Molecular Characterization of Fungal Colonization on the Provox™ Tracheoesophageal Voice Prosthesis in Post Laryngec-tomy Patients

Background: Tracheoesophageal voice prostheses (TVPs) have been the gold standard in rehabilitation, after laryngectomy, producing faster and premier voicing towards esophageal speech. Fungal colonization shortens the device’s lifetime and leads to prosthesis dysfunction, leakage, and subsequent respiratory infection. Therefore, in the current study, we aimed to investigate the fungal colonization patterns and to propose prophylactic measures that shall increase the longevity of voice prosthesis. Methods: Failed TVPs were removed - due to leakage and/or aspiration - from 66 post laryngectomy patients and examined. They were referred to Amiralam and Rasoul Hospital, the main centers of Ear, Nose, and Throat in Tehran, Iran from April 2018 to January 2020. Fungal colonization patterns were assessed using DNA sequencing techniques. Furthermore, the susceptibility to fluconazole, amphotericin B, nystatin, and white vinegar was evaluated according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Results: Resident fungal species from the upper airways colonized all the 66 TVPs (100%). Diabetes (31%) and smoking (98%) were the predominant underlying disease and predisposing factors, respectively. Among the 79 fungal agents isolated from the 66 TVPs, Candida glabrata (n=25, 31.7%) was the most common. A significant reduction in minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were observed for white vinegar when used alone (P<0.05). Conclusion: White vinegar at a very low concentration could decrease the amount of fungal colonization on TVPs without any adverse effects; its wide accessibility and affordability ensure a decrease in the overall health cost.

Somatic status of adolescent girls with gynecological disorders born with low and excessive weight

In modern conditions, health problems (somatic, reproductive, mental) of adolescent girls occupy a special place in the health care system, as a reserve in reducing maternal and infant mortality, maintaining the fertility of the expectant mother. The aim. To study the frequency and character of extragenital diseases of adolescent girls with gynecological pathology, born with low and excessive body weight. Materials and methods. The project design is a population-based prospective cohort study. To achieve the goal and the implementation of the tasks, a prospective examination of girls and adolescent girls born with deficiency or excess body weight was carried out. The sample size was 77 people. Additionally, statistical processing was carried out using the Excell software. Results. Thus, the study of somatic health indicates its deterioration in the groups of girls born with polar values ​​of body weight. In groups 1 and 3, infectious diseases were identified, which can serve as a starting point in the development of reproductive system disorders. In girls of group 1, mumps prevailed (20.0%), which could cause damage to the follicular apparatus, while in group 3, girls were more likely to have influenza (25.8%), the virus of which has a damaging effect not only on the structure of the ovaries, but also on endometrium. Conclusions. Comparative analysis of the structure of somatic morbidity made it possible to identify the most significant pathology characteristic of each of the groups. Girls born with a large body weight have an increased risk of endocrine pathology. In girls born with low body weight, somatic diseases associated with manifestations of diseases of the musculoskeletal system prevail. This dictates the need to single out girls born with polar values ​​of body weight in the risk group for the development of somatic pathology and requires complex therapeutic and prophylactic measures.

Reasons in favour of universal vaccination campaign against COVID-19 in the pediatric population

Background Despite the growing evidence of the extreme efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in adults and the elderly, the administration of the same prophylactic measures to pediatric subjects is debated by some parents and by a number of researchers. The aim of this manuscript is to explain the reasons for overcoming hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccination in children and adolescents and to highlight the importance of universal COVID-19 vaccination in the pediatric population. Main findings Recent epidemiological data suggest that the risk that a child with COVID-19 is hospitalized or admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit is greater than initially thought. Children may also suffer from long COVID and school closure because of COVID-19 can cause relevant mental health problems in the pediatric population. Placebo-controlled, observer-blinded, clinical trials showed appropriate efficacy, safety and tolerability of authorized mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in children and adolescents 12–17 years old. Vaccination in children younger than 12 years of age will allow further benefits . Conclusions COVID-19 vaccine administration seems mandatory in all the children and adolescents because of COVID-19 related complications as well as the efficacy, safety and tolerability of COVID-19 vaccines in this population. Due to the recent approval of COVID-9 vaccines for children 5–10 years old, it is desirable that vaccine opponents can understand how important is the universal immunization against COVID-19 for the pediatric subjects.

