Health Concern Research Articles

Maize–Fusarium interactions: Tunisian insights into mycotoxin ecology

Maize is a worldwide crop yet can be associated with mycotoxigenic fungi, much investigated in humid tropical and cooler, wet temperate regions. However, in hot, arid/semi-arid regions data on their occurrence are poor. In this paper, we focused on interactions between maize and Fusarium fungal species in Tunisia, which has a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and milder, damper winters. Maize kernels, stalks, and roots were sampled from 19 agricultural fields and 56, 72, and 88% of samples, respectively, yielded Fusarium isolates. Based on molecular identifications, these were mainly F. verticillioides (67%), and other species of Fusarium fujikuroi species complex and members of Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti-, oxysporum-, burgessii-, solani- and concolor species complexes. In addition, five isolates were identified as Clonostachys rosea. Fusarium verticilloides and F. proliferatum, that produce fumonisins, suspected carcinogenic compounds, were isolated from all kinds of samples, whereas the other species were isolated only from root and stems. Fumonisin B1 was higher in kernels than in silage, while deoxynivalenol, potent protein synthesis inhibiting compound, was detected (at low levels) in grains and silage. A subset of selected strains, representative of all species identified, was also used to evaluate their ability to produce mycotoxins. Fusarium verticillioides, F. proliferatum and F. nygamai produced high levels of fumonisin B1 in vitro, as well as beauvericin and enniatins. These findings confirm that, even in hot arid regions, which generally do not favour fungal growth, mycotoxin-producing fungi can be reason of concern for human and animal health.

METABOLIC SYNDROME: LITERATURE ANALYSIS

MetS is a significant public health concern due to its association with severe health outcomes. Early identification and comprehensive management of MetS components are crucial in reducing the global burden of this syndrome. Further research is needed to refine diagnostic criteria, understand the underlying mechanisms, and develop more effective prevention and treatment strategies. The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a group of illnesses that together better predict a person's risk of cardiovascular disease than any one of the illnesses alone. Human MetS risk is influenced by a combination of environmental and genetic variables. As MetS is a complex disorder with a startlingly high incidence rate these days, developing suitable experimental animal models that closely resemble the illness state in people is essential to resolving the challenges associated with assessing the pathophysiology of MetS in humans. The objective of this study is to provide an overview of the pathophysiology of dietary, genetic, and pharmaceutical models of metabolic syndrome. We will also go over the applicability, advantages, and disadvantages of various animal models. Despite the establishment of many animal models of MetS, more research on.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Musculoskeletal Disorders among Housewives: A Survey Study

Introduction: In Indian society, housewives serve as the foundational pillars around which familial structures revolve. Women perform wide variety of activities daily in the kitchen, due to continuous work performance housewives suffer various kind of physical disorders like musculoskeletal disorders, pain in joints, back, shoulders, arms, and hands due to prolong standing posture. Persistence of Musculoskeletal pain results in decreased productivity which at the end leads to poor quality of life. Aim of the study: The survey aims to evaluate prevalence and risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders among housewives. Methodology: A survey study was conducted among 100 housewives. Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire and Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire to determine the prevalence and risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders. Convenience sampling was used for the study. Results: The findings revealed that the prevalence of MSDs among housewives was 79%. Maximum prevalence (46.8%) was found in the age group 30-40 years. The most common site of musculoskeletal disorder among housewives was multiple regions (46.8%), followed by lower back (21.5%). Other regions such as the neck, knees, shoulders, and elbows also showed varying levels of prevalence. Conclusion: In conclusion, the study showed a higher prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among housewives. The findings underscore the multifaceted nature of this health concern, influenced by various risk factors including age, BMI distribution, number of dependents, duration of household activities, and types of tasks performed. Keywords: Musculoskeletal Disorders, Housewives, Risk factors

Snake envenomation in children: Experience from a tertiary care hospital in Northern India

