Trace element status in Saudi patients with established atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND: Traditional coronary risk factors do not fully explain variations in the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Epidemiological studies have implicated perturbations in selenium, copper, and zinc metabolism in the aetiology of CVD. However, these studies have been principally undertaken in Caucasian populations, in whom trace element intake is generally sufficient. METHOD: We have measured serum and urine selenium, copper, and zinc; and superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and lipid peroxide concentrations in 130 Saudi male subjects with established CVD, and 130 age-matched controls. RESULTS: Diabetes mellitus, positive smoking habit (p<0.0001 for both), and hypertension (p<0.05) were more prevalent among CVD patients. Urinary copper (p<0.0001) and zinc (p<0.05) were higher among controls. Serum selenium concentrations were lower among CVD patients (p<0.001), and a high proportion (52%) had selenium levels below 79mug/L compared to controls (22%) (p<0.0001). Conditional logistic regression analysis, showed the characteristics differentiating CVD patients from controls were serum zinc (odds ratio (OR) 0.92, confidence interval (CI) 0.85-0.99, p<0.05), serum copper/zinc ratio (OR 0.31, CI 0.10-0.96), serum selenium (OR 0.07, CI 0.02-0.31, p<0.0001), and urine selenium (OR 3.34, CI 1.40-7.99, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Measures of trace metals status appear to be associated with the risk of atherosclerosis in a Saudi male population.     

Anostracans in dark sections of Saudi Arabian caves

Anostracans were found living in ephemeral pools in the dark sections of three caves on the As Summan Plateau in Saudi Arabia. Branchipus schaefferi Fischer, 1834 occurred alone in one while it cohabited with Streptocephalus torvicornisbucheti Daday, 1910 in a second cave; fairy shrimps were observed but not collected from the third. None of the specimens demonstrated any of the types of morphological changes typically associated with cave adapted species. This is likely due to continuing colonization of the pools during flooding events. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Selenium status in Saudi Arabia

Selenium (Se) is a naturally occurring trace element that is essential for animal and human nutrition, but the range between dietary requirements and toxic levels is relatively narrow. In this review, we are interested in the beneficial effects of selenium and we report on a number of studies of the selenium status of different populations in Saudi Arabia. The Status reflects the geographical area inhabited by the populations. Apart from the few available studies reviewed here, no data on the human status of Se in Saudi Arabia has been obtained. A further objective of this paper is throw some the light on the direction of future studies.     

Coffee production in southern Saudi Arabian highlands: Current status and water conservation

Work aimed at assessing status and introducing water conservation regimes for coffee production in southern Saudi Arabian highlands. Data on farm locations, altitudes, areas, practices, irrigation, tree density, and annual coffee production were analyzed. Field experiment using chlorophyll fluorescence and different irrigation regimes was conducted to examine effects of reducing irrigation frequency on photosynthesis. Results indicated that Coffea arabica L. is commonly grown at altitudes of 1300–1400 m. Plants grown at 4–6 Trees m^?2 using 100 kg ha^?1 mineral fertilizer produce an average of 3 t ha^?1. High frequency 2-day-intervals irrigation regime practiced by farmers during the dry season presents ecological challenge to limited local artesian water resources. Changes in chlorophyll fluorescence under 14-day-intervals irrigation regime initiated water stress that markedly inhibited Photosystem II efficiency and quantum yield and increased non-photochemical energy dissipation. Applying a 7-day-intervals irrigation regime induced less inhibitory effects on Photosystem II. Results also indicated that shifting from 2-day-intervals irrigation regime to 7-day-intervals regime improves coffee agroecology and directs coffee production towards sustainability.     

