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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
Public Mental Health Through Social Media In The Post Covid-19 Era, Deepika Sharma, Jaiteg Singh, Babar Shah, Farman Ali, Ahmad Ali Alzubi, Mallak Ahmad Alzubi
Public Mental Health Through Social Media In The Post Covid-19 Era, Deepika Sharma, Jaiteg Singh, Babar Shah, Farman Ali, Ahmad Ali Alzubi, Mallak Ahmad Alzubi
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Social media is a powerful communication tool and a reflection of our digital environment. Social media acted as an augmenter and influencer during and after COVID-19. Many of the people sharing social media posts were not actually aware of their mental health status. This situation warrants to automate the detection of mental disorders. This paper presents a methodology for the detection of mental disorders using micro facial expressions. Micro-expressions are momentary, involuntary facial expressions that can be indicative of deeper feelings and mental states. Nevertheless, manually detecting and interpreting micro-expressions can be rather challenging. A deep learning HybridMicroNet model, based …
Call For Emergency Action To Restore Dietary Diversity And Protect Global Food Systems In Times Of Covid-19 And Beyond: Results From A Cross-Sectional Study In 38 Countries, Maha Hoteit, Reem Hoteit, Ayoub Aljawaldeh, Kathleen Van Royen, Sara Pabian, Paulien Decorte, Isabelle Cuykx, Lauranna Teunissen, Charlotte De Backer, Ina Bergheim, Raphaela Staltner, Amanda Devine, Ros Sambell, Ruth Wallace, Sabika Salem Allehdan, Tariq Abdulkarim Alalwan, Mariam Ahamad Al-Mannai, Gaëlle Ouvrein, Karolien Poels, Heidi Vandebosch, Katrien Maldoy, Christophe Matthys, Tim Smits, Jules Vrinten, Ann Desmet, Nelleke Teughels, Maggie Geuens, Iris Vermeir
Call For Emergency Action To Restore Dietary Diversity And Protect Global Food Systems In Times Of Covid-19 And Beyond: Results From A Cross-Sectional Study In 38 Countries, Maha Hoteit, Reem Hoteit, Ayoub Aljawaldeh, Kathleen Van Royen, Sara Pabian, Paulien Decorte, Isabelle Cuykx, Lauranna Teunissen, Charlotte De Backer, Ina Bergheim, Raphaela Staltner, Amanda Devine, Ros Sambell, Ruth Wallace, Sabika Salem Allehdan, Tariq Abdulkarim Alalwan, Mariam Ahamad Al-Mannai, Gaëlle Ouvrein, Karolien Poels, Heidi Vandebosch, Katrien Maldoy, Christophe Matthys, Tim Smits, Jules Vrinten, Ann Desmet, Nelleke Teughels, Maggie Geuens, Iris Vermeir
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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the fragility of the global food system, sending shockwaves across countries' societies and economy. This has presented formidable challenges to sustaining a healthy and resilient lifestyle. The objective of this study is to examine the food consumption patterns and assess diet diversity indicators, primarily focusing on the food consumption score (FCS), among households in 38 countries both before and during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 37 207 participants (mean age: 36.70 ± 14.79, with 77 % women) was conducted in 38 countries through an online survey administered …
Machine Learning Techniques For The Identification Of Risk Factors Associated With Food Insecurity Among Adults In Arab Countries During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Radwan Qasrawi, Maha Hoteit, Reema Tayyem, Khlood Bookari, Haleama Al Sabbah, Iman Kamel, Somaia Dashti, Sabika Allehdan, Hiba Bawadi, Mostafa Waly, Mohammed O. Ibrahim, Stephanny Vicuna Polo, Diala Abu Al-Halawa
Machine Learning Techniques For The Identification Of Risk Factors Associated With Food Insecurity Among Adults In Arab Countries During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Radwan Qasrawi, Maha Hoteit, Reema Tayyem, Khlood Bookari, Haleama Al Sabbah, Iman Kamel, Somaia Dashti, Sabika Allehdan, Hiba Bawadi, Mostafa Waly, Mohammed O. Ibrahim, Stephanny Vicuna Polo, Diala Abu Al-Halawa
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BACKGROUND: A direct consequence of global warming, and strongly correlated with poor physical and mental health, food insecurity is a rising global concern associated with low dietary intake. The Coronavirus pandemic has further aggravated food insecurity among vulnerable communities, and thus has sparked the global conversation of equal food access, food distribution, and improvement of food support programs. This research was designed to identify the key features associated with food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic using Machine learning techniques. Seven machine learning algorithms were used in the model, which used a dataset of 32 features. The model was designed to …
Dynamics Of A Fractional-Order Delayed Model Of Covid-19 With Vaccination Efficacy, Fathalla A. Rihan, Udhayakumar Kandasamy, Hebatallah J. Alsakaji, Nicola Sottocornola
Dynamics Of A Fractional-Order Delayed Model Of Covid-19 With Vaccination Efficacy, Fathalla A. Rihan, Udhayakumar Kandasamy, Hebatallah J. Alsakaji, Nicola Sottocornola
