scholarly journals Vitamin C and COVID-19: should clinical trials be prioritised for low income settings and vitamin C-deficient populations?

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-120
Author(s):  
Anitra C Carr ◽  
◽  
Sam Rowe ◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin C ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
World Health ◽  
Biological Plausibility ◽  
Resource Limited Settings ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
The World ◽  
Adjunctive Intervention ◽  
Health Organization

TO THE EDITOR: Managing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in resource-limited settings requires a number of considerations, including reducing or preventing requirements for respiratory support.1 Vitamin C is a low cost, readily available therapy that the World Health Organization has highlighted for further research as an adjunctive intervention with biological plausibility for improving the clinical outcome of patients with COVID-19

scholarly journals Attitude and Behaviour For Preventing COVID-19 Disease Infections in Mali: An Analysis Based On COVID-19 Panel Phone Survey

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilfried GUETS ◽  
Deepak Kumar Behera
Keyword(s):  
World Bank ◽  
Low Income ◽  
World Health ◽  
Multivariate Logistic Regression Model ◽  
The World Bank ◽  
Poor Households ◽  
Phone Survey ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
National Statistical Office

Abstract Background COVID-19 outbreak has been declared as an emerging and conflict situation by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to the multiple nature of infection through international spread that poses a serious threat to populations’ health and socio-economic conditions household in general. Objective This study aims to analyse the behaviour adopted by households’ heads for preventing COVID-19 infection in Mali. Methods We collected data from the COVID-19 Panel Households survey collected in Mali by the National Statistical Office, Institut National de la Statistique (INSTAT), in collaboration with the World Bank in October 2020. We used a multivariate logistic regression model. Results A total of 1,514 households heads were included. The age between 20 and 90 years old. The poor households represented 27%. Being a household with a low-income reduced the probability of using masks (p < 0.1). Being poor increased the probability to agree with vaccination (p < 0.01). The health services utilisation increased the probability of wear masks (p < 0.01), getting tested (p < 0.01), and agree with the vaccine (p < 0.01). People with a high occupation volume were more likely to wear protective masks (p < 0.1). Conclusion Behaviour and attitude prevention varied according to households characteristics. Local government and policymakers should continue to provide more economic, medical and social assistance to protect the population, which would reduce the spread of the disease, particularly to households living in vulnerable regions of the country most affected by conflict and food insecurity.

Development of a polystyrene latex-based reagent for rheumatoid factor detection

2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 239-243
Author(s):  
Grisel Marrero ◽  
Lilian P. Delgado ◽  
Humberto Caroll ◽  
Neise Ortiz ◽  
Alexis Musacchio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Factor ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Total Surface Area ◽  
Polystyrene Latex ◽  
World Health ◽  
Human Sera ◽  
Reference Preparation ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Blood Fraction

Abstract A rapid, specific and sensible polystyrene latex-based reagent has been developed to detect rheumatoid factor (RF) in human sera. Detection of RF is one of the criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosis. RF includes immunoglobulins IgG, IgM or IgA targeting human-IgG Fc region, found in sera of 70–90% of patients with RA. Spherical, clean polystyrene particles of 480±80 nm with a Z-potential of -28 mV were synthesized. Purified gamma-globulin human blood fraction, used as IgG source, was adsorbed on particles in glycine-buffered saline with a fivefold excess of the immunoglobulins needed to saturate the calculated total surface area of the particles. The reagent was calibrated against the World Health Organization international serum reference preparation and tested with commercial positive and negative RF controls. Reactivity of the developed diagnostic reagent with human sera, either positive or negative for RF, was evaluated. The sera were tested both intact and following complement inactivation. When complement-inactivated sera were used, our reagent showed 100% coincidence of results with a commercial diagnostic kit of specificity of 80% and sensibility of 93%. The in-house reagent developed in the present work is easy to prepare and at relatively low cost, making it ideal for RF detection in low-income settings.

scholarly journals Adaptation and validation for Colombia of the WHO safe childbirth checklist

