History Of Infectious Diseases Research Articles

Investigating the risk factors of cardiomyopathy in pregnant mothers

BackgroundCardiomyopathy during pregnancy significantly impacts maternal health, contributing to high morbidity and mortality. Identifying risk factors for this condition is crucial for enhancing prenatal care and preventing adverse outcomes. Study designThis population-based case-control study investigates the risk factors associated with cardiomyopathy in pregnant women. MethodsWe analyzed data from 5133 pregnant women (1686 cases with cardiomyopathy and 3447 controls without cardiomyopathy) who received care at healthcare facilities affiliated with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences between March 1, 2017, and June 20, 2024. Risk factors were assessed through logistic regression models, which calculated adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) for various demographic, medical, and pregnancy-related variables. ResultsSignificant risk factors for cardiomyopathy in pregnancy included obesity (AOR = 2.11, 95 % CI: 1.43–2.02), higher education level (AOR = 1.84, 95 % CI: 1.25–1.86), mental health issues (AOR = 2.07, 95 % CI: 1.7–2.5), domestic violence (AOR = 2.02, 95 % CI: 1.08–3.6), twin pregnancy (AOR = 2.6, 95 % CI: 1.57–4.6), and preeclampsia (AOR = 6.9, 95 % CI: 2.78–17.4). Additional risk factors included lack of physical fitness (AOR = 1.5, 95 % CI: 1.13–2.007), history of infectious disease during pregnancy (AOR = 1.4, 95 % CI: 1.11–1.76), anemia (AOR = 1.57, 95 % CI: 1.15–2.09), and hypertension (AOR = 1.55, 95 % CI: 1.18–2.02). Smoking increased risk but was not statistically significant (AOR = 1.29, 95 % CI: 0.69–2.4). ConclusionAddressing modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors in prenatal care is crucial to reducing cardiomyopathy incidence and improving maternal cardiovascular health.

Behavioral, Social, and Emotional Development of Five-Year-Old Children Conceived by Assistive Reproductive Technologies (In-Vitro Fertilization)

Preschool children conceived through In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) tend to demonstrate particular behavioral, social, and emotional patterns that correlate with their physical development. The authors used a number of techniques to assess the behavior and social and emotional development of five-year-old IVF children. Such questionnaires as Your Child’s Behavior and Child’s Relationship with Friends and Family cast light on the behavioral, social, and emotional status. To define the physical development, the authors used such questionnaires as Child Feeding Issues, Three-Month History of Infectious Diseases, History of Injuries and Accidents, and Chronic Disease History. The sample consisted of 81 IVF children and 153 naturally-conceived children (aged 5); it included subgroups of children with perinatal developmental risks. Most parents of the IVF children reported neither behavioral nor social issues. However, the IVF children demonstrated more severe emotional issues. The IVF children with perinatal developmental risks had more pronounced emotional and anxiety issues, which was not typical of naturally-conceived children with perinatal risks. Both groups included children with difficulties in social and emotional development. The study revealed four significant factors that defined the difficulties of the socio-emotional development in the IVF children: behavioral disorders, aggression, social issues, and emotional issues. The significant correlations of behavioral, social, and emotional development in the IVF group indicated some specificity against the control. The correlating indicators of mental and physical development proved that physical development might affect behavioral, social, and emotional development in IVF children.

Persistently Low IgG2 Levels in a Subset of Patients Following Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

Infectious diseases remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Secondary hypogammaglobulinemia is a risk factor for infectious diseases. Total immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels and the history of infectious diseases are an integral part of determining the indication for immunoglobulin replacement therapy. The clinical significance of IgG2 levels is not well established. Guidelines recommend using pathogen-specific IgG to evaluate patients with potential secondary immunodeficiency. However, it is difficult in practice to perform such testing. IgG2 may correlate well with pathogen-specific IgG but the clinical significance of IgG2 is not well established. To assess the prevalence of low IgG2 levels with normal IgG after HCT, we cross-sectionally measured the levels of several immunoglobulins, including IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgG2, after HCT, and we assessed the correlation between them. Among 121 patients who underwent cross-sectional measurements of IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgG2 levels after HCT, 114 had normal IgG2 levels (normal IgG2 group, ≥ 100mg/dL) and 7 had low IgG2 levels (low IgG2 group, < 100mg/dL). These 7 patients were allogeneic HCT recipients. All 7 patients with low IgG2 had cGVHD and 4/7 patients had normal total IgG levels. IgG2 levels may be low even in patients with normal IgG levels years after allogeneic HCT. Therefore, our study suggests that when patients develop infectious diseases, especially multiple episodes, it is recommended to measure IgG2 levels to exclude the possibility of secondary hypogammaglobulinemia after allogeneic HCT.

