The evidence governance system in Oman

Background

In addition to the general question about what works, policymakers consider whether health interventions will work in their context, and consider the social values such as affordability, acceptability, equity, equality, and human rights.

Aims

To highlight the importance of having and using an evidence governance system to inform health policymaking in Oman.

Methods

We reviewed the literature and analysed local documents on evidence governance systems in Oman.

Results

The Government of Oman has shown increasing interest in research and innovation in the past few decades. This interest was reinforced through the announcement in November 2021 of the intention to establish a decision-making support unit. Oman's strategies for evidence-informed policymaking provide direct and well-integrated channels for expert advice, however, the capacity for implementation remains challenging, and there is a lack of clarity in the evidence use mandate. It is not clear how evidence was selected, synthesized and used to inform some of the government policies on health. This can limit the scope of operation and subsequent achievements.

Conclusion

Efforts to strengthen evidence-informed policymaking should focus on building a system for good governance of evidence to ensure that rigorous, systematic, and technically valid evidence is used for policymaking.

Nationwide hepatitis C virus screening and treatment of adolescents in Egyptian schools

Until 2018, Egypt had the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection globally, affecting approximately 7% of the population. Despite efforts in diagnosis and treatment since 2006, nearly 2 million individuals with chronic HCV infection had yet to be diagnosed as of early 2018. In December, 2018, a mass HCV screening campaign for adolescents aged 15-18 years was initiated. Among 3 024 325 adolescents screened, the HCV antibody seroprevalence was 11 477 (0·38%), of whom 8187 (78·7%) were HCV RNA-positive. Sustained virological response 12 weeks after completion of treatment (SVR12) was attained by 7327 (99·6%) adolescents with a fixed-dose combination of generic ledipasvir 90 mg plus sofosbuvir 400 mg. Although mass screening in this age group might not be regularly adopted by many health systems and its cost-effectiveness might be lower than the screening of adults and high-risk groups (eg, patients on haemodialysis, people who inject drugs), breaking the chain of transmission in younger populations should lead to a reduction in HCV incidence and complications, and hasten the elimination of the disease.

Elimination of schistosomiasis haematobia as a public health problem in five governorates in Upper Egypt

The prevalence and intensity of Schistosoma haematobium infection was determined among schoolchildren living in five governorates in Upper Egypt. Between November 2016 and March 2017, urine samples were collected from 30,083 schoolchildren (6-16 years of age) from the governorates of Assiut (n = 7496; 6 districts), Bani Sweif (n = 4493; 7 districts), Fayoum (n = 4597; 6 districts), Menia (n = 7500; 9 districts) and Sohag (n = 5997; 11 districts). All samples were processed using urine filtration to detect and quantify S. haematobium eggs. The overall prevalence was 1.3% (95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.1%, 1.4%), but the prevalence varied considerably across districts in the studied governorates (from 0%, Fayoum to 13.4%, Sohag). The prevalence of heavy-intensity infections (≥50 egg/10 ml) varied from 0.05% (95% CI = 0.01-0.1) in Sohag to 0.3% (95% CI = 0.1-0.4) in Menia. No subject with heavy intensity of infection was detected in Fayoum and Bani Sweif governorates. Of the 39 studied districts 97.4% had prevalence of heavy intensity infection of <1%, indicating elimination of schistosomiasis haematobia as a public health problem in these districts. Of those studied 72.0% were male. Males were 2.9 times as likely to be infected (1.5% [95% CI: 1.4-1.7]) as females (0.5% [95% CI: 0.3-0.7]); χ2 = 51.2, p < 0.0001. Heavy intensity of infection was detected only in males. The prevalence of S. haematobium infection increased steadily with age, and the age group >15 years was 7 times as likely to be infected as the younger age group (6-<9; 0.8%); χ2 = 44.9, p < 0.0001. The national schistosomiasis control programme (NSCP) adopted a new elimination strategy by readjusting thresholds for MDA using praziquantel and targeting all transmission areas. The NSCP, after this major achievement of elimination of schistosomiasis haematobia as a public health problem, is now moving to interruption of its transmission.

