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Fueled by aging populations and continued environmental contamination, the global burden of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is increasing. The disease, or more appropriately diseases, have multiple environmental and genetic influences but no approved disease modifying therapy. Additionally, efforts to prevent this debilitating disease have been limited. As numerous environmental contaminants (e.g., pesticides, metals, industrial chemicals) are implicated in PD, disease prevention is possible. To reduce the burden of PD, we have compiled preclinical and clinical research priorities that highlight both disease prediction and primary prevention. Though not exhaustive, the “PD prevention agenda” builds upon many years of research by our colleagues and proposes next steps through the lens of modifiable risk factors. The agenda identifies ten specific areas of further inquiry and considers the funding and policy changes that will be necessary to help prevent the world’s fastest growing brain disease.

Objective: The integrity and function of the gastrointestinal system is important in disease prevention and management. This study aims to describe the management methods used by Australian adults with suspected increased intestinal permeability (IP) and the association with subjective wellbeing (SWB) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Design and Setting: Cross-sectional survey of Australian adults diagnosed with IP or have suspected (undiagnosed) IP. Outcome Measures: Questionnaire items investigating demographic characteristics, self-reported outcome of IP and treatment methods used to manage IP. Participants' HRQoL and SWB according to the 20-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-20) and Personal Wellbeing Index-Adult (PWI-A) scale, respectively. Results: Participants (n = 589) frequently used dietary products (87.9%), dietary supplements (72.9%) and lifestyle therapies (54.6%) for managing IP. Participants had lower (i.e., worse) mean SWB scores for all domains compared to the Australian population (p p p = 0.015), use dietary supplements (OR = 2.66, p = 0.003), participate in vigorous exercise (OR = 2.99, p p = 0.010). Conversely, they were less likely to consume gluten (OR = 0.35, p p = 0.022). Self-reported improvement of IP (β = 10.70, p p = 0.008) were predictors of a higher level of SWB. Conclusions: Altered IP may pose a greater health burden than previously thought, with poor SWB and HRQoL reported in Australian adults with self-reported IP. Our results highlight the potential clinical relevance and consequence of altered IP, providing the first indication of a possible relationship between altered IP and both SWB and HRQoL.

Theory-based approaches to health communication and behavior are increasingly applied to interventions that address poor public tick-borne disease prevention knowledge and practices. We sought to understand the tick-borne disease prevention behaviors among participants in a crowdsourced passive tick surveillance system that employs theory-based messages about tick bite risk and prevention strategies. We administered an electronic survey to a randomly selected sample of passive surveillance system users and compared their responses to those from a nationwide sample of Master Gardeners (MG), a group with heighten tick exposure due to outdoor activity. Over 80% of TickSpotters respondents, and over 75% of MG respondents encountered a tick in the past year. Among both groups, tick checks were the most frequently practiced prevention behavior, with over 70% of people performing them most or all the time after outdoor activity. A greater proportion of MGs used skin repellents such as DEET or picaridin than TickSpotters users, but more than 70% of respondents from both groups reported that they never or only sometimes use permethrin-treatment on clothing, and nearly half of both groups reportedly used no peridomestic tick treatments. TickSpotters respondents overwhelmingly reported recording tick encounter information and saving specimens for identification and testing, while only a small percentage of MGs monitored their tick encounters. These findings suggest that while both TickSpotters and MG groups appear to be practicing some important tick bite prevention behaviors, there remain areas that could benefit from targeted theory-based interventional approaches.

Summary Adults with Down syndrome develop the neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease and are at very high risk of developing early-onset dementia, which is now the leading cause of death in this population. Diagnosis of dementia remains a clinical challenge because of the lack of validated diagnostic criteria in this population, and because symptoms are overshadowed by the intellectual disability associated with Down syndrome. In people with Down syndrome, fluid and imaging biomarkers have shown good diagnostic performances and a strikingly similar temporality of changes with respect to sporadic and autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease. Most importantly, there are no treatments to prevent Alzheimer's disease, even though adults with Down syndrome could be an optimal population in whom to conduct Alzheimer's disease prevention trials. Unprecedented research activity in Down syndrome is rapidly changing this bleak scenario that will translate into disease-modifying therapies that could benefit other populations.

Almond trunk and branch canker diseases constitute a major cause of tree mortality in California. Numerous fungal pathogens have been associated with these canker diseases and pruning wounds act as major infection courts. Before this study, there were no products registered in California for the management of these diseases. In this study, fungicidal products including synthetic chemistries, biocontrols, paint, and a sealant were evaluated for preventing fungal pathogen infection via pruning wounds. In four field trials conducted over two dormant seasons, 16 pruning wound treatments were tested using handheld spray applications against five almond canker pathogens, namely Botryosphaeria dothidea, Neofusicoccum parvum, Cytospora sorbicola, Ceratocystis destructans, and Eutypa lata. The fungicide thiophanate-methyl (Topsin M; United Phosphorus, Bandra West, Mumbai, India) provided 82% overall disease prevention against four fungal pathogens. The biological control agent, Trichoderma atroviride SC1 (Vintec; Bi-PA, Londerzeel, Belgium), tested at three application rates, resulted in 90 to 93% protection of pruning wounds in field trials, and for individual pathogens ranged from 81 to 100% protection for the three rates. At the time of this publication, Vintec is being considered for registration as a biological control product for the prevention of almond canker diseases, while Topsin M is recommended to growers for the prevention of almond canker diseases. This research indicates that effective protection of pruning wounds from infection by almond canker pathogens can be achieved with a one-time spray application of thiophanate-methyl or the biocontrol T. atroviride SC1 (recommended 2 g/liter) after pruning.

Study design Cross-sectional cohort study. Objectives To compare ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) on Borg’s 6–20 RPE scale and Category Ratio 10 (CR10) in able-bodied (AB) participants during upper and lower body exercise, and recreationally active participants with paraplegia (PARA) and athletes with tetraplegia (TETRA) during upper body exercise only. Setting University and rehabilitation centre-based laboratories in UK and Netherlands. Methods Twenty-four participants were equally split between AB, PARA, and TETRA. AB performed maximal tests using cycle (AB-CYC) and handcycle (AB-HC) ergometry. PARA and TETRA performed maximal handcycle and wheelchair propulsion tests, respectively. Oxygen uptake (V̇O2) and blood lactate concentration were monitored throughout. RPE was rated each stage on Borg’s RPE scale and CR10. Thresholds were identified according to log-V̇O2 plotted against log-blood lactate (LT1), and 1.5 mmol L−1 greater than LT1 (LT2). Results RPE from both scales were best fit against each other using a quadratic model, with high goodness of fit between scales that was independent of exercise mode and participant group (range R2: 0.965–0.970, P 2 was significantly greater in TETRA (P 1 or LT2 between groups on Borg’s RPE scale or CR10. Conclusion Strong association between Borg’s RPE scale and CR10 suggests they can be used interchangeably. RPE at lactate thresholds were independent of mode of exercise and level of spinal cord injury. However, inter-individual variation precludes from making firm recommendations about using RPE for prescribing homogenous exercise intensity.

