Unraveling the Complexity of Chikungunya Virus Infection Immunological and Genetic Insights in Acute and Chronic Patients.

: The chikungunya virus (CHIKV), transmitted by infected Aedes mosquitoes, has caused a significant number of infections worldwide. In Brazil, the emergence of the CHIKV-ECSA genotype in 2014 posed a major public health challenge due to its association with more severe symptoms. : This study aimed to shed new light on the host immune response by examining the whole-blood transcriptomic profile of both CHIKV-acute and chronically infected individuals from Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil, a region heavily affected by CHIKV, Dengue, and Zika virus epidemics.

The Effect of Metformin and Hydrochlorothiazide on Cytochrome P450 3A4 Metabolism of Ivermectin: Insights from In Silico Experimentation.

The spread of SARS-CoV-2 has led to an interest in using ivermectin (a potent antiparasitic agent) as an antiviral agent despite the lack of convincing in vivo clinical data for its use against COVID-19. The off-target prophylactic use of ivermectin adds a substantial risk of drug-drug interactions with pharmaceutical medications used to treat chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension (metformin and hydrochlorothiazide, respectively). Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the potential drug-drug interactions between ivermectin with either metformin or hydrochlorothiazide.

Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate/Emtricitabine Prophylaxis Has No Effect on Bone Mineral Density and Bone Mineral Content in African Breastfeeding Women Receiving Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV.

Background: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) when used as preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in pregnancy is considered safe overall however there is insufficient evidence of its effect on maternal bone. We compared bone mineral density (BMD) and content (BMC) at the lumbar spine (LS) and hip of African breastfeeding women exposed and not exposed to TDF-containing PrEP in a randomized control trial (RCT).

Methods: This is a secondary data analysis of an RCT where pregnant women were randomized to initiating PrEP in pregnancy or delayed initiation of PrEP until breastfeeding cessation.

Clinical and Histopathological Findings in HIV-positive to HIV-positive Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Background: The spectrum of histological findings in transplanted kidneys from HIV-positive donors to HIV-positive recipients is relatively unexplored. This study describes the type and timing of histological diagnoses observed in this unique cohort.

Methods: Adequate biopsies were analyzed at implantation and posttransplant between September 2008 and May 2022.

The Contribution of Noncommunicable and Infectious Diseases to the Effect of Depression on Mortality: A Longitudinal Causal Mediation Analysis.

Background: The increased prevalence of physical diseases among individuals with mental illness contributes to their increased risk of mortality. However, the mediating role of specific diseases in the effect of mental illness on mortality is not well understood.

Method: We conducted a longitudinal causal mediation analysis using data from beneficiaries of a South African medical insurance scheme from 2011 to 2020.

Shared experiences, shared support: A qualitative study on the importance of relatability in interpersonal relationships for youth mental health in South Africa.

Adolescence is a critical developmental period marked by significant changes, increasing the risk of mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. Understanding how youth engage with mental health resources is essential. This study explored the role of interpersonal relationships-including peer-to-peer, adult-youth, parent, teacher and mentor relationships, and interactions with mental health professionals-in shaping youth mental health engagement and identified factors influencing these relationships.

Barriers to accessing appendectomy in the public sector health system in the Western Cape Province, South Africa.

Background: Appendectomy is the surgical treatment for acute appendicitis and barriers to timely care can lead to morbidity and mortality. In South Africa, patients experience delays during the stages of seeking, reaching, and receiving care. This study explored the perceptions and experiences of barriers to accessing appendectomy among patients, caregivers, and surgeons employed at selected public hospitals in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Tushirikiane-4-Uthabiti (Supporting Each Other For Resilience): study protocol of a mental health, HIV self-testing and livelihoods randomised controlled trial for advancing HIV prevention outcomes among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda.

Introduction: Research with urban refugee youth in Uganda has documented co-occurring social (e.g., poverty) and health (e.

Collaborative Outcomes Study on Health and Functioning During Infection Times (COH-FIT): Global and Risk-Group Stratified Course of Well-Being and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Adolescents.

Objective: To identify the COVID-19 pandemic impact on well-being/mental health, coping strategies, and risk factors in adolescents worldwide.

Method: This study was based on an anonymous online multi-national/multi-language survey in the general population (representative/weighted non-representative samples, 14-17 years of age), measuring change in well-being (World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index [WHO-5]/range = 0-100) and psychopathology (validated composite P-score/range = 0-100), WHO-5 <50 and <29, pre- vs during COVID-19 pandemic (April 26, 2020-June 26, 2022). Coping strategies and 9 a priori- defined individual/cumulative risk factors were measured.

