Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Factors Affecting Changes In Road Traffic Collision Related Injuries And Deaths Over Time: The Global And The United Arab Emirates Perspectives, Yasin Jemal Yasin

Dissertations

Road traffic collisions (RTCs) cause 1.35 million deaths per year worldwide. Approximately 50% of these deaths were among pedestrians and motorized 2-3-wheeler users. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), RTC deaths were higher compared to other high-income countries (HICs). The United Nations (UN) Decade of Action for road safety 2011-2020, aimed to reduce road traffic deaths by 50% by the year 2020. The aim of this dissertation was to investigate factors affecting changes in RTC-related injuries and deaths over time at global and UAE levels. Multiple research methods were used to investigate the research questions. Global data on pedestrian and …

Celiac Disease Prevalence And The Characteristics Of Celiac Patients In The United Arab Emirates, Two Centers Study, Asma Hamed Alnababteh

Dissertations

Celiac Disease (CD) is a chronic autoimmune gastrointestinal disorder caused by genetic susceptibility to gluten and affects around 1% of the population worldwide. CD can occur at any age and is diagnosed by detecting specific serological biomarkers and histopathological changes in the duodenal biopsy. In the United Arab Emirates, there is a lack of studies describing CD in children or adults; this thesis aimed at researching the epidemiology of celiac disease in among the populations in the United Arab Emirates.

Two Studies were conducted to achieve the research objectives, study one was conducted in Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (CCAD) and …

Acrylamide Mitigation By Novel Lactic Acid Bacteria And Bifidobacteria Isolated From Various Food Products: Optimization Of Mitigation, Effect Of Simulated Gastrointestinal Conditions, And Potential Mechanism, Amal Salem Albedwawi

Dissertations

Acrylamide is a toxic compound that is formed in heated carbohydrate-rich food. Scientists have analyzed acrylamide levels before, during, and after processing in order to study the mitigation strategies and, due to the lack of knowledge, this study aimed to: 1) screen 120 newly isolated LAB for their acrylamide removal; 2) optimize the conditions for 6 selected strains of pH, temperature, time and salt, using the Box-Behnken design (BBD), and analyze their acrylamide removal levels; 3) investigate acrylamide removal abilities of the selected LAB isolates under in-vitro digestion conditions, using the INFO-GEST 2.0 model; and 4) examine the mechanism of …

Infertility Characterization, Factors Associated With Primary Infertility, And Seroprevalence Of Genital Infections: A Cross-Sectional Survey In Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Noor Motea Abdo

Dissertations

Worldwide, infertility affects 8%–10% of couples and it could be primary or secondary. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), one in every six couples are facing difficulties in conceiving. However, there is a noticeable lack of epidemiological studies and empirical data characterizing populations seeking infertility treatment in the UAE. Therefore, to inform health policy planning, evidence-based data is required to understand the most common type of infertility and the burden of exposure to genital pathogens. To characterize fertility-treatment-seeking patients, investigate factors associated with primary infertility, and to estimate the seroprevalence of six pathogens known to be transmitted genitally and associated …

The Molecular Basis Of Diabetic Cardiomyopath, Ahmed Salaheldin Mustafa Ali Sultan

Dissertations

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major and worsening global health problem. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) accounts for more than 90% of DM and the global epidemic of obesity largely explains the dramatic increase in the incidence and prevalence of T2DM over the past 20 years. Cardiovascular complications are the major cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. The electrocardiogram (ECG) of diabetic and obese patients is frequently disturbed. The aim of this project was to characterize and clarify the molecular basis of electro-mechanical dysfunction in the hearts of type 2 diabetic and type 2 diabetic/obese rats. Experiments were …

Investigating The Role Of Fun30, A Chromatin Remodeler, In Dna Repair, Mehwish Iqbal

Dissertations

The repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) is crucial for maintaining genome stability. DSB repair needs to take place within the complex organization of the chromatin, and this requires changes in the chromatin structure adjacent to DSB sites. These changes occur through covalent histone modifications that alter histone-DNA contacts as well as by the action of ATP-dependent chromatin remodelers. Many chromatin remodelers, including Fun30, are involved in DSB repair. Fun30 facilitates DNA end resection at DSB site during the homologous recombination repair pathway. Apart from its role in DNA repair, Fun30 promotes gene silencing at heterochromatic loci such as telomeres, …

