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This study explores the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze information from X (previously Twitter) feeds related to COVID-19, specifically focusing on the time following the World Health Organization's (WHO) vaccination announcement. This aspect of the pandemic has not been studied by other researchers focusing on vaccination news. By utilizing advanced AI algorithms, the research aims to examine a wealth of data, sentiments, and trends to enhance crisis management strategies effectively. Our methods involved collecting a dataset of tweets from December 2020 to July 2021. By using specific keywords strategically, we gathered a substantial 15.5 million tweets, focusing on important hashtags like #vaccine and #coronavirus while filtering out irrelevant replies and retweets. The assessment of three different machine learning models–BiLSTM, FFNN, and CNN – highlights the exceptional performance of BiLSTM, achieving an impressive F1-score of 0.84 on the test set, with Precision and Recall metrics at 0.85 and 0.83, respectively. The study provides a detailed visualization of global sentiments on COVID-19 topics, with a main goal of extracting insights to manage public health crises effectively. Sentiment labels were predicted using various classification models and categorized as positive, negative, and neutral for each country after adjusting for population differences. An important finding from the analysis is the variation in sentiments across regions, for instance, with Eastern European countries showing positive views on post-vaccination economic recovery, while China and the United States express negative opinions on the same topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A very sensitive and ultra‐selective electrochemical sensing device with high conductivity and durability was made using styrene, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), and functionalised graphene oxide. To construct a mediator‐free, non‐enzymatic sensing probe for the detection of arsenic (v) ions, a recently synthesized sensor was impregnated onto an interdigital electrode (IDE) surface. The newly developed receptors were characterized using Fourier Transmission Infra‐Red (FTIR) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Under the optimized experimental conditions, sensor showed the lowest detection limit of 0.11 ppb with highest sensitivity (3460 ppb) and a strong linear relationship in the range of 50 ppm–1 ppb of As (v) concentration. The ion imprinting technique is employed to enhance the selectivity of the fabricated sensor. The arsenic sensor is found to be highly selective in the presence of interfering species like AlCl3, FeCl3, and CoCl3 etc. The electrochemical sensor proved to be reliable and could be reused after proper storage, also exhibit a high repeatability response and maintaining of 99 % of its initial sensor response for detection after repeated use of one month to six months. This effort showed excellent results in an electrochemical sensor with sensitivity, selectivity, stability, and reversibility for detecting trace quantities of As (v) in real water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, technology developments and increase in knowledge have led to profound changes in the diagnostics of haematologic neoplasms, particularly myeloid neoplasms. Therefore an updated, fifth edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of haematolymphoid neoplasms (WHO-HAEM5) will be issued in 2024. In this context, we present a practical guide for analysing the genetic aspects of clonal haematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), clonal cytopenia of undetermined significance (CCUS), myelodysplastic neoplasms (MDS), and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) based on WHO-HAEM5. This guide navigates through the genetic abnormalities underlying myeloid neoplasms which are required to be detected for classification according to WHO-HAEM5 and provides diagnostic algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of haematopoietic neoplasms, particularly its fifth version from 2022 (WHO-HAEM5), myeloid neoplasms are not only grouped into myeloproliferative (MPN) and myelodysplastic neoplasms (MDS). There is also a group of haematological disorders that share features of both categories termed myelodysplastic /myeloproliferative neoplasms (MDS/MPN). In this article, we aim to provide a comprehensive and practical guide to WHO-HAEM5 highlighting the genetic alterations that underlie MPN and MDS/MPN. This guide provides an overview of the overlapping commonalities among these entities, as well as their unique characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semen analysis is the cornerstone for male fertility evaluation. In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) released its 6th edition of semen analysis manual. We highlight the main changes in the latest 6th edition of the WHO manual of semen analysis and their possible interpretations. The manual is highly comprehensive, offering detailed information, and is widely regarded as an excellent technical reference for laboratory staff. Nevertheless, several aspects of the manual require further elucidation for infertility practitioners. The recently published 6th edition of the WHO manual provides a strong framework for the assessment and processing of human semen. Grasping the modifications introduced in this updated edition and their clinical significance can enhance the quality of patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ayurvedic drugs are widely used in Kerala, India, for primary health care and comprise medicinal plant parts. In the present study, trace element concentrations of 16 traditionally used medicinal plants were determined by the energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence technique. The iron (Fe) shows the highest concentration of the order of 7482 ± 101 mg kg−1, while the allowed limit by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/WHO is 20 mg kg−1. Nonessential element lead is detected in all analyzed samples, but its amount is less than the limit set by FAO/WHO 1984. The trace element profile obtained is the fingerprint identity of each plant used in drug formulations. Such baseline data act as the standardization tool for manufacturing compound medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a novel decomposition approach that breaks down the levels and trends of lifespan inequality as the sum of cause-of-death contributions. The suggested method shows whether the levels and changes in lifespan inequality are attributable to the levels and changes in (1) the extent of inequality in the cause-specific age-at-death distribution (the "Inequality" component), (2) the total share of deaths attributable to each cause (the "Proportion" component), or (3) the cause-specific mean age at death (the "Mean" component). This so-called Inequality–Proportion–Mean (or IPM) method is applied to 10 low-mortality countries in Europe. Our findings suggest that the most prevalent causes of death (in our setting, "circulatory system" and "neoplasms") do not necessarily contribute the most to overall levels of lifespan inequality. In fact, "perinatal and congenital" causes are the strongest