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Abstract The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been a major challenge worldwide for the past years with high morbidity and mortality rates. While vaccination was the cornerstone to control the pandemic and disease spread, concerns regarding safety and adverse events (AEs) have been raised lately. A cross-sectional study was conducted between January 1st and January 22nd, 2022, in six Arabic countries namely Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Libya, Iraq, and Algeria. We utilized a self-administered questionnaire validated in Arabic which encompassed two main parts. The first was regarding sociodemographic data while the second was about COVID-19 vaccination history, types, doses, and experienced AEs. A multistage sampling was employed in each country, involving the random selection of three governorates from each country, followed by the selection of one urban area and one rural area from each governorate. We included the responses of 1564 participants. The most common AEs after the first and second doses were local AEs (67.9% and 46.6%, respectively) followed by bone pain and myalgia (37.6% and 31.8%, respectively). After the third dose, the most common AEs were local AEs (45.7%) and fever (32.4%). Johnson and Johnson, Sputnik Light, and Moderna vaccines showed the highest frequency of AEs. Factors associated with AEs after the first dose included an increase in age (aOR of 61–75 years compared to the 12–18 years group: 2.60, 95% CI: 1.59–4.25, p = 0.001) and male gender (OR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.63–0.82, p

Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer (BFRP) bars are manufactured from sustainable natural materials. BFRP Young’s modulus constitutes weak performance to the serviceability limits in the structural reinforced concrete (RC) elements, but using post-tensioning systems controls the serviceability limits. Nine RC slabs were tested under a four-point bending scheme. However, the efficiency of using the BFRP post-tensioning system bars as a main reinforcement of RC slabs was evaluated in two different stress levels of 10% and 50% of the rupture strength of the bars. The near-surface mounted (NSM) external strengthening post-tensioning BFRP system by two different stress levels of 10% and 30% of the rupture strength was investigated. Additionally, the hybrid reinforcement performance of both steel and BFRP bars was studied. The relevant results showed that the post-tensioning BFRP systems significantly enhanced the ultimate load and vertical deflection of the RC slabs if the stress level was 50% and 30% for the internally reinforced and externally strengthened slabs, respectively. BFRP bars in hybrid RC slabs achieved more energy absorption. At the same reinforcement area, the internal bonded BFRP bars can achieve a higher ultimate load than the unbonded external BFRP bars by 11%. Furthermore, the increment rate in prestressing losses for RC slabs with higher prestressing levels of BFRP bars was less than that of slabs with lower prestressing levels of BFRP bars. Consequently, the efficiency of the external post-tensioning system was 95.78% for the RC slab with a 50% stress level after 1000 hrs, and it’s recommended as a design guideline.

Background: Post-COVID-19 syndrome represents a wide range of ongoing symptoms that persist beyond weeks or even months, after recovery from the acute phase. Postural orthostatic tachycardia (POT) is one of these symptoms with a poorly recognized underlying pathophysiology. Purpose: We aimed to investigate atrial electromechanical delay (AEMD), demonstrated by electrocardiographic P wave dispersion (PWD) and tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE) in patients with POST-COVID-19 POT (PCPOT). Methods: 94 post-COVID-19 patients were enrolled and classified into two groups; PCPOT group, 34 (36.1%) patients, and normal heart rate (NR group), 60 (63.9%) patients. 31.9% of them were males and 68.1% were females, with a mean age of 35 ± 9 years. Both groups were compared in terms of PWD and AEMD. Results: As compared to the NR group, the PCPOT group showed a significant increase in PWD (49 ± 6 versus 25.6 ± 7.8, p

The opened beams always confused the designers due to the guidelines missing. In this research, six hybrid beams reinforced with mixed steel and basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) bars and having constant cross-sections of 150 mm × 300 mm and a clear span of 1800 mm were cast and tested under a four-point loading setup. Generally, five beams had symmetrical rectangular openings with dimensions of 150 mm × 250 mm located at a distance of 250 mm (equivalent to the beam effective depth) from the beam support, while an additional solid beam served as a control. The studied parameters included the effect of using internal reinforcement (steel or BFRP bars) provided adjacent to the opening sides or by incorporating an external BFRP sheet around the opening corners. Also, double enhancement with internal steel reinforcement bars together with external strengthening BFRP sheet was investigated. The relevant results showed that the opened beam without enhancement lost 75% of the maximum load compared with the solid beam. Placing internal steel or BFRP bars around the openings increased the maximum load by 62% and 60%, respectively, compared to the non-enhanced opened beams. Using an external BFRP sheet to strengthen the opening corners of the beam enhanced the maximum load by 76% compared with the non-enhanced opened beam. Consequently, by combining both the internal steel reinforcement and external BFRP sheet around the openings, the maximum load increased by 137% compared with the non-enhanced opened beam. Ultimately, a numerical analysis of the three-dimensional finite element model was performed to confirm the experimental findings, and the relevant results showed compatibility correlations with the experimental ones. Also, the effect of various parameters such as BFRP reinforcement ratio and number of BFRP sheet layers around the openings was investigated by adapting the validated numerical model.

