264 research outputs found
Eotaxin‑2 and eotaxin‑3 in malaria exposure and pregnancy
Background: Eotaxin-1 concentrations in plasma have been inversely associated with malaria exposure, malaria infection and pregnancy, but the effect of these conditions on the levels of the related chemokines eotaxin-2 and eotaxin-3 remains unknown. Methods: Eotaxin-2 and -3 concentrations were measured in 310 peripheral or placental plasma samples from pregnant and non-pregnant individuals from Papua New Guinea (malaria-endemic country) and Spain (malaria-naïve individuals) with previous data on eotaxin-1 concentrations. Correlations between eotaxin concentrations were examined with the Spearman’s test. Differences in eotaxin concentrations among groups were evaluated with the Kruskal–Wallis or Mann Whitney tests. The pairwise Wilcoxon test was performed to compare eotaxin-2 concentration between peripheral and placental matched plasmas. Univariable and multivariable linear regression models were estimated to assess the association between eotaxins and Plasmodium infection or gestational age. Results: Eotaxin-2 concentrations in plasma showed a weak positive correlation with eotaxin-3 (rho = 0.35, p < 0.05) concentrations. Eotaxin-2 concentrations in the malaria-exposed non-pregnant group were significantly lower than the in the malaria-naive non-pregnant and the malaria-exposed pregnant groups. Eotaxin-3 plasma concentrations were lower in malaria-exposed than in non-exposed groups (p < 0.05), but no differences were found associated to pregnancy. Eotaxin-2 and eotaxin-3 plasma concentrations were negatively correlated with anti-Plasmodium IgG levels: PfDBL5ε-IgG ( rhoEo2 = − 0.35, p = 0.005; rhoEo3 =− 0.37, p = 0.011), and eotaxin-3 was negatively correlated with PfDBL3x-IgG levels ( rhoEo3 =− 0.36; p = 0.011). Negative correlations of eotaxin-2 and 3 in plasma were also observed with atypical memory B cells ( rhoEo2 = − 0.37, p < 0.001; rhoEo3= − 0.28, p = 0.006), a B cell subset expanded in malaria-exposed individuals. In addition, a borderline negative association was observed between eotaxin-3 concentrations and Plasmodium infection (adjusted effect estimate, β = − 0.279, 95% CI − 0.605; 0.047, p = 0.091). Moreover, eotaxin-2 placental concentrations were significantly increased compared to peripheral concentrations in the malariaexposed pregnant group whereas the contrary was observed in the non-exposed pregnant group (p < 0.005). Conclusion: Although a clear epidemiological negative association is observed between eotaxins concentrations
and malaria exposure and/or infection, pregnancy may alter this association for eotaxin-2. Further research is required
to understand the role of these chemokines in this disease and in combination with pregnancy.European Commission PREGVAX FP7-EALTH-201588Malaria in Pregnancy Consortium (MiPc) through Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 46099Government of Spain, Ramon y Cajal Fellowship RYC-2013-14512State Research Agency through the "Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa 2019-2023" Program CEX2018-000806-SGeneralitat de Catalunya through the CERCA ProgramFundacion Ramon ArecesMinistry of Science and Innovation, Spain (MICINN)Spanish Governmen
European expert network on rare communicable diseases and other rare diseases linked to mobility and globalisation focused on ealth care provision (EURaDMoG): a feasibility study.
INTRODUCTION NlmCategory: BACKGROUND content: In the current mobility and globalization context, there is a growing need to identify potential changes on the pattern of diseases in the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA)
and provide accurate diagnosis and treatment for the population.
