The Global Health Security Index: Another Look.

The Global Health Security Index (GHSI) was published in October 2019 (after more than 2 years in preparation); at about the same time that the COVID-19 pandemic (COVID) started. The GHSI was intended to score countries' pandemic preparedness. Within months of the start of the pandemic, articles began to be published that claimed to assess the GHSI's validity.

At the End of Every Pandemic: Beginning a Pandemic Playbook to Respond to the Next.

The world was unprepared for COVID-19. Pandemics can unfold quickly; faster than governments can respond, unless they have maintained a realistic pandemic playbook. As the world ahead becomes ever-more complex, such playbook becomes ever-more necessary.

Cytokines, chemokines and growth factors profile in human aqueous humor in idiopathic uveitis.

To investigate which cytokines, chemokines and growth factors are involved in the immunopathogenesis of idiopathic uveitis, and whether cytokine profiles are associated with. Serum and aqueous humor (AH) samples of 75 patients with idiopathic uveitis were analyzed by multiplex immunoassay. Infectious controls consisted of 16 patients with ocular toxoplasmosis all confirmed by intraocular fluid analyses.

Machine Learning for Health: Algorithm Auditing & Quality Control.

Developers proposing new machine learning for health (ML4H) tools often pledge to match or even surpass the performance of existing tools, yet the reality is usually more complicated. Reliable deployment of ML4H to the real world is challenging as examples from diabetic retinopathy or Covid-19 screening show. We envision an integrated framework of algorithm auditing and quality control that provides a path towards the effective and reliable application of ML systems in healthcare.

Feasibility of aponeurectomy in combination with perioperative Ir high dose rate brachytherapy for Dupuytren's disease.

Purpose: Partial aponeurectomy (PA) is a standard procedure for Dupuytren's contracture (DC). Here we report a novel approach using surgery combined with perioperative high dose rate (Ir-HDR) brachytherapy.

Methods And Patients: From March 2018 until February 2020, thirteen rays of 6 patients with Dupyutren's contractures underwent PA followed by HDR brachytherapy.

Cytoprotective Effects of Natural Highly Bio-Available Vegetable Derivatives on Human-Derived Retinal Cells.

Retinal pigment epithelial cells are crucial for retina maintenance, making their cytoprotection an excellent way to prevent or slow down retinal degeneration. In addition, oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, neovascularization, and/or autophagy are key pathways involved in degenerative mechanisms. Therefore, here we studied the effects of curcumin, lutein, and/or resveratrol on human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19).

Metabolic Reprogramming in Astrocytes Distinguishes Region-Specific Neuronal Susceptibility in Huntington Mice.

The basis for region-specific neuronal toxicity in Huntington disease is unknown. Here, we show that region-specific neuronal vulnerability is a substrate-driven response in astrocytes. Glucose is low in HdhQ(150/150) animals, and astrocytes in each brain region adapt by metabolically reprogramming their mitochondria to use endogenous, non-glycolytic metabolites as an alternative fuel.

A Comparison of the Dexamethasone Implant (Ozurdex®) and Inferior Fornix-Based Sub-Tenon Triamcinolone Acetonide for Treatment of Inflammatory Ocular Diseases.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of dexamethasone (DEX) implant compared with inferior fornix-based sub-Tenon triamcinolone injection (PSTA) for treatment of uveitis.

Methods: A total of 48 eyes received DEX and 49 eyes received PSTA as the first treatment.

Results: A total of 31 eyes were implanted with DEX relapsed (64.

Geroprotection in cancer prevention.

Clinical records from individuals followed for 5 years, 2000 to 2005, were reviewed. They were distributed in 3 cohorts of ages ranging from 51 to 60, 61 to 70, and 71 to 80 years, respectively. Each cohort included 2 groups of patients with diabetes type 2, one group treated with Metformin 850 mg/day, and the other one without pharmacological treatment.

Increase in Ocular Syphilis Cases at Ophthalmologic Reference Center, France, 2012-2015.

We describe the frequency, demographic and clinical features, and visual outcomes of ocular syphilis infections observed during 2012-2015 at a tertiary reference center in Paris, France. Twenty-one cases (29 eyes) were identified. The occurrence of ocular syphilis increased from 1 case in 2012 to 5 cases in 2013, 6 cases in 2014, and 9 cases in 2015 (2.

[Eales' disease].

The syndrome of recurrent vitreous hemorrhages in young men was described for the first time by Henry Eales in 1880. The association with a clinical manifestation of ocular inflammation was reported 5years later. Eales disease affects young adults who present with ischemic retinal vasculitis, with the peripheral retina most commonly affected.

Social Sciences for the Prevention of Blindness.

Organizations working for the elimination of Chlamydia-triggered blindness (trachoma) follow the WHO SAFE strategy (surgery for trichiasis, antibiotics, face washing and environmental changes) with the aim to achieve a minimum of 80% of children with clean faces in endemic communities, mass treatment covering the whole district with trachoma rates of 10% or more and surveillance plans. Trachoma recurrence that is common after implementing the SAFE strategy 3, 5 or even 7 times evidence that the cognitive processes requiring assimilation and integration of knowledge did not register with parents, caretakers and children. Moreover, repeated awareness campaigns to improve hygiene did not systematically produce irreversible changes of behavior in neglected populations.

Enzymatic treatment of specimens before DNA extraction directly influences molecular detection of infectious agents.

