Sickle Trait and Alpha Thalassemia Increase NOS-Dependent Vasodilation of Human Arteries Through Disruption of Endothelial Hemoglobin-eNOS Interactions.

Background: Severe malaria is associated with impaired nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS)-dependent vasodilation, and reversal of this deficit improves survival in murine models. Malaria might have selected for genetic polymorphisms that increase endothelial NO signaling and now contribute to heterogeneity in vascular function among humans. One protein potentially selected for is alpha globin, which, in mouse models, interacts with endothelial NOS (eNOS) to negatively regulate NO signaling.

Malaria risk factors amongst forest going populations in Mondulkiri Province and Kampong Speu Province, Cambodia: a large cross-sectional survey.

Background: Cambodia strives to eliminate all species of human malaria by 2025, requiring that foci among forest-exposed populations in remote settings be addressed. This study explores malaria risk factors amongst forest-exposed groups in Mondulkiri and Kampong Speu Provinces, Cambodia as part of a multi-stage study on novel bite prevention tools (Project BITE).

Methods: A serial cross-sectional survey explored the demographics, housing structure openness, mosquito bite prevention habits, and gaps in protection amongst three target groups: forest goers who work in the forest, forest dwellers who live in the forest, and forest rangers who patrol forested regions.

Humoral Immunity Profiling to Pandemic and Bat-Derived Coronavirus Variants: A Geographical Comparison.

Dynamic pathogen exposure may impact the immunological response to SARS-CoV-2 (SCV2). One potential explanation for the lack of severe SCV2-related morbidity and mortality in Southeast Asia is prior exposure to related betacoronaviruses. Recent discoveries of SCV2-related betacoronaviruses from horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus sinicus) in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia suggest the potential for bat-to-human spillover exposures in the region.

Climate, demography, immunology, and virology combine to drive two decades of dengue virus dynamics in Cambodia.

The incidence of dengue virus disease has increased globally across the past half-century, with highest number of cases ever reported in 2019 and again in 2023. We analyzed climatological, epidemiological, and phylogenomic data to investigate drivers of two decades of dengue in Cambodia, an understudied endemic setting. Using epidemiological models fit to a 19-y dataset, we first demonstrate that climate-driven transmission alone is insufficient to explain three epidemics across the time series.

Bacterial Genomics for National Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance in Cambodia.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) often relies on poorly resourced laboratory processes. Centralized sequencing was combined with cloud-based, open-source bioinformatics solutions for national AMR surveillance in Cambodia.

Methods: Blood cultures growing gram-negative bacteria were collected at six Cambodian hospitals (January 2021 - October 2022).

Assessment of monitoring approaches to control Legionella pneumophila within a complex cooling tower system.

Precise and rapid methods are needed to improve monitoring approaches of L. pneumophila (Lp) in cooling towers (CTs) to allow timely operational adjustments and prevent outbreaks. The performance of liquid culture (ASTM D8429-21) and an online qPCR device were first compared to conventional filter plate culture (ISO 11731-2017), qPCR and semi-automated qPCR at three spiked concentrations of Lp (serogroup 1) validated by flow cytometry (total/viable cell count).

Antibiotic resistance profiles of sentinel bacteria isolated from aquaculture in Cambodia.

The misuse of antibiotics and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a concern in the aquaculture industry because it contributes to global health risks and impacts the environment. This study analyzed the AMR of sentinel bacteria associated with striped catfish () and giant snakehead (), the two main fish species reared in the pond culture in Cambodia. Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of the recovered isolates from fish, water, and sediment samples revealed the presence of bacteria, such as 22 species belonging to families , , and .

Sexual Behavior Among Emerging Adults in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Estimates on sexual behavior (SB) among emerging adults (EmA) is varied in literature, which presents a challenge when designing targeted interventions. We aimed to summarize literature on prevalence and risk factors of SB among EmA in Africa.

Methods: A search for studies published in PubMed, Embase, and Psych Info by March 2023 was done.

Case Report: Risk Factors Associated with Mortality in Adults with Burkholderia Pseudomallei Bacteremia: A Retrospective Case Series of Melioidosis in Cambodia.

In resource-scarce settings, melioidosis is associated with up to 80% mortality. Studies of melioidosis in Cambodia report primarily on pediatric populations with localized infection; however, literature describing Cambodian adults with severe melioidosis is lacking. We present a case series of 35 adults with sequence-confirmed Burkholderia pseudomallei bacteremia presenting to a provincial referral hospital in rural Cambodia.

Associations between disordered eating behaviour and sexual behaviour amongst emerging adults attending a tertiary education institution in Coastal Kenya.

Background: Sexual behavior (SB) is a well-documented pathway to HIV acquisition in emerging adults and remains common amongst African emerging adults. Previous research in high-income countries indicates a correlation between disordered eating behavior (DEB) and engaging in sexual behaviors. We aimed to describe the relationship between DEB and SB amongst emerging adults attending a tertiary educational institution at the Kenyan Coast.

Plastic pollution affects ecosystem processes including community structure and functional traits in large rivers.

Plastics in aquatic ecosystems rapidly undergo biofouling, giving rise to a new ecosystem on their surface, the 'plastisphere.' Few studies quantify the impact of plastics and their associated community on ecosystem traits from biodiversity and functional traits to metabolic function. It has been suspected that impacts on ecosystems may depend on its state but comparative studies of ecosystem responses are rare in the published literature.

