Search

Ammar Abdulrahman Jairoun,1,2 Sabaa Saleh Al-Hemyari,2,3 Moyad Shahwan,4,5 Hidayah Karuniawati,6,7 Samer H Zyoud,4,8– 10 Eman Abu-Gharbieh,11 Sa’ed H Zyoud,12,13 Mena Al-Ani,14 Mustafa Habeb,15 Maimona Jairoun5 1Health and Safety Department, Dubai Municipality, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; 2Discipline of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Pulau Pinang, 11800, Malaysia; 3Pharmacy Department, Emirates Health Services, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; 4Centre of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, 346, United Arab Emirates; 5Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman, 346, United Arab Emirates; 6Discipline of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Pulau Pinang, 11800, Malaysia; 7Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Surakarta, 57102, Indonesia; 8Department of Mathematics and Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates; 9Nonlinear Dynamics Research Center (NDRC), Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates; 10School of Physics, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang, 11800, Malaysia; 11Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, 27272, United Arab Emirates; 12Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine; 13Clinical Research Centre, An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, 44839, Palestine; 14Developmental Biology & Cancer Department, University College London, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK; 15Edgware Community Hospital Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust, London, UKCorrespondence: Ammar Abdulrahman Jairoun; Moyad Shahwan, Tel +971558099957; 9716 705 6249, Email Dr_ammar_91_@hotmail.com; moyad76@hotmail.comBackground: Several studies indicate a correlation between consanguinity and genetic disorders, congenital malformations, harm to reproductive health, and increased child mortality.Objective: To assess students’ knowledge and attitudes about risks and prevention of consanguineous marriage.Methods: Demographic details of the participants and data on knowledge and attitudes concerning the risks and prevention of consanguineous marriage were obtained using an online self-administered questionnaire. The factors associated with good knowledge and attitude toward consanguineous marriage were investigated by logistic regression analysis.Results: A total of 667 participants enrolled in the study. The average knowledge score about consanguineous marriage risk and prevention was 78.6% with a 95% confidence interval (CI) [77.3, 79.8], and the average attitude was 79.7% with a 95% confidence interval (CI) [79, 80.6]. A better knowledge score was observed in older participants (OR 1.01; 95% CI 1.004– 1.024), females (OR 1.69; 95% CI 1.48– 1.94), participants with parental history of consanguinity (OR 1.33; 95% CI 1.17– 1.52), participants with family history of consanguineous marriage (OR 5.18; 95% CI 2.19– 7.10), and participants with family history of inherited disease (OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.25– 1.86).Conclusion: In general, the overall level of knowledge and attitudes toward consanguineous marriage risk and prevention was good among university students. To efficiently control and manage the adverse health impacts associated with consanguineous marriage, there is an urgent need to develop and implement evidence-based counseling and screening programs for consanguineous marriage that would significantly reduce the number of at-risk marriages.Keywords: consanguineous marriage, knowledge, attitude, perception, consanguineous marriage risk, prevention, university students

Sarah Dhaiban, Mena Al-Ani, Noha Mousaad Elemam, Azzam A Maghazachi College of Medicine and Immuno-Oncology Group, Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab EmiratesCorrespondence: Azzam A MaghazachiDepartment of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab EmiratesEmail amagazachi@sharjah.ac.aeAbstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated and neurodegenerative disorder that results in inflammation and demyelination of the central nervous system (CNS). MS symptoms include walking difficulties, visual weakening, as well as learning and memory impairment, thus affecting the quality of the patient’s life. Chemokines and chemokine receptors are expressed on the immune cells as well as the CNS resident cells. Several sets of chemokine receptors and their ligands tend to be pathogenic players in MS, including CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, CCL5, CCL7, CCL8, CCL11, CCL17, CCL19, CCL21, CCL22, CXCL1, CXCL8, CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, and CXCL16. Furthermore, current modulatory drugs that are used in the treatment of MS and its animal model, the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), affect the expression of several chemokine and chemokine receptors. In this review, we highlight the pathogenic roles of chemokines and their receptors as well as utilizing them as potential therapeutic targets through selective agents, such as specific antibodies and receptor blockers, or indirectly through MS or EAE immunomodulatory drugs.Keywords: multiple sclerosis, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, chemokines, chemokine receptors

Mena Al-Ani1 *,* Noha Mousaad Elemam1 *,* Jennifer Elisabeth Hundt,2 Azzam A Maghazachi1 1Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine and the Immuno-Oncology Group, Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates; 2Lübeck Institute for Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Azzam A MaghazachiDepartment of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine and Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab EmiratesEmail amagazachi@sharjah.ac.aeAbstract: COVID-19 infection caused by the newly discovered coronavirus severe acute respiratory distress syndrome virus-19 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a pandemic issue across the globe. There are currently many investigations taking place to look for specific, safe and potent anti-viral agents. Upon transmission and entry into the human body, SARS-CoV-2 triggers multiple immune players to be involved in the fight against the viral infection. Amongst these immune cells are NK cells that possess robust antiviral activity, and which do not require prior sensitization. However, NK cell count and activity were found to be impaired in COVID-19 patients and hence, could become a potential therapeutic target for COVID-19. Several drugs, including glatiramer acetate (GA), vitamin D3, dimethyl fumarate (DMF), monomethyl fumarate (MMF), natalizumab, ocrelizumab, and IFN-β, among others have been previously described to increase the biological activities of NK cells especially their cytolytic potential as reported by upregulation of CD107a, and the release of perforin and granzymes. In this review, we propose that such drugs could potentially restore NK cell activity allowing individuals to be more protective against COVID-19 infection and its complications.Keywords: NK cells, multiple sclerosis, COVID-19

Allium L. is one of the main genera of the Alliaceae family with more than 600 species, including many Economic, important food and flavoring species. presently DNA barcoding new method which has been used for the molecular phylogenetic analyses studies of the genus Allium. In total 14 Allium species were collected from different regions of Iraq and Genomic DNA was isolated from plant leave tissue according to the protocol of ABIO pure Extraction. genetic relationship were analyzed and genetic distances was Measured. genious software was used to obtain a cluster analysis to draw The phylogenetic tree between Allium species. the longest genetic distance is 0.114 between A.sativum and A. stamineum while the shortest genetic distance 0.006 between A. viride and A. rotundum, A. viride and A. ampeloprasum, A. ampeloprasum and A. ampeloprasum var. porrum. It appears from the genetic relationships between the species the existence of three main groups I, II and III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study carried out to examine the chemical compounds of Cultivated species (Allium cepa L., Allium porrum L. and Allium sativum L.) and 10 species of every Section in genus Allium. Each different species of Allium bulb were extracted with petroleum ether and determined by GC-MS. the cultivated species their uses in food as well as in herbal medicine. the major volatile organic compounds were Octadecadien-1-ol in Allium cepa, Oleic acid in Allium porrum, 2-MethylZ, Z-3, 13-in Allium sativum. Propanoic acid was found in Allium schoenoprasum and Z-10-Pentadecen-1-10 observes in Allium sindjarense, Allium viride, Allium myiaranthum, Allium laceratum and Allium jesdianum. Eicosanoic acid was observed in Allium cepa, Allium sativum, Allium scabriscapum and Allium akaka. Oleic acid were detected in both Allium porrum and Allium sativum. Propane sulfony laceto nitrile were found in Allium cepa, A. sindjarense and A. jesdianum these differences in types of volatile compounds may be because to the variations in hereditary factors, geographical and environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]