Tau (MAPT) haplotypes in Jordan: new evidence on the Middle East as a melting-pot predating Neolithic migration.

Frequencies of H1 and H2 haplotypes of the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) gene were examined in two Jordanian samples. The criterion for haplotype assignment was the presence/absence of the intronic 238-bp deletion, located between exons 9 and 10 of the MAPT genomic region. We further compiled MAPT haplotype frequencies in Middle Eastern, South Asian, and European populations to widen the scope of analyses. Jordan MAPT*H2 haplotype frequencies peaked among worldwide samples analysed to date, with the Jordan general population featuring the top value (0.386). AMOVA tests results indicated spatial genetic structuring, as they unveiled significant differences in H2 frequencies between South Asia and Europe, with a hypothetical contact zone in the Middle East. The southeastern region of the Middle East shares low H2 frequencies with South Asia, while the northwestern area shows high H2 frequencies, similar to and even higher than observed in Europe. We suggest that high H2 frequencies could have originated at the beginning of the Neolithic in the western region of the Middle East, most likely through genetic drift episodes associated with founding events. Subsequently, the arrival of Neolithic farmers boosted the H2 haplotype spreading throughout Europe.

Heat shock proteins gene expression and physiological responses in durum wheat (Triticum durum) under salt stress.

Salt stress is a major abiotic stress causing adverse effects on plant growth and development. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of NaCl stress on growth, stress indicator parameters (lipid peroxidation, chlorophyll content and proline content), yield, and the expression of heat shock proteins genes (Hsp17.8, Hsp26.3, Hsp70 and Hsp101) of five Jordanian durum wheat (Triticum durum) landraces. Plants were irrigated with tap water as control or 200 mM NaCl. Significant differences among the 5 Triticum durum landraces in terms of growth parameters, stress indicator parameters, and expression of heat shock proteins genes were observed. Salt stressed landraces demonstrated decreased growth, increased levels of stress indicator parameters, and upregulation in Hsp17.8, Hsp26.3, Hsp70 and Hsp101 expression. Landraces T11 and M23 showed the highest growth, lowest levels of stress indicator parameters, and high expression of heat shock protein genes under NaCl stress. Whereas, J2 and A8 landraces showed the lowest growth, highest levels of stress indicator parameters and low expression of heat shock protein genes under NaCl stress. In conclusion, NaCl stress caused significant reduction in growth parameters, increased level of lipid peroxidation and proline content and upregulation in heat shock proteins gene expression levels. Growth, stress indicator parameters and gene expression results suggest that T11 and M23 landraces are the most NaCl stress tolerant landraces and could be used to enhance the gene pool in wheat breeding programs.

Antioxidant activity of simvastatin prevents ifosfamide-induced nephrotoxicity.

Ifosfamide is an anticancer agent used largely in treatment of solid tumors. The mainstay dose-limiting toxicity of ifosfamide is nephrotoxicity. This is largely believde to be a result of ifosfamide-induced oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant activity of simvastatin and the possible protective role of simvastatin against ifosfamide induced nephrotoxicity. Thirty Sprague-Dawely rats were divided into five groups and given orally different drug combinations. Group I and II were regarded as control groups and received 0.1% DMSO and normal saline, respectively. Group III received ifosfamide at 50 mg/kg, group IV received simvastatin at 0.3 mg/kg and group V received both ifosfamide and simvastatin. All animals were decapitated 2 days after the last ifosfamide administration. Findings revealed that ifosfamide induced nephrotoxicity as indicated by a significant increase in plasma creatinine and lipid per oxidation. This increase was significantly inhibited in animals pretreated with simvastatin. Histopathological observations were in correlation with the biochemical parameters in that simvastatin minimized ifosfamide-induced renal tubular damage. The above results promote a future use of simvastatin in combination with ifosfamide in treatment of cancer patients to indicate that simvastatin protectics against ifosfamide-induced nephrotoxicity in terms of oxidative stress and might be given in combination.

Human diversity in Jordan: polymorphic Alu insertions in general Jordanian and Bedouin groups.

Jordan, located in the Levant region, is an area crucial for the investigation of human migration between Africa and Eurasia. However, the genetic history of Jordanians has yet to be clarified, including the origin of the Bedouins today resident in Jordan. Here, we provide new genetic data on autosomal independent markers in two Jordanian population samples (Bedouins and the general population) to begin to examine the genetic diversity inside this country and to provide new information about the genetic position of these populations in the context of the Mediterranean and Middle East area. The markers analyzed were 18 Alu polymorphic insertions characterized by their identity by descent, known ancestral state (lack of insertion), and apparent selective neutrality. The results indicate significant genetic diffferences between Bedouins and general Jordanians (p = 0.038). Whereas Bedouins show a close genetic proximity to North Africans, general Jordanians appear genetically more similar to other Middle East populations. In general, these data are consistent with the hypothesis that Bedouins had an important role in the peopling of Jordan and constitute the original substrate of the current population. However, migration into Jordan in recent years likely has contributed to the diversity among current Jordanian population groups.

