High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria UniversityJournal of High Institute of Public Health2357-060150220200801Nutritional Assessment of Adult Acute Leukemia Patients65749644910.21608/jhiph.2020.96449ENSamar A.AliDepartment of Nutrition, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, EgyptJailan M.NabilFellow of Nutrition Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, EgyptAly K.AminDepartment of Nutrition, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, EgyptNesrin K.Abd-El-FatahDepartment of Nutrition, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, EgyptJournal Article20200618<strong>Background: </strong>Malnutrition is a challenging problem fronting acute leukemia patients. Early identification of high-risk patients is crucial for disease outcome.<br /> <strong>Objective(s): </strong>The study aimed to assess the nutritional status of acute leukemia patients and to assess patient’s length of hospital stay (LOS) and disease duration.<br /> <strong>Methods: </strong>A cross sectional study was conducted on 90 adult acute leukemia patients attending a Alexandria University Hospital, Egypt. Dietary intake assessment using 24 hour recall method, clinical assessment for subcutaneous fat loss and muscle wasting, body mass index (BMI), triceps skinfold thickness (TSF), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and body composition measurements were done according to the standard procedures. Records for laboratory tests were reviewed for each patient. Body mass index (< 18.5 kg/m<sup>2</sup>), MUAC ( <strong>Results</strong>: Nineteen patients (21.1%) according to BMI, 9 patients (10%) according to MUAC and 15 patients (16.6%) according to TSF were found to be malnourished. Based on BMI, ninety percent of the patients were taking less than their daily energy and protein needs (91.1%) with no significant difference between malnourished and well-nourished group. The percent of muscle mass was significantly lower among malnourished patients (36.22 ± 7.98 <em>vs</em>.31.53 ± 5.52%). Malnourished patients had significantly longer disease duration (16.32 ± 9.80), longer mean LOS (58.20 ± 16.44 <em>vs</em> 105.42 ± 38.36) and higher mean number of chemotherapy cycles (4.66 ± 1.62 <em>vs</em> 8.26 ± 3.12)<br /> <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Nutrition is an important aspect of patient care in acute leukemia. Attention should be paid for acute leukemia patient’s nutritional needs to achieve better disease outcome.<br /> <strong> </strong><strong><em>Keywords: </em></strong>Acute leukemia; malnutrition; adult; nutritional assessmentHigh Institute of Public Health, Alexandria UniversityJournal of High Institute of Public Health2357-060150220200801COVID–19 Cases Isolated in an Alexandria University Student Dormitory75799691910.21608/jhiph.2020.96919ENIman H.WahdanDepartment of Epidemiology, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, EgyptMarwa S.AbdouDepartment of Epidemiology, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, EgyptNessrin A.El-NimrDepartment of Epidemiology, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt0000-0003-1976-4847Journal Article20200620With the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in Egypt, the Ministry of Health and Population decided to use the university student dormitories as isolation hospitals for mild cases. The present study was conducted to describe the current situation of isolated COVID-19 cases in Smouha Alexandria Student Dormitory from the 7th till the 31st of May 2020. The cumulative number of reported COVID-19 cases was 487 by the 31st of May 2020, with 41.7% still under treatment, 24.4% isolated at home while still under treatment, 19.9% completely cured, 13.8% transferred to one of the isolation hospitals, and only 0.2% died. The death rate was very low. Moreover, the transfer to isolation hospitals decreased and the cure rate increased to one fifth by the end of the month. These rates denote good quality of care and good prognosis among the cases admitted to the dormitory. With the increase in number of cases, it is recommended to prepare more dormitories to be used with isolation hospitals in case of emergency.High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria UniversityJournal of High Institute of Public Health2357-060150220200801Knowledge and Attitude of Nursing Students about HIV/AIDS in Sohag, Egypt808610679810.21608/jhiph.2020.106798ENRasha A.AliDepartment of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, EgyptJournal Article20200809<strong>Background & Objective(s): </strong>Egypt is reported to have the fastest growing epidemic of HIV in the Middle East and North Africa Region. Nurses who play a crucial role in delivering health care to persons with HIV/AIDS should be equipped with adequate knowledge about HIV/AIDS, in order to have sense of comfort to enable positive attitude towards such patients. To assess knowledge and attitude regarding HIV/AIDS among nursing students in Sohag University.