Evaluation of Hematological Parameters as Markers for Subclinical Inflammation in Adults with Familial Mediterranean Fever.

Background: Repeated polyserositis, another name for familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), is an autoimmune disorder with an autosomal recessive nature primarily characterized by short-lived repeated periods of peritonitis, pleuritis, and arthritis, generally accompanied by fever.

Methods: Our participants were divided into two groups. Group I (patients): 100 individuals who were diagnosed as patients with FMF and were monitored.

Dietary intake and risk assessment of nitrosamine in processed meat products among medical staff during their night shift.

The study aims to evaluate the levels of nitrosamine, a known carcinogenic compound, in processed meat products and to assess its dietary intake and margin of exposure among medical staff, including physicians, pharmacists, and nurses working night shifts at Alexandria University Hospitals. Additionally, the study seeks to evaluate the participants' knowledge of dietary sources and regulatory limits of carcinogens. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 420 participants.

Thyroid cancer and Hashimoto's thyroiditis in AUS/FLUS nodules: is there a correlation? A retrospective study.

Objectives: The global prevalence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), particularly papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), is increasing. However, studies assessing correlations between these diseases have yielded inconsistent findings. Furthermore, patients diagnosed with HT show a higher prevalence of indeterminate cytology than those without HT.

Epidemiological pattern of dengue fever in Afghanistan in the period 2021-22.

Dengue fever is considered as an emerging disease in Afghanistan. Since the first outbreak was reported in 2019, other outbreaks have been reported in the following years. The current study aims to describe the epidemiological features and clinical manifestations of suspected and confirmed cases of dengue fever detected by the National Disease Surveillance and Response (NDSR) Department of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) during 2021 and 2022 to prevent further spread and minimize its impact on the country's health system and on the limited number of health workers.

State of Lung Cancer in Egypt: Moving Towards Improved Guidelines for Prevention, Screening, Treatment, and Clinical Care Programs.

Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally and presents significant challenges in Egypt. In 2023, the first annual meeting of the Thoracic Oncology Multidisciplinary Faculty, organized by the Egyptian Cancer Research Network and the Egyptian Society of Respiratory Neoplasms, was held in Cairo, Egypt. The meeting aimed to address gaps in lung cancer management across Egypt and the broader Middle East and North Africa region.

Effectiveness of an environmental educational program on intern dentists' knowledge and practices regarding eco-friendly green dentistry: a quasi-experimental study.

Background: The dental industry is associated with significant environmental impacts so there is a growing need for eco-friendly practices in dentistry. This study aimed to assess dental interns' knowledge and practices regarding eco-friendly dentistry before and after the implementation of the environmental educational program.

Methods: An interventional quasi-experimental study (one group pre-test-post-test design) was conducted on 69 intern dentists at the Faculty of Dentistry Alexandria University.

Dietary habits and weight change during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic among the Egyptian population.

Background: The pandemic of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) has a profound influence on the health of the population. This study aimed to assess the weight changes and its relation to the dietary habits and physical activity among adult Egyptian population during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using anonymous online questionnaire.

Association between allergic rhinitis and development of autoimmune thyroid diseases in Egyptian patients.

Background: Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) and allergic rhinitis (AR) are prevalent conditions; however, limited research has investigated their association. This study aimed to evaluate whether AR can be considered a risk factor for developing AITD.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study analyzed the records of AITD patients who visited Alexandria University Students Hospital between January 2017 and December 2021.

Predictors and outcomes of premature rupture of membranes among pregnant women admitted to a teaching Hospital in Saudi Arabia: a cohort study.

Background: Premature rupture of the membrane (PROM), refers to rupture of the fetal membranes prior to the onset of regular uterine contractions. When this occurs at term (≥ 37 weeks of gestation), it is classified as PROM, whereas if it occurs before 37 weeks, it is termed preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). PROM and PPROM are linked to adverse outcomes for both mother and newborn.

The effect of an educational program on the knowledge and practices of diabetic patients regarding sharps waste disposal at home.

The disposal of sharp waste generated at home by diabetic patients poses a major public health problem. This study evaluated an educational program designed to improve patients' knowledge and practices around sharps disposal. A non-equivalent quasi-experimental study was performed at a main diabetic center in Egypt on 100 participants divided into intervention and non-intervention groups.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of the general population towards Marburg virus disease in sub-Saharan African countries: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Marburg virus disease (MVD) is categorized among viral hemorrhagic fevers. MVD is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to identify factors affecting MVD knowledge, attitudes and practices in sub-Saharan African countries.

How the IHR (2005) Shaped the COVID-19 Pandemic Response in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: What Went Well and What Did Not.