BackgroundSnakebite in children is a medical emergency of significant public health concern. Owing to physiological differences, the potential of snake venom causing tissue damage and long-term sequelae is more pronounced in paediatric age group. We aimed to determine the clinical profile and outcome in children suffering with snake envenomation. MethodsThe retrospective observational study reviewed the clinical case records of children aged 0–18 years, admitted with features of snake envenomation from January 2021 to December 2022 Demographic profile, clinical features, treatment and outcome were analysed using descriptive statistics. ResultsEleven children with snakebite were admitted during the study period. The mean age of study population was 11.63 (±3.9) years. Nine children (81.8%) were residing in rural area, majority (72.7%) of the children experienced the snakebite between May and August. Extremities were the most commonly affected site as seen in seven (63.6%) children. Pain and swelling at the bite site were the commonest symptoms seen in nine (81.8%) children, neurotoxic features were evident in seven (54.5%) cases, while four (36.3%) cases manifested vasculotoxic features. Invasive ventilatory support was required in four (36.3%) cases and all such children were extubated with successful outcome. Anti-snake venom (ASV) was administered in all 11 children and no adverse reactions were observed. No mortality was reported during the study. ConclusionEnvenomation toxidrome depends on the prevalent snake species inhabiting the various geographic regions within the same country.

Risk of severe dengue during secondary infection: a population-based cohort study in Taiwan

BackgroundDengue poses a significant public health concern. Secondary dengue infections with different dengue virus (DENV) serotypes have been linked to an increased risk of severe dengue. This study aimed to assess the risk of severe dengue during secondary infection in Taiwan. MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database to identify dengue cases with secondary dengue infection born after 1944 from 2014-2015. Ten matched patients with primary infection were selected as controls using propensity score matching for each secondary dengue infection case. The odds ratio (OR) for severe dengue in secondary versus primary infections was calculated using conditional logistic regression. ResultsThis study included 357 cases with secondary dengue infection and 3,570 matched controls. The risk of severe dengue was found to be 7.8% in individuals with secondary infection, compared to 3.8% in those with primary dengue infection. Secondary infection significantly increased the risk of severe dengue (OR 2.13, 95% CI: 1.40 - 3.25, P = 0.0004). Notably, a significant association between secondary infection and severe dengue was observed only when the interval between the first and secondary infection was greater than two years (OR 3.19, 95% CI 2.04 – 5.00, P <0.0001). ConclusionSecondary dengue infection significantly increases the risk of severe disease in Taiwan, particularly when the interval between infections is over two years.Healthcare professionals should maintain heightened vigilance for individuals with a history of previous dengue infection, particularly if their initial diagnosis was more than two years prior.

Online cancer information seeking and colorectal cancer screening in China: Considering threat and coping Appraisals, and cancer fatalism

BackgroundColorectal cancer is major public health concern in China. This study seeks to explore the role of online cancer information seeking in influencing colorectal cancer screening, by taking into account one’s coping appraisals (i.e., self-efficacy, response efficacy), threat appraisals (i.e., perceived severity, cancer worry) and cancer fatalism. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted with 730 participants in China recruited from a Chinese survey company’s online panels. Path analysis was performed to investigate the relationships between the key constructs. ResultsFirst, online cancer information seeking increased both coping appraisals and threat appraisals. Second, threat appraisal did not significantly influence cancer fatalism, but coping appraisal reduced cancer fatalism. Third, cancer fatalism had no effects on colorectal cancer screening. Lastly, online cancer information also had a direct and positive relationship with cancer screening. ConclusionsThis research emphasises the need for health organisations to offer timely cancer information to people, and educate them about the importance of cancer screening. Health authorities may also regulate online cancer information to ensure that the information is accurate and appropriate in improving people’s cancer prevention and cancer screening knowledge.

