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OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to assess the PMTCT indicators in Burkina Faso and Zambia using a patient-orientated innovative strategy based on the second visit in the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI-2) visit at 6-8 weeks. DESIGN: This was a cross sectional study. METHODS: We assessed women attending EPI-2 at primary healthcare facilities in Burkina Faso and Zambia with their children about their exposure to PMTCT interventions. For women living with HIV (WLHIV), viral load was measured and their children were tested for HIV DNA using point of care devices...

In hospitalized children, SARS-CoV-2 infection can present as either a primary reason for admission (patients admitted for COVID-19) or an incidental finding during follow-up (patients admitted with COVID-19). We conducted a nested case-control study within a cohort of pediatric patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, to investigate the concentration of plasma nucleocapsid antigen (N-Ag) in children admitted for COVID-19 or with COVID-19. While reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction Ct values in nasopharyngeal swab were similar between the two groups, children admitted for COVID-19 had a higher rate of detectable N-Ag (12/18 (60...

To enhance PLA gas barrier properties, multilayer designs with highly polar barrier layers, such as nanocelluloses, have shown promising results. However, the properties of these polar layers change with humidity. As a result, we investigated water transport phenomena in PLA films coated with nanometric layers of chitosan and nanocelluloses, utilizing a combination of techniques including dynamic vapor sorption (DVS) and long-term water vapor adsorption-diffusion experiments (back-face measurements) to understand the influence of each layer on the behavior of multilayer films...

OBJECTIVE: To describe the MR features enabling prenatal diagnosis of pontocerebellar hypoplasia (PCH). METHOD: This was a retrospective single monocentre study. The inclusion criteria were decreased cerebellar biometry on dedicated neurosonography and available fetal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with PCH diagnosis later confirmed either genetically or clinically on post-natal MRI or by autopsy. The exclusion criteria were non-available MRI and sonographic features suggestive of a known genetic or other pathologic diagnosis...

This study investigates the impact of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 on health outcomes and hospital contacts in children and adolescents aged 5-18 years infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, comparing previously vaccinated with unvaccinated. Using national register data, vaccinated and unvaccinated Danish children and adolescents with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test between 1 January and 31 March 2022 (Omicron dominance period) were included. The Prior Event Rate Ratio (PERR) was used to explore differences in hospital contacts (hospitalizations and emergency room (ER) visits), while Inverse Treatment Probability Weighted (IPW) risk ratios were used to explore the risk of severe health outcomes within six weeks following SARS-CoV-2 infection...

In this work, we compare the basketball scoring performance of two imaginary (simulated) mechanical robots in conditions of erroneous information-processing circuits: Machine, whose moves are controlled by a conventional digital computer and Man, controlled by a random pulse computer composed of biologically-inspired circuits which execute basic arithmetic operations. This is the first comparative study of robustness of the digital and the random pulse computing paradigms, with respect to the error rate of the information-processing circuits (perr), for a mechanical robot...

Infrared neural stimulation (INS) is a neuromodulation technique that involves short optical pulses delivered to the neural tissue, resulting in the initiation of action potentials. In this work, we studied the compound neural action potentials (CNAP) generated by INS in five ex vivo sciatic nerves. A 1470 nm laser emitting a sequence of 0.4 ms light pulses with a peak power of 10 W was used. A single 4 mJ stimulus is not capable of eliciting a nerve response. However, repetition of the optical stimuli resulted in the induction of CNAPs...

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BACKGROUND: Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) can have a significant negative impact on human health. The urbanization of natural environments and their conversion for agricultural use, as well as human population growth, may affect mosquito populations and increase the risk of emerging or re-emerging mosquito-borne diseases. We report on the variety and number of adult mosquitoes found in four environments with varying degrees of human impact (rural, urban, rice fields, and forest) located in a savannah zone of West Africa...

Leptospirosis is presumably an important cause of non-malarial fever in West Africa. In this study, outpatients consulting in primary care clinics during the rainy season were tested for leptospirosis, and clinical characteristics associated with leptospirosis cases were explored. Patients with fever ≥ 39°C were recruited in nine primary health care centers in Bobo Dioulasso (Burkina Faso). Diagnosis of malaria was ruled out using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT; SD Bioline Malaria®). Leptospirosis cases were defined as patients who tested positive for Leptospira IgM (Leptocheck-WB RDT and Leptospira IgM ELISA assay, Panbio) or DNA in plasma (LipL32 polymerase chain reaction [PCR])...

