Biomedical Sciences and Public Health

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Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Onion Peels Extract and Fortification of White Wheat Flour to Prevent Health Hazard
(Al-Quds University, Deanship of Scientific Research, 2020-09-10) Karaki, Hadeel; Maswadeh, Iman; Abu Khalaf, Eman; Awawdeh, Ihsan; Wadaah, Salam; Hamdan, May
The oxidation eliminates health benefits of edible oil and cause many human hazards, which can be reduced by using natural antioxidant phenolic extracts. Yellow onion peel has been reported to contain the phenols of different structures. When olive oil is fortified by antioxidant’s extract from onion peels, it can decrease oxidation. This study aims to delay oxidation in virgin olive oil. The samples of onion peels and olive oil were collected and stored in a good condition until use. The onion peels were washed, dried and ground samples were introduced into the 80% aqueous ethanol (ethanol: water, 80:20 v/v) with a ratio of 1:30 (sample: solvent) for 30 minutes along with ultrasonic shaking. The extracts were separated from the residues by filtering through filter paper. The combined extracts were concentrated and freed of solvent under vacuum at 45oC, using rotary evaporator. The dried crude concentrated extracts were stored in a refrigerator (-4 ◦C) until needed The total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of onion peels extract will estimate it. The onion peel extracts will be added in three concentrations (300, 600 & 900 ppm) to the virgin olive oil. Treated and untreated (control) oil samples will be stored in the dark at ambient temperature (approx. 25C and 40C) for 80 days. The samples will be analyzed before and after the extract is added with acid value, Peroxidevalue, Lodinevalue, Anisidinevalue, K232 and k270. The yellow onion skin extracts have antimicrobial activity in relation to E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus as the method will determine. The extract showed antioxidant and antimicrobial activity; it was effective in preventing formation of hazardous compounds, and therefore increased shelf life of oils.
Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Onion Peels Extract and Fortification of White Wheat Flour to Prevent Health Hazard
(Al-Quds University, Deanship of Scientific Research, 2019-09-10) Karaki, Hadeel; Maswadeh, Iman; Abu Khalaf, Eman; Awawdeh, Ihsan
The oxidation eliminates health benefits of edible oil and cause many human hazards, which can be reduced by using natural antioxidant phenolic extracts. Yellow onion peel has been reported to contain the phenols of different structures. When olive oil is fortified by antioxidant’s extract from onion peels, it can decrease oxidation. This study aims to delay oxidation in virgin olive oil. The samples of onion peels and olive oil were collected and stored in a good condition until use. The onion peels were washed, dried and ground samples were introduced into the 80% aqueous ethanol (ethanol: water, 80:20 v/v) with a ratio of 1:30 (sample: solvent) for 30 minutes along with ultrasonic shaking. The extracts were separated from the residues by filtering through filter paper. The combined extracts were concentrated and freed of solvent under vacuum at 45oC, using rotary evaporator. The dried crude concentrated extracts were stored in a refrigerator (-4 ◦C) until needed The total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of onion peels extract will estimate it. The onion peel extracts will be added in three concentrations (300, 600 & 900 ppm) to the virgin olive oil. Treated and untreated (control) oil samples will be stored in the dark at ambient temperature (approx. 25C and 40C) for 80 days. The samples will be analyzed before and after the extract is added with acid value, Peroxidevalue, Lodinevalue, Anisidinevalue, K232 and k270. The yellow onion skin extracts have antimicrobial activity in relation to E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus as the method will determine. The extract showed antioxidant and antimicrobial activity; it was effective in preventing formation of hazardous compounds, and therefore increased shelf life of oils.
