Biography:

Ashley E Knowell is investigating the role of childhood obesity as a risk factor for adult cancers. The ultimate goal of the project is to provide families with the necessary tools and information to establish healthy nutritional habits, reduce childhood obesity and ultimately reduce adult cancer risk among South Carolinian children. Her research interests also include tumor suppressors, cell death and the development, progression and treatment of cancer in African-Americans and South Carolinians. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Bioengineering Sciences at South Carolina State University.

Shanora Brown has actively been involved in the study of prostate cancer, molecular mechanisms of tumor progression as well a genetic factors contributing to the disparities in cancer among diverse populations. Her current research focus is investigating and understanding the link between nutrition and childhood obesity as a risk factor for adult carcinogenesis in South Carolinian children. Ultimately, eliminating or reducing preventable risk factors such as unhealthy nutrition and childhood obesity could have important implications for reducing clinical manifestations of adult cancers, such as breast and prostate.

Abstract:

Childhood obesity has been a growing epidemic in the United States with about one in five of U.S. children considered overweight or obese. The increased number of overweight and obese children can be linked to several factors including nutrition and social economic status. Obesity in children can lead to numerous health complications such as diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic inflammation and carcinogenesis. Therefore, the goal of this study is to eliminate or reduce preventable risk factors such as unhealthy nutrition and childhood obesity, which in turn may reduce clinical manifestations of adult cancer outcomes. Areas of South Carolina have a long history of being under-developed which contribute to numerous problems such as obesity, poverty and sub-par health care. We have enrolled SC children from varying degrees of rurality to determine if obesity and/or high-fat pro-inflammatory diets contribute to increased levels of pro-inflammatory markers and obesity related genes to include: Adiponectin, leptin, SAA1/2, Interleukin 1 and 6. Subjects were be randomized into obese and non-obese groups based on BMI guidelines. The transcriptional levels of pro-inflammatory genes were measured by quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results suggest increased expression of these pro-inflammatory markers are directly correlated to diet irrespective of weight class (normal, overweight, obese). Reducing childhood obesity and pro-inflammatory diets, while providing access to healthy foods are beneficial in the reduction of cancer risk and will serve as preventive measures for early-stage onset of adult cancers.

Biography:

Sarmistha Biswal is an ASEM-DUO (UK-India) Exchange Fellow between Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, India and the Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck, University of London. She is a young woman investigator whose current research interest is in tackling antibiotic resistance in infectious bacterial diseases. She has published peer-reviewed research articles and presented her research in international meetings.

Abstract:

Mycobacterial infections result in huge damage to public health and economy each year because of the alarming emergence of extensively drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (WHO, 2019). Mycobacteria have long known to be intrinsically resistant to β-lactam antibiotics. Β-lactamases are enzymes those protect bacterial cells by hydrolyzing β-lactam ring of antibiotics making them ineffective. Class-A β-lactamases have a conserved structural domain called omega loop (RLDRWETELNEAIPGDARD) participating in catalytic activity being a part of the drug-binding pocket of the enzyme. In this work we have attempted to design and characterize some peptides against the omega-loop of class A β-lactamases to reverse antimicrobial resistance in bacteria. Primarily, about 100 peptides were designed against the conserved sequence of omega-loop of class A β-lactamases. The peptides sequences were subjected to different bioinformatics tool and finally, 10 peptides were synthesized by Fmoc Solid-Phase Synthesis Peptide (SPPS) strategy (J.M. Palomo, 2014). Whole-cell phenotypic evaluations were done to ascertain the hydrolytic potential of pbad-blatem1 (class A β-lactamases) against different β-lactam antibiotics in presence of all the synthesized peptides in different bacteria (E. Coli CS109, Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv) and we observed a significant decreased level of hydrolytic activity of blatem1 in the presence of peptides. Thus, the study may explore the role of peptides in masking of omega-loop facilitating β-lactams to kill the bacteria.

Biography:

Mohammad Athar Ansari after completing his Doctor of Medicine course in Community Medicine in 1998, joined the faculty in the Dept. of Community Medicine, J.N. Medical College in 1999. He has been awarded PhD in Community Medicine in 2016. He is teaching undergraduate and postgraduate medical students and nursing students and also involved in the training of medical interns in rural health programmes. He is also involved in the research activities directed towards micronutrient deficiencies, HIV/AIDS, disaster management and environmental health issues. He has got 130 papers published and presented 138 papers in conferences. He has been Coordinator/Investigator projects including UNICEF, Bill&Melinda Gates Foundation.

Abstract:

Nutritional intake during adolescences is important for growth, long term health promotion and the development. The present study has been carried out to find out the prevalence and changing pattern of overweight and obesity in medical students and to determine the correlates of overweight and obesity. Total number of participants was 240 comprising of 150 male and 90 female medial students and interns. They were given nutritional education and followed up during Internship. Body Mass Index (BMI) of <18.5 Kg/ m2 was taken as cut off point for under weight. Overweight and Obese were taken at the level of >25.0 Kg/ m2 and 30 Kg/m2 and above respectively. During 3rd to 5th semesters, among 150 male students, 15 (10.0%) were overweight while 9 (6.0%) were found to be obese and 6 (4.0%) were underweight. Among 90 girls, 21 (23.3%) were overweight, 10 (11.1%) obese and (7.7%) were found to be underweight. During internship, prevalence of obesity was decreased to 5.2% and overweight was declined to 3.4%. High calorie intake was noticed in 45 (30.0%) male students and lack of physical activity was observed in 25 (16.7%) male students. Among female students, high calorie intake and lack of physical activity was found in 31 (34.4%) and 20 (22.2%) students respectively. There is urgent need for prevention of obesity and its risk factors among college students. These findings have enormous significance for developing societies emerging from poverty and continuing to bear the double burden of both form of malnutrition in their populations.