Traditional Medicinal Plants in Cancer Therapy and Chemoprevention: A Review of Preclinical and Clinical Studies

Abstract: Cancer has become a significant public health concern in the past few decades, and it is now the world's second cause of death. Although there are various types of cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, immune therapy, radiation, hormone therapy, gene editing, etc., they all have adverse reactions and significant failings. Plant and dietary mixtures have been utilized to treat malignant growth over the entire course of time. These mixtures likewise might be helpful in anticipation of malignant growth. Chemoprevention is cancer prevention that makes use of plant phytochemicals and synthetic substances. Because of their reduced toxicity and inexpensive cost, phytoconstituents are gaining much interest in chemoprevention effectiveness. As a result, the chemopreventive power of naturally occurring phytochemicals is of great interest. Populace studies propose that a decreased gamble of malignant growth is related to the maximum usage of vegetables and natural products. This review summarised the latest research on plants and their chemicals targeting various malignancies and their mechanisms of cancer suppression by modulating multiple signaling pathways. It provides a small outline of green synthesized nanoparticles, an emerging area to combat cancer.

Fluoride induces immunotoxicity by regulating riboflavin transport and metabolism partly through IL-17A in the spleen

The impairment of the immune system by fluoride is a public health concern worldwide, yet the underlying mechanism is unclear. Both riboflavin and IL-17A are closely related to immune function and regulate the testicular toxicity of fluoride. However, whether riboflavin or IL-17A is involved in fluoride-induced immunotoxicity is unknown. Here, we first established a male ICR mouse model by treating mice with sodium fluoride (NaF) (100 mg/L) via the drinking water for 91 days. The results showed that fluoride increased the expression of the proinflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-17A, which led to splenic inflammation and morphological injury. Moreover, the expression levels of the riboflavin transporters SLC52A2 and SLC52A3; the transformation-related enzymes RFK and FLAD1; and the key mitochondrial functional determinants SDH, COX, and ATP in the spleen were measured via real-time PCR, Western blotting, and ELISA. The results revealed that fluoride disrupted riboflavin transport, transformation, metabolism, and mitochondrial function. Furthermore, wild-type (WT) and IL-17A knockout (IL-17A-/-) C57BL/6 J male mice of the same age were treated with NaF (24 mg/kg·bw, equivalent to 100 mg/L) and/or riboflavin sodium phosphate (5 mg/kg·bw) via gavage for 91 days. Similar parameters were evaluated as above. The results confirmed that fluoride increased riboflavin metabolism through RFK but not through FLAD1. Fluoride also affected mitochondrial function and activated neutrophils (marked with Ly6g) and macrophages (marked with CD68) in the spleen. Interestingly, IL-17A partly mediated fluoride-induced riboflavin metabolism disorder and immunotoxicity in the spleen. This work not only reveals a novel toxic mechanism for fluoride but also provides new clues for exploring the physiological function of riboflavin and for diagnosing and treating the toxic effects of fluoride in the environment.

Advancing road safety strategy development: A data-driven multi-objective optimisation integrated approach

Road traffic accidents pose a significant global health concern, with an alarming 1.19 million fatalities reported in 2021. Traditionally, strategies to address this challenge have relied on expert input and subjective evaluations. This study introduces an adaptive and novel two-stage model that minimizes expert interference by integrating multi-objective optimisation with association rule mining. This innovative approach provides a systematic framework to enhance the efficiency of decision-making and optimise resource allocation outcomes in road infrastructure management, facilitating adaptability to diverse objectives. A case study in Utrecht from iRAP validates the efficiency of the approach, demonstrating significant improvements across various objectives by using the non-dominant sorting genetic algorithm and enabling road local authorities to tailor investment plans to their specific road network characteristics by crash database mining. However, the methodology requires refinement, particularly in identifying risk levels considering the interactive effects of multiple road attributes. In conclusion, while representing a substantial advancement, further refinement is necessary to fully realize its potential in enhancing road safety.