The Association between Dopamine Score and Feedback-Based Learning in Healthy Undergraduates
(Al-Quds University, Deanship of Scientific Research, 2019-09-10) Arda, Yasmin
People vary in their cognitive performance. In particular, evidence shows that the neurotransmitter dopamine plays an important role in modulating feedback-based learning. Enhanced dopamine levels are related to better learning from positive feedback. Decreased dopamine levels mediate learning from negative feedback. Naturally-occurring differences in dopamine genes contribute to individual differences in feedback-based learning. In the brain, dopamine exerts its actions via receptors located pre and post synaptically. There are several genes involved in regulating the function of the dopaminergic system. Dopamine transporter (DAT1) and dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) regulate and modulate dopamine signaling presynaptically, whereas the dopamine receptor (DRD1) and (DRD2) transmit dopaminergic signals postsynaptically. In our study, we created a dopamine score based on the effects of functional polymorphisms in the aforementioned dopamine genes to consider a pathway-based analysis of individual differences in dopamine functionality based on naturally-occurring polymorphisms. We recruited a sample of 423 healthy undergraduate students from Al-Quds University. All participants completed a battery of psychopathology tests. Furthermore, subjects were administered a computer-based probabilistic categorical feedback-based learning task that dissociated learning from positive and negative feedback. We found that the value of the dopamine score is positively correlated with the efficiency of dopamine neurotransmission. Subjects with higher dopamine scores showed better learning accompanied by the shortest response time for both reward and punishment. These results highlight the importance of examining the collective variations in the dopamine circuitry in the brain. Such scores can be significant in understanding the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders that are related to dopamine such as major depressive disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Bacterial Contamination on Used Toothbrushes
(Al-Quds University, Deanship of Scientific Research, 2019-09-10) Abu Saymeh, Sara
My senior project is about the bacterial contamination of used toothbrushes aims to evaluate and identify the bacterial contamination on daily used toothbrushes. I distributed 50 toothbrushes among students living in dorms. They signed a consent form, and I asked them a questionnaire. By the 1st of March, I collected, analyzed and figured out the types of bacteria found on the distributed toothbrushes. Then I connected my results with the questionnaire they answered.
Body Mass Index and Lifestyle Habits as Predictors of Health in Palestinian Adults: A cross-Sectional Study
(Al-Quds University, Deanship of Scientific Research, 2019-09-10) Warasneh, Beesan
prevalence of obesity has led to rising numbers of hypertension, dyslipidaemia, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and other leading conditions. Poor lifestyle, in the form of poor diet and lack of proper sleep and exercise can be attributed to comorbidity and decrease in overall health. Little is known about eating habits, sleeping habits, and the prevalence of obesity in Palestinian adults. A team of trained medical-students conducted a cross-sectional study of Palestinian adults aged between 18 and 60 years old. Stratified random sample of 2500 adults is selected based on governorates, and an interview-aided questionnaire is used for data collection in addition to measures of weight, height, and waist circumference. 2106 Palestinian adults have been selected with a participation rate of 83%. Preliminary results show that the sample is 43.6% male, 56.4% female with a mean age of 33.2 years (SD=12.8). Mean calculated BMI of the sample was 26.5 (SD=5.6) with a mean height of 1.67 m (SD=0.09). Participant distribution according to living area was 39% urban, 53.7% rural, and 7.3% living in refugee camps. The majority of the sample was married (55.3%) or single (42.2%) with the rest being either divorced or widowed. 901 (42.8%) participants had at least 1 child with a mean of 4.56 (SD=2.58) children per participant. 52.3% of the sample had poor sleeping habits, 74.3% had poor eating habits, and 32.5% of the overall sample were smokers. Hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidaemia were the most common illnesses reported with rates of 7.5%, 5.1%, and 3.4%, respectively. Conclusion: It was found that Palestinians exhibit poor eating and sleeping habits and have a large percentage of smokers. Disease prevalence was found to agree with international studies in that hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidaemia were found to be the most common diseases. In light of this, we believe that the Palestinian population is in dire need of educational programmes to better improve their lifestyle in such a way that reflects on their habits and disease prevalence.
Characterizing Goal-Directed Behavior in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorde
(Al-Quds University, Deanship of Scientific Research, 2020-09-10) Hrizat, Alaa S.; Mustafa, Mousa S.; Abuhilal, Anfal A.; Herzallah, Mohammad M.; Natsheh, Joman Y.