The Relationship between Maternal Education Level, Exclusive Breastfeeding and History of Infectious Diseases with the Incident of Stunting in Toddlers

Stunting is a problem of chronic malnutrition caused by insufficient nutritional intake over a long period of time due to intake that is not in accordance with nutritional needs. Stunting can occur from the fetus in the womb and only appears when the child is two years old. Nutritional status not only describes the problem of deficiencies in certain nutrients, but is also related to the level of health and chronic diseases a person has. This research aims to determine the relationship between maternal education, exclusive breastfeeding and a history of infectious diseases with the incidence of stunting in toddlers in the working area of the Teluk Tiram Community Health Center, Banjarmasin. This type of analytical observational research with a cross sectional design. The population in this study were all mothers of toddlers in Teluk Tiram Village, totaling 770 toddlers. Samples were taken using accidental sampling of 20 people. Primary data in the form of respondent characteristics, mother's education level, exclusive breastfeeding and history of infectious diseases were obtained through interviews using questionnaires and nutritional status was obtained by anthropometric measurements (PB/U or TB/U). Data analysis using the Spearman's rho test. The results of research using the Spearman's rho test showed that there was no relationship between maternal education and the incidence of stunting (p=0.652), there was no relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and the incidence of stunting (p=0.126) and there was no relationship between a history of infectious diseases. with the incidence of stunting (p=0.643).

The Pandemic Arc: Expanded Narratives in the History of Global Health.

Using the examples of plague, smallpox, and HIV/AIDS, the present essay argues for the benefits of incorporating the evolutionary histories of pathogens, beyond visible epidemic spikes within human populations, into our understanding of what pandemics actually are as epidemiological phenomena. The pandemic arc - which takes the pathogen as the defining "actor" in a pandemic, from emergence to local proliferation to globalization - offers a framework capable of bringing together disparate aspects not only of the manifestations of disease but also of human involvement in the pandemic process. Pathogens may differ, but there are common patterns in disease emergence and proliferation that distinguish those diseases that become pandemic, dispersed through human communities regionally or globally. The same methods of genomic analysis that allow tracking the evolutionary development of a modern pathogen such as SARS-CoV-2 also allow us to trace pandemics into the past. Reconstruction of these pandemic arcs brings new elements of these stories into view, recovering the experiences of regions and populations hitherto overlooked by Eurocentric narratives. This expanded global history of infectious diseases, in turn, lays a groundwork for reconceiving what ambitions a truly global health might aim for.

Knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) towards antibiotic use and its resistance among the general public in Klang Valley

Antibiotics have saved millions of lives and changed the history of infectious diseases. However, in recent years, antibiotic resistance has become a major global public health problem. Likewise, an increasing trend of antibiotic resistance (ABR) is observed in Malaysia. This study aims to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) towards antibiotics use and its resistance among the general public in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Our hypothesis is the general public has a low level of KAP towards antibiotic use and its resistance. A cross-sectional study was distributed through a pre-validated questionnaire to all Klang Valley residents who are ≥18 years old through email and social media. Vulnerable residents and those from non-English speaking backgrounds were excluded. All data were analysed by SPSS software version 27.0. A total of 408 participants were recruited. Based on the scoring system of the study it was found that 47.0% had moderate knowledge, 41.7% had good attitude and 59.6% had good practice towards antibiotic use and its resistance. Overall, 53.4% recruited participants had moderate KAP towards antibiotic use and its resistance. Chi-Square test of independence was used to determine the association of socio-demographic variables and KAP towards antibiotic use and its resistance. The results indicated that only one categorical variable “area” was statistically significant with a p value of 0.041. The mean± SD values indicated that those individuals living in Selangor have a comparatively higher KAP towards antibiotic use and its resistance as compared to those living in Kuala Lumpur (KL) most probably due to higher educational levels. This study provided us with baseline evidence about the KAP regarding antibiotic use among the general public in Malaysia. Hence, it will be useful in guiding further interventions to improve awareness about antibiotics use and enhance antimicrobial stewardship in our community.

