scholarly journals Circulation and Molecular Epidemiology of Enteroviruses in Paralyzed, Immunodeficient and Healthy Individuals in Tunisia, a Country with a Polio-Free Status for Decades

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 380
Author(s):  
Anissa Chouikha ◽  
Dorra Rezig ◽  
Nadia Driss ◽  
Ichrak Abdelkhalek ◽  
Ahlem Ben Yahia ◽  
...  

This report is an overview of enterovirus (EV) detection in Tunisian polio-suspected paralytic cases (acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases), healthy contacts and patients with primary immunodeficiencies (PID) during an 11-year period. A total of 2735 clinical samples were analyzed for EV isolation and type identification, according to the recommended protocols of the World Health Organization. Three poliovirus (PV) serotypes and 28 different nonpolio enteroviruses (NPEVs) were detected. The NPEV detection rate was 4.3%, 2.8% and 12.4% in AFP cases, healthy contacts and PID patients, respectively. The predominant species was EV-B, and the circulation of viruses from species EV-A was noted since 2011. All PVs detected were of Sabin origin. The PV detection rate was higher in PID patients compared to AFP cases and contacts (6.8%, 1.5% and 1.3% respectively). PV2 was not detected since 2015. Using nucleotide sequencing of the entire VP1 region, 61 strains were characterized as Sabin-like. Among them, six strains of types 1 and 3 PV were identified as pre-vaccine-derived polioviruses (VDPVs). Five type 2 PV, four strains belonging to type 1 PV and two strains belonging to type 3 PV, were classified as iVDPVs. The data presented provide a comprehensive picture of EVs circulating in Tunisia over an 11-year period, reveal changes in their epidemiology as compared to previous studies and highlight the need to set up a warning system to avoid unnoticed PVs.

Sensors ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 3423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shrikant Warkad ◽  
Satish Nimse ◽  
Keum-Soo Song ◽  
Taisun Kim

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 71 million people were living with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection worldwide in 2015. Each year, about 399,000 HCV-infected people succumb to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver failure. Therefore, screening of HCV infection with simple, rapid, but highly sensitive and specific methods can help to curb the global burden on HCV healthcare. Apart from the determination of viral load/viral clearance, the identification of specific HCV genotype is also critical for successful treatment of hepatitis C. This critical review focuses on the technologies used for the detection, discrimination, and genotyping of HCV in clinical samples. This article also focuses on advantages and disadvantages of the reported methods used for HCV detection, quantification, and genotyping.


Author(s):  
Abidemi Faleye

Background: Male medical circumcision (MMC) has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV transmission in circumcised men by up to 60%. Following recommendations from the World Health Organization, South Africa adopted MMC as a preventative strategy against HIV in 2010 and set up circumcision camps across the country. Concerns have been raised about condom avoidance following MMC because of a mistaken belief about the benefits of MMC.Aim and setting: The aim of this study was to describe the profile and knowledge about HIV and circumcision amongst men presenting for MMC in an urban area in KwaZulu-Natal.Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study of 394 clients over the age of 18 years who presented to two MMC sites in Durban between November 2012 and March 2013. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data.Results: The mean age of clients presenting for MMC was 28 years. Most clients were black, single, unemployed and sexually active. The majority presented for MMC because they believed that MMC would reduce their risk of acquiring HIV infection. Knowledge about HIV transmission was very good and 86.3% of clients were aware that risky sexual behaviour suchas condom avoidance could reverse the benefits of MMC.Conclusion: The knowledge of HIV and benefits of MMC was very good amongst those presenting for MMC. However as MMC is primarily a preventative strategy, innovative methods to promote MMC prior to first sexual encounter need to be explored. Further research is needed to determine whether the benefits of MMC on the reduction of HIV transmission aresustained in routine practice. [Full text article to follow]


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 395-395
Author(s):  

The annual military bill is now approaching 450 billion US dollars, while official development aid accounts for less than 5 per cent of this figure. Four examples: 1. The military expenditure of only half a day would suffice to finance the whole malaria eradication programme of the World Health Organization, and less would be needed to conquer river-blindness, which is still the scourge of millions. 2. A modern tank costs about one million dollars; that amount could improve storage facilities for 100,000 tons of rice and thus save 4000 tons or more annually; one person can live on just over a pound of rice a day. The same sum of money could provide 1000 classrooms for 30,000 children. 3. For the price of one jet fighter (20 million dollars) one could set up about 40,000 village pharmacies. 4. One-half of one per cent of one year's world military expenditure would pay for all the farm equipment needed to increase food production and approach self-sufficiency in food-deficit low-income countries by 1990.


