Despite the fact that cervical cancer is a common health issue among women, there is no detailed information about its precancerous lesions. Since development of cancer involves some alterations in carbohydrate expressions, the aim of this study was to use lectin binding assay to identify carbohydrates associated with the cervical epithelial cells in normal mice and follow their alterations in mice developing cervical cancer. Carbohydrate expression will be correlated with cell proliferation and analysis of epithelial cell dynamics using continuous infusion of bromodeoxyuridine and immunohistochemistry. First, we histologically identified mice at different stages of the estrous cycle and then described the patterns of lectin binding in their cervical epithelium. Lectins specific for N-acetylglucosamine, mannose, glucose, and fucose bind to different regions of the cervical epithelium. Proliferating cells were confined to the basal layer of ectocervix, but were scattered along the glandular epithelium of the endocervix. Cell dynamic analysis showed that the epithelium regenerates in less than 8 days. These data will help in defining cellular alterations and precancerous lesions that lead to development of cervical cancer using a mouse model injected with the carcinogenic agent diethylstilbestrol.
Microplastics are seen as an emerging environmental pollutant. Microbeads found in facial scrubs and toothpastes are a source of microplastics in the aquatic environment. While a number of countries such as UK, USA and Sweden banned microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics, the self-same companies that sell polymeric microbead-free cosmetics in those countries continue selling microbead-containing cosmetics in countries where no such ban exists. For this reason, we have investigated eight different facial scrubs commercially available in the United Arab Emirates for microbeads. Cosmetics were extracted with hot water and partially treated with Fenton reagent (FeSO4+H2O2). Solids were collected on ash-less Schleich 1505 filters or 0.45 ?m Millipore filter paper. An attempt has been made to measure the size distribution of the microbeads in each product using an optical microscope with FIJI software? (ImageJ?) and to quantify the total number of microbeads present in each product. The microbeads were analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy. The spectra were matched with the OMNIC 9? polymer library to identify the type of polymers present in each sample. It was found that only a minority of cosmetics contained polyethylene or polypropylene microbeads. The rest were made of other, often more degradable materials such as microcrystalline cellulose or peach pit derived abrasives.
Obesity is increasing among children in United Arab Emirates. Few data were available on its impact on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Study aimed to identify prevalence of dyslipidemia, hypertension, hyperglycemia and cross-sectional relation of these CVD risks with overweight and obesity among children. A cross-sectional study estimate CVD risk factors in random sample of 234 aged 6 to 11 in UAE. Nurses administered questionnaire to parents for sociodemographic and lifestyle variables. Blood pressure, weight, height, waist and hip circumference measured and fasting blood sample. Body-mass index at the 85th percentile or higher classified overweight and obese. Dyslipidemia classified with cholesterol (TC ?200 mg/ dl), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C <40 mg/dl), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C ?130 mg/dl) and triglycerides (TG?150 mg/dl). Systolic and diastolic BP ?90th percentiles, considered elevated blood pressure. Average age 8.7 (?1.3) years and 51.7?males. High proportion were overweight (15.4%) and obese (10.1%). Low HDL-C (47.4%), elevated TG (6.8%), blood pressure (20.5%) and fasting glucose (1.7%). After controlling for age and gender, participants with overweight and obesity were more likely to have elevated cardiovascular risk factors. Overweight and obesity in children was associated with an increased prevalence of CVD risk factors
A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the potential relationship between depersonalization and sleep. This study was designed to assess if sleep was related to subjective episodes of depersonalization. Zayed University female students were recruited to participate in the study. All willing volunteers provided written informed consent (n=100) and completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) as well as the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale (CDS). A total of 64 participants agreed to wear wrist actigraphy for two consecutive days/nights and data were collected from 37 participants. The results showed that PSQI global score was positively correlated with both CDS frequency and CDS total score, where r=0.22, p<0.05 and r=0.21, p<0.05, respectively. However, actigraphy estimated sleep was not significantly associated with depersonalization. It was concluded that subjective sleep quality might be related to episodes of depersonalization disorder, but this needs to be conformed in a larger sample and other populations.
Date palm trees in the UAE suffer from serious disease called Fusairum wilt or sudden decline syndrome (SDS) which is characterized by whitening on one side of the rachis, progressing from the base to the apex of the leaf until the whole leaf dies. The internal disease symptoms are characterized by reddish roots and highly colored vascular bundles causing wilting and death of the tree. Three Fusarium spp. (F. oxysporum, F. proliferatum and F. solani) were isolated from infected root tissues, and it was found that F. solani was the main causal agent of SDS on date palm in the UAE. These three species were identified based on their cultural, morphological characteristics and in addition the internal transcribed spacer regions and large subunit of the ribosomal RNA (ITS/ LSU rRNA) gene complex of the pathogens was further sequenced. Pathogenicity tests confirmed that the main causal agent of SDS on date palm in the UAE was F. solani. Under greenhouse conditions the application of Cidely? Top (difenoconazole and cyflufenamid) significantly reduced the fungal mycelial growth in vitro and reduced SDS development on date palm seedlings preinoculated with F. solani. This current study is the first report confirming that the fungicide Cidely? Top is strongly effective against SDS and can be used to control this disease on date palm trees.
