Effect of CYP2C19 genetic variants on bleeding and major adverse cardiovascular events in a cohort of Arab patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention and stent implantation.

INTRODUCTION: One-third of patients have clopidogrel resistance that may lead to major adverse cardiac events (MACEs). By contrast, it was found that some clopidogrel-treated patients have hyperresponsive platelets that are associated with higher bleeding risk. Several studies have shown that polymorphisms in the gene encoding the CYP2C19 contribute to the variability in response to clopidogrel. Data on genetic and nongenetic factors affecting clopidogrel response in the Arab population are scarce. In this prospective cohort study, we sought to assess the association between the increased function allele (CYP2C19*17) and bleeding events, and validate the effect of the CYP2C19 genetic variants and nongenetic factors on the incidence of MACEs. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from patients that were undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention and receiving clopidogrel at the Heart Hospital, a specialist tertiary hospital in Doha, Qatar. Patients were followed for 12 months. Genotyping was performed for CYP2C19*2, *3, and *17 using TaqMan assays. RESULTS: In 254 patients, the minor allele frequencies were 0.13, 0.004, and 0.21 for *2, *3, and *17, respectively. Over a 12-month follow-up period, there were 21 bleeding events (8.5 events/100 patient-year). CYP2C19*17 carriers were found to be associated with increased risk of bleeding (OR, 21.6; 95% CI, 4.8-96.8; P < 0.0001). CYP2C19*2 or *3 carriers were found to be associated with increased risk of baseline and incident MACE combined (OR, 8.4; 95% CI, 3.2-23.9; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: This study showed a significant association between CYP2C19*17 allele and the increased risk of bleeding, and CYP2C19*2 or *3 with MACE outcomes.

The Role of Systemic Filtrating Organs in Aging and Their Potential in Rejuvenation Strategies.

Advances in aging studies brought about by heterochronic parabiosis suggest that agingmight be a reversable process that is affected by changes in the systemic milieu of organs andcells. Given the broadness of such a systemic approach, research to date has mainly questioned theinvolvement of "shared organs" versus "circulating factors". However, in the absence of a clearunderstanding of the chronological development of aging and a unified platform to evaluate thesuccesses claimed by specific rejuvenation methods, current literature on this topic remains scattered.Herein, aging is assessed from an engineering standpoint to isolate possible aging potentiators via ajuxtaposition between biological and mechanical systems. Such a simplification provides a generalframework for future research in the field and examines the involvement of various factors in aging.Based on this simplified overview, the kidney as a filtration organ is clearly implicated, for the firsttime, with the aging phenomenon, necessitating a re-evaluation of current rejuvenation studies tountangle the extent of its involvement and its possible role as a potentiator in aging. Based on thesefindings, the review concludes with potential translatable and long-term therapeutics for aging whileoffering a critical view of rejuvenation methods proposed to date.

The effect of genetic and nongenetic factors on warfarin dose variability in Qatari population.

The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of VKORC1, CYP2C9, and CYP4F2 genetic variants and their contribution to warfarin dose variability in Qataris. One hundred and fifty warfarin-treated Qatari patients on a stable dose and with a therapeutic INR for at least three consecutive clinic visits were recruited. Saliva samples were collected using Oragene DNA self-collection kit, followed by DNA purification and genotyping via TaqMan Real-Time-PCR assay. The population was stratified into derivation and validation cohorts for the dosing model. The minor allele frequency (MAF) of VKORC1 (-1639G>A) was A (0.47), while the MAF's for the CYP2C9*2 and *3 and CYP4F2*3 were T (0.12), C (0.04) and T (0.43), respectively. Carriers of at least one CYP2C9 decreased function allele (*2 or *3) required lower median (IQR) warfarin doses compared to noncarriers [24.5 (14.5) mg/week vs. 35 (21) mg/week, p < 0.001]. Similarly, carriers of each additional copy of (A) variant in VKORC1 (-1639G>A) led to reduction in warfarin dose requirement compared to noncarriers [21(7.5) vs. 31.5(18.7) vs. 43.7(15), p < 0.0001]. CYP4F2*3 polymorphism on the other hand was not associated with warfarin dose. Multivariate analysis on the derivation cohort (n = 104) showed that a dosing model consisting of hypertension (HTN), heart failure (HF), VKORC1 (-1639G>A), CYP2C9*2 & *3, and smoking could explain 39.2% of warfarin dose variability in Qataris (P < 0.001). In the validation cohort (n = 45), correlation between predicted and actual warfarin doses was moderate (Spearman's rho correlation coefficient = 0.711, p < 0.001). This study concluded that VKORC1 (-1639G>A), CYP2C9*2 & *3 are the most significant predictors of warfarin dose along with HTN, HF and smoking.

