Active screening for tuberculosis in high-incidence Inuit communities in Canada: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

Background: Active screening for tuberculosis (TB) involves systematic detection of previously undiagnosed TB disease or latent TB infection (LTBI). It may be an important step toward elimination of TB among Inuit in Canada. We aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of community-wide active screening for TB infection and disease in 2 Inuit communities in Nunavik.

High Prevalence of HIV-1 Drug Resistance and Dynamics of Transmission Among High-Risk Populations in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Background: In low HIV prevalence settings, understanding the transmission dynamics and the impact of drug resistance is critical to curb down the epidemic. This study aims to explore the prevalence and dynamics of transmission of HIV drug-resistance mutations (DRMs) among key populations in Haiti.

Settings: Eligible participants (naive, treated) were selected from 7 key population friendly health care centers in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, from September 2018 to July 2019.

Prevalence of and in men having sex with men in Port-au-Prince, Haiti: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Over the last 15 years, the prevalence of HIV in Haiti has stabilised to around 2.0%. However, key populations remain at higher risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

External quality assessment for HIV rapid tests: challenges and opportunities in Haiti.

HIV rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are instrumental in scaling-up HIV testing services (HTS) in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). HIV misdiagnosis is a growing concern in the era of expanded and decentralised access to HTS. External quality assurance (EQA) programme including proficiency testing (PT) for HIV RDTs is a priority to guarantee the accuracy and reliability of the patients' result.

Virologic outcome among patients receiving antiretroviral therapy at five hospitals in Haiti.

Introduction: Viral load (VL) assessment is the preferred method for diagnosing and confirming virologic failure for patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART). We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study to evaluate the virologic suppression rate among patients on ART for ≥6 months in five hospitals around Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Methods: Plasma VL was measured and patients with VL <1,000 copies/mL were defined as virologically suppressed.

Building and Rebuilding: The National Public Health Laboratory Systems and Services Before and After the Earthquake and Cholera Epidemic, Haiti, 2009-2015.

Before the 2010 devastating earthquake and cholera outbreak, Haiti's public health laboratory systems were weak and services were limited. There was no national laboratory strategic plan and only minimal coordination across the laboratory network. Laboratory capacity was further weakened by the destruction of over 25 laboratories and testing sites at the departmental and peripheral levels and the loss of life among the laboratory health-care workers.

Implementation of broad screening with Ebola rapid diagnostic tests in Forécariah, Guinea.

Background: Laboratory-enhanced surveillance is critical for rapidly detecting the potential re-emergence of Ebola virus disease. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) for Ebola antigens could expand diagnostic capacity for Ebola virus disease.

Objectives: The Guinean National Coordination for Ebola Response conducted a pilot implementation to determine the feasibility of broad screening of patients and corpses with the OraQuick Ebola RDT.

Seroprevalence of Herpes Simplex Virus type-2 (HSV-2) among pregnant women who participated in a national HIV surveillance activity in Haiti.

Background: Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), one the most common causes of genital ulcers, appears to increase both the risk of HIV acquisition and HIV transmission. HSV-2/HIV co-infection among pregnant women may increase the risk of perinatal transmission of HIV. This study describes rates of HSV-2 among pregnant women in Haiti and HSV-2 test performance in this population.

Natriuretic peptide receptor A signaling regulates stem cell recruitment and angiogenesis: a model to study linkage between inflammation and tumorigenesis.

Natriuretic peptide receptor A (NPRA), the signaling receptor for the cardiac hormone, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), is expressed abundantly in inflamed/injured tissues and tumors. NPRA deficiency substantially decreases tissue inflammation and inhibits tumor growth. However, the precise mechanism of NPRA function and whether it links inflammation and tumorigenesis remains unknown.