Biography:

Yong Liu, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. He is one of the Expert panels of Shenzhen 2019-nCoV pneumonia, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. His skills and expertise include PCR, NGS Data Analysis and Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. His current project deals with Population-based meta-analysis of vancomycin pharmacokinetics in patients receiving ECMO.

Abstract:

Background: The increasing spread of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms has led to the need of developing alternative antimicrobial treatments. CCL-6 has shown antibacterial activity in vitro. However, due to the poor permeability and selectivity of the cell membrane, the effect on bacteria in vivo is not ideal. The use of CCL-6 fused with PEP, a cell-penetrating peptide is a promising approach to enhance the antibacterial ability of CCL-6.

Methods: The His-CCL6-PEP1 coding sequence was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and then cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector (pABP) containing His tag. The constructed vector, verified by restriction endonuclease digestion, PCR and DNA sequencing, was then transformed into HEK 293 cell for expression. The expression of His-CCL6-PEP1 recombinant protein was purified with Ni2+-NTA affinity chromatography method and identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting.

Results: PEP-CCL6 was produced from 293 cell lines. The successful construction of recombinant plasmid was confirmed by restriction digestion, PCR and sequencing. The molecular weight of the purified fusion protein was identified as 15kD by SDS-PAGE, which was identical to the expected value. It was confirmed by western blotting that is CCL6-PEP1 fusion protein could be recognized by His monoclonal antibody.

Conclusions: The recombinant plasmid of pABP-CCL6-PEP1 has been successfully constructed. The expressed His- CCL6-PEP1 fusion protein has been purified and identified

Biography:

Anfal nasreldin bagal gradute of university of science and technology modules university of Khartoum Qualifying and medical license in the state of Qatar council for healthcare practitioners. She work at national health insurance fund as medical laboratory technologist. She is student master university of karary Recherche titles names "Direct detection of antibiotic resistance bacteria in patients with post-surgical nosocomial infection (carbapenem resistance gene Klebsiella pneumonia/Pseudomonas aeruginosa) using molecular techniques in Alfasher North Darfur State".

Abstract:

Introduction: Surgical site infections coincide and contribute to healthcare associated infections, therefore the definition of Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) referred to infections that occur in the wound created by an invasive surgical procedure which were one of the most important causes of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, Klebsiella spp., etc. Gram-positive bacteria were found to be more predominant in the postoperative wound samples compared to the Gram-negative organisms. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli were multidrug resistant. Surgical site infection has increased over the past few years. World Health Organization (WHO) documented that 66% of establishing countries have no imprinted data related to the burden of SSI and the data based on the surgical prophylaxis is insufficient. However, good quality of the microbiology laboratory practice is important, in Sudan, while searching in literature there no researches to date on this topic of laboratory diagnosis for surgical and nosocomial infections monitoring antibiotic resistance. In Alfasher, however, patients suffer from post-surgical infections and good quality in microbiology laboratory practice is mandatory. However, there will be no good laboratory practice without excellence in quality and professionalism.

Aim: This study was proposed to apply quality in the medical microbiology laboratory using proper isolation system, culture for microorganisms, antibiotics sensitivity testing and DNA sequencing for bacteria resistant to antibiotics in surgical site infection.

Methods: We evaluated this study by using molecular techniques in Microbiology laboratory, Bacterial DNA prepared for PCR according to the standard method. DNA concentration was determined using spectrophotometer; Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by applying the agar diffusion method according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) recommendations, Standard quality measures, such as standard operation procedures, quality of environment, the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) is a software package used in statistical analysis of data.

Result: In total, 80 resistant isolates (18 Gram-positive and 62 Gram-negative). All S. aureus isolates were resistant to both penicillin and oxacillin. K. pneumoniae isolates were resistant to carbapenems. The molecular screening of carbapenemase genes was based on a previously published multiplex PCR technique. Recent studies show that not only bacteria, but also bacterial genes can move freely among humans, animals and the environment. In our study the resistant Gram-negative rods (GNR) were a common finding, confirming their increased prevalence in hospital-associated drug-resistant infections.

Conclusion: Our results demonstrated the presence of important clinical pathogens in patients with post-surgical nosocomial infection, which are likely to be released in the environment..

Biography:

Minashree Kumari has expertise in risk assessment of emerging contaminants including antibiotics in drinking water samples. She has evaluated the health risk of antibiotics in drinking water samples of River Yamuna, Delhi, India. This study will help the regulatory agencies in developing and implementing strict control measure to reduce the antibiotic pollution. Previously she has worked on disinfection by-products especially trihalomethanes (THMs) in drinking water in which she has monitored, analysed, modelled and assessed the risk for different sub-poulations.

