Qatar Foundation Annual Research Conference Proceedings Volume 2016 Issue 1

Introduction Most of neurological disorders are network-based diseases. The networks associated with these diseases usually involve spatially disturbed brain regions. Thus efforts were recently evolving from identifying pathological “zones” toward identifying “networks”. In a very recent review, Fornito and colleagues revealed that the identification of alterations in brain networks is one of the most promising paradigms in Read More

Background There has been some anecdotal evidence linking certain infectious pathogens (such as Chlamydia pneumoniae) with stroke. C. pneumoniae infection may be one of several contributing factors for the development of inflammation of blood vessels and atherosclerosis. Furthermore, a number of inflammatory markers (such as plasma CRP, fibrinogen, IL-6, IL-1ra, ESR, WCC) have recently been linked wit Read More

Background Worldwide, cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is the leading disease-related cause of chronic disability; the second most common cause of death and dementia; and a significant burden to patients, caregivers, and healthcare systems. Major risk factors for stroke include diabetes, hypertension, smoking and dyslipidemia which are highly prevalent in the gulf region. Indeed in Qatar, the incidence of cerebrovascular Read More

Background Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) are the leading cause of death in Qatar1, but the epidemiology of these injuries in the infant (0–1 years) and toddler (2–4 years) [IAT] population has not been reported. This study aimed to document and analyze the epidemiology of RTIs in IATs of Qatar and make recommendations for targeted and age-specific recommendations to improve road safety for this population. Methods A retrospe Read More

Background Patient counseling is a term used in the field of pharmacy to describe the communication that takes place between a pharmacist and a patient in regards to his or her medication therapy. Patient counseling is deemed to be the professional responsibility of pharmacists. Patients require education on the proper use of medications to improve therapeutic outcomes and avoid treatment failure. 1 Pharmacists are in Read More

Background Peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVs) are invasive catheters that may endure risks of clinical complications affecting health care outcomes and patient satisfaction. Patients requiring frequent PIV insertions due to an extended length of stay of one week or more would undergo multiple PIV pricks during their course of hospitalization. The combined factors of multiple PIV insertions and extended hospital stay mak Read More

Network querying algorithms provide computational means to identify conserved network modules in large-scale biological networks that are similar to known functional modules, such as pathways or molecular complexes. Two main challenges for network querying algorithms are the high computational complexity of detecting potential isomorphisms between graphs and ensuring the biological significance of the query res Read More

Introduction The frequent outbreaks of novel or emerging infectious diseases are alarming. There is a need for urgent and appropriate intervention that can be adapted quickly for such diseases. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) previously known as novel CoV is a viral infection that causes severe acute respiratory illness. MERS-CoV is a respiratory pathogen and contagious that is contracted via close co Read More

Hearing loss is a common sensory deficit that can affect all levels of society. The two age groups where hearing loss is most likely to be identified is in newborns and in the elderly. Newborn screens have been very effective in finding individuals affected by hearing loss. The general hearing loss incidence in newborns is 0.2%, with roughly 50% of all cases being hereditary. A recent study in Qatar found that the incidence of hearin Read More