Mpox: epidemiology, clinical manifestations and recent developments in treatment and prevention.

Introduction: The 2022 Mpox outbreak is the largest viral outbreak recorded outside of Africa. The recent rise in human outbreaks has led to the perception that Mpox, an emerging zoonotic disease, has potential for epidemic spread. Healthcare practitioners are familiarizing themselves with the varied clinical manifestations and therapeutic approaches for this virus while public health organizations seek to limit the outbreak and treat those affected.

Gut microbiota and fecal short chain fatty acids differ with adiposity and country of origin: The METS-Microbiome Study.

The relationship between gut microbiota, short chain fatty acid (SCFA) metabolism, and obesity is still not well understood. Here we investigated these associations in a large (n=1904) African origin cohort from Ghana, South Africa, Jamaica, Seychelles, and the US. Fecal microbiota diversity and SCFA concentration were greatest in Ghanaians, and lowest in the US population, representing the lowest and highest end of the epidemiologic transition spectrum, respectively.

Associations between the stringency of COVID-19 containment policies and health service disruptions in 10 countries.

Background: Disruptions in essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic have been reported in several countries. Yet, patterns in health service disruption according to country responses remain unclear. In this paper, we investigate associations between the stringency of COVID-19 containment policies and disruptions in 31 health services in 10 low- middle- and high-income countries in 2020.

Factors Affecting Age of Initial Specialty Clinic Evaluation Among Infants with Sickle Cell Disease in Kingston, Jamaica.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of newborn screening for sickle cell disease in eastern Jamaica by determining what proportion of screen-positive infants were registered with the Sickle Cell Unit by 2 months (60 days) of age and identifying parents' perceptions of facilitators and barriers impacting age at registration.

Study Design: This cross-sectional study used a mixed method approach. Ages at diagnosis confirmation and first clinic visit were recorded for screen-positive infants born between February 1, 2015, and November 15, 2017.

Adaptation to compound climate risks: A systematic global stocktake.

This article provides a stocktake of the adaptation literature between 2013 and 2019 to better understand how adaptation responses affect risk under the particularly challenging conditions of compound climate events. Across 39 countries, 45 response types to compound hazards display anticipatory (9%), reactive (33%), and maladaptive (41%) characteristics, as well as hard (18%) and soft (68%) limits to adaptation. Low income, food insecurity, and access to institutional resources and finance are the most prominent of 23 vulnerabilities observed to negatively affect responses.

Tracking health system performance in times of crisis using routine health data: lessons learned from a multicountry consortium.

COVID-19 has prompted the use of readily available administrative data to track health system performance in times of crisis and to monitor disruptions in essential healthcare services. In this commentary we describe our experience working with these data and lessons learned across countries. Since April 2020, the Quality Evidence for Health System Transformation (QuEST) network has used administrative data and routine health information systems (RHIS) to assess health system performance during COVID-19 in Chile, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mexico, Nepal, South Africa, Republic of Korea and Thailand.

Identification of and Multilocus Variable-Number Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA) Typing of and Isolates from Cattle Farms and Beef and Beef-Based Products from Retail Outlets in Mpumalanga and North West Provinces, South Africa.

In this study, Listeria isolates (214) were characterized as follows: L. innocua (77.10%), L.

Relationship between vertical jump tests and ice skating performance in junior Polish ice hockey players.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between vertical jumps (VJ) and various on-ice skating performances of junior ice hockey players (n = 19). The three modes of VJ or off-ice measures were countermovement jump with arm swing (CMJ), squat jump (SJ) and depth drop jump (DDJ). The on-ice skating performance was measured by the skating multistage aerobic test (SMAT), forward and backward acceleration test, top speed test, and repeated sprint ability (RSA) test.

The Effects of Two Different Rest Intervals on the Repeated Skating Ability of Ice Hockey Forwards and Defensemen.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of two different rest intervals (2 min and 3 min), between two consecutive sets of repeated sprint skating ability (RSSA) tests, on the repeated sprint ability of ice hockey Forwards and Defensemen. Two protocols of RSSA tests, RSSA-2 and RSSA-3, were completed by 16 ice hockey Forwards and 8 Defensemen. Defensemen were heavier (p < 0.

Effects of cashew nutshell ash on the thermal and sustainability properties of cement concrete.

The present study valorizes cashew nutshell ash (CNA) and uses it at 5-20 wt. % of cement for concrete production. The concrete grades of 25-40 MPa were used as mix design proportions.

Diagnosis and management of mucormycosis in the dental clinic: A guide for oral health professionals in India.

With the current pandemic raging over the world, science and medicine is faced with hereto with unfought enemies or less fought opponent in the form of viruses and consequently, other biotic entities. While researchers are striving to identify and conquer the variants of COVID-19, other innocuous organisms are raising their ugly heads in the form of opportunistic fungal infections. Mucormycosis/Black Fungus is an invasive opportunistic fungal infection caused by species.

