Qatar Foundation Annual Research Forum Volume 2011 Issue 1

Abstract Obesity is a global epidemic and has been implicated as a risk factor for end-stage renal disease. In this study, we investigated the impact of obesity in the absence of hypertension, on renal lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which could play a major role in the development of obesity-induced renal dysfunction. We compared two genetic mouse models Read More

Abstract Imatinib is currently the standard drug used in the treatment of CML patients. However, imatinib is not curative since most patients who discontinue therapy will relapse. Interferon alpha (IFN) induces hematologic and cytogenetic remissions and interestingly, prior exposure to IFN allowed Imatinib discontinuation in some CML patients. Arsenic trioxide inhibits the proliferation of BCR-ABL-expressing cells. We have in Read More

Abstract In addition to physical conditioning, successful sporting performance requires a level of perception coupled with efficiency and accuracy in movement. The FIFA World Cup is usually played during the summer months; therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of heat exposure on cognitive performance. Three experiments were performed in an environmental chamber under hot (HOT: 50°C, 30% rH) a Read More

Abstract Background: Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II), CDDP) is a highly effective antitumor drug. However, tumors can acquire resistance to CDDP. CDDP elevates the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), in various cell lines, leading to the activation of apoptotic pathways and cell death. Using cultured breast cancer (MCF-7) cells we: (1) investigated the effects of CDDP on [Ca2+]i, (2) compared t Read More

Abstract Introduction: The application of therapeutic proteins and cytokines like Interleukin-2 (IL-2) for long-term, localized delivery has been hindered by a lack of a delivery device that releases active protein at a concentration within their therapeutic window. The purpose of this oral presentation is to report on the osmotic-driven, controlled-release from novel visible-light photocrosslinked biodegradable elastomeric d Read More

Abstract T-cells genetically modified to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) against a tumor associated antigen are attractive anti-cancer therapeutic agents. The 5T4 cell surface oncofoetal antigen is an attractive target antigen for cancer immunotherapy as it is expressed by a wide spectrum of cancers including gastric, ovarian and colorectal while showing limited expression in normal adult tissues. Previously it was Read More

Abstract Background: Caring for an autistic child places significant stress on the lives of family members. To date, no study has evaluated how looking after a child with autism affects quality of life (QoL) of caregivers in Qatar or the Gulf country region. Our study is aimed at quantifying the health-related QoL of caregivers of children with autism in Qatar. Methods: We recruited two groups of caregivers of children between 3 Read More

Abstract Background: Cigarette smoking is one of the preventable causes of ill health in Qatar. Qatar community pharmacists are in an ideal position to play an important role in smoking cessation. This role necessitates adequate smoking cessation knowledge and education. The study objectives were to assess Qatar community pharmacists' smoking cessation knowledge and to gauge their perceptions of which aspects Read More

Abstract Introduction: Controlled drug release from implantable silicone elastomers was reported to occur mainly via the osmotic rupture release mechanism. In this work, we are attempting to determine the effects of drug volumetric loading, particle size, device shape, and dissolution media on the release rate of the water-soluble osmotically active drug, Papaverine Hydrochloride (PH) from silicon elastomers. Materials and M Read More

Abstract Background: Fetal movements are clinically correlated to fetal wellbeing. Ultrasounds are the most accurate measurements of the fetal movement but expensive and intrusive. To avoid these constraints, Fetal activity is captured through data acquired using low cost and nonintrusive accelerometer . Time-frequency distributions (TFDs) are often used to represent the energy, temporal and spectral characteristics of no Read More

Abstract Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects children at around the age of 3 years old and last throughout the person's lifetime. ASD imposes great burden on the family, and forces family members to considerably modify their daily lives to suit their reality with autistic child(ren). To our knowledge, no previous research assessed the burden of ASD on the lives of parents/caregivers of autistic children in Read More

Abstract Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are common injuries occurring upwards of 250,000 times annually only in the U.S. These injuries create an annual billion dollar expense. It is important to understand these injury mechanisms as these injuries continue to be one of the largest problems in orthopedic sports medicine. Improved understanding of the injury mechanisms may improve prevention, rehabili Read More