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by symptoms of inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Children with ADHD show impaired motivational behavior. For example, they tend to select small, immediate over large, delayed rewards. They might be unable to predict the consequences of their actions showing a deficit in action-control strategies. Goals and habits are the two behavioral mechanisms that control actions. Balancing these two behaviors leads to normal action-control. In previous studies, we found that rat models of ADHD demonstrated over-reliance on habits and poor goal-directed actions. This deficit was restored by administering methylphenidate (the most commonly used psychostimulant in ADHD treatment), dopamine D2 receptor agonist or dopamine D1 receptor antagonist. Further, in another pilot study, we found that children with ADHD are less reliant on goal-directed behavior compared to healthy children. In this study, we examined action-control patterns in children with ADHD on- and off- methylphenidate. We hypothesize that on-methylphenidate patients will show different patterns of action-control compared to off-methylphenidate patients. We tested 7 off-medication and 7 on-medication, 6-10 years old children with ADHD, and 13 healthy controls. Participants were 6-10 years old and were group matched for age and sex. We tested patterns of action-control using a computer-based task of the outcome devaluation paradigm that consists of three phases; a training phase, a devaluation phase and a choice test. Children with ADHD were successful at acquiring action-outcome associations as well as showing higher tendency on goal-directed responses. However, throughout the task, on- methylphenidate children showed (1) lower number of errors, (2) higher reaction times and (3) no difference in action-control responses (goals vs. habits). These results indicate that methylphenidate was beneficial in modulating symptoms of ADHD by reducing the number of errors during learning and increasing children’s response times; but it was not effective in improving children’s cognitive profile, reflected by similar action-control patterns in both on and off-medication states.
Characterizing Goal-Directed Behavior in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
(Al-Quds University, Deanship of Scientific Research, 2019-09-10) Hrizat, Ala’
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by symptoms of inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Children with ADHD show impaired motivational behavior. For example, they tend to select small, immediate over large, delayed rewards. They might be unable to predict the consequences of their actions showing a deficit in action-control strategies. Goals and habits are the two behavioral mechanisms that control actions. Balancing these two behaviors leads to normal action-control. In previous studies, we found that rat models of ADHD demonstrated over-reliance on habits and poor goal-directed actions. This deficit was restored by administering methylphenidate (the most commonly used psychostimulant in ADHD treatment), dopamine D2 receptor agonist or dopamine D1 receptor antagonist. Further, in another pilot study, we found that children with ADHD are less reliant on goal-directed behavior compared to healthy children. In this study, we examined action-control patterns in children with ADHD on- and off- methylphenidate. We hypothesize that on-methylphenidate patients will show different patterns of action-control compared to off-methylphenidate patients. We tested 7 off-medication and 7 on-medication, 6-10 years old children with ADHD, and 13 healthy controls. Participants were 6-10 years old and were group matched for age and sex. We tested patterns of action-control using a computer-based task of the outcome devaluation paradigm that consists of three phases; a training phase, a devaluation phase and a choice test. Children with ADHD were successful at acquiring action-outcome associations as well as showing higher tendency on goal-directed responses. However, throughout the task, on- methylphenidate children showed (1) lower number of errors, (2) higher reaction times and (3) no difference in action-control responses (goals vs. habits). These results indicate that methylphenidate was beneficial in modulating symptoms of ADHD by reducing the number of errors during learning and increasing children’s response times; but it was not effective in improving children’s cognitive profile, reflected by similar action-control patterns in both on and off-medication states.
