Population genetics and molecular xenomonitoring of Biomphalaria freshwater snails along the southern shoreline of Lake Malawi, Malawi.

Background: Intestinal schistosomiasis was confirmed endemic in Mangochi District, Malawi, in May of 2018 following an unexpected encounter with discreet populations of Biomphalaria spp. freshwater snails during routine malacological surveillance activities. Since then, only limited malacological surveillance of Biomphalaria has been carried out, and so the distribution of Biomphalaria populations in this area is currently unclear.

Revealing caprine schistosomiasis and its One Health importance in Malawi: A molecular epidemiological investigation augmented with a praziquantel treatment and GPS animal tracking pilot sub-study.

To shed first light on caprine schistosomiasis and its zoonotic potential in Malawi, we conducted a molecular epidemiological investigation, sampling goats ( = 230) across three districts, using faecal miracidia hatching test. Molecular genotyping of miracidia later revealed the prevalence of to be 0.0 % in Nsanje District ( = 30), 16.

Insights into trypanosomiasis transmission: Age, infection rates, and bloodmeal analysis of Glossina fuscipes fuscipes in N.W. Uganda.

Background: Tsetse flies (Glossina) transmit species of Trypanosoma which cause human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) and animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT). Understanding the epidemiology of this disease and controlling the vector rationally requires analysis of the abundance, age structure, infection rates and feeding patterns of tsetse populations.

Methods: We analysed a population of G.

A comparative study of traditional and molecular diagnostic methods for detection of gastrointestinal parasites in Nepalese migrants to the UK.

Background: We evaluated the results of examining a single faecal sample for gastrointestinal parasites (GIP) using a combination of traditional methods with multiplex qPCR for helminths and protozoa, compared to a reference standard of examining three faecal samples from each person using traditional diagnostic methods alone.

Methods: Three faecal samples were collected at weekly intervals from 596 healthy Nepalese men. Each sample underwent formalin-ethyl acetate (FEA) concentration and light microscopy, and charcoal culture.

Mentorship of Junior Surgical Faculty Across Academic Programs in Surgery.

Importance: Because mentorship is critical for professional development and career advancement, it is essential to examine the status of mentorship and identify challenges that junior surgical faculty (assistant and associate professors) face obtaining effective mentorship.

Objective: To evaluate the mentorship experience for junior surgical faculty and highlight areas for improvement.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This qualitative study was an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study including an anonymous survey on mentorship followed by semistructured interviews to expand on survey findings.

Reliability and Confidence of Dynamic Imaging Grade of Swallowing Toxicity (DIGEST) Rating Among Research and Clinical Speech Pathologists Before and After Implementation of a Training Manual: A Multi-site Study.

DIGEST is a validated, open-source method to grade the severity of pharyngeal dysphagia from the modified barium swallow (MBS) study. Dissemination and implementation of DIGEST is rising, making it critical to understand reliability and facilitators of accurate implementation among users. The aim was to assess reliability of the tool among speech-language pathology (SLP) raters practicing at multiple sites before and after review of a DIGEST training manual and evaluate confidence of DIGEST use pre-and post-training.

Caught in a trap: DNA contamination in tsetse xenomonitoring can lead to over-estimates of Trypanosoma brucei infection.

Background: Tsetse flies (Glossina sp.) are vectors of Trypanosoma brucei subspecies that cause human African trypanosomiasis (HAT). Capturing and screening tsetse is critical for HAT surveillance.

Macrophage depletion protects against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity.

Cisplatin is a widely used anticancer drug with notable side effects including ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Macrophages, the major resident immune cells in the cochlea and kidney, are important drivers of both inflammatory and tissue repair responses. To investigate the roles of macrophages in cisplatin-induced toxicities, we used PLX3397, a U.

Association of county-level provider density and social vulnerability with colorectal cancer-related mortality.

Background: Health care providers play a crucial role in increasing overall awareness, screening, and treatment of cancer, leading to reduced cancer mortality. We sought to characterize the impact of provider density on colorectal cancer population-level mortality.

Methods: County-level provider data, obtained from the Area Health Resource File between 2016 and 2018, were used to calculate provider density per county.

