witnessed dramatic changes in urbanization and lifestyle. Recent studies demonstrate a significant prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome in Qatari population. According to a New York Times article (April 2010), the International Association for the Study of Obesity has ranked Qatar sixth globally for prevalence of obesity. Epidemiological studies suggest that a poor uterine environment elicited by maternal environmental exposure may program fetus susceptibility to develop cardiovascular and metabolic disease in childhood and later in life. Several studies have demonstrated the associations between pre-pregnancy obesity, chronic hypertension and dyslipidemia, and high risk of preterm birth and intrauterine growth restriction. However, there are no studies to examine the metabolic profile of Arabian pregnant women in early pregnancy with birth outcomes.

Objectives:
The objective of the present proposal is to examine the association between metabolic syndrome and obesity in early pregnancy of Qatari women and the risk of delivery preterm or growth restricted singletons.

Methods:
Qatari mother-child cohort: a prospective cohort examining a population sample of pregnant women and their children at the prefecture of Doha, Qatar within 1 year. The pregnant mothers, at maternity clinics and hospitals of Doha, were contacted. The consented participants were invited to provide biological samples in two time points of their pregnancy. Participants were interviewed to obtain information on several environmental and dietary factors, together with anthropometric measurements and blood pressure. Biochemical analyses were performed on serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, high and low density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, apolipoproteins, leptin, adiponectin and Interleukins.

Expected results:
At the national level this will be the first mother-child cohort study in Qatar. The study shall provide evidence-based relationship between maternal occupational/environmental exposure, such as sedentary life style, obesity, and other metabolic syndromes, and the subsequent birth outcomes on the Qatari population.

Conclusion:
Based on the study results, the public health perspective will be addressed by policy makers at the Supreme Council of Health in Qatar.
Identification of novel anti-apoptotic signals in prostate cancer stem cells
Authors: Sastry Konduru S , Kizhakayil Dhanya , Chouchane Lotfi
Published: October 2012

Background:
Prostate cancer (PC) remains the second leading cause of male death in Western countries and has been on the rise in Qatar during the last decade. Recent studies established that unlike differentiated PC cells, PC stem cells (PCSC) display high tumorigenic and metastatic potential and become resistant to current therapy. Therefore therapeutic success depends on the ability to effectively kill PCSC. The disease progression to advanced stages is attributed to the development of anti-apoptotic signaling mechanisms in cancer cells activated by several growth factors and neuropeptides. Relatively little is known about the survival signaling mechanisms in PCSC. An understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the resistance of PCSC to current therapeutic regimens is of immense clinical interest.
Objectives:
The objectives of this study include the identification in PC stem cells of the anti-apoptotic mechanisms activated by growth factors and neuropeptides that overexpress in advanced PC, and to address how these survival agonists modulate self-renewal of PCSC.
Methods:
The PCSC were sorted from cancer cell lines and enriched. Apoptosis was induced in PCSC by inhibiting the survival of kinase PI3K using pharmacological inhibitor, LY294002. The cytoprotective and self-renewal effects of growth factors and neuropeptides were assessed.
Results:
Using stem cell specific markers, we isolated PCSC population (CD44+CD22-) form human PC cell lines, and enriched them by forming prostatospheres using anchorage independent serum free conditions. Treatment with LY induced apoptosis in PCSC, while EGF and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) protected PCSC from apoptosis. We show that the cytotoxic effects of LY are mediated by dephosphorylating a pro-apoptotic BCl-2 family protein BAD, while cytoprotective effects of both EGF and VIP are mediated by inducing re-phosphorylation of BAD. Both EGF and VIP enhanced the self-renewal capacity of PCSC by producing increased numbers of prostatospheres.
Conclusions:
EGF and VIP not only protect from apoptosis, but also increase self-renewal of PCSC. The BAD seems to act as a signaling node that control both apoptosis and survival, thus qualifies as a better therapeutic target. Attempts are being made to identify mechanisms induced by these survival agonists; and identify the correlation between disease progression and BAD expression/phosphorylation in PC clinical samples.
Hyperglycemia-induced stress granule formation in mouse microvascular endothelial cells
Authors: Al-Shokri Shaikha , Al Sulaiti Moza Fadala , Arunachalam Gnanapragasam , Marei Isra , Emara Mohamed M. , Ding Hong , Mathews Samuel Samson , Triggle Chris R.
Published: October 2012

Background and Objective:
Cells exposed to stress conserve energy for the repair of cellular damage by inhibiting translational initiation. The stress stimuli can trigger several stress response pathways leading to global translational attenuation, chiefly by the phosphorylation of eIF2α and disruption of the 43S assembly, which correlates to the compartmentalization of untranslated polyadenylated mRNA in discrete cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein complexes known as Stress Granules (SGs). In a diabetic milieu, endothelial cells (ECs) that line the lumen of the blood vessels are constantly exposed to high glucose (HG) concentration (stress), which contributes to increased oxidative stress in these cells that in turn is responsible for high rates of cardiovascular complications among diabetic individuals. However, the effect of high glucose as a stress in relation to SG assembly in ECs remains unclear.

