Review
Environmental Sciences
Eniola Shittu, Monica Lakhanpaul, Carol Vigurs, Kaushik Sarkar, Marta Koch, Priti Parikh, Luiza C. Campos
Summary: Low-income countries are facing the health impacts of chemical contamination in both surface and groundwater. The long-term effects of these contaminants on young children may be underestimated, highlighting the need for research and action, especially in low-income countries.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Tom Ruffles, Sarah K. Inglis, Anjum Memon, Paul Seddon, Kaninika Basu, Stephen A. Bremner, Heike Rabe, Roger Tavendale, Colin N. A. Palmer, Somnath Mukhopadhyay, Katy J. Fidler
Summary: Environmental factors, such as daycare attendance, breastfeeding, siblings, dampness, environmental tobacco smoke, child's bedroom flooring, animal exposure, road traffic density, and solid fuel pollution, have been found to have an impact on respiratory infections and symptoms in early childhood. These findings are important for informing public health policies aimed at reducing the burden of respiratory infections and wheeze in young children.
PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Nursing
Rebecca Hoban, Hadar Nir, Emily Somerset, Jordan Lewis, Sharon Unger, Deborah L. O'Connor
Summary: This study investigated the cytokines and inflammatory markers in the breastmilk of parents of very preterm infants, as well as their correlations with infant's stool calprotectin. The results showed detectable inflammatory markers in the breastmilk, some of which changed over time, but no correlation was found with infant's stool calprotectin.
JOURNAL OF HUMAN LACTATION
(2023)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Melisa Medina-Rivera, Elizabeth Centeno-Tablante, Julia L. Finkelstein, Pura Rayco-Solon, Juan Pablo Pena-Rosas, Maria N. Garcia-Casal, Lisa Rogers, Pratiwi Ridwan, Sabrina Sales Martinez, Joyce Andrade, Alexander J. Layden, Juan Chang, Mildred P. Zambrano, Kate Ghezzi-Kopel, Saurabh Mehta
Summary: This systematic review examined the presence of EBOV in breast milk and the risk of viral transmission to infants through breastfeeding. The study found that most EBOV-positive breast milk samples led to EBOV infection in breastfed infants, resulting in fatality. However, due to the presence of EBOV in other bodily fluids, it is inconclusive whether breast milk is the main route of transmission.
ANNALS OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Jing Huang, Zhi Zheng, Xiao-yan Zhao, Li-han Huang, Lian Wang, Xiao-lan Zhang, Xin-zhu Lin
Summary: Feeding preterm infants with fresh mother's own milk (MOM) can protect them from complications and improve their outcomes. Compared to pasteurized MOM, feeding fresh MOM leads to a higher survival rate, lower incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and better feeding and growth outcomes.
MATERNAL AND CHILD NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Lisandru Capai, Shirley Masse, Nathanael Hoze, Dorine Decarreaux, Jean Canarelli, Marie-Helene Simeoni, Xavier de Lamballerie, Alessandra Falchi, Remi Charrel
Summary: The study in Corsica revealed a seroprevalence of 30.33% for IgG antibodies against HEV, with no gender differences and a higher prevalence with increasing age. The annual probability of infection was 5.4% in adults and children above 10 years old, and 2.2% in children under 10 years old. Further specific studies are needed to determine the extent of the situation identified in this study, including investigating environmental contamination and the role of swine excreta in transmission.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Carina Rodrigues, Jennifer Zeitlin, Michael Zemlin, Emilija Wilson, Pernille Pedersen, Henrique Barros
Summary: This study investigates the association between breast milk feeding initiation and duration on cognitive development in very preterm children at 2 years of age. The study finds that never breastfeeding is associated with an increased risk of suboptimal nonverbal and verbal cognitive development. Additionally, shorter duration of breastfeeding is also associated with a slightly elevated risk.
MATERNAL AND CHILD NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Rajlakshmi Viswanathan, Sanjay Bafna, Manohar Lal Choudhary, Monika Reddy, Savita Katendra, Shradha Maheshwari, Sheetal Jadhav
Summary: Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a poorly controlled vaccine-preventable disease. its clinical diagnosis in young children is challenging and often confused with other respiratory infections. Accurate diagnosis of prolonged cough illness is important for appropriate management and estimation of disease burden.