Abstract:

Due to the increased consumption of antibiotics for human and veterinary purposes, antibiotic residues have been frequently detected in aquatic environments. It is believed that antibiotics reach aquatic water bodies through sewage. Sewage treatment plants (STPs) are not designed for the removal of antibiotics and as a result antibiotic residues have been detected in different water matrices including drinking water. Yamuna River is the largest tributary of the River Ganga and a major source of potable water to Delhi. The river is unfortunately the receiving water body for the untreated and partially treated sewage from the city. Only two percent of the total length of the river flows though the city, but it receives 79% of its total pollutant loading there, primarily through sewage and industrial discharges. Ciprofloxacin (CIP) is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic used to treat different types of bacterial infections, including respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, certain types of diarrhea etc. High concentration of CIP has been reported in the effluents of STPs, discharged into River Yamuna. Human health risk estimation of CIP for two sub-populations was carried out using the acceptable daily intake (ADIs) values considering the point of departure (POD) and uncertainty factors (UFs). Hazard quotient (HQ) was calculated as a ratio of environmental concentration and predicted no effect concentration, below which no adverse health effects are expected. Average HQs values of CIP in adult and children were found, the acceptable limit, signifying no potential health risk for both the subgroups. The study will help regulatory agencies like central pollution control board in developing the effluent discharge standard limits of antibiotics including health risk guideline values. Appropriate and strict control measures should be taken by regulatory agencies to eradicate the spread of antibiotic pollution based on the results of health risks of antibiotics exposure.

Biography:

Njla Yehya Elhaj Wardgo is a Pharmacist at Alsawahly pharmacy group . She received her B.S from Omdurman islamic university 2011, she started her career in fedail hospital pharmacy from 2011-2013. After that she worked for Alsawahly pharmacy group till now. Njla is a medical researcher at The research center in Sudan, she currently lives in Khartoum with her husband and her sons.

Abstract:

Introduction: Streptomycin is a first aminoglycoside synthesized as a product of Streptomyces griseus and is inhibitor of protein synthesis. The resistant mutants obtained in vitro have abnormal ribosomes. In few clinical strains of Staphylococcus aureus there is some evidence for plasmid locus or gene determining streptomycin resistance. The mechanism of resistance is uncertain. Since ancient time, naturally occurring plants have played an important role in the discovery of new therapeutic agents. Almost all antibiotics are subjected to the problem of bacterial resistance. Garlic (Allium sativum Linn) has an important dietary and medicinal rule for centuries. Its typically pungent odor and bacterial activity depend on allicin one of the active principles of freshly crushed garlic homogenates, has variety of antimicrobial activity.

Methods: Garlic powder was purchased from local market. The 70% of ethanol was prepared. Bacterial strain was inoculated on sterile nutrient broth and incubated at 370c for 24 h. Each culture was swabbed on the surface of sterile nutrient agar plate in duplicate. Standard streptomycin with different concentration was added.

Result: Mean zone of inhibition was expressed and compared with the control. The findings of this study reveal the distinct antibacterial profile of Allium sativum Linn. Solely and in streptomycin synergism against streptomycin-resistant S. aureus. Staphylococcus is a gram-positive aerobic and nonaerobic, immobile. It is a catalase positive and capable of mannitol fermentation. S. aureus is very sensitive to alcoholic extract. The antimicrobial activity of garlic is depending on allicin compound, which is more effective on gram positive bacteria much more than gram negative. Allicin is very important compound that create the antibacterial properties and limit the speed of RNA synthesis. Use of garlic extract solely is fruitful. Synergistic use can prevent the pathogenic organism grow their resistance against antibiotic.

Biography:

Bello Jamoh Yusuf has completed his MBBS programme from Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria and had MSc in Cancer Bilogy with commendation from Kingston University, London. He is a Fellow of National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and an Honourary Consultant Physician in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Nigeria. He is currently the Head of Clinical Haematology Unit, ABUTH.

Abstract:

Background: Lymphoma has been described as the most common haematological malignancy world-wide. In Nigeria precise frequency of cancers, generally is difficult owing to the health-seeking behavior of many patients that is oriented toward alternative traditional medicine with attendant loss of data. Nevertheless, in a hospital-based study in Zaria demonstrated that lymphoma ranked 5th in the list of all histologically-diagnosed cancers in Zaria. It has been shown that liquid biopsies of ctDNA can be effective when needle biopsies prove difficult, e.g. in isolated central nervous system disease or mediastinal diseases.

Methods: Eighty patients with histological confirmation of lymphoma and another 80 subjects with inflammatory lymphadenopathy were recruited at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital. From lymph node tissues of patients, DNA was isolated (using Bioneer AccuPrep Genomic DNA extraction kit) and sequenced (using Beckman Coulter CEQ 2000XL). This same DNA was targeted in the circulating blood of these patients and quantified as circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA). Levels of BCL-2 were determined using multiplex-nested PCR while prognostic scores of these patients were computed according to the International Prognostic Index for Lymphoma. Data were analyzed by using STATA (version 3.0) and GraphPad Prism (version 6.0).

Result: A strong association was observed between the levels of ctDNA and histological features of lymphoma (p<0.00001). A marked difference in the median levels of ctDNA was observed between treatment naive and treatment-experienced subjects with lymphoma (p< 0.0001) but no statistical difference was observed between Hodgkin’s disease and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (p=0.45). In regression analysis, ctDNA and BCL-2 levels predict poor prognostic score among study subjects.

Conclusion: ctDNA is a reliable marker for diagnosis, assessment of tumour load, follow-up and prognostication of lymphoma in Zaria.

Biography:

Karina Caetano Souza has completed her BSc Biomedicine and holds a Chemistry Technician Degree. Currently pursuing MRes Global Infectious Diseases research-intense programme. Souza is one of the 16 European students selected for a prestigious DUO-India 2020 academic exchange programme. This academic exchange programme created to facilitate educational exchanges between Asia and Europe and encourage academic research collaborations.