Objectives: The objective of this study investigated the relation between QT-dispersion (QTd) and both number of coronary artery disease and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) among patients with type 2 diabetes after elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: One hundred ischemic heart disease patients undergoing elective coronary angioplasty were included; 49 patients with diabetes (group I) and 51 patients without diabetes mellitus (group II). Based on the QTd parameter after PCI, both groups were subdivided into tertiles. Angiographic, electrocardiographic parameters, and MACE were compared. Results: Both QTd after PCI and delta QTd were correlated to the number of diseased coronary arteries and MACE in patients with diabetes compared to patients without diabetes. QTd was longer in patients with diabetes developing MACE than those without MACE (r = −0.31, P = 0.04). Conclusion: QTd after PCI and delta QTd are the independent predictors of MACE in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Rehab H El-Sokkary, 1 Rehab M ElSaid Tash, 1 Marwa M Zalat, 2 Mohamed Arafa, 3 Mai M Malek 1 1Medical Microbiology & Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt; 2Department of Community, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt; 3Pediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, EgyptCorrespondence: Rehab H El-Sokkary Email rehab_elsokkary@yahoo.comBackground: Healthcare workers (HCWs) should have an active role in measles control.Objective: This study aimed to assess the HCWs’ measles immune status and its influencing factors; to measure their knowledge, attitude, and practice toward measles infection/vaccination; and to identify factors predicting their vaccination status.Methods: Data were collected using a semi-tailored questionnaire. Immunoglobulin G against measles was measured. Regression analysis for measles vaccination was performed.Results: Approximately 97 HCWs (93.3%) were seropositive, 79 (76.0%) were vaccinated, 18 (17.3%) were previously infected, and 9 (8.7%) were both vaccinated and previously infected. One previously vaccinated participant was seronegative. The immune status was associated with marital status, residence, work duration, infection control training, and wearing personal protective equipment. Positive attitudes and practices were reported. Marital status and infection control training were predictors for measles vaccination.Conclusion: HCWs showed readiness to control the spread of measles. National policies for compulsory HCWs’ vaccination and immune status check before training and employment are required.Keywords: measles, healthcare workers, vaccination, middle-income countries, infection control

Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of food-borne disease worldwide and food poisoning. This study reports the effect of nisin (0, 10 and 12.5 ppm) against Staphylococcus aureus in manufactured kareish cheese. Nisin was effective in reducing S. aureus count in cheese; a reduction of S. aureus count was observed from the 2nd day of storage period. S. aureus in kareish cheese decreased gradually from 4x108 to (8×107, 6.5×107, 5.8×107 CFU/gm.) in the 1st week till reached at the end of storage period of the 4th week to (4 ×104, 1.1×103, 1×102 CFU/gm.) for cheese containing (0, 10 and 12.5 ppm) of nisin, respectively during manufacture and storage for a month in the refrigerator at 4 ˚C. The data obtained in this study suggested that the use of nisin-containing cheese can be an effective method of controlling the growth and multiplication of S. aureus in cheese.

