Phagolysosomal resistance hypothesized to be a danger signal.

Antigen presenting cells sometimes require T cell "help" to kill and decompose microbes they capture, especially when those microbes resist effector molecules including nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species. Pathogens are more likely to resist those effectors, shared by the innate and adaptive immune systems, than are commensals. Does such resistance alert the immune system to the danger posed by those pathogens? Several lines of evidence suggest this occurs. Mouse studies showed a surprising exacerbation, not alleviation of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, by suppression of nitric oxide production, but only when the suppression was applied to animals undergoing vaccination with myelin. In contrast, animals receiving T cells activated by vaccination without suppression of nitric oxide benefitted from reduced autoimmune cytotoxicity when nitric oxide production was suppressed after adoptive transfer. Vaccinia and adenovirus suppress nitric oxide production and have been successful vaccine platforms, also consistent with the above phagolysosomal resistance hypothesis. The hypothesis solves a long-standing quandary-how can nitric oxide protect against both infection and autoimmunity, especially autoimmune diseases for which it seems a major effector? The importance of physical linkage between epitopes, first proposed in Bretscher's Two-Step, Two-Signal theory dependent on B cells, is extended to include phagolysosomal resistance in general, plus a corollary proposition that the immune system detects resistance to dissociation of high-affinity pathogenic ligands from host binding sites to make neutralizing antibodies.

Effectiveness of a predator avoidance program for elementary-aged youth.

Introduction: With thousands of children abducted and abused each year, efforts are needed to keep children safe from predators. Revved Up Kids (RUK) is an intervention that gives elementary-aged children the necessary tools to recognize and avoid dangerous people and situations. The purposes of this study were to describe the RUK intervention components and document its effectiveness. Methods: This evaluation utilized a quasi-experimental design to determine the effectiveness of RUK. The single-session intervention was offered in two formats: one-hour (n = 119 youth) and three-hour (n = 28 youth) workshops. RUK workshop effectiveness was compared to a comparison group (n = 211 youth) that did not receive an intervention. Data were collected at baseline, immediate-post, and 1-month follow-up from second to fourth grade participants. A series of linear mixed models were fitted. Results: Compared to the comparison group, participants in both RUK workshops showed significant improvements across the three time points. More specifically, participants in the one-hour and three-hour RUK workshops significantly increased their safety knowledge measured by the Recognize Score (p < 0.01), Avoid Score (p < 0.01), and Escape Score (p < 0.01), respectively. Discussion: These effective single-session workshops can be easily introduced into schools and community-based settings to complement existing efforts to prevent child abduction and abuse.

Image-Acceleration Multimodal Danger Detection Model on Mobile Phone for Phone Addicts.