The central objective of the present study is to evaluate the role of HG-induced oxidative stress in SG assembly in ECs and whether antioxidant treatment could aid in the reversal of these effects.

Methods:
Mouse microvascular endothelial cells (MMECs) cultured in DMEM were exposed to normal (NG, 11mM) and high (HG, 40mM) glucose for 0-48h. DHE staining was performed to evaluate oxidative stress in ECs upon HG exposure. Fixed cells were probed for SG marker proteins (G3BP and TIAR) followed by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. Immunoblotting was performed using protein lysate samples and was probed for p-PERK, PERK, p-eIF2α and eIF2a. N-acetyl cysteine was used as the anti-oxidant in order to study the role of oxidative stress in HG induced SG formation.

Results:
DHE staining indicated that oxidative stress significantly increased in HG exposed MMECs while this effect was reversed upon in NAC treatment. NAC treatment also markedly decreased HG-induced SG assembly.

Conclusion:
The data suggest that HG-induced oxidative stress plays a major role in SG assembly in ECs. However, more studies are warranted to evaluate the process of assembly and dis-assembly of SGs in ECs upon HG exposure, which may provide a better understanding of the role of SG formation in balancing EC apoptosis and survival in a diabetic milieu.

This project was funded by QNRF-NPRP # 08-165-3-054 & 4-910-3-244.
Effect of social and environmental factors on the prevalence of autism in Qatar
Authors: Alshaban Fouad
Published: October 2012

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of neuro-developmental disabilities common in childhood characterized by impairments in social interaction, communication skills, and patterns of activities.

Background:
The symptoms of ASDs typically are present before age 3 years and often are accompanied by abnormalities in cognitive functioning, learning, attention, and sensory processing.
A formal diagnosis is generally not made until the age of five. The vast majority of cases of autism are idiopathic, the best scientific evidence available to us today points toward a potential for various combinations of factors, namely multiple genetic components and certain environmental and socio-economic factors. Timing of exposure during the child's development (before, during or after birth) may also play a role in the development or final presentation of the disorder.

Objectives:
To estimate the effect of certain socio-economic and other risk factors on the prevalence of autism in Qatar.

Methods:
The target population for this study are children diagnosed with autism attending the Shafallah Center for children with special needs. Clinical evaluation is conducted by a developmental psychologist, and/or pediatrician, it includes a medical, developmental, and behavioral history; a standard physical and neurological examination, In addition, the Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI-R), and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-G (ADOS-G) will be administered.

Results:
Preliminary analysis of 171 subjects showed the highest prevalence among age group 7-14 years (61%). Male/female ratio was 82%/18%, which is around 5/1. Other factors like consanguinity, education, and family income found to have an effect on the prevalence of the disease in Qatar.

Conclusions:
Obtaining a reliable estimate is important in planning for providing the best health care and educational services needed to improve the overall outcome of autism in Qatar.
Cloning, overexpression and molecular characterization of human mast cell carboxypeptidase A
Authors: Goda Sayed Kamel , Kyyaly Aref , Al-Jabiry Asia , Walls Andrew , Al Sayrafi Muhammad
Published: October 2012

Background:
Mast cell proteases represent major protein components of secretory granules. The proteases are classified into a chymases, tryptases and carboxypeptidase (hMC-CPA). Little is known about the function of human lung carboxypeptidase A (hMC-CP) except for its ability to cleave angiotensin I. This suggests that the human mast cell carboxypeptidase A may play a role in the hypertension disease.

Objectives:
1) Making human lung cDNA library and isolating the human lung carboxypeptidase A; 2) Cloning and expressing the full length PCR products into the overexpression vector pET28a and into pYES2; 3) Molecular characterization of the recombinant proteins.

Methods:
Human lung cDNA was prepared and PCR was carried out using DNA primers of the carboxypeptidase A (hMC-CPA).The isolated gene fragment was subcloned into the overexpression vector pET28a and transformed into E. coli DE3 for expression. The gene was also subcloned into the pYES2 vector for expression in yeast. The expression in E. coli has been validated by Western Blot analysis using four different antibodies. The purification was carried out using Ni²+ column chromatography. The recombinant protein was further characterized using MS and peptide amino acid sequencing.

Results:
We cloned and overexpressed the gene in E.coli using the His-tag vector pET28a. The protein expression in E. coli has been validated by Western blot analysis using four different carboxypeptidase A antibodies. The protein however, has been expressed in the form of inclusion bodies. Despite the fact that we could obtain soluble CPA at lower IPTG concentration and lower induction temperature we decide to subclone and express the gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We successfully managed to subclone the gene in pYES2 vector and to produce a soluble form of the CPA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
The hrMC-CPA expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae in frame with six His-tags. The protein therefore was purified by one step purification using Ni column.