Antimicrobial efficacy of extracts of Saudi Arabian desert Terfezia claveryi truffles

BackgroundTerfezia claveryi truffles are known for their nutritional value and have been considered among traditional treatments for ophthalmic infections and ailments.ObjectivesWe sought to investigate the in vitro antimicrobial efficacy of several T. claveryi extracts from Saudi Arabia. Certain pathogenic fungi and gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria were included.MethodsDry extracts were prepared using methanol, ethyl acetate, and distilled water, while the latter was used for preparing fresh extracts. The extracts were microbiologically evaluated through the disc-diffusion agar method; the zones of inhibition of microbial growth were measured post-incubation. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were determined in Müller-Hinton Broth through the microdilution susceptibility method. anti-biofilm activity was assessed for potent extracts.ResultsDry extracts showed potent activity (>16-mm inhibition zones) against gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis IFO3007 and Staphylococcus aureus IFO3060) and gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa IFO3448 and Escherichia coli IFO3301) bacteria. The activity against fungi was moderate (12–16-mm inhibition zones) for both Aspergillus oryzae IFO4177 and Candida albicans IFO0583; there was no activity against Aspergillus niger IFO4414 growth. Methanolic extract had the lowest MIC and MBC, exhibiting remarkable activity against B. subtilis growth. Fresh extract showed moderate activity against bacterial growth and inactivity against fungal growth. Methanolic extract showed potent anti-biofilm activity (IC₅₀, 2.0 ± 0.18 mg/mL) against S. aureus.ConclusionsT. claveryi extracts showed antibacterial effects potentially suitable for clinical application, which warrants further in-depth analysis of their individual isolated compounds.     

Preliminary palynological investigation of Saudi Arabian Upper Ordovician glacial sediments

An Ordovician stratigraphically admixed palynomorph assemblage that contains palynomorphs eroded from Middle through Upper Ordovician strata characterizes the Hawban Member (restricted) of the Sarah Formation in central Saudi Arabia. This distinctive assemblage, combined with detailed sedimentology, helps identify the presence of Hirnantian Gondwanan glacial sediments on the Arabian Plate. Similar Ordovician admixed assemblages have been recognized from Upper Ordovician glacial sediments elsewhere along the Gondwanan margin. Within Saudi Arabia the composition of reworked assemblages depends upon the stratigraphic succession exposed to glacial erosion. Sylvanidium? hawbanense, which is one of the acritarchs found in glacial sediments, is newly described from Arabian Upper Ordovician strata.     

Plasma microRNA profiling of children with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

Context: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the most common cardiomyopathy in children. MicroRNAs (miRNA) are small RNAs which have regulatory functions in many biological processes.

Objective: We aimed to determine miRNA expression levels in plasma of children with DCM.

Materials and methods: Plasma expression levels of 379 miRNAs were compared between 23 DCM and 26 healthy children.

Results: The expression levels of miR-618, miR-875-3p, miR-205, miR-194, miR-302a, miR-147, and miR-544 were found decreased. The expression levels of miR-518f and miR-454 were found increased in DCM patients.

Discussion: miRNA level differences may provide the chance of using these miRNAs as new biomarkers.     

ACE I/D polymorphism in Indian patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and dilated cardiomyopathy

Aim The study was carried to determine the association of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism with the risk of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM). Methods and results A total of 174 patients diagnosed with cardiomyopathy (118 with HCM, 51 with DCM, and 5 with RCM) and 164 ethnically, age- and gender-matched controls were included in the study. ACE I/D genotyping was performed by PCR. In total, 25.86% of the patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III and IV at presentation. A total of 67.24% patients had dyspnea, 56.89% had angina pectoris, and 25.28% of the patients had at least one event of syncope. Frequency of occurrence of the disease was more in male patients compared to female patients (P < 0.05). After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and smoking habit, the prevalence of ACE DD genotype, and ACE ‘D’ allele was significantly higher in patients as compared to controls and was associated with increased risk (DD: OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.27–3.52, P < 0.05; ‘D’: OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.08–3.35, P < 0.05). The mean septal thickness was higher for DD and ID genotypes (20.40 ± 3.73 mm and 21.82 ± 5.35 mm, respectively) when compared with II genotype (18.63 ± 6.69 mm) in HCM patients, however, the differences were not significant statistically (P > 0.05). The DCM patients with ID genotype showed significantly decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at enrolment (26.50 ± 8.04%) (P = 0.04). Conclusion Our results suggest that D allele of ACE I/D polymorphism significantly influences the HCM and DCM phenotypes.     

