Passer Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences

Evaluation of the antimicrobial prescribing pattern and the stewardship programs among COVID-19 hospitals in the capital city of Kurdistan-Northern Iraq: A multicenter point prevalence study

Belan Rahman Mustafa; Amanj Kurdi

Volume 5, Issue 1 , April 2023, , Pages 65-71

https://doi.org/10.24271/psr.2023.370659.1186

Abstract

Abstract Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant threat to healthcare system as making infections difficult to be cured and enhances disease transmission and death. Thus, prudent ... Read More

Classification of COVID-19 on Chest X-Ray Images Through the Fusion of HOG and LPQ Feature Sets

Rebin Abdulkareem Hamaamin; Shakhawan Hares Wady; Ali Wahab Kareem

Volume 4, Issue 2 , December 2022, , Pages 135-143

https://doi.org/10.24271/psr.2022.337896.1131

Abstract

Covid-19 is a contagious disease that affects people's everyday life, personal health, as well as a nation's economy. COVID-19 infected individuals, according to a clinical study, are ... Read More

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices on COVID-19 in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: An Online Cross-Sectional Survey

Nazdar Qudrat Abas; Muhammad Amen; Nazanin Abbas; Muhamad Yusif; Dilshad Jaff

Volume 4, Issue 1 , June 2022, , Pages 14-24

https://doi.org/10.24271/psr.2021.309110.1096

Abstract

Background: First COVID-19 case was recorded on February 26th, 2020 in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). Shortly after the number of cases increased significantly. Limited research ... Read More

Prevalence of COVID-19 and Possible Antigenic Drifts in SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein in Kurdistan Region-Iraq

Karzan Sidiq

Volume 3, Issue 2 , September 2021

https://doi.org/10.24271/psr.27

Abstract

The COVID-19 is an on-going viral pandemic that has been affecting the public health, routine life and global economy. The disease is caused by a novel strain of coronavirus, called ... Read More The COVID-19 is an on-going viral pandemic that has been affecting the public health, routine life and global economy. The disease is caused by a novel strain of coronavirus, called SARS-CoV-2 virus. The COVID-19 outbreak has been reporting in Kurdistan region of Iraq since March 2020. However, few studies investigated the epidemiology of COVID-19 and SARS CoV-2 virus in the region. This study aims at investigating the epidemiological situations of COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 variants in Kurdistan region over a year of the pandemic. The results revealed that the prevalence of COVID-19 is 1.9% in the region and is still in parallel to the neighbouring countries and the entire world. The mortality is 59 per 100,000 populations that may be related with age, as 25 % of the patients are older than 50 years old, and underlying health conditions of the patients might be another reason. Meanwhile, the recovery rate is high (90.5%), suggesting a standard medical management of COVID-19 in the region. It was observed that males comprise the greater number of COVID-19 patients. Like other countries, Kurdistan region passed through two waves of COVID-19 and currently tackling the third wave. On the other hand, the investigated spike proteins of nine isolates of SARS-CoV-2 in Kurdistan showed five isolates with single (D614G) mutation and four isolates with multiple amino acid substitutions (A348S, T478K and D614G), (L452R, E583D and D614G) and (N501Y, A570D and D614G), of which A348S, L452R and T478K and N501Y are in the receptor binding domain (RBD). Interestingly, all the isolates in Kurdistan contained D614G mutation. The D614G mutation alone and in combination with other mutations makes the SARS-CoV-2 virus more infectious and transmissible, so virulent variants of the virus is currently circulating and might be the cause of third wave of COVID-19 in Kurdistan region. The detection of N501Y and A570D mutations indicate the circulation of the UK variant of concern in Kurdistan region. Moreover, the results showed that the altered amino acids (A348S, L452R and T478K and N501Y) in the RBD of spike protein are located in the predicted B-cell epitopes. This could possibly reduce the sensitivity of some neutralizing antibodies, produced after infection with the previous variants or after vaccination. This and future investigations of COVID-19 epidemiology and SARS-CoV-2 variants definitely provide insights to the Kurdistan health officials to evaluate, control and predict the course of COVID-19 pandemic and to order the right version of vaccine.

Cloud Computing Technologies Adoption in Higher Education Institutes During COVID-19 Pandemic: Case Study

Mohammed Y. Shakor; Nigar M. Shafiq Surameery

Volume 3, Issue 2 , September 2021, , Pages 187-193

https://doi.org/doi:10.24271/psr.31

Abstract

The global spread of Covid-19 has enhanced the adoption of virtual education and the use of technology in order to reduce the risk of contagion. Recently, the academics have turn out ... Read More

Passer Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences

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Volume 5 (2023)

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Keywords = COVID-19

Evaluation of the antimicrobial prescribing pattern and the stewardship programs among COVID-19 hospitals in the capital city of Kurdistan-Northern Iraq: A multicenter point prevalence study

Abstract

Classification of COVID-19 on Chest X-Ray Images Through the Fusion of HOG and LPQ Feature Sets

Abstract

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices on COVID-19 in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: An Online Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Prevalence of COVID-19 and Possible Antigenic Drifts in SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein in Kurdistan Region-Iraq

Abstract

Cloud Computing Technologies Adoption in Higher Education Institutes During COVID-19 Pandemic: Case Study

Abstract