Assessment of the Prevalence and Factors Contributing to Drug and Alcohol Use Among Young People in South-South, Nigeria

Background: Adolescent substance abuse is a major public health concern in Nigeria, having far-reaching effects on both individuals and society. The susceptibility of Nigerian youth to substance abuse is influenced by numerous factors including socioeconomic factors like poverty, unemployment, and limited access to education. Method: The research employed a cross-sectional descriptive design. Four hundred and fifty individuals were interviewed using interviewer-administered, structured questions through a multi-stage sampling procedure. After manual data analysis, a chi-square test statistic was employed to determine whether there was a significant relationship between the categorical variables, with a p-value of less than 0.05. Results: Out of the 450 responders, 241 (53.6%) male and 209 (46.4%) female were questioned. More than half of the respondents (54.5%) were between the ages of 19-21 years old. According to the survey, 182 people (or 40.4% of the sample) use one or more substances. The most popular ones are Alcohol, which is followed by paracetamol and cigarettes. About 93.1% and 87.3% of the respondents identified negative peer influence and lack of parental care as factors that influence drug and alcohol abuse respectively. The study also reveals a statistically significant relationship between Age, gender, and substance use. Conclusion: Adolescents actively use illegal substances, making drug misuse a pervasive social issue that disproportionately impacts young people. It also highlights how crucial peer and family pressure is to the development and maintenance of prescription medication abuse. Keywords: Adolescent, Drug misuse, Drug abuse, Alcohol

Biological Activity of Natural and Synthetic Peptides as Anticancer Agents.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and death worldwide, making it a serious global health concern. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical treatment are the most used conventional therapeutic approaches, although they show several side effects that limit their effectiveness. For these reasons, the discovery of new effective alternative therapies still represents an enormous challenge for the treatment of tumour diseases. Recently, anticancer peptides (ACPs) have gained attention for cancer diagnosis and treatment. ACPs are small bioactive molecules which selectively induce cancer cell death through a variety of mechanisms such as apoptosis, membrane disruption, DNA damage, immunomodulation, as well as inhibition of angiogenesis, cell survival, and proliferation pathways. ACPs can also be employed for the targeted delivery of drugs into cancer cells. With over 1000 clinical trials using ACPs, their potential for application in cancer therapy seems promising. Peptides can also be utilized in conjunction with imaging agents and molecular imaging methods, such as MRI, PET, CT, and NIR, improving the detection and the classification of cancer, and monitoring the treatment response. In this review we will provide an overview of the biological activity of some natural and synthetic peptides for the treatment of the most common and malignant tumours affecting people around the world.

A strike to the head: Parallels between the pediatric and adult human and the rodent in traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a condition that occurs commonly in children from infancy through adolescence and is a global health concern. Pediatric TBI presents with a bimodal age distribution, with very young children (0-4 years) and adolescents (15-19 years) more commonly injured. Because children's brains are still developing, there is increased vulnerability to the effects of head trauma, which results in entirely different patterns of injury than in adults. Pediatric TBI has a profound and lasting impact on a child's development and quality of life, resulting in long-lasting consequences to physical, cognitive, and emotional development. Chronic issues like learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and emotional disturbances can develop. Early intervention and ongoing support are critical for minimizing these long-term deficits. Many animal models of TBI exist, and each varies significantly, displaying different characteristics of clinical TBI. The neurodevelopment differs in the rodent from the human in timing and effect, so TBI outcomes in the juvenile rodent can thus vary from the human child. The current review compares findings from preclinical TBI work in juvenile and adult rodents to clinical TBI research in pediatric and adult humans. We focus on the four brain regions most affected by TBI: the prefrontal cortex, corpus callosum, hippocampus, and hypothalamus. Each has its unique developmental projections and thus is impacted by TBI differently. This review aims to compare the healthy neurodevelopment of these four brain regions in humans to the developmental processes in rodents.

Schistosomiasis diagnosis: Challenges and opportunities for elimination.