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In this study, we provide a fractional-order mathematical model that considers the effect of vaccination on COVID-19 spread dynamics. The model accounts for the latent period of intervention strategies by incorporating a time delay τ. A basic reproduction number, R0, is determined for the model, and prerequisites for endemic equilibrium are discussed. The model’s endemic equilibrium point also exhibits local asymptotic stability (under certain conditions), and a Hopf bifurcation condition is established. Different scenarios of vaccination efficacy are simulated. As a result of the vaccination efforts, the number of deaths and those affected have decreased. COVID-19 may not be effectively …
Intelligent Health Care And Diseases Management System: Multi-Day-Ahead Predictions Of Covid-19, Ahed Abugabah, Farah Shahid
Intelligent Health Care And Diseases Management System: Multi-Day-Ahead Predictions Of Covid-19, Ahed Abugabah, Farah Shahid
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The rapidly growing number of COVID-19 infected and death cases has had a catastrophic worldwide impact. As a case study, the total number of death cases in Algeria is over two thousand people (increased with time), which drives us to search its possible trend for early warning and control. In this paper, the proposed model for making a time-series forecast for daily and total infected cases, death cases, and recovered cases for the countrywide Algeria COVID-19 dataset is a two-layer dropout gated recurrent unit (TDGRU). Four performance parameters were used to assess the model’s performance: mean absolute error (MAE), root …
The Impact Of Covid-19 Quarantine On Lifestyle Indicators In The United Arab Emirates, Sharifa Alblooshi, Maryam Alfalasi, Zainab Taha, Farid El Ktaibi, Alia Khalid
The Impact Of Covid-19 Quarantine On Lifestyle Indicators In The United Arab Emirates, Sharifa Alblooshi, Maryam Alfalasi, Zainab Taha, Farid El Ktaibi, Alia Khalid
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Introduction: COVID-19 is a virus that has spread rapidly and brought economic and social crises all around the world. The current study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 quarantine on dietary habits, physical activity, food purchasing, smoking, and sleeping patterns in the United Arab Emirates. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire between November 1st, 2020 and the end of January 2021. Citizens and residents of the UAE aged ≥ 18 years old were asked to complete an anonymous electronic questionnaire created via Google Forms and distributed on various platforms, such as WhatsApp, Twitter, and email. …
Mechanistic Insight Into The Role Of Vitamin D And Zinc In Modulating Immunity Against Covid-19: A View From An Immunological Standpoint, Nuzhat Ahsan, Mohammad Imran, Yousuf Mohammed, Fatme Al Anouti, Mohammad Idreesh Khan, Tanushree Banerjee, Mohd Adnan, Fauzia Ashfaq, Marek Kieliszek, Syed Amir Ashraf, Afrozul Haq
Mechanistic Insight Into The Role Of Vitamin D And Zinc In Modulating Immunity Against Covid-19: A View From An Immunological Standpoint, Nuzhat Ahsan, Mohammad Imran, Yousuf Mohammed, Fatme Al Anouti, Mohammad Idreesh Khan, Tanushree Banerjee, Mohd Adnan, Fauzia Ashfaq, Marek Kieliszek, Syed Amir Ashraf, Afrozul Haq
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The pathophysiology of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is characterized by worsened inflammation because of weakened immunity, causing the infiltration of immune cells, followed by necrosis. Consequently, these pathophysiological changes may lead to a life-threatening decline in perfusion due to hyperplasia of the lungs, instigating severe pneumonia, and causing fatalities. Additionally, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can cause mortality due to viral septic shock, resulting from unrestrained and backfiring immune reactions to the pathogen. Sepsis can cause premature organ failure in COVID-19 patients, as well. Notably, vitamin D and its derivatives and minerals, such as zinc and magnesium, have …
Vitamin D Enhances Type I Ifn Signaling In Covid-19 Patients, Shirin Hafezi, Fatemeh Saheb Sharif-Askari, Narjes Saheb Sharif-Askari, Hawra Ali Hussain Alsayed, Habiba Alsafar, Fatme Al Anouti, Qutayba Hamid, Rabih Halwani
Vitamin D Enhances Type I Ifn Signaling In Covid-19 Patients, Shirin Hafezi, Fatemeh Saheb Sharif-Askari, Narjes Saheb Sharif-Askari, Hawra Ali Hussain Alsayed, Habiba Alsafar, Fatme Al Anouti, Qutayba Hamid, Rabih Halwani
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The ability of Vitamin D (VitD) to modulate antiviral responses through induction of antimicrobial peptide is well established. However, the effect of VitD on host responses to SARS-CoV-2 is not well investigated. We here report the ability of VitD to enhance host IFN-alpha/beta (a/β) signaling both in vitro and among severe COVID-19 patients treated with VitD. Blood and saliva specimens were obtained from severe COVID-19 patients treated (43 patients), or not (37 patients), with vitD, during their stay in intensive care unit. Patients were followed up to 29 days following admission, and patient survival outcomes were collected. Higher activity levels …