Revisiting prophylaxis of homeopathic interventions in COVID 19

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused by novel beta-coronavirus has emerged as a cause of coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) declared by Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Korean oriental medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and Indian systems of medicine known as AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Sowa-Rigpa and Homeopathy) had implemented various prophylactic measures and interim treatment guidelines in prevention and treatment for COVID -19 cases. However, even though different approaches were implemented to break the epidemic chain, we have not reached herd effect or herd immunity in the Indian population. Therefore, in this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a specific study on immune markers of IL-6 (Interleukin-6), D-Dimer, Ferritine, CRP (C-reactive protein) with SARS CoV-2 specific IgG & IgM antibodies need to be investigated for generating hard-core evidence for homeoprophylaxis in terms of immunity response. Therefore, there seems to be a need to revisit the program of homeoprophylaxis in the COVID -19 pandemic.

Cancer Patients’ Experiences and Understanding of Venous Thromboembolism

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE), comprising deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), presents an extra challenge in the management of patients with cancer, given the increase in morbidity and mortality in having both conditions. Cancer patients are well known to have a high risk of VTE; particularly; those who have had major surgery, chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy. These groups of patients need to understand the risk factors and the prophylactic measures to prevent developing VTE. This review aims to provide an overview of the literature on cancer patients’ understanding of VTE and their experiences of cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT). Method: A scoping review was carried map the literature and explore the types of evidence available. A structured electronic search was conducted in Embase, Scopus and Medline in June 2020. All titles and abstracts from the search were evaluated independently by two reviewers and disagreements were resolved by a third arbitrator. Eligible papers were qualitative studies and reviews of adult patients' experience of cancer-associated thrombosis. Results: Ten articles met the inclusion criteria, nine primary qualitative studies and one systematic review that explored cancer patients’ experiences of living with CAT. Participants had various cancer types. Most had advanced disease and were receiving palliative care. Four major themes emerged from the data: Lack of meaningful information on CAT, cancer patients unaware of signs and symptoms of VTE, limited awareness of CAT amongst HCPs and acceptability of anticoagulant. Conclusion: All the studies explored patients’ experience of VTE in the cancer context, and all included studies showed that participants had limited information about VTE, VTE risk and VTEs’ signs and symptoms. However, no qualitative studies explored patients' understanding of VTE in prophylactic settings in high-risk cancer patients.

Professional competence of health educators with special consideration of physiotherapists

Health education consists in developing human knowledge, attitudes and skills and abilities, as well as in affecting human conduct in order to maintain or improve their state of health, whereas health promotion comprises propagation of a fit and healthy lifestyle including implementation of some prophylactic measures preventing the development of complaints, illnesses or diseases. Physiotherapists, who become health educators, play a significant role in attaining those objectives through undertaking some preventive measures; they also play a key part in encouraging their clients/patients to change their lifestyle and implement pro-health attitude towards life.

ДОСВІД ВИКОРИСТАННЯ ШКАЛИ ЗАГАЛЬНОЇ ОЦІНКИ ФУНКЦІОНУВАННЯ ДЛЯ ДІАГНОСТИКИ І ПЛАНУВАННЯ ПСИХОТЕРАПІЇ В НАРКОЛОГІЧНІЙ ПРАКТИЦІ

Significant consequences of alcohol abuse give grounds to classify alcohol dependence as a medical and social pathology that poses a danger to society. The number of patients registered in medical dispensaries in Ukraine reaches 1 million. Recurrences of the disease during the year after treatment are observed in 60-75% of patients with alcohol dependence. The problem is exacerbated by the medical and social consequences of alcohol abuse in the form of increased mental and physical illness, trauma, suicide attempts and aggressive behavior, criminal acts. This renders the search for new therapeutic approaches to the treatment of alcohol dependence relevant. The aim of the study was to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of using the global assessment of functioning scale (GAFS) to diagnose the dynamics of social functioning of patients with alcohol dependence. The study of the dynamics in the level of general functioning with the use of GAFS in the main and control groups yielded the following results. There was a significant increase in psychological, social and professional functioning in 74.0% of patients in whom a system of treatment and prophylactic measures was applied as compared to 46.7% of patients in the comparison group (χ2 = 6.062, p <0.05). A follow-up study showed that the number of persistent remissions was by 2 times higher in the main group than in the comparison group, 54.0% and 23.3%, respectively (p <0.001).

