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Sawsan Abuhammad,1 Omar F Khabour,2 Karem H Alzoubi,3,4 Shaher Hamaideh,5 Basheer Y Khassawneh,6 Amat Al-Khaleq O Mehrass,7 Baha F Alsmadi,6 Abdelrahman M Ababneh6 1Department of Maternal and Child Health, Faculty of Nursing, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan; 3Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; 4Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 5Department of Community and Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, 13133, Jordan; 6Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 7Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Thamar University, Dhamar, YemenCorrespondence: Amat Al-Khaleq O Mehrass, Email Aykasem1@gmail.comAim: This study aims to determine health-related quality of life (HRQoL) that includes the physical and mental health of recovered patients of COVID-19 and examines the significant impact of variables such as period of infection, sample demographics characteristics, hospitalization past, and chronic disease past and the other variables on HRQoL of COVID-19-recovered patients.Methods: An exploratory, community-based, cross-sectional research layout was adopted, using an electronic self-reporting survey disseminated online to recovered COVID-19 patients in Jordan. Targeted COVID-19 patients were individuals who were 18 years old or above. They had a documented background of COVID-19 illness, as stated in the following inclusion requirements: Those who had not been formally proven to have been afflicted by COVID-19 were excluded.Results: The mean of the physical well-being of study participants during COVID-19 was M=68.00 (SD=6.95), representing medium physical well-being status. The mean of psychological well-being of study participants during COVID-19 was M=60.20 (SD=8.85), representing medium physical health. Multiple regression showed that female recovered patients who are not working, with a low level of income, married women, and who getting COVID-19 more than once are having lower health-related quality of life compared to other recovered patients.Conclusion: The HRQoL of COVID-19 patients was significantly impacted, independent of the period since hospitalization or rehabilitation. Policymakers and health workers should research strong ways to enhance the HRQoL of COVID-19 patients as soon as possible. Elderly patients and those who have been infected more than one time and being hospitalized have a greater probability of decreased HRQoL after infection.Keywords: mental health, physical health, COVID-19, recovered

Abdulsalam M Halboup,1,2 Karem H Alzoubi,3,4 Omar F Khabour,5 Mahmoud A Alomari,6 Moath Refat,7 Abdulrazzaq Y Al-Khazzan,1 Ammar Ali Saleh Jaber,8 Usman Abubakar9 1Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, University of Science and Technology, Sana’a, Yemen; 2Discipline of Clinical Pharmacy, University Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia; 3Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; 4Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 5Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 6Department of Rehabilitation, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 7Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xi’an Jiaotong, University, Xi’an, China; 8Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacotherapeutics, Dubai Pharmacy College for Girls, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; 9Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Practice, Qatar University, Doha, QatarCorrespondence: Abdulsalam M Halboup, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, University of Science and Technology, Sana’a, Yemen, Tel +967774960247, Email a_halboob@yahoo.com; a.halboup@student.usm.myBackground: Following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) declaration as a pandemic, Yemen has started applying preventive measures to prevent its spread. This study aims to identify the perception regarding the nature of the COVID-19 disease, susceptibility to severe forms of the disease, and its relationship to seasonal influenza among the population of Yemen.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of the public in Yemen. The relationship between participants’ sociodemographic factors and their responses was assessed by the chi-square test.Results: A total of 748 participants agreed to participate in the study. Regarding the nature of the diseases, nearly half of the participants (48.8%, n=352) believed that COVID-19 is a naturally occurring human virus that is a serious and fatal disease (61.2%, n=448). The majority (74.9%; n=518) did not agree that bacteria cause COVID-19. More than half of the participants (57.5%, n=423) believed this disease is transmitted to humans through a host animal. Regarding the vulnerable groups to develop severe COVID-19 infection, most of the participants pointed out that the elderly (94.3%, n=705), people with chronic diseases (89.9%, n=669), and pregnant women (53%, n=365) were more susceptible to severe diseases. Regarding symptoms, the majority (61.9%, n=458) of the participants agreed that the symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to those of seasonal influenza. Additionally, the majority (81.9%, n=579) agreed that some individuals develop more severe symptoms than seasonal influenza, particularly those with chronic illness. Gender, age, and education were found to be associated with participants’ perceptions regarding the nature of the virus and susceptibility to severe disease.Conclusion: Participants demonstrate a good understanding of the nature and susceptibility to complications associated with COVID-19 disease and its relationship to influenza. However, the respondents with a lower level of education might require additional educational campaigns to improve their awareness of the disease.Keywords: public perception, COVID-19, susceptibility, complications, Yemen

Karem H Alzoubi,1,* Laila Abdel-Hafiz,2,3,* Omar F Khabour,4 Tamam El-Elimat,3 Mohammad A Alzubi,5 Feras Q Alali6,7 1Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan; 2Institute of Anatomy II, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany; 3Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan; 4Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan; 5Integrative Life Sciences Doctoral Program, Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA; 6College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha Qatar; 7Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research Unit, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Feras Q AlaliCollege of Pharmacy, Qatar University, Doha 2713, QatarEmail Feras.alali@qu.edu.qaBackground: Chronic psychosocial stress impairs memory function and leads to a depression-like phenotype induced by a persistent status of oxidative stress. Hypericum perforatum L. (St. John’s wort) is widely used to relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression; however, its long-term use is associated with adverse effects. Hypericum triquetrifolium Turra is closely related to H. perforatum. Both plants belong to Hypericaceae family and share many biologically active compounds. Previous work by our group showed that methanolic extracts of H. triquetrifolium have potent antioxidant activity as well as high hypericin content, a component that proved to have stress-relieving and antidepressant effects by other studies. Therefore, we hypothesized that H. triquetrifolium would reduce stress-induced cognitive impairment in a rat model of chronic stress.Objective: To determine whether chronic treatment with H. triquetrifolium protects against stress-associated memory deficits and to investigate a possible mechanism.Methods: The radial arm water maze (RAWM) was used to test learning and memory in rats exposed to daily stress using the resident–intruder paradigm. Stressed and unstressed rats received chronic H. triquetrifolium or vehicle. We also measured levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus, cortex and cerebellum.Results: Neither chronic stress nor chronic H. triquetrifolium administration affected performance during acquisition. However, memory tests in the RAWM showed that chronic stress impaired different post-encoding memory stages. H. triquetrifolium prevented this impairment. Furthermore, hippocampal BDNF levels were markedly lower in stressed animals than in unstressed animals, and chronic administration of H triquetrifolium chronic administration protected against this reduction. No significant difference was observed in the effects of chronic stress and/or H. triquetrifolium treatment on BDNF levels in the cerebellum and cortex.Conclusion: H. triquetrifolium extract can oppose stress-associated hippocampus-dependent memory deficits in a mechanism that may involve BDNF in the hippocampus.Keywords: Hypericum triquetrifolium, methanolic extract, stress, learning, memory, hippocampus, BDNF