Understanding the Crisis: Prevalence and Key Determinants of Stunting in Children Aged 2 to 5 Years in an Afghan Refugee Camp in Kohat.

Stunting, characterized by impaired growth and development due to malnutrition and illness, is a significant public health concern with profound implications for cognitive and physical development. This issue is particularly severe in refugee settings, where food insecurity and limited access to healthcare exacerbate the problem. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and determinants of stunting among children aged 2 to 5 years in an Afghan refugee camp in Kohat, Pakistan. A cross-sectional observational design was employed, collecting data from children aged 2 to 5 years who had resided in the camp for at least six months. A pre-validated, standardized questionnaire was administered to parents or guardians to gather data on socio-demographic factors, dietary intake, and health history. Stunting was defined as a height-for-age Z-score less than -2 SD from the median of the WHO Child Growth Standards. Anthropometric measurements were taken following WHO guidelines. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors of stunting. Out of 384 children, 153 (40%) were found to be stunted. The prevalence was slightly higher among boys (80 out of 153, 52%) compared to girls (73 out of 153, 48%). Significant predictors of stunting included a lack of parental education (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for fathers 1.8, 95% confidence level (CI) 1.2-2.9; AOR for mothers 2.1, 95% CI 1.3-3.4), a history of infectious diseases (AOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2-3.0), and low dietary diversity (AOR 2.3, 95% CI 1.4-3.7). The study highlights the high prevalence of stunting among children in the refugee camp, underscoring the need for comprehensive interventions targeting healthcare improvement, parental education, economic support, and dietary diversity to reduce stunting rates and improve children's health outcomes.

Outcomes of Cyclosporine Ophthalmic Emulsion 0.05% Use in Pediatric Blepharokeratoconjunctivitis

Purpose: Pediatric blepharokeratoconjunctivitis (BKC) is a chronic ocular surface inflammatory disease. In this article, we report our experience using low-dose topical cyclosporine (CsA) 0.05% for the treatment of pediatric BKC. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on pediatric patients treated with topical CsA 0.05% for BKC between 2018 and 2022 at a single academic institution. Patients with less than 6 weeks of follow-up, a history of ocular infectious disease, or previous usage of topical/systemic immunomodulators (except corticosteroids) were excluded. The primary outcome was the change in the number of episodes of disease reactivation (flare) before and after the use of CsA 0.05%. Secondary outcomes included the number of clinic visits per year, success rate in corticosteroid tapering, and usage of rescue topical corticosteroid. Results: A total of 21 patients (13 male patients and 8 female patients) treated with CsA 0.05% twice daily were included in this study. The mean age of patients was 9.7 ± 4.2 years, and the mean follow-up period was 62.2 ± 62.5 weeks. The median number of flares per year was 5.6 (95% CI, 3.9–7.3) before treatment with CsA 0.05%, which reduced to 0.0 (95% CI, 0.0–0.9) while on CsA 0.05% (P = 0.01). The median number of clinic visits significantly reduced from 9.5 (95% CI, 7.3–11.7) to 4.5 (95% CI, 3.7–6.8) visits per year (P &lt; 0.0001). After 3.5 ± 2.7 weeks, 90.4% of patients using topical CSs concomitantly with topical CsA 0.05% could be successfully tapered off their topical CSs. Of the patients who tapered off their topical CSs, 3 patients (15%) later required rescue topical CSs despite ongoing CsA 0.05% treatment because of acute flare episodes. No adverse effects were reported with CsA use. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the efficacy of low-dose topical CsA 0.05% in reducing the frequency of acute flares and clinic visits per year in pediatric BKC.

Analysis of Factors Influencing Children's Nutritional Status in Kuta Onan Public Elementary School, Sub-District Sttu Jehe District Pakpak Bharat

Child nutrition remains a significant issue worldwide. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data from 2022, the global prevalence of underweight children is around 26.3%, with 95.2 million children affected. In the local context, Puskesmas data reveals that 43% of children are still malnourished. This study aims to analyze the factors influencing the nutritional status of children at Kuta Onan Public Elementary School, STTU Jehe District, Pakpak Bharat Regency. The research employs an Analytical Survey method with a Cross-Sectional approach. The population consists of 267 students, with a sample of 73 students selected through Proportional Sampling. Data analysis includes univariate, bivariate with chi-square tests, and multivariate with logistic regression. The findings indicate significant influences from knowledge (p = 0.000), feeding patterns (p = 0.003), parenting (p = 0.001), and a history of infectious diseases (p = 0.001) on nutritional status. Notably, knowledge emerged as the most dominant factor, with a risk 41 times greater than other variables. Income and physical activity showed no significant effect. The study concludes that enhancing parents' knowledge about nutritious food intake and providing a balanced diet are crucial steps in improving children's nutritional status in this region.

