The impact of socio-economic, lifestyle habits, and obesity in developing of pregnancy-induced hypertension in fast-growing country: global comparisons.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) in the third trimester of Arab women and their neonatal outcome. DESIGN: A prospective study. SETTING: Women's Hospital and Maternity Clinics. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study was based on pregnant women in third trimester from the first week of January 2010 to April 2011. A total of 2,056 pregnant women, who had any kind of maternal complications, were approached and 1,608 women (78.2%) expressed their consent to participate in the study. A questionnaire covered variables related to socio-demographic factors, family history, medical history, maternal complications, and neonatal outcome. Multiple logistic regressions were used to describe the relationship between socio-demographic factors and PIH. RESULTS: Pregnant women with Qatari nationality were 30% more likely to have PIH (Adj. OR 0.7; 95% CI 0.5-0.9, p = 0.03). Those living in villas were 50% more likely than those living in apartments (Adj. OR 0.5; 95% CI 0.3-0.9) and 40% more likely than those living in traditional houses (Adj. OR 0.6; 95% CI 0.4-0.8) to have PIH. The odds of PIH linearly increases with each decrease of 5,000 QAR in monthly income from > 20,000 to 10-15,000 (Adj. OR 1.2; 95% CI 0.7-2.1, Adj. OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.1-3.2, respectively) and then it starts decreasing from 10,000 to < 5,000 monthly income (Adj. OR 1.8;95% CI 1.1-3.1 and Adj. OR 1.3; 95% CI 0.7-2.7 respectively). The odds of PIH linearly increase with each five years increase in age among pregnant women from 30 to 45 years of age. A 10-fold increase in PIH odds was observed when body mass index (BMI) increased above > or = 30 (obese) (Adj. OR 10.0; 95% CI 6.4-15.6). Pregnant women who had no history of previous abortion were 60% less likely than those who had positive history of previous abortion (Adj. OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.1-1.2; p = 0.007) to have PIH. The odds of PIH increases by 50% when women do not receive antenatal care (Adj. OR 1.5; 95% CI 1.1-2.1; p = 0.040). CONCLUSION: Qatar has a high prevalence of PIH compared to both regional and global rates. Maternal age > 30, increased BMI, previous abortion, lack of antenatal care, and physical activity were found to be significantly associated with increased risk of PIH in Arab women and could be potentially modifiable risk factors.

Prevalence and associated risk factors of ante-partum hemorrhage among Arab women in an economically fast growing society.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of antepartum hemorrhage (APH) in the third trimester of Arab women residing in Qatar and their neonatal outcome. DESIGN AND SETTING: A prospective hospital-based study was conducted in the Women's Hospital and Maternity Clinics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was based on pregnant women in the third trimester from the first week of January 2010 to April 2011. A total of 2,056 pregnant women, who had any kind of maternal complications, were approached and 1,608 women (78.2%) expressed their consent to participate in the study. The questionnaire covered variables related to socio-demographic factors, family history, medical history, maternal complications and neonatal outcome. Multiple logistic regressions were used to describe the association between socio-demographic factors and APH. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of APH among Arab women residing in Qatar was 15.3% with 6.7% among Qatari's and 8.6% among non-Qatari Arab women; the difference in ethnicities was not significant. Among maternal socio-demographic characteristics, lower education (primary or below AOR 1.72; 95%CI 1.22-2.43, and intermediate education AOR 1.41; 95%CI 0.88-2.26; P=0.005) compared to university education was significantly associated with APH. As for maternal biological characteristics, family history of G6PD (AOR 1.87; 95% CI 1.18-2.95; P=0.007) and family history of Down's Syndrome (AOR 1.88; 95%CI 1.35-2.62; P=<0.001) were significantly associated with APH at the multivariable level; family history of hypertension (OR 1.78; 95%CI 1.30-2.44; P<0.001) was significant at the univariate level. Neonatal outcomes as a result of APH included increased risk of Apgar score at 1 minutes <7 (AOR 1.44; 95%CI 1.12-2.02; P=0.04) and minor congenital anomaly (AOR 2.82; 95%CI 1.39-5.71; P=0.004). CONCLUSION: Qatar has a high prevalence of APH. Poor education, family history of hypertension, G6PD and Down's syndrome were found to be significantly associated with increased risk of APH in Qatar. Neonates of APH are at significantly increased risk of adverse outcome. Thus it is essential that obstetricians are alerted to these risk factors for early detection and to decrease the negative effects of APH.

