Abstract: Nearly 60 major medical organizations have advocated for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination among healthcare. COVID-19 vaccination efforts have faced obstacles due to hesitancy and mistrust. Similar challenges are anticipated for COVID-19 booster shot initiatives, raising concerns regarding the acceptance of additional doses.Aim: To identify the determinants of acceptability of Egyptian physicians for SARS-Co-V2 booster vaccine.Methods: A cross-sectional online-based study that targeted a sample of Egyptian physicians living and working in Egypt since January 2020.Several psychometrically valid and reliable tools were used to measure: general attitude towards vaccines , confidence in SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccine, demographic questions. And questions targeting the attitudes and prospective acceptance of a booster vaccineResults: Half of the participants (51.6 %) were willing to receive the COVID-19 booster dose. Several factors were identified as significant predictors for booster vaccine acceptance, including being male, having chronic medical conditions, no previous COVID infection, and receiving multiple types of COVID-19 vaccines (P value 0.015, 0.025, 0.048, <0.001 respectively). Conversely, the main reason for unwillingness to receive the booster dose was the fear of multiple boosters and its consequences.Conclusion: Of particular concern is the spread of vaccine hesitancy among health care workers. This group is generally regarded as the most trusted source of information, awareness, and encouragement for vaccine uptake within the community.
Abstract: Background and Purpose: Blended learning, which combines traditional face-to-face classrooms with online learning, has gained increasing attention in higher education. This study aimed to investigate nursing students' perspectives on blended learning, in addition to the potential benefits and challenges of implementing blended learning in nursing education.Methods: A cross-sectional study was used to target nursing students enrolled at the final year at the Technical Institute of Nursing affiliated to Cairo University during the first semester of the academic year 2023/2024. An online questionnaire was completed by 221 students.Results: The majority of the students (81%) expressed a positive attitude towards blended learning after the COVID-19 pandemic. The top three aspects of blended learning that students found most beneficial were opportunities for collaboration with peers (52.1%), flexibility in learning (50.4%), and improved interaction with instructors (49.6%). However, technical difficulties (50.4%) were reported as the primary challenge. There were statistically significant associations between the students' attitudes towards blended learning and the frequency of attending face-to-face classes in a typical week (p=0.011), their comfort level with using technology for learning (p<0.001), and their satisfaction with previous blended learning experience (p=0.007).Conclusion Despite the predominantly positive attitudes towards blended learning among nursing students, it is crucial to address the challenges of technical difficulties and effective time management. Educators and administrators should provide additional training and support for students in the use of blended learning technologies to ensure a smooth learning experience.
Abstract: Polyvinylchloride PVC is a common source of microplastics found in everyday objects. It is the most dangerous type of plastic because of its persistence in marine organisms, accumulation in food chains, and exposure to humans. Microplastics can cause health issues, including reduced liver function. Pumpkin fruit has been traditionally used in diets, especially in rural areas. The present study aimed to investigate the potential therapeutic effects of pumpkin extract on PVC hepatotoxicity in albino rats.Male albino rats were assigned randomly into four groups, each with six rats. Group I, negative control rats were gavaged only corn oil. Group II (PVC ), rats were gavaged 1000 mg/kg b.w. PVC was dissolved in corn oil. Group III, rats, were gavaged 200 mg/kg b.w. of pumpkin extract +PVC. Group IV, rats were gavaged 400 mg/kg b.w. ofpumpkin extract + PVC. The doses were given via gastric tube daily for 6 (six) consecutive weeks.The study investigated the chemical composition and phenolic compounds of pumpkin extract. At the end of the experiment, biological data were analyzed, and liver and blood samples were taken for histopathological and biochemical analysis. The most abundant components of pumpkinwere Protocatechuic acid, Cinnamic acid, Rutin, and Catachin, respectively, followed by Rosmarinic acid, Chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and Caffeic acid.The study's results showed that the group who were given PVC had an increase in FI and BWG%, but a decrease in liver weight. In comparison, the group who received pumpkin extract had significantly higher activity of SOD, CAT, GPXs, and TNF-α in their liver tissues, as well as lower levels of MDA and NO. The group that was given a higher dose of pumpkin extract (400mg) showed significant improvement in liver function, with reduced levels of serum AST, ALT, ALP, and bilirubin, with an increase in total protein, albumin &globulin. Furthermore, pumpkin extract improved renal function by decreasing urea, uric acid, and creatinine. All the groups that received pumpkin extract showed improvement in the aforementioned parameters when compared to the PVC group. The study showed that PVC caused liver damage, which was reversed by treatment. Liver pathology was regressed, and ultrastructure morphology was restored.In conclusion, the consumption of pumpkin extract can reduce the side effects of PVC microplastic toxicants due to the presence of antioxidants and hepato-protective effects.
Abstract: Gastrointestinal infections caused by food or drink contaminated with harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites are known as foodborne illnesses. Raising awareness can be accomplished most effectively through health education. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of health education program on the level of food safety knowledge and practice.From September 2022 to the end of August 2023, an interventional study was conducted at Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt. Sixty two medical studentsof both sexwere included in the study and divided into two equal groups (intervention and control). The researcher applied two interviewing questionnaires for all participants; the first one focused on socio demographic characteristics, while the second one (pre/post intervention) assessed the food safety knowledge and food-handling practices. The result showed no statistically significant difference between the intervention and control groups pre-intervention regarding total knowledge and practice scores where only (6.5%, 9.7%) and (16.1%, 9.7%) of them had satisfactory knowledge and competent practice respectively. Post-intervention, a highly statistically significant difference was found between the two groups where (80.6%, 16.1%) and (90.3%, 12.9%) of them had satisfactory and competent practices respectively with the percent of improvement among intervention group was (91.27%) for knowledge and (90.95%) for practice. The study concluded that a major state of insufficient levels of food safety knowledge and practice among the Zagazig medical students and the application of an interventional program leads to highly statistical significant improvement among them.
Abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dried green and yellow Banana as well as dried onion and ready-made onion powder at 5 and 10% on liver functions and oxidative stress of diabetic rats. Sixty adult male rats were classified into 10 groups, Group (1) was kept as control negative group (six rats). Other rats (n=54) were injected by single intraperitoneal streptozotocin to induce diabetes then divided into 9 groups: Group (2) six diabetic rats were fed on basal diet (control positive group). Groups (3 to 6), diabetic rats were fed on basal diet supplemented with dried green banana with peels at 5% and 10% and yellow banana fruit with peels at 5% and 10%. Groups (7 to10), diabetic rats were fed on basal diet supplemented with dried onion without the peels at 5% and 10% and ready-made onion powder at 5% and 10%. The study continued for eight weeks. The results revealed that supplementation with either dried green, yellow banana fruit or onion, ready-made onion powder at 5% and 10 % caused a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the raised level of serum glucose andliver functions as well as improving the body weight status compared to the positive control group.In addition, dried green or yellow banana was more effective in decreasing the glucose levels and increasing the insulin concentrations than that of onion (dried or ready-made powder).It could be concluded that, green or yellow banana fruit with their peels, dried onion and ready-made onion powder improve the abnormal glucose level,alleviate liver functions and oxidative stress associated with diabetes. So,green or yellow banana fruit with their peels, dried onion and ready-made onion powder might be suitable for trail on diabetic patients.
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