MBRU Knowledge Repository

Knowledge Repository at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Welcome to digital archive and research repository of Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU). MBRU Knowledge Repository is a digital service that collects, preserves, and distributes digital material. MBRU's scholarly communications including theses, faculty publications, student projects, and departmental records and publications are the key digital records available in this repository. Repositories are important tools for preserving an organization's legacy; they facilitate digital preservation and scholarly communication.

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Large Language Models in peri-implant disease: How well do they perform?
(Elsevier BV, 2025-03) Kaklamanos, Eleftherios G
Statement of problem: Artificial intelligence (AI) has gained significant recent attention and several AI applications, such as the Large Language Models (LLMs) are promising for use in clinical medicine and dentistry. Nevertheless, assessing the performance of LLMs is essential to identify potential inaccuracies or even prevent harmful outcomes. Purpose. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the evidence-based potential of answers provided by 4 LLMs to clinical questions in the field of implant dentistry. Material and methods: A total of 10 open-ended questions pertinent to prevention and treatment of peri-implant disease were posed to 4 distinct LLMs including ChatGPT 4.0, Google Gemini, Google Gemini Advanced, and Microsoft Copilot. The answers were evaluated independently by 2 periodontists against scientific evidence for comprehensiveness, scientific accuracy, clarity, and relevance. The LLMs responses received scores ranging from 0 (minimum) to 10 (maximum) points. To assess the intra-evaluator reliability, a re-evaluation of the LLM responses was performed after 2 weeks and Cronbach α and interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used (α=.05). Results: The scores assigned by the examiners on the 2 occasions were not statistically different and each LLM received an average score. Google Gemini Advanced ranked higher than the rest of the LLMs, while Google Gemini scored worst. The difference between Google Gemini Advanced and Google Gemini was statistically significantly different (P=.005). Conclusions: Dental professionals need to be cautious when using LLMs to access content related to peri-implant diseases. LLMs cannot currently replace dental professionals and caution should be exercised when used in patient care.
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Alterations in blood pressure dependent activation of leg muscles during standing following bed rest mimic those observed with ageing
(Frontiers Media SA, 2025-04-29) Goswami, Nandu
Introduction Baroreflex-mediated activation of lower leg muscles (i.e., muscle-pump baroreflex) has been suggested to play a significant role in blood pressure regulation during standing. Compromised muscle-pump baroreflex because of ageing or prolonged inactivity could contribute to orthostatic hypotension. Understanding the contribution of individual lower leg muscles to blood pressure regulation could lead to the development of muscle-specific strategies to prevent orthostatic hypotension associated with muscle-pump baroreflex dysfunctions. Methods In this study, individual muscle (tibialis anterior (TA), lateral soleus (SOL), medial gastrocnemius (MG), and lateral gastrocnemius (LG)) responses to blood pressure changes upon a supine-to-stand orthostatic challenge were examined in young adult male participants (35 ± 2 years) before and after 60 days of 6° head-down tilt bed rest (HDBR). By analyzing the interactions between systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heartbeat-by-heartbeat electromyogram impulse (EMGimp) during standing, the interactions between SBP and EMGimp including muscle-pump baroreflex were characterized by fraction time active (FTA) and response gain from wavelet transform coherence analysis and the causality values using convergent cross mapping method for individual leg muscles. Since inactivity and ageing are common causes of orthostatic intolerance, the HDBR results were compared with those from young and older individuals in a previously published study to investigate the similarities in their effects on muscle-pump baroreflex. Results During standing, FTA reduced for all muscles except MG following HDBR and was lower in older compared to younger participants. Muscle-pump baroreflex causality (SBP→EMGimp) reduced for all muscles following HDBR and was lower for LG and SOL muscles in older compared to younger adults. The mechanical muscle-pump causality (SBP→EMGimp) was not affected by HDBR or by age. Increased TA muscle-pump baroreflex gain post-HDBR may point to a compensatory mechanism for decreased active control. Conclusions Our results showed striking similarities in the alteration of muscle-pump baroreflex induced via ageing and HDBR, suggesting strong commonalities between ageing and long-term inactivity in terms of the adverse effects on baroreflex mediated control of lower leg muscle activities in response to orthostatic challenge.