drivers of lifespan inequality declines. The contribution of the IPM components to changes in lifespan inequality varies considerably across causes, genders, and countries. Among the three components, the Mean one explains the least lifespan inequality dynamics, suggesting that shifts in cause-specific mean ages at death alone contributed little to changes in lifespan inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive fungal diseases have profound effects upon human health and are on increase globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2022 published the fungal priority list calling for improved public health interventions and advance research. Drosophila melanogaster presents an excellent model system to dissect host-pathogen interactions and has been proved valuable to study immunopathogenesis of fungal diseases. In this review we highlight the recent advances in fungal-Drosophila interplay with an emphasis on the recently published WHO's fungal priority list and we focus on available tools and technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background of the study: AML classification tools have been developed to stratify the risk at AML diagnosis. There is a need to evaluate these tools in the current therapeutic era. Cohort characteristics: In this retrospective study, we compared five classifiers: ELN 2017, ELN 2022, ALFA classifier, Papaemmanuil et al. classifier, and Lindsley et al. classifier, in a real‐life cohort of 281 patients newly diagnosed for AML in Nice University Hospital. In our cohort median age was 68 years old, sex ratio was M/F 56%/44%, performance status was lower than 2 in 73.1% of patients, AML subtype was "De novo" in 71.5%, "secondary" in 22.4%, and "therapy‐related" in 6.0% of patients. Intensive chemotherapy was used in 53.0% of patients, and non‐intensive chemotherapy in 40.6% of patients. Molecular analysis was available in a large majority of patients and the main mutations found were NPM1 (22.7%), DNMT3A (17.4%), TP53 (13.1%), TET2 (12.4%), and FLT3‐ITD (12.4%). Results: In our findings, the comparison of overall survival between the three prognostic groups in the global cohort was statistically significant in all classifiers: ELN 2017 p < 0.0001, ELN 2022 p < 0.0001, ALFA classifier p < 0.0001, Papaemmanuil classifier p < 0.0001, Lindsley classifier p = 0.001. ELN 2017, ELN 2022, ALFA classifier, Papaemmanuil classifier, and Lindsley classifier were calculated respectively in 99%, 99%, 89%, 90%, and 89% of patients. Conclusions: Using Akaike's information criteria (AIC) to compare all five classifiers, ELN 2022 is the best classifier into younger and older patients and for prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution sketches the domestic and international institutional framework that states shall set up to implement their anticipation duties flowing from the HRS and, at the same time, enable international organisations to comply with their anticipation responsibilities for the HRS. Building on the understanding of science as a communal and open-ended endeavour of knowledge seeking in which everyone has an equal right to participate, to benefit from and to be protected against harm arising from it, it elaborates on states' duties under the HRS to anticipate both the (opportunities for) benefits and the (risks of) harm of science, and to promote the former and protect against the latter with due diligence. It then argues that the HRS requires domestic and international institutions working along egalitarian lines and allowing for broad participation to (co-)specify domestic anticipation duties and coordinate their implementation in context. This is essential due to the global nature of many harms and benefits of science and its communal character. The example of the scientific response to SARS-CoV-2 is used to highlight that the current domestic and international institutional framework has, however, serious shortcomings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is well known that the implementation of the WHO surgical safety checklist (SSC) leads to improved operating room team coordination and reduced perioperative complication and mortality rates. Although it is proven to be beneficial worldwide, its awareness and usage need to be evaluated in a diverse country like India. As orthopaedic surgeries involve implants and tourniquet usage, it is important to evaluate the applicability of WHO SSC specifically to orthopaedic surgeries, and whether any modifications are needed. Materials and Methods: A web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among Indian Orthopaedic Surgeons with a pre-defined questionnaire regarding awareness, usage and suggestions to modify the existing WHO SSC (2009) for orthopaedic surgeries. Results: 513 responses were included for final analysis. 90.3% of surgeons were aware of the surgical safety checklist; however, only 55.8% used it routinely in their practice. The awareness of SSC availability was 1.85 times more among younger surgeons (< 20 years of experience) than among those with > 20 years of experience. 17% of surgeons thought the usage of SSC was time-consuming and 52.4% of participants felt a need to modify the existing WHO SSC (2009) for orthopaedic surgeries. 34.5% recommended the inclusion of the patient blood group in the "Sign-in" section, 62.77% proposed the inclusion of details about the tourniquet, whereas only 6.63% suggested adding about surgical implant readiness in the "Time-out" section and 72.7% suggested including a check to make sure the tourniquet was deflated, removed and also recording of the total usage time during the "Sign-out" section. Conclusion: Despite high (90%) awareness among Indian Orthopaedic surgeons, they have limited usage of the WHO SSC in their practice. Identifying barriers and considering modifications for orthopaedic surgeries, like details about tourniquet usage during the "Time-out" section and a check to ensure it was removed during the "Sign-out" section, will improve patient safety and outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the challenges of implementing the World Health Organization (WHO) classification for central nervous system (CNS) tumors in resource-restrained regions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries in the Asian Oceanian region. The lack of molecular testing facilities and trained neuropathologists, as well as the limited therapeutic options for CNS tumors, pose significant obstacles. To address these challenges, the Asian Oceanian Society of Neuropathology (AOSNP) has developed the ADAPTR guidelines, which aim to adapt the WHO classification to suit the available diagnostic resources in each medical setting. The guidelines provide practical information for diagnosing CNS tumors in resource-limited settings, with a focus on benefiting patients. Different resource levels are defined, and recommendations are tailored to each level, allowing for clinically appropriate diagnoses regardless of the available technology. The guidelines also emphasize the importance of integrating radiological information and provide comprehensive lists of immunohistochemical markers for each tumor type. Diagnostic flowcharts and regular tumor board meetings are recommended for effective implementation. [Extracted from the article]

