The influence of polymorphisms in the drug transporter,ABCB1 on the toxicity of glucocorticoids in Saudi children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Background

Glucocorticoids play essential roles in the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL); however, treatment with these agents can result in severe side-effects. This study, the first of its kind in a Saudi population, investigates associations of ABCB1 gene polymorphisms (pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic) with the development of toxicity and side effects (glucose abnormality, liver toxicity and infection) in a small population of Saudi children with ALL.

Biallelic Pathogenic GFRA1 Variants Cause Autosomal Recessive Bilateral Renal Agenesis

Open in a separate window     

Work related injuries in Qatar: a framework for prevention and control

Work related injuries (WRIs) are a growing public health concern that remains under-recognized, inadequately addressed and largely unmeasured in low and middle-income countries (LMIC’s). However, even in high-income countries, such as those in Gulf Cooperating Council (GCC) like Qatar, there are challenges in assuring the health and safety of its labor population. Countries in the GCC have been rapidly developing as a result of the economic boom from the petrochemical industry during the early seventies. Economic prosperity has propelled the migration of workers from less developed countries to make up for the human resource deficiency to develop its infrastructure, service and hospitality industries. Although these countries have gradually made huge gains in health, economy and human development index, including improvements in life expectancy, education, and standard of living, there remains a high incidence of work-related injuries especially in jobs in the construction and petrochemical sector. Currently, there is scarcity of literature on work-related injuries, especially empirical studies documenting the burden, characteristics and risk factors of work injuries and the work injured population, which includes large numbers of migrant workers in many GCC countries. This paper will focus on the current understanding of WRIs in those countries and identify the gaps in current approaches to workplace injury prevention, outlining current status of WRI prevention efforts in Qatar, and propose a framework of concerted action by multi-sectoral engagement.     

Mosquito and tick repellency of two Anthemis essential oils from Saudi Arabia

The essential oils (EOs) of Anthemis melampodina (Am) and Anthemis scrobicularis (As) (Asteraceae) were extracted from the aerial parts of the plants by hydrodistillation, and their chemical compositions were analyzed using GC-FID and GC-MS. Fifty-six components representing 85.5% of the oil composition of Anthemis melampdina were identified, and the major components were α-pinene (17.1%) and β-eudesmol (13.8%). Forty-one components representing 86% of the oil composition of Anthemis scrobicularis were identified, and the major component was β-eudesmol (12.8%). Laboratory bioassays were conducted to determine repellency of Am and As EOs against the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti L. and the lone star tick Amblyomma americanum L. The minimum effective doses (MEDs) of the Am and As EOs against mosquitoes were 0.187?±?0.000 and 0.312?±?0.063?mg/cm² respectively, which were significantly higher than that of DEET (0.023?±?0.000?mg/cm²) in human-based repellent bioassays. The As EO was more repellent than Am EO against nymphal ticks but was less effective than DEET in vertical paper bioassays.