With the popularity of smartphones, a large number of "phubbers" have emerged who are engrossed in their phones regardless of the situation. In response to the potential dangers that phubbers face while traveling, this paper proposes a multimodal danger perception network model and early warning system for phubbers, designed for mobile devices. This proposed model consists of surrounding environment feature extraction, user behavior feature extraction, and multimodal feature fusion and recognition modules. The environmental feature module utilizes MobileNet as the backbone network to extract environmental description features from the rear-view image of the mobile phone. The behavior feature module uses acceleration time series as observation data, maps the acceleration observation data to a two-dimensional image space through GADFs (Gramian Angular Difference Fields), and extracts behavior description features through MobileNet, while utilizing statistical feature vectors to enhance the representation capability of behavioral features. Finally, in the recognition module, the environmental and behavioral characteristics are fused to output the type of hazardous state. Experiments indicate that the accuracy of the proposed model surpasses existing methods, and it possesses the advantages of compact model size (28.36 Mb) and fast execution speed (0.08 s), making it more suitable for deployment on mobile devices. Moreover, the developed image-acceleration multimodal phubber hazard recognition network combines the behavior of mobile phone users with surrounding environmental information, effectively identifying potential hazards for phubbers.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation versus surgery for solitary T1N0M0 papillary thyroid carcinoma in the danger triangle.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the safety and efficiency of ultrasound-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and surgical resection (SR) for thyroid papillary carcinoma (PTC) in the danger triangle area. METHODS: The clinical data of 298 patients who underwent either percutaneous RFA or SR for PTC in the thyroid danger triangle at our hospital between January 2018 and April 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Propensity score matching is employed to regulate for confounding factors. All patients undergoing ablation were treated using a strategy that combined sufficient paratracheal fluid isolation with a low-power, short electrode. Disease progression was analyzed in patients with T1N0M0 PTC (T1a and T1b) employed in Kaplan‒Meier curves. Treatment parameters and the rates of local recurrence, distant metastasis, and complications are recorded and compared. RESULTS: Of 182 eligible patients who were included, 91 were in the RFA (age 44.84 ± 13.19; 71 females; 77 T1a) and 91 were in the SR (age 47.36 ± 11.05; 68 females; 69 T1a). The average treatment time, length of hospital stays, blood loss volume, and scar length are substantially less in the RFA than in the SR. Major complications as well as postoperative permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and postoperative transient parathyroid dysfunction occurred only in the SR, with a substantial distinction between the two groups (p < 0.05). There is no substantial distinction in the disease progression between RFA and SR treatment of T1N0M0 PTC. CONCLUSION: RFA is as effective as surgery for PTC in the danger triangle area in the short term, with faster recovery and fewer complications. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Radiofrequency ablation has a clinical efficacy comparable to surgery in the treatment of papillary thyroid carcinoma in the danger triangle area in the short term with the advantages of faster recovery and fewer complications when compared with surgery. KEY POINTS: Use of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the thyroid danger triangle is still controversial. RFA and surgery groups showed no difference in disease progressions, and no major complications occurred with RFA. Radiofrequency ablation offers a new option for papillary thyroid carcinoma patients in the danger triangle.

Mitochondrial homeostasis in odontoblast: Physiology, pathogenesis and targeting strategies.

Caries and pulpitis remain a major global disease burden and affect the quality of life of patients. Odontoblasts are key players in the progression of caries and pulpitis, not only secreting and mineralizing to form dentin, but also acting as a wall of defense to initiate immune defenses. Mitochondrion is an information processor for numerous cellular activities, and dysregulation of mitochondrion homeostasis not only affects cellular metabolism but also triggers a wide range of diseases. Elucidating mitochondrial homeostasis in odontoblasts can help deepen scholars' understanding of odontoblast-associated diseases. Articles on mitochondrial homeostasis in odontoblasts were evaluated for information pertinent to include in this narrative review. This narrative review focused on understanding the complex interplay between mitochondrial homeostasis in odontoblasts under physiological and pathological conditions. Furthermore, mitochondria-centered therapeutic strategies (including mitochondrial base editing, targeting platforms, and mitochondrial transplantation) were emphasized by resolving key genes that regulate mitochondrial function. Mitochondria are involved in odontoblast differentiation and function, and act as mitochondrial danger-associated molecular patterns (mtDAMPs) to mediate odontoblast pathological progression. Novel mitochondria-centered therapeutic strategies are particularly attractive as emerging therapeutic approaches for the maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis. It is expected to probe key events of odontoblast differentiation and advance the clinical resolution of dentin formation and mineralization disorders and odontoblast-related diseases.

Sex Disparities: Couple's Knowledge and Attitude Towards Obstetric Danger Signs and Maternal Health Care: in Rural Jimma Zone of Ethiopia.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare knowledge and attitudes towards obstetric danger signs and care between females receiving maternal care and their male partners. Methods and Materials: A community-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural setting of Jimma, Ethiopia. Female and their male partners were selected randomly. The number of participants included from each sex was 3235 totaling 6470. Face-to-face data collection was employed using open data kit (ODK) software. A pre-test was performed before the data collection. Descriptive and analytical statistical analysis was used to compare knowledge and attitudes regarding obstetric danger signs and care. Predictor variables were declared considering a 95% confidence interval, adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and P-value less than 0.05. Results: On average, male and female participants identified at least two obstetric danger signs. More females could mention more antenatal, childbirth, and postnatal danger signs than their male partners. Both females and their male partners who listened to the radio at least once per week had a statistically significant positive attitude towards obstetric care. Nonetheless, both had an almost similar magnitude of attitude towards obstetric care irrespective of belonging to different occupational, educational, and other social strata. Males' knowledge of danger signs during pregnancy (95% CI = (1.07-1.62), AOR = 1.32, P < 0.008) and postnatal care (95% CI = (1.16-1.89), AOR = 1.48, P < 0.002) had a statistically significant association with the females utilization antenatal care (ANC) service, though not delivery care (DC) or postnatal (PNC). Conclusion: There were inequalities in obstetric danger signs knowledge between females and their male partners. Male partners' knowledge of obstetric danger signs is not only significant during pregnancy and delivery but also has a lasting impact on post-natal service utilization, which underscores the importance of their involvement in maternal healthcare.