Blood Pressure Management And Factors Affecting Adherence To Antihypertensive Medications In The United Arab Emirates, Akshaya Srikanth Bhagavathula

Dissertations

Hypertension is a significant public health problem worldwide and is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The dynamics of guidelines-recommended blood pressure (BP) control and adherence to antihypertensive medications in incident hypertensives remain unclear. This dissertation aims to assess guidelines-recommended BP management, adherence to antihypertensive medications, and factors associated with poor BP control among newly diagnosed hypertensive patients in the UAE. A retrospective chart review of 5308 newly treated hypertensives across the emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE, in 2017 was conducted. These patients were diagnosed by the treating physician according to ambulatory (ABPM), or home-based BP monitoring (HBPM) …

Molecular Mechanism Of Action Of The Natural Polyphenolic Compound And The P300 Inhibitor “Carnosol” Against The Triple Negative Breast Cance, Halima Ali Mohammed Salem Alsamri

Dissertations

Carnosol, a naturally occurring Phyto polyphenol found in sage, oregano, and rosemary, has been extensively studied by our laboratory for its anticancer effects in various types of cancer. In human Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), carnosol was shown to inhibit cellular viability, colony growth, induced cell cycle arrest, autophagy, and apoptosis. Nonetheless, very little is known about the molecular mechanism of action. In the current study, the ability of carnosol to inhibit metastasis and tumour growth was examined. Wound healing and invasion assays revealed that carnosol inhibited migration and invasion at non-cytotoxic concentrations of MDA-MB-231 cells. Also, carnosol was found to …

Characterization Of The Lining Epithelium Of Normal And Precancerous Uterine Cervix In Mice, Reem Mamoun Shouk

Dissertations

Despite the fact that cervical cancer is a common health issue among women worldwide, little is known regarding the epithelial lining of the uterine cervix where cancer originates. Cancer development involves alterations in carbohydrate expression and changes in the dynamics of cellular proliferation and differentiation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to define carbohydrate moieties and cellular dynamics of the epithelial lining of the uterine cervix in normal mice and then in mice developing cervical precancerous lesions. Since the uterus undergoes cyclic changes, mice in each of the four stages of the estrus cycle were first identified using both …

Role Of Ebv In Neuroinflammation: Implications For Multiple Sclerosis Pathogenesis, Asma Hassani

Dissertations

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the CNS with unknown cause. Individuals who are genetically predisposed and exposed to specific environmental factors have an increased risk of developing MS. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is linked to MS development, according to a large body of seroepidemiological and pathological evidence. EBV is a ubiquitous human herpesvirus that typically produces silent infection but can also cause a wide range of illnesses. A large cohort of MS and non-MS control cases has been previously examined and revealed the prevalent presence of EBV in MS. However, the role of the virus in the …

The Role Of Nutrient Sensitive Protein O-Glcnacylation In Developmental Cortical Neurogenesis, Shama Parween

Dissertations

The nutrient responsive O-GlcNAcylation is a dynamic, posttranslational protein modification present on many nucleocytoplasmic and mitochondrial proteins. Previous research has indicated that hyperglycaemia increases the levels of total O-GlcNAcylation within cells. Transcription factors and histones are among hundreds of proteins that have been reported to be O-GlcNAcylated and have importance in cell fate determination during cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. However, the role of protein O-GlcNAcylation in epigenome control in response to nutritional perturbations is poorly understood. Hyperglycaemia induced protein O-GlcNAcylation have been linked to several pathologies, including obesity, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. …

Insights Into The Packaging Of Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus (Mmtv) Genomic Rna By Identifying Pr77ᴳᴬᴳ Binding Sites Involved During Its Selective Encapsidation, Akhil Chameettachal