Abstract Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) ion channels are formed by either homomeric or heteromeric assembly of four TRP subunits that have six transmembrane domains (TM) and a P-loop located between TM5 and TM6 defining the channel pore. So far 30 different subunits classified in 6 families sharing as low as 20% homology, have been identified in mammals and about 20 in Xenopus. Although heterotetramers can be Read More

Abstract The oscillation of cytoplasmic calcium concentration exists in a large number of non-excitable cells such as astrocytes in the brain, intestinal cells and oocytes (Fig.1). This rhythmic activity carries information into the cell, regulating various processes such as gene expression or transmitter release. In some cells, such as Xenopus oocytes, the oscillations can rely only on calcium being released in the cytoplasm fro Read More

Abstract Recently, a speculative model is proposed that tumor tissue is continuously regenerated by a small population of self-renewing cancer stem cells responsible for initiation, growth and propagation of tumor. Tumor cells reside in a “niche” and have constant interaction with the niche components including tumor vasculature, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) and the components of the extracellular m Read More

Abstract Background: The reasons behind the differences in the levels of discordancy (that is one partner testing HIV positive while the other testing HIV negative) among spousal and cohabiting partnerships affected by HIV across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remain inadequately understood. Recently, many randomized clinical trials have shown substantial efficacies for several prevention interventions among these partnershi Read More

Abstract Background: Empirical evidence suggests that HIV incidence rate within stable discordant sexual partnerships in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) varies between 1.2 and 19.0 per 100 person-years. Estimating HIV incidence rate within stable discordant partnerships is critical for determining the contribution of HIV sero-conversions among these partnerships to total HIV incidence. Objective: To estimate HIV incidence rate with Read More

Abstract Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) currently infects around 2% of the world's population. Among all nations, HCV prevalence ranges from 0.01% in Scandinavia to 3% in North Africa, with one exception: Egypt. Egypt has the highest prevalence of HCV in the world, estimated nationally at 14.7%. Numerous HCV prevalence studies have published various estimates from different Egyptian communities, suggesting that Eg Read More

Abstract Urinary bladder cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide and has a high recurrence rate. It has the highest lifetime cost of care per patient due to long follow-up cystoscopic surveillance after surgery to detect the high risk of recurrence. This research develops a portable custom cystoscopic procedure to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the bladder cancer surveillance. The system uses a se Read More

Abstract Background: Chronic hypertension is a deadly disease that affects nearly 30–36% of the adult population in Qatar and the regional. Inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptors (IP3R) are intracellular calcium (Ca2+) channels that mediate the release of Ca2+ from sarcoplasmic reticulum in response to IP3 binding. A rise in cytoplasmic Ca2+ mediated by voltage-dependent L-type Ca2+ (CaL) channels and IP3-dependent Ca2 Read More

Abstract Each olfactory sensory neuron in the mammalian nose selects just a single member of the large odorant receptor (OR) gene family. The core processes regulating OR selection may involve mechanisms that limit initial OR transcription and once a single OR is chosen, repress subsequent activations. We have used a genetic strategy to monitor the transcriptional permissiveness of the OR gene P2 by inserting a Read More

Abstract Background: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may be causally related to breast cancer risk or be indirectly associated with breast cancer risk through linkage disequilibrium with a causal sequence variant. Risk-associated SNPs will have different frequencies among women with or without breast cancer and can be detected using genetic association studies. Recently, several genome-wide association studies (GW Read More

Abstract Background: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome is directly correlated with increasing occurrence of obesity characterized by accumulation of fat in visceral, lower body, and upper body subcutaneous depots. In a number of species, brown adipose tissue (BAT) converts triglycerides into heat by non-shivering thermogenesis, thus controlling the amount of white adipose tissue. Until recently, BAT was thought to be mostly Read More

Abstract The prevalence of insulin resistance and diabetes has shown a dramatic worldwide increase. In Qatar, the prevalence of diabetes is twice that of the United States today, possibly due to lifestyle and dietary changes. Diabetes has an enormously adverse impact on the afflicted population leading to patient mortality, morbidity and staggering health care costs to the nation. Untreated or inadequately treated diab Read More

Abstract Background: The functional relevance of strength and power measures as an index of functional performance (i.e., sprinting speed) in soccer remains unclear. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships among mechanical variables related to strength and power tests and their influences on sprinting speed in professional soccer players across their life-span. Methods: Isokinetic measures (q Read More