Objetivo: Descrever os fatores de risco para COVID-19 de idosas atendidas em um Consultório de Enfermagem. Método: Pesquisa descritiva, quantitativa, utilizando dos dados contidos nos prontuários das mulheres atendidas no Consultório de Enfermagem de uma Universidade Pública do estado do Rio de Janeiro, de 2017 a 2019. Resultados: Analisados 303 prontuários, revelando que 25,2% possuem 60 anos ou mais. Destas, 51,2% são solteiras e 45,7% brancas. Em relação í s doenças crônico-degenerativas 29,7% das mulheres idosas possuem doenças crônicas como Hipertensão Arterial (61,5%), Diabetes Mellitus (9,6%) e Câncer (9,6%). O sobrepeso incidiu em 42,1% e, 62,5% aderiram í imunização para influenza no último ano. Conclusão: Constatou-se que as mulheres idosas atendidas no consultório possuem fatores de risco para COVID-19, tais como: sobrepeso, doenças crônico-degenerativas e baixa adesão para imunização. Devemos fortalecer a conscientização sobre a gravidade da doença com ações de promoção da saúde e prevenção da doença COVID-19.

Japan is currently a super-aging society, and lifestyle-related diseases that increase in incidence with age and the related rise in national medical expenses are major social problems. Preventive medicine and self-medication are becoming more important. Recently, various in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that food-derived natural compounds may contribute to the prevention and treatment of obesity-related diseases, such as diabetes mellitus. This report reviews our previous studies on the usefulness of the citrus flavonoid naringenin for obesity-related diseases. We showed that naringenin exerts an anti-diabetic effect by regulating inflammation pathways involving adipocytes and adipose tissue, and also showed an interaction between naringenin and anti-diabetic drugs. Because natural compounds are generally inexpensive and safe, they have the advantage of being easily applied to clinical applications. However, more detailed studies, such as clinical trials in humans, are required. Further research and scientific evidence will be required for the proper use of food factors in disease prevention and treatment.

Everyday physical activity plays an important part in health maintenance and disease prevention. Excess exercise, however, can cause detrimental effects on both physical and mental health. It can also hamper the quality of life to an extent that individual is unable to regulate this behavior. ‘Addicted’ exercisers are more likely to work out for intrinsic rewards and experience troubling feelings of deprivation. In comparison, ‘committed’ exercisers participate in physical activity for extrinsic benefits and, when they cannot exercise, do not experience extreme withdrawal symptoms. Sportspersons indulge themselves in long hours of training as a response of their quest to improve endurance and performance in the face of common setbacks. Recognizing the addiction to exercise is also a contentious idea and the aim of this article is to draw an attention towards the same. Exercise Addiction diagnosis needs employment of questionnaires such as Exercise Dependence Scale, Obligatory Exercise Questionnaire, and Exercise Addiction Inventory. They need to be employed in the pre-participation evaluation of an individual participating in any sports event. Physiotherapists are often the first to meet an individual with exercise addiction. Physiotherapists play an important role in diagnosis of exercise addiction as well as in prevention as they are aware of challenges of treating exercise addicted patients and develop specific approaches to deal with their issues. As if it goes unnoticed, the prognosis can even be fatal.

Objetivo: Identificar la relación que existe entre el nivel de conocimiento y la práctica preventiva en personas afectadas con dengue, Ferreñafe 2019. Método: Estudio cuantitativo con diseño descriptivo correlacional. La muestra estuvo conformada por 252 personas afectadas con el virus del dengue, el muestreo fue por conveniencia teniendo en cuenta los criterios de inclusión y exclusión. Se utilizó como técnica la encuesta y como instrumento un cuestionario para medir el nivel de conocimiento y una lista de chequeo para la práctica preventiva elaborado por García, Torres y Tangoa, se validaron los instrumentos a nivel local con el método de Kuder de Richardson teniendo 0.890 y 0.820 de confiabilidad respectivamente. Resultados principales: Sí existe una relación positiva perfecta y directamente proporcional relación con significancia bilateral (rs = 0.858, p = 0.000) entre nivel de conocimiento y práctica preventiva en la población afectada con dengue. Por lo que se rechaza la hipótesis nula Conclusión general: A mayor rango de nivel de conocimiento que presente la persona afectada con dengue, la práctica preventiva que desarrolle es muy buena o viceversa. Descriptores: Dengue (D003715), Conocimiento (D019359), Prevención de enfermedades (50219)

This study aimed to understand the biological process related to the prevention of cardiovascular & metabolic diseases (CMD), including diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia via regular exercise. This study included 17,053 subjects aged 40–69 years in the Health Examinees Study from 2004 to 2012. Participation in regular exercise was investigated by questionnaires. Data on 42 biomarkers were collected from anthropometric measures and laboratory tests. We examined the associations between regular exercise and biomarkers using general linear models, between biomarkers and the risk of CMD using cox proportional hazard models, and the mediation effect of biomarkers using mediation analyses. Biomarker networks were constructed based on the significant differential correlations (p

This study sought to assess the feasibility of design, adherence, satisfaction, safety and changes in outcomes followed by a home-based foot–ankle exercise guided by a booklet in individuals with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). 20 participants were allocated usual care [control group (CG)] or usual care plus home-based foot–ankle exercises [intervention group (IG)] for 8 weeks. For feasibility, we assessed contact, preliminary screening and recruitment rates, adherence, and using a 5-point Likert scale to satisfaction and safety of the booklet. In the IG, we assessed preliminary changes in DPN symptoms, DPN severity (classified by a fuzzy model) and foot–ankle range of motion between baseline and Week 8. In the first 20 weeks, 1310 individuals were screened for eligibility by phone contact. Contact rate was 89% (contacted participants/20w), preliminary screening success 28% (participants underwent screening/20w), and recruitment rate 1.0 participants/week (eligible participants/20w). The recruitment rate was less than the ideal rate of 5 participants/week. The adherence to the exercises programme was 77%, and the dropout was 11% and 9% for the IG and CG, respectively. In the IG, participants’ median level of satisfaction was 4 (IQR: 4–5) and perceived safety was 3 (IQR: 3–5). IG significantly decreased the DPN severity (p = 0.020), increased hallux relative to forefoot (first metatarsal) range of motion (ROM) (p Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04008745. Registered 02/07/2019. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04008745.