Dissertations

Selective encapsidation and/or packaging of retroviral genomic RNA (gRNA) by Gag during retrovirus assembly is a crucial step for generating infectious virus particles. Despite having been studied extensively, the mechanism by which the retroviral Gag precursor selects and packages the retroviral genome remains largely unclear. Therefore, to understand the molecular mechanism(s) of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) gRNA packaging, as a first step, expression of full-length recombinant Pr77^Gag -His6-tag fusion protein in bacteria was done. The recombinant Gag protein was then purified from the soluble fractions of bacterial cultures using immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) and size exclusion chromatography …

Exposure And Handling Practices Of Healthcare Professionals For Cytotoxic Drugs In The Workplace Environment, Laila Masoud Al Alawi

Dissertations

Introduction: Occupational exposure to cytotoxic drugs is associated with various unfavorable health outcomes. There is currently no safe level for occupational exposure to cytotoxic agents. Healthcare workers’ adherence to cytotoxics control measures is of primary importance to minimize the risk from exposure to these agents.

Aims: To develop a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis on environmental assessment of cytotoxic drugs in healthcare settings and conduct an environmental assessment study of cytotoxic drugs in two Oncology centers of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). In addition to evaluate pharmacists’ and nurses’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) towards handling of …

Epigenetic Modifications In Metabolic Syndrome: Identification And Evaluation Of Early Indicators Using A Rodent Model System, Ashok Daniel Pragasam

Dissertations

It is increasingly realized that mechanisms of developmental plasticity rather than pathology independently facilitate the size of developing embryos during early development. Changes in the early developmental environment alter the metabolic traits resulting in diseases, including metabolic syndrome, including type 2 diabetes and obesity in adulthood. Molecular and epidemiological studies have documented an association between Lower Birth Weight (LBW) and increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Henceforth, using birth weight as a marker, two groups of normal birth weight range rat pups, Lower Birth Weight (LBW, 5th to 25th percentile) and Average Birth Weight (ABW, 50th to 75th percentile) as …

Delineating The Binding Sites Of Mason-Pfizer Monkey Virus (Mpmv) Gag Precursor Polyprotein (Pr78gag) On Genomic Rna For Its Selective Packaging, Fathima Nuzra Nagoor Pitchai

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Delineating The Binding Sites Of Mason-Pfizer Monkey Virus (Mpmv) Gag Precursor Polyprotein (Pr78gag) On Genomic Rna For Its Selective Packaging, Fathima Nuzra Nagoor Pitchai

Dissertations

A key step in retroviral life cycle is the selective packaging of its dimeric RNA genome (gRNA) from a pool of cellular and spliced viral RNAs into nascent virions. This involves binding of the retroviral Gag polyprotein to sequences at the 5’ end of the viral genome, the packaging signal. The aim of this study was to identify full-length Gag polyprotein (Pr78^Gag) binding sites on Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (MPMV) gRNA, a promising candidate for the development of safe human gene therapy vectors. Towards this end, recombinant MPMV Pr78^Gag-His₆-tagged protein was cloned and expressed in …

Role Of Nerolidol, An Aliphatic Sesquiterpene, In Colon Inflammation, Vishnu Raj

Dissertations

Inflammatory bowel diseases, which comprise Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are chronic and progressive immune-mediated inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Both genetic and environmental factors influence this condition. Conventional therapy to suppress aberrant immune responses seen in IBD with corticosteroid or with biological agents has a high relapse rate that limits their use. Therefore, approximately 40% of IBD patients switch to alternative therapies that include dietary supplements rich in phytochemicals. Nerolidol (NED) is a naturally occurring sesquiterpene alcohol present in various plants and has potent anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, in the current study, the role of NED …

Establishing The Roadmap For The Implementation Of Genomic Medicine And Pharmacogenomics In The United Arab Emirates, Azhar Talal Mahmoud Rahma

Dissertations

The slow clinical application of genomic medicine and Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is attributed mainly to lack of knowledge of genomic medicine and PGx and confidence among healthcare professionals, scarcity of infrastructure, and absence of stakeholders’ interest. The objective of this study is to lay out a strategic plan for the implementation of genomic medicine and PGx in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by exploring multiple areas: (1) the educational environment of genomic medicine and PGx in colleges and universities; (2) knowledge, and attitude of the medical and health sciences students, academics, and the healthcare providers; (3) the current infrastructure of genetic …