The pattern of rare communicable diseases that can affect people
returning to EU/EEA from travel abroad, visiting EU/EEA or
establishing in the EU/EEA is of special relevance. The
objective of this manuscript is to give an overview about the
EURaDMoG study and discuss the feasibility of establishing a
European network on rare communicable diseases and other rare
conditions linked to mobility and globalization. - Label:
METHODS NlmCategory: METHODS content: We undertook a three-steps
process where we first conducted a narrative review to estimate
the prevalence and incidence and to list rare communicable and
non-communicable diseases linked to mobility and globalization
in the EU/EEA; second, we organized an international
consultation workshop with experts in the diseases previously
selected; and finally, the feasibility study analysed how
successful a European expert network on rare diseases linked to
mobility and globalization focused on health care provision
would be, accounting for different operational and also
sustainability criteria. - Label: RESULTS NlmCategory: RESULTS
content: "First, considering the areas or topics that the
network should cover, it was concluded that communicable and
non-communicable rare diseases linked to mobility and
globalization should be differentiated. Second, since all
non-communicable rare diseases linked to mobility and
globalization identified are already covered by different
European Reference Networks (ERNs), there is no need for them to
be included in a new European network. Three scenarios were
considered for establishing a potential European network for
rare communicable diseases linked to Mobility and Globalisation
with a focus on Health Care provision: 1) To maintain the
current situation \"Status Quo\" scenario; 2) to create a
specific European expert network (EEN) on rare communicable
diseases linked to mobility and globalisation; 3) to develop a
new ERN on communicable rare diseases linked to mobility and
globalisation." - Label: CONCLUSIONS NlmCategory: CONCLUSIONS
content: Since the focus is the provision of health care, an ERN
could have the potential to better boost the quality of care
being facilitated by technological tools and online platforms
that permit the safe and ethically acceptable exchange of data.
However, this potential new network should not eclipse current
existing networks and they should be complementary
Evidence-Based Guidelines for Screening and Management of Strongyloidiasis in Non-Endemic Countries
Strongyloidiasis is an intestinal parasitic infection becoming
increasingly important outside endemic areas, not only because
of the high prevalence found in migrant populations, but also
because immunosuppressed patients may suffer a potentially fatal
disseminated disease. The aim of these guidelines is to provide
evidence-based guidance for screening and treatment of
strongyloidiasis in non-endemic areas. A panel of experts
focused on three main clinical questions (who should be screened
and how, how to treat), and reviewed pertinent literature
available in international databases of medical literature and
in documents released by relevant organizations/societies. A
consensus of the experts' opinion was sought when specific
issues were not covered by evidence. In particular, six
systematic reviews were retrieved and constituted the main
support for this work. The evidence and consensus gathered led
to recommendations addressing various aspects of the main
questions. Grading of evidence and strength of recommendation
were attributed to assess the quality of supporting evidence.
The screening of individuals at risk of the infection should be
performed before they develop any clinical complication.
Moreover, in immunosuppressed patients, the screening should be
mandatory. The screening is based on a simple and widely
accessible technology and there is now a universally accepted
treatment with a high efficacy rate. Therefore, the screening
could be implemented as part of a screening program for migrants
although further cost-effectiveness studies are required to
better evaluate this strategy from a public health point of
view
Incorporación de plástico reciclado PET para la estabilización de la carpeta asfáltica en la Av. Nicolas Ayllón, La Victoria 2021
Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo general determinar la influencia del plástico
reciclado PET en la carpeta asfáltica en la av. Nicolas Ayllón, La Victoria,
estableciéndose realizar los ensayos de granulometrÃa y el método Marshall para
determinar la estabilidad, flujo y porcentaje de vacÃos. Indicando la metodologÃa: su
diseño de investigación fue cuasi experimental, su tipo de investigación fue nivel
explicativo, de enfoque cuantitativo. Sus resultados según los objetivos especÃficos
al implementar el plástico reciclado PET en 1.5%, 3,5% y 5.5% fueron: el primer
objetivo especÃfico fue determinar el incremento de la estabilidad, la cual se mejoró
de 10.5 KN a 12.1 KN con el 5.5% de plástico reciclado PET, el segundo objetivo
especÃfico fue determinar la disminución del flujo, el cual mejoró de 13 (0.25mm) a
un 12.7 (0.25mm) con el 1.5% de plástico reciclado PET, el tercer objetivo especÃfico
fue determinar la reducción del porcentaje de vacÃos respecto a la muestra patrón,
el cual no mejoró ya que aumentó de 4.2% a 6.8% con el 5.5% de plástico reciclado
PET. Conclusión, la incorporación de plástico reciclado PET mejoró determinadas
propiedades de la carpeta asfáltica
Epidemiology and economic impact of bovine cysticercosis and taeniosis caused by Taenia saginata in northeastern Spain (Catalonia)
Background: In Catalonia (north-eastern Spain), Taenia saginata has been described in cattle but its occurrence in
humans is unclear. Moreover, whether cattle acquired the infection in Catalonia or outside Catalonia and its economic
impact have not been investigated. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and spatial distribution of bovine
cysticercosis in Catalonia (2008–2015), and the burden from T. saginata upon the animal and human sectors in Catalonia
(2013–2015).