Background: The abbreviated version of the World Health Organization (WHO) Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) psychosis screen tends to yield high prevalence in online samples. Psychotic Experiences (PE) may not necessarily indicate current or imminent psychopathology; however, distressing PE appear to be more clinically informative. Methods: We analyzed data collected from an online survey administered to a Qualtrics panel (N = 2522 adults). Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined the association between PE (with and without associated distress) and several mental health outcomes, adjusting for age, gender, and race/ethnicity. Results: Individuals with distressing PE had greater odds of most mental health outcomes when compared with individuals with non‐distressing PE. This was true for being in mental health treatment, loneliness, probable mental illness, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempt, adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and education level. The only exception was for hazardous alcohol use, for which there was no significant association with distressing PE. Conclusion: As screening for PE gains traction in public health and preventive medicine, using an abbreviated version of the WHO CIDI psychosis screen may be clinically informative, especially when eliciting the distressful nature of PE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2020, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) challenged the world with a global outbreak that led to millions of deaths worldwide. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the symptomatic manifestation of this virus, which can range from flu-like symptoms to utter clinical complications and even death. Since there was no clear medicine that could tackle this infection or lower its complications with minimal adverse effects on the patients' health, the world health organization (WHO) developed awareness programs to lower the infection rate and limit the fast spread of this virus. Although vaccines have been developed as preventative tools, people still prefer going back to traditional herbal medicine, which provides remarkable health benefits that can either prevent the viral infection or limit the progression of severe symptoms through different mechanistic pathways with relatively insignificant side effects. This comprehensive review provides scientific evidence elucidating the effect of 10 different plants against SARS-CoV-2, paving the way for further studies to reconsider plant-based extracts, rich in bioactive compounds, into more advanced clinical assessments in order to identify their impact on patients suffering from COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annually, more than 1.5 million preventable new hepatitis B (HBV) infections continue to occur, with an estimated global burden of 296 million individuals living with chronic hepatitis B infection. This substantial health challenge results in over 820,000 annual deaths being attributed to complications such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The HBV vaccination remains the cornerstone of public health policy to prevent chronic hepatitis B and its related complications. It serves as a crucial element in the global effort to eliminate HBV, as established by the World Health Organization (WHO), with an ambitious 90% vaccination target by 2030. However, reports on global birth dose coverage reveal substantial variability, with an overall coverage rate of only 46%. This comprehensive review thoroughly examines global trends in HBV vaccination coverage, investigating the profound impact of vaccination on HBV prevalence and its consequences across diverse populations, including both high-risk and general demographics. Additionally, the review addresses the essential formidable challenges and facilitating factors for achieving WHO's HBV vaccination coverage objectives and elimination strategies in the coming decade and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fifth generation of radiofrequency communication, 5G, is currently being rolled out worldwide. Since September 2017, the EU 5G Appeal has been sent six times to the EU, requesting a moratorium on the rollout of 5G. This article reviews the 5G Appeal and the EU's subsequent replies, including the extensive cover letter sent to the EU in September 2021, requesting stricter guidelines for exposures to radiofrequency radiation (RFR). The Appeal notes the EU's internal conflict between its approach to a wireless technology-led future, and the need to protect the health and safety of its citizens. It critiques the reliance of the EU on the current guidelines given by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), that consider only heating and no other health relevant biological effects from RFR. To counteract the ICNIRP position, the 2021 cover letter briefly presented recent research from the EU's own expert groups, from a large collection of European and other international studies, and from previous reviews of the effects of RFR on humans and the environment. The 5G Appeal asserts that the majority of scientific evidence points to biological effects, many with the potential for harm, occurring below the ICNIRP public limits. Evidence to establish this position is drawn from studies showing changes to neurotransmitters and receptors, damage to cells, proteins, DNA, sperm, the immune system, and human health, including cancer. The 2021 Appeal goes on to warn that 5G signals are likely to additionally alter the behaviour of oxygen and water molecules at the quantum level, unfold proteins, damage skin, and cause harm to insects, birds, frogs, plants and animals. Altogether, this evidence establishes a high priority for the European Union towards (i) replacing the current flawed guidelines with protective thresholds, and (ii) placing a moratorium on 5G deployment so as to (iii) allow industry-independent scientists the time needed to propose new health-protective guidelines. This 2021 Appeal's relevance becomes even more pressing in the context of the EU plans to roll out the sixth generation of wireless technologies, 6G, further adding to the known risks of RFR technology for humans and the environment. This all leads to an important question: Do EU decision makers have the right to ignore EU´s own directives by prioritising economic gain over human and environmental health? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic demonstrated the importance of proper understanding of the epidemiology of viral infections in the modern cosmopolitan world. In this retrospective study, we analyzed different factors associated with the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the Sandanski municipality, a small and isolated region of Bulgaria, with a classical continental Mediterranean climate. We collected 418 serum samples from people without symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection or other respiratory diseases. The samples were tested for COVID-19 markers with qualitative and quantitative ELISA for anti-N and anti-S antibodies, and a rapid test for (IgM/G) antibodies. The methods were applied to complement each other with the different characteristics each of them has, thus allowing us to perform more accurate and more comprehensive detection of serum antibodies and to analyze the virus spread. We compared the results with the official government data for the SARS-CoV-2 distribution in Bulgaria. Based on the obtained results and available literature data, we discuss the importance of popular diagnostic methods, the role of the climate, the travel of people and pets, psychological stress and the individual reaction of subjects related to the spread of the virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pakistan established the Punjab healthcare commission to improve patient care catering to professional accountability in the public and private sectors. As per the World Health Organization, quality of care comprises of six dimensions where the care must be effective, efficient, accessible, patient-centered, equitable, and safe. Objectives: The objectives are to determine if patients are satisfied with the quality of services in public and private sectors, or if any neglect was present. Methods: The literature on patient care and satisfaction was compiled using a scoping review methodology. PubMed, CINAHL Plus, and Scopus were used to collate information. Duplicates were removed using Endnote X9. Results: Of the 467 abstracts and titles that were screened for relevance, 74 were considered for full-text review and potential inclusion in the scoping review. Out of 16 included studies, 7 (43.8%) of the included studies originated from Pakistan. The characteristics of included studies such as quality of care and patient satisfaction are tabulated. Conclusion: Current literature does not provide quality- and satisfaction- focused studies, and has methodological discrepancies. It is required that the medical profession adopt a sense of self-monitoring. Gaps in service provision must be addressed by healthcare managers, policymakers, and physicians in Pakistan.