Rana K Abu-Farha,1 Karem H Alzoubi,2 Omar F Khabour3 1Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan; 2Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan; 3Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, JordanCorrespondence: Rana K Abu-FarhaDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, Amman 11931, JordanTel +96265609957 ext 1496Fax +9625232899Email abufarharana@yahoo.comPurpose: The development and production of novel vaccine to prevent COVID-19 is an international imperative to human lives. For that purpose, clinical trials have to be carried out as per international ethical standards. The current study was undertaken to examine the willingness to participate in COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials and to determine factors that might affect their decision to participate.Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was carried out among the public in Jordan. During the study period, a convenience sample of adults (aged 18 years or above) were asked to participate via an online self-administered survey that was designed to evaluate the willingness to participate in COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials and to determine factors affecting their decision to participate.Results: Results showed that, among participants (n=1,287), 36.1% reported to be willing to participate in clinical trials of the vaccine. Additionally, a lower percentage (18.1%) were willing to allow their children to participate. Motivators that encourage participation were the desire to return to normal life (73.2%), followed by the desire to help in finding a treatment for COVID-19 infection (68.1%). Barriers towards the participation were not wanting to be challenged by the virus (54.7%), fear (40.7%), lack of time (40.4%), and mistrust in pharmaceutical companies (38.9%). Finally, results showed that higher educational level was associated with lower willingness to participate (P=0.001), whereas having a previous participation in clinical studies is associated with a significantly higher willingness to participate in COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials (P< 0.001).Conclusion: A good portion of Jordanians are positive regarding participation in clinical studies of COVID-19 vaccine. Educational level and previous participation in clinical studies were among the determinants of such willingness. In addition, fear and lack of time were among the barriers of participation.Keywords: willingness, COVID-19, clinical trials, participation, Jordan

Omar F Khabour,1 Mahmoud A Alomari,2 Karem H Alzoubi,3 Mahmoud A Alfaqih4 1Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 2Department of Physical Education, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar; 3Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 4Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, JordanCorrespondence: Mahmoud A AlomariDepartment of Physical Education, Qatar University, Doha, QatarTel +974 4403-5158Email malomari@qu.edu.qaBackground: COVID-19 was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a pandemic and had spread to most of the globe. In the current study, perception regarding the nature of the COVID-19 disease, susceptibility to its complications, and its relationship to seasonal influenza was investigated among the Jordanian population.Methods: This was a survey-based cross-sectional study among public in Jordan.Results: A total of 1863 participants agreed to participate in this questionnaire-based study. The results showed that more than half (55%) of the sample believed that COVID-19 is a naturally occurring virus which causes a serious and possibly fatal disease (50.7%). The majority (62.9%) did not accept that this disease is actually caused by bacteria, or is similar to seasonal influenza. Interestingly, 45.0% of the sampled population felt that the COVID-19 virus was engineered in the lab. Most of the participants (95%) agreed that the elderly or individuals with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease were more susceptible to severe COVID-19 infections. With respect to symptoms, about two-thirds of the participants (65.2%) felt that the symptoms of COVID-19 are to a large extent similar to those of seasonal influenza. In addition, the majority (82.7%) believed that only some COVID-19 patients develop symptoms that can be described as severe. Factors such as age, gender, and education were found to modulate some of the perceptions of Jordanians regarding different aspects of COVID-19 disease.Conclusion: The majority of Jordanians have a good perception about the nature, cause and symptoms of COVID-19 disease.Keywords: perception, COVID-19, susceptibility, complications, Jordan

Lina Al-Ebbini,1 Omar F Khabour,2 Karem H Alzoubi,3 Almuthanna K Alkaraki4 1Department of Biomedical Systems and Informatics Engineering, Hijjawi for Engineering Technology, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, Jordan; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan; 3Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan; 4Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, JordanCorrespondence: Almuthanna K AlkarakiDepartment of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, JordanTel +962 2 72 11111 ext. 2833Fax +962 27211117Email Alkaraki@yu.edu.joLina Al-EbbiniDepartment of Biomedical Systems and Informatics Engineering, Hijjawi for Engineering Technology, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, JordanTel +962 2 7211111 ext. 4188Email lebbini@yu.edu.joBackground: Data sharing is an encouraged practice to support research in all fields. For that purpose, it is important to examine perceptions and concerns of researchers about biomedical data sharing, which was investigated in the current study.Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey study that was distributed among biomedical researchers in Jordan, as an example of developing countries. The study survey consisted of questions about demographics and about respondent’s attitudes toward sharing of biomedical data.Results: Among study participants, 46.9% (n=82) were positive regarding making their research data available to the public, whereas 53.1% refused the idea. The reasons for refusing to publicly share their data included “lack of regulations” (33.5%), “access to research data should be limited to the research team” (29.5%), “no place to deposit the data” (6.5%), and “lack of funding for data deposition” (6.0%). Agreement with the idea of making data available was associated with academic rank (P=0.003). Moreover, gender (P-value=0.043) and number of publications (P-value=0.005) were associated with a time frame for data sharing (ie, agreeing to share data before vs after publication).Conclusion: About half of the respondents reported a positive attitude toward biomedical data sharing. Proper regulations and facilitation data deposition can enhance data sharing in Jordan.Keywords: data sharing, responsible conduct of research, ethical issues, Jordan

Mahmoud A Alomari,1 Omar F Khabour,2 Karem H Alzoubi3 1Department of Physical Education, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 3Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, JordanCorrespondence: Mahmoud A Alomari Department of Physical EducationQatar University, Doha, QatarEmail malomari@qu.edu.qaBackground: Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has compelled implementing confinement measure across the globe. These measures can potentially lead to many changes in lifestyle. However, no studies examined the effect of COVID-19-induced confinement on physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB).Methods: During April and May of 2020, the current study surveyed changes in PA and SB induced by COVID-19 confinement.Results: The participants of the study were 1844. Among the participants who were regularly involved in PA, the majority (41.8– 42.2%) of the participants reported a “decrease” (p< 0.05) in walking, jogging, and sports while the majority (46.3– 53.1%) reported a “no change” (p< 0.05) in swimming, cycling, and weight lifting. With regard to the SB, most of the participants reported an “increase” in watching TV (72.3%), using electronics (82.7%), and logging to social media (81.9%). Additionally, gender, job type, obesity, and being worried to contract the disease were associated (p< 0.05) with changes in PA. On the other hand, age, gender, obesity, job type and income were related (p< 0.05) to changes in SB.Conclusion: Results of the current study might enhance knowledge about the impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle, particularly PA and SB. Subsequently, it can also be used to establish strategies to enhance engagement in activities during the current and future pandemics.Keywords: physical activity, sedentary behavior, confinement, COVID-19, pandemic

