scholarly journals Does scientific effort reflect global need? A review of infectious disease publications over 100 years

2019 ◽  
Vol 147 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. T. S. Hayman ◽  
M. G. Baker
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Burden Of Disease ◽  
Global Distribution ◽  
Scientific Process ◽  
World Scientific ◽  
Prevention Policies ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Time Periods

AbstractIn a rational world, scientific effort would reflect society's needs. We tested this hypothesis using the area of infectious diseases, where the research response to emerging threats has obvious potential to save lives through informing interventions such as vaccination and prevention policies. Pathogens continue to evolve, emerge and re-emerge and infectious diseases that were once common become less so or their global distribution changes. A question remains as to whether scientific endeavours can adapt. Here, we identified papers on infectious diseases published in the four highest ranking, health-related journals over the 118 years from 1900. Focussing on outbreak-related and burden of disease-related metrics over the two time periods, 1990 to 2017 and 1900 to 2017, our analyses suggest that there is little underrepresentation of important infectious diseases among top ranked journals. Encouragingly our results suggest the scientific process is largely self-correcting.

scholarly journals A socio-economic approach to One Health policy research in southern Africa

2012 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim A. Kayunze ◽  
Angwara D. Kiwara ◽  
Eligius Lyamuya ◽  
Dominic M. Kambarage ◽  
Jonathan Rushton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Burden Of Disease ◽  
One Health ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cultural Economic ◽  
Emerging Zoonoses

One-health approaches have started being applied to health systems in some countries in controlling infectious diseases in order to reduce the burden of disease in humans, livestock and wild animals collaboratively. However, one wonders whether the problem of lingering and emerging zoonoses is more affected by health policies, low application of one-health approaches, or other factors. As part of efforts to answer this question, the Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance (SACIDS) smart partnership of human health, animal health and socio-economic experts published, in April 2011, a conceptual framework to support One Health research for policy on emerging zoonoses. The main objective of this paper was to identify which factors really affect the burden of disease and how the burden could affect socio-economic well-being. Amongst other issues, the review of literature shows that the occurrence of infectious diseases in humans and animals is driven by many factors, the most important ones being the causative agents (viruses, bacteria, parasites, etc.) and the mediator conditions (social, cultural, economic or climatic) which facilitate the infection to occur and hold. Literature also shows that in many countries there is little collaboration between medical and veterinary services despite the shared underlying science and the increasing infectious disease threat. In view of these findings, a research to inform health policy must walk on two legs: a natural sciences leg and a social sciences one.

scholarly journals The bibliometric landscape of infectious disease research in Panama (1990 - 2019): An evaluation of the country’s capability on One Health

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Loaiza ◽  
Robinson Zapata ◽  
Rao Kosagisharaf ◽  
Rolando A. Gittens ◽  
Enrique Mendoza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
One Health ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Strategic Investment ◽  
Disease Research ◽  
Infectious Disease Research ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Number Of Publications ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: This work aims to analyze the landscape of scientific publications on subjects related to One Health and infectious diseases in Panama. Methods: Boolean searches on the Web of Science, SCOPUS and PubMed were undertaken to evaluate the main trends of publications related to One Health and infectious disease research in the country of Panama, between 1990 and 2019. Results: 4,547 publications were identified since 1990, including 3,564 peer-reviewed articles interconnected with One Health related descriptors, and 211 articles focused particularly on infectious diseases. There was a pattern of exponential growth in the number of publications with various contributions from Panamanian institutions. The rates of multidisciplinary, inter-institutional and inter-sectoral research ranged from moderate to low, to very low, respectively. Research efforts have centered largely on protozoan, neglected and arthropod-borne diseases with a strong emphasis on malaria, Chagas and leishmaniasis. Conclusion: Panama has scientific capabilities on One Health to tackle future infectious disease threats, but the official collaboration schemes and strategic investment to develop further competencies need to be considered. Through future collaborative efforts, Panama can reduce the risk of pandemics by developing surveillance strategies to improve the prediction of disease spillover, spread and persistence while helping to mitigate the impact on public health and the economy, regionally.

scholarly journals The Bibliometric Landscape of Infectious Disease Research in Panama (1990 - 2019): An Evaluation of the Country’s Capability on One Health

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Loaiza ◽  
Robinson Zapata ◽  
Rao Kosagisharaf ◽  
Rolando A. Gittens ◽  
Enrique Mendoza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
One Health ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Disease Research ◽  
Infectious Disease Research ◽  
Health Concept ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The One ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: This work aims to analyze the landscape of scientific publications on subjects related to One Health and infectious diseases in Panama. We asked the following specific questions: How does the One Health research landscape look like in Panama? Are historical research efforts aligned with the One Health concept? What infectious diseases have received more attention from the local scientific community since 1990?Methods: Boolean searches on the Web of Science, SCOPUS and PubMed were undertaken to evaluate the main trends of publications related to One Health and infectious disease research in the country of Panama, between 1990 and 2019. Results: 4,547 publications were identified since 1990, including 3,564 peer-reviewed articles interconnected with One Health related descriptors, and 211 articles focused particularly on infectious diseases. There was a pattern of exponential growth in the number of publications with various contributions from Panamanian institutions. The rates of multidisciplinary, inter-institutional and inter-sectoral research ranged from moderate to low, to very low, respectively. Research efforts have centered largely on protozoan, neglected and arthropod-borne diseases with a strong emphasis on malaria, Chagas and leishmaniasis. Conclusion: Panama has scientific capabilities on One Health to tackle future infectious disease threats, but the official collaboration schemes and strategic investment to develop further competencies need to be considered. Through future collaborative efforts, Panama can reduce the risk of pandemics by developing surveillance strategies to improve the prediction of disease spillover, spread and persistence while helping to mitigate the impact on public health and the economy, regionally.

scholarly journals HLA and Infectious Diseases

2009 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 370-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenefer M. Blackwell ◽  
Sarra E. Jamieson ◽  
David Burgner
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Human Leukocyte Antigen ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Selective Pressure ◽  
Human Leukocyte ◽  
Acquired Immunity ◽  
Leukocyte Antigen ◽  
Extreme Variability ◽  
Classical Human Leukocyte Antigen

SUMMARY Following their discovery in the early 1970s, classical human leukocyte antigen (HLA) loci have been the prototypical candidates for genetic susceptibility to infectious disease. Indeed, the original hypothesis for the extreme variability observed at HLA loci (H-2 in mice) was the major selective pressure from infectious diseases. Now that both the human genome and the molecular basis of innate and acquired immunity are understood in greater detail, do the classical HLA loci still stand out as major genes that determine susceptibility to infectious disease? This review looks afresh at the evidence supporting a role for classical HLA loci in susceptibility to infectious disease, examines the limitations of data reported to date, and discusses current advances in methodology and technology that will potentially lead to greater understanding of their role in infectious diseases in the future.

scholarly journals Drivers of Infectious Disease Seasonality: Potential Implications for COVID-19

2021 ◽  
pp. 074873042098732
Author(s):  
N. Kronfeld-Schor ◽  
T. J. Stevenson ◽  
S. Nickbakhsh ◽  
E. S. Schernhammer ◽  
X. C. Dopico ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Multidisciplinary Approach ◽  
Preliminary Assessment ◽  
Epidemiological Evidence ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Human Coronaviruses ◽  
Induced Changes ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Timing Phase

Not 1 year has passed since the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Since its emergence, great uncertainty has surrounded the potential for COVID-19 to establish as a seasonally recurrent disease. Many infectious diseases, including endemic human coronaviruses, vary across the year. They show a wide range of seasonal waveforms, timing (phase), and amplitudes, which differ depending on the geographical region. Drivers of such patterns are predominantly studied from an epidemiological perspective with a focus on weather and behavior, but complementary insights emerge from physiological studies of seasonality in animals, including humans. Thus, we take a multidisciplinary approach to integrate knowledge from usually distinct fields. First, we review epidemiological evidence of environmental and behavioral drivers of infectious disease seasonality. Subsequently, we take a chronobiological perspective and discuss within-host changes that may affect susceptibility, morbidity, and mortality from infectious diseases. Based on photoperiodic, circannual, and comparative human data, we not only identify promising future avenues but also highlight the need for further studies in animal models. Our preliminary assessment is that host immune seasonality warrants evaluation alongside weather and human behavior as factors that may contribute to COVID-19 seasonality, and that the relative importance of these drivers requires further investigation. A major challenge to predicting seasonality of infectious diseases are rapid, human-induced changes in the hitherto predictable seasonality of our planet, whose influence we review in a final outlook section. We conclude that a proactive multidisciplinary approach is warranted to predict, mitigate, and prevent seasonal infectious diseases in our complex, changing human-earth system.

scholarly journals Application of 3D bioprinting in the prevention and the therapy for human diseases

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hee-Gyeong Yi ◽  
Hyeonji Kim ◽  
Junyoung Kwon ◽  
Yeong-Jin Choi ◽  
Jinah Jang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
In Vitro Models ◽  
Delivery Systems ◽  
Advanced Technology ◽  
3D Bioprinting ◽  
Disease Research ◽  
Infectious Disease Research

AbstractRapid development of vaccines and therapeutics is necessary to tackle the emergence of new pathogens and infectious diseases. To speed up the drug discovery process, the conventional development pipeline can be retooled by introducing advanced in vitro models as alternatives to conventional infectious disease models and by employing advanced technology for the production of medicine and cell/drug delivery systems. In this regard, layer-by-layer construction with a 3D bioprinting system or other technologies provides a beneficial method for developing highly biomimetic and reliable in vitro models for infectious disease research. In addition, the high flexibility and versatility of 3D bioprinting offer advantages in the effective production of vaccines, therapeutics, and relevant delivery systems. Herein, we discuss the potential of 3D bioprinting technologies for the control of infectious diseases. We also suggest that 3D bioprinting in infectious disease research and drug development could be a significant platform technology for the rapid and automated production of tissue/organ models and medicines in the near future.

