Digital epidemiology: harnessing big data for early detection and monitoring of viral outbreaks.

Digital epidemiology is the process of investigating the dynamics of disease-related patterns, both social and clinical, as well as the causes of these trends in epidemiology. Digital epidemiology, utilising big data from a variety of digital sources, has emerged as a viable method for early detection and monitoring of viral outbreaks. The present review gives an overview of digital epidemiology, emphasising its importance in the timely detection of infectious disease outbreaks.

The prevalence of IGM antibodies to Zika virus in pregnant women in Northern Nigeria.

Introduction: Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy can result in severe outcomes for both the pregnant woman and the developing fetus. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Zika virus infection among pregnant women who sought healthcare services at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital.

Materials And Methods: Serum samples were collected and analyzed using Enzyme Linked Immunoassay and RT-qPCR methods, while a structured questionnaire was used to gather relevant information about the participants.

Outcomes following Placement and Removal of Transvaginal Cerclage in at Risk Pregnancies: A Single Center Experience.

Objective: The objective of this study was to estimate the time between removal of cerclage and delivery, stratified by indication for cerclage placement (elective or non-elective). Additionally, delivery within 72 hours after cerclage removal was compared between elective and non-elective cerclage placement, as well as between ultrasound-indicated and physical examination-indicated cerclage placement.

Design: A single-center retrospective cohort study.

The interplay between environmental factors, vector competence and vaccine immunodynamics as possible explanation of the 2019 yellow fever re-emergence in Nigeria.

Throughout the year 2019, Nigeria had sporadic outbreaks of yellow fever (YF), which began in the northern region of the country. Indeed, controlling the bites and population of mosquitoes and vaccination are the only effective means of preventing YF. Vectorial migration, sylvan-to-urban spillover, immunization failure and, perhaps, genetic modification of YFV could be reasons for the re-emergence of YF at the community, state and national levels.

Impact of opioid maintenance treatment during pregnancy on neonatal birth weight and head circumference.

Background: Pregnant mothers with opioid dependency commonly receive maintenance treatment of opioid (OMT), either as buprenorphine (BMT) or methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). We investigated, whether OMT adversely affects standardized neonatal anthropometric outcomes and whether BMT is potentially safer than MMT in this regard.

Methods: Retrospective chart review of mother infant dyad, with and without OMT.

Sero-survey of measles virus antibodies among symptomatic children attending Abuja Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.

Nigeria is one of the countries with a high prevalence of measles outbreak in children under 5 years old, despite a history of vaccination. This study aims to determine the prevalence of anti-measles virus IgM and IgG among children under 5 years attending the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada, FCT Abuja, Nigeria. : Whole blood was collected, centrifuged, and serum anti-IgM and anti-IgG against measles virus was analysed using ELISA.

Humoral immunological kinetics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and diagnostic performance of serological assays for coronavirus disease 2019: an analysis of global reports.

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to rise and second waves are reported in some countries, serological test kits and strips are being considered to scale up an adequate laboratory response. This study provides an update on the kinetics of humoral immune response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and performance characteristics of serological protocols (lateral flow assay [LFA], chemiluminescence immunoassay [CLIA] and ELISA) used for evaluations of recent and past SARS-CoV-2 infection. A thorough and comprehensive review of suitable and eligible full-text articles was performed on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Wordometer and medRxiv from 10 January to 16 July 2020.

Leucocytes and Th-associated Cytokine Profile of HIV-Leishmaniasis Co-Infected Persons Attending Abuja Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.

Objective: T-helper cells (Th)-1& -2 cytokines homeostasis control or predict clinical outcome of infected persons, especially those with HIV /AIDS. This case-control study evaluated the leucocytes differentials, TNF-alpha, interleukin (IL)-2 and -10 levels among HIV infected persons with serological evidence of leishmaniasis attending University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.

Materials And Methods: Blood samples from 28 HIV infected persons who had Leishmania donovani rK39 and Immunoglobulin-G (IgG) positive (group 1), 30 age- & -sex matched HIV infected persons without Leishmania antibodies (group 2) and 30 apparently healthy persons without HIV and Leishmania antibodies (group 3).