Sawsan Abuhammad,1 Omar F Khabour,2 Karem H Alzoubi3 1Department of Maternal and Child Health, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan; 3Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, JordanCorrespondence: Sawsan Abuhammad Email Shabuhammad@just.edu.joBackground: The contact-tracing COVID-19 technology allows for tracing people that come in contact to individuals with COVID-19 wherever they are located. The number of tracing COVID-19 infection technology and devices is rapidly increasing. This has prompted many researchers to study the acceptability and ethical issues related to the implementation of such technology.Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the acceptability of COVID-19 contact-tracing technology and ethical issues of use.Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was used. The target population was Jordanian adults (> 18 years). The survey was distributed to a convenience sample of 2000 general public in Jordan.Results: The results found that the number of people who accept to use COVID-19 contact-tracing technology was 71.6%. However, the percentage of people who were using this technology was 37.8. The main ethical concerns for many of participants were privacy, voluntariness, and beneficence of the data. Only income and living area were predictors for acceptability and use of tracing technology (p≤ 0.01).Conclusion: The majority of Jordanians accept the implementation of contact-tracing technology for COVID-19 infection. Among ethical concerns of the implementation of such technology were privacy, beneficence and voluntariness.Implications: The results of this study would help in improving the state of science regarding acceptability to use contact-tracing technology for health purposes. Moreover, the present findings provide evidence of predictors of acceptance and ethical concerns among Jordanian population about COVID-19 contact-tracing technology.Keywords: research, ethical issues, individuals, Jordan, tracing COVID-19

Rana Abu Farha,1 Karem H Alzoubi,2 Omar F Khabour,3 Tareq L Mukattash2 1Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, Amman 11931, Jordan; 2Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan; 3Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, JordanCorrespondence: Rana Abu FarhaDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private University, Amman 11931, JordanTel +962 6-560-9957 ext 1496Fax +962 5232899Email abufarharana@yahoo.comPurpose: Recruitment of adequate numbers of research participants is important for advancement in biomedical fields. Awareness and knowledge of the population about biomedical research are expected to enhance willingness to participate in such research. Therefore, in the current study, participants’ awareness, knowledge, and willingness to participate in scientific research in Jordan were examined.Methods: This was a survey-based, cross-sectional study conducted from December 2019 to February 2020 among the public in Jordan. After written informed consent had been obtained from study participants, a structured questionnaire was used to survey research participants. The final questionnaire contained three parts: part I was about demographics and general information, part II assessed participants’ awareness and willingness to participate in biomedical research, and part III assessed participants’ knowledge about biomedical research studies.Results: A total of 2,000 subjects agreed to participate, of which 67.4% were female (n=1339). More than half the respondents were aware of biomedical research (58.6%), of which 18.1% had previously participated in biomedical research. In addition, 55.5% reported that they were willing to participate in biomedical research, while a lower proportion (31.1%) were willing to volunteer in a clinical trial. The overall knowledge of participants about biomedical research was deemed moderate (total score 12.9 out of 20). Finally, willingness to participate in biomedical research was associated with being male, being married, having a biomedicine-related degree, and higher knowledge score.Conclusion: A majority of Jordanians had moderate levels of awareness and knowledge about biomedical research. Such factors as sex, type of education, and knowledge contribute to willingness to participate in biomedical research.Keywords: willingness, knowledge, biomedical research, public, Jordan

Muhamad Ali K Shakhatreh,1 Omar F Khabour,1 Karem H Alzoubi,2 Mohammed N BaniHani,3 Ahmed Abu-Siniyeh,4 Nabil A Bashir,5 Salsabeel H Sabi,2 Mahmoud Mahafdah3 1Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 2Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 3Department of General Surgery and Urology, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 4Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, JordanCorrespondence: Muhamad Ali K Shakhatreh Email mkshakhatreh@just.edu.joBackground: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is considered the main cause of gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric carcinoma in the human populations. H. pylori infection influences the secretion level of several proinflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, which encoded by the IL-1B gene.Objective: The current study aimed to investigate whether IL-1B gene polymorphisms are associated with H. pylori infection among the Jordanian population and responses to triple therapy.Subjects and Methods: The gastroscopic examination was performed on 412 subjects for H. pylori infection diagnosis, 257 subjects were found to be infected by H. Pylori (positive cases), whereas 155 subjects were uninfected (negative controls). The IL-1B gene T-31C and C3954T polymorphisms were genotyped by PCR-RFLP.Results: It was found that the T-31C polymorphism has a significant association with H. pylori infection (P< 0.05), and the TT genotype frequency was significantly higher in infected subjects (50.2%) compared to controls (38.7%). On the other hand, no significant association was detected between C3954T SNPs and H. pylori infection among the Jordanian population. In addition, none of the examined polymorphisms were found to influence the responses to triple therapy.Conclusion: The IL-1B gene T-31C SNP might be associated with an enhanced risk of H. pylori infection among the Jordanian population.Keywords: IL1B gene, IL-1β, single nucleotide polymorphism, Helicobacter pylori, interleukins

Arwa M Mahasneh,1 Maram Alakhras,2 Omar F Khabour,3 Amani G Al-Sa’di,4 Dana S Al-Mousa2 1Department of Applied Dental Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan; 2Department of Allied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan; 3Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science & Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan; 4Technical Coordination and Consumer Education Section of the Jordanian Food and Drug Administration, Irbid 22110, JordanCorrespondence: Arwa M MahasnehDepartment of Applied Dental Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O.Box 3030, Irbid 22110, JordanTel + 962796357733Email ammahasneh@just.edu.joBackground: A wide range of microorganisms poses a threat to patients and dental care teams. Implementation of safety guidelines is thus essential to prevent infection in dental clinics.Aim: To investigate the level of infection-control practices among dental health-care providers in Jordan.Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to dental care providers from hospitals, academic institutions, and dental centres. The questionnaire covered sociodemographic variables, professional characteristics, and recommended guidelines of infection control.Results: A total of 190 questionnaires were obtained out of 500 distributed questionnnaires (response rate: 38%). Females accounted for 62.6% of the sample and 64.7% were dentists. The majority was vaccinated against hepatitis B (82.1%) and wash their hands as usual behavior before (66.3%) and after (83.2%) treatment. Approximately 87.9% wear gloves and 78.9% wear masks while performing dental procedures. Autoclave sterilization and puncture-resistant containers for sharp instruments were used by 90.5% and 88.4%, respectively. The majority (81.0%) had protocols for emergency treatment of needle stick or other sharps accidents. High volume evacuation was used in 28.6% of public hospitals compared to 19.4% in academic institutions (P< 0.01). In addition, surface barriers for dental unit surfaces were used by 70.2% of private dental clinics, 50% of public hospitals, and 36.1% of academic institutions (P< 0.001). Finally, compared to dentists, dental support staff showed low compliance with infection-control guidelines.Conclusion: The overall practice of infection-control measures among the participants is very good. Educational programs and training strategies should be implemented to maximize and enhance the compliance of the dental care providers with infection-control guidelines.Keywords: infection control, dental care providers, vaccination, sterilization, disinfection