The upcoming World Health Organization (WHO) Reporting System in Liver Cytopathology marks the first internationally applicable system for diverse medical infrastructure settings. This system categorizes cases into five groups: Insufficient/Inadequate/Nondiagnostic, Benign, Atypical, Suspicious for Malignancy, and Malignant. Each category is associated with a risk of malignancy (ROM), guiding recommendations for further diagnostic testing to achieve specific diagnoses or refine differential diagnoses and follow-up management. The primary goal is to enhance and standardize cytopathology reporting, improve communication between cytopathologists and clinicians, and ultimately elevate patient care. The online WHO System provides direct access to the WHO Classification for Tumours 5th Edition. This review delves into the latest classification guidelines, addresses terminology standardization, navigates diagnostic complexities, and aligns patient management options with cytopathological interpretations, contributing to an overall enhancement of patient care.

As South Africa faced the new dawn of COVID-19 pandemic, questions were raised regarding the utilization of African traditional medicine as a treatment of the illness. Madagascar was viewed by African people as a pioneer to regard and declare Artemisia as treatment for COVID-19 and developed products known as Africa following its breakthrough in traditional herbal cure for COVID-19 known as COVID Organics or CVO to be used by their citizens and the rest of African states. In July 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention formed a Regional Expert Committee on Conventional Medicine for COVID-19 in an attempt to enhance research and development of traditional medicines such as CVO, aiming to test traditional therapies and provide independent advice on their safety and efficacy. However, six months after its formation, it appeared that this attempt to regulate has failed to gain traction: None of the proposed remedies progressed beyond phase II clinical trials. Using existing secondary sources such as articles, government documents and media releases, this paper aims to look at the response from South African government on utilization of African Traditional Medicine as COVID-19 treatment. A special attention is given to South African government’s response to the treatment proposed by the state of Madagascar and its way forward towards using traditional medicine as treatment to COVID-19.

BackgroundWe evaluated in-hospital mortality and outcomes incidence after hospital discharge due to COVID-19 in a Brazilian multicenter cohort.MethodsThis prospective multicenter study (RECOVER-SUS, NCT04807699) included COVID-19 patients hospitalized in public tertiary hospitals in Brazil from June 2020 to March 2021. Clinical assessment and blood samples were performed at hospital admission, with post-hospital discharge remote visits. Hospitalized participants were followed-up until March 31, 2021. The outcomes were in-hospital mortality and incidence of rehospitalization or death after hospital discharge. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional-hazard models were performed.Findings1589 participants [54.5% male, age=62 (IQR 50-70) years; BMI=28.4 (IQR,24.9-32.9) Kg/m² and 51.9% with diabetes] were included. A total of 429 individuals [27.0% (95%CI,24.8-29.2)] died during hospitalization (median time 14 (IQR,9-24) days). Older age [vs

Background: The Korean government implemented financial incentives to enhance infection prevention and management within general hospital settings. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of infection control compensation on antibiotic usage using a controlled interrupted time series analysis. Methods: The main unit of analysis was 270,901 inpatient episodes extracted from the Korean National Health Insurance Service Cohort Database from 2013 to 2019. The 96-month period was examined before and after the intervention, which was set to September 1, 2017, by applying a 1-year lag time after the incentive was introduced. Segmented regression was used to estimate the effects of interventions in a controlled interrupted time series. Hospitals that received nationwide financial incentives for infection prevention and management were included in the analysis. The study’s primary outcome was the use of antibiotics based on the WHO Access, Watch, and Reserve (AWaRe) classification of antibiotics, and the secondary outcome was the number of days of antibiotic use as days of therapy (DOTs) per patient day (PD). Results: The probability of overall antibiotic use decreased between incentivized and unincentivized hospitals (odds ratio [OR], 0.922; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.859–1.000). The difference in level change in the use of third-generation cephalosporins (OR,0.894; 95% CI, 0.817–0.977) and carbapenem (OR,0.790; 95% CI, 0.630–0.992) was significantly reduced between incentivized and unincentivized hospitals. The difference in slope change on DOTs/PD of glycopeptides was − 0.005 DOT/PDs, and that of carbapenem was − 0.003 between incentivized and unincentivized hospitals. Conclusion: We observed that incentives for infection prevention and management have had a positive impact on some aspects of antibiotic usage. A partial decrease was observed in antibiotic use, accompanied by a modest reduction in DOTs/PD, particularly for antibiotics aimed at addressing multidrug-resistant pathogens. Further investigation is necessary to establish evidence for extending these incentives.

Abstract The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE)/International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE)/World Health Organization (WHO) Global Campaign Against Epilepsy was launched in Geneva and Dublin in the summer of 1997. The second phase of the Campaign was launched by a major event in Geneva, led by WHO Director General Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland in February 2001. Since then, the Campaign has been gathering momentum around the world culminating in the WHO General Assembly Resolution (WHA 68.20) on Epilepsy in May 2015 supported by 194 countries. Recently, the World Federation of Neurology and other neurological non‐governmental organizations (NGOs) have joined forces with the Epilepsy Campaign, leading to the WHO General Assembly Resolution (WHA 73.10) in May 2022 promoting a 10‐year Intersectoral Global Action Plan (IGAP) for Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders. I was privileged to serve as the first Chairperson of the Global Campaign Against Epilepsy and this year all my documents and correspondence relating to the Campaign have been delivered to the Wellcome Collection in London. These are the basis for this detailed account of the origins and early development of the Campaign. I describe the events leading to the birth of the concept, planning for the Campaign, the launch, development, and the achievements of phase one. This first phase focused on awareness raising, education, and involvement, especially within WHO, ILAE, and IBE, including a series of five Regional Public Health meetings and Declarations on Epilepsy. In 1999, the WHO raised the status of the Campaign to the highest level, the first ever for a Non‐Communicable Disease, resulting in the high profile launch of phase two in 2001, paving the way to the continuing global momentum and achievements, including the 2015 and 2022 WHO Resolutions.

