Seroprotection against tetanus in HIV-exposed and HIV-unexposed infants in Malawi in 2019-2020.

In Malawi, tetanus toxoid vaccination (TTV) is recommended in pregnancy, but few studies have assessed the prevalence of infant seroprotection against tetanus. Anti-TT levels from 84 6-week-old infants, born in 2019-2020 to mothers living with HIV (HEU: HIV-exposed-uninfected) infants and to HIV-negative women (HUU: HIV-unexposed-uninfected) infants were determined by ELISA assay. Although 94% of the infants (HEU=94.

Insufficient measles antibody protection in 6-month-old Malawian infants: Reconsider vaccination schedule?

Measles vaccination is currently recommended at 9 months, since maternal antibodies are supposed to protect infants until that age. In this study of 6-month-old Malawian infants 98.3% (58/59) had non-protective IgG levels against measles, irrespective of HIV exposure.

Micronutrient and Nutritional Status of HIV-Exposed and HIV-Unexposed Malawian Infants in the First Year of Life: Assessment of Ferritin, Vitamin A, and D Status and Its Association with Growth.

Breastfed Malawian infants from Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-uninfected and HIV-infected women who received antiretroviral therapy were followed until 12 months of age, allowing us to evaluate plasma levels of ferritin, vitamin A (as retinol-binding protein, RBP), and vitamin D (25(OH)D) at six months, as well as nutritional status and growth between six and 12 months. Ferritin and RBP levels were adjusted for inflammation. The study included 88 infants, 63 of whom were part of a recent cohort (2019-2021) that included 49 HIV-exposed but uninfected (HEU) and 14 HIV-unexposed and uninfected (HUU) infants, as well as 25 infants (all HEU) from an earlier cohort (2008-2011).

Cytomegalovirus viremia in HIV-exposed and HIV-unexposed infants in Malawi.

In sub-Saharan Africa the great majority of infants acquire Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection within the first year of life. Maternal long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been suggested to reduce the rate of CMV acquisition in HIV-exposed infants. In the present study serum samples collected at 6 months of age from HIV-exposed and HIV-unexposed infants were analyzed for the presence of CMV DNA (with CMV positivity defined by levels of CMV DNA > 1000 UI/ml).

Screening approaches for cervical cancer in Mozambique in HIV positive and negative women.

Objective: Cervical cancer (CC) is a global health issue, in Mozambique, 5300 new cases and 3800 deaths are reported each year. The WHO recommends the introduction of HPV molecular testing for CC screening, but Mozambique uses an approach based on visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA). This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of high-risk HPV (hrHPV) testing compared to actual approaches in Mozambique.

Early detection of poor glycemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus in sub-Saharan Africa: a cohort study in Mozambique.

Introduction: WHO estimates 422 million cases of diabetes mellitus worldwide. Mozambique has the second-highest mortality related to DM in the African region.Objectives of the present study are to provide data about a DM care service in Mozambique and to evaluate early outcomes of treatment.

Enhancing retention in care in HIV-infected adolescents during COVID-19 in Mozambique: results from the DREAM program.

Introduction: Around 1,7 million adolescents aged 10-19 years worldwide are infected with HIV, 84% of them living in Sub-Saharan Africa. Mozambique is one of the countries with the highest prevalence of HIV in the world. According to UNAIDS, HIV services for adolescents should be tailored and specifically designed for them.

A 12-month Prospective Study of HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected Women and Their Infants in Malawi: Comparative Analysis of Clinical Events and Infant Growth.

Few studies have compared clinical outcomes in HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) and HIV-unexposed uninfected (HUU) infants in the current scenario of universal and lifelong maternal antiretroviral therapy (ART). HIV-uninfected and HIV-infected Malawian women receiving ART and their breastfed infants were followed for 12 months postpartum, analyzing the rates of infectious and noninfectious events and assessing infant growth at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months. The cohorts included 227 mothers (70 HIV-negative, 157 HIV-positive) and 235 infants (72 HUU, 163 HEU).

Maternal retention and early infant HIV diagnosis in a prospective cohort study of HIV-positive women and their children in Malawi.

Background: Post-partum loss to follow-up and lack of early HIV infant diagnosis (EID) can significantly affect the efficiency of programs for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission.

Methods: In a prospective observational study 167 women were enrolled at week 36 of gestation and followed with their infants up to one year after delivery. Retention was defined as the proportion of women who attended the 12 months visit and EID as an HIV PCR test performed within 2 months.

Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in Malawian infants between February 2020 and May 2021.

Background: Very limited information is available on SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in infants in sub-Saharan countries.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to determine the rate and the temporal evolution of SARS CoV-2 seropositivity in breastfed Malawian infants.

Study Design: Blood samples ( = 250) from 158 infants, born to HIV-negative women and women living with HIV, collected from February 2020 to May 2021, were first tested using an Anti-IgG/A/M SARS CoV 2 ELISA assay against trimeric spike protein, and then, if positive, confirmed using a second ELISA assay detecting IgG against Receptor Binding Domain.

Improving Male Partner Involvement in HIV-Positive Women's Care Through Behavioral Change Interventions in Malawi (WeMen Study): A Prospective, Controlled Before-and-After Study.

