The baseline data from GLORIA-AF phase 2 demonstrate that in newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients, NOAC have been highly adopted into practice, becoming more frequently prescribed than VKA in Europe and North America. Worldwide, however, a large proportion of patients remain undertreated, particularly in Asia and North America. (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation [GLORIA-AF]; NCT01468701).

Low cord blood 25 (OH) D levels are associated with increased risk of ALRI in the first 2 years of life.

The emergence of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in Saudi Arabia has intensified focus on Acute Respiratory Infections [ARIs]. This study sought to identify respiratory viruses (RVs) associated with ARIs in children presenting at a tertiary hospital. Children (aged ≤13) presenting with ARI between January 2012 and December 2013 tested for 15 RVs using the Seeplex RV15 kit were retrospectively included. Epidemiological data was retrieved from patient records. Of the 2235 children tested, 61.5% were ≤1 year with a male: female ratio of 3:2. Viruses were detected in 1364 (61.02%) children, 233 (10.4%) having dual infections: these viruses include respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (24%), human rhinovirus (hRV) (19.7%), adenovirus (5.7%), influenza virus (5.3%), and parainfluenzavirus-3 (4.6%). Children, aged 9-11 months, were most infected (60.9%). Lower respiratory tract infections (55.4%) were significantly more than upper respiratory tract infection (45.3%) (P < 0.001). Seasonal variation of RV was directly and inversely proportional to relative humidity and temperature, respectively, for non MERS coronaviruses (NL63, 229E, and OC43). The study confirms community-acquired RV associated with ARI in children and suggests modulating roles for abiotic factors in RV epidemiology. However, community-based studies are needed to elucidate how these factors locally influence RV epidemiology. J. Med. Virol. 89:195-201, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

This study investigated the effect of ellagic acid (EA) on SKOV‐3 cell growth and invasiveness and tested if the underlying mechanism involves modulating autophagy. Cells were treated with EA in the presence or absence of chloroquine (CQ), an autophagy inhibitor, compound C (CC), an AMPK inhibitor, or an insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1), a PI3K/Akt activator. EA, at an IC50 of 36.6 µmol/L, inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and induced cell apoptosis in SKOV‐3 cells. These events were prevented by CQ. Also, EA increased levels of Beclin‐1, ATG‐5, LC3I/II, Bax, cleaved caspase‐3/8 and reduced those of p62 and Bcl‐2 in these cancer cells. Mechanistically, EA decreased levels of p‐S6K1 (Thr389) and 4EBP‐1 (Thr37/46), two downstream targets of mTORC1, and p‐Akt (Thr308) but increased levels of AMPK (Thr172) and p‐raptor (Ser792), a natural inhibitor of mTORC1. CC or IGF‐1 alone partially prevented the effect of EA on cell survival, cell invasions, and levels of LDH, Beclin‐1, and cleaved caspase‐3. In conclusion, EA can inhibit SKOV‐3 growth, migration, and invasion by activating cytotoxic autophagy mediated by inhibition of mTORC1 and Akt and activation of AMPK.

Epidemiologic evidence suggests a link between psychosocial risk factors such as marital status and coronary artery disease (CAD). Polygamy (multiple concurrent wives) is a distinct marital status practiced in many countries in Asia and the Middle East, but its association with CAD is not well defined. We conducted a multicenter, observational study of consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography during the period from April 1, 2013, to March 30, 2014. Of 1,068 enrolled patients, 687 were married men. Polygamy was reported in 32% of married men (1 wife: 68%, 2 wives: 19%, 3 wives: 10%, and 4 wives: 3%). When stratified by number of wives, significant baseline differences were observed in age, type of community (rural versus urban), prior coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and household income. After adjusting for baseline differences, there was a significant association between polygamy and CAD (adjusted OR 4.6 [95% CI 2.5, 8.3]), multivessel disease (MVD) (adjusted OR 2.6 [95% CI 1.8, 3.7]), and left main disease (LMD) (adjusted OR 3.5 [95% CI 2.1, 5.9]). Findings were consistent when the number of wives was analyzed as a continuous variable. In conclusion, among married men undergoing coronary angiography for clinical indications, polygamy is associated with the presence of significant CAD, MVD, and LMD.

Prunus arabica (Oliv.) Meikle is an endangered shrub with a restricted distribution, which inhabits banks of flood flow channels in small sites of ancient volcanic activity dominated by black basaltic boulders within the Harrat Al-Harrah protectorate, Northern Saudi Arabia. It is with limited information about its ecology and hence, the present study is focusing on its phytosociological behavior and ecological features. The multi-methodological approach comprised species description, vegetation sampling and soil composition of 9 study sites at Harrat Al-Harrah protectorate. The application of TWINSPAN, DCA and CCA multivariate analyses led to identify 3 vegetation groups (VGI: Pulicaria undulata - Prunus arabica, VGII: Prunus arabica–Artemisia seiberi , VGIII: Artemisia seiberi-Achillea fragrantissima ) associated with the distribution of P. arabica . The environmental variables that affect P. arabica and its main ecological features had been estimated and discussed. The present study concludes that the main reasons for its threatened and endangerment are seemingly due to overgrazing, poor rainfall, drought, shifting and destruction of its suitable habitat area.

No abstract

Plants in arid regions are exposed to various abiotic stresses and the presence of the waxy cuticular layer acts as a defensive barrier, which consists mainly of long chain fatty acids, hydrocarbons and other derived compounds. Studies on the chemical composition and properties of cuticles of arid plants are scanty. The present study deals with the analysis of cuticular wax composition and effect of temperature on some ecophysiological parameters of an important arid plant Ziziphus nummularia. A total of 59 different wax compounds were detected from the leaf cuticle by capillary GC–MS. 4-Hydroxycyclohexanone, Heptacosane and 2,7-Dimethyloctane-3,5-dione were the dominant wax compounds in Z. nummularia. The variation of photosynthetic rate varied from 0.70 to 7.70 µmol CO2 m-2s-1 against the studied temperature range of 15–55 °C. The transpiration rate varies from 1.80 to 8.40 mmol H2O m-2s-1 within the temperature range of 15–55 °C. The quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) also exhibited much variation due to the variation of temperature. The results clearly shows that Z. nummularia is highly adapted to restrict water loss and can tolerate high temperatures and can be considered as an appropriate species for vegetating the arid areas.