Clinical and histopathology characteristics of Castleman disease: a multicenter study of 51 Brazilian patients.

Castleman's disease (CD) is a rare and heterogeneous lymphoproliferative disorder, with limited available clinical information in Brazil. A retrospective study was carried out through information contained in the medical records of 51 patients, between July 1999 and June 2020. Seven patients were excluded, and 44 were analyzed in total. The average age of unicentric CD (UCD) patients was 35 years old and of multicentric CD (MCD) patients was 49 years old (p = 0.013). Regarding gender, there was a predominance of females among patients with UCD (68.4%) and males in patients with MCD (57.9%) (p = 0.103). The most common site of involvement in UCD was the cervical region (36.8%). A total of 73.7% of patients with UCD and 68.4% of patients with MCD presented the histological form hialyne-vascular (HV) (p = 0.499). Most patients with laboratory abnormalities had MCD. A total of 78% of the patients were asymptomatic, with the majority of symptomatic patients with MCD (p = 0.042). Only two of the 27 patients evaluated for the presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) had positive serology. HHV-8 was evaluated in 14 cases, being positive in two. Of the patients with UCD, 94.7% underwent excisional biopsy, against only 41.2% of patients with MCD (p = 0.01). The mean follow-up was 61 months. We observed similarities in the clinical profile between patients in our study and patients described in the literature, such as gender, mean age, B symptoms, visceromegaly, fluid accumulation, and treatment. Unlike the literature, the cervical region was the most affected site, besides the greater association of the HV histological subtype among patients with MCD.

Seasonality of sporotrichosis in Brazil: A modelled analysis of the epidemic in São Paulo, 2011-2020.

BACKGROUND: Sporotrichosis is an endemic subcutaneous mycosis classically caused by the Sporothrix schenckii species complex. Recently, sporotrichosis has emerged in Brazil as a cat-transmitted epidemic caused by a new species, Sporothrix brasiliensis. OBJECTIVES: To survey the clinical-epidemiological profile of all sporotrichosis cases diagnosed between 2011 and 2020 at a reference hospital in São Paulo metropolitan area and evaluate the annual distribution of cases in relation to seasonality. METHODS: Patients' demographic and clinical-epidemiological data were surveyed. A generalized linear model was fitted to relate the quarterly number of sporotrichosis cases detected between 2015 and 2019 with precipitation and temperature series. Prediction of the number of cases from 2011 to 2014 was attempted based on the fitted model without the trend component that appears from 2015. RESULTS: Among 271 suspected cases admitted during 2011-2020, 254 were confirmed by fungal isolation and/or clinical-epidemiological criteria. We observed that 2015 onwards the number of cases regularly increased during Autumn and Winter, the driest and coldest stations of the year. We verified that temperature series affected the number of cases (p = .005) because an increase of 1°C in the temperature series was associated with a 14.24% decrease in the average cases number, with the average number of cases increasing by 10.96% (p < .0001) every quarter, corresponding to an annual increase of 52%. Between 2011 and 2014, the predicted number of sporotrichosis cases averaged 10-12 per year, with 33%-38% occurring in the winter. CONCLUSION: We hypothesize that sporotrichosis seasonality is associated with the felines' oestrus cycle, which may provide alternative, cat-directed approaches to the sporotrichosis epidemic control.

Clinical features and prognosis of severe scorpion envenomation in children.

