The Effect Of The Blockade On Governmental Health-Care Services In Qatar

Problem: A good portion of the budget dedicated to the health-care sector every year for laboratory and pharmacy services is spent on patient care, instruments and equipment, medication, software, facilities, and so on. Almost all of these are imported at high cost. The blockade of Qatar seems to affect the health-care system by affecting the internal operations and other services. Aims: This study aims to highlight the factors affecting laboratory and pharmacy services during the blockade. Its purpose is also to reveal the weaknesses that are influencing the internal operations of pharmacies and laboratories. The overall goal is to make recommendations that could improve Qatar's economic competitiveness in relation to the health sector and not the hydrocarbon industry with or without the blockade. Methodology: Qualitative methods are used such as a series of literature reviews because the blockade figures are confidential. Finding: The blockade had limited impact on the health care expenditure internal in Qatar. Combined with the low inflation rate and increase levels of import for the pharmaceutical supplies, it seems that the quality and scope of the health care service was not affected. By embargo

Dynamics of Anti-S IgG Antibodies Titers after the Second Dose of COVID-19 Vaccines in the Manual and Craft Worker Population of Qatar

There is limited seroepidemiological evidence on the magnitude and long-term durability of antibody titers of mRNA and non-mRNA vaccines in the Qatari population. This study was conducted to generate evidence on long-term anti-S IgG antibody titers and their dynamics in individuals who have completed a primary COVID-19 vaccination schedule. A total of 300 male participants who received any of the following vaccines BNT162b2/Comirnaty, mRNA-1273, ChAdOx1-S/Covishield, COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen/Johnson, or BBIBP-CorV or Covaxin were enrolled in our study. All sera samples were tested by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) for the quantitative determination of IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the S1 subunit of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (SARS-CoV-2 N-protein IgG) were also determined. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were used to compare the time from the last dose of the primary vaccination schedule to the time by which anti-S IgG antibody titers fell into the lowest quartile (range of values collected) for the mRNA and non-mRNA vaccines. Participants vaccinated with mRNA vaccines had higher median anti-S IgG antibody titers. Participants vaccinated with the mRNA-1273 vaccine had the highest median anti-S-antibody level of 13,720.9 AU/mL (IQR 6426.5 to 30,185.6 AU/mL) followed by BNT162b2 (median, 7570.9 AU/mL; IQR, 3757.9 to 16,577.4 AU/mL); while the median anti-S antibody titer for non-mRNA vaccinated participants was 3759.7 AU/mL (IQR, 2059.7–5693.5 AU/mL). The median time to reach the lowest quartile was 3.53 months (IQR, 2.2–4.5 months) and 7.63 months (IQR, 6.3–8.4 months) for the non-mRNA vaccine recipients and Pfizer vaccine recipients, respectively. However, more than 50% of the Moderna vaccine recipients did not reach the lowest quartile by the end of the follow-up period. This evidence on anti-S IgG antibody titers should be considered for informing decisions on the durability of the neutralizing activity and thus protection against infection after the full course of primary vaccination in individuals receiving different type (mRNA verus non-mRNA) vaccines and those with natural infection.The World Health Organization (WHO) - grant number [2021/1183356-0]

Investigating the cardiac effects of Sildenafil loaded nanoparticles on heart failure using the Zebrafish Embryo Model.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the first cause of death worldwide. Vasolidator agents are used to relax cardiac muscle, but their extremely short half-lifes limit their effectiveness. Sildenafil is such an agent used to relax the blood vessels muscles and increase the blood flow. The conventional drug can lead to serious problems in patients duo to the systematic drug delivery. Use of Nanomedicine potentially can enhance delivery of this agent while reducing the systematic effect of the drug. Aim: The purpose of the research is to examine the effectiveness sildenafil loaded nanoparticles in rescuing heart failure using zebrafish embryo model. Methods: There will be five experimental groups. The zebrafish will be treated with Aristolochic Acid (AA) at 24 hour per fertilization (hpf) to create the heart injury group. The treatment groups will be heart injury followed by a dose of either Sildenafil or Sildenafil loaded nanoparticles at 36 hpf. Two control groups will be the negative control (exposed to egg water) and vehicle control (exposed to the Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)).To evaluate the drug effects on embryo, toxicity assessment (Survival rate, tail flicking and hatching rate), cardiotoxicity assessment and gene expression of heart injury marker via RT-PCR will be conducted. Results: Preliminary findings demonstrate, loading Sildenafil to nanoparticles enhances its effectiveness dramatically. The experiments are ongoing to confirm the results. Conclusion: Nanomedicine is a powerful approach to enhance cardiovascular therapy. Vasodilator drugs in particular will benefit from this improvement as demonstrated with our finding