Curcumin Nitrification Enhances Its Anti-Cancer and Anti-Inflammatory Effects
(Al-Quds University, Deanship of Scientific Research, 2019-09-10) Bahar, Raghad
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, and most drugs currently available for the treatment of cancer have limited potential. Natural products or their structural relatives have been the mainstay of cancer chemotherapy for the past few decades and still comprise about 50% of the drugs that are used for cancer chemotherapy. Curcumin is one of the natural drugs that recently attracted close attention due to its putative cancer-preventing and even anticancer properties on its own. In addition, since its discovery as a crucial signaling molecule, great hopes are emerging for new Nitric Oxide-based treatments of a wide variety of diseases. Here, we tested the anti-cancer effects of Nitro-Curcumin. We hypothesized that by joining the effects of curcumin and NO in one compound, the treatment and prevention of cancer will be more potent than curcumin alone since this compound retains the pharmacological activity of the parent compound curcumin and also has the biological actions of NO, a strategy that has not been implemented before in cancer treatment and prevention. To compare the anti-cancer effects of curcumin and NO-curcumin, we treated different cancer cell lines using both compounds and tested their effects on different cancer cell lines’ proliferation and death. Because colitis is a colon cancer predisposing factor, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of NO-curcumin in mice in vivo using dextran sulfate-induced colitis model. Our results showed that NO-curcumin is more effective in reducing cell proliferation and increasing cell death when compared to curcumin alone. In addition NO-curcumin has a lower half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) compared to curcumin. Altogether, our results demonstrate, for the first time, that NO-curcumin has more potent anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects, which makes it a potential future treatment for cancer and inflammation.
Determining the Impact of the ASP Health Club’s Non-Smoking Initiative Awareness Campaign on Elementary Students’ Exposure to Second-Hand Smoking
(Al-Quds University, Deanship of Scientific Research, 2019-09-10) Attili, Yasmin; Jaber, Omar; Musa, Tala
The purpose of this study was to determine whether the ASP Heart Health Club awareness campaigns had an effect on children’s exposure to second-hand smoke or not. The sample we have chosen was a random sample, with a number of approximately two hundred participants composed of both genders. The study targeted students from the age of eight through ten. The study was a qualitative one, including a question in the form of a survey about students’ lifestyle, specifically their exposure to second hand smoke at home. The data was collected recorded and analyzed thrice over the course of the school year. The first data point was collected prior to the initiation of the campaign and twice more after the campaign. It seems that our awareness campaign has had a slight impact on the children’s behavior regarding those who smoke around them. More research needs to be done on educating children about the negative effects of second-hand smoke and finding ways for children to influence the adults around them about healthy choices for their households and the public places where there may be smoking present.
Determining the Impact of the ASP Health Club’s Nutrition Initiative Awareness Campaign on Elementary Students’ Eating Habits
(Al-Quds University, Deanship of Scientific Research, 2019-09-10) Tawil, Omar; Khatib, Hala; Hijjeh, Noor
Recent modernization is day by day dominating our life more than ever before. That modernization impacts a lot of aspects, and one of the most crucial aspects is human nutrition. It impacts all ages; however, specifically, those in third grade through fifth grade. The purpose of this study was to measure the effectiveness and impact of the ASP Heart Health Club awareness campaigns on the students’ daily eating habits that are affected by modern-day nutrition styles and to know the extent to which those little ones may be at risk and help them. We collected information including: weight, height, and BMI from approximately two hundred third through fifth graders of both genders along with a survey containing questions regarding their daily eating habits. The questions were about the number of fruits eaten in a day, and whether or not junk food was eaten also. The data was collected, recorded and analyzed thrice using a clinical chart to allot the results precisely. The data was processed for the presence of outliers, which were statistically removed. Based on the data collected, we found a slight increase the number of fruits and vegetables eaten on a daily basis, but no significant reduction in the amount of junk food eaten by the students. According to similar studies, these types of campaigns that aim to provide healthier food alternatives for kids have succeeded almost everywhere especially because those grades are the ones mostly at risk to develop unhealthy eating habits. We believe that longer study duration and a more effective campaign program may lead to better awareness of the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and making better nutritional choices.
