Distress symptoms during the COVID-19 lockdown: A study with the general population of the United Arab Emirates.

Background: Since the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government has taken a series of preventive measures to control the spread of the Coronavirus. Dealing with the unforeseen challenges caused by the pandemic has had a profound impact on people all around the world. Pharmacists played an important public health role during the COVID-19 pandemic, and they were the first point of contact with the public and the first source of information, providing accurate and reliable management and preventive measures. The aim of this study was to analyse the distress symptoms and the associated factors among a sample of the UAE population. Materials and Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study conducted over the period of September to October 2020. A bilingual online self-administered questionnaire was distributed among individuals aged 15 years and above. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results: Most of the students in the sample found online learning less effective than in-class learning. Among these, 49.9% and 62.8 % reported that they had normal sleep and eating habits, respectively. In all the sample, most of the participants (96%) were adherent to preventive measures. Higher levels of distress during the COVID-19 lockdown were found among females, individuals younger than 35 years old, those who neglected personal hygiene and who had worse quality of family gatherings and relationships. Conclusion: This study identified factors associated with distress symptoms experienced by people during the lockdown and perceived attitudes regarding online learning, preventive measures and changes in people's behaviours and family environment. Knowledge about how lockdown has affected the lives of the populations can be used to design public health interventions aimed at promoting the health and well-being of the communities.

Optimum inhibition of MCF-7 breast cancer cells by efficient targeting of the macropinocytosis using optimized paclitaxel-loaded nanoparticles.

AIMS: Breast cancer (BC) is the third leading cause of death among other cancer types. Worldwide, it is the most common harmful disease in women, representing 1/4 of all cancers. Treatment of BC remains an ongoing challenge to most researchers. Understanding how cancer cells differ from normal cells can enhance drug targeting and overall disease progression. Endocytosis is a major physiological process modified in cancer cells and affects the cellular uptake of chemotherapeutic agents. MCF-7 breast cancer cells exhibit constitutive macropinocytic activity in comparison to normal non-macropinocytic MCF-10A breast cells. Therefore, we hypothesized that blocking the macropinocytosis mechanism in MCF-7 cells may inhibit the cancer progression while maintaining the safety of normal cells. MAIN METHODS: Using nano-precipitation technique, paclitaxel-PLGA-NPs were successfully prepared in the size range and charge required to opt for macropinocytosis in MCF-7 cells. KEY FINDINGS: Uptake and endocytosis inhibitor assays indicated that the developed NPs acquired size and surface charges that efficiently target macropinocytosis of MCF-7 cells. Paclitaxel-loaded PLGA-NPs showed higher efficacy against MCF-7 cells, while providing no toxicity on normal MCF-10A cells. Metabolomics analysis indicated the nutrients deprivation because of occupying the macropinocytosis. However, treatment of fresh MCF-7 cancer cells by metabolites secreted from PLGA-NPs-treated MCF-7 cells showed a potential metastatic activity. Thus, co- administration with an anti-metastatic drug is advised. SIGNIFICANCE: Collectively, adjusting the size and surface characteristics of a drug can critically control its cellular uptake, affecting the efficacy of drugs and the microenvironment of cancer cells.

Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on Geopolitics, Health, Economics, Education and Sociocultural Events.

The number of active cases of COVID-19 and deaths is markedly escalating. The pandemic had affected almost every aspect of our lives including geopolitics, health, economics, education, and sociocultural events. However, besides the negative impacts of the pandemic, there are some positive impacts as well, such as improving our awareness of the daily hygienic practices, emphasizing digital inequality, and increasing global collaboration in combating the crisis by intensifying scientific research to establish a promising vaccine. Other positive impacts are the activation and use of online education, also raising awareness about close family relationships and much more. This review addresses the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on various important aspects of life.

Role of Exosomes in Breast Cancer Management: Evidence-Based Review.

The field of cancer research has massively grown in recent decades, leading to a better understanding of the underlying causes and greatly improving the therapeutic approaches. Breast cancer (BC) is the third leading cause of mortality among all cancers and the most common malignant disease in women worldwide, representing one in four of all cancers in women. The crosstalk between cancer cells and the surrounding microenvironment is crucial for tumor progression and metastatic process. Tumor cells communicate not only through classical paracrine signaling mechanisms, including cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, but also through "exosomes". Exosomes are nano-vesicles that are released by various types of cells. Over the last decade, researchers have been attracted by the role of exosomes in breast cancer. It has been proven that exosomes influence major tumor-related pathways, including invasion, migration, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), metastasis, and drug resistance. Additionally, exosomes play important roles in clinical applications. Several studies have demonstrated the potential applications of exosomes in cancer therapy and diagnosis. Furthermore, exosomes have been engineered to function as nano-delivery systems of chemotherapeutic drugs. They can also be designed as vaccines to trigger the patient's immune system. This review discusses the recent progress regarding the use of exosomes as drug delivery systems, therapeutic agents, biomarkers, and vaccines against breast cancer.

Designer benzodiazepines versus prescription benzodiazepines: can structural relation predict the next step?

Designer benzodiazepines are a part of the recently discovered abuse synthetic drugs called Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) which need to be controlled due to their constantly growing market. Most of them are derived from the medically approved benzodiazepines used nowadays yet, may possess stronger effects, more toxicity, and longer durations of action. Some differences have also been observed in their detection and characteristics, in addition to the variations discovered in postmortem redistribution and drug stability. All these major alterations in features can result from only minor structural modifications. For example, a classic benzodiazepine (BZD) like diazepam only lacks one fluorine atom which exists in its derivatized designer drug, diclazepam, making substantial differences in activity. For this reason, it is essential to study the designer drugs in order to identify their dangers and distinguish them thus rule out their abuse and control the spread of such drugs. This review would highlight the distinct characteristics of some of the most commonly abused designer benzodiazepine analogies in relation to their original prescription BZD compounds.