BACKGROUND: Scorpionism is endemic and represents a real public health problem in Morocco. The most dangerous arthropod in the central area is Androctonus mauretanicus (Am) scorpion. Its venom can be lethal, especially for children. This study aimed to determine a clinico-epidemiological profile of severe scorpion envenomation among children and identify risk factors for mortality. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 606 children admitted for severe scorpion envenomation (SSE) from January 2010 to July 2015 in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of Mohammed VI Teaching Hospital. RESULTS: The mean age of envenomed children was 6.3 ± 4.2 years. Seventy-four percent of them came from rural settings. Envenomation occurred mostly during the summer months and 78.4% of stings were nocturnal. The time between the sting and evaluation was greater than 2 h in 83% of cases. Bivariate analysis indicated that from 1 to 24 months of age (P = 0.001), hyperthermia (P = 0.022), episodes of diarrhea (P < 0.001), tachycardia (P < 0.001), abdominal distention (P < 0.001), skin marbling (P < 0.001), signs of respiratory distress (P < 0.001), irritability (P < 0.001), generalized seizures (P = 0.053), and Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) of 3 to 9 (P < 0.001) were significantly correlated with mortality. On multivariate analysis, diarrhea (P = 0.007), skin marbling (P = 0.006), and respiratory distress (P = 0.002), and GCS 3-9 (P = 0.007) were found to be independent risk factors for mortality in our patient population. CONCLUSIONS: Children are at high risk of developing serious complications, even death, from severe scorpion envenomation. Here we identified multiple factors that appear to increase the mortality risk in children after scorpion envenomation, including previously described central nervous system alterations.

Suicide attempts in Morocco: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Suicide is a widespread phenomenon that affects persons of all ages, and it has become a major public health problem in Morocco. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to describe the epidemiological profile of suicide attempters in Morocco, as well as the identification of associated factors. METHODS: The present work is a systematic review that was conducted according to the recommendations of the "Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (2009)", including articles dealing with suicide attempts in Morocco that meet the usual inclusion criteria. The PubMed, ScienceDirect and Scopus databases were searched; articles had to be written in English or French. Additional studies were manually identified through via Google Scholar. Quality assessment of the included studies was carried out according to the NIH Assessment Tool. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020165493). RESULTS: Twenty studies were selected. Adults and adolescents are the age groups most affected by suicide. That said, the phenomenon mainly concerns children over 10 years of age. In some studies, more than 90% of the cases involve females, and they are more numerous in urban than in rural settings, and single individuals are more affected than married people. As for children and adolescents, most of them had divorced parents, and more than 50% of suicidal persons of all ages had a low socio-economic level. Although females are more likely than males to commit suicide, males are more exposed to death due to the violent means used. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the alarming rate of suicide in our country, nationwide prevention strategies are called for.

Oral health profile status and treatment needs in the Salvadoran elderly population: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Older adults are a highly vulnerable group in their general health condition, including oral health that can be influenced by different factors, among them, changes in oral tissues inherent to the physiological processes of aging and by systemic condition. In El Salvador, it is a group that has received little attention at the public health level. OBJECTIVE: To determine the profile of the oral health status and treatment needs of the elderly population in El Salvador. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Secondary cross-sectional analysis of data from the last oral health survey in 471 Salvadorans aged 60 years and older. The variables under study were: sociodemographics, brushing frequency, oral hygiene according to simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S), caries experience according to decayed, missing, and filled teeth index (DMFT) modified with international caries detection and assessment system (ICDAS) criteria, periodontal status through the community periodontal index of treatment needs (CPITN), edentulism and treatment needs. Statistical analysis was conducted using chi-square test, ANOVA, z-test and linear regression (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The older adults presented poor oral hygiene, low brushing frequency, high tooth loss with an average of 16 missing teeth while one third presented total edentulism. Most of the older adults were categorized as having "poor or very Poor" oral hygiene. Almost all respondents presented some degree of periodontal disease and required restorative intervention. CONCLUSION: The oral health status of elderly Salvadoran is poor. Furthermore, the development of public policies and specific oral health strategies aimed at this population is urgent.

Epidemiological profile of surgical treatment of varicose veins in Brazil from 2010 to 2020.

