Evaluation of waning of IgG antibody responses after rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP and Ad26.ZEBOV, MVA-BN-Filo Ebola virus disease vaccines: a modelling study from the PREVAC randomized trial.

rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP and Ad26.ZEBOV, MVA-BN-Filo are WHO-prequalified vaccination regimens against Ebola virus disease (EVD). Challenges associated with measuring long-term clinical protection warrant the evaluation of immune response kinetics after vaccination.

Short Communication: Genetic Variation in Human Proximal Promoter and Susceptibility to HIV-1 Infection in Mali, West Africa.

It is now recognized that to fully understand the role of host genetic variation on susceptibility to HIV-1 infection, investigations must be extended to African populations. We sought to determine if genetic variation in are associated with HIV-1 infection in a West African cohort in Mali. HIV-infected and -uninfected individuals were genotyped for three common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located at positions -592 (C/A), -819 (C/T), and -1082 (G/A) of the promoter.

Performance of Mali's biosafety level 3 laboratory in the external quality assessment in preparedness of laboratory accreditation and support to clinical trials.

Background: The external quality assessment (EQA) or external quality control is an evaluation conducted by a certified external organization to inquire about the quality of the results provided by a laboratory. The primary role of EQA is to verify the accuracy of laboratory results. This is essential in research because research data should be published in international peer-reviewed journals, and laboratory results must be repeatable.

Performance Comparison of Xpert HIV-1 Viral Load Assay and Roche Taqman and Abbott M2000 RT in Bamako, Mali.

Background: Routine monitoring of HIV-1 Viral Load (VL) is important in patients on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) management. Access to HIV VL remains a challenge in resource-limited settings, especially in rural areas. Universal access to VL requires more simplified and less restrictive alternatives to current conventional VL methods.

Diabetes Mellitus among new tuberculosis patients in Bamako, Mali.

Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) increases worldwide, mostly in low- and middle-income countries. In Mali, the prevalence in the adult population is estimated at 1.8%, but tuberculosis (TB) patients are not systematically screened.

Clinical risk factors associated with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Mali.

Background: MDR-TB is a major threat to global TB control. In 2015, 580,000 were treated for MDR-TB worldwide. The worldwide roll-out of GeneXpert MTB/RIF has improved diagnosis of MDR-TB; however, in many countries laboratories are unable to assess drug resistance and clinical predictors of MDR-TB could help target suspected patients.

Diagnostic Performances of Three Rapid Diagnostic Tests for Detecting HIV Infections in Mali.

Diagnosis of HIV infections in resource-limited countries like Mali is based on Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs). The RDTs are diagnostic assays designed for use at the Point-Of-Care (POC), which is quick, cost-effective and easy to perform. However, in these countries, the tests are commonly used without any initial evaluation or monitoring of their performance despite high levels of HIV strain diversity and rapid evolution of the virus.

Mycobacterium africanum (Lineage 6) shows slower sputum smear conversion on tuberculosis treatment than Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Lineage 4) in Bamako, Mali.

Objective: Ancestral M. tuberculosis complex lineages such as M. africanum are underrepresented among retreatment patients and those with drug resistance.

Establishing Reference Ranges of Hematological Parameters from Malian Healthy Adults.

Introduction: Measurement of immuno-hematological parameters has been historically helpful in the diagnosis and treatment monitoring of many infectious diseases and cancers. However, these parameters have not yet been established in many developing countries where patient care strongly relies on such low-cost tests. This study describes the immuno-hematological parameter ranges for Malian healthy adults.

Clinical characteristics of non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary infections in Bamako, Mali.

The global spread of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) may be due to HIV/AIDS and other environmental factors. The symptoms of NTM and tuberculosis (TB) disease are indistinguishable, but their treatments are different. Lack of research on the epidemiology of NTM infections has led to underestimation of its prevalence within TB endemic countries.

The most frequent complex families in mali (2006-2016) based on spoligotyping.

Background: To identify strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBc) circulating in Bamako region during the past 10 years.

Methods: From 2006 to 2016, we conducted a cross-sectional study to identify with spoligotyping, clinical isolates from tuberculosis (TB)-infected patients at different stages of their treatments in Bamako, Mali.

Results: Among the 904 suspected TB patients included in the study and thereafter tested in our BSL-3 laboratory, 492 (54.

Extensively drug resistant tuberculosis in Mali: a case report.

Background: Drug resistant tuberculosis presents a major public health challenge.

Case Presentation: We present here the first two patients diagnosed with extensively drug resistant tuberculosis in Bamako, Mali. Genotypic findings suggest possible nosocomial transmission from the first patient to the second one, resulting in superinfection of the second patient.