Almuthanna K Alkaraki,1 Omar F Khabour,2 Karem H Alzoubi,3 Lina MK Al-Ebbini,4 Zaid Altaany5 1Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, Jordan; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan; 3Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan; 4Department of Biomedical Systems and Informatics Engineering, Hijjawi for Engineering Technology, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, Jordan; 5Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, JordanCorrespondence: Almuthanna K AlkarakiDepartment of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, JordanTel +962 2 72 11111 ext. 2833Fax +96227211117Email alkaraki@yu.edu.joBackground: Informed consent is an obligatory requirement for research engaging human subjects. Informed consent form (ICF) should be provided for human subjects to confirm their willingness for voluntary participation in a study. Ethical and legal obligations necessitate the presence of informed consent essential items to be built into the ICF.Objective: To evaluate the content of ICFs obtained from different genetic studies accomplished in Jordan and their adherence to ethical guidelines proposed by the International Conference on Harmonization—Good Clinical Practice (ICHGCP).Methods and Measures: A total of 44 ICFs obtained from master theses and grant proposals at two major universities in Jordan were analyzed according to the good clinical practice criteria proposed by ICHGCP. ICFs were scored for the presence or absence of ICF main items/categories.Results: Results show inadequate information present in the examined ICFs. The highest information score was 17 out of 20, while the lowest score was one out of 20. The average score for all studied ICFs was 6.18± 3.65. Among essential items/categories that were absent from the majority of studied ICFs were a statement about voluntary participation, confidentiality of data, compensation to study participants, risk/benefits of the study, and researchers’ contact information.Conclusion: The ICFs were missing a number of required items. This could reflect inadequate knowledge about minimal informed consent requirements among Jordanian investigators highlighting the need for research ethical training in the country.Keywords: informed consent form, challenges, genetic research, Jordan

Nasr Alrabadi,1 Hanin Makhlouf,2 Omar F Khabour,2 Karem H Alzoubi3 1Department of Pharmacology, Faculty Of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 3Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, JordanCorrespondence: Nasr AlrabadiDepartment Of Pharmacology, Faculty Of Medicine, Jordan University Of Science And Technology, Irbid 22110, JordanTel +962795994247Email nnalrabadi@just.edu.joIntroduction: The informed consent process is an integral step in biomedical research. However, the emergence of biobanks and the need for open consent (also called “broad” or “blanket” consent) create challenges to this process.Aims and methodology: A survey was used to examine Jordanians’ perspectives on open consent and reuse of stored samples in future research.Results: The majority of participants had positive perceptions of informed consent and its importance. In addition, they appreciated the challenges that are associated with multiple uses of their biospecimens. About 55% agreed to provide open consent for reuse of their donated biospecimens. Participants (75–80%) also agreed that issues such as the possibility of sharing samples with international research centers, storage duration, and use of biospecimens after their death should be clarified as part of open consent. The inconvenience of the re-contact process, trust in the research team, and the importance of biobanks were all associated with participants’ willingness to provide open consent (P

Zaid Altaany,1 Omar F Khabour,2 Ghaith Al-Taani3 1Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 3Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yarmouk University, Irbid, JordanCorrespondence: Zaid AltaanyDepartment of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, P.O. Box 566, Irbid 21163, JordanTel +962 2721111 Ext 7109Email z.altaany@yu.edu.joBackground: Medical genetic testing is an evolving side of clinical care that helps people to make informed medical and lifestyle decisions. The source of knowledge, personal beliefs, and attitude towards genetic testing are the main determinative factors of getting optimal utilization of such technology in reducing/prevention of diseases.Methods: A structured survey was used to assess the knowledge, beliefs, and attitude regarding genetic testing among 463 young adults aged 18 years or older living in the North of Jordan.Results: More than three-quarters (77.1%) of the respondents were familiar with the term genetic testing. The most common sources of knowledge were: education they received (44.8%), the internet (37.5%), and social media (17.2%). Most (93.9%) of the respondents believed that genetic testing is a useful tool to diagnose and prevent genetic diseases. Almost three-quarters (72.7%) of the respondents believed that the health care system provides advice or genetic counseling to those with a genetic disease. A total of 9.6% of the respondents thought that genetic testing might cause a physical risk to their lives. In addition, 11.3% of the respondents believed that genetic testing is forbidden and not permissible and about 6.3% did not agree in performing genetic testing in the future. Finally, about half (53.4%) of the respondents consider genetic testing affordable and the remainder consider it costly.Conclusion: Our findings emphasize the importance of acquiring knowledge about genetic testing among young individuals, Issues related to knowledge were identified and should be further improved, such as cost prediction, safety, and the legitimacy of genetic testing to get better outcomes in the Jordanian community.Keywords: genetic testing, beliefs of genetic testing, source of knowledge of genetic testing

Mariam Abbas Ibrahim,1 Osama Y Alshogran,2 Omar F Khabour,3 Karem H Alzoubi21Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan; 2Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan; 3Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, JordanCorrespondence: Omar F KhabourDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid 22110, JordanTel +962 655 730 6579Email khabour@just.edu.joBackground: Informed consent is one of the primary standards of ethical clinical research. This study assessed the quality of the informed consent forms (ICF) utilized in medical research conducted in Sudan and Jordan.Subjects and methods: A total of 435 studies that were performed at health sciences schools in Jordan and Sudan were initially screened for the presence of ICF. Of these, 189 studies were reviewed for the major components of ICF using a standard checklist.Results: The majority of the reviewed ICFs did not achieve the full standards of the universal guidelines for the informed consent structure. The following elements were described in >50% of consent forms reviewed from both countries: study title, objectives, research investigators, description of study procedure, and confidentiality. Other essential elements such as duration of the subject’s participation, risks/benefits, compensation, voluntary participation, and contact information were poorly described.Conclusion: The major elements of ICFs were not adequately described in medical research studies from Jordan and Sudan. Improved understanding of major elements of ICF among researchers in the examined countries is necessary. Clear and informative consent template can be very valuable in this perspective.Keywords: informed consent form, human research, medical sciences, Sudan, Jordan

Noor Al Mortadi,1 Aceil Al-Khatib,2 Karem H Alzoubi,3 Omar F Khabour41Department of Applied Dental Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 2Department of Oral Medicine and Oral Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 3Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 4Department of Medical laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, JordanBackground: Dental impressions are a common source for transmission of infection between dental clinics and dental labs. Dental impressions can be cross-contaminated by patient’s saliva and blood, which then cross-infect the dental casts poured from the impressions.Objective: To evaluate the current practices of disinfection of dental impressions and their protocols and to assess the knowledge of cross-infection control among dental technicians in Jordan.Method: Dental technicians (n=85) completed a self-administered questionnaire about their practices of disinfection for dental impressions.Results: The distribution of dental technicians was 63.8% fixed prosthodontics, 23.5% removable prosthodontics, 7.8% orthodontics, and 4.8% maxillofacial prosthodontics. The majority of the laboratories did not have instructions related to disinfection of impressions. About 50% of technicians were vaccinated against HBV. About 44.7%, and 42.9% of labs reported that they never disinfect alginate or silicon impressions, respectively. In addition, the majority of lab owners (53%) believed that the dentist should disinfect the impressions before shipping them to dental laboratories, while (45%) believed that disinfecting the impressions is the responsibility of the dental assistant. Moreover, about 38% of this study population reported not using gloves in their labs. In those labs were disinfection was used, 51% used spray disinfection whereas 32.6% used immersion disinfection. The cost of disinfectant was ranked as the most important factor (51.3% of the cases) for the dental technician to choose the disinfectant followed by its effectiveness.Conclusion: Dental technician practices in impression disinfection was not satisfactory, therefore, education programs about impression disinfection are needed.Keywords: disinfection, dental impressions, knowledge, practice, dental technicians