Technical variability across the 450K, EPICv1, and EPICv2 DNA methylation arrays: lessons learned for clinical and longitudinal studies.

DNA methylation (DNAm) is the most commonly measured epigenetic mechanism in human populations, with most studies using Illumina arrays to assess DNAm levels. In 2023, Illumina updated their DNAm arrays to the EPIC version 2 (EPICv2), building on prior iterations, namely the EPIC version 1 (EPICv1) and 450K arrays. Whether DNAm measurements are stable across these three generations of arrays has yet not been investigated, limiting the ability of researchers-especially those with longitudinal data-to compare and replicate results across arrays.

The association of HIV status with triple-negative breast cancer in patients with breast cancer in South Africa: a cross-sectional analysis of case-only data from a prospective cohort study.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy diagnosed among women in South Africa, with the aggressive triple-negative subtype comprising approximately 15% of breast cancers in this population. South Africa has the largest population of people with HIV in the world. This study aims to evaluate the association between HIV status and the proportion of patients with breast cancer with the triple-negative subtype.

Queer- and trans-inclusive faculty hiring-A call for change.

As queer and trans scientists, we face varied and systemic barriers to our professional success, resulting in our relative absence from faculty ranks at many institutions. In this Perspective, we call for a change in faculty hiring practices and present concrete guidance to make it a more inclusive process.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of a prediction model for community-based screening of active tuberculosis.

Background: Active case finding could effectively detect tuberculosis (TB) patients, but it can be costly. Therefore, a feasible, cost-saving, and efficient algorithm for community-based TB screening is needed.

Methods: The study population was based on a previous TB prevalence survey conducted in the Zambia/South Africa Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Reduction trial.

Dynamics and ecology of a multi-stage expansion of Oropouche virus in Brazil.

In March 2024, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an alert in response to a rapid increase in Oropouche fever cases across South America. Brazil has been particularly affected, reporting a novel reassortant lineage of the Oropouche virus (OROV) and expansion to previously non-endemic areas beyond the Amazon Basin. Utilising phylogeographic approaches, we reveal a multi-scale expansion process with both short and long-distance dispersal events, and diffusion velocities in line with human-mediated jumps.

USING SPUTUM AND TONGUE SWAB SPECIMENS FOR IN-HOME POINT-OF-CARE TARGETED UNIVERSAL TESTING FOR TB OF HOUSEHOLD CONTACTS: AN ACCEPTABILITY AND FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS.

Introduction: Effective strategies are needed to facilitate early detection and diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). The overreliance on passive case detection, symptom screening, and collection of sputum, results in delayed or undiagnosed TB, which directly contributes to on-going TB transmission. We assessed the acceptability and feasibility of in-home, Targeted Universal TB Testing (TUTT) of household contacts using GeneXpert MTB/RIF Ultra at point-of-care (POC) during household contact investigations (HCIs) and compared the feasibility of using sputum vs.

The pattern of childhood infections during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The rates of most paediatric infectious diseases declined during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic due to the implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions. However, after the gradual release of these interventions, resurgences of infections occurred with notable variations in incidence, clinical manifestations, pathogen strains, and age distribution. This Review seeks to explore these changes and the rare clinical manifestations that were made evident during the resurgence of known childhood infections.

Global development assistance for early childhood care and education in 134 low- and middle-income countries, 2007-2021.

Introduction: Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) often dedicate limited domestic funds to expand quality early childhood care and education (ECCE), making complementary international donor support potentially important. However, research on the allocation of international development assistance for ECCE has been limited.

Methods: We analysed data from the Creditor Reporting System on aid projects to assess global development assistance for ECCE in 134 LMICs from 2007 to 2021.

Women's experiences and acceptability of self-administered, home delivered, intravaginal 5-Fluorouracil cream for cervical precancer treatment in Kenya.

Background: Innovative strategies are essential to meet the World Health Organization's 90/70/90 cervical cancer elimination targets, aiming for 90% access to precancer treatment globally by 2030. In low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) where most cervical cancer cases occur, access to precancer treatment is severely limited. Scalable solutions like self-administered topical therapies can help close this gap.

Five-year tuberculosis trends analysis in eight districts of Mwanza region, Tanzania; (2017-2021).

Background: In Tanzania like other developing countries, TB detection is hindered by totally missed, late notification, and delayed diagnosis of active cases. Apart from having TB control strategies and interventions to detect patients and put them on treatment to cut down the chain of transmission, TB remains a health concern. Limited data exist on the burden and trends of tuberculosis in Mwanza, which includes fishing communities and living conditions that are associated with high TB transmission like overcrowding.