Herbal medicines have been used for disease prevention and treatment for both humans and animals worldwide. The present study was designed to determine the herbs used during pregnancy in Jos and to evaluate attitudes of pregnant women. The survey was carried out in antenatal clinics. Information was obtained from pregnant women (17-60 years) through both informal, unstructured conversations and the use of structured questionnaire. Botanical data were focused on the name and part of the herbs or plant used during pregnancy including herbs, herbal preparations and finished products having medicinal properties. In total, 300 pregnant women were enrolled for this study. The respondents were farmers (33.3 %), housewives (26.7%) and students (23.3 %). The most commonly used herbs were, garlic (16.7 %), pawpaw (13.6 %), ginger (13.0 %) and Moringa (8.0 %). Among the parts, bulb was the most used (16.7 %) followed by fruits (14 %). The most common reasons for the use were: herbal medicine is more effective than conventional medicine for some medications (20 %) and more easily accessed than conventional medicine (20 %). Most of the women were advised by family (31.3 %) and believed herbs had fewer side effects. The findings revealed their knowledge on medicinal plants. The women used one or more herbal medicine during pregnancy. Keywords: Pregnant women; Herbal medicine; Medicinal plants; Jos; Nigeria

Анотація. Існування електронного спорту як соціального феномену і його динамічний розвиток на сьогодні ставлять ряд актуальних питань, серед яких варто виділити необхідність правового регулювання, профілактику захворювань, формування рухової активності гравців, роботу з подолання адиктивної поведінки (якщо це має місце), створення раціональної системи підготовки і змагань кіберспортсменів. Мета. На основі методологічного і філософського підходів розглянути кіберспорт як соціальне явище, виявити його характерні риси для формування стійких відносин в інформаційному просторі. Методи. Аналіз і синтез, порівняння, систематизація, узагальнення. Результати. Кіберспорт – унікальне соціально-спортивне явище, що розвивається за своїми законами. Він безпосередньо пов’язаний з різними сферами людської діяльності, має свої специфічні риси, що дозволяють розглядати його як самостійний динамічний напрям. Стан і розвиток кіберспорту в сучасному суспільстві свідчить, що він міцно зайняв свої позиції серед безлічі сфер діяльності людини. Ключові слова: кіберспорт, кіберспортсмени, віртуальні ігри.

Background Limited research has reported the economic feasibility—from both a research and practice perspective—of efforts to recruit and enroll an intended audience in evidence-based approaches for disease prevention. This study aims to retrospectively assess and estimate the costs of a population health management (PHM) approach to identify, engage, and enroll patients in a Type 1 Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation (HEI), diabetes-prevention trial. Methods We used descriptive analyses and activity-based costing to estimate the recruitment costs of a PHM approach integrated within a HEI trial. Measures included total costs and costs per participant screened and enrolled to ensure trial accrual rates were achieved. We took the perspective of a healthcare system which may adopt, and possibly sustain, the strategy in the typical practice. We also estimated replication costs based on how the strategy could be applied in healthcare systems interested in referring patients to a local diabetes prevention program from a payer perspective. In this case, we examined differences in cost based on requirements for and types of, glucose testing, and by labor activities and non-labor resources associated with recruitment using sensitivity analyses. Results The total recruitment and enrollment costs were $389,949 to accrue 599 participants over approximately 15 months. The average cost per screened and enrolled participant was $276 and $651, respectively. Primary costs included hemoglobin A1c testing ($83,106), recruitment screening calls ($48,791), and personnel time ($96,187). Translating to the typical settings, total recruitment costs for replication was estimated as $192,625 (range: $42,523-$208,876). Sensitivity analysis results indicated replication costs would be approximately $229 - $430 per patient enrolled if glucose testing was necessary, based on the Medicare covered services. For a private payer perspective, and without glucose testing, per-participant screening and enrollment costs were estimated at $30. Conclusions A PHM approach can be used to accrue a large number of participants in a short period of time for an HEI trial, at a comparable cost per participant. However, when trial requirements are removed and PHM approaches are used as a method for healthcare systems to identify and enroll patients in a local program—the costs are relatively low.

Malaria remains a public health concern with vector control still the vital component of disease prevention, control, and elimination strategies. Recent years has seen a “stalling” in the progress ...

Type 1 diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in children and adolescents, but remains unpreventable and incurable. The discovery of insulin, already 100 years ago, embodied a lifesaver for people with type 1 diabetes as it allowed the replacement of all functions of the beta cell. Nevertheless, despite all technological advances, the majority of type 1 diabetic patients fail to reach the recommended target HbA1c levels. The disease-associated complications remain the true burden of affected individuals and necessitate the search for disease prevention and reversal. The recognition that type 1 diabetes is a heterogeneous disease with an etiology in which both the innate and adaptive immune system as well as the insulin-producing beta cells intimately interact, has fostered the idea that treatment to specific molecular or cellular characteristics of the patient groups will be needed. Moreover, robust and reliable biomarkers to detect type 1 diabetes in the early (pre-symptomatic) phases are wanted to preserve functional beta cell mass. The pitfalls of past therapeutics along with the perspectives of current therapies can open up the path for future research.

Introduction: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at significantly higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD). There is a scarcity of literature reviews that describe and summarize T2DM patients' knowledge and perception about CVD prevention. Objectives: To describe and summarize the assessment of knowledge and perceptions about CVD risk and preventive approaches among patients with T2DM. Methods: A scoping review methodology was adopted, and three scientific databases, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and PubMed were searched using predefined search terms. A multistage screening process that considered relevancy, publication year (2009-2019), English language, and article type (original research) was followed. We formulated research questions focused on the assessment of levels of knowledge and perceptions of the illness relevant to CVD prevention and the identification of associated patients' characteristics. Results: A total of 16 studies were included. Patients were not confident to identify CVD risk and other clinical consequences that may occur in the prognostic pathway of T2DM. Furthermore, patients were less likely to identify all CV risk factors indicating a lack of understanding of the multi-- factorial contribution of CVD risk. Patients' beliefs about medications were correlated with their level of adherence to medications for CVD prevention. Many knowledge gaps were identified, including the basic disease expectations at the time of diagnosis, identification of individuals' CVD risk factors, and management aspects. Knowledge and perceptions were affected by patients' demographic characteristics, e.g., educational level, race, age, and area of residence. Conclusion: There are knowledge gaps concerning the understanding of CVD risk among patients with T2DM. The findings necessitate educational initiatives to boost CVD prevention among patients with T2DM. Furthermore, these should be individualized based on patients' characteristics, knowledge gaps, disease duration, and estimated CVD risk.