Omar F Khabour,1 Ahmed Abu-Siniyeh1–31Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Science, Al-Balqa’ Applied University, As Salt, Jordan; 3Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaIntroduction: Diabetes is common in Jordan with a prevalence of about 13% of the population. Establishment of a diabetes biobank in Jordan could have an enormous impact on the management and prevention of the disease.Methods: In the current study, ethical challenges that might face the establishment of a biobank were examined by 28 researchers from the Middle East and North Africa region using an online discussion forum.Results: All participants agreed on the importance of the establishment of a diabetes biobank in Jordan. The possible challenges that were discussed included confidentiality and privacy, informed consent, specimen ownership and participants’ rights, data sharing, returning of research results and incidental findings, lack of legislations, and importance of social awareness and public engagements with biobanks.Conclusion: In conclusion, participants support the establishment of a diabetes biobank in Jordan; however, some ethical issues should be considered to ensure the success of the biobank.Keywords: diabetes, biobank, Jordan, MENA, ethics

Hanin Makhlouf,1 Nasr Alrabadi,2 Omar F Khabour,1 Karem H Alzoubi,3 Wael Al-Delaimy4 1Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 2Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 3Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 4Division of Global Health, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California at San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA Background: Biobanks (biorepositories) were established to compile collected bio-specimens for future research and usage. The collection/storage of bio-specimens triggers several social, legal, and ethical implications where public attitudes can represent the core measurement/parameter in defining the most acceptable practices and ethical approaches when dealing with biobanks. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore and understand population’s perspectives, expectations, and concerns toward biobanks in Jordan. Methods: A cross-sectional survey that included closed-ended questions was distributed among Jordanians. A total of 500 participants who are representative of the Jordanian population were included in this study. Results: There was overwhelming support (>85%) for the establishment of biobanks in Jordan, and most of the participants agreed on the importance of biobanks and samples’ donation for promoting medical research. Enthusiasm in biobanking participation was associated with the sociodemographic characteristics of participants including age, educational level, and previous knowledge of biobanks. Moreover, considering sample donation as a religiously good deed appeared to have the strongest positive correlation with willingness to donate bio-specimens for future research. Also, participants’ trust in medical and research services, especially the protection of their privacy and confidentiality, was the most critical concern when they decided to participate in biobanks. Conclusion: Population’s attitude toward biobanks in Jordan was positive and promising, and can encourage the future establishment of different biobanks. It is also necessary to take into consideration certain sociodemographic characteristics when discussing specific information with potential biobanks’ donors. Keywords: biorepositories, sample storage, sample donation, sample reuse, ethics

Nihaya A Al-Sheyab,1 Mahmoud A Alomari,2,3 Omar F Khabour,4 Khulood K Shattnawi,1 Karem H Alzoubi5 1Faculty of Nursing, Maternal and Child Health Department, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan; 2Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan; 3Department of Physical Education, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar; 4Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan; 5Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology. Irbid, 22110, Jordan Background: School students’ views and perceptions of informed parental consent and child assent about child participation in research in the Middle East are not known. Methods: Focus group interviews were conducted to understand high school students’ perspectives toward child and adolescent assents and consents in research including the importance of, and depth of information needed in consent and assent, and perception toward written vs verbal consent and assent. Results: The majority of students agreed that it is necessary to take parental approval and that they would not participate in research if their parents refused. Furthermore, the majority of male students agreed that if the research requires only questionnaires to be completed, then child’s approval is sufficient whereas measures, such as blood sugar screening required approval from both the parent and child. Females believed it is enough to provide parental consent to participate in research unless information provided is adequate, then child approval is enough. All students stressed the importance of including detailed information; however, parental consent needs to have more detailed information than child assent. Conclusion: Parts of the students’ perceptions were congruent, whereas other views were not congruent with proper conduct of pediatric research. Such a situation warrants further research and actions. Keywords: informed consent, adolescent, child, Jordan, Middle East

Ahmed M Ahmed,1 Omar F Khabour,1,2 Akram H Awadalla,3 Hisham A Waggiallah4 1Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Medina, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 3Department of Clinical Chemistry, College of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Kordofan University, Alobayid, Sudan; 4Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia Background: Diabetes mellitus is associated with imbalance in body trace elements. The aim of the current investigation was to compare the levels of trace elements (Zn, Mg, Mn, Cu, Na, K, Fe, Ca, Cr, and Se) in insulin dependent (IDDM) and non-insulin dependent (NIDDM) diabetes. Methods: A total of 100 patients with diabetes (40 IDDM and 60 NIDDM) and 50 healthy subjects were recruited in the study from both genders. Biochemical measures include glucose, lipids, and HbA1C. Results: The results showed that Zn, Mg, Cu and Cr were significant lower in patients with diabetes compared to the control group (P0.05). Conclusion: Disturbance in trace element profile among IDDM and NIDDM is similar. Keywords: trace elements, diabetes mellitus, IDDM, NIDDM

Ahmed Abu-Siniyeh,1 Omar F Khabour,1 Arwa I Owais2 1Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 2Department of Applied Dental Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan Background: The congenital absence of one or few teeth, hypodontia, is considered one of the utmost dental ageneses in human beings. Several genes have been shown to be involved in the development of hypodontia such as paired box gene 9 (PAX9). The expression of PAX9 is controlled by several polymorphic elements in the promoter region of the gene on 14q13.3 locus. The aim of this study was to find any association between PAX9 c.-912T>C (rs2073247) and c.-1031G>A (rs2073244) promoter polymorphisms and the development of hypodontia among the Jordanian population. Methods: Genotyping of the polymorphisms in 72 unrelated subjects with hypodontia was performed using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) technique and compared with that of 72 normal healthy unrelated control individuals. Results: The hypodontia group had a significantly higher -1031GG genotype (P

Noor Al Mortadi,1 Omar F Khabour,2 Karem H Alzoubi3 1Department of Applied Dental Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 2Department of Applied Medical Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 3Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan Background: Research that involves dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) is growing rapidly. DPSCs can be used for the treatment of craniofacial bone abnormalities and tooth repair. The procedure requires a donation of sound teeth, which might be associated with ethical and moral issues. The purpose of this study was to understand the attitudes and awareness of patients with respect to the donation of their teeth to research. Patients and methods: This study involved 500 patients recruited from Dental Care and Dental Teaching Center in Irbid during May 2017–July 2017. Results: A well-structured questionnaire was administered and prepared using Google forms and filled out using a tablet device. The majority of patients (62.8%) were willing to donate their teeth to research with significant association with educational level. Half of the patients considered that the donated tooth belongs to them even after extraction, whereas 19% believed that the researcher owns it after donation. Almost half (53.6%) of the participants wished to be informed about the type of scientific research that will be carried out on their teeth. The majority (66.5%) preferred to sign a consent document on tooth donation to research during the consultation visit before extraction. Finally, about 61% were worried that their tooth might be extracted for research purposes rather than medical purposes. Conclusion: A good fraction of Jordanian is willing to donate their teeth to research. Educational programs are demanded to enhance the awareness and attitudes of patients on the ownership of extracted teeth, consent process, and donation of teeth. Keywords: stem cells, attitude toward ethical concerns, medical ethics, knowledge of ethical concerns, patient right, tooth donation, consent form