Employees Support As A Determinant Of Merger Success: Exploring The Organizational Context And Its Interventions During Post-Merger Integration, Abdulla Humaid Saif Aljarwan Alshamsi

Dissertations

Mergers is an extreme form of organizational change, which usually has an adverse impact on the merging organizations employees’ wellbeing. In literature it was argued that organizational integration after merger, which is referred to as Post-Merger Integration (PMI) is usually resisted by employees, which is considered as a major contributor to the high failure rates of mergers. It was further argued that employees’ resistance toward integration is attributed to stress, uncertainty, ambiguity and lack of clarity on the changes that merger and integration initiate. Therefore, PMI activities were assumed to psychologically traumatize employees and jeopardize their sense of belonging, attachment, …

Development And Validation Of A Food Frequency Questionnaire For The Adult Emirati Population For Use In Epidemiological Studies, Najoua El Mesmoudi

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Anticonvulsant And Procognitive Effect Of Nonimidazole Histamine H3r Receptor Antagonists /Inverse Agonists In Experimental Animal Models, Alaa Imad Alachkar

Dissertations

Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder accompanied by cognitive impairment. Available antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have not been reported to have ameliorative effects on epilepsy-associated memory impairment. The potential of histamine H3 receptors (H3R) in several neuropsychiatric diseases, including epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease, is well recognized. In this study, a series of H3R antagonists (1-16) were screened for their in vivo anticonvulsant effect in several acute-induced seizures in rats. Moreover, the procognitive effect of the most promising H3R antagonist was investigated in dizocilpine (DIZ)-induced amnesic effect applying several behavioral memory tests. Furthermore, the most promising H3R antagonist was assessed for …

Establishment Of Organoids From Gastric Stem Cells And Their Use To Study The Role Of Aryl-Hydrocarbon Receptors, Shakila Afroz Taleb

Dissertations

Stem cells are powerful tools in different aspects of biomedical and translational research, including disease modelling, drug testing, and tissue engineering for regenerative medicine. However, isolation and culture of organ-specific stem cells are challenging tasks. Therefore, the biological features of many adult stem cells are not well studied and their involvement in the development of cancer is still controversial. Some immortal stem cell lines have been established and used as an alternative to studying features of organ-specific stem cells. The ability to grow cells in a scaffold-free, three-dimensional (3D) model system that mimics in vivo conditions would help in revealing …

The Epidemiology And Burden Of Cardiometabolic Risk Factors In A Young Emirati Population, Fatima Abobakr Hussein Mezhal

Dissertations

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has experienced rapid economic growth that was paralleled by a drastic rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs); primarily cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which account for 40% of mortality in UAE. CVDs have complex etiology, interplay, and accumulation of many risk factors. Understanding the clustering and interrelationships between common risk factors like obesity, deglycation, dyslipidemia, hypertension and central obesity, and the associations with social and lifestyle determinants are warranted. The study aimed to estimate the burden of cardiometabolic risk factors (CRFs), their interrelationship, and their associations with other social and lifestyle determinants in a young Emirati population. Data …

Pulmonary And Systemic Pathophysiological Impact Of Silver Nanoparticles: Effects Of Coating, Time, And Dose, Zannatul Ferdous

Dissertations

Nanotechnology is rapidly developing, and engineered materials (ENMs) are utilized in a wide array of end-user products owing to their unique physicochemical properties. Of the various forms of ENMs, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have gained much attention for potential uses in commercial applications. Due to their unique features, particularly antimicrobial properties, there had been a surge in the production of AgNPs-based products, hence increasing the potential of both occupational and consumer exposure. Among the various routes of human exposure, pulmonary exposure to AgNPs has received increased interest due to their potential to cause pulmonary injury, cross the alveolar-capillary barrier, and distribute …

Physical Activity Prevalence Among Migrants In United Arab Emirate, Rowaa Elhidia Elobaid Abd-Allatif