Antibodies to D7L salivary proteins as a new serological tool to estimate human exposure to mosquitoes.

Introduction: are the most prolific mosquito vectors in the world. Found on every continent, they can effectively transmit various arboviruses, including the dengue virus which continues to cause outbreaks worldwide and is spreading into previously non-endemic areas. The lack of widely available dengue vaccines accentuates the importance of targeted vector control strategies to reduce the dengue burden.

Quality of Refractive Error Care in Cambodia: An Unannounced Standardized Patient Study.

Purpose: Quality-of-care in refractive error services is essential, as it directly affects vision outcomes, wellbeing, educational attainment, and workforce participation. In Cambodia, uncorrected refractive error is a leading cause of mild and moderate vision impairment in adults. We evaluated the quality of refractive error care in Cambodia by estimating the proportion of prescribed and dispensed spectacles appropriate for people's refractive error needs and factors associated with spectacle quality.

Gastrulation-stage gene expression in mouse embryos foreshadows the development of syndromic birth defects.

In animal models, deficiency phenocopies gene expression changes and birth defects seen in Cornelia de Lange syndrome, the most common cause of which is haploinsufficiency. Previous studies in mice suggested that heart development is abnormal as soon as cardiogenic tissue is formed. To investigate this, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing on wild-type and mouse embryos at gastrulation and early cardiac crescent stages.

Non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory viral detection and whole genome sequencing from COVID-19 rapid antigen test devices: a laboratory evaluation study.

Background: There has been high uptake of rapid antigen test device use for point-of-care COVID-19 diagnosis. Individuals who are symptomatic but test negative on COVID-19 rapid antigen test devices might have a different respiratory viral infection. We aimed to detect and sequence non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory viruses from rapid antigen test devices, which could assist in the characterisation and surveillance of circulating respiratory viruses in the community.

Antibodies to D7L salivary proteins as a new serological tool to estimate human exposure to mosquitoes.

Introduction: are the most prolific mosquito vectors in the world. Found on every continent, they can effectively transmit various arboviruses, including the dengue virus which continues to cause outbreaks worldwide and is spreading into previously non-endemic areas. The lack of widely available dengue vaccines accentuates the importance of targeted vector control strategies to reduce the dengue burden.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice towards hepatitis B virus among healthcare workers: a cross-sectional, hospital-based study in Montserrado County, Liberia.

Prevention is critical in safeguarding against the spread of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare workers (HCWs) regarding the disease play an important role in its prevention or spread, yet in this regard, data in Liberia remains scarce. Hence, determining the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) level of HCWs toward HBV infection becomes necessary.

Detection and phylogenetic analysis of contemporary H14N2 Avian influenza A virus in domestic ducks in Southeast Asia (Cambodia).

Avian influenza virus (AIV) in Asia is a complex system with numerous subtypes and a highly porous wild birds-poultry interface. Certain AIV subtypes, such as H14, are underrepresented in current surveillance efforts, leaving gaps in our understanding of their ecology and evolution. The detection of rare subtype H14 in domestic ducks in Southeast Asia comprises a geographic region and domestic bird population previously unassociated with this subtype.

Immunity to non-dengue flaviviruses impacts dengue virus IgG ELISA specificity in Cambodia.

Seroprevalence studies are the gold standard for disease surveillance, and serology was used to determine eligibility for the first licensed dengue vaccine. However, expanding flavivirus endemicity, co-circulation, and vaccination complicate serology results. Among 713 healthy Cambodian children, a commonly used indirect dengue virus IgG ELISA (PanBio) had a lower specificity than previously reported (94% vs.

Gastrulation-stage gene expression in mouse embryos foreshadows the development of syndromic birth defects.

Unlabelled: In animal models, -deficiency phenocopies gene expression changes and birth defects seen in Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS), the most common cause of which is -haploinsufficiency. Previous studies in mice suggested that heart development is abnormal as soon as cardiogenic tissue is formed. To investigate this, we performed single-cell RNA-sequencing on wildtype (WT) and mouse embryos at gastrulation and early cardiac crescent stages.

The Biocompatibility Analysis of Artificial Mucin-Like Glycopolymers.

The ocular surface is covered by a tear film consisting of an aqueous/mucin phase and a superficial lipid layer. Mucins, highly -glycosylated proteins, are responsible for lubrication and ocular surface protection. Due to contact lens wear or eye disorders, lubrication of the ocular surface can be affected.

National dengue surveillance, Cambodia 2002-2020.

Global dengue incidence has increased dramatically over the past few decades from approximately 500 000 reported cases in 2000 to over 5 million in 2019. This trend has been attributed to population growth in endemic areas, rapid unplanned urbanization, increasing global connectivity, and climate change expanding the geographic range of the . mosquito, among other factors.

Case report: Lumpy skin disease in an endangered wild banteng () and initiation of a vaccination campaign in domestic livestock in Cambodia.

We describe a case of lumpy skin disease in an endangered banteng in Cambodia and the subsequent initiation of a vaccination campaign in domestic cattle to protect wild bovids from disease transmission at the wildlife-livestock interface. Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) was first detected in domestic cattle in Cambodia in June of 2021 and rapidly spread throughout the country. In September 2021, a banteng was seen in Phnom Tnout Phnom Pok wildlife sanctuary with signs of lumpy skin disease.