Unscattering the burden of disease landscape: supporting interaction between existing burden of disease efforts

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Haagsma ◽  
M Majdan ◽  
S M Pires ◽  
R Assunção
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Burden Of Disease ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Data Sources ◽  
Global Burden ◽  
Disease Network ◽  
Non Communicable Diseases ◽  
Cost Action ◽  
The Eu

Abstract The burden of disease landscape in Europe is currently scattered with experts from diverse professional backgrounds, ranging from experts in infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, injuries and risk factors, to experts in more comprehensive national, regional and global burden of disease studies. Currently there is little interaction between these experts and existing burden of disease efforts. The European burden of disease network (burden-eu) COST Action aims to bring together expertise across different domains and professional backgrounds. During the course of the burden-eu COST Action, several steps will be taken to facilitate interaction between existing burden of disease efforts. First, a survey has been sent around to all members of the EU burden of disease network to map burden of disease studies that have been carried out in their country. Apart from general details about the year of the study and cause of disease categories, items of the survey included data sources, methodological approach and collaborations with institutes of other countries. In the first month, the survey has been completed for over 70 studies that have been carried out in twelve countries. Second, comparison of existing burden of disease initiatives allows for the identification of the various domains for which burden of disease has been assessed, highlight methodological differences as well as similarities, and facilitate improvements and harmonization of methods and approaches. Furthermore, the data collected from the survey will be included in a continuously updated burden of disease database that lists all past and current burden of disease activities. Lastly, burden-eu will facilitate regular meetings and workshops. Each of these steps will make it possible to move beyond the currently scattered burden of disease landscape and increase interaction between professionals and burden of disease efforts.

scholarly journals Geocoding cryptosporidiosis cases in Ireland (2008–2017)—development of a reliable, reproducible, multiphase geocoding methodology

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Domegan ◽  
Patricia Garvey ◽  
Paul McKeown ◽  
Howard Johnson ◽  
Paul Hynds ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Spatial Data ◽  
Application Programming Interface ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
National Standards ◽  
Small Areas ◽  
Infectious Disease Reporting ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Application Programming ◽  
Fine Resolution

Abstract Background Geocoding (the process of converting a text address into spatial data) quality may affect geospatial epidemiological study findings. No national standards for best geocoding practice exist in Ireland. Irish postcodes (Eircodes) are not routinely recorded for infectious disease notifications and > 35% of dwellings have non-unique addresses. This may result in incomplete geocoding and introduce systematic errors into studies. Aims This study aimed to develop a reliable and reproducible methodology to geocode cryptosporidiosis notifications to fine-resolution spatial units (Census 2016 Small Areas), to enhance data validity and completeness, thus improving geospatial epidemiological studies. Methods A protocol was devised to utilise geocoding tools developed by the Health Service Executive’s Health Intelligence Unit. Geocoding employed finite-string automated and manual matching, undertaken sequentially in three additive phases. The protocol was applied to a cryptosporidiosis notification dataset (2008–2017) from Ireland’s Computerised Infectious Disease Reporting System. Outputs were validated against devised criteria. Results Overall, 92.1% (4266/4633) of cases were successfully geocoded to one Small Area, and 95.5% (n = 4425) to larger spatial units. The proportion of records geocoded increased by 14% using the multiphase approach, with 5% of records re-assigned to a different spatial unit. Conclusions The developed multiphase protocol improved the completeness and validity of geocoding, thus increasing the power of subsequent studies. The authors recommend capturing Eircodes ideally using application programming interface for infectious disease or other health-related datasets, for more efficient and reliable geocoding. Where Eircodes are not recorded/available, for best geocoding practice, we recommend this (or a similar) quality driven protocol.

Sustainable Development Goals and Global burden of disease stakeholders

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
P Van Den Hazel
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Burden Of Disease ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Global Burden Of Disease ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Global Burden ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The Global Burden of Disease is the most comprehensive effort to date to measure epidemiological levels and trends worldwide. It is the product of a global research collaborative and quantifies the impact of hundreds of diseases, injuries, and risk factors in countries around the world. The publication published in The Lancet on September 12, 2017, namely the study, “Measuring progress and projecting attainment on the basis of past trends of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals in 188 countries: an analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016,” is the starting point to discuss the health-related SDG indicators as develop by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) and Global Burden of Disease collaborators. The projected increases in mortality are steep for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other chronic diseases. Non-communicable diseases are increasingly recognized as major causes of death and disability worldwide. The question is whether the targets in the SDGs are sufficiently addressing these increases. Or are demographic changes underlying the projected increases? Health related SDGs have been addressed in a tool made by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). Results on air pollution, smoking, unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene are presented by current and projected data in an interactive tool.

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