High-dose or multi-day praziquantel for imported schistosomiasis? A systematic review

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Cucchetto ◽  
Dora Buonfrate ◽  
Valentina Marchese ◽  
Paola Rodari ◽  
Anna Ferrari ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Schistosomiasis affects more than 260 million people worldwide, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, where more than 280 000 deaths per year are estimated. In the past few years, the increasing flow of migrants from endemic areas and the upward number of international travels have caused the emergence of the disease also in non-endemic areas. A single course of praziquantel (PZQ) 40 mg/kg is the first-line treatment recommended by the World Health Organization, mainly based on clinical trials conducted in endemic countries. No trials have been performed in non-endemic areas. Methods We carried out a systematic review of case reports and case series published between 1956 and August 2017 on cases of chronic schistosomiasis (infection acquired >3 months before) diagnosed in non-endemic areas and treated with PZQ. Primary outcome was to assess the number of different therapeutic regimens deployed and their frequency of use, calculated as the number of reports for each regimen over the total number of included cases. Results The final database included 99 case reports and 51 case series, for a total of 1433 patients. In 57 of the 150 records (38%) the administered treatment was different from the one recommended by the World Health Organization. The proportion of ‘alternative’ regimens included increased doses of PZQ (up to 80 mg/kg) and/or prolonged duration of treatment and/or doses repeated some days/weeks apart. About 50% of the records regarding Western short-term travellers reported a non-standard treatment. Conclusion This is the first complete catalogue of the published experience with PZQ outside of endemic areas in the situation where reinfection is not an issue. We found a wide heterogeneity of the therapeutic regimens reported. Multicenter clinical trials conducted in non-endemic areas and guidelines specifically addressing the treatment of imported cases of chronic schistosomiasis are needed.

Author(s):  
Aleksandra Bozhinovska

BACKGROUND: On March 11, 2020, the General Director of the World Health Organization has announced that according to the organization, the level of spread and severity of symptoms of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is becoming alarming and because of that, it can be characterized as a pandemic. The assessment of the World Health Organization stimulated more urgent and belligerent actions from the governments as the number of case reports and studies on COVID-19 symptoms and treatment increased dramatically. AIM: In this paper, the aim is to make a review of the studies and case reports/series that indicate that abdominal pain is one of the manifestations of COVID-19. METHODS: A search was performed on two electronic databases: PubMed Central and Google Scholar, using the key words “COVID-19 and abdominal pain.” Case reports and case series in adults and children were included regardless of the language, region, or the publication date. The methods of synthesis and comparison were also used. RESULTS: In general, it can be noted that the manifestation of the COVID-19 infection on the digestive tract and the consequences on the same are not fully examined. CONCLUSION: The conclusion of the analyzed papers is that clinical practitioners in COVID-19 pandemic should carefully distinguish abdominal pain and other GI symptoms from COVID-19 manifestations and should exclude acute surgical condition.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-20
Author(s):  
Vijayasree Biruduraju ◽  
◽  
Ankita R. Chawla ◽  

Introduction The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV- 2), has been recently declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Apart from acute respiratory manifestations, SARS-CoV-2 may also adversely affect other organ systems. To date, however, there is a very limited understanding of the manifestations and management of COVID-19 related conditions outside of the pulmonary system. This study provides an overview of the current literature about the extra pulmonary manifestations of COVID-19 that may affect the renal, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, hematological, hematopoietic, neurological, or reproductive systems. This study also describes the current understanding of the extra pulmonary manifestations caused by COVID-19 to improve the management and prognosis of patients with COVID-19. Materials and Methods A total number of 200 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 disease were retrospectively evaluated for extra-pulmonary manifestations findings or complications. These patients had undergone various imaging studies, blood examinations during the course of hospital stay. The data reviewed using the institutional PACS, database system over a period of four months (August to November 2020). Results Among the 200 patients (males and females), 175 of them had extra-pulmonary complications. Various extra-pulmonary findings such as acute kidney injury, renal failure, cytokinase strome, acute myocardial injury, congestive cardiac failure, pulmonary thromboembolism, gastrointestinal, neurological complications were observed. Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria All retrospective clinical studies, case series, and case reports with data on extra-pulmonary manifestations in COVID-19 that were published from the end of December 2019 till the end of February 2021 were included. Studies that did not mention extrapulmonary manifestations were excluded. Literature Search The review was based on publications available on PubMed and data collected by the World Health Organization (WHO). Search terms used were ‘novel coronavirus 2019 (2019-nCoV)’, ‘SARS- CoV-2’, or ‘COVID-19’ combined with ‘asymptomatic’, ‘gastrointestinal’, ‘cardiac’, ‘neurological’, ‘hepatic’, ‘hematological’, ‘renal’, ‘psychiatric’, ‘hematological’, and ‘atypical’.


