bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Getting motivated to learn: Role of school and family support perception of some Arab students
Authors: Naseem Mohammed Zawid
Published: October 2012

Inequities in learning motivation among school students have been attributed to many factors, among which school environment and family support are important and well documented. Most of these studies have been in culturally different societies, which do not share much commonality with schools and societies of Arab world. Diversity within Arab world countries, with respect to their socioeconomic status, further thins down the possibility of establishing any grounded theories on these aspects, based on relevant literature available from studies conducted in Arab world countries. Schools with sufficient resources and infrastructures, and families without any economic constraints do influence the learners' motivation differently in some Arab countries, and lead to inequity, contrary to other findings elsewhere. A qualitative study was conducted in a boys' boarding school over a period of six years, with an initial pilot study with 12 selectively sampled students to establish the issues to be used for further interviews. The final interviews were conducted with the same 12 students and 54 other selectively sampled students of age ranging between 13 to 18 years. Information was gathered through records of students' academic performance, observation of students' classroom and out of class academic attitudes and interviews with open ended questions about their perception of school and family support. Common themes of perception of lack of belonging and support, from school and family, were prominent reasons for decreasing motivation for learning among these students. Negative perception of school environment induced by isolation emerged as a factor for reduced motivation. A new role of private tutors emerged to be influencing the motivation to learn. Private tutors, parents with less contact time, and disturbed family structure, did negatively affect the students' motivation to learn. Learners who were able to merge themselves with the school system were able to get self motivated. Such merger was influenced by the students' cultural adaptability, involvement of students' family member in the day to day affairs of the student in school and involvement of parents in school affairs and activities. The findings warrant, revision of curriculum and school policies, and social awareness, for affecting student learning motivation.
Socio-demographic study of obsessive compulsive disorder in Qatar
Authors: Shaltout Taher , Gad Ehsane Mohsen
Published: October 2012

Objective:
We dedicated our work to study the socio-demographic aspect of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) patients seeking psychiatry treatment in outpatient clinic of Hamad General Hospital for a duration of approximately 5 years of continuous follow-up.

Methods:
Out of 8878 individual patients who attended the psychiatric outpatient clinic from August 1996 to December 2001, we reviewed a total number of 348 patients with a diagnosis of OCD (according to International Classification of Diseases-10 diagnostic criteria). We divided them according to age, sex, nationality, duration of illness, occupation and marital status. Each patient was interviewed using a structured interview technique and evaluated by a psychiatrist in one session at the psychiatric outpatient clinic.

Results:
We found that the disorder is more prevalent among non-Qatari people (52%) (Arabs 26.2%, non-Arabs 15.8%) than Qatari people (48%); more common at the age groups of 31-45 years (44.8%); more frequent in the category that visited the outpatient clinic for a period of 1-4 years (60%). We found that the married females (34.5%) are affected more than the married males patient (24.7%). It was also found that in the diagnosis of OCD predominantly obsessional thoughts were 54.9%; more frequent in the sample than the other diagnosis.

Conclusion:
In the state of Qatar, where expatriates usually outnumber Qatari patients, we discovered that non-Qatari patients are affected more with OCD than the natives. Sex, marital status and occupation also proved to be important factors. From our study, in the female married group, being a housewife seems to pose a greater risk in developing OCD. Predominantly obsessional thought was the most common sub-type of OCD affecting the patients in Qatar.
An integrated approach to fare pricing, seat inventory control and fare class segmentation in airline industry with demand leakage
Authors: Raza Syed Asif , Ali Muhammad Tahir
Published: October 2012

Differentiated pricing is a widely practiced revenue management (henceforth, RM) tactic in which a firm offers its products/services at differentiated prices to distinct markets. This strategy has also been noticed in airline RM for more than four decades. Earlier research has shown that the benefits from differentiated pricing are evident when the market segmentation is assumed perfect, which are regarded as distinct markets with deterministic demands. In perfect market segmentation, customers associated with a market segment do not cannibalize (move) between market segments. However, it is not uncommon to notice that the market segmentation is seldom prefect, regardless of the type of industry, and demand is often uncertain. As a result, passengers are expected to cannibalize between fare classes, which is also referred as demand leakage. This research addresses the issue of establishing an integrated framework to optimize market segmentation, often referred as fare class, fare price, and seat inventory control for an airline that experiences demand leakage. Three distinct models are proposed to determine the optimal market segmentation, fare pricing, and seat inventory control for an airline that experiences price dependent passenger demand which are deterministic demand, stochastic, and when the demand is stochastic, yet the demand is unknown respectively. The models are analyzed to determine an optimal joint control mechanism for market segmentation, fare pricing, and seat inventory control and it is shown that the revenue functions to airline are jointly concave. Numerical experimentation shows how do the problem related parameters impact the airline's optimal control strategy and upon airline's revenue gains.
Innovative learning environment based on research activities for high school students
Authors: Al-Ghanim Kaltham Ali , Al-Maadeed Mariam , Al-Thani Noora
Published: October 2012

Qatar aims to transition to a knowledge-based economy by 2030. This vision requires labor forces with high skills. On the other hand, high school students are reluctant to enroll in disciplines such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, engineering and technology. This fact raises questions about the society capacity to provide the appropriate labor force to achieve such a vision. Therefore there is a need to search for ways to raise the high school students' confidence to study those scientific disciplines.
This research aimed to identify the learning possibilities offered by integrating secondary schools students within an advanced learning environment which offered research expertise. The method depends on using research as an activity for self-learning to understand basic science laws and unique applications.

