Local malaria transmission in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) came to an end in 1997. Nevertheless, UAE has been subjected to substantial importation of malaria cases from abroad, concerning both UAE nationals and immigrants from malarious countries with a total number of 2,119 cases in 2007. To evaluate a new DNA extraction technique using nested PCR, blood samples were collected from 132 individuals who presented to Infectious Diseases Department in Rashid Hospital, Dubai, and Central Department of Malaria Control with fever and persistent headache. Giemsa-stained blood films and ELISA test for malaria antibodies were carried out for detection of Plasmodium infection. Plasmodium infections were identified with the genus-specific primer set and species differentiation using nested PCR. A rapid procedure for diagnosis of malaria infections directly from dried blood spots using for the first time DNA extract from FTA Elute cards was evaluated in contrast to extraction techniques using FTA classic cards and rapid boiling technique. Our new simple technique for DNA extraction using FTA Elute cards was very sensitive giving a sensitivity of 100% compared to 94% using FTA classic cards and 62% in the rapid boiling technique. No complex preparation of blood samples was required prior to the amplification. The production cost of DNA isolation in our PCR assay was much less in comparable to that of other DNA extraction protocols. The nested PCR detected plasmodial infection and could differentiate P. falciparum from P. vivax, and also detected the mixed infection.

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Aim: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease with a controversial etiology. Both genetic and environmental factors are thought to be involved in the risk of developing the disease. The purpose of this study was to assess the association of the Vitamin D receptor (VDR) BsmI variant with MS and to investigate the interaction of this variant with vitamin D levels. Method: 100 subjects were recruited for this study. Fifty patients were diagnosed with MS and 50 were healthy individuals. BsmI was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses in both groups and serum 25hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were determined in MS patients by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: The distribution of the genotype of VDR polymorphism BsmI did not differ significantly between MS patients and healthy controls. The G allele of BsmI was a statistically significant higher percentage in MS patients (p-value 0.045). There is no statistically significant difference in the level of 25(OH)D between MS patients and the control group. Conclusions: The study findings suggest that the VDR gene variant BsmI G allele may increase the risk of the development of MS.

Zinc deficiency is an increasing public health problem. It may be related to compromised neurobehavioral function in children and adolescents. An association between giardiasis and zinc levels in human hosts had been reported. The occurrence of recurrent intestinal infection by Giardia lamblia may reflect a failure to correct an undefined specific nutrient deficiency, for example, the need for adequate zinc repletion. This study estimated the level of serum zinc in a sample of primary school children and to study the associations between it and height for age and giardiasis. A cross section study was carried out on randomly selected primary schools in Dubai and Ajman. They were 500 school children with age range from 6-12 years in Dubai and Ajman. The level of serum zinc, height for age and giardia infection were estimated The results showed that the prevalence of zinc deficiency was 23% with no relationship to age or gender. The low serum zinc was significantly associated with stunting and giardiasis. Regression analysis showed that stunting and giardiasis were significant predictors for low serum zinc (β = 0.365, 0.684 respectively)