Evaluation of Metal-Organic Framework MIL-89 Nanoparticles Toxicity on Embryonic Zebrafish Development

Metal-Organic Framework MIL-89 nanoparticles garnered remarkable attention for their widespread use in technological applications. However, the impact of these nanomaterials on human and environmental health is still limited, and concerns regarding the potential risk of exposure during manipulation is constantly rising. Therefore, the extensive use of nanomaterials in the medical field necessitates a comprehensive assessment of their safety and interaction with different tissues of the body system. In this study, we evaluated the systemic toxicity of nanoMIL-89 using Zebrafish embryos as a model system to determine the acute developmental effect. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to a range of nanoMIL-89 concentrations (1 – 300µM) at 4hours post-fertilization (hpf) for up to 120 hpf. The viability and hatching rate were evaluated at 24 - 72 hpf, whereas the cardiac function was assessed at 72 and 96 hpf, and the neurodevelopment and hepatic steatosis at 120 hpf. Our study shows that nanoMIL-89 exerted no developmental toxicity on zebrafish embryos at low concentrations (1–10µM). However, the hatching time and heart development were affected at high concentrations of nanoMIL-89 (> 30µM). Our findings add novel information into the available data about the in vivo toxicity of nanoMIL-89 and demonstrate its innocuity and safe use in biological, environmental, and medical applications.This work was funded by Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) through Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP22-140-3-023), High School Research Experience Program (HSREP1-0422-190053) for HAS, and National Priority Research Program (NPRP 10-0123-170222) for HCY. Also, we would like to thank the Pickford Award, from the British Pharmacological Society, received by NAM, for their generous contribution that aided the preparation of the nanoparticles used in this study. The graphical abstract was created with BioRender.com

Cardiac function and blood flow hemodynamics assessment of zebrafish (Danio rerio) using high-speed video microscopy

BackgroundIn the last few decades, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were introduced as a model organism to investigate human diseases including cardiovascular and neuronal disorders. In most zebrafish investigations, cardiac function and blood flow hemodynamics need to be assessed to study the effects of the interference on the cardiovascular system. For heart function assessment, most important parameters include heart rate, cardiac output, ejection fraction, fractional area change, and fractional shortening. MethodsA 10 s high-speed video of beating heart and flowing blood within major vessels of zebrafish that are less than 5 days post fertilization (dpf) were recorded via a stereo microscope equipped with a high speed camera. The videos were analyzed using MicroZebraLab and image J software for the assessment of cardiac function. ResultsUsing the technique described here, we were able to simply yet effectively assess cardiac function and blood flow dynamics of normal zebrafish embryos. We believe that the practical method presented here will help cardiac researchers using the zebrafish as a model to examine cardiac function by using tools that could be available in their laboratory.This work is supported by Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF),National Priority Research Program under grant number NPRP 10-0123-170222

One Year of SARS-CoV-2: Genomic Characterization of COVID-19 Outbreak in Qatar

Qatar, a country with a strong health system and a diverse population consisting mainly of expatriate residents, has experienced two large waves of COVID-19 outbreak. In this study, we report on 2634 SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequences from infected patients in Qatar between March-2020 and March-2021, representing 1.5% of all positive cases in this period. Despite the restrictions on international travel, the viruses sampled from the populace of Qatar mirrored nearly the entire global population's genomic diversity with nine predominant viral lineages that were sustained by local transmission chains and the emergence of mutations that are likely to have originated in Qatar. We reported an increased number of mutations and deletions in B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 lineages in a short period. These findings raise the imperative need to continue the ongoing genomic surveillance that has been an integral part of the national response to monitor the SARS-CoV-2 profile and re-emergence in Qatar

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially