Modelling for Taenia solium control strategies beyond 2020

The cestode Taenia solium is responsible for a considerable cross-sectoral health and economic burden due to human neurocysticercosis and porcine cysticercosis. The 2012 World Health Organization (WHO) roadmap for neglected tropical diseases called for the development of a validated strategy for control of T. solium; however, such a strategy is not yet available. In 2019, WHO launched a global consultation aimed at refining the post-2020 targets for control of T. solium for a new roadmap for neglected tropical diseases. In response, two groups working on taeniasis and cysticercosis mathematical models (cystiSim and EPICYST models), together with a range of other stakeholders organized a workshop to provide technical input to the WHO consultation and develop a research plan to support efforts to achieve the post-2020 targets. The workshop led to the formation of a collaboration, CystiTeam, which aims to tackle the population biology, transmission dynamics, epidemiology and control of T. solium through mathematical modelling approaches. In this paper, we outline developments in T. solium control and in particular the use of modelling to help achieve post-2020 targets for control of T. solium. We discuss the steps involved in improving confidence in the predictive capacities of existing mathematical and computational models on T. solium transmission, including model comparison, refinement, calibration and validation. Expanding the CystiTeam partnership to other research groups and stakeholders, particularly those operating in different geographical and endemic areas, will enhance the prospects of improving the applicability of T. solium transmission models to inform taeniasis and cysticercosis control strategies

Genetically elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol through the cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene does not associate with risk of Alzheimer's disease

Introduction: There is conflicting evidence whether high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia. Genetic variation in the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) locus is associated with altered HDL-C. We aimed to assess AD risk by genetically predicted HDL-C. Methods: Ten single nucleotide polymorphisms within the CETP locus predicting HDL-C were applied to the International Genomics of Alzheimer's Project (IGAP) exome chip stage 1 results in up 16,097 late onset AD cases and 18,077 cognitively normal elderly controls. We performed instrumental variables analysis using inverse variance weighting, weighted median, and MR-Egger. Results: Based on 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms distinctly predicting HDL-C in the CETP locus, we found that HDL-C was not associated with risk of AD (P > .7). Discussion: Our study does not support the role of HDL-C on risk of AD through HDL-C altered by CETP. This study does not rule out other mechanisms by which HDL-C affects risk of AD

European Dermatology Forum S1-guideline on the diagnosis and treatment of sclerosing diseases of the skin, Part 1: localized scleroderma, systemic sclerosis and overlap syndromes

none44noneKnobler, R.*; Moinzadeh, P.; Hunzelmann, N.; Kreuter, A.; Cozzio, A.; Mouthon, L.; Cutolo, M.; Rongioletti, F.; Denton, C.P.; Rudnicka, L.; Frasin, L.A.; Smith, V.; Gabrielli, A.; Aberer, E.; Bagot, M.; Bali, G.; Bouaziz, J.; Braae Olesen, A.; Foeldvari, I.; Frances, C.; Jalili, A.; Just, U.; Kähäri, V.; Kárpáti, S.; Kofoed, K.; Krasowska, D.; Olszewska, M.; Orteu, C.; Panelius, J.; Parodi, A.; Petit, A.; Quaglino, P.; Ranki, A.; Sanchez Schmidt, J.M.; Seneschal, J.; Skrok, A.; Sticherling, M.; Sunderkötter, C.; Taieb, A.; Tanew, A.; Wolf, P.; Worm, M.; Wutte, N.J.; Krieg, T.Knobler, R.; Moinzadeh, P.; Hunzelmann, N.; Kreuter, A.; Cozzio, A.; Mouthon, L.; Cutolo, M.; Rongioletti, F.; Denton, C. P.; Rudnicka, L.; Frasin, L. A.; Smith, V.; Gabrielli, A.; Aberer, E.; Bagot, M.; Bali, G.; Bouaziz, J.; Braae Olesen, A.; Foeldvari, I.; Frances, C.; Jalili, A.; Just, U.; Kähäri, V.; Kárpáti, S.; Kofoed, K.; Krasowska, D.; Olszewska, M.; Orteu, C.; Panelius, J.; Parodi, A.; Petit, A.; Quaglino, P.; Ranki, A.; Sanchez Schmidt, J. M.; Seneschal, J.; Skrok, A.; Sticherling, M.; Sunderkötter, C.; Taieb, A.; Tanew, A.; Wolf, P.; Worm, M.; Wutte, N. J.; Krieg, T