Background: Despite the availability of a highly efficacious vaccine, varicella outbreaks are still being reported globally. In this study, we evaluated the real-world effectiveness of varicella vaccination among children between the ages of 1 and 18 years old during the period 2017 to 2019 in Qatar. Methods: A matched case–control study was conducted that included all reported varicella-infected children who visited the primary healthcare system in Qatar from January 2017 to December 2019. The cases were children under the age of 18 years who were clinically diagnosed with varicella. The controls were of the same age, who visited the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) during 2017–2019 with a skin rash where varicella infection was ruled out. The data on varicella vaccination for each participant were obtained from the electronic database in the PHCC during the study period. Results: We included 862 cases of varicella and 5454 matched controls, with a median age of 8 years (IQR 3–12); 47.4% were female and almost 50% were of Qatari nationality. The year 2019 had the highest varicella infection count with a total of 416 cases. The cases were less likely to be vaccinated against varicella, with approximately a quarter (25.6%) of cases and 36.7% of the controls having either one or two doses of the vaccine (p < 0.001). Compared to not being vaccinated, a single dose vaccination showed a 56% reduction in the odds of varicella infection [OR 0.44, 95% CI: 0.34–0.55; p < 0.000], and a two-dose vaccination showed an 86% reduction in the odds of varicella infection [OR 0.13, 95% CI: 0.06–0.29; p < 0.000]. Conclusion: In this multicultural setting, a two-dose varicella vaccination shows reasonable protection against varicella infection.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection initially results in respiratory distress symptoms but can also lead to central nervous system (CNS) and neurological manifestations, significantly impacting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, strict lockdown measures introduced to curtail the spread of COVID-19 have raised concerns over the wellbeing of patients with dementia and/or Alzheimer’s disease. The aim of this review was to discuss the overlapping molecular pathologies and the potential bidirectional relationship between COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s dementia, as well as the impact of lockdown/restriction measures on the neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) of patients with Alzheimer’s dementia. Furthermore, we aimed to assess the impact of lockdown measures on the NPS of caregivers, exploring its potential effects on the quality and extent of care they provide to dementia patients.We utilized the PubMed and Google Scholar databases to search for articles on COVID-19, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, lockdown, and caregivers. Our review highlights that patients with Alzheimer’s disease face an increased risk of COVID-19 infection and complications. Additionally, these patients are likely to experience greater cognitive decline. It appears that these issues are primarily caused by the SARS-CoV-2 infection and appear to be further exacerbated by restrictive/lockdown measures. Moreover, lockdown measures introduced during the pandemic have negatively impacted both the NPSs of caregivers and their perception of the wellbeing of their Alzheimer’s patients. Thus, additional safeguard measures, along with pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches, are needed to protect the wellbeing of dementia patients and their caregivers in light of this and possible future pandemics.

Diabetes is one of the most common diseases worldwide, with steady increase in its prevalence around the globe. One of the common and most devastating complication of such disease is diabetic foot ulcer. The prevalence of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) among adults with diabetes globally has been estimated at 6.3%, while the annual incidence has been reported to range between 9.1 to 26.1 million cases. DFU is associated with several risk factors including a longer duration of diabetes, poorly controlled diabetes, diabetic neuropathy and foot deformities such as foot callus and flat foot. It can also result in many complications, among which infections are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Infections are estimated to occur in 60% of all diabetic ulcers. Moreover, the mortality rate is higher by 2.5-fold in patients with diabetes with foot ulcers compared to patients with diabetes without foot ulcers. In this chapter, we discuss the epidemiology of DFU, and review its prevalence in different parts of the world, along with risk factors, complication rates and overall impact on quality of life.

We report the case of a 46‐year‐old female with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) who presented with acute onset flaccid quadriplegia, respiratory distress, and multifocal cerebral infarctions. Initial clinical suspicion favored inflammatory myelopathy; however, advanced neuroimaging demonstrated a long‐segment anterior spinal cord infarction extending from the cervical to upper thoracic region, along with bilateral cerebellar and occipitoparietal infarcts. A patent foramen ovale and hypoplastic vertebral artery suggested a possible embolic and hemodynamic mechanism. This case illustrates the diagnostic complexity in distinguishing vascular infarction from inflammatory myelopathies and underscores the importance of thorough imaging and vascular workup in acute flaccid paralysis.