Chronic Diseases Research highlights
KAIMRC Innovations highlights the most exciting research taking place at the different research centers in KAIMRC. The research highlights are informative articles that cover breakthrough research and are accessible to the wider science community and a general audience interested in science. With regular weekly updates, this is the place to keep up with the best clinical and medical research happening at KAIMRC and around the world.
Feature
Exploring the link between diabetes and COVID-19
November 29, 2021
Studying how SARS-CoV-2 infections affect diabetic patients reveals a complex relationship between the virus and metabolic glucose.
Feature
Depression linked to premature brain ageing
October 25, 2021
Evidence is accumulating that depression and premature brain ageing are intimately linked.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
A molecular link between diabetes, obesity, and cellular aging
September 9, 2021
Obese people and type-2 diabetes patients have high levels of LMNA, a protein associated with cellular aging
KAIMRC Research Highlight
An artificially intelligent route to better prediction of diabetes risk
May 19, 2021
A neural network model developed at KAIMRC can identify patients at risk of diabetes with unprecedented accuracy
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Ramadan guidance for Muslims with diabetes
April 7, 2021
Researchers have published the first comprehensive guidelines for the clinical management of type-1 diabetes during Ramadan.
International Research Highlight
Cheaper, better screening of type 1 diabetes in high-risk children
February 24, 2021
A low-cost model combining genetic, clinical, and immunological risk factors could help predict type 1 diabetes
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Saudi Diabetes Risk Score predicts individuals at risk
October 14, 2020
Saudi researchers have developed a tool to identify adults at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Diabetes: Identifying
complications early
September 9, 2020
The high incidence of childhood diabetic ketoacidosis in Saudi Arabia highlights the need for interventions to prevent this dangerous complication of type 1 diabetes.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Parental stress linked to health
outcomes for children with type 1 diabetes
September 2, 2020
Improved parental wellbeing could lead to better management of type 1 diabetes in children.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Oral magnesium is not an effective asthma treatment
June 22, 2020
Despite low magnesium levels being linked to asthma cases, new research shows that oral magnesium supplements have no effect on the condition
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Streamlining care for the critically ill
May 17, 2020
More treatment is not always better, finds a Saudi-led trial into the prevention of deep-vein thrombosis
KAIMRC Research Highlight
A roadmap for public safety
March 29, 2020
Seatbelts and eschewing mobile phones are essential for reducing injury toll
Feature
Obesity and anaemia rife among Saudi female adolescents
November 3, 2019
Study shows obesity and iron-deficiency are common among young women in Riyadh.
International Research Highlight
Rotavirus
vaccine could help prevent type 1 diabetes
October 1, 2019
Rotavirus vaccine is showing a correlation with a reduction in type 1 diabetes incidents among infants.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
The
psychological toll of MS
September 8, 2019
Saudi researchers examine the severity of depression among multiple sclerosis patients.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
The
psychological challenges of epilepsy
August 17, 2019
A common form of epilepsy is associated with emotional and behavioural problems in children.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Paying heed to chest pain
August 14, 2019
Even without serious artery blockage, chest pain is often a harbinger of deadly heart disease.
International Research Highlight
Heart disease: Link with
air pollution spikes in China
July 14, 2019
A study covering 26 large cities in China links short-term exposure to air pollution with increased hospital admissions for heart failure.
International Research Highlight
Profiling the
evolution of breast cancer cells
June 2, 2019
Genetic profiling of breast cancer metastases provides insight that could help improve treatment.
International Research Highlight
Multiple
sclerosis: An exercise in brain protection
May 19, 2019
Exercise for people with multiple sclerosis protects against degeneration and improves physical function.
International Research Highlight
Dangerous trends in worldwide
childhood obesity
March 24, 2019
There are more underweight than obese children in the world, but the balance could change in just five years.
International Research Highlight
Obesity
and diabetes: Heading for the fast burn
March 3, 2019
Incorporating periods of fasting into diets shows potential as a means of halting the progression of metabolic diseases.
International Research Highlight
Weight loss surgery may reduce heart disease risk
February 10, 2019
Data suggests gastric bypass surgery reduces by half the risk of developing congestive heart failure.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Coping with adversity
February 10, 2019
A Saudi study finds that adverse childhood experiences affect men and women in different ways.
International Research Highlight
Exercising young protects heart later in life
February 6, 2019
Exercising when young can greatly reduce the risk of developing ischaemic heart disease in adulthood.
International Research Highlight
Hope for holding back hyperglycaemia
February 6, 2019
A two-drug combination that preserves and stimulates pancreatic function could offer a new option for treating type I diabetes.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Learning to predict diabetes
February 4, 2019
Machine learning could be used to identify high-risk patients and improve healthcare services.
