Etiology-specific incidence and mortality of diarrheal diseases in the African region: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Diarrheal diseases substantially affect public health impact in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), particularly in Africa, where previous studies have indicated a lack of comprehensive data. With a growing number of primary studies on enteric infections in Africa, this study aimed to estimate the incidence and mortality of diarrheal pathogens across all ages in Africa in the year 2020. We also explored different methodological assumptions to allow comparison with other approaches. METHODS: Through a systematic review and meta-analysis of data from African LMICs, we estimated the etiology proportions for diarrheal diseases and deaths. We combined the etiology proportions with incidence data collected from a population survey in Africa from 2020 and mortality data from the Global Health Observatory of WHO. RESULTS: We estimated 1,008 billion diarrhea cases (95% UI 447 million-1,4 billion) and 515,031 diarrhea deaths (95% UI 248,983-1,007,641) in the African region in 2020. In children under five, enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) (44,073 cases per 100,000 people, 95% UI 18,818 - 60,922) and G. lamblia (36,116 cases per 100,000 people, 95% UI 15,245 - 49,961) were the leading causes of illness. Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) (155 deaths per 100,000 people, 95% UI 106.5-252.9) and rotavirus (61.5 deaths per 100,000 people, 95% UI 42.3-100.3) were the primary causes of deaths. For children over five and adults, Salmonella spp. caused the largest number of diarrheal cases in the population of children ≥ 5 and adults (122,090 cases per 100,000 people, 95% UI 51,833 - 168,822), while rotavirus (16.4 deaths per 100,000 people, 95% UI 4.2-36.7) and enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) (14.6 deaths per 100,000 people, 95% UI 3.9-32.9) causing the most deaths. Geographically, the highest incidence of diarrhea was in Eastern Africa for children under five (114,389 cases per 100,000 people, 95% UI 34,771 - 172,884) and Central Africa for children over five and adults (117,820 cases per 100,000 people, 95% UI 75,111-157,584). Diarrheal mortality was highest in Western Africa for both children below five and above (children < 5: 194.5 deaths per 100,000 people, 95% UI 120-325.4; children ≥ 5 and above: 33.5 deaths per 100,000 people, 95% UI 12.9-75.1). CONCLUSION: These findings provide new information on the incidence and mortality of sixteen pathogens and highlight the need for surveillance and control of diarrheal infectious diseases in Africa. The cause-specific estimates are crucial for prioritizing diarrheal disease prevention in the region.

First Transcriptome Analysis of Hepatoblastoma in Brazil: Unraveling the Pivotal Role of Noncoding RNAs and Metabolic Pathways.

Hepatoblastoma stands as the most prevalent liver cancer in the pediatric population. Characterized by a low mutational burden, chromosomal and epigenetic alterations are key drivers of its tumorigenesis. Transcriptome analysis is a powerful tool for unraveling the molecular intricacies of hepatoblastoma, shedding light on the effects of genetic and epigenetic changes on gene expression. In this study conducted in Brazilian patients, an in-depth whole transcriptome analysis was performed on 14 primary hepatoblastomas, compared to control liver tissues. The analysis unveiled 1,492 differentially expressed genes (1,031 upregulated and 461 downregulated), including 920 protein-coding genes (62%). Upregulated biological processes were linked to cell differentiation, signaling, morphogenesis, and development, involving known hepatoblastoma-associated genes (DLK1, MEG3, HDAC2, TET1, HMGA2, DKK1, DKK4), alongside with novel findings (GYNG4, CDH3, and TNFRSF19). Downregulated processes predominantly centered around oxidation and metabolism, affecting amines, nicotinamides, and lipids, featuring novel discoveries like the repression of SYT7, TTC36, THRSP, CCND1, GCK and CAMK2B. Two genes, which displayed a concordant pattern of DNA methylation alteration in their promoter regions and dysregulation in the transcriptome, were further validated by RT-qPCR: the upregulated TNFRSF19, a key gene in the embryonic development, and the repressed THRSP, connected to lipid metabolism. Furthermore, based on protein-protein interaction analysis, we identified genes holding central positions in the network, such as HDAC2, CCND1, GCK, and CAMK2B, among others, that emerged as prime candidates warranting functional validation in future studies. Notably, a significant dysregulation of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), predominantly upregulated transcripts, was observed, with 42% of the top 50 highly expressed genes being ncRNAs. An integrative miRNA-mRNA analysis revealed crucial biological processes associated with metabolism, oxidation reactions of lipids and carbohydrates, and methylation-dependent chromatin silencing. In particular, four upregulated miRNAs (miR-186, miR-214, miR-377, and miR-494) played a pivotal role in the network, potentially targeting multiple protein-coding transcripts, including CCND1 and CAMK2B. In summary, our transcriptome analysis highlighted disrupted embryonic development as well as metabolic pathways, particularly those involving lipids, emphasizing the emerging role of ncRNAs as epigenetic regulators in hepatoblastomas. These findings provide insights into the complexity of the hepatoblastoma transcriptome and identify potential targets for future therapeutic interventions.