Retinopathy of Type 1 Diabetes in Arab Countries: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

AIMS: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of retinopathy prevalence in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in 22 Arab countries. METHODS: We systematically searched 4 different literature databases (PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science and Embase), from the date of inception until December 2017, to collect all the information about patients with T1D who developed retinopathy complications; for statistical analysis, we used MetaXL to evaluate the pooled prevalence estimate and the subgroup prevalence estimates employing double arcsine transformation and inverse variance heterogeneity models. RESULTS: Our search strategy returned 475 studies, of which 39 met our inclusion criteria; of those, 16 were eligible for meta-analysis that were captured only in 15 Arab countries, through 45 years (1969-2014). The number of retinopathy patients was 396 out of 1,931 patients with T1D. The prevalence of retinopathy was 19% (95% CI 10-28%). Substantial heterogeneity was observed (Q 240.78, p < 0.0001, I2 93.77%, 95% CI 91.35-95.52%); however, no single study considerably affected the overall pooled prevalence estimate. CONCLUSION: Almost one fifth of T1D patients in 15 Arab countries have diabetic retinopathy, therefore it is important to improve the care of patients with T1D and in Arab countries to avoid the development of such a devastating complication.

Pigment epithelium-derived factor inhibits retinal microvascular dysfunction induced by 12/15-lipoxygenase-derived eicosanoids.

We recently demonstrated that 12/15-lipoxygenase (LOX) derived metabolites, hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs), contribute to diabetic retinopathy (DR) via NADPH oxidase (NOX) and disruption of the balance in retinal levels of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF). Here, we test whether PEDF ameliorates retinal vascular injury induced by HETEs and the underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, we pursue the causal relationship between LOX-NOX system and regulation of PEDF expression during DR. For these purposes, we used an experimental eye model in which normal mice were injected intravitreally with 12-HETE with/without PEDF. Thereafter, fluorescein angiography (FA) was used to evaluate the vascular leakage, followed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) to assess the presence of angiogenesis. FA and OCT reported an increased vascular leakage and pre-retinal neovascularization, respectively, in response to 12-HETE that were not observed in the PEDF-treated group. Moreover, PEDF significantly attenuated the increased levels of vascular cell and intercellular adhesion molecules, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, elicited by 12-HETE injection. Accordingly, the direct relationship between HETEs and PEDF has been explored through in-vitro studies using Müller cells (rMCs) and human retinal endothelial cells (HRECs). The results showed that 12- and 15-HETEs triggered the secretion of TNF-α and IL-6, as well as activation of NFκB in rMCs and significantly increased permeability and reduced zonula occludens protein-1 (ZO-1) immunoreactivity in HRECs. All these effects were prevented in PEDF-treated cells. Furthermore, interest in PEDF regulation during DR has been expanded to include NOX system. Retinal PEDF was significantly restored in diabetic mice treated with NOX inhibitor, apocynin, or lacking NOX2 up to 80% of the control level. Collectively, our findings suggest that interfering with LOX-NOX signaling opens up a new direction for treating DR by restoring endogenous PEDF that carries out multilevel vascular protective functions.

A lipidomic screen of hyperglycemia-treated HRECs links 12/15-Lipoxygenase to microvascular dysfunction during diabetic retinopathy via NADPH oxidase.