Conclusion:
The cloning and overexpression of the CPA in soluble form will pave the way for molecular characterization studies of this enzyme and to shed more light on its biological function.
Chest injury among young population in Qatar
Authors: El-Menyar Ayman , Al Thani Hassan , Abdulrahman Husham , Tuma Mazin , Zarour Ahmad , Parchani Ashok , Peralta Ruben , Consunji Rafael , Latifi Rifat
Published: October 2012

Background:
Traumatic chest injury (TCI) constitutes quarter of trauma-related deaths worldwide.

Objective:
To identify the pattern and outcome of TCI in Qatar in relation to age.

Methods:
Data were collected from all patients who sustained TCI between January 2008 and December 2010 in Qatar. Patients were classified and analyzed in 3 age groups (group 1 <18, group 2 between 18 and 45 and group 3 above 45 years). The multivariate regression analysis was performed for the predictors of mortality.

Results:
Of 5118 cases admitted to the section of trauma, 1355 (26.5%) had TCI (10%, 71% and 19% in group 1, 2 and 3 respectively). Children (<18 years) had more traffic-related injury, intubation (42%), high ISS (25%), head injury (44.3%), and liver injury (16%) in comparison to other groups. The overall mortality rate was 13% (28.5 %, 11.3% and 12% in group 1, 2 and 3 respectively). Traffic-related death was 13% while fall-related death was 7%. In comparison to survival, no survival was associated with higher rate of head injury (73% vs 33%), intubation (81% vs 19%) and high ISS (64% vs 14%), P=0.001. Independent predictors for mortality included age (OR 0.98; 95% CI: 0.97-0.99) ISS (OR 1.05; 95% CI: 1.03-1.07) and intubation (OR 9.5; 95% CI: 6.09-14.29).

Conclusion:
TCI is an alarming problem in Qatar with a high mortality. Young males are the most exposed population that deserves more emphasis on injury prevention. Regulatory efforts by the government at working sites and in the strict enforcement of traffic laws would likely reduce morbidity and mortality.
PCA3 molecular urine test: Development of an easy and cheap assay of a potential use in the diagnosis of prostate cancer.
Authors: Al-Rumaihi Khalid , Shan Jingxuan , Al-Said Sami , Kizhakayil Dhanya , Aigha Idil i , Dsouza Shoba p , Chouchane Lotfi
Published: October 2012

Background:
The use of the serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test for prostate cancer screening has resulted in a diagnostic dilemma: PSA is not prostate cancer specific and could be found in the normal prostate at equal or higher levels than is found in prostate cancer. Prostate cancer gene 3 (PCA3) encodes a prostate-specific mRNA with a median 66-fold up-regulation compared to adjacent benign tissue. In contrast, PSA gene expression is similar in cancerous and benign cells; PSA mRNA levels may therefore be used to normalize for the amount of prostate-specific ribonucleic acid (RNA) in molecular test samples. This report describes the characterization of a prototype quantitative PCA3-based test for whole urine.

Methods:
First-catch urine specimens were collected after digital rectal examination. The total RNA was isolated with Trizol, amplified, and quantified by use of a real-time PCR method. PSA mRNA concentrations were used to normalize PCA3 signals and confirm the yield of prostate-specific RNA. PCA3 score is calculated by one thousand times of PCA3/PSA mRNA ratio. ROC curve analysis is applied to determine the cutoff value of PCA3 score according to prostate biopsy results.

Results:
We have collected urine samples of 163 patients from uro-oncology clinic at Hamad Hospital. Due to the mixture of the blood cells and prostate cells in the urine, we failed to obtain RNA with proper quality for 29 samples. The specimen informative rate (fraction of specimens yielding proper RNA for analysis) was 82.2%. From ROC curve with the known diagnostic data, the cut off of PCA3 score is 1232 with a sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 68%.

Conclusion:
The established PCA3 assay could increase specificity to the current prostate cancer diagnosis. Comparing to the commercial kit, it provides equivalently useful information and it is much cheaper and faster. The challenge is to avoid the interference from the blood cells in the urine.
Cellular senescence as a tumor suppressor mechanism is mediated by sequential activation of the p53 and RB pathways
Authors: Al Mulla Naima , Nawaz Zafar , Saab Raya
Published: October 2012

