scholarly journals A systematic literature review of schistosomiasis in urban and peri-urban settings

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. e0008995
Author(s):  
Katharina Klohe ◽  
Benjamin G. Koudou ◽  
Alan Fenwick ◽  
Fiona Fleming ◽  
Amadou Garba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Systematic Literature Review ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
World Health ◽  
World Population ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Urban Settings ◽  
The World

Background Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by trematode worms of the genus Schistosoma and belongs to the neglected tropical diseases. The disease has been reported in 78 countries, with around 290.8 million people in need of treatment in 2018. Schistosomiasis is predominantly considered a rural disease with a subsequent focus of research and control activities in rural settings. Over the past decades, occurrence and even expansion of schistosomiasis foci in peri-urban and urban settings have increasingly been observed. Rural–urban migration in low- and middle-income countries and subsequent rapid and unplanned urbanization are thought to explain these observations. Fifty-five percent (55%) of the world population is already estimated to live in urban areas, with a projected increase to 68% by 2050. In light of rapid urbanization and the efforts to control morbidity and ultimately achieve elimination of schistosomiasis, it is important to deepen our understanding of the occurrence, prevalence, and transmission of schistosomiasis in urban and peri-urban settings. A systematic literature review looking at urban and peri-urban schistosomiasis was therefore carried out as a first step to address the research and mapping gap. Methodology Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a systematic computer-aided literature review was carried out using PubMed, ScienceDirect, and the World Health Organization Database in November 2019, which was updated in March 2020. Only papers for which at least the abstract was available in English were used. Relevant publications were screened, duplicates were removed, guidelines for eligibility were applied, and eligible studies were reviewed. Studies looking at human Schistosoma infections, prevalence, and intensity of infection in urban and peri-urban settings were included as well as those focusing on the intermediate host snails. Principal findings A total of 248 publications met the inclusion criteria. The selected studies confirm that schistosomiasis is prevalent in peri-urban and urban areas in the countries assessed. Earlier studies report higher prevalence levels in urban settings compared to data extracted from more recent publications, yet the challenge of migration, rapid uncontrolled urbanization, and resulting poor living conditions highlight the potential for continuous or even newly established transmission to take place. Conclusions The review indicates that schistosomiasis has long existed in urban and peri-urban areas and remains a public health problem. There is, however, a challenge of comparability of settings due to the lack of a clear definition of what constitutes urban and peri-urban. There is a pressing need for improved monitoring of schistosomiasis in urban communities and consideration of treatment strategies.

scholarly journals Expanding the definition of noncommunicable disease

2016 ◽  
Vol 04 (02) ◽  
pp. 067-070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ranabir Salam
Keyword(s):  
Liver Disease ◽  
Road Traffic ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
The United States ◽  
Noncommunicable Disease ◽  
World Health ◽  
Noncommunicable Diseases ◽  
World Population ◽  
The World ◽  
Definition Of

AbstractNoncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for 68% of all deaths in 2012. Eighty-two percent of these “premature” deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries. Most of the NCD deaths are caused by cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, mental health, road traffic accidents, and violence. The World Health Organization, several governments, and nongovernmental organizations have taken up numerous programs to curb the menace of NCDs. However, the present programs do not include some common chronic medical conditions which also lead to considerable morbidity and mortality. The present review highlights three important chronic disorders: chronic kidney disease (CKD), liver disease (cirrhosis and nonalcoholic fatty liver), and thyroid diseases. CKD is an internationally recognized public health problem affecting 5–10% of the world population. CKD resulted in 956,000 deaths in 2013 and proposes them to be included in the world wide accepted definition of NCD. Cirrhosis and chronic liver disease were the tenth leading cause of death for men and the twelfth for women in the United States in 2001. Moreover, 4–10% of the global population have thyroid dysfunction. This mini-review proposes to expand the definition of NCD to include these three major illnesses.

scholarly journals Insights from quantitative and mathematical modelling on the proposed WHO 2030 goal for schistosomiasis

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 1517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Guidelines ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
World Health ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Current Guidelines