Retinal hyperpermeability and subsequent macular edema is a cardinal feature of early diabetic retinopathy (DR). Here, we investigated the role of bioactive lipid metabolites, in particular 12/15-lipoxygenase (LOX)-derived metabolites, in this process. LC/MS lipidomic screen of human retinal endothelial cells (HRECs) demonstrated that 15-HETE was the only significantly increased metabolite (2.4 ± 0.4-fold, P = 0.0004) by high glucose (30 mM) treatment. In the presence of arachidonic acid, additional eicosanoids generated by 12/15-LOX, including 12- and 11-HETEs, were significantly increased. Fluorescein angiography and retinal albumin leakage showed a significant decrease in retinal hyperpermeability in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice lacking 12/15-LOX compared with diabetic WT mice. Our previous studies demonstrated the potential role of NADPH oxidase in mediating the permeability effect of 12- and 15-HETEs, therefore we tested the impact of intraocular injection of 12-HETE in mice lacking the catalytic subunit of NADPH oxidase (NOX2). The permeability effect of 12-HETE was significantly reduced in NOX2(-/-) mice compared with the WT mice. In vitro experiments also showed that 15-HETE induced HREC migration and tube formation in a NOX-dependent manner. Taken together our data suggest that 12/15-LOX is implicated in DR via a NOX-dependent mechanism.

The cardiovascular implication of single nucleotide polymorphisms of chromosome 9p21 locus among Arab population.

BACKGROUND: Based on several reports including genome-wide association studies, genetic variability has been linked with higher (nearly half) susceptibility toward coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed to evaluate the association of chromosome 9p21 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): rs2383207, rs10757278, and rs10757274 with the risk and severity of CAD among Arab population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective observational case-control study was conducted between 2011 and 2012, in which 236 patients with CAD were recruited from the Heart Hospital in Qatar. Patients were categorized according to their coronary angiographic findings. Also, 152 healthy volunteers were studied to determine if SNPs are associated with risk of CAD. All subjects were genotyped for SNPs (rs2383207, rs2383206, rs10757274 and rs10757278) using allele-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Patients with CAD had a mean age of 57 ± 10; of them 77% were males, 54% diabetics, and 25% had family history of CAD. All SNPs were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium except rs2383206, with call rate >97%. After adjusting for age, sex and body mass index, the carriers of GG genotype for rs2383207 have increased the risk of having CAD with odds ratio (OR) of 1.52 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01-2.961, P = 0.046). Also, rs2383207 contributed to CAD severity with adjusted OR 1.80 (95% CI = 1.04-3.12, P = 0.035) based on the dominant genetic model. The other SNPs (rs10757274 and rs10757278) showed no significant association with the risk of CAD or its severity. CONCLUSION: Among Arab population in Qatar, only G allele of rs2483207 SNP is significantly associated with risk of CAD and its severity.

Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms with dyslipidemia and risk of metabolic disorders in the State of Qatar.

BACKGROUND: Dyslipidemia is recognized as one of the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to investigate the association between selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with dyslipidemia and increased susceptibility risks of CVD, NAFLD, and/or T2DM in dyslipidemia patients in comparison with healthy control individuals from the Qatar genome project. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 2933 adults (859 dyslipidemia patients and 2074 healthy control individuals) from April to December 2021 to investigate the association between 331 selected SNPs with dyslipidemia and increased susceptibility risks of CVD, NAFLD and/or T2DM, and covariates. RESULTS: The genotypic frequencies of six SNPs were found to be significantly different in dyslipidemia patients subjects compared to the control group among males and females. In males, three SNPs were found to be significant, the rs11172113 in over-dominant model, the rs646776 in recessive and over-dominant models, and the rs1111875 in dominant model. On the other hand, two SNPs were found to be significant in females, including rs2954029 in recessive model, and rs1801251 in dominant and recessive models. The rs17514846 SNP was found for dominant and over-dominant models among males and only the dominant model for females. We found that the six SNPs linked to gender type had an influence in relation to disease susceptibility. When controlling for the four covariates (gender, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes), the difference between dyslipidemia and the control group remained significant for the six variants. Finally, males were three times more likely to have dyslipidemia in comparison with females, hypertension was two times more likely to be present in the dyslipidemia group, and diabetes was six times more likely to be in the dyslipidemia group. CONCLUSION: The current investigation provides evidence of association for a common SNP to coronary heart disease and suggests a sex-dependent effect and encourage potential therapeutic applications.

iTRAQ-based quantitative protein expression profiling and MRM verification of markers in type 2 diabetes.