Twenty five high school students (18 male and 7 female) were randomly selected from the participants in Al-Biraq learning program in Qatar University, spring 2011. All the demographic characteristics of the participants in the experiment were unified such as; age, educational level (secondary), grades (12), academic background (independent schools), cultural background (speak the same language). The research team assessed the impact of the program by testing the students' performance. Pre-post-test was the assessment tool. Teachers and parents were also surveyed to provide indications of changes in student behavior in classes and at home.

The results showed an improvement in student attitudes towards research and invention. The percentage of the students who agreed that they are capable of invention increased from 52% to 84%. The students who strongly agreed that their skills has increased after participating in scientific experiments from 48% to 72%.

The study also, showed that there is significant change in attitude after attending this program as the confidence increased from 35% to be 75%. Findings did not reveal any differences based in gender.

The overall outcome of the research is to emphasize the importance of non-traditional teaching methods based on research activities to improve students' attitudes and knowledge about science.

Acknowledgement:
The authors would like to thank the following companies for their sponsorship of the program: RasGas, Shell, Msheireb, Qatar Petroleum
Assessing Qatar media landscape using UNESCO Media Development Indicators
Authors: Desmurger Marion , Meertens Roos
Published: October 2012

Background & Objectives:
The Doha Centre for Media Freedom (DCMF) will be conducting research to assess the media landscape in Qatar. To do so, DCMF intends to use a methodology developed by UNESCO referred to as the Media Development Indicators (MDIs).

The MDIs define a framework, within which the media can best contribute to, and benefit from, good governance and democratic development.

The MDIs comprise five categories of indicators that, together, provide an aspirational picture of the media ecology to be constructed in order to ensure freedom of expression, pluralism and diversity of the media. Those indicators include: a system of regulation; plurality and diversity of media; media as a platform for democratic discourse; professional capacity building; and infrastructural capacity.

The MDIs are not intended as a tool to rank a country's level of media development against that of others. Instead, the indicators should be tailored and customised to fit the particularities of the national context in order to support the efforts of actors working in the area of media development, including policy makers.

Methods:
Collaboration, consultation and national ownership are key components to enhance the potential impact and local capacity of this project. To this end, DCMF will commission the research to a team of five Qatar-based researchers. The research group will receive training from a UNESCO expert on how to best conduct an MDI assessment. Simultaneously, DCMF will set up an Advisory Committee composed of the most notable stakeholders and experts in the field of media development in Qatar who will provide the research group with feedbacks and recommendations. The project will start in October and end in April 2013.

Results:
In addition to providing one of the first in-depth analytical studies of the media situation in Qatar, this research will guide the formulation of policy-related recommendations. The final report will be published as a book in Arabic and English. It is hoped that this book will serve as a public resource for universities, media outlets and research institutes in Qatar and, in the long-term, support Qatar's transition from a carbon economy to a knowledge economy.
People and the city: Unveiling the lived urban environment of Doha
Authors: Salama Ashraf M. , Wiedmann Florian , Thierstein Alain
Published: October 2012

Background and Objectives:
This study examines the production of urbanism by focusing on the collective spatial practice and inhabitants' perceptions of the urban environment in emerging cities, with Doha as a case study. While the built environment is necessarily an important and obvious aspect of cities, this study attempts to apply a holistic approach to the understanding of what the reality of the space of a city is - beyond the face value of its concrete, urban reality. Therefore, the notion of the lived space is introduced to illustrate how it can be utilized to identify factors necessary for understanding the process of space production. In this respect, it is vital to understand the role of inhabitants and how they comprehend, appreciate, and appropriate urban environments with a focus on two main factors: urban identity and urban diversity.

Methods:
A set of various methodologies is applied to investigate the complex interrelationship between urban environments and human behavior. The two main categories of selected methodologies are observation studies focusing on mapping urban spaces and movements and, secondly, a survey questionnaire that aims integrating the individual views of inhabitants. After conducting a typo-morphological analysis of key urban spaces in Doha, behavioral mapping was applied to survey the use of these spaces by inhabitants according to days of the week and various times of day. The questionnaire was distributed to 350 employees working in high-service sectors in order to assess their perception of certain urban environments and their general experience of living in Doha.