Spontaneous septostomy in a monochorionic-diamniotic twin gestation.

Monochorionic twin gestations are associated with a greater incidence of neonatal morbidity and mortality when compared with their dichorionic counterparts. In turn, monochorionic-monoamniotic (MCMA) gestations carry greater risks compared with monochorionic-diamniotic (MCDA) gestations. While the true incidence of spontaneous septostomy of the dividing membranes (SSDM) in MCDA twins is unknown, SSDM has been demonstrated to be associated with increased morbidity and mortality, due to functional transition from a MCDA gestation to a MCMA gestation.

Leveraging on the genomics and immunopathology of SARS-CoV-2 for vaccines development: prospects and challenges.

The incidence and case-fatality rates (CFRs) of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, the etiological agent for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), have been rising unabated. Even though the entire world has been implementing infection prevention and control measures, the pandemic continues to spread. It has been widely accepted that preventive vaccination strategies are the public health measures for countering this pandemic.

Mathematical modeling for infectious viral disease: The COVID-19 perspective.

In this study, we examined various forms of mathematical models that are relevant for the containment, risk analysis, and features of COVID-19. Greater emphasis was laid on the extension of the Susceptible-Infectious-Recovered (SIR) models for policy relevance in the time of COVID-19. These mathematical models play a significant role in the understanding of COVID-19 transmission mechanisms, structures, and features.

Roles and challenges of coordinated public health laboratory response against COVID-19 pandemic in Africa.

As the incidence of Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) continues to rise, many countries have been seeking for medical assistance such as donation or procurement of laboratory test kits and strips. These consumables are largely intended for use in the laboratory investigations of COVID-19 cases, suspected contacts, asymptomatic persons and in discharging cured persons. Thus, this article was instigated to update and remind healthcare providers and policymakers (especially those in developing countries) on the principles of sample collections, storage, transportation, laboratory protocols and networks needed for appropriate public health response against COVID-19 pandemic in Africa and other developing countries.

Spectrum of pulmonary fungal pathogens, associated risk factors, and anti-fungal susceptibility pattern among persons with presumptive tuberculosis at Gombe, Nigeria.

Background: Pulmonary mycosis (PM) poses a great diagnostic challenge due to the lack of pathognomonic and radiological features, especially in the absence of mycology laboratory tests. This study was aimed to isolate, phenotypically identify, determine the prevalence of pulmonary fungal pathogens and antifungal susceptibility pattern of isolates of presumptive tuberculosis (PTB) patients attending Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH) Gombe, Nigeria.

Methods: After ethical approval, three consecutive early morning sputa were collected from 216 participants with presumptive of PTB attending FTH Gombe, between May 2, 2017 and May 30, 2018.

Phenotypic profile of pulmonary aspergillosis and associated cellular immunity among people living with human immunodeficiency virus in Maiduguri, Nigeria.

Objective: causes many forms of pulmonary infectious diseases ranging from colonization (noninvasive) to invasive aspergillosis. This largely depends on the underlying host's lung health and immune status. Pulmonary aspergillosis (PA), especially the invasive form, occurs as opportunistic to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as a result of cluster of differentiation (CD)4+ lymphopenia.

Genomic detection of a familial 382 Kb 6q27 deletion in a fetus with isolated severe ventriculomegaly and her affected mother.

Terminal deletions of the chromosome 6q27 region are rare genomic abnormalities, linked to specific brain malformations and other neurological phenotypes. Reported cases have variable sized genomic deletions that harbor several genes including the DLL1 and TBP. We report on an inherited 0.

Outcomes in subsequent pregnancies after wedge resection for interstitial ectopic pregnancy: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate pregnancy outcomes in patients with a history of wedge resection for interstitial ectopic pregnancy (WRIEP).

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of pregnancies with a history of WRIEP from 2000 to 2013 at two inner city hospitals in Detroit, MI. Pregnant-matched controls (1:3) were selected and included patients with history of surgically treated tubal ectopic pregnancy and delivered patients without history of ectopic pregnancy.

Adolescence and risk of preterm birth in multifetal gestations.