Clinical genomics expands the morbid genome of intellectual disability and offers a high diagnostic yield

Intellectual disability (ID) is a measurable phenotypic consequence of genetic and environmental factors. In this study, we prospectively assessed the diagnostic yield of genomic tools (molecular karyotyping, multi-gene panel and exome sequencing) in a cohort of 337 ID subjects as a first-tier test and compared it with a standard clinical evaluation performed in parallel. Standard clinical evaluation suggested a diagnosis in 16% of cases (54/337) but only 70% of these (38/54) were subsequently confirmed. On the other hand, the genomic approach revealed a likely diagnosis in 58% (n=196). These included copy number variants in 14% (n=54, 15% are novel), and point mutations revealed by multi-gene panel and exome sequencing in the remaining 43% (1% were found to have Fragile-X). The identified point mutations were mostly recessive (n=117, 81%), consistent with the high consanguinity of the study cohort, but also X-linked (n=8, 6%) and de novo dominant (n=19, 13%). When applied directly on all cases with negative molecular karyotyping, the diagnostic yield of exome sequencing was 60% (77/129). Exome sequencing also identified likely pathogenic variants in three novel candidate genes (DENND5A, NEMF and DNHD1) each of which harbored independent homozygous mutations in patients with overlapping phenotypes. In addition, exome sequencing revealed de novo and recessive variants in 32 genes (MAMDC2, TUBAL3, CPNE6, KLHL24, USP2, PIP5K1A, UBE4A, TP53TG5, ATOH1, C16ORF90, SLC39A14, TRERF1, RGL1, CDH11, SYDE2, HIRA, FEZF2, PROCA1, PIANP, PLK2, QRFPR, AP3B2, NUDT2, UFC1, BTN3A2, TADA1, ARFGEF3, FAM160B1, ZMYM5, SLC45A1, ARHGAP33 and CAPS2), which we highlight as potential candidates on the basis of several lines of evidence, and one of these genes (SLC39A14) was biallelically inactivated in a potentially treatable form of hypermanganesemia and neurodegeneration. Finally, likely causal variants in previously published candidate genes were identified (ASTN1, HELZ, THOC6, WDR45B, ADRA2B and CLIP1), thus supporting their involvement in ID pathogenesis. Our results expand the morbid genome of ID and support the adoption of genomics as a first-tier test for individuals with ID.

Transanal one-stage endorectal pull-through for Hirschsprung's disease: a multicenter study

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Transanal endorectal pull-through (TEPT) is the latest development in treatment of Hirschsprung's disease (HD). This prospective study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of 1 stage TEPT technique in the management of patients with HD.

METHODS

One hundred forty-nine children (116 boys and 33 girls) aged 8 days to 14 years underwent 1 stage TEPT procedure over an 18-month period at 5 Egyptian academic pediatric surgical centers and affiliated hospitals. Median follow-up was 12 months (range, 3 to 21 months). These patients were evaluated with regard to age, sex, length of the aganglionic segment, intraoperative details, and postoperative functional results or complications. An electromyogram (EMG), endorectal ultrasound scan, and lower gastrointestinal (GI) motility studies were reserved for patients with postoperative problems with bowel control.

RESULTS

Mean operating time was 120.2 +/- 27.8 minutes (range, 60 to 210 minutes). The average length of resected bowel was 26.8 +/- 12.4 cm (range, 15 to 45 cm). Thirteen patients required laparotomy because of extension of aganglionic segment beyond the sigmoid colon in 9, tear in the mesenteric vessels in 2, and difficulties in getting to the submucosal plane in 2. Three deaths (2%) occurred 3 days, 4 days, and 4 weeks postoperatively, respectively. Postoperative complications included transient perianal excoriation in 48 patients (30 were <3 months of age), enterocolitis (n = 26), anastomotic stricture (n = 7), recurrent constipation (n = 6), hypoganglionosis at distal end of pulled through segment (n = 2), cuff abscess (n = 3), anastomotic leak (n = 1), adhesive bowel obstruction (n = 1), and rectal prolapse (n = 1). Complete anorectal continence was noted in 35 of 42 (83.3%) children older than 3 years, whereas soiling and frequent accidents still occur in 7, who showed a steady improvement in their continence status.

CONCLUSIONS

One-stage TEPT technique is both feasible and safe technique in properly selected children with rectosigmoid HD in all ages. The technique is easily learned and is associated with excellent clinical results.

Human bronchiolar deposition and retention of 6-, 8- and 10-micrograms particles

Three groups, each consisting of 6 healthy subjects, inhaled, respectively, 6-micrograms (aerodynamic diameter), 8-micrograms, and 10-micrograms Teflon particles, labeled with indium-111. The particles were inhaled at an extremely low flow rate, 0.05 L/s. Lung retention was measured after 0, 24, 48, and 72 h. Two models were used to calculate particle deposition in the lungs in the various generations: the Karolinska Institute model (KI model) and the University of Southampton model (US model). From the experimental clearance data and the theoretical deposition data, it was calculated that the average retention after 24 h was around 100% for particles deposited in generations 13-16 (ciliated bronchioles) and around 20% in generations 0-12 (both large and small ciliated airways). In these calculations, it was assumed that the retained fractions were independent of particle size. The depositions in the bronchial region (generations 0-8), bronchiolar region (generations 9-15 or 9-16), and the alveolar region were calculated using the two models and compared with the recent ICRP model. On the whole, the three models agreed fairly well.