Background and Objectives:
Oncogene induced senescence is a tumor suppressor mechanism that limits progression of pre-malignant lesions. Identifying the molecular mechanisms by which cells can escape senescence may provide novel cancer therapeutic and preventive targets. Two tumor suppressors, p53 and Rb, are involved in senescence, but their specific roles are still unclear. Our aim is to investigate the role of the Rb and p53 pathways in cellular senescence, to identify mechanisms of cellular escape from senescence, and to evaluate human tumor samples for disruption of the identified pathways.
Methods:
We are using a transgenic mouse with pineal-cell specific cyclin D1 expression (Irbp-Cyclin D1 mouse). These mice develop premalignant pineal hyperplasia with features of cellular senescence, and tumors progress only when the p53 or the RB pathway is disrupted.
Results: We found that p53 was activated early in the senescence response, and led to cell cycle exit. RB activation occurred days later, and coincided with the senescence phenotype that included formation of heterochromatin foci. Disruption of either pathway alone was sufficient for pineal tumor progression. Using genetically engineered mice with regulatable expression of p53, we are now investigating the specific role of p53 in the induction versus maintenance of cell cycle exit. In addition, we are using primary cultures of Irbp-Cyclin D1 pineal cells to examine the effects of turning the p53 and RB pathways "on" and "off" during cellular senescence, to dissect their roles during induction and maintenance of senescence. We are also analyzing premalignant versus malignant tumors from these transgenic mice, to identify recurring genetic lesions that may be important targets for tumor prevention. Finally, we are evaluating human tumor samples for genetic lesions that overlap with the identified pathways.
Conclusion:
Our preliminary results suggest that the p53 and RB pathways have distinct and complementary effects in the senescence response, where the p53 pathway is important for induction of senescence, while the RB pathway may be responsible for its maintenance. Studies are currently ongoing to verify these observations. These findings will have direct implications on novel approaches to cancer therapy and prevention, by activating cellular senescence and tumor suppression.
Metformin regulates hyperglycemia-induced vascular senescence through SIRT1
Authors: Arunachalam Gnanapragasam , Samuel Samson M , Marei Isra , Ding Hong , Triggle Chris R
Published: October 2012

Background and Objective:
Vascular aging is associated with changes in the structure and function of the vascular system and such changes contribute to the risk for the development of diabetes and associated cardiovascular diseases. Vascular senescence reflects the limited ability of vascular cells to divide and proliferate and is accompanied by specific phenotypic changes in morphology, gene expression and function. In endothelial cells, these changes result in a phenotype that is pro-inflammatory and pro-atherosclerotic. The early onset of vascular senescence is also an indicator of premature aging. Recent studies have shown that hyperglycemia-induced vascular senescence is an important contributing factor to promote the development of aging-associated cardiovascular events. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is highly expressed in the vasculature and has recently been identified as an important regulator of endothelial cell senescence-like growth arrest. Metformin is the most frequently prescribed first-line oral hypoglycemic agent for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Recent studies have demonstrated that the beneficial effects of metformin may be associated, directly or indirectly, with the activation of SIRT1.

Methods:
In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms and protective effects of metformin against high glucose (HG) induced endothelial cell senescence and the contribution of SIRT1-dependent mechanisms. Mouse microvascular endothelial cells (MMECs) were maintained in culture under either normoglycemic (11mM glucose) or hyperglycemic (HG, 40 mM) conditions and Western Immunoblot techniques were used to determine changes in protein expression.

Results:
Immunoblot analysis reveals that MMECs exposed to HG results in a significant reduction in SIRT1 expression, but an increase in FoxO1 and p53 acetylation. HG exposure also results in a significant up regulation of p21 expression and a decrease in anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression. The percentage of senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity is increased with exposure to HG. The presence of metformin reduces the negative effect of HG on SIRT1 expression and protects endothelial cells from HG-induced senescence.

Conclusion:
These data suggest that HG-induced down-regulation of SIRT1 plays a crucial role in diabetes-associated endothelial cell senescence and, furthermore, that the protective effect of metformin against HG-induced endothelial dysfunction is, at least in part, due to its effects on SIRT1 expression/activity.
Bioinformatic parallel processing tools development for mutation identification from whole exome data following homozygosity mapping for autosomal recessive disorders
Authors: Al-Sarraj Yasser , Abouzehry Adel , El-Shanti Hatem , Kambouris Marios
Published: October 2012

Eight consanguineous Arab families with novel autosomal recessive disorders were mapped with illumina 700K SNP. All relevant positional candidate genes were screened for pathogenic mutations. None were identified. Multiple homozygosity intervals were obtained for each family since no significant LOD scores were possible. Whole exome sequencing was on ABI SOLiD4 for 1 affected individual from each family. Mapping and annotation was on LifeScope software. Data validation was done manually for each linkage interval, by visual inspection of read depth and bead number coverage. On average 30,000 sequence variations were detected in each sample including novel variants, known polymorphisms & exome sequencing errors. For each chromosome with a linkage interval, data was isolated and filtered by exportation to Excel spreadsheets and visual inspection to exclude non-linkage interval data. The number of variants in the linkage intervals for each family was between 400 and 1300. Homozygous sequence variations within the linkage intervals were between 50 and 300 with 15-30 novel variants. Determination if a variant was homozygous or heterozygous, novel or annotated was done manually upon visual inspection of data on Excel spreadsheets. For each novel variant it was manually determined if it were exonic, splice site specific or intronic. For each annotated variation it was manually determined if it is associated to a disease phenotype relevant to the family disease. Minor genotype frequency was investigated for annotated variants if they represent disease states. All novel exonic variants were tested in silico with PolyPhen and Sift Protein Modeling software to access the effect on protein function. All damaging variants (novel or annotated exonic, and splice site) were validated by Sanger sequencing and tested for co-segregation to disease. An identical approach is essential to access pathogenic effects of insertion/deletion variants within each linkage interval.

