This study aimed to evaluate the socio-demographic, clinical, and laboratory risk factors in hospitalized COVID-19 patients during the first 6 months of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic.
This retrospective ...hospital-based cross-sectional study included all laboratory-confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus that were admitted to the Shohadaye-Khalije-Fars Hospital in Bushehr, Iran, from February 22, 2020 to September 21, 2020. The patients' records were reviewed during the hospitalization period. The global COVID-19 clinical platform, i.e., the World Health Organization Rapid Case Report Form was used as the data collection tool. We conducted the survival analysis using the Kaplan-Meier and the Stepwise Cox regression analyses.
The analysis included 2108 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with a mean age of 47.81 years (SD 17.78); 56.8% men, 43.2% women and 6.3% (n = 133) deaths. After adjustment, it was found that factors associated with an increased risk of death consisted of chronic kidney disease, intensive care unit admission, cancer, and hemoptysis. The 7-day survival rate was 95.8%, which decreased to 95.1%, 94.0%, and 93.8% on days 14, 21, and 28 of hospitalization, respectively.
Older COVID-19 patients with manifestation of hemoptysis and a past medical history of chronic kidney disease and cancer, should be closely monitored to prevent disease deterioration and death, and also should be admitted to the intensive care unit.
Urinary schistosomiasis is a serious threat in endemic territories of Africa and the Middle East. The status of female urinary schistosomiasis (FUS) in published literature between 2016 and 2020 was ...investigated.
A systematic search in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science, based on the 'Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses' checklist, and a meta-analysis using random-effects model to calculate the weighted estimates and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were done.
Totally, 113 datasets reported data on 40,531 women from 21 African countries, showing a pooled prevalence of 17.5% (95% CI: 14.8-20.5%). Most studies (73) were performed in Nigeria, while highest prevalence was detected in Mozambique 58% (95% CI: 56.9-59.1%) (one study). By sample type and symptoms, vaginal lavage 25.0% (95% CI: 11.4-46.1%) and hematuria 19.4% (95% CI: 12.2-29.4%) showed higher FUS frequency. Studies using direct microscopy diagnosed a 17.1% (95% CI: 14.5-20.1%) prevalence rate, higher than PCR-based studies 15.3% (95% CI: 6.1-33.2%). Except for sample type, all other variables had significant association with the overall prevalence of FUS.
More studies are needed to evaluate the true epidemiology of FUS throughout endemic regions.
Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease of global importance. It is widespread and endemic practically all over the world, with infection prevalence varying by geographic location. The parasite ...and the disease are neglected, which is illustrated by the lack of baseline information on the prevalence from many regions. Developed, peaceful regions are in better situation to address toxoplasmosis, while the neglected status is particularly pronounced in regions with other challenges. Due to the lack of baseline data, these regions are rarely mentioned in discussions about the neglected status of the disease. A dramatic manifestation of toxoplasmosis, congenital toxoplasmosis, is the dreaded outcome of vertical transmission of the infection from the mother to the unborn child. For this reason, pregnant women are a key target group for primary prevention of T. gondii infections, and baseline data on the prevalence in pregnant women is important. In this cross-sectional seroepidemiological study, we estimated Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence and evaluated possible risk factors for seropositivity in pregnant women in Kabul, Afghanistan. Altogether 207 of the 431 women included in the study tested positive for immunoglobulin G antibodies against T. gondii, yielding an apparent seroprevalence estimate of 48.03% (95% CI 43.33-52.75). Based on the final multivariable model for T. gondii seropositivity, non-concrete floor in the house and well or river as water source were identified as risk factors for seropositivity, while residence in rural area was a protective factor. The majority of the participants (72.9%) reported that they did not know about T. gondii. Our study is the first to report an estimate of T. gondii seroprevalence in pregnant women in Afghanistan. The high seroprevalence indicates substantial infection pressure, and the results of the risk factor analysis suggest that the environmental route, infection from oocysts, might be the most relevant to address to prevent the infections in the region. Our results contribute to the global discussion on neglected status of toxoplasmosis.