Schistosomiasis remains one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) impacting millions of people around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently proposed a goal of elimination as a public health problem (EPHP) for schistosomiasis to be reached by 2030. Current WHO treatment guidelines for achieving EPHP focus on targeting school-aged children. The NTD Modelling Consortium has developed mathematical models to study schistosomiasis transmission dynamics and the impact of control measures. Our modelling insights on Schistosoma mansoni have shown that EPHP is likely to be attainable in low to moderate prevalence settings using the current guidelines. However, as prevalence rises within higher settings, EPHP is less likely to be achieved unless both school-aged children and adults are treated (with coverage levels increasing with the adult burden of infection). We highlight the challenges that are faced by treatment programmes, such as non-adherence to treatment and resurgence, which can hinder progress towards achieving and maintaining EPHP. Additionally, even though EPHP may be reached, prevalence can still be high due to persisting infections. Therefore, without elimination of transmission, treatment will likely have to continue to maintain EPHP. Further modelling work is being carried out, including extending our results to S. haematobium. By providing these modelling insights, we aim to inform discussions on the goals and treatment guidelines for schistosomiasis.

scholarly journals Screening Marine Natural Products for New Drug Leads against Trypanosomatids and Malaria

Marine Drugs ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 187 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Álvarez-Bardón ◽  
Yolanda Pérez-Pertejo ◽  
César Ordóñez ◽  
Daniel Sepúlveda-Crespo ◽  
Nestor M. Carballeira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
World Health ◽  
World Population ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) represent a serious threat to humans, especially for those living in poor or developing countries. Almost one-sixth of the world population is at risk of suffering from these diseases and many thousands die because of NTDs, to which we should add the sanitary, labor and social issues that hinder the economic development of these countries. Protozoan-borne diseases are responsible for more than one million deaths every year. Visceral leishmaniasis, Chagas disease or sleeping sickness are among the most lethal NTDs. Despite not being considered an NTD by the World Health Organization (WHO), malaria must be added to this sinister group. Malaria, caused by the apicomplexan parasite Plasmodium falciparum, is responsible for thousands of deaths each year. The treatment of this disease has been losing effectiveness year after year. Many of the medicines currently in use are obsolete due to their gradual loss of efficacy, their intrinsic toxicity and the emergence of drug resistance or a lack of adherence to treatment. Therefore, there is an urgent and global need for new drugs. Despite this, the scant interest shown by most of the stakeholders involved in the pharmaceutical industry makes our present therapeutic arsenal scarce, and until recently, the search for new drugs has not been seriously addressed. The sources of new drugs for these and other pathologies include natural products, synthetic molecules or repurposing drugs. The most frequent sources of natural products are microorganisms, e.g., bacteria, fungi, yeasts, algae and plants, which are able to synthesize many drugs that are currently in use (e.g. antimicrobials, antitumor, immunosuppressants, etc.). The marine environment is another well-established source of bioactive natural products, with recent applications against parasites, bacteria and other pathogens which affect humans and animals. Drug discovery techniques have rapidly advanced since the beginning of the millennium. The combination of novel techniques that include the genetic modification of pathogens, bioimaging and robotics has given rise to the standardization of High-Performance Screening platforms in the discovery of drugs. These advancements have accelerated the discovery of new chemical entities with antiparasitic effects. This review presents critical updates regarding the use of High-Throughput Screening (HTS) in the discovery of drugs for NTDs transmitted by protozoa, including malaria, and its application in the discovery of new drugs of marine origin.

scholarly journals ‘We Are Drinking Diseases’: Perception of Water Insecurity and Emotional Distress in Urban Slums in Accra, Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 890 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Kangmennaang ◽  
Elijah Bisung ◽  
Susan J. Elliott
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Well Being ◽  
World Health ◽  
Water Insecurity ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Global Improvement ◽  
Safe Water ◽  
The World ◽  
Quantitative Results

Water security is critical to the health and well-being of people around the world, especially among populations experiencing water stresses and rapid urbanization in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs). Recent research suggests water insecurity is associated with negative mental health outcomes. Despite global improvement in access to safe water across the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that access to safe water in urban areas has not changed significantly or has stagnated in certain countries. In most African cities, entrepreneurial water vendors have stepped up to fill supply gaps in the formal delivery system by selling vended water. As part of a larger research program that aims to assess and analyze public perceptions around vended water, this paper explores the links connecting water insecurity and emotional distress among urban slum dwellers who mostly use vended water in Accra, Ghana. We used a parallel mixed-methods approach. Our quantitative results show that water-insecure households (OR = 2.23, p = 0.01) were more likely to report emotional distresses compared to water-secure households. However, households with improved sanitation (OR = 0.28, p = 0.01) and those willing to participate for improved water and sanitation (OR = 0.28, p = 0.01) were less likely to report emotional distress. Our qualitative results offered support for the quantitative results, as participants not only hold various perceptions regarding the safety and quality of vended water but expressed emotional distresses such as fear of contamination, discomfort, worry over arbitrary change in prices, and anxiety. The implications of the results for policy and practice, specifically to ensuring access to safe water, are discussed.