Article
Pediatrics
Yiming Zhu, Xiaohui Chen, Jingai Zhu, Chengyao Jiang, Zhangbin Yu, Ailing Su
Summary: Early initiation and continued mother's own milk feeding during hospitalization can reduce the risk of moderate and severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in infants with very low birth weight (VLBW).
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Sarah Kristine Norgaard, Nadja Hawwa Vissing, Bo Lund Chawes, Jakob Stokholm, Klaus Bonnelykke, Hans Bisgaard
Summary: Childhood illness imposes a significant economic burden on society. A study on 700 children investigated the economic impact of illness in the first three years of life, finding that factors such as fish-oil supplementation during pregnancy, gestational age, and birth weight were associated with reduced costs, while cesarean delivery was associated with higher costs. Targeting perinatal risk factors may help reduce the financial burden of common childhood illnesses.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Ziming Yang, Yingfang Ding, Shuyao Song, Yaoyun Zhang, Aolin Li, Mintao Su, Yajun Xu
Summary: The objective of this study was to investigate the factors affecting the duration of continuous breastfeeding of infants within 2 years of age in China and explore intervention strategies to promote breastfeeding duration. A self-made electronic questionnaire was used to collect data on breastfeeding duration and influencing factors from individual, family, and social support levels. The findings showed that breastfeeding duration in China is generally short, with a low proportion of mothers breastfeeding until the recommended age of 2 years and above. Multiple factors at different levels influence breastfeeding duration. It is suggested to improve the situation through health education, system security improvement, and enhanced social support.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Monika Berns, Sabahat Bayramova, Ariane Kusztrich, Boris Metze, Christoph Buehrer
Summary: The study found that feeding mother's own milk is associated with reduced morbidity of very low birth weight infants. The initiation of feeding mother's own milk has increased significantly in recent years, but smoking during pregnancy and low socioeconomic status are still dominant predictors of cessation of feeding mother's own milk.
EARLY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
John A. Lednicky, Massimiliano S. Tagliamonte, Sarah K. White, Maha A. Elbadry, Md Mahbubul Alam, Caroline J. Stephenson, Tania S. Bonny, Julia C. Loeb, Taina Telisma, Sonese Chavannes, David A. Ostrov, Carla Mavian, Valery Madsen Beau De Rochars, Marco Salemi, J. Glenn Morris
Summary: Since 2003, coronaviruses have caused three major epidemics, including the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The emergence of coronaviruses in human species has been associated with zoonotic transmissions from animal reservoirs, emphasizing the propensity of such pathogens to spill over and adapt to new species.
Article
Immunology
Alicia E. Genisca, Tzu-Chun Chu, Lawrence Huang, Monique Gainey, Moyinoluwa Adeniji, Eta N. Mbong, Stephen B. Kennedy, Razia Laghari, Fiston Nganga, Rigo F. Muhayangabo, Himanshu Vaishnav, Shiromi M. Perera, Andres Colubri, Adam C. Levine, Ian C. Michelow
Summary: Rapid diagnostic tools are needed to facilitate the isolation and treatment of children with Ebola virus disease (EVD). A 7-point Pediatric Ebola Risk Score, incorporating statistically derived predictors, showed better discrimination than the World Health Organization criteria. External validation in a different setting also demonstrated the effectiveness and simplicity of the Pediatric Ebola Risk Score.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Letter
Medicine, General & Internal
Yuki Murata, Morihito Takita, Masahiro Kami
Summary: This study demonstrates that a closed-loop insulin-delivery system is superior to glucose sensor-augmented insulin-pump therapy for glycemic control in children aged 1 to 7 with type 1 diabetes. However, it should be noted that unscheduled contacts with trial staff are more frequent during the closed-loop period.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Caroline Favas, Prudence Jarrett, Ruwan Ratnayake, Oliver J. Watson, Francesco Checchi
Summary: This study conducted an ecological investigation of the COVID-19 pandemic in low-income countries, finding that population age structure is associated with the age distribution of cases and deaths, while endemic infections do not appear to be key drivers of epidemic trends.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Lauren D'Mello-Guyett, Oliver Cumming, Elliot Rogers, Rob D'hondt, Estifanos Mengitsu, Maria Mashako, Rafael Van den Bergh, Placide Okitayemba Welo, Peter Maes, Francesco Checchi
Summary: This review examines the responses to cholera epidemics in three countries and provides recommendations for improving cholera prevention and control efforts. It emphasizes the need for improved epidemic preparedness, strengthened partnerships, and standardized reporting templates.
