The Equal Neutralizing Effectiveness of BNT162b2, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, and Sputnik V Vaccines in the Palestinian Population.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, different viral vector-based and mRNA vaccines directed against the SARS-CoV-2 "S" spike glycoprotein have been developed and have shown a good profile in terms of safety and efficacy. Nevertheless, an unbiased comparison of vaccination efficiency, including post-vaccination neutralizing activity, between the different vaccines remains largely unavailable. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of one mRNA (BNT162b2) and two non-replicating adenoviral vector vaccines (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and Sputnik V) in a cohort of 1120 vaccinated Palestinian individuals who received vaccines on an availability basis and which displayed a unique diversity of genetic characteristics. We assessed the level of anti-S antibodies and further determined the antibody neutralizing activity in 261 of those individuals vaccinated with BNT162b2a (121), ChAdOx1 (72) or Sputnik V (68). Our results showed no significant difference in the distribution of serum-neutralizing activity or S-antibody serum levels for the three groups of vaccines, proving equivalence in efficacy for the three vaccines under real-life conditions. In addition, none of the eight demographic parameters tested had an influence on vaccination efficacy. Regardless of the vaccine type, the vaccination campaign ultimately played a pivotal role in significantly reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19 in Palestine.

Human Urinary Myiasis Caused by Eristalis tenax in Palestine: A Case Report.

In humans and other mammals, urinary myiasis can be rarely caused by Eristalis tenax, which belongs to the order Diptera. In this case, we report a 21-year-old woman with this myiasis. She was complaining of dysuria and bilateral Costolumbar pain. The larva in her urine sample was identified as E. tenax associated with its typical morphology.

Early perception, behavior, knowledge, and preventive practices related to COVID-19 among Palestinians.

It is necessary to understand early perception, behavior, and knowledge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and preventive practices in relation to suggested policies and information accessible to the Palestinian population during the early stages of the pandemic. The aim of this research is to contribute to this understanding for the purpose of affecting future practical preventive policies that can be implemented and adapted in Palestine in order to shape a new reflective practices model to face any future epidemic crisis of any type. A cross-sectional design was used to conduct the study over 3 weeks in April 2020 and an online survey was disseminated in all areas of Palestine. A total of 1040 responses were collected from persons who were over 18 years of age. A high level of knowledge related to COVID-19 was found, including symptoms and characteristics of the virus, prevention practices, and at-risk groups. Respondents believe that they are more susceptible to influenza than COVID-19 and more likely to be infected by the influenza virus than the COVID-19 virus but expect that infection of influenza would be less severe than infection of COVID-19. Respondents were more inclined to find COVID-19 worrying and stressful than they were to find it fear-inducing. Around two-thirds of respondents believe that different types of COVID-19-related conspiracy theories are true to some degree. Going forward, it is crucial and essential to provide basic awareness among large populations around diseases, which can contribute to positively influencing people's knowledge and attitudes and their perception toward such diseases and combat conspiracy theories.

Prevalence of and risk factors for Enterobius vermicularis infestation in preschool children, West Bank, Palestine, 2015.

BACKGROUND: Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm) infestation is a common condition that primarily affects children. AIMS: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of and the risk factors for E. vermicularis infestation in preschool children in north West Bank. METHODS: A cross-sectional study that included the six main governorates in north West Bank was carried out on a sample of 384 preschool children from 86 day-care centres. The perianal cellophane tape method was used to detect E. vermicularis infestation. Parents/guardians of participating children completed a questionnaire to collect information about: demographic characteristics; hygiene behaviour; socioeconomic status; history of previous infestation; and presence of symptoms. Risk factors for infestation were assessed using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 384 children, 85 (22.1%) had E. vermicularis infestation. Age (P = 0.04), governorate (P = 0.01), residency (P = 0.03), number of household members (P < 0.001) and washing hands after toilet use (P = 0.01) were significantly associated with E. vermicularis infestation. In the logistic regression analysis, factors that increased the probability of infection were: living in villages (odds ratio (OR) 2.25; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-5.00), living in a household with ≥ nine family members (OR 3.63; 95% CI: 1.42-9.26) and not washing hands after using the toilet (OR 2.4; 95% CI: 1.30-4.40). CONCLUSIONS: E. vermicularis is an important helminthic infestation among preschool children in Palestine. Efforts are needed to ensure the availability of treatment for infected children at primary care centres and to reinforce hygiene behaviour.

