Planning for disposal of COVID-19 pandemic wastes in developing countries: a review of current challenges.

The health sector is critical to the well-being of any country, but developing countries have several obstacles that prevent them from providing adequate health care. This became an even larger concern after the COVID-19 outbreak left millions of people dead worldwide and generated huge amounts of infected or potentially infected wastes. The management and disposal of medical wastes during and post-COVID-19 represent a major challenge in all countries, but this challenge is particularly great for developing countries that do not have robust waste disposal infrastructure.

Matrix metalloproteinase-8/collagenase-2 in childhood otitis media with effusion.

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), gelatinases, have been associated with otitis media with effusion (OME), but the role of collagenase-2/matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) in OME has not been studied previously. We studied the levels, isoenzyme distribution, and activation of MMP-8 in childhood OME, and also the levels of pro- and active forms of MMP-2 and -9 as well as 120 kDa gelatinase complexes were assessed.

Methods: Seventy middle ear fluid (MEF) samples were collected from 54 children with OME and classified to mucoid (n = 39) or serous (n = 31).

Human bocavirus and rhino-enteroviruses in childhood otitis media with effusion.

Background: Viral respiratory infections play an important role in the pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion (OME) in children. The most common human rhinoviruses (HRVs) have been detected in middle ear effusions (MEE), but there is only limited data available about the closely related human enteroviruses (HEVs). The newly discovered human bocavirus (HBoV) has not, however, been identified in MEE of OME children.

Sensorineural hearing loss in patients with mixed connective tissue disease: immunological markers and cytokine levels.

Objective: To investigate the frequency of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in patients with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD).

Methods: The study population consisted of 71 patients with MCTD (69 female; 2 male), with a mean age of 57.1 +/- 7.

Characterization of otitis media with effusion based on the ratio of albumin and immunoglobulin G concentrations in the effusion.

Objective: To characterize the groups of middle ear effusions (MEE) defined on the basis of the ratio of albumin and immunoglobulin G concentrations (A/G) in the effusion and to identify the correlation between these groups of MEE and the clinical features of otitis media with effusion (OME).

Study Design: A laboratory analysis of 88 samples of MEE and a retrospective analysis of the medical history of all patients was performed.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Sensorineural hearing loss in chronic otitis media.

Objective: To determine whether chronic suppurative otitis media may cause sensorineural hearing loss.

Methods: The files of 121 patients with unilateral chronic suppurative otitis media were reviewed in a retrospective study. Air conduction and bone conduction threshold averages were calculated over the speech frequencies (500 Hz, 1,000 Hz, and 2,000 Hz).