Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of brucellosis, Rift Valley fever and Q fever among settled and mobile agro-pastoralist communities and their livestock in Chad.

Brucellosis, Rift Valley fever (RVF) and Q fever are zoonoses prevalent in many developing countries, causing a high burden on human and animal health. Only a few studies are available on these among agro-pastoralist communities and their livestock in Chad. The objective of our study was to estimate brucellosis, RVF and Q fever seroprevalence among Chadian agro-pastoralist communities and their livestock, and to investigate risk factors for seropositivity.

Serum proteomics in giant cell arteritis in response to a three-day pulse of glucocorticoid followed by tocilizumab monotherapy (the GUSTO trial).

Objective: Proteome analyses in patients with newly diagnosed, untreated giant cell arteritis (GCA) have not been reported previously, nor are changes of protein expression upon treatment with glucocorticoids (GC) and/or tocilizumab (TCZ) known. The GUSTO trial allows to address these questions, provides the opportunity to learn about the differential effects of GC and TCZ on proteomics and may help to identify serum proteins to monitor disease activity.

Methods: Serum samples obtained from 16 patients with new-onset GCA at different time points (day 0, 3, 10, and week 4, 24, 52) during the GUSTO trial (NCT03745586) were examined for 1436 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) based on proximity extension assay technology.

Delayed episodic memory recall after one week is associated with executive functions and divided attention in pediatric epilepsy patients.

Aim: Recent studies suggest that although children with epilepsy may show normal learning and memory performance, accelerated long-term forgetting (ALF) may become evident over time. Our study examined associations between delayed episodic memory performance (recall 1-week after learning) and executive functions.

Method: A consecutive sample of children with a diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy with focal or generalized seizures, without morphologic or metabolic abnormalities (n = 20, mean age: 11.

Back-to-Africa introductions of Mycobacterium tuberculosis as the main cause of tuberculosis in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

In settings with high tuberculosis (TB) endemicity, distinct genotypes of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) often differ in prevalence. However, the factors leading to these differences remain poorly understood. Here we studied the MTBC population in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania over a six-year period, using 1,082 unique patient-derived MTBC whole-genome sequences (WGS) and associated clinical data.

Development of a personalized fall rate prediction model in community-dwelling older adults: a negative binomial regression modelling approach.

Background: Around a third of adults aged 65 and older fall every year, resulting in unintentional injuries in 30% of the cases. Fractures are a frequent consequence of falls, primarily caused in individuals with decreased bone strength who are unable to cushion their falls. Accordingly, an individual's number of experienced falls has a direct influence on fracture risk.

Lower diurnal HPA-axis activity in male hypertensive and coronary heart disease patients predicts future CHD risk.

Background: Coronary heart disease (CHD) and its major risk factor hypertension have both been associated with altered activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis but the biological mechanisms underlying prospective associations with adverse disease outcomes are unclear. We investigated diurnal HPA-axis activity in CHD-patients, hypertensive (HT) and healthy normotensive men (NT) and tested for prospective associations with biological CHD risk factors.

Methods: Eighty-three male CHD-patients, 54 HT and 54 NT men repeatedly measured salivary cortisol over two consecutive days.

Swiss public health measures associated with reduced SARS-CoV-2 transmission using genome data.

Genome sequences from evolving infectious pathogens allow quantification of case introductions and local transmission dynamics. We sequenced 11,357 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genomes from Switzerland in 2020-the sixth largest effort globally. Using a representative subset of these data, we estimated viral introductions to Switzerland and their persistence over the course of 2020.

Incidence of Atypical Femoral Fractures in Patients on Osteoporosis Therapy-A Registry-Based Cohort Study.

Atypical femoral fractures (AFFs) have been reported in patients taking bisphosphonates (BPs) for osteoporosis therapy but also in patients with no exposure to these drugs. In contrast, less is known about the incidence of AFFs in patients taking denosumab. This registry-based cohort study analyzed the incidence of AFFs in patients with suspected or confirmed osteoporosis who were included in the osteoporosis register of the Swiss Society of Rheumatology between January 2015 and September 2019.

Molecular effects of the consumption of margarine and butter varying in trans fat composition: a parallel human intervention study.

Background: Whereas the dietary intake of industrial trans fatty acids (iTFA) has been specifically associated with inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes, understanding the impact of dietary fats on human health remains challenging owing to their complex composition and individual effects of their lipid components on metabolism. The aim of this study is to profile the composition of blood, measured by the fatty acid (FAs) profile and untargeted metabolome of serum and the transcriptome of blood cells, in order to identify molecular signatures that discriminate dietary fat intakes.

Methods: In a parallel study, the molecular effects of consuming dairy fat containing ruminant TFA (rTFA) or margarine containing iTFA were investigated.

Effects of zoledronate on bone mineral density and bone turnover after long-term denosumab therapy: Observations in a real-world setting.

Background: The rebound effect after denosumab discontinuation is lessened with subsequent zoledronate therapy. However, it is unclear whether this mitigation is sufficient after long-term denosumab treatment.

