Assessment of the application of the FA280-a fully automated fecal analyzer for diagnosing clonorchiasis: a mixed-method study.

Background: Clonorchiasis is an important foodborne parasitic disease in China caused by Clonorchis sinensis. Accurate and rapid diagnosis of this disease is vital for treatment and control. Traditional fecal examination methods, such as the Kato-Katz (KK) method, are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and have limited acceptance.

The cognition, behaviours and social environment related to Clonorchis sinensis infection in China: a qualitative study.

Background: Cognition, behaviours and social environment are associated with Clonorchis sinensis infection, a prevalent liver fluke disease in China. This study aimed to use social cognitive theory (SCT) to investigate these three aspects and their interaction in an endemic area.

Methods: We conducted three semi-structured focus group discussions in Da'ao town, Jiangmen city, Guangdong Province, China.

Model-inferred timing and infectious period of the chickenpox outbreak source.

Background: In May 2024, a chickenpox outbreak was reported at Xiasha Primary School located in Nanshan District, Shenzhen City, China, with a total of 12 cases identified. Despite thorough on-site investigations, the source of infection remained undetected. The purpose of our study was to infer the timing and duration of the infectious period of the initial case using modeling techniques, thereby deducing the identity of the source.

Validity of the Chinese multimorbidity-weighted index in measuring disease burden using health check-ups data in primary care.

Background: As multimorbidity becomes common that imposes a considerable burden to patients, but the extent to which widely-used multimorbidity indexes can be applied to quantify disease burden using primary care data in China is not clear. We applied the Chinese Multimorbidity-Weighted Index (CMWI) to health check-ups data routinely collected among older adults by primary care, to examine its validity in measuring multimorbidity associated risks of disability and mortality in annual follow-ups.

Methods: The study utilized data from annual health check-ups of older adults, which included information on individual age, sex, and 14 health conditions at primary care in a district of Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.

Spatial-temporal distribution of preterm birth in China, 1990-2020: A systematic review and modelling analysis.

Background: Little is known about the long-term trends of preterm birth rates in China and their geographic variation by province.

Objectives: To estimate the annual spatial-temporal distribution of preterm birth rates in China by province from 1990 to 2020.

Data Sources: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, CNKI, WANFANG and VIP from January 1990 to September 2023.

The spatial-temporal risk profiling of infection over 50 years implies the effectiveness of control programs in South Korea: a geostatistical modeling study.

Background: Over the past 50 years, two national control programs on infection have been conducted in South Korea. Spatial-temporal profiles of infection risk provide useful information on assessing the effectiveness of the programs and planning spatial-targeted control strategies.

Methods: Advanced Bayesian geostatistical joint models with spatial-temporal random effects were developed to analyze disease data collecting by a systematic review with potential influencing factors, and to handle issues of preferential sampling and data heterogeneities.

The spatial-temporal distribution of soil-transmitted helminth infections in Guangdong Province, China: A geostatistical analysis of data derived from the three national parasitic surveys.

Background: The results of the latest national survey on important human parasitic diseases in 2015-2016 showed Guangdong Province is still a moderately endemic area, with the weighted prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) higher than the national average. High-resolution age- and gender-specific spatial-temporal risk maps can support the prevention and control of STHs, but not yet available in Guangdong.

Methodology: Georeferenced age- and gender-specific disease data of STH infections in Guangdong Province was derived from three national surveys on important human parasitic diseases, conducted in 1988-1992, 2002-2003, and 2015-2016, respectively.

Cost-effectiveness evaluation of different control strategies for Clonorchis sinensis infection in a high endemic area of China: A modelling study.

Clonorchiasis is an important food-borne parasitic disease caused by Clonorchis sinensis infection. The evaluation of long-term cost-effectiveness of control strategies is important for disease control and prevention. The present study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of the three recommended strategies (i.

Developing and validating a Chinese multimorbidity-weighted index for middle-aged and older community-dwelling individuals.

Objective: To develop and validate an index to quantify the multimorbidity burden in Chinese middle-aged and older community-dwelling individuals.

Methods: We included 20,035 individuals aged 45 and older from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and 19,297 individuals aged 65 and older from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Health outcomes of physical functioning (PF), basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADL and IADL) and mortality were obtained.

Equity of geographical access to public health facilities in Nepal.

Introduction: Geographical accessibility is important against health equity, particularly for less developed countries as Nepal. It is important to identify the disparities in geographical accessibility to the three levels of public health facilities across Nepal, which has not been available.

Methods: Based on the up-to-date dataset of Nepal formal public health facilities in 2021, we measured the geographical accessibility by calculating the travel time to the nearest public health facility of three levels (ie, primary, secondary and tertiary) across Nepal at 1×1 km resolution under two travel modes: walking and motorised.

