The first study of 3-M Syndrome in Jordan and Literature Review

The prevalence of 3-M syndrome remains unclear owing to its rarity and the limited number of reported cases in the medical literature. To date, approximately 100 cases of the disorder have been documented in MedlinePlus Genetics. Here, we present the first case study report from Jordan of a boy diagnosed with 3-M syndrome at 9 months of age via karyotyping. The patient exhibited distinct facial features, severe prenatal and postnatal growth retardation, and normal mental development. As rare genetic autosomal recessive mutations are common where consanguineous marriages are prevalent, raising awareness of such rare genetic diseases is critical. This paper aims to provide a case report on 3-M syndrome and a literature review. (AU)

Molecular Investigation of the Antitumor Effects of Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors in Breast Cancer Cells.

The catalytic activity of monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) has been linked to tumorigenesis due to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the resulting oxidative stress. MAO-A inhibition revealed a beneficial role in prostate and lung cancer treatment. This study is aimed at evaluating the effect of different monoamine oxidase A inhibitors (MAO-AIs) on the proliferation and progression of breast cancer cell lines. The cell viability assay was used to evaluate the antiproliferative and combined effects of MAO-AIs. Cell migration was evaluated using wound healing, invasion, and colony formation assays. The underlying mechanism of cell death was studied using flow cytometry. The real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the relative gene expression. Finally, MAO-A activity in breast cancer cells was evaluated using an MAO-A activity assay. According to the results, the examined MAO-AIs significantly inhibited the proliferation of breast cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. In breast cancer cells, the combination of anticancer drugs (doxorubicin or raloxifene) with MAO-AIs resulted in a synergistic effect. MAO-AIs significantly reduced wound closure and invasion ability in breast cancer cells. Also, MAO-AIs reduced the colony count and size of breast cancer cells. MAO-AIs resulted in significant proapoptotic activity in breast cancer cells. Finally, the MAO-AIs suppressed MAO-A, Bcl-2, and VEGF gene expressions in breast cancer cells relative to untreated cells. This study provides solid evidence supporting the anticancer effect of MAO-A inhibitors in breast cancer cells.

Impediments to use of oral contraceptives among refugee women in camps, Jordan.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess factors related to oral contraceptive (OC) use among refugee married women in the age range 18-50 years, residing in refugee camps in Jordan. METHODS: A face-to-face questionnaire was completed by 425 women, who had used OCs at least once in their lifetime as a contraceptive method. Data were collected between November 2016 and January 2017. RESULTS: About 45 percent of women preferred OCs as a contraceptive method. Most (80 percent) women thought OCs were effective, while 68.5 percent were concerned about their safety. About 10.6 percent women became pregnant while using OCs, and 75 percent reported side effects, specifically headache (54.6 percent), irritability (46.4 percent), mood swings (39.1 percent), and weight gain (30.6 percent). However, only 21.2 percent of participating women reported that they knew how to use OCs. Alarmingly, 85.9 percent of women reported that they skipped the OC pill when they missed using it. Knowledge about correct use was directly correlated with education, number of pregnancies and children, and duration of OC use. CONCLUSION: Women residing in refugees' camps in Jordan had relative unwillingness to use OCs. Although they tended to use them appropriately and had fair experience with their use, large gaps in their knowledge were apparent.