Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Alif Adlan Mohd Thabit, Kalaiarasu M. Peariasamy, Pei Xuan Kuan, Denisa Khoo Fern Ying, Nelson Nheu, Camille Cyncynatus, Muhamad Afiq Mu'iz Arifin, Amira Naziffa Shamsuddin, Mohd Asri Yamin, Muhammad Ashraf Mohd Padzil, Ganeswrie Rajasekaram, Martin Giddy, Sivasooriar Sivaneson, Harvinder Kaur Lakhbeer Singh, Adleen Azman, Afifah Haji Hassan, Suresh Kumar Chidambaram
Summary: The study found that using saliva for SARS-CoV-2 screening is a simple accurate technique comparable with NPS RT-PCR.
TRAVEL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Aoife Leahy, Margaret O'Connor, Jennifer Condon, Sarah Heywood, Elaine Shanahan, Catherine Peters, Rose Galvin
Summary: This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to examine the diagnostic accuracy of the Clinical Frailty Scale in identifying hospitalised adults with frailty and medical diagnosis, as well as its predictive value in determining those at increased risk of subsequent adverse outcomes. The findings of this study will contribute to resource planning and targeted interventions for older adults at risk of adverse outcomes.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Christina Kellerer, Alexander Hapfelmeier, Rudolf A. Joerres, Konrad Schultz, Benjamin Brunn, Antonius Schneider
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of FeNO in asthma by testing different FeNO cut-off values. A prospective diagnostic study will be conducted in three pneumologists practices in Germany involving 300 suspected asthma patients, with the results expected to guide clinical diagnosis and asthma treatment.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Yingmu Cai, Mengyu Liu, Zhiyuan Wu, Cuihong Tian, Song Qiu, Zhen Li, Feng Xu, Wei Li, Yan Zheng, Aijuan Xu, Longxu Xie, Xuerui Tan
Summary: China has developed an autoverification and guidance system (AGS) to automatically interpret and report COVID-19 RT-PCR test results. The AGS has been validated to have high accuracy in real-world settings, reducing the need for manual interpretation and improving efficiency.
Article
Engineering, Civil
Ioannis Tsapakis, Subasish Das, Paul Anderson, Steven Jessberger, William Holik
Summary: The paper focuses on improving AADT estimates for NFAS roads, revealing that stratification schemes developed using decision trees resulted in the best performance in improving accuracy compared to existing schemes developed by state agencies.
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH RECORD
(2022)
Article
Acoustics
Mehmet Ali Aslaner, Funda Karbek Akarca, Sakir Hakan Aksu, Merve Yazla, Ozge Can, Gorkem Kus, Ali Celik, Selcuk Ozkan, Suleyman Ibze, Adnan Yamanoglu, Mumin Murat Yazici, Aslihan Yuruktumen Unal, Ahmet Demircan
Summary: The study found that ESN has low sensitivity but high specificity for PE, especially increasing sensitivity in the subgroup of high or intermediate-high risk PE.
JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
David Fawkner-Corbett, Gail Hayward, Mohammed Alkhmees, Ann Van den Bruel, Jose M. Ordonez-Mena, Gea A. Holtman
Summary: The study aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of four blood tests (white cell count (WCC), neutrophil count or percentage, C reactive protein (CRP), and/or procalcitonin) for childhood appendicitis. The results showed that WCC or ANC were the best single blood tests for ruling-out pediatric appendicitis, and the combination of WCC and CRP improved accuracy. These findings have implications for clinical practice.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Max Amos Hoffman, Adel Ekladious
Summary: This case highlights that rare diseases can present with common symptoms/reports, and sometimes empirical therapy may be the only treatment option.
Review
Respiratory System
Casper Falster, Niels Jacobsen, Karen Ehlers Coman, Mikkel Hojlund, Thomas Agerbo Gaist, Stefan Posth, Jacob Eifer Moller, Mikkel Brabrand, Christian B. Laursen
Summary: This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care ultrasound in suspected pulmonary embolism and found several ultrasound signs exhibit high specificity for pulmonary embolism. The most notable ultrasound signs include bilateral compression of femoral and popliteal veins, presence of at least one hypoechoic pleural-based lesion, D-sign, visible right ventricular thrombus, and McConnell's sign.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anousheh Sayah, Camelia Bencheqroun, Krithika Bhuvaneshwar, Anas Belouali, Spyridon Bakas, Chiharu Sako, Christos Davatzikos, Adil Alaoui, Subha Madhavan, Yuriy Gusev
Summary: Malignancies of the brain and CNS are common diagnoses, with high-grade tumors having poor prognoses and survival rates. MRI is essential for diagnosis and monitoring, and recent advancements in radiogenomics have successfully integrated medical image data with genomics to answer new clinical questions.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Xingxing Sun, Yanling Teng, Shengnan Mu, Yilian Wang, Hongwu Chen
Summary: ECG-based algorithms exhibit high sensitivity and moderate specificity in diagnosing wide QRS complex tachycardia (WCT). Combining the Brugada or Vereckei-aVR algorithm with RWPT-II could be considered for diagnosing WCT.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Celeste K. Marsh, Vicky Sheppeard, Sean Tobin, Robin Gilmour, Ross M. Andrews
Summary: During the 2018-19 New South Wales summer influenza epidemic, travel-related factors were early drivers, while local transmission sustained the outbreak despite unfavorable conditions later in the summer. There was no significant association between travel-related factors and overseas transmission, as well as seasonal influenza vaccination status.
MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Reimei Koike, Keiko Ogawa-Ochiai, Akiko Shirai, Katsumi Hayashi, Junsuke Arimitsu, Hongyang Li, Norimichi Tsumura
Summary: This study proposed a method using a polarized light camera to assess tongue images for diagnostic use in Kampo medicine, and created an effective data set through data augmentation. The diagnostic support module constructed based on this dataset demonstrated accuracy and effectiveness in evaluating multiple diseases.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Michal P. Pluta, Magdalena Dziech, Tomasz Klocek, Anna J. Szczepanska, Lukasz J. Krzych
Summary: Platelet parameters have utility in predicting the risk of hospital death in neurosurgery patients, with lower mean platelet volume indicating a worse prognosis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Shaobo Duan, Luwen Liu, Yongqing Chen, Long Yang, Ye Zhang, Shuaiyang Wang, Liuwei Hao, Lianzhong Zhang
Summary: This study investigated the feasibility of using a 5G-powered robot-assisted teleultrasound diagnostic system in an intensive care unit, which was found to provide clear images, simple operation, relatively high levels of consistency in diagnostic results, and higher levels of safety.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Denis Nono, Nolbert Gumisiriza, Christopher Tumwine, Luis-Jorge Amaral, Herbert Elvis Ainamani, Seggane Musisi, Robert Colebunders
Summary: This study investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the access and use of health services by children with epilepsy in Uganda. The study found that COVID-19-related restrictions created challenges for children with epilepsy, their parents, and healthcare providers, including reduced access to healthcare services, food insecurity, and inability to afford essential medicines. However, several coping strategies, such as parents engaging in casual work and healthcare workers intensifying outreach services, were adopted to address these challenges.
EPILEPSY & BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Editorial Material
Behavioral Sciences
Van Cutsem Gilles, Colebunders Robert
EPILEPSY & BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Review
Parasitology
Amber Hadermann, Luis-Jorge Amaral, Gilles Van Cutsem, Joseph N. Siewe Fodjo, Robert Colebunders
Summary: Onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy (OAE) is an important neglected public health problem in areas with high ongoing onchocerciasis transmission. The risk that children in such areas develop epilepsy is related to their Onchocerca volvulus microfilarial (mf) load. It is possible that microfilariae enter the brain and, upon dying, cause an inflammatory reaction inducing seizures.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Gasim O. E. Abd-Elfarag, Jake D. Mathewson, Lukudu Emmanuel, Arthur W. D. Edridge, Stella van Beers, Mohamed B. Sebit, Robert Colebunders, Michael B. van Hensbroek, Ente J. J. Rood
Summary: A house-to-house survey in South Sudan investigated the clinical characteristics, risk factors, treatment access, and perceptions about nodding syndrome (NS). The survey identified 224 cases of NS, with head nodding plus other types of seizures being more common. Rat meat consumption was associated with an increased risk of NS, while ivermectin intake was more common among NS cases. Importantly, children with NS are stigmatized due to misconceptions about its transmission.
Review
Clinical Neurology
G. Van Cutsem, J. N. Siewe Fodjo, M. C. J. Dekker, L. J. Amaral, A. K. Njamnshi, R. Colebunders
Summary: Onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy (OAE) is a neglected public health problem in areas with inadequate onchocerciasis control. An internationally accepted case definition of OAE is needed to identify areas requiring treatment and prevention interventions. By including OAE as a manifestation of onchocerciasis, accuracy of disease burden estimation will be improved and more support for research and control efforts can be expected.