DNA barcoding of marine fishes from Saudi Arabian waters of the Gulf

We used the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (coI) gene DNA to barcode 117 endemic Gulf and cosmopolitan Indo–West Pacific fish species belonging to 54 families and 13 orders. Novel DNA barcodes were provided for 18 fish species (Trachinocephalus sp., Nematalosa sp., Herklotsichthys lossei, Upeneus doriae, Trachurus indicus, Apogonichthyoides taeniatus, Verulux cypselurus, Favonigobius sp., Suezichthus gracilis, Sillago sp., Brachirus orientalis, Pegusa sp., Lepidotrigla bispinosa, Lepidotrigla sp., Grammoplites suppositus, Hippichthys sp., Paramonacanthus sp. and Triacanthus sp.). The species delimitation analysis, conducted with Poisson tree processes– Bayesian PTP (PTP–bPTP) and nucleotide-divergence-threshold (NDT) models), found 137 and 119 entities respectively. Overall, NDT method, neighbour-joining species tree and the prior taxonomic assessment provided similar results. Among the 54 families considered, only 10 (Ariommatidae, Ephippidae, Leiognathidae, Nemipteridae, Plotosidae, Pomacanthidae, Pomacentridae, Priacanthidae and Rachycentridae) showed the occurrence of molecular diagnostic pure characters. The DNA barcoding database developed during this study will help ichthyologists to identify and resolve the taxonomic ambiguities they may encounter with the fishes occurring in The Gulf and throughout the region.     

Food habits of the Arabian skink,Scincus hemprichii Wiegmann, 1837, (Sauria: Scincidae), in the Southwest Saudi Arabia

Food and feeding habits of the Arabian skink, Scincus hemprichii were investigated in Jazan province, southwest of Saudi Arabia. S. hemprichii individuals fed during eleven months of the year. The mass of food in the stomachs indicated that a high degree of foraging success occurred during the warm spring while the lowest was during winter with January as an exception to feeding by the lizard. Analysis of the contents of 60 stomachs revealed that the diet of S. hemprichii in the study area consisted of arthropods, with two species of beetles of the family Dermestidae (Dermestis vulpinus and Dermestis maculates) and three type of dipteran larvae, accounting for 76% of the total volume of the food items. Specimens collected during January had empty stomachs.     

The frequency of middle phalangeal hair in Saudi Arabia.

Middle phalangeal hair was found to be present in 71% if Saudi Arabian males. For those exhibiting this trait, the frequency of combinations of digits with hair was similar to the frequency in other populations.     

Plasma carnitine status - a prognostic factor in children with dilated cardiomyopathy

Summary Objective - Dilated cardiomyopathy is a rare disorder in childhood that results in a high mortality. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognostic relevance of the individual plasma carnitine status in children with dilated cardiomyopathy. Methods - In 26 patients plasma carnitine concentrations were determined before and after 6 and 12 months of L-carnitine treatment. According to the plasma short chain acyl-carnitine/free carnitine ratio (AC/FC) at the first presentation children were divided into two groups. Results - In group 1 (AC/FC < 0.4) the median time from diagnosis until death was 35.8 months, the cumulative survival rate was 84% after 2 years. In group 2 (AC/FC > 0.4) median time from diagnosis until death was 8 months, the cumulative survival rate was 50% at 2 years (p < 0.05).Dividing both groups into survivors and nonsurvivors in group 2 a significantly higher AC/FC ratio in the nonsurvivors could be found (survivors 0.78 v 1.3 in nonsurvivors). A significant improvement of left ventricular function 6 and 12 months after presentation and after starting L-carnitine treatment could only be documented in the surviving patients of group 2. Conclusion - The individual plasma carnitine status in children with dilated cardiomyopathy may serve as a risk factor for survival.     