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Targeting PAR-2-driven inflammatory pathways in colorectal cancer: mechanistic insights from atorvastatin and rosuvastatin treatment in cell line models
(AME Publishing Company, 2025-03) Patnaik, Rajashree; Varghese, Riah Lee; Khan, Sara; Huda, Bintul; Bhurka, Farida; Amiri, Layla; Banerjee, Yajnavalka
Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a growing health concern globally and in regions such as the United Arab Emirates, where risk factors like obesity and hyperlipidaemia are prevalent. Chronic inflammation, driven by pathways involving protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR-2), plays a pivotal role in CRC progression, creating a tumour-promoting microenvironment. The overexpression of PAR-2 has been associated with increased tumour aggressiveness and drug resistance. While previous studies have focused on broad inflammatory modulation, this study explores the selective targeting of PAR-2 by atorvastatin (ATV) and rosuvastatin (RSV), highlighting their specificity by assessing minimal impact on PAR-1 expression, which serves as a control. Methods: HT-29 and Caco-2 CRC cell lines were employed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of ATV and RSV. Inflammation was induced with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), followed by treatment with varying concentrations of ATV and RSV. Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction for quantification (qPCR) were performed to quantify PAR-2 and TNF-α at both the protein and mRNA levels. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the secretion of TNF-α. Calcium signalling, which plays a crucial role in inflammation, was analysed using Fluo-4 AM dye, with fluorescence imaging capturing the effects of statin treatment on intracellular calcium influx. Results: LPS treatment significantly upregulated PAR-2 and TNF-α expression in both cell lines, validating the inflammatory model. Co-treatment with ATV or RSV reduced PAR-2 and TNF-α expression in a dose-dependent manner. The higher concentrations of ATV (50 µg/mL) and RSV (20 µg/mL) produced the most significant reduction in these inflammatory markers at both the protein and mRNA levels. Importantly, the treatment did not substantially alter PAR-1 expression, underlining the specificity of ATV and RSV in modulating PAR-2-mediated pathways. Additionally, statin treatment attenuated LPS-induced calcium influx, with fluorescence intensity decreasing markedly at higher concentrations of both statins. Conclusions: This study provides novel insights into the selective targeting of PAR-2 by ATV and RSV, distinguishing their effects from PAR-1. The reduction in PAR-2 expression and TNF-α secretion, along with the suppression of calcium signalling, underscores the potential of these statins as targeted antiinflammatory agents in CRC. The findings highlight the therapeutic value of ATV and RSV in modulating inflammation through PAR-2-specific pathways, which may contribute to reduced cancer progression. These results pave the way for further preclinical and clinical evaluations to explore statins as adjunctive therapies in the management of CRC.
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Utilization of Low‐Dose Phentermine for Weight Loss Prior to Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery: A Prospective, Randomized, and Placebo‐Controlled Trial
(Wiley, 2025-01-17) Rivas, Homero
ABSTRACT Introduction: Studies examining preoperative weight loss using pharmacotherapy in metabolic and bariatric patients are limited. The objective was to investigate if patients taking a low‐dose formulation of phentermine had improved weight loss. Methods: This study was a randomized, placebo‐controlled trial including patients undergoing laparoscopic Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy. Anthropometric and serological data were collected during the initial consult visit and again during two follow‐up visits. Lomaira is a low‐dose formulation of phentermine. Patients took 8‐mg tablets three times a day for 14 weeks. The primary outcome of this study was weight loss, which was measured as percentage total weight loss (%TWL) and change in body mass index (BMI). Results: Among 53 participants randomized, 45 (85%) completed the trial. Participants were predominantly female (91%); the mean age was 41 years (SD = 11); and the mean initial BMI was 48.4 kg/m2 (SD = 8.2 kg/m2). Average weight loss was 6.2 kg (SD = 6) in the treatment group versus 1.1 kg (SD = 4.54) in the placebo group (p = 0.001). Average % TWL was greater in treatment Group 4.7 ± 4.3 versus placebo Group 1.1 ± 3.6, p = 0.001. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that preoperative medication use was significantly associated with greater %TWL (p = 0.004). There was no difference in OR time or post‐operative complications between the groups. Conclusions: Low‐dose phentermine is efficacious and safe for preoperative weight loss in patients undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery.
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Pharmacy workforce: a systematic review of key drivers of pharmacists’ satisfaction and retention
(Informa UK Limited, 2025-02-28) Sallam, Mohammed
Background: Pharmacy workforces are central to healthcare systems, yet the profession faces challenges in job satisfaction and retention due to evolving roles, workload pressures, and other issues. Understanding workforce stability is crucial for optimising pharmacy services. Objective: This systematic review aimed to identify and analyze the critical factors impacting pharmacy staff job satisfaction and retention, providing actionable insights to improve workforce stability and long-term engagement in the profession. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), covering broad academic databases including EMBASE, Web of Science, PubMed, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and the supplementary use of Google Scholar for studies published between 2019 and 2024. The quality of the included articles was evaluated, revealing a generally low to moderate risk of bias. Results: The review synthesised findings from 81 studies and extracted ten relevant themes. Countries including the United States, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Southeast Asia countries contributed most frequently, highlighting regional research diversity. Key factors influencing job satisfaction included burnout, stress, and workload (24%); work conditions and roles (22%); professional development (14%); earnings and benefits (10%); and leadership support (9%). Conclusion: With a global perspective that travels across 36 countries in five continents, this study is the latest in-depth analysis of factors influencing job satisfaction in the pharmacy workforce. This review emphasises the need for policy reforms and further research on workplace conditions in different locations. It provides insights for policymakers and healthcare leaders to enhance the pharmacy workforce's strategic support and engagement initiatives.