Prevalence of Schistosoma mono- and co-infections with multiple common parasites and associated risk factors and morbidity profile among adults in the Taabo health and demographic surveillance system, South-Central Côte d’Ivoire

Background Schistosomiasis remains an important public health problem, also among adults, and infected individuals not treated serve as a reservoir for continued transmission. Despite this fact, evidence on the epidemiology of schistosomiasis in adults in Côte d’Ivoire is scanty. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of Schistosoma infection and co-infection with other helminth species and Plasmodium among adults in the Taabo region in the south-central part of Côte d’Ivoire. Methods A cross-sectional survey was carried out in April and May 2017 in the frame of the “Côte d’Ivoire Dual Burden of Disease Study” (CoDuBu). A total of 901 randomly selected individuals, aged 18–90 years, provided blood, stool and urine samples for the diagnosis of malaria and helminth infections. Stool samples were subjected to the Kato-Katz technique for detection of Schistosoma mansoni and soil-transmitted helminth eggs, while urine samples were examined for eggs of Schistosoma haematobium and circulating cathodic antigen of S. mansoni. Risk factors and morbidity profiles were assessed using health examination and questionnaires. Multinomial logistic regressions were employed to identify risk factors and morbidity patterns associated with S. mansoni mono- and co-infections. Results The prevalence of S. mansoni and S. haematobium was 23.2% and 1.0%, respectively. Most S. mansoni were mono-infections (81.3%). Independent determinants of S. mansoni infection were young age, low socioeconomic status (mono- and co-infection) and poor hygiene practices (co-infection) (P < 0.05). S. mansoni infection was independently associated with higher pain and symptom scores (mono-infection), poor self-rated health and low healthcare use (co-infection) (P < 0.05). Conclusions This study showed that adults represent a substantial reservoir of S. mansoni. To sustain schistosomiasis control and improve people’s wellbeing, it is important to expand preventive chemotherapy from school-aged children to adults, coupled with hygiene and health education.

Food Allergy Prevention and Management in Children

Food allergy is a reaction mediated by immunological mechanisms that cause various symptoms in susceptible individuals while harmless in individuals who are not sensitive to the specific allergen. The reactions that take place are divided into three: IgE-mediated reactions, non-IgE-mediated reactions, and mixed-type reactions. While many types of food have the potential to cause allergen reactions, fewer foods are responsible for the most clinically severe reactions and for the majority of reported cases. Food allergy, which is increasingly common worldwide, is becoming an important public health problem. Although there are no clear epidemiological data, the prevalence of food allergy varies between 6-10% in preschool children and decreases to 2-5% in adulthood. Food allergy has long been recognized as a pediatric disease, as most cases tend to begin in childhood and disappear with growth. There is increasing evidence to support the role of early administration of potential food allergens to prevent food allergy. The management process of food allergy cases includes plans and innovative treatment strategies aimed at a personalized approach.

Adverse drug reactions to first line anti-tuberculosis drugs in newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be an important public health problem throughout much of the world. Drug treatment is the only effective treatment method, but adverse drug events (ADEs) and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) can affect medical adherence. As the number of drug resistant TB patients and the number of anti-TB drugs have increased, it is necessary to explore the risk factors for ADEs/ADRs to reduce their occurrence. Here we reported three different cases of ADRs due to first line anti-tubercular drugs.

