2D antiscatter grid and scatter sampling based CBCT pipeline for image guided radiation therapy

Poor tissue visualization and quantitative accuracy in CBCT is a major barrier in expanding the role of CBCT imaging from target localization to quantitative treatment monitoring and plan adaptations in radiation therapy sessions. To further improve image quality in CBCT, 2D antiscatter grid based scatter rejection was combined with a raw data processing pipeline and iterative image reconstruction. The culmination of these steps was referred as quantitative CBCT, qCBCT. qCBCT data processing steps include 2D antiscatter grid implementation, measurement based residual scatter, image lag, and beam hardening correction for offset detector geometry CBCT with a bow tie filter. Images were reconstructed with iterative image reconstruction to reduce image noise. To evaluate image quality, qCBCT acquisitions were performed using a variety of phantoms to investigate the effect of object size and its composition on image quality. qCBCT image quality was benchmarked against clinical CBCT and MDCT images. Addition of image lag and beam hardening correction to scatter suppression reduced HU degradation in qCBCT by 10 HU and 40 HU, respectively. When compared to gold standard MDCT, mean HU errors in qCBCT and clinical CBCT were 10 HU and 27 HU, respectively. HU inaccuracy due to change in phantom size was 22 HU and 85 HU in qCBCT and clinical CBCT images, respectively. With iterative reconstruction, contrast to noise ratio improved by a factor of 1.25 when compared to clinical CBCT protocols. Robust artifact and noise suppression in qCBCT images can reduce the image quality gap between CBCT and MDCT, improving the promise of qCBCT in fulfilling the tasks that demand high quantitative accuracy, such as CBCT based dose calculations and treatment response assessment in image guided radiation therapy

Prevalence of Rabies in Various Species in Yemen and Risk Factors Contributing to the Spread of the Disease

Objectives: This study aimed to describe for the first time the prevalence of the passively-reported rabies virus among different domestic and wild animals submitted to the Central Veterinary Laboratory from various areas in Yemen, and to study prevalence proportion ratios (PPR) that contributed to the spread of rabies among animals, and its transmission to humans. Methods: A brain sample was obtained from each of the 180 animals and tested for rabies virus by a direct fluorescent antibody test. Results: Out of the total number of animals involved in attacks on humans, 63.3 % were positive for rabies. Of these, dogs were the main animal involved in attacks with a percentage of 92%, of which 62.7% were positive for rabies. Of animals involved in attacks, 70.6% were males of which 60.6% were positive, and 29.4% were females of which 69.8% were positive. Males comprised 68.9% of the total human individuals attacked, of whom 62.9% were attacked by rabies-positive animals. The significant risk factors that contributed to the spread of rabies in general included the presence of poultry carcasses and other waste in the vicinity of the attacks (PPR = 9.5) with a percentage of 84.8%, followed by the time of year, in particular school vacations (PPR = 3.8) with a percentage of 78%. Conclusion: Rabies is endemic in Yemen with a very high rabies-positive rate for animals involved in attacks, particularly for stray male dogs. Male children were most often involved in attacks by rabies-positive animals. The presence of food waste (particularly poultry carcasses) and school vacation periods were found to correlate significantly with increased risk for human exposure to rabies

SIDE EFFECTS OF CYCLOSPORINE COMPARED TO TACROLIMUS AMONG YEMENI KIDNEY TRANSPLANT PATIENTS WHO SHARE THE SAME ADJUVANT AGENTS: MYCOPHENOLATE MOFETIL AND PREDNISONE