Several strategies and interventions have been implemented to improve male partner involvement (MI) in Sub-Saharan Africa, but evidence on successful interventions is scarce. This controlled before-and-after intervention study aims to evaluate the impact of three interventions on male partners' involvement in HIV+ women's care in Malawi. We piloted these three interventions: the organization of a special day for men, the deployment of male champions in communities to increase awareness on MI, and the delivery of an incentive (food package) for couples attending the facility.

Characteristics of nursing homes and early preventive measures associated with risk of infection from COVID-19 in Lazio region, Italy: a retrospective case-control study.

Objectives: To understand which organisational-structural characteristics of nursing homes-also referred to as long-term care facilities (LTCFs)-and the preventative measures adopted in response to the pandemic are associated with the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak.

Setting: LTCFs in Lazio region in Italy.

Design: The study adopts a case-control design.

Understanding the meanings of male partner support in the adherence to therapy among HIV-positive women: a gender analysis.

Background: Previous literature reports that low male partner support is a barrier to women's adherence and retention in HIV care programs.

Objective: This qualitative study explored the relationships between partners to understand what is meant by male partner support in adherence of HIV-positive women in four healthcare facilities in Southern Malawi.

Methods: We conducted 8 semi-structured focus group discussions (FGDs) with 73 participants (40 men and 33 women) and 10 in-depth interviews (IDIs) between August 2018 to December 2019.

Immunoglobulin G passive transfer from mothers to infants: total IgG, IgG subclasses and specific antipneumococcal IgG in 6-week Malawian infants exposed or unexposed to HIV.

Background: The impaired transplacental passage of IgG from mothers living with HIV to their infants could be one of the causes of the high vulnerability to infections of HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) infants, but controversial results have been obtained in different settings. The aim of this study was to assess in 6-week old HEU and HIV-unexposed, uninfected (HUU) Malawian infants the total IgG levels, the subclasses profile and the concentrations of global anti-pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (anti-PCP) IgG and IgG2.

Methods: Dried blood spots were collected from 80 infants (40 HEU, 40 HUU) and antibodies concentrations determined by nephelometric method (total IgG and subclasses), or using ELISA (anti-PCP total IgG and IgG2).

Seroprevalence of Brucella Infection in a Cohort of HIV-Positive Malawian Pregnant Women Living in Urban Areas.

The seroprevalence of Brucella infection in sub-Saharan regions is high, and no recent data are available for Malawi, a country in which >60% of the population is involved in agropastoral activity. To evaluated the seroprevalence of Brucella in a cohort of HIV-positive pregnant women, living in an urban setting in Malawi. Sera of 201 pregnant women were tested for Brucella IgG.

Burden of headache in a HIV-positive population of sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: About 26 million people are living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. The DREAM programme in sub-Saharan Africa provides free healthcare for HIV/AIDS and a range of chronic non-communicable diseases. HIV is a risk factor for neurological non-communicable diseases including stroke and epilepsy, which themselves are associated with headache, and HIV may be a direct risk factor for headache.

Pro-active monitoring and social interventions at community level mitigate the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic on older adults' mortality in Italy: A retrospective cohort analysis.

Background: The COVID-19 epidemic in Italy has severely affected people aged more than 80, especially socially isolated. Aim of this paper is to assess whether a social and health program reduced mortality associated to the epidemic.

Methods: An observational retrospective cohort analysis of deaths recorded among >80 years in three Italian cities has been carried out to compare death rate of the general population and "Long Live the Elderly!" (LLE) program.

The Effectiveness of Intervening on Social Isolation to Reduce Mortality during Heat Waves in Aged Population: A Retrospective Ecological Study.

Background: Heat waves are correlated with increased mortality in the aged population. Social isolation is known as a vulnerability factor. This study aims at evaluating the correlation between an intervention to reduce social isolation and the increase in mortality in the population over 80 during heat waves.

HIV-exposed infants with EBV infection have a reduced persistence of the immune response to the HBV vaccine.

Background: In sub-Saharan African countries Epstein Barr virus (EBV) infection occurs in early childhood. We aim to investigate the factors associated with EBV acquisition and the impact of EBV infection on the humoral response to HBV vaccination in infants born from HIV-positive, antiretroviral-treated mothers in Malawi.

Methods: A total of 149 HIV-exposed infants were included in this longitudinal study.

Hypercholesterolemia and related risk factors in a cohort of patients with diabetes and hypertension in Maputo, Mozambique.

Introduction: some studies reported that 25.5% of African population presents hypercholesterolemia; however, epidemiology of hypercholesterolemia in Africa is poorly described. Mozambique is experiencing a constant growth of non-communicable diseases, but scarce data are available about hypercholesterolemia.

Dried blood spots for the quantitative evaluation of IgG isotypes and correlation with serum samples in HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) infants.

Background: The determination of IgG levels and their subclasses can provide clinically relevant information on the status of the immune system. Here we determined the sensitivity and reproducibility of the quantification of IgG subclasses from Dried Blood Spots (DBS) in Malawian uninfected infants exposed to HIV (HEU).

Methods: Sixty paired samples of serum and DBS from HEU infants were used.

Improving Treatment Adherence and Retention of HIV-Positive Women Through Behavioral Change Interventions Aimed at Their Male Partners: Protocol for a Prospective, Controlled Before-and-After Study.

Background: According to the World Health Organization, in 2018, 37.9 million people were living with HIV globally. More than two-thirds were residing in sub-Saharan Africa, where the HIV prevalence in the adult population (aged 15-49 years) was 3.