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is a new pandemic disease, associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Its diagnosis requires centralized facilities and time. Aims To describe the exposure history and clinical picture of the COVID‐19 patients, to study the SARS‐CoV‐2 Virus load and some determinants that may correlate with its prognosis, and to evaluate the role of inflammatory index NLR as an early predictor of COVID‐19 prognosis. Methodology A prospective follow‐up study included laboratory‐confirmed 179 COVID‐19 cases out of 660 suspected COVID‐19 cases, at El‐Madinah El‐Monawarah General Hospital in April 2020. Confirmed cases were managed by the Saudi Protocol and followed up every 2 weeks by PCR, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for 1 month. Data were collected through a validated questionnaire and by qualified infection control staff. Results The majority of the COVID‐19 cases were 67 (37.4%) aged 30 to

Dietary fat and oil is important for many body processes. The present investigation was carried out to determine the concentrations of organochlorine pesticides in butter, olive and corn oil. A total of 125 samples (75 butter, 25 each of olive oil and corn oil) were collected from El Minia Governorate, Egypt. Levels of these compounds were determined by gas chromatography with electron capture detector (GC-ECD). The results indicated that 30.4%(38/125), 24.8%(31/125), 21.6%(27/125), 21.6%(27/125), 16.8%(21/125), 14.4%(18/125), 14.4%(18/125), 12.8%(16/125), 9.6%(12/125), 8.8%(11/125), 8%(10/125), 1.6%(2/125) and 0.8%(1/125) of the examined samples were contaminated with Heptachlor, Endrin, Aldrin, Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene(p,p'-DDE), Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane(p,p'-DDD), Gamma hexachlorocyclohexane(Gamma HCH), Heptachlor epoxide, Dieldrin, Endosulfan, methoxychlor, Alpha hexachlorocyclohexane(Alpha HCH), Delta hexachlorocyclohexane(Delta HCH) and Gamma Chlordane, respectively. None of the examined samples revealed the presence of Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p'-DDT) and 11 samples contained organochlorine residues above European Union maximum residue limits (EU MRL)

The opened beams always confused the designers due to the guidelines missing. In this research, six hybrid beams reinforced with mixed steel and basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) bars and having constant cross-sections of 150 mm × 300 mm and a clear span of 1800 mm were cast and tested under a four-point loading setup. Generally, five beams had symmetrical rectangular openings with dimensions of 150 mm × 250 mm located at a distance of 250 mm (equivalent to the beam effective depth) from the beam support, while an additional solid beam served as a control. The studied parameters included the effect of using internal reinforcement (steel or BFRP bars) provided adjacent to the opening sides or by incorporating an external BFRP sheet around the opening corners. Also, double enhancement with internal steel reinforcement bars together with external strengthening BFRP sheet was investigated. The relevant results showed that the opened beam without enhancement lost 75% of the maximum load compared with the solid beam. Placing internal steel or BFRP bars around the openings increased the maximum load by 62% and 60%, respectively, compared to the non-enhanced opened beams. Using an external BFRP sheet to strengthen the opening corners of the beam enhanced the maximum load by 76% compared with the non-enhanced opened beam. Consequently, by combining both the internal steel reinforcement and external BFRP sheet around the openings, the maximum load increased by 137% compared with the non-enhanced opened beam. Ultimately, a numerical analysis of the three-dimensional finite element model was performed to confirm the experimental findings, and the relevant results showed compatibility correlations with the experimental ones. Also, the effect of various parameters such as BFRP reinforcement ratio and number of BFRP sheet layers around the openings was investigated by adapting the validated numerical model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer (BFRP) bars are manufactured from sustainable natural materials. BFRP Young’s modulus constitutes weak performance to the serviceability limits in the structural reinforced concrete (RC) elements, but using post-tensioning systems controls the serviceability limits. Nine RC slabs were tested under a four-point bending scheme. However, the efficiency of using the BFRP posttensioning system bars as a main reinforcement of RC slabs was evaluated in two different stress levels of 10% and 50% of the rupture strength of the bars. Also, the near-surface mounted (NSM) external strengthening post-tensioning BFRP system by two different stress levels of 10% and 30% of the rupture strength was investigated. Additionally, the hybrid reinforcement performance of both steel and BFRP bars was studied. The relevant results showed that the posttensioning BFRP systems significantly enhanced the ultimate load and vertical deflection of the RC slabs if the stress level was 50% and 30% for the internally reinforced and externally strengthened slabs, respectively. BFRP bars in hybrid RC slabs achieved more energy absorption. At the same reinforcement area, the internal bonded BFRP bars can achieve a higher ultimate load than the unbonded external BFRP bars by 11%. Furthermore, the increment rate in prestressing losses for RC slabs with higher prestressing levels of BFRP bars was less than that of slabs with lower prestressing levels of BFRP bars. Consequently, the efficiency of the external post-tensioning system was 95.78% for the RC slab with a 50% stress level after 1000 hrs, and it’s recommended as a design guideline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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