Abstract:

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative bacterium that is one of the WHO’S priority ESKAPE pathogens which are responsible for a significant increase in mortality worldwide. It has also caused a massive economic burden due to presenting multidrug resistance in the causal pathogen at an alarming rate. The aim of this project is to reverse β -lactam drug resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae by binding designed peptides (designed in silico, produced and purified) to the active site pocket of a novel Class A β – lactamase. Antibiotic sensitivity assessment of the cells harbouring the β – lactamase in presence and absence of the peptides have shown some promising results. Alongside this, expression and purification of the novel β – lactamase is being approached for further structure-activity relationship studies.

Biography:

Nastaran Ahmadi is a PhD candidate at Yazd Cardiovascular Research Center.

Abstract:

Background: We aimed to determine the correlation of BMI with depression and find its determinants, in a large-scale study sample.
Method: We Used the data of participants in the Iranian Children and Adolescents' Psychiatric Disorders Study (IRCAP), which was the first national community-based, cross-section study performed in this field in Iran, in 2017. Overall 30532 children and adolescents aged 6-18 was selected with random cluster sampling method from urban and rural areas of all provinces of Iran. Binary logistic regression methods were used to analyze the data.
Results: Out of total 30532, 25321 children and adolescents who had both measured BMI and interviewed for K-SADS entered to the study (12455 boys and 12866 girls). We categorized the participants according to the Iranian cut-off points for BMI classification. In boys after controlling for age, father’s and mother’s job and education, and place of residence, the probability (OR) of depression in underweight, healthy weight, and overweight participants compared to obese subjects were 2.19 (95% CI: 1.00 to 4.81), 1.06 (95% CI: 0.73 to 1.55) and 0.80 (95% CI: 0.49 to 1.32 ), respectively. In girls subgroup, after controlling for aforementioned covariates, the probability (OR) of depression in healthy weight, overweight, and obese participants compared to underweight subjects were 1.29 (95% CI: 0.52 to 3.19), 1.54 (95% CI: 0.59 to 3.98) and 1.79 (95% CI: 0.68 to 4.69), respectively. 
Conclusions: Underweight boys were more diagnosed with depression than normal weight and overweight boys. While in girls by increasing BMI, the probability for co-morbidity of depression was greater.

Biography:

Siti Sabariah Buhari completed her PhD in Nutrition from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. She is a nutritionist and a lecturer from Center of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Tekologi MARA, Puncak Alam. Her current research interests include Childhood obesity, obesogenic environment and intervention studies.

Abstract:

Background: We aimed to determine the correlation of BMI with depression and find its determinants, in a large-scale study sample.
Method: We Used the data of participants in the Iranian Children and Adolescents' Psychiatric Disorders Study (IRCAP), which was the first national community-based, cross-section study performed in this field in Iran, in 2017. Overall 30532 children and adolescents aged 6-18 was selected with random cluster sampling method from urban and rural areas of all provinces of Iran. Binary logistic regression methods were used to analyze the data.
Results: Out of total 30532, 25321 children and adolescents who had both measured BMI and interviewed for K-SADS entered to the study (12455 boys and 12866 girls). We categorized the participants according to the Iranian cut-off points for BMI classification. In boys after controlling for age, father’s and mother’s job and education, and place of residence, the probability (OR) of depression in underweight, healthy weight, and overweight participants compared to obese subjects were 2.19 (95% CI: 1.00 to 4.81), 1.06 (95% CI: 0.73 to 1.55) and 0.80 (95% CI: 0.49 to 1.32 ), respectively. In girls subgroup, after controlling for aforementioned covariates, the probability (OR) of depression in healthy weight, overweight, and obese participants compared to underweight subjects were 1.29 (95% CI: 0.52 to 3.19), 1.54 (95% CI: 0.59 to 3.98) and 1.79 (95% CI: 0.68 to 4.69), respectively. 
Conclusions: Underweight boys were more diagnosed with depression than normal weight and overweight boys. While in girls by increasing BMI, the probability for co-morbidity of depression was greater.

Biography:

Jalali is an Iranian nutritionist, which receive honorary doctorate as health education at the age of 20 years old and also has a traditional medicine certificate from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences with score 100. He is a member of Nutrition Research Center of Shiraz, Iran. He is specifically working on functional foods and nutraceuticals that can improve various metabolic disorders, and has obtained significant outcomes regarding important biomarkers.  He also eminence in the field of meta-analysis studies.

Abstract:

High prevalence of obesity and vitamin D deficiency are two health concerns in childhood and adolescence. The effects of vitamin D supplementation on anthropometric indices were evaluated in several trials, but the results were inconclusive. The present systematic revirew and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on anthropometric indices of children and adolescents. A systematic search was undertaken in online databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Scineces and Cochrane Library) to detect the relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effects of vitamin D supplementation on body composition in children and adolescents up to July 2019. In the case of high heterogeneity among studies, fixed or random effects models were used to calculate standardized mean difference (SMD) and its 95% confidence interval (CI). Potential publication bias was checked using Egger’s regression tests. After excluding irrelevant papers, five RCTs which considered as eight separate studies were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled results of the present study stressed on a significant increase in body weight (SMD = 0.148, 95% CI: [0.009, 0.286], p = 0.037), fat free mass (SMD = 0.384, 95% CI: (0.119, 0.649), p = 0.004), and serum 25(OH)D level (SMD = 1.071, 95% CI: (0.591, 1.551), p < 0.0001) compared to the controls. However, no significant change was resulted in height, Body Mass Index (BMI) following vitamin D supplementation. This meta-analysis suggest vitamin D supplementation for improvement of body composition in children and adolescents.

