Genomic and transmission dynamics of the 2024 Marburg Virus Outbreak in Rwanda.

The ongoing outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in Rwanda marks the third largest historically, though it has exhibited the lowest fatality rate. Genomic analysis of samples from 18 cases identified a lineage with limited internal diversity, closely related to a 2014 Ugandan case. Our findings suggest that the Rwandan lineage diverged decades ago from a common ancestor shared with diversity sampled from bats in Uganda.

Feasibility, Acceptability, Satisfaction, and Challenges of an mHealth App (e-ASCov) for Community-Based COVID-19 Screening by Community Health Workers in Rwanda: Mixed Methods Study.

Background: Although at the base of the pyramid-shaped organization of the Rwandan health system, community health workers (CHWs) are central to the community-based management of disease outbreaks.

Objective: This mixed methods study aimed to explore the feasibility, acceptability, satisfaction, and challenges of a mobile health (mHealth) tool for community-based COVID-19 screening in Rwanda.

Methods: Two urban (Gasabo and Nyarugenge) and 2 rural (Rusizi and Kirehe) districts in Rwanda participated in the project (smartphone app for COVID-19 screening).

Using digital tools and antigen rapid testing to support household-level SARS-CoV-2 detection by community health workers in Rwanda: an operational pilot study.

Objective: To evaluate the use of antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) alongside a digital tool to deliver household-level COVID-19 testing by community health workers (CHWs), in line with Rwanda's ambition to decentralise COVID-19 testing.

Design: This was an operational pilot study to evaluate the impact and operational characteristics of using the digital e-ASCov tool combined with Ag-RDTs to support COVID-19 symptom screening and rapid testing by CHWs across eight districts in Rwanda. A total of 800 CHWs selected from both rural and urban areas were trained in delivering Ag-RDTs for COVID-19 testing and using the e-ASCOV application for data capture on a smartphone.

Predicting Frailty and Geriatric Interventions in Older Cancer Patients: Performance of Two Screening Tools for Seven Frailty Definitions-ELCAPA Cohort.

Screening tools have been developed to identify patients warranting a complete geriatric assessment (GA). However, GA lacks standardization and does not capture important aspects of geriatric oncology practice. We measured and compared the diagnostic performance of screening tools G8 and modified G8 according to multiple clinically relevant reference standards.

[Impact of an intervention on the practice of venous thromboprophylaxis recommendations in a geriatric setting.].

The practice of prevention of venous thromboembolic disease in hospitalized elderly patients does not comply with published recommendations, in 30% of cases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of recalling the recommendations on the venous thromboprophylaxis.

Promoting patients' rights at the end of life in a geriatric setting in France: The healthcare professionals' level of knowledge about surrogate decision-makers and advance directives.

Objective: To assess levels of knowledge about patients' rights, surrogate decision-makers, and advance directives among healthcare professionals at three hospitals in France.

Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional study in three geriatric hospitals in the Paris area (France) in 2015. The participants' level of knowledge was assessed via an 18-item self-questionnaire on surrogate decision-makers, advance directives, and end-of-life decision-making.

Acceptability of oral liquid pharmaceutical products in older adults: palatability and swallowability issues.

Background: In institutional care, oral liquid pharmaceutical products are widely prescribed for older patients, especially for those with swallowing disorders. As medicines acceptability is a key factor for compliance in the older population, this study investigated the acceptability of oral liquid pharmaceutical products in this targeted population.

Methods: An observational, multicenter, prospective study was conducted in eight geriatric hospitals and eight nursing homes in France.

Sex Differences in Medicine Acceptability: A New Factor to Be Considered in Medicine Formulation.

Palatability is a recognized driver of medicine acceptability in pediatrics but deemed less relevant in older populations due to sensory decline. Preliminary findings from an observational study implicated palatability problems with one Alzheimer's medicine. Among 1517 observer reports combining multiple measures on medicines uses in patients aged over 64, we focused on two original formulations of memantine (Ebixa, tablets ( = 25) and oral solution ( = 60)).

[Assessment of medication prescribing in a geriatric follow-up care and rehabilitation].

The aim of the study was to analyse the prescriptions and identify the factors associated with inappropriate prescribing (IP) and polypharmacy. Polypharmacy and IP concerned 80% of the 54 patients included in the study upon admission, and 78% upon discharge without a statistically significant reduction. A critical analysis of prescriptions would help to reduce inappropriate prescribing and polypharmacy in elderly patients.

[Physicians and advance directives in geriatric setting].

Advance directives (AD) are not sufficiently applied in geriatric setting despite their widespread dissemination since the publication of Claeys-Leonetti law. The aim of this study was to analyze geriatricians' knowledge of the concept of AD and to evaluate their practices in the process of patient information and AD collection.

A Decision Support Tool Facilitating Medicine Design for Optimal Acceptability in The Older Population.

Purpose: Medicine acceptability, which is of the utmost importance for vulnerable patients' adherence, is driven by both user and product characteristics. Herein, a novel multivariate approach integrating the many aspects of acceptability is used to discriminate positively and negatively accepted medicines in the older population.

Methods: An observational study was carried out in eight hospitals and eight nursing homes to collect a large set of real-life data on medicines uses in older patients (≥65 years).

Prophylaxis of Venous Thromboembolism in Geriatric Settings: A Cluster-Randomized Multicomponent Interventional Trial.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of an intervention on the practice of venous thromboembolism prevention.

Design: A multicenter, prospective, controlled, cluster-randomized, multifaceted intervention trial consisting of educational lectures, posters, and pocket cards reminding physicians of the guidelines for thromboprophylaxis use.

Settings: Twelve geriatric departments with 1861 beds total, of which 202, 803, and 856 in acute care, post-acute care, and long-term care wards, respectively.

Ethics committees for biomedical research in some African emerging countries: which establishment for which independence? A comparison with the USA and Canada.

Context: The conduct of medical research led by Northern countries in developing countries raises ethical questions. The assessment of research protocols has to be twofold, with a first reading in the country of origin and a second one in the country where the research takes place. This reading should benefit from an independent local ethical review of protocols.

[Use and misuse of intravenous drug administration in a department of internal medicine].

Aim: Numerous intravenously-administered medications are also available in equally effective oral forms. To assess the number of avoidable intravenous infusions, we retrospectively analyzed consecutive infusions prescribed in a department of internal medicine.

Methods: Between November and December 2004, we analyzed all patients who received at least one intravenous drug during hospitalization.