Results and Conclusions:
The analysis and combination of these two types of empirical studies led to various recognitions relevant to the complex relationships between physical urban developments and Doha's inhabitants. Since the urban environment of the city has been undergoing major transformations finding answers to the question of how inhabitants are part of this kind of urbanism and how they may contribute to the diversification process and the establishment of a vibrant hub is essential.
Influence of Ramadan on demand analysis of trauma related surgical activities and hospital resource services: An institution experience in the Middle East.
Authors: Peralta Ruben , Kannan P. , Badri F.
Published: October 2012

Background and Objectives:
To examine the utilization of critical hospital resources: bed utilization, operating room activities, median length of stay (LOS) during the month of Ramadan at a major tertiary trauma center in the Middle East.

Methods:
Consecutive trauma admissions requiring major surgical operative interventions at the Rashid Hospital Trauma Center (RHTC) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates during the month of June in 2008 and September (Ramadan) in 2008 were reviewed. Data extracted from the hospital's theatre registry and medical records were analyzed. Resources utilization of all operative trauma cases admitted to the hospital were correlated with the overall injury status of the patients based on the Injury Severity Score (ISS) and the Revised Trauma Score (RTS).

Results:
There were 1647 surgical procedures performed in 939 trauma patients who underwent surgical interventions during the study period, showing no significant change in Operating Room volume activities. The data indicates an increase in length of stay per ISS in the month of Ramadan. Of more significance, the data demonstrates a 68 % increase in occupied beds days despite no significant increase in patient volume during the month of Ramadan in comparison with the month of June.

Conclusions:
During the month of Ramadan, there has been an increase in consumption of hospital resources in terms of bed stays in particular with minor and moderate injuries ISS 1-8, and 9-15. Trauma related surgical procedures were not statistically increased during the month of Ramadan. The RHTC median LOS by ISS is more than doubled than the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) during Ramadan, resulting in unnecessary consumption of valuable resources. Unnecessary hospital stay increases risk of further complications to patients, resulting in further delays in discharge.
A study on the approach of raising the academic level of the State of Qatar through the implementation of bilingual education.
Authors: Bahameish Mariam Ali
Published: October 2012

Bilingual education was introduced to Qatar schools several years ago in order to achieve Qatar's National Vision of 2030. The main purpose of the research is to provide a clear image of education in Qatar and show how bilingualism affects the country academically. The term 'bilingualism', in its simplest definition, is knowing two different languages based on competency in four skill areas; understanding, speaking, reading and writing. Therefore, bilingual education in Qatar refers to the use of secondary language in schools for teaching certain subjects. The design of the study is based on a comparison between the academic improvements of graduated students from independent and government schools. The data was collected by questionnaire surveys of 40 undergraduate students from both schools to evaluate the level of education they have gained and the problems they have faced in university. Moreover, a survey was distributed among teachers and parents to discover their experiences with bilingualism. In addition, for data collection, statistics from the Supreme Education Council website was used to get an overview of the level of independent schools. In the beginning, the idea of implementing bilingual education in schools was not accepted by students, teachers and parents, because they found some difficulties adapting to the English language. It resulted in low scores in science and mathematics courses; thus, students faced some problems in the admission requirements for Qatar University. On the other hand, the students' level in English has risen noticeably. Moreover, there was an argument that bilingual education may affect the Islamic religion and Arabic culture, but the parents' survey showed that there is no major effect under the SEC supervision. Despite all the obstacles, the SEC is working on several strategies to overcome the problems by strengthening the level of teaching and teachers to deliver the correct information to the students. From this study, it can be concluded that the usage of English language in Qatar schools has a great impact on the society. Therefore, in the near future, by raising the education level, Qatar will achieve public welfare, high standards of living and significant academic performance.
How do school leaders' perceptions of 'Education for a New Era' affect the implementation of the reform in primary schools in Qatar?
Authors: Alfadala Asma Essa
Published: October 2012

Background & Objectives:
In 2001, Qatar began a comprehensive education reform (Education for a New Era) based on RAND's recommendations for building an educational system that would meet the country's changing needs. The reform introduced innovation into the country's education system, including a standards-based curriculum, professional development programmes for teachers and for leaders, and a new system for assessment. One aspect of the reform was the introduction of the National Professional Standards (NPS), which have had a significant impact on school leaders' roles. As a recent two-year study conducted by the RAND Corporation in 2007 states, despite the many positive effects of the reform, more change is needed to support schools and teachers. School leaders are currently facing challenges in their role of leading and managing the school community. The school model in Qatar, post-reform, has increased both autonomy and accountability for leaders. The objective of this study is to explore the perceptions of school leaders in Qatar. The prime reason underlying the focus on leaders' perceptions is that leaders are at the heart of any educational change.

Methods:
This study follows a qualitative method using initial interviews, observation and in-depth interviews in four primary schools in Qatar. The participants are the senior managers in each school.