Biography:

Lidija Marković is a PhD student at the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education in Novi Sad. She is employed at the same faculty as an assistant in the field of Sport and Physical Education sciences. Her professional orientation is focused on physical education, physical activity, and healthy lifestyle in children. She has published several papers and been involved with relevant scientific projects.

Abstract:

The aim of the second national round of the Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI), a program of the World Health Organization (WHO) European Office, was to sustain the childhood obesity surveillance system launched in Serbia in the previous round in 2015. In 2015, 4857 first- and second- grade primary school children (age 7.7 ± 0.6 years) were assessed for height, weight, and BMI. During the 2019 data collection round, 3179 first-to-third grade primary-school children (age 8.5 ± 0.8 years) were assessed for basic anthropometric measures. Additional information on school nutrition and physical activity environment, as well as simple indicators of children’s dietary intake and physical activity, were collected. The sample was stratified by region, district and level of urbanization. The WHO recommended cut-offs for school-age children and adolescents were used to compute and interpret body mass index for-age (BMI/A) Z-scores. The obesity prevalence reaches 17.3% and 11.7% in 6-9-year old boys and girls, respectively. Overweight (including obesity) rate is 5 percentage points higher in primary school boys (37.7%) in comparison to girls (33.2%). In comparison to the first round, the prevalence of obesity in boys increased by 2.6 percentage, while 2.1 percentage points increase in overweight prevalence was registered. During the same period, the prevalence of both overweight and obesity, increased by 5.5 percentage points in girls. The obtained data provide quality information on childhood obesity for policymakers, health professionals, and the general public, which makes the COSI program an efficient strategy in monitoring obesity trends in primary school children.

Biography:

Dr Mark Lemstra has nine university degrees including doctorates in public health, epidemiology and psychiatry. He is the owner of Alliance Health medical clinics in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Abstract:

The Healthy Kids Initiative occurs in three cities in Saskatchewan, Canada for overweight or obese youth. The program includes 60 supervised exercise therapy sessions, 12 dietary sessions, 12 cognitive behaviour therapy sessions and significant social support (community, clinicians, family and friends) over a 12- week period. Support includes attending with a “buddy” and three signed social support contracts. Numerous objective and valid outcomes are measured at 12 weeks, 24 weeks and 52 weeks including body mass index, body fat percentage, waist and hip circumference, blood pressure, blood glucose, blood cholesterol, aerobic fitness, aerobic activity, physical activity, dietary consumption, self report health, health care utilization, smoking status, depressed mood and health related quality of life.

To date, 1,465 youth (91.6% completion rate) have completed the program.

At 12 weeks, modest weight losses are observed but significant health outcomes are attained. For example, the prevalence of depressed mood (measured by Beck Depression Inventory-2) is reduced from 59.4% to 24.0% (p = 0.000).

Biography:

Kaya Stokes is a Sophomore Biology major at South Carolina State University from Baltimore, Maryland. She has hopes of attending medical school. She has been actively engaged in research for the past year.

Vacarie Burgess is a Sophomore Biology major at South Carolina State University from Orangeburg, SC. She has hopes of attending veterninary school. She has been actively engaged in research for the past year.

Abstract:

In the United States, childhood obesity has been a growing epidemic with, 1/3 of US children considered overweight or obese. The increased number of overweight and obese children can be linked to several factors including nutrition and social economic status. Households that do not have access to healthy, nutritious foods are significantly more likely to be obese earlier in life than other children. Obesity in children can lead to numerous health complications such as diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic inflammation and carcinogenesis. African American minorities are more likely to be diagnosed and die from one of the various forms of cancer. Therefore, eliminating or reducing preventable risk factors such as unhealthy nutrition and childhood obesity could have important implications for reducing clinical manifestations of adult cancer outcomes. In order to understand the implication of inflammation in the participants, we first analyzed the expression of the inflammation biomarkers in prostate cancer cells, used as our baseline data. The pro-inflammatory markers and obesity related genes investigated include adiponectin, leptin, CRP, VEGF, SAA1 /2, Interleukin 1 and 6. The transcriptional levels of pro-inflammatory genes was measured by quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results indicated that the expression of chronic inflammation markers were increased in cancer DNA as compared normal DNA. Overall, reducing childhood obesity and pro-inflammatory diets, while increasing physical activity and access to healthy foods are beneficial in the reduction of cancer risk and will serve as preventive measures for early-stage onset of adult cancers.

Biography:

Christyan Norman is a senior biology major at South Carolina State University from Orlando, Florida. He has hopes of attending dental school. He has been actively engaged in research for the past four years.

Elijah Medina-Bandy is a senior biology major at South Carolina State University from Atlanta, Georgia. He has plans of attending medical school. He has been actively engaged in research for the past four years.