FAS(APO), DAMP, and AKT Phosphoproteins Expression Predict the Development of Nosocomial Infection After Pediatric Burn Injury.

Pediatric burn injuries are a leading cause of morbidity with infections being the most common acute complication. Thermal injuries elicit a heightened cytokine response while suppressing immune function; however, the mechanisms leading to this dysfunction are still unknown. Our aim was to identify extracellular proteins and circulating phosphoprotein expression in the plasma after burn injury to predict the development of nosocomial infection (NI). Plasma was collected within 72 hours after injury from sixty-four pediatric burn subjects; of these, eighteen went on to develop a NI. Extracellular damage associated molecular proteins (DAMPs), FAS(APO), and protein kinase b (AKT) signaling phosphoproteins were analyzed. Subjects who went on to develop a NI had elevated high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), and FAS expression than those who did not develop a NI after injury (NoNI). Concurrently, phosphorylated (p-) AKT and mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) were elevated in those subjects who went on to develop a NI. Quadratic discriminant analysis revealed distinct differential profiles between NI and NoNI burn subjects using HSP90, FAS, and p-mTOR. The area under the receiver-operator characteristic curves displayed significant ability to distinguish between these two burn subject cohorts. These findings provide insight into predicting the signaling proteins involved in the development of NI in pediatric burn patients. Further these proteins show promise as a diagnostic tool for pediatric burn patients at risk of developing infection while additional investigation may lead to potential therapeutics to prevent NI.

The receipt of health information on neonatal dangers signs during the immediate postpartum period and its determinants in Ethiopia: a multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression analysis of the 2016 Ethiopian demographic health survey report.

BACKGROUND: Identification of neonatal danger signs and immediate access to health care are two global efforts aimed at enhancing newborn and child survival by preventing 75% of neonatal deaths. Despite various small-scale studies on women's awareness of neonatal danger signs in Ethiopia, little is known about the level of receiving health information on those danger signs during the immediate postpartum period at the national level. Hence, this study aimed at assessing the level, and its determinants of the service uptake in Ethiopia. METHODS: The data for this study was taken from the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS), which took place from January to June 2016 and covered all administrative regions of Ethiopia. A weighted sample of 7,589.8 women was analyzed using STATA version 16. To account for data clustering, a multivariable multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression analysis was employed to determine the effects of each predictor on the outcome variable. Adjusted odds ratio with its corresponding 95% confidence interval was used to declare the statistical significance of the explanatory variables. RESULTS: The receipt of health information on neonatal danger signs during the immediate postpartum period was 10.70% [95% CI:10.01, 11.40]. Variables namely living in Metropolitans [AOR = 2.06; 95%CI: 1.48, 2.88] and Large central [AOR = 1.83; 95%CI: 1.38, 2.42] regions, being in the highest wealth quintile [AOR = 1.87; 95% CI: 1.23, 2.84], being nulliparous [AOR = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.08, 0.87] and primiparous[AOR = 0.61;95% CI: 0.46, 0.79], getting adequate antenatal visits [AOR = 2.42; 95% CI: 1.75, 3.33], institutional delivery [AOR = 5.91; 95% CI: 4.66, 7.53], and receipt of postnatal visits [AOR = 3.52; 95% CI: 2.84, 4.38] were identified as significant determinants of receiving health information on newborn danger signs. CONCLUSION: The findings revealed that unacceptably low uptake of health information on newborn danger signs during the immediate postpartum period in Ethiopia. A concerted effort is needed from all stakeholders in the health sector to enhance the uptake of maternal health services (antenatal care, skilled delivery service, and postnatal care). Healthcare providers should pay special attention to nulliparous and primiparous women during and after delivery, and the government should also focus on women of peripheral regions, who make up a large portion of the low coverage.

