PREVALENCE AND POTENTIAL RISK FACTORS OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS IN A SAMPLE OF CHILDREN IN TWO SELECTED AREAS IN YEMEN

Objective: The global epidemic of hepatitis B is a significant public health problem. The endemicity of HBV infection used to be believed high in Yemen. Data for the prevalence of HBsAg among children in rural and urban areas in Yemen is scarce and incompetent. The study was made to determine prevalence of HB surface antigen among children in 2 selected areas in Yemen. Methods: Eight hundred forty and 212 children were randomly chosen from Sana'a city and Shabowah governorate, respectively. Sera were tested for HBs antigen by ELISA technique, and HB genome was tested for positive HB surface antigen specimens to confirm positivity using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based test. Each data collected in a pre-designed questionnaire including sex, age, and risk factors of HBV and prior vaccine of HBV. Results: The prevalence of HB surface antigen among children in Sana'a city was only 1.8%, and in Shabowah governorate was 3.8%. There was a significant association of non-vaccinated children, birth by cesarean, and with a history of parental exposure with contracting HBV infection.Conclusion: Evidence from these studies in Yemen suggests that there is a steady increase in exposure to HBV over a lifetime. Hospital-acquired HBV infection is common in Yemen, and high vaccination coverage rate should be achieved, particularly in rural areas, in parallel with health education.                      Peer Review History: Received 21 June 2019;   Revised 6 July; Accepted 10 July, Available online 15 July 2019 Academic Editor: Dr. Amany Mohamed Alboghdadly, Princess Nourah bint abdulrahman university, Riyadh, [email protected] UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:                Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.5/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Aya Mohammed Mohammed Essawy, MTI University- Mokattam, Egypt, [email protected] Dr. Dalia Kamal Zaffar Ali, Modern University for technology and information, Egypt, [email protected] Similar Articles: SERO-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF HEPATITIS B, C, HIV AND TREPONEMA PALLIDUM AMONG BLOOD DONORS IN HODEIDA CITY- YEMEN EXPLOSION OF HEPATITIS B AND C VIRUSES AMONG HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS AS A RESULT OF HEMODIALYSIS CRISIS IN YEME

PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS G VIRUS AMONG PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE AND HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS, SANA'A CITY-YEMEN

Objective:  Hepatitis G virus (HGV) is a newly discovered and enveloped RNA positive-stranded flavivirus-like particle, which has not yet been proven to have major negative effects on liver. Therefore, it is important to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis G virus infection in Yemeni viral hepatitis patients and general population to design standard prevention and treatment plans. Methods: Screening HGV antibodies among 60 chronic HBV and 144 chronic HCV patients comparing with its prevalence in 218 healthy controls were carried out. Serum samples were collected and tested for human HGV IgG by commercially available ELISA technique. Demographic data such as gender, age, and risk factors of contracting HGV virus were recorded in predesigned questionnaire.  Results: The crude prevalence rate of HGV was 2.8%, female specific rate was 0% and male specific rate was 3.5%. The prevalence of HGV among HBV patients was 0%; HCV was 1.4% while in healthy individuals it was 4.6%. When age groups considered, the prevalence of HGV among age groups 20-29 years and 30-39 years was 3.5%, while in older age groups the rate of HGV was 0%.  There was a trend towards increased levels of HGV infection with the second and third decades of life (3.5%). There was no significant association between HGV infection and risk factors of hepatitis viruses. Conclusion: It can be concluded from this study that HGV virus is circulating in the risk groups and in the community in general Yemen, and there is a possibility that this virus may at some time become epidemic if preventive measures are not applied. The risk of community among healthy people more than in risk groups as HBV and HCV patients. Additionally HGV increases with young male adults.                               Peer Review History: Received 23 November 2018;   Revised 11 December; Accepted 27 December, Available online 15 January 2019 Academic Editor: Dr. Sally A. El-Zahaby, Pharos University in Alexandria, Egypt, [email protected] UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:        Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 4.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.5/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Antonio José de Jesus Evangelista, Federal University of Ceará, UFC, Brazil, [email protected] Dr. A.A. Mgbahurike, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, [email protected]  Similiar Articles: EXPLOSION OF HEPATITIS B AND C VIRUSES AMONG HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS AS A RESULT OF HEMODIALYSIS CRISIS IN YEMEN SERO-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF HEPATITIS B, C, HIV AND TREPONEMA PALLIDUM AMONG BLOOD DONORS IN HODEIDA CITY- YEME