After the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, the viral infection known as monkeypox gained significant attention, and the World Health Organization (WHO) classified it as a global public health emergency. Given the similarities between monkeypox and other pox viruses, conventional classification methods encounter difficulties in accurately identifying the disease. Furthermore, sharing sensitive medical data gives rise to concerns about security and privacy. Integrating deep neural networks with federated learning (FL) presents a promising avenue for addressing the challenges of medical data categorization. In light of this, we propose an FL-based framework using deep learning models to classify monkeypox and other pox viruses securely. The proposed framework has three major components: (a) a cycle-consistent generative adversarial network to augment data samples for training; (b) deep learning-based models such as MobileNetV2, Vision Transformer (ViT), and ResNet50 for the classification; and (c) a flower-federated learning environment for security. The experiments are performed using publicly available datasets. In the experiments, the ViT-B32 model yields an impressive accuracy rate of 97.90%, emphasizing the robustness of the proposed framework and its potential for secure and accurate categorization of monkeypox disease.

Curves are the leading cause of road departure crashes that turn into deaths and severe injuries. Most crashes occur on curved roads because they have different geometrical circumstances from straight roads. A sharp turn on the road creates more difficulty for the driver than a normal curve road. To Avoid crashes on the curved road, there is a prerequisite to identify the curved road for drivers that this turn is problematic. Responding intelligently to save precious human life and the country’s gross domestic product is necessary. Our paper proposed a Curve Crash Avoidance Protocol (2CAP) in Vehicular Ad-hoc Network (VANET). The Intelligent Curve Crash Avoidance Algorithm is proposed to avoid disastrous vehicle crashes. The sensing Node Operation algorithm works for multiple sensors embedded in the Onboard Unit to gather information on vehicles and road environments. On the other side, road-side unit requests for this collected data via a secure communication channel for processing. A Linear Regression machine learning technique implements the intelligent Unit Operations algorithm. The Intelligent Unit decides to notify the onboard Unit based on gathered data and trained dataset. We implement the scheme using the Linear Regression Machine Learning Model. Multiple sensors, Global Positioning Systems, and Global Information systems use the dataset methodology to classify and predict results. The proposed model is expected to be effective for proper coordination with wireless sensor network equipment.

Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasms (BPDCNs) are a rare, highly aggressive hematological malignant neoplasm that primarily involve the skin, bone marrow, lymph nodes and even extra-nodal sites. The rarity and relative poor description of cases in the literature make it necessary to review and further studies that deeply investigate this entity not only in a histopathological but also molecular field. In August–September 2023, we searched MEDLINE, PubMed and Scopus for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), narrative and systematic reviews, meta-analyses, observational studies (either longitudinal or retrospective), and case series published in English in the last 25 years using the keywords BPDCN, PDCs, Blastic NK-cell lymphoma, agranular CD4+ NK leukemia/lymphoma, agranular CD4+ CD56+ hematodermic neoplasm/tumor. Despite the progress made in recent years in the diagnosis and biological understanding of the disease, until 2018 there was no clear consensus regarding its treatment and the main therapeutic schemes used were based on chemotherapy regimens already used in the treatment of lymphomas, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and/or acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In this narrative review, we address the definition and epidemiological features of BPDCN, provide the different theories on the etiopathogenesis with particular attention to the presumed cell of origin, discuss the main clinical manifestations that provide a sign of its presence, summarize the main histopathological and immunophenotypic characteristics with special attention to the most important markers, and finally, we provide some of the most effective information on the therapeutic treatment modalities of BPDCN.

The review presents differences in the nosological structure of ophthalmic pathology leading to childhood blindness and low vision in different countries. Worldwide, 1.4 million children are blind, about three quarters of whom live in the poorest regions of Africa or Asia. In lowincome countries, the congenital cataract is one of the leading causes of visual impairment in children, while retinopathy of prematurity is more common in middle-income countries. Uncorrected refractive errors both in children and adults, remain a major cause of visual impairment in all countries. The development of new technologies and quality medical care impacts the structure of blindness and low vision causes, as well as their geographical specificities. The analysis showed that much effort is required from large-scale state programs of prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of children with socially significant eye diseases.

The ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the need for individuals to have easy access to healthcare facilities for treatment as well as vaccinations. The surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations during 2020 also underscored the fact that accessibility to nearby hospitals for testing, treatment and vaccination sites is crucial for patients with fever or respiratory symptoms. Although necessary, quantifying healthcare access is challenging as it depends on a complex interaction between underlying socioeconomic and physical factors. In this case study, we deployed a Multi Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) approach to uncover the barriers and their effect on healthcare access. Using a least cost path (LCP) analysis we quantified the costs associated with healthcare access from each census block group in the Los Angeles metropolitan area (LA Metro) to the nearest hospital. Social vulnerability reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the daily number of COVID-19 cases from the Los Angeles open data portal and built environment characteristics (slope of the street, car ownership, population density distribution, walkability, traffic collision density, and speed limit) were used to quantify overall accessibility index for the entire study area. Our results showed that the census block groups with a social vulnerability index above 0.75 (high vulnerability) had low accessibility owing to the higher cost of access to nearby hospitals. These areas were also coincident with the hotspots for COVID-19 cases and deaths which highlighted the inequitable exposure of socially disadvantaged populations to COVID-19 infections and how the pandemic impacts were exacerbated by the synergistic effect of socioeconomic status and built environment characteristics of the locations where the disadvantaged populations resided. The framework proposed herein could be adapted to geo-target testing/vaccination sites and improve accessibility to healthcare facilities in general and more specifically among the socially vulnerable populations residing in urban areas to reduce their overall health risks during future pandemic outbreaks.