Evaluation of orellanine-induced toxicity from the mushroom Cortinarius orellanus and the antagonistic effect of Petroselinum crispum.

Mushroom poisoning is a worldwide public health problem that may cause serious toxic consequences on renal functions. The study aimed to evaluate the acute toxicity (24 h) of orellanine (OR) from Cortinarius orellanus in rat kidney and the ameliorative effect of parsley ethanolic extract. Twelve adult male Wistar rats were used to determine intraperitoneal (ip) median lethal dose (LD50) of OR, and 32 rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 8): OR group had 500 mg OR per kg bwt; OR + parsley group had the same dose of OR and after 1 h had 500 mg/kg parsley orally; parsley group had parsley only; and control had the vehicle 0.1% DMSO. Blood and kidney samples were collected at Hour 48. The LD50 dose was 1430 mg/kg for an observation period of 24 h. There were significant reductions (p < 0.01) in the body weight, and relative kidney weight of intoxicated rats compared to parsley treated rats and to controls. Similarly, this group had significantly higher levels of creatinine (p < 0.001), uric acid and urea (p < 0.05). The antioxidant glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly reduced (p < 0.01), while Cystatin C serum levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the intoxicated untreated rats compared to all groups. Histopathological examination indicated necrotic damage in glomeruli and proximal tubules of rats given OR, which was relieved by parsley extract. Overall, the study showed that parsley extract ameliorated OR-induced kidney toxicity. This could be utilized in future research on adjunct therapy for toxicity-induced renal injury.

Sharing, reuse, and storage of biosamples among biomedical researchers in Jordan: Practice and concerns.

BACKGROUND: Sharing and reuse biosamples can facilitate biomedical research. Little is known about researchers' perception and practice about sharing, reusing, and storing biosamples in Jordan. Therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate the practices of biomedical researchers in Jordan regarding biosamples management. METHODS: The study was cross-sectional and involved biomedical researchers from different parts of Jordan. A questionnaire was designed to achieve the aim of this study. The questionnaire was web-based and distributed via e-mails using Google forms. RESULTS: Opinions of Jordanian biomedical researchers from different academic ranks and institutional backgrounds were measured and recorded anonymously. The majority of the sample was males (57.9%), from public universities (64.3%), and (64.6%) were from health-related fields. About 82.9% of participants stored biosamples using codes, whereas the rest used the subject's name. Sharing of biosamples was commonly practiced by 61.7% of Jordanian researchers locally, while 47.2% of the Jordanian researchers shared biosamples overseas. The reuse of biosamples in other projects was reported to be 55.4%. The majority explained the possibility of reusing and sharing biosamples in the consent form (range: 53-58%). Sharing and reusing biosamples were associated with gender, the number of publications in peer-reviewed international journals, and academic rank (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Sharing and reusing biosamples are common among Jordanian biomedical researchers. Therefore, ethically grounded biosamples sharing and reuse standards are essential for protecting human subjects' rights and privacy in Jordan.

DNA Barcoding of Two Thymelaeaceae Species: Daphne mucronata Royle and Thymelaea hirsuta (L.) Endl.

Daphne mucronata Royle and Thymelaea hirsuta (L.) Endl both belong to the Thymelaeaceae family. Both species are used traditionally to treat several diseases along with various daily applications by Jordanian Bedouins. Traditionally, those species are identified through personal proficiency, which could be misleading due to human errors or lack of expertise. This study aims to investigate an effective DNA barcoding method to identify and characterize Daphne mucronata Royle and Thymelaea hirsuta plant species at the molecular level. Daphne mucronata Royle and Thymelaea hirsuta were collected from the ancient city of Petra in the Southern part of Jordan. Sequences of candidate DNA barcodes were amplified (rbcL, matK, and rpoC1), sequenced, and aligned to the blastn database. Moreover, the obtained sequences were compared with available sequences of related species at the GenBank database. Our results showed that DNA barcoding successfully identifies the two plant species using any of chloroplast genes (rbcL, matK, or rpoC1). The results emphasize the ability of DNA barcoding for identifying and characterizing different plant species through the recruitment of different barcode loci in molecular identification.

The Perception of Premarital Genetic Screening within Young Jordanian Individuals.

