Background and aims: Tuberculosis (TB) is a critical problem of public health. Diagnosis and screening of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections (LTBI) are essential to control their spread. The goal of the study was to clarify the prevalence and risk factors for LTBI using IGRA among healthcare works (HCWs) in Sana’a city, Yemen. Methods: The cross-sectional study was performed in three chosen tertiary hospitals in Sana'a city. Healthcare workers who participated in this survey were asked to complete a questionnaire and donate 5 ml of blood to perform the IGRA. A total of 180 healthcare workers were involved in this study; aged 20-60 years, 45.6% males and 54.4% females. Blood samples were collected and then tested by Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) release assays that measure the presence of specific M. tuberculosis reactive T-cells sensitized by a previous infection with M. tuberculosis using the Quanti FERON-TB Gold In Tube assay (QFT-GIT). The data were evaluated for the positive association of interferon-gamma. Results: The overall positivity rate IFN-γ of our healthcare workers was 20%, and for females it was 28.6%, with an associated odds ratio equal to 3.7, CI=1.5-8.7, P=0.001, while for males it was only 9.7%. Positive rates IFN-γ increased with increasing age, as a high IFN-γ positive rate occurred in the 50-60-year age group was 50%, with OR=5.5, CI=2.2-13.6, P < 0.001. There was a significant association between IFN-γ positive latent tuberculosis and unimmunized childhood BCG (OR=2.2, CI=1.03-4.7, P=0.03), diabetics (OR=4.2, CI=1.5-12, P=0.003), smoking (OR=2.7, CI=1.2-6.1, P=0.009) and contacting cases with active TB (OR=4.1, CI=1.4-12.2, P=0.007). Conclusion: It was found that the rate of LTBI among HCWs is high in Sana'a, central Yemen. Factors at both the institutional and individual level can influence the prevalence of LTBI among HCWs. Since contact with active TB patients has been identified as a risk factor for LTBI, more effective TB infection control measures are necessary in health care facilities and congregate settings and to create awareness about TB risk factors in hospitals and as an occupational hazard.                       Peer Review History: Received: 5 September 2022; Revised: 17 October; Accepted: 6 November, Available online: 15 November 2022 Academic Editor:  Dr. A.A. Mgbahurike, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, amaka_mgbahurike@yahoo.com Received file:                             Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.5/10 Reviewers: Dr. Bilge Ahsen KARA, Ankara Gazi Mustafa Kemal Hospital, Turkey, ahsndkyc@gmail.com Dr. Wadhah Hassan Ali Edrees, Hajja University, Yemen, edress2020@gmail.com Similar Articles:   DETERMINATION OF RIFAMPICIN MONO-RESISTANCE MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS IN THE NATIONAL TUBERCULOSIS CONTROL PROGRAMME IN SANA'A CITY-YEMEN: A SIGNIFICANT PHENOMENON IN WAR REGION WITH HIGH PREVALENCE TUBERCLOISIS

Back ground and objectives: Liver disease causes major public health problems international, especially in poor countries, and it is associated with poor long-term clinical outcomes and results in the deaths of millions worldwide annually. The aim of this study is to ascertain the virtual frequencies of liver disease and to assess etiological factors among patients admitted to Al-Thawra tertiary Hospital in Sana'a City, Yemen. Methods: This was a descriptive retrospective analysis study of gastrointestinal patients admitted from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 to the medical wards of Al-Thawra Hospital. This is a tertiary hospital located in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a City. Data were extracted from patient case folders for the period of under review. Data validated with Microsoft Excel version 13 and exported to SPSS version 23.0 for windows; for statistical analysis. Data were evaluated for demographic and other clinical characteristics as definite variables. Results: Of the 516 gastroenterology patients admitted to the gastroenterology service in medical wards during a one-year period, liver disease accounted for 30% of all gastroenterology in the same period. There were 155 patients diagnosed with liver disease. There were 86 (55.5%) males and 69 (44.5%) females, with a male to female ratio of 1.2:1. The mean overall age of patients and the age range were 46.14±16.5 and 8-85 years, respectively. The peak incidence of age occurred during the fifth and sixth decades of life at 38.1%. The most common liver disease was; autoimmune hepatitis 43 (27.7%), followed by nonalcoholic fatty liver disease 35 (22.6%), viral hepatitis 32 (20.6%) and schistosomiasis 10 (6.5%). Conclusion: Current findings show that autoimmune hepatitis was the most common cause among gastrointestinal diseases in Sana'a city, Yemen; the male to female ratio was roughly the same. In light of this, health education and public awareness about hepatitis virus screening tests and schistosomiasis screening and treatment is the primary preventive strategy to be considered.

