8 research outputs found
Association of genetic variants with level of asthma control in the Arab population
No full textBasima A Almomani,1 Laith N AL-Eitan,2,3 Nour A Al-Sawalha,1 Shaher M Samrah,4,5 Mohammed N Al-Quasmi6 1Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 2Department of Applied Biological Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 3Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 4Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 5Department of Internal Medicine, King Abdullah University Hospital, Irbid, Jordan; 6Hematology Laboratory, Department of Medical Laboratory, King Abdullah University Hospital, Irbid, Jordan Background: Rates of asthma in Jordan have been doubled in the past decade, but this increased prevalence was not met with improved asthma control protocols. The aim of the present study was to assess whether there was any significant association between the level of asthma control and certain single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in five genes: (ADRB2; rs1042713 and rs1042714), (CRHR1; rs1876828, rs242939, and rs242941), (STIP1; rs2236647), (ADH5, rs1154400), and (ARG1; rs2781659). These SNPs were selected based on their involvement in enzymes and receptors that are related to asthma pathways and subsequent response to medication and based on a high degree of linkage disequilibrium.Patients and methods: A cross-sectional genetic association study was conducted from June 2016 to June 2017 in the two major hospitals in Jordan. The present study involved sampling from adult asthmatic patients of Arab descent who were selected from two phenotypic groups, ie, controlled and uncontrolled asthma. The blood samples and medical data were collected from the participants. DNA samples were extracted, quantified, and genotyped according to standard operating procedure. Allelic and haplotypic analyses were performed using the Haploview®.Results: A total of 245 Arab asthmatic patients were enrolled in this study. Genotyping analysis revealed that the two SNPs (rs1042713 and rs1042714) in ADRB2 gene, along with their related haplotypes, were nominally significantly associated with asthma control in the Jordanian population. The A-allele of rs1042713 and the C-allele of rs1042714 were more common in the uncontrolled asthma group than in the controlled asthma group (P=0.048 and P=0.017, respectively).Conclusion: This was the first study that identified the nominal significant association between the level of asthma control and genetic variants in ADRB2 gene in Arab population. Further studies in other Arab region with larger sample size are recommended to confirm the relationship. Keywords: ADRB2, Arab, asthma control, genetic association, Jordan, SNP
Prevalence of undiagnosed COPD in male patients with coronary artery disease: a cross-sectional study in Jordan
No full textBasheer Y Khassawneh,1 Shaher M Samrah,1 Mohamad I Jarrah,1 Rasheed K Ibdah,1 Ali M Ibnian,1 Abdelhameed W Almistarehi,1 Aseel A Zghayer,1 Saddam I Abuqudairi,1 Yousef S Khader2 1Department of Internal Medicine, Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 2Department of Community Medicine, Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan Purpose: COPD and coronary artery disease (CAD) are common chronic diseases with shared risk factors. COPD continues to be largely underdiagnosed and undertreated. We aimed to describe the prevalence and predictors of undiagnosed COPD in Jordanian men with CAD. Patients and methods: In a cross-sectional study conducted at a referral center in Jordan, male patients who underwent coronary angiography for suspected CAD and reported ≥10 pack-year of cigarette smoking were recruited. Pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry was undertaken for all participants, and COPD was defined as post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC <70%. The finding of ≥50% coronary luminal narrowing confirmed the presence of CAD. Results: Spirometry was undertaken for 376 men with mean age of 56.02±10.55 years, and 72.6% were active cigarettes smokers with a mean pack-year of 55.89±34.25. A CAD diagnosis was confirmed in 300 (79.8%) men. Spirometric criteria for COPD were met in 76 (15.7%) patients, of whom 91.5% were not previously diagnosed. COPD-related symptoms were common: chronic cough (44.4%), dyspnea (66.2%), and wheezes (27.9%). COPD was more common in patients with (18.0%) compared to patients without (6.6%) CAD (P=0.014). Multivariate logistic regression showed that the risk of COPD was higher in patients with CAD (OR 3.16, 95% CI, 1.10–9.09, P=0.033) and in those with chronic bronchitis (OR 13.07, 95% CI, 6.69–25.52, P<0.001). Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of COPD among male patients with CAD and most were underdiagnosed despite having respiratory symptoms. Male smokers with CAD and respiratory symptoms should be evaluated for airflow limitation and the presence of COPD. Keywords: COPD, cardiovascular disease, coronary catheterization, airflow limitation, spirometr
Incidence, Characteristics, and Survival Trend of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Following In-Hospital Compared to Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Northern Jordan
No full textCOVID-19 and severe pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP): A case report
