Strengthening event-based surveillance (EBS): a case study from Afghanistan.

The sustained instability in Afghanistan, along with ongoing disease outbreaks and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, has significantly affected the country.During the COVID-19 pandemic, the country's detection and response capacities faced challenges. Case identification was done in all health facilities from primary to tertiary levels but neglected cases at the community level, resulting in undetected and uncontrolled transmission from communities.

Implementation and expansion of laboratory capacity for molecular diagnostics in response to COVID-19 and preparedness for other emerging infectious diseases in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

Background: Afghanistan experienced various outbreaks before and during the Covid-19 pandemic, including dengue, Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), measles, and acute watery diarrhea (AWD). Diagnostic and surveillance support was limited, with only the Central Public Health Laboratory equipped to handle outbreak responses. This article highlights initiatives taken to improve diagnostic capabilities for COVID-19 and other outbreaks of public health concern encountered during the pandemic.

Mycosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from endophytic Aspergillus flavipes AUMC 15772: ovat-statistical optimization, characterization and biological activities.

Background: Mycosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (SNPs) offers a safe, eco-friendly, and promising alternative technique for large-scale manufacturing. Our study might be the first report that uses mycelial filtrate of an endophytic fungus, Aspergillus flavipes, for SNPs production under optimal conditions as an antimicrobial agent against clinical multidrug-resistant (MDR) wound pathogens.

Results: In the present study, among four different endophytic fungi isolated from leaves of Lycium shawii, the only one isolate that has the ability to mycosynthesize SNPs has been identified for the first time as Aspergillus flavipes AUMC 15772 and deposited in Genebank under the accession number OP521771.

Pulmonary vasculitis in Behçet's disease: reference atlas computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) findings and risk assessment-management proposal.

Background And Aim:  Pulmonary artery aneurysms (PAAs) are the most well-defined type of pulmonary vascular complication in Behçet's disease (BD).The aim of this study is to analyze which CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) signs are associated with serious morbidity and mortality.

Methods: The study included 42 BD patients with pulmonary vascular complications.

Potential Activity of as Antioxidant, Cytotoxic and Antifungal against Some Skin Diseases: Topical Cream Application.

This research evaluated the antifungal effectiveness of ethanol, methanol, ethyl acetate and acetone extracts against the tested pathogenic fungi (, and ). Antioxidant and cytotoxicity effectiveness of extracts against four distinct cell lines were also assessed. Methanol extract of exhibited the highest inhibition zones against as measured by the well diffusion method.

COVID-19 morbidity in Afghanistan: a nationwide, population-based seroepidemiological study.

Objective: The primary objectives were to determine the magnitude of COVID-19 infections in the general population and age-specific cumulative incidence, as determined by seropositivity and clinical symptoms of COVID-19, and to determine the magnitude of asymptomatic or subclinical infections.

Design, Setting And Participants: We describe a population-based, cross-sectional, age-stratified seroepidemiological study conducted throughout Afghanistan during June/July 2020. Participants were interviewed to complete a questionnaire, and rapid diagnostic tests were used to test for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

The political economy of health in conflict: Lessons learned from three states in the Eastern Mediterranean Region during COVID-19.

Background: The Eastern Mediterranean Region continues to face a severe scale of emergencies as a direct result of conflict and political instability in a number of countries. As of 2020, nine countries out of 22 countries in the region affected by protracted and ongoing wars and conflict, left more than 62 million people in dire need of access to quality health care and adequate response measures. COVID-19 exacerbates the humanitarian needs of the people especially in countries that suffer from humanitarian crises, and drains the already overstretched health care systems.

Pulmonary vasculitis in Hughes-Stovin syndrome (HSS): a reference atlas and computed tomography pulmonary angiography guide-a report by the HSS International Study Group.

Introduction: Hughes-Stovin syndrome (HSS) is a systemic vasculitis characterized by widespread venous/arterial thrombosis and pulmonary artery aneurysms (PAAs), which is associated with serious morbidity and mortality. All fatalities reported in HSS resulted from unpredictable fatal suffocating hemoptysis. Therefore, it is necessary to recognize pulmonary complications at an early stage of the disease.

A critical analysis of 57 cases of Hughes-Stovin syndrome (HSS). A report by the HSS International Study Group (HSSISG).

Background: Hughes-Stovin syndrome (HSS) is a systemic disease characterized by widespread vascular thrombosis and pulmonary vasculitis with serious morbidity and mortality. The HSS International Study Group is a multidisciplinary taskforce aiming to study HSS, in order to generate consensus recommendations regarding diagnosis and treatment.