The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) is spanning across 3 to 4 Mb on chromosome 6p21.3 and includes 300 genes. These genes are involved in self recognition (HLA), inflammation (TNF) and immune process of complement cascade (C4, C2 and Bf). In the 60 years since its discovery, the HLA system has been studied extensively for many populations including Caucasians and Asians. It remains the most important genetic factor that determines compatibility between transplant patients and potential donors. Advances in molecular techniques have identified an extended list of autoimmune diseases (AD) that are associated with HLA genetic variants. The most frequent autoimmune diseases present in Gulf Arabian countries include Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). In populations of many countries of the greater middle east (GME), human haplotypes remain poorly characterized, and hence the associations with disease is less clearly defined in this part of the world. This review systematically compiled publications from laboratories that have reported on HLA associated-diseases in the Arabian population.
This study investigated United Arab Emirates (UAE) mathematics teachers? perceptions toward teaching gifted learners in the general education classrooms. Data were collected through a survey of 19 statements on a Likert scale completed by (n=66) mathematics teachers in Al- Ain government schools. Mathematics teachers? perceptions were investigated based on two factors; teachers? competency and the effectiveness level of the applied gifted programs. Results revealed that there is a general positive attitude among teachers concerning gifted children and their education. Teachers believed they are competent to teach gifted, however, they appeared to believe that gifted programs in their schools are not applied effectively. This study is expected to serve the larger goal of informing the gifted education community on how they perceive the gifted education generally and gifted in mathematics education specifically. It is also expected to fill in the gaps in the literature of the relatively new gifted education in UAE.
This research explores private high-school teachers? perceptions of reading instructions and assessment used in private high schools in a major city, in the UAE. The main objective of this study is to investigate reading instructional strategies, reading assessment strategies, the difficulties teachers face while teaching reading and the difficulties high-school students face during reading classes. This study used a mixed-method design to answer the research questions. Quantitative data were collected by using a questionnaire (N=73) and qualitative data through interviews (N=7). Results show that teachers use various reading strategies to teach reading. In addition, they use formative and summative assessment strategies to revisit concepts, modify plans and curricula, identify students? levels and differentiate instructions. As ESL learners, the lack of reading motivation and habit, the weaknesses of vocabulary and language structure and the limited critical thinking skills are highlighted. This study is important because its findings enrich the literature of research on ESL reading in the UAE. Furthermore, teachers, heads of departments, curriculum advisors, decision makers and other researchers can build on the findings to gain more reading benefits like ESL learners? use of reading strategies.
Emails are not only a primary tool of communication, but also an integral part of any organization, including educational institutions. However, the management of the associated cons is considered a major challenge and an international wide-spread concern. Therefore, the current study attempts to investigate downsides of using work-based Emails for regular and ongoing communication from teacher?s perspectives in UAE schools. The study employs a qualitative approach via semi-structured interviews in order to explore teacher?s perceptions and lived experiences. Collecting interview data was followed by the analysis process (transcribing the data, organizing it into categories and then coding it into themes). Results indicated that participants believe they are experiencing Email overload to a large extent. Moreover, results provided supportive evidence that school Emails are viewed as a source of stress, which contribute to the following reported undesirable consequences: loss of focus, misunderstanding, anxiety, wasting time, expanding working hours, and some other issues related to confidentially. Unavailability of clear formal rules, or specialized professional training in this respect was also reported. Overall, results call for the need to have an ethical and professional guidelines or ?code of conduct? in order to foster more positive and proactive attitudes regarding the use of Emails.
This study reviews and explores the role of parents in the academic achievements of their children across all aspects of their learning phases, from pre-school to high school. This study was carried out using a non-probability sampling method called ?purposive sampling?, and was applied to in-depth interviews with parents of children who are in grades 9, 10 and 11 in one of Abu Dhabi?s private schools. Parents surveyed appear strongly invested in their children?s schooling and academic success, using different techniques of control and follow-up of the school work. This study develops Baumrind?s typology (1971) of authoritative, authoritarian and permissive parenting styles in the context of Emirati high school students. Initial results show the positive correlation between authoritative style and academic achievements as well a link between the permissive style and fluctuating marks of the child. It also shows that the government drive in promoting women leadership played a role in inspiring parents to motivate their daughters. It contributes to explain that the results obtained by students in both national and international exams in the UAE show a discrepancy, due to girls outperforming boys in all subjects.