The pathogenesis of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is complex owing to molecular heterogeneity in the afflicted population. Current diagnostic methods rely on blood glucose measurements, which are noninformative with respect to progression of the disease to other associated pathologies. Thus, predicting the risk and development of T2DM-related complications, such as cardiovascular disease, remains a major challenge. We have used a combination of quantitative methods for characterization of circulating serum biomarkers of T2DM using a cohort of nondiabetic control subjects (n = 76) and patients diagnosed with T2DM (n = 106). In this case-control study, the samples were randomly divided as training and validation data sets. In the first step, iTRAQ (isobaric tagging for relative and absolute quantification) based protein expression profiling was performed for identification of proteins displaying a significant differential expression in the two study groups. Five of these protein markers were selected for validation using multiple reaction-monitoring mass spectrometry (MRM-MS) and further confirmed with Western blot and QPCR analysis. Functional pathway analysis identified perturbations in lipid and small molecule metabolism as well as pathways that lead to disruption of glucose homeostasis and blood coagulation. These putative biomarkers may be clinically useful for subset stratification of T2DM patients as well as for the development of novel therapeutics targeting the specific pathology.

Laboratory Test Utilization Practices in Hamad Medical Corporation; Role of Laboratory Supervisors and Clinicians in Improper Test Utilization; a Descriptive Pilot Study.

Background: The use of diagnostic laboratory tests is increasing worldwide. Improper test utilization (ITU) is a common problem for all healthcare systems as it costs substantial expenses for the health systems and impacts optimal patient care. Purpose: The present small-scale survey aims to highlight the current practice of ITU among the labs and physicians, and investigate the actions of diagnostic laboratories towards ITU, and identify the reasons affecting test ordering decisions among physicians. Methods: A cross sectional study based on two different surveys was developed and distributed from March 2017 to April 2017 to laboratory supervisors and physicians (clinicians) at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Qatar. Fourteen laboratory supervisors and eighty-nine physicians were surveyed about improper test utilization practices. The overall results are descriptive data. Results: The overall proportion of improperly utilized tests detected by the laboratory supervisors were 50.0%, 35.7%, and 14.3% for overused, misused, and underused lab tests, respectively. Among the physicians, 91% used the electronic ordering template to select the appropriate tests. Moreover, 78.7% of the physicians used the clinical guidelines, while 73% were not employing the laboratory handbook. Furthermore, 95.5%% of the physicians preferred to get feedback about inappropriate tests, while 51.1% were not receiving any, and 40.9% were rarely receiving. Finally, 67.4% were unaware of the tests' costs among surveyed physicians, and 63.6% showed a willingness to reduce their orders if the cost was high and unnecessary. Conclusion: The physician's and the laboratories' communication were inadequate and not systematized, causing ITU practices. The improvement strategy should focus on the communication between clinical labs and physicians and enhance physician implementation to order appropriate lab tests. This could be achieved by conducting legitimate educational methodologies, continuous feedback reviews, ongoing audits, executing health information technology instruments, engaging laboratory practice guidelines, and applying demand management and testing algorithms.

Docosahexaenoic Acid Counteracts the Hypoxic-Induced Inflammatory and Metabolic Alterations in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes.

BACKGROUND: Hypoxia is caused by the excessive expansion of the white adipose tissue (AT) and is associated with obesity-related conditions such as insulin resistance, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid reported to have beneficial health effects. However, the effects of DHA in AT against hypoxia-induced immune-metabolic perturbations in adipocytes exposed to low O2 tension are not well known. Consequently, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of DHA on markers of inflammation, metabolism, apoptosis, and oxidative stress in 3T3-L1 cell adipocytes exposed to low O2 tension (1% O2) induced hypoxia. METHODS: The apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) rates were evaluated. Metabolic parameters such as lactate, FFA, glycerol release, glucose uptake, and ATP content were assessed by a fluorometer. The expression of HIF-1, GLUT1 and the secretion of adipocytokines such as leptin, adiponectin, and pro-inflammatory markers was evaluated. RESULTS: DHA-treated hypoxic cells showed significantly decreased basal free fatty acid release, lactate production, and enhanced glucose consumption. In addition, DHA-treatment of hypoxic cells caused a significant reduction in the apoptosis rate and ROS production with decreased lipid peroxidation. Moreover, DHA-treatment of hypoxic cells caused a decreased secretion of pro-inflammatory markers (IL-6, MCP-1) and leptin and increased adiponectin secretion compared with hypoxic cells. Furthermore, DHA-treatment of hypoxic cells caused significant reductions in the expression of genes related to hypoxia (HIF-1, HIF-2), anaerobic metabolism (GLUT1 and Ldha), ATP production (ANT2), and fat metabolism (FASN and PPARY). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that DHA can exert potential anti-obesity effects by reducing the secretion of inflammatory adipokines, oxidative stress, lipolysis, and apoptosis.