Predicting The Level Of Respiratory Support In Covid-19 Patients Using Machine Learning, Hisham Abdeltawab, Fahmi Khalifa, Yaser Elnakieb, Ahmed Elnakib, Fatma Taher, Norah Saleh Alghamdi, Harpal Singh Sandhu, Ayman El-Baz
Predicting The Level Of Respiratory Support In Covid-19 Patients Using Machine Learning, Hisham Abdeltawab, Fahmi Khalifa, Yaser Elnakieb, Ahmed Elnakib, Fatma Taher, Norah Saleh Alghamdi, Harpal Singh Sandhu, Ayman El-Baz
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In this paper, a machine learning-based system for the prediction of the required level of respiratory support in COVID-19 patients is proposed. The level of respiratory support is divided into three classes: class 0 which refers to minimal support, class 1 which refers to non-invasive support, and class 2 which refers to invasive support. A two-stage classification system is built. First, the classification between class 0 and others is performed. Then, the classification between class 1 and class 2 is performed. The system is built using a dataset collected retrospectively from 3491 patients admitted to tertiary care hospitals at the …
Role Of Imaging And Ai In The Evaluation Of Covid-19 Infection: A Comprehensive Survey, Mayada Elgendy, Hossam Magdy Balaha, Mohamed Shehata, Ahmed Alksas, Mahitab Ghoneim, Fatma Sherif, Ali Mahmoud, Ahmed Elgarayhi, Fatma Taher, Mohammed Sallah, Mohammed Ghazal, Ayman El-Baz
Role Of Imaging And Ai In The Evaluation Of Covid-19 Infection: A Comprehensive Survey, Mayada Elgendy, Hossam Magdy Balaha, Mohamed Shehata, Ahmed Alksas, Mahitab Ghoneim, Fatma Sherif, Ali Mahmoud, Ahmed Elgarayhi, Fatma Taher, Mohammed Sallah, Mohammed Ghazal, Ayman El-Baz
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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that started and rapidly became the pandemic of the century, as the number of people infected with it globally exceeded 253.4 million. Since the beginning of the pandemic of COVID-19, over two years have passed. During this hard period, several defies have been coped by the scientific society to know this novel disease, evaluate it, and treat affected patients. All these efforts are done to push back the spread of the virus. This article provides a comprehensive review to learn about the COVID-19 virus and its entry mechanism, its main repercussions on …
The Impact Of Covid-19 On Physical (In)Activity Behavior In 10 Arab Countries., Haleama Al Sabbah, Zainab Taha, Radwan Qasrawi, Enas A Assaf, Leila Cheikh Ismail, Ayesha S Al Dhaheri, Maha Hoteit, Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh, Reema Tayyem, Hiba Bawadi, Majid Alkhalaf, Khlood Bookari, Iman Kamel, Somaia Dashti, Sabika Allehdan, Tariq A Alalwan, Fadwa Hammouh, Mostafa I Waly, Diala Abu Al-Halawa, Rania Mansour, Allam Abu Farha, The Regional Corona Cooking Survey Group ( The Regional Corona Cooking Survey Group (
The Impact Of Covid-19 On Physical (In)Activity Behavior In 10 Arab Countries., Haleama Al Sabbah, Zainab Taha, Radwan Qasrawi, Enas A Assaf, Leila Cheikh Ismail, Ayesha S Al Dhaheri, Maha Hoteit, Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh, Reema Tayyem, Hiba Bawadi, Majid Alkhalaf, Khlood Bookari, Iman Kamel, Somaia Dashti, Sabika Allehdan, Tariq A Alalwan, Fadwa Hammouh, Mostafa I Waly, Diala Abu Al-Halawa, Rania Mansour, Allam Abu Farha, The Regional Corona Cooking Survey Group ( The Regional Corona Cooking Survey Group (
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Insufficient physical activity is considered a strong risk factor associated with non-communicable diseases. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on physical (in)activity behavior in 10 Arab countries before and during the lockdown. A cross-sectional study using a validated online survey was launched originally in 38 different countries. The Eastern Mediterranean regional data related to the 10 Arabic countries that participated in the survey were selected for analysis in this study. A total of 12,433 participants were included in this analysis. The mean age of the participants was 30.3 (SD, 11.7) years. Descriptive and regression analyses were conducted …
Sel-Covidnet: An Intelligent Application For The Diagnosis Of Covid-19 From Chest X-Rays And Ct-Scans, Ahmad Al Smadi, Ahed Abugabah, Ahmad Mohammad Al-Smadi, Sultan Almotairi
Sel-Covidnet: An Intelligent Application For The Diagnosis Of Covid-19 From Chest X-Rays And Ct-Scans, Ahmad Al Smadi, Ahed Abugabah, Ahmad Mohammad Al-Smadi, Sultan Almotairi