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the Palestinian population: A primary health center-based cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) total antibodies in the north, middle, and south regions of West Bank and the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies (IgA, IgM, and IgG) in the Palestinian population. This was a cross-sectional study. The serological and epidemiological data of 1269 persons were assessed. Participants were selected randomly among primary health care center attendees in Palestine between November 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020. All serum samples were tested for total antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. IgM, IgG, and IgA-specific antibody titers were measured using ELISA. The overall prevalence (with 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) of SARS-CoV-2 total antibodies and specific antibodies were estimated. A multivariate regression model was used to assess the predictive factors for SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies. The overall seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 24·0% (95% CI, 21·7%-26·5%). Seroprevalence was significantly higher among people living in south West Bank (adjusted Odds ratio [aOR], 2·22; 95% CI: 1·58-3·11), people who had COVID-19 symptoms (aOR, 3·92; 95% CI, 2·83-5·43), people with a COVID-19 contact history (aOR, 1·44; 95% CI, 1·03-2·03), patients with hypertension (aOR, 1·57; 95% CI, 1·06-2·33), and non-smokers (aOR, 0·47; 95% CI, 0·31-0·72). A total of 171 blood samples from SARS-CoV-2-positive patients were chosen at random for additional serological testing. Specific IgM, IgG, and IgA antibodies were positive in 14·0% (95% CI, 9·2%-20·2%), 88·3% (82·5%-92·7%), and 42·1% (34·6%-59·9%) of the samples, respectively. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were common among PHC center attendees and were significantly associated to sex, smoking, and COVID-19 contact history. However, considering that almost three-quarters of this population remains susceptible, maintaining public health measures and encouraging access to immunization is critical in protecting this population.

Knowledge, Perceptions, and Prevention Practices among Palestinian University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Questionnaire-Based Survey.

The purpose of this study is to offer a timely understanding of university students' knowledge, perception, and preventative practices related to COVID-19 in Palestine and to determine affecting factors (gender, region, and type of locality). A cross-sectional design was used and data was collected over 2 weeks in April 2020 through an online survey. A total of 484 surveys were collected from students from different Palestinian universities. Participants showed high levels of knowledge across multiple topics (symptoms and characteristics of COVID-19, prevention practices, and at-risk groups), although respondents were less likely to indicate mask wearing as an effective prevention practice compared to other practices, and almost one-third reported incorrectly that taking antibiotics is effective in preventing COVID-19 infection. Respondents reported the most trust in the Ministry of Health as a source of information, and the least trust in social media. A generally high level of acceptance of government regulations related to the COVID-19 pandemic was found. Given the current global situation and the second wave of infections in Palestine, plans should be in place to disseminate correct information and combat newly-emerging rumors and misinformation through channels that are trusted by the university student population.

The Epidemiology of Anti-Sperm Antibodies Among Couples with Unexplained Infertility in North West Bank, Palestine.

INTRODUCTION: Anti sperm antibodies (ASA) can present in serum and semen and they may lead to impair the sperms function leading to infertility. The precise mechanism of generation of these antibodies is yet to be discovered. AIM: This study was performed to determine the prevalence of anti-sperm antibodies (ASA) in patients with unexplained infertility. The study was initiated also to explore the possible factors that may associate with ASA formation and how ASA status is associated with pregnancy rates after going with in vitro fertilization - intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF-ICSI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 42 normal infertile couples consulting Razan Medical Center for Infertility & I.V.F. in Nablus, Palestine, from December 2012 - March 2013. Serum levels of immunoglobulins G (IgG) ASA were measured in participants (males and females) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, participants also filled a questionnaire about the presence of previous varicocele repair, inguinal hernia repair, orchitis, testicular trauma and vasectomy reversal among males and severe coitus bleeding and coitus during menses or puerperium among females. Couples were also asked about previous IVF-ICSI procedures and the outcome of the procedure in terms of either they got pregnant or not. Data was analysed using SPSS software. RESULTS: The prevalence of ASA was 14.3% (6/42) among all couples, 9.5% (4/42) among males and 4.8% (2/42) among females. There was no significant relationship between previous varicocele repair, previous inguinal hernia repair, or orchitis and formation of ASA (p value =0.64, 0.56, and 0.26 respectively). Previous trauma, vasovasostomy, severe coitus bleeding and coitus during menses or puerperium were not observed in any of the study sample. ASA did not seem to affect the outcome of IVF-ICSI (p-value =0.54). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of ASA in infertile couples in the north part of Palestine is similar to that obtained worldwide. ASA formation does not relate to any of the studied risk factors and does not seem to associate with pregnancy rate after IVF-ICSI. We recommend further studies using a larger sample size and including all parts of Palestine in order to generalize the obtained results.