In a context where SARS-CoV-2 population-wide testing is implemented, clinical features and antibody response in those infected have never been documented in Africa. Yet, the information provided by analyzing data from population-wide testing is critical to understand the infection dynamics and devise control strategies. We described clinical features and assessed antibody response in people screened for SARS-CoV-2 infection. We analyzed data from a cohort of 3464 people that we molecularly screened for SARS-CoV-2 infection in our routine activity. We recorded people SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, age, gender, blood types, white blood cells (WBC), symptoms, chronic disease status and time to SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR conversion from positive to negative. We calculated the age-based distribution of SARS-CoV-2 infection, analyzed the proportion and the spectrum of COVID-19 severity. Furthermore, in a nested sub-study, we screened 83 COVID-19 patients and 319 contact-cases for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Males and females accounted for respectively 51% and 49% of people screened. The studied population median and mean age were both 39 years. 592 out of 3464 people (17.2%) were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection with males and females representing, respectively, 53% and 47%. The median and mean ages of SARS-CoV-2 infected subjects were 37 and 38 years respectively. The lowest rate of infection (8%) was observed in the elderly (aged > 60). The rate of SARS-Cov-2 infection in both young (18–35 years old) and middle-aged adults (36–60 years old) was around 20%. The analysis of SARS-CoV-2 infection age distribution showed that middle-aged adults accounted for 54.7% of SARS-CoV-2 positive persons, followed respectively by young adults (33.7%), children (7.7%) and elderly (3.8%). 68% (N = 402) of SARS-CoV-2 infected persons were asymptomatic, 26.3% (N = 156) had influenza-like symptoms, 2.7% (N = 16) had influenza-like symptoms associated with anosmia and ageusia, 2% (N = 11) had dyspnea and 1% (N = 7) had respiratory failure, which resulted in death. Data also showed that 12% of SARS-CoV-2 infected subjects, had chronic diseases. Hypertension, diabetes, and asthma were the top concurrent chronic diseases representing respectively 58%, 25% and 12% of recorded chronic diseases. Half of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR positive patients were cured within 14 days following the initiation of the anti-COVID-19 treatment protocol. 78.3% of COVID-19 patients and 55% of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR confirmed negative contact-cases were positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Patients with severe-to-critical illness have higher leukocytes, higher neutrophils and lower lymphocyte counts contrarily to asymptomatic patients and patients with mild-to-moderate illness. Neutrophilic leukopenia was more prevalent in asymptomatic patients and patients with mild-to-moderate disease for 4 weeks after diagnosis (27.1–42.1%). In Patients with severe-to-critical illness, neutrophilic leukocytosis or neutrophilia (35.6–50%) and lymphocytopenia (20–40%) were more frequent. More than 60% of participants were blood type O. It is also important to note that infection rate was slightly higher among A and B blood types compared with type O. In this African setting, young and middle-aged adults are most likely driving community transmission of COVID-19. The rate of critical disease is relatively low. The high rate of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies observed in SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR negative contact cases suggests that subclinical infection may have been overlooked in our setting.

Background Many studies have reported an association between overwork, shift work, and chronic disease. However, there is little research on the influence of working hours and shift work and management of chronic diseases. The objective of this retrospective study was to examine the association between working hours, shift work type in workers with hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Methods Among 18,513 hourly wageworkers from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 4,313 with hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia were selected. An analysis of covariance with general linear modeling was used to estimate group differences in clinical indices of chronic diseases according to weekly working hours and types of shift work, both unadjusted and adjusted for gender, age, education, marital status, household income, and medication usage. Findings Clinical indicators were worse in workers with diabetes (differences in HbA1c = 0.15%; fasting blood glucose = 4.84 mg/dL), hypertension (differences in diastolic blood pressure = 1.2 mmHg), or dyslipidemia (differences in total cholesterol = 3.3 mg/dL) who worked for more than 40 hours/week compared with workers who worked less than 40 hours per week. Clinical indicators in workers with diabetes and hypertension were worse in shift workers, including evening and night shifts, relative to those who did not work shiftwork. Conclusions/Application to Practice Working more than 40 hours per week and shift work were negatively associated with adverse clinical indicators among workers with chronic diseases. To improve the health of workers with chronic diseases, these findings suggest that adjustment of working hours and shift work may be warranted.

Alzheimer’s disease, characterized by amyloid beta peptides and neurofibrillary tangles, is the most prevalent cause of dementia. Nowadays, some novel medicines being developed have displayed more illustrious therapeutic efficacies in Alzheimer’s disease. Recent studies have found andrographolide exhibiting therapeutic efficacy in a variety of Alzheimer’s disease models. Andrographolide is a traditional herbal medicine compound extracted from Andrographis paniculata. Evidence has shown that andrographolide reduces amyloid beta aggregation and suppresses neuroinflammatory response and synaptic dysfunction by reversing the microglia-mediated production of pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as Alzheimer’s disease-associated reduction in synaptic proteins. In the present review, the pharmacological effects of andrographolide are summarized and its mechanism of action against Alzheimer’s disease is discussed to discover the possibilities of andrographolide for Alzheimer’s disease prevention and therapy.

The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has increased in China. However, the contribution of dietary risks to the NCD burden has not been evaluated. This study aimed to estimate the burden of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and colorectal cancer (CRC) attributable to a diet low in fiber in China from 1990 to 2017. China data from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2017 were used to assess the age-, sex-, and province-specific mortality and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of IHD and CRC related to a diet low in fiber. In 2017, a diet low in fiber contributed 170,143 [95% uncertainty interval (UI): 99,623–256,806] IHD deaths and 25,561 (95% UI: 13,726–39,215) CRC deaths, with the population attributable fractions (PAFs) were 9.7 and 13.7%, respectively. Males had higher risk-attributable mortality and DALY rates for IHD and CRC than females. An upward trend with age in rates of mortality and DALY was observed. All-age risk-attributable mortality and DALY rates increased significantly by 111.4 and 53.2% for IHD, and 94.4 and 59.6% for CRC from 1990 to 2017, respectively; however, the corresponding age-standardized rates for IHD and CRC showed relatively stable trends. Heilongjiang, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia were ranked as the top three provinces in terms of total risk-attributable NCD burden in 2017. China has a large and growing NCD burden attributable to a diet low in fiber. Greater priority in disease prevention and control should be given to male and older adults throughout China, particularly in some western provinces.