The roadmap adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) for eliminating neglected tropical diseases aims to eliminate schistosomiasis, as a public health concern, by 2030. While progress has been made towards reducing schistosomiasis morbidity control in several sub-Saharan African countries, there is still more that needs to be done. Proper surveillance using accurate diagnostics with acceptable sensitivity and specificity is essential for evaluating the success of all efforts against schistosomiasis. Microscopy, despite its low sensitivity, remains the gold standard approach for diagnosing the disease. Although many efforts have been made to develop new diagnostics based on circulating parasite proteins, genetic markers, schistosome egg morphology, and their paramagnetic properties, none has been robust enough to replace microscopy. This review highlights common diagnostic approaches for detecting schistosomiasis in field and clinical settings, major challenges, and provides new and novel opportunities and diagnosis pathways that will be critical in supporting elimination of schistosomiasis. We searched for relevant and reliable published literature from PubMed, Scopus, google scholar, and Web of science. The search strategies were primarily determined by subtopic, and hence the following words were used (schistosom*, diagnosis, Kato-Katz, antibody test, circulating antigen, POC-CCA, UCP-LF-CAA, molecular diagnostics, nucleic acid amplification test, microfluidics, lab-on a disk, lab-on chip, recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), LAMP, portable sequencer, nanobody test, identical multi-repeat sequences, diagnostic TPPs, REASSURED, extraction free), and Boolean operators AND and/OR were used to refine the searching capacity. Due to the global public health nature of schistosomiasis, we also searched for reliable documents, reports, and research papers published by international health organizations, World Health Organization (WHO), and Center for Disease control and Elimination.

Accuracy of Automated Forensic Dental Age Estimation Lab (F-DentEst Lab) on Large Malaysian Dataset

When a disaster occurs, the authority must prioritise two things. First, the search and rescue of lives, and second, the identification and management of deceased individuals. However, with thousands of dead bodies to be individually identified in mass disasters, forensic teams face challenges such as long working hours resulting in a delayed identification process and a public health concern caused by the decomposition of the body. Using dental panoramic imaging, teeth have been used in forensics as a physical marker to estimate the age of an individual. Traditionally, dental age estimation has been performed manually by experts. Although the procedure is fairly simple, the large number of victims and the limited amount of time available to complete the assessment during large-scale disasters make forensic work even more challenging. The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) in the fields of medicine and dentistry has led to the suggestion of automating the current process as an alternative to the conventional method. This study aims to test the accuracy and performance of the developed deep convolutional neural network system for age estimation in large, out-of-sample Malaysian children dataset using digital dental panoramic imaging. Forensic Dental Estimation Lab (F-DentEst Lab) is a computer application developed to perform the dental age estimation digitally. The introduction of this system is to improve the conventional method of age estimation that significantly increase the efficiency of the age estimation process based on the AI approach. A total number of one-thousand-eight-hundred-and-ninety-two digital dental panoramic images were retrospectively collected to test the F-DentEst Lab. Data training, validation, and testing have been conducted in the early stage of the development of F-DentEst Lab, where the allocation involved 80% training and the remaining 20% for testing. The methodology was comprised of four major steps: image preprocessing, which adheres to the inclusion criteria for panoramic dental imaging, segmentation, and classification of mandibular premolars using the Dynamic Programming-Active Contour (DP-AC) method and Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN), respectively, and statistical analysis. The suggested DCNN approach underestimated chronological age with a small ME of 0.03 and 0.05 for females and males, respectively.

The effect of a digital intervention on symptoms of depression in pregnant women exposed to Intimate partner violence in Denmark and Spain (STOP study)