Adiponectin Ameliorates Hyperglycemia-Induced Retinal Endothelial Dysfunction, Highlighting Pathways, Regulators, and Networks.

Background: The pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy (DR) is multifaced. A low level of circulating adiponectin (APN) in type 2 diabetes is associated with microvasculature complications, and its role in the evolution of DR is complex. Aim: This study is designed to explore the potential impact of APN in the pathogenesis of DR, linking the changes in cellular and biological processes with the pathways, networks, and regulators involved in its actions. Methods: Human microvascular retinal endothelial cells (HMRECs) were exposed to 30mM glucose (HG) and treated with globular adiponectin (30µg/mL) for 24 hours. The cells were evaluated for reactive oxidative stress (ROS) and apoptosis. RT-PCR profile arrays were utilized to evaluate the profile of genes involved in endothelial functions, angiogenesis, extracellular matrix, and adhesion molecules for hyperglycemic HMRECs treated with adiponectin. In addition, the barrier function, leukocyte migration, and angiogenesis were evaluated. The differential expressed genes (DEGs) were outlined, and bioinformatic analysis was applied. Results: Adiponectin suppresses ROS production and apoptosis in HMRECs under HG conditions. Adiponectin improved migration and barrier functions in hyperglycemic cells. The bioinformatic analysis highlighted that the signaling pathways of integrin, HMGB1, and p38 AMPK, are mainly involved in the actions of APN on HMRECs. APN significantly affects molecular functions, including the adhesion of cells, chemotaxis, migration of WBCs, and angiogenesis. STAT3, NFKB, IKBKB, and mir-8 are the top upstream regulators, which affect the expressions of the genes of the data set, while TNF and TGFB1 are the top regulators. Conclusion: Adiponectin significantly counteracts hyperglycemia at various cellular and molecular levels, reducing its impact on the pathophysiological progression towards DR in vitro using HMRECs. Adiponectin ameliorates inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and endothelial barrier dysfunction using a causal network of NFBk complex, TNF, and HMGB1 and integrin pathways.

Sulforaphane reduces obesity by reversing leptin resistance.

The ascending prevalence of obesity in recent decades is commonly associated with soaring morbidity and mortality rates, resulting in increased health-care costs and decreased quality of life. A systemic state of stress characterized by low-grade inflammation and pathological formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) usually manifests in obesity. The transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (NRF2) is the master regulator of the redox homeostasis and plays a critical role in the resolution of inflammation. Here, we show that the natural isothiocyanate and potent NRF2 activator sulforaphane reverses diet-induced obesity through a predominantly, but not exclusively, NRF2-dependent mechanism that requires a functional leptin receptor signaling and hyperleptinemia. Sulforaphane does not reduce the body weight or food intake of lean mice but induces an anorectic response when coadministered with exogenous leptin. Leptin-deficient Lepob/ob mice and leptin receptor mutant Leprdb/db mice display resistance to the weight-reducing effect of sulforaphane, supporting the conclusion that the antiobesity effect of sulforaphane requires functional leptin receptor signaling. Furthermore, our results suggest the skeletal muscle as the most notable site of action of sulforaphane whose peripheral NRF2 action signals to alleviate leptin resistance. Transcriptional profiling of six major metabolically relevant tissues highlights that sulforaphane suppresses fatty acid synthesis while promoting ribosome biogenesis, reducing ROS accumulation, and resolving inflammation, therefore representing a unique transcriptional program that leads to protection from obesity. Our findings argue for clinical evaluation of sulforaphane for weight loss and obesity-associated metabolic disorders.