CTLA4 promoter polymorphisms are associated with canine diabetes mellitus.

Canine diabetes mellitus (DM) shares many similarities with human type 1 diabetes (T1D). It is a complex genetic disorder, which shows marked differences in breed susceptibility, with Samoyed dogs being highly susceptible, whereas the Boxer breed is relatively resistant. A number of immune response genes, which have been associated with human T1D, have also been implicated in determining susceptibility to canine DM, suggesting an immune-mediated component to the disease pathogenesis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CTLA4 gene have consistently and reproducibly been associated with human T1D and other autoimmune diseases but the canine CTLA4 gene has not previously been investigated for involvement in canine DM. SNPs of particular interest in the human association studies are those in the promoter region which affect CTLA4 expression levels, and that of exon 1 which results in a non-synonymous amino acid change. We performed a canine SNP discovery investigation of CTLA4 on a region of DNA containing exon 1 and 1.5 kb upstream sequence in order to identify promoter region SNPs. Confirmed SNPs were used in a genetic association study of a canine diabetic cohort showing that CTLA4 promoter polymorphisms were associated with diabetes in crossbreed dogs and in five Pedigree breeds-Samoyed, Miniature Schnauzer, West Highland White Terrier, Border Terrier and Labrador. Meta-analysis of these breeds showed 9 out of 15 SNPs were associated with DM and genotype and haplotype analyses also confirmed the allelic associations in these breeds.

Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Symptoms in Menopausal Arab Women: Shedding More Light on a Complex Relationship.

BACKGROUND: The association between depression, anxiety, and stress among Arab menopause and postmenopausal women have been explored in detailed. AIM: The objective of this study was to determine the correlation between depression, anxiety, and stress in menopausal and postmenopausal women and shedding more light on a complex relationship. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was used to generate menopause symptoms experienced by Arabian women at the primary health care centers in Qatar. A representative sample of 1468 women aged 45-65 years were approached during July 2012 and May 2014 and 1101 women agreed to participate (75.0%) and responded to the study. Depression, anxiety, and stress were measured using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales 21. Data on body mass index (BMI), clinical and other parameters were used. Univariate, multivariate, and matrix correlation analysis were performed for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1101 women agreed to participate after informed consent was obtained. The mean age and standard deviation (SD) of the menopausal age were 49.55 (3.12), the mean and SD of postmenopausal age was 58.08 (3.26) (P < 0.001). There were statistically significant differences between menopausal stages with regards to age, ethnicity, educational status, occupation status, and place of living. Furthermore, there were statistically significant differences between menopausal stages with regards to BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), Vitamin D deficiency, and diseases. Depression and anxiety were more common among postmenopause women. Furthermore, there were no differences between the groups regarding the frequency of certain levels of stress among menopause and postmenopause. The multivariate regression analyses revealed that age in years, diastolic BP, consanguinity, regular exercise were a predictor for depression. Meanwhile, diastolic BP, occupation, and physical activity considered the main risk factors for anxiety. Furthermore, age in years, occupation, and sheesha smoking habits were considered as the main risk factors associated with stress. CONCLUSION: A large number of factors were associated with experiencing menopausal and psycho-social problems and which had negative effects on the quality of life among Arabian women. Depression, anxiety, and stress should be considered as important risk factors for osteoporosis.

