Risk factors and knowledge of Brucella infection in camels, attitudes and practices of camel handlers in Katsina State, Nigeria

The study was conducted to determine the risk factors to brucellosis in one-humped (Dromedary) camels and to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of camel handlers to Brucellosis in Katsina State, Nigeria. Camels in herds and those brought to the abattoir for slaughter in the north and central senatorial districts of Katsina State were sampled for the study. Structured questionnaires were administered to determine knowledge, attitude and practices of camel handlers to camel brucellosis in Katsina state, Nigeria Modified Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and Serum Agglutination Test (SAT) with EDTA were used as screening and standard tests respectively. Out of a total of 980 camel sera tested, 11.2% and 10.5% were positive with RBPT and SAT, respectively. Female had OD 1.758 (95% CI = 1.157 – 2.669, p = 0.008) more chances of getting infected than males camels. There was statistical significant association (ᵡ2= 7.189, p = 0.007) observed in the prevalence rates in favour of females. It was also observed that camels of age group 16-20 years showed highest prevalence to brucellosis. There was statistical significant association (ᵡ2 = 13.602, p = 0.009) observed in the prevalence rates according to age. It was determined that there is very poor knowledge of camel brucellosis amongst stakeholders as a result they had a "lassez faire" attitude towards the disease and no practices towards prevention of infection either to them or their animals. There is the need to carry out awareness campaigns to enlighten camel owners, herdsmen, abattoir staff about the dangers of poor hygiene during meat and milk processing, the importance of use of protective clothing when carrying out these operations and the dangers of zoonotic diseases and the dangers of consumption of unpasteurized camel milk and milk products, the public health significance of the brucellosis and that there is the need to develop a strategic plan to decrease spread of brucellosis in the study area.Keywords: Brucella, Seroprevalence, Camels, KAP, Risk Factor

Impaired health-related quality of life in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: a cross-sectional analysis from the COVAD-2 e-survey

Objectives To investigate health-related quality of life in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) compared with those with non-IIM autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs), non-rheumatic autoimmune diseases (nrAIDs) and without autoimmune diseases (controls) using Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) instrument data obtained from the second COVID-19 vaccination in autoimmune disease (COVAD-2) e-survey database. Methods Demographics, diagnosis, comorbidities, disease activity, treatments and PROMIS instrument data were analysed. Primary outcomes were PROMIS Global Physical Health (GPH) and Global Mental Health (GMH) scores. Factors affecting GPH and GMH scores in IIMs were identified using multivariable regression analysis. Results We analysed responses from 1582 IIM, 4700 non-IIM AIRD and 545 nrAID patients and 3675 controls gathered through 23 May 2022. The median GPH scores were the lowest in IIM and non-IIM AIRD patients {13 [interquartile range (IQR) 10–15] IIMs vs 13 [11–15] non-IIM AIRDs vs 15 [13–17] nrAIDs vs 17 [15–18] controls, P < 0.001}. The median GMH scores in IIM patients were also significantly lower compared with those without autoimmune diseases [13 (IQR 10–15) IIMs vs 15 (13–17) controls, P < 0.001]. Inclusion body myositis, comorbidities, active disease and glucocorticoid use were the determinants of lower GPH scores, whereas overlap myositis, interstitial lung disease, depression, active disease, lower PROMIS Physical Function 10a and higher PROMIS Fatigue 4a scores were associated with lower GMH scores in IIM patients. Conclusion Both physical and mental health are significantly impaired in IIM patients, particularly in those with comorbidities and increased fatigue, emphasizing the importance of patient-reported experiences and optimized multidisciplinary care to enhance well-being in people with IIMs

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Efficacy trial of three pour-on acaricides on external parasites of cattle in Zaria, Nigeria

External parasites cause adverse effects on livestock production globally. In a study to determine the efficacy of three acaricides, fifteen pastoralist herds were randomly selected. Each herd had a group with eight cattle and three other groups with four. All animals were screened for external parasites pre-acaricide application. Groups 1, 2 and 3 were assigned to 1% Fipronil (Topline®), 0.5% Ivermectin and 5% Cypermethrin, respectively. Group 4 animals were untreated control. Observation of earmarked animals was twice weekly for seven weeks. Results showed that Musca domestica and Stomoxys sp died instantly and were repelled from herds for four weeks. No new tick attachment on experimental animals four weeks post application. Ticks were absent in Group 1 six weeks post application. Lice died 3 days post application in all experimental groups, while the animal with demodecocis in Group 1 had regression of lesions week 2 post application. Hair re-growth was observed in affected animals by week 4. Only a meager regression of demodecocislessions was observed in animals in other groups. The study demonstrated that the three acaricides had both therapeutic and prophylactic effects on external parasites, but Fipronil (Topline®) had longer prophylactic and better curative effects than the other two acaricides. It is, therefore, recommended that Fipronil (Topline®) should be reliably used for the control of external parasite in cattle because of its broader spectrum of activity and longer lasting effect.Keywords: Efficacy; Topline®; external parasites, Nigeri

