scholarly journals “Kankasha” in Kassala: A prospective observational cohort study of the clinical characteristics, epidemiology, genetic origin, and chronic impact of the 2018 epidemic of Chikungunya virus infection in Kassala, Sudan

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. e0009387
Author(s):  
Hilary Bower ◽  
Mubarak el Karsany ◽  
Abd Alhadi Adam Hussein Adam ◽  
Mubarak Ibrahim Idriss ◽  
Ma’aaza Abasher Alzain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Characteristics ◽  
Chikungunya Virus ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Severity Of Illness ◽  
Clinical Information ◽  
Denv Infection ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Transmission Risk ◽  
Severe Illness ◽  
Reverse Transcription Pcr

Background The public health impact of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is often underestimated. Usually considered a mild condition of short duration, recent outbreaks have reported greater incidence of severe illness, fatality, and longer-term disability. In 2018/19, Eastern Sudan experienced the largest epidemic of CHIKV in Africa to date, affecting an estimated 487,600 people. Known locally as Kankasha, this study examines clinical characteristics, risk factors, and phylogenetics of the epidemic in Kassala City. Methodology/Principal findings A prospective cohort of 102 adults and 40 children presenting with chikungunya-like illness were enrolled at Kassala Teaching Hospital in October 2018. Clinical information, socio-demographic data, and sera samples were analysed to confirm diagnosis, characterise illness, and identify viral strain. CHIKV infection was confirmed by real-time reverse transcription-PCR in 84.5% (120/142) of participants. Nine (7.5%) CHIKV-positive participants had concurrent Dengue virus (DENV) infection; 34/118 participants (28.8%) had a positive Rapid Diagnostic Test for Plasmodium falciparum; six (5.0%) had haemorrhagic symptoms including two children with life-threatening bleeding. One CHIKV-positive participant died with acute renal injury. Age was not associated with severity of illness although CHIKV-infected participants were younger (p = 0.003). Two to four months post-illness, 63% of adults available for follow-up (30) were still experiencing arthralgia in one or more joints, and 11% remained moderately disabled on Rapid3 assessment. Phylogenetic analysis showed all CHIKV sequences from this study belonged to a single clade within the Indian Ocean Lineage (IOL) of the East/Central/South African (ECSA) genotype. History of contact with an infected person was the only factor associated with infection (p = 0.01), and likely related to being in the same vector environment. Conclusions/Significance Vulnerability to CHIKV remains in Kassala and elsewhere in Sudan due to widespread Aedes aegypti presence and mosquito-fostering household water storage methods. This study highlights the importance of increasing awareness of the severity and impact of CHIKV outbreaks, and the need for urgent actions to reduce transmission risk in households.

scholarly journals Kankasha in Kassala: a prospective observational cohort study of the clinical characteristics, epidemiology, genetic origin, and chronic impact of the 2018 epidemic of Chikungunya virus infection in Kassala, Sudan

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilary Bower ◽  
Mubarak el Karsany ◽  
Abd Alhadi Adam Hussein Hussein ◽  
Mubarak Ibrahim Idriss ◽  
Maaza Abasher al Zain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Characteristics ◽  
Chikungunya Virus ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Clinical Information ◽  
Denv Infection ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Transmission Risk ◽  
Severe Illness ◽  
Reverse Transcription Pcr ◽  
Socio Economic Impact

