Giovanni Battista Grassi (1854-1925): a forgotten Italian scholar and his fundamental studies on malaria

A century ago, on May 4, 1925, an Italian doctor, zoologist, botanist, and entomologist called Giovanni Battista Grassi (1854-1925) died in Rome. Grassi was known especially for his studies on malaria, and he was one of the scholars who created the “Italian school of malariology” which played a critical role in the study and prevention of malaria. At that time malaria was a main problem in the colonies for the military. In the tropics malaria is a common disease that causes high fever and other symptoms. When the French chemist Louis Pasteur published his germ theory in the 1860s, scientists began to consider that an organism, might be responsible for the malaria disease and the breakthrough came in 1880 with a French army surgeon called Alphonse Laveran (1845-1922). By the middle of the 19th century, it was therefore clear that many diseases are caused by microorganisms, and several scholars began to assume that also malaria was caused by a bacterium. Laveran recognized the parasite group that caused the infection in human beings, however his studies were challenged. He after examining blood from people infected with malaria, (1889) was able to absolutely show that malaria is caused by another type of single-celled organism, a protozoan of the Plasmodium family, which attacks red blood cells. Laveran also identified other single-celled parasites that cause other diseases. In fact, there are four types of malarial infection caused by four species of parasite plasmodium. In 1898 Grassi began a large study that represented a turning point in the study and treatment of the disease. With the current manuscript, in addition to recalling some of the main and well-known steps in the historical evolution of this fearsome, dangerous, and insidious infectious disease, we believe it’s important to remember the scientific personality of this Italian scholar. The scientist Grassi is to be noted among the protagonists in the view of history of medicine and zoology between the 19th and 20th centuries, mainly because of his famous research, developed by a group of scholars, which led to the exact identification of the vector of human malaria

Delivering physical rehabilitation services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran: Common challenges and potential solutions for future pandemics: Physical rehabilitation services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran

The COVID-19 pandemic affected people with disabilities in different aspects, including their access to rehabilitation. Despite a significant global surge in the need for physical rehabilitation, it has not been prioritized and is under-resourced, even in the non-COVID era, in many countries. This study aimed to explore the challenges of delivering physical rehabilitation services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran and potential solutions to these challenges. This qualitative study was done using a thematic approach from November 2023 to March 2024 in Iran. 45 rehabilitation professionals and faculty members from three fields—physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and orthotics and prosthetics—were interviewed in a semi-structured fashion. Data analysis was done using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis approach. The five control knobs (organization, regulation, financing, payment, and behavior) were used to study the challenges and proposed solutions. The main identified challenges included Iran's healthcare system's lack of preparedness, deficient infrastructure, limited remote rehabilitation options, restriction of in-person visits, lack of clinical guidelines, ambiguous pricing for telerehabilitation, financial hardships stemming from the pandemic, insufficient government support, reliance on out-of-pocket, patients' reluctance to pay for online services, delayed compensation for rehabilitation professionals, mental distress experienced by patients and service providers, resistance to new service modalities, and inadequate digital literacy. The key solutions included strengthening telerehabilitation infrastructure, developing clear clinical guidelines, increasing government financial support, improving payment structures, and fostering behavioral changes through increased awareness. The findings of this study underscore the importance of proactive planning, intersectoral collaboration, and the integration of rehabilitation services within the healthcare framework. The suggested solutions can inform policymakers to enhance the preparedness and responsiveness of health systems to future crises

Hepatitis C Virus Antibodies and HCV-RNA Detection in Hemodialysis Centres in Cameroon: Prevalence and Incidence Rate.