Vitamin D deficiency and periodontitis are commonly prevalent among Saudi adults. However, the association between periodontitis and vitamin D status has not been well documented. This study aims to examine the association between periodontitis and vitamin D status among adults in the Albaha region of Saudi Arabia. A case-control study of 123 Saudi adults was conducted; 60 had severe or moderate periodontitis, and 63 were periodontally healthy. Data was collected by an online self-reported sociodemographic questionnaire. All participants then underwent a full periodontal examination. Blood samples were also provided to assess participants’ vitamin D statuses through serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D). A total of 60 cases and 63 controls matched for BMI (30.2 ± 4.86 kg/m2), age (40.01 ± 7.73 years), and sex (46.3% and 53.7% male and female, respectively) participated in the study. Mean levels of 25(OH)D were significantly lower in periodontitis participants than in controls (25.03 ± 8.55 ng/ml, 29.19 ± 12.82 ng/ml, p = 0.037, respectively). Lower odds of periodontitis were detected per unit of 25(OH)D level (OR 0.964, 95% CI; 0.931–0.999, p = 0.043). In conclusion, periodontitis is significantly associated with deficient and insufficient levels of vitamin D among Saudi adults in the Albaha region. Future longitudinal research with a larger sample size may be suggested to confirm these results.

Individuals diagnosed with colorectal adenomas with high-risk features during screening colonoscopy have increased risk for the development of subsequent adenomas and colorectal cancer. While US guidelines recommend surveillance colonoscopy at 3 years in this high-risk population, surveillance uptake is suboptimal. To inform future interventions to improve surveillance uptake, we sought to assess surveillance rates and identify facilitators of uptake in a large integrated health system. We utilized a cohort of patients with a diagnosis of ≥ 1 tubular adenoma (TA) with high-risk features (TA ≥ 1 cm, TA with villous features, TA with high-grade dysplasia, or ≥ 3 TA of any size) on colonoscopy between 2013 and 2016. Surveillance colonoscopy completion within 3.5 years of diagnosis of an adenoma with high-risk features was our primary outcome. We evaluated surveillance uptake over time and utilized logistic regression to detect factors associated with completion of surveillance colonoscopy. The final cohort was comprised of 405 patients. 172 (42.5%) patients successfully completed surveillance colonoscopy by 3.5 years. Use of a patient reminder (telephone, electronic message, or letter) for due surveillance (adjusted odds = 1.9; 95%CI = 1.2–2.8) and having ≥ 1 gastroenterology (GI) visit after diagnosis of an adenoma with high-risk features (adjusted odds = 2.6; 95%CI = 1.6–4.2) significantly predicted surveillance colonoscopy completion at 3.5 years. For patients diagnosed with adenomas with high-risk features, surveillance colonoscopy uptake is suboptimal and frequently occurs after the 3-year surveillance recommendation. Patient reminders and visitation with GI after index colonoscopy are associated with timely surveillance completion. Our findings highlight potential health system interventions to increase timely surveillance uptake for patients diagnosed with adenomas with high-risk features.

Diseases negatively impact the environment, causing many health risks and the spread of pollution and hazards. A novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to a recent respiratory syndrome epidemic in humans. In December 2019, the sudden emergence of this new coronavirus and the subsequent severe disease it causes created a serious global health threat and hazards. This is in contrast to the two aforementioned coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2 (in 2002) and middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus MERS-CoV (in 2012), which were much more easily contained. The World Health Organization (WHO) dubbed this contagious respiratory disease an "epidemic outbreak" in March 2020. More than 80 companies and research institutions worldwide are working together, in cooperation with many governmental agencies, to develop an effective vaccine. To date, six authorized vaccines have been registered. Up till now, no approved drugs and drug scientists are racing from development to clinical trials to find new drugs for COVID-19. Wild animals, such as snakes, bats, and pangolins are the main sources of coronaviruses, as determined by the sequence homology between MERS-CoV and viruses in these animals. Human infection is caused by inhalation of respiratory droplets. To date, the only available treatment protocol for COVID-19 is based on the prevalent clinical signs. This review aims to summarize the current information regarding the origin, evolution, genomic organization, epidemiology, and molecular and cellular characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 as well as the diagnostic and treatment approaches for COVID-19 and its impact on global health, environment, and economy.

Background Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are associated with short-term cardiac structure and function abnormalities, but later life changes are not well studied. Objectives This study aimed to determine if HDP history is associated with echocardiographic differences 8 to 10 years after delivery, and if subgroups with placental maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM) lesions or current hypertension may be particularly affected. Methods Women with pregnancies delivered from 2008 to 2009 were selected from a clinical cohort with abstracted pregnancy and placental pathology data to undergo transthoracic echocardiography (2017 to 2020). Medical history, blood pressure, and weight were measured at the study visit. Results The authors enrolled 132 women (10 ± 1 years post-delivery, age 38 ± 6 years): 102 with normotensive pregnancies and 30 with HDP: pre-eclampsia (n = 21) or gestational hypertension (n = 9). Compared with women with normotensive pregnancies, those with HDP history were more likely to have current hypertension (63% vs. 26%; p Conclusions Women with both HDP history and current hypertension have pronounced differences in left ventricular structure and function a decade after pregnancy, warranting continued surveillance and targeted therapies for cardiovascular disease prevention.

We aimed to assess risk factors for anemia at delivery by conducting a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study database including 1527 women who delivered vaginally ≥ 36 gestational weeks. Anemia (Hemoglobin (Hb) Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02434653.

Objective : to evaluate the awareness of diseases causing to chronic arterial insufficiency by analyzing web search queries. Material and methods . In this study, we used the online keyword selection tool ‘Google Trends.’ The analysis was conducted for different countries and separately for CIS countries. Results . We found that the search query ‘obliterating endarteritis’ was most common in Kazakhstan and Pakistan, while the query ‘obliterating atherosclerosis’ was most common in Belarus, Trinidad, and Tobago. The query ‘leg cramps’ was most frequent among residents of Ukraine and the Republic of South Africa, whereas people residing in the Republic of Kazakhstan and Philippine Islands usually searched for ‘leg numbness.’ As for diagnostic methods, ‘angiography’ was the most frequent query in countries such as Bulgaria and Pakistan, while ‘dopplerography’ was the most popular query in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The most common queries related to treatment of chronic arterial insufficiency were ‘balloon angioplasty’ (most popular in Russia) and bypass surgery (most popular in Zambia, Ethiopia, Myanmar, and Ghana). The most frequent queries associated with pharmacotherapy were ‘acetylsalicylic acid’ and ‘pentoxifylline’ in the Russian Federation and Trinidad, Tobago, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico. Conclusion. The assessment of web search queries related to the diagnosis and treatment of chronic arterial insufficiency may help to understand the health status of people residing in different countries, which will enable effective disease prevention by reducing the risks and will ensure sufficient attention to timely diagnosis and effective treatment of chronic arterial insufficiency. It is also very important to inform people about obliteration of lower extremity and explain that people with such symptoms should consult their phusician rather than search for information online.