Mera F Haddad,1 Omar F Khabour,1 Karem H Alzoubi,2 May M Bakkar1 1Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 2Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan Purpose: The aims of this study were to assess the knowledge and attitude toward corneal donation among Jordanian population and to report the reasons which may influence subject’s decision and attitude toward corneal donation.Methods: A self-designed questionnaire was developed. The participants were asked about reasons for both willingness and unwillingness to donate their corneas. These reasons were stated in the questionnaire and the participants had to express their agreement by one of five options: strongly disagree, disagree, neutral, agree, or strongly agree.Results: A total of 500 participants (218 males and 282 females) completed the questionnaire. The average age (±SD) of the study participants was 32.8 (±11.7) years. About 67.2% of the subjects were willing to donate their corneas, whereas 32.8% were not willing to do so. The main motive for willingness was doing a good deed by helping others to see. On the other hand, fear of the body being treated badly and that other organ might be taken than the ones specified for donation were the main reasons for unwillingness to donate corneas. The age of participants, gender, and the monthly income did not significantly influence the willingness to donate (P>0.05). However, the level of education had a significant influence on people’s decision to donate their corneas.Conclusion: Many Jordanians have positive attitude toward corneal donations. Ethical factors need to be addressed to promote for corneal donation. In addition, increasing the awareness of donation and its benefits may help increase the supply of corneal tissues. Keywords: corneal donation, willingness, Jordan

Ayman G Mustafa,1,2 Karem H Alzoubi,3 Omar F Khabour,4 Mahmoud A Alfaqih2 1College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar; 2Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan; 3Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan; 4Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan Purpose: This study aims at investigating the perspectives of Jordanian medical and paramedical students on surrogate pregnancy. Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study design was used. The sample consisted of n=328 students of both genders. The questionnaire responses were numerically coded and analyzed across gender and the level of education. Results: Approximately, 18% of the students reported good awareness about the ethical dilemmas of surrogacy. The results showed a general reluctance to accept surrogate pregnancy as the majority (80.5% of male students and 97.6% of female students) had a negative attitude toward surrogacy. In addition, undergraduate students were less supportive to surrogate pregnancy than graduate students. Religious considerations were the main reason (accounts for about 70%) for driving negative attitude toward surrogacy. Conclusion: The findings of the study indicate a general reluctance toward accepting the concept of surrogate pregnancy, which is mainly due to religious reasons. Keywords: perspectives, attitudes, medical, students, paramedical, surrogate pregnancy

Osama Y Alshogran,1 Karem H Alzoubi,1 Omar F Khabour,2 Shatha Farah2 1Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan Background and objective: Self-medication practice involves consumption of medicines by one’s own initiative or on the consultation of others without the guidance of a physician. Self-medication and use of over-the-counter drugs are prevalent worldwide public health concerns. University students of medical and nonmedical disciplines may have different levels of health education. This study evaluated the prevalence and patterns of self-medication and the attitudes toward this practice among medical and nonmedical university students in Jordan. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 504 students (medical: 248 and nonmedical: 256). The students were invited to complete a questionnaire that included questions primarily related to patterns of physician visits, self-medication practice, symptoms provoking self-medication, and sources of advice. Results: Self-medication was highly prevalent and comparable between medical and nonmedical students (~96%). Headache (81.9%), cold (58.3%), and flu (53%) were the frequent symptoms provoking self-medication among students. Self-medication for headache (86.7% vs 77.3%) and tooth pain (53.1% vs 27%) was significantly higher among medical vs nonmedical students, respectively. Self-treatment with painkillers (82.3% vs 73%) or antiallergy (11.3% vs 5.9%) drugs was significantly higher among medical students, while the use of anti-flu decongestants (47.6% vs 60.2%) was lower compared to nonmedical students, respectively. Nonmedical vs medical students were significantly more dependent on friends (14.8% vs 7.7%) and own experience (7.4% vs 2.4%) as a source of self-medication advice. Conclusion: Self-medication is common among Jordanian university students of medical and nonmedical disciplines. This practice, if used irrationally, may constitute a health problem that needs awareness and interventions by health care regulators in Jordan. Future studies are warranted to examine the impact of self-medication on students’ health. Keywords: self-medication, students, medical, nonmedical, survey, Jordan

Adnan I Al-Hindi,1 Omar F Khabour,2 Karem H Alzoubi,3 Nour A Al-Sawalha3 1Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza, Palestine; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 3Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan Introduction: Blood donation is important for saving human life as blood is used in surgeries, blood transfusion and for clinical use. The mission of blood banks can be extended to include medical research. The objective of the study was to determine and assess the attitude of blood donors in Gaza towards the use of their blood samples and medical data for biomedical research and the associated ethical issues. Methods: The study is cross-sectional and questionnaire-based and involved 616 blood donors from the Gaza Strip. Results: The majority of participants (86%) showed a positive attitude towards donating blood for medical research, including genetic studies. About two-thirds of participants agreed that informed consent should be taken before conducting medical research on the donated blood. A similar percentage also accepted linking of their health information to the donated blood samples. On the other hand, about 38% of participants disapproved of sharing of their data with third parties such as health insurance companies and health authorities. Finally, 10% of participants stated that their future blood donation decision would be affected if they knew that part of their donated blood was to be used in research without taking their permission. Conclusion: Blood donors in Gaza Strip have a positive attitude toward using their donated blood for medical research. More awareness is required with respect to the importance of informed consent and access to biomedical information. Keywords: ethics, Gaza, blood, donation, research, attitude

Omar F Khabour,1,2 Karem H Alzoubi,3 Abdul Samad Firoz,1,4 Rafat MM Al-Awad2 1Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 3Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 4Center for Genetics and Inherited Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Tabiah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia Introduction: Isotretinoin, a vitamin A-derived medication, is one of the effective treatments for severe acne. However, in a fraction of patients, this treatment causes significant adverse effects. Leptin is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays a role in apoptosis of adipose cells and sebaceous lipid metabolism. Thus, genetic polymorphisms in the leptin (LEP) gene may modulate the response to isotretinoin therapy. Here, we explore the contribution of rs7799039 polymorphism of the LEP gene in the adverse effects of the oral isotretinoin therapy among acne patients. Materials and methods: Clinical parameters were obtained from 200 patients before and after isotretinoin treatment for acne. In addition, circulatory lipid profile and aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) enzymes from acne subjects before and 1 month after oral isotretinoin treatment were also measured. Results: An association between the rs7799039 polymorphism and the following lipid parameters: high-density lipoprotein (HDL) at baseline and after treatment, HDL % change, low-density lipoprotein % change and total cholesterol % change (P < 0.05). In addition, there was an association between the LEP polymorphism and higher AST and ALT at baseline and after treatment (P < 0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, rs7799039 LEP polymorphism might modulate lipid parameters and liver enzymes, but not other major side effects of oral isotretinoin therapy. Keywords: leptin, isotretinoin, acne, polymorphism, side effects