Impact of Smoking on Functional Prognosis after Ischemic Stroke according to Deprivation: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Smoking influence on poststroke prognosis remains controversial. These conflicting results could be due to some residual confounding factors not fully considered in previous studies, including social deprivation. This study aimed to assess the joint impact of deprivation and smoking on functional outcomes after ischemic stroke.

Positive impact of training rural health workers in identification and prevention of acute rheumatic fever in eastern Uganda.

Background: Diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is mainly clinical. Delayed or missed diagnosis and failure to administer appropriate and timely treatment of ARF leads to rheumatic heart disease (RHD), which could necessitate expensive treatments such as open-heart surgery. Implementation of preventative guidelines depends on availability of trained healthcare workers.

Kidney Donation and Transplant Outcomes in Trinidad and Tobago: A 15-Year Experience of the National Organ Transplant Unit.

Objectives: Trinidad and Tobago is the only English- speaking Caribbean country with an established kidney transplant program from living and deceased donors. The program is managed by the National OrganTransplant Unit.This study analyzed the 15-year experience of the public program in terms of transplant outcomes and procurement quality at the main deceased donor procurement hospital using some DOPKI and ODEQUS quality indicators.

Assessment of natural radioactivity level before and after a mud-volcano eruption: A study from Piparo mud-volcano, Trinidad and Tobago.

The present study was conducted in the Piparo mud-volcano, which is situated in the central part of the island of Trinidad, is geologically connected with the Central Fault Range Zone (CFRZ). This fault zone is a neotectonic (active) strike-slip fault system and an extension of the Andes Mountain chain. This study was aimed at detecting the possible gamma radiation level in Piparo MV after its eruption in September 2019 and finding the change in the ambient radiation level after that eruption.

COVID-19 and resilience of healthcare systems in ten countries.

Declines in health service use during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic could have important effects on population health. In this study, we used an interrupted time series design to assess the immediate effect of the pandemic on 31 health services in two low-income (Ethiopia and Haiti), six middle-income (Ghana, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mexico, Nepal, South Africa and Thailand) and high-income (Chile and South Korea) countries. Despite efforts to maintain health services, disruptions of varying magnitude and duration were found in every country, with no clear patterns by country income group or pandemic intensity.

A Comparative Study of Two-Minute versus Three-Minute Passive Recovery on Sprint Skating Performance of Ice Hockey Forwards and Defensemen.

The impact of two different passive recovery durations, two and three minutes, between sets of repeated sprint skating ability (RSSA) test on skating speed, speed decrement (S), and heart rate (HR) response of ice hockey forwards (n = 12) and defensemen (n = 7) were determined. Six sets of 3 × 80 m sprint, with two-minute passive recovery between two consecutive sets, were performed in RSSA-2. A three-minute passive recovery period between two consecutive sets was allowed in RSSA-3.

Persistent Hiccups: An Unusual Presentation of Aspiration Pneumonia in the Elderly.

Persistent hiccups manifesting as the sole symptom of aspiration pneumonia is a rare occurrence. Approximately 10 cases have been reported in the last 15 years. Hiccups are defined as persistent if it occurs beyond 48 hours and intractable if it occurs continuously for one month.

A rare lung disease diagnosed by CT in a young pregnant woman.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is an unusual lung disease which can be diagnosed by its characteristic appearance on a high-resolution CT, and may not always require a biopsy.

Social partner cooperativeness influences brain oxytocin transcription in Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata).

For non-kin cooperation to be maintained, individuals need to respond adaptively to the cooperative behaviour of their social partners. Currently, however, little is known about the biological responses of individuals to experiencing cooperation. Here, we quantify the neuroregulatory response of Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata) experiencing cooperation or defection by examining the transcriptional response of the oxytocin gene (oxt; also known as isotocin), which has been implicated in cooperative decision-making.

Effect of Rest Period Duration between Sets of Repeated Sprint Skating Ability Test on the Skating Ability of Ice Hockey Players.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of two different rest periods, 2 min and 3 min, between consecutive sets of a repeated sprint skating ability (RSSA) test, on the skating ability of ice hockey players. Two RSSA tests, RSSA-2 and RSSA-3, were assessed on 24 ice hockey players. In RSSA-2, six sets of 3 × 80 m sprint skating, with 2 min passive recovery between two consecutive sets was allowed.

CO-oximetry measurements and antioxidant effects of ascorbic acid and methylene blue in equine methemoglobinemic blood.

Objectives: To determine the effects of time after sampling on CO-oximetry measurements of equine blood samples and the effects of adding ascorbic acid (AscAc) and methylene blue (MetBlue) to samples with methemoglobinemia.

Design: Experimental study.

Setting: University teaching hospital.