Innate immune sensing of macromolecule homeostasis.

The innate immune system uses a distinct set of germline-encoded pattern recognition receptors to recognize molecular patterns initially thought to be unique to microbial invaders, named pathogen-associated molecular patterns. The concept was later further developed to include similar molecular patterns originating from host cells during tissue damage, known as damage-associated molecular patterns. However, recent advances in the mechanism of monogenic inflammatory diseases have highlighted a much more expansive repertoire of cellular functions that are monitored by innate immunity. Here, we summarize several examples in which an innate immune response is triggered when homeostasis of macromolecule in the cell is disrupted in non-infectious or sterile settings. These ever-growing sensing mechanisms expand the repertoire of innate immune recognition, positioning it not only as a key player in host defense but also as a gatekeeper of cellular homeostasis. Therapeutics inspired by these advances to restore cellular homeostasis and correct the immune system could have far-reaching implications.

Stretch Causes cffDNA and HMGB1-Mediated Inflammation and Cellular Stress in Human Fetal Membranes.

Danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are elevated within the amniotic cavity, and their increases correlate with advancing gestational age, chorioamnionitis, and labor. Although the specific triggers for their release in utero remain unclear, it is thought that they may contribute to the initiation of parturition by influencing cellular stress mechanisms that make the fetal membranes (FMs) more susceptible to rupture. DAMPs induce inflammation in many different tissue types. Indeed, they precipitate the subsequent release of several proinflammatory cytokines that are known to be key for the weakening of FMs. Previously, we have shown that in vitro stretch of human amnion epithelial cells (hAECs) induces a cellular stress response that increases high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) secretion. We have also shown that cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) induces a cytokine response in FM explants that is fetal sex-specific. Therefore, the aim of this work was to further investigate the link between stretch and the DAMPs HMGB1 and cffDNA in the FM. These data show that stretch increases the level of cffDNA released from hAECs. It also confirms the importance of the sex of the fetus by demonstrating that female cffDNA induced more cellular stress than male fetuses. Our data treating hAECs and human amnion mesenchymal cells with HMGB1 show that it has a differential effect on the ability of the cells of the amnion to upregulate the proinflammatory cytokines and propagate a proinflammatory signal through the FM that may weaken it. Finally, our data show that sulforaphane (SFN), a potent activator of Nrf2, is able to mitigate the proinflammatory effects of stretch by decreasing the levels of HMGB1 release and ROS generation after stretch and modulating the increase of key cytokines after cell stress. HMGB1 and cffDNA are two of the few DAMPs that are known to induce cytokine release and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activation in the FMs; thus, these data support the general thesis that they can function as potential central players in the normal mechanisms of FM weakening during the normal distension of this tissue at the end of a normal pregnancy.

Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis.

Cavernous sinus thrombosis is a potentially lethal subset of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis that may occur as a result of septic and aseptic etiologies. The overall incidence is estimated to be between 0.2 and 1.6 per 100,000 persons; and treatments include antibiotics, anticoagulation, corticosteroids, and surgery. Recent morbidity and mortality estimates are approximately 15% and 11%, respectively. Rapid identification and treatment are essential and may reduce the risk of poor outcome or death.

Skin thickness in preterm neonates: relationship with skin bilirubin and predicted mortality.