The Stunting Determinants in Toddlers from Landak Regency, West Kalimantan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Stunting is a nutrition problem that can slow down the growth. With prevalence at 32.5%, Landak Regency in West Kalimantan has been designated as a stunting hotspot. The lack of a maximum penalty for the stunting case in Landak Regency is not based on factors causing the stunting itself, because there is no identifiable factor causing the stunting in certain area due to narrow roads and sharp curves. Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify causes and distribution of the stunting case in Landak Regency. Methods: A total of 330 households in Meranti, Sebangki, and Senakin were included in this cross-sectional study because they were at a risk of the stunting. Toddlers, mothers, health care, and environmental factors were among the found variables. The researchers employed a basic random sampling strategy for the sampling and used the secondary health center data to find out whether or not toddlers were stunted. Researchers in this study collected data on the independent variables by observing and interviewing participants. Using the chi-square test, the data was analyzed. Results: The results showed that determinants of the stunting in Landak Regency were the history of early breastfeeding initiation (p-value=0.032), exclusive breastfeeding (p-value=0.042), frequency of exclusive breastfeeding (p-value=0.040), the continued breastfeeding (p-value=0.024), complementary feeding (p-value=0.042), immunization history (p-value=0.007), infectious disease history (p-value=0.000), maternal height (p-value=0.046), delivery assistance (p-value=0.000), access to health services (p-value=0.004), the role of health workers (p-value=0.002), and family latrine ownership (p-value=0.000). Conclusions: Several factors were found to be associated with incidence of the stunting among toddlers in Landak Regency.

Single monoclonal antibodies should not be used for COVID-19 therapy: a call for antiviral stewardship.

The COVID-19 pandemic saw the largest deployment of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for an infectious disease in history. mAbs to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein proved safe and were initially effective for COVID-19 therapy, but each was defeated by continued SARS-CoV-2 evolution, leading to their withdrawal. This was a setback for people with impaired immunity who cannot mount an effective antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 and often cannot clear the virus. New mAbs have now been developed for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PreEP) in immunosuppressed people. Here we argue that while mAb use for PreEP is justified, single mAbs should not be used for COVID-19 therapy. In contrast to PreEP where the viral inoculum is small, immunosuppressed people with COVID-19 have large viral burden that can harbor mAb-escape variants that single-agent mAb treatments can rapidly select for resistance. Selection of mAb-escape variants has potential risks for patients, society and the feasibility of mAb therapy itself.

Factors affecting the nutritional status of toddlers between the ages of 12-59 months in the workplace of UPTD Puskemas Batu Kambing

Nutritional problems in children at this time are still high. Malnutrition will have an impact on the development and growth of children. The purpose of this study is to find out the Factors Related to the Nutritional Status of Toddlers Aged 12 – 59 Months in the Working Area of the UPTD Batu Kambing Health Center in 2023. The type of research used is quantitative with a crosssectional research design. The population is all mothers who have toddlers aged 12-59 months totaling 610 with a sample of 86 people. The sampling technique is purposive sampling. This research has been carried out in March – April 2023 at the UPTD Batu Kambing Health Center. The data used were primary data and secondary data, namely by conducting interviews with respondents, univariate and bivariate data analysis using the Chi-Square test. The results of the study were less than half, namely 21 respondents (24.4%) who experienced malnutrition, 36 respondents (41.9%) who had a low level of knowledge, 28 respondents (32.6%) with poor parenting and 37 respondents (43.0%) who had a history of infectious diseases. The results of the statistical test showed that the relationship between knowledge and nutritional status was obtained with a value of p = 0.005 (p &lt; 0.05), parenting style with nutritional status was obtained with a value of p = 0.003 (p &lt; 0.05) and the relationship between history of infectious diseases and nutritional status was obtained with a value of p = 0.007 (p &lt; 0.05). It can be concluded that there is a relationship between the level of knowledge, parenting, eating and history of infectious diseases with the nutritional status of toddlers aged 12 – 59 months at the UPTD Batu Kambing Health Center in 2023. It is recommended to health workers to provide counseling on nutrition and the provision of PMT to undernourished children and to mothers to increase maternal knowledge about nutrition and improve maternal parenting by learning how to feed children.