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COVID-19 detection from medical imaging is a difficult challenge that has piqued the interest of experts worldwide. Chest X-rays and computed tomography (CT) scanning are the essential imaging modalities for diagnosing COVID-19. All researchers focus their efforts on developing viable methods and rapid treatment procedures for this pandemic. Fast and accurate automated detection approaches have been devised to alleviate the need for medical professionals. Deep Learning (DL) technologies have successfully recognized COVID-19 situations. This paper proposes a developed set of nine deep learning models for diagnosing COVID-19 based on transfer learning and implementation in a novel architecture (SEL-COVIDNET). In which …
Investigation Of Factors Affecting Covid-19 Vaccine Acceptance Among Communities Of Universities In The United Arab Emirates., Maisa El Gamal, Ayisha Siddiqua, Waheed Kareem Abdul, Badria H Almurshidi, Fares M Howari
Investigation Of Factors Affecting Covid-19 Vaccine Acceptance Among Communities Of Universities In The United Arab Emirates., Maisa El Gamal, Ayisha Siddiqua, Waheed Kareem Abdul, Badria H Almurshidi, Fares M Howari
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The COVID-19 pandemic affected the lives of people living across the world and the development of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 is considered to be one of the most promising solutions to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. In several countries, we are witnessing hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccines, which is a complex phenomenon influenced by a variety of factors. A cross-sectional study was performed to comprehensively investigate the impact of factors like demography, COVID-19 pandemic-induced behavior, and vaccine attitude on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance (VA) among communities of five different universities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). To investigate the effect of demography and COVID-19 …
Outdoor Activity In The Daytime, But Not The Nighttime, Predicts Better Mental Health Status During The Covid-19 Curfew In The United Arab Emirates, Fatme Al Anouti, Justin Thomas, Spyridon Karras, Nour El Asswad
Outdoor Activity In The Daytime, But Not The Nighttime, Predicts Better Mental Health Status During The Covid-19 Curfew In The United Arab Emirates, Fatme Al Anouti, Justin Thomas, Spyridon Karras, Nour El Asswad
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The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated infection prevention and control measures had a negative impact on the mental health of many people. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), infection control measures implemented after March 24th, 2020, placed necessary restrictions on people's freedom of movement. This study aimed to assess the association between levels of daytime vs. nighttime outdoor activity and mental health among a sample of UAE residents during the lockdown period. An opportunity sample of 245 participants completed an online survey assessing levels of depression, somatic symptoms, daytime and nighttime activity levels. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that daytime activity, …
A Non-Invasive Interpretable Diagnosis Of Melanoma Skin Cancer Using Deep Learning And Ensemble Stacking Of Machine Learning Models, Iftiaz A. Alfi, Mahfuzur Rahman, Mohammad Shorfuzzaman, Amril Nazir
A Non-Invasive Interpretable Diagnosis Of Melanoma Skin Cancer Using Deep Learning And Ensemble Stacking Of Machine Learning Models, Iftiaz A. Alfi, Mahfuzur Rahman, Mohammad Shorfuzzaman, Amril Nazir
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A skin lesion is a portion of skin that observes abnormal growth compared to other areas of the skin. The ISIC 2018 lesion dataset has seven classes. A miniature dataset version of it is also available with only two classes: malignant and benign. Malignant tumors are tumors that are cancerous, and benign tumors are non-cancerous. Malignant tumors have the ability to multiply and spread throughout the body at a much faster rate. The early detection of the cancerous skin lesion is crucial for the survival of the patient. Deep learning models and machine learning models play an essential role in …
Covid-19 And Myocarditis: A Brief Review, Fatma Taher, Athar Eysa, Dalia Fahmy, Ahmed Shalaby, Ali Mahmoud, Moumen El-Melegy, Ahmed Abdel Khalek Abdel Razek, Ayman El-Baz
Covid-19 And Myocarditis: A Brief Review, Fatma Taher, Athar Eysa, Dalia Fahmy, Ahmed Shalaby, Ali Mahmoud, Moumen El-Melegy, Ahmed Abdel Khalek Abdel Razek, Ayman El-Baz
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Cardiovascular complications (especially myocarditis) related to COVID-19 viral infection are not well understood, nor do they possess a well recognized diagnostic protocol as most of our information regarding this issue was derived from case reports. In this article we extract data from all published case reports in the second half of 2020 to summarize the theories of pathogenesis and explore the value of each diagnostic test including clinical, lab, ECG, ECHO, cardiac MRI and endomyocardial biopsy. These tests provide information that explain the mechanism of development of myocarditis that further paves the way for better management.
