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The aim of this study was to measure advanced glycation end products (AGEs) among participants maintained on antipsychotics using the AGE Reader and to compare them with controls from the general population. Participants maintained on antipsychotics for at least 6 months were recruited from the Psychiatry Department at Rumailah Hospital, Doha, Qatar. Healthy controls were recruited from the primary healthcare centers in Doha, Qatar. AGEs of a total of 86 participants (48 patients and 38 controls) were recorded. Among the group maintained on antipsychotics, women, smokers, and Arabs had significantly higher AGEs levels compared with men, nonsmokers, and non-Arabs, respectively (P

Background Metabolic abnormalities are common in patients maintained on antipsychotics. These abnormalities increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and mortality in this population. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in subjects maintained on antipsychotics relative to controls in Qatar, and to assess the factors contributing to the development of MetS. Methods A cross sectional design was used to collect data and fasting blood samples from subjects maintained on antipsychotics for at least six months (n = 112) and from a control group (n = 114). The groups were compared in regard to prevalence of MetS, and multiple regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors in each group. Results The two groups (antipsychotics vs. control) were similar in regard to age (35.73 ± 10.28 vs. 35.73 ± 8.16 years) and gender ratio. The MetS was higher among the subjects on antipsychotics, but this difference did not reach statistical significance. Blood pressure (BP) was significantly higher in the antipsychotics group and BMI was the major risk factor to develop MetS in this group. Conclusions The prevalence of MetS in both groups is high and mostly attributed to obesity and high BP. Public health interventions are needed to address this major health problem overall. Larger studies are needed to further assess the impact of antipsychotics and mental illness on the development of MetS.

Background Patients with schizophrenia commonly show both depressive and negative symptoms that can differentially affect the prognosis and course of treatment. The Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) was designed to distinguish between depression and negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. The purpose of this study is to validate an Arabic version of the CDSS among patients with schizophrenia. Methods The diagnosis of schizophrenia was confirmed using the Arabic Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview 6 (MINI 6). A standardized translation back-translation process was adopted. One rater administered the Arabic CDSS to subjects with schizophrenia as well as to a control group who should not have any psychiatric disorder except for depression. Another rater, blinded to the results administered the already validated Arabic version of Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Results We recruited 102 patients and 102 controls subjects. The CDSS showed good internal consistency in the active group (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.82). The Intraclass Coefficient correlations (ICC) for the inter-rater reliability (n = 21) was 0.90, p

Background: The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) is widely used for patients with schizophrenia. This scale is reliable and valid. The PANSS was translated and validated in several languages. Objective: The aim of this study was to translate and validate the PANSS in the Arab population. Subjects and Methods: The PANSS was translated into formal Arabic language using the back-translation method. 101 Arab patients with schizophrenia and 98 Arabs with no diagnosis of any mental disorder were recruited. The Arabic version of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI-6) was used as a diagnostic tool to confirm the diagnosis of schizophrenia or rule out any diagnosis for the healthy control group. Reliability of the scale was assessed by calculating internal consistency, interrater reliability and test-retest reliability. Construct validity was assessed using the Arabic version of the MINI-6. PANSS total scores were correlated with the Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale. Results: Our findings showed that the internal consistency was good (0.92). Scores on the PANSS of the patients were much higher than those of the healthy controls. The PANSS showed good interrater reliability and test-retest reliability (0.92 and 0.75, respectively). In comparison with the MINI-6, the PANSS showed good sensitivity and specificity, which implies good construct validity of this version. Conclusion: In conclusion, the Arabic version of the PANSS is a reliable and valid instrument for the assessment of patients with schizophrenia in the Arab population.

