International travellers are exposed to pathogens not commonly found in their countries of residence, including West Nile virus (WNV). Due to the difficulty of its diagnosis, little is known about its distribution in Africa. Understanding the geographic extent of risk of WNV infections is a necessity for both travellers and clinicians who advise and treat them, since there is no human vaccine. To date, there is no risk map for WNV infections in humans in Africa. Having a high-resolution risk map for the virus could be of relevance before the trip, to take preventive measures, and after the trip, for appropriate diagnosis of the disease. Virus detection in humans along the African continent were collected from official reports, and published scientific research for the period 1940 to 2020, and then geo-referenced in order to use biogeographical modelling for WNV. Models were based on fuzzy logic and machine learning algorithms and were designed to identify the environmental drivers that explain the distribution of human cases and to locate favourable areas for infections. We elaborated a high-resolution risk map for WNV infections that highlights favourable areas for infections in Africa. Although WNV infections are widely spread across Africa, the risk of the disease is not homogenously distributed. Popular tourist destinations such as Morocco, Tunisia, and South Africa, are high-risk areas for WNV infection.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tmaid.2022.102529 | DOI Listing |
Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol
January 2025
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
Objectives: To compare the maternal hemodynamic profile at 12 + 0 to 15 + 6 weeks' gestation in women who subsequently developed pre-eclampsia (PE) and those who did not, and to assess the screening performance of maternal hemodynamic parameters for PE in combination with the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) triple test, including maternal factors (MF), mean arterial pressure (MAP), uterine artery pulsatility index and placental growth factor.
Methods: This was a prospective case-control study involving Chinese women with a singleton pregnancy who underwent preterm PE screening at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks' gestation using the FMF triple test, between February 2020 and February 2023. Women identified as being at high risk (≥ 1:100) for preterm PE by the FMF triple test were matched 1:1 with women identified as low risk (< 1:100) for maternal age ± 3 years, maternal weight ± 5 kg and date of screening ± 14 days.
J Cardiothorac Surg
January 2025
Department of General Internal Medicine, Hangzhou Xixi Hospital, Hangzhou Sixth People's Hospital, Hangzhou Xixi Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310023, China.
Background: Gout is a metabolic disease caused by decreased blood uric acid excretion and purine metabolism disorders. Long-term and persistent metabolic dysfunction gradually affects other organ functions and is the main factor inducing Myocardial Infarction (MI) and Heart Failure (HF), seriously affecting the health of patients. This study adopts a meta-analysis to analyze the risk of MI and HF in gout patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
January 2025
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Human and Animal Health, Berlin, Germany.
Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a re-emerging tick-borne zoonosis that is caused by CCHF virus (CCHFV). The geographical distribution of the disease and factors that influence its occurrence are poorly known. We analysed historical records on its outbreaks in various countries across the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to identify hotspots and determine socioecological and demographicfactors associated with these outbreaks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Ment Health Nurs
February 2025
School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
China is the country with the largest population of older persons. Depression is the most common mental health issue among older adults, a trend expected to increase as societies continue to age. With the global increase in depression and depressive symptoms among this demographic, the resulting disease burden poses a significant challenge to health and social care systems in China.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS Negl Trop Dis
January 2025
Institute of Exact and Applied Sciences, University of New Caledonia, Nouméa, Province Sud, New Caledonia.
Background: Leptospirosis is a neglected zoonotic disease prevalent worldwide, particularly in tropical regions experiencing frequent rainfall and severe cyclones, which are further aggravated by climate change. This bacterial zoonosis, caused by the Leptospira genus, can be transmitted through contaminated water and soil. The Pacific islands bear a high burden of leptospirosis, making it crucial to identify key factors influencing its distribution.
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