EXPLORING THE FEASIBILITY OF PLATELET-RICH PLASMA INJECTIONS FOR INTERVERTEBRAL DISCOPATHY: A PILOT STUDY.

Objective: This longitudinal pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety and potential benefits of Platelet-Rich Plasma injections into the lumbar intervertebral discs in patients with low back pain and degenerative intervertebral monodiscopathy, assessing potential efficacy on disability.

Design: Longitudinal pilot study.

Methods: Six participants with chronic low back pain and lumbar degenerative intervertebral disc (monodiscopathy) disease underwent 1 Platelet-Rich Plasma injection, with a 1-year follow-up.

Risk Factors of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever in Sindh Province, Pakistan.

Objectives: In Sindh Province, Pakistan, confirmed Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) increased from zero in 2008 to 16 in 2015-2016. To counter this increase, in 2016, we initiated structured CCHF surveillance to improve estimates of risk factors for CCHF in Sindh and to identify potential interventions.

Methods: Beginning in 2016, all referral hospitals in Sindh reported all CCHF cases to surveillance agents.

Virtual reality hypnosis prior to radiofrequency thermocoagulation for patients with chronic pain: an exploratory clinical trial.

Background: The management of chronic pain may involve an array of tools, including radiofrequency thermocoagulation (Rf-Tc) of sensory nerve terminals. Like many other invasive procedures, Rf-Tc can generate anxiety in a lot of patients, either during the expectation of the procedure or in the course of it. Virtual reality hypnosis (VRH) is a promising tool for managing anxiety and pain in several situations, but its anxiolytic property has not been investigated in participants with chronic pain and going through a Rf-Tc procedure.

A pediatric HIV outbreak in Pakistan.

Background: Following reports of an outbreak of HIV infection among children in Larkana District, Pakistan, an international team investigated the extent and cause of the outbreak between April and June 2019.

Aims: To investigate the incidence of HIV among children in Larkana District, Pakistan and describe the distribution of cases by time, place and person.

Methods: Self-referred persons were tested for HIV using the national testing protocol.

Untangling the effects of multiple exposures with a common reference group in an epidemiologic study: A practical revisit.

When assessing multiple exposures in epidemiologic studies, epidemiologists often use multivariable regression models with main effects only to control for confounding. This method can mask the true effects of individual exposures, potentially leading to wrong conclusions. We revisited a simple, practical, and often overlooked approach to untangle effects of the exposures of interest, in which the combinations of all levels of the exposures of interest are recoded into a single, multicategory variable.

Considerations on the Obstacles That Lead to Slow Recruitment in a Pain Management Clinical Trial: Experiences from the Belgian PELICAN (PrEgabalin Lidocaine Capsaicin Neuropathic Pain) Pragmatic Study.

Background: A qualitative evaluation study of the prematurely terminated PrEgabalin Lidocaine Capsaicin Neuropathic Pain (PELICAN) study was performed. The PELICAN study aimed to examine pain management for localized neuropathic pain (LNP), as epidemiological figures have shown a high percentage of LNP patients in Belgium. The study compared systemic and topical medications according to pain relief, adverse effects, and several measures of quality of life.

Field epidemiology training programs contribute to COVID-19 preparedness and response globally.

Background: Field epidemiology training programs (FETPs) have trained field epidemiologists who strengthen global capacities for surveillance and response to public health threats. We describe how FETP residents and graduates have contributed to COVID-19 preparedness and response globally.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of FETPs between March 13 and April 15, 2020 to understand how FETP residents or graduates were contributing to COVID-19 response activities.

An Epidemic of Pediatric HIV From Reuse of Infusion Equipment in Pakistan.

Background: From April to June 2019, a total of 909 new HIV infections were identified in Larkana, Pakistan; 86% was children younger than 15 years. To identify the possible transmission links in this outbreak, a case-control study was conducted in June 2019.

Methods: For cases, we selected a systematic random sample of 100 HIV-positive children from the screening list.

Complementary treatment comparison for chronic pain management: A randomized longitudinal study.

Background: In chronic pain, it seems that the effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is boosted when it is combined with hypnosis. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of self-hypnosis combined with self-care (i.e.

One Field Epidemiologist per 200,000 Population: Lessons Learned from Implementing a Global Public Health Workforce Target.

The World Health Organization monitoring and evaluation framework for the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005) describes the targets for the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) indicators. For workforce development, the JEE defines the optimal target for attaining and complying with the IHR (2005) as 1 trained field epidemiologist (or equivalent) per 200,000 population. We explain the derivation and use of the current field epidemiology workforce development target and identify the limitations and lessons learned in applying it to various countries' public health systems.