Effect of sera from elite athletes on cytokine secretion and insulin signaling in preadipocytes and skeletal muscle cells.

Introduction: The immunomodulatory effect of physical activity can impact insulin signaling differentially in adipose tissues and skeletal muscle cells, depending on sport intensity. In this study, the effect of serum from elite athletes with varying endurance levels and playing different power sports on cytokine secretion and insulin signaling in preadipocyte and skeletal muscle cell lines was investigated. Methods: Preadipocytes (3T3-L1) and skeletal muscle cells (C2C12) were cultured in media containing pooled sera from elite athletes who play high-endurance (HE), high-power (HP), or low-endurance/low-power (LE/LP) sports for 72 h. Secreted cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-alpha) were assessed in the supernatant, and insulin signaling phosphoproteins levels were measured in lysates following treatment using cells multiplex immunoassays. Results: Sera from LE/LP and HP induced TNF-α secretion in C2C12, while serum from HE reduced IL-6 secretion compared to non-athlete serum control. All elite athlete sera groups caused decreased insulin sensitivity in 3T3-L1 cells, whereas in C2C12 cells, only HE athlete serum reduced insulin signaling, while LE/LP and HP caused increased insulin sensitivity. Conclusion: Sera from elite athletes of different sport disciplines can affect the inflammatory status and insulin signaling of preadipocytes and myoblasts differently, with risk of developing insulin resistance. Furthermore, investigation of the functional relevance of these effects on exercise physiology and pathophysiology is warranted.

Risk Management Assessments and Recommendations Among Students, Staffs, and Health Care Workers in Educational Biomedical Laboratories.

BACKGROUND: Safety in laboratories is one of the most crucial topics for all educational institutes. All-hazards need to be identified, evaluated, and controlled whenever possible, following the risk management (RM) process. This study evaluates two academic laboratories' risks and safety in the Department of Biomedical Science (BMS) at Qatar University (QU). The goal is to eliminate or reduce any risks to the students, teaching assistants, laboratory technicians, faculties, and other related workers, following an RM process. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed from January to March 2020 in the BMS at QU. The study sample comprised of microbiology and hematology laboratories. Checklists and data collection sheets were used for data collection. Hazard evaluation failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) was used. The risk priority number (RPN) was calculated for all the identified hazards. For hazard control, the hierarchy of controls was followed. RESULTS: The number of identified hazards was thirteen (n=13) in the hematology laboratory and sixteen (n=16) in the microbiology laboratory. Chemical and ergonomic hazards had the highest percentages in both laboratories, with 25% in the microbiology laboratory and 31% in the hematology laboratory. Both laboratories were free from radiation hazards. There is a significant difference between adopted and recommended control measures in each laboratory in terms of likelihood, severity, and risk priority number (RPN). CONCLUSION: Both chemical and ergonomic hazards account for almost a quarter of the hazards in both laboratories. The recommended control measure can decrease the severity and likelihood of identified hazards.

The Immunophenotyping Changes of Peripheral CD4+ T Lymphocytes and Inflammatory Markers of Class III Obesity Subjects After Laparoscopic Gastric Sleeve Surgery - A Follow-Up Study.

