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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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Non-Communicable Diseases
๐๐ป๐๐ถ-๐ถ๐ป๐ณ๐น๐ฎ๐บ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ป๐๐ถ-๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ซ๐ถ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐
A recent study published in Scientific Reports highlights the potential the promising anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic potential of the seeds of Ximenia caffra (X. caffra) as a natural approach to managing Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Researchers from Al-Azhar University, Cairo University, Zigazig University, and Sinai University analyzed the extractโs bioactive profile using Liquid Chromatography High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS), identifying key compounds…
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Public Health
Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Adults in Middle East
A landmark study involving over 440,000 adults conducted in UAE has revealed that 63.4% of the total population in UAE was either overweight or obese. This cross-sectional, multi-centre design, population-based study analyzed data of all adults aged >18 years who attended the Dubai Academic Health Corporation (DAHC) between January 2018 and August 2023. Overweight and Obesity (OAO) was defined according…
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Cancers
Breast Cancer in the MENA Region – Somatic Mutation Profiling and Therapeutic Landscape
Breast cancer in the MENA region often presents at a younger age and in more advanced stages. While this suggests a unique biological and genetic profile in this region, the available genomic databases lack adequate data from MENA populations to understand the disease drivers and therapeutic opportunities specific to this demographic. To address this gap, researchers at Hamad Bin Khalifa…
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Non-Communicable Diseases
Association of SMuRFS with Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Disease Burden and Pharmacological Management in Middle Eastern Patients
A study published by researchers from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar has shed light on how Standard Modifiable Risk Factors (SMuRFs) such as smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia cluster to accelerate disease progression and increasing the risk of severe outcomes like myocardial infarction and heart failure in Middle Eastern patients. The study comprised of 1,859 patients with a family history…
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