An analytical comparison of cobalt cardiomyopathy and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

Toxic cardiomyopathy (TC) has a rapid clinical course and morphologically resembles idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC). To further characterize TC, we used light microscopy to compare lesions caused by cobalt (Co) to those of IDC. Cobalt levels were also measured as a chemical marker to differentiate TC from IDC. We reviewed cases with TC and IDC and excluded all cases with chemotherapy-induced myopathy and catecholamine toxicity as well as cases with possible infectious, ischemic, or hypersensitivity-induced myopathies. We compared the light microscopic findings of 12 TC cases to 12 cases of IDC, and measured trace Co levels on digested heart tissue samples. The TC cases had prominent myofibrillar loss and atrophy; no cases had neutrophil infiltration or frank myocyte necrosis. In contrast, IDC had minimal myofibril loss and atrophy. Cobalt levels in the range of 0.6 to 5.45 μg/g of dry tissue were obtained for the TC cases, while IDC demonstrated Co levels of 0.01–0.2 μg/g. Distinction between TC and IDC is predominantly a function of myocyte change, with TC showing myofibrillar loss and atrophy in the absence of inflammatory infiltrates and fibrosis; IDC is predominantly associated with myocyte hypertrophy, atrophy, and fibrosis. The opinions or assertions expressed herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as representing the views of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.     

Prevalence of adenoviruses as ocular disease causatives in Saudi Arabia

Although Human Adenoviruses outbreaks are rare, there still could be a potential chance for those viruses to mutate and spread quickly in human populations with severe public health and socioeconomic consequences. Outbreaks often spread fairly quickly with considerable morbidity/mortality. Saudi Arabia’s geopolitical and religious significance bring with it, millions of pilgrims, and tourists yearly. This presents a significant potential for HAdVs epidemics. This review shows that even with the mushrooming serotypes and genotypes, the scholarly knowledge on the nature, structure, transmission, and management of HAdVs is already well-established. Significant research is ongoing on pharmacological interventions, which, presently remain speculative and lacking in effectiveness. This review similarly uncovers a shortage of literature, both recent and dated, on epidemic keratoconjunctivitis in either Saudi Arabia or the Middle East.     

Breast cancer in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), hospital and population based statistics have shown that breast cancer has the highest crude frequency rate among Saudi women. The scarcity of reports about the disease in the KSA has been the impetus to this analysis about breast cancer in the eastem province of KSA. Data on female patients with invasive breast carcinoma seen at King Fahd Hospital of the University in the eastern province of KSA, were retrospectively reviewed. The analysis intended to examine the pattern of the disease and the outcome for patients. Between 1985 and 1995, 292 patients were identified. Their median age±SD (standard deviation) was 42±10.5 years. Most patients were younger than 50 years (78%) and were predominantly premenopausals (79%). Only 25 (9%) of patients had stage I cancer, whilst 130 (44%), 90 (30%), and 47 (16%) had stage II, III, and IV, respectively. Among patients with known axillary nodal status (242 patients), only 37% were node-negative whilst 32% and 31% had 1–3, and ≥4 positive nodes, respectively. Adjuvant chemotherapy and tamoxifen were commonly offered; nonetheless, other adjuvant modalities were rarely utilised. The median follow-up ±SD of all patients was 62.3±8.9 months: 152 patients (52%) were alive with no evidence of disease, 25 (9%) were alive with evidence of disease, and 115 (39%) were dead from breast cancer or its related complications. The median survival of the entire group was not obtained, but the 10-year projected survival was 55%. For stage I and II patients, 118 (76%) were alive with a projected 10-year actuarial survival of 64%. On the other hand, only 51 (57%) of patients with stage III disease were alive with a median survival of 41.5 months (95% Confidence interval (CI), 18.9 to 51.3). Patients with stage IV disease demonstrated a poor outcome with a median survival of 23.5 (95%, CI 12.2 to 31.4). Multivariate analyses were performed to explore the influence of independent variables on overall survival (OS) for patients with non-metastatic disease. Besides the expected adverse effect of disease progression, the favourable influence of adjuvant chemotherapy and tamoxifen prevailed. The amount of benefit gained from tamoxifen, however, was small. Similar analyses were undertaken to determine the influence of independent variables on progression-free survival (PFS). These analyses ascertained the adverse effects of advanced stage and the favourable impact of adjuvant chemotherapy. Breast cancer in the KSA has features that are distinctive from those of industrialised countries. Survival data, however, were comparable. The favourable influence of adjuvant chemotherapy was evident on both OS and PFS. Adjuvant tamoxifen, however, had little effect. Due to its infrequent use, the role of other adjuvant modalities could not be asserted.     