PURPOSE: Obesity is a chronic disorder characterized by a low-grade inflammatory state and immune cell irregularities. The study aimed to follow up on the changes in the peripheral CD4+ T lymphocytes and the pro-inflammatory cytokines; IL-6, TNF-alpha, MCP-1, and IL-10 at baseline and 12 weeks post-surgical intervention by the laparoscopic gastric sleeve (LGS) in morbidly obese patients (class III obesity subjects). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective longitudinal research included 24 class III obesity subjects with a BMI > 40 kg/m2. The subjects were enrolled from the Metabolic/Surgical Department at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC)-Qatar. Fasting blood samples were collected at admission to LGS for weight loss and after 12 weeks of LGS. The immunophenotype of CD4+ T-cell populations; naïve (CD45RA+and CD27+), central memory T cells (CD45RO+ and CD27+), and effector memory (CD45RO+and CD27-) and T-regulatory cell (CD4+CD25+ FoxP3+) were identified using flow cytometry. Plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines and adipokines were evaluated. A control group of lean subjects was used to compare changes of T-regulatory and inflammatory biomarkers with postoperative changes in obese patients. RESULTS: The means (SD) of age and BMI of class III obesity subjects was 32.32 (8.36) years and 49.02 (6.28) kg/m2, respectively. LGS caused a significant reduction in BMI by 32%, p<0.0001. LGS intervention significantly decreased CD4+ T-lymphocytes and effector memory (TEM) cells but increased T-regulatory (Treg), naïve, and central memory (TCM) cells, with all p values < 0.05. The increase of Treg cells postoperative is significantly lower compared to lean subjects, p < 0.05. A significant reduction of plasma IL-6, TNF-α, and MCP-1, but IL-10 significantly increased after LGS, with all p<0.05. Adiponectin/leptin ratio improved after LGS by 2.9 folds, p<0.0001. CONCLUSION: Weight loss by LGS accomplished a substantial rise of Treg and decreased EM T-lymphocytes with a shift from pro-inflammatory to the anti-inflammatory pattern.

Prevalence and Predictors of Insulin Resistance in Non-Obese Healthy Young Females in Qatar.

The state of Qatar suffers from diabetes epidemic due to obesity-associated metabolic syndrome. However, the prevalence of insulin resistance prior to obesity, which could play an important role in the high prevalence of diabetes, has not yet been described. This study aims to compare the prevalence of insulin resistance in apparently healthy non-obese and obese participants from Qatar and identify the predictors of insulin resistance in different body mass index (BMI)-groups. In this cross-sectional study, 150 young healthy females from Qatar were dichotomized into four groups (underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese) based on their BMI. Anthropometric measures as well as fasting plasma levels of lipids, adipokines, blood glucose and insulin were recorded. The prevalence of insulin resistance as per homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was estimated and differences between insulin sensitive and insulin resistant were compared. Linear models were used to identify predictors of insulin resistance in every BMI group. Prevalence of insulin resistance in non-obese healthy females from Qatar ranges between 7% and 37% and increases with BMI. Overall, predictors of insulin resistance in the Qatari population are triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio and free fat mass but vary according to the BMI group. The main predictors were triglycerides in normal weight, triglycerides/HDL in overweight and triglycerides/HDL and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in obese individuals. The high prevalence of insulin resistance in non-obese Qataris may partially explain diabetes epidemic. Larger studies are warranted to confirm these findings and identify underlying causes for insulin resistance in non-obese individuals in Qatar, aiming at targeted intervention before diabetes onset.

Integrated Datasets of Proteomic and Metabolomic Biomarkers to Predict Its Impacts on Comorbidities of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the current study is to accomplish a relative exploration of the biological roles of differentially dysregulated genes (DRGs) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The study aimed to determine the impact of these DRGs on the biological pathways and networks that are related to the associated disorders and complications in T2DM and to predict its role as prospective biomarkers. METHODS: Datasets obtained from metabolomic and proteomic profiling were used for investigation of the differential expression of the genes. A subset of DRGs was integrated into IPA software to explore its biological pathways, related diseases, and their regulation in T2DM. Upon entry into the IPA, only 94 of the DRGs were recognizable, mapped, and matched within the database. RESULTS: The study identified networks that explore the dysregulation of several functions; cell components such as degranulation of cells; molecular transport process and metabolism of cellular proteins; and inflammatory responses. Top disorders associated with DRGs in T2DM are related to organ injuries such as renal damage, connective tissue disorders, and acute inflammatory disorders. Upstream regulator analysis predicted the role of several transcription factors of interest, such as STAT3 and HIF alpha, as well as many kinases such as JAK kinases, which affects the gene expression of the dataset in T2DM. Interleukin 6 (IL6) is the top regulator of the DRGs, followed by leptin (LEP). Monitoring the dysregulation of the coupled expression of the following biomarkers (TNF, IL6, LEP, AGT, APOE, F2, SPP1, and INS) highlights that they could be used as potential prognostic biomarkers. CONCLUSION: The integration of data obtained by advanced metabolomic and proteomic technologies has made it probable to advantage in understanding the role of these biomarkers in the identification of significant biological processes, pathways, and regulators that are associated with T2DM and its comorbidities.