scholarly journals Achieving the Endgame: Integrated NTD Case Searches

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas Buyon ◽  
Randall Slaven ◽  
Paul M. Emerson ◽  
Jonathan King ◽  
Oscar Debrah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Management ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
World Health ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Guinea Worm ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

AbstractTrachoma and Guinea Worm Disease (GWD) are neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) slated for elimination as a public health problem and eradication respectively by the World Health Organization. As these programs wind down, uncovering the last remaining cases becomes an urgent priority. In 2010, The Ghana Health Service, along with The Carter Center, Sightsavers, and other partners, conducted integrated case search for cases of both GWD and the last stage of trachoma disease, trachomatous trichiasis (TT), as well as providing treatment for trachoma to meet elimination and eradication targets. House to house case search for both diseases was conducted and two case management strategies were explored: a centralized referral to services method and a Point of Care (POC) delivery method. 835 suspected TT cases were discovered in the centralized method, of which 554 accepted surgery. 482 suspected TT cases were discovered in the POC method and all TT cases accepted surgery in the POC searches. The cost per TT case examined was lower in the POC searches compared to the centralized searches ($19.97 in the POC searches and $20.85 in the centralized searches). Both strategies resulted in high surgical uptake for TT surgery, with average uptakes of 72.4% and 83.9% for the centralized and POC searches respectively. We present here that house to house case search offering services at POC are feasible and a potential tool for elimination and eradication programs nearing their end.Author SummaryTrachoma and Guinea Worm Disease (GWD) are neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) slated for elimination as a public health problem and eradication respectively by the World Health Organization. As these programs wind down, uncovering the last remaining cases becomes an urgent priority in order to confirm that eradiation/elimination targets have been reached. Active case searches are one method of finding these last vestiges of disease. Searches for that look for multiple diseases are referred to as integrated searches. We piloted here integrated case searches for GWD and Trachoma with two case management strategies, a referral approach to a central location, and point of care approach (POC). POC approaches can difficult to implement in low resource settings because they require extensive personnel, financial, and logistical, support. However, POC approaches remove one of the biggest barriers to treatment, time spent traveling to a health center, and thus can improve treatment uptake. We found here that integrated active cases searches with a POC case management approach can be implemented in a low resource setting; and improve acceptance and uptake of trachoma examination and trichiasis surgery respectively without costing much more than the referral case management approach.

Effect of trees on street canyon ventilation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Fellini ◽  
Alessandro De Giovanni ◽  
Massimo Marro ◽  
Luca Ridolfi ◽  
Pietro Salizzoni
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Street Canyon ◽  
Traffic Emissions ◽  
Tree Planting ◽  
World Population ◽  
Urban District ◽  
Street Canyons ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
The World

<p>Due to the overall growth of the world population and to the progressive shift from rural to urban centres, 70% of the world population is expected to live in urban areas in 2050. This trend is alarming when related to the constant decline of urban air quality at the global level. To cope with this rapid urbanization, solutions for sustainable cities are extensively sought. In this framework, the mitigation of air pollution in street canyons plays a crucial role. The street canyon (a street flanked by high buildings on both sides) is the fundamental unit of the urban tissue, as well as a vital public and residential space. Street canyons are particularly vulnerable to air pollution due to traffic emissions, low ventilation conditions, and the number of citizens exposed. Tree planting in street canyons is often used as a pollution mitigation strategy, due to the filtering effect of vegetation on airborne pollutants. However, from the aerodynamic point of view, trees can obstruct the wind flow thus reducing canyon ventilation and leading to higher pollutant concentrations. In this framework, we present the results of an experimental study aimed at evaluating how tree planting influences the flow and concentration fields within a street canyon. The study was carried out in a recirculating wind tunnel. An idealised urban district was simulated by an array of square blocks, whose orientation with respect to the incident wind was varied. Within this urban geometry, two rows of model trees were arranged at the sides of a street canyon. Three configurations with different spacing between the trees were considered. A passive scalar was injected from a line source placed at ground level to simulate traffic emissions. Concentration and flow field measurements were performed in several cross-sections of the street canyon. Results showed the effect of trees on the spatial distribution of pollutants. Moreover, a characteristic exchange velocity between the street canyon and the overlying atmosphere was estimated to quantify the overall canyon ventilation under several wind directions and different planting densities. These preliminary results provide city planners with first recommendations for the sustainable design of urban environments. Moreover, the experimental dataset is valuable in validating numerical simulations of air pollution in cities accounting for urban vegetation.</p>

scholarly journals The roadmap towards elimination of lymphatic filariasis by 2030: insights from quantitative and mathematical modelling

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 1538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Lymphatic Filariasis ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
World Health ◽  
Basic Care ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Initial Target

The Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis was launched in 2000 to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF) as a public health problem by 1) interrupting transmission through mass drug administration (MDA) and 2) offering basic care to those suffering from lymphoedema or hydrocele due to the infection. Although impressive progress has been made, the initial target year of 2020 will not be met everywhere. The World Health Organization recently proposed 2030 as the new target year for elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) as a public health problem. In this letter, LF modelers of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Modelling Consortium reflect on the proposed targets for 2030 from a quantitative perspective. While elimination as a public health problem seems technically and operationally feasible, it is uncertain whether this will eventually also lead to complete elimination of transmission. The risk of resurgence needs to be mitigated by strong surveillance after stopping interventions and sometimes perhaps additional interventions.

scholarly journals Insights from quantitative and mathematical modelling on the proposed WHO 2030 goal for schistosomiasis

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 1517
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Guidelines ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
World Health ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact

Schistosomiasis remains one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) impacting millions of people around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently proposed a goal of elimination as a public health problem (EPHP) for schistosomiasis to be reached by 2030. Current WHO treatment guidelines for achieving EPHP focus on targeting school-aged children. The NTD Modelling Consortium has developed mathematical models to study schistosomiasis transmission dynamics and the impact of control measures. Our modelling insights on Schistosoma mansoni have shown that EPHP is likely to be attainable in low to moderate prevalence settings using the current guidelines. However, as prevalence rises within high prevalence settings, EPHP is less likely to be achieved unless both school-aged children and adults are treated (with coverage levels increasing with the adult burden of infection). We highlight the challenges that are faced by treatment programmes, such as non-adherence to treatment and resurgence, which can hinder progress towards achieving and maintaining EPHP. Additionally, even though EPHP may be reached, prevalence can still be high due to persisting infections. Therefore, without interruption of transmission, treatment will likely have to continue to maintain EPHP. Further modelling work is being carried out, including extending our results to S. haematobium. By providing these modelling insights, we aim to inform discussions on the goals and treatment guidelines for schistosomiasis.

Heterocycles in the Treatment of Neglected Tropical Diseases

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kush K. Maheshwari ◽  
Debasish Bandyopadhyay
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Heterocyclic Compounds ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
World Health ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Poor People ◽  
Tropical Diseases ◽  
Concise Review ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Background: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect a huge population of the world and majority of the victims belong to the poor community of the developing countries. Until now, the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified 20 tropical diseases as NTDs that must be addressed with high priority. However, many heterocyclic scaffolds have demonstrated potent therapeutic activity against several NTDs. Objective: There are three major objectives: (1) To discuss the causes, symptoms, and current status of all the 20 NTDs; (2) To explore the available heterocyclic drugs, and their mechanism of actions (if known) that are being used to treat NTDs; (3) To develop general awareness on NTDs among the medicinal/health research community and beyond. Methods: The 20 NTDs have been discussed according to their alphabetic orders along with the possible heterocyclic remedies. Current status of treatment with an emphasis on the heterocyclic drugs (commercially available and investigational) has been outlined. In addition, brief discussion of the impacts of NTDs on socio-economic condition is included. Results: NTDs are often difficult to diagnose and the problem is worsened by the unhealthy hygiene, improper awareness, and inadequate healthcare in the developing countries where these diseases primarily affect poor people. The statistics include duration of suffering, numbers affected, and access to healthcare and medication. The mechanism of actions of various heterocyclic drugs, if reported, have been briefly summarized. Conclusion: Scientists and pharmaceutical corporations should allocate more resources to reveal the in-depth mechanism of actions of many heterocyclic drugs that are currently being used for the treatment of NTDs. Analysis of current heterocyclic compounds and development of new medications can help in the fight to reduce/remove the devastating effects of NTDs. An opinion-based concise review has been presented. Based on available literature, this is the first effect to present all the 20 NTDs and related heterocyclic compounds under the same umbrella.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document