Seroprevalence of Toxocara at Tra Vinh University Hospital in Vietnam

OBJECTIVE

The study aims to assess the seroprevalence of Toxocariasis and its associated risk factors among individuals attending the outpatient department at Tra Vinh University Hospital, Vietnam, in 2022.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among outpatients of Tra Vinh University Hospital. Toxocariasis diagnosis was based on the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) performed at the hospital's laboratory department. We assessed the seroprevalence of Toxocariasis and evaluated associated risk factors, including demographics and certain behaviors.

RESULTS

Of the 249 participants surveyed, 165 tested positive for Toxocariasis, yielding a seroprevalence of 66.3% (95% CI: 60.4-72.1). Multivariate analysis revealed that age groups up to 30 and 30-60 years had higher odds of Toxocariasis infection, with adjusted odds ratios (aOR) of 2.52 (95% CI: 1.04-6.11) and 3.21 (95% CI: 1.44-7.15) respectively. Additionally, individuals residing in rural areas and those in contact with dogs or cats had increased risks, with aORs of 2.21 (95% CI: 1.21-4.01) and 2.04 (95% CI: 1.10-3.79), respectively. Notably, hand washing before eating emerged as a protective factor against Toxocariasis, presenting an aOR of 0.38 (95% CI: 0.19-0.76).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings underscore a significant seroprevalence (66.3%) of Toxocara spp. among outpatients at Tra Vinh University Hospital. Proactive measures, including hand hygiene before meals and after pet interactions, are advocated. There is a pronounced need for community-level epidemiological surveillance for human Toxocariasis.

Urban-rural disparities in acceptance of human papillomavirus vaccination among women in Can Tho, Vietnam

Background

In Vietnam, cervical cancer is a significant public health concern for women. Unfortunately, despite the availability of the HPV vaccine, low vaccination rates persist.

Objectives

This study investigates the discrepancy between urban and rural areas in the willingness to receive HPV vaccination with or without fees.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 648 women aged between 15 and 49, living in two urban and two rural Vietnamese districts of Can Tho, between May and December 2021.

Results

The overall vaccination rate was 4%, with urban women having a higher rate of 4.9% compared to rural women at 3.1%. Among unvaccinated women, those from rural areas expressed a significantly higher desire to receive the free vaccine (91.4%) than urban women (84.4%). However, the intention to vaccinate declined when rural women and urban women were advised to pay the cost (63.4% and 57.1%, respectively). A strong correlation was found between a positive attitude and intention for vaccination, irrespective of its price or free availability. Education and access to information about the HPV vaccine were also identified as the most significant factors influencing the intention to vaccination among urban and rural women.

Conclusion

The low HPV vaccination rates among women aged 15-49 living in both urban and rural regions of Vietnam are a notable public health concern. These outcomes emphasize the critical need for effective programs of vaccine laterization, as an introduction to the offer of affordable and accessible HPV vaccines for women in Can Tho, Vietnam.

Human mobility increased with vaccine coverage and attenuated the protection of COVID-19 vaccination: A longitudinal study of 107 countries

Background

The World Health Organization has raised concerns that vaccinated people may reduce physical and social distancing more than necessary. With imperfect vaccine protection and the lifting of mobility restrictions, understanding how human mobility responded to vaccination and its potential consequence is critical. We estimated vaccination-induced mobility and examined whether it attenuates the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on controlling case growth.

Methods

We collected a longitudinal data set of 107 countries between 15 February 2020 and 6 February 2022 from Google COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports, the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker, Our World in Data, and World Development Indicators. We measured mobility in four categories of location: retail and recreational places, transit stations, grocery stores and pharmacies, and workplaces. We applied panel data models to address unobserved country characteristics and used Gelbach decomposition to evaluate the extent to which VM has offset vaccination effectiveness.

Results

Across locations, a 10-percentage-point (pp) increase in vaccine coverage was associated with a 1.4-4.3 pp increase in mobility (P < 0.001). VM was greater in lower-income countries (up to 7.9 pps; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 5.3 to 10.5, P < 0.001) and in earlier stages of vaccine rollouts (up to 19.2 pps; 95% CI = 15.1 to 23.2%, P < 0.001). VM decreased the effectiveness of vaccines in controlling case growth by 33.4% in retail and recreation places (P < 0.001), 26.4% in transit stations (P < 0.001), and 15.4% in grocery stores and pharmacies (P = 0.002).

Conclusions

VM provides support for the Peltzman effect; it attenuates but does not completely counter vaccine effectiveness. Our study findings suggest strategies for mitigating the unintended consequences of VM, including reducing short-term mobility responses after vaccination, prioritizing mobility in grocery-type places and workplaces, and accelerating rollouts at earlier stages of vaccination, especially in lower-income countries.