Introduction: Biological samples, pharmaceuticals or food contain proteins, lipids, polymers, ammoniums and macromolecules that alter the detection of infectious agents by DNA amplification techniques (PCR). Moreover the targeted DNA has to be released from the complex cell walls and the compact nucleoprotein matrixes and cleared from potential inhibitors. The goal of the present work was to assess the efficiency of enzymatic pretreatments on infectious agents to make DNA available for further extraction and amplification.

The limits of medical interventions for the elimination of preventable blindness.

Background: Health authorities are working toward the global elimination of trachoma by the year 2020 with actions focused on the World Health Organization SAFE strategy (surgery of trichiasis, antibiotics, face washing and environmental changes) with emphasis on hygienist approaches for education.

Objectives: The present survey was performed to assess the sustainability of the SAFE strategy 3 years after trachoma was eliminated from 6 villages.

Methods: In February 2013 a rapid trachoma assessment was conducted in 6 villages of Kolofata's district, Extreme north Region, Cameroon, where trachoma was eliminated in 2010.

Kinetics of expansion of human limbal epithelial progenitor cells in primary culture of explants without feeders.

The aims of this study were to determine whether human limbal explant cultures without feeder cells result in expansion of epithelial progenitors and to estimate the optimal expansion time for progenitor cells. Limbal explants from ten human corneas were cultured for 7, 9, 11, 14, 18, and 21 days. Limbal explants from two corneas were enzymatically dissociated or directly cultured for 14 days.

Donor tissue selection for anterior lamellar keratoplasty.

Purpose: To assess the influence of donor characteristics on the outcome of anterior lamellar keratoplasty (ALK) and to evaluate whether corneal donor tissue considered unsuitable for penetrating or posterior lamellar keratoplasty due to poor endothelial condition may be safely used for ALK.

Methods: Institutional setting. One hundred sixty-six consecutive ALK (166 patients) performed for optical indication in eyes with corneal diseases not involving the corneal endothelium.

[Rational approach for the treatment of postoperative endophthalmitis in impoverished populations].

Due to the need for treatment guidelines for endophthalmitis in impoverished areas, we have formulated an approach which takes into account pharmacokinetic data, keeping in mind that, whether oral or intramuscular, antibiotics must achieve therapeutic intraocular levels, antibiotic susceptibility of the most common pathogens in endophthalmitis, and routine availability of bioequivalent generics in the areas in question. In this work, we present the basic guidelines for the management of postoperative endophthalmitis by ophthalmology services in impoverished areas.

Findings in detection of Herpesviridae by polymerase chain reaction and intraocular antibody production in a case series of anterior uveitis.

Purpose: To target the use of two biologic tests in the diagnostic of viral Herpesviridae anterior uveitis (AC) by the consideration of clinical behavior and delay of intraocular sampling.

Methods: Aqueous humor samples were collected from 42 patients suspected of having AU of infectious origin at presentation. The diagnosis of infectious uveitis was confirmed by quantification of antibodies with the Goldmann-Witmer coefficient (GWC) and/or detection of Herpesviridae genomes with PCR.

Prognostic factors associated with the need for surgical treatments in acanthamoeba keratitis.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the factors associated with anatomical and visual outcomes in patients presenting with Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK).

Methods: This is a retrospective noncomparative interventional case series study comprising 44 eyes from 42 patients presenting with AK, treated with topical hexamidine diisethionate and topical polyhexamethylene biguanide, monitored between 2004 and 2008. AK was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction or direct microscopic examination.

Clinical and microbiological assessment of trachoma in the kolofata health district, far north region, cameroon.

Background And Aims: Trachoma is a sight-threatening process triggered by the infection of the conjunctiva with Chlamydiae. Blindness associated with trachoma was reported in Sahelian areas of Cameroon. However, data on the prevalence of this neglected infection in the Far North Region are not available.

Contributions to the Improvement of Living Conditions among Neglected Populations with Trachoma.

Objective: Trachoma (Chlamydia-triggered blinding infection) provoked irreversible visual impairment in about 8 million people in 2011, and the prevalence among children with dirty faces is more than three fold that among children with clean faces. In 250 villages with a high prevalence of trachoma (Kolofata district, Far North Region, Cameroon), the lack of water for facial cleanliness was reported during trachoma awareness campaigns. The objective of this study was to determine if the lack of water was linked with the absence of means to dig wells.

Rapid detection and simultaneous molecular profile characterization of Acanthamoeba infections.

Diagnosis of Acanthamoeba by microscopic examination, culture, and polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) has several limitations (sensitivity, specificity, lack of detection of several strains, cost of testing for discrimination among strains). We developed a new high-resolution melting real-time PCR (HRM) to detect and characterize Acanthamoeba infections. HRM performances were evaluated with strains from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) and with 20 corneal scrapings.

Addition of an induction regimen of antiangiogenesis and antitumor immunity to standard chemotherapy improves survival in advanced malignancies.

Studies have shown that cancer requires two conditions for tumor progression: cancer cell proliferation and an environment permissive to and conditioned by malignancy. Chemotherapy aims to control the number and proliferation of cancer cells, but it does not effectively control the two best-known conditions of the tumor-permissive environment: neoangiogenesis and tolerogenic immunity. Many malignant diseases exhibit poor outcomes after treatment with chemotherapy.