No full textBackground: Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare lung disease that mainly presents with dyspnea. PAP diagnosis can be easily missed in the background of a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, due to the similarity of their presentation and radiological findings. We present a case report of a post-COVID-19 patient, who later developed severe PAP. Case presentation: A 55-year-old male patient presented to the emergency department with progressive exertional dyspnea and hypoxia following a COVID-19 infection. Chest X-ray showed severe bilateral infiltrates. Patient received multiple courses of broad-spectrum antibiotics and prolonged course of corticosteroids without improvement. “Crazy paving” appearance in a follow up chest computed tomography raised the suspicion of PAP of what was initially thought to be a post-COVID-19 syndrome presentation. A diagnostic segmental bronchioalveolar lavage with a lung biopsy revealed a proteinaceous material filling the alveoli, with a positive periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) stain. Due to severe hypoxia, therapeutic segmental followed by whole lung lavage was performed with significant improvement. Conclusion: Diagnosing PAP is challenging due to the rarity of the disease. An accurate diagnosis of PAP requires a combination of medical history, imaging, and bronchoalveolar lavage staining positive for PAS. Decision whether to treat with a segmental or whole lung lavage is individualized to each patient. Further studies are needed to confirm whether COVID-19 or long-term use of steroids might be contributing to PAP
Incidence, Risk Factors, and Outcome of Acute Kidney Injury in the Intensive Care Unit: A Single-Center Study from Jordan
No full textBackground. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common serious problem affecting critically ill patients in intensive care unit (ICU). It increases their morbidity, mortality, length of ICU stay, and long-term risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods. A retrospective study was carried out in a tertiary hospital in Jordan. Medical records of patients admitted to the medical ICU between 2013 and 2015 were reviewed. We aimed to identify the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of AKI. Acute kidney injury network (AKIN) classification was used to define and stage AKI. Results. 2530 patients were admitted to medical ICU, and the incidence of AKI was 31.6%, mainly in stage 1 (59.4%). In multivariate analysis, increasing age (odds ratio (OR) = 1.2 (95% CI 1.1–1.3), P = 0.0001) and higher APACHE II score (OR = 1.5 (95% CI 1.2–1.7), P = 0.001) were predictors of AKI, with 20.4% of patients started on hemodialysis. At the time of discharge, 58% of patients with AKI died compared to 51.3% of patients without AKI (P = 0.05). 88% of patients with AKIN 3 died by the time of discharge compared to patients with AKIN 2 and 1 (75.3% and 61.2% respectively, P = 0.001). Conclusion. AKI is common in ICU patients, and it increases mortality and morbidity. Close attention for earlier detection and addressing risk factors for AKI is needed to decrease incidence, complications, and mortality
Candidate gene analysis of asthma in population of Arab descent: A case-control study in Jordan
No full textAim: To evaluate whether SNPs (n = 15) in ten candidate genes (ADRB2, ADH5, ARGI, CRHR1, STIP1, LTA4H, LTC4S, ALOX5, ABCC1 and OATP2B1) are associated with asthma in Jordanian population of Arab descent. Methods: A case–control study included 245 adult asthmatics and 249 controls. Results: Significant genetic association was identified at the rs2236647 (T/C) SNP in STIP1 and risk of asthma (p < 0.001). The C allele and CC genotype of this SNP were significantly higher in asthmatics compared with controls. The rs1141370 SNP (Val34Met) in ADRB2 is not polymorphic in our cohort. Conclusion: The rs2236647 SNP could act as a reliable tool to identify individuals at risk of developing asthma and provision of early intervention in population of Arab descent
COVID-19 outbreak in Jordan: Epidemiological features, clinical characteristics, and laboratory findings
No full textBackground: In March 2020, an outbreak of coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) was detected in the North of Jordan.
This retrospective study is the first from Jordan to report the epidemiologic, clinical, laboratory, and radiologic
characteristics of COVID-19 infected patients.
Methods: All patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection by RT-PCR in the North of Jordan admitted
between March 15 and April 2, 2020 were included. The clinical features, radiological, and laboratory findings
were reviewed.
Results: Of 81 patients affected, 79 (97.5%) shared a common exposure to four recent travelers from endemic
areas. The mean age was 40 years. Although about half (44 [54.3%]) were females, symptomatic patients were
mostly females (75%). The most common presenting symptoms were nasal congestion, sore throat and dry
cough. Less than one-third (31%) had chronic diseases. Although 84% of patients reported receiving Bacille
Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination, more asymptomatic patients had BCG than symptomatic (p = 0.017).
Almost all patients (97.5%) had an elevated D-dimer level. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and c-reactive
protein were elevated in 50% and 42.7% of patients, respectively. High ESR found to be the predictor of abnormal chest radiograph observed in 13 (16%) patients with OR of 14.26 (95% CI 1.37–147.97, p = 0.026).
Conclusions: An outbreak of COVID-19 infection in northern Jordan affected more females and relatively young
individuals and caused mainly mild illnesses. The strict outbreak response measures applied at early stages
probably contributed to the lenient nature of this outbreak, but the contribution of other factors to such
variability in COVID-19 presentation is yet to be explained