Background: Varicose veins have become more common over recent years and in the most serious cases surgical treatment is necessary to resolve patients' clinical status. Despite their importance, there are no epidemiological studies that cover the whole of Brazil, showing how surgery to correct varicose veins conducted by the Unified Health System (SUS) is distributed in the country. Objectives: To describe the ecological profile of surgical treatment to correct varicose veins in Brazil from 2010 to 2020. Methods: This is a descriptive-analytical study of data obtained from the SUS Hospital Information System. These data were tabulated and categorized by state, region, type of procedure, and year. BioEstat 5.3 was used to conduct chi-square statistical tests with a 95% confidence interval and significance cutoff of p <0.05. Results: From 2010 to 2020, 755,752 surgical operations to treat varicose veins were conducted; 292,538 were unilateral (38.71%) and 463,214 (61.29%) were bilateral. Of these, 418,791 (55.41%) procedures were performed in the Southeast region, followed by 180,689 (23.91%) in the South region. A total of 40 deaths were registered in connection with these procedures during the period, 26 of which (65%) were associated with bilateral surgery and the majority of which occurred in the Southeast (24 deaths). Conclusions: It was observed that the majority of procedures are performed in the Southeast and South regions, and that bilateral elective surgery is the most prevalent.

Epidemiological profile of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant Mycobacterium Tubrculosis among Congolese patients.

BACKGROUND: There is paucity of data on the prevalence and distribution of multidrug- Resistant-Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in the Republic of Congo. Among the challenges resides the implementation of a robust TB resistance diagnostic program using molecular tools. In resource limited settings there is a need to gather data to enable prioritization of actions. The objective of this study was is to implement molecular tools as a best of diagnosing MDR and XDR-TB among presumptive tuberculosis patients referred to reference hospital of Makelekele in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. METHODS: We have conducted a cross-sectional study, including a total of 92 presumptive pulmonary tuberculosis patients and who had never received treatment recruited at the reference hospital of Makelekele from October 2018 to October 2019. The socio-demographic and clinical data were collected as well as sputum samples. Rifampicin resistance was investigated using Xpert (Cepheid) and second-line TB drugs Susceptibility testing were performed by the Brucker HAIN Line Probe Assay (GenoType MTBDRsl VER 2.0 assay) method. RESULTS: From the 92 recruited patients, 57 (62%) were found positive for the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. The prevalence of rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) was 9.8% (9/92) and importantly 2.2% were pre-XDR/XDR. CONCLUSION: This study showed a high rate of rifampicin resistance and the presence of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis in the study area in new patients. This study highlights the need for further studies of TB drug resistance in the country.

Paediatric COVID-19: Milder Presentation-A Silver Lining in Dark Cloud.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinico-epidemiological profile of paediatric patients with Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection during the pandemic. METHODS: Clinico-epidemiological and laboratory profile of children between 1 month and 14 years were studied between 15 May and 31 July 2020, who had positive nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: A total of 30 children with median age of 10.5 years (8 months to 14 years) were included in the present study. Sixty percent were boys. Twenty-seven (90%) belonged to an urban area and all 30 children were from a containment area. All were belonging to Kuppuswamy upper lower and lower socioeconomic class. Twenty-one (70%) were asymptomatic. All children had a positive household contact. Symptomatic children had only mild symptoms of fever, dry cough and rhinitis. All were fully vaccinated as per age. Nine (30%) had anaemia. The mean leucocyte count was 7470 ± 2427 (4300-14 100). Leucocytosis was seen in 3 (9%) children. C-reactive protein was found to be raised in only 4 (13%) children. We did not find alteration in sense of smell and taste. No mortality was reported. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 in paediatric patients is usually mild. Severe acute respiratory infection is not a major manifestation of COVID 19 infection in children. All children infected by the novel Corona virus-2 in this study, have a documented household contact.

Epidemiological profile and spectrum of neglected tropical disease eumycetoma from Delhi, North India.

