ORCID Profile
0000-0002-5676-3221
Current Organisation
University of Oxford
Does something not look right? The information on this page has been harvested from data sources that may not be up to date. We continue to work with information providers to improve coverage and quality. To report an issue, use the Feedback Form.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 06-04-2021
Abstract: Introduction: High prevalence of gynecological conditions in women of Middle Eastern origin is reported, likely due to regional risk factors and mediators. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to investigate the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and adenomyosis in women of Middle Eastern origin. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Global Health, and Google Scholar databases were searched from database inception until 14 February 2021 to identify relevant studies. Peer-reviewed research articles that reported the prevalence of PCOS, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and adenomyosis in the Middle Eastern population were written in English or Arabic. The primary outcome was the estimated pooled prevalence of PCOS, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and adenomyosis in the Middle Eastern populations. The secondary outcome was to assess the evidence in the data for the presence of heterogeneity, by conducting subtype-pooled analysis of prevalence estimates of the conditions. Total weighted prevalence was calculated via Freeman–Tukey arcsine transformation and heterogeneity through the I 2 statistic. Quality control was performed using GRADE criteria. Results: A total of 47 studies, 26 on PCOS, 12 on endometriosis, eight on uterine fibroids, and seven on adenomyosis, were included. The pooled prevalence of PCOS diagnosed according to the NIH criteria was 8.9% (95% CI: 6.5–11.7 prevalence range: 4.0–27.6%), with a higher prevalence from the Gulf Arab states (18.8%, 95% CI: 9.5–30.3 range: 12.1–27.6%). According to the Rotterdam criteria, the pooled prevalence of PCOS was 11.9% (95% CI: 7.1–17.7 range: 3.4–19.9%) with studies limited to the Persian and Levant regions. Endometriosis was diagnosed in 12.9% (95% CI: 4.2–25.4 range: 4.2–21.0%) of women undergoing laparoscopy, for any indication. Uterine fibroid and adenomyosis prevalence of women was 30.6% (95% CI: 24.9–36.7 range: 18.5–42.6%) and 30.8% (95% CI: 27.1–34.6, range: 25.6–37.7%), respectively. Heterogeneity was present between studies due to statistical and methodological inconsistencies between studies, and quality of evidence was low due to s le size and unrepresentative participant selection. Conclusion: This is the first review that has reported the prevalence of gynecological diseases in the Middle Eastern population, suggesting that gynecological morbidity is a public health concern. Due to the health disparities in women, further research is required to understand the relative roles of environmental and genetic factors in the region to serve as a benchmark for evaluation and comparative purposes with other populations.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 14-09-2021
Abstract: Introduction: Endometriosis has a negative effect on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), wellbeing and daily functioning. Endometriosis is an under-researched condition within non-western populations. Cultural representations are needed to understand the relative roles of societal norms, traditional factors, and religious sensitivities on the impact of endometriosis on HRQoL in various populations. In particular, there is a lack of emphasis placed in understanding the association of HRQoL on endometriosis in Arab women. Method: In this prospective case-control study, 2,610 Arab ancestry women in the United Arab Emirates were recruited to investigate the impact of endometriosis on HRQoL, diagnostic delay, psychological co-morbidities, work productivity, and physical activity. Participants completed the following standardized, validated questionnaires: Short Form-36 version 2 questionnaire, the World Endometriosis Research Foundation EPHect minimum clinical questionnaire version, and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire. Translations to the Arabic language, validated using the forward-backward translation method, of the questionnaires were utilized. Results: HRQoL scores were significantly impaired in women with endometriosis, as demonstrated in the Physical Composite Scores and Mental Composite Scores in the symptomatic control group ( p = 0.001 p = 0.003, respectively) and the asymptomatic control group ( p & 0.001 p & 0.001, respectively). Susceptibility and severity of multiple pain syndromes and infertility in women with endometriosis was the main indicator of lower HRQoL. Anxiety ( p = 0.007) and depression ( p = 0.005) were significantly associated with endometriosis, in comparison to symptomatic controls. The average diagnostic delay was 11.61 years, however single women experience 15.81 years of diagnosis delay, with approximately 18% ( n = 15) of the single women experiencing more than a 20-year delay in diagnosis. The intensity of physical activity was not associated with endometriosis, when compared to symptomatic ( p = 0.405) or asymptomatic controls ( p = 0.144). Conclusion: For the first time, we provide evidence from a combined hospital, clinic, and population-based study that Arab women with endometriosis experience significant impacts on HRQoL, substantial diagnostic delay after the onset of symptoms, significant association to psychological disorders (anxiety and depression), and a negative impact on work productivity. Future research must focus on understanding the personal and culturally centered beliefs of Arab women to ensure a positive HRQoL trajectory by improving diagnosis and management strategies.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2021
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 29-08-2022
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-022-16967-W
