Synthesis of Some Mono- and Disaccharide-Grafting Phthalazine Derivatives and Some New Se-Nucleoside Analogues: Antibacterial Properties, Quantum Chemical Calculations, and Cytotoxicity.

A highly efficient and versatile synthetic approach for the synthesis of 4-(pyren-1-ylmethyl)-1-(d-glycosyloxy) phthalazine nucleosides 11a,b, 13, ß-S-nucleosides 16, 18, 20, and acyclo C-nucleosides 23a,b, 24, 25 and 27a-f was described and fully characterized. Furthermore, a series of desired new nucleoside analogues containing Se of 4-(pyren-1-ylmethyl) phthalazine-1(2H)-selenone 28-33 were synthesized. The structures of all reported compounds were confirmed by IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, MS and elemental analysis. All compounds have been screened for their antibacterial and antifungal activities. Maximum activity was shown by 20 and 33a comparable to the standard drugs with lower toxicity. The cytotoxicity of the selected compound was measured and evaluated. The energy gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital was calculated using theoretical computations to reflect the chemical reactivity and kinetic stability of the synthesized compounds. Using density functional theory (DFT), electronic parameters such as the highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (HOMO and LUMO) and the molecular electrostatic potential (MEPS) were calculated. On the basis of different studied structures, these properties were computed in order to elucidate the chemical reactivity and the kinetic stability. Obviously, the band gap energy (Eg) of structures studied reveals that the lowest band gap obtained for the structure 16-a indicates that it has the highest chemical reactivity and lowest kinetic stability.

THE USE OF NESTED-PCR TO DETECT THE PRESENCE OF PLASMODIUM IN ANOPHELES ARABIENSIS IN JAZAN REGION, SAUDI ARABIA.

The present study was carried out in 26 viJlages at two Governates (Al-Khobah, and Haroob) in Jazan Region in Southwest Saudi Arabia to identify and detect the presence of Plasmodium in Anopheles arabiensis using nested-PCR technique. An. Arabiensis was identified by PCR and it was the predominant Anopheles mosquito in all the collection sites. A total of 257 An. Arabiensis females were collected and two samples from two villages (Almuatan and Alsabkha) out of 107 (1.87%) female mosquitoes from Haroob Governorate were found positive for the sporozoites of Plasmodium falciparum. Similarly, 3 out of 150 (2%) female mosquito samples from Um-alkhameir, AL-Khobah Governorate, were also found positive. Around fourfold increase of the sporozoite rate (from 0.61 to 2.0%) in An. arabiensis in Al-Khobah Governorate has been observed compared to the previous study of 2007-2008. The wide spread of An. arabiensis in Jazan region with >90% of the malaria cases caused by P. falciparum, along with infectivity rate ranges between 1.87 to 2.0% for P. falciparum in Al-Khobah and Haroob Governorates, suggests that P. falciparumn is the most predominant malaria parasite and An. Arabiensis is a very efficient malaria vector in the region. It also suggests more in-depth researches on the ecology, behavior, and control of An. Arabiensis to promote area-specific control programs.

ZIKA VIRUS STRATEGIC RESPONSE FRAMEWORK FOR THE GULF STATES-2016: AN URGENT NEED FOR COLLABORATION.

The Zika virus (ZIKV) became the latest threat to global health security when WHO declared on 1t February 2016, that recently reported clusters of microcephaly and other neurological disorders in Brazil constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). These clusters were reported concurrently with an outbreak of ZIKV, which has been ongoing in Brazil and other countries in the America region since 2015. A growing body of clinical and epidemiological data possibly leans towards a causal role for ZIKV as the occurrence of the clusters of microcephaly and other neurological disorders principally the Guillain-Barre' syndrome are associated in time and place with the ongoing ZIKV transmission in the America region. So far, Zika viral transmission has been documented in a total of 69 countries and territories with autochthonous transmission from 20I7 to 10 August 2016. The geographical range of ZIKV has been increasing steadily. Consid'ring the presence of competent vectors that transmit ZIKV in, some parts of the Gulf countries, and the close relationship with Brazil, a local transmission of the virus is plausible once the virus is introduced through travel. This review suggests the integration of epidemiologicalind entomological surveillance for monitoring and control of the vectors of ZIKV. The risks associated with ZIKV infection and the possible threat to the Gulf States was described. A strategic Zika response framework (SRF) for the Gulf States has been developed to meet'their,urgent need for a collaborative and coordinated response for prevention and spread of ZIKV infection. A coordinated response of all partners in the Gulf States across sectors and services at national, as well as, regional levels is required.

A TRAINING PROGRAM ON DENGUE FEVER AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, JAZAN, SAUDI ARABIA.

Dengue fever (DE) is commonest rapidly spreading Aedes-bome viral fever worldwide. In the last decade several confirmed dengue cases were reported in Jazan Province. The study assessed the knowledge, attitudes and preventive practices of dengue fever among the secondary schools students in Ja.zan. A cross-sectional study was conducted among students of six secondary schools in Jazan. Multistage stratified random sample method was used and seven hundred forty two (742) were taken as respondents in study. The data on the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents about their knowledge, attitude and practice towards DF were collected by using a pre-structured and self-administered questionnaire. The results showed a poor DF knowledge arpong the students, regarding attitudes towards DF, prevention and control, the majority of the participants' had good attitudes and believed that DF could be controlled and prevented (93.2%), DF control was the responsibility of government and community (83.1%) and they themselves have an important role to play in DF prevention (78.5%).The most common practice to prevent mosquito breeding were found to be the disposing of water from breeding containers (85.5%) and covering of water containers (68.6%). A significant association between the practice of DE preventive and control measures and sex of the participants' was (P