Integrated disease surveillance and response in humanitarian context: South Sudan experience.

Introduction: decades of instability continue to impact the implementation of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) strategy. The study reviewed the progress and outcomes of rolling out IDSR in South Sudan.

Methods: this descriptive cross-sectional study used epidemiological data for 2019, 2020, and other program data to assess indicators for the five surveillance components including surveillance priorities, core and support functions, and surveillance system structure and quality.

Evaluation of integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) and early warning and response network (EWARN) in South Sudan 2021.

Introduction: South Sudan has been implementing the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) strategy since 2006, along with Early Warning and Alert Response and Network (EWARN). The IDSR/EWARN stakeholders commissioned an independent evaluation to establish performance at national, state, county, health facility, and community levels in the first half of 2021.

Methods: the evaluation was conducted between June and September 2021 (during the COVID-19 pandemic) and was based on the World Health Organization (WHO) protocols for monitoring and evaluating communicable disease surveillance and response systems and the guidelines for evaluating EWARN.

Functional vulnerability of liver macrophages to capsules defines virulence of blood-borne bacteria.

Many encapsulated bacteria use capsules to cause invasive diseases. However, it remains largely unknown how the capsules enhance bacterial virulence under in vivo infection conditions. Here we show that the capsules primarily target the liver to enhance bacterial survival at the onset of blood-borne infections.

Development of a Core Outcome Set for Children Aged 1-18 Years with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

Objective: To develop a core outcome set for clinical studies assessing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in children.

Study Design: This core outcome set was developed using a 2-round Delphi technique and adhering to the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Initiative (OMERACT 2.0) recommendations.

Virtual Reality and Physiotherapy in Post-Stroke Functional Re-Education of the Lower Extremity: A Controlled Clinical Trial on a New Approach.

Numerous Virtual Reality (VR) systems address post-stroke functional recovery of the lower extremity (LE), most of them with low early applicability due to the gait autonomy they require. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of a specific VR treatment and its clinical effect on LE functionality, gait, balance, and trunk control post-stroke. A controlled, prospective, clinical trial was carried out with 20 stroke patients, who were divided into two groups: the first group (VR + CP; = 10) received combined therapy of 1 h VR and 1 h of conventional physiotherapy (CP) and the second group (CP; = 10) received 2 h of CP (5 days/week, for 3 weeks).

In vivo preliminary test of a new biparietal bidirectional bipolar radiofrequency magnetic coupling system.

Background: To test in vivo a new design prototype for radio frequency (RF) ablation.

Methods: A prototype based on a concept of endo-epicardial biparietal bipolar RF ablation with the atrial tissue interposed and consisting of two specular endocardial-epicardial catheters was tested in four pigs (80±5 kg). The endocardial catheter was introduced into the left atrium through the left atrial appendage on the beating heart.

The effect of human settlement temperature and humidity on the growth rules of infected and recovered cases of COVID-19.

This study investigated the impact of humidity and temperature on the spread of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) by statistically comparing modelled pandemic dynamics (daily infection and recovery cases) with daily temperature and humidity of three climate zones (Mainland China, South America and Africa) from January to August 2020. We modelled the pandemic growth using a simple logistic function to derive information of the viral infection and describe the growth of infected and recovered cases. The results indicate that the infected and recovered cases of the first wave were controlled in China and managed in both South America and Africa.

Molten salt oxidation of organic hazardous waste with high salt content.

Organic hazardous waste often contains some salt, owing to the widespread use of alkali salts during industrial manufacturing processes. These salts cause complications during the treatment of this type of waste. Molten salt oxidation is a flameless, robust thermal process, with inherent capability of destroying the organic constituents of wastes, while retaining the inorganic ingredients in the molten salt.

Identification and characterization of a novel nanobody against human placental growth factor to modulate angiogenesis.

Placental growth factor (PlGF), a member of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) family, is considered as an important antigen associated with pathological conditions such as cancer cell growth, and metastasis. PlGF-targeting via nanobody (Nb) therefore could be beneficial to modulate these pathologies. In this work, phage-display and computational approach was employed to develop a high affinity PlGF-specific Nb.

Squaring the round: An unusual progressive graphomotor impairment with post-mortem findings.

Investigations of neurodegenerative disorders may reveal functional relationships in the cognitive system. C.S.

Recombinant expression and purification of human placental growth factor 1 and specific camel heavy chain polyclonal antibody preparation.

Placental growth factor (PlGF) is a member of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family. Unlike VEGF, PlGF is dispensable for normal cell development as well as playing various roles in pathological angiogenesis which occurs in tissue ischemia, inflammation, and malignancy. The PlGF-1 has been considered as a potential candidate for the diagnosis and targeting of pathological angiogenesis.

EQ-5D versus SF-12 in coronary patients: are they interchangeable?

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare EuroQol five-dimensional (EQ-5D) utility scores and six-dimensional health state classification (SF-6D) utility scores (derived from the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey [SF-12]) by using a large European sample of patients with stable coronary heart disease. Special attention was given to country-specific results.

Methods: Data from the EURopean Action on Secondary and Primary Prevention by Intervention to Reduce Events III (EUROASPIRE III) survey were used.

Understanding the pK(a) of redox cysteines: the key role of hydrogen bonding.

Many cellular functions involve cysteine chemistry via thiol-disulfide exchange pathways. The nucleophilic cysteines of the enzymes involved are activated as thiolate. A thiolate is much more reactive than a neutral thiol.

Effect of intrapulmonary percussive ventilation on mucus clearance in duchenne muscular dystrophy patients: a preliminary report.

Objective: To determine the effects of intrapulmonary percussive ventilation (IPV) on mucus clearance in tracheostomized Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients.

Methods: We studied 8 patients, 5 of whom had mucus hypersecretion (> 30 mL/d). In a randomized, cross-over study we compared assisted mucus clearance techniques with and without IPV.

Effect of bupropion on hippocampal neurotransmitters and on peripheral hormonal concentrations in the rat.

The purpose of the present study was to administer an acute dose of the dual dopamine norepinephrine reuptake blocker bupropion in freely moving rats and to monitor the extracellular neurotransmitter concentrations in the hippocampus via in vivo microdialysis and the peripheral hormonal concentrations via catheterization. A microdialysis probe was inserted in the hippocampus, and samples for serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine were collected every 20 min before and after the injection of 17 mg/kg of bupropion, for a total sampling time of 180 min. A catheter was placed in the vena femoralis of the second group of rats, and blood samples were collected before and after bupropion injection for quantification of growth hormone, prolactin, corticosterone, adrenocorticotropin hormone, and beta-endorphins.

High frequency of persisting or increasing islet-specific autoantibody levels after diagnosis of type 1 diabetes presenting before 40 years of age. The Belgian Diabetes Registry.

Objective: To study the presence and levels of GAD65 antibodies (GADA), IA-2 antibodies (IA-2-A), and islet cell antibodies (ICA) during the first years after clinical onset of type 1 diabetes in relation to age at diagnosis.

Research Design And Methods: Type 1 diabetic patients (n = 194) <40 years of age were consecutively recruited at the time of diagnosis by the Belgian Diabetes Registry and followed during the first 4 years of insulin treatment. ICA were determined by indirect immunofluorescence assay and IA-2-A, GADA, and insulin autoantibodies by a radioligand assay.

Identification of IL-1beta-induced messenger RNAs in rat pancreatic beta cells by differential display of messenger RNA.

Aims/hypothesis: Interleukin-1beta is a putative mediator of pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction and damage in Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. To better understand the molecular mechanisms involved in IL-1beta effects, we carried out a differential display of mRNA by RT-PCR to identify novel cytokine-regulated genes.

Methods: Fluorescence activated cell sorting-purified rat pancreatic beta-cells were exposed for 6 or 24 h to IL-1beta.

Effect of interferon-gamma and glucose on major histocompatibility complex class I and class II expression by pancreatic beta- and non-beta-cells.

Surface major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and class II expression by pancreatic islet cells is considered a local initiator or regulator of immune processes that can lead to diabetes. Locally released cytokines, in particular interferon-gamma, are known to stimulate MHC antigen expression by islet cells. The present study quantifies MHC expression in cultured pancreatic beta- and non-beta-cells from both rat and human organs.

Bronchodilating effect of intravenous magnesium sulfate in acute severe bronchial asthma.

We investigated the bronchodilating effect of intravenous MgSO4 in acute severe bronchial asthma. Infusion of MgSO4 caused a significant improvement in FEV1 (0.94 +/- 0.