Determining the Impact of the ASP Health Club’s Sports Initiative Awareness Campaign on Elementary Students’ Physical Activity Habits
(Al-Quds University, Deanship of Scientific Research, 2019-09-10) Ghosheh, Farouq; Attili, Noura; Al-Sahili, Zaina
Ever increasing sedentary lifestyles have brought on many issues in the health and wellness of school aged children, particularly those in the third grade through fifth grade level. According to a literature review by the Dominican University of California, awareness is directly associated with an increase in fitness levels; the relation between them a positive one. The purpose of this study was to determine if the awareness program at the American School of Palestine had any tangible effects on its students. It sought to measure the correlation between the school’s activities in the awareness program conducted by members of the ASP Heart Health Club and two of its students’ daily habits: time spent on electronic devices, and time spent on physical activities. The data was gathered from the subjects by means of a questionnaire and clinical charts recording the students’ height and weight in order to calculate their individual BMIs. Participants in this study included all students of the third grade through the fifth grade level, featuring both genders, and amounting to approximately two hundred individuals. The data was collected thrice, recorded and analyzed for the presence of outliers which were removed. Our data indicated that we were able to decrease the amount of time students spent on electronic devices and increase the time spent on physical activity at the fourth grade level. There seemed to be a minimal or negative effect with the third and fifth grade students on average. We believe that a longer study duration and a more effective campaign program may lead to better awareness of the importance of maintaining a healthy and fit lifestyle.
Effect of Sociodemographic Factors and Antipsychotics on Quality of Life in Palestinian Patients with Schizophrenia
(Al-Quds University, Deanship of Scientific Research, 2019-09-10) Salhab, Asalah
Quality of life has a vital role in developing treatments that can help individuals with schizophrenia to lead more fulfilling and satisfying lives. To date, there are limited studies regarding the quality of life (QoL) in patients with schizophrenia in Palestine. To evaluate the impact of sociodemographic factors and antipsychotics on quality of life in Palestinian patients with schizophrenia, we used the SF-36 Questionnaire. Method: Eighty patients with schizophrenia were interviewed in both HEBRON Community Mental Health Center and Dr. Kamal Mental health hospital in Bethlehem. Data was gathered between the end of December, 2017 and the beginning of February, 2018. Data was collected by the administration of SF-36 Questionnaire during a personal interview with eighty patients. Medical files were used to obtain medication. Statistical analysis was performed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS), and data was analyzed by using parametric tests. A number of significant correlations were identified between QoL and the independent factors. There was no impact of gender on QoL. Similarly, the results show no significance difference in the QoL with respect to marital status. Our findings show that being employed was associated with better QoL in the physical function domain (PF) and the role physical domain (RF). Results also show a positive correlation between the two educational levels diploma degree and vocational degree and QoL in the physical function domain (PF) and the role emotional domain (RE). The results show no correlation between bachelor degree and QoL. Regarding place of living, schizophrenia patients who live in the city have better QoL in the bodily pain domain (BP) and in the social functioning domain (SF). In the current study, income higher than 4000 NIS/month was associated with high quality of life score. The study found that 82.5% of patients with schizophrenia live with a very low income, which is below 3000 NIS/month. Finally, our findings reveal that there is a significant correlation between QoL and patients who did not stay in a mental health hospital. Antipsychotic drugs are the cornerstone for the treatment of schizophrenia. These medications have always been of great interest in studying quality of life in schizophrenia. In our study, majority of the patients were receiving single typical antipsychotic medication (45%). Approximately 35.5% were receiving combinational antipsychotic medications (typical and atypical), and 20% were receiving atypical antipsychotic medications. The results show a positive significant difference between QoL and patients receiving atypical medications in the SF domain. The relationship between subjective treatment satisfaction and QoL in patients with schizophrenia was studied. Our results show that 82.5% of the patients were satisfied with their medication. Moreover, it was found that there is a positive correlation between satisfaction to medication and QoL in mental health domain (MH). The study indicates that 63.8% of schizophrenic patients are smokers. The results show that there is a positive significant difference between QoL and non-smoker patients in the RE and SF domain. Furthermore, results indicate a positive correlation between QoL and family support in all domains of