The Level of Student Involvement in the Advanced Science Textbook for the 6th Grade

The purpose of this research is to identify the level of student involvement in the advanced Science textbook for the 6th Grade in Saudi Arabia, by: viewing the content (text), pictures, figures and activities which were calculated using Romey’s Formula, which measure the book involvement factor for the student, in content, pictures, figures, conclusions, and activities, by random selection of some books pages (Khoayalh, 1990), which was translated to Arabic, by researchers, and presented to arbitrators. In order to check its validity and invariability through time, two methods had been applied in analyzing the text; first by using Romey’s Formula, and secondly also by using the formula but with more classification as the text sentences were divided into (2) groups. One involves the student in his learning, and the other doesn’t. This increased invariability rate to (92.75%). The findings showed student involvement in the content of Science textbook in acceptable range. The rate was (0.4%) which means that it involves the student and allows him to analyze, brainstorm, and draw his own conclusions, while there was a decrease in student involvement in pictures and figures as it was (0.31%) indicating its poor effect on student to investigate. An increase was noticed in student involvement in activities with (0.65). Thus, the researchers recommended reviewing the original version of McGraw-Hill’s textbooks series, by the publisher, and rewriting the scientific context in an educational format, and enriching the book with effective materials, with more attentions to pictures and figures, that shows poor effect on students, in order to give the students a bigger chance to participate and interact. The researchers suggest a new method to measure the involvement depending on Arabic language characteristics and comparing it with the current research, and to conduct more of involvement analyzing studies to science textbooks

Evolving sequence mutations in the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

Background: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has continued to cause sporadic outbreaks of severe respiratory tract infection over the last 8 years. Methods: Complete genome sequencing using next-generation sequencing was performed for MERS-CoV isolates from cases that occurred in Riyadh between 2015 and 2019. Phylogenetic analysis and molecular mutational analysis were carried out to investigate disease severity. Results: A total of eight MERS-CoV isolates were subjected to complete genome sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis resulted in the assembly of 7/8 sequences within lineage 3 and one sequence within lineage 4 showing complex genomic recombination. The isolates contained a variety of unique amino acid substitutions in ORF1ab (41), the N protein (10), the S protein (9) and ORF4b (5). Conclusion: Our study shows that MERS-CoV is evolving. The emergence of new variants carries the potential for increased virulence and could impose a challenge to the global health system. We recommend the sequencing every new MERS-CoV isolate to observe the changes in the virus and relate them to clinical outcomes

Implementation of Country-Wide Pharmacoeconomic Principles in Cancer Care in Developing Countries: Expert based recommendations

Background: Cancer care is a major challenge to health care and for optimal outcomes, health systems need to align policy across many areas of public life. The recognition that even the wealthiest nations can fail optimum outcomes indicates a need for increased efficiency in cancer control programs. Fundamental to this is the efficient direction of resources – a process that can be optimised through economic measures.This manuscript contains expert recommendations on how decision maker scan implement pharmacoeconomic principles at national level in developing countries. // Methods: A multidisciplinary panel of 10 experts was formed of oncologists, clinical pharmacists, health economists, chronic disease control and public health experts from different countries and health care sectors. The panel developed consensus recommendations for different stakeholders using a framework analysis methods. // Results: Recommendations were categorized to national level, hospital level, industry level and public- community level to support decisionmakers in implementing pharmacoeconomic principles in a systematic way. The recommendations included having proper well-structured data driven processes with specific role for each stakeholders. We proposed requirement structures and process in such a way that they can be customized based on individual country plans. // Conclusions: The expert panel recommendations will serve as a guide to relevant stakeholders at a country level. Adaptation of these recommendations to each setting is important to accommodate the situation and needs of each country

Demographic Characteristics and Status of Vaccinated Individuals with a History of COVID-19 Infection Pre- or Post-Vaccination: A Descriptive Study of a Nationally Representative Sample in Saudi Arabia

Background: Saudi Arabia expedited the approval of some COVID-19 vaccines and launched mass vaccination campaigns. The aim of this study was to describe the demographics of vaccinated COVID-19 cases and compare the mortality rates of COVID-19 cases who were infected post-vaccination in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. We retrieved data for COVID-19 cases who were infected pre- or post-vaccination and had received at least one injection of the Oxford–AstraZeneca or Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine from 4 December 2020 to 15 October 2021. Results: The number of patients who were infected and had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine was 281,744. Approximately 45% of subjects were infected post-vaccination, and 75% of subjects had received the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine. Only 0.342% of the patients who were infected post-vaccination died, and 447 patients were admitted to ICUs. Most of the patients who were infected with COVID-19 post-vaccination and were admitted to ICUs (69.84%) had received only one dose of the vaccine (p < 0.0001). The mean time to infection for patients who had received one and two doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine were 27 and 8 days longer than their counterparts who had received one and two doses of Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine, respectively. No difference in the odds of mortality between the Pfizer–BioNTech and Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccines was found (OR = 1.121, 95% CI = [0.907–1.386], p-value = 0.291). Patients who had received two doses of the vaccine had significantly lower odds of mortality compared to those who had received one dose (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Vaccines are vital in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this study show no difference between the Pfizer–BioNTech and Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccines in the rate of mortality. However, the number of vaccine doses was significantly associated with a lower risk of mortality. Future studies should examine the effectiveness of different COVID-19 vaccines using real-world data and more robust designs

Efficacy of canakinumab in patients with Still’s disease across different lines of biologic therapy: real-life data from the International AIDA Network Registry for Still’s Disease

Introduction: The effectiveness of canakinumab may change according to the different times it is used after Still’s disease onset. This study aimed to investigate whether canakinumab (CAN) shows differences in short- and long-term therapeutic outcomes, according to its use as different lines of biologic treatment. Methods: Patients included in this study were retrospectively enrolled from the AutoInflammatory Disease Alliance (AIDA) International Registry dedicated to Still’s disease. Seventy-seven (51 females and 26 males) patients with Still’s disease were included in the present study. In total, 39 (50.6%) patients underwent CAN as a first-line biologic agent, and the remaining 38 (49.4%) patients were treated with CAN as a second-line biologic agent or subsequent biologic agent. Results: No statistically significant differences were found between patients treated with CAN as a first-line biologic agent and those previously treated with other biologic agents in terms of the frequency of complete response (p =0.62), partial response (p =0.61), treatment failure (p >0.99), and frequency of patients discontinuing CAN due to lack or loss of efficacy (p =0.2). Of all the patients, 18 (23.4%) patients experienced disease relapse during canakinumab treatment, 9 patients were treated with canakinumab as a first-line biologic agent, and nine patients were treated with a second-line or subsequent biologic agent. No differences were found in the frequency of glucocorticoid use (p =0.34), daily glucocorticoid dosage (p =0.47), or concomitant methotrexate dosage (p =0.43) at the last assessment during CAN treatment. Conclusion: Canakinumab has proved to be effective in patients with Still’s disease, regardless of its line of biologic treatment