SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers more potent antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) responses than mRNA-, vector-, and inactivated virus-based COVID-19 vaccines.

Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) are elicited after infection and vaccination and have been well studied. However, their antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) functionality is still poorly characterized. Here, we investigated ADCC activity in convalescent sera from infected patients with wild-type (WT) severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) or omicron variant compared with three coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine platforms and postvaccination breakthrough infection (BTI).

Evaluation of psychological distress, burnout and structural empowerment status of healthcare workers during the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19): a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study.

Background: In light of several recent studies, there is evidence that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused various mental health concerns in the general population, as well as among healthcare workers (HCWs). The main aim of this study was to assess the psychological distress, burnout and structural empowerment status of HCWs during the COVID-19 outbreak, and to evaluate its predictors.

Methods: This multi-center, cross-sectional web-based questionnaire survey was conducted on HCWs during the outbreak of COVID-19 from August 2020 to January 2021.

Epigenetic age acceleration in surviving versus deceased COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome following hospitalization.

Background: Aging has been reported as a major risk factor for severe symptoms and higher mortality rates in COVID-19 patients. Molecular hallmarks such as epigenetic alterations and telomere attenuation reflect the biological process of aging. Epigenetic clocks have been shown to be valuable tools for measuring biological age in various tissues and samples.

A CRISPR-based approach using dead Cas9-sgRNA to detect SARS-CoV-2.

Rapid, highly specific, and robust diagnostic kits to detect viruses and pathogens are needed to control disease spread and transmission globally. Of the many different methods proposed to diagnose COVID-19 infection, CRISPR-based detection of nucleic acids tests are among the most prominent. Here, we describe a new way of using CRISPR/Cas systems as a rapid and highly specific tool to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus using the dCas9-sgRNA-based technique.

The molecular mechanisms of apoptosis accompanied with the epigenetic regulation of the NY-ESO-1 antigen in non-small lung cancer cells treated with decitabine (5-aza-CdR).

Dysregulated epigenetic modifications are common in lung cancer but have been reversed using demethylating agent like 5-Aza-CdR. 5-Aza-CdR induces/upregulates the NY-ESO-1 antigen in lung cancer. Therefore, we investigated the molecular mechanisms accompanied with the epigenetic regulation of NY-ESO-1 in 5-Aza-CdR-treated NCI-H1975 cell line.

Predictive Biomarkers of Intensive Care Unit and Mechanical Ventilation Duration in Critically-Ill Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients.

Detection of early metabolic changes in critically-ill coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients under invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) at the intensive care unit (ICU) could predict recovery patterns and help in disease management. Targeted metabolomics of serum samples from 39 COVID-19 patients under IMV in ICU was performed within 48 h of intubation and a week later. A generalized linear model (GLM) was used to identify, at both time points, metabolites and clinical traits that predict the length of stay (LOS) at ICU (short ≤ 14 days/long >14 days) as well as the duration under IMV.

Level of maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) F antibodies in hospitalized children and correlates of protection.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of lower respiratory infection among children and no vaccine is available. The stabilized form of the fusion (F) protein - pre-F - is a leading vaccine candidate to target different populations, including pregnant women. This study aimed to determine the magnitude and nature of RSV-directed maternal antibodies (matAbs) in hospitalized children with RSV infection.

In silico virtual screening of lead compounds for major antigenic sites in respiratory syncytial virus fusion protein.

Unlabelled: Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading ubiquitous respiratory pathogen in newborn infants, young children, and the elderly, with no vaccine available to date. The viral fusion glycoprotein (RSV F) plays an essential role in the infection process, and it is a primary target of neutralizing antibodies, making it an attractive site for vaccine development. With this in view, there is a persistent need to identify selective antiviral drugs against RSV, targeting the major antigenic sites on the F protein.

Nutrition Literacy among Adolescents and Its Association with Eating Habits and BMI in Tripoli, Lebanon.