Background: A renal allograft is the optimum therapeutic option for patients with end stage renal diseases. Nevertheless, rejection still represents a large challenge. So as to overcome this matter, treatment strategies comprise the combined use of anti-inflammatory  and immunosuppressive agents, although they are not free from complications . Interestingly, the major cause of morbidity and mortality after the first transplanted year are due to disorders unrelated directly to immunologic etiology or disease related to immunosuppressive drugs. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine the side effects in renal transplant Yemeni patients adherence to cyclosporine compared to tacrolimus sharing the same adjuvant agents which are mycophenolate mofetil "MMF" and prednisone. Subject and methods: This prospective study was carried on 100 kidney transplanted Yemeni patients divided into two groups: cyclosporine group (n=50) and tacrolimus group (n=50), each member of these groups was visited three times, blood samples were collected for biochemical functions including fasting blood sugar, liver enzymes, kidney functions, lipid profiles and white blood cells counts and results were obtained from the tests performed. Body weight and blood pressure had been examined; clinical complications were also recorded. Results: This study showed that serum total and direct bilirubine, gamma glutamyl transferase "GGT" and lipid profiles were elevated in cyclosporine group, whereas in tacrolimus group they were within normal range. The incidence of complicated events reported as follows: Hairtusim, gum hyperplasia, herpeszoster, CUSHING face and obesity were obviously present in cyclosporine group, while in tacrolimus group diabetes mellitus, hair loss and gastrointestinal tract infections were in existence. Conclusion: This study found that a tacrolimus-based treatment was significantly better than an immunosuppressive regimen based on cyclosporine due to the generally less side effects associated with tacrolimus, despite its effect on increasing diabetes among kidney transplant patients.                                    Peer Review History: Received: 18 September 2020; Revised: 5 October; Accepted: 16 October, Available online: 15 November 2020 Academic Editor: Rola Jadallah, Arab American University, Palestine, [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: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.0/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Dr. A.A. Mgbahurike, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, [email protected] Dr. Mohamed Awad AbdAlaziz Mousnad, International University of Africa (IUA) and Sudan, [email protected] Maged Almezgagi, The Key Laboratory of high-altitude medical application of Qinghai Province, Qinghai Xining 810001, China. [email protected] Ali Awad Allah Ali Moh. Saeed, National University, Sudan, [email protected] Similar Articles: LEVEL OF LEAD IN THE BLOOD AMONG FUEL STATION EMPLOYEES AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO IMPAIRED LIVER AND KIDNEY FUNCTIONS IN DAMASCUS; SYRIA: OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO LEAD BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION OF DIALYSIS WATER AND DIALYSATE AT MUKALLA ARTIFICIAL KIDNEY CENTER IN MUKALLA CITY - HADHRAMAUT - YEMEN: RATE OF CONTAMINATION AND SENSITIVITY OF BACTERIAL ISOLATES TO ANTIBIOTIC

PREVALENCE OF RUBELLA IGG ANTIBODIES AMONG PRODUCTIVE-AGE ‎WOMEN IN AL-MAHWEET GOVERNORATE, YEMEN

Background: Rubella is an infectious viral disease that caused by the Rubella virus. The incidence of rubella infection in women during pregnancy leads to complications for fetus development and cause congenital rubella syndrome or fetal death. This study aimed to determine the prevalence rate of rubella among reproductive-age women in Al-Mahweet, Yemen. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among females attending healthcare centers and schools from July 2007 to June 2008. Blood samples were collected individually from 270 females aged 15-35 years and the rubella virus IgG antibody was quantitated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The needed data were collected by using a pretested questionnaire and analyzed by statistical program. Results: Overall, 197(73%) had IgG-positive antibody to rubella and 73(27%) had IgG-negative antibody to rubella. The highest rate of anti-rubella IgG was among females aged 15-25 years and the lowest was among the females aged 31-35 years. Similarly, the higher rate was among females living in urban area compared to females from rural area. The statistically significant difference was found between most educational levels and positive results of anti-rubella IgG. With regard to marital status, the most frequent of rubella antibody was 72.3%, 73.1%, and 75.0%, respectively, recorded among single, married, and divorced females. The non-pregnant women had (73.7%) more incidence to rubella IgG antibody than pregnant (66.7%). 82.2% of IgG- positive women had no history of stillbirth and 65% had a history of stillbirth. Conclusions: Most of the enrolled females had immunity against rubella virus, but still a significant percentage were susceptible to rubella infection. Thus, it is essential to introduce of rubella vaccine to control and prevent the rubella virus circulating among the community.                           Peer Review History: Received 20 July 2020; Revised 11 August; Accepted 22 August, Available online 15 September 2020 Academic Editor: Dr. DANIYAN Oluwatoyin Michael, Obafemi Awolowo University, ILE-IFE, Nigeria, [email protected]  Received file:                Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.0/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Dr. A.A. Mgbahurike, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, [email protected] Dr. Tamer Elhabibi, Egyptian Russian University, Egypt, [email protected] Rawaa S. Al-Kayali, Aleppo university, biochemistry and microbiology department, Syria, [email protected] Rola jadallah, Arab American University, Palestine, [email protected] Similar Articles: THE ASSOCIATION OF EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS ANTIBODIES WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AMONG YEMENI PATIENTS IN SANA’A CITY SEROPREVALENCE OF ANTI-MANNOSE BINDING LECTIN AUTOANTIBODIES IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS IN SANA'A CITY- YEME