Socioeconomic and environmental factors associated with malaria hotspots in the Nanoro demographic surveillance area, Burkina Faso.

BACKGROUND: With limited resources and spatio-temporal heterogeneity of malaria in developing countries, it is still difficult to assess the real impact of socioeconomic and environmental factors in order to set up targeted campaigns against malaria at an accurate scale. Our goal was to detect malaria hotspots in rural area and assess the extent to which household socioeconomic status and meteorological recordings may explain the occurrence and evolution of these hotspots. METHODS: Data on malaria cases from 2010 to 2014 and on socioeconomic and meteorological factors were acquired from four health facilities within the Nanoro demographic surveillance area. Statistical cross correlation was used to quantify the temporal association between weekly malaria incidence and meteorological factors. Local spatial autocorrelation analysis was performed and restricted to each transmission period using Kulldorff's elliptic spatial scan statistic. Univariate and multivariable analysis were used to assess the principal socioeconomic and meteorological determinants of malaria hotspots using a Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) approach. RESULTS: Rainfall and temperature were positively and significantly associated with malaria incidence, with a lag time of 9 and 14 weeks, respectively. Spatial analysis showed a spatial autocorrelation of malaria incidence and significant hotspots which was relatively stable throughout the study period. Furthermore, low socioeconomic status households were strongly associated with malaria hotspots (aOR = 1.21, 95% confidence interval: 1.03-1.40). CONCLUSION: These fine-scale findings highlight a relatively stable spatio-temporal pattern of malaria risk and indicate that social and environmental factors play an important role in malaria incidence. Integrating data on these factors into existing malaria struggle tools would help in the development of sustainable bottleneck strategies adapted to the local context for malaria control.

Spatio-temporal dynamic of malaria in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 2011-2015.

BACKGROUND: Given the scarcity of resources in developing countries, malaria treatment requires new strategies that target specific populations, time periods and geographical areas. While the spatial pattern of malaria transmission is known to vary depending on local conditions, its temporal evolution has yet to be evaluated. The aim of this study was to determine the spatio-temporal dynamic of malaria in the central region of Burkina Faso, taking into account meteorological factors. METHODS: Drawing on national databases, 101 health areas were studied from 2011 to 2015, together with weekly meteorological data (temperature, number of rain events, rainfall, humidity, wind speed). Meteorological factors were investigated using a principal component analysis (PCA) to reduce dimensions and avoid collinearities. The Box-Jenkins ARIMA model was used to test the stationarity of the time series. The impact of meteorological factors on malaria incidence was measured with a general additive model. A change-point analysis was performed to detect malaria transmission periods. For each transmission period, malaria incidence was mapped and hotspots were identified using spatial cluster detection. RESULTS: Malaria incidence never went below 13.7 cases/10,000 person-weeks. The first and second PCA components (constituted by rain/humidity and temperatures, respectively) were correlated with malaria incidence with a lag of 2 weeks. The impact of temperature was significantly non-linear: malaria incidence increased with temperature but declined sharply with high temperature. A significant positive linear trend was found for the entire time period. Three transmission periods were detected: low (16.8-29.9 cases/10,000 person-weeks), high (51.7-84.8 cases/10,000 person-weeks), and intermediate (26.7-32.2 cases/10,000 person-weeks). The location of clusters identified as high risk varied little across transmission periods. CONCLUSION: This study highlighted the spatial variability and relative temporal stability of malaria incidence around the capital Ouagadougou, in the central region of Burkina Faso. Despite increasing efforts in fighting the disease, malaria incidence remained high and increased over the period of study. Hotspots, particularly those detected for low transmission periods, should be investigated further to uncover the local environmental and behavioural factors of transmission, and hence to allow for the development of better targeted control strategies.

Development of new in vivo imaging methodology and system for the rapid and quantitative evaluation of the visual appearance of facial skin firmness.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Lack of firmness is a key sign of skin aging, but there are no methods for quantifying the firmness of facial skin as perceived visually. The objective of this study was to develop a convenient and accurate method for this purpose. METHODS: A compact imaging system (Magic Ring) was developed to capture images of facial skin. By using an image-analysis algorithm, the number of facial lines and their direction were analyzed to give an index termed the 'Ageless Vector'. Correlations between the Ageless Vector and visually perceived facial skin firmness, mechanical skin firmness (R5), and actual age were examined for 108 Asian females. The technique was also used to assess the effects of a 14-day skin-moisturization regimen in 47 Asian female volunteers. RESULTS: The Ageless Vector showed highly significant correlation with visually perceived skin firmness (r = 0.816) and significant correlation with mechanical skin firmness (R5) (r = -0.775). Skin moisturization significantly improved both the Ageless Vector (P < 0.05) and the visual grading of apparent skin firmness. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed by two clinical studies that the imaging methodology using the Ageless Vector and the Magic Ring facial-imaging system was sufficiently sensitive to permit the measurement of apparent visible skin firmness and that it is an excellent method suitable for practical in vivo applications.