Abstract: Since the declaration of SARS-CoV-2 outbreak as a pandemic, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) public health authorities have adopted strict measures to reduce transmission as early as March 2020. As a result of these measures, flight suspension, nationwide RT-PCR and surveillance of viral sequences were extensively implemented. This study aims to characterize the epidemiology, transmission pattern, and emergence of variants of concerns (VOCs) and variants of interests (VOIs) of SARS-CoV-2 in the UAE, followed by the investigation of mutations associated with hospitalized cases. A total of 1274 s les were collected and sequenced from all seven emirates between the period of 25 April 2020 to 15 February 2021. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated multiple introductions of SARS-CoV-2 into the UAE in the early pandemic, followed by a local spread of root clades (A, B, B.1 and B.1.1). As the international flight resumed, the frequencies of VOCs surged indicating the January peak of positive cases. We observed that the hospitalized cases were significantly associated with the presence of B.1.1.7 (p 0.001), B.1.351 (p 0.001) and A.23.1 (p = 0.009). Deceased cases are more likely to occur in the presence of B.1.351 (p 0.001) and A.23.1 (p = 0.022). Logistic and ridge regression showed that 51 mutations are significantly associated with hospitalized cases with the highest proportion originated from S and ORF1a genes (31% and 29% respectively). Our study provides an epidemiological insight of the emergence of VOCs and VOIs following the borders reopening and worldwide travels. It provides reassurance that hospitalization is markedly more associated with the presence of VOCs. This study can contribute to understand the global transmission of SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 05-11-2021
DOI: 10.3389/FMICB.2021.761067
Abstract: The interplay between the compositional changes in the gastrointestinal microbiome, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) susceptibility and severity, and host functions is complex and yet to be fully understood. This study performed 16S rRNA gene-based microbial profiling of 143 subjects. We observed structural and compositional alterations in the gut microbiota of the SARS-CoV-2-infected group in comparison to non-infected controls. The gut microbiota composition of the SARS-CoV-2-infected in iduals showed an increase in anti-inflammatory bacteria such as Faecalibacterium ( p -value = 1.72 × 10 –6 ) and Bacteroides ( p -value = 5.67 × 10 –8 ). We also revealed a higher relative abundance of the highly beneficial butyrate producers such as Anaerostipes ( p -value = 1.75 × 10 –230 ), Lachnospiraceae ( p -value = 7.14 × 10 –65 ), and Blautia ( p -value = 9.22 × 10 –18 ) in the SARS-CoV-2-infected group in comparison to the control group. Moreover, phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstructing unobserved state (PICRUSt) functional prediction analysis of the 16S rRNA gene abundance data showed substantial differences in the enrichment of metabolic pathways such as lipid, amino acid, carbohydrate, and xenobiotic metabolism, in comparison between both groups. We discovered an enrichment of linoleic acid, ether lipid, glycerolipid, and glycerophospholipid metabolism in the SARS-CoV-2-infected group, suggesting a link to SARS-CoV-2 entry and replication in host cells. We estimate the major contributing genera to the four pathways to be Parabacteroides , Streptococcus , Dorea , and Blautia , respectively. The identified differences provide a new insight to enrich our understanding of SARS-CoV-2-related changes in gut microbiota, their metabolic capabilities, and potential screening biomarkers linked to COVID-19 disease severity.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2022
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-06-2023
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 20-05-2021
DOI: 10.3389/FVETS.2021.644414
Abstract: Coronavirus infections have been a part of the animal kingdom for millennia. The difference emerging in the twenty-first century is that a greater number of novel coronaviruses are being discovered primarily due to more advanced technology and that a greater number can be transmitted to humans, either directly or via an intermediate host. This has a range of effects from annual infections that are mild to full-blown pandemics. This review compares the zoonotic potential and relationship between MERS, SARS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2. The role of bats as possible host species and possible intermediate hosts including pangolins, civets, mink, birds, and other mammals are discussed with reference to mutations of the viral genome affecting zoonosis. Ecological, social, cultural, and environmental factors that may play a role in zoonotic transmission are considered with reference to SARS-CoV, MERS, and SARS-CoV-2 and possible future zoonotic events.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 07-03-2023
Abstract: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by insulin deficiency and loss of pancreatic islet β-cells. The objective of this study is to identify de novo mutations in 13 trios from singleton families that contribute to the genetic basis of T1DM through the application of whole-exome sequencing (WES). Of the 13 families s led for this project, 12 had de novo variants, with Family 7 having the highest number (nine) of variants linked to T1DM/autoimmune pathways, whilst Family 4 did not have any variants past the filtering steps. There were 10 variants of 7 genes reportedly associated with T1DM (MST1 TDG TYRO3 IFIHI GLIS3 VEGFA TYK2). There were 20 variants of 13 genes that were linked to endocrine, metabolic, or autoimmune diseases. Our findings demonstrate that trio-based WES is a powerful approach for identifying new candidate genes for the pathogenesis of T1D. Genotyping and functional annotation of the discovered de novo variants in a large cohort is recommended to ascertain their association with disease pathogenesis.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 18-11-2021
DOI: 10.3389/FGENE.2021.733746