Background: Hemodialysis (HD) is the world's most prevalent kidney replacement therapy for end-stage renal disease patients. Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) is highly prevalent in patients undergoing HD. There are no reports of the epidemiology of HCV viremia and HCV incidence rate based on prospective studies in HD units in Cameroon. This study evaluated the prevalence and incidence rate of HCV based on anti-HCV antibody (Ab) and HCV-RNA detection. Methods: We conducted a controlled prospective study in three hemodialysis centers in Cameroon, from October 2021 to January 2023. The HEXAGON HCV rapid kit was used to detect anti-HCV Ab, and HCV-RNA was searched using the Xpert® HCV Viral Load technology. We performed a Wilcoxon test and the chi-square or Fisher exact test in statistical analyses. Results: A total of 205 HD patients were enrolled with a mean age of 47.7±14.5 years and median hemodialysis duration of 36 months (IQR: 12-72). Anti-HCV Ab was positive in 59 [28.8% (95% CI: 22.7–35.5)] patients, and in 42 [71.2% (95% CI: 57.9–82.2)] of them, HCV-RNA was detected. A total of 125 patients with a negative status at the start of the study (M0) were prospectively followed-up. After seven months (M7), 15 [12%; 95% CI: 06.9–19.)] became HCV positive, with an incidence rate of 20.6 cases per 100 patients-years. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of HCV infection and HCV incidence rate in this study. Strategies aimed at decreasing HCV infection in HD centers in Cameroon are urgently needed

Global Disparities in Colorectal Cancer: Unveiling the Present Landscape of Incidence and Mortality Rates, Analyzing Geographical Variances, and Assessing the Human Development Index

Background: Colorectal cancer poses a major global health threat, with increasing incidence and mortality rates worldwide. This study examined the incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer globally in 2020 and explored the relationship with the Human Development Index (HDI). Material and methods: This research utilizes data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer's (IARC) GLOBOCAN project, an esteemed source of up-to-date international cancer statistics. Age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR) and age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) per 100,000 individuals were calculated. The association between ASIR, ASMR, and the HDI was analyzed using Pearson correlation, considering a statistical significance threshold of P<0.05. Results: In 2020, a total of 1,931,590 new colorectal cancer cases were recorded globally, with a male predominance of 55.18%. The global colorectal cancer ASIR was 19.5 per 100000 (23.4 in males, 16.2 in females). Furthermore, there were 935,173 colorectal cancer-related mortality, with males accounting for 55.13%. The overall colorectal cancer ASMR was 9 (11 in males, 7.2 in females). A strong positive correlation emerged between ASIR and ASMR (0.895, P≤0.001), HDI (0.794, P≤0.001), life expectancy (0.724, P≤0.001), education (0.743, P≤0.001), and income (0.706, P≤0.001). Similarly, positive correlations were also found between ASMR and HDI (0.638, P≤0.001), life expectancy (0.569, P≤0.001), education (0.631, P≤0.001), and income (0.512, P≤0.001). Conclusion: This global analysis highlights rising colorectal cancer incidence and mortality as a major public health threat worldwide. The findings reveal a positive association between a country’s development level, as measured by HDI, and colorectal cancer incidence and mortality

Awareness of breast self-examination and understanding of breast cancer treatment options among female patients of Lahore, Pakistan: a cross-sectional study

Introduction. Breast cancer is a major worldwide health concern that affects women in both developed and developing nations. The purpose of the study is to assess Pakistani women with breast cancer’s present understanding of breast self-examination (BSE) as well as their choices for traditional and non-conventional breast cancer treatment options. Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out in two hospitals’ cancer departments as well as homoeopathic and nutritional clinics in Lahore, Pakistan. The data for the present study was collected from January to June 2023. Results. A total of 296 responses were obtained. The study findings showed that most participants had little knowledge about BSE and were using multiple treatment options without informing their healthcare provider. Conclusion. Breast cancer awareness is crucial for early detection, education about risk factors, and proactive fitness management. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) might cause problems when used with allopathic medicines, especially if healthcare professionals are not adequately informed about its concomitant use

The summer colonies: ‘custodians’ of the health of the young. Prophylaxis of infectious diseases and educational purposes in the reports of the school medical inspector Benedetto Barni (1893-1970) in the 1950s: The summer colonies: climatic-prophylactic colonies for children.

