Education Ambassadors Program of the International Society of Nephrology in Africa Onsite Vs Hybrid: 7 Years of Experience

Introduction: The Education Ambassadors program was established in 2008 by the International Society of Nephrology (ISN). To push new projects, skills, or services, community-based research, or screening programs, the Renal centers throughout the world can submit an application to the Educational Ambassadors (EA) Program to receive professional assistance and hands-on training. ISN ambassadors provide guidance on clinical cases and studies pertaining to peritoneal dialysis, transplantation, nephrology, interventional nephrology, and hemodialysis for up to four weeks in an effort to enhance patient care, professional confidence, and the quality of life for all involved, including nurses and technicians. Here, we provide our ISN Educational Ambassadors program experience over the last seven years in the Africa region, focusing on the educational outcomes of onsite versus hybrid approaches. Method(s): In Africa, many locations in Egypt and Sudan hosted an annual ISN Education Ambassadors program. (1) Wadmadani in Sudan, (2) Mineyat Elnasr in Egypt, Port said, Atmedah, Belkas, Talkha, and Dikirnis. The COVID-19 pandemic's emergence caused ISN education to transition from an onsite to a hybrid style. In terms of attendance and surveys to gauge knowledge retention (% of questions with the correct answers/number of questions) following the training, onsite and hybrid education were compared. Result(s): First: In Egypt: Mineyat Elnasr, Instructors [Doctors n=30, Nurses n=3], Attendance [Nephrologist n=11, Nurses n=19], Evaluation [70%]), Port said, Instructors [Doctors n=9, Nurses n=2], Attendance [Nephrologist n=24 (Males 43.5%, Females 56.5%), Nurses n=25], Evaluation [63.05%]), Atmedah, Instructors [Doctors n=12, Nurses n=2], Attendance [Nephrologist n=20 (males 78.8%, females 22.2%), Nurses n=27], Evaluation [77.8% ]), Belkas, Instructors [Doctors n=14, Nurses n=3], Attendance [Nephrologist n=12 (males 62.5%, females 37.5%), Nurses n=54], Evaluation [62.5%]), Talkha, Instructors [Doctors n=15, Nurses n=2], Attendance [Nephrologist n=32 (males 42.5%, females 57.5%), Nurses n=82], Evaluation [75%]), Dikirnis, Instructors [Doctors n=33], Attendance [Nephrologist n=104 (males 31.8%, females 68.2%, Nurses n=51, medical students n=3], Evaluation [Pre-course 70.1%, post course 92.4%]). Second: In Sudan, Wadmadani (Instructors [Doctors n=10, Nurses n=2], Attendance [Nephrologist n=70, Nurses n=57], Evaluation [70%]). Onsite education acquisition (68.3+7%) versus hybrid education acquisition (83.7+12%) (p=0.001). Conclusion(s): By imparting nephrology information to trainees at their place of employment, the ISN Education Ambassadors program aims to expand knowledge and nephrology service in rural areas. While Hybrid training does not take the place of hands-on training, it helps enhance skill development and has the added advantage of bringing in experts from around the world to share their knowledge. No conflict of interestCopyright © 2023

Identifying the Anti-MERS-CoV and Anti-HcoV-229E Potential Drugs from the Ginkgo biloba Leaves Extract and Its Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles.

The present study aimed to estimate the antiviral activities of Ginkgo biloba (GB) leaves extract and eco-friendly free silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) against the MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome-coronavirus) and HCoV-229E (human coronavirus 229E), as well as isolation and identification of phytochemicals from GB. Different solvents and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used to extract and identify flavonoids and phenolic compounds from GB leaves. The green, silver nanoparticle synthesis was synthesized from GB leaves aqueous extract and investigated for their possible effects as anti-coronaviruses MERS-CoV and HCoV-229E using MTT assay protocol. To verify the synthesis of Ag NPs, several techniques were employed, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scan, transmission electron microscopy, FT-IR, and UV-visible spectroscopy. The highest contents of flavonoids and phenolic compounds were recorded for acetone, methanol, and ethanol as mixtures with water, in addition to pure water. HPLC flavonoids were detected as apegenin, luteolin, myricetin, and catechin, while HPLC phenolic compounds were pyrogallol, caffeic acid, gallic acid, and ellagic acid. In addition, our results revealed that Ag NPs were produced through the shift from yellow to dark brown. TEM examination of Ag NPs revealed spherical nanoparticles with mean sizes ranging from 5.46 to 19.40 nm and an average particle diameter of 11.81 nm. A UV-visible spectrophotometric investigation revealed an absorption peak at λ max of 441.56 nm. MTT protocol signified the use of GB leaves extract as an anti-coronavirus to be best from Ag NPs because GB extract had moderate anti-MERS-CoV with SI = 8.94, while had promising anti-HCov-229E, with an SI of 21.71. On the other hand, Ag NPs had a mild anti-MERS-CoV with SI = 4.23, and a moderate anti-HCoV-229E, with an SI of 7.51.

Prevalence and epidemiological trends in mortality due to COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: This article describes the prevalence and epidemiological trends of COVID-19 mortality in the largest registry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). STUDY DESIGN: A prospective epidemiological cohort study using data from all healthcare facilities in KSA collected between March 23, 2020, and April 30, 2022. Data on the number of daily deaths directly related to COVID-19 were gathered, analyzed, and reported. METHOD: Data analysis was carried out using national and regional crude case fatality rate and death per 100,000 population. Descriptive statistics using numbers and proportions were used to describe age, gender, nationality, and comorbidities. The mortality trend was plotted and compared with international figures. In addition, the most common comorbidities associated with mortality and the proportion of patients who received COVID-19 vaccine were reported. RESULTS: The total reported number of deaths between March 23, 2020, and April 30, 2022, was 9085. Crude case fatality rate was 1.21%, and death per 100,000 population was 25.38, which compared favorably to figures reported by several developed countries. The highest percentages of deaths were among individuals aged between 60 and 69 years, males (71%), and individuals with diabetes (60%). Only 2.8% of mortalities occur in patients who received COVID-19 vaccine. Diabetes, hypertension, and heart failure had the highest attributable risk of mortality among patients who died due to COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Case fatality rate and death per 100,000 population in KSA are among the lowest in the world due to multiple factors. Several comorbidities have been identified, namely, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and cardiac arrhythmias.