Numerous studies have been conducted globally to assess the compliance level of newspapers with the World Health Organization's media guidelines for responsible suicide reporting. To identify and review such studies conducted in Muslim-majority countries between 2014 and 2022, we searched PubMed and Google Scholar databases. We identified 12 eligible studies from Pakistan (n  = 4), Bangladesh (n  = 2), Malaysia (n  = 1), Indonesia (n  = 1), Iraq (n  = 1), Iran (n  = 1), Nigeria (n  = 1), and Egypt (n  = 1). These studies indicated an overall lack of adherence to the guidelines. However, the level of nonadherence was particularly high in Pakistan. Effective suicide prevention programs may help in promoting responsible reporting of suicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology is increasingly shaping human life, particularly in healthcare, where recent advancements have revolutionized patient care. Despite these advances, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition of health remains rooted in traditional notions, raising questions about its adequacy in light of technological progress. This paper explores the conceptual and practical limitations of the current definition and argues for its revision to encompass the role of technology in health. This paper examines the evolving landscape of healthcare technology and its philosophical implications, drawing on theories such as the Extended Health Hypothesis and the Extended Mind Hypothesis. It claims that health extends beyond traditional biological boundaries and includes the influence of technology on well-being. This paper advocates for a re-examination of the WHO definition of health to reflect the integral role of technology in modern healthcare. Recognizing technology as part of health necessitates a broader conceptual framework that acknowledges the interconnectedness of biology, technology, and human well-being. Given technology’s transformative role in healthcare, this paper argues for a revaluation of the WHO’s definition of health to encapsulate the evolving relationship between technology and human well-being. At the end, we propose a new definition recognizing that health is a dynamic state of physical, mental, social, and technological well-being, wherein individuals can achieve optimal quality of life through the harmonious integration of biological, psychological, and technological factors. This state encompasses not only the absence of disease but also the effective utilization of advanced technologies.

Access to and utilisation of antenatal care (ANC) is important for optimising health and nutrition during pregnancy. This study aimed to assess adherence to and factors associated with ANC and antenatal supplement use among Laotian women, and consider culturally appropriate strategies to increase micronutrient intakes. Mother-child (aged 21 d to

Abstract The physico-chemical parameters and WQI of ground water in all five blocks of district Nuapada are calculated by taking ten samples from each block in the month of October 2019. The correlation study between different physicochemical parameters shows significant negative relationships. The WQI of ground water on Boden block is 472.1, Kharial is 366.7, Sinapali block is 319.82, Komana block is 344.1, and Nuapada block is 225.65. Hence the ground water of all these blocks is E-class and not fit for human use. Among all these blocks, the Boden block is highly polluted. The mean value of fluoride in the Boden block is 6.17 mg/l, the Kharial block is 4.79 mg/l, the Sinapali block is 3.93 mg/l, the Komana block is 4.47 mg/l, and the Nuapada block is 2.86 mg/l. Hence, the present study reveals that the groundwater quality of different regions of the district Nuapada is heavily polluted and not suitable for drinking.

Abstract Background The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends an evidence-based package of care to reduce mortality and morbidity among people with advanced HIV disease (AHD). Adoption of these recommendations by national guidelines in sub-Saharan Africa is poorly documented. We aimed to review national guidelines for AHD management across six selected countries in sub-Saharan Africa for benchmarking against the 2021 WHO recommendations. Methods We reviewed national guidelines from six countries participating in an ongoing randomized controlled trial recruiting people with AHD. We extracted information addressing 18 items of AHD diagnosis and management across the following domains: [1] Definition of AHD, [2] Screening, [3] Prophylaxis, [4] Supportive care, and [5] HIV treatment. Data from national guideline documents were compared to the 2021 WHO consolidated guidelines on HIV and an agreement score was produced to evaluate extent of guideline adoption. Results The distribution of categories of agreement varied for the national documents. Four of the six countries addressed all 18 items (Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda). Overall agreement with the WHO 2021 guidelines ranged from 9 to 15.5 out of 18 possible points: Malawi 15.5 points, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone 14.5 points, South Africa 13.5 points, Uganda 13.0 points and Botswana with 9.0 points. Most inconsistencies were reported for the delay of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in presence of opportunistic diseases. None of the six national guidelines aligned with WHO recommendations around ART timing in patients with tuberculosis. Agreement correlated with the year of publication of the national guideline. Conclusion National guidelines addressing the care of advanced HIV disease in sub-Saharan Africa are available. Besides optimal timing for start of ART in presence of tuberculosis, most national recommendations are in line with the 2021 WHO standards.