Author(s):  
Yosuke Takada ◽  
Yasuhiro Otomo ◽  
Khem Bahadur Karki

ABSTRACT Objectives: After the Nepal earthquake in 2015, for the first time, the Emergency Medical Team Coordination Cell (EMTCC) was activated. This study aims to evaluate the emergency medical team (EMT) coordination in the aftermath of the Nepal earthquake in 2015. Methods: This is a retrospective study that (a) describes the coordination process in Nepal, and (b) reviews and analyzes the EMT database in Nepal to classify the EMTs based on the World Health Organization (WHO) EMT classification, an online survey for EMT coordination, and the Geographic Information System-analyzed EMT distribution. Results: We recorded 150 EMTs, which included 29 Type 1-Mobile, 71 Type 1-Fixed, 22 Type 2, 1 Type 3, and 27 specialist cell recorded EMTs including the military team. The EMTs were allocated based on the number of casualties in that area. The Type 1 EMTs were deployed around Type 2 EMTs. Conclusions: The EMT Classification is useful for the effective posting of EMTs. However, the method of onsite multi registration has room for improvement. The WHO should provide an opportunity for EMTCC training for better coordination of disasters.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 1086-1089
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Bouland ◽  
Jordan Selzer ◽  
Madi Yogman ◽  
David W. Callaway

ABSTRACTOn September 1, 2019, Hurricane Dorian made landfall as a category 5 hurricane on Great Abaco Island, Bahamas. Hurricane Dorian matched the “Labor Day” hurricane of 1935 as the strongest recorded Atlantic hurricane to make landfall with maximum sustained winds of 185 miles/h.1 At the request of the Government of the Bahamas, Team Rubicon activated a World Health Organization Type 1 Mobile Emergency Medical Team and responded to Great Abaco Island. The team provided medical care and reconnaissance of medical clinics on the island and surrounding cays…


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 251
Author(s):  
Eduardo J. Pedrero-Pérez ◽  
MethaQoL Group

<p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond',serif; font-size: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;" lang="EN-US">The most commonly instrument used to measure quality of life in patients with addictive behaviors is the WHOQOL-BREF, developed by the World Health Organization. No studies have been found to explore the psychometric properties in Spanish clinical samples. This paper aims to study their reliability as well as the construct validity in a representative sample of patients and comparing the results to the data available for the general population in Spain. A sample was recruited comprised of 523 subjects who were undergoing treatment with methadone in Madrid and Extremadura. A confirmatory factor analysis was completed to test the theoretically proposed structure and then an optimized-parallel analysis was done to establish the most adequate number of components. The result offers solid values for internal consistency both as concerns the items and the scales. The theoretical tetra-dimensional structure is confirmed in the sample although serious arguments are also found for considering its one-dimensionality. The structural relationship between the four domains was studied. The WHOQOL-BREF proves to be a reliable and valid test for use on patients treated with methadone, providing a multi-dimensional measure of perceived quality of life that includes social and environmental factors of great importance in treating addiction problems. </span></p>


Author(s):  
Malarkodi Velraj,

Objective: Antibiotics are the almost usually specified or authorized medication in hospitals, and antibiotics were found to be the almost bothersome classes of drugs providing or endowing to adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Therefore, the present study was conducted to check or regulate the precautions (ADRs) of antibiotics usually specified or authorized in the pediatrics unit. Methods: A potential, experimental, non-interventionist study was conducted or executed in the Department of Pediatrics for a time of 6 months to analyze the ADRs reported spontaneously from the hospital using patient statistics, objective and medication information, data of ADRs, onset time, causal drug details, outcome, and severity. Results: Among 72 ADRs observed, beta-lactams and quinolones were set up to be contributing the highest number of ADRs. The duct or abdominal system was the almost commonly affected organ, followed by respiratory system and the cardiovascular system. The assessment by the World Health Organization causation estimation scale demonstrated that 5.56% ADRs were certain, 55.56% were possible, 30.56% were probable, and 8.33% were unlikely. Conclusion: Thus, the pattern of ADRs occurring in the pediatric population was observed and assessed. Early recognition and management of ADRs are essential to reduce the burden of ADRs