Methods: We included 57 published cases of HSS (43 males) and collected data regarding: clinical presentation, associated complications, hemoptysis severity, laboratory and computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) findings, treatment modalities and cause of death.

Development and Implementation of Electronic Disease Early Warning Systems for Optimal Disease Surveillance and Response during Humanitarian Crisis and Ebola Outbreak in Yemen, Somalia, Liberia and Pakistan.

Objective: To share lessons learned with experience in concept development of electronic disease early warning system (eDEWS) as a standardized informatic tool for optimal disease surveillance for early warning and response Network (EWARN) during humanitarian crisis.

Methods: We did literature search, review and analysis to document system attributes of existing electronic tools being used for disease surveillance, early warning and health management information system (HMIS). We generated baseline information and conducted multiple planning sessions with stakeholders for EWARN system requirement elicitation and validation to inform concept development of standardized electronic tool.

Insight into multidrug-resistant microorganisms from microbial infected diabetic foot ulcers.

Aim: This study was undertaken to inspect the preponderance of multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms in microbial infected diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) in north Egypt. Moreover, their later impact on the patients and previous antibiotic therapies were taken into consideration.

Methods: To accomplish this goal, twenty-two of diabetic foot patients with purulent wounds were enrolled in this prospective study.

Efficacy and Safety of Entecavir 0. 5 mg in Treating Naive Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Patients in Egypt: Five Years of Real Life Experience.

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of (ETV) among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) nucleos(t)ide-naive Egyptian patients.

Methods: Forty-eight CHB patients on ETV were included. Males comprised 83.

Attacks against health care in Syria, 2015-16: results from a real-time reporting tool.

Background: Collecting credible data on violence against health services, health workers, and patients in war zones is a massive challenge, but crucial to understanding the extent to which international humanitarian law is being breached. We describe a new system used mainly in areas of Syria with a substantial presence of armed opposition groups since November, 2015, to detect and verify attacks on health-care services and describe their effect.

Methods: All Turkey health cluster organisations with a physical presence in Syria, either through deployed and locally employed staff, were asked to participate in the Monitoring Violence against Health Care (MVH) alert network.

Knowledge translation in Africa for 21st century integrative biology: the "know-do gap" in family planning with contraceptive use among Somali women.

An emerging dimension of 21(st) century integrative biology is knowledge translation in global health. The maternal mortality rate in Somalia is amongst the highest in the world. We set out to study the "know-do" gap in family planning measures in Somalia, with a view to inform future interventions for knowledge integration between theory and practice.

Translating biotechnology to knowledge-based innovation, peace, and development? Deploy a Science Peace Corps--an open letter to world leaders.

Scholarship knows no geographical boundaries. This science diplomacy and biotechnology journalism article introduces an original concept and policy petition to innovate the global translational science, a Science Peace Corps. Service at the new Corps could entail volunteer work for a minimum of 6 weeks, and up to a maximum of 2 years, for translational research in any region of the world to build capacity manifestly for development and peace, instead of the narrow bench-to-bedside model of life science translation.

Schistosomiasis infection among primary school students in a war zone, Southern Kordofan State, Sudan: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Schistosomiasis is a major health problem adversely affecting the health of vulnerable populations in Sudan.

Methods: We conducted a school-based survey to estimate the prevalence of schistosomiasis in 36 villages in Southern Kordofan (SK) State. A total of 2,302 primary school students were recruited.

Response and seroconversion rates among HBeAg-positive chronic HBV Egyptian patients treated with peginterferon alpha 2a (Pegasys), a single-centre experience.

Background And Study Aims: We aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of pegylated interferon alpha-2a 180μg as a treatment for hepatitis B 'e' antigen (HBeAg)-positive genotype D chronic hepatitis B patients.

Patients And Methods: Thirty patients attending the outpatient clinic at the National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute were treated with peg.interferon alpha-2a (180μg) weekly for a period of 48 weeks.

An Evaluation of an Early Warning Alert and Response Network (EWARN) in Darfur, Sudan.

Objective: To conduct a field-based evaluation of an Early Warning Alert and Response Network (EWARN) in Darfur, Sudan.

Methods: Using adapted surveillance evaluation guidelines, evaluators reviewed EWARN documents and conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews and group discussions with key informantsat national, state, and local levels. Evaluators conducted visits at 18 purposively sampled clinics in all Darfur states.

Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths among an adult population in a war affected area, Southern Kordofan state, Sudan.

Background: Schistosomiasis remains a major health problem at global and national levels, contributing to the vulnerability of the poor people in Sudan. Southern Kordofan is affected by Schistosomiasis but the disease prevalence was unknown.

Methods: 1826 adults were recruited in a community-based survey.