BACKGROUND: During the past two decades, the attention of public health has been drawn to premarital genetic screening (PGS) programs to reduce birth defects and avoid genetic disorders. In Jordan, the high rate of genetic hemoglobinopathies compelled the government to implement an obligatory PGS program before marriage. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the knowledge, opinion, and practice of young Jordanians concerning PGS. METHODS: Using a pretested questionnaire, this cross-sectional study was conducted on a convenience sample from Jordan. The measures included respondents' demographics, and beliefs/opinions regarding PGS. RESULTS: A total of 432 participants completed the survey. The majority (87.8%) had a positive attitude toward PGS program. Reasons behind this positive attitude were preventing transmission of genetic diseases, reducing family breakdown/psychosocial problems, and financial burdens of having a child with genetic disease. In fact, 49.8% of participants were willing to change their marriage decision in case of receiving incompatible results. Moreover, most of the participants (75.1%) demanded the implementation of a law that prohibits incompatible marriages. A positive attitude toward PGS was found to be associated with female gender and having a university education. CONCLUSIONS: Young Jordanians have a positive attitude toward the implementation of PGS. Yet, educational programs should be drawn up to the target population before getting married emphasizing the important role of PGS in the wellness of the community.

Ethical issues in bio-sample sharing among the public in Jordan.

BACKGROUND: Among the challenges of health research are sharing and the future use of human biological samples. Usually, participants show different opinions and ethical concerns regarding the usage and sharing of their biological samples. In this study, we investigated the perspectives of Jordanian participants regarding bio-samples collection, storage, use, and sharing. METHODS: The study is cross sectional, questionnaire-based, and involved 248 participants from Jordan. Data collected included demographic, qualitative, and quantitative information from research participants. The questionnaire was accomplished in the Arabic language and data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. RESULTS: Most of the participants (77%) supported providing samples for research purposes. Yet, they expressed concerns about the future use of their samples (27.8%), storage of their bio-samples after first use (19%), and export of the bio-samples outside of the country (27%). They further indicated that they will not mind if profits are generated from the samples (36.7%). On the other hand, about 18.5% would be very unhappy and would sue the researchers if their bio-samples were reused without their consent. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION: Participants showed strong views on specimen collection, storage, export, benefit sharing and future usage - most significantly on the consent process that permits free choices. Further research should be conducted to explore the concept of bio-samples donation and the benefit of sharing among researchers in Jordan.

Alleviation of diabetic nephropathy by zinc oxide nanoparticles in streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes in rats.

This study examines the effect of nanoparticles with zinc oxides (ZnONPs) on diabetic nephropathy, which is the primary cause of mortality for diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease. Diabetes in adult male rats was induced via intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. ZnONPs were intraperitoneally administered to diabetic rats daily for 7 weeks. Diabetes was associated with increases in blood glucose level, 24-h urinary albumin excretion rate, glomerular basement membrane thickness, renal oxidative stress markers, and renal mRNA or protein expression of transforming growth factor-ß1, fibronectin, collagen-IV, tumour necrosis factor-α and vascular endothelial growth factor-A. Moreover, the expression of nephrin and podocin, and the mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 were decreased in the diabetic group. These changes were not detected in the control group and were significantly prevented by ZnONP treatment. These results provide evidence that ZnONPs ameliorate the renal damage induced in a diabetic rat model of nephropathy through improving renal functionality; inhibiting renal fibrosis, oxidative stress, inflammation and abnormal angiogenesis; and delaying the development of podocyte injury. The present findings may help design the clinical application of ZnONPs for protection against the development of diabetic nephropathy.

Water pipe tobacco smoking among university students in Jordan.

INTRODUCTION: Although water pipe tobacco smoking is common in Lebanon and Syria, prevalence in neighboring Jordan is uncertain. The purposes of this study were (a) to assess the prevalence of water pipe tobacco smoking among university students in Jordan and (b) to determine associations between sociodemographic variables and water pipe tobacco smoking in this population. METHODS: A trained interviewer administered a questionnaire among randomly selected students at four prominent universities in Jordan. The questionnaire assessed sociodemographic data, personal history of water pipe tobacco use, and attitudes regarding water pipe tobacco smoking. We used logistic regression to determine independent associations between sociodemographic and attitudinal factors and each of two dependent variables: ever use of water pipe and use at least monthly. RESULTS: Of the 548 participants, 51.8% were male and mean age was 21.7 years. More than half (61.1%) had ever smoked tobacco from a water pipe, and use at least monthly was reported by 42.7%. Multivariable analyses controlling for all relevant factors demonstrated significant associations between ever use and only two sociodemographic factors: (a) gender (for women compared with men, odds ratio [OR] = 0.11, 95% CI = 0.07-0.17) and (b) income (for those earning 500-999 Jordanian dinar (JD) monthly vs. <250 JD monthly, OR = 2.37, 95% CI = 1.31-4.31). There were also significant associations between perception of harm and addictiveness and each outcome. DISCUSSION: Water pipe tobacco smoking is highly prevalent in Jordan. Although use is associated with male gender and upper middle income levels, use is widespread across other sociodemographic variables. Continued surveillance and educational interventions emphasizing the harm and addictiveness of water pipe tobacco smoking may be valuable in Jordan.

