Knowledge,Attitudes and Perceptions of Saudis towards Participating in Clinical Trials

Aim

To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of Saudis towards participating in clinical trials (CTs).

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 232 Saudi adult patients and their companions visiting adult outpatient clinics at King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire based on information obtained from the literature. The questionnaire was divided into four sections, one covering the respondents’ demographics, and the other three assessing knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions towards participating in CTs.

Results

A total of 148 (63.8%) respondents were males, and 52 (22.4%) participants had been invited to participate in a CT previously. Of those, 39 (75%) participated. Knowledge about the essential elements of informed consent ranged from 55.7% (number of participants needed) to 85.7% (confidentiality of personal information). The majority (163, 73.8%) of respondents was willing to participate in a CT after consulting their family physician and 130 (58.0%) respondents would be motivated to participate in a CT if they were healthy. Only 36.8% of the respondents believed that patients who participated in a CT received the best care. Moreover, 110 (48.7%) respondents believed that research was conducted in a responsible and ethical manner.

Conclusions

The present study assessed the current understanding of CTs among Saudi participants. Although the majority of participants had an acceptable level of knowledge about CTs, they exhibited conditional attitudes and misperceptions towards participating in a CT. Increased patient awareness may improve patients’ attitudes towards ethical conduct of CTs.     

Design and characterization of electrochemical dopamine–aptamer as convenient and integrated sensing platform

Here, an ultrasensitive label-free electrochemical aptasensor was developed for dopamine (DA) detection. Construction of the aptasensor was carried out by electrodeposition of gold–platinum nanoparticles (Au–PtNPs) on glassy carbon (GC) electrode modified with acid-oxidized carbon nanotubes (CNTs–COOH). A designed complementary amine-capped capture probe (ssDNA1) was immobilized at the surface of PtNPs/CNTs–COOH/GC electrode through the covalent amide bonds formed by the carboxyl groups on the nanotubes and the amino groups on the oligonucleotides. DA-specific aptamer was attached onto the electrode surface through hybridization with the ssDNA1. Methylene blue (MB) was used as an electrochemical indicator that was intercalated into the aptamer through the specific interaction with its guanine bases. In the presence of DA, the interaction between aptamer and DA displaced the MB from the electrode surface, rendering a lowered electrochemical signal attributed to a decreased amount of adsorbed MB. This phenomenon can be applied for DA detection. The peak current of probe (MB) linearly decreased over a DA concentration range of 1–30 nM with a detection limit of 0.22 nM.     

Proteomic analysis of sensitive and multi drug resistant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium tuberculosis</Emphasis> strains

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is caused by bacteria that are resistant to the most effective anti TB drugs (Isoniazid and Rifampicin) with or without resistance to other drugs. Novel intervention strategies to eliminate this disease based on finding proteins can be used for designing new drugs or new and reliable kits for diagnosis. The aim of this study was to compare the protein profile of MDR-TB with sensitive isolates. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) along with mass spectrometry is a powerful and effective tool to identification and characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry was used for diagnosis and comparison of proteins. We identified 14 protein spots in MDR-TB isolates that 2DE analysis showed these spots absent in M. tuberculosis sensitive isolates (Rv1876, Rv0379, Rv0147, Rv2031c, Rv3597c, Rv1886c, MT0493, Rv0440, Rv3614c, Rv1626, Rv0443, Rv0475, Rv3057 and unknown protein. The results showed 22 protein spots which were up regulated (or expressed) by the MDR-TB isolates, (Rv1240, Rv3028c, Rv2971, Rv2114c, Rv3311, Rv3699, Rv1023, Rv1308, Rv3774, Rv0831c, Rv2890c, Rv1392, Rv0719, Rv0054, Rv3418c, Rv0462, Rv2215, Rv2986c, Rv3248c and Rv1908c)). Two up regulated protein spots were identified in sensitive isolate (Rv1133c and Rv0685). These data will provide valuable clues in further investigation for suitable TB rapid tests or drug targets against drug resistant and sensitive of M. tuberculosis.     