Preliminary Results:
School leaders believed that working in a school under the reform was better than the rigid approach they had experienced in Ministry of Education schools. They expressed the view that while the NPS offered advantages, it nevertheless lacked clarity and left them to rely on their own skills when it came to implementation. More importantly, there were few guidelines from the SEC to implement the NPS more effectively. It was also discovered that how leaders perceived the change affected its implementation. These perceptions ranged from total awareness to lack of sufficient knowledge of the new policy. The school leaders exhibited a very positive opinion towards the reform. However, some of the leaders expressed a need for more training on how to lead their team better.
How to treat diabetes in Arabs: A rational approach based upon the pathogenesis of the disease
Authors: Abdul-Ghani Muhammad , DeFronzo Ralph , Zirie Mahmoud , Jayyousi Amin , Bener Abdul-Bari
Published: October 2012

Background and Aims:
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a complex disease with multiple metabolic defects including insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction. Although both insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction are present in type 2 diabetic individuals in all ethnic groups, we previously have shown that the contribution of each abnormality to the deterioration of glucose homeostasis is ethnic dependent with the greatest role of beta cell dysfunction being in Arab individuals. In the present study, we compare the efficacy and safety of a novel therapeutic approach of initiating subjects with new onset T2DM on triple therapy with agents that correct the metabolic defects in T2DM (metformin/pioglitazone/exenatide) versus the American Diabetes Association guidelines (starting metformin and sequential addition of sulfonylurea and basal insulin) which are based upon the concept of lowering the plasma glucose concentration.

Research Design and Methods:
133 new onset T2DM patients (age = 45±1 y; BMI=36±0.5; HbA1c = 8.8±0.1%; diabetes duration = 5.6±0.5 mo) were randomized to receive metformin (2000 mg/d), plus pioglitazone (45 mg/d), plus exenatide (10 micrograms BID) (triple therapy, n=64) or escalating doses of metformin (2000 mg/d), followed by sequential addition of sulfonylurea (glipizide, 20 mg/d) and basal insulin to maintain HbA1c <6.5 (conventional therapy, n = 69).

Results:
Subjects who received triple therapy, HbA1c decreased from 8.6 to 6.1% at 6 mo and to 6.0% at 24 mo, while in the conventional therapy, HbA1c declined to 6.2% at 6 mo and subsequently increased to 6.5% at 24 mo. Despite lower HbA1c, subjects in triple therapy arm experienced a 13.6-fold lower rate of hypoglycemia compared to subjects in conventional therapy arm. 14 of 66 (21%) of T2DM patients in the conventional therapy arm have required insulin therapy to maintain the target A1c value. Subjects in the triple therapy arm experienced mean weight loss of 1.2 kg compared to mean weight gain of 3.6 kg (p=0.02) in subjects in the conventional therapy arm.

Conclusion:
The present results demonstrate that antidiabetic therapy targeting the metabolic abnormalities responsible for hyperglycemia is more effective and safe than therapy simply aimed at lowering the plasma glucose concentration in T2DM.
Ubiquitous monitoring system for critical cardiac abnormalities
Authors: Qidwai Uvais , Chaudhry Junaid , Shakir Mohammed
Published: October 2012

It is desirable to have a monitoring system that can keep a constant surveillance on the conditions of the heart and its related patterns. This is particularly important in many patients with critical cardiac abnormalities. This can be very convenient in clinical settings but may not be possible for individuals who are not in hospital and are in their day-to-day activities. Wearable ECG-based systems have been proposed for such situations and can perform such monitoring in real life. However, detecting the abnormality in near real-time is still a challenge in these systems. Similarly, what information should be relayed to doctors or other caregivers and how soon this can be achieved is a very hot area of research at present.

This work presents a monitoring system that embeds an intelligent wearable data acquisition system with unique identification algorithms requiring very little computational time and simple threshold based classification. Once this is done, the related information is passed to a gateway system that can communicate the criticality flags as well as the actual ECG waveform data to the pre-defined data node that connects it to the doctor and/or other clinical representatives. We have used an Android-based cellphone as the gateway. The presented system focuses on intelligent health monitoring with possible wearable application for long-term monitoring and updating in real-time of patient's ECG conditions to the physician.
TNRC9 (TOX3) downregulates BRCA1 expression and promotes breast cancer aggressiveness
Authors: Shan Jingxuan , Dsouza Shoba P , Bakhru Sasha , Al-Azwani Eman K , Ascierto Maria L. Ascierto L , Sastry Konduru S , Bedri Shahinaz , Kizhakayil Dhanya , Aigha Idil I , Malek Joel , Al-Bozom Issam , Gehani Salah , Furtado Stacia , Mathiew Edith , Wang Ena , Marincola Francesco M , Chouchane Lotfi
Published: October 2012

Background:
Although the linkage between germline mutations of BRCA1 and hereditary breast/ovarian cancers is well established, recent evidence suggests that altered expression of wild type BRCA1 might contribute to the sporadic forms of breast cancer. The mechanism underlying the downregulation BRCA1 expression is not well understood. It might be dependent upon repressor activity that governs histone acetylation and DNA accessibility at the BRCA1 promoter. TNRC9 (TOX3) gene, highly associated with breast cancer susceptibility, encodes a nuclear protein of uncertain function but can modify chromatin structure. We hypothesized that constitutive expression of TNRC9 could be relevant to breast cancer biology through the modulation of BRCA1 activity.