Methods: Data on cattle diagnosed with cysticercosis at meat inspection were collected and analysed. Cattle movement
history was used to identify the most likely place of bovine cysticercosis infection and to investigate its spatial distribution.
Data on taeniosis treatment (niclosamide and praziquantel) costs and their supply in Catalonia as well as data on patients
attending primary care with diagnosis of taeniosis were collected. The financial impact associated with T. saginata due to
carcasses condemned and frozen, meat inspection and human taeniosis was estimated.
Results: During 2008–2015, between 18 and 107 cattle were found positive for cysticercosis each year (prevalence at
slaughter of 0.010%). Movement history was available for 44% of the infected cattle and in 53% of them Catalonia was
identified as the place where the infection was acquired with highest probability. Two significant bovine cysticercosis
clusters were detected. The number of patients diagnosed with taeniosis in primary care during the period 2013–2016
was 41–63/year. The overall economic impact of T. saginata (2013–2015) amounted to 154,903 €/year
(95% CI: 113,075–196,762). Meat inspection accounted for 81.9% (95% CI: 75.8–86.2%) of the costs, followed by costs due
to carcass condemnation and freezing (9.4%; 95% CI: 6.9–12.8%), and taeniosis-associated costs (8.7%; 95% CI: 6.7–11.6%).
Costs due to freezing and condemnation of carcasses reached 19,442 €/year (95% CI: 17,528–21,391)
(509 €/lightly infected carcass and 1,140 €/heavily infected carcass). Taeniosis-associated costs were estimated
at 12,848.5 €/year (237 €/patient).
Conclusions: The public health risk of T. saginata in the area seems to be low. The economic impact due to T. saginata
was mainly attributed to meat inspection. The cost due to carcass condemnation and freezing was limited compared to
the revenue of the beef sector. Developing and implementing risk-based surveillance is needed to lower the costs of
meat inspection. Considering cattle movements might be useful in the development of such a strategy
Factors associated with the development of second primary tumours in head and neck cancer patients
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Granada/CBUA. Study concepts: RBR. Study design: RBR, ISB, PR. Acquisition of data: RM, COR, ROR, MLL. Data analysis and interpretation: RBR, ISB, PR y JPA. Manuscript preparation: ISB, PR, RBR. Manuscript review: ISB, PR, RM, COR, ROR, MLL, JPA, RBR. Manuscript final approval: ISB, PR, RM, COR, ROR, MLL, JPA, RBR. Being accountable for all aspects of the work: ISB, PR, RM, COR, ROR, MLL, JPA, RBR.Introduction: The development of second primary tumours (SPTs) is one of the main causes of low survival in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). The aim of this study was to review the evidence about factors associated with developing SPTs in patients with HNC.
Methods: An updated systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines, and the search was performed in Pubmed and Scopus. Only original articles with a cohort or case-control design were included. Article quality was assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa scale.
Results: Thirty-six and two case-control studies were included, with quality medium (n = 5) to high (n = 33). Tobacco showed a significant association with SPT development, with risks ranging from 1.41 (95%CI: 1.04-1.91) to 5.52 (95%CI: 2.91-10.49). Regarding alcohol, risks ranged from 1.46 (95%CI: 1.12-1.91) to 21.3 (95%CI: 2.9-156). Location of the index tumour in the hypopharynx/oropharynx, absence of human papillomavirus and presence of a premalignant lesion also increased the risk of SPTs. More controversy was found for sex, age and other clinical factors of the tumour.