A Narrative Review Of The Evidence For Variations In Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentration Thresholds For Optimal Health, William B. Grant, Fatme Al Anouti, Barbara J. Boucher, Erdinç Dursun, Duygu Gezen-Ak, Edward B. Jude, Tatiana Karonova, Pawel Pludowski
A Narrative Review Of The Evidence For Variations In Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentration Thresholds For Optimal Health, William B. Grant, Fatme Al Anouti, Barbara J. Boucher, Erdinç Dursun, Duygu Gezen-Ak, Edward B. Jude, Tatiana Karonova, Pawel Pludowski
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Vitamin D3 has many important health benefits. Unfortunately, these benefits are not widely known among health care personnel and the general public. As a result, most of the world’s population has serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations far below optimal values. This narrative review examines the evidence for the major causes of death including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cancer, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and COVID-19 with regard to sub-optimal 25(OH)D concentrations. Evidence for the beneficial effects comes from a variety of approaches including ecological and observational studies, studies of mechanisms, and Mendelian randomization studies. Although randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are generally considered …
The Psychological Impact Of Isolation On Hospitalised Patients With Covid-19 Infection In The Uae, Nahida Nayaz Ahmed, Nirmin F. Juber, Reem Alkaabi, Fatema Alshehhi, Mohamed Alobeidli, Ahlam Salem, Alaa Galadari, Shamil Wanigaratne, Amar Ahmad
The Psychological Impact Of Isolation On Hospitalised Patients With Covid-19 Infection In The Uae, Nahida Nayaz Ahmed, Nirmin F. Juber, Reem Alkaabi, Fatema Alshehhi, Mohamed Alobeidli, Ahlam Salem, Alaa Galadari, Shamil Wanigaratne, Amar Ahmad
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Infection prevention and control measures for COVID-19 may include immediate admission to an isolation facility for the infected. However, the mental health impact of this isolation worldwide is not fully documented. This study aims to contribute to global data on the psychological impact of COVID-19 and to be the first study to assess psychological distress among hospitalised patients with COVID-19 in the UAE. Using a cross-sectional study design on 132 hospitalised patients, we found that 90% of participants scored within the normal levels for psychological distress. The length of stay was associated with higher levels of psychological distress and those …
Machine Learning Techniques For Predicting Depression And Anxiety In Pregnant And Postpartum Women During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Regional Study, Radwan Qasrawi, Malak Amro, Stephanny Vicunapolo, Diala Abu Al-Halawa, Hazem Agha, Rania Abu Seir, Maha Hoteit, Reem Hoteit, Sabika Allehdan, Nouf Behzad, Khlood Bookari, Majid Alkhalaf, Haleama Al-Sabbah, Eman Badran, Reema Tayyem
Machine Learning Techniques For Predicting Depression And Anxiety In Pregnant And Postpartum Women During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Regional Study, Radwan Qasrawi, Malak Amro, Stephanny Vicunapolo, Diala Abu Al-Halawa, Hazem Agha, Rania Abu Seir, Maha Hoteit, Reem Hoteit, Sabika Allehdan, Nouf Behzad, Khlood Bookari, Majid Alkhalaf, Haleama Al-Sabbah, Eman Badran, Reema Tayyem
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Background: Maternal depression and anxiety are significant public health concerns that play an important role in the health and well-being of mothers and children. The COVID-19 pandemic, the consequential lockdowns and related safety restrictions worldwide negatively affected the mental health of pregnant and postpartum women. Methods: This regional study aimed to develop a machine learning (ML) model for the prediction of maternal depression and anxiety. The study used a dataset collected from five Arab countries during the COVID-19 pandemic between July to December 2020. The population sample included 3569 women (1939 pregnant and 1630 postpartum) from five countries (Jordan, Palestine, …
Associations Between Genetic Variants In The Vitamin D Metabolism Pathway And Severity Of Covid-19 Among Uae Residents, Fatme Al-Anouti, Mira Mousa, Spyridon N. Karras, William B. Grant, Zainab Alhalwachi, Laila Abdel-Wareth, Maimunah Uddin, Nawal Alkaabi, Guan K. Tay, Bassam Mahboub, Habiba Alsafar
