Multistate cholera outbreak in Sudan amidst ongoing armed conflict, 2023-2024.

In 2023, Sudan was affected by a major cholera outbreak affected 10 states amidst armed conflict that severely disrupted the health services. This study aimed to describe the magnitude, pattern, and trend (2023-2024) of cholera outbreak in Sudan across different states. Cholera outbreak caused significant morbidity and mortality facilitated the armed conflict that hampered the response by damaging infrastructure, displacing people, and disrupting healthcare services.

Relationship of difficult endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography cannulation and visual characteristics of papilla.

Background And Aim: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is commonly used to diagnose and treat bile duct and pancreatic disorders. Successful cannulation of the papilla is crucial for the effectiveness of ERCP; however, sometimes, it can be challenging to achieve. This study explores the relationship between net difficult ERCP cannulation with bile visibility, papilla orifice visibility, and papilla position and compares it with successful cannulation.

Clearing the Skepticism about Subclinical Hypothyroidism: Is It Beneficial to Treat Patients with Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone >4.5 and <10 mIU/L?

Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is a heterogeneous clinical condition ranging from asymptomatic to wide variety of clinical manifestations, which are often nonspecific. Being a common laboratory finding, clinicians often face the dilemma of whether to treat or not. Threshold of 10 mIU/L of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is often used as a cutoff limit to offer treatment.

Retrospective analysis of a large-scale cholera outbreak in Sudan.

Background: Cholera outbreak is a significant public health threat in some parts of Sudan. In 2023, there was a large-scale outbreak in Gadarif State.

Aim: To analyse the 2023 cholera outbreak in Sudan and recommend prevention and control measures for the future.

Early use of oral cholera vaccines as a prime control measure during outbreaks: Necessary but not sufficient.

Introduction: Despite being a preventable and treatable disease, cholera remains a public health problem in Sudan. The objective of the outbreak investigation was to identify associated risk factors that would help institute appropriate control measures.

Material And Methods: A case control study design was chosen to identify the risk factors for cholera in Gadarif State.

Effective Treatment of Solitary Rectal Ulcer Syndrome by Using Photobiomodulation Therapy: A Case Report.

To investigate the efficacy of Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) for the treatment of solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS). SRUS is a benign disease, diagnosed by symptoms, clinical, and histological findings. PBMT has been reported for the treatment of various inflammation-based diseases including aphthous ulcer, but still no such study on the treatment of SRUS is published.

Transmissibility of MERS-CoV Infection in Closed Setting, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2015.

To investigate a cluster of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) cases in a women-only dormitory in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in October 2015, we collected epidemiologic information, nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swab samples, and blood samples from 828 residents during November 2015 and December 2015-January 2016. We found confirmed infection for 19 (8 by reverse transcription PCR and 11 by serologic testing). Infection attack rates varied (2.

Comparative Analysis of Eleven Healthcare-Associated Outbreaks of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (Mers-Cov) from 2015 to 2017.

Since its emergence in 2012, 2,260 cases and 803 deaths due to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have been reported to the World Health Organization. Most cases were due to transmission in healthcare settings, sometimes causing large outbreaks. We analyzed epidemiologic and clinical data of laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV cases from eleven healthcare-associated outbreaks in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Korea between 2015-2017.

Outcome of strict implementation of infection prevention control measures during an outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome.

Background: The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to assess the impact of implementation of different levels of infection prevention and control (IPC) measures during an outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in a large tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia. The setting was an emergency room (ER) in a large tertiary hospital and included primary and secondary MERS patients.

Methods: Rapid response teams conducted repeated assessments of IPC and monitored implementation of corrective measures using a detailed structured checklist.

An outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) due to coronavirus in Al-Ahssa Region, Saudi Arabia, 2015.

Between 19 April and 23 June 2015, 52 laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome due to coronavirus (MERS) were reported from Al-Ahssa region, eastern Saudi Arabia. The first seven cases occurred in one family; these were followed by 45 cases in three public hospitals. The objectives of this investigation were to describe the epidemiological characteristic of the cluster and identify potential risk factors and control measures to be instituted to prevent further occurrence of MERS.

EVALUATION OF MODEL FOR END-STAGE LIVER DISEASE SCORE CUT OFF VALUES IN PATIENTS WITH HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY.

Background: Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) is scoring system used for prioritization of patients waiting liver transplantation. Patients with decompensated chronic liver disease (DCLD) with higher MELD score and hepatic encephalopathy (HE) have poor outcome. We planned to note association between short-term mortality and various cut-off values of at admission MELD score in HCV related DCLD patients presenting with HE.

