Effect of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on prevalence of otitis media with effusion among children in Vietnam.

Purpose: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is common in young children and is associated with Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. We aimed to determine the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) introduction on the prevalence of OME and OME associated with vaccine-type (VT) or non-VT.

Methods: Population-based cross-sectional surveys were conducted in pre- (2016) and post-PCV periods (2017, 2018, and 2019) at selected communes in Nha Trang, Vietnam.

The Early Detection and Case Management of Skin Diseases With an mHealth App (eSkinHealth): Protocol for a Mixed Methods Pilot Study in Côte d'Ivoire.

Background: There is a high prevalence of skin diseases sub-Saharan Africa, including skin neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that could lead to lifelong disabilities and deformities if not diagnosed and treated early. To achieve early detection and early treatment of these skin diseases, we developed a mobile health app, eSkinHealth.

Objective: This paper outlines a protocol for evaluating the effect of our eSkinHealth app in the early detection and effective management of skin diseases in Côte d'Ivoire.

Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) Vaccine Effectiveness Against Symptomatic Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection During Delta-Dominant and Omicron-Dominant Periods in Japan: A Multicenter Prospective Case-control Study (Factors Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection and the Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccines Study).

Background: Although several coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines initially showed high efficacy, there have been concerns because of waning immunity and the emergence of variants with immune escape capacity.

Methods: A test-negative design case-control study was conducted in 16 healthcare facilities in Japan during the Delta-dominant period (August-September 2021) and the Omicron-dominant period (January-March 2022). Vaccine effectiveness (VE) against symptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection was calculated for 2 doses for the Delta-dominant period and 2 or 3 doses for the Omicron-dominant period compared with unvaccinated individuals.

Siccanin Is a Dual-Target Inhibitor of Mitochondrial Complex II and Complex III.

contains several mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) dehydrogenases shuttling electrons from the respective substrates to the ubiquinone pool, from which electrons are consecutively transferred to complex III, complex IV, and finally to the molecular oxygen. The antimalarial drug atovaquone inhibits complex III and validates this parasite's ETC as an attractive target for chemotherapy. Among the ETC dehydrogenases from , dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, an essential enzyme used in de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis, and complex III are the two enzymes that have been characterized and validated as drug targets in the blood-stage parasite, while complex II has been shown to be essential for parasite survival in the mosquito stage; therefore, these enzymes and complex II are considered candidate drug targets for blocking parasite transmission.

Identification of Multiple Domains of Intermediate Subunit Lectin-1 with Hemolytic and Cytotoxic Activities.

Galactose and -acetyl-D-galactosamine-inhibitable lectin of have roles in the pathogenicity of intestinal amoebiasis. Igl1, the intermediate subunit lectin-1 of , has been shown to have both hemolytic and cytotoxic activities that reside in the C-terminus of the protein. To identify the amino acid regions responsible for these activities, recombinant proteins were prepared and used in hemolytic and cytotoxic assays.

Safeguarding equitable HIV service delivery at the health facility-level in a resource-limited setting during the pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on delivering essential health services, including HIV service delivery. Among the challenges encountered and addressed by the HIV and AIDS Department of the San Lazaro Hospital were ensuring continued access to antiretroviral therapy and ensuring continuity of client education and empowerment. Two years into the pandemic, challenges still ensue, such as protecting health care providers from COVID-19 and regular clinical monitoring of clients.

Nutritional status and wound healing in patients with Mycobacterium ulcerans disease (Buruli ulcer): a pilot study from rural Côte d’Ivoire.

Background: Buruli ulcer (BU) is a neglected tropical disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans which manifests as deep ulceration of the skin. Wounds from any cause heal slowly if individuals are malnourished.

Objectives: To assess the impact of nutritional status on wound healing, we carried out a nutritional assessment of 11 patients diagnosed with BU in rural Côte d’Ivoire, and followed them longitudinally through the wound healing process.

Waning rate of immunity and duration of protective immunity against diphtheria toxoid as a function of age and number of doses: Systematic review and quantitative data analysis.

Although the burden of diphtheria has declined greatly since the introduction of vaccines, sporadic outbreaks continue to be reported. WHO recommends booster doses after a primary series, but questions remain about the optimal interval between these doses. We conducted a systematic review and quantitative data analysis to quantify the duration of protective immunity after different numbers of doses.

