Expression of sterile-α and armadillo motif containing protein (SARM) in rheumatoid arthritis monocytes correlates with TLR2-induced IL-1β and disease activity.

Objective: Cartilage and bone damage in RA are associated with elevated IL-1β. The effects of IL-1β can be reduced by biological therapies that target IL-1β or TNF-α. However, the mechanisms responsible for increased IL-1β and the effect of anti-TNF-α have not been fully elucidated.

Analyses of the performance of the Ebola virus disease alert management system in South Sudan: August 2018 to November 2019.

South Sudan implemented Ebola virus disease preparedness interventions aiming at preventing and rapidly containing any importation of the virus from the Democratic Republic of Congo starting from August 2018. One of these interventions was a surveillance system which included an Ebola alert management system. This study analyzed the performance of this system.

What did we learn from preparing for cross-border transmission of Ebola virus disease into a complex humanitarian setting - The Republic of South Sudan?

Background: Following the West Africa Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak (2013-2016), WHO developed a preparedness checklist for its member states. This checklist is currently being applied for the first time on a large and systematic scale to prepare for the cross border importation of the ongoing EVD outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo hence the need to document the lessons learnt from this experience. This is more pertinent considering the complex humanitarian context and weak health system under which some of the countries such as the Republic of South Sudan are implementing their EVD preparedness interventions.

Anesthesia Provision in Disasters and Armed Conflicts.

Purpose Of Review: Disasters and armed conflicts are characterized by high numbers of trauma cases, and occur mainly in developing countries where the healthcare response is already impaired, resulting in an inadequate response. Aside of the trauma cases, other surgical health conditions are also still present and require urgent care. Surgical care needs are different from context to context and depend on local means and capabilities.

"Providing a Roof" and More to Communities Affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines: the Médecins Sans Frontières Experience.

Objectives: Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines in November 2013 and left a trail of destruction. As part of its emergency response, Médecins Sans Frontières distributed materials for reconstructing houses and boats as standardized kits to be shared between households. Community engagement was sought and communities were empowered in deciding how to make the distributions.

Descriptive spatial analysis of the cholera epidemic 2008-2009 in Harare, Zimbabwe: a secondary data analysis.

This ecological study describes the cholera epidemic in Harare during 2008-2009 and identifies patterns that may explain transmission. Rates ratios of cholera cases by suburb were calculated by a univariate regression Poisson model and then, through an Empirical Bayes modelling, smoothed rate ratios were estimated and represented geographically. Mbare and southwest suburbs of Harare presented higher rate ratios.

An elderly woman with 'Red Man Syndrome' in association with oral vancomycin therapy: a case report.

Introduction: 'Red Man Syndrome' is a recognized adverse reaction to intravenous vancomycin therapy. This case concerns an elderly woman who developed a 'Red Man Syndrome' reaction whilst on oral vancomycin therapy for Clostridium difficile (C difficile) diarrhoea. Isolated case reports exist recording this reaction in association with oral vancomycin therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel conditions or impaired renal function, of which this patient had both.

How many sentinel nodes should be harvested in oral squamous cell carcinoma?

The number of harvested lymph nodes when performing sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy remains controversial. The aim of this study was to examine the maximum number of nodes to be harvested for histopathological analysis. We also wanted to determine if the level of radioactivity within a SLN or its size were indicators for the likelihood of nodal metastases.

Preliminary experience of 99mTc-Aprotinin scintigraphy in amyloidosis.

Background And Aim: Radio-labelled Aprotinin has been shown to bind with amyloid fibrils in vitro as well as in vivo. The aim was to test the usefulness of 99mTc-Aprotinin imaging in systemic amyloidosis.

Methods: Thirty-five cases who had 99mTc-Aprotinin scans for the assessment of systemic amyloidosis were reviewed retrospectively.

The use of sentinel node biopsy to upstage the clinically N0 neck in head and neck cancer.

Objective: To investigate the possible role of sentinel node biopsy (SNB) alone to upstage the clinically N0 neck in patients with oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Design: Prospective clinical study.

Setting: Head and neck referral center.

The natural history of venous thromboembolism: impact on ventilation/perfusion scan reporting.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are separate but related aspects of the same dynamic disease process known as venous thromboembolism (VTE). Recent community studies have shown that VTE is a major health issue for the developed world, with at least 201,000 new cases each year in the United States, comprising 107,000 with DVT and 94,000 with PE. A quarter of PE cases die within 7 days, some so rapidly that treatment or intervention is impossible.