Urine microbiota in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer and approaches to its detection

Introduction. There is evidence of a connection between infectious and inflammatory lesions of the lower urinary tract and bladder cancer (BCa). However, there is virtually no data on the urine microbiota of middle-aged and elderly men with suspected BCa. This knowledge is extremely important from the point of view of studying the role of the infectious-inflammatory hypothesis in the genesis of BCa.Objective. To conduct a comparative assessment of the microbiota of bladder urine obtained during natural urination and bladder catheterization through standard and extended cultural studies in men with a presumptive diagnosis of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).Materials &amp; methods. The prospective comparative study with consecutive patient recruitment included 23 men older than 45 years with suspected NMIBC based on clinical, laboratory and sonographic data, as well as with no history of infectious and inflammatory diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract, including sexually transmitted infections and recurrent infections of other organs and systems. A midstream urine samples and catheter-drained urine immediately before urethrocystoscopy were subjected to bacteriological analysis. Urine culture study was carried out using a standard set of nutrient media under aerobic cultivation conditions and an expanded set of nutrient media under aerobic and anaerobic cultivation conditions.Results. An anaerobic spectrum of microorganisms was predominantly detected in the urine of patients with suspected NMIBC. Moreover, Peptococcus spp. was more often found among anaerobic taxa. (70%), Eubacterium spp., Propionibacterium spp. (45% each, respectively), among representatives of the aerobes — Corynebacterium spp. (60%), S. lentus (up to 45%), S. haemolyticus (35%) and E. faecalis (30%). Data from a comparative analysis of the detection frequencies of microorganisms depending on the method of collecting material and the set of media for cultivation showed that more isolates are isolated in the midstream urine samples than in the study of catheter urine (2.9- and 1.9-fold with the standard and extended sets of media, respectively). In addition, when performing an extended bacteriological study compared to the standard method, the detection of microorganisms is 3.5-fold higher when examining an average portion of urine and 5.1-fold higher when examining catheter urine. The average number of microorganisms per one patient is also higher when using the extended method (midstream portion — 4.7 ± 1.9; catheterised urine — 2.3 ± 1.0) in comparison with the standard one (midstream portion — 1.3 ± 0.9; catheterised urine — 0.3 ± 0.5).Conclusion. Middle-aged and older men with NMIBC are characterized by asymptomatic bacteriuria in the form of a wide range of aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms. The urine pattern obtained with a urethral catheter contains a significantly narrower range of bacteria compared to the sample obtained through natural urination. It is advisable to carry out an extended cultural urine examination to study the characteristics of the microbiota / microbiome of the urine of the bladder immediately before the urethrocystoscopy procedure by collecting urine with a urethral catheter.

Infection history imprints prolonged changes to the epigenome, transcriptome and function of Kupffer cells

Liver macrophages fulfill various homeostatic functions and represent an essential line of defense against pathogenic insults. However, it remains unclear whether a history of infectious disease in the liver leads to long-term alterations to the liver macrophage compartment. We utilized a curable model of parasitic infection invoked by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei brucei to investigate whether infection history can durably reshape hepatic macrophage identity and function. Employing a combination of fate mapping, single-cell CITE-sequencing, single-nuclei multiome analysis, epigenomic analysis, and functional assays, we studied the alterations to the liver macrophage compartment during and after the resolution of infection. We show that T.brucei brucei infection alters the composition of liver-resident macrophages, leading to the infiltration of monocytes that differentiate into various infection-associated macrophage populations with divergent transcriptomic profiles. Whereas infection-associated macrophages disappear post-resolution of infection, monocyte-derived macrophages engraft in the liver, assume a Kupffer cell (KC)-like profile and co-exist with embryonic KCs in the long-term. Remarkably, the prior exposure to infection imprinted an altered transcriptional program on post-resolution KCs that was underpinned by an epigenetic remodeling of KC chromatin landscapes and a shift in KC ontogeny, along with transcriptional and epigenetic alterations in their niche cells. This reprogramming altered KC functions and was associated with increased resilience to a subsequent bacterial infection. Our study demonstrates that a prior exposure to a parasitic infection induces trained immunity in KCs, reshaping their identity and function in the long-term. Although the liver is frequently affected during infections, and despite housing a major population of resident macrophages known as Kupffer cells (KCs), it is currently unclear whether infections can durably alter KCs and their niche cells. Our study provides a comprehensive investigation into the long-term impact of a prior, cured parasitic infection, unveiling long-lasting ontogenic, epigenetic, transcriptomic and functional changes to KCs as well as KC niche cells, which may contribute to KC remodeling. Our data suggest that infection history may continuously reprogram KCs throughout life with potential implications for subsequent disease susceptibility in the liver, influencing preventive and therapeutic approaches.