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate if adolescence confers additional risk for preterm delivery in multifetal gestations.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of all twin and triplet deliveries from 8/2008 to 12/2012 at two Detroit Hospitals. Outcomes in adolescent mothers aged 19 or younger (n = 59) were compared with adult controls aged 20-34 (n = 350).

Secondary Postpartum Hemorrhage due to Spontaneous Uterine Artery Rupture after Normal Vaginal Delivery Managed by Selective Arterial Embolization.

Secondary postpartum hemorrhage due to an intraperitoneal bleed following a vaginal delivery is extremely rare. We present a case of spontaneous rupture of the uterine artery following a normal vaginal delivery with a delayed presentation, which resulted in significant morbidity. This case discusses the presentation and management of this rare obstetrical emergency.

Risk-profiles and outcomes of multi-foetal pregnancies in adolescent mothers.

In this retrospective review of 468 mothers with a multi-foetal pregnancy in Detroit, we describe the risk-profiles and the obstetrical, maternal and foetal outcomes of multi-foetal pregnancy in 59 (13%) adolescents. Overall, most mothers were African American, did not have private insurance and all were unmarried. For most mothers, this was their first pregnancy (59.

Optimal visualization of the fetal four-chamber and outflow tract views with transabdominal ultrasound in the morbidly obese: Are we there yet?

Background: To compare optimal visualization of the four-chamber and outflow-tract views of the fetal heart on sonographic examination between morbidly obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 40 kg/m(2) ) and nonobese (BMI < 25 kg/m(2) ) pregnant women.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we included records and images from 509 pregnant women who had first undergone sonographic examination between 18 and 36 weeks' fetal gestational age.

Results: Compared with the nonobese women, morbidly obese women had lower optimal visualization of the four-chamber and outflow-tract heart views: four-chamber view, morbidly obese, 83/186 (44.

Fetal cardiac axis in non-anomalous pregnancies: does fetal gender or maternal body mass index (BMI) matter?

Objectives: To determine if cardiac axis obtained at an early ultrasound study (11-15 weeks) differs from that obtained at a late ultrasound study (18-22 weeks) in the same fetus and to evaluate the impact of fetal gender and/or maternal body mass index (BMI).

Methods: Cardiac axes of 324 non-anomalous fetuses at 11-15 weeks gestation were measured, with follow-up measurements obtained at 18-22 weeks. Comparisons were performed based on gestational age period, fetal gender and obese/non-obese maternal status.

Outcomes following intra-amniotic instillation with indigo carmine to diagnose prelabor rupture of membranes in singleton pregnancies: a single center experience.

Objective: To evaluate clinical outcomes of women with singleton pregnancies that underwent intra-amniotic dye instillation (amniodye test) following equivocal diagnosis of prelabor rupture of membranes (PROM).

Method: Records of 34 pregnant women who underwent amniodye test for equivocal PROM were reviewed. Comparisons of characteristics, amniotic fluid (AF) cultures, AF interleukin (IL)-6 concentrations, and placenta pathology results between women who tested positive and those who tested negative were performed.

Passage of decidual cast following poor compliance with oral contraceptive pill.

Background: Decidual cast describes the spontaneous sloughing of endometrium as an entire piece while retaining the shape of the endometrial cavity. It may be associated with increased serum progesterone levels and must be considered as a differential diagnosis in a patient who passes tissue per vagina while on progesterone containing hormonal contraception.

Case: A 13-year-old adolescent with a history of menorrhagia since menarche, presented to the pediatric emergency room with worsening abdominal pain and heavy vaginal bleeding stopping her oral contraceptive pill 10 days prior to presentation.

Asymptomatic "placental prolapse" with cervical funneling in a patient with complete placenta previa.

We describe the transvaginal sonographic findings in a patient with complete placenta previa and increased risk of preterm birth owing to a prior history of mid-trimester pregnancy loss in whom we observed a short cervix and prolapse of the placenta and fetal membranes into the endocervical canal. We believe that this could lead to antepartum hemorrhage and mandate close observation when diagnosed. We introduced the term "placental prolapse" to describe our finding.