EXPLOSION OF HEPATITIS B AND C VIRUSES AMONG HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS AS A RESULT OF HEMODIALYSIS CRISIS IN YEMEN

Objective: The United Nations considers the situation in Yemen to be the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. In the midst of this, the fastest-spreading viral infection among HD patients was recorded. Therefore, this cohort study based in HD unit was conducted in Dhamar Hospital to estimate the outbreak of hepatitis B and C viruses among dialysis patients during the dialysis crisis in Yemen. Methods: All the patients who continuous go through hemodialysis from January 2018 to December 2018 and they were free from HBV/HCV infections at the start of the study (January 2018) were included. Patients who were discontinued from dialysis before the end of the year due to death or relocation were excluded from the study. Patients were tested for anti-HCV antibodies and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) at study start (January 2018) then at the end of the follow up (December 2018). The individual’s data were collected in a pre-designed questionnaire including; demographic data of HD frequency, and laboratory results. Results: The study included 202 patients, 20 (9.9%), 18 (8.9%) and 6 (2.97%) were found to be infected with HCV, HBV and Co-HBV/HCV infection respectively. There was significant association between rise of HCV rate and younger patient age, and high frequency of dialysis.  Conclusion: In conclusion, the prevalence of HBV and HCV infection and HBV / HCV infection in haemodialysis patients in our surroundings one year after HD was extremely common and lead to disaster for HD patients. This catastrophe is due to the lack or limited availability of materials and tools for dialysis and laboratory materials for virus tests due to the unfair siege on Yemen from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and the closure of Sana'a airport, which is the only entrance to medicines.    Peer Review History: Received 24 September 2019;   Revised 12 October; Accepted 1 November, Available online 15 November 2019 Academic Editor: Dr. Gehan Fawzy Abdel Raoof Kandeel, Pharmacognosy Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, 12622,  Giza, Egypt, [email protected]  UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:                Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.5/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Dr. Mohammed Sadeg Abdullah Al-Awar, Physiology & Histopathology Queen Arwa University and Amran University, Yemen, [email protected] Dr. Heba-Tallah Ahmed  Mohamed Moustafa, Heliopolis University Cairo, Egypt, [email protected] Similar Articles: SERO-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF HEPATITIS B, C, HIV AND TREPONEMA PALLIDUM AMONG BLOOD DONORS IN HODEIDA CITY- YEMEN PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS G VIRUS AMONG PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE AND HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS, SANA'A CITY-YEMEN PREVALENCE AND GENOTYPING OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS AND EVALUATION OF HCV-CORE ANTIGEN TEST IN SCREENING PATIENTS FOR DIALYSIS IN SANA'A CITY, YEMEN PREVALENCE AND POTENTIAL RISK FACTORS OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS IN A SAMPLE OF CHILDREN IN TWO SELECTED AREAS IN YEME

30-Day morbidity and mortality of bariatric metabolic surgery in adolescence during the COVID-19 pandemic – The GENEVA study

Background: Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is an effective treatment for adolescents with severe obesity. Objectives: This study examined the safety of MBS in adolescents during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: This was a global, multicentre and observational cohort study of MBS performed between May 01, 2020, and October 10,2020, in 68 centres from 24 countries. Data collection included in-hospital and 30-day COVID-19 and surgery-specific morbidity/mortality. Results: One hundred and seventy adolescent patients (mean age: 17.75 ± 1.30 years), mostly females (n = 122, 71.8%), underwent MBS during the study period. The mean pre-operative weight and body mass index were 122.16 ± 15.92 kg and 43.7 ± 7.11 kg/m2, respectively. Although majority of patients had pre-operative testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (n = 146; 85.9%), only 42.4% (n = 72) of the patients were asked to self-isolate pre-operatively. Two patients developed symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection post-operatively (1.2%). The overall complication rate was 5.3% (n = 9). There was no mortality in this cohort. Conclusions: MBS in adolescents with obesity is safe during the COVID-19 pandemic when performed within the context of local precautionary procedures (such as pre-operative testing). The 30-day morbidity rates were similar to those reported pre-pandemic. These data will help facilitate the safe re-introduction of MBS services for this group of patients

30-day morbidity and mortality of sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and one anastomosis gastric bypass: a propensity score-matched analysis of the GENEVA data

