Background Work ability and work–family conflicts (total-WFCs) were associated with the risk of depression among the working population. Methods We recruited 3104 Egyptian civil workers between October 2019 and January 2020. The Work Ability Index (WAI), Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) and Midlife Development in the United States questionnaires were used to collect the data. Following Baron and Kenny criteria, the mediation effect of total-WFCs on the association between WAI and CES-D scores was tested by multivariable linear regression models. Results Findings revealed a high prevalence of depressive symptoms (CES-D score ≥ 16) among Egyptian civil servants (43.4%). There were negative relationships between WAI score and both CES-D score (B = −0.70, P < 0.001) and total-WFCs score (B = −0.22, P < 0.001). Moreover, WAI score was still significantly associated with CES-D score after controlling for total-WFCs score (B = −0.40, P < 0.001) that suggests partial mediation. We estimated that ~44%, 38% and 20% of the total effect of work ability on the risk of depressive symptoms were mediated by total-WFCs, family-to-work conflict and work-to-family conflict, respectively. Conclusions Interventions aiming for mitigation total-WFCs can help improve employees’ mental health and reduce the risk of impaired work ability-related depression.

Background: Family caregivers are critical partners in the plan of care of people with disabilities. The study aims to demonstrate the factor structure and internal consistency of the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) among the studied caregivers of disabled persons and to determine the effects of patients' and caregivers' characteristics on the burden and its dimensions. Methods: A cross-sectional study among 260 family caregivers of disabled patients was carried out in a randomly chosen rural area, Minia, Egypt, 2019. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to determine the factorial validity of the CBI. Multiple linear regression was used to identify the significant factors affecting the burden. Results: Factor analysis resulted in a five-factor solution using 20 items (four for each dimension) accounting for 72.7% of the total variance. The CBI and its dimensions showed high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha value > 0.70). Education of caregiver, family income, mental impairments, and mixed disabilities were significant predictors of total CBI burden. Conclusions: CBI is an effective multidimensional measure of the caregiver burden of disabled subjects. Caregivers experienced a distinct level of burden that is determined by caregiver and care recipient characteristics. Therefore, support and individualized counseling services should be optimized.

Introduction: Healthcare providers are at high risk of occupational stress, burnout, health hazards and job dissatisfaction which can have harmful consequences on their health, work ability and professional efficiency. Therefore, it is important to adopt strategies for the promotion of healthy working conditions and improvement of their work ability. Aim of work: To assess the perceived work ability and its dimensions among the healthcare providers at Minia city, Egypt and identifies its relationship with socio-demographics, work-related factors and chronic diseases. Materials and methods: In a cross-sectional study among 233 healthcare providers, data about sociodemographics, history of chronic diseases, work-related factors and the Work Ability Index (WAI) questionnaire were collected during an interview with the participants. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the determinants of WAI. Results: The study included 145 (62.2%) nurses, 46 (19.8%) physicians and 42 (18%) technicians. The mean WAI score was 40.6 (± 4.6) and the participants were categorized based on their work ability into poor (14.1%), suboptimal (58.4%) and optimal (27.5%). There were significant differences in the WAI scores and most dimensions of work ability between different age groups. In the final multivariable analysis: age, sex, work category and chronic disorders (including musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory and gastrointestinal) were the significant predictors of work ability among the studied healthcare providers. Conclusion: Low work ability among health care providers was significantly associated with age, sex, work category, and chronic disease conditions. Therefore, promoting health, managing and preventing chronic diseases particularly at old age is essential in designing effective interventions to maintain and improve the work ability of healthcare providers.

Natural killer cells can be divided into five subpopulations based on the relative expression of CD16 and CD56 markers. The majority of natural killer cells are CD56(dim), which are considered to be the main cytotoxic effectors. A minority of the natural killer cells are CD56(bright), and function as an important source of immune-regulatory cytokines. Shifts of these subsets have been reported in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. We sought to investigate the shift of natural killer subsets among Egyptian patients with chronic HCV and to analyze the influence of interferon therapy on this shift. We applied a flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood natural killer subsets for 12 interferon-untreated and 12 interferon-treated patients with chronic HCV, in comparison to 10 control subjects. Among interferon-untreated patients, there was a significant reduction of CD56⁻16(+) (immature natural killer) cells. Among interferon-treated patients, the absolute count of natural killer cells was reduced, with expansion of the CD56(bright) subset and reduction of the CD56(dim)16(+) subset. Natural killer subset counts were not significantly correlated to HCV viral load and were not significantly different among interferon responders and non-responders. In conclusion, HCV infection in Egyptian patients has been observed to be statistically and significantly associated with reduction of the CD56⁻16(+)NK subset, while a statistically significant expansion of CD56(bright) and reduction of CD56(dim)16(+) subsets were observed after interferon therapy. Further studies are required to delineate the molecular basis of interferon-induced shift of natural killer subsets among patients with HCV.

Natural killer cells can be divided into five subpopulations based on the relative expression of CD16 and CD56 markers. The majority of natural killer cells are CD56(dim), which are considered to be the main cytotoxic effectors. A minority of the natural killer cells are CD56(bright), and function as an important source of immune-regulatory cytokines. Shifts of these subsets have been reported in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. We sought to investigate the shift of natural killer subsets among Egyptian patients with chronic HCV and to analyze the influence of interferon therapy on this shift. We applied a flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood natural killer subsets for 12 interferon-untreated and 12 interferon-treated patients with chronic HCV, in comparison to 10 control subjects. Among interferon-untreated patients, there was a significant reduction of CD56⁻16(+) (immature natural killer) cells. Among interferon-treated patients, the absolute count of natural killer cells was reduced, with expansion of the CD56(bright) subset and reduction of the CD56(dim)16(+) subset. Natural killer subset counts were not significantly correlated to HCV viral load and were not significantly different among interferon responders and non-responders. In conclusion, HCV infection in Egyptian patients has been observed to be statistically and significantly associated with reduction of the CD56⁻16(+)NK subset, while a statistically significant expansion of CD56(bright) and reduction of CD56(dim)16(+) subsets were observed after interferon therapy. Further studies are required to delineate the molecular basis of interferon-induced shift of natural killer subsets among patients with HCV.