Mycetoma is a chronic granulomatous, suppurative and progressive inflammatory disease that usually involves the subcutaneous tissue and bones after traumatic inoculation of the causative organism. In India, actinomycotic mycetoma is prevalent in south India, south-east Rajasthan and Chandigarh, while eumycetoma, which constitutes one third of the total cases, is mainly reported from north India and central Rajasthan. The objective was to determine the epidemiological profile and spectrum of eumycetoma from a tertiary care hospital in Delhi, North India. Thirty cases of eumycetoma were diagnosed by conventional methods of direct microscopy, culture and species-specific sequencing as per standard protocol. The spectrum of fungal pathogens included Exophiala jeanselmei, Madurella mycetomatis, Fusarium solani, Sarocladium kiliense, Acremonium blochii, Aspergillus nidulans, Fusarium incarnatum, Scedosporium apiospermum complex, Curvularia lunata and Medicopsis romeroi. Eumycetoma can be treated with antifungal therapy and needs to be combined with surgery. It has good prognosis if it is timely diagnosed and the correct species identified by culture for targeted therapy of these patients. Black moulds required prolonged therapy. Its low reporting and lack of familiarity may predispose patients to misdiagnosis and consequently delayed treatment. Hence health education and awareness campaign on the national and international level in the mycetoma belt is crucial.

Comparison of viral and epidemiological profiles of hospitalized children with severe acute respiratory infection in Beijing and Shanghai, China.

BACKGROUND: No comparison data have been reported on viral and epidemiological profiles of hospitalized children with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) in Beijing or Shanghai, China. METHODS: We collected 700 nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) from hospitalized children with SARI in Beijing (northern China) and Shanghai (southern China). Multiple respiratory viruses (including 15 common viruses) were screened by validated polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or real-time reverse transcription-PCR assays and confirmed by sequencing. Demographic data and the distribution of viral infections were also examined. RESULTS: Of 700 samples, 547 (78.1%) tested positive for viral infections. The picornaviruses (PIC), which included rhinovirus (RV) and enterovirus (EV), were the most common (34.0%), followed by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (28.3%), human bocavirus (HBoV) (19.1%), adenovirus (ADV) (13.7%), human coronaviruses (HCoV) (10.7%), influenza A and B (8.9%), parainfluenza virus (PIV 1-3) (7.9%), and human metapneumovirus (HMPV) (5.0%). PIC (RV/EV) and RSV were the most prevalent etiological agents of SARI in both cities. The total and age-matched prevalence of RSV, HCoV, and hMPV among SARI children under 5 years old were significantly higher in Beijing than in Shanghai. Different age and seasonal distribution patterns of the viral infections were found between Beijing and Shanghai. CONCLUSIONS: Viral infection was tested and shown to be the most prevalent etiological agent among children with SARI in either the Beijing or the Shanghai area, while showing different patterns of viral and epidemiological profiles. Our findings provide a better understanding of the roles of geographic location and climate in respiratory viral infections in hospitalized children with SARI.

High snakebite underreporting rate in the Centre Region of Cameroon: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: In Cameroon, since the first epidemiological week held in 2015, snakebites have been registered among Potential Epidemic Diseases (PED). In the Centre Region, the most densely populated of the country, weekly reports of snakebites are generated at health districts level for monthly data updates. METHODS: To contribute to the better management of snakebite cases, an observational study was conducted to assess the snakebite reporting rate in the Centre Region of Cameroon. The results of this retro-prospective survey were confronted to those of the weekly epidemiological surveillance system, recorded in the PED regional data base. RESULTS: The incidence of bites was relatively high (36.6 bites per 100,000 inhabitants), as well as the general attack rate (about 49 envenomations per 100 victims). The lethality recorded was 2.5% and the mortality was about 1 death per 100,000 inhabitants a year. The sex ratio was largely female biased (61.6%). The bites occurred mostly during the rainy season (73.0%). Bitten victims were mainly farmers (47.4%), and agriculture was the main risk factor. The comparative analysis of the data suggested a high non-reporting rate of snakebite cases (67.8%). CONCLUSION: Snakebite is an endemic condition in the Centre Region of Cameroon. Because of the high rate of non-reporting of cases, the collection of information from the registers of the health facilities only appears not enough to assess the real importance of envenomation in this Region.

