Ebola: translational science considerations

We are currently in the midst of the most aggressive and fulminating outbreak of Ebola-related disease, commonly referred to as “Ebola”, ever recorded. In less than a year, the Ebola virus (EBOV, Zaire ebolavirus species) has infected over 10,000 people, indiscriminately of gender or age, with a fatality rate of about 50%. Whereas at its onset this Ebola outbreak was limited to three countries in West Africa (Guinea, where it was first reported in late March 2014, Liberia, where it has been most rampant in its capital city, Monrovia and other metropolitan cities, and Sierra Leone), cases were later reported in Nigeria, Mali and Senegal, as well as in Western Europe (i.e., Madrid, Spain) and the US (i.e., Dallas, Texas; New York City) by late October 2014. World and US health agencies declared that the current Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak has a strong likelihood of growing exponentially across the world before an effective vaccine, treatment or cure can be developed, tested, validated and distributed widely. In the meantime, the spread of the disease may rapidly evolve from an epidemics to a full-blown pandemic. The scientific and healthcare communities actively research and define an emerging kaleidoscope of knowledge about critical translational research parameters, including the virology of EBOV, the molecular biomarkers of the pathological manifestations of EVD, putative central nervous system involvement in EVD, and the cellular immune surveillance to EBOV, patient-centered anthropological and societal parameters of EVD, as well as translational effectiveness about novel putative patient-targeted vaccine and pharmaceutical interventions, which hold strong promise, if not hope, to curb this and future Ebola outbreaks. This work reviews and discusses the principal known facts about EBOV and EVD, and certain among the most interesting ongoing or future avenues of research in the field, including vaccination programs for the wild animal vectors of the virus and the disease from global translational science perspective

Exploring the impacts of mindfulness and yoga upon childbirth outcomes and maternal health: an integrative review

Background: Foetal development and the long‐term outcomes of the infant are influenced by the intrauterine environment. Strategies to enhance maternal health in pregnancy are needed to improve health outcomes for childbearing women and babies, advancing the well‐being of our general population. Aim: To synthesise the existing literature to determine the impacts of mindfulness and yoga practice upon birth outcomes and maternal health. Methods: An integrative literature review using Whittemore and Knafl's framework was undertaken in 2016–2017. Two search strategies included database peer‐reviewed journal articles and ancestry searching, that is exploring the reference list of relevant research articles. After screening and checking the eligibility, a total of 12 articles were included in this review. Data analysis involved coding, visual displays, thematic analysis and comparison, and conclusion drawing. Results: The results of this review identified a broad theme that mindfulness and yoga practice is associated with improved maternal mental health antenatally and postnatally. Subthemes have been presented under the central theme including the following: increased mindfulness correlates with decreased fear of childbirth; reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression; and supportive group settings found to be beneficial by pregnant women. Conclusion: The evidence presented in this review suggests that mindfulness and yoga practice are feasible and cost‐effective interventions to enhance maternal mental health, particularly for women experiencing mental health challenges. Mindfulness and yoga practised regularly in the antenatal period can significantly promote the health of pregnant women and potentially their developing babies