Abstract:

In South Carolina childhood obesity is growing at an alarming rate surpassing the national average forty percent of children in SC are classified as either overweight or obese. Childhood obesity can lead to numerous health complications in adulthood that includes diabetes, high-cholesterol, chronic joint pain and cancer. Childhood obesity could be caused by various other factors such as socio-economic status and poor nutritional choices. In SC, Orangeburg County is located within the I-95 Corridor “Corridor of Shame”, because of issues such as poverty, lack of health care, poor health choices and obesity due to being severely underfunded and underdeveloped. The purpose of this study is to enroll SC children to determine if obesity and/or high-fat pro-inflammatory diets contribute to increased levels of pro-inflammatory markers. A screening survey, which gives a brief overview of the candidate’s nutritional/physical activity background and demographics was conducted and analyzed in addition to the collection of saliva biospecimens from each participant. The majority of participants enrolled were between 10-13 years old with a family income of less than $20K annually. 42% and 31% were categorized as ideal weight or obese, respectively. Extracted RNA was used to analyze the expression of acute inflammation markers (IL8 and IL6) and chronic inflammation markers (ADP, CRP, Il-1β and SAA1). Data suggests that irrespective of weight class, expression levels of chronic inflammation markers are correlated with high fat diets. If the preventable risk factor of childhood obesity is targeted, it could play a significant role in reducing chronic inflammation in children.

Biography:

Brandon Sutton is a Junior Biology Major at South Carolina State University from Andrews, South Carolina. He has hopes of attending medical school. He has been actively engaged in research for the past three years.

Abstract:

Prostate cancer affects African American (AA) men disproportionately in the US, but even more so in the state of South Carolina, with three times higher mortality rates for AA men when compared to European American (EA) men. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are proteins or lipids that become highly glycated as a result of exposure to sugars. AGEs are found in the foods we eat such chargrilled foods and fried foods. Among PCa patients, AGE accumulation is higher in blacks with African ancestry (AAs) than in European Americans (EAs). AGEs are linked to many chronic diseases, protein damage, aberrant cell signaling, increased stress responses and decreased genetic fidelity. They are formed as a result of making poor lifestyle choices such as; lack of exercise, poor diet, obesity, etc. Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Prostate Cancer can also contribute to these processes associated with AGE accumulation, poor clinical outcomes and reduced health-related quality of life. This study had two different objectives. One being to limit AGE accumulation by testing possible agents such as chitosan which reduces serum AGE levels in advanced cancer patients. The other objective is to define the impact of AGE’s on promoting a more aggressive prostate cancer phenotype through the upregulation of miR-204, MYC and the downregulation of the androgen receptor. The methods used in these experiments are DNA Stool extraction, Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and In Situ Hybridization (ISH). Standardization of the protocols has been established. Collection of samples and analysis is ongoing and results will be presented in the closing ceremony.

Biography:

Raffaele Pilla has received his Master’s degree in Pharmacy at G. d’Annunzio University in Chieti-Pescara, Italy in 2005, where he also served internships at the Cell Physiology Laboratory and Molecular Biology Laboratory. Prior, he was an Erasmus Student at Faculté de Pharmacie de Reims in Reims, France. He received his Doctor Europaeus from Pitié-Salpétrière Institute in Paris, France in 2010. He received his PhD in Biochemistry, Physiology and Pathology of Muscle at G. d’Annunzio University in Chieti-Pescara, Italy in 2010. He was hired as a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology at the University of South Florida in Tampa, on two research grants funded by the Office of Naval Research (US Navy) and Divers’ Alert Network. He has written and lectured widely worldwide. He has been involved in ongoing research at the University of South Florida with the use of ketone esters.

Abstract:

It has been recently shown that nutritional ketosis is effective against seizure disorders and various acute/ chronic neurological disorders. Physiologically, glucose is the primary metabolic fuel for cells. However, many neurodegenerative disorders have been associated with impaired glucose transport/metabolism and with mitochondrial dysfunction, such as Alzheimer’s/Parkinson’s disease, general seizure disorders and traumatic brain injury. Ketone bodies and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates represent alternative fuels for the brain and can bypass the rate- limiting steps associated with impaired neuronal glucose metabolism. Therefore, therapeutic ketosis can be considered as a metabolic therapy by providing alternative energy substrates. It has been estimated that the brain derives over 60% of its total energy from ketones when glucose availability is limited. In fact, after prolonged periods of fasting or ketogenic diet (KD), the body utilizes energy obtained from free fatty acids (FFAs) released from adipose tissue. Because the brain is unable to derive significant energy from FFAs, hepatic ketogenesis converts FFAs into ketone bodies-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and acetoacetate (AcAc)-while a percentage of AcAc spontaneously decarboxylates to acetone. Large quantities of ketone bodies accumulate in the blood through this mechanism. This represents a state of normal physiological ketosis and can be therapeutic. Ketone bodies are transported across the blood-brain barrier by monocarboxylic acid transporters to fuel brain function. Starvation or nutritional ketosis is an essential survival mechanism that ensures metabolic flexibility during prolonged fasting or lack of carbohydrate ingestion. Therapeutic ketosis leads to metabolic adaptations that may improve brain metabolism, restore mitochondrial ATP production, decrease reactive oxygen species production, reduce inflammation and increase neurotrophic factors’ function. It has been shown that KD mimics the effects of fasting and the lack of glucose/ insulin signaling, promoting a metabolic shift towards fatty acid utilization. In this work, the author reports a number of successful case reports treated through metabolic ketosis.

Biography:

Bedeer Sabry Bedeer Elsherbiny is a Pharmacist and Pharmacologist. He has completed his Graduation from Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Egypt in 2003. He is a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist BCPS for Board of Pharmacy specialties USA in 2013. In 2014, he has completed his MS Master in Clinical Pharmacy from Supreme Council of Universities, Cairo, Egypt. He has more than 15 years’ research experience in Pharmacological studies and pharmacy practice. He is currently working as a clinical pharmacist in SEHA Abu Dhabi and he is a member of PTC screening and evaluation Committee in SEHA UAE. He got many awards and recognition certificates for best employee and innovation. He attended more than 40 scientific meetings such as conferences, symposia, workshops and seminars at National and International level. He has worked in several projects in SEHA UAE. He is the Member of Editorial Panel of EC Pharmacology and Toxicology Journal.