This approach is tedious, involves a tremendous amount of manual work and is prone to oversight errors. Software tools development for automating next-generation sequencing data analysis is essential to eliminate manual work and identify pathogenic mutations among the plethora of existing variants. Such automation is applicable in cases without linkage intervals to limit the number of variants under consideration.
Novel pyridinium-based cationic lipids as gene delivery vectors
Authors: Jubeli Emile , Parvizi Paria , Al Manaa Maryem , Al-Meer Ahmad , Allam Hebatalla , Abdul Khalique Nada , Raju Liji , Fyles Thomas , Pungente Michael
Published: October 2012

Background:
For the past two decades, cationic lipids have remained one of the most widely used non-viral gene delivery vectors due in large to their safety and ease of use despite having low efficiency. We and others believe that the key to improving the effectiveness of non-viral agents is unlocking the still unsolved mechanism behind lipid gene delivery. Our objective is the rational design, synthesis and evaluation of the DNA complexation and in vitro delivery efficiency of novel lipid vectors in an effort to gain structure-function data which may give insight towards the non-viral mechanism.

Objectives:
Here we report preliminary data on two novel pyridinium-based cationic lipid vectors, designated as TFSA (saturated acyclic structure) and TFUA (unsaturated acyclic structure), both possessing a pyridinium headgroup with a delocalized positive charge, and two saturated (TFSA) or monounsaturated (TFUA) C15 hydrophobic alkyl chains. In the case of the unsaturated analogue, the double bonds are located at the terminal ends of the alkyl chains.

Methods:
Liposomes were prepared from these novel pyridinium-based cationic lipids in combination with a commercial vector, EPC, together with a co-lipid, 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE) or cholesterol. Lipid-DNA complexes (lipoplexes) were then formulated by incubating the liposomes with plasmid DNA. Lipoplexes were characterized by gel retardation, DNAse I degradation, as well as biocompatibility and β-galactosidase (β-gal) transfection assays using Chinese Hamster Ovarian (CHO-K1) cells. Fluorescent GFP-plasmid DNA was used to track DNA inside cells using epifluorescence microscopy.

Results:
The novel lipid formulations were shown to effectively complex DNA and protect it from DNAse I degradation. They were biocompatible with CHO-K1 cells, and performed better when they were formulated with cholesterol over DOPE as co-lipid. Furthermore, the formulation containing the unsaturated compound (TFUA/EPC/DOPE) revealed transfection efficiencies far above TFSA/EPC/DOPE, and superior to the commercial transfection agent EPC formulated alone with DOPE. Results from the GFP-plasmid tracking experiments were consistent with the relative β-gal expressions observed in the transfection assay.

Conclusions:
These preliminary results suggest that our novel pyridinium-based cationic lipid vectors are effective gene transfer agents, suitable for further investigations into the mechanism of non-viral gene delivery.
Epigenetic changes in beta cells related to high glucose
Authors: Salamah Yasmeen , Al-Azwani Eman K. , Al-Dous Eman K. , Mathews Lisa S. , George Binu , Mohamoud Yasmin A. , Malek Joel A.
Published: October 2012

Background & Objectives:
Epigenetic changes include two types of changes DNA methylation and Histone modifications. These modifications are influenced by the change in various environmental factors resulting in a stable form of gene expression changes. Type II Diabetes incidence keeps rising with so little understanding of the actual cause at gene expression level despite the massive amount of research around the subject. Which is why we chose to capture a closer image of what happens at the genome level when environmental factors such as high glucose intake can influence healthy cells into change their gene expression to adapt and how is that related to Diabetes.

Methods:
Mouse Beta cells are grown for several generations at various glucose concentrations in two groups, each group consisting of three biological replicates, each replica of glucose concentration (High vs. Normal) is devoted for one histone modification marker (H3K4me2, H3K27me2). The treated cells are further processed by chromatin-immuoprecipitation followed by next generation Sequencing (ChIP-Seq).

Results:
Data analysis was performed to identify enriched affected pathways. Significant differences in gene expression between high levels of glucose versus normal glucose were found using ChIP-Seq and confirming what was previously obtained by ChIP on Chip.

Conclusion:
The results of this experiment shed some light on the matter of surrounding environment effect on gene expression. Evidence of environmental elements affecting blood glucose levels was seen predecting difference in gene expression, e.g. type II diabetes risk factors. Genes involved in several pathways showing evidence of cardiac muscle diseases, kidney damage and changes in the calcium channel signaling were observed, all of which are related to type II diabetes complications.
The relative risk of road mortality (RRRM) in Qatar
Authors: Consunji Rafael , Peralta Ruben Rosario , Al Thani Hassan , Latifi Rifat
Published: October 2012

Background and Objectives:
The epidemiology of road deaths in Qatar has not been fully described. This study will analyze and compare the age-specific death rates from motor vehicle crashes (MVC's) and make recommendations for targeted injury prevention programs for road safety in Qatar.

Method:
Data from the Qatar Statistic Authority (QSA), for the year 2010 was collected and analyzed. All deaths classified as "motor- or nonmotor-vehicle accident, type of vehicle unspecified" were included. Age group populations were computed from age-specific crude death rates.