BackgroundObesity is strongly associated with several non-communicable conditions including diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and hypercholesterolemia.1 The global frequency of obesity and the metabolic syndrome has increased over the most recent decades and has been linked to an increase in the global burden of disease2. According to the 2012 STEPS survey, 70% of the adult Qatari population is overweight whereas 41% are obese3. Obesity and diseases linked to obesity have reached especially high levels in Qatar4.AimThe aim of our study was to establish a comprehensive database with a focus on obesity to capture epidemiologic features of a sample of the Qatari population. This database would be used to determine the prevalence of obesity and features of the metabolic syndrome in the Qatari population and to detect risk factors associated with obesity in this population.MethodologyTrained research coordinators conducted an interview based survey across a cross sectional population of adult Qataris mainly from the Primary Health Care Centers. Additionally, some subjects were recruited from the Blood Donation Center at Hamad General Hospital. The survey consisted of questions on demographics, nutrition, smoking, hospitalization and risk factors for metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, anthropometric measurements for each participant including weight, height, and waist circumference were recorded as well as the systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The final data set consisted of 1072 individuals. Overweight or obese individuals (n = 746) comprised 70% of the entire sample. Individuals with normal BMI comprised 30% of the sample population (n = 326). The individuals with normal BMI served as the control group. Statistical analysis using SAS software version 9.2 (Cary, NC) was performed on data. Before performing the analysis validity checks were performed for all the variables and any obvious data inconsistencies were clarified by consulting with the original data forms. stratified patients according to Body Mass Index (BMI) status based on WHO criteria.5 For determination of hypertension based on blood pressure measurements we adopted guidelines published in 2007.6 To study the characteristics of the participants we prepared contingency tables based on frequency and relative percentages. For continuous variables, we used mean, standard deviation, median, minimum and maximum values. Differences in the frequency of characteristics of obese (cases) and non-obese (controls) were compared with Fisher's exact test for categorical variables and with the Mantel-Haenszel test for trend for ordinal variables. For continuous variables, mean differences were compared using the two-sample Student's T-test. Association between characteristics identified in the contingency tables and obesity status was further studied with univariate and multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, and education. The Joint Institutional Review Board of Hamad Medical Corporation and Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar, approved the protocol for data collection.ResultsWe will discuss the epidemiologic risk factors associated with obesity in Qataris. Descriptive variables of BMI, interview site, age, gender, marital status, level of education and marriage to first cousin will be presented. Additionally, risk estimates for main factors (e.g. elevated blood pressure, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, family history of diabetes, heart disease or blood pressure) significantly associated with the metabolic syndrome stratified by obesity status in overweight/obese subjects with normal weight individuals, as the comparison group will also be presented. Results of multivariate analysis of main factors significantly associated with the metabolic syndrome in study sample participants and first degree relatives for both genders will be explored.Furthermore, data on self-reported prevalence rates for hospitalization for any cause in overweight/obese persons compared to persons of normal weight will be shared.ImplicationsOur study findings have implications for preventive strategies, which may effect the national population. Additionally, the study results can be disseminated among health care professionals so they can have a better understanding about the causes, risk factors and prevention of obesity-related chronic disease in the Qatari population. Our study findings can be beneficial to patients who can take an overall active role in managing their health and also to physicians by providing the highest quality of care to the patients.This work has been supported by Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar's Biomedical Research Program funded by Qatar Foundation, and by a grant from the Qatar National Research Fund (NPRP 4-294-3-092).References(1) Patel AV, Hildebrand JS, Gapstur SM. Body mass index and all-cause mortality in a large prospective cohort of white and black U.S. Adults. PLoS One 2014; 9(10):e109153.(2) Lim SS, Vos T, Flaxman AD, Danaei G, Shibuya K, Adair-Rohani H, et al. A comparative risk assessment of burden of disease and injury attributable to 67 risk factors and risk factor clusters in 21 regions, 1990-2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet 2012 Dec 15; 380(9859):2224–60.(3) http://www.who.int/chp/steps/Qatar_FactSheet_2012.pdf. Accessed Oct 23, 2015.(4) Alhyas L, McKay A, Balasanthiran A, Majeed A. Prevalences of overweight, obesity, hyperglycaemia, hypertension and dyslipidaemia in the Gulf: systematic review. JRSM Short Rep 2011 Jul; 2(7):55.(5) https://www. who int/bmi/index jsp?introPage = intro_3 html Accessed Nov 12, 2015.(6) Mancia G, De BG, Dominiczak A, Cifkova R, Fagard R, Germano G, et al. 2007 ESH-ESC Practice Guidelines for the Management of Arterial Hypertension: ESH-ESC Task Force on the Management of Arterial Hypertension. J Hypertens 2007 Sep; 25(9):1751–62.

Background Patients with schizophrenia are known to have higher rates of mortality and morbidity when compared to the general population. Suicidality is a major contributor to increased mortality. The International Suicide Prevention Trial (InterSePT) Scale for Suicidal Thinking (ISST) is a validated tool to assess current suicidal ideation in patients with schizophrenia. The aims of the study were to culturally adapt the Arabic translation of ISST and to examine the psychometric characteristics of the Arabic version of the ISST among patients with schizophrenia in Qatar. Methods ISST was translated and adapted into formal Arabic using the back translation method. Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia were randomly recruited from the department of Psychiatry, Rumailah Hospital, Doha, Qatar. Healthy controls were randomly recruited from two primary health care centers in Doha, Qatar. The Arabic version of Module B for suicidality in Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview was used as the gold standard to which the Arabic ISST was compared. Results The study sample (n = 199) was composed of 100 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (age 35.30 ± 10.04 years; M/F is 2/1) and 99 controls (age 33.98 ± 8.33 years; M/F is 2/3). The mean score on the ISST was 3.03 ± 4.75 vs. 0.47 ± 1.44 for the schizophrenia and control groups, respectively. Inter-rater reliability coefficient was 0.95, p > 0.001. The overall Cronbach’s alpha was 0.92. Principal Component Analysis produced 3 factors explaining a total of 73.8% of variance. Conclusions This is the first study in the Arab countries to validate the Arabic version of the ISST. The psychometric properties indicate that the Arabic ISST is a valid tool to assess the severity of suicidal ideation in Arabic patients with schizophrenia.

Objectives In Qataris, a population characterized by a small size and a high rate of consanguinity, between two-thirds to three-quarters of adults are overweight or obese. We investigated the relevance of 23 obesity-related loci in the Qatari population. Methods Eight-hundred-four individuals assessed to be third generation Qataris were included in the study and assigned to 3 groups according to their body mass index (BMI): 190 lean (BMI