Background The public health impact of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is often underestimated. Usually considered a mild condition of short duration, recent outbreaks have reported greater incidence of severe illness, fatality, and longer-term disability. In 2018, Eastern Sudan experienced the largest epidemic of CHIKV in Africa to date, affecting an estimated 487,600 people. Known locally as Kankasha, this study examines the clinical characteristics, risk factors, and phylogenetics of the CHIKV epidemic in Kassala City. Methodology and Principal Findings A prospective cohort of 142 cases (102 adults, 40 children) were enrolled at Kassala Teaching Hospital in October 2018. Clinical information, socio-demographic data and sera samples were analysed to confirm diagnosis, characterise illness, and identify the viral strain. CHIKV infection was confirmed by real-time reverse transcription-PCR in 84·5 percent of participants. Nine had concurrent CHIKV and Dengue virus (DENV) infection and 28·8 percent had a positive Rapid Diagnostic Test for malaria. Five percent had haemorrhagic symptoms including two children with life-threatening haemorrhage. One CHIKV-positive participant died with acute renal injury. Ninety to 120 days post-illness, 63 percent of those followed-up were still experiencing arthralgia in one or more joints, and 11 percent remained moderately disabled using Rapid3 assessment. Phylogenetic analysis showed all CHIKV infections belonged to a single clade within the Indian Ocean Lineage (IOL) of the East-Central-South African (ECSA) genotype. History of contact with an infected person was the only socio-demographic factor associated with infection (p 0·01), suggesting that vector transmission in households is important. Conclusions and Significance The epidemic is estimated to have affected approximately 50 percent of Kassala City's population. Substantial vulnerability to CHIKV remains here and elsewhere in Sudan due to widespread Aedes aegypti presence and mosquito-fostering household water storage methods. This study highlights the importance of increasing awareness of the severity and socio-economic impact of CHIKV outbreaks and the need for urgent actions to reduce transmission risk in households.

scholarly journals 485. Pediatrics Institutional COVID-19 Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S344-S344
Author(s):  
Prakash Karna ◽  
Lauren Farrand ◽  
Uzma Hasan
Keyword(s):  
Medical Center ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Severity Of Illness ◽  
Clinical Findings ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Severe Illness ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Presenting Symptoms

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by SARS-COV2 represents global public health concern, with varied severity of illness in different ages and racial groups. This study aims to describe clinical presentation and outcomes in children aged 0-21 years in a community hospital setting in New Jersey. Methods This is a retrospective medical record review of pediatric patients (0-21 years) admitted to Saint Barnabas Medical Center between March 2020- December 2020 with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 infection. Diagnosis of COVID-19 infection is based on ICD-10 diagnosis code. Data was extracted from electronic medical records, including demographics, pre-existing conditions, presenting symptoms, treatments used and outcomes. Results We identified 48 cases of pediatric COVID-19 patients at Saint Barnabas Medical Center during period of 03/20-12/20. Review of demographic data showed 29 patients (60%) were female, and 19 (40%) were male. Race distribution was 38% black, 17% white, 4 % Asian Indian, and 41% others/unknown. Age distribution was as follows: 40% >15 yrs, 15% 11-15 yrs, 15% 0-1 yrs, 13% 6-10 yrs, 13% 1-5 yrs, and 6% newborn. Fever (65%) was the most frequent symptom identified, followed by cough (31%), nausea/vomiting (29%), abdominal pain (19%), shortness of breath (17%), rash (15%), diarrhea (10%), headache (10%), myalgia/body-aches (8%), chest pain (6%), red eyes (6%), and loss of taste/smell (2%). Of 48 patients, 10 (21%) had positive chest X-ray findings of lung infiltrates or opacities, 4 (8%) had abnormal echocardiogram findings, and 1 (2%) had abnormal CT chest. 21 of 48 patients had underlying comorbid conditions, with Diabetes and Asthma being the most common. No deaths were reported. 8 of 48 COVID-19 patients were diagnosed with MIS-C. Of these MIS-C patients, 5 (63%) were male and 3 (38%) were female. 6 of 8 affected patients were black (75%). 50% of MIS-C patients were between 6-10 years. 3 of 8 patients (38%) had abnormal echocardiogram findings. Conclusion This review supports clinical findings from other studies and also suggests certain racial ethnicities may be disproportionately impacted, which warrants further exploration to determine genetics vs environmental factors that lead to increased predisposition to severe illness. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

scholarly journals Epidemiological, Virological and Serological Features of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Cases in People Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Wuhan: A Population-based Cohort Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiao Huang ◽  
Nianhua Xie ◽  
Xuejiao Hu ◽  
Han Yan ◽  
Jie Ding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Severe Illness ◽  
Viral Loads ◽  
Viral Shedding ◽  
Signal Value ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus

Abstract Background We aimed to describe the epidemiological, virological, and serological features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; PLWH). Methods This population-based cohort study identified all COVID-19 cases among all PLWH in Wuhan, China, by 16 April 2020. The epidemiological, virological, and serological features were analyzed based on the demographic data, temporal profile of nucleic acid test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during the disease, and SARS-CoV-2–specific immunoglobin (Ig) M and G after recovery. Results From 1 January to 16 April 2020, 35 of 6001 PLWH experienced COVID-19, with a cumulative incidence of COVID-19 of 0.58% (95% confidence interval [CI], .42–.81%). Among the COVID-19 cases, 15 (42.86) had severe illness, with 2 deaths. The incidence, case-severity, and case-fatality rates of COVID-19 in PLWH were comparable to those in the entire population in Wuhan. There were 197 PLWH who had discontinued combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), 4 of whom experienced COVID-19. Risk factors for COVID-19 were age ≥50 years old and cART discontinuation. The median duration of SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding among confirmed COVID-19 cases in PLWH was 30 days (interquartile range, 20–46). Cases with high HIV viral loads (≥20 copies/mL) had lower IgM and IgG levels than those with low HIV viral loads (<20 copies/ml; median signal value divided by the cutoff value [S/CO] for IgM, 0.03 vs 0.11, respectively [P < .001]; median S/CO for IgG, 10.16 vs 17.04, respectively [P = .069]). Conclusions Efforts are needed to maintain the persistent supply of antiretroviral treatment to elderly PLWH aged 50 years or above during the COVID-19 epidemic. The coinfection of HIV and SARS-CoV-2 might change the progression and prognosis of COVID-19 patients in PLWH.

scholarly journals Characteristics of patients with osteonecrosis of the jaw with oral versus intravenous bisphosphonate treatment

2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Seung-Hun Lee ◽  
So-Young Choi ◽  
Min-Su Bae ◽  
Tae-Geon Kwon
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Clinical Characteristics ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Osteonecrosis Of The Jaw ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Bisphosphonate Treatment ◽  
Administration Route ◽  
Lesion Number ◽  
Different Characteristics ◽  
Intravenous Bisphosphonate

Abstract Purpose This retrospective study was aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes in patients with osteonecrosis of the jaw who were receiving oral versus intravenous (IV) bisphosphonate (BP). Materials and methods This retrospective study enrolled subjects who had been diagnosed with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) during the period from July 2010 to June 2014. Information regarding the following demographic and clinical characteristics was collected: demographic data, administration route and type of BP, duration of BP medication, primary disease, number of involved sites, location of the lesion, number of surgeries, outcome of treatments, and laboratory test. All the patients were divided into oral and IV BP groups; and the between-group differences were compared. Results Total 278 patients were divided into two groups as per the route of BP administration. The proportion of oral BP-related MRONJ group were more dominant over IV BP group (oral BP, n = 251; IV BP, n = 27). In the IV BP group, the average dosing duration (31.4 months) was significantly shorter than that in the oral BP group (53.1 months) (P < 0.001). The average number of involved sites in the oral BP group (1.21 ± 0.48) was smaller than that in the IV BP group (1.63 ± 0.84) (P < 0.001). The average number of surgeries was higher in the IV BP group (1.65 ± 0.95) as compared to that in the oral BP group (0.98 ± 0.73) (P < 0.001). Outcome after the surgery for MRONJ after IV BP was poor than oral BP group. Conclusion IV administration of BP causes greater inhibition of bone remodeling and could lead more severe inflammation. Therefore, even if the duration of IV administration of BP is shorter than that of oral BP, the extent of the lesion could be more extensive. Therefore, the result suggests that the MRONJ after IV BP for cancer patients needs to be considered as different characteristics to oral BP group for osteoporosis patents.

Abstract 16010: Congestive Heart Failure and Coronavirus Disease 2019 Illness Severity

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Max Ruge ◽  
Joanne Michelle D Gomez ◽  
Gatha G Nair ◽  
Setri Fugar ◽  
Jeanne du Fay de Lavallaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Congestive Heart Failure ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Severity Of Illness ◽  
Severe Infection ◽  
Severe Illness ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
History Of ◽  
Male Sex