Results:
There were 247 MVC deaths in Qatar in 2010. An overall death rate was computed at 14.2 deaths per 100,000 population. The RRRM varied over ten times amongst different populations with Qatari males (QM) having an increased RRRM from 10 years of age. The QM's aged 20-29 had the highest RRRM of 10.2. The lowest RRRM was for Qatari females who did not have a single road fatality in 2010. Other populations with elevated RRRM (i.e. RRRM >1.0) were non-Qatari males ages 10 to 19 and older than 50 years.

Conclusions:
Qatari males have an elevated RRRM from the age of 10 onward, definite programs must be implemented to reduce these unnecessary deaths amongst the populations at the highest risk. Multidisciplinary approaches must be implemented and their efficacy evaluated.
Effect Of beta-catenin inhibition on liver cancer stem cell profile
Authors: Al-Saei Omayma Abdulla , Al Fakih Najah Abdulsalam , Al-Thani Asma Ali , Abdalla Salma A
Published: October 2012

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer and one of the commonest solid malignancies. High mortality rates and poor prognosis of the disease are mainly due to late diagnosis, underlying cirrhosis and resistance to chemotherapy. The risk factors of HCC include infections with hepatitis B and C viruses, along with other conditions that cause cirrhosis like: alcoholism and non-alcoholic steatohepatisis.

Wnt/ß catenin signaling pathway plays a vital role in regulating the cell fate during embryogenesis and cell proliferation in adult tissues. In the absence of the Wnt ligand, beta-catenin is phosphorylated through interaction with GSK-3b, APC, axin and subsequently degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. However, when the Wnt ligand binds to the receptor complex of the pathway, the destruction complex is inactivated leading to the accumulation of beta-catenin in the cytoplasm and its translocation to the nucleus where it forms complexes with TCF/LEF family that causes transcriptional activation of target genes.

Recent studies suggest that cancer stem cells play a key role in liver carcinogenesis. Mutations in beta-catenin and activation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway is likely to cause abnormal proliferation and enhanced self-renewal of hepatic progenitor cells resulting in their transformation into cancer stem cells. Thus understanding the characteristics and function of liver cancer stem cells and their response to beta-catenin inhibitors is crucial to the development of novel, more effective drugs and improving patient survival.

In this study we have used various drugs to target Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway in hepatic carcinoma cell lines. We assessed the effect of the inhibitors of beta-catenin on the expression of stem cell markers in these cell lines and will present the results of the study.
Tuberculosis beliefs, meanings, and stigmas through the eyes of Qatar's migrant workers: Survey analysis and narratives
Authors: Watts Autumn , Saleh Marwa , Sanya Rahima , Ayaz Maryam , Joshi Abhyudaya , Sultan Ali , Mahfoud Ziad
Published: October 2012

Background:
Tuberculosis (TB) kills nearly 3 million people and incurs at least 9 million new cases each year. While developing countries are most affected by this epidemic, migration contributes substantially to the spread of the disease. Qatar employs a vast migrant laborer workforce from TB epidemic countries, who live in high-density labor camps. Workers are grouped in the same camp rooms, and often work side by side. This puts workers at risk of developing MDR TB, with re-activation of their old TB strain or acquiring new TB infections.
 
Objectives & Methods:
This project proposed two major phases using quantitative and qualitative research methods to examine TB understandings in the migrant worker population:
1. Surveying worker perceptions of tuberculosis through widely distributed questionnaires
2. Collecting illness narratives through interviews with TB infected patients receiving treatment at the TB National Program in-patient clinic.
Understanding these patients' journey with TB from the time of infection to the time of diagnosis, to life during treatment and afterward, will offer physicians, nurses and other TB personnel a better understanding of workers who are infected, or face infection, with TB.
 
Results:
-1-Survey Data Analysis
Demographic and socio-economic variables of 231 participants (such as age, gender, marital status…etc) were summarized using frequency distributions. The majority of participants were between 20-29 years old and male. Almost half were Nepalese. The majority of participants said that TB is not so common or rare in their countries. Blood in cough, blood in sputum and cough were the most frequent symptoms known to participants. The majority reported the cause of bacteria was smoking. A large proportion of participants indicated that TB is preventable and treatable and it has a vaccine.
-2- Three illness narratives are presented.
 
Conclusions:
Still about 1 in 4 workers have never heard about TB. Of these, most have heard about it from their own countries. Alarmingly, participants' knowledge about symptoms, causes and modes of human-to-human transmission are less than optimal. The interviews revealed several recurring themes, mainly a reluctance on the part of the patient to ask questions of the physician and health staff due to perceived social, educational, and linguistic barriers.
Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and diabetes-induced vascular disease
Authors: Chukir Tariq , Marei Isra , Naqvi Zahra , Iqbal Navid , Triggle Christopher , Ding Hong
Published: October 2012

Background:
Studying diabetes and obesity is a priority for Qatar and for the entire world. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a member of the FGF superfamily that has important endocrine functions in the regulation of glucose metabolism. Elevated plasma levels of FGF21 are seen in humans with type 2 diabetes and mouse models where FGF21-resistance is associated with a reduced response to the blood glucose and insulin sensitizing actions of FGF21. There is, however, a lack of data on the effects of FGF21 on the vasculature. The objective of this study is to determine whether FGF21 and/or the FGFR1 receptor is present in endothelial cells and to determine whether FGF21 protects endothelial cells against hyperglycaemia-induced oxidative stress and uncoupling of eNOS.