Methods:
We assessed the associations of TNRC9 gene amplification with breast cancer onset and survival. The search for targets and effects of TNRC9 was performed using multifaceted molecular approaches.

Results:
The TNRC9 gene is often amplified and overexpressed in breast cancer, particularly in advanced breast cancer. TNRC9 gene amplification is associated with reduced disease-free and metastasis-free survival rates. TNRC9 significantly increased breast cancer cell proliferation, migration and survival of exposure to apoptotic stimuli, and tumor progression both in vitro and in mice models. Gene expression profiling, protein analysis and in silico assays of large datasets of breast and ovarian cancer samples suggested that TNRC9 and BRCA1 expression are inversely correlated. TNRC9 binds not only to BRCA1 promoter but also to the CREB complex, a BRCA1-transcriptional regulator. TNRC9 downregulates the expression of BRCA1 by altering the methylation status of its promoter.

Conclusions:
Our study unveils a molecular basis for a TNRC9 role in breast cancer and highlights a new paradigm in BRCA1 regulation.
Trends in the mortality and short-term morbidity outcomes of ≤32 week gestation babies in the State of Qatar between 2002 and 2011: A PEARL study analysis
Authors: Rahman Sajjad ur , Hameed Najeeb , Parappil Hussain , Nimeri Nuha , El Tinay Sarrah , El Ansari Walid , Tahir Mohammad
Published: October 2012

Background and Objectives:
Preterm births are a major cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. The number of preterm births is increasing due to assisted reproductive technology. The intensive care of preterm babies and follow-up care of their post-discharge morbidities takes up a major share of healthcare expenditure. PEARL study analyzed trends in mortality and pre-discharge morbidity outcomes of ≤32 week gestation preterm babies in the State of Qatar between 2002 and 2011.

Methods:
The 2011 data of ≤32 week babies, collected prospectively using predesigned, structured questionnaires by a trained fulltime research team, was ascertained from Qatar's National Perinatal Registry (Q-Peri-Reg). Comparative data for 2002 was ascertained retrospectively from the medical records of the Women's Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation. The data was analyzed for outcome measures. The 2011 data was also compared with 2010 report of Vermont Oxford Network (VON) database, which is an international benchmark of quality of care in NICU's worldwide.

Results:
Between 2002 and 2011 the birth rate of ≤32 week babies increased significantly from 1.19% to 1.75% (p=0001) while their mortality decreased significantly (p <0.05) from 239/1000 to 163.4/1000 respectively. There was a significant decrease in the RR of Grade 3 IVH (p <0.012) and a non-significant decrease (p=0.500) in Grade 4 IVH and CLD at 36 weeks. There was a significant increase in the RR of symptomatic PDA (p=0.018), NEC (p=0.003) and ROP stage 3 and above (p=0.001) and non-significant increase in the RR of cystic PVL (p=0.470) (Table 1). Qatar's ≤32 weeks mortality and some morbidity outcomes were comparable with VON 2010 database report.

Conclusions:
The mortality and select short-term morbidity outcomes of ≤32 week gestation babies have improved significantly over the last decade though their birth rate has increased. There is a need to focus on further reduction in morbidity.
Mutations in a zinc finger protein causing a novel autosomal recessive mental retardation syndrome identified through homozygosity mapping and whole exome sequencing of a single affected individual
Authors: Kambouris Marios , Ben-Omran Tawfeg , Al-Sarraj Yasser , Ali Rehab , Erraffi Khaoula , Habbab Wesal , El-Shanti Hatem
Published: October 2012

A consanguineous Arab family affected by a novel autosomal recessive disorder characterized by severe mental retardation and failure to thrive, was studied by Illumina 700K SNP genotyping, candidate gene mutation screening and whole exome sequencing for one affected member. Clinical findings include ptosis, bilateral epicanthic folds, striking midface hypoplasia, downturned mouth corners, thin upper vermillion, prominent ears, bilaterally short fourth metatarsal bone, bilateral fifth finger camptodactyly, mildly limited mobility in both knees and hypotonia.

The gene was mapped by homozygosity mapping to 4 possible genome intervals, as the number of family members was insufficient for a significant LOD score. The positional candidate MAP2K1 was sequenced. No pathogenic mutations were identified. Whole exome target enrichment sequencing was performed on ABI SOLiD 4 System and Illumina HiSeq platforms for a single affected individual. Six non-synonymous variants were positioned within the homozygosity intervals. Two affecting evolutionary highly conserved amino acids with damaging effects according to PolyPhen and SIFT protein-modeling software, which were validated by Sanger sequencing to determine whether variants co-segregated with the disease phenotype. The variants were absent in 188 ethnically matched control chromosomes. One gene shows very limited expression in the brain while the other, a zinc finger protein, appears to be the disease causing mutation.