This study investigates the relationship between the thickness of skin in preterm infants and its link with bilirubin and mortality, as this may help understanding the potential deleterious effects of phototherapy. Observational, prospective cohort study enrolling preterm neonates needing phototherapy and admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit. Transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) and blood bilirubin were simultaneously measured before the onset of phototherapy, if any. The skin depth was measured by high-frequency point-of-care ultrasound. Mortality risk was estimated using the critical risk index for babies-II. Correlations and multivariate regressions (adjusting for several confounders) were applied to study the relationship between skin depth, TcB, and predicted mortality. One hundred fifty-nine neonates were studied. There was a positive and steady correlation between skin depth and TcB (r = 0.402 (95%CI: 0.206; 0.568), p < 0.001) and inverse correlation between skin depth and predicted mortality (r = -0.503 (95%CI: -0.61; -0.37), p < 0.001) as well as between TcB and predicted mortality (r = -0.303 (95%CI: -0.49; -0.09), p = 0.005). Multivariate analyses showed skin depth to be the strongest risk factors associated with both increasing TcB (ß = 198 (59;338), p < 0.001) and decreasing risk of death (ß = -24 (-46;2), p = 0.049). Blood bilirubin and gestational age were also associated with TcB and predicted mortality, respectively.   Conclusion: In NICU-admitted preterm infants, thicker skin is associated with higher TcB levels irrespective of gestational age. Greater skin depth is also associated with lower predicted mortality irrespective of blood bilirubin. What is Known: • In preterm infants, phototherapy may improve neuro-developmental outcomes but, particularly in the smallest and sickest ones, may increase mortality. • Mechanisms behind this effect are unclear but could involve the small thickness of preterm skin. This however has never been studied in relationship with bilirubin and mortality. What is New: • In NICU-admitted preterm infants, thicker skin is associated with higher levels of transcutaneous bilirubin, irrespective of gestational age and with lower predicted mortality, irrespective of blood bilirubin. • These data suggest that a thinner skin may contain less bilirubin to be photoisomerised and protect internal tissues less efficiently.

The threat sensitivity scale: A brief self-report measure of dispositional sensitivity toward perceiving threats to physical harm.

The possibility of experiencing physical harm caused by an object, animal, or person is an omnipresent risk in almost any situation. People show variability in their in the propensity to perceive the possibility of harm from any ostensibly innocuous object or situation-a so-called threat bias. Despite the important psychological and societal consequences resulting from individual differences in physical threat bias, there does not currently exist an easily administered means to capture this disposition. We therefore endeavored to create a brief reliable self-report index of threat sensitivity for use by the many fields interested in the role of threat processing. We present here a physical threat sensitivity scale (TSS) that captures the dispositional tendency to perceive the possibility of physical harm in ostensibly innocuous situations or objects. We detail the development and validation of the TSS as a reliable index of individual threat bias (Studies 1a and 1b) and provide strong convergent evidence of the relationship between TS and both relevant individual differences (Study 2) and behavioral and perceptual indicates of threat bias (Study 3 and Study 4).

Clinically relevant GABARAP deficiency abrogates bortezomib-induced immunogenic cell death in multiple myeloma.

Recently, it was revealed that the high-risk, poor-prognosis downregulation of GABA type A receptor-associated protein (GABARAP) causes a defect in both autophagy and surface exposure of calreticulin (CALR) in multiple myeloma (MM) cells responding to bortezomib. Hence, GABARAP-defective MM cells fail to undergo immunogenic cell death.

Impact of industrial hotspots on Tamla nala and Nunia nala confluence - a tributary of the Damodar river.

Clean water is essential for drinking, household use, and agriculture. Researchers studied 39 sites near Tamla nala and Nunia nala channels in Durgapur and Asansol City (West Bengal) to assess the deterioration level of water due to industrial discharge. During the first phase out of three, the researchers conducted a spatial representation of various physicochemical parameters, such as temperature, pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Hardness (TH), Electrical Conductivity (EC), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), significant anions such as chloride (Cl-), nitrate (NO3-), phosphate (PO4-3), sulfate (SO42-), cyanide (CN-1) and fluoride (F-), as well as heavy metals/metalloids such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As). As observed the parameters at various sites along the stream exceeded threshold limits majorly due to industrial discharge: highest pH, TDS, TH, EC, Cl-, SO42- at site 26; Fe at site 1, TSS, COD, CN- at site 33, 31, 2 respectively; Cd, Ni, Cu at site 19; Hg and Pb at site 3 and As at site 20. Contaminated areas were marked in red and secure areas in green. Additionally, the HMPI (Heavy metal pollution index) was estimated for eight locations to understand the impact of heavy metal pollution in the second phase of the study. An extremely high HMPI indicates heightened toxicity and health risks for both residents and outsiders. The Canadian Water Quality Index (1.0) was calculated for eight sites in the third phase based on seventeen parameters. The resulting WQI value was below 44, indicating poor water quality at the sites. Due to the poor quality and critical heavy metal toxicity, the authors recommended continuous monitoring, strict regulation enforcement, increased treatment capacity, Zero Liquid Discharge implementation, and raising awareness among residents.