Cancer mortality in Rieti province (Latium Region, Italy) for the years 2006-2010: evaluation of temporal and spatial trends and comparison with the other Latium provinces.

BACKGROUND: The present research aims to obtain information on cancer deaths in the five Latium provinces in the years 2006-2010 and to highlight similarities and differences between them. METHODS: The survey was carried through statistical elaboration of cancer mortality data for the years 2006-2010 obtained from the National Institute of Statistics. RESULTS: The mortality due to oncological diseases in Rieti province showed a decreasing temporal trend for the years investigated. Among all the Latium provinces, Rieti presented the lowest standardized mortality rates. This phenomenon could be related to specific environmental conditions and low levels of air, water and soil pollution affecting the Rieti province. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study show that the "healthy" environment of Rieti province could be considered as a benchmark for studies in oncological diseases.

Epidemiological profile of cancer mortality in a province of central Italy for the years 2008 and 2009: preliminary analysis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to perform a preliminary analysis of the mortality data for cancer as widely as possible, in order to obtain useful information for planning specific public health interventions. For this purpose, data on cancer mortality in the province of Rieti (Latium, central Italy) have been collected and analysed. To date, in the Rieti province a Cancer Registry record is not available. METHODS: The study was conducted through statistical analysis of cancer mortality data related to the years 2008 and 2009, obtained from the National Institute of Statistics. Data were cumulative for the province of Rieti and specific for the five districts in which the province is divided. RESULTS: The standardized mortality rates obtained for Rieti province resulted lower than those reported for the other provinces of the Latium region, for Italy and for the European Community, both for 2008 and 2009. In these years, the anatomical areas more affected in terms of mortality were "trachea, bronchus and lung", "colorectal" and "stomach", but gender differences were evidenced. CONCLUSIONS: The present study, also considering the limitation of two years studied only, leads to some basic insights about the importance of updating mortality data to trace an epidemiological profile, to evaluate the presence of risk and protective factors, to program strategically health interventions, and to assess the effectiveness of these interventions.

Letter to the editor: Epidemiological profile of stroke in Qatar: Insights from a seven-year observational study.

We have thoroughly engaged with the article titled "Epidemiological profile of stroke in Qatar: Insights from a seven-year observational study". The author's diligent efforts regarding this critical subject matter are greatly appreciated [1], which is worthy of reader acknowledgment. We sincerely appreciate the author's ongoing efforts on this vital subject, which deserve recognition. The primary conclusion of the article is that the incidence of stroke is increasing. However, it remains relatively low compared to the rising trend observed in Western countries. We agree with this assessment. It highlights the multi-ethnic population and unique risk factors of the Qatari and expatriate populations that are associated with stroke. The necessity of investing in designated stroke care strategies and balanced care for all population groups is underscored by the improved emergency medical services and healthcare access that have contributed to improving stroke care. Based on this, there are a few additional elements that could have contributed to the article's conclusion.

Male and female disparities in breast cancer epidemiology: A comparative cross-sectional analysis of a Brazilian cohort (2017-2021).

Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare condition, accounting for approximately 1 % of all breast cancer cases. Nevertheless, the paucity of MBC-specific research has impeded a thorough understanding of MBC. In this study, we aimed to delineate the epidemiological implications of MBC in Brazil and benchmarked it against female breast cancer (FBC). This retrospective study analyzed data from the DATASUS database (2017-2021), which assessed the incidence of breast cancer in both sexes. All statistical analyses were performed using descriptive statistics and inferential methods, with significance set at a 95 % confidence interval. We identified 4,326 (1.7 %) and 233,793 (94.2 %) patients with MBC and FBC, respectively, in Brazil. Despite the general population concentration in the Southeast, MBC cases were more prevalent in the Northeast (p < 0.0004). At breast cancer diagnosis, males were typically older (mean age 59.5 [±10.2] years) than females (mean age 55.7 7 [±9.8] years). MBC was more commonly diagnosed clinically compared with FBC, which was most commonly diagnosed via screening. Surgical diagnostics were twice as likely in males, who also more frequently presented with advanced disease stages (stages III and IV; 72.8 % vs. 59.3 %), leading to a higher rate of mastectomy. Treatment was initiated earlier in males than in females. Although MBC comprises a minority of breast cancer cases, it is more frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage compared with FBC and necessitates aggressive treatment. Our study also underscores the potential benefit of prompt initiation of therapy and need for tailored clinical approaches in patients with MBC.