Abstract:

Antibiotic misuse and overuse is a common problem in ambulatory care settings. This problem will increase the rate of antibiotic resistance in both settings of ambulatory care and hospital setting. The project is a trial to implement ASP Antibiotic Stewardship Program in an ambulatory care clinic within a network of ambulatory care centers in the emirate of Abu Dhabi UAE. Applying ASP in outpatient is challenging and till now has no standards. In this project antibiotic prescription and consumption was estimated using DDD/100 patient’s visits and antibiotic prescription rate also the cost of antibiotics was estimated and all data of 2018 after implementing ASP project was compared to the data of 2017. The implementation of the ASP project in ambulatory care had achieved reduction in both antibiotics prescription rate and DDD/100 patients’ visits.

Biography:

Mariana Lvovsky graduated from The Kaunas University of Medicine, Lithuania. M. Pharm (2008). She has Professional Experience as Pharmacist in “Carmel” Medical Center, Haifa, Israel (2010-now), Training on ICH/GCP, Course Design, Conduct & Management of Clinical Trials Practical GCP Compliance 2012.

Abstract:

Background: The Unit Dose is a special department which operates as part of the pharmacy services in Carmel hospital. This unit is in charge of supervising and dispensing of antibiotics according to specific guidelines approved by infectious disease specialist. Supervised antibiotics have been designated by the medicine committee and the infectious disease specialist. Pre-authorization is needed for supervised antibiotics. The patient’s computerized file is updated accordingly.

Goal:

1. Adequate use of antibiotics.
2. Standardization of aseptic preparation technique and procedure by preparing customized data form to insure standard quality preparation.
3. Reduction days of treatment and hospitalization. Providing the patients with a more accurate, accessible and safer treatment.

Dispensing of Antibiotics: Monitoring dosage, dose adjustment according to renal and liver function, allergies, polypharmacy combinations and the option to shift to po treatment rather than. This routine is performed on a daily basis and covers all antibiotic protocols. Computerized documentation of pharmaceutical intervention in patients file. Individual dispensing of antibiotics for 24 hours.

Aseptic preparations:

1. Issuing elaborated guidelines regarding aseptic preparations
2. Document the preparation in the Unit Dose system

What can we achieve?

1. Strict monitoring of antibiotic use in hospitalized patients
2. Economic efficiency
3. Promoting high quality care
4. Computerized documentation and maintaining accessible data base
5. Regulatory improvement

240 interventions were documented by unit dose pharmacists over a period of 6 month (01.2019-06.2019). Discontinuing treatment (20%), Switch to oral administration (15%), Dose adjustment (15%), renewing the application to ID specialist (30%) and informing the medicine department that there is a need of ID specialist approval for the antibiotic order (20%).

Biography:

Said Wareg E has expertise in research studies in Medical Microbiology and related subjects. One of his interests is bacterial resistance to antimicrobials especially MRSA. Currently, he is the Director of newly established Scientific and Consultancy Research Centre in Nalut University/ Libya, looking forward to building mutual and bilateral partenship cooperation with national or international institutions for the benefit of the two parties.

Abstract:

The evolution of resistance to antibiotics is one of the most significant problems in Modern medicine, posing serious threats to human and animal health. Multidrug-resistant organisms(MDRO,S), including MRSA, vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE)and certain Gram-negative bacilli have important infection control complications. From a previous study, an agar susceptibility testing was used to test all isolates against vancomycin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, fusidic acid, erythromycin, streptomycin, Ciprofloxacin, cefotaxime and clindamycin. MRSA was detected using cefoxitin (30μg) disc and antibiotic susceptibility pattern was determined using the Kirby and Bauer disc diffusion susceptibility testing method and confirmed for fusidic acid and vancomycin by determination of minimum inhibitory concentration. The isolated MRSA strains showed multiple drug resistance pattern as 42% for IPHA-MRSA, 34% for OPHA-MRSA and 23% for CC-MRSA. The distribution of strains of IPHA, OPHA and CC-MRSA compared with the MIC and zone size of fusidic acid showed that the highest number of isolates were distributed about the highest MIC values for IPHA-MRSA(16, 8, 4mg/L), OPH-MRSA (8, 4,2mg/L) and CC-MRSA(8,4mg/L). These results showed high multi-drug resistance for all MRSA isolated strains. Interpretative zone of inhibition for fusidic acid and vancomycin was based on the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC) (Anon-2010/2013) guidelines. Standard international interpretation criteria for zone size for fusidic acid should be addressed.

Biography:

Ghazala Qamar is from Rawalpindi, Pakistan. She has completed her high school from Kuwait. She completed her medical school in Pakistan. She appeared in postgraduate entry exam in the field of pathology in November 2016 and got inducted in 4 years specialist training program in the field of haematology in January 2017. She started with the 4^th year of her training and will appear in Exit exam of 4year training in February 2021.