Cats and dogs are the most common household pets. Although their importance cannot be over emphasized, their interactions with humans may result in the infection of zoonotic diseases. The awareness of zoonosis is a prerequisite for an efficient disease prevention. The study was conducted to determine the awareness of zoonotic diseases among pet owners in Wa municipality. Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire, among different groups of respondents within Wa municipality, consisting of two urban and two rural localities. Out of the 100 respondents who were interviewed, about 76 (76%) of the respondents indicated their awareness of zoonoses of dogs and cats. Majority (98.7%) of those who indicated their awareness of zoonoses of dogs and cats, could only mention rabies. Most (93.3%) of the respondents who stated rabies as zoonosis were able to list some of the symptoms of the disease. The overall results suggest that the level of knowledge of zoonoses of cats and dogs in Wa municipality is low. From the results, there is the need for awareness creation on zoonoses of dogs and cats as well as proper management of these pets, with efforts from veterinary, human and public health professionals as the main actors. Keywords: Awareness, Cat, dog, Knowledge, Zoonoses

Graphical abstract, The oralome is the summary of the dynamic interactions orchestrated between the ecological community of oral microorganisms (comprised of up to approximately 1000 species of bacteria, fungi, viruses, archaea and protozoa - the oral microbiome) that live in the oral cavity and the host. These microorganisms form a complex ecosystem that thrive in the dynamic oral environment in a symbiotic relationship with the human host. However, the microbial composition is significantly affected by interspecies and host-microbial interactions, which in turn, can impact the health and disease status of the host. In this review, we discuss the composition of the oralome and inter-species and host-microbial interactions that take place in the oral cavity and examine how these interactions change from healthy (eubiotic) to disease (dysbiotic) states. We further discuss the dysbiotic signatures associated with periodontitis and caries and their sequalae, (e.g., tooth/bone loss and pulpitis), and the systemic diseases associated with these oral diseases, such as infective endocarditis, atherosclerosis, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and head and neck/oral cancer. We then discuss current computational techniques to assess dysbiotic oral microbiome changes. Lastly, we discuss current and novel techniques for modulation of the dysbiotic oral microbiome that may help in disease prevention and treatment, including standard hygiene methods, prebiotics, probiotics, use of nano-sized drug delivery systems (nano-DDS), extracellular polymeric matrix (EPM) disruption, and host response modulators.

Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the therapeutic efficacy of RAS inhibitors (RASi) in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) because they may reduce oxidative stress, inflammatory markers, and enhanced fibrosis. An objective of this study was to investigate the role of RASi on NAFLD development and progression in a large cohort. We conducted a nested case–control study. Study subjects were classified into two study cohorts according to baseline NAFLD status: non-NAFLD (n = 184,581) and established NALFD (n = 27,565). An NAFLD development or progression case was defined as a patient with newly developed NAFLD or new progression of advanced fibrosis from non-NAFLD and established NALFD cohorts, respectively. A conditional logistic regression analysis was conducted to estimate the associations between RASi exposure and NAFLD development/progression. Overall, no significant association was evident between RASi use and NAFLD development or progression (NAFLD development; ever-user vs. never-user: OR 1.017; 95% CI 0.842–1.230, NAFLD progression; ever-user vs. never-user: aOR 0.942; 95% CI 0.803–1.105). RASi ever-use in cases of individuals who were obese or who had normal fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was associated with reduced risk of both NAFLD development (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2: 0.708 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.535–0.937], FPG of 2: 0.668 [95% CI 0.568–0.784], FPG of

To address the paucity of research investigating the implementation of multi-domain dementia prevention interventions, we implemented and evaluated a 24-week, bi-weekly multi-domain program for older adults at risk of cognitive impairment at neighborhood senior centres (SCs). It comprised dual-task exercises, cognitive training, and mobile application-based nutritional guidance. An RCT design informed by the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance framework was adopted. Outcome measures include cognition, quality of life, blood parameters, and physical performance. Implementation was evaluated through questionnaires administered to participants, implementers, SC managers, attendance lists, and observations. The program reached almost 50% of eligible participants, had an attrition rate of 22%, and was adopted by 8.7% of the SCs approached. It was implemented as intended; only the nutritional component was re-designed due to participants’ unfamiliarity with the mobile application. While there were no between-group differences in cognition, quality of life, and blood parameters, quality of life reduced in the control group and physical function improved in the intervention group after 24 weeks. The program was well-received by participants and SCs. Our findings show that a multi-domain program for at-risk older adults has benefits and can be implemented through neighborhood SCs. Areas of improvement are discussed.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04440969 retrospectively registered on 22 June 2020.

General and oral health is a fundamental right of human being. Good health is achieved by assimilation of healthy diet and this further helps in maintaining health of oral hard (teeth) and soft tissues. Many age related diseases are highly influenced by nutrition. Improper nutrition not only affects physical appearance but also it affects psychological status of patient. Chronic disease and most oral diseases share common risk factors. Diet plays a key role in disease prevention, as poor diets have been linked to ill- nesses, such as osteoporosis, atherosclerosis, and bowel disease. Prosthodontist is a geriatric dentist who interacts with more number of older people as compare to other profession. Therefore, the major role for a prosthodontist is to guide the older people regarding malnutrition, balanced diet and age-related diseases. In this literature review the outlines of nutrition, basic requirements of nutrition associate with aging have been discussed. Keywords: Nutrition, Geriatric dentistry, Complete denture, Prosthodontist.

Since April 2020, the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) has asked for people to wear face masks in public to curb the spread of COVID-19. This shift has given rise to a mass movement of cloth m...