Acute hepatitis of unknown origin in children: Behind the statistics.

Since April 2022, the world has been witnessing a rapidly spreading outbreak of acute hepatitis of unknown origin in children < 16 years old that has affected several countries around the world. Most of the cases have presented with the clinical picture of severe hepatitis that has led to resorting to liver transplantation in several cases. Despite the numerous theories that have been suggested on the possible underlying etiologies of the outbreak, an association with hepatitis A-E viruses and a link to COVID-19 vaccines have been excluded.

The timing setting in kinetic dengue studies: A systematic review.

Dengue is classified as an endemic infectious disease, which is transmitted by Aedes mosquitos. Kinetic studies, which monitor the viral load of the disease, have been the mainstay for several decades in humanity's quest to control this disease. Our study aims to systematically evaluate the usage of different timing systems in dengue kinetic studies.

Risk Factors for Mortality Among Children Younger Than Age 5 Years With Severe Diarrhea in Low- and Middle-income Countries: Findings From the World Health Organization-coordinated Global Rotavirus and Pediatric Diarrhea Surveillance Networks.

Background: Diarrhea is the second leading cause of death in children younger than 5 years of age globally. The burden of diarrheal mortality is concentrated in low-resource settings. Little is known about the risk factors for childhood death from diarrheal disease in low- and middle-income countries.

The global response: How cities and provinces around the globe tackled Covid-19 outbreaks in 2021.

Background: Tackling the spread of COVID-19 remains a crucial part of ending the pandemic. Its highly contagious nature and constant evolution coupled with a relative lack of immunity make the virus difficult to control. For this, various strategies have been proposed and adopted including limiting contact, social isolation, vaccination, contact tracing, etc.

Telepharmacy: A Systematic Review of Field Application, Benefits, Limitations, and Applicability During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Telepharmacy is widely known as the delivery of pharmacy care offered by registered pharmacists and pharmacies using telecommunication technologies to patients at a distance. We conducted a systematic review of the reported usages, benefits, and limitations of telepharmacy models worldwide to further clarify the pros and cons of a telepharmacy model. A total of 39 relevant articles was included after searching for articles with a fixed term on four databases, including PubMed, Virtual Health Library (VHL), Global Health Library (GHL), and Google Scholar, as of April 2021.

A new accumulation assay of Schistosoma mansoni miracidia using square capillary glass tubes.

Current control measures for schistosomiasis have only been partially successful in endemic areas due to socioeconomic constraints. One possibility for controlling the disease is to aim at the miracidial stage of the trematode to avoid infecting intermediate snail hosts by introducing more attractive substances for miracidia in the environment. Here, we introduce an accumulation assay of Schistosoma mansoni miracidia using a square glass tube for analysis of the positive responses of miracidia toward several substances, including snail-conditioned water of Biomphalaria glabrata, Bulinus globosus and insusceptible snails collected in the Nagasaki area in Japan.

Multi-sectoral impact assessment of an extreme African dust episode in the Eastern Mediterranean in March 2018.

In late March 2018, a large part of the Eastern Mediterranean experienced an extraordinary episode of African dust, one of the most intense in recent years, here referred to as the "Minoan Red" event. The episode mainly affected the Greek island of Crete, where the highest aerosol concentrations over the past 15 yeas were recorded, although impacts were also felt well beyond this core area. Our study fills a gap in dust research by assessing the multi-sectoral impacts of sand and dust storms and their socioeconomic implications.

Lessons learned from the history of postgraduate medical training in Japan: from disease-centred care to patient-centred care in an aging society.

Background: Health workers, the core of health service delivery and a key driver of progress towards universal health coverage, must be available in sufficient numbers and distributed fairly to serve the entire population. In addition, the planning and management of the health workforce must be responsive to the changing needs of society, including changes in age structure and epidemiology. Considering these issues, this paper examines in historical perspective the evolution of postgraduate medical training and practice in Japan, from the late nineteenth century to the present.

Levofloxacin Use in Patients with Suspected Tuberculosis in a Community Hospital, Thailand: A Pilot Study.

Background: Levofloxacin is one of the broad-spectrum antibiotics that is indicated for the second-line treatment of tuberculosis (TB). However, using levofloxacin as an empirical therapy for patients without confirmation of TB could still be observed. This descriptive retrospective study, therefore, aimed to investigate the number of levofloxacin use in patients suspected TB in a community hospital in Thailand.