Tradition, modernity and gender in the Arab home: a study from Tripoli (Libya)

This socio-spatial study explores the meaning of home in an Arab context in terms of the response of residents to three case study sites that reflect different eras of development and involve different house types- traditional courtyard houses in the Medina and two collective housing estates. Based upon the triadic distinctions of Lefèbvre, a mixed methodology is applied to these case study sites, with relevant information coming from interviews and focus groups with architects and residents, a satisfaction survey and a space syntax analysis. Unlike many previous studies, the interviews and focus groups document the experience and views of female residents. The results highlight the continuing impact of religion and culture on the meaning of the home. The Arab-Libyan home constitutes a family and a feminine ideal, based on gender segregation and female privacy. The traditional courtyard house offers a suitable house type, but not the only possible type that meets the practices and preferences of Arab Libyan families

Identifying a Window of Vulnerability during Fetal Development in a Maternal Iron Restriction Model

It is well acknowledged from observations in humans that iron deficiency during pregnancy can be associated with a number of developmental problems in the newborn and developing child. Due to the obvious limitations of human studies, the stage during gestation at which maternal iron deficiency causes an apparent impairment in the offspring remains elusive. In order to begin to understand the time window(s) during pregnancy that is/are especially susceptible to suboptimal iron levels, which may result in negative effects on the development of the fetus, we developed a rat model in which we were able to manipulate and monitor the dietary iron intake during specific stages of pregnancy and analyzed the developing fetuses. We established four different dietary-feeding protocols that were designed to render the fetuses iron deficient at different gestational stages. Based on a functional analysis that employed Auditory Brainstem Response measurements, we found that maternal iron restriction initiated prior to conception and during the first trimester were associated with profound changes in the developing fetus compared to iron restriction initiated later in pregnancy. We also showed that the presence of iron deficiency anemia, low body weight, and changes in core body temperature were not defining factors in the establishment of neural impairment in the rodent offspring

Long-term Immunogenicity of Hepatitis B Vaccination in children

Background: Chronic hepatitis B is a major global healthcare problem. Immunization is the most effective way to prevent transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and, hence, the development of acute and chronic hepatitis B. Sero-protection after vaccination, defined as anti hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBS) ≥ 10mIU/mL, is achieved in over 95% of all vaccinated children. Objective: The aim of the work is to detect the long-term immunogenicity of the vaccine in children after five and ten years of vaccination, also to test for anamnestic reaction to determine whether or not a booster dose is needed. Methods: This study included 200 healthy children. Before being included in the study children were screened for the presence of HBV infection. The children were divided into two groups according to age (each group contains 100 children). Their data are included. Group `A` included 53 males and 47 females, around 6 years old, all children were vaccinated 5 years ago. Group `B` included 27 males and 73 females, around 11 years old. All children vaccinated 10years ago. HBsAb titre was tested in their blood, booster dose of the vaccine was given to children whose HBsAb was < 10 mIU/ml, then one and half months later, another blood sample from each of them was retested for HBsAb to evaluate the response to this booster dose of vaccine. Results: when testing the serum of the children in both groups (A&B) for HBsAb and its titre, both groups have a wide range concerning the level of HBsAb (2→1000) mlU/ml). Our data proves the decline of antibodies titre with time, and there was significant difference between the two groups in the level of HBsAb . There was no significant difference in anti-HBs between girls and boys in group A in contrary to group B. In group A, from the nineteen children who needed a booster vaccination dose, 14 were vaccinated. Serum sample was taken from 10 children after one and half month from vaccination, out of these 10, 9 (90%) responded by increased level of HBs antibodies and only one child did not respond, Six (66.6%) of the nine showed an adequate response. In group B, fifty two children in this group had antibody titre < 10, forty eight were vaccinated. After one and half month, 34 children were tested again for HBsAb. Two out of the thirty four children did not respond (5.8%) and 32 (94.2%) responded by an increase in the antibody titre. Of those responded, 19 had adequate response (HBsAb ≥ 100) and 13 had hypo-response (HBsAb lies between 10-100). Therefore, 80% of the boys who were retested for HBsAb after vaccination responded adequately while 51.7% of the corresponding girls responded adequately. There was no significant difference in antibodies titre responding to the testing dose with p value =0.814. Conclusion: Hepatitis B vaccine is an effective and successful way for preventing HBV infection. There is persistence of protective antibodies after primary vaccination in most of children with decline of the levels over time. Even so, no need for booster dose at least for 10 years after vaccination. Key words: HBV, HB Vaccination, child immunit