Associations Between Genetic Variants In The Vitamin D Metabolism Pathway And Severity Of Covid-19 Among Uae Residents, Fatme Al-Anouti, Mira Mousa, Spyridon N. Karras, William B. Grant, Zainab Alhalwachi, Laila Abdel-Wareth, Maimunah Uddin, Nawal Alkaabi, Guan K. Tay, Bassam Mahboub, Habiba Alsafar
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Vitamin D has many effects on cells in the immune system. Many studies have linked low vitamin D status with severity of COVID-19. Genetic variants involved in vitamin D metabolism have been implicated as potential risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes. This study investigated how genetic variations in humans affected the clinical presentation of COVID-19. In total, 646 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were divided into two groups: noncritical COVID-19 (n = 453; 70.12%) and a critical group (n = 193; 29.87%). Genotype data on the GC, NADSYN1, VDR, and CYP2R1 genes along with data on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were …
Vaccine Versus Variants (3vs): Are The Covid-19 Vaccines Effective Against The Variants? A Systematic Review, Kadhim Hayawi, Sakib Shahriar, Mohamed Adel Serhani, Hany Alashwal, Mohammad M. Masud
Vaccine Versus Variants (3vs): Are The Covid-19 Vaccines Effective Against The Variants? A Systematic Review, Kadhim Hayawi, Sakib Shahriar, Mohamed Adel Serhani, Hany Alashwal, Mohammad M. Masud
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Background: With the emergence and spread of new SARS-CoV-2 variants, concerns are raised about the effectiveness of the existing vaccines to protect against these new variants. Although many vaccines were found to be highly effective against the reference COVID-19 strain, the same level of protection may not be found against mutation strains. The objective of this study is to systematically review relevant studies in the literature and compare the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines against new variants. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of research published in Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar until 30 August 2021. Studies including clinical trials, prospective …
Levels Of Trust In Information Sources As A Predictor Of Protective Health Behaviors During Covid-19 Pandemic: A Uae Cross-Sectional Study, Maria J. Figueiras, Jihane Ghorayeb, Mariana V. C. Coutinho, João Marôco, Justin Thomas
Levels Of Trust In Information Sources As A Predictor Of Protective Health Behaviors During Covid-19 Pandemic: A Uae Cross-Sectional Study, Maria J. Figueiras, Jihane Ghorayeb, Mariana V. C. Coutinho, João Marôco, Justin Thomas
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Health information sources and the level of trust in a particular source may influence the subsequent adoption of advocated health behaviors. Information source preference and levels of trust are also likely to be influenced by sociodemographic (culture, age, gender) variables. Understanding these source-trust-behavior relationships across various national and cultural contexts is integral to improved health messaging. The present study identified the sources most frequently consulted to obtain information about COVID-19 during the pandemic's early stages in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The study quantified levels of trust across an array of information sources, factoring in sociodemographic variables. Finally, the study …
Covid-19 Disease Severity And Death In Relation To Vitamin D Status Among Sars-Cov-2-Positive Uae Residents, Habiba Alsafar, William B. Grant, Rafiq Hijazi, Maimunah Uddin, Nawal Alkaabi, Guan Tay, Bassam Mahboub, Fatme Al Anouti
Covid-19 Disease Severity And Death In Relation To Vitamin D Status Among Sars-Cov-2-Positive Uae Residents, Habiba Alsafar, William B. Grant, Rafiq Hijazi, Maimunah Uddin, Nawal Alkaabi, Guan Tay, Bassam Mahboub, Fatme Al Anouti
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Insufficient blood levels of the neurohormone vitamin D are associated with increased risk of COVID-19 severity and mortality. Despite the global rollout of vaccinations and promising preliminary results, the focus remains on additional preventive measures to manage COVID-19. Results conflict on vitamin D’s plausible role in preventing and treating COVID-19. We examined the relation between vitamin D status and COVID-19 severity and mortality among the multiethnic population of the United Arab Emirates. Our observational study used data for 522 participants who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 at one of the main hospitals in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Only 464 of those …