The relevance of the work on the study of morphological indicators of koi lies in the increased attention at international koi exhibitions to such external indicators as colour, shape, and body proportions of fish that occupy high prize places and receive monetary rewards of hundreds of thousands of US dollars. The purpose of the work was to study the morphological features of various coloured forms of various origins. Such indicators are not taken into account in traditional fish breeding, which also adds novelty to the conducted research. 280 koi samples were selected for analysis. The work evaluated the variability of plastic features of fish of individual colour forms (magoi, kumonryu, utsurimono, kohaku, kawarimono, bekko, doitsu bekko, doitsu kawarimono) of different origins (Japanese, Turkish, Israeli, and Ukrainian). As a result of the work, it was established that there was not found a statistically significant difference between different colour forms of the same origin. At the same time, a reliable difference was established in fish of Israeli origin in terms of features characterizing the shape and proportions of the head in relation to the proportions of the body. The distribution of morphological indices of the studied individuals of different samples in the space of the main components also confirms the reliable differences of the Israeli morphotype from fish of Japanese, Turkish, and Ukrainian origin according to the characteristics related to the ratios of the head parts and body proportions. The obtained data is the basis for the work of breeders and breeders of koi carp who wish to grow valuable specimens – potential winners of international koi carp competitions

In this paper, we briefly discuss the historical issues concerning the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) and analyse the current situation after the COVID-19 pandemic with emphasis on the new developments at 9th Review Conference of the BTWC. In particular, we discuss the mission of the new working group agreed at the review conference to identify, examine, and develop specific and effective measures, including possible legally binding measures and to make recommendations to strengthen and institutionalise the Convention in all its aspects, and compare it with productive activities associated with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). The enhanced role for civil society in support of the BTWC is then proposed with some solid examples from our own recent projects. We hope this analysis will help to facilitate new thinking about strengthening BTWC in coming years.

Abstract Background According to World Health Organization (WHO), the postnatal care provision aims to provide care and treatment with the highest quality and the least intervention to obtain the best health and well-being for the family. The present study aims to adapt international guidelines for the clinical recommendations for the postpartum period and implement and determine its effectiveness. Methods/design This study will be done in two phases. In the first phase, international clinical guidelines for mother and newborn postnatal care will be adapted. The second phase is a randomized controlled trial in which the adapted guideline recommendations will be implemented, and maternal and neonatal outcomes will be measured. The ADAPTE method for adaptation of clinical guidelines, is usedg in the first phase. A systematic review was conducted in the databases and clinical guidelines related to postpartum care were extracted according to the inclusion criteria. The quality of clinical guidelines was evaluated using the AGREE-II tool. The WHO clinical guideline obtained the highest evaluation score and was chosen as the main guideline, and the NICE clinical guideline, with a second higher evaluation score, was also used to fill some gaps in the WHO guideline. Based on the pre-determined questions, recommendations will be sent to the relevant experts and stakeholders for their evaluation. After the external evaluation and the finalization of the recommendations, the postpartum clinical guideline will be compiled and used in the second phase of the study. In the second phase, 272 women in the immediate postnatal stage of the maternity and postpartum ward of Taleghani and AL-Zahra Hospitals in Tabriz will be assigned into the intervention (receiving care based on adapted guidline recommendations) and control (receiving routine hospital care) groups uing individual stratified block randomization. At 6 weeks after birth, we will complete the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale, postpartum specific anxiety scale and Barkin index of maternal functioning (to assess the primary outcomes), as well as a maternal health problems checklist, infant care behavior, and violence assessment questionnaires (to asses the seconadary outcomes). Further, the maternal health problems checklist and the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale will be completed in the second week after birth. The data will be analyzed using an independent t-test and ANCOVA. Discussion It is expected that the implementation of evidence-based clinical guidelines improves maternal and neonatal outcomes and experience of the postpartum period. The positive experience can also help to achieve Iran’s population policies and the need to increase childbearing in the country. Trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT): IRCT20120718010324N76; Date of registration: 27/1/2023. URL: https://en.irct.ir/user/trial/66874/view ; Date of first registration: 27/3/2023.

Abstract Context Respiratory support is an essential part in treating COVID-19 patients at risk for developing respiratory failure, and this become certain if associated with other comorbidities specifically obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Aim To evaluate the role of early use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in management of moderate to severe COVID-19 patients at risk of OSA. Settings and design This was experimental clinical trial. Patients and methods Eighty (80) patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 at risk of OSA were enrolled. They were simply randomized into two equal groups: non-CPAP group and CPAP group. Non-CPAP group will receive medical treatment plus oxygen therapy according to recommendation of protocol of the Egyptian Ministry of Health 2020 and CPAP group as in non-CPAP group plus using CPAP. Results Our findings showed that there were higher percentages in hospital deaths and longer duration of hospital stay as well as increased need for invasive mechanical ventilation in non-CPAP group compared to CPAP group patients: (P-value = 0.03), (P-value = 0.04), and (P-value = 0.01), respectively. Also, there was a significant difference on PH, CO2, HCO3, and D-dimer values on both groups on admission and during follow-up with notable decrease in their values in CPAP group compared to non-CPAP group: (P-value = 0.04), (P-value = 0.003), (P-value = 0.001), and (P-value = 0.001), respectively. Conclusion Early CPAP therapy for moderate and severe COVID-19 hospitalized patients with risk of OSA could improve patient’s survival, shorten hospital stay, and decrease need for invasive mechanical ventilation. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov/ NCT05934916 . Registered 6 July 2023 — retrospectively registered.

For many, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition of health does not reflect their own understanding of health, because it lacks aspects such as spiritual wellbeing. Responding to these concerns, the WHO called in 2023 for a vision of health that integrates physical, mental, psychological, emotional, spiritual, and social wellbeing. To date, medical practitioners are often reluctant to consider spiritual aspects, because of a perceived lack of statistical evidence about the strength of relations. Research on this topic is emerging. A recent study among 800 young people living with HIV in Zimbabwe showed how study participants navigated three parallel, at times contradicting health systems (religious, traditional, medical). Conflicting approaches led to multifaceted dilemmas (= spiritual struggles), which were significantly related to poorer mental and physical health. This illustrates the need for inclusion of spiritual aspects for health and wellbeing in research, and of increased collaboration between all stakeholders in healthcare.