Factors associated with stunting incidents in toddler in the working area of north wakorumba health center, North Buton District, Southeast Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, 2023

Background: The problem of children's nutritional health which is currently the government's main priority to be addressed immediately is child growth and development. One of the problems with children's growth and development that is often encountered is stunting. Indonesia is the fifth country with the highest prevalence of stunting in the world with a figure reaching 37%. Meanwhile, in the Southeast Asia region, Indonesia is ranked second with the highest prevalence of stunting compared to other countries in Southeast Asia. results of the 2022 Indonesian Nutrition Study the prevalence of stunting under five (TB/U) based on districts/cities in Southeast Sulawesi Province, namely Central Buton Regency, was ranked first (41.6%) Objective: This study aims to determine factors related to the incidence of stunting among toddlers in the working area of the North Wakorumba Community Health Center, North Buton Regency in 2023. Method: The type of research used in this research is observational analytics with a case controll study approach. The sampling technique used is simple random sampling. The total sample was 150 respondents. The analysis used is the chi-square test. Results: This research shows that there is a relationship between maternal knowledge (p-value = 0.000), family income (p-value = 0.048), exclusive breastfeeding (p-value = 0.001), maternal parenting style (p-value = 0.008) and not There is a relationship between history of infectious diseases (p-value = 0.158) with the incidence of stunting in toddlers in the North Wakorumba Health Center Working Area, North Buton Regency. Conclusion: There is a relationship between maternal knowledge, family income, exclusive breastfeeding and maternal parenting patterns on the incidence of stunting in toddlers and there is no relationship between history of infectious disease and the incidence of stunting in toddlers in the working area of North Wakorumba Community Health Center, North Buton Regency in 2024. So that the Community Health Center It is necessary to increase the intensity of outreach to increase community knowledge and enthusiasm in managing family nutrition.

Eikenella corrodens isolated from pleural effusion: A case report

BACKGROUND The bacterium Eikenella , classified as a gram-negative member of the phylum Proteobacteria, is distinguished by its rarity, corrosive nature, facultative anaerobic properties, and conditional pathogenicity. It represents the sole species within its genus-Eikenella corrodens (E. corrodens )-and can be found colonizing both human and animal oral and nasopharyngeal regions. Additionally, it occasionally inhabits the gastrointestinal or urogenital tracts. However, its slow growth rate can be attributed to its high nutritional requirements. However, there is an uneven distribution of construction and diagnostic capacity in China which poses undeniable challenges for the clinical examination and analysis of this case, especially in the basic hospitals. CASE SUMMARY Here we presented a case of empyema associated with E. corrodens infection in a 67-year-old male patient without any previous history of infectious diseases in our primary hospital in Dongguan district of China. The patient was admitted due to recurrent worsening cough, sputum production, and dyspnea for 3 d, which had persisted for over 20 years. Moreover, the patient experienced a one-hour episode of unconsciousness. Upon admission, immediate comprehensive examinations were conducted on the patient which subsequently led to his admission to the intensive care unit. Meanwhile, the patient presented with drowsiness and profuse sweating along with bilateral conjunctival edema observed during initiation of non-invasive ventilation, suggesting empyema. A significant amount of coffee-colored malodorous pleural fluid was drained during the procedure above and sent to the laboratory department for inspection. Finally, laboratory culture results confirmed the presence of E. corrodens infection in the pleural fluid sample. The patient received antimicrobial therapy until died on day 22 in the hospital. CONCLUSION In this report, we presented a case of empyema associated with E. corrodens infection. Multiple courses of morphological examination, viable culture analysis, and biochemical identification revealed its difficulties in detecting distinctive characteristics, as well as a detection model worth promoting. It’s just that there were still certain deficiencies in terms of morphological assessment, biochemical identification, and drug susceptibility testing.