Impact Of The Coronavirus Pandemic (Covid-19) Lockdown On Mental Health And Well-Being In The United Arab Emirates, Leila Cheikh Ismail, Maysm N. Mohamad, Mo'ath F. Bataineh, Abir Ajab, Amina M. Al-Marzouqi, Amjad H. Jarrar, Dima O. Abu Jamous, Habiba I. Ali, Haleama Al Sabbah, Hayder Hasan, Lily Stojanovska, Mona Hashim, Reyad R. Shaker Obaid, Sheima T. Saleh, Tareq M. Osaili, Ayesha S. Al Dhaheri
Impact Of The Coronavirus Pandemic (Covid-19) Lockdown On Mental Health And Well-Being In The United Arab Emirates, Leila Cheikh Ismail, Maysm N. Mohamad, Mo'ath F. Bataineh, Abir Ajab, Amina M. Al-Marzouqi, Amjad H. Jarrar, Dima O. Abu Jamous, Habiba I. Ali, Haleama Al Sabbah, Hayder Hasan, Lily Stojanovska, Mona Hashim, Reyad R. Shaker Obaid, Sheima T. Saleh, Tareq M. Osaili, Ayesha S. Al Dhaheri
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United Arab Emirates (UAE) has taken unprecedented precautionary measures including complete lockdowns against COVID-19 to control its spread and ensure the well-being of individuals. This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 and societal lockdown measures on the mental health of adults in the UAE. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an English and Arabic online questionnaire between May and June 2020. The psychological impact was assessed by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and the social and family support impact was evaluated using questions from the Perceived Support Scale (PSS). A total of 4,426 participants (3,325 females and 1,101 males) …
An Evaluation Of The Covid-19 Pandemic And Perceived Social Distancing Policies In Relation To Planning, Selecting, And Preparing Healthy Meals: An Observational Study In 38 Countries Worldwide, Charlotte De Backer, Lauranna Teunissen, Isabelle Cuykx, Paulien Decorte, Sara Pabian, Sarah Gerritsen, Christophe Matthys, Haleama Al Sabbah, Kathleen Van Royen
An Evaluation Of The Covid-19 Pandemic And Perceived Social Distancing Policies In Relation To Planning, Selecting, And Preparing Healthy Meals: An Observational Study In 38 Countries Worldwide, Charlotte De Backer, Lauranna Teunissen, Isabelle Cuykx, Paulien Decorte, Sara Pabian, Sarah Gerritsen, Christophe Matthys, Haleama Al Sabbah, Kathleen Van Royen
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Objectives: To examine changes in planning, selecting, and preparing healthy foods in relation to personal factors (time, money, stress) and social distancing policies during the COVID-19 crisis. Methods: Using cross-sectional online surveys collected in 38 countries worldwide in April-June 2020 (N = 37,207, Mage 36.7 SD 14.8, 77% women), we compared changes in food literacy behaviors to changes in personal factors and social distancing policies, using hierarchical multiple regression analyses controlling for sociodemographic variables. Results: Increases in planning (4.7 SD 1.3, 4.9 SD 1.3), selecting (3.6 SD 1.7, 3.7 SD 1.7), and preparing (4.6 SD 1.2, 4.7 SD 1.3) healthy …
Active Learning Strategy For Covid-19 Annotated Dataset, Amril Nazir, Ricky Maulana Fajri
Active Learning Strategy For Covid-19 Annotated Dataset, Amril Nazir, Ricky Maulana Fajri
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The efficient diagnosis of COVID-19 plays a key role in preventing its spread. Recently, many artificial intelligence techniques, such as the deep neural network approach, have been implemented to help efficient diagnosis of COVID-19. However, the accurate performance of deep learning depends on the tuning of many hyperparameters and a large amount of labeled data. This COVID-19 data bottleneck also leads to insufficient human resources for data labeling, which presents a challenging obstacle. In this paper, a novel discriminative batch-mode active learning (DS3) is proposed to allow faster and more effective COVID-19 data annotation. The framework specifically designed to suit …
Psychosocial Correlates Of Depression And Anxiety In The United Arab Emirates During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Justin Thomas, Mariapaola Barbato, Marina Verlinden, Carl Gaspar, Mona Moussa, Jihane Ghorayeb, Aaina Menon, Maria J. Figueiras, Teresa Arora, Richard P. Bentall
Psychosocial Correlates Of Depression And Anxiety In The United Arab Emirates During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Justin Thomas, Mariapaola Barbato, Marina Verlinden, Carl Gaspar, Mona Moussa, Jihane Ghorayeb, Aaina Menon, Maria J. Figueiras, Teresa Arora, Richard P. Bentall