2021 ◽  
pp. 172-180
Author(s):  
Fitrio Deviantony ◽  
Grysha Viofananda ◽  
Nurul Hidayah ◽  
Nadhifa Eriyanti

permasalahan serius di dunia dan Indonesia. Data dari World Health Organization sekitar 21 juta orang mengalami skizofrenia. Prevalensi skizofrenia di Indonesia mengalami peningkatan proporsi per 1000 penduduk (1,7%) pada tahun 2013 menjadi (7%) pada tahun 2018. Faktanya terapi keperawatan untuk halusinasi belum optimal sedangkan teknologi terus berkembang seperti Virtual Reality (VR). VR mampu menurunkan gejala pada skizofrenia dengan kemampuan membuat perilaku interaktif dan tersimpan dalam otak agar tidak menimbulkan halusinasi. Teknologi ini digunakan untuk mengetahui manfaat E-Health Nursing VR sebagai terapi halusinasi pada pasien skizofrenia. Metode penelitian menggunakan systematic review dari 5 database yaitu Nature, Frontiers, BMC, Science Direct, NEJM sehingga didapat total 55 literatur. Mayoritas 63% mengulas terapi VR untuk mengurangi halusinasi pada skizofrenia. Perkembangan manfaat VR diverifikasi dalam beberapa pengobatan: skizofrenia, PTSD, kecemasan, akrofobia, ganguan citra tubuh, claustrophobia, dan lain-lain. Beberapa studi skizofrenia menyatakan terapi VR sangat efektif menangani delusi, halusinasi, gejala kepribadian skizoid. VR juga berguna dalam rehabilitas kognitif pada orang dewasa atau anak-anak autis dalam keterampilan dan kemandirian. Kesimpulan penelitian ini adalah VR terbukti efektif sebagai terapi kesehatan jiwa di masa mendatang. Disisi lain terdapat terapi psikologis pilihan seperti terapi perilaku kognitif, dan psikoterapi interpersonal. Oleh karenanya diperlukan kombinasi terapi VR dengan terapi komplementer tersebut dalam mengurangi halusinasi pada skizofrenia.   Mental health become a severe problem in the world and Indonesia. Data from the World Health Organization (WHO, 2016) estimated that 21 million people have schizophrenia. The prevalence of schizophrenia in Indonesia has increased proportion per 1000 population (1,7%) in 2013 to (7%) in 2018. In fact of nursing, therapy for hallucination is not optimal while constantly evolving technology such as Virtual Reality (VR). VR can reduce symptoms in schizophrenia with the ability to create interactive behavior and stored in the brain in order to cause hallucinations. The objective of this study was to review the benefit of VR as a hallucination therapy in schizophrenia patients. This research used a systematic literature review from five databases Nature, Frontiers, BMC, Science Direct, NEJM, and resulted in the retrieval of 55 papers. The majority of a result found a 63% review in Virtual Reality therapy can reduce hallucination in schizophrenia. VR is a technology browser and manipulator sensory environment in real-time 3D. The progressing benefit of VR verified in the treatment of schizophrenia, PSTD, anxiety, acrophobia, body image disorder, claustrophobia, and others. Some studies of schizophrenia declare that virtual reality therapy is effective in treating delusions, hallucinations, and a symptom of schizoid behavior. VR also has benefits in cognitive rehabilitation in adults or children with autism's inability and self-reliance. VR has a bright future as the treatment of mental health. The progressing of technology and research has an excellent opportunity for VR to reduce schizophrenia. Moreover, there is psychological therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy. Therefore a combination needed of virtual therapy with the complementary therapy for reducing hallucination in schizophrenia.


Author(s):  
Afsaneh Noormandi ◽  
Mohammad Fathalipour ◽  
Reza Daryabeygi-Khotbehsara ◽  
Soheil Hassanipour

Background and objective: COVID-19 has since been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), infecting millions worldwide. The use of Interferon (INF) subtypes previously examined in the treatment of SARS and MERS is also being initiated in some clinical trials. Although different clinical trials were evaluated IFNs in the treatment of COVID-19, their efficacy and safety remain unknown. Therefore, this study aims to systematically assess IFNs efficacy and safety in treating patients with COVID-19. Methods: The protocol has been registered in the PROSPERO International Prospective Register (CRD42020200643) on 24 July 2020. This protocol has been arranged according to the PRISMA-P (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols) 2015 checklist. Discussion: Due to lack of approved medication for the covid-19 treatment and also various mutations of this virus, evaluated the efficacy and safety of medications by various studies could help for finding treatments with high effectiveness. IFNs are one of the medications that have been administered in covid-19 infection.  Moreover, the best time of administration and dose of this medication was unknown. Although meta-analysis is a potent source for assessing the accuracy of subjects, heterogeneity of articles is a potent limitation of our work.


2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 290-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
TIKKI PANG

“I want my leadership to be judged by the impact of our work on the health of two populations: women and the people of Africa.” This is how Dr. Margaret Chan, the current Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), described her leadership mission. The reason behind this mission is evident. Women and girls constitute 70% of the world’s poor and 80% of the world’s refugees. Gender violence against women aged 15–44 is responsible for more deaths and disability than cancer, malaria, traffic accidents, and war. An estimated 350,000 to 500,000 women still die in childbirth every year. The negative health implications of absolute poverty are worst in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Hence, Chan aims to have the biggest impact on the world’s poorest people.


Author(s):  
Pedro Castro ◽  
Ana Paula Matos ◽  
Heron Werner ◽  
Flávia Paiva Lopes ◽  
Gabriele Tonni ◽  
...  

AbstractSince the World Health Organization (WHO) declared coronavirus infection (COVID-19) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in January 2020, there have been many concerns about pregnant women and the possible effects of this emergency with catastrophic outcomes in many countries. Information on COVID-19 and pregnancy are scarce and spread throughout a few case series, with no more than 50 cases in total. The present review provides a brief analysis of COVID-19, pregnancy in the COVID-19 era, and the effects of COVID-19 on pregnancy.


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