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has killed hundreds of thousands worldwide. Those with cardiovascular disease represent a vulnerable population with higher risk for contracting COVID-19 and worse prognosis with higher case fatality rates. Congestive heart failure (CHF) may lead to worsening COVID-19 symptoms. However, it is unclear if CHF is an independent risk factor for severe COVID-19 infection or if other accompanying comorbidities are responsible for the increased risk. Methods: From March to June 2020, data was obtained from adult patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection who were admitted in the Rush University System for Health (RUSH) in Illinois. Heart failure patients, determined by ICD code assignments extracted from the electronic medical records, were identified. Multivariable logistic regression was performed between predictor variables and a composite outcome of severe infection consisting of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission, intubation, or in-hospital mortality. Results: In this cohort (n=1136), CHF [odds ratio (OR) 1.02] alone did not predict a more severe illness. Prior myocardial infarction [(MI), OR 3.55], history of atrial fibrillation [(AF), OR 2.14], and male sex (OR 1.55) were all significantly (p<0.001) associated with more severe COVID-19 illness course when controlling for CHF (Figure 1). In the 178 CHF patients, more advanced age (68.8 years vs. 63.8 years; p<0.05) and female sex (54.5% vs. 39.1%; p<0.05) were associated with increased severity of illness. Conclusions: Prior MI, history of AF, and male sex predicted more severe COVID-19 illness course in our cohort, but pre-existing heart failure alone did not. However, CHF patients who are females and older in age are at risk for severe infection. These findings help clinicians identify patients with comorbidities early at risk for severe COVID-19 illness.

Differentiation between Schizoid and Avoidant Personalities: An Empirical Test*

1989 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 785-790 ◽  
Author(s):  
James C. Overholser
Keyword(s):  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Empirical Test ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Clinical Information ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
Univariate Analyses ◽  
Number Of Authors

A number of authors have questioned the rationale for subdividing the DSM-II schizoid diagnosis into three separate personality disorders in DSM-III, the schizoid, avoidant, and schizotypal. The present study was designed to explore differences between psychiatric patients with schizoid and avoidant personalities as compared to psychiatric controls with no personality disorder. Differences were examined on demographic data, self-report measures, and clinical information. A Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) revealed a significant overall effect for groups across MMPI subscales. However, subsequent univariate Analyses of Variance (ANOVA's) revealed that almost all differences were between the two personality disorder groups as compared to the psychiatric controls. Contrary to expectations, schizoid and avoidant personalities were found to display equivalent levels of anxiety, depression, and psychotic tendencies as compared to psychiatric control patients. No meaningful distinctions were found between the avoidant and the schizoid personalities. Results are discussed in terms of problems with the assessment methods and the diagnostic criteria.

scholarly journals Complete Coding Sequence of a Case of Chikungunya Virus Imported into Australia

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bixing Huang ◽  
Alyssa T. Pyke ◽  
Jamie McMahon ◽  
David Warrilow
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Virus Infection ◽  
Real Time ◽  
South African ◽  
Genome Sequencing ◽  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Chikungunya Virus ◽  
East Central ◽  
Reverse Transcription Pcr ◽  
Central South

ABSTRACT A case of chikungunya virus infection was imported from India into Australia in late 2016. Infection was diagnosed by real-time reverse transcription-PCR and confirmed by culture isolation and genome sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis of the genome sequence indicated that the virus grouped with the east/central/south African genotype.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Procalcitonin Use in Patients Discharged from the Emergency Department with Acute Respiratory Infection

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (S1) ◽  
pp. s33-s34
Author(s):  
Garrett Fontaine ◽  
David Banach ◽  
Jeffrey Aeschlimann
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Characteristics ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Antibiotic Prescription ◽  
Severity Of Illness ◽  
Severe Infection ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
Antibiotic Consumption ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Patients At Risk