Objective: This retrospective observational study analysed bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover marker (BTM) changes after denosumab therapy according to treatment duration and subsequent zoledronate regimen.

Characteristic retinal atrophy pattern allows differentiation between pediatric MOGAD and MS after a single optic neuritis episode.

Background: Optic neuritis (ON) is the most prevalent manifestation of pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) and myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) in children > 6 years. In this study, we investigated retinal atrophy patterns and diagnostic accuracy of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in differentiating between both diseases after the first ON episode.

Methods: Patients were retrospectively identified in eight tertial referral centers.

Is Lone Hypertension a Risk Factor for More Severe COVID-19 Outcomes?

Background: Based on current evidence, it is not clear whether lone hypertension increases the risk for severe illness from COVID-19, or if increased risk is mainly associated with age, obesity and diabetes. The objective of the study was to evaluate whether lone hypertension is associated with increase mortality or a more severe course of COVID-19, and if treatment and control of hypertension mitigates this risk.

Methods: This is a prospective multi-center observational cohort study with 30-day outcomes of 9,531 consecutive SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive patients ≥ 18 years old (41.

The worldwide impact of telemedicine during COVID-19: current evidence and recommendations for the future.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine has emerged worldwide as an indispensable resource to improve the surveillance of patients, curb the spread of disease, facilitate timely identification and management of ill people, but, most importantly, guarantee the continuity of care of frail patients with multiple chronic diseases. Although during COVID-19 telemedicine has thrived, and its adoption has moved forward in many countries, important gaps still remain. Major issues to be addressed to enable large scale implementation of telemedicine include: (1) establishing adequate policies to legislate telemedicine, license healthcare operators, protect patients' privacy, and implement reimbursement plans; (2) creating and disseminating practical guidelines for the routine clinical use of telemedicine in different contexts; (3) increasing in the level of integration of telemedicine with traditional healthcare services; (4) improving healthcare professionals' and patients' awareness of and willingness to use telemedicine; and (5) overcoming inequalities among countries and population subgroups due to technological, infrastructural, and economic barriers.

Development of an electronic Poor Outcome Screening (ePOS) Score to identify critically ill patients with potential palliative care needs.

Purpose: To develop and validate an electronic poor outcome screening (ePOS) score to identify critically ill patients with potentially unmet palliative care (PC) needs at 48 hours after ICU admission.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective single-centre cohort study of 1'772 critically ill adult patients admitted to a tertiary academic ICU in Switzerland between 2017 and 2018. We used data available from electronic health records (EHR) in the first 48 hours and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression to develop a prediction model and generate a score to predict the risk of all cause 6-month mortality.

Factors Associated with Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in 2775 Patients with Arterial Hypertension and Coronary Heart Disease: Results from the COMETA Multicenter Study.

Aim: To identify associations of anxiety symptoms (AS) and depressive symptoms (DS) with other psychosocial and lifestyle risk factors in primary care patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and/or coronary heart disease (CHD).

Methods: COMETA (Clinical-epidemiOlogical prograM of studying psychosocial risk factors in cardiological practice in patiEnts with arterial hyperTension and ischemic heArt disease) is a multicenter cross-sectional study performed in 30 big cities of Russia with two to five out-patient clinics per city randomly selected and two to five general practitioners (GPs) per an out-patient clinic. Each GP included 8-10 consecutive patients with AH and/or CHD.

Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on knee pain and physical function in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: the ETRELKA randomized clinical trial.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of TENS at relieving pain and improving physical function as compared to placebo TENS, and to determine its safety, in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Methods: Multi-centre, parallel, 1:1 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted in six outpatient clinics in Switzerland. We included 220 participants with knee osteoarthritis recruited between October 15, 2012, and October 15, 2014.

Increased radiographic progression of distal hand osteoarthritis occurring during biologic DMARD monotherapy for concomitant rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: A considerable proportion of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) also suffer from hand osteoarthritis (OA). We here assess the association between conventional synthetic (cs) and biological (b) disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and radiographic distal interphalangeal-(DIP) OA in patients with RA.

Methods: Adult RA patients from a longitudinal Swiss registry of rheumatic diseases who had ≥ 2 hand radiographs were included at the first radiograph and followed until the outcome or the last radiograph.

Co-benefits from sustainable dietary shifts for population and environmental health: an assessment from a large European cohort study.

Background: Unhealthy diets, the rise of non-communicable diseases, and the declining health of the planet are highly intertwined, where food production and consumption are major drivers of increases in greenhouse gas emissions, substantial land use, and adverse health such as cancer and mortality. To assess the potential co-benefits from shifting to more sustainable diets, we aimed to investigate the associations of dietary greenhouse gas emissions and land use with all-cause and cause-specific mortality and cancer incidence rates.

Methods: Using data from 443 991 participants in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study, a multicentre prospective cohort, we estimated associations between dietary contributions to greenhouse gas emissions and land use and all-cause and cause-specific mortality and incident cancers using Cox proportional hazards regression models.