Despite significant investment and years of research bovine respiratory disease remains a significant economic and welfare issue to the cattle industry worldwide. The risk factors are well known and developments in preventative medicines, effective treatments and more recently technology to aid detection should enable us to better control the disease. In this review we will consider the barriers we face to adoption and how we as veterinary surgeons can work better with our clients to bring about lasting change on farm which will deliver effective control of this disease

As SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, spread globally, the most severely affected sub-populations were the elderly and those with multi-morbidity largely related to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), e.g., heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity. NCDs are largely preventable with healthy nutrition, regular activity, and not smoking. This perspective outlines the rationale for health professionals' including physical therapists' role in reducing COVID-19 susceptibility. Evidence is synthesized supporting the pro-inflammatory effects of the western diet, increasingly consumed globally, inactivity, and smoking; and the immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory effects of a whole food plant-based diet, regular physical activity, and not smoking. An increased background of chronic low-grade systemic inflammation associated with unhealthy lifestyle practices appears implicated in an individual's susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2. It is timely to re-double efforts across healthcare sectors to reduce the global prevalence of NCDs on two fronts: one, to reduce SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility; and two, to reduce the impact of subsequent waves given high blood pressure and blood sugar, common in people with multi-morbidity, can be improved within days/weeks with anti-inflammatory healthy lifestyle practices, and weight loss and atherosclerosis reduction/reversal, within months/years. With re-doubled efforts to control NCD risk factors, subsequent waves could be less severe. Health professionals including physical therapists have a primary role in actively leading this initiative. ispartof: AIMS Public Health vol:8 issue:2 pages:369-375 ispartof: location:United States status: published

The global campaign of osteoporosis has been organized by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) and them introducing World Osteoporosis Day (WOD) in 1997. The day is celebrated on October 20th each year and aimed to improve the awareness of the population about disease prevention. We present some aspects of bone health and the prevention of osteoporosis related to the use of vitamins. The presenting mini-review covers a variety of sources including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and directory of open access journals (DOAJ) from 10 years ago (Oct 2009 to Oct 2019) for recent developments in the prevention of bone loss. The search was performed by using combinations of the following keywords and or their equivalents; osteoporosis, bones health, bone loss, and vitamin to find related articles about the prevention of osteoporosis by nutritional factors. The factors affecting bone are various and could begin from fetal periods to the end of life. Some of them are not changeable including age, and genetic; however, it is possible to modify some others such as poor nutrition and vitamin deficiency. Beyond vitamin D deficiency, consumption of other vitamins also is beneficial to maintain bone health. By considering the nutritional factors especially vitamins that affect bones, it is possible to have stronger bones to enjoy life in the elderly and protect your future.

Understanding the immune response to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is crucial for disease prevention and vaccine development. We studied the antibody responses in 48 human MERS-CoV infection survivors who had variable disease severity in Saudi Arabia. MERS-CoV-specific neutralizing antibodies were detected for 6 years postinfection.

The study presents data concerning vaccines registered in the EU that are used in the prevention and control of viral and bacterial infectious diseases of swine in Poland. It discusses novel vaccines against infectious diseases of swine, such as ileitis, influenza A virus, and mycoplasmal pneumonia. The advantages of intradermal administration of selected vaccines against certain diseases are discussed. Selected problems regarding the efficacy of vaccination against influenza A virus and PRRS are underlined. The study points out that the efficacy of immunization with inactivated vaccines against PRRS is limited. This, however, may also be true of live vaccines against PRRS, since results of immunization with some live attenuated vaccines can be unsatisfactory as well. It is explained by the fact that there are relatively frequent genetic changes in the genome of the field PRRSV strains, unlike in the virus strain or strains used in the vaccine. Strategies to optimize the use of currently available vaccines against influenza A virus (IAV) are discussed. It is worth noting the high efficacy of the vaccine containing antigens of subtypes H1N1, H3N2, and H1N1 against influenza A virus. Vaccination against IAV induces the production of neutralizing antibodies and protection with a very similar strain. As far as vaccines against viral diseases of swine (pseudorabies, classical swine fever) are concerned, the marker vaccines appear to be very useful in differentiating infected animals from vaccinated ones (DIVA strategy). At the beginning of the 21st century, several new effective vaccines were developed, produced, and used against diarrheal diseases of different etiology and, for the first time, against oedema disease, ileitis, and enzootic pneumonia of swine. In view of the growing problem of mixed infections, the study presents several new vaccines containing multiple antigens of one pathogen (serotypes/genotypes) or different pathogens in combination (polyvalent vaccines). The study also discusses the role of the strategy of vaccination depending on the course of the infectious disease, the type of vaccine, as well as the production system of swine.

Environmental condition is very important for the Dengue Fever Prevention. People in this area lacked the knowledge, awareness of an environmental condition. To achieve sustainable control of the occurrence of dengue fever, therefore, this mixed methodology research was performed: 1) to gather general information related to the community environment for dengue fever prevention, 2) to develop a paradigm for dengue fever prevention, and 3) to compare the levels of knowledge, attitude, and community participation after attending a training course on dengue fever prevention. The gathering general information related to the community environment for dengue fever prevention was performed by survey method, 341 participants were recruited by using the Taro Yamane formula and stratified random sampling, subsequently, the model was developed for training. After that, the training and evaluation were implemented. Thirty-two volunteers participated in the training on dengue fever prevention. The testing instruments consisted of Knowledge Test Form, Attitude Test Form, and Dengue Prevention Participatory Test Form. The results indicated that the dengue fever prevention paradigm was supported by the following six factors: 1) having reliable data, 2) providing training on disease prevention, 3) having competent agents, 4) presenting the dengue prevention system to the community, 5) having people participation, and 6) having environmental management. Concerning the training on dengue fever prevention, the villagers’ post-test scores on knowledge, attitude, and participation in dengue fever prevention were significantly higher than their pre-test scores. This research increased the knowledge, attitude and participation of people after training on dengue fever prevention in their community.

Following the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 worldwide, this article describes routine procedures and preventive measures for tissue banking and cell therapy in University Hospital Centre “Sestre milosrdnice” in the Republic of Croatia. This paper describes our current practice for preventing contamination and microbiological environmental monitoring of cleanrooms, the protection of healthcare personnel as well as patients from SARS-CoV-2. These measures are based on the recommendations obtained from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia, the Croatian Institute of Public Health and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. We also present data on samples collected and treated in this period in comparison to normal work conditions before COVID-19.

O Alzheimer se caracteriza como uma demência neurodegenerativa, fatal e incurável, acometendo, principalmente os idosos. Objetivo: Evidenciar o estado da arte acerca da assistência de enfermagem ao portador de Alzheimer. Método: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura acerca da Assistência de Enfermagem ao portador de Alzheimer, nos anos de 2016 a 2020, dentro das seguintes bases de dados: SciELO e LILACS, utilizando como estratégia de busca os descritores combinados com operadores booleanos "enfermagem" and "Alzheimer". Resultados: A amostra do estudo foi composta por sete artigos, evidenciando o papel do enfermeiro, junto ao cuidador e com o portador da Doença de Alzheimer, além de mostrar necessárias ações de promoção da saúde e prevenção de agravos. Conclusão: A doença de Alzheimer se configura como um desafio para a sociedade contemporânea, sendo que a Enfermagem tem papel fundamental no cuidado ao portador e ao cuidador.