Introduction and objectiveIntimate Partner Violence (IPV) during pregnancy is a significant public health concern associated with adverse maternal and fetal health outcomes, including increased risk of depression. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a digital empowerment-based intervention in reducing symptoms of depression among IPV-exposed pregnant women. Study designThis intervention study was nested within a cohort study conducted in Denmark and Spain. Pregnant women attending antenatal care were digital screened for IPV using the Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS) and the Women’s Abuse Screening Tool (WAST). Those screening positive were offered a digital intervention comprising 3–6 video consultations with trained IPV counsellors and access to a safety planning app. Changes in depression scores from baseline to follow-up were evaluated using mixed model regression. ResultsFrom February 2021-October 2022, 1,545 pregnant women (9.6 %) screened positive for IPV within our population (8.5 % in Denmark and 17.0 % in Spain) with 485 (31.4 %) meeting the criteria for the intervention. Of those eligible, 104 (21.4 %) accepted the intervention, and 55 completed it (13.1 %). Post-intervention, a significant reduction in Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was found, with a mean difference of −3.9 (95 % CI: −5.3; −2.4), compared to the average pre-intervention score of 11.3. Stratifying the analyses across sociodemographic variables did not alter the overall result, indicating a reduction in EPDS scores irrespective of setting or sociodemographic factors. Notably, the intervention was most effective for women initially presenting with EPDS scores above the depression cut-off. ConclusionThe findings suggest that a brief digital intervention is associated with a reduction in depression symptoms among pregnant women exposed to IPV, particularly among those with high depressive scores. This highlights the potential of digital interventions in delivering counseling and shows efficacy when administered by both midwives and psychologists in diverse settings. However, the absence of a control group underscores the need for caution in interpreting the results.

Isolation and characterization of cefotaxime resistant Escherichia coli from household floors in rural Bangladesh

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a rising health concern worldwide. As an indicator organism, E. coli, specifically extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing E. coli, can be used to detect AMR in the environment and estimate the risk of transmitting resistance among humans, animals and the environment. This study focused on detecting cefotaxime resistant E. coli in floor swab samples from 49 households in rural villages in Bangladesh. Following isolation of cefotaxime resistant E. coli, DNA extracted from isolates was subjected to molecular characterization for virulence and resistance genes, determination of resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics to define multidrug resistant (MDR) and extensively drug resistant (XDR) strains, and the biofilm forming capacity of the isolates. Among 49 households, floor swabs from 35 (71%) households tested positive for cefotaxime resistant E. coli. Notably, all of the 91 representative isolates were ESBL producers, with the majority (84.6%) containing the blaCTX-M gene, followed by the blaTEM and blaSHV genes detected in 22.0% and 6.6% of the isolates, respectively. All isolates were MDR, and one isolate was XDR. In terms of pathogenic strains, 8.8% of the isolates were diarrheagenic and 5.5% were extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC). At 25°C, 45% of the isolates formed strong biofilm, whereas 43% and 12% formed moderate and weak biofilm, respectively. On the other hand, at 37°C, 1.1%, 4.4% and 93.4% of the isolates were strong, moderate and weak biofilm formers, respectively, and 1.1% showed no biofilm formation. The study emphasizes the importance of screening and characterizing cefotaxime resistant E. coli from household floors in a developing country setting to understand AMR exposure associated with floors.

Update of the scientific opinion on tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and its derivatives in food.

The European Commission asked EFSA to update its 2011 risk assessment on tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and five derivatives in food. Neurotoxicity and carcinogenicity were considered as the critical effects of TBBPA in rodent studies. The available evidence indicates that the carcinogenicity of TBBPA occurs via non-genotoxic mechanisms. Taking into account the new data, the CONTAM Panel considered it appropriate to set a tolerable daily intake (TDI). Based on decreased interest in social interaction in male mice, a lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) of 0.2 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day was identified and selected as the reference point for the risk characterisation. Applying the default uncertainty factor of 100 for inter- and intraspecies variability, and a factor of 3 to extrapolate from the LOAEL to NOAEL, a TDI for TBBPA of 0.7 μg/kg bw per day was established. Around 2100 analytical results for TBBPA in food were used to estimate dietary exposure for the European population. The most important contributors to the chronic dietary LB exposure to TBBPA were fish and seafood, meat and meat products and milk and dairy products. The exposure estimates to TBBPA were all below the TDI, including those estimated for breastfed and formula-fed infants. Accounting for the uncertainties affecting the assessment, the CONTAM Panel concluded with 90%-95% certainty that the current dietary exposure to TBBPA does not raise a health concern for any of the population groups considered. There were insufficient data on the toxicity of any of the TBBPA derivatives to derive reference points, or to allow a comparison with TBBPA that would support assignment to an assessment group for the purposes of combined risk assessment.