Obesity and its associated risk factors among school-aged children in Sharjah, UAE.

BACKGROUND: The most prevalent nutritional disorders worldwide are childhood overweight or obesity. Various factors clearly contribute to the childhood obesity epidemic. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of childhood obesity in children of primary schools, and determine the influence of eating behavior and lifestyle in such a condition. METHODS: The study based on a cross sectional survey including school children aged 6-11 years. Pupils were from different schools in Sharjah, UAE. Outcome measures used in this study covered health characteristics; child habits and lifestyle; disease status and medication. RESULTS: The number of pre-validated surveys distributed was 932 and those returned counted to 678, giving a response rate of 72.8%. More than half (379; 55.9%) of the participants were females and 191 (28.2%) of the children were obese or overweight. Almost one quarter (162; 23.9%) of the children was physically inactive. Additionally, candy and fast food consumption was significantly high (370; 54.6%) and (324; 47.8%) respectively. Participant's food, age and time spent on TV were significantly associated with body mass index (BMI). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of overweight and obesity in the Emirate of Sharjah is high in both genders and across all ages of the study population. Contributing factors may include; sedentary lifestyle, consumption of unhealthy food and family history. There is a need for an immediate attention and measures to reduce the prevalence of obesity and associated diseases.

Falls in the elderly: assessment of prevalence and risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Falls in elderly people can lead to serious health problems. There is limited knowledge about the prevalence of falls, risk factors and causes of falls in the United Arab Emirates. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of falls among older adults aged 60 years and above and to determine the risk factors associated with falls. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted using an anonymous, 20-item questionnaire which was developed in English and Arabic to be delivered as a semi-structured interview. The pre-piloted questionnaire was distributed to 510 families with at least one elderly person. The study was conducted in Sharjah and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from September to November 2017. RESULTS: Participants were Arabs (368; 99.5%), living with family (339; 91.6%), females (256; 69.2%), married (240; 64.9%), holders of a university Bachelor's degree (110; 29.7%), and unemployed (154; 41.6%). Almost half of the participants (188; 50.8%) had a fall in the past two years, and three quarters (141; 75%) of those claimed that their illness was the reason for their fall. The results indicate that female and 70 years and above old participants are more likely to experience falls than males and younger counterparts respectively. A larger proportion of elderly participants not taking medications did not experience falls, while those on 1-4 medications fallers were less than non-fallers. However as the number of medications increased to 5-8 and more than 8 the number of those experiencing falls was significantly higher than non-fallers. CONCLUSIONS: Falls are prevalent among the elderly population studied and efforts should be made to decrease the incidence of falls, identify those at risk and increase awareness about falls and their health consequences among the elderly and the general public.

Erratum to: What drives using antibiotic without prescriptions? A qualitative interview study of university students in United Arab Emirates.

[This corrects the article on p. 1172 in vol. 16, PMID: 30023027.].

What drives using antibiotic without prescriptions? A qualitative interview study of university students in United Arab Emirates.

Background: Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is considered as natural phenomenon that occurs over the time due to genetic changes. Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is significantly increasing in the UAE. Self-medication with antibiotics has been identified as a major factor for the development of antibiotic resistance, which is significantly increasing in the UAE. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the factors that contribute to the use of antibiotics without prescriptions among first year healthcare university students in UAE. Methods: Based on the findings of an earlier survey study, a qualitative interview study was designed to explore common themes related to student's knowledge, awareness, attitude, views, and perceptions. Data were analyzed thematically for the identification of themes and subthemes within the data through the use of coding. Results: The interview study identified four main themes with multiple subthemes related to the use of antibiotics without a physician's prescription by first-year healthcare students. The thematic analysis of the interviews revealed four main themes; medication habits and practices; reasons for self-medication; access to antibiotics without a prescription and gaps in students' knowledge regarding antibiotic resistance. Conclusions: Healthcare students in UAE are influenced by several factors including parents and friends influence, successful previous experience and investment of time and money to visit a physician. Our sample of healthcare students has a misconception about the use of antibiotics. The current interview study identified six new reasons for using antibiotics without prescriptions as compared to our earlier survey study. There is a need of multifaceted strategies to decrease unnecessary antibiotic use in our population sample.

Trends of home drug storage and use in different regions across the northern United Arab Emirates.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the habits of use and home storage of over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription drugs. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A pretested questionnaire was distributed to university students who represented 300 household units in different regions of the northern United Arab Emirates. Household chairs (parents) answered questions on various aspects of home use and storage of OTC and prescription medicines. The number of drugs stored at home was collapsed into 5 unequal groups (1-3, 4-6, 7-10, 11-15 and 16-20). RESULTS: The response rate was 300 (100%). The average number of drugs per household unit was 6 items. Almost 40% of the participants stored between 16 and 20 drugs. More than half (56%) of the household units stored medicines in a home pharmacy kept either in the bedroom (n = 66; 39%) or in the kitchen (n = 71; 42%). No correlation was found between the level of education and the number of family members (r = 0.29) or drugs stored at home (r = -0.35). Only 2 (0.7%) of the participants did not keep drugs at home. There was a clear discrepancy in either OTC or prescription drugs stored, and the variation in the utilization and preference of drugs was obvious among the pooled sample. CONCLUSION: Various problems related to the use and storage at home of OTC and prescription drugs were revealed. Discussing the results of this survey with students who participated as members of the household units that took part in the study may prove to be a helpful intervention. The need for public educational efforts on the rational use of medicines at home is urgent to foster awareness of the proper use of drugs.