Methodology:
RT-PCR and Western Blot techniques were used to determine the presence of FGF21/FGFR1 mRNA and protein in mouse microvascular endothelial (MMEC) and human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVEC) cell cultures. Endothelial cell cultures were treated with FGF21 to investigate the physiologic role of FGF21 in vascular tissue and to determine whether FGF21 protects the endothelial cell against glucose-induced toxicity. Western blot techniques and the dimeric/monomeric ratio were used to determine eNOS uncoupling. CM-H2DCFDA, an indicator for superoxide, was used to assess oxidative stress.

Results:
FGFR1 and FGF21 proteins are both expressed in MMECs exposed to high (HG) and normal (NG) glucose levels. FGFR1 levels were not changed in MMECs exposed to HG and treated with FGF21 (p=0.9; N=3) or in NG (p=0.4; N=3). For CM-H2DCFDA staining, FGF21 treated cells showed a decrease in oxidative stress (N=4). However, the eNOS dimer/monomer ratio was not affected by FGF21 in HG or NG (p=0.3; p=0.6 respectively, N=4). In HUVECs, FGFR1 is expressed in cells exposed to HG or NG (p=0.23; N3). FGF21 treatment did not affect the levels of FGFR1 in HG or NG (p=0.99; p=0.8 respectively, N=3). The eNOS dimer/monomer ratio decreased in cells exposed to HG, but was corrected following FGF21 treatment (p=0.1; N=3).

Conclusion:
FGF21 reduces glucose-induced oxidative stress and may , in addition to its metabolic actions, have an endothelial-vascular protective action.

Supported by UREP10-034-3-009.
Development of an expert system to automate gait data interpretation
Authors: Abi Hayla Myriam , Khalil Mohammad , Watts John , Ewins David
Published: October 2012

Gait analysis (GA) is often defined as the study of human walking; typically involving computerized and instrumented measurement of the movement patterns that make up walking. GA can reveal the timing and pattern of activation of muscles and joints, of body segment motions, and the forces that act on them. It can facilitate objective comparison of pathological versus normal gait and monitoring of progress in rehabilitation.

However, although raw results can be printed in minutes, the clinical team may spend hours in interpreting the data. The success of this approach is limited mainly by the ability of clinicians to handle large sets of data, their expertise with respect to the biomechanics of gait, and their individual experience with the characteristics of a particular population. In addition, it is recognized that the interpretation of data varies from clinician to clinician and institution to institution which have its impact on clinical decision-making. Also, the techniques used in the interpretation of gait data often do not provide information about possible causes for gait abnormalities.
Improving the efficiency of patient testing will greatly enhance the productivity of gait laboratories and improve patient care. For this reason, the focus in this project is on developing a technique for the analysis of gait data to aid clinical interpretation.
A software package, also called expert system, is developed based on automating the Rancho Observational Gait Analysis Approach used to denote gait deviations. Causes related to deviations are listed and the result of additional tests that may help prove or refute any cause is also included. A report is then generated that includes all the above. The software is tested with data from a group of cerebral palsy patients to check its efficiency.

Results showed that the expert system was capable in denoting deviations and overcoming a number of major challenges in gait data interpretation. However, many limitations are still present such as the need to test it on other pathologies and consider more parameters, e.g. kinetics and EMG data.
Non-destructive visual pipe mapping for inspection
Authors: Hansen Peter , Browning Brett , Rander Peter , Alismail Hatem
Published: October 2012

Pipe inspection is a critical process in many industries, including oil and gas. Conventional practice relies on a range of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) approaches such as ultrasonic and magnetic flux leakage methods. While these approaches can provide high accuracy wall thickness measurements, which can be used to monitor corrosion, they provide poor visualizations, and are typically unable to provide full pipe coverage. Moreover, they cannot be used to localize where in the pipe a defect is without expensive and possibly restricted sensors such as Inertial Navigation Systems.

We have developed an automated vision-based approach that builds high-resolution 3D appearance maps of pipes and provides vehicle localization. These maps include both structure and appearance information, and can be used for direct metric measurement of pipe wall thickness, or as input to automatic corrosion detection algorithms. They may also be imported into 3D rendering engines to provide effective visualization of a pipe network. Our most recent system uses a wide angle of view fisheye camera which enables full pipe coverage and is sufficiently compact for practical applications. Our approach to mapping and localization builds from state-of-the-art visual odometry methods and extends them to deal with (visually) feature poor engineered environments.