Assessment of knowledge about neonatal danger signs among primiparous women at discharge from healthcare facilities.

This study explores the evaluation of knowledge regarding neonatal danger signs (NDS) among first-time mothers in Pakistan during their discharge from healthcare facilities. The investigation aimed to establish connections between their understanding of NDS and factors such as sociodemographic background, prenatal check-ups, and educational measures. Considering the persistently high neonatal mortality rates in low- and middle-income nations, recognizing maternal NDS awareness becomes crucial for promoting early medical attention and reducing neonatal health risks. Existing research highlights the role of maternal knowledge in shaping neonatal well-being; however, gaps in knowledge remain prevalent, especially among first-time mothers. Using a cross-sectional approach, data were gathered through structured questionnaires, revealing significant relationships among maternal NDS awareness, sociodemographic aspects, prenatal care, and educational interventions. It is noteworthy that first-time mothers demonstrated lower NDS knowledge than mothers with multiple childbirth experiences, while those with higher education displayed greater awareness The effects of educational interventions were diverse, and antenatal visits were linked to enhanced knowledge. This study highlights the significance of focused treatments that target knowledge deficiencies, which can empower women and contribute to the reduction of infant health problems and mortality. encouraging further exploration of effective strategies to augment maternal knowledge and proactive healthcare-seeking behaviors.

Cette étude explore l'évaluation des connaissances concernant les signes de danger néonatals (NDS) chez les primipares au Pakistan lors de leur sortie des établissements de santé. L'enquête visait à établir des liens entre leur compréhension du NDS et des facteurs tels que le contexte sociodémographique, les contrôles prénatals et les mesures éducatives. Compte tenu des taux de mortalité néonatale constamment élevés dans les pays à revenu faible ou intermédiaire, il devient crucial de reconnaître la sensibilisation maternelle aux NDS pour promouvoir des soins médicaux précoces et réduire les risques pour la santé néonatale. Les recherches existantes mettent en évidence le rôle des connaissances maternelles dans la formation du bien-être néonatal ; cependant, des lacunes dans les connaissances demeurent répandues, en particulier parmi les primo-mères. En utilisant une approche transversale, les données ont été recueillies au moyen de questionnaires structurés, révélant des relations significatives entre la sensibilisation maternelle au NDS, les aspects sociodémographiques, les soins prénatals et les interventions éducatives. Il convient de noter que les mères primipares ont démontré des connaissances NDS inférieures à celles des mères ayant eu plusieurs accouchements, tandis que celles ayant fait des études supérieures ont montré une plus grande conscience. Les effets des interventions éducatives étaient diversifiés et les visites prénatales étaient liées à une amélioration des connaissances. Cette étude met en évidence l'importance des traitements ciblés ciblant les déficits de connaissances, qui peuvent autonomiser les femmes et contribuer à la réduction des problèmes de santé et de la mortalité infantiles. encourager une exploration plus approfondie de stratégies efficaces pour accroître les connaissances maternelles et les comportements proactifs de recherche de soins de santé.

