Publications by authors named "Norman F"

Background: The World Health Organization has identified Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) as a priority disease for research and development in emergency contexts. The epidemiology of CCHF is evolving and this review highlights travel-associated cases and focuses on the need for a One Health approach in Europe.

Methods: For this narrative review, two searches were performed in PubMed and Google Scholar for the period 1980-October 2024.

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Background: Chronic schistosomiasis can lead to significant morbidity. Serology is highly sensitive; however, its role in assessing treatment response is controversial. This study aimed to analyze serological values following treatment of chronic imported schistosomiasis.

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Introduction: Ophthalmological conditions in international travelers may be associated with low mortality but high morbidity. Eye involvement in travelers is less frequently reported than febrile, gastrointestinal and respiratory infections, but data probably represent a degree of under-notification.

Methods: an extensive narrative review of the main viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections affecting the eye in travelers was performed.

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Endemic in over 45 countries globally, recent reports of locally acquired melioidosis in novel geographical areas, such as the Southern US, have highlighted the expanding geographical range of . Climate change and severe weather events have been linked to an increase in cases of melioidosis, which follows environmental exposure to the bacterium. Healthcare professionals should be aware of the possibility of the disease, with its diverse and often delayed presentations, even in areas not previously known to have risk.

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Untargeted metabolomic analysis is a powerful tool used for the discovery of novel biomarkers. Chagas disease (CD), caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is a neglected tropical disease that affects 6-7 million people with approximately 30% developing cardiac manifestations. The most significant clinical challenge lies in its long latency period after acute infection, and the lack of surrogate markers to predict disease progression or cure.

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Article Synopsis
  • Dengue poses a significant health risk to international travelers, with 5,958 cases reported from 2007 to 2022 at GeoSentinel sites, where 81.6% were confirmed cases.
  • The study revealed that the median age of affected travelers was 33 years, with the majority traveling for tourism and acquiring the virus primarily in South East Asia.
  • Complicated cases of dengue were rare, with only 1.6% of travelers experiencing complications; however, there is a crucial need for awareness and preventive measures among travelers heading to endemic areas.
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Background: In non-endemic countries, malaria can be transmitted through blood donations from imported cases. To ensure standards of quality and safety of human blood, the European Union and Spanish national law, requires a deferral period, or a screening by immunological or genomic test among those donors with potential risk of malaria. Scientific societies, European Committee on Blood Transfusion, and Spanish Society of Haematology and Haemotherapy, refer only to the result of the immunological test.

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  • - HIV is now viewed as a chronic disease with positive long-term outcomes, prompting the need for a new care model called the Optimal Care Model (OCM), which helps assess and classify patient complexity for better care.
  • - In a study of 94 adult patients living with HIV, the majority had low complexity and were predominantly cisgender men from Latin America and Africa, with most achieving an undetectable viral load.
  • - The OCM successfully classified many patients, but those with high or extreme complexity often fell into unclassifiable categories, suggesting the need for additional profiles focusing on mental health to enhance patient care.
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Background: Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by a degeneration of the dopaminergic system. Dopamine transporter (DAT) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging has emerged as a powerful and non-invasive method to quantify dopaminergic function in the living brain. The PET radioligand, [F]FE-PE2I, a cocaine chemical derivative, has shown promising properties for in vivo PET imaging of DAT, including high affinity and selectivity for DAT, excellent brain permeability, and favorable metabolism.

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  • High-speed global travel, migration, and climate change have contributed to the rise of imported infections in Spain from 2012 to 2022, necessitating analysis of these trends.
  • The study used data from the +Redivi network, involving 25 health centres, to assess demographics and diagnostic outcomes related to these infections among various groups, including migrants and travelers.
  • Findings revealed stable rates for some infections like malaria, while others such as schistosomiasis and tuberculosis saw increased diagnoses, highlighting significant interactions based on time and participant demographics.
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Dengue is the most prevalent mosquito-borne viral disease in humans, and cases are continuing to rise globally. In particular, islands in the Caribbean have experienced more frequent outbreaks, and all four dengue virus (DENV) serotypes have been reported in the region, leading to hyperendemicity and increased rates of severe disease. However, there is significant variability regarding virus surveillance and reporting between islands, making it difficult to obtain an accurate understanding of the epidemiological patterns in the Caribbean.

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Purpose Of Review: The recent COVID-19 pandemic has shaped the epidemiology of other infectious diseases globally. International tourist arrivals are increasing and recovering to prepandemic levels. This review focuses on respiratory infections in travelers, highlighting the characteristics of the main imported viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections with pulmonary involvement.

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Background: Prolonged diarrhoea is common amongst returning travellers and is often caused by intestinal protozoa. However, the epidemiology of travel-associated illness caused by protozoal pathogens is not well described.

Methods: We analysed records of returning international travellers with illness caused by Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp.

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Background: Chikungunya is an important travel-related disease because of its rapid geographical expansion and potential for prolonged morbidity. Improved understanding of the epidemiology of travel-related chikungunya infections may influence prevention strategies including education and vaccination.

Methods: We analysed data from travellers with confirmed or probable chikungunya reported to GeoSentinel sites from 2005 to 2020.

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Chagas disease is currently present in many non-endemic countries and remains a neglected tropical disease globally. A review of the literature identified significant gaps and scarcity of updated information from European countries, with most studies reporting data from Spain and Italy. The index of underdiagnosis may be as high as 70%, affecting mainly females of child-bearing age.

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Dengue is the most prevalent mosquito-borne viral disease in humans, and cases are continuing to rise globally. In particular, islands in the Caribbean have experienced more frequent outbreaks, and all four dengue virus (DENV) serotypes have been reported in the region, leading to hyperendemicity and increased rates of severe disease. However, there is significant variability regarding virus surveillance and reporting between islands, making it difficult to obtain an accurate understanding of the epidemiological patterns in the Caribbean.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study explores how gut microbial communities might influence immune responses and treatment outcomes in patients with chronic Chagas disease, highlighting differences in clinical manifestations among various patient groups.
  • - Researchers analyzed stool samples from 80 participants, revealing that Chagas disease affected gut microbiota structure, with notable enrichment of certain bacteria in patients, while diet did not significantly differ between patients and controls.
  • - The findings suggest that specific microbiota changes could serve as potential biomarkers for Chagas disease, indicating that further investigation into gut bacteria diversity may enhance disease prognosis and management.
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Purpose Of Review: The objective of this review was to provide an update on recent malaria epidemiology, both globally and in non-endemic areas, to identify the current distribution and repercussions of genetically diverse Plasmodium species and summarize recently implemented intervention and prevention tools.

Recent Findings: Notable changes in malaria epidemiology have occurred in recent years, with an increase in the number of total cases and deaths globally during 2020-2021, in part attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. The emergence of artemisinin-resistant species in new areas and the expanding distribution of parasites harbouring deletions of the pfhrp2/3 genes have been concerning.

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Background: Melioidosis, caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, may be considered a neglected tropical disease that remains underdiagnosed in many geographical areas. Travellers can act as the sentinels of disease activity, and data from imported cases may help complete the global map of melioidosis.

Methods: A literature search for imported melioidosis for the period 2016-22 was performed in PubMed and Google Scholar.

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