Muhamad Ali K Shakhatreh,1 Omar F Khabour,1 Karem H Alzoubi,2 Majed M Masadeh,3 Emad I Hussein,4 George N Bshara1 1Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Irbid, Jordan; 2Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 3Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 4Department of Biological Sciences, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan Background: Waterpipe smoking is a global health problem and a serious public concern. Little is known about the effects of waterpipe smoking on oral health. In the current study, we examined the alterations of oral microbial flora by waterpipe smoking. Methods: One hundred adult healthy subjects (59 waterpipe smokers and 41 non-smokers) were recruited into the study. Swabs were taken from the oral cavity and subgingival regions. Standard culturing techniques were used to identify types, frequency, and mean number of microorganisms in cultures obtained from the subjects. Results: It was notable that waterpipe smokers were significantly associated with a history of oral infections. In subgingiva, Acinetobacter and Moraxella species were present only in waterpipe smokers. In addition, the frequency of Candida albicans was higher in the subgingiva of waterpipe smokers (p = 0.023) while the frequency of Fusobacterium nucleatum was significantly lower in the subgingiva of waterpipe smokers (p = 0.036). However, no change was observed in other tested bacteria, such as Campylobacter species; Viridans group streptococci, Enterobacteriaceae, and Staphylococcus aureus. In oral cavity and when colony-forming units were considered, the only bacterial species that showed significant difference were the black-pigmented bacteria (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study provides evidence indicating that some of the oral microflora is significantly altered by waterpipe smoking. Keywords: waterpipe, smoking, oral microflora, hookah, tobacco

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious pregnancy condition with a complex etiology involving both environmental and genetic factors. This study investigated the association between polymorphisms in the microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis genes DICER (rs3742330) and RAN (rs14035) and the risk of PE among Jordanian women. Methods: A total of 224 pregnant Jordanian women were recruited. Genotypes of rs3742330 and rs14035 were determined using polymerase chain reaction techniques. This was a cross-sectional case–control study conducted in Jordan. Genotype and allele frequencies were compared using Chi-square tests, and hematological parameters were compared using t-tests. Results: The G allele and AG/GG genotypes of rs3742330 were more frequent in the PE group than controls (P < 0.05). However, no association was found between rs14035 and PE. Higher body mass index (BMI) was associated with increased PE risk (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The DICER rs3742330 polymorphism and increased BMI were associated with PE in Jordanian pregnant women. This suggests that genetic variations in miRNA biogenesis pathways may contribute to the development of PE.

Muhamad Ali K Shakhatreh,1 Mousa L Al-Smadi,2 Omar F Khabour,1,3 Fatima A Shuaibu,1 Emad I Hussein,4 Karem H Alzoubi51Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, 2Department of Applied Chemical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 3Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Madina, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Biological Sciences, Yarmouk University, 5Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan Abstract: Several applications of chalcones and their derivatives encouraged researchers to increase their synthesis as an alternative for the treatment of pathogenic bacterial and fungal infections. In the present study, chalcone derivatives were synthesized through cross aldol condensation reaction between 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)benzaldehyde and multiarm aromatic ketones. The multiarm aromatic ketones were synthesized through nucleophilic substitution reaction between 4-hydroxy acetophenone and benzyl bromides. The benzyl bromides, multiarm aromatic ketones, and corresponding chalcone derivatives were evaluated for their activities against eleven clinical pathogenic Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria, and three pathogenic fungi by the disk diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration was determined by the microbroth dilution technique. The results of the present study demonstrated that benzyl bromide derivatives have strong antibacterial and antifungal properties as compared to synthetic chalcone derivatives and ketones. Benzyl bromides (1a and 1c) showed high ester activity against Gram-positive bacteria and fungi but moderate activity against Gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, these compounds may be considered as good antibacterial and antifungal drug discovery. However, substituted ketones (2a–b) as well as chalcone derivatives (3a–c) showed no activity against all the tested strains except for ketone (2c), which showed moderate activity against Candida albicans.Keywords: benzyl bromides, ketones, chalcone derivatives, antibacterial activity, antifungal activity

Vincristine (VCR), vinblastine (VBL) and vinorelbine (VRL) are anticancer agents from the Vinca alkaloid family that have the potential to induce genotoxic effect. The aim of the present study was to compare the genotoxic effect of VCR, VBL and VRL. Levels of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxy guanosine (8-OHdG) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) were measured in cultured human blood lymphocytes treated with VCR, VBL and VRL at concentrations of 0.01 and 0.1 μg/mL. Results showed that VCR, VBL and VRL significantly increased the 8-OHdG levels (p VCR>VRL. In conclusion, VCR, VBL and VRL induce DNA damage as indicated by the increase in the 8-OHdG biomarker but with different magnitude.

Qosay A Al-Balas,1 Munia F Sowaileh,1 Mohammad A Hassan,1 Amjad M Qandil,1,2 Karem H Alzoubi,3 Nizar M Mhaidat,3 Ammar M Almaaytah,4 Omar F Khabour51Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 2Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, College of Pharmacy, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 4Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 5Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, JordanBackground: The dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) enzyme is considered a pivotal target for controlling normal blood sugar levels in the body. Incretins secreted in response to ingestion of meals enhance insulin release to the blood, and DPP-IV inactivates these incretins within a short period and stops their action. Inhibition of this enzyme escalates the action of incretins and induces more insulin to achieve better glucose control in diabetic patients. Thus, inhibition of this enzyme will lead to better control of blood sugar levels.Methods: In this study, computer-aided drug design was used to help establish a novel N-substituted aminobenzamide scaffold as a potential inhibitor of DPP-IV. CDOCKER software available from Discovery Studio 3.5 was used to evaluate a series of designed compounds and assess their mode of binding to the active site of the DPP-IV enzyme. The designed compounds were synthesized and tested against a DPP-IV enzyme kit provided by Enzo Life Sciences. The synthesized compounds were characterized using proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy, and determination of melting point.Results: Sixty-nine novel compounds having an N-aminobenzamide scaffold were prepared, with full characterization. Ten of these compounds showed more in vitro activity against DPP-IV than the reference compounds, with the most active compounds scoring 38% activity at 100 µM concentration.Conclusion: The N-aminobenzamide scaffold was shown in this study to be a valid scaffold for inhibiting the DPP-IV enzyme. Continuing work could unravel more active compounds possessing the same scaffold.Keywords: diabetes mellitus, dipeptidyl peptidase-IV, aminobenzamide derivatives, hypoglycemic activity, CDOCKER software