International Research Highlight
Antibody could have dual role
January 30, 2019
An antibody that blocks the effect of follicle stimulating hormone may simultaneously treat obesity and osteoporosis.
Feature
Saudis buck the diabetes trend
January 22, 2019
Type II diabetes and insulin resistance don’t go hand in hand among Saudis as frequently as they do in other populations.
International Research Highlight
Exposure to ‘nonstick’ chemical risky for foetal health
January 20, 2019
Maternal exposure to chemicals widely used in consumer products and industries disrupts steroid hormone levels in babies’ cord blood.
International Research Highlight
Brain training at home helps multiple sclerosis
January 16, 2019
Cognitive impairment caused by multiple sclerosis can be improved with a computer-based brain-training system accessible at home.
International Research Highlight
Ischemic stroke: Examining brain inflammation
January 9, 2019
Scientists in Japan identify a signalling pathway that may provide a target for reducing inflammation in the brain following ischemic stroke.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Saudis
and the transfusion advantage
October 1, 2017
Transfusions are more likely to succeed in Saudi blood cancer patients thanks to a lack of genetic diversity.
International Research Highlight
Hope for
restoring immune defenses in hepatitis
September 20, 2017
Antioxidants might reverse changes in immune cells that allow hepatitis B virus to persist.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
New
mutation linked to Leigh syndrome
September 7, 2017
A new mutation causing Leigh syndrome has been detected in two newborns in Saudi Arabia.
International Research Highlight
Understanding
a neurological disease via the drugs that treat it
July 13, 2017
Novel antibacterial properties in existing multiple sclerosis treatments hint at a possible cause of the disease.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Keeping
a close eye on diabetes complications
June 22, 2017
Survey highlights link between molecular markers and potential complications of type II diabetes.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Understanding
the genetics of congenital heart defects
June 18, 2017
New evidence traces congenital heart defects to healthy parents.
Feature
Researchers take aim at Saudi Arabia’s
diabetes crisis
June 11, 2017
A better understanding of the root causes of diabetes in Saudi Arabia could yield new therapeutic strategies.
International Research Highlight
Clamping
down on post-stroke infections
June 10, 2017
Specialized cells that impair the immune system after a stroke could be targeted to protect patients from infection.
International Research Highlight
Beta
cell boost could replace insulin injections
February 28, 2017
A strategy for deriving beta cells from patients with type I diabetes could transform disease treatment.
International Research Highlight
Concerns raised about
digoxin safety
January 15, 2017
A drug commonly used to treat heart failure could be associated with an increased risk of death in certain patient groups.
International Research Highlight
Radiolabeled
peptides could monitor diabetes progression
January 9, 2017
Radioactive peptides effectively image insulin-producing cells, with potential to chart disease progression in diabetes.
International Research Highlight
Scrutinizing cellular bonds in heart failure patients
December 6, 2016
Atomic force microscopy can help scientists identify which chronic heart failure patients are more likely to suffer complications.
International Research Highlight
Obesity surgery can also resolve diabetes
November 22, 2016
Large-scale study shows bariatric surgery helps keep weight down and can resolve diabetes and hypertension.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Exploring diabetes impact on teenagers and their families
November 22, 2016
A multidisciplinary approach to treating teenage diabetics is needed to improve quality of life for patients and their families.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Safeguarding diabetes
patients in Ramadan
August 20, 2016
Millions of Muslims with diabetes are at risk if they fast during Ramadan without guidance.
International Research Highlight
Unmaking a muscle
August 14, 2016
The ‘missing links’ in a process that drives muscle wasting in heart failure patients may offer promising drug targets.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Autistic children
could receive tailored treatment
August 14, 2016
A new method of identifying autism means the hope of earlier treatment for children.
International Research Highlight
New probe shines
light inside arteries
August 14, 2016
A new design of catheter probe reveals complete, detailed pictures of fat deposits inside arteries for the first time.
International Research Highlight
The
hunt for dementia’s molecular triggers
August 14, 2016
Gender differences provide molecular clues for scientists seeking better ways to treat dementia.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Donating
blood might improve diabetes
August 14, 2016
Recent research suggests giving blood may temporarily improve insulin production and glucose tolerance.
International Research Highlight
Making room for
regeneration
August 11, 2016
Drugs that prevent the accumulation of scar-forming molecules could facilitate nerve repair in multiple sclerosis and other disorders.
International Research Highlight
The truth about fatty
acids
August 11, 2016
A Dutch cohort study shows that saturated fatty acids might not be as bad as people think.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Early fitness improves
heart attack survival
August 10, 2016
Keeping fit early on can increase chances of survival from a heart attack later in life
KAIMRC Research Highlight
More may not
be better for the critically ill
August 10, 2016
Critically ill adults may do as well or better on fewer calories.