Serological diagnostics of Lyme borreliosis:comparison of assays in twelve clinical laboratories in Northern Europe

Lyme borreliosis (LB), caused by spirochetes belonging to the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, is the most common tick-borne infection in Europe. Laboratory diagnosis of LB is mainly based on the patients' medical history, clinical signs and symptoms in combination with detection of Borrelia-specific antibodies where indirect enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is the most widely used technique. The objective of the study was to evaluate and compare the diagnostic accuracy (sensitivities and specificities) of serological tests that are currently in use for diagnosis of LB in clinical laboratories in Northern Europe, by use of a large serum panel. The panel consisted of 195 serum samples from well-characterized and classified patients under investigation for clinically suspected LB (n = 59) including patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis, Lyme arthritis, acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans, erythema migrans or other diseases (n = 112). A total of 201 serum samples from healthy blood donors were also included. The panel (396 serum samples altogether) was sent to 12 clinical laboratories (using five different ELISA methods) as blinded for group affiliation and the laboratories were asked to perform serological analysis according to their routine procedure. The results from the study demonstrated high diagnostic concordance between the laboratories using the same diagnostic assay and lower diagnostic concordance between laboratories using different diagnostic assays. For IgG, the results were in general rather homogenous and showed an average sensitivity of 88% (range 85-91%) compared to IgM which showed lower average sensitivity of 59% (range 50-67%) and more heterogeneous results between assays and laboratories.</p

Current Practices and Prospects of Climate-Smart Agriculture in Democratic Republic of Congo: A Review

peer reviewedClimate-smart agriculture (CSA) is one of the innovative approaches for sustainably increasing the agricultural productivity, improving livelihoods and incomes of farmers, while at the same time improving resilience and contributing to climate change mitigation. In spite of the fact that there is neither explicit policy nor practices branded as CSA in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), farmers are utilizing an array of farming practices whose attributes meet the CSA criteria. However, the intensity, distribution, efficiency, and dynamics of use as well as the sources of these technologies are not sufficiently documented. Therefore, this review paper provides a comprehensive evidence of CSA-associated farming practices in DRC, public and private efforts to promote CSA practices, and the associated benefits accruing from the practices as deployed by farmers in the DRC. We find evidence of progress among farming communities in the use of practices that can be classified as CSA. Communities using these practices are building on the traditional knowledge systems and adaptation of introduced technologies to suit the local conditions. Reported returns on use of these practices are promising, pointing to their potential continued use into the future. While progressive returns on investment are reported, they are relatively lower than those reported from other areas in sub-Saharan Africa deploying similar approaches. We recommend for strategic support for capacity building at various levels, including public institutions for policy development and guidance, extension and community level to support uptake of technologies and higher education institutions for mainstreaming CSA into curricula and training a generation of CSA sensitive human resources

Niue Fakahoamotu Nukutuluea Motutefua Nukututaha: Critical discussions of Niue history in and beyond Aotearoa New Zealand

From publisher's website: Bringing together Niue scholars, creatives and thinkers from various disciplines and fields, this article is the culmination of two conference roundtables, a history panel, and multiple ongoing discussions about critically engaging with and contributing to Niue knowledge in academia. From different standpoints we each explore the vastness of Niue history through lenses that centre, privilege and uphold aga fakaNiue (Niue lifestyle, ways, culture) through cultural values and principles, tāoga (that which is treasured or prized), metaphor and approaches. Engaging in these spaces as tau tagata Niue (Niue people) is inevitably marked by Niue’s connections to Aotearoa and the wider Pacific. While our work may challenge dominant narratives by non-Niue people, we use this space to ask questions that are important to us and to the Niue communities we serve. What counts as Niue history? As tagata Niue how do we see ourselves in our academic and creative work? Who does Niue knowledge and history belong to? How do we make the places where Niue knowledge exists more accessible to the growing Niue populations in and beyond Aotearoa, whilst still maintaining strong connections to Niue? What is the place of Niue history in New Zealand history

Review of COVID-19 Re-Infection among Recovered Patients and Its Implication for Lung Health

COVID-19 infection has continued to pose a very serious health threat to mankind globally despite all efforts geared toward curbing its spread. More worrisome recently is the report from different parts of the world on the re-infection of those treated and recovered with COVID -19 patients thus making containment of the virus even more difficult. Of more worrisome is the fact that the lung, a vital human organ is a major site being attacked by the virus even on re-infection cases. If quick action is not taken early enough, it may lead to the outright death of the patient. A lung infection, (Pneumonia) caused by COVID-19 has been discovered to be having a stunning effect on hospital systems and killing COVID-19 patients silently and it occurs even as the patient is asymptomatic. This paper examines the reasons for re-infection, Lacuna in the reviewed literature with regards to PCR test results, the effect of re-infection on the lungs, and implication for patients&amp;rsquo; lung health. The papers summarized and concluded that it&amp;rsquo;s a fact that re-infection occurs among patients accompanied by mild or severe symptoms having far-reaching implications for the patient&amp;rsquo;s lung health. The paper recommends that the government at all levels should collaborate with WHO, CDC, and health policymakers to legally mandating, that every recovered patient should stay an additional 2weeks in the hospital for early detection of re-infection in order to avert any invasion and damage to the lungs thus ensuring lung health. Also, proper health education should be availed to the recovered patients to avoid any exposures or habits (different from the index disease) such as smoking that can pose dangers to the already fatigued lungs. </jats:p

Current Practices and Prospects of Climate-Smart Agriculture in Democratic Republic of Congo: A Review

peer reviewedClimate-smart agriculture (CSA) is one of the innovative approaches for sustainablyincreasing the agricultural productivity, improving livelihoods and incomes of farmers, while at thesame time improving resilience and contributing to climate change mitigation. In spite of the factthat there is neither explicit policy nor practices branded as CSA in Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC), farmers are utilizing an array of farming practices whose attributes meet the CSA criteria.However, the intensity, distribution, efficiency, and dynamics of use as well as the sources of thesetechnologies are not sufficiently documented. Therefore, this review paper provides a comprehensiveevidence of CSA-associated farming practices in DRC, public and private efforts to promote CSApractices, and the associated benefits accruing from the practices as deployed by farmers in theDRC. We find evidence of progress among farming communities in the use of practices that canbe classified as CSA. Communities using these practices are building on the traditional knowledgesystems and adaptation of introduced technologies to suit the local conditions. Reported returns onuse of these practices are promising, pointing to their potential continued use into the future. Whileprogressive returns on investment are reported, they are relatively lower than those reported fromother areas in sub-Saharan Africa deploying similar approaches. We recommend for strategic supportfor capacity building at various levels, including public institutions for policy development andguidance, extension and community level to support uptake of technologies and higher educationinstitutions for mainstreaming CSA into curricula and training a generation of CSA sensitive humanresources