the questionnaire. Unexpectedly, only 18% of our sample have medical conditions other than schizophrenia. In addition, the study found a negative correlation between age and QoL in the PF domain, which means poorer quality of life with increased age. Finally, we found a negative correlation between duration of illness and QoL (As duration of illness increases, QoL decreases). This study characterized the QoL of schizophrenic Palestinian patients and determined the factors that may impact it. The study shows that being employed was associated with better QoL. In addition, living in an area where access to specialist care is available increases QoL for schizophrenic patients. While the majority of the patients receive typical antipsychotic medication (45%), approximately 20% receive atypical antipsychotic medications. Relative to a study conducted in 2004 in which only 2% of patients received atypical medication, the increased use of atypical medication is a positive development. Consistent with literature reports, the results show a positive relationship between QoL and patients receiving atypical medications in the SF domain. This may be attributed to the known effect of atypical medications on negative symptoms. A positive correlation between satisfaction to medication and QoL in the MH domain was identified, in addition to a negative correlation with age (Poorer quality of life with increased age). Finally, we found a negative correlation between duration of illness and QoL (As duration of illness increases, QoL decreases).
The Influence of Dopamine Transporter Gene Polymorphisms on Hippocampus Cognitive Function of Generalization
(Al-Quds University, Deanship of Scientific Research, 2019-09-10) Aby Zayyad, Maram
The human ability to generalize previously learned information and stimuli to novel situations is essential for adaptation. It has been shown that the interactions between the basal ganglia and the medial temporal lobe may play a role in learning and generalization. Different genes are involved in regulating dopaminergic function in the basal ganglia. Synaptic dopamine signals are regulated by the dopamine transporter (DAT). Despite the significance of dopamine in modulating learning, it is still unclear how generalization can be modulated by the dopaminergic pathways. In this study, we will examine how dopamine regulates generalization by studying a naturally-occurring variable tandem repeats polymorphism, the 3’UTR VNTR, in the dopamine transporter gene (DAT1). The 3’UTR VNTR polymorphism regulates the expression of the DAT. A sample of 400 healthy participants from Al-Quds University completed an acquired equivalence computer-based cognitive task for generalization. This task aimed to evaluate the ability to learn stimulus associations and generalize the learned rules to novel stimuli. Our results showed that participants with the 9-repeat genotype, which is known to be associated with less DAT expression and higher levels of dopamine, exhibited better performance in the learning phase than participants who were 10/10 homozygotes (higher DAT and less dopamine). There was no effect of genotypes on performance in the generalization phase. Our study shows that dopamine levels could play an important role in regulating the learning process that relates to basal ganglia functionality. Dissociating the contributions of dopamine function to the basal ganglia vs. medial temporal lobe cognitive function can significantly further our understanding of these two crucial neural systems.
The Influence of Serotonin Transporter on Rule of generalization and Acquired Equivalence
(Al-Quds University, Deanship of Scientific Research, 2019-09-10) Jayousi, Leen
People vary in their cognitive performance; prior studies have shown that cognition is sub-served by different brain regions. For example, studies have demonstrated the significant and dissociable roles of the basal ganglia and medial temporal lobe in learning, memory and generalization. In particular, it has been suggested that the medial temporal lobe facilitates the formation of rules based on prior learning. These rules can be generalized to novel learning situations. Given the significant serotonergic input to the medial temporal structures, studies have focused on the influence of serotonin on generalization. In this study, we investigated the relation between serotonin and generalization by studying a naturally-occurring genetic haplotype of two single nucleotide polymorphisms in the serotonin transporter gene (SERT). The STPP polymorphism in the SERT regulates the expression of the serotonin transporter mRNA. On the other hand, the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism modulates the transcription of the serotonin transporter. A sample of 400 healthy undergraduates from Al-Quds University completed an acquired equivalence computer-based cognitive task for learning and generalization. Results showed that participants with low serotonin (AA-LL haplotype) of the STPP and 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms exhibit worse performance in the generalization phase than participants with high serotonin (CC-SS haplotype). These results can advance our understanding of the pathophysiology of various neuropsychiatric disorders that are related to serotonin like major depressive disorder where patients show structural deficits in the medial temporal lobe.