Inspection of Ureteral Orifices: The Pearl of Flexible Cystoscopy.

Cystoscopy is most common diagnostic investigation. The examination technique and the findings, both normal and pathological, were well described described a hundred years ago. With technological advances, there has been over-emphasis on imaging modalities for diagnostic purposes.

Chikungunya outbreak in Al-Hudaydah, Yemen, 2011: epidemiological characterization and key lessons learned for early detection and control.

Little is known about the occurrence of chikungunya fever in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of the World Health Organization (WHO). In January 2011, the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MoPH&P) of Yemen reported to WHO an increasing number of "dengue-like" acute febrile illnesses of unknown origin from one of its coastal governorates. An epidemiological investigation was conducted in Al-Hudaydah governorate between 23 and 26 January 2011 by a joint team of WHO, the MoPH&P of Yemen and the U.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever: comparison of patients with primary and secondary infections.

Background: Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is considered to be associated with secondary dengue infection. This study was conducted to note frequency of primary and secondary dengue infection in DHF patients. Additionally these patients were compared in terms of age, gender, laboratory parameter, diseases severity and outcome.

Risk factors for neural tube defects in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia: Case-control study.

Both genetic and non-genetic environmental factors are involved in the etiology of neural tube defects (NTD) which affect 0.5-2/1000 pregnancies worldwide. This study aimed to explore the risk factors for the development of NTD in Saudi population, and highlight identifiable and preventable causes.

Strategic approach to control of viral haemorrhagic fever outbreaks in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: report from a regional consultation.

The viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHF) are a growing public health threat in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Nearly all of them are of zoonotic origin. VHF often cause outbreaks with high fatalities and, except for yellow fever, currently there are no specific treatment or vaccination options available.

Needlestick injuries: a survey of doctors working at Tertiary Care Hospitals of Rawalpindi.

Objectives: To document frequency, nature and predisposing factors for needlestick injuries (NSI) in doctors working at tertiary care hospitals of Rawalpindi.

Methods: This cross sectional survey was conducted at Department of Medicine, Rawalpindi Medical College from July 2009 to April 2010. Five hundred doctors working at various tertiary care hospitals of Rawalpindi were contacted.

Clinical management guidelines for pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus infection in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: technical basis and overview.

During the spring of 2009, a novel influenza A (H1N1) virus of swine origin caused human infection and acute respiratory illness in Mexico. After initially spreading in North America, the virus spread globally resulting in the first influenza pandemic since 1968. While the majority of illnesses caused by pandemic (H1N1) 2009 were mild and self-limiting, severe complications, including fatalities, were also reported.

Outbreak of beriberi among African Union troops in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Context And Objectives: In July 2009, WHO and partners were notified of a large outbreak of unknown illness, including deaths, among African Union (AU) soldiers in Mogadishu. Illnesses were characterized by peripheral edema, dyspnea, palpitations, and fever. Our objectives were to determine the cause of the outbreak, and to design and recommend control strategies.

Hepatitis C in Pakistan: a review of available data.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is increasingly recognized as a major health care problem, and is found frequently in Pakistani settings. In this article we reviewed published and unpublished data related to the seroepidemiology of HCV infection in Pakistan. For this article, data from 132 published studies and three unpublished data sets published/ presented between the period 1992-2008 were utilized.

Establishment of public health security in Saudi Arabia for the 2009 Hajj in response to pandemic influenza A H1N1.

Mass gatherings of people challenge public health capacities at host locations and the visitors' places of origin. Hajj--the yearly pilgrimage by Muslims to Saudi Arabia--is one of the largest, most culturally and geographically diverse mass gatherings in the world. With the 2009 pandemic influenza A H1N1 and upcoming Hajj, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MoH) convened a preparedness consultation in June, 2009.

Determinants of case fatality rates of meningococcal disease during outbreaks in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, 1987-97.

We studied case-fatality rates (CFRs) among cases of meningococcal disease (MCD) admitted to Makkah (Saudi Arabia) hospitals during the period 1988-97. Of 483 cases, 431 (89.2%) were due to strains of serogroup A, 31 (6.

Intrafamilial person-to-person spread of bacillary dysentery due to Shigella dysenteriae in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Objective: To identify the factors that influence transmission of bacillary dysentry (BD) within families during a propagated outbreak of bacillary dysentery.

Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Eighteen neighbouring villages in rural Gizan, southwestern Saudi Arabia.