Elevated Immunoglobulin E Serum Levels: Possible Underlying Factors That Can Cause an Inborn Error of Immunity in the Pediatric Population with Recurrent Infections.

Elevated immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels are commonly associated with allergies. However, high IgE levels are also found in several other infectious and non-infectious disorders. Elevated IgE levels typically suggest allergies, eczema, or recurrent skin infections. Hyperimmunoglobulin E (hyper-IgE) levels typically reflect a monogenic atopic condition or inborn immune defects with an atopic phenotype. The aim of our research is to investigate and observe the clinical characteristics of children with increased IgE levels who have previously manifested infectious diseases. Furthermore, the retrospective study considers other factors, such as demographic characteristics (sex, area/environment, and age), and their effect on IgE serum levels. To answer this question, we conducted a one-year hospital-based retrospective study that included 200 hospitalized children who had at least two viral or bacterial infections in the six months preceding hospitalization. Measurements of IgE and allergen panels (respiratory and digestive) using blood samples revealed that individuals who tested positive for the body's synthesis of hyper-IgE were not observably allergic to any potential allergens despite having higher total serum IgE. According to the results, there was a strong correlation between elevated IgE serum levels and a history of infectious diseases among the patients.

History of tuberculosis disease is associated with genetic regulatory variation in Peruvians.

A quarter of humanity is estimated to have been exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) with a 5-10% risk of developing tuberculosis (TB) disease. Variability in responses to Mtb infection could be due to host or pathogen heterogeneity. Here, we focused on host genetic variation in a Peruvian population and its associations with gene regulation in monocyte-derived macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs). We recruited former household contacts of TB patients who previously progressed to TB (cases, n = 63) or did not progress to TB (controls, n = 63). Transcriptomic profiling of monocyte-derived DCs and macrophages measured the impact of genetic variants on gene expression by identifying expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL). We identified 330 and 257 eQTL genes in DCs and macrophages (False Discovery Rate (FDR) < 0.05), respectively. Four genes in DCs showed interaction between eQTL variants and TB progression status. The top eQTL interaction for a protein-coding gene was with FAH, the gene encoding fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase, which mediates the last step in mammalian tyrosine catabolism. FAH expression was associated with genetic regulatory variation in cases but not controls. Using public transcriptomic and epigenomic data of Mtb-infected monocyte-derived dendritic cells, we found that Mtb infection results in FAH downregulation and DNA methylation changes in the locus. Overall, this study demonstrates effects of genetic variation on gene expression levels that are dependent on history of infectious disease and highlights a candidate pathogenic mechanism through pathogen-response genes. Furthermore, our results point to tyrosine metabolism and related candidate TB progression pathways for further investigation.

Role of Environmental Risk Factors in the Etiology of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Multicenter Study.

The increasing global incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) necessitates an investigation into the potential influence of environmental risk factors on its origin. This multicenter case-control study aimed to investigate potential environmental risk factors contributing to IBD development in Turkey. The study included 156 Crohn's disease (CD), 277 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients, and 468 controls (matched for age and gender) from six hospitals' gastroenterology departments. Data collection relied on the International Organization of IBD's questionnaire on environmental factors. Each environmental factor was initially analyzed using univariate and subsequently multivariate logistic regression models. In the multivariate model, regular coffee consumption was associated with decreased odds for both CD (OR 0.28; 95% CI 0.14-0.55) and UC (OR 0.25; 95% CI 0.15-0.42). Stress was associated with UC (OR 3.27; 95% CI 1.76-6.10) and CD (OR 4.40; 95% CI 2.12-9.10) development. A history of childhood infectious diseases (gastroenteritis, upper respiratory tract infections, etc.) raised the odds for both CD (OR 9.45; 95% CI 2.51-35.6) and UC (OR 7.56; 95% CI 1.57-36.4). Conversely, consuming well/spring water (OR 0.22; 95% CI 0.10-0.50) and childhood antibiotic use (OR 0.41; 95% CI 0.18-0.93) showed a positive association against UC. Increased consumption of refined sugar and industrial food products emerged as risk factors for IBD. Smoking increased the risk for CD (OR 2.38; 95% CI 1.16-4.91), while ex-smoking increased the risk for UC (OR 3.16; 95% CI 1.19-8.37). This study represents the first multicenter case-control study in Turkey examining the effects of environmental factors on IBD. It revealed that coffee consumption is positively associated, while stress and childhood infection-related diseases