The Clinical Profile of Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Presenting to the Emergency Department at a Tertiary Care Hospital in India.

Background Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) poses a significant burden on healthcare systems globally, including in India, due to its high morbidity and mortality rates. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients presenting with ADHF to the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary care hospital in India. Methodology This observational study was conducted at Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital, and Research Centre in Pune, India. Ninety patients aged 12 years and older who presented with signs and symptoms of heart failure (HF) to the ED between January 2023 and March 2024 were enrolled as participants. Ethical approval was obtained. Written consent was obtained from all participants. Clinical diagnoses were based on patient history, physical examination, chest radiograph, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography, and radiological and laboratory findings. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 29.0.2.0 (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.) and represented as mean±SD, frequency (n), and percentage. Results The study involved 90 participants with a mean age of 61.1±16.3 years. The cohort comprised 51 males (56.7%) and females 39 (43.3%). Dyspnea was the most common clinical presentation in all participants, followed by swelling of feet in 58 (64.4%) cases. The mean systolic blood pressure noted was 142.1±42.8 mmHg. Hypertension was the most frequently identified risk factor, present in 52 (57.8%) cases. The most common precipitating factor identified was anemia in 39 (43.3%) cases. Point-of-care ultrasonography (pulmonary) revealed significant B-lines (≥2 of the eight thoracic zones with ≥3 B-lines or B-line count in all eight zones ≥10) in 85 (94.4%) cases. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) was elevated in all participants. The mean hemoglobin levels in males and females were 13.2±2.6 g/dL and 10.6±2.8 g/dL, respectively. The mean serum sodium level was 132.4±6.2 mEq/dL. Serum sodium level below 135.0 mEq/L (hyponatremia) was found in 53 (58.9%) cases. The mean serum creatinine level was 1.7±1.4 mg/dL. Diuretics were the most common treatment modality used in the ED. More than half of the patients (72.2%) were transferred to the intensive care unit; the mortality rate in the ED was 2.2%. Conclusion This study provides comprehensive insights into the characteristics, management, and outcomes of ADHF patients presenting to the ED of a tertiary care hospital in India. The findings highlight the challenges and complexities in managing ADHF in this population and underscore the need for tailored therapeutic approaches to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare utilization.

Epidemiological and Clinical Profile of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in Children in a Tertiary Care Center in Jammu.

Background Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a viral illness commonly seen in children under five years of age, characterized by typical manifestations such as oral lesions and rashes on the hands and feet. Coxsackievirus A-16 (CV-A16) and Enterovirus A-71 (EV-A71) are the major etiological agents of this disease. Over the past two decades, there have been several outbreaks of HFMD all across India. As there is no chemoprophylaxis available for the disease, it becomes even more significant to conduct regular research and surveillance for HFMD. Aim and objective To observe the clinico-epidemiological profile along with constitutional symptoms in HFMD patients attending pediatric OPD. Methods This hospital-based prospective observational study was conducted in the Post Graduate Department of Pediatrics, Acharya Shri Chander College of Medical Sciences and Hospital (ASCOMS & H), Sidra, Jammu and Kashmir, India, over six months from April to September 2023. A total of 132 children with symptoms of HFMD visited the pediatric OPD. After using inclusive and exclusive criteria, we selected a sample size of 112 children with HFMD. The descriptive data were expressed in terms of percentages and proportions, and their graphical representation was done using MS Excel (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington, United States). Results Among the 112 HFMD patients examined, the highest peak was seen in August, followed by another one in September. Most of the cases were seen in the age group of zero to three years, and it was observed that there was a linear fall in the number of cases with the increase in age. Nearly 61% of cases were male, showing a slight male preponderance. Vesiculopapular rash on the hand and foot was the most common clinical characteristic, whereas painful deglutition was noted to be the most common constitutional symptom in HFMD patients. About 27% had a positive family history, and nail changes post-recovery were present in 1.79% of cases during their regular follow-ups. Conclusions This study reveals that HFMD cases surged in August and September, with a history of contact in one-fourth of cases. Disease is seen more commonly in children under three years of age, and the incidence of cases decreases with the increase in age. The illness is usually contagious and can spread quickly; therefore, more awareness programs should be done to educate parents and promote hygiene to prevent contact cases.