Dissertations

Insufficient physical activity is a leading risk for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Few data were available on the physical activity levels of migrants in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study aimed to determine leisure time physical activity levels and their associated socio-demographic determinants and NCD risk factors among migrants in Al Ain, UAE. A random sample of male South Asian migrants (n=1375) (76.4% response rate) and female South Asian, Arab, and Philippines migrants (n=555) (75% participation rate) was recruited from the government Visa Screening Center in Al Ain, UAE. An adapted version of the WHO STEPS Survey with a short …

Estimation Of Infectious Intestinal Disease Burden And Description Of The Infectious Disease Surveillance System In Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, Fatema Hamdan Saif Al Alkeem Al Zaabi

Dissertations

Introduction: Infectious disease (ID) is an ongoing problem worldwide. In order to manage this problem, it is important to have an integrated and effective surveillance system that can be used to estimate the burden of ID. There is a scarcity of studies published on the prevalence of IDs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), both in hospital settings and in the community. Infectious Intestinal Disease (IIDs) have been one of the most commonest IDs that have been studied in the community around the world, there are no studies on the prevalence of IIDs in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK). Furthermore, while …

The Role Of Histamine H3 Receptor Antagonists In Modulating Autistic Behaviors And Altered Central Inflammatory Responses In Different Mouse Models Of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Nermin Abdel Wahab Mahmoud Eissa Abdel Zaher

Dissertations

Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) represents a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairment of social communication and restricted/repetitive behavior patterns or interests. Brain histamine and acetylcholine play a crucial role in cognitive functions. Considering this, the effects of systemic sub-chronic treatment with H3R antagonist DL77 (5, 10, or 15 mg/kg) on autistic-like behavioral parameters, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation in male Tuck-Ordinary (TO) and C57BL/6 (C57) mice, prenatally exposed to valproic acid (VPA, 500 mg/kg), were investigated. Furthermore, the effects of dual-active H3R antagonist and balanced acetylcholinesterase inhibitor E100 (5, 10, or 15 mg/kg) on autistic-associated abnormalities of VPA- exposed male C57 mice, …

Impact Of Leadership Styles On The Performance Of Virtual Teams In The Uae Government Sector: Assessment Of Transactional And Transformational Leadership Styles, Nama Salmeen Mabrouk Omar Al Ameri

Dissertations

The widespread availability of computers and the presence of ubiquitous internet has motivated organizations to acknowledge the potential role of virtual teams in reducing the cost of operations, increasing firm productivity, and creating flexible work environments. Consequently, most global firms are running their operations using multiple experts located remotely in different parts of the world (virtual teams) to plan, design, and implement projects and tasks. However, virtual teams face many challenges resulting from a lack of face-to-face contact. Based on existing relevant literature, this study contributes a unique insight into how some challenges surrounding virtual team performance might be addressed. …

The Role Of Plasmids And Clones In The Emergence Of Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae In The United Arab Emirates, Shaimaa Fekry Mahmoud Mouftah Ali

Dissertations

Resistance to carbapenems, the ultimate beta-lactam antibiotics used to treat life-threatening Gram-negative infections associates with very high mortality. Consequently, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), which are usually multi- or extremely drug-resistant, is considered a critical pathogen. To help to control their spread, we investigated the molecular epidemiology of CRE in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and its neighboring countries. CRE isolated in the UAE were screened for IncX3 incompatibility type plasmids carrying carbapenemases. The complete sequence of the IncX3 plasmids identified was established. Thirty CRE carried blaNDM-1, blaNDM-4, blaNDM-5, blaNDM-7, blaOXA-181, and blaKPC-2 on IncX3 plasmids. …

The Impact Of Perceived Organisational Justice On Organisational Citizenship Behaviour In The Context Of Mergers, Fatima Ahmed Abdulla Al Nabhani

Dissertations

Scholars have relied on various approaches and methods to explain why organisations enter into a merger relationship, and how organisational initiatives impact employees' work outcomes. However, minimal attention has been directed towards the study of the relationship between Organisational Justice (OJ) and Organisational Citizenship Behaviour (OCB) in the post-merger period. The objective of this study was to examine how Organisational Justice affects Organisational Citizenship Behaviour in the context of mergers in the UAE. The study relied on a quantitative research method, social exchange mechanisms, and organisational justice theory to achieve the intended objectives. A total of 15 hypotheses were identified …