Characterization and catechole oxidase activity of a family of copper complexes coordinated by tripodal pyrazole-based ligands.

A family of tripodal pyrazole-based ligands has been synthesized by a condensation reaction between 1-hydroxypyrazoles and aminoalcohols. The diversity was introduced both on the substituents of the pyrazole ring and on the side chain. The corresponding copper(II) complexes have been prepared by reaction with CuCl(2) in tetrahydrofuran. They have been characterized by EPR, UV spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The absence of the half-field splitting signals in EPR suggests that the complex exists in solution as mononuclear species. The influence of substituents and side chain of the tripodal ligand on the catecholase activity of the complexes was studied. The reaction rate depends on two factors. First, the presence of an oxygen atom in the third position of the side chain should be avoided to keep the effectiveness of the reaction. Second, the electronic and steric effects of substituents on the pyrazole ring strongly affect the catalytic activity of the complex. Thus, best results were obtained with complexes containing unsubstituted pyrazole based-ligands. Kinetic investigations with the best catalyst based on the Michaelis-Menten model show that the catalytic activity of the mononuclear complex is close to that of some dicopper complexes described in literature.

Optimal Culture Conditions for Mycelial Growth of Lignosus rhinocerus.

Lignosus rhinocerus is a macrofungus that belongs to Polyporaceae and is native to tropical regions. This highly priced mushroom has been used as folk medicine to treat diseases by indigenous people. As a preliminary study to develop a culture method for edible mushrooms, the cultural characteristics of L. rhinocerus were investigated in a range of culture media under different environmental conditions. Mycelial growth of this mushroom was compared on culture media composed of various carbon and nitrogen sources in addition to C/N ratios. The optimal conditions for mycelial growth were 30℃ at pH 6 and 7. Rapid mycelial growth of L. rhinocerus was observed on glucose-peptone and yeast extract peptone dextrose media. Carbon and nitrogen sources promoting mycelial growth of L. rhinocerus were glucose and potassium nitrate, respectively. The optimum C/N ratio was approximately 10 : 1 using 2% glucose supplemented as a carbon source in the basal media.

Small mitochondrial DNA molecules of wild abortive cytoplasm in rice are not necessarily associated with CMS.

Mitochondrial DNA was isolated from leaf tissue of both the cytoplasmic male sterile line of Indica rice variety V41, which carries wild abortive (WA) cytoplasm, and from the corresponding maintainer line. In addition to the main mitochondrial DNA, four small plasmid-like DNA molecules were detected in both the male sterile and fertile lines. Restriction analysis of total mitochondrial DNA from the male sterile and fertile lines showed DNA fragments unique to each. Our findings suggest that the four small mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) molecules are conserved when WA cytoplasm is transferred into different nuclear backgrounds. However, there is no simple correlation between the presence/ absence of small mitochondrial DNA molecules and the expression of WA cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS).

Stability of mitochondrial DNA in tissue-cultured cells of rice.

Restriction analysis of mitochondrial (mt) DNA from 3-month-old callus cultures of the cytoplasmic male sterile rice, V41A, which contains S2 or "wild abortive" cytoplasm, and its fertile maintainer, V41B, showed the same BamHI restriction profiles as mtDNA from the corresponding leaf material. Similarly, mtDNA of rice (var. Taipei 309) from leaves, a 2-month-old cell suspension (T3MS2/A), a totipotent suspension (T3MS) and a 19-month-old suspension, which had lost its protoplast regeneration ability (LB3), showed indistinguishable BamHI restriction profiles. However, clear differences in mtDNA restriction profiles were observed between LB3 and a 30-month-old suspension culture of Taipei 309 (LB1), which appeared to reflect substantial changes in the relative abundance of specific DNA sequences. Hybridisation of a maizecoxII gene probe to blots of restricted mtDNA confirmed that, while the relative abundance of certain mtDNA sequences was preserved during long-term tissue culture of rice, major changes in abundance were observed with other sequences.