Epidemiological and Histological Characteristics of Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: A Case of the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Ibn Rochd Hospital, Casablanca, Morocco.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid carcinoma (TC) represents the most frequent type of endocrine cancers, with its incidence steadily increasing worldwide. Our study aimed to describe the epidemiological and histological characteristics of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) at the Department of Nuclear Medicine in Ibn Rochd University Hospital, Casablanca, Morocco. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of DTC cases treated between 2004 and 2012 in the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Ibn Rochd University Hospital. We retrospectively reviewed medical records at this department, focusing on sociodemographic characteristics, such as age, gender, geographic origin, family history of cancer, and clinical information related to tumor features, including histological type, tumor size, and multifocality. The data were statistically analyzed using the jamovi 2.3.17 software (released September 2022, the jamovi project, retrieved from https://www.jamovi.org), considering the characteristics of the variables. RESULTS: The findings revealed that 89% of the patients were females, and 78.7% were under the age of 55, ranging from 14 to 85 years. Married status represented 75.25% of our cases. Personal history of cancer and a family history of thyroid carcinoma were present in 0.9% and 1.17%, respectively. Concerning histological characteristics, the main histological type was papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) at 93%. Within these 1,283 cases, the follicular variant was the most frequent (42.89%). In addition, the tumor size was less than 2 cm in 43.80%, and it was encapsulated in 21.60%. Moreover, we staged our data according to the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system, revealing that at the time of diagnosis, 94.13% were in stage I. CONCLUSION: This study provides an overview of the epidemiological and histological characteristics of DTC in Morocco. The findings highlight the diversity and differences between clinical presentation and epidemiological profile in Moroccan patients, contributing to a better understanding of the disease and facilitating adapted management.

Pediatric Rheumatological Diseases in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Central India: A Retrospective Clinico-Epidemiological Profile.

Introduction: Infectious diseases account for the major health problem in developing countries like India. Though non-infectious diseases like rheumatological disorders are not very common, the burden of these disorders as a group is high in society due to the huge population size. The rheumatological disorders have varied presentations which may mimic other infectious pathologies leading to a significant time lag in the diagnosis. There is inadequate data on the exact burden of these diseases. The spectrum of rheumatological disorders in developing countries is different as compared to the Western world. Hence this study was carried out with the aim of studying the clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory profile of rheumatological disorders in the pediatric age group in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: It was a retrospective study. Data of patients admitted with the diagnosis of rheumatological disorder in the age group of one month to 15 years during the period from June 2018 to December 2022 were reviewed. Results: A total of 35 patients were identified with 20 being female. The mean age of the patients was 8.42± 3.95 years. The most common disease was juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)- 10(28.57%) with an equal proportion of polyarticular JIA and systemic-onset JIA, followed by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) nine (25.71%) and Kawasaki Disease (KD)- eight (22.85%). The commonest presenting complaint was fever followed by a rash, whereas the most common findings were pallor and rash. Anemia was present in 25 (71.42%). C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were high in 20 (57.14%) and 22 (62.85%), respectively. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were positive in 10 (28.57%) and rheumatoid factor (RA) factor in only one (2.85%) case. Conclusions: The most common rheumatological disorder identified was JIA. Fever and rash were the common presenting complaints. Pallor was the commonest sign whereas anemia was the commonest hematological abnormality.