Risk of HIV/STIs among Muslim army conscripts in the three deep southern provinces of Thailand

Background: The prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases is an important public health problem, especially in people who are sexually active, such as the army conscript group. However, their knowledge, attitudes, and practices may be influenced by certain cultures and beliefs. This study explored the factors associated with the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among the Muslim army conscript in three deep southern provinces of Thailand. Methods: The cross-sectional study design was conducted among 360 Muslim army conscripts. A researcher made questionnaire on knowledge of HIV/STI transmission, attitude toward condom use, and sexual behavior was distributed to the participants in a camp base. The association between the potential predictor variables and the risk of HIV/STI was analyzed using the multiple logistic regression. Statistically significant of the association considered a P value ≤ 0.05. Results: The results suggest that most Muslim army conscripts had a poor knowledge level of HIV/STI transmission (78.7%) and that their attitude toward condom use was at a moderate level (60.0%). The predicted factors were marital status [aOR=0.078, 95% CI=0.035-0.172], substance use before having sex [aOR=8.044, 95% CI=1.288-50.230], stimulant use before having sex [aOR=3.632, 95% CI=1.080-12.211], vaginal sexual intercourse [aOR=26.228, 95% CI=8.370-82.189], and oral sexual intercourse [aOR=2.256, 95% CI=1.106-4.601]. Conclusion: A proper sexual health education program should be developed and delivered to enhance knowledge on HIV/STI transmission among Muslim army conscripts.

Analisis faktor kejadian wasting pada anak balita 12-59 bulan di Puskesmas Bulili Kota Palu: Studi cross sectional

Wasting on children is an important public health problem because of its considerable impact on their health and growth. This problem could lead to iron deficiency which could induce infection disease and probably lower a child’s intelligence as a long-term effect. This study aimed to analyze factors related to wasting on 12-59 months children in Bulili Public Health Center (PHC), Palu City. The analytical descriptive study designed with a cross-sectional approach was applied in this study. One hundred and twenty-one subject was selected from 283 children with purposive sampling technique. Data were analyzed with chi-square and Fisher exact test with significant (p < 0,05). The result showed that most children with low birth weight experienced wasting with a p-value = 0,000. Most of the children from higher-income families did not experience wasting with a p-value = 0,004. Most children who didn’t receive breastfeeding milk did not experience wasting with a p-value = 0,958. This study concluded a correlation between low birth weight and income to wasting, but breastfeeding practice was not related.

Aleatory Trypanosoma cruzi Vertical Transmission in Chiapas, Mexico: A Case Report

Congenital Chagas disease is considered a form of dispersion of Trypanosoma cruzi related to human migration from endemic, often rural to previously non-endemic urban areas. This fact increases the Chagas disease establishment risk inside of family members by vertical transmission pathway. Congenital Chagas disease cases in newborns could not identified by the health professional even in endemic regions. Here we present the first family cluster of Chagas disease cases from Chiapas: one of the most important endemic areas in South of Mexico, where vertical T. cruzi transmission incidence rate is ranged between 2% to 22% revealing an important public health problem. Two cases inside a family from Chiapas, México with positive antibodies against T. cruzi detected by ELISA are presented; one of them got the infection through vertical pathway. We think that congenital Chagas disease should not be ignored in a newborn born from an asymptomatic Chagas disease mother, who may transmit the parasite infection randomly.

Clinical Spectrum of Schistosomiasis: An Update

Schistosomiasis is a helminthic infection and one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). It is caused by blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma. It is an important public health problem, particularly in poverty-stricken areas, especially those within the tropics and subtropics. It is estimated that at least 236 million people worldwide are infected, 90% of them in sub-Saharan Africa, and that this disease causes approximately 300,000 deaths annually. The clinical manifestations are varied and affect practically all organs. There are substantial differences in the clinical presentation, depending on the phase and clinical form of schistosomiasis in which it occurs. Schistosomiasis can remain undiagnosed for a long period of time, with secondary clinical lesion. Here, we review the clinical profile of schistosomiasis. This information may aid in the development of more efficacious treatments and improved disease prognosis.

