Prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B and C viruses among haemodialysis patients in Gaza strip, Palestine

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and its associated risk factors among haemodialysis (HD) patients in Gaza strip was investigated using serological and molecular techniques.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The overall prevalence of HBV among the four HD centers was 8.1%. The main risk factors were HD center (p = 0.05), history of blood transfusion (p < 0.01), and treatment abroad (p = 0.01). The overall prevalence of HCV among the four HD centers was 22%. The main risk factors were HD center (p < 0.01), time duration on HD (p < 0.01), history of blood transfusion (p < 0.01), treatment abroad (p < 0.01), and history of blood transfusion abroad (p < 0.01). Serum aminotransferases levels decreased in HD patients compared with normal population but still there was a direct association between the activity of liver enzymes and both HBV (p < 0.01) and HCV (p < 0.01) infection.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The much higher prevalence of Hepatitis viruses among HD patients compared to the normal population of Gaza strip indicates a causative relation between HD and hepatitis viruses transmission. Therefore extremely careful observation of preventive infection control measures is essential to limit Hepatitis viruses' transmission in HD centers.</p

e-Pilly TROP Maladies infectieuses tropicales

L’e-Pilly TROP est un ouvrage d’infectiologie tropicale destiné aux médecins et aux étudiants en médecine des pays francophones du Sud. La prise en compte des différents niveaux de la pyramide sanitaire dans ces pays le rend aussi accessible aux infirmiers des centres de santé communautaires urbains et des structures de santé intermédiaires des zones rurales. Par définition, les Pays En Développement accroissant progressivement leurs capacités de diagnostic biologique et de traitement, les outils de prise en charge correspondent aux moyens des niveaux périphériques comme à ceux des niveaux hospitaliers de référence

L’artésunate en dehors du paludisme

International audienceIntroduction. – Artesunate and other artemisinin derivatives are used in various infectious and non-infectious diseases. We aimed to analyze available data on artesunate and artemisinin derivatives activity in humans and their potential clinical benefits in non-malarial indications.Material and methods. – Literature review performed on PubMed and the Cochrane Library databases using the PRISMA method. We analyzed studies published in English from January 2008 to August 2017 using the same indicators of drug efficacy.Results. – We included 19 studies performed in humans (1 meta-analysis, 1 literature review, 4 randomized controlled trials, 3 prospective controlled trials, 3 prospective uncontrolled trials, 2 exploratory phase 1 or 2 trials, 1 case series, and 4 case reports). Artesunate and artemisinin derivatives demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of schistosomiasis in combination with praziquantel (P = 0.003). Artesunate monotherapy was less effective than praziquantel alone (P < 0.001) probably because its activity only affects the early stages of Schistosoma parasites. Artesunate monotherapy could be interesting as a chemoprophylactic drug against schistosomiasis (P < 0.001). Findings seem promising but are still controversial in the treatment of multidrug-resistant CMV infections. Studies do not conclude on artesunate and artemisinin derivatives efficacy in the treatment of cervix, breast, colorectal, and lung cancers. Conclusion. – Artesunate and artemisinin derivatives in combination with praziquantel were effective against schistosomiasis, and could be used as a chemoprophylactic drug alone. They could be interesting as anti-CMV and anti-tumor treatment. Additional trials in humans are required to assess the efficacy of artesunate and artemisinin derivatives in diseases other than malaria.Introduction: L’artésunate et les autres dérivés d’artémisinine sont les traitements de première ligne du paludisme. L’objectif était d’analyser les données disponibles de l’utilisation de l’artésunate et des dérivés d’artémisinine chez l’homme dans d’autres pathologies infectieuses et non infectieuses.Matériels et méthodes: Une revue systématique de littérature a été conduite sur PubMed et Cochrane Library, selon une méthodologie PRISMA. Nous avons analysé toutes les études publiées en anglais entre janvier 2008 et août 2017.Résultats: Nous avons inclus 19 études (1 méta-analyse, 1 revue de littérature, 4 essais randomisés contrôlés, 6 essais prospectifs contrôlés et non contrôlés, 2 essais de phase 1 ou 2, 1 série de cas et 4 rapports de cas). L’artésunate et les autres dérivés d’artémisinine ont montré une efficacité dans le traitement de la schistosomose en combinaison avec le praziquantel (p = 0,003). L’artésunate en monothérapie est moins efficace que le praziquantel seul (p < 0,001). L’artésunate en monothérapie pourrait être utilisé comme agent prophylactique de la schistosomose (p < 0,001). Des données d’efficacité, quoique controversées, semblent intéressantes dans le traitement de l’infection à CMV résistant. Les travaux publiés ne permettent pas de conclure à une efficacité dans le cancer du col de l’utérus, du sein, du carcinome colorectal et cancers pulmonaires.Conclusion: L’artésunate et autres dérivés d’artémisinine en combinaison avec le praziquantel sont efficaces contre la schistosomose. Ils pourraient être intéressants comme agent anti-CMV et possiblement comme agent antitumoral. Cependant, les travaux publiés ne permettent pas de positionner ces traitements dans d’autres pathologies que le paludisme

Challenging Connectivity During Nature-Based Tourism: (Dis)connection at Banff National Park

Global mobility coupled with digital technologies raises new issues regarding human relations, which can now be continuously maintained even when people are separated by a great distance. By making use of digital photography and their smartphones, tourists now have the opportunity to capture and instantly share intangible memories with their loved ones or the rest of the world. In this context, a new form of tourist practice is emerging: disconnecting from all forms of information and communication technologies (ICT) in order to escape daily life. National parks seem to offer the perfect space for people to get “away from it all”, as the wilderness is becoming increasingly important within the tourism industry precisely because it symbolises a break from the routines of daily life. Here, I explore how tourists’ use of social media includes new strategies to capture the materiality of the wilderness and, in the process, creates new ways of engaging with it. Furthermore, I show how representations of this engagement with nature and “the wilderness” are produced in a very particular way in order to be shared with the rest of the world while still conforming to the imaginary as produced by social media and simultaneously reproducing it. The aim of this contribution is to understand how the ubiquity of ICT produces new ways of experiencing the wilderness. This study relies on an extensive investigation of tourist narratives and performances produced in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada

Longitudinal and Integrative Biomodeling of Effector and Memory Immune Compartments after Inactivated Influenza Vaccination

International audienceMost vaccines, including those against influenza, were developed by focusing solely on humoral response for protection. However, vaccination activates different adaptive compartments that might play a role in protection. We took advantage of the pandemic 2009 A(H1N1) influenza vaccination to conduct a longitudinal integrative multiparametric analysis of seven immune parameters in vaccinated subjects. A global analysis underlined the predominance of induction of humoral and CD4 T cell responses, whereas pandemic 2009 A(H1N1)-specific CD8 responses did not improve after vaccination. A principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering of individuals showed a differential upregulation of influenza vaccine-specific immunity including hemagglutination inhibition titers, IgA$^+$ and IgG$^+$ Ab-secreting cells, effector CD4 or CD8 T cell frequencies at day 21 among individuals, suggesting a fine-tuning of the immune parameters after vaccination. This is related to individual factors including the magnitude and quality of influenza-specific immune responses before vaccination. We propose a graphical delineation of immune determinants that would be essential for a better understanding of vaccine-induced immunity in vaccination strategie

Support for the Development of Technological Innovations: Promoting Responsible Social Uses

International audienc