Background: There is a paucity of data comparing 30-day morbidity and mortality of sleeve gastrectomy (SG), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), and one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB). This study aimed to compare the 30-day safety of SG, RYGB, and OAGB in propensity score-matched cohorts. Materials and methods: This analysis utilised data collected from the GENEVA study which was a multicentre observational cohort study of bariatric and metabolic surgery (BMS) in 185 centres across 42 countries between 01/05/2022 and 31/10/2020 during the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. 30-day complications were categorised according to the Clavien–Dindo classification. Patients receiving SG, RYGB, or OAGB were propensity-matched according to baseline characteristics and 30-day complications were compared between groups. Results: In total, 6770 patients (SG 3983; OAGB 702; RYGB 2085) were included in this analysis. Prior to matching, RYGB was associated with highest 30-day complication rate (SG 5.8%; OAGB 7.5%; RYGB 8.0% (p = 0.006)). On multivariate regression modelling, Insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolaemia were associated with increased 30-day complications. Being a non-smoker was associated with reduced complication rates. When compared to SG as a reference category, RYGB, but not OAGB, was associated with an increased rate of 30-day complications. A total of 702 pairs of SG and OAGB were propensity score-matched. The complication rate in the SG group was 7.3% (n = 51) as compared to 7.5% (n = 53) in the OAGB group (p = 0.68). Similarly, 2085 pairs of SG and RYGB were propensity score-matched. The complication rate in the SG group was 6.1% (n = 127) as compared to 7.9% (n = 166) in the RYGB group (p = 0.09). And, 702 pairs of OAGB and RYGB were matched. The complication rate in both groups was the same at 7.5 % (n = 53; p = 0.07). Conclusions: This global study found no significant difference in the 30-day morbidity and mortality of SG, RYGB, and OAGB in propensity score-matched cohorts

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Vibration Fault Detection for Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWT)

This research has investigated novel vibration condition monitoring methods for horizontal-axis wind turbines for a range of case studies simulating various failure modes of the blades and tower, including the effect of coupling of rotating and non-rotating components of the system. A small scale experimental test rig has been created and developed to monitor vibration behaviour under different transient loads as a function of rotor phase, including the measurement of blade, driveshaft, and tower vibrations

Vibration characteristic responses due to transient mass loading on wind turbine blades

Crown Copyright © 2019 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Wind turbine blades can experience mass collision events during operations, either due to bird strikes or with other flying objects. The rapid impact loadings due to these events can cause fatigue damage leading to subsequent blade loss or even wind turbine system failure. This paper addresses the effects of transient loadings resulting from a rapid mass reduction event from the rotating blade as well as an impacting mass onto the wind turbine blade, leading to transient vibration and unbalance within the turbine system. The novelty of the research is that it shows the coupling between the blade in-plane with tower transverse (Z-direction) vibrations, and blade out-of-plane with tower front (Y-direction) vibrations which have been identified through different experiments. Measurements from an experimental small-scale horizontal axis wind turbine test rig are reported, instrumented with contact and non-contact sensors and rotating and non-rotating sensors, to investigate the various transient impact loading events. Additionally, the drive shaft vibration for different conditions has been monitored by utilizing orthogonal laser measurement for detecting the main shaft displacements towards perpendicular axes. Subsequent orbit analysis is presented showing the analysis of different shaft orders during the rapid mass reduction and mass collision events. Complex orbit and filtering analysis of shaft orders during the transient mass impact loading events are used to demonstrate the sensitivity of the sensors for further fault detection

Embedding Data in Non-Important Gabor Ridges

Hiding information either by steganography or watermarking operation is essential for computer science. It is used as a method for sending secure and important information. It has special features that even if this information is discovered, the third part cannot reconstruct the original information in any way, not famously and commonly nor difficultly and especially by using any technique or algorithm. There are many hiding techniques; each one of them used different paths to ensure standard properties such as optimizing security level, increasing the amount of embedding data, decreasing the ability to reconstruct hidden information by any unwanted part. Here in the following suggested technique, different quantities of bits are hidden in various pixels depending on some discovered constraints by using the famous Gabor filter then divided ridges part in a selected fingerprint image for the purpose of hiding relevant information into important and non-important pixels that laying out of ridges in final images after applying Gabor filter which consider not important regions in fingerprint image for discovering important features from the image. The pixels used in hiding information belong to finger ridges in pure fingerprint images but covert to white pixels (valley) in the matrix after applying the Gabor filter and in original white pixels in both matrices by using different techniques for each type of pixels. The imaging stage constructed after the suggested technique is good and identical to the pure image for the accepted degree as shown in used fidelity metrics (PSNR). It is similar to a pure fingerprint matrix as proved in these metrics for calculating the level of goodness of proposed algorithms. Our algorithm exploits existing pixels in fingerprint image with different levels of importance and avoids pixels with high importance for protected important features from non-deterministic varying