Starting from the 1950s, climatic-prophylactic colonies for children took on characteristics that were partly different from those of their predecessors. From their origins until the years immediately following the Second World War, these facilities had the stated aims of education, prevention and cure for poor and malnourished children. In the mid-20th century, however, a change took place; the colonies no longer catered exclusively for the less privileged and most fragile, but rather for an economically and culturally heterogeneous population, while still maintaining the purpose of health prevention and promotion in childhood and adolescence. The number of agencies involved in organizing the colonies increased, and large companies also participated. Similarly, the annual number of children who spent a period of time in the colonies grew steadily, owing to intense migration towards the cities, increased female employment and holiday closures of large factories during the month of August.  The authors recount this historical transition on the basis of the experience of the Sienese doctor Benedetto Barni (1893-1970) and the unpublished reports that he produced during his time as a school medical inspector. Against the backdrop of the teaching of the great hygienist and initiator of preventive medicine Achille Sclavo, who was Benedetto Barni's mentor, these reports testify to an everyday activity made up of real contacts with the people and with the territory; this enabled Barni to understand the social and healthcare problems facing the country and to try to work out a solution to them from the standpoint of preventative medicine

Quality of Life and non-motor symptoms Improvement in Parkinson's Disease through Nutritional Intervention: A Case Study : Weancare Parkinson

Summary of the paper: The text discusses the significant impact of non-motor symptoms on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), emphasizing the role of nutritional status. The Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NNMS) evaluates QoL across various domains, including nutrition, which is crucial due to common issues like dysphagia leading to malnutrition and sarcopenia. These nutritional problems exacerbate motor deficits by reducing muscle mass and energy levels. Addressing dysphagia through targeted nutritional programs is essential for improving clinical outcomes and patients' QoL. A case study involving an 84-year-old PD patient with dysphagia and the Tower of Pisa Syndrome demonstrated the effectiveness of the 'Weancare' program. Initial assessments indicated poor nutritional status. Post-intervention, the program showed significant improvement in the patient’s non-motor symptoms and overall QoL, highlighting a better mealtime experience and clinical healt

Exploring the pathway toward the reduction of paediatric seasonal influenza burden: school-based vaccination and surveillance: School-based influenza vaccination and surveillance

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Performance-based payment systems for general practitioners and specialists in selected countries: a comparative study

Context: due to the growing increase in the needs of health systems in the field of financial and human resources management, as well as the challenges related to enhancing the quality of health care, performance-based payment has been the subject of attention by health and welfare policymakers. This study aimed to compare the components of performance-based payment in selected countries. Methods: This comparative study was conducted in 2021. The search was performed in two search engines (Google Scholar and Google), three databases (Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science), and the websites of WHO and the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the selected countries. The selection of countries was based on three measures: the type of health insurance system, the development of the performance-based payment system, and the state of economic development of the countries. Finally, England, Taiwan, United States of America, Canada, Germany, Turkey, France, and Iran were included in this study. The findings were organized using comparative analysis tables. The general framework of performance-based payment systems, including goals, activities and actions, people involved in the program, and the way of encouraging and punishing, was used for analysis. Results: The findings of the study showed that in most of the programs, aspect of clinical quality has the highest weight. Other dimensions include patient experience and satisfaction, physician financial performance, and patients’ access to services. In most programs, various risk adjustment methods such as exception reporting, combined payments, payment according to demographic characteristics, were used to reduce provider risk, and clinical service providers were actively involved in the program design. In several programs incentive payments were made at the group level. The method of payment in several programs was also staggered and progressive. Conclusion: In general, developed countries have formal performance-based payment systems with different mechanisms. On the other hand, in most developing countries, scattered measures have been taken in this field. Despite the widespread use of performance-based payment programs in most countries, these programs face limitations and shortcomings. By linking incentives to individual, team, and organizational performance, a performance-based payment program can increase clinicians’ morale capacity, improve teamwork, and create integrated health care