We present the results of this work using image datasets collected within our constructed pipe network. A range of empirical results are presented to validate the approach.
Adaptive multi-channel downlink assignment for overloaded spectrum-shared multi-antenna overlaid cellular networks
Authors: Radaydeh Redha Mahmoud , Alouini Mohmed-Slim , Qaraqe Khalid
Published: October 2012

Overlaid cellular technology has been considered as a promising candidate to enhance the capacity and extend the coverage of cellular networks, particularly indoors. The deployment of small cells (e.g. femtocells and/or picocells) in an overlaid setup is expected to reduce the operational power and to function satisfactorily with the existing cellular architecture. Among the possible deployments of small-cell access points is to manage many of them to serve specific spatial locations, while reusing the available spectrum universally. This contribution considers the aforementioned scenario with the objective to serve as many active users as possible when the available downlink spectrum is overloaded.

The case study is motivated by the importance of realizing universal resource sharing in overlaid networks, while reducing the load of distributing available resources, satisfying downlink multi-channel assignment, controlling the aggregate level of interference, and maintaining desired design/operation requirements. These objectives need to be achieved in distributed manner in each spatial space with as low processing load as possible when the feedback links are capacity-limited, multiple small-cell access points can be shared, and data exchange between access points can not be coordinated.

This contribution is summarized as follows. An adaptive downlink multi-channel assignment scheme when multiple co-channel and shared small-cell access points are allocated to serve active users is proposed. It is assumed that the deployed access points employ isotropic antenna arrays of arbitrary sizes, operate using the open-access strategy, and transmit on shared physical channels simultaneously. Moreover, each active user can be served by a single transmit channel per each access point at a time, and can sense the concurrent interference level associated with each transmit antenna channel non-coherently. The proposed scheme aims to identify a suitable subset of transmit channels in operating access points such that certain limits on the aggregate interference or number of serving access points are satisfied, while reducing the load of processing. The applicability of the results for some scenarios, including the identification of interference-free channels in operating access points is explained. Numerical and simulations results are shown to clarify achieved gains with the use of the proposed scheme under various operating conditions.
Technology intervention for the preservation of intangible cultural heritage with motion detecting technologies
Authors: Khan Muqeem
Published: October 2012

Background:

This trans-disciplinary study presents the initial outcomes of a key study undertaken to explore the role of augmented reality and motion detecting technologies in the context of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) for museums-related environments. Initial prototypes are in the form of an interactive infrared camera based application for children to engage with an Aboriginal puppet, and Arabic calligraphic writings without touching any input devices. This study is unique as it tries to combine two extremes: the curation of historical intangible artifacts and their preservation through digital intervention.

Objectives:
This project aims to produce the following outcomes:
*create a proof-of-concept ICH intelligent kinesthetic learning space;
*evaluate and explore knowledge transfer opportunities of ICH afforded by peripheral games technology.

The central research questions are:
1.Design: What do motion-capture and associated gaming technology experiences that are suitable for knowledge transfer of ICH in a museum situation look like?
2.Exemplified/perceived effectiveness: What is the contribution of this augmenting technology in terms of the perception of authentic and engaging learning environments?
3.Sustainability, scalability and interoperability: How can museums ensure ICH content is reusable and transferable?

Methods and Results:
The data will be collected and analyzed according to the differences in visitors' interactions and engagements. The data will be examined using (2 x 3 x 4) matrix triangulation strategy. The qualitative data will then be analyzed using quantitative methods such as Chi Square test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The analysis will culminate the visitors' behaviors and further development of the motion-detecting prototype. It is anticipated that the results will clarify the visitors' frequency of interaction with ICH content and their length and quality of engagement with the prototype.

Conclusions:
Heritage-related intangible content is always restricted because of its non-physical nature and has never been fully embedded in an environment like museums and related exhibitions. The study explores alternative opportunities for knowledge transfer of ICH content that manifest with playfulness in order to elicit a deeper understanding of such intangible cultural artifacts. This study complements multiple disciplines, including heritage preservation, museum technologies and emerging interaction design.
Dynamic Health Level Seven Packetizer for on-the-fly integrated healthcare enterprises in disaster zones
Authors: Qidwai Uvais , Chaudhry Junaid , Lee Malrey
Published: October 2012

The advent of standards such as IEEE 11073 for device connectivity, Health Level Seven (HL7) etc., provide an assimilating platform for medical devices and seamless dataflow among modern health information systems (HIS). However, to date, these standards are either not widely accepted or lack the support of 'on-the-fly' formation of HIS in a disaster zone. In a situation where hybrid medical (standard compliant and the otherwise) devices are in operation, incomplete and ambiguous data can lead to fatal misconduct on the part of technology. In order to eliminate this problem, we propose a HL7 compliant policy engine in support of HL7 Reference Information Model (RIM). The policy engine is used for rich policy expression, vivid XML policies for HL7 compliant devices, and performance enhancement. Due to the dynamic nature of on-the-fly HIS in a disaster zone, it is very costly to manage the change and keep track of authentic HIS devices. We use Java language to extend the HL7 RIM in order to create/modify policies instead of scripting languages to overcome the complexity and interoperability.