1952 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles S. Ascher

The International Health Conference, convened by the United Nations in New York in the summer of 1946, adopted a Constitution for a World Health Organization. It set up an Interim Commission of persons designated by eighteen named states to prepare for the First World Health Assembly and to carry on tasks inherited from previous international organizations. Unexpected delays in ratifications of the Constitution obliged the Interim Commission to operate for two years. WHO has thus been free to shape its destiny only from the time of the First World Health Assembly in the summer of 1948; it began its work formally as of September 1, 1948. The activities from 1946 to 1948 were largely determined by heritages from earner organizations; these, indeed, dominated the first program of WHO. The intervening three years have witnessed new trends, which some observers applaud and others view with doubt, if not alarm. It may be fruitful at this time to record some of these trends, to note the pressures which caused them and their implications for WHO's program and work-plan.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (30) ◽  
pp. 2325-2330
Author(s):  
Sahana Sadasivam ◽  
Geeta IB

The world health organization declared the outbreak of Corona virus as a public health emergency of international concern on 30th January 2020. The disease is transmitted by inhalation or contact with infected droplets and the incubation period ranges from 2 to 14 days. This mode of transmission has led to a concern for dentists worldwide. Due to the characteristics of dental settings, the risk of cross infection can be high between patients and dental practitioners. Various modifications in treatment options have been investigated to reduce the release of aerosols and minimize patient and dentist exposure. These modifications in the dental set up are incorporated to protect the practitioner and the patient from cross contamination. One such treatment modality in reducing aerosol production is the use of Ozone. Ozone is an allotropic form of oxygen and has been used successfully in the treatment of various diseases for over a hundred years. It has a high oxidation potential and is 1.5 times greater than chlorine when it is used as an antimicrobial agent. It has also shown to stimulate remineralization and has hence led to its increasing popularity and demand in the dental field. Its unique properties include analgesic, antimicrobial and antihypnotic actions. Its atraumatic, painless, non-invasive, and relative absence of discomfort and side effects has led to its use in dentistry with increased patient’s acceptability and compliance thus making it an ideal choice for various treatment options in dentistry which would eventually lead to reduced aerosol exposure. This review is an attempt to highlight various treatment modalities of Ozone therapy during post Covid-19 scenario in dental practices and its possible clinical applications in future. KEY WORDS Covid-19, Ozone Therapy, Dental Practice


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margot Morgiève ◽  
Déborah Sebbane ◽  
Bianca De Rosario ◽  
Vincent Demassiet ◽  
Soraya Kabbaj ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND For the World Health Organization, electronic health (eHealth) is seen as an effective way to improve therapeutic practices and disease prevention in health. Digital tools lead to major changes in the field of mental medicine, but specific analyses are required to understand and accompany these changes. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to highlight the positions of the different stakeholders of the mental health care system on eHealth services and tools, as well as to establish professional and user group profiles of these positions and the uses of these services. METHODS In order to acquire the opinions and expectations of different categories of people, we carried out a qualitative study based on 10 focus groups (n=70, from 3-12 people per group) composed of: general practitioners, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, nurses, caregivers, mental health services users, user representatives, and the general public. The analyses of focus group discussions were performed independently by four investigators through a common analysis grid. The constant comparative method was adopted within this framework. RESULTS The interviewees expressed different problems that new technologies engender in the field of mental health. What was previously strictly under the jurisdiction of physicians now tends to be fragmented and distributed over different groups and locations. New technologies reposition care in the field of domestic, rather than therapeutic, activities, and thus the conception of care as an autonomous activity in the subject’s life is questioned. The ideal of social autonomy through technology is part of the new logic of health democracy and empowerment, which is linked to a strong, contemporary aspiration to perform. Participants emphasized that there was the potential risk of a decrease in autonomy for the digitally engaged patient, while personal empowerment could become a set of obligations. CONCLUSIONS This qualitative research highlights the heterogeneity of opinions among the groups and within each group. It suggests that opinions on electronic mental health devices are still far from being stabilized, and that a change management process should be set up to both regulate the development and facilitate the use of these tools.


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