Biomedical Data Sharing Among Researchers: A Study from Jordan.

BACKGROUND: Data sharing is an encouraged practice to support research in all fields. For that purpose, it is important to examine perceptions and concerns of researchers about biomedical data sharing, which was investigated in the current study. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional survey study that was distributed among biomedical researchers in Jordan, as an example of developing countries. The study survey consisted of questions about demographics and about respondent's attitudes toward sharing of biomedical data. RESULTS: Among study participants, 46.9% (n=82) were positive regarding making their research data available to the public, whereas 53.1% refused the idea. The reasons for refusing to publicly share their data included "lack of regulations" (33.5%), "access to research data should be limited to the research team" (29.5%), "no place to deposit the data" (6.5%), and "lack of funding for data deposition" (6.0%). Agreement with the idea of making data available was associated with academic rank (P=0.003). Moreover, gender (P-value=0.043) and number of publications (P-value=0.005) were associated with a time frame for data sharing (ie, agreeing to share data before vs after publication). CONCLUSION: About half of the respondents reported a positive attitude toward biomedical data sharing. Proper regulations and facilitation data deposition can enhance data sharing in Jordan.

Informed Consent Form Challenges for Genetic Research in Jordan.

BACKGROUND: Informed consent is an obligatory requirement for research engaging human subjects. Informed consent form (ICF) should be provided for human subjects to confirm their willingness for voluntary participation in a study. Ethical and legal obligations necessitate the presence of informed consent essential items to be built into the ICF. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the content of ICFs obtained from different genetic studies accomplished in Jordan and their adherence to ethical guidelines proposed by the International Conference on Harmonization-Good Clinical Practice (ICHGCP). METHODS AND MEASURES: A total of 44 ICFs obtained from master theses and grant proposals at two major universities in Jordan were analyzed according to the good clinical practice criteria proposed by ICHGCP. ICFs were scored for the presence or absence of ICF main items/categories. RESULTS: Results show inadequate information present in the examined ICFs. The highest information score was 17 out of 20, while the lowest score was one out of 20. The average score for all studied ICFs was 6.18±3.65. Among essential items/categories that were absent from the majority of studied ICFs were a statement about voluntary participation, confidentiality of data, compensation to study participants, risk/benefits of the study, and researchers' contact information. CONCLUSION: The ICFs were missing a number of required items. This could reflect inadequate knowledge about minimal informed consent requirements among Jordanian investigators highlighting the need for research ethical training in the country.

Evaluation of antioxidant status and oxidative stress markers in thermal sulfurous springs residents.

Sulfurous springs have been traditionally used in medical treatment for different purposes. These beneficial effects of sulfurous water have been attributed to the presence of sulfurous compounds mainly in the form of hydrogen sulfide (H2S). The purpose of the present study is to explore the effects of long-term exposure to sulfurous springs on oxidative stress and antioxidant biomarkers responses in individuals who lived nearby the sulfurous springs. The studied area was Al- Hammah sulfurous springs, which is located in the northern part of the Jordan Rift Valley and host many sulfurous springs. Residents in sulfurous springs area are continuously exposed to water and gases emission more than the overall population. We have found that the sulphate levels were 7 times higher in sulfurous springs water samples than control water samples. The majority of the volunteers involved in the present study were more than ten years long residence and lived in range distance between one to five kilometers (less than 3 miles) away from main sulfurous spring, and visited the sulfurous spring at least once a month. We did not find any noticeable symptoms in sulfur spring residents such as headaches, nausea, breathing problems. The total oxidative stress (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) in sulfurous spring residents were lower than control individuals. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total nitric oxide (NOX) levels were higher in sulfurous spring residents compared to control group. Furthermore, we have highlighted that living nearby the sulfurous springs does not affect oxygen saturation levels (SPO2) or heart pulse rate . These findings suggest that long-term exposure to sulfurous springs boost the antioxidant capacity and reduce oxidative stress levels in the human body. Hence, visiting sulfurous springs can act as natural remedies to diminish oxidative stress as they show promising potential in several-oxidative stress-related diseases treatment.