The Predictive Value of CBC for Febrile Seizures: Retrospective Study
(Al-Quds University, Deanship of Scientific Research, 2019-09-10) Hamarasha, Islam
Febrile seizures (FS) are seizures that occur between 3-72 months of age, with a temperature of 38 C or higher, absence of central nervous system infection, and incidence of 2-5% in neurologically healthy children. Two forms of FS are simple FS (SFS) and complex FS (CFS). The overlap between the peak FS onset and the onset of iron deficiency anemia diagnosis drives this study to investigate the relationship between anemia and febrile convulsion types. A retrograde study of 170 children between the ages of 6-72 months diagnosed with febrile seizures at different West-Bank hospitals during 2016, 2017, and 2018 was conducted. Data collection for the computerised documentation hospitalisation system for CBC values includes Haemoglobin (HB), Haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, and red blood cell distribution width. Analysis was performed on 127 patients, using IBM 23 SPSS. Results showed that FS was presented in two age peaks, at 18 and 24 months, presenting 8.7% each. The sample was distributed between 57.8% females and 42.2% males. Within different patterns of FS, generalized tonic clonic seizure presented the most frequent pattern in 88.3%, generalized Tonic 5.3%, generalized Atonic 3.2%, and focal 3.2%. Complexity was distributed as 78.6% simple and 21.4% complex. There were no significant differences between SFS and CFS patients in relation to age, grade of fever, gender, infection focus, and family history of febrile seizures, and no significant relation between the HB level and complexity (T(123)= 1.104, p= .272) or other inflammatory CBC markers. We suggest that hemoglobin may be an age dependent protective factor of SFS. Further data is planned to be collected to provide a larger sample and to add control cases to compare them with the febrile seizures patients.
Serotonin Transporter Genotype Modulates the Effects of Dopamine Transporter Genotype on Learning from Positive and Negative Feedback
(Al-Quds University, Deanship of Scientific Research, 2019-09-10) Abu Alrub, Majd
People vary in their learning from positive or negative feedback. Feedback-based learning is modulated by two main neuromodulators, dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine is a key player in positive feedback processing, where it promotes behavioral activation to seek reward. Serotonin has been linked to negative feedback processing and behavioral inhibition. Dopamine and serotonin levels are regulated in the brain by transporters; the dopamine transporter (DAT) and serotonin transporter (SERT), which are encoded by DAT1 gene and SLC6A4 gene, respectively. Evidence implies that serotonin regulates dopamine release, since dopamine function in reward processing, while serotonin is exhibits behavioral inhibitor which suppresses behavior. The cognitive effects of the interaction between dopamine and serotonin remain to be elucidated. In this study, we are pursuing a multidisciplinary approach to study the molecular and cognitive effects of the interaction of naturally- occurring polymorphisms; the 3′-UTR of the DAT1 gene, a variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) which controls the expression of DAT, and the STTP in the SLC6A4 gene which regulates the expression of SERT mRNA. Also, we will construct a neurocomputational model to study the interactions between dopamine and serotonin in feedback-based learning. We recruited a sample of 450 healthy participants from Al-Quds University. All participants completed a probabilistic categorical feedback-based learning task that differentiates learning from positive and negative feedback. Our results suggest that genes that modulate dopamine and serotonin levels affected reward learning but not punishment learning. When we held SLC6A4 constant and varied DAT1 genotypes, there was better learning from both reward and punishment with higher dopamine levels (9-repeat carriers) in the context of higher serotonin levels (short allele carriers). Conversely, there was no difference between DAT1 genotypes in learning from positive and negative feedback in the context of low serotonin levels (long allele homozygotes). When we held DAT1 genotypes constant, there were no differences between SLC6A4 genotypes in the context of high (9-repeat carriers) or low (10-repeat homozygotes) dopamine levels. These findings argue in favor of a modulatory role of serotonin on dopamine function. Future studies will investigate this gene-gene interaction in Parkinson’s disease and Major Depressive Disorder as it relates to cognitive function and response to treatment.
