'The Lost Peace': Evidencing the Syndemic Relationship between Neglected Tropical Diseases and Mental Distress in Liberia.

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a group of chronic infectious diseases of poverty affecting over one billion people globally. Intersections of NTDs, disability, and mental ill-health are increasingly evidenced but are rarely studied from a mixed-methods perspective. Here, we advance syndemic understandings by further assessing and contextualising the syndemic relationship between NTDs (particularly their associated disability) and mental distress in Liberia.

Emergency Department Visits for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Associations with Geriatric Age, Sex, and Fall Injury.

Purpose: The highest rates mTBI occurrence are seen among geriatric populations (ages ≥65), and these patients often have persistent and untreated symptoms. This study's purpose was to explore mild traumatic brain injury initial onset (mTBI-IN) and mild traumatic brain injury subsequent (mTBI-S) emergency department (ED) visit population percentages and associations with geriatric (population ages ≥65), sex, and fall mechanism of injury.

Methods: The design was a population-based cross-sectional study using data from the 2018 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS).

The national distribution of lymphatic filariasis cases in Malawi using patient mapping and geostatistical modelling.

Background: In 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that Malawi had successfully eliminated lymphatic filariasis (LF) as a public health problem. Understanding clinical case distributions at a national and sub-national level is important, so essential care packages can be provided to individuals living with LF symptoms. This study aimed to develop a national database and map of LF clinical cases across Malawi using geostatistical modelling approaches, programme-identified clinical cases, antigenaemia prevalence and climate information.

Elimination of lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem in Malawi.

Background: Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes, causing severe pain, disfiguring, and disabling clinical conditions such as lymphoedema and hydrocoele. LF is a global public health problem affecting 72 countries, primarily in Africa and Asia. Since 2000, the World Health Organization (WHO) has led the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) to support all endemic regions.

Mental health conditions in people affected by filarial lymphoedema in Malawi: prevalence, associated risk factors and the impact of an enhanced self-care intervention.

Background: This study aimed to determine the key mental health indicators affecting people affected by lymphatic filariasis (LF) lymphoedema by assessing the prevalence of depressive symptoms and quality of life (QOL), identifying associated sociodemographic and clinical risk factors, and evaluating the impact of an enhanced self-care intervention for lymphoedema management.

Methods: A prospective cohort study of adults with filarial lymphoedema from two regions of Malawi was conducted over six months in 2021. Depressive symptoms and QOL were assessed using Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and LF Specific QOL Questionnaire, respectively, at baseline (pre-intervention), 3- and 6-months (postintervention).

Differential screen and treatment of vestibular dysfunction in an elderly patient: A case report.

Background/purpose: Concussion sequelae in the elderly is under recognized and negatively impacts quality of life. Labyrinthine concussion (LC) is an uncommon diagnosis, as is multiple canal (MC) benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). This case report highlights physical therapist (PT) evaluation and treatment of an elderly male misdiagnosed with LC and successfully treated for MC BPPV.

Successful Management of Severe Unilateral Lower Extremity Lymphedema in an Outpatient Setting.

Background And Purpose: Non-cancer-related lymphedema is frequently unrecognized until it has advanced and, therefore, presents substantial management challenges. Treatment for lymphedema reflects cancer research and not the distinct complexities of non-cancer-related lymphedema. This case report describes an outpatient intervention for a patient with non-cancer-related unilateral lower extremity lymphedema.