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-212
Author(s):  
Ana Carolina Amaya Arias ◽  
Óscar Zuluaga ◽  
Douglas Idárraga ◽  
Javier Hernando Eslava Schmalbach
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Neonatal Morbidity ◽  
Neonatal Care ◽  
World Health ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Safe Childbirth Checklist ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Safe Childbirth

Introduction: Most maternal deaths that occur in developing countries are considered unfair and can be avoided. In 2008, The World Health Organization (WHO) proposed a checklist for childbirth care, in order to assess whether a simple, low-cost intervention had an impact on maternal and neonatal mortality in low-income countries. Objective: To translate, adapt and validate the content of the WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist (SCC) for its use in Colombia Methods: The checklist was translated and adapted to the Colombian context. It was subsequently validated by a panel of experts composed of 17 health workers with experience in maternal and neonatal care and safety. Reliability among judges was estimated (Rwg) and items were modified or added to each section of the list according to the results. Results: Modifications were made to 28 items, while 19 new items were added, and none was removed. The most important modifications were made to the management guidelines included in each item, and the items added refer to risks inherent to our environment. Conclusion: The Colombian version of the SCC will be a useful tool to improve maternal and neonatal care and thereby contribute to reducing maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in our country.

Development of improved low-cost ceramic water filters for viral removal in the Haitian context

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Guerrero-Latorre ◽  
M. Rusiñol ◽  
A. Hundesa ◽  
M. Garcia-Valles ◽  
S. Martinez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
World Health ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Virus Removal ◽  
Ceramic Water Filters ◽  
Removal Efficiencies ◽  
Reductive Atmosphere ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Water Filters

Household-based water treatment (HWT) is increasingly being promoted to improve water quality and, therefore, health status in low-income countries. Ceramic water filters (CWFs) are used in many regions as sustainable HWT and have been proven to meet World Health Organization (WHO) microbiological performance targets for bacterial removal (2–4 log); however, the described viral removal efficiencies are insufficient to significantly reduce the associated risk of viral infection. With the objective of improving the viral removal efficiencies of ceramic water filters, new prototypes with different oxide compositions and firing atmospheres have been developed and evaluated. For removal efficiencies human adenoviruses, MS2 bacteriophage and Escherichia coli were quantified in all prototypes. A new model of CWF that was fired in a reductive atmosphere presented virus and bacteria removal efficiencies greater than 3.0 log and 2.5 log, respectively, which would fulfill the viral targets that are recommended by the WHO. Ceramic characterization of the selected filters, which were fired in a reductive atmosphere, showed that a larger specific surface area than those of control filters and higher fraction of a positive Z-potential fraction are the most likely explanations for this increase in virus removal.

A novel pyrene based highly selective reversible fluorescent-colorimetric sensor for the rapid detection of Cu2+ ions: application in bio-imaging

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1063-1073 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anupam Ghorai ◽  
Jahangir Mondal ◽  
Amit Kumar Manna ◽  
Shubhamoy Chowdhury ◽  
Goutam K. Patra
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Rapid Detection ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Colorimetric Sensor ◽  
World Health ◽  
Selective Detection ◽  
Imaging Methods ◽  
The World ◽  
Bio Imaging ◽  
Health Organization

A simple, low-cost pyrene derivative containing a benzilmonohydrazone moiety has been exploited for the selective detection of Cu2+ by colorimetric, absorption, emission and bio-imaging methods. The sensitivity of the fluorescence based assay is 7.8 nM for Cu2+, which is far below the limit mentioned in the World Health Organization.