Comparison of clinical and epidemiological features of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 and non-O157 infections in British Columbia, 2009 to 2011.

INTRODUCTION: Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are major foodborne agents that have the potential to cause severe enteric illnesses and large outbreaks worldwide. Several studies found non-O157 infections to be clinically milder than O157 STEC infections. OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical and epidemiological profiles of O157 and non-O157 STEC human infections in British Columbia (BC). METHODS: All STEC cases reported in BC from 2009 to 2011 by four local health authorities were included in the study. Cases were classified according to STEC serotype based on laboratory information. Information was gathered via case interview forms. Data analysis included the χ(2) test and Mann-Whitney test; P<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 260 STEC cases were reported, including 154 (59.2%) O157 cases, 63 (24.2%) non-O157 cases and 43 (16.5%) STEC cases with no serotype identified. Hospitalization rate was higher and duration of hospitalization was significantly longer for O157 cases compared with non-O157 cases, but other clinical features were not significantly different. Patients with non-O157 infections were significantly more likely to have travelled outside Canada, less likely to report food exposure at social gatherings and more likely to consume bagged greens and cheese. DISCUSSION: O157 is the predominant O serotype in BC and appeared to be more clinically severe than non-O157 STEC infections. However, the true incidence and severity of non-O157 remain unknown due to our current inability to detect all non-O157 cases. The present study and the literature suggest the need to identify more predictive virulence factors because serotype does not consistently predict disease severity.

INTRODUCTION: Les Escherichia coli producteurs de Shigatoxine (ECST) sont d'importants agents de toxi-infection alimentaire qui ont le potentiel de provoquer de graves maladies entériques et de vastes éclosions dans le monde. Selon plusieurs études, les infections à ECST non O157 sont plus modérées sur le plan clinique que celles à ECST O157. OBJECTIF: Comparer les profils cliniques et épidémiologiques des infections humaines à ECST O157 et non O157 en Colombie-Britannique (CB). MÉTHODOLOGIE: Les chercheurs ont inclus dans l'étude tous les cas d'ECST déclarés en CB entre 2009 et 2011 par quatre régies de la santé locales. Ils ont classé les cas selon le sérotype d'ECST tiré de données de laboratoire et ont obtenu de l'information au moyen de formulaires d'entrevue des cas. L'analyse des données incluait le test χ2 et le test de Mann-Whitney, et le P<0,05 était considéré comme statistiquement significatif. RÉSULTATS: Au total, 260 cas d'ECST ont été signalés, dont 154 cas O157 (59,2 %), 63 cas non O157 (24,2%) et 43 cas sans sérotype défini (16,5 %). Le taux d'hospitalisation était plus élevé et la durée d'hospitalisation considérablement plus longue dans les cas O157 que dans les cas non O157, mais d'autres caractéristiques cliniques n'étaient pas très différentes. Les patients atteints d'une infection non O157 étaient beaucoup plus susceptibles d'avoir voyagé à l'extérieur du Canada, moins susceptibles de déclarer avoir été exposés à des aliments lors de rencontres sociales et plus susceptibles d'avoir consommé des légumes verts emballés et du fromage. EXPOSÉ: Le sérotype O157 est le sérotype O prédominant en CB et semblait être plus grave sur le plan clinique que les infections à ECST non O157. Cependant, on ne connaît toujours pas la véritable incidence et la véritable gravité des infections non O157 en raison de notre incapacité à déceler tous les cas non O157. D'après la présente étude et les publications, il faudra déterminer des facteurs de virulence plus prédictifs, parce que le sérotype ne permet pas de prédire systématiquement la gravité de la maladie.