Effects of fusaric acid treatment on the protocorm-like bodies of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dendrobium</Emphasis> sonia-28

Dendrobium sonia-28 is a popular orchid hybrid due to its flowering recurrence and dense inflorescences. Unfortunately, it is being decimated by fungal diseases, especially those caused by Fusarium proliferatum. In this study, selection of F. proliferatum-tolerant protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) was carried out by assessing the effects of differing concentrations of fusaric acid (FA). PLBs were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.05 to 0.2 millimolar (mM) concentrations of FA. Higher concentrations of FA increased mortality of PLBs and reduced their growth. The survival rate for 0.05 mM FA was 20 % but only 1 % at the highest dose of 0.2 mM. Additionally, two different size ranges of PLBs were investigated, and growth increased more at lower FA concentrations for larger PLBs, whilst the growth rate of smaller PLBs was inhibited at an FA concentration of 0.2 mM. Histological examination using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses disclosed severe cell wall and organelle damage, as well as stomatal closure in PLBs treated with the high FA concentrations. Reductions in plantlet growth were much greater at the highest concentrations of FA. Some randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers clearly discriminated between selected and non-selected variants of Dendrobium sonia-28, showing different banding patterns for each FA concentration and specific bands for selected and control plants.     

Identification and inhibition of carbonic anhydrases from nematodes

Abstract

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are metalloenzymes, and classified into the evolutionarily distinct α, β, γ, δ, ζ, and η classes. α-CAs are present in many living organisms. β- and γ-CAs are expressed in most prokaryotes and eukaryotes, except for vertebrates. δ- and ζ-CAs are present in phytoplanktons, and η-CAs have been found in Plasmodium spp. Since the identification of α- and β-CAs in Caenorhabditis elegans, the nematode CAs have been considered as an emerging target in research focused on antiparasitic CA inhibitors. Despite the presence of α-CAs in both helminths and vertebrates, structural studies have revealed different kinetic and inhibition results. Moreover, lack of β-CAs in vertebrates makes this enzyme as an attractive target for inhibitory studies against helminthic infection. Some CA inhibitors, such as sulfonamides, have been evaluated against nematode CAs. This review article aims to present comprehensive information about the nematode CAs and their inhibitors as potential anthelminthic drugs.     

NPR3 protects cardiomyocytes from apoptosis through inhibition of cytosolic BRCA1 and TNF-α

Natriuretic peptide receptor 3 (NPR3) is a clearance receptor by binding and internalizing natriuretic peptides (NPs) for ultimate degradation. Patients with cardiac failure show elevated NPs. NPs are linked to poor long-term survival because of their apoptotic effects. However, the underling mechanisms have not been identified yet. Here we report the role of NPR3 in anti-apoptosis via the breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein (BRCA1) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α ). To demonstrate a role for NPR3 in apoptosis, stable H9C2 cardiomyocyte cell lines using shRNA to knockdown NPR3 were generated. The activities of caspase-3, 8, and 9 were significantly increased in NPR3 knockdown H9C2 cardiomyocytes. Knockdown of NPR3 increased the expression of BRCA1. Also NPR3 knockdown remarkably increased the activity of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), a positive regulatory element for BRCA1 expression. BRCA1 showed dispersed nuclear localization in non-cardiomyocytes while predominantly cytoplasmic localization in H9C2 cells. Meanwhile, NPR3 knockdown significantly increased TNF-α gene expression. These data show that NPR3 knockdown in H9C2 cells triggered both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways. NPR3 protects cardiomyocytes from apoptosis through inhibition of cytosolic BRCA1 and TNF-α, which are regulators of apoptosis. Our studies demonstrate anti-apoptosis role of NPR3 in protecting cardiomyocytes and establish the first molecular link between NP system and programmed cell death.