Background: Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) contribute significantly to inappropriate antimicrobial prescription. The rate of such prescriptions in US emergency departments (EDs) has remained stable over time. The use of procalcitonin (PCT) testing has been shown to lower risk of mortality and to reduce antibiotic consumption. It also has the potential to aid ED physicians in stratifying ARI patients who may require antibiotics but do not require hospital admission. In this study, we described the characteristics and proportion of antibiotic prescription in patients evaluated in and discharged from the ED with ARI. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with ARI and discharged from a single academic ED between January 2018 and January 2020. We compared those for whom a PCT test was ordered to those without a PCT test ordered at ARI diagnosis. Charts were reviewed until there were 110 subjects in each of the 2 study groups. The main outcome variable was receipt of an antibiotic prescription. The χ2 test was used to compare the proportion of patients who received an antibiotic prescription, demographics, and clinical characteristics between the 2 groups. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the distribution of ages between the 2 groups. Results: Among patients in the PCT group, 87 (79.0%) received antibiotics versus 69 (62.7%) in the non-PCT group (P ± 18.8 vs 52.7 years ± 17.6; P = .0002); more likely to have preexisting heart and lung disease (28.2% vs 15.5%; P = .02); more often male (58.2% vs 40%; p < 0.01); had more subjective fevers (47.3% vs 33.6%, p=0.04), sputum production (49.1% vs 28.2%, p < 0.01), and nausea (17.3% vs 8.2%, p=0.04). PCT results were low (≤0.25) in 82.7% (91) of patients, of whom 70.3% (64) received antibiotics. Conclusions: Patients for whom PCT testing was ordered were older, had more underlying conditions and increased severity of illness. This finding may reflect that PCT testing was more likely to be ordered in patients at risk of severe infection but not requiring admission. The proportion of antibiotics prescriptions was higher for patients who had a PCT test. For patients with a low PCT result, the proportion of patients prescribed antibiotics was high. This finding may suggest that clinical characteristics were more influential than PCT result in the decision to prescribe antibiotics. More research is needed on the role of PCT testing in antibiotic prescription decisions for patients presenting to the ED with ARI.Funding: NoDisclosures: None

scholarly journals Clinicians' predictions of patient response to psychotropic medications

2004 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-111
Keyword(s):  
Psychotropic Drugs ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Clinical Characteristics ◽  
Psychiatric Treatment ◽  
Clinical Information ◽  
Psychotropic Medications ◽  
Total Variance ◽  
Practical Relevance ◽  
Patient Response

Clinicians prescribe a medication when they assume that there is a reasonable probability of its success. There are many studies on the predictive value of social or clinical information, but these studies do not include the prognosis made by psychiatrists before treatment. These studies indicate that a small to moderate proportion of the total variance of outcome can be predicted from social or clinical information. It is peculiar that there are very few studies on the accuracy of psychiatrists' "bets" about the effects of psychotropic drugs when they use the clinical characteristics of patients as predictors, considering the practical relevance of predicting the outcome of a psychiatric treatment. The absence of studies on the accuracy of clinicians' bets or predictions in psychiatry is unfortunate.

scholarly journals A Rapid and Easy-to-Perform Method of Nucleic-Acid Based Dengue Virus Diagnosis Using Fluorescence-Based Molecular Beacons

Biosensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 479
Author(s):  
Soumi Sukla ◽  
Prasenjit Mondal ◽  
Subhajit Biswas ◽  
Surajit Ghosh
Keyword(s):  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Dengue Virus ◽  
Magnetic Beads ◽  
Molecular Beacon ◽  
Detection System ◽  
Denv Infection ◽  
Molecular Beacons ◽  
Nucleic Acid Amplification ◽  
Complementary Sequence ◽  
Reverse Transcription Pcr

Detecting dengue virus (DENV) infection in patients as early as possible makes the disease management convenient. Conventionally, DENV infection is diagnosed by ELISA-based methods, but sensitivity and specificity are major concerns. Reverse-transcription-PCR (RT-PCR)-based detection confirms the presence of DENV RNA; however, it is expensive, time-consuming, and skilled personnel are required. A fluorescence-based detection system that detects DENV RNA in patient’s serum directly, without any nucleic acid amplification step, has been developed. The method uses target-specific complementary sequence in the molecular beacon, which would specifically bind to the DENV RNA. The molecular beacons are approximately 40 bases long hairpin structures, with a fluorophore-quencher system attached at the terminal ends of the stem. These probes are biotinylated in the stem region, so that they can be immobilized on the streptavidin-tagged magnetic beads. These magnetic beads, coupled with biotinylated molecular beacons, are used for the detection of the target RNA in the serum by incubating the mixture. After incubation, beads are separated and re-suspended in a buffer. The measurement of fluorescence is taken in fluorometer after 15 min incubation at 50 °C. The whole work is carried out in a single tube. This rapid method can precisely detect dengue RNA within two hours, confirming ongoing DENV replication in the patient.

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