Rarefaction after fast laser heating of a thin metal film on a glass mount,

We determine a way to simulate large objects [2 μm × 2 μm × (0.1+0.3) μm containing ∼ 100 · 109 atoms] using much smaller ones (containing ∼ 0.01 · 109 atoms) by MD. Typical experiments employ large objects. Here the film thickness is 0.1 μm, while the glass layer thickness, which influences the film dynamics during delamination, is 0.3 μm. Recall that a deficit of computer resources for description of a real situation is the commonly encountered problem in the MD simulations

Coenzyme Q10 deficiencies in neuromuscular diseases

páginas, 2 figuras, 1 tabla. Editado por Carmen Espinós, Vicente Felipo y Francesc Palau.Coenzyme Q (CoQ) is an esssential component of the respiratory chain but also participates in other mitochondrial functions such as regulation of the transition pore and uncoupling proteins. Furthermore, this compound is a specific substrate for enzymes of the fatty acids β-oxidation pathway and pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis. Furthermore, CoQ is an antioxidant that acts in all cellular membranes and lipoproteins. A complex of a least ten nuclear (COQ) genes encoded proteins synthesis CoQ but its regulation is unknown. Since 1989, a growing number of patients with multsystemic mitochondrial disorders and neuromuscular disorders showing deficiencies of CoQ have been identified. CoQ deficiency caused by mutation(s) in any of the COQ genes in designated primary deficiency. Other patients have displayed other genetic defects independent on the CoQ biosynthesis pathway, and are considered to have secondary deficiencies. This review updates the clinical and molecular aspects of both types of CoQ deficiencies and proposes new approaches to understanding their molecular bases.This work has been partially supported by the European Union contract LSHB-CT-2004-005151 and the NIH grant 1R01HD057543-01.Peer reviewe

A Review on Adaptive Methods for Structural Control

Adaptive control algorithms are widely used in many technical fields like aeronautics and robotics for controlling systems whose characteristics vary with time or are uncertain. In the last decades, with the diffusion of active and semiactive control applications in civil engineering, adaptive methods started to be adopted for structural control. This paper provides an up-to-date survey on strategies currently available for adaptive control and a literature overview of solutions examined until today for structural applications

COVID-19 vaccine safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding in women with autoimmune diseases: results from the COVAD study

Objectives We investigated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine safety in pregnant and breastfeeding women with autoimmune diseases (AID) in the COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases (COVAD) study. Methods Delayed-onset (>7 days) vaccine-related adverse events (AE), disease flares and AID-related treatment modifications were analysed upon diagnosis of AID vs healthy controls (HC) and the pregnancy/breastfeeding status at the time of at least one dose of vaccine. Results Among the 9201 participants to the self-administered online survey, 6787 (73.8%) were women. Forty pregnant and 52 breastfeeding patients with AID were identified, of whom the majority had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine (100% and 96.2%, respectively). AE were reported significantly more frequently in pregnant than in non-pregnant patients (overall AE 45% vs 26%, P = 0.01; minor AE 40% vs 25.9%, P = 0.03; major AE 17.5% vs 4.6%, P < 0.01), but no difference was found in comparison with pregnant HC. No difference was observed between breastfeeding patients and HC with respect to AE. Post-vaccination disease flares were reported by 17.5% of pregnant and 20% of breastfeeding patients, and by 18.3% of age- and disease-matched non-pregnant and non-breastfeeding patients (n = 262). All pregnant/breastfeeding patients who experienced a disease flare were managed with glucocorticoids; 28.6% and 20% of them required initiation or change in immunosuppressants, respectively. Conclusion This study provides reassuring insights into the safety of COVID-19 vaccines administered to women with AID during the gestational and post-partum periods, helping overcome hesitant attitudes, as the benefits for the mother and for the fetus by passive immunization appear to outweigh potential risks