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Public Health
Type 2 Diabetes in MENA Region – more than 1 in 10 adults are living with Type 2 Diabetes
There has been a tremendous surge in prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes in MENA region. The age-standardized prevalence of T2DM in the MENA region has climbed from 5.57% in 1990 to 11.51% in 2023, indicating that more than 1 in 10 adults in the region are currently living with diagnosed or undiagnosed Type 2 Diabetes. These are some of the…
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Cancers
Fecal Microbiota and Colorectal Cancer in Saudi Arabia – Study Reveals Distinct Fecal Microbial Consortium
A distinct association of fecal microbiota and Colorectal Cancer in Saudi Arabia has been identified in a groundbreaking study published in Scientific Reports. The study profiled the human fecal microbiota to identify a unique microbial consortium in Saudi Arabia using Oxford Nanopore Technology to advance non-invasive screening methodologies. The research team conducted a case-control study enrolling 127 Saudi nationals: 52…
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Cancers
Colorectal Cancer in Oman – Exploring associations between epidemiological risk factors
Colorectal Cancer in Oman is the most prevalent cancer among males and the third most common cancer among females. This multicentre case control study, conducted at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital and the Royal Hospital in Muscat, provides a detailed examination of the factors driving Colorectal Cancer (CRC) in Oman. Researchers highlight a concerning epidemiological shift in Oman and the wider…
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Public Health
UAE Newborn Screening Study Reveals High Prevalence of G6PD Deficiency and Metabolic Disorders
A UAE Newborn Screening Study analyzed data from 29,290 newborns screened between 2021 and 2023, and found that 7.4% of the cohort tested positive for one or more disorders, underscoring the critical nature of early intervention in the region. This retrospective cross-sectional study published in Frontiers in Pediatrics has provided the first comprehensive analysis of nine classes of disorders detected…
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Public Health
CRISPR-Cas9 in Human Gene Therapy: Clinical Progress, Ethical Dilemmas, and Regulatory Responses
CRISPR-Cas9 is an RNA-based system originally discovered as an immune mechanism in bacteria and archaea, now adapted by scientists to make precise, inexpensive alterations to the human genome. The technology utilizes a Cas9 endonuclease guided by a single guide RNA (sgRNA) to create double-strand breaks at specific DNA sequences. These breaks are repaired via non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) or, if…
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Infectious Diseases
Strengthening Laboratory Biorisk Mitigation for Emerging Viruses in Limited Resource Settings
Laboratory-acquired infections (LAIs) remain a persistent occupational hazard, particularly as the prevalence of emerging viral diseases has risen over the last two decades. A recent review in the MENA Journal of Bioscience Research highlights a significant “disconnect” between international biosafety standards and their real-world application in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). While global frameworks are comprehensive, strengthening laboratory biorisk mitigation…
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Cancers
Colorectal Cancer Screening in Saudi Arabia – Adherence and Barriers
A recent has revealed a “concerningly low” rate of colorectal cancer screening in Saudi Arabia, despite the disease being the most common cancer among Saudi men and the third most common cancer among women. The study, which surveyed 573 adults aged 40 and older across all Saudi regions, found that only 12.7% had ever undergone a colonoscopy, and only 19.5%…
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Cancers
Cancer in Elderly Population of MENA Region – The Growing Crisis
Cancer in Elderly Population of MENA Region is a growing crisis. Cancer rates among the “oldest-old” (Individuals aged 85 and above) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are accelerating at double the global pace. These are the findings of researchers at American University of Beirut Medical Center who analysed data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD)…
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Mental Health
Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in the MENA Region
A recently published systematic review and meta-analysis offers the most comprehensive assessment to date of the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in the MENA region. This study, synthesizes data from 19 studies published between 2007 and 2025 collectively covering more than 3.7 million participants across countries such as Iran, Oman, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and…
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Public Health
Epigenetic Signatures of Intergenerational Exposure to Violence – Study on three generations of Syrian refugees
The devastating consequences of war are typically measured in terms of displacement and physical harm. However, a groundbreaking study on three generations of Syrian refugees has discovered epigenetic signatures of intergenerational exposure to violence showing that the scars of violence may be written into the very DNA of those affected. Published in Scientific Reports, the study investigates how exposure to…
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