Zinc finger proteins, a family of DNA and RNA binding proteins are transcriptional regulators controlling developmental cascades of gene expression especially during fetal brain development. Mutations in zinc finger domains interfere with normal brain development, are associated with non-syndromic X-linked mental retardation with impairments in adaptive behavior, and manifest during the developmental period causing severe mental retardation. The c.C5054G [p.S1685W] mutation affects 2 of the 3 ZNF407 isoforms, is located in the last third of the zinc finger domains and affects a serine residue in the alpha-helical part adjoining two zinc finger domains. This is thought to eliminate the functionality of downstream domains and interferes with expression of various genes under ZNF407 control during fetal brain development.

Homozygosity mapping and whole exome sequencing of a single affected individual was the most effective, least labor intensive and most economical approach in identifying the mutation for this novel autosomal recessive zinc finger protein that causes a mental retardation syndrome.
In vivo assessment of reactive oxygen species in the brain using novel dihydroethidium-based methodology
Authors: Wafi Amro Wagih , Lob Heinrich , Davisson Robin
Published: October 2012

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), e.g. superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, peroxynitrite, are important mediators for many cell signaling processes. In the central nervous system, cardiovascular function is tightly regulated by cell signaling in specific nuclei (the subfornical organ (SFO), paraventricular nucleus (PVN), and rostral venterolateral medulla (RVLM)) and an imbalance of ROS in these nuclei contributes to the development cardiovascular diseases, e.g. hypertension. There are limitations to quantify and localize ROS in brain tissue. The current state-of-the-art method to measure ROS in the brain is in situ quantification of dihydroethidium (DHE) fluorescence using confocal microscopy. DHE is a cell permeable compound, which upon reaction with ROS forms red fluorescent 2-hydroxyethidium. However, in situ DHE imaging has a number of technical problems. Recent developments with in vivo DHE methods may circumvent these problems but, this methodology has not been well established for brain, particularly cardioregulatory nuclei. The aim of this study was to test whether in vivo DHE methodology using either systemic or direct brain administration of DHE, may be an alternative to in situ DHE. Mice were injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (8 micrograms/g i.p.) to elicit ROS production in the brain. In control groups we injected saline or LPS and tempol (200 microliters of 10 mM tempol, i.p.), which is a ROS scavenger. Three hours later mice were injected with DHE (150 microliters of 150 micrograms/mouse, i.p.) and brains were harvested one hour later. In a second experiment we administered DHE via an intracerebroventricular (ICV, 1 microliter of 10 micromolar DHE) cannula (including the same controls), which allows direct delivery of DHE to the brain. Our results show that LPS caused increased DHE fluorescence intensity in the SFO, RVLM and PVN but not in control areas e.g. the cortex when DHE was administrated intraperitoneally. Saline- and tempol-treated mice showed much lower DHE fluorescence. The distribution pattern was similar in both experiments. In conclusion, this study shows that DHE administered either systemically or directly into the brain leads to effective detection of LPS-induced ROS formation in brain centers important in cardiovascular homeostasis and may be an important alternative to in situ DHE.
Laparoscopy in pediatric emergencies
Authors: Abbas Tariq O , Hayati Ahmed , Ali Mansour
Published: October 2012

Aims:
Although laparoscopy is rapidly becoming the procedure of choice in adults, there are obstacles to its use in children. We analyzed our institution's experiences with laparoscopic procedures performed in children over the last 5 years, with particular emphasis on emergency procedures.

Methods:
We retrospectively evaluated the records of patients less than 14 years of age who had undergone laparoscopy for non-trauma related emergency conditions between January 2006 and December 2010 in our institution. Clinical parameters evaluated included operation time, total length of hospital stay, and postoperative complications.

Results:
Over the study period, children less than 14 years old underwent 482 laparoscopic procedures, 300 on an emergency basis and 182 electively. The majority of procedures were laparoscopic appendectomies, with most of the others being resections of ovarian cysts, Meckel's diverticula, or adhesiolyses. We observed improvement in outcomes over the 5-year period, as shown by decreased operation times and shorter postoperative hospital stays. Moreover, the numbers of laparoscopically performed procedures increased over time.

Conclusion:
Laparoscopy provides excellent results, including better exposure and cosmetic outcomes, when used for emergency operations in children. In our institution, the numbers and types of laparoscopic procedures have increased over time, and their outcomes have improved.
Stroke prevention therapy in elderly patients hospitalized with atrial fibrillation: A 20-year experience from Qatar
Authors: Salam Amar M , AlBinali Hajar , Al-Sulaiti Essa Mubarak , Al-Mulla Abdul Wahid , Singh Rajvir , Al Suwaidi Jassim
Published: October 2012

Objectives:
Stroke prevention therapy with oral anticoagulants (OAC) is reported to be under-utilized in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) despite the overwhelming evidence supporting their use for stroke prevention. Rates and trends of the use of OAC from the developing world in this setting are lacking particularly in elderly patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate trends of utilization of OAC in elderly patients hospitalized with AF in a real-world population in a Middle-Eastern country over 20 years.