Introduction: Obesity and tobacco, including waterpipe smoking, are associated with diminished emotional well-being. Although concurrent obesity and waterpipe smoking consumption have been reported, the combined effect of these lifestyle components on emotional well-being is unknown. Therefore, the current study compared the positive and negative emotions in adults with waterpipe dependency and obesity. Methods: The study was cross-sectional (n = 691) and conducted between July 2022 and February 2023 using a convenient sampling procedure. Waterpipe dependency was measured using the Lebanese Waterpipe Dependency Scale, whereas obesity was estimated using the calculated body mass index (BMI). The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) was used to obtain emotions. BMI-stratified one-way ANCOVA was used for statistical analysis. Results: Revealed a main effect of waterpipe dependency among the overly obese individuals for both positive and negative PANAS scores (P < 0.05). Post hoc analysis showed lower positive PANAS scores in the heavy versus the none, mild, and moderate waterpipe dependency groups (P < 0.05). In addition, a greater negative PANAS score in the heavy versus none and mild groups (P < 0.01) and in the moderate versus mild (P < 0.05) dependency group. Finally, the BMI-stratified one-way ANCOVA revealed no main effect of waterpipe dependency among the rest of the BMI groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The results suggest that dependency on waterpipe smoking was associated with lower positive emotions and greater negative emotions, especially among overly obese individuals. Programs to restrain waterpipe and manage obesity are needed, especially when both are concurrently present.

BackgroundThe Syrian civil war is considered as the greatest humanitarian crisis in modern history, which has resulted in a major refugee crisis. A significant concern is the high prevalence of mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Syrian refugees. While the focus of most refugee mental health research has been pre-migration trauma, post-migration challenges and stressors, which can also be significant determinants of mental health, are often ignored. The purpose of this study was to assess mental health of Syrian refugees as compared to local Jordanians, and to examine sociodemographic factors and perceived stressors that are associated with mental distress among participants.MethodsThis was a cross sectional study conducted in northern region of Jordan among Syrian refugee and Jordanian adults. We used the validated Arabic version of Afghan Symptoms Checklist (ASC) to assess mental distress among participants.ResultsA total of 929 subjects (43% Syrian refugees, 56% females) participated in this study. Disparities in education, monthly income, and health insurance were significant between Syrian refugees and Jordanians, p

Abstract Background Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into healthcare has raised significant ethical concerns. In pharmacy practice, AI offers promising advances but also poses ethical challenges. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in countries from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region on 501 pharmacy professionals. A 12-item online questionnaire assessed ethical concerns related to the adoption of AI in pharmacy practice. Demographic factors associated with ethical concerns were analyzed via SPSS v.27 software using appropriate statistical tests. Results Participants expressed concerns about patient data privacy (58.9%), cybersecurity threats (58.9%), potential job displacement (62.9%), and lack of legal regulation (67.0%). Tech-savviness and basic AI understanding were correlated with higher concern scores (p

The self-driving car has been developing rapidly over the past decade, with increased attention from both academia and industry worldwide. Specialized research labs are equipped with vehicles fully loaded with cutting-edge technologies. Such labs are very expensive and not accessible to students in developing economies. This work proposes using self-driving car models to enhance real-time/embedded system education. We have built two experimental low-cost self-driving robotic systems designed specifically for the classroom within an educational context. Lego Mindstorms and Arduino platforms were used as they both offer vast teaching opportunities based on interdisciplinary project-based learning. The programming languages used are compatible with professional robotic programming languages. The goals of using the proposed models as autonomous cars were, on the one hand, to encourage students to gain hands-on experiences in the field of mobile robotics and, on the other, to teach senior students programming, problem-solving, real-time systems, and embedded systems. The models successfully attracted students and motivated them to be engaged in classroom activities. Using the proposed models, real-world autodrive features exposed to automated vehicles were implemented and validated.

Background: Psychosocial stress, a common feature in modern societies, impairs cognitive functions. It is suggested that stress hormones and elevated excitatory amino acids during stress are responsible for stress-induced cognitive deficits. Reduced brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, increased oxidative stress, and alteration of synaptic plasticity biomarkers are also possible contributors to the negative impact of stress on learning and memory. Sildenafil citrate is a selective phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor and the first oral therapy for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. It has been shown that sildenafil improves learning and memory and possesses antioxidant properties. We hypothesized that administering sildenafil to stressed rats prevents the cognitive deficit induced by chronic psychosocial stress. Methods: Psychosocial stress was generated using the intruder model. Sildenafil 3 mg/kg/day was administered intraperitoneally to animals. Behavioral studies were conducted to test spatial learning and memory using the radial arm water maze. Then, the hippocampal BDNF level and several antioxidant markers were assessed. Results: This study revealed that chronic psychosocial stress impaired short-term but not long-term memory. The administration of sildenafil prevented this short-term memory impairment. Chronic psychosocial stress markedly reduced the level of hippocampal BDNF (P˂0.05), and this reduction in BDNF was normalized by sildenafil treatment. In addition, neither chronic psychosocial stress nor sildenafil significantly altered the activity of measured oxidative parameters (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Chronic psychosocial stress induces short-term memory impairment. The administration of sildenafil citrate prevented this impairment, possibly by normalizing the level of BDNF.

Purpose: In neonatal intensive care units, applying sucrose solution for analgesia is now a routine treatment for mild procedural pain. Studies of animal and human infants provide clear evidence of benefits in the short term, but few studies have investigated the long term benefits. Thus, we determined whether sucrose could ameliorate painful stimulation during infancy in Sprague–Dawley rats and also explored the long-term effects of repeated sucrose administration during infancy. Female and male rats were included to investigate sex-related differences. Methods: Rat pups were stimulated either with painful or tactile stimuli for the first 14 days of their lives. Pups were pretreated either with sucrose or not treated before stimulation. Behavioral tests were conducted during adolescence and adulthood. Hotplate, rotarod, open field, elevated plus maze, and radial arm water maze tests were employed to assess the behavioral consequences of early life manipulations and treatments. Results: Painful stimulation during infancy increased the sensitivity to pain later in life, and sucrose did not remedy this effect. Motility, coordination, anxiety, and cognition tests in adulthood obtained mixed results. Pain during infancy appeared to increase anxiety during adulthood. Learning and memory in adulthood were affected by pain during infancy, and sucrose had a negative effect even in the absence of pain. No sex-related differences were observed in any of the behavioral tests by employing this model of neonatal pain. Conclusion: Painful stimulation during infancy resulted in deficiencies in some behavioral tests later in life. Sucrose pretreatment did not mitigate these shortcomings and it actually resulted in negative outcomes.

This study assessed the awareness and attitudes of adolescents in Jordan concerning the ethics of using their social media data for scientific studies. Using an online survey, 393 adolescents were recruited (mean age: 17.2 years ± 1.8). The results showed that 88% of participants were using their real personal information on social media sites, with males more likely to provide their information than females. More than two thirds of participants (72.5%) were aware that researchers may use their data for research purposes, with the majority believing that informed consent must be obtained from both the adolescents and their parents. However, more than three quarters of those surveyed (76%) did not trust the results of research that depended on collecting data from social media. These findings suggest that adolescents in Jordan understood most of the ethical aspects related to the utilization of their data from social media websites for research studies.