(1) Background: Adolescence is a period of increased autonomy and independent decision making; it determines health behaviors that can persist into the future. Individual factors like food choices and unhealthy lifestyle have an essential role in the development and prevention of obesity among adolescents and are associated with the nutrition literacy of parents and other adults. While the association of parents' nutrition literacy with adolescent BMI has been addressed, there is still a scarcity of studies that examine the effect of adolescents' nutrition literacy on their eating habits and body mass index (BMI) status.

Performance evaluation of five ELISA kits for detecting anti-SARS-COV-2 IgG antibodies.

Objectives: To evaluate and compare the performances of five commercial ELISA assays (EDI, AnshLabs, Dia.Pro, NovaTec, and Lionex) for detecting anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG.

Methods: Seventy negative control samples (collected before the COVID-19 pandemic) and samples from 101 RT-PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 patients (collected at different time points from symptom onset: ≤7, 8-14 and >14 days) were used to compare the sensitivity, specificity, agreement, and positive and negative predictive values of each assay with RT-PCR.

Hepatitis B Virus Molecular Epidemiology, Host-Virus Interaction, Coinfection, and Laboratory Diagnosis in the MENA Region: An Update.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is an enveloped partial double-stranded DNA virus that can cause acute and chronic hepatitis. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 257 million people are living with HBV. Moreover, 20,900 acute hepatitis B cases were reported in 2016.

Spectrum of mutations of cystic fibrosis in the 22 Arab countries: A systematic review.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive genetic disease caused by mutations in the CFTR gene, with various clinical manifestations that affect pulmonary, digestive, exocrine and male reproductive functions as well as the bones and kidneys. This study aimed to reveal the spectrum of CFTR gene mutations in Arab CF patients and their corresponding clinical phenotypes among the 22 Arab countries. We searched four literature databases (PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science and Scopus) from their times of inception to January 2018.

Prevalence and molecular profiling of Epstein Barr virus (EBV) among healthy blood donors from different nationalities in Qatar.

Background: The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the causative agent of infectious mononucleosis. EBV is highly prevalent lymphotropic herpesvirus and has been linked to several malignancies. Transmission is generally by oral secretions, but can be through blood transfusions and organ transplantations.

Concomitant occurrence of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) due to mediastinal parathyroid adenoma and sublingual thyroid gland: the role of parathyroid technetium-99m-MIBI scintigraphy.

The concomitant appearance of a sublingual thyroid and primary hyperparathyroidism due to parathyroid mediastinal adenoma is not common. This co-occurrence can lead to a misdiagnosis by morphological imaging methods alone. This case emphasizes the role of 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy in the detection of parathyroid ectopic adenoma in a patient with an ectopic thyroid gland.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus among blood donors in Qatar (2013-2016).

Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an RNA virus transmitted mainly through zoonotic transmission or fecal-oral route. More than 80% of Qatar's population are expatriates, including many coming from hyperendemic countries; thus, it is important to estimate the seroprevalence and to compare between different nationalities. The results can be useful in alerting blood banks to the importance of HEV screening.

[Cutaneous Merkel cell carcinoma: role of 18FDG PET-CT].

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin with unpredictable evolution and high metastatic potential. This neoplasm usually occurs in the elderly on their sun-exposed areas. CCM constant greed for 18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) defines the role of positron emission tomography (PET) in this pathology.

Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma: a retrospective clinicopathological study.

Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC) is an independent thyroid cancer histotype. In spite of its scarcity, it represents the main cause of death from non-anaplastic follicular cell-derived thyroid cancer. However, given the newness of this entity, few data are available on its clinical behaviour and no explicit consensus sets its treatment.

[Management of iodine-131 ablation therapy for thyroid carcinoma in a patient on chronic hemodialysis].

Iodine-131 ablation therapy for thyroid cancer in the patient on chronic hemodialysis represents a real problem since the main route of elimination of radioiodine is urinary. There is no recommendation on the management of this treatment in the patient on hemodialysis. We report our experience of management of this treatment in a patient aged 38 years, undergoing hemodialysis for chronic renal failure, and who have been indicated the treatment with iodine-131 for papillary thyroid carcinoma high risk.