A numerical evaluation of the economic tradeoff of vaccination against chikungunya virus in Brazil.

This article uses a compartmental model describing the dynamic of the chikungunya virus in populations of humans and mosquitoes with parameters fitted to the incidence in Brazil to estimate the economic trade-off of vaccination against the virus infection. The model uses time-dependent parameters to incorporate fluctuations in the transmission and the mosquito population across the years. Using the model predictions of symptomatic infections and literature data concerning the proportions of post-acute and chronic cases, the vaccination cost is compared with the disease cost.

The cost-of-illness of multiple sclerosis in Jordan.

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) imposes a significant financial burden on health-care systems. This study aims to determine the cost-of-illness (COI) for MS in Jordan, a country where data on the economic impact of MS are scarce.

Methods: Data were collected for one year, annual COI was estimated using a cross-sectional snowball sampling design.

SARS-CoV-2 transmission in a highly vulnerable population of Brazil: a household cohort study.

Background: Household transmission studies seek to understand the transmission dynamics of a pathogen by estimating the risk of infection from household contacts and community exposures. We estimated within/extra-household SARS-CoV-2 infection risk and associated factors in a household cohort study in one of the most vulnerable neighbourhoods in Rio de Janeiro city.

Methods: Individuals ≥1 years-old with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 in the past 30 days (index cases) and household members aged ≥1 year were enrolled and followed at 14 and 28 days (study period November/2020-December/2021).

Analysing vaccine efficacy evaluated in phase 3 clinical trials carried out during outbreaks.

In this paper we examine several definitions of vaccine efficacy (VE) that we found in the literature, for diseases that express themselves in outbreaks, that is, when the force of infection grows in time, reaches a maximum and then vanishes. The fact that the disease occurs in outbreaks results in several problems that we analyse. We propose a mathematical model that allows the calculation of VE for several scenarios.

The economic impact of tobacco smoking and secondhand smoke exposure in Jordan: estimating the direct and indirect costs.

Aim: To quantify the economic burden associated with tobacco smoking among smokers aged 30-69 years, and second-hand smokers (SHS) aged 15-69 years in Jordan.

Materials And Methods: A prevalence-based analysis was conducted in alignment with the Economics of Tobacco Toolkit developed by the WHO. The time-horizon of the analysis was one year (2019).

Actinomyces-infected bronchopulmonary sequestration: An uncommon pathogen in a rare anomaly.

Bronchopulmonary sequestration, a rare congenital anomaly, involves a nonfunctioning lung tissue mass supplied by anomalous vessels. It is rarely infected by Actinomyces, further complicating the clinical presentation, with limited reported cases. This case highlights the distinctive clinical aspects, diagnostic challenges, and successful management strategies of such a rare clinical entity.

Seroprevalence of Zika in Brazil stratified by age and geographic distribution.

Congenital Zika is a devastating consequence of maternal Zika virus infections. Estimates of age-dependent seroprevalence profiles are central to our understanding of the force of Zika virus infections. We set out to calculate the age-dependent seroprevalence of Zika virus infections in Brazil.

Bilateral follicular thyroid carcinoma with large sternal metastasis: Case report and review of the literature.

Introduction And Importance: Follicular thyroid cancer (FTC) typically spreads hematogenously, with bone metastasis being worrisome, often appearing to be resistant to radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy. Metastasis to sternum is exceedingly rare.

Case Presentation: A 43-year-old Egyptian male presented with chest tightness, cough, and shortness of breath.

THE OPTIMUM LEVEL OF MELD TO MINIMIZE THE MORTALITY ON LIVER TRANSPLANTATION WAITING LIST, AND LIVER TRANSPLANTED PATIENT IN SÃO PAULO STATE, BRAZIL.

Background: After validation in multiple types of liver disease patients, the MELD score was adopted as a standard by which liver transplant candidates with end-stage liver disease were prioritized for organ allocation in the United States since 2002, and in Brazil, since 2006.

Aims: To analyze the mortality profile of patients on the liver transplant waiting list correlated to MELD score at the moment of transplantation.

Methods: This study used the data from the Secretary of Health of the São Paulo State, Brazil, which listed 22,522 patients, from 2006 (when MELD score was introduced in Brazil) until June 2009.

Renin-angiotensin-system blockers and IgG antibodies in end-stage renal disease hemodialysis-receiving patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection.

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections among patients receiving in-center hemodialysis (ICHD), the relationship between the IgG antibody levels against the virus and SARS-CoV-2-associated symptoms, hemodialysis adequacy, and the antihypertensives used in order to control blood pressure.

Methods: A prospective observational study was carried out at a tertiary care center, King Fahad Kidney Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, between November 2020 and January 2021. A total of 214 ICHD patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) were included, and the levels of their anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies were assessed after obtaining their informed consent.

Effects of migration rates and vaccination on the spread of yellow fever in Latin American communities.

Objective: To assess how relevant the flow of people between communities is, compared to vaccination and type of vector, on the spread and potential outbreaks of yellow fever in a disease-free host community.

Methods: Using a SEIRV-SEI model for humans and vectors, we applied numerical simulations to the scenarios: (1) migration from an endemic community to a disease-free host community, comparing the performance of and as vectors; (2) migration through a transit community located on a migratory route, where the disease is endemic, to a disease-free one; and (3) effects of different vaccination rates in the host community, considering the vaccination of migrants upon arrival.

Results: Results show no remarkable differences between scenarios 1 and 2.

Time-dependent vaccine efficacy estimation quantified by a mathematical model.