Status of Healthcare for b-Thalassemia Patients in the West Bank
(Al-Quds University, Deanship of Scientific Research, 2019-09-10) Dwaik, Reem; Abu-Mohor, Tamara; Abdeen, Shatha; Warasneh, Salam; Imad, Isra'
Evaluation of thalassemia patients can be demanding because of the plentiful potential disease sequences and absence of available therapies other than transfusion and bone marrow (BM) transplantation, both of which have related morbidities and charges. This study aims to evaluate the hematological, biochemical, and the endocrine profiles of β-thalassemia patients and their correlation with iron overload, considering its related complications. This study involved 53 patients of β-thalassemia treated with blood transfusion and iron chelators. Data were collected retrospectively from registries in 2017 and 2018. The hematological and biochemical profiles included complete blood count, liver and kidney function tests, fasting blood sugar, serum calcium, serum ferritin, and the endocrine profile for each patient. Among the diagnosed patients included in this study, 51% were males and 49% were females, with an average age of 21 years, ranging from 6 – 57 years. The mean of serum ferritin level during 2017 - 2018 was 2055 ng/dl and for hemoglobin 8.23 mg/dl. Regarding liver function tests, abnormal results for ALT and AST were encountered in 13.2% and 32.1% of cases, respectively. Moreover, serum creatinine, as an indicator for renal function, was found to be abnormally low in 79.2% of cases. Vitamin D3 deficiency was also observed in 35.8% of cases, and hypothyroidism was seen in 26.4% of cases. With regards to the treatment approaches, 84.9% of patients are blood transfusion dependent, and 69.8% of them rely on iron chelators. In this matter, splenectomy was carried out only for 17% of cases. Additionally, BM transplantation was done for 8% of patients even though it is the only available curative therapy. Our preliminary findings point to the urgent need for better management of thalassemia patients in the West Bank. These findings might be used to implement new follow-up and treatment policies.
Strategies in the Treatment of Crohn’s Disease
(Al-Quds University, Deanship of Scientific Research, 2019-09-10) Abbad, Doaa
Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) with uncertain etiology. A retrospective study was conducted in which medical record of 58 Crohn’s disease patients at the Yammah hospital and Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation was reviewed between November 2016 and March 2017. This study’s results indicate that about 51.7% of patients went to doctors with mild disease, 27.6% of patients went in with moderate disease, and 13.8% of patients went to doctors with severe disease. Our findings indicate that the gastroenterologists included in the study do not use the Crohn’s Disease Activity index to evaluate the disease score; instead, disease severity is determined according to their experience. As such, results that used patient records are likely influenced by doctor’s experience. Abdominal pain is a very common condition in 52% of Crohn’s Disease patients; this pain can be either acute or chronic in nature. Other symptoms may include diarrhea, reported in 15.7% of CD patients. As for the location of disease, the most commonly affected part of GIT is the ileum, in 49.1% of CD patients. The second most commonly affected part of GIT is the ileum and colon. The age category most affected is between 15-30 years old, with 58.6% of patients in this age range. The medication of choice in CD patients is the immunomodulatory drug 5-Aminosalysilic acid, used in 66.7% of cases. Moreover, in some patients with moderate to severe disease, a combination of drugs, such as corticosteroids, azathioprine and infliximab, is used to achieve remission. Also, 17.2% of patients used corticosteroids with other medications. In conclusion, the study characterized CD patient population in Palestinian Bethlehem area hospitals. The study indicates that doctors need to be encouraged to use Crohn’s Disease activity index to obtain a disease score. Medication use seems to be consistent with guidance although excessive use of corticosteroids is evident.

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