Abstract:

Background: Iron deficiency is the leading cause of anemia in developing countries like Pakistan, particularly in children and females of child bearing age. This is mainly due to inappropriate dietary iron intake and increased demand of iron during pregnancy. Iron is a major component of hemoglobin and lack of this essential element results in lower hemoglobin content in red cells. Complete blood count (CBC) can provide us with a better estimate of iron deficiency. Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a significant CBC parameter and a credible marker of variation in red cell size (anisocytosis) on many routine hematology analyzers. RDW is usually elevated in IDA due to variation in size of erythrocytes while it is normal in beta thalassemia trait. Ferritin is a gold standard measure in IDA but as it is also an Acute Phase Reactant which tends to falsely elevate in various infections and inflammatory disorders. Therefore it is not of considerable significance in detection of IDA in such clinical conditions.

Objective: The study aims to detect the sensitivity and specificity of RDW in iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and beta thalassemia trait (TT). In under resourced areas, tests like iron studies, Ferritin assays and Hb electrophoresis are usually not available. Hence, RDW is cost effective and a reliable parameter in detecting IDA in the absence of many other diagnostic and clinical choices.

Materials & Methods: The study was conducted at Chughtai Institute of Pathology Lahore from September 2019-November 2019. It was a Cross sectional Prospective study and included 115 Patients which were divided in to two main groups i.e. Group 1 and Group 2. Group 1 included patients of IDA, both males and females ranging from 1-50 year of age. Patients with a hemoglobin <11g/dl, mean cell volume (MCV)<26fl, mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) <76 g/dl and serum ferritin <15ug were included in Group1. Group 2 included patients with beta TT having Hb A2 values of >3.5 diagnosed on Capillary Hb Electrophoresis.

Results: Patients in Group 1 had a mean Hb of 7.5g/dl (SD±1.74), mean MCV of 68.9 fL (SD±16.7), mean MCH of 20.3 pg (SD±6.6) and a mean RDW of 21.4 % (SD±4.4). Patients in Group 2 had a mean Hb of 11.0 g/dl (SD±1.72), mean MCV of 60.9 fL (SD±4.9), mean MCH of 18.4 pg (SD±1.21) and a mean RDW of 16.3 % (SD±1.0). There was a significant difference in RDW of Group 1 and Group 2 (p value <0.001). In group 1, RDW had a sensitivity of 75.8%, specificity of 84.6% and negative predictive value of 61.11% and positive predictive value of 91.6%. In group 2, RDW had a sensitivity of 69.2%, specificity of 82.7% and negative predictive value of 85.7 % and positive predictive value of 64.2%.

Conclusion: RDW is a reliable and useful index for the diagnosis of IDA and differentiates it from beta TT.

Biography:

Kallis Sideri is from Western Sussex Hospitals, United Kingdom. His research interest is Hematology and General Surgery.

Abstract:

Aim:

a) Identify the number of patients that required blood transfusion during laparoscopic appendicectomy in our Hospital the last 10 years.

b) Is G/S really required before emergency laparoscopic procedures according to literature evidence?

c) What is the quality/ cost impact of this practice as well as financial and time impact of rejected/duplicated samples?

Method:

1. Identification of sample: electronic patient’s records and blood transfusion electronic database.
2. Sample size and time period: 1288 patients adults and children >5 years old that had emergency laparoscopic appendicectomy the last 10 years in Worthing Hospital.
3. Sample collection: consecutive and time sampling.
4. Data analysis: Incidence of blood transfusion, no need for complex statistical analysis.

Results: Only seven patients were recorded as having had blood transfusion: 1) Two patients over 70 years old postoperative blood transfusion due to other co-morbidities, 2) Two no electronic record of transfusion 3) Two patients transfused other blood products such as FFP's for INR inversion and coagulation problems, 4) One patient had caecal tumour, transfused for anaemia and had later right hemicolectomy.

Conclusion: Our results show that none of our patients needed intraoperative blood transfusion for vascular injury. Major haemorrhage protocol can be used when needed. We will use those data for cost improvement project.

Biography:

Ola El Saleh holds a MSc in Paediatrics and Child Health from Imperial College London. She worked as a Child Health and Nutrition Consultant at UNICEF Gulf Area Office since 2013 and participated in several research studies with Zayed University in Dubai.

Abstract:

Introduction: Childhood obesity is one of the most alarming health problems in United Arab Emirates; it is crucial to identify potential risk factors to tackle it effectively. Dietary sodium has been lately associated with body composition, yet previous studies presented mixed results, utilised inconsistent methodologies and rarely included children from the Middle East.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between estimated 24-h urinary sodium excretion (E24hUNa) and body composition in primary school students.

Methods: Data were collected cross-sectionally from 531 students aged 6-12 years in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Twenty-four-hour urinary sodium excretion was estimated from morning spot urine samples, while anthropometric measurements were obtained via standardised procedures. Multivariable regression models were used to analyse the association between E24hUNa and body mass index z-score (BMIz), body fat percentage (BFP), waist circumference (WC), and risk of overweight/obesity.

Results: After adjustment for age and sex, an additional 1 g/day E24hUNa was associated with 0.23 higher BMIz, 1.44% higher BFP, 1.85 cm higher WC and 46% increase in the risk of overweight/obesity, all p-values<0.01. However, the association with BFP was not significant in boys. As for the subsample of students whose parents responded to the questionnaire, an additional 1 g/day E24hUNa was associated with 0.19 higher BMIz, 1.71% higher BFP, 2.50 cm higher WC and 40% increase in the risk of overweight/obesity, after adjustment for age, sex, physical activity, screen time and parental BMI, all p-values<0.05.

Conclusions: E24hUNa is positively associated with body composition in primary school students, and the magnitude of the association tends to be higher in girls. Robust longitudinal studies are necessary to validate this association and investigate the underlying mechanisms to plan evidence-informed interventions.