In this paper we calculate the variation of the estimated vaccine efficacy (VE) due to the time-dependent force of infection resulting from the difference between the moment the Clinical Trial (CT) begins and the peak in the outbreak intensity. Using a simple mathematical model we tested the hypothesis that the time difference between the moment the CT begins and the peak in the outbreak intensity determines substantially different values for VE. We exemplify the method with the case of the VE efficacy estimation for one of the vaccines against the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

On the role of financial support programs in mitigating the SARS-CoV-2 spread in Brazil.

Background: During 2020, there were no effective treatments or vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. The most common disease contention measures were social distance (social isolation), the use of face masks and lockdowns. In the beginning, numerous countries have succeeded to control and reduce COVID-19 infections at a high economic cost.

Nowcasting and forecasting COVID-19 waves: the recursive and stochastic nature of transmission.

We propose a parsimonious, yet effective, susceptible-exposed-infected-removed-type model that incorporates the time change in the transmission and death rates. The model is calibrated by Tikhonov-type regularization from official reports from New York City (NYC), Chicago, the State of São Paulo, in Brazil and British Columbia, in Canada. To forecast, we propose different ways to extend the transmission parameter, considering its estimated values.

Prevalence and predictors of anti-SARS-CoV-2 serology in a highly vulnerable population of Rio de Janeiro: A population-based serosurvey.

Background: COVID-19 serosurveys allow for the monitoring of the level of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and support data-driven decisions. We estimated the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in a large complex in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Methods: A population-based panel study was conducted in Complexo de Manguinhos (16 ) with a probabilistic sampling of participants aged ≥1 year who were randomly selected from a census of individuals registered in primary health care clinics that serve the area.

Epidemiology and costs of dengue in Brazil: a systematic literature review.

Objectives: Dengue infection is a growing public health problem, with the number of reported cases increasing in the Americas and worldwide. This review characterized the epidemiological and economic burden of dengue in Brazil.

Methods: Embase, MEDLINE, evidence-based review databases, and gray literature sources were searched for published literature and surveillance reports on epidemiology (between 2000 and 2019) and costs (between 2009 and 2019) of dengue in Brazil.

Reaching the malaria elimination goal in Brazil: a spatial analysis and time-series study.

Background: Since 2015, the Global Technical Strategy (GTS) for Malaria 2016-2030 has been adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a comprehensive framework to accelerate progress for malaria elimination in endemic countries. This strategy sets the target of reducing global malaria incidence and mortality rates by 90% in 2030. Here it is sought to evaluate Brazil's achievements towards reaching the WHO GTS milestone in 2030.

The legacy of ZikaPLAN: a transnational research consortium addressing Zika.

Global health research partnerships with institutions from high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries are one of the European Commission's flagship programmes. Here, we report on the ZikaPLAN research consortium funded by the European Commission with the primary goal of addressing the urgent knowledge gaps related to the Zika epidemic and the secondary goal of building up research capacity and establishing a Latin American-European research network for emerging vector-borne diseases. Five years of collaborative research effort have led to a better understanding of the full clinical spectrum of congenital Zika syndrome in children and the neurological complications of Zika virus infections in adults and helped explore the origins and trajectory of Zika virus transmission.

Vector control strategies in Brazil: a qualitative investigation into community knowledge, attitudes and perceptions following the 2015-2016 Zika virus epidemic.

Objective: The World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern following the rapid emergence of neonatal microcephaly in Brazil during the 2015-2016 Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic. In response, a national campaign sought to control mosquito populations and reduce ZIKV transmission. Achieving adherence to vector control or mosquito-bite reduction behaviours, including the use of topical mosquito repellents, is challenging.

COVID-19 underreporting and its impact on vaccination strategies.

Background: Underreporting cases of infectious diseases poses a major challenge in the analysis of their epidemiological characteristics and dynamical aspects. Without accurate numerical estimates it is difficult to precisely quantify the proportions of severe and critical cases, as well as the mortality rate. Such estimates can be provided for instance by testing the presence of the virus.

The impact of COVID-19 vaccination delay: A data-driven modeling analysis for Chicago and New York City.

Background: By the beginning of December 2020, some vaccines against COVID-19 already presented efficacy and security, which qualify them to be used in mass vaccination campaigns. Thus, setting up strategies of vaccination became crucial to control the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: We use daily COVID-19 reports from Chicago and New York City (NYC) from 01-Mar2020 to 28-Nov-2020 to estimate the parameters of an SEIR-like epidemiological model that accounts for different severity levels.

Challenges in the diagnosis of pulmonary mucormycosis in a diabetic with a review of literature.

Diabetes Mellitus appears to be the most common underlying condition associated with mucormycosis; a rare opportunistic fungal infection associated with high morbidity and mortality. Pulmonary mucormycosis may mimic pneumonia and thus pose challenges in achieving a timely diagnosis critical to successful outcomes. We present a case of a 65-year-old diabetic who presented with fever and haemoptysis that was managed as pneumonia.

Differences in Placental Histology Between Zika Virus-infected Teenagers and Older Women.

In pregnant women, Zika virus (ZIKV) is associated with a congenital syndrome, most frequently involving damage to embryo brain formation and the development of microcephaly. The mechanism(s) by which ZIKV enters the maternal-fetal interface and is transmitted to the fetus remains incompletely determined. We sought to evaluate histologic changes in the placenta of ZIKV-infected pregnant women and to determine if this varied by maternal age.

Modelling the impact of delaying vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 assuming unlimited vaccine supply.

Background: At the moment we have more than 177 million cases and 3.8 million deaths (as of June 2021) around the world and vaccination represents the only hope to control the pandemic. Imperfections in planning vaccine acquisition and difficulties in implementing distribution among the population, however, have hampered the control of the virus so far.