Large-scale annotated dataset for cochlear hair cell detection and classification.

Our sense of hearing is mediated by cochlear hair cells, of which there are two types organized in one row of inner hair cells and three rows of outer hair cells. Each cochlea contains 5-15 thousand terminally differentiated hair cells, and their survival is essential for hearing as they do not regenerate after insult. It is often desirable in hearing research to quantify the number of hair cells within cochlear samples, in both pathological conditions, and in response to treatment.

Development, validation, and pilot application of a high throughput molecular xenomonitoring assay to detect and other trematode species within freshwater snail hosts.

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by infection with parasitic trematodes of the genus that can lead to debilitating morbidity and mortality. The World Health Organization recommend molecular xenomonitoring of spp. freshwater snail intermediate hosts of to identify highly focal intestinal schistosomiasis transmission sites and monitor disease transmission, particularly in low-endemicity areas.

A first report of Pseudosuccinea columella (Say, 1817), an alien intermediate host for liver fluke, in Malawi.

Starting in October 2021, quarterly malacological surveys have been undertaken in Malawi, with the sampling of 12 specified freshwater habitats throughout a calendar year. Each survey monitors the presence of aquatic intermediate snail hosts of medical and veterinary importance. In March 2023, the alien lymnaeid species Pseudosuccinea columella was encountered for the first time in the surveys, in Nsanje District.

Inflammatory bowel disease-associated colorectal cancer negatively affects surgery outcomes and health care costs.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease may affect the pathogenesis and clinicopathologic course of colorectal cancer. We sought to characterize the impact of inflammatory bowel disease on outcomes after colectomy and/or proctectomy for a malignant indication.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer as well as a pre-existing comorbid diagnosis of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis between 2018 and 2021 were identified from Medicare claims data.

Efficacy and Safety of Dapagliflozin in Patients With Acute Heart Failure.

Background: The primary goals during acute heart failure (AHF) hospitalization are decongestion and guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) optimization. Unlike diuretics or other GDMT, early dapagliflozin initiation could achieve both AHF goals.

Objectives: The authors aimed to assess the diuretic efficacy and safety of early dapagliflozin initiation in AHF.

An alien intermediate snail host in Malawi - (Quoy and Gaimard, 1832) - A new concern for schistosomiasis transmission in Africa?

The freshwater amphibious snail commonly occurs in eastern Asia, on certain Pacific islands and more importantly has recently dispersed into Europe. Since this snail is now considered an invasive species, its distribution is of growing parasitological interest as an alien intermediate host for various trematodes, particularly liver flukes. As part of ongoing surveillance for snail-borne diseases in Malawi, a population of was first observed in May 2023, alongside an alarming presence of a human schistosome cercaria.

Clinical Utility of Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging and Real-Time Quantification of Bowel Perfusion in Minimally Invasive Left-Sided Colorectal Resections.

Background: Left-sided colorectal surgery demonstrates high anastomotic leak rates, with tissue ischemia thought to influence outcomes. Indocyanine green is commonly used for perfusion assessment, but evidence remains mixed for whether it reduces colorectal anastomotic leaks. Laser speckle contrast imaging provides dye-free perfusion assessment in real-time through perfusion heat maps and quantification.

Consistent detection of Trypanosoma brucei but not T. congolense DNA in faeces of experimentally infected cattle.

Animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT) is a significant food security and economic burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Current AAT empirical and immunodiagnostic surveillance tools suffer from poor sensitivity and specificity, with blood sampling requiring animal restraint and trained personnel. Faecal sampling could increase sampling accessibility, scale, and species range.

Quality of Life Outcomes after Free Fibula Flap Reconstruction of Mandibular Defects: A Longitudinal Examination.

Background:  A comprehensive understanding of changes in health-related quality of life after head and neck cancer surgery is necessary for effective preoperative counseling. The goal of this study was to perform a longitudinal analysis of postoperative quality of life outcomes after fibula free flap (FFF) mandible reconstruction.

Methods:  A retrospective review was performed for all patients who underwent oncologic mandible reconstruction with an FFF between 2000 and 2021.