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) in addressing global health emergencies. This review aims to improve healthcare system capabilities, future preparedness, and actions in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, particularly in low-resource areas. The IHR, established in 1969, initially focused on 6 diseases but has since expanded to include a wider range of public health threats.

Psychological antecedents of vaccine inequity: keys to improve the rates of vaccination.

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) stresses the importance of worldwide vaccine coverage of coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) vaccination. This study fills a critical gap in the literature by providing empirical evidence on the factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and inequity in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This study investigated the determinants of psychological antecedents and other factors behind COVID-19 vaccination and their role in vaccine coverage in MENA.

Plasma Copeptin as a Prognostic Marker in Children with Heart Failure.

Objective: To investigate the role of plasma copeptin in predicting mortality in children with heart failure (HF) in addition to poor outcomes, including sepsis, multiorgan dysfunction syndrome, need for mechanical ventilation, and duration of stay in the pediatric intensive care unit.

Methods: This diagnostic study included 76 children aged 1 month to 16 years who were hospitalized with congenital or acquired heart disease with HF, and an age- and gender-matched control group of 65 healthy children. Plasma copeptin level was evaluated within 24 hours of admission.

Electronic cigarettes use and parental factors among children and adolescents, Jeddah. A cross-sectional study.

E-cigarettes are gaining popularity worldwide, necessitating their control. This study investigated the impact of parental factors on E-cigarette use among children-adolescents in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional survey involving 1,044 parents of children aged 10- to 21 was conducted in malls.

The impact of enhanced cleaning on bacterial contamination of the hospital environmental surfaces: a clinical trial in critical care unit in an Egyptian hospital.

Background: Contaminated environmental surfaces play an important role in the transmission of pathogens that cause healthcare acquired infection (HAI). The present study aimed to assess the effect of enhanced cleaning techniques on bacterial contamination in high-touch areas compared to routine cleaning at the intensive care units (ICU) of the neurosurgery department of Alexandria Main University Hospital, Egypt.

Methods: The assessment of the knowledge and practices of healthcare cleaning workers and nurses was conducted through a questionnaire and an observational checklist.

Predictors of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Acceptability Among Physicians, Their Knowledge on Cervical Cancer, and Factors Influencing Their Decision to Recommend It.

Introduction: In Saudi Arabia, the HPV vaccine is administered to young females through school-based immunization programs; however, the program's efficacy depends on parental consent, with physicians acting as primary determinants in parental decision-making regarding HPV vaccination.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 128 physicians and assessed their knowledge and attitudes toward cervical cancer, HPV, and the HPV vaccine, and unraveled predictors of HPV vaccine acceptability and factors that would influence recommending the vaccine.

Results: Although the major factor that influenced recommending the vaccine negatively was the fear of vaccine side effects, a positive influence of the physician's personal reading (91%), recommendations from colleagues (88%), and government directives (87%) provided reassurance and increased confidence in recommending the vaccine.

Development and validation of an Arabic tool for assessment of post-vaccination confidence in COVID-19 vaccines (ARAB-VAX-CONF).

Background: Vaccine confidence is described as a belief that vaccines are effective, safe, and part of a trustworthy health system. The objective of this study was to develop and validate an Arabic tool to evaluate confidence in the received coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines (ARAB-VAX-CONF).

Methods: The research team developed the ARAB-VAX-CONF based on three areas specified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): confidence in vaccine effectiveness, confidence in vaccine safety, and confidence in the healthcare system.

Analysis of biomedical and health research in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Background: Several bibliometric analyses have been conducted in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), however, there is limited data from such analyses for the establishment of national or regional health research agenda.

Aim: To assess the biomedical and health research outputs in EMR countries for 2004-2018 and their alignment with the regional strategic health priority areas identified by the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean.

Methods: We searched and reviewed health-related articles indexed in PubMed and originating from EMR countries from 2004 to 2018 and used these as indicators of the country's total biomedical research publication level.

Genomic characteristics, disease outcome and heterologous vaccine effectiveness among cases with SARS CoV-2 infection.

Background: In the pursuit of global health security, continuous monitoring of vaccine effectiveness across various viral strains emerges as a crucial imperative. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 major variants of concern (VOCs), including Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron, has added complexity to the COVID-19 vaccination landscape.

Objectives: To assess illness severity, evaluate vaccine efficacy across varying doses and types, and determine effectiveness against major VOCs within the population.

Factors influencing human papillomavirus vaccine uptake among parents and teachers of schoolgirls in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Cervical cancer is a highly prevalent disease among women worldwide. However, the advent of a vaccine against HPV, the main cause of the disease, has prevented its spread. The acceptability of the HPV vaccine to different sectors of the Saudi community has yet to be clarified.