Background/Aim: Cancer is a major public health problem worldwide with significant association with deaths and disabilities. Monitoring the cancer incidence is important, but it has never been assessed prospectively in southern part of Libya. The aim of this study was to estimate the cancer incidence and incidence rates in southern part of Libya as part of the monitoring of the cancer incidence in Libya. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study based on data collected between January 2016 and December 2018, the total number of cases diagnosed with different types of cancer reported to the Sabha Cancer Center was 665. All Libyan males and females who were diagnosed with any type of cancer were included in this study. Results: Overall cancer was more among female than male; it affected 414 (62.3%) females and 251 (37.7%) males. With 374 (56.2%) of all recorded cases being found in Sabha, the city documented the highest percentage of all cases found in these regions. According to the study analysis, the most diagnosed type of cancer in southern Libya was breast cancer, with 318 (47.8%) cases, followed by colorectal cancer (118, 17.7%), prostate cancer (60, 9%), leukemia (31, 4.7), lung cancer (23, 3.5), ovarian cancer (18, 2.7%), and lymphoma (17, 2.6%). Among females, breast cancer remained the most reported cancer site, with a decrease in the incidence rate from 146 (45.9%) in 2016 – 73 (23%) cases in 2018. Colorectal cancer was the second most common cancer with a slight increase in the incidence rate from 34 (28.8%) in 2016 to 43 (36.4%) cases in 2018. Leukemia and ovarian cancer ranked third and fourth most-reported cancer sites, respectively. For males, colorectal cancer remained the most reported cancer site during the study period with a slight increase in the incidence rate from 23 (9.16%) in 2016 to 32 (12.7%) cases in 2018. Prostate cancer was the second most common cancer and decreased in the incidence rate from 34 (13.5%) in 2016 to 14 (5.57%) cases in 2018, followed by leukemia and lymphoma. The elderly age groups of ≥70 years account for 17% of the cancer cases. There was a steady rise in incidence rate of all cancers from age <14 years to 69 years and was greater in women. In elderly people (≥70 years), cancer rate was higher in male than female. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest the importance of further epidemiological and etiological studies to further reveal factors contributing to the cancer incidence trends in Libya.

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Background: Natural and vaccine-induced immunity play an important role in controlling the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. Understanding humoral immunity to SARS-CoV-2 is of great importance for evaluating vaccine performance and inform public health decisions. Objective: We aimed to evaluate the level of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and their persistence post infection or post-vaccination. Methods: A serological analysis (Immunoassay) to investigate the level of anti-spike IgG antibody responses following infection with SARS-CoV-2 or immunization with the first or second dose of the AstraZeneca, Sputnik, Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines was performed. Results: A total of 9460 seropositive individuals were recruited. The mean levels of anti-spike IgG antibodies were higher in vaccinated participants with prior COVID-19 infections than in individuals without prior infection. Decline for IgG antibodies were faster in vaccinated individuals without previous COVID-19 infection compared to those with previous COVID-19 infection. Conclusion: A single dose of the vaccine is likely to provide greater protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in subjects with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, than in SARS-CoV-2-naive individuals. In addition, previous COVID-19 infection elicited robust and sustained levels of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in vaccinated individuals.

As little information of antibiotic resistance in Libya is known.This study included 937 patients admitted to Al Jamhoryia hospital, Benghazi during 20092010.The results showed that rate of nosocomial blood stream infection (BSI) was 28% in 2009 and 27% in 2010 with the highest percentage of ICU (61%) in 2009. This study also showed that in 2009, the most frequently isolated bacteria among staphylococci was methicillin resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). However methicillin resistant Coagulase negative staphylococci accounted for (27.4%) Klebsiellapneumoniaere presented the highest percentage followed by Escherichia coli, S. hominis, S. aurues, S. epidermides, and Acinetobacterbaumannii. The rate of infection recorded in 2010 was (52.5%). This study showed that MRSA was the most prevalent pathogen. S. aurues isolates represented the highest percentage among all bacteria isolated (24.8%) followed by E. coli % S. hominis and S. epidermides. The occurrence of Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing bacteria was 15.9% and 14.9% in 2009 and 2010 respectively. Antimicrobial sensitivity testing showed that Gram-positive isolates exhibited higher sensitivity patterns toward Rifampin (95.8%) followed by Teicoplanin (91.6%), Ciprofloxacin (90.2%), Vancomycin (87.4%), and Linezolid (84). High rate of resistance was observed against penicillins and 3rd generation cephalosporins. The rate of antibiotic resistant bacteria causing NBSI is increasing among Gram-positive and negative bacteria and creates a serious health problem in hospitals.