The Association Between Dissemination and Characteristics of Pro-/Anti-COVID-19 Vaccine Messages on Twitter: Application of the Elaboration Likelihood Model

Background

Messages on one's stance toward vaccination on microblogging sites may affect the reader's decision on whether to receive a vaccine. Understanding the dissemination of provaccine and antivaccine messages relating to COVID-19 on social media is crucial; however, studies on this topic have remained limited.

Objective

This study applies the elaboration likelihood model (ELM) to explore the characteristics of vaccine stance messages that may appeal to Twitter users. First, we examined the associations between the characteristics of vaccine stance tweets and the likelihood and number of retweets. Second, we identified the relative importance of the central and peripheral routes in decision-making on sharing a message.

Methods

English-language tweets from the United States that contained provaccine and antivaccine hashtags (N=150,338) were analyzed between April 26 and August 26, 2021. Logistic and generalized negative binomial regressions were conducted to predict retweet outcomes. The content-related central-route predictors were measured using the numbers of hashtags and mentions, emotional valence, emotional intensity, and concreteness. The content-unrelated peripheral-route predictors were measured using the numbers of likes and followers and whether the source was a verified user.

Results

Content-related characteristics played a prominent role in shaping decisions regarding whether to retweet antivaccine messages. Particularly, positive valence (incidence rate ratio [IRR]=1.32, P=.03) and concreteness (odds ratio [OR]=1.17, P=.01) were associated with higher numbers and likelihood of retweets of antivaccine messages, respectively; emotional intensity (subjectivity) was associated with fewer retweets of antivaccine messages (OR=0.78, P=.03; IRR=0.80, P=.04). However, these factors had either no or only small effects on the sharing of provaccine tweets. Retweets of provaccine messages were primarily determined by content-unrelated characteristics, such as the numbers of likes (OR=2.55, IRR=2.24, P<.001) and followers (OR=1.31, IRR=1.28, P<.001).

Conclusions

The dissemination of antivaccine messages is associated with both content-related and content-unrelated characteristics. By contrast, the dissemination of provaccine messages is primarily driven by content-unrelated characteristics. These findings signify the importance of leveraging the peripheral route to promote the dissemination of provaccine messages. Because antivaccine tweets with positive emotions, objective content, and concrete words are more likely to be disseminated, policymakers should pay attention to antivaccine messages with such characteristics.

[Refractive surgery for hyperopia]

Hyperopia is a refractive error in which light is focused behind, instead of on, the retina. Clear vision can be obtained by accommodation, but in the long run, this results in eye strain. Hyperopia can be classified as low [≤2.00 diopters (D)], moderate (2.00-4.00 D) and high (>4.00 D). Detailed preoperative evaluation is necessary and essential to obtain good postoperative results. Various surgical techniques can be proposed to correct this ametropia. The main techniques used act either by modifying the corneal curvature with the Excimer laser or by implanting a phakic intraocular lens. The anatomical peculiarities of the hyperopic eye (small corneal diameter, short axial length, narrow anterior chamber or large kappa angle) make refractive surgery for hyperopia a considerable challenge. Large optical ablation zones now allow correction of high hyperopia by reducing the risks of optical aberrations and regression. The patient must be informed and understand the postoperative course, which differs from that of surgery for myopia.

[Acute visual loss related to sphenoid meningioma]

Meningiomas represent about 20% of intracranial tumors. Involvement of the medial sphenoid wing includes anterior clinoid, cavernous sinus and superior orbital fissure meningiomas. Due to the proximity of these tumors to the optic nerve, typically progressive unilateral vision loss, over several months to years, is the classic clinical presentation. We report three cases of acute monocular vision loss, two transient and one permanent, ipsilateral to a sphenoid meningioma. Ophthalmological involvement with sphenoid meningiomas is most often chronic, due to interruption of axoplasmic flow and demyelination of the optic nerve by local compression. However, vascular involvement with ischemia of the optic nerve or transient low blood flow secondary to compression of the carotid branches vascularizing these structures is another possible mechanism. In our series, two patients had amaurosis fugax, and one patient had sudden, persistent visual loss in relation to acute anterior ischemic optic neuropathy on the side of the meningioma. The mean age of patients with acute visual manifestations was 62 years. These ischemic and non-compressive visual symptoms, ipsilateral to sphenoid meningiomas, are difficult to interpret. Whether these temporary visual disturbances of vascular origin should be considered an early sign of future severe or permanent visual impairment when no optic nerve compression is observed is not certain. The place of these acute visual disturbances in the therapeutic decision, particularly surgical, remains to be defined. Larger multicentric prospective studies are needed to better understand the role of local circulatory factors attributable to meningioma in the occurrence of these acute visual signs.

[Intrapulmonary bronchogenic cysts]

INTRODUCTION

Bronchogenic cysts are congenital malformations that are usually located in the mediastinum. Intrapulmonary location is rare.