Abstract: Background: The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is prevalent in Arabian populations. Several small-scale studies have been performed to investigate the genetic basis of MetS. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine whether candidate gene polymorphisms are associated with MetS susceptibility among ethnic groups of the Arabian world and to suggest possible directions for future research regarding genetic markers and MetS. Methods: A search was conducted for peer-reviewed articles that examined the genetic association of MetS in Arabian populations in the following databases: Medline, Embase, Scopus, Direct Science, Web of Science, ProQuest, and Google Scholar until March 31, 2021. Articles were eligible if they were case-control studies, which investigated MetS as a dichotomous outcome (MetS vs no MetS). To assess the quality of the studies, the Q-Genie tool (Quality of Genetic Association Studies) was used. A non-central chi2 (random-effect) distribution was used to determine the heterogeneity (H) of Q and I (Galassi et al., The American journal of medicine, 2006, 119, 812–819) statistics. Results: Our search strategy identified 36 studies that met our inclusion criteria. In most cases, studies were excluded due to a lack of statistical information such as odds ratios, confidence intervals, and p -values. According to the Q-Genie tool, 12 studies scored poorly (a score of≤35), 13 studies scored moderately ( & and≤45), and 12 studies had good quality ( & or higher). The most frequently studied genes were FTO and VDR (both included in four studies). Three SNPs indicated increased risk for MetS after calculating the pooled odds ratios: FTO-rs9939609 (odds ratio 1.49, 95% CI: 0.96–2.32) LEP-rs7799039 (odds ratio 1.85, 95% CI: 1.37–2.5) and SERPINA12-rs2236242 (odds ratio 1.65, 95% CI: 1.21–2.24). Meta-analysis studies showed no significant heterogeneity. Conclusion: There were many sources of heterogeneity in the study settings. Most of the studies had low to moderate quality because of s le size and power issues, not considering all potential sources of bias, and not providing details about genotyping methods and results. As most studies were small-scale, aimed to replicate findings from other populations, we did not find any unique genetic association between MetS and Arabian populations.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 13-01-2022
Abstract: Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease severity differs widely due to numerous factors including ABO gene-derived susceptibility or resistance. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of the ABO blood group and genetic variations of the ABO gene with COVID-19 severity in a heterogeneous hospital population s le from the United Arab Emirates, with the use of an epidemiological and candidate gene approach from a genome-wide association study (GWAS). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 646 participants who tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were recruited from multiple hospitals and population-based (quarantine c s) recruitment sites from March 2020 to February 2021. The participants were ided into two groups based on the severity of COVID-19: noncritical ( n = 453) and critical [intensive care unit (ICU) patients] ( n = 193), as per the COVID-19 Reporting and Data System (CO-RADS) classification. The multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated the association of ABO blood type as well as circulating anti-A antibodies and anti-B antibodies as well as A and B antigens, in association with critical COVID-19 hospital presentation. A candidate gene analysis approach was conducted from a GWAS where we examined 240 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (position in chr9 : 136125788-136150617) in the ABO gene, in association with critical COVID-19 hospital presentation. Results: Patients with blood group O [odds ratio (OR): 0.51 (0.33, 0.79) p = 0.003] were less likely to develop critical COVID-19 symptoms. Eight alleles have been identified to be associated with a protective effect of blood group O in ABO 3'untranslated region (UTR): rs199969472 ( p = 0.0052), rs34266669 ( p = 0.0052), rs76700116 ( p = 0.0052), rs7849280 ( p = 0.0052), rs34039247 ( p = 0.0104), rs10901251 ( p = 0.0165), rs9411475 ( p = 0.0377), and rs13291798 ( p = 0.0377). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that there are novel allelic variants that link genetic variants of the ABO gene and ABO blood groups contributing to the reduced risk of critical COVID-19 disease. This study is the first study to combine genetic and serological evidence of the involvement of the ABO blood groups and the ABO gene allelic associations with COVID-19 severity within the Middle Eastern population.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2022
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 16-11-2022
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 20-10-2021
DOI: 10.3390/NU13113680
Abstract: Vitamin D has many effects on cells in the immune system. Many studies have linked low vitamin D status with severity of COVID-19. Genetic variants involved in vitamin D metabolism have been implicated as potential risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes. This study investigated how genetic variations in humans affected the clinical presentation of COVID-19. In total, 646 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were ided into two groups: noncritical COVID-19 (n = 453 70.12%) and a critical group (n = 193 29.87%). Genotype data on the GC, NADSYN1, VDR, and CYP2R1 genes along with data on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were compiled in patients admitted to a major hospital in the United Arab Emirates between April 2020 and January 2021. We identified 12 single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with the critical COVID-19 condition: rs59241277, rs113574864, rs182901986, rs60349934, and rs113876500 rs4944076, rs4944997, rs4944998, rs4944979, and rs10898210 and rs11574018 and rs11574024. We report significant associations between genetic determinants of vitamin D metabolism and COVID-19 severity in the UAE population. Further research needed to clarify the mechanism of action against viral infection in vitamin D deficiency. These variants could be used with vaccination to manage the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and could be particularly valuable in populations in which vitamin D deficiency is common.
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for Mira Mousa.