Background: The use of allergen immunotherapy is one of the definitive treatments for allergic diseases due to the cellular and molecular changes developed in the immune system response. The aim of ...this study was to assess the efficacy of subcutaneous immunotherapy in patients with allergic diseases presenting to the allergy clinic of Persian Gulf Hospital in Bushehr, Iran. Materials and Methods: Patients with respiratory allergic diseases were enrolled in this observational study. The patients who had a positive skin prick test underwent immunotherapy for one year and were randomly included in this study. To evaluate the efficacy of immunotherapy, two questionnaires were completed for all the patients before and one year after the start of immunotherapy, including the Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) and Asthma Control Test (ACT). Results: A total of 878 patients (53.6% male and 46.4% female) entered the study, including 45.8% who had allergic rhinitis, 25.5% with asthma and 28.5% with both diseases. The mean TNSS was examined for 258 patients before and after immunotherapy and was 13.64 and 5.83 (P<0.001), respectively. Moreover, the mean ACT score before and after immunotherapy was examined for 186 patients and was 1.71 and 17.82 (P<0.001), respectively. Conclusion: The mean TNSS and ACT score before and after the treatment showed a significant improvement in the patients’ symptoms in both genders, and women showed a relatively better response to immunotherapy. To conclude, immunotherapy is effective in patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis.
Introduction: Health literacy plays a remarkable role in determining the status of people who smoke. In recent years, the smoking rate has been increased among university students. Therefore, this ...study aimed to determine the relationship between health literacy skills and adoption of preventive smoking behaviors among university students. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 347 students living in dormitories affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, were selected through single-stage cluster sampling in 2016. The data were collected using the health literacy inventory for adults and a researcher-made questionnaire in order to assess the adoption of smoking preventive behaviors. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS software (Version. 16) through descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient. Ethics code: IR.TMU.REC.1394.172 Findings: The mean scores of health literacy and the adoption of preventive smoking behaviors were 70.52±14.12 and 39.01±19.96, respectively, regarding the total score of 100. Moreover, there was a direct and significant relationship between health literacy (r=0.146) and dimensions of decision making and application of health information (r=0.161), reading (r=0.14), and appraisal (r=0.112) with the adoption of preventive smoking behaviors. However, this association was not statistically significant (P<0.05). Discussion & Conclusions: The results show that special attention should be paid to health literacy and its influencing factors, especially in dormitories, in order to promote the adoption of preventive smoking behaviors among university students.
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a near-cosmopolitan public health concern, especially in developing countries. Parasite ova shed via definitive host feces are responsible for livestock and occasionally ...human infection, leading to hydatid cysts. Immunization using proper antigens is a good immunoprophylactic strategy. This study was aimed to design a multi-epitope vaccine using EgA31 and EgG1Y162 antigens. Top high-ranked B-cell epitopes and major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-binding epitopes were predicted and selected to construct the vaccine model. Then, physico-chemical features, secondary and tertiary structures, refinement and validations were all evaluated using web servers for the multi-epitope vaccine construct. Finally, non-linear B-cell epitopes were determined for vaccine-antibody interactions. Moreover, the vaccine construct was subjected to disulfide engineering, molecular docking with human MHC-I and MHC-II molecules as well as codon adaptation and in silico cloning processes. In conclusion, this multimeric CE vaccine needs experimental and clinical confirmations to be considered as an actually immunogenic vaccine model.
•Cystic echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease, among dogs, livestock and humans.•We employed EgA31 and EgG1Y162 proteins of the tapeworm.•The multi-epitope vaccine immunogenicity was predicted using several bioinformatic tools.•Our finding premises a basis for future vaccination against Echinococcus granulosus.
•Both Neospora caninum and Neospora hughesi can infect horses and donkeys.•Meta-analysis showed a pooled prevalence of 13.46 % (95 % CI: 10.26 %–17.42 %) globally.•The seroprevalence was ...significantly higher in horses (14.65 %) than in donkeys (12.56 %).•The highest seroprevalences were reported from Asia with 21.64 % (95 % CI: 13.32 %–31.33 %).
Neospora infections due to Neospora caninum and N. hughesi are prevalent among equids of the world. The disease may affect reproductive and neurological consequences. The present systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the global Neospora seroprevalence among horses and donkeys. A number of 57 out of 1575 total retrieved studies were included by searching the PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science and ProQuest. A total of 25,783 horses and 4377 donkeys were examined serologically, yielding a weighted seroprevalence of 13.46 % (95 % CI: 10.26 %–17.42 %) globally. Subgroup analysis revealed that there were statistically significant differences in the overall prevalence of Neospora spp. in the examined animals according to year, continent, WHO region, country, host, and diagnostic method. Age and sex in horses as well as sex in donkeys were significantly associated with the Neospora seroprevalence (P < 0.001). Our findings showed a relatively high exposure to Neospora spp. in horses and donkeys worldwide. Considering the possible economic impact, as well as the importance in animal health, more studies are needed to clarify the species causing equine neosporosis, correlate serological findings with clinical outcomes and assess the risk factors, in order to define adequate prevention and control strategies.