CONFLICT AND HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ruwan Ratnayake, Nicolas Peyraud, Iza Ciglenecki, Etienne Gignoux, Maria Lightowler, Andrew S. Azman, Primitive Gakima, Jean Patrick Ouamba, Joseph Amadomon Sagara, Rollin Ndombe, Nana Mimbu, Alexandra Ascorra, Placide Okitayemba Welo, Elisabeth Mukamba Musenga, Berthe Miwanda, Yap Boum, Francesco Checchi, W. John Edmunds, Francisco Luquero, Klaudia Porten, Flavio Finger
Summary: This study presents a protocol for a prospective observational study of the effectiveness of case-area targeted interventions (CATIs) as a strategy to respond to cholera outbreaks in fragile settings. The study aims to measure the cumulative incidence of cholera in each CATI ring and assess the impact on reducing incidence among household contacts and changes in antimicrobial resistance. The study findings will be disseminated to cholera control actors and the scientific community through various channels.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Kevin van Zandvoort, Mohamed Omer Bobe, Abdirahman Ibrahim Hassan, Mohamed Ismail Abdi, Mohammed Saed Ahmed, Saeed Mohamood Soleman, Mohamed Yusuf Warsame, Muna Awil Wais, Emma Diggle, Catherine R. McGowan, Catherine Satzke, Kim Mulholland, Mohamed Mohamoud Egeh, Mukhtar Muhumed Hassan, Mohamed Abdi Hergeeye, Rosalind M. Eggo, Francesco Checchi, Stefan Flasche
Summary: This study indicates that populations affected by humanitarian crises, particularly internally displaced people, face significant risks of acute respiratory infections due to factors such as poor nutrition, underlying conditions, overcrowding, and high social mixing. Innovative approaches are urgently needed to address these risks.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Mervat Alhaffar, Huda Basaleem, Fouad Othman, Khaled Alsakkaf, Sena Mohammed Mohsen Naji, Hussein Kolaise, Abdullah K. Babattah, Yassin Abdulmalik Mahyoub Salem, Hannah Brindle, Najwa Yahya, Pasquale Pepe, Francesco Checchi
Summary: This study attempted to estimate the population mortality in urban and rural communities in southern and central Yemen during the crisis and pandemic periods. The findings suggested increased mortality rates during the crisis period, but the estimates were imprecise due to data collection challenges and potential biases. There was some evidence of a peak in mortality during the early phase of the pandemic.
CONFLICT AND HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ruth McCabe, Charles Whittaker, Richard J. Sheppard, Nada Abdelmagid, Aljaile Ahmed, Israa Zain Alabdeen, Nicholas F. Brazeau, Abd Elhameed Ahmed Abd Elhameed, Abdulla Salem Bin-Ghouth, Arran Hamlet, Rahaf AbuKoura, Gregory Barnsley, James A. Hay, Mervat Alhaffar, Emilie Koum Besson, Semira Mitiku Saje, Binyam Girma Sisay, Seifu Hagos Gebreyesus, Adane Petros Sikamo, Aschalew Worku, Yakob Seman, Damen Haile Mariam, Mitike Molla Sisay, Francesco Checchi, Maysoon Dahab, Bilal Shikur Endris, Azra C. Ghani, Patrick G. T. Walker, Christl A. Donnelly, Oliver J. Watson
Summary: Not all COVID-19 deaths are officially reported, especially in low-income and humanitarian settings, and the extent of reporting gaps in these areas is not well understood. Utilizing alternative data sources such as reports from burial site workers, satellite imagery, and social media surveys could help address this issue. By combining these data with representative serological studies and mathematical modeling, the authors estimated the underreporting rates of COVID-19 deaths in Addis Ababa, Aden, and Khartoum in 2020. They found that the reporting rates varied from 69% to 100%, 0.8% to 8.0%, and 3.0% to 6.0% in these settings, respectively. The study suggests that in future epidemics and areas with limited vital registration systems, using multiple alternative data sources could improve the estimation of the epidemic's impact, though robust registration systems are ultimately needed to ensure accurate reporting and understanding of the mortality caused by pandemics or other factors.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Francesco Checchi
Summary: This paper investigates the impact of humanitarian assistance on reducing excess mortality caused by armed conflicts and natural disasters. It presents three possible measurement questions to explore the effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian responses in averting excess deaths. The paper concludes by suggesting the implementation of different methodological approaches at various stages of a humanitarian response and emphasizes the need for investment in improved methods and actual measurement.