<br /> <strong>Methods:</strong> Across-sectional study was conducted among 324 randomly selected students of Faculty of Nursing, Sohag University, Egypt during the academic year 2019/2020. A self-administered questionnaire was used for collecting data about socio-demographic characteristics, HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitude of the study participants.<br /> <strong>Results: </strong>Most of the participants (78.4%)had a good overall knowledge about HIV/AIDS. However, some misconceptions were found as only 12.7% of them knew that HIV/AIDS cannot be prevented by vaccine. About 19% of the respondents mentioned that HIV cannot be transmitted by using toothbrushes. Less than one third were aware that HIV cannot be transmitted by either mosquito bites or by using swimming pools or toilets with infected persons and that persons may be symptoms free for more than 10 years. Concerning attitude, more than half of the students (52.6%) had negative attitude towards HIV/AIDS patients. On conducting logistic regression analysis, male sex and residing in urban areas were significant predictors of good knowledge and positive attitude towards HIV/AIDS, respectively. Information about HIV/AIDs was gained from TV (60.6%) followed by internet (45%), university curriculum (27%), friends (22%) and family (18%)<br /> <strong>Conclusion:</strong> The studied nursing students had moderately good general knowledge about HIV, but several misconceptions were prevalent among them. However, more than half of them exhibited negative attitude towards HIV/AIDS indicating urgent need for training programs to improve their knowledge and change their attitude towards persons with HIV/AIDS.High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria UniversityJournal of High Institute of Public Health2357-060150220200801Effect of Aspartame and Sucralose Artificial Sweeteners on Weight and Lipid Profile of Male Albino Rats8710010828110.21608/jhiph.2020.108281ENNermin A.KhamiseFaculty of Allied Medicine, Pharos University, Alexandria, EgyptDalia I.TayelDepartment of Nutrition, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt0000000168129271Maged W.HelmyDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damanhur University, EgyptSamar AborhyemFood Analysis Unit, Department of Nutrition, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, EgyptJournal Article20200817<strong>Background</strong>: Artificial sweeteners interfere with normal physiological processes.<br /> <strong>Objective:</strong> The study aims at assessing the changes associated with consuming different doses of aspartame (Sugar-Match<sup>®</sup>) and sucralose (Sweetal<sup>®</sup>).<br /> <strong>Methods</strong>: A total of sixty rats were divided into two phases; phase I was categorized into 6 groups including a control group, sucralose 2 and 4 g/kg, aspartame 0.8 and 1.6 g/kg, and sucrose with dose 0.5 mg/kg given orally every day for 12 weeks. Rats were euthanized and lipid profile was measured. Phase II comprised 4 groups including the same previously mentioned doses of sucralose and aspartame which were given orally every day for 12 weeks then omitted for further 6 weeks to study the ability of body to restore the biological changes associated with their consumption.<br /> <strong>Results</strong>: The highest triglyceride level was observed in rats fed on high dose sucralose (80.83 ± 5.46 mg/dl) and aspartame (78.83 ± 4.17 mg/dl). After 12 weeks of experimentation, cholesterol was higher in all groups. LDL-C was the highest in rats supplemented with a high dose of aspartame (43.90 ± 8.41 mg/dl), followed by a low dose of aspartame (39.28 ± 2.03 mg/dl). Terminating intake of artificial sweeteners caused large drop in LDL-C in rats fed on high dose of aspartame, while HDL-C increased slightly but insignificantly. Severe histopathological changes in liver and kidney tissues were observed in rats supplemented with a high dose of aspartame.<br /> <strong>Conclusion</strong>: Supplementing rats with aspartame and sucralose for 12 weeks increased lipid profile. Pathological changes were recovered neither in the liver nor in the kidney even after terminating artificial sweeteners intake.High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria UniversityJournal of High Institute of Public Health2357-060150220200801Evaluation of the Microbial Quality of Food Served in a University Hospital in Alexandria10110510912810.21608/jhiph.2020.109128ENGilan M.RagabFellow of Microbiology Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, EgyptMohamed A.El-BarrawyDepartment of Microbiology, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, EgyptMarwa A.MeheissenDepartment of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, EgyptJournal Article20200823<strong>Background & Objective(s): </strong>Foodborne illness is a serious health-related problem especially in hospitalized patients.<br /> The present study aimed to evaluate the bacterial contamination of meals served in a university hospital in Alexandria, Egypt.