Methods:
Retrospective analysis of prospective registry of all patients aged above 70 years hospitalized with AF in Qatar from 1991 through 2010 was made. Rate and trends of OAC use was examined over the 20 years of the study.

Results:
During the 20-years period; 744 patients above the age of 70 years old were hospitalized for AF. Overall 26.1% of these patients received OAC with warfarin at hospital discharge while 60.2% received anti-platelets therapy with aspirin. The use of warfarin in this elderly group was significantly trending higher over the study period from 3.7% in the earlier years of the study to 39.5% in the latter years (P= 0.001). Anti-platelets therapy with aspirin also significantly increased from 47.4% in the earlier years of the study to 67.3% in the latter years (P= 0.001) [Table].

Conclusions:
Although our study demonstrates that stroke prevention therapy with OAC and anti-platelets therapy are used with increasing frequency in elderly patients aged above 70 years over the 20-year study period, nonetheless they remain under-utilized. Further prospective studies are needed to investigate the reasons behind under-utilization of OAC in our region to help guide healthcare providers involved in the care of elderly people with AF to maximize potential benefit from OAC and anti-platelets while minimizing the hemorrhagic risk associated with these drugs.
Hyperinsulinaemia and hyperleptinaemia are BMI independent features of morbid obesity in a Qatari, compared to a Caucasian, population: Effect of surgical weight loss.
Authors: Al-jaber Mashael Jamal , Casale Carlo , Bakhamis Aysha , Lei Shen , Orie Nelson , ElRayess Mohamed , Sufi Pratik , Marina Nephtali , Rida Samer , Al-Emadi Mohamed , AlSayrafi Muhammad , Mohammed Ali Vidya , Gray Rosaire
Published: October 2012

Background:
Recent trends suggest that the sharpest increases in the prevalence of obesity are in countries of the Middle East, especially in Qatar. Early and rapid onset of the disease in this population, along with a primarily abdominal omental deposition of adipose tissue, is closely associated with insulin resistance, whilst longer duration of obesity in Caucasians is associated with maintenance of insulin sensitivity, independently of BMI. The impact of more aggressive treatments for obesity, such as surgery, on the metabolic health of the Qataris is not known.

Objectives:
To test the hypothesis that inherent differences between the Qataris and Caucasians in adipose tissue secretory function and sensitivity to insulin determines their response to interventions that reduce their adipose tissue mass.

Methods:
Non-diabetic morbidly obese subjects were recruited from Qatari and Caucasian patients awaiting weight reduction surgery (Al-Emadi Hospital, Doha, Qatar and Whittington Hospital, London, UK). Anthropometric measures were recorded. Blood samples were obtained before, and in a sub-set after weight loss for determination of lipids, glucose, insulin and adipokines. Insulin resistance was measured by HOMA.

Results:
The Qataris were significantly younger (p=0.005), despite having comparable BMI (Qatari 47.7±7.0; Caucasian 48.4±7.6 kg/m-2, p=0.70). They also had lower diastolic blood pressure and a better lipid profile. However, the Qataris had significantly higher insulin and HOMA index of insulin resistance, and higher leptin and interleukin-6. Also, in Qataris, leptin was negatively correlated with a number of risk factors for metabolic syndrome, independent of BMI. However, these correlations seem to be BMI-dependent in Caucasians.
Further, weight loss in Caucasians did not significantly change insulin sensitivity but did reduce dyslipidemia. While in Qataris, characterized by high insulin resistance, weight loss causes sharp reduction in insulin resistance but not in dyslipidemia.

Conclusion:
Obesity in Qatari subjects was accompanied by a higher degree of hyperinsulinaemia and hyperleptinaemia compared to Caucasians. The nature of obesity and high insulin resistance in Qataris makes it amenable to aggressive weight loss treatment, whereas in Caucasians other less aggressive treatments for obesity may be applicable.
Depot-specific differences in vascular noradrenergic sensitivity in morbidly obese Qataris
Authors: Bakhamis Aysha , Orie Nelson , Al-Jaber Mashael , Rida Samer , Al-Emadi Mohamed , Mohamed-Ali Vidya , Alsayrafi Mohammed
Published: October 2012

Background & Objectives:
Expanding adipose tissue in obesity requires effective vasoreactivity to combat hypoxia and its consequences, such as insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. While recent evidence suggests that the adipose tissue is highly angiogenic, the tissue arteriolar vasoreactivity has been less investigated. Furthermore, the omental adipose tissue (OAT) synthesizes greater levels of vasocontrictive molecules, such as cytokines and catecholamines, compared to the sub-cutaneous (SAT) depot and these are likely to impact the maintenance of vascular tone leading to greater susceptibility to hypoxia.