Accessible and affordable health services and products including medicines, vaccines, and public health are an important health agenda of all countries. It is well understood that without digital health technologies, countries will face difficulties in tackling the needs and demands of their population. Global agencies including the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations (UN), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), etc. have been instrumental in providing various tools, and guidance through digital health strategies in improving health and digital health maturity of the countries. The Digital Health Platform Handbook (DHPH) is a toolkit published by WHO and ITU to help countries create and implement a digital health platform (DHP) to serve as the underlying infrastructure for an interoperable and integrated national digital health system. We apply the foundational principles of DHPH and provide a perspective of DHP components in a layered, enterprise architecture of a digital health infrastructure. India has rolled out the blueprint of its National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) to address the emerging needs for digitization of healthcare in the country. In this paper, we also illustrate the design and implementation of WHO-ITU DHP components at the national level by exploring India's digital health mission implementation utilizing various digital public goods to build a digital health ecosystem in the country.

Invasive fungal diseases have profound effects upon human health and are on increase globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2022 published the fungal priority list calling for improved public health interventions and advance research. Drosophila melanogaster presents an excellent model system to dissect host-pathogen interactions and has been proved valuable to study immunopathogenesis of fungal diseases. In this review we highlight the recent advances in fungal-Drosophila interplay with an emphasis on the recently published WHO’s fungal priority list and we focus on available tools and technologies.

A growing number of programs promoted by planners and others have aimed to foster communities that support older people. Do such programs make a substantial difference? Through a scoping review of research evaluating WHO-style age-friendly community initiatives (AFCIs), we investigate what kind of outcomes such initiatives have achieved and factors facilitating or hindering them. Elements affecting implementation varied by geographies. They included external resources (e.g., government support, funding, consultants), local resources (e.g., community size, demographics, staff, infrastructure), engaged local participants (e.g., partnerships, champions, older people), and effective strategies to build support (e.g., quick wins, awareness building, cultural sensitivity). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the knowledge, practice, and barriers regarding the use of tranexamic acid (TXA) for the prevention and treatment of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) among health care providers in Enugu, Nigeria. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted among health professionals (doctors, pharmacists, and nurses) in two Nigerian tertiary teaching hospitals (one federal and one state). A total of 220 questionnaires were distributed and 207 were returned (response rate: 94%) and analyzed using SPSS for inferential statistics with a level of significance of P < 0.05. Results: Only 23.7% of the respondents had good knowledge of TXA use in PPH (P < 0.001), and awareness of the recent World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation on the use of TXA for PPH was low (19.8%, P < 0.001). The majority of the respondents had neither prescribed nor dispensed TXA (30%, P < 0.001). Very few respondents used TXA for all cases of PPH (16.4%, P < 0.001). Barriers against its use include nonawareness of the latest WHO recommendation, preference for other uterotonics, and cost of the drug. Conclusions: There was poor knowledge of TXA, poor awareness of its recommendation, and low use for PPH among different cadres of health care providers. Synopsis: There was poor knowledge of tranexamic acid, poor awareness of its recommendation, and low use for postpartum hemorrhage among different cadres of health care providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The Korean government implemented financial incentives to enhance infection prevention and management within general hospital settings. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of infection control compensation on antibiotic usage using a controlled interrupted time series analysis. The main unit of analysis was 270,901 inpatient episodes extracted from the Korean National Health Insurance Service Cohort Database from 2013 to 2019. The 96-month period was examined before and after the intervention, which was set to September 1, 2017, by applying a 1-year lag time after the incentive was introduced. Segmented regression was used to estimate the effects of interventions in a controlled interrupted time series. Hospitals that received nationwide financial incentives for infection prevention and management were included in the analysis. The study's primary outcome was the use of antibiotics based on the WHO Access, Watch, and Reserve (AWaRe) classification of antibiotics, and the secondary outcome was the number of days of antibiotic use as days of therapy (DOTs) per patient day (PD). The probability of overall antibiotic use decreased between incentivized and unincentivized hospitals (odds ratio [OR], 0.922; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.859–1.000). The difference in level change in the use of third-generation cephalosporins (OR,0.894; 95% CI, 0.817–0.977) and carbapenem (OR,0.790; 95% CI, 0.630–0.992) was significantly reduced between incentivized and unincentivized hospitals. The difference in slope change on DOTs/PD of glycopeptides was − 0.005 DOT/PDs, and that of carbapenem was − 0.003 between incentivized and unincentivized hospitals. We observed that incentives for infection prevention and management have had a positive impact on some aspects of antibiotic usage. A partial decrease was observed in antibiotic use, accompanied by a modest reduction in DOTs/PD, particularly for antibiotics aimed at addressing multidrug-resistant pathogens. Further investigation is necessary to establish evidence for extending these incentives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Health Organization (WHO) and its member states strive to ensure universal access to safe drinking water regardless of developmental or socioeconomic status. WHO is tasked with proposing regulations and recommendations concerning global health issues. Hydrogen sulfide, a colorless gas with a rotten egg odor, is detectable at low concentrations and occurs naturally in various environments including crude petroleum, natural gas, and volcanic gases. Industrial processes and bacterial decomposition also contribute to its presence. Hydrogen sulfide is utilized in sulfur production and can be released into the air, water, and soil, persisting in the atmosphere for up to 42 days. Exposure can occur near industrial facilities or agricultural sites with manure storage. Workers in certain industries are particularly at risk. Human studies indicate respiratory and nervous systems are most vulnerable to hydrogen sulfide toxicity, with symptoms ranging from irritation at low concentrations to respiratory distress or loss of consciousness at high concentrations. Long-term effects may include cognitive and motor impairments. Therefore, mitigating exposure to hydrogen sulfide is crucial for public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]