OBSERVATION

Four cases of intrapulmonary bronchogenic cysts are reported in order to discuss their clinical and radiological presentation and their treatment.

CONCLUSION

Intrapulmonary bronchogenic cysts diagnostic is often missed. This condition must however be known so as to foresee a resection in order to prevent a potential complication.

The semi-sewer river: hydraulic backwater effects and combined sewer overflow reverse flows in Central Brussels reduce deoxygenation impact further downstream

In 2011 and 2012 the dissolved oxygen content in the low-discharge river Zenne was monitored continuously, every 5 minutes, downstream of Brussels city centre, making it possible to document the complex mechanisms by which combined sewer overflow (CSO) spills affect both the hydraulics and the oxygen balance of the hydrosystem. In addition to oxygen demand impacts, proportions of water volumes are such that the oxygen-devoid sewage water discharged from CSOs contributes significantly to the oxygen deficit observed in the river further downstream. It is shown that ensuing unexpected hydraulic behaviour, such as a full river-flow reversal, can explain the dual nature of oxygen sag following major CSO events. At times the semi-sewer river plays the role of an in-stream stormwater tank, effectively attenuating the environmental impacts of Brussels CSOs.

Endogenously expressed estrogen receptor and coactivator AIB1 interact in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells

Coactivators are believed to mediate estrogen-induced gene responses via interaction with estrogen receptors (ER). Currently, a major challenge is to determine the importance of each coactivator in a specific cell type and promoter context in response to a particular ligand. The potential of ER to interact with a growing list of coactivators has been shown in a variety of in vitro and gene transfer assays, yet very few data have demonstrated the interaction of endogenous coactivators with ER in intact cells. We report here a ligand-specific interaction of endogenous human ER (hER) and the AIB1 coactivator in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells by using immunoprecipitation analyses. Complexes between endogenously expressed hER and AIB1 were detected in estradiol-treated cells and to a much lesser extent in cells treated with the partial agonist, monohydroxytamoxifen. We were unable to detect an hER-SRC-1 complex in our immunoprecipitations from MCF-7 cells. The in vitro-binding affinity for mouse ER interaction with AIB1 was estimated to be 40-120 nM. We conclude that AIB1 is a major coactivator for hER in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.

Differential detection of N-heterocyclic compounds and their N-methylated derivatives by immunoanalysis

Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) systems are proposed for the indirect monitoring of formaldehyde by the parallel detection of its N-methylated precursors and the corresponding demethylated compounds. As an example for such immunoanalytical differentiation between an N-heterocyclic compound and its N-methylated derivative, the quantitative detection of the systemic triazole fungicide, myclobutanil, is discussed. Antibodies recognizing the non-zwitterionic structure of 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-[(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-methyl]-hexanonitril e (myclobutanil) showed only minor binding to corresponding N-alkylated derivatives of myclobutanil. And vice versa, literature data indicate that antibodies raised against the pyridilium ionic structure of the herbicide paraquat, displayed only mediocre reactivity towards the corresponding dealkylated derivatives. Thus, both experimental and literature data suggest that immunoanalytical methods for differential detection of N-methylated heterocycles (potentially including formaldehyde precursors) and their non-methylated counterparts are possible to develop.

Effects of combined prostaglandin and alendronate treatment on the histomorphometry and biomechanical properties of bone in ovariectomized rats

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) has been shown to stimulate both bone resorption and formation in experimental animals, leading to augmentation of trabecular and cortical bone. The amino bisphosphonate alendronate (ALN) is a potent inhibitor of bone resorption. The objectives of this study were to examine if PGE2 stimulation of bone formation was dependent on bone resorption and if the bone accrued as a result of PGE2 treatment contributed to bone strength. The 48 female Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to six groups as follows: five groups (8/group) were ovariectomized at the age of 6 months. One group was sacrificed 2 months later to establish baseline conditions, and four groups were treated for 25 days with (1) vehicle, (2) PGE2 at 3 mg/kg/day, (3) ALN sc at 0.8 micrograms/kg/day, and (4) PGE2 + ALN at the respective doses. The sixth group served as nonovariectomized untreated controls. Histomorphometric analysis of 6-10 microns thick tibial sections after in vivo fluorochrome double labeling showed that treatment with PGE2 alone increased endocortical mineral apposition rate and bone formation rate, stimulated production of bone trabeculae in the marrow cavity, and increased cortical porosity. Combined ALN + PGE2 treatment prevented the resorption induced by PGE2 but not the stimulation of bone formation on endocortical and periosteal surfaces and resulted in a significant increase in cortical thickness. Consistent with these observations, the femoral midshaft tested to failure in three-point bending showed a significant increase in strength in the PGE2 + ALN group (181 +/- 15 N) compared to time 0 controls (145 +/- 23 N) or to the ovariectomized vehicle-treated group (141 +/- 28 N).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)