Conclusion: Toxic lifestyle habits and clinical factors were associated with the risk of SPTs in HNC patients. These findings may improve individualised prevention strategies in its follow-up.Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities through the grant ‘Ramon y Cajal’Universidad de Granada/CBUA (Funding for open access charge
Epidemiology of congenital Chagas disease 6 years after implementation of a public health surveillance system, Catalonia, 2010 to 2015
Chagas disease; Trypanosoma cruzi; CongenitalMalaltia de Chagas; Trypanosoma cruzi; CongènitEnfermedad de Chagas; Trypanosoma cruzi; CongénitoBackgroundChagas disease is endemic in Latin America and affects 8 million people worldwide. In 2010, Catalonia introduced systematic public health surveillance to detect and treat congenital Chagas disease.AimThe objective was to evaluate the health outcomes of the congenital Chagas disease screening programme during the first 6 years (2010-2015) after its introduction in Catalonia.MethodsIn a surveillance system, we screened pregnant women and newborns and other children of positive mothers, and treated Chagas-positive newborns and children. Diagnosis was confirmed for pregnant women and children with two positive serological tests and for newborns with microhaematocrit and/or PCR at birth or serology at age 9 months.ResultsFrom 2010 to 2015, the estimated screening coverage rate increased from 68.4% to 88.6%. In this period, 33,469 pregnant women were tested for Trypanosoma cruzi and 937 positive cases were diagnosed. The overall prevalence was 2.8 cases per 100 pregnancies per year (15.8 in Bolivian women). We followed 82.8% of newborns until serological testing at age 9-12 months and 28 were diagnosed with Chagas disease (congenital transmission rate: 4.17%). Of 518 siblings, 178 (34.3%) were tested and 14 (7.8%) were positive for T. cruzi. Having other children with Chagas disease and the heart clinical form of Chagas disease were maternal risk factors associated with congenital T. cruzi infection (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe increased screening coverage rate indicates consolidation of the programme in Catalonia. The rate of Chagas disease congenital transmission in Catalonia is in accordance with the range in non-endemic countries
European expert network on rare communicable diseases and other rare diseases linked to mobility and globalisation focused on health care provision (EURaDMoG) : a feasibility study
Introduction: In the current mobility and globalization context, there is a growing need to identify potential changes on the pattern of diseases in the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) and provide accurate diagnosis and treatment for the population. The pattern of rare communicable diseases that can affect people returning to EU/EEA from travel abroad, visiting EU/EEA or establishing in the EU/EEA is of special relevance. The objective of this manuscript is to give an overview about the EURaDMoG study and discuss the feasibility of establishing a European network on rare communicable diseases and other rare conditions linked to mobility and globalization. Methods: We undertook a three-steps process where we first conducted a narrative review to estimate the prevalence and incidence and to list rare communicable and non-communicable diseases linked to mobility and globalization in the EU/EEA; second, we organized an international consultation workshop with experts in the diseases previously selected; and finally, the feasibility study analysed how successful a European expert network on rare diseases linked to mobility and globalization focused on health care provision would be, accounting for different operational and also sustainability criteria. Results: First, considering the areas or topics that the network should cover, it was concluded that communicable and non-communicable rare diseases linked to mobility and globalization should be differentiated. Second, since all non-communicable rare diseases linked to mobility and globalization identified are already covered by different European Reference Networks (ERNs), there is no need for them to be included in a new European network. Three scenarios were considered for establishing a potential European network for rare communicable diseases linked to Mobility and Globalisation with a focus on Health Care provision: 1) To maintain the current situation "Status Quo" scenario; 2) to create a specific European expert network (EEN) on rare communicable diseases linked to mobility and globalisation; 3) to develop a new ERN on communicable rare diseases linked to mobility and globalisation. Conclusions: Since the focus is the provision of health care, an ERN could have the potential to better boost the quality of care being facilitated by technological tools and online platforms that permit the safe and ethically acceptable exchange of data. However, this potential new network should not eclipse current existing networks and they should be complementary
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