TLR4 Receptor D299G/T399I Haplotype Polymorphism Is Associated with Insulin Resistance in Obese Female Subjects.

BACKGROUND: Activation of Toll-like-receptor 4 (TLR4) causes chronic inflammation that can result in obesity and metabolic syndrome (MeS). AIM: This study aimed to investigate the role of TLR4 polymorphisms of TLR4D299G/T399I, and its impact on protein expression of TLR4 in obese female subjects. METHODOLOGY: A prospective cross-sectional association study was performed on Arab female subjects from Qatar University. The subjects were categorized according to BMI classifications into two groups: "obese; n = 69" and "non-obese; n = 136". Anthropometric measurements, weight (kg), height (m) and waist circumference (WC) were evaluated, and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Fasting blood samples were collected, and assessment of glucose, lipid profile, C-reactive protein (CRP), leptin, IL-6 and insulin was performed. Insulin resistance was computed using HOMA-IR. Genotyping of the TLR4 polymorphisms of TLR4D299G (rs4986790) and TLR4T399I (rs4986791) was performed by the 5' nuclease assay by TaqMan MGB probe. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the monocyte cell surface expression of TLR4. RESULTS: The frequency distribution of the genotype revealed that homozygous AA is the most frequent among obese subjects (86.4%) for (TLR4D299G, A > G) and the homozygous CC genotype is the most frequent (92.4%) for (TLR4T399I, C > T). Haplotype analysis of TLR4 D299G/T399I showed that GT carriers had a significant association with increased probability of insulin resistance (odds ratio = 4.73; 95% CI 1.19-18.90; p-value = 0.016). The monocyte cell surface of TLR4 was significantly higher by 1.3 folds in obese compared to non-obese subjects. CONCLUSIONS: TLR4 D299G/T399I haplotype polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of insulin resistance with the upregulation of TLR4 protein expression in obese subjects.

Postprandial Insulin and Triglyceride Concentrations Are Suppressed in Response to Breaking Up Prolonged Sitting in Qatari Females.

Background: Cultural, environmental and logistical factors challenge the Qatari population, particularly females, to engage in physical activity, and there is a high prevalence of diabetes in this population. Sedentary behavior is associated with increased cardiometabolic disease risk and early mortality and breaking up sitting can attenuate postprandial cardiometabolic risk markers. However, no studies have evaluated the cardiometabolic response to breaking up sitting in a Qatari population. Purpose: To examine the effects of breaking up sitting with moderate-intensity walking breaks on cardiometabolic disease markers in Qatari females. Methods: Eleven sedentary (sitting ≥ 7 h/day) females completed two experimental conditions in a cross-over randomized design. The two conditions were identical, except participants either remained seated for 5-h (SIT), or interrupted their sitting every 30-min with a 3-min walk (WALK) on a motorized treadmill (rating of perceived exertion 12-14). A fasting venous blood sample was obtained at baseline (-10-min) followed by samples at 0.5-, 1-, 2-, 3-, 3.5-, 4-, and 5-h. Postprandial cardiometabolic variables (insulin, glucose, triglycerides) were calculated as derivatives of total area under the curve [AUC; total (tAUC), net incremental (iAUC) and positive AUC]. Results: Data is reported as effect size; ±90% confidence limit. There was a most likely "moderate" lower tAUC (-0.92 ± 0.26), iAUC (-0.96 ± 0.33), and positive AUC (-0.96 ± 0.33) for insulin in WALK compared to SIT. Additionally, there was a most likely "moderate" lower tAUC (-0.63 ± 0.37), iAUC (-0.91 ± 0.49), and positive AUC (-0.91 ± 0.49) for triglycerides in WALK compared to SIT. Glucose did not differ between conditions. Conclusion: Breaking up prolonged sitting with moderate-intensity walking offers a culturally compatible intervention to acutely improve cardiometabolic risk markers in sedentary Qatari females. Whilst the data offers promise, the long-term chronic effects of breaking up sitting in Qatari adults requires investigation before population level and/or policy recommendations can be made.