Prevalence of Protozoan Pathogens Among Diarrheic Children Under 5 Years in Public Hospital of Ethiopia During the Global COVID 19 Pandemic.

Acute childhood diarrhea is one of the leading causes of childhood morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan African countries. Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia are the common cause of childhood diarrhea in the region. However, there are only few studies on protozoa causing diarrhea in sub-Saharan African countries. This study was conducted to investigate the relative prevalence and explore risk factors of E. histolytica and G. lamblia among diarrheic children of under 5 years in a public hospital of Ethiopia. A retrospective study was conducted among diarrheic children at Hiwot Fana hospital, Ethiopia. Records of all diarrheic children less than 5 years who had sought medical treatment in the hospital from September 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022 were included. Data were collected from 1257 medical records of the children using a structured data-collection format. Data were entered into an Excel sheet and exported into SPSS version 22 for data processing and analysis. Descriptive statistical tests, Chi-square, and logistic region analysis were applied to determine predictors of protozoa infections. Of the 1257 cases, 962 (76.5%) had watery diarrhea and the remaining 239 (19.0%) had dysentery. The combined prevalence of E. histolytica and G. lamblia among diarrheic children was 11.8% (95% CI: 9.6-13.4). As the age of children increased, the frequency of these two protozoan infections was significantly increased compared to children with other causes. There were more diarrhea cases during the summer season including those associated with E. histolytica and G. lamblia. This study revealed that 1 in 10 causes of diarhhea among young children in the study area was likely caused by E. histolytica and G. lamblia. These findings call for community-based safe water and food safety interventions in order to reduce childhood diarrhea caused by protozoan infections in resource-poor settings.

Substituting red meat with insects in burgers: Estimating the public health impact using risk-benefit assessment.

In Western societies, reducing red meat consumption gained prominence due to health, environmental, and animal welfare considerations. We estimated the public health impact of substituting beef with house cricket (Acheta domesticus) in European diets (Denmark, France, and Greece) using the risk-benefit assessment (RBA) methodology, building upon the EFSA-funded NovRBA project. The overall health impact of substituting beef patties with insect powder-containing patties was found to be impacted by the amount of cricket powder incorporated in the patties. While using high amounts of cricket powder in meat substitutes may be safe, it does not inherently offer a healthier dietary option compared to beef. Adjustment of cricket powder levels is needed to yield a positive overall health impact. The main driver of the outcome is sodium, naturally present in substantial amounts in crickets. Moreover, the way that cricket powder is hydrated before being used for the production of patties (ratio of powder to water), influences the results. Our study highlighted that any consideration for dietary substitution should be multidimensional, considering nutritional, microbiological and toxicological aspects, and that the design of new food products in the framework of dietary shifts should consider both health risks and benefits associated with the food.

Beyond the Usual Suspects: Unraveling Spleen Mastocytosis in Hypersplenism Differential Diagnosis.

Systemic mastocytosis (SM) poses a diagnostic challenge. This hematologic disorder involves abnormal mast cell proliferation and concurrent tissue infiltration. SM clinical presentation is not uniform, with patients displaying a wide array of symptoms related to different organ infiltration and mast cell mediators. Splenomegaly, while not typical or specific to SM, might be present from an early stage to advanced stage, especially in the presence of thrombocytopenia. Early detection is crucial for optimal patient outcomes. We present an atypical case of SM with spleen involvement in a 63-year-old male patient with a history of persistent thrombocytopenia for five years. Upon splenectomy, histological findings were compatible with infiltration with mast cells. Remarkably, the patient showed improvement and did not require additional cytoreductive therapy. This case underlines the importance of recognizing this rare presentation and highlights the potential therapeutic role of splenectomy in aggressive SM.

