Hepatitis B virus carrier rate, prevalence and susceptibility and impact of immunization program among households in the city of Taiz, Yemen

Objective

To examine the carrier rate, prevalence and susceptibility to hepatitis B virus infection in the city of Taiz, Yemen.

Methods

In a community-based household survey 521 subjects from 98 randomly selected households were enrolled. Carrier rate, prevalence and susceptibility of hepatitis B virus infection in the city of Taiz, Yemen were examined.

Results

The median age of the subjects was 19 years (range <1–85 years), 219 (42.0%) of whom were males and 305 (58.0%) were females. The HBsAg carrier rate was 4.2% (22/521), the prevalence was 16.9% (88/521) and the susceptibility rate was 57.5% (287/499). Male vs female carrier rate, prevalence and susceptibility rate were comparable. Children (age ≤18 years) vs adults had carrier rates of 2.7% vs 5.7% (odds ratio = 2.2) and a prevalence of 5.1% vs 28.4% (OR: 5.6). The carrier rate, prevalence and immunity to HBV among subjects who reported vaccination vs those unvaccinated was; 2.1% vs 5.5%, 11.3 vs 20.8% and 53.1% vs 18.8%. A proportion of 47.2% of subjects who aged ≤10 years had isolated anti-HBs. Of 142 of the cohort born after full implementation of vaccination program (age:≤9 years) 72 (50.7%) were immune and 70 (49.3%) were susceptible whereas of 357 subjects borne before program implementation (Age:≥10 years) 140 (39.2%) were immune and 217 (60.8%) were susceptible (p < 0.02 (Pearson) OR: 1.6 CI = 0.42–0.93).

Conclusions

An intermediate endimicity was identified in Taiz city. Vaccination reduced carrier rate prevalence and susceptibility among vaccinated subjects. The high rate of subjects with isolated anti- HBs together with the reduced susceptibility rate among the cohort born after inclusion of HBV vaccine to EPI reflects impact of the program. Improving vaccination coverage will further reduce susceptibility rate.     

Prevalence and incidence of blindness and other degrees of sight impairment in patients treated for neovascular age-related macular degeneration in a well-defined region of the United Kingdom

Aims

This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and prevalence of blindness, sight impairment, and other visual acuity (VA) states in patients receiving ranibizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in Gloucestershire.

Methods

Serial VA and injection data for all treatment-naive patients receiving their first intravitreal injections of ranibizumab for nAMD in the Gloucestershire National Health Service Ophthalmology department between 2008 and 2010 were extracted from an electronic medical record system.

Results

The prevalence of blindness (VA in the better-seeing eye ≤25 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters) at the time of first intravitreal injection was 0.8%, increasing to 3.5% after 3 years. The prevalence of sight impairment (VA in the better-seeing eye 26–39 ETDRS letters) increased from 4.1% at baseline to 5.5% after 3 years. The incidence of initiating ranibizumab treatment for nAMD in people aged ≥50 years in Gloucestershire was 111 people per 100 000 population in 2009, and 97 people in 2010. The incidence of patients meeting the visual criteria for blindness and sight impairment registration from treated nAMD in people aged ≥50 years in Gloucestershire was 3.5 and 9.7 people, respectively per 100 000 population in 2010.

Conclusion

This is the first real-world study on the incidence and prevalence of eligibility for blindness and sight impairment registration in treated nAMD in the UK based on VA data. The incidence and prevalence of eligibility for certification of blindness or sight impairment in patients treated with ranibizumab for nAMD is low in Gloucestershire, with only 3.6% of the incident population progressing to blindness in 2010.     

Evaluating the protective effects of vitamin E and selenium on hematology and liver,lung and uterus histopathology of rabbits with cypermethrin toxicity

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of vitamin E and selenium as protective agents against cypermethrin (CY)-induced toxicity by evaluating hematology parameters along with liver, lung and uterus histopathology of female rabbits. Thirty female rabbits were randomly divided into five equal groups with six animals in each group (designated A, B, C, D and E). Animals in group A were control animals that did not receive CY, vitamin E, nor selenium. Animals in groups B–E were injected intraperitoneally with CY at 75?mg/kg body weight once every5 days over a 32?day period, while animals in the control group received saline. Animals in group C were also given vitamin E (150?mg/kg b.wt) orally and animals in group D were given selenium (0.45?mg/kg b.wt) orally. Group E was given both vitamin E at a dose of 150?mg/kg and selenium at a dose of 0.45?mg/kg. In group B (CY only), the values of PCV were decreased at the 12th day of gestation when compared to group A. The mean value of PCV was significantly higher in group E on the 12 and 24th day when compared to the other groups. The mean values of hemoglobin (Hb) were not significantly different among groups on the 12th and 24th day of gestation. On the 12th day of the gestation period, there were nonsignificant differences in the total number of erythrocytes among all the groups. However, on the 24thdayof the gestation period, there was a significant decrease in the total number of erythrocytes in group B compared to the control group. Total leukocytes were also increased in the animals of group B on the 12th day of gestation, whereas the total leukocytes were increased on the 24th day of gestation in all groups (A–D) compared to control. Histopathological studies of tissues of liver, lungs and uterus revealed that CY altered the normal parenchyma of these tissues and this was partially ameliorated by the vitamin E and selenium treatments. In conclusion, combined use of vitamin E and selenium partially ameliorated the toxicity of CY in female rabbits.     

Correction to: Behçet’s disease in Egypt: a multicenter nationwide study on 1526 adult patients and review of the literature

Clinical Rheumatology - The author wishes to correct the record and clarify that in the original version of this article in the Discussion section under “Prevalence over the country...     

冠状动脉搭桥术患者自理能力的训练

1临床资料2003-04／2004—12我科行冠状动脉搭桥术(CABG)97(男76，女40)例；年龄38～81岁．不稳定型心绞痛46例，稳定型心绞痛40例，陈旧性心梗11例．术前行冠状动脉造影证实冠状动脉均有不同程度的狭窄或阻塞，其中体外循环下行CABG14例，非体外循环下行CABG83例．术后呼吸机平均使用时间5．5h，平均在ICU监护时间2．3d．本组有1例因低心排综合症合并肾功能衰竭死亡，     

Non-invasive Cardiac Imaging During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: A Statement from the Cardiac Imaging Working Group of the Saudi Heart Association

COVID-19 pandemic has led to major changes in the delivery of medical care around the globe. Many investigations and elective procedures had to be rescheduled to decrease the risk of spreading the infection. Non-invasive cardiac imaging studies are requested to guide appropriate cardiac care in a variety of urgent, semi-urgent, and elective procedures. This position statement of the Cardiac Imaging Working Group of the Saudi Heart Association provides guidance into the protection of healthcare personnel, assessment of the indications of the imaging studies, and highlights consideration before, during, and after the study.