Significant Reversal of Facial Wrinkle, Pigmented Spot and Roughness by Daily Application of Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate-Containing Skin Products for 12 Months-An 11-Year Longitudinal Skin Aging Rejuvenation Study.

Facial skin aging is an important psychophysical and social concern, especially in women. We compared facial parameters reflecting aging of the skin in 1999 and 2010 in 86 female volunteers. Then, all subjects applied three Galactomyces ferment filtrate-containing skin care products (G3 products; SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, SK-II Cellumination Essence, and SK-II Skin Signature Cream) twice daily for 12 months (M), with the skin parameters being measured at 2 M, 8 M, and 12 M during this period. Facial skin aging parameters such as wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, and roughness significantly deteriorated during the 11-year interval. This 11-year aging process was associated with reduced hydration and increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Notably, treatment with G3 products significantly and cumulatively increased skin hydration with a correlated reduction of TEWL during the 12 M treatment period. Such treatment also significantly and cumulatively reversed the 11-year facial skin aging in the three parameters of wrinkles, spots, and roughness. These results suggest that facial skin retains the potential to recover from the aging process when it is applied with appropriate cosmetic agents.

Analysis of pretreatment factors associated with stability in early class III treatment.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify pretreatment factors associated with the stability of early class III treatment, since most orthodontists start the treatment with their uncertain hypotheses and/or predictions. Subjects consisted of 75 patients with a class III skeletal relationship (ANB < 2° and overjet < 0 mm) who had been consecutively treated with rapid maxillary expansion and facemask and followed until their second phase treatment. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether they showed relapse in follow-up. The stable group maintained their positive overjet (n = 55), and the unstable group experienced relapse with a zero or negative overjet (n = 20). Two general, three dental, and 13 cephalometric pretreatment factors were investigated to determine which factors were associated with stability. RESULTS: Sex, pretreatment age, and anteroposterior functional shift, which were hypothesized as associated factors, were not related to the stability of early class III treatment. Significant differences were detected between the two groups in the horizontal distance between the maxillary and mandibular molars in centric relation. Cephalometric variables, such as the mandibular length (Ar-Me), Wits appraisal, SN to ramus plane angle (SN-Rm), gonial angle, incisor mandibular plane angle (IMPA), and Frankfort plane to mandibular incisor angle (FMIA) showed significant differences between the groups. The horizontal distance was the most influential factor by logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Hypothesis (related to sex, age, functional shift) were rejected. Several cephalometric factors related to the mandible were associated with stability. The horizontal distance between the maxillary and mandibular molars in centric relation was the best predictor of early class III treatment relapse.

Characterization of comprehensive appearances of skin ageing: an 11-year longitudinal study on facial skin ageing in Japanese females at Akita.

BACKGROUND: Facial appearance is regarded as a typical index of ageing. However, people of the same age do not necessarily show the same degree of the facial appearance. The ageing of facial skin proceeds relatively slowly and therefore requires long-term follow-up to elucidate the mechanism of ageing changes. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to identify facial skin parameters contributing the subjective impression of the overall ageing and characterize the degree of skin ageing by a 11 year longitudinal skin monitoring. METHODS: One-hundred-eight healthy Japanese females excluded outside workers aged 5-64 at 1999, and lived in Akita, Japan till 2010 were enrolled. Facial images were collected to quantify various skin optical parameters. Skin colour, hydration and barrier function were measured with Chromameter, Corneometer and TEWAmeter, respectively. The visual evaluation of the overall facial skin ageing impression was also carried out. The skin parameters contributing visible impression of skin ageing were identified by variable importance in projection analysis, and the degree of facial skin ageing over 11 years was statistically classified by a cluster analysis. RESULTS: Facial skin parameters that comprehensively influenced visible skin ageing, including hyperpigmented spots, wrinkles and texture were studied. The Skin Ageing Score calculated from these three skin factors was used to classify the subjects into a mild, age-appropriate, and severe skin ageing group. The mild skin ageing group maintained significant better both skin optical and physical conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Variability and classification of the degree of facial skin ageing appearance were studied from this longitudinal research.