Stalking e ciberstalking: coocorrência e padrões de vitimação em estudantes universitários / Stalking and cyberstalking: co-occurrence and victimization patterns in university students / Stalking y ciberstalking: coocurrencia y estándares de victimación en estudiantes universitarios

Esta investigação analisou a coocorrência e os respetivos padrões de vitimação do stalking e do ciberstalking em estudantes universitários através do Inventário de Vitimação por Stalking e pela Escala de Avaliação de Ciberstalking. A amostra foi 1.081 estudantes universitários portugueses, de ambos os sexos e com idades entre os 18 e os 58 anos (M = 22,8; DP = 4,94). Os resultados demonstraram taxas de 24,0% de stalking, 22,8% de ciberstalking e de 15,4% de coocorrência de ambos os fenómenos. As 167 vítimas simultaneamente de stalking e ciberstalking eram predominantemente do sexo feminino e os agressores, do sexo masculino. Os comportamentos de stalking e ciberstalking maioritariamente perpetrados foram ações percecionadas como inofensivas e de hiperintimidade. Estes resultados reforçam a necessidade de políticas de prevenção e intervenção com os estudantes vítimas destas duas formas de violência

This research analysed the co-occurrence and the respective victimization patterns of stalking and cyberstalking in college students through the Inventário de Vitimação por Stalking and the Escala de Avaliação de Ciberstalking. The sample was collected from 1081 Portuguese college students, aged from 18 to 58 years (M = 22.8; SD = 4.94). The results demonstrate 24.0% of stalking rates, 22.8% of cyberstalking and 15.4% of co-occurrence of both types of violence. The 167 simultaneously victims of stalking and cyberstalking were predominantly female and the perpetrators were male. The behaviours of stalking and cyberstalking were actions thought of as apparently harmless and intimate. These results support the need to develop policies for prevention and intervention with college student victims of both forms of violence

La presente investigación analizó la coocurrencia y los correspondientes estándares de victimación del stalking y del ciberstalking en estudiantes universitarios a través del Inventario de Vitimación por Stalking y de la Escala de Evaluación de Ciberstalking. La muestra fue de 1.081 estudiantes universitarios portugueses, de los dos sexos y con edades entre los 18 y los 58 años (M = 22,8, DE = 4,94). Los resultados demostraron tasas de 24,0% de stalking, 22,8% de ciberstalking y de 15,4% de coocurrencia de los dos fenómenos. Las 167 víctimas simultáneamente de stalking y ciberstalking eran predominantemente del sexo femenino y los agresores del sexo masculino Los comportamientos de stalking y ciberstalking mayoritariamente cometidos fueron acciones percibidas como inofensivas y de hiperintimidad. Estos resultados refuerzan la necesidad de políticas de prevención e intervención con los estudiantes víctimas de estas dos formas de violencia

Non-technical skills assessment scale in nursing: construction, development and validation / Escala de avaliação de habilidades não técnicas em enfermagem: construção, desenvolvimento e validação / Escala de evaluación de habilidades no técnicas en enfermería: construcción, desarrollo y validación

ABSTRACT The introduction of non-technical skills during nursing education is crucial to prepare nurses for the clinical context and increase patient safety. We found no instrument developed for this purpose. Objectives: to construct, develop and validate a non-technical skills assessment scale in nursing. Method: methodological research. Based on the literature review and experience of researchers on non-technical skills in healthcare and the knowledge of the principles of crisis resource management, a list of 63 items with a five-point Likert scale was constructed. The scale was applied to 177 nursing undergraduate students. Descriptive statistics, correlations, internal consistency analysis and exploratory factor analysis were performed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the scale. Results: scale items presented similar values for mean and median. The maximum and the minimum values presented a good distribution amongst all response options. Most items presented a significant and positive relationship. Cronbach alpha presented a good value (0.94), and most correlations were significant and positive. Exploratory factor analysis using the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test showed a value of 0.849, and the Bartlett's test showed adequate sphericity values (χ2=6483.998; p=0.000). One-factor model explained 26% of the total variance. Conclusion: non-technical skills training and its measurement could be included in undergraduate or postgraduate courses in healthcare professions, or even be used to ascertain needs and improvements in healthcare contexts.