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cancer stands as a leading cause of death worldwide according to the World Health Organization (WHO), resulting in approximately 10 million fatalities in the year 2020. Natural plant products are still a widely used and accepted form of treatment for most ailments and diseases in Ghana. This review studies Cryptolepis nigrescens (Wennberg) L. Joubert. and Bruyns., Prosopsis africana (Guill. and Perr.) Taub. and Pterygota macrocarpa K. Schum. as medicinal plants that are traditionally used to treat tumor growth, amongst other diseases, in the Ashanti region of Ghana...

The desired performance of nucleic acid testing (NAT) may vary if used for disease diagnosis or for the evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of a treatment, although in most cases, the same assay is used. However, these tests may not be affordable in many situations including in low/middle income countries that in response have developed domestic assays. Given the example of HCV NAT among people who inject drugs in Vietnam, we aimed at evaluating a domestic assay versus an FDA- and CE-approved assay. This cross-evaluation revealed that (i) the domestic assay had a poorer sensitivity with a threshold of detection above 104 IU/mL, and (ii) the FDA-approved assay had a percentage of false negative results close to 1%...

INTRODUCTION: This study compares COVID-19 case and mortality rates in Green Houses (GHs) and traditional nursing homes (NHs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: CMS data from 10 states (June 2020 to September 2022) were analyzed for GHs (n = 19), small NHs (n = 266), and large NHs (n = 2,932). Multivariate Poisson regressions with GEE were used. RESULTS: Participants (mean age 73.4) were predominantly female (57...

INTRODUCTION: Biofilm-based microalgae production technologies offer enormous potential for improving sustainability and productivity. However, the light pattern induced by these technologies is a key concern for optimization. METHODS: In this work, the effects of light/dark cycles on architecture, growth, and physiology of Chlorella vulgaris biofilms were assessed in a millifluidic flow-cell with different time cycles (15 s to 3 min) keeping the average light constant at 100 μmol·m-2 ·s-1 ...

INTRODUCTION: Advance directives (AdvDirs) align end-of-life care with personal values, averting unnecessary treatments. This study explores factors influencing AdvDir completion. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study with community-dwelling adults (n = 166) age range 18-93, using a survey to gather sociodemographics, beliefs, and AdvDir experiences. Multivariate logistic regression quantifies associations between selected covariates and AdvDir completion...

During infections, Staphylococcus aureus is exposed to hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and hypothiocyanous acid (HOSCN), which are produced by the neutrophil myeloperoxidase as potent antimicrobial killing agents. In this work, we applied RNAseq transcriptomics, Brx-roGFP2 biosensor measurements, and phenotype analyses to investigate the stress responses and defense mechanisms of S. aureus COL toward HOSCN stress. Based on the RNAseq transcriptome profile, HOSCN exerts strong thiol-specific oxidative, electrophile, and metal stress responses as well as protein damage in S...

Mosquitoes are important vectors of several arthropod-borne diseases, which remain a priority for epidemiological research. Mosquito vector control strategies have traditionally relied on chemical insecticides such as synthetic pyrethroids. However, the indiscriminate use of pesticides has resulted in the development of resistance in many mosquito species. In insects, resistance evolves primarily through the overexpression of one or more gene products from the cytochrome P450, carboxylesterase, and glutathione superfamilies...

The hospital based Redthread Youth Violence Intervention Programme (YVIP) utilises experienced youth workers to support 11-24 year olds following an episode of violent injury, assault or exploitation who present to the Emergency Department (ED) at the East Midlands Major Trauma Centre (MTC), Nottingham, UK. The YVIP aims to promote personal change with the aim of reducing the incidence of further similar events. We conducted a retrospective, observational, cohort study to examine the association between engagement with the YVIP and re-attendance rates to the ED following a referral to Redthread...

Staphylococcus aureus is a major pathogen, which has to defend against reactive oxygen and electrophilic species encountered during infections. Activated macrophages produce the immunometabolite itaconate as potent electrophile and antimicrobial upon pathogen infection. In this work, we used transcriptomics, metabolomics and shotgun redox proteomics to investigate the specific stress responses, metabolic changes and redox modifications caused by sublethal concentrations of itaconic acid in S. aureus. In the RNA-seq transcriptome, itaconic acid caused the induction of the GlnR, KdpDE, CidR, SigB, GraRS, PerR, CtsR and HrcA regulons and the urease-encoding operon, revealing an acid and oxidative stress response and impaired proteostasis...

Accurately positioning energy-constrained devices in indoor environments is of great interest to many professional, care, and personal applications. Hybrid RF-acoustic ranging systems have shown to be a viable technology in this regard, enabling accurate distance measurements at ultra-low energy costs. However, they often suffer from self-interference due to multipaths in indoor environments. We replace the typical single loudspeaker beacons used in these systems with a phased loudspeaker array to promote the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio towards the tracked device...