CONFLICT AND HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Medical Informatics
Catherine R. McGowan, Promise Ekoriko, Mervat Alhaffar, Sarah Cassidy-Seyoum, Steven Whitbread, Phil Rogers, Lucy Bell, Francesco Checchi
Summary: This study designed and developed a webRDS solution for estimating conflict-attributable mortality in Yemen. Technical obstacles and low survey uptake were encountered during the development process. Despite the low uptake, the webRDS solution is believed to provide an efficient and flexible means to survey a globally diverse population.
BMC MEDICAL INFORMATICS AND DECISION MAKING
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Francesco Checchi, Christopher I. Jarvis, Kevin van Zandvoort, Abdihamid Warsame
Summary: Armed conflict, displacement, and food insecurity have had a significant impact on the northeastern states of Nigeria since 2009. A study using small-area estimation approach was conducted to assess the mortality attributable to this crisis. The findings reveal high death rates and a staggering health impact.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Catherine R. McGowan, Mervat Alhaffar, Promise Ekoriko, Sawsan Al-Refai, Jamal Badr, Lucy Bell, Francesco Checchi
Summary: The ongoing war in Yemen has led to a severe crisis, with a large portion of the population in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. A web-based survey was conducted among the global Yemeni diaspora to estimate the effects of the conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic on mortality in Yemen.
CONFLICT AND HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Abdulselam Daif, Rosanna Glazik, Francesco Checchi, Palwasha Khan
Summary: This study aimed to assess the effect of internal displacement due to armed conflict on the risk of unsuccessful treatment outcomes among TB patients in northwest Syria. The study found that internally displaced persons (IDPs) were twice as likely to have unsuccessful TB treatment outcomes compared to residents, and IDPs living in villages had a lower risk of unsuccessful treatment outcomes.
JOURNAL OF MIGRATION AND HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Francesco Checchi, Severine Frison, Abdihamid Warsame, Kiross Tefera Abebe, Jasinta Achen, Eric Alain Ategbo, Mohamed Ag Ayoya, Ismail Kassim, Biram Ndiaye, Mara Nyawo
Summary: A statistical approach was explored to predict the burden of acute malnutrition in crisis-affected countries, Somalia and South Sudan. However, the predictive models had disappointing performance and require further evaluation with larger datasets.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Francesco Checchi, Emilie Sabine Koum Besson
Summary: This study attempts to reconstruct the population dynamics and internal displacement situation in Yemen since 2014, in the absence of reliable vital events registration. The findings suggest a decline in the internally displaced population in recent years.
JOURNAL OF MIGRATION AND HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Aidan Yuen, Abdihamid Warsame, Francesco Checchi
Summary: This study examines the risk factors for population displacement in Somalia during a severe drought period from 2016 to 2018. The results indicate strong associations between failed rains, food insecurity, and therapeutic food services with out-migration of internally displaced persons (IDPs). However, armed conflict intensity and cash- and rations-based food security services were not associated with IDP out-migration.
JOURNAL OF MIGRATION AND HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Kazuki Shimizu, Francesco Checchi, Abdihamid Warsame
Summary: This study analyzes the fairness of development assistance for health (DAH) provided in accordance with disease burden in EVD-affected countries. HIV/AIDS generally receives higher funding, while malaria and tuberculosis show different trends in different countries, and vaccine-preventable diseases receive lower funding.