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a neglected zoonosis especially in underdeveloped countries around the world. Hence, immunization strategies are beneficial to avert the infection. The present ...investigation was aimed to predict the primary biochemical characteristics of the EgMyophilin and its potential B-cell and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-binding epitopes as a promising vaccine candidate. Different web servers were used to predict physico-chemical, antigenic and allergenic profiles, transmembrane domain, subcellular localization, post-translational modification (PTM) sites, secondary and 3D structure, tertiary model refinement and validations. B-cell and HLA-binding epitopes were predicted and screened in terms antigenicity, allergenicity, solubility (B-cell) or hydrophobicity (T-cell). The 89.82 KDa protein was non-allergenic, hydrophilic, stable, with improved thermotolerance and 94 post-translational modification sites. The secondary structure included 42.94% alpha helix, 42.82% random coil and 41.23% extended strand. Based on Ramachandran plot output for refined model, 96.2%, 99.5%, and 0.45% of amino acid residues were incorporated in the favored, allowed, and outlier regions of the refined model, respectively. After epitope screening, four B-cell and five HLA-binding epitopes possessed the highest antigenic index in the protein sequence. This paper is a premise for further researches, and provides insights for the development of a suitable vaccine against CE. More empirical studies are required using the EgMyophilin alone or in combination with other antigens/epitopes in the future.
•Cystic echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease, among dogs, livestock and humans.•This is the first in silico analysis of Echinococcus granulosus Myophilin•The protein bioinformatics analysis was predicted using several web-based tools.•Our finding premises a basis for future vaccination against Echinococcus granulosus.
Rhoptry proteins (ROPs) play a significant role in various stages of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) life cycle, being critical for both invasion and intracellular survival. ROP38 is a key manipulator ...of host gene expression and has a function in tachyzoite to bradyzoite conversion. In this study, we've employed various bioinformatics online tools for immunogenicity prediction of ROP38 protein, comprising physico-chemical, antigenic and allergenic profiles, transmembrane domain, subcellular localization, post-translational modification (PTM) sites, secondary and 3D structure, B-cell, MHC-binding and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes. The findings showed 54 PTM sites without a transmembrane domain. Also, ROP38 was proved a non-allergenic and antigenic protein. The protein had Sec signal peptide (Sec/SPI) with 0.8762 likelihood. The secondary structure included 52.68% random coil, 29.57% alpha helix and 17.74% extended strand. Based on Ramachandran plot output for refined model, 95.3%, 3.4%, and 1.4% of amino acid residues were incorporated in the favored, allowed, and outlier regions, respectively. B-cell epitopes TFPGDDIQTSS (67–72) and KAKNKWGRTRYTLQG (207–221) as well as T-cell epitope LSPVGFFTAL (6–15) possessed the highest antigenic index in the protein sequence. This paper is a premise for further researches, and provides insights for the development of a suitable vaccine against toxoplasmosis. More empirical studies are required using the ROP38 alone or in combination with other antigens/epitopes in the future.
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•This is the first in silico analysis of Toxoplasma gondii ROP38 protein.•Potential B-cell, CTL and MHC-binding epitopes were determined in this study.•Bioinformatics revealed several interesting aspects of the protein as a vaccine candidate.
Considering the high prevalence of sexual dysfunction among women and the role of quality of sexual life in women's life and health, in addition to the important role of sexual function evaluation in ...measuring quality of life, this study aimed to determine the effect of female sexual function on the quality of sexual life.
This research was a descriptive and cross-sectional. The population of this study was 420 women from Qazvin in 2020, who were selected by multi-stage sampling. The data collection tool was a demographic questionnaire and Persian version of the Female Sexual Function Assessment questionnaire (FSFI) and Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire (SQOL-F). Data were analyzed using SPSS 23, and descriptive statistics and logistic regression were applied.
The mean (SD) of sexual function score was 21.56 (4.83) out of 36, therefore, it was at an unfavorable level. Also, the mean (SD) score of sexual quality of life 59.71 (19.21) was out of 108 (moderate). The results of logistic regression test showed that the variables of sexual function, age and level of education of women were the factors affecting the quality of women's sexual life (P < 0.05).
Young women with lower sexual function, and lower level of education had lower quality of sexual life. Hence, it is necessary to pay more attention to these women in designing educational programs for improving the quality of their sexual life.
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