Prevalence of Swine Nematodes in Moscow, Russia

To continue the fight against pig helminthiasis, a detailed analysis of the current prevalence of nematodes in these productive animals is required. The assessment of the material after the technological slaughter of pigs kept in the Moscow region revealed the presence of parasitization in their intestines of four nematodes (Ascaris suum, Metastrongylus spp., Trichocephalus spp., Strongyloides spp.) In the form of monoinvasion and any combination thereof. The total infestation of pigs with intestinal nematodes was 55.24%. Trichocytic invasion (Trichocephalus spp.) Occurred in pigs most often (23.77%), ascarous invasion (Ascaris suum) reached 22.38%, strongyloid invasion (Strongyloides spp.) Was noted in 9.09% of cases, metastrongylous (Metastrongylus spp.) was present in 1.75% of cases. In conditions of an increase in the severity of monoinvasion, the size of helminth eggs decreased in Trichuris: size in length by 5.9%, size in width by 7.4%, in Ascaris: length by 4.9%, width by 4.6%, in strongulata eggs a decrease in size is also noted. In the case of mixed Ascaris-Metastrongylous invasion, there was a clear antagonistic relationship, manifested in a decrease in the size of Ascaris eggs. The size of the eggs of Trichuris in the case of an invasion mixed with Ascaris decreased, which is apparently associated with the development of antagonism between them. Comparative analysis of information on the prevalence of nematodes in pigs in farms of the Moscow region and their size can help to increase the effectiveness of treatment and prophylactic measures against helminthiasis, and can be taken into account in the course of further examination of pigs in the Moscow.

Microbial Communities Associated With Stunted Growth Syndrome In Penaeus Vannamei Farming

Purpose: Stunted/slow growth syndrome is one of the yield-limiting diseases in Penaeus vannamei farming. Limited information is available on the aetiology of this condition, which needs to be studied to devise prophylactic measures to minimise the production losses. Amongst the factors that influence this condition, microbial communities in the growing environment play an important role. This study aimed at understanding major microbial associations of affected and healthy pond waters through shotgun metagenomics.Method: The water samples were filtered through vacuum filtration to extract suspended microbes. Subsequently, DNA was isolated from the filtrate using PowerSoil® DNA Isolation Kit. Libraries prepared from isolated DNA were sequenced using the shotgun metagenomic method on the Illumina HiSeq platform. The microbial profiling and their functional prediction of the shotgun metagenome sequences were carried out using stand-alone versions of Kaiju, OmicsBox respectively. Results: The taxonomic classification results revealed that species of Oceanospirillum, and vibrio were high in the disease sample, while Rhodobacteraceae bacterium and Neptunomonas were high in the healthy sample. The alpha diversity analysis showed slightly higher diversity in the healthy sample compared to the disease infected. The taxonomic biomarkers for healthy and infected states reported in previous studies were also observed in this study. The major functional associations of both the healthy and infected groups include amino acid transport and metabolism, cell wall/membrane/envelope biogenesis, and energy production and conversion. Conclusion: The study identified major taxonomical and functional associations of ponds affected and unaffected with stunted growth syndrome. These associations significantly varied between the samples, indicating dysbiosis of the microbial profiles in the pond waters. This dysbiosis could be a potential cause for the manifestation of stunted growth syndrome. Microbial associations along with other pond environmental factors need to be further explored for an in-depth understanding of stunted growth syndrome.

Sanitary practices associated with animal welfare in the control of mastitis in the dairy herd

Agricultural practices are a powerful tool with health management contributing to the improved performance of production of animal welfare. The study aimed to verify that farming practices are important tools in the control of bovine mastitis and the degree of knowledge of the producers with respect to the practices. Guided visits were carried out the rural properties, when they were distributed educational materials and tools, made from recyclable material, used in the management of sanitary practices related to animal welfare. To evaluate the physiological profile were collected biological samples such as: blood, feces and milk, and for assessing the sanity and animal welfare were used a questionnaire. Blind 20 cows were selected for a total of 79 rooms of which breast; 36 rooms were negative to the CMT, but 12 were of these were positive to Staphylococcus and microbiology microorganism of higher occurrence. Animal welfare was compromised by the incidence of Subclinical Mastitis, infestation of flies and the absence of prophylactic measures. It is concluded that the use of good agricultural practices is a suitable tool associated with the animal welfare and important in the identification of bovine mastitis, and a lack of information and knowledge regarding best practices, especially in relation to preventive management.