Level of knowledge about neonatal danger signs and associated factors among postpartum mothers in public hospitals, northeastern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Knowing and seeking medical attention for neonatal danger signs has many benefits for reducing neonatal morbidity and death. Despite numerous interventions that have been made to raise mothers' awareness about neonatal danger signs, the desired level of knowledge has not yet been reached in Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of knowledge of neonatal danger signs and associated factors among postpartum mothers in public hospitals in the Eastern Amhara region, northeastern Ethiopia. METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in four government hospitals between January 10, 2023, and February 10, 2023.421 participants in the study were selected using a systematic random sampling technique. Face-to-face interviews, observation, and chart reviews were used to collect the data. The association was discovered through multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULT: Only 36.6% (154) of mothers were knowledgeable about newborn danger signs in this study. Mothers who had higher institution status [(adjusted odds ratio) AOR = 3.355, 95% CI (1.751, 6.428)]; who were civil servants or a private employer [AOR = 2.986, 95% CI (1.822, 4.892)] and [AOR = 2.544, 95% CI (1.269, 5.138)]; and who had counseling about breastfeeding [AOR = 2.614, 95% CI (1.695, 4.029)] were positive predictors of awareness of neonatal danger signs. CONCLUSION: In this study, the level of mothers' awareness of newborn danger signs was low and required more effort. Moreover, mothers who were educated, worked as civil servants or private employers, had a family size of 4-6, and received breastfeeding counseling were linked to mothers' good awareness of newborn danger signs. As a result, intensive community and facility-based health promotion activities on newborn danger signs should be strengthened, with special emphasis on uneducated and housewife mothers and breastfeeding counseling sessions.

Pathogenesis of Alopecia Areata and Vitiligo: Commonalities and Differences.

Both alopecia areata (AA) and vitiligo are distinct, heterogenous, and complex disease entities, characterized by nonscarring scalp terminal hair loss and skin pigment loss, respectively. In AA, inflammatory cell infiltrates are in the deep reticular dermis close to the hair bulb (swarm of bees), whereas in vitiligo the inflammatory infiltrates are in the epidermis and papillary dermis. Immune privilege collapse has been extensively investigated in AA pathogenesis, including the suppression of immunomodulatory factors (e.g., transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), programmed death-ligand 1 (PDL1), interleukin-10 (IL-10), α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF)) and enhanced expression of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) throughout hair follicles. However, immune privilege collapse in vitiligo remains less explored. Both AA and vitiligo are autoimmune diseases that share commonalities in pathogenesis, including the involvement of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (and interferon-α (IFN- α) signaling pathways) and cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes (and activated IFN-γ signaling pathways). Blood chemokine C-X-C motif ligand 9 (CXCL9) and CXCL10 are elevated in both diseases. Common factors that contribute to AA and vitiligo include oxidative stress, autophagy, type 2 cytokines, and the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway (e.g., dickkopf 1 (DKK1)). Here, we summarize the commonalities and differences between AA and vitiligo, focusing on their pathogenesis.

Awareness and healthcare seeking behavior of neonatal danger signs, and predictor variables among mothers/caregivers in four developing regional state of Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION: Mothers/caregivers should be aware of a newborn's danger signs and promptly seek medical attention. Hence, this study assessed mothers'/caregivers' awareness, healthcare seeking behaviors for neonatal danger signs and their determinants in the developing regional state of Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was employed among mothers/caregivers of neonates in the developing regional state of Ethiopia. The sample was determined in collaboration with the Central Statistics Agency of Ethiopia. Stratified multi-stage cluster sampling was used to recruit the sample. Data were collected through an interviewer administered structured questionnaire using a tablet computer. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were applied to identify determinants of awareness and treatment-seeking behavior for neonatal danger signs. RESULTS: The result of the study showed that nearly one-third (32.7%) of the respondents had a good level of awareness of neonatal danger signs, and 69.0% of the respondents had good healthcare-seeking practice about neonatal danger signs. Regional state (Benishangul-Gumuz) [AOR = 1.61; 95% CI (1.09, 2.39)], Muslim's [AOR = 1.75; 95% CI (1.20, 2.55)] and permission to travel to a health facility [AOR = 0.48; 95% CI (0.37, 0.63)] were determinants of mothers'/caregivers' awareness about neonatal danger signs. Antenatal care (ANC) attendance and institutional delivery were shown to have a positive association with neonatal healthcare seeking (AOR = 2.14 and AOR = 2.37, respectively). CONCLUSION: In Ethiopia's developing regional states, mothers/caregivers were remarkably unaware of neonatal danger signs. Region, religion, mothers'/caregivers' age, and need for permission to travel to a health facility were predictor variables for neonatal danger sign awareness. Better healthcare seeking practices, which are determined by ANC attendance and institutional delivery, are observed in these regions. Federal and regional governments should give these regions due attention. Moreover, regional health bureaus and health professionals should tackle the problem by focusing on the identified factors.