<br /> <strong>Methods:</strong> This cross-sectional study covered 280 samples of processed and non-processed food that were randomly taken from various wards, from a university hospital in Alexandria. All samples were exposed to aerobic plate count using pour plate method. Multiple tube dilution approach was used to detect and enumerate total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and <em>Escherichia coli (E. coli)</em>.<br /> <strong>Results: </strong>The total plate count (TPC) of the 280 samples ranged from 2.2x10<sup>2</sup> to 4.4x10<sup>11 </sup>CFU/g. Tomatoes had the highest mean value 9.98x10<sup>9</sup> CFU/g, while bread exhibited the lowest mean value 2.5 x10<sup>2</sup> CFU/g. The fecal coliform (FC) count for processed and non-processed food showed unsatisfactory results in 24.3% and 42.0 % (reviewer 2 comment A6) respectively.<em> E. coli </em>were detected in 7.1 % of processed and 30.6% of non-processed samples.<br /> <strong>Conclusion:</strong> The considerable unsatisfactory level of <em>E. coli</em> in some of the tested samples is augmenting the need to improve food preparation, handling, storage, and distribution in the hospital.High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria UniversityJournal of High Institute of Public Health2357-060150220200801The Effect of an Educational Intervention on Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior about Healthy Dietary Habits among Adolescent Females10611210903410.21608/jhiph.2020.109034ENEbtisam M.FetohyHealth Administration and Behavioral Sciences Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, EgyptSamira M.MahboubHealth Sciences Department, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaHoweida H.AbusalehHealth Sciences Department, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaJournal Article20200822<strong>Background: </strong>Dietary patterns are influenced by behavioral factors in early adulthood. Nutritional education has a major role in improving health status of adolescents.<br /> <strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed at assessing the knowledge, attitude and behavior about healthy dietary habits among adolescent females before and after a nutrition education program in Riyadh, KSA.<br /> <strong>Methods: </strong>An intervention study was conducted in two schools among 105 students (57 from intermediate school and 48 from high school). Nutrition-related knowledge, attitude and behavior were assessed pre-intervention and one week post-intervention using the same instrument. The nutrition education program consisted of three sessions This study was approved by Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University.<br /> <strong>Results: </strong>After the intervention, there was significant improvement in students’ attitude (from 21.6±5.4 to 23.7 ± 3.2) and behavior towards healthy dietary habits (from 48±12.1 to 51.5 ± 7.2) with a P-value of 0.02 and 0.006 respectively. Knowledge score did not improve after the intervention. There was a significant decrease in the total barrier score from 12.2 ± 2.7 to 11.2 ± 2.7 with a p-value of 0.01, and significant change in the consumption of daily breakfast, fresh food and whole grain (p-value 0.01, 0.05 & 0.02 respectively) and in checking expiry date of food (p-value 0.03) The Avoidance of fatty meals also improved significantly (p-value 0.03) .<br /> <strong>Conclusion: </strong>This nutrition education program was effective in improving adolescents’ attitude and behavior in relation to healthy diet.High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria UniversityJournal of High Institute of Public Health2357-060150220200801COVID -19 Infection Prevention and Control: Review of Country Experiences11311710828810.21608/jhiph.2020.108288ENMervat M.El-DalatonyDepartment of Public Health and Community Medicine, Menoufia University, Egypt General Directorate of Infection Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia0000-0002-2399-439XGhada M.Bin SalehGeneral Directorate of Infection Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaMoteb Al-SaediGeneral Directorate of Infection Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaJournal Article20200817The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the new SARS-CoV-2 virus infection in December 2019 is one of the most severe public health emergencies facing the health systems around the globe. It reached the level of being a pandemic that caused a great disturbance and widely variable responses in nearly all countries. This review aims to highlight some of these country experiences to learn from others and to enhance better management strategy in our country. A PubMed search was performed to extract the country experiences from papers published till the 30<sup>th</sup> of April, 2020. As the onset of start, the course and severity of the pandemic differed from one country to the other, scientists from every country are doing their best to publish their experiences in the disaster management to help other countries avoid the mistakes in the management of such difficult situation. Problems facing different communities were summarized.