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© Copyright © 2020 Thomas, Barbato, Verlinden, Gaspar, Moussa, Ghorayeb, Menon, Figueiras, Arora and Bentall. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health is likely to be significant. Identifying vulnerable groups during the pandemic is essential for targeting psychological support, and in preparation for any second wave or future pandemic. Vulnerable groups are likely to vary across different societies; therefore, research needs to be conducted at a national and international level. This online survey explored generalized anxiety and depression symptoms in a community sample of adults (N = 1,039) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) between April 8th and …
Positive Religious Coping And Mental Health Among Christians And Muslims In Response To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Justin Thomas, Mariapaola Barbato
Positive Religious Coping And Mental Health Among Christians And Muslims In Response To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Justin Thomas, Mariapaola Barbato
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© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Positive religious coping has frequently been associated with better mental health outcomes when dealing with stressful life events (e.g., natural disasters, domestic abuse, divorce). The COVID-19 pandemic, and the associated infection prevention and control measures (curfew, quarantine, restricted travel, social distancing), represent a society-wide stressor. This study explored positive religious coping among the Muslim and Christian residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the early stages of the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants (N = 543) completed an online survey assessing religious coping in response to the pandemic, …
Perceived Risk And Protection From Infection And Depressive Symptoms Among Healthcare Workers In Mainland China And Hong Kong During Covid-19, Simon Ching Lam, Teresa Arora, Ian Grey, Lorna Kwai Ping Suen, Emma Yun Zhi Huang, Daofan Li, Kin Bong Hubert Lam
Perceived Risk And Protection From Infection And Depressive Symptoms Among Healthcare Workers In Mainland China And Hong Kong During Covid-19, Simon Ching Lam, Teresa Arora, Ian Grey, Lorna Kwai Ping Suen, Emma Yun Zhi Huang, Daofan Li, Kin Bong Hubert Lam
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© Copyright © 2020 Lam, Arora, Grey, Suen, Huang, Li and Lam. Psychological health among healthcare workers (HCWs) has become a major concern since the COVID-19 outbreak. HCWs perceived risks of contracting COVID-19, in relation to depression were investigated. It was hypothesized that perceived high risk of contracting COVID-19 (close contact with cases, inadequate provision of personal protective equipment, insufficient infection control training, and presence of symptoms) would be significant predictors of depression. Our cross-sectional survey was completed by HCWs across three regions (Hubei, Guangdong, Hong Kong) between March 9 to April 9 2020 using convenience sampling. Depression was assessed …
Assessment Of Eating Habits And Lifestyle During Coronavirus Pandemic In The Mena Region: A Cross-Sectional Study, Leila Cheikh Ismail, Tareq M. Osaili, Maysm N. Mohamad, Amina Al Marzouqi, Amjad H. Jarrar, Antonis Zampelas, Carla Habib-Mourad, Dima Omar Abu Jamous, Habiba I. Ali, Haleama Al Sabbah, Hayder Hasan, Latifa Mohammed Rashid Almarzooqi, Lily Stojanovska, Mona Hashim, Reyad R.Shaker Obaid, Samar Elfeky, Sheima T. Saleh, Zahieh A.M. Shawar, Ayesha S. Al Dhaheri
Assessment Of Eating Habits And Lifestyle During Coronavirus Pandemic In The Mena Region: A Cross-Sectional Study, Leila Cheikh Ismail, Tareq M. Osaili, Maysm N. Mohamad, Amina Al Marzouqi, Amjad H. Jarrar, Antonis Zampelas, Carla Habib-Mourad, Dima Omar Abu Jamous, Habiba I. Ali, Haleama Al Sabbah, Hayder Hasan, Latifa Mohammed Rashid Almarzooqi, Lily Stojanovska, Mona Hashim, Reyad R.Shaker Obaid, Samar Elfeky, Sheima T. Saleh, Zahieh A.M. Shawar, Ayesha S. Al Dhaheri
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© The Authors 2020. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has rapidly spread globally, forcing countries to apply lockdowns and strict social distancing measures. The aim of this study was to assess eating habits and lifestyle behaviors among residents of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region during the lockdown. A cross-sectional study among adult residents of the MENA region was conducted using an online questionnaire designed on Google Forms during April 2020. A total of 2970 participants from 18 countries participated in the current study. During the pandemic, over 30% reported weight gain, 6.2% consumed five or more meals per …