Performance of microscopic observation drug susceptibility for the rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis and detection of drug resistance in Bamako, Mali.

Objectives: In Mali early detection and treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) are still challenging due to the cost, time and/or complexity associated with regular tests. Microscopic Observation Drug Susceptibility (MODS) is a low-cost assay validated by WHO in 2010. It is a liquid-culture-based assay to detect the 'cording' characteristic of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and to assess susceptibility to both isoniazid and rifampicin defining multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

Tuberculosis drug resistance in Bamako, Mali, from 2006 to 2014.

Background: Although Drug resistance tuberculosis is not a new phenomenon, Mali remains one of the "blank" countries without systematic data.

Methods: Between 2006 and 2014, we enrolled pulmonary TB patients from local TB diagnostics centers and a university referral hospital in several observational cohort studies. These consecutive patients had first line drug susceptibility testing (DST) performed on their isolates.

Stool microbiome reveals diverse bacterial ureases as confounders of oral urea breath testing for Helicobacter pylori and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Bamako, Mali.

Detection of bacterial urease activity has been utilized successfully to diagnose Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). While Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.

Medical hypnosis as a tool to acclimatize children to noninvasive positive pressure ventilation: a pilot study.

Background: Patient cooperation is crucial for the success of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV). This study evaluated the efficacy of medical hypnosis to reduce anticipatory anxiety and acclimatization time in children who are candidates for long-term NPPV.

Methods: Medical hypnosis was performed by a trained nurse.

Fentanyl-associated fatalities among illicit drug users in Wayne County, Michigan (July 2005-May 2006).

Background: During the summer of 2005, multiple cities in the United States began to report outbreaks of fentanyl-associated fatalities among illicit drug users. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine if an outbreak of fentanyl-associated fatalities occurred in mid-2005 to mid-2006 and (2) to examine trends and compare features of fentanyl-contaminated heroin-associated fatalities (FHFs) with non-fentanyl, heroin-associated fatalities (NFHFs) among illicit drug users.

Methods: Baseline prevalence of fentanyl- and heroin-associated deaths was estimated from January to May 2005 based on recorded cause of death (determined by the medical examiner (ME)) using the Wayne County, MI, USA toxicology database.

Perchlorate exposure from infant formula and comparisons with the perchlorate reference dose.

Perchlorate exposure may be higher in infants compared with older persons, due to diet (infant formula) and body weight versus intake considerations. Our primary objective was to quantitatively assess perchlorate concentrations in commercially available powdered infant formulas (PIFs). Secondary objectives were: (1) to estimate exposure in infants under different dosing scenarios and compare them with the perchlorate reference dose (RfD); (2) estimate the perchlorate concentration in water used for preparing PIFs that would result in a dose exceeding the RfD; and (3) estimate iodine intakes from PIFs.

Hypothermia and other cold-related morbidity emergency department visits: United States, 1995-2004.

Objective: Although hypothermia is preventable, little has been published on its epidemiology. This study estimates the incidence of hypothermia and other cold-related morbidity emergency department (ED) visits in the United States.

Methods: We identified hypothermia and other cold-related morbidity ED visits from the 1995- 2004 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (991.

Exposure assessment of a mercury spill in a Nevada school -- 2004.

Background: Although mercury is toxic, few studies have measured exposure in children who handled elemental mercury briefly. In 2004, a student spilled approximately 60 milliliters of mercury at a Nevada school. Within 12 hours, all students were removed from the source of exposure.

Public health investigation after the discovery of ricin in a South Carolina postal facility.

Objectives: In October 2003, a package containing ricin and a note threatening to poison water supplies was discovered in a South Carolina postal facility, becoming the first potential chemical terrorism event involving ricin in the United States. We examined the comprehensive public health investigation that followed and discuss the lessons learned from it.

Methods: An investigation consisting primarily of environmental sampling for ricin contamination, performance of health assessments on affected personnel, and local, regional, and national surveillance for ricin-associated illness.

Investigating childhood leukemia in Churchill County, Nevada.

Background: Sixteen children diagnosed with acute leukemia between 1997 and 2002 lived in Churchill County, Nevada, at the time of or before their illness. Considering the county population and statewide cancer rate, fewer than two cases would be expected.

Objectives: In March 2001, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention led federal, state, and local agencies in a cross-sectional, case-comparison study to determine if ongoing environmental exposures posed a health risk to residents and to compare levels of contaminants in environmental and biologic samples collected from participating families.