Protective Effect of Hand-Washing and Good Hygienic Habits Against Seasonal Influenza: A Case-Control Study.

Previous observational studies have reported protective effects of hand-washing in reducing upper respiratory infections, little is known about the associations between hand-washing and good hygienic habits and seasonal influenza infection. We conducted a case-control study to test whether the risk of influenza transmission associated with self-reported hand-washing and unhealthy hygienic habits among residents in Fujian Province, southeastern China.Laboratory confirmed seasonal influenza cases were consecutively included in the study as case-patients (n = 100).

Risk factors for critical disease and death from hand, foot and mouth disease.

Background: There has been a high mortality and morbidity rate of critical and fatal patients from hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in China in recent. Causes for development of critical and fatal disease remain unclear.

Methods: We performed a case-control study to assess the association between use of drugs and development of critical disease and death from HFMD.

Protection by face masks against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus on trans-Pacific passenger aircraft, 2009.

In response to several influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 infections that developed in passengers after they traveled on the same 2 flights from New York, New York, USA, to Hong Kong, China, to Fuzhou, China, we assessed transmission of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus on these flights. We defined a case of infection as onset of fever and respiratory symptoms and detection of virus by PCR in a passenger or crew member of either flight. Illness developed only in passengers who traveled on the New York to Hong Kong flight.

Outbreak of pulmonary tuberculosis in a Chinese high school, 2009-2010.

Background: In February 2009, a high school student was diagnosed with sputum-smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). One year later, 2 other students in the same grade developed sputum-smear positive TB.

Methods: We used tuberculin skin testing (TST), chest radiography, sputum smear, and symptomatology for case identification.

A cluster of primary pneumonic plague transmitted in a truck cab in a new enzootic focus in China.

We investigated a cluster of five cases of severe pneumonia from one village in Yunnan Province, China. We searched for severe pneumonia in the village and hospitals. We interviewed patients and family members about exposures.

Hypoglycemia and death in mice following experimental exposure to an extract of Trogia venenata mushrooms.

Background: Clusters of sudden unexplained death (SUD) in Yunnan Province, China, have been linked to eating Trogia venenata mushrooms. We evaluated the toxic effect of this mushroom on mice.

Methods: We prepared extracts of fresh T.

Clusters of sudden unexplained death associated with the mushroom, Trogia venenata, in rural Yunnan Province, China.

Introduction: Since the late 1970's, time-space clusters of sudden unexplained death (SUD) in northwest Yunnan, China have alarmed the public and health authorities. From 2006-2009, we initiated enhanced surveillance for SUD to identify a cause, and we warned villagers to avoid eating unfamiliar mushrooms.

Methods: We established surveillance for SUD, defined as follows: sudden onset of serious, unexplained physical impairment followed by death in <24 hours.

Early use of glucocorticoids was a risk factor for critical disease and death from pH1N1 infection.

Background: Glucocorticoids increase the risk of developing critical disease from viral infections. However, primary care practitioners in China use them as antipyretics, potentially exposing hundreds of millions to this risk.

Methods: We enrolled all patients with confirmed pandemic influenza A (pH1N1) virus infection aged ≥3 years with available medical records at 4 Shenyang City hospitals from 20 October to 30 November 2009.

A community outbreak of rotavirus diarrhea associated with exposures in a hospital outpatient department in South China.

Introduction: Between October 1 and December 10, 2006, Bao'an, China had a 5-fold increase in acute rotavirus gastroenteritis (ARGE) cases compared with the same time in 2005. To identify the risk factors for ARGE during this outbreak, we conducted a case-control study among children ≤ 24 months old from the most heavily affected area.

Methods: We defined an ARGE case as diarrhea, with group A rotavirus antigen detected from fecal samples by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test.

Paraplegia and paraparesis from intrathecal methotrexate and cytarabine contaminated with trace amounts of vincristine in China during 2007.

Purpose: The production and administration of drugs used intrathecally requires special care to prevent contamination with neurotoxic agents. In 2007, we investigated a widespread outbreak of paraplegia and paraparesis among Chinese patients who received intrathecal drugs to identify the presumed contaminant and its source to prevent further cases.

Patients And Methods: We defined a case as onset from January 1 to October 31, 2007, of bilateral flaccid paraparesis or paraplegia or retention and incontinence of stool or urine, in a patient receiving intrathecal drugs.