Model-based spatial-temporal mapping of opisthorchiasis in endemic countries of Southeast Asia.

Opisthorchiasis is an overlooked danger to Southeast Asia. High-resolution disease risk maps are critical but have not been available for Southeast Asia. Georeferenced disease data and potential influencing factor data were collected through a systematic review of literatures and open-access databases, respectively.

Assessment of control strategies against Clonorchis sinensis infection based on a multi-group dynamic transmission model.

Clonorchiasis is one of the most important food-borne trematodiases affecting millions of people. Strategies were recommended by different organizations and control programmes were implemented but mostly in short-time periods. It's important to assess the long-term benefits and sustainability of possible control strategies on morbidity control of the disease.

Risk profiling of soil-transmitted helminth infection and estimated number of infected people in South Asia: A systematic review and Bayesian geostatistical Analysis.

Background: In South Asia, hundreds of millions of people are infected with soil-transmitted helminths (Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm, and Trichuris trichiura). However, high-resolution risk profiles and the estimated number of people infected have yet to be determined. In turn, such information will assist control programs to identify priority areas for allocation of scarce resource for the control of soil-transmitted helminth infection.

Geographical heterogeneity and inequality of access to improved drinking water supply and sanitation in Nepal.

Background: Per United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, Nepal is aspiring to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water and provide access to adequate and equitable sanitation for all by 2030. For these goals to be accomplished, it is important to understand the country's geographical heterogeneity and inequality of access to its drinking-water supply and sanitation (WSS) so that resource allocation and disease control can be optimized. We aimed 1) to estimate spatial heterogeneity of access to improved WSS among the overall Nepalese population at a high resolution; 2) to explore inequality within and between relevant Nepalese administrative levels; and 3) to identify the specific administrative areas in greatest need of policy attention.

Risk mapping of clonorchiasis in the People's Republic of China: A systematic review and Bayesian geostatistical analysis.

Background: Clonorchiasis, one of the most important food-borne trematodiases, affects more than 12 million people in the People's Republic of China (P.R. China).

Assessment of global guidelines for preventive chemotherapy against schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis: a cost-effectiveness modelling study.

Background: WHO guidelines recommend annual treatment for schistosomiasis or soil-transmitted helminthiasis when prevalence in school-aged children is at or above a threshold of 50% and 20%, respectively. Separate treatment guidelines are used for these two helminthiases, and integrated community-wide treatment is not recommended. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of changing prevalence thresholds and treatment guidelines under an integrated delivery framework.

The spatial distribution of Schistosoma mansoni infection in four regions of western Côte d'Ivoire.

Schistosomiasis poses a considerable public health burden in sub- Saharan Africa and a sound understanding of the spatial distribution facilitates to better target control interventions. The objectives of this study were i) to assess the prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni among school-aged children in four regions of western Côte d'Ivoire; ii) to determine demographic, climatic and environmental factors that influence the distribution of S. mansoni; and iii) to map and predict the distribution of S.

Spatial distribution of schistosomiasis and treatment needs in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and geostatistical analysis.

Background: Schistosomiasis affects more than 200 million individuals, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, but empirical estimates of the disease burden in this region are unavailable. We used geostatistical modelling to produce high-resolution risk estimates of infection with Schistosoma spp and of the number of doses of praziquantel treatment needed to prevent morbidity at different administrative levels in 44 countries.

Methods: We did a systematic review to identify surveys including schistosomiasis prevalence data in sub-Saharan Africa via PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and African Journals Online, from inception to May 2, 2014, with no restriction of language, survey date, or study design.

Bayesian geostatistical modelling of soil-transmitted helminth survey data in the People's Republic of China.

Background: Soil-transmitted helminth infections affect tens of millions of individuals in the People's Republic of China (P.R. China).

Ultrastructural uncoupling between T-tubules and sarcoplasmic reticulum in human heart failure.

Aims: Chronic heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome with impaired myocardial contractility. In failing cardiomyocytes, decreased signalling efficiency between the L-type Ca(2+) channels (LCCs) in the plasma membrane (including transverse tubules, TTs) and the ryanodine receptors (RyRs) in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) underlies the defective excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling. It is therefore intriguing to know how the LCC-RyR signalling apparatus is remodelled in human heart failure.

Ultrastructural remodelling of Ca(2+) signalling apparatus in failing heart cells.

Aims: The contraction of a heart cell is controlled by Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release between L-type Ca(2+) channels (LCCs) in the cell membrane/T-tubules (TTs) and ryanodine receptors (RyRs) in the junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). During heart failure, LCC-RyR signalling becomes defective. The purpose of the present study was to reveal the ultrastructural mechanism underlying the defective LCC-RyR signalling and contractility.