Population development of Arabian Gazelles,Gazella arabica,on the Farasan Islands,Saudi Arabia (Mammalia: Bovidae)

The population of the Arabian Gazelle (Gazella arabica) was assessed on Farasan Kebir, the main island of the Farasan Archipelago (Saudi Arabia), from June 2010 to January 2013, using road strip counts. Two methods of estimating the population size were applied to analyse data obtained from the road strip count: (i) the traditional technique after Bothma, with a fixed strip width, and (ii) distance sampling using DISTANCE 6.0. Estimates varied between 483 gazelles (95% CI: 44) in November 2010 and 1070 gazelles (95% CI: 63) in June 2010. The number of gazelles estimated for Farasan Kebir using distance sampling is 2388 gazelles (95% CI: 921) in December 2011, 1199 gazelles (95% CI: 1372) in June 2012, and 1048 gazelles (95% CI:1524) in January 2013. Taking into account previous counts (1988–2009) the population seems, despite considerable variations, surprisingly stable. This may be attributed to a prevailing fishing culture among local residents and thus the absence of traditional hunting as well as the ranger activities on the islands. The disparity between the two estimation methods decreased to only 270 gazelles in January 2013 and provides additional confidence in the future application of both estimation techniques.The traditional technique is recommended as the more practical method for rangers and conservation mangers to determine population changes.     

First report with morphometrics and molecular characterization of phtyonematodes associating mango trees in the tropics of Saudi Arabia

A sum of 218 composite rhizosphere soil samples were collected from around the feeder roots of mango, Mangifera indica growing in Jazan region, the tropical south west corner of Saudi Arabia. Samples were rendered for nematodes extraction using the centrifugal floatation method, and the stylet-bearing nematodes were morphologically identified according to the standardized taxonomical keys. A list of 14 stylet-bearing nematode genera and/or species were found to be associating the roots of mango in this study. Species identification of the most important parasitic nematodes, in this list, was carried-out, based on morphometrics and morphological features. Identification of these species was then molecularly confirmed using the D3 expansion region of 28S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene. These nematodes included; Tylenchorhynchus mediterraneus, Hoplolaimus seinhorsti, Hemicriconemoides strictathecatus, Longidorus latocephalus and Xiphinema elongatum. Some new local nematode-host records in Saudi Arabia were recorded including; Aphelenchus sp., H. strictathecatus, L. latocephalus, and T. mediterraneus. Some new world nematode-host records were also reported including; L. latocephalus and T. mediterraneus.     

Phytophagous and predaceous mites associated with vegetable crops from Riyadh,Saudi Arabia

This study was conducted to investigate phytophagous and predatory mites associated with vegetable plants in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Eight phytophagous and 10 predacious mites were collected from 14 species of vegetable crops covering five major production localities. Out of these 18 mite species, 13 species are new to the mite fauna of Saudi Arabia. In addition, the two species, Tenuipalpus punicae and Agistemus exsertus, are reported for the first time on vegetable crops in Saudi Arabia. For each mite species found, notes on host plant association and occurrence period are given. An illustrated key for the identification of the 18 mite species reported in this study is provided and this can be used to improve the IPM programs by applying the local natural predatory mites in controlling mite pests in Saudi Arabia.