Costunolide Inhibits Chronic Kidney Disease Development by Attenuating IKKβ/NF-κB Pathway.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant worldwide health concern that leads to high mortality rates. The bioactive substance costunolide (CTD) has demonstrated several pharmacological effects and holds promise as a CKD treatment. This study aims to investigate the impact of CTD on CKD and delve into its mechanisms of action. Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) methods and renal fibrosis mice models were created. Various concentrations of CTD were injected into UUO mice models to investigate the therapeutic effects of CTD on renal fibrosis of mice. Then, renal morphology, pathological changes, and the expression of genes related to fibrosis, inflammation and ferroptosis were analysed. RNA sequencing was utilized to identify the main biological processes and pathways involved in renal injury. Finally, both overexpression and inhibition of IKKβ were studied to examine their respective effects on fibrosis and inflammation in both in vitro and in vivo models. CTD treatment was found to significantly alleviate fibrosis, inflammation and ferroptosis in UUO-induced renal fibrosis mice models. The results of RNA sequencing suggested that the IKKβ acted as key regulatory factor in renal injury and the expression of IKKβ was increased in vitro and in vivo renal fibrosis model. Functionally, down-regulated IKKβ expression inhibits ferroptosis, inflammatory cytokine production and collagen deposition. Conversely, IKKβ overexpression exacerbates progressive renal fibrosis. Mechanistically, CTD alleviated renal fibrosis and inflammation by inhibiting the expression of IKKβ and attenuating IKKβ/NF-κB pathway. This study demonstrates that CTD could mitigate renal fibrosis, ferroptosis and inflammation in CKD by modulating the IKKβ/NF-κB pathway, which indicates targeting IKKβ has an enormous potential for treating CKD.

Emergence of Indigenous Dengue Fever, Niger, October 2023.

Dengue fever is a growing worldwide public health concern. In mid-October 2023, multiple cases of uncommon febrile illness were reported among patients in Niamey, Niger. Fifteen samples were tested by using molecular methods, from which 7 (46.66%) were confirmed positive for mosquitoborne dengue virus belonging to serotypes 1 and 3.

Dengue dynamics in Nepal: A Caputo fractional model with optimal control strategies

An infectious disease called dengue is a significant health concern nowadays. The dengue outbreak occurred with a single serotype all over Nepal in 2023. In the tropical and subtropical regions, dengue fever is a leading cause of sickness and death. Currently, there is no specified treatment for dengue fever. Avoiding mosquito bites is strongly advised to reduce the likelihood of controlling this disease. In underdeveloped countries like Nepal, the implementation of appropriate control measures is the most important factor in preventing and controlling the spread of dengue illness. The Caputo fractional dengue model with optimum control variables, including mosquito repellent and insecticide use, investigates the impact of alternative control strategies to minimize dengue prevalence. Using the fixed point theorem, the existence and uniqueness of a solution will be demonstrated for the problem. Ulam-Hyers stability, disease-free equilibrium point stability, and basic reproduction number are studied for the proposed model. The model is simulated using a two-step Lagrange interpolation technique, and the least squares method is used to estimate parameter values using real monthly infected data. We then analyze the sensitivity analysis to determine influencing parameters and the control measure effects on the basic reproduction number. The Pontryagin Maximum Principle is used to determine the optimal control variable in the dengue model for control strategies. The present study suggests that the deployment of control measures is extremely successful in lowering infectious disease incidences. Which facilitates the decision-makers to practice rigorous evaluation of such an epidemiological scenario while implementing appropriate control measures to prevent dengue disease transmission in Nepal.