Prevalence and Correlates of Alexithymia and Its Relationship With Life Events in Chinese Adolescents With Depression During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objectives: The incidence of psychological and behavioral problems and depression among adolescents is increasing year by year, which has become an important public health problem. Alexithymia, as an important susceptible factor of adolescent depression, may continue to develop and strengthen under the stimulation of COVID-19-related stressors. However, no studies have focused on alexithymia in adolescent depression during the pandemic in China. This study aims to investigate the incidence and related factors of alexithymia in adolescent depression during the pandemic.Methods: Three hundred adolescent patients were enrolled from October 2020 to May 2021. The general demographic information of all participants was collected, and the clinical characteristics were assessed by the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Check (ASLEC) List, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and the Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation (PANSI) Inventory.Results: The incidence of alexithymia was significantly higher among adolescents with depression (76.45%) during the pandemic. There were significant differences in school bullying, disease severity, ASLEC score, CTQ score and PANSI score between adolescents with and without alexithymia. In addition, learning stress, health and adaptation problems during the pandemic may be influential factors in alexithymia of adolescent depression (P &lt; 0.05).Conclusions: According to the results, we found a high incidence of alexithymia in adolescent depression during the pandemic. More support and attention from families, schools and society is needed to develop preventive and targeted psychological interventions as early as possible.

MSMEG_3955 from Mycobacterium smegmatis is a FMN bounded homotrimeric NAD(P)H:Flavin mononucleotide (FMN) oxidoreductase

Background Tuberculosis (TB) remains an important public health problem since it is the major cause of elevated morbidity and mortality globally. Previous works have shown that Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb); the prime causative agent of the deadly disease has dormancy survival regulator (DosR) regulon, a two-component regulatory system which controls the transcription of more than 50 genes. However, the structure and detailed functions of these DosR regulated genes are largely undetermined. Out of many DosR regulon genes, Rv3131 gets up regulated in hypoxic conditions and was believed to encode for a nitroreductase flavoprotein. The utilization of mycobacteria-specific model systems has greatly added to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the life cycle and pathogenesis of Mtb. Results In this study the non-pathogenic mycobacterial model organism Mycobacterium smegmatis (Msmeg) was used to reveal the structure and function of MSMEG_3955; which is a homologue of Rv3131 from Mtb. Using chromatography and spectroscopy techniques it was revealed that cofactor flavin mononucleotide (FMN) was bound to flavoprotein MSMEG_3955. Consistent with the homology modelling predictions, Circular Dichroism (CD) analysis indicated that the MSMEG_3955 is composed of 39.3% α-helix and 24.9% β-pleated sheets. In contrast to the current notions, the enzymatic assays performed in the present study revealed that MSMEG_3955 was not capable of reducing nitro substrates but showed NADPH dependent FMN oxidoreductase activity. Also, gel permeation chromatography, dynamic light scattering and native acidic gels showed that MSMEG_3955 exists as a homotrimer. Furthermore, the presence of NADPH dependent FMN oxidoreductase and homotrimeric existence could be an alternative function of the protein to help the bacteria survive in dormant state or may be involved in other biochemical pathways. Conclusion MSMEG_3955 is a FMN bound flavoprotein, which exits as a trimer under in vitro conditions. There is no disulphide linkages in between the three protomers of the homotrimer MSMEG_3955. It has a NADPH dependent FMN oxidoreductase activity.

Neonatal Outcomes of Pregnant Women With Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019: One-Year Experience of a Tertiary Care Center

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic became an important public health problem affecting all age groups. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical and laboratory findings of newborns born to mothers with COVID-19. Thirty pregnant women with COVID-19 were admitted to Turgut Ozal University Hospital for delivery. Fourteen pregnant women had at least one symptom associated with COVID-19. Positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results were seen in only 3 (9.7%) of 31 newborns. A statistically significant difference was observed between PCR-positive and PCR-negative newborns in terms of any adverse pregnancy outcomes. Neonatal lymphocyte count and partial arterial oxygen pressure were significantly lower in the PCR-positive group. Results were also compared according to the interval from the maternal diagnosis time to delivery. Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels in newborns born to mothers diagnosed more than 7 days before delivery were significantly lower. Neonates born to mothers with COVID-19 had mild clinical symptoms and favorable outcomes.