Background and aims: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune chronic inflammatory disease with damage to many organs due to the production of auto-antibodies, including auto-antibodies to renal antigen, vascular tissue antigens, brain antigens, ribosomes, nuclear antigens, and phospholipids. This study was conducted to determine patient characteristics and clinical manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus and to find out the association of positive IgG with high titer of EBV-VCA with clinical features of SLE patients. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 142 patients with SLE diagnosed based on American College of Rheumatology criteria were selected. All were included in the study after obtaining informed consent for participation. Whole blood samples were taken and serum was separated to determine anti-EBV IgG antibodies using the ELISA method and assessment with the SLE. Results: Female represent 81% of the total patients, while male represent only 19%, with ratio male: female equal to 1: 4.3, most of the patients were adults over 20 years old, with mean age ± SD was 35.8 ± 13.7 years. The most common signs were joint pain (95.1%), fever (92.3%), persistent fatigue (83.8%), followed by joint swelling (69.7%), photosensitivity (54.4%),  renal involvement (52.8%),  weigh loss (49.3%) and alopecia (49.3%), while other SLE signs were less frequent.  Conclusion: EBV may have an important role in SLE pathogenesis and activity, SLE male: female ratio equals 1:4.3, most patients were adults over 20 years of age, and the most common signs of SLE were joint pain, fever and persistent fatigue.                           Peer Review History: Received: 2 September 2022; Revised: 11 October; Accepted: 15 November, Available online: 15 November 2022 Academic Editor: Dr. Iman Muhammad Higazy, National Research Center, Egypt, imane.higazy@hotmail.com Received file:                             Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewers: Dr. Rima Benatoui,Laboratory of Applied Neuroendocrinology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Badji Mokhtar University Annaba, Algeria.  benattouiryma@gmail.com Similar Articles:   THE ASSOCIATION OF EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS ANTIBODIES WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AMONG YEMENI PATIENTS IN SANA’A CITY

Background and objectives:  Cutaneous wounds are a common symptom in human medical practice. Understanding the physiology of the wound healing process and using the right therapeutic intervention are necessary for managing the existing healing in wound patients. Infection can cause wounds to take longer to heal, cosmetic surgery outcomes to be less satisfactory, and medical expenses to rise. Due to the dearth of studies in Yemen and other Arabic-nations that describe the different forms, locations, and current understanding of the bacterial causes of wound infection. So, general care hospitals in Sana'a, Yemen, undertook a study to identify the different types, locations, and prevalence of wound contamination caused by various bacteria, as well as to examine the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of wound-isolated bacteria. Subjects and methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among 699 wound patients with clinically diagnosed wound infections at NCPHL during the years 2021-2022. Pus and wound swab samples were processed using standard microbiological procedures at NCPHL. A modified Kirby Bauer disc diffusion technique was used to investigate the susceptibility of bacteria to various antibiotics. From pre-questionnaire and laboratory records of the NCPHL, clinical information about patients was gathered, including the types and locations of wounds. Results: Out of 699 samples, 580 (82.98%) were positive for bacterial cultures. The most common wound was postoperative (30.8%), followed by diabetic foot ulcer (24.5%), traumatic wound (18.7%) and bullet wound (16.9%), while it was less frequent for caesarean section (5.7%) and sharp cut (2%). The present study revealed that Gram-negative bacteria were less frequent than Gram-positive bacteria (43.3% vs. 56.7%). Also gram-positive bacteria show a very high percentage (92.1%) of multidrug resistant (MDR) in compared to gram-negative bacteria (37.8%). Conclusion: In the current study's wound bacteriological profile, Staphylococcus aureus was shown to be highly prevalent, followed by Escherichia coli, S. epidermidis (CoNS), Acinobacter spp., and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Their sensitivity to widely used antibiotics showed a pattern of decline. It is crucial to be informed of the current bacterial profile trend and to adjust the antibiotic schedule in accordance with sensitivity.                         Peer Review History: Received: 4 March 2023; Revised: 26 April; Accepted: 20 June 2023, Available online: 15 July 2023 Academic Editor: Dr. A.A. Mgbahurike, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, amaka_mgbahurike@yahoo.com Received file:                             Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewers: Dr. Sheikh Abdul Khaliq, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan, drsheikh1974@gmail.com Dr. Wadhah Hassan Ali Edrees, Hajja University, Yemen, edress2020@gmail.com Dr. Bilge Ahsen KARA, Ankara Gazi Mustafa Kemal Hospital, Turkey, ahsndkyc@gmail.com