There is growing evidence that inflammatory bowel disease has a preclinical phase that precedes disease symptoms, during which immune system activation has already occurred and inflammatory pathways have been primed, setting the stage for disease to expand and leading up to clinical diagnosis. Gaining insight to this pre-diagnosis period could improve our knowledge about disease pathogenesis and potentially result in the detection of biomarkers that could predict disease development. The ultimate goal of such research is to identify a population at risk for developing IBD, so preventive strategies could be implemented and disease prevention be achieved.

Objective: to analyze the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer in the Far Eastern Federal district (FEFD) in 2008–2018.Materials and methods. To assess the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer among women residing in FEFD, we used annual reports of P. Hertzen Moscow Oncology Research Institute – branch of the National Medical Research Radiology Center, Ministry of Health of Russia, for 2008–2018. We evaluated extensive and standardized parameters (per 100,000 population; 0/0000) calculated using the direct method (world standard). The prognosis was based on the 11-year dynamics of the incidence and mortality; regression coefficients were calculated using the standard method. Data analysis was performed using the Statistica 8.0 and Microsoft Excel 2003 software with a significance level of p £0.05. We evaluated the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer among women of FEFD registered between 2008 and 2018: during a 5-year period (2008–2012) and a 6-year period (2013–2018) for the whole region, as well as for individual administrative territories.Results. We found that the incidence of cervical cancer in FEFD was higher than its national incidence (14.3 ± 0.10/0000) and was steadily increasing in all administrative centers of FEFD. The highest incidence was observed in Zabaikalsky Krai (32.6 ± 1.90/0000, which is 2.3 times higher than national incidence). The quickest growth of cervical cancer incidence was registered in the Republic of Buryatia (69.6 %; growth rate 6.5 % (p £0.05)). This territory was also characterized by the highest mortality (11.4 ± 0.50/0000, which is 2.2 times higher than national mortality (5.3 ± 0.20/0000) (p Conclusions. The analysis of the cervical cancer incidence and mortality in FEFD demonstrated their steady increase, which makes the issues of disease prevention and early diagnosis highly relevant and indicates a clear need to activate vaccination and screening programs.

The companion animal population is continuing to live longer, with approximately 40% of pet dogs and cats aged 7 years or older. Continued improvements in veterinary care and disease prevention strategies, veterinary nutrition, breeding and husbandry are just a few of the factors contributing to pet longevity, resulting in a significant population of senior small companion animals. This article considers the most common causes of weight loss in the older cat through review of the definitions and pathophysiology of muscle loss, and examining the most common concurrent metabolic and endocrine diseases associated with weight loss in the older feline patient.

Given its importance in veterinary medicine and its impact on human health, bovine tuberculosis demands attention on animal health programs in several countries. New ante- and post-mortem diagnosis protocols are available and facilitate disease detection and control. However, besides the known advantages and disadvantages of each protocol, there is little mention of their costs. This study intends to provide an overview of the economic aspects of diagnostic tests for the control and eradication of bovine tuberculosis.

Background: Overall, children less than five years old are seen more by a physician than a dentist. Physician need more knowledge and skills to address children’s oral health due to the prevalence of dental diseases, the racial and socioeconomic disparities in disease burden, and the restricted access to dental care for many children. Thus, integrating oral health disease prevention and promotion strategies into these medical professionals’ practice becomes essential. Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and attitude of graduating medical students of Nepal towards infant oral health. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire included questions on knowledge and attitude regarding infant oral health was distributed to 180 final year MBBS students of Nepal. Data were collected and entered in Microsoft Excel sheet and analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 20. Results: The mean age of the participants was 23.36 ± 1.12 years. Only 23.9% of them knew that dental caries is infectious and transmissible from mother to baby and 38.9% were aware of the association of poor maternal gum health and preterm, low birth weight baby. Almost 73.9% knew that gum pads should be cleaned regularly and 46.1% knew that first dental visit of a child should be as soon as the first tooth erupts. Conclusion: This study shows that graduating medical students of Nepal were knowledgeable about some aspects of early childhood caries and infant oral health, but uncertain about other aspects like the association between poor maternal gum health and premature low birth weight babies.

Introduction: CoV infections can potentially cause from a simple cold to a severe respiratory syndrome, such as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV). The COVID-19 created a new reality for global healthcare models. Objetive: To evaluate trends in case fatality rates of COVID-19 in the World. Methods: We conducted a population based time-series study using public and official data of cases and deaths from COVID-19 in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Nigeria, Peru, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States and Russian, between December, 2019 and August, 2020. Data were based on reports from European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. COVID-19 was defined by the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (U07.1). A Prais-Winsten regression model was performed and the Daily Percentage Change (DPC) calculated determine rates as increasing, decreasing or flat. Results: During the study period, trends in case-fatality rates in the world were flat (DPC = 0.3; CI 95% [-0.2: 0.7]; p = 0.225). In Africa, Morocco had decreasing trends (DPC = -1.1; CI 95% [-1.5: -0.7]; p < 0.001), whereas it were increasing in South Africa (p < 0.05) and flat in Nigeria (p > 0.05). In the Americas, Argentina showed a decreasing trend in case-fatality rates (DPC = -0.6; CI 95% [-1.1: -0.2]; p = 0.005), the U.S. had flat trends (p > 0.05) and all other American countries had increasing trends (p < 0.05). In Asia, Iran had decreasing trends (DPC = -1.5; CI 95% [-2.6 : -0.2]; p = 0.019); China and Saudi Arabia showed increasing trends (p < 0.05), while in India, Japan and South Korea they were flat (p > 0.05). European countries had mostly increasing trends (p < 0.05): Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and Russia; France and Switzerland had flat trends (p > 0.05). Finally, in Oceania, trends in case-fatality rates were flat in Australia (p > 0.05) and increasing in New Zealand (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Trends in case-fatality rates of COVID-19 in the World were flat between December, 31 and August, 31. Argentina, Iran and Morocco were the only countries with decreasing trends. On the other hand, South Africa, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, China, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom, Russian and New Zealand had increasing trends in case-fatality rate. All the other countries analyzed had flat trends. Based on case-fatality rate data, our study supports that COVID-19 pandemic is still in progress worldwide.