Human Microbiome and its Association With Health and Diseases.

Human microbiota are distinct communities of microorganisms that resides at different body niches. Exploration of the human microbiome has become a reality due to the availability of powerful metagenomics and metatranscriptomic analysis technologies. Recent advances in sequencing and bioinformatics over the past decade help provide a deep insight into the nature of the host-microbial interactions and identification of potential deriver genes and pathways associated with human health, well-being, and predisposition to different diseases. In the present review, we outline recent studies devoted to elucidate the possible link between the microbiota and various type of diseases. The present review also highlights the potential utilization of microbiota as a potential therapeutic option to treat a wide array of human diseases. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 1688-1694, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Polymerase chain reaction ribotyping of Clostridium difficile isolates in Qatar: a hospital-based study.

BACKGROUND: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is not generally reported to public health authorities in the Middle East and its true prevalence remains largely unknown. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of CDI and its associated ribotypes among C. difficile isolates in Qatar. Influence of age and correlation with other risk factors e.g. proton pump inhibitor use, antibiotic use, existence of chronic conditions, etc was also investigated for CDI positive patients. METHODS: A total of 1,532 patients with suspected CDI were recruited from two hospitals between 2011 and 2012. C. difficile was identified using glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) lateral flow assay and toxins A and B Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA). The C. difficile positive samples were then cultured for PCR-ribotyping. RESULTS: 122 of the 1,532 (7.9%) samples from individual patients were identified as C.difficile positive; and 79 of these were viably cultured (~65%). From these, 36 different PCR ribotypes were isolated, of which strains 258 (6 [7.6%]), 01/014/046 (5 [6.3%]), and 011/053/056/107 (4 [5%]) were the most prevalent. The prevalence of PCR-ribotype 027 was 1.3% (n = 1). An age of ≥65 years and treatment with proton pump inhibitors correlated with higher frequency of CDI. Treatment with third generation cephalosporins (50 [41%]) and piperacillin/tazobactam antibiotics (55 [45.1%]) was most frequently associated with CDI. CONCLUSION: The most common C. difficile ribotype identified in Qatar was 258, which is different from those found in North America, Europe and Asia. The prevalence of CDI was higher in Qatar than Europe; though comparable to other Middle Eastern countries. These findings underscore the importance of local surveillance to detect and control C. difficile infection.

SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes among non-clinical-related service providers in a national healthcare system.

Health care workers (HCWs) may be at a variable risk of SARS-CoV2 infection. Regardless of their involvement in providing direct clinical treatment, most of the prior research had included all HCWs. Understanding infection rates, risk factors and outcomes among different subgroups of HCWs is crucial. From February 28, 2020 to January 1, 2022, we conducted a retrospective analysis encompassing all full-time non-clinical staff (NCS) subcontracted with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) facilities. To determine current or previous SARS-CoV2 infection, all personnel underwent RT-PCR and/or serology testing. To identify the demographic factors linked to the risk of infection, we utilized Cox-Hazard regression analysis. Herein 3158/6231 (50.7%) subcontracted NCS tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR or serology during the research period. The median age was 30 years (IQR 25,35), 69.8% of the population were males, 82.4% were from South Asia, 86.6% did not have any concomitant conditions. 6032 (96.8%) of the population lived in shared housing, while 4749 (76.2%) had low to median levels of education. While infection (PCR positive with or without seropositive results) was independently predicted by male gender, working in the catering, laundry, and security sectors and being intermediate (7-12 years of education), lower (0-6 years of education), higher (exposure to confirmed case), and having symptoms. Male gender, working in the security sectors and being intermediate (7-12 years of education) were independently associated with accidently detected cases (PCR negative and seropositive). 299 (4.8%) required hospitalization, of them 3 cases were severe pneumonia and one required ICU admission without mechanical ventilation, with no deaths reported. In conclusion Infection rates among NCS are high. The majority are asymptomatic and may contribute to ongoing illness spread in the public or in healthcare facilities. During a pandemic, routine screening of this population is crucial and may aid in containing the spread of infection.

Reference ranges of lymphocyte subsets in healthy Qatari adults.

AIM: Determine reference ranges of lymphocyte subsets in healthy Qatari adults. PATIENTS & METHODS: Blood samples (n = 150) were investigated using four colors flow cytometery. RESULTS: The mean percentage and absolute values of the lymphocyte subsets were: CD3: 73.6 ± 6.1%; 2,072 ± 644 cells/µl; CD4: 41.1 ± 7.9%; 1,167 ± 396 cells/µl; CD8: 33.8 ± 7.1%; 967 ± 364 cells/µl; B cells (CD19(+)): 11.3 ± 3.9%; 318 ± 144 cells/µl and natural killer (NK) cells (CD16/56(+)): 16.5 ± 6.3%, 440 ± 401 cells/µl, respectively. The CD4/CD8 ratio was 1.3 ± 0.5. The ratio, CD3(+) and CD4(+) percentage and CD4(+) cell counts were significantly higher in females; CD8(+) and NK cell count and CD8(+) percentage were significantly higher in males. The impact of age was less certain. CONCLUSION: The reference values of lymphocyte subsets appear to be specific to this population, demonstrating the importance of establishing local reference ranges.