RESUMO A introdução de habilidades não técnicas durante o ensino de enfermagem é fundamental para preparar os enfermeiros para o contexto clínico e aumentar a segurança do paciente. Não foram encontrados quaisquer instrumentos desenvolvidos para essa finalidade. Objetivos: construir, desenvolver e validar uma escala de avaliação de habilidades não técnicas em enfermagem. Método: pesquisa metodológica. Com base na revisão da literatura e na experiência dos pesquisadores em habilidades não técnicas em saúde, e no conhecimento dos princípios do gerenciamento de recursos em crises, foi construída uma lista de 63 itens e com uma escala Likert de cinco pontos. A escala foi aplicada em 177 estudantes de graduação em enfermagem. Estatística descritiva, correlações, análises de consistência interna e análise fatorial exploratória foram realizadas para avaliar as propriedades psicométricas da escala. Resultados: os itens da escala apresentaram valores semelhantes para média e mediana. Os valores máximo e mínimo mostraram uma boa distribuição em todas as opções de resposta. A maioria dos itens apresentou uma relação significativa e positiva. O alfa de Cronbach apresentou um bom valor (0,94) e a maioria das correlações foi significativa e positiva. A análise fatorial exploratória através do teste de Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin apresentou um valor de 0,849, e o teste de Bartlett apresentou valores de esfericidade adequados (χ2=6483.998; p=0.000). O modelo de um fator explicou 26% da variância total. Conclusão: a formação em habilidades não técnicas e sua mensuração poderiam ser incluídos nos programas de graduação ou pós-graduação de profissões da saúde, ou até mesmo serem utilizadas para avaliar as necessidades e melhorias nos contextos de cuidados de saúde.

RESUMEN La introducción de habilidades no técnicas durante la educación de enfermería es fundamental para preparar a los enfermeros para el contexto clínico y aumentar la seguridad del paciente. No se encontraron instrumentos desarrollados para este propósito. Objetivos: construir, desarrollar y validar una escala de evaluación de habilidades no técnicas en enfermería. Método: investigación metodológica. Con base en la revisión de la literatura y la experiencia de los investigadores en habilidades no técnicas en el cuidado de la salud y el conocimiento de los principios del manejo de recursos en crisis, se construyó una lista de 63 ítems y con una escala Likert de cinco puntos. Se aplicó la escala a 177 estudiantes de pregrado en enfermería. Se realizaron estadísticas descriptivas, correlaciones, análisis de consistencia interna y análisis factorial exploratorio para evaluar las propiedades psicométricas de la escala. Resultados: los ítems de la escala presentaron valores similares para la media y la mediana. Los valores máximo y mínimo mostraron una buena distribución en todas las opciones de respuesta. La mayoría de los ítems presentaron una relación significativa y positiva. El alfa de Cronbach presentó un buen valor (0,94), y la mayoría de las correlaciones fueron significativas y positivas. El análisis factorial exploratorio mediante la prueba Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin mostró un valor de 0,849, y la prueba de Bartlett mostró valores de esfericidad adecuados (χ2=6483.998; p=0,000). El modelo de un factor explicó el 26% de la varianza total. Conclusión: la capacitación en habilidades no técnicas y su medición podrían incluirse en programas de grado y posgrado en profesiones de la salud, o incluso utilizarse para evaluar las necesidades y mejoras en los contextos de atención médica.

Pneumatosis intestinalis and volvulus: a rare association / Pneumatose intestinal e volvo: uma associação rara

Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is a rare condition, especially when associated with volvulus; it is often misdiagnosed and inappropriately treated. We present the case of a 27 year-old woman suffering from an acute abdomen. An abdominal tomography was performed revealing Pneumatosis intestinalis. Once in the operating theatre sigmoid volvulus was diagnosed and Hartmann surgery performed. Histology showed intestinal ischemia. During the hospital stay, evolution was favourable. The authors present this case and a brief theoretical review, due to its rarity and clinical interest.

A pneumatose intestinal (PI) é uma condição pouco frequente, sendo ainda mais rara em associação com volvo; sendo muitas vezes mal diagnosticada e tratada inapropriadamente. Apresentamos o caso de uma mulher de 27 anos com um quadro de abdómen agudo. Realizou TAC abdominal que demonstrou pneumatose intestinal. Intra-operatoriamente foi diagnosticado volvo da sigmoideia e optado por cirurgia de Hartmann. O resultado anatomo-patológico da peça foi compatível com isquémia intestinal. Durante o internamento hospital, a doente evoluiu favoravelmente. Os autores apresentam este caso e uma breve revisão teórica, pela sua raridade e interesse clínico.