The aim of the study was to investigate differences in the contractile responses of adipose tissue arterioles between the SAT and OAT depots in an insulin-resistance prone, morbidly obese Qatari population.

Methods:
SAT and OAT from obese non-diabetic Qatari patients (age 29, BMI 43, HOMA 2.69), undergoing weight reducing surgery were used to investigate tissue noradrenaline (NA)-mediated vasoconstriction by wire myography. Vessels were cut into segments (~2 mm) and mounted on a dual wire myograph (510A) for measurement of isometric tension. Cumulative concentration-response curves were then constructed for noradrenaline (10-9 -10-5 M). Curves were also constructed for potassium Chloride (KCl, 1-70 mM).

Results:
Arterioles from SAT showed greater sensitivity to NA compared to OAT (log EC50 -6.9±0.1 vs -6.1±0.2 p<0.05). The SAT curve was clearly shifted to the left of OAT although the maximum tensions for both were not statistically different. For KCl, maximum tension was greater in the SAT than in the OAT vessels but there were no differences in their sensitivities.

Conclusions:
OAT arterioles from morbidly obese Qataris were less sensitive to noradrenaline mediated vasoconstriction compared to SAT vessels; however, the contractile responses of the two depots to KCl were comparable. Therefore differences in adrenoceptor density/function may underlie the depot specific responses. The consequences of these differences between the arterioles are currently under investigation.
Assessment of ultrasonic-assisted enzymatic digestion of complex protein mixtures by high-resolution mass spectrometry
Authors: Dib Shaima S , Billing Anja M , Antar Shareef J , Graumann Johannes
Published: October 2012

Background & Objectives
Large-scale proteome analysis by mass spectrometry is commonly preceded by enzymatic digestion of proteins. The conventional protocol for in-solution digest of complex protein mixtures includes trypsin and is performed at room temperature for at least 12h. To improve this time-consuming method we assessed the efficiency of focused ultrasound-assisted enzymatic digest. It has previously been shown that ultrasonication can dramatically reduce digestion time. However, it is not known how this affects protein identification and quantification when applied to complex protein mixtures such as whole cell lysates. Here, we explore in-depth the proteome of embryonic stem cells comparing trypsin-digestion methods with and without ultrasound support side-by-side.

Methods
In-solution protein digest
Protein extracts were digested with sequencing-grade trypsin (Promega) for 1, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40min and 1h in the presence or absence of focused ultrasonication (Covaris). A conventional digestion overnight was included. Reactions were stopped by acidification and heat. Peptides were desalted by reverse phase C18 StageTips.

Mass spectrometry
Peptides were analyzed on a QExactive (Thermo Scientific) coupled to Easy nLC 1000 (Proxeon). Raw files were processed by MaxQuant v1.3.0.3 software. Peptide searches were performed by Andromeda search engine against the UniProt database.

Results and Conclusions
Focused ultrasonication clearly enhanced the enzymatic digestion and can be implemented in the daily workflow of mass spectrometry-based proteome analysis.
Viral etiology of acute gastroenteritis among hospitalized patients in Doha, Qatar: A pilot study
Authors: Althani Asma , Yuksel Maide Mustafa , Aldahry Said , Al Lawati Najah Mohamed
Published: October 2012

Introduction:
Acute gastroenteritis is a widespread disease that is characterized by diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain. It has high morbidity and mortality rate globally. Bacteria, parasites and mostly viruses cause acute gastroenteritis. Most frequent viruses are norovirus, adenovirus, astrovirus and rotavirus.

Objectives:
To determine the prevalence of the four viruses in the stool samples of patients who were treated at HGH with complaints of acute gastroenteritis. The samples which had been submitted to the microbiology laboratory at HGH, were analyzed by real time-PCR method at Qatar University. The second objective was to compare between ELISA, IMCG and RT-PCR in terms of sensitivity and specificity.

Methodology:
288 stool samples and corresponding patients' data were obtained from microbiology laboratory in HMC between 15-Jun-2009 to1-Nov-2009. They were transported to the research lab of biomedical science program- Health Department at Qatar University, where laboratory experiments involving RT-PCR were performed. Statistical analysis was carried out using Excel program.

Results:
Out of total 288 fecal samples, 131 (45.5%) were positive for the presence of viruses that cause gastroenteritis. Norovirus (28.5%) was the most prevalent, followed by rotavirus (10.4%), adenovirus (6.25%) and astrovirus (0.30%).

Conclusion:
Norovirus is the most common source of acute gastroenteritis among hospitalized patients, followed by rotavirus. Real time-PCR technique used in this study was found to be more sensitive and specific. By taking RT-PCR as a reference, ELISA and IMCG are found to be similarly low in sensitivity and specificity.