Hypericum triquetrifolium-Derived Factors Downregulate the Production Levels of LPS-Induced Nitric Oxide and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in THP-1 Cells.

Based on knowledge from traditional Arab herbal medicine, this in vitro study aims to examine the anti-inflammatory mechanism of Hypericum triquetrifolium by measuring the expression and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukine-6 (IL-6), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in human monocytic cells, THP-1. The effects were assessed by measuring the levels of secretory proteins and mRNA of TNF-α and IL-6, the levels of nitric oxide (NO) secretion and the expression of iNOS in THP-1 cells. Cells were treated with 5 µg lipopolysaccharide/ml (LPS) in the presence and absence of increasing concentrations of extracts from the aerial parts of H. triquetrifolium. During the entire experimental period, we used extract concentrations (up to 250 µg mL(-1)) that had no cytotoxic effects, as measured with MTT and LDH assays. Hypericum triquetrifolium extracts remarkably suppressed the LPS-induced NO release, significantly attenuated the LPS-induced transcription of iNOS and inhibited in a dose-dependent manner the expression and release of TNF-α. No significant effects were observed on the release of IL-6. Taken together, these results suggest that H. triquetrifolium probably exerts anti-inflammatory effects through the suppression of TNF-α and iNOS expressions.

Geldanamycin, a potent and specific inhibitor of Hsp90, inhibits gene expression and replication of human cytomegalovirus.

The effect of geldanamycin (GA), a specific inhibitor of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), on gene expression and replication of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) was studied in human embryonic lung (HEL) fibroblasts. Kinetic analysis indicated that GA delayed synthesis of major immediate early (MIE), early and late viral proteins, and blocked a second tier of the synthesis of these proteins that occurred in untreated cells after 48 h post-infection (pi). Moreover, when HCMV-infected HEL cells were maintained with medium containing 40 nM GA for 6 days, with medium changes at 2-day intervals, the virus yield was reduced to an undetectable level. On a molecular level, the cellular kinase Akt and the transcription factor NFkappaB were activated in HCMV-infected cells within 30 min pi. NFkappaB was shown to be essential for MIE gene expression. However, in GA-treated cells, activation of both Akt and NFkappaB was greatly inhibited. Because LY294002, an inhibitor of cellular phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K), also prohibited HCMV-mediated activation of Akt and NFkappaB and synthesis of the MIE proteins, PI3-K signalling was necessary for expressing the MIE genes. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of GA on HCMV replication is primarily caused by the disruption of the PI3-K signalling pathway, leading to the activation of NFkappaB, which plays a crucial role in expression of the critical MIE genes.

A human papillomavirus type 16 vaccine by oral delivery of L1 protein.

To establish an edible HPV16 vaccine, we constructed a recombinant HPV16 L1-expressing Schizosaccharomyces pombe yeast strain (HPV16L1 yeast). A preliminary study revealed that freeze-dried yeast cells could be delivered safely, and were digested in the mouse intestine. The freeze-dried HPV16 L1 yeast was administered orally as an edible vaccine, with or without the mucosal adjuvant heat-labile toxin LT (R192G), to 18 female BALB/c mice. After the third immunization, none of the mice that received the edible HPV16 vaccine showed specific antibody responses, whereas all of the positive controls that were administered intranasally with 5 microg of HPV16-virus-like particles (VLP) had serum IgG, and genital IgA and IgG that reacted with HPV16-VLP in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). When a suboptimal dose (1 microg) of HPV16-VLP was administered to all the mice, including the negative control mice, 50% of the mice that were pre-immunized with the edible HPV16 vaccine showed positive serum IgG responses, while none of the negative controls showed any response. Vaginal IgG and IgA antibodies were also elicited in 33 and 39%, respectively, of the mice that were given with the edible HPV16 vaccine and the intranasal boost. All of the antibodies reacted more strongly to intact HPV16-VLP than to denatured HPV16-L1 protein suggesting that the edible vaccine primes for antibody responses against conformation-dependent epitopes. The inclusion of adjuvant in the vaccine formulation marginally increased the genital IgA response (P=0.06). HPV16-L1 protein in the yeast might induce tolerance in the vaccinated animals that could be recovered by intranasal boosting with a suboptimal dose of HPV-VLP. This freeze-dried yeast system may be useful as an oral delivery of HPV 16 L1 protein.