HIV in Resource-Limited Settings

2019 ◽  
pp. 263-298
Author(s):  
John G. Bartlett ◽  
Robert R. Redfield ◽  
Paul A. Pham
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Opportunistic Infections ◽  
World Health ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Who Guidelines ◽  
Resource Limited Settings ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Delivery Models

Abstract: This chapter reviews the diagnosis, assessment, testing, and treatment of HIV in resource-limited settings around the world. The chapter covers the current status of the HIV pandemic, diagnosis of HIV (i.e., who to test), HIV testing, HIV diagnostic tests, World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and treatment recommendations, monitoring ART efficacy and toxicity, treatment and prophylaxis of opportunistic infections and other comorbid conditions, treatment of tuberculosis and cryptococcal meningitis, co-trimoxazole prophylaxis, HIV vaccines, differentiated service delivery models of HIV care, important global trials, and further recommended reading.

scholarly journals Simple Paper-Based Test for Measuring Blood Hemoglobin Concentration in Resource-Limited Settings

2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (10) ◽  
pp. 1506-1513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoxi Yang ◽  
Nathaniel Z Piety ◽  
Seth M Vignes ◽  
Melody S Benton ◽  
Julie Kanter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Hemoglobin Concentration ◽  
Comparison Method ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Small Samples ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Resource Limited Settings ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
Oxygen Carrying Capacity

BACKGROUND The measurement of hemoglobin concentration ([Hb]) is performed routinely as a part of a complete blood cell count to evaluate the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood. Devices currently available to physicians and clinical laboratories for measuring [Hb] are accurate, operate on small samples, and provide results rapidly, but may be prohibitively expensive for resource-limited settings. The unavailability of accurate but inexpensive diagnostic tools often precludes proper diagnosis of anemia in low-income developing countries. Therefore, we developed a simple paper-based assay for measuring [Hb]. METHODS A 20-μL droplet of a mixture of blood and Drabkin reagent was deposited onto patterned chromatography paper. The resulting blood stain was digitized with a portable scanner and analyzed. The mean color intensity of the blood stain was used to quantify [Hb]. We compared the performance of the paper-based Hb assay with a hematology analyzer (comparison method) using blood samples from 54 subjects. RESULTS The values of [Hb] measured by the paper-based assay and the comparison method were highly correlated (R2 = 0.9598); the standard deviation of the difference between the two measurements was 0.62 g/dL. The assay was accurate within 1 g/dL 90.7% of the time, overestimating [Hb] by ≥1 g/dL in 1.9% and underestimating [Hb] by ≥1 g/dL in 7.4% of the subjects. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates the feasibility of the paper-based Hb assay. This simple, low-cost test should be useful for diagnosing anemia in resource-limited settings, particularly in the context of care for malaria, HIV, and sickle cell disease patients in sub-Saharan Africa.

scholarly journals Acridine-Based Antimalarials—From the Very First Synthetic Antimalarial to Recent Developments

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 600
Author(s):  
Mélanie Fonte ◽  
Natália Tassi ◽  
Paula Gomes ◽  
Cátia Teixeira
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Antimalarial Drugs ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cost Strategy ◽  
The World ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Low Cost Strategy ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Emergence Of Resistance ◽  
Artemisinin Combination Therapies

Malaria is among the deadliest infectious diseases in the world caused by Plasmodium parasites. Due to the high complexity of the parasite’s life cycle, we partly depend on antimalarial drugs to fight this disease. However, the emergence of resistance, mainly by Plasmodium falciparum, has dethroned most of the antimalarials developed to date. Given recent reports of resistance to artemisinin combination therapies, first-line treatment currently recommended by the World Health Organization, in Western Cambodia and across the Greater Mekong sub-region, it seems very likely that artemisinin and its derivatives will follow the same path of other antimalarial drugs. Consequently, novel, safe and efficient antimalarial drugs are urgently needed. One fast and low-cost strategy to accelerate antimalarial development is by recycling classical pharmacophores. Quinacrine, an acridine-based compound and the first clinically tested synthetic antimalarial drug with potent blood schizonticide but serious side effects, has attracted attention due to its broad spectrum of biological activity. In this sense, the present review will focus on efforts made in the last 20 years for the development of more efficient, safer and affordable antimalarial compounds, through recycling the classical quinacrine drug.

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