SEIZURE-EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF EPILEPSY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Samit Bhattacharyya, Natalie V. S. A. Vinkeles Melchers, Joseph Siewe Fodjo, Amit Vutha, Luc Coffeng, Makoy Logora, Robert Colebunders, Wilma Stolk
Summary: Onchocerciasis is a parasitic disease caused by Onchocerca volvulus transmitted by black flies. It is most common in Africa and South America, infecting approximately 35 million Africans. The disease causes itching, dermatitis, blindness, and epilepsy. Raising awareness about the association between onchocerciasis and epilepsy can improve treatment adherence and motivate efforts to fight onchocerciasis.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Luis-Jorge Amaral, Dan Bhwana, Athanas D. Mhina, Bruno P. Mmbando, Robert Colebunders
Summary: Epidemiological studies suggest that onchocerciasis may be one of the causes of nodding syndrome (NS), but other causes have been considered. A study in Mahenge found that a probable Mansonella perstans infection was associated with a higher epilepsy rate, but onchocerciasis and onchocerciasis-associated skin lesions were stronger risk factors. Therefore, onchocerciasis remains the most likely main risk factor for NS.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Luis-Jorge Amaral, Dan Bhwana, Messaline F. Fomo, Bruno P. Mmbando, Carmen-Nabintu Chigoho, Robert Colebunders
Summary: This study examined the quality of life of adults with epilepsy in an onchocerciasis-endemic area in Tanzania. The findings revealed that individuals with epilepsy in this region have a lower quality of life, highlighting the need to improve medication regimens and education levels.
EPILEPSY & BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo, Gilles Van Cutsem, Luis-Jorge Amaral, Robert Colebunders
Summary: This study aims to investigate epilepsy-related mortality in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and its possible association with onchocerciasis endemicity. The results showed that high-risk onchocerciasis sites had higher mortality rates and case fatality rates compared to low-risk sites. The leading causes of epilepsy-related deaths were status epilepticus, drowning, and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. This suggests the urgent need for better epilepsy prevention and care in onchocerciasis-endemic areas in SSA.
SEIZURE-EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF EPILEPSY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kenneth Bentum Otabil, Maria-Gloria Basanez, Blessing Ankrah, Stephen Agyemang Opoku, Dennis Ofori Kyei, Rhoda Hagan, Richmond Ababio, Emmanuel John Bart-Plange, Theophilus Nti Babae, Prince-Charles Kudzordzi, Vera Achiaa Darko, Joseph G. Bamfo, Joseph Ameyaw, Abdul Sakibu Raji, Amber Hadermann, Henk D. F. H. Schallig, Robert Colebunders
Summary: The prevalence of onchocerciasis and associated dermatological and ophthalmological manifestations in the Bono Region of Ghana after 27 years of ivermectin mass treatment was determined. The persistence of Onchocerca volvulus infection and related pathologies despite prolonged treatment is concerning, indicating the need to include morbidity management in elimination programmes and better understand treatment coverage and adherence to ivermectin.
TROPICAL MEDICINE & INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Robert Colebunders, Amber Hadermann, Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo
Summary: Nodding syndrome (NS) is a phenotype of onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy (OAE). OAE is a significant public health problem in areas with high transmission of Onchocerca volvulus. Strengthening onchocerciasis elimination programs can prevent OAE, including NS. The presence of tau in OAE postmortem brains may be the result of neuroinflammation directly or indirectly induced by O. volvulus.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Dan Bhwana, Luis-Jorge Amaral, Athanas Mhina, Paul Matine, Filbert Francis, Joseph Siewe N. Fodjo, Bruno P. Mmbando, Robert Colebunders
Summary: Tanzanian Neglected Tropical Diseases Control Programme has switched from annual to bi-annually community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTi) to control onchocerciasis. After this switch, the CDTi coverage increased, and the number of new epilepsy cases decreased.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Kenneth Bentum Otabil, Blessing Ankrah, Emmanuel John Bart-Plange, Emmanuel Sam Donkoh, Fiona Amoabil Avarikame, Fredrick Obeng Ofori-Appiah, Theophilus Nti Babae, Prince-Charles Kudzordzi, Vera Achiaa Darko, Joseph Ameyaw, Joseph Gyekye Bamfo, Raji Abdul Sakibu, Daniel Antwi-Berko, Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo, Maria-Gloria Basanez, Henk D. F. H. Schallig, Robert Colebunders
Summary: This study investigated the prevalence and clinical characteristics of epilepsy in the Bono Region of Ghana after 27 years of ivermectin mass drug administration (MDA). The prevalence of epilepsy in the Bono region was found to be 1.4%, with generalized seizures being the most common type. The study also revealed a high microfilarial prevalence and low coverage of ivermectin treatment. Therefore, there is a need for the Ghana Onchocerciasis Elimination Programme to enhance its efforts to achieve the elimination of onchocerciasis by 2030.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF POVERTY
(2023)
Letter
Clinical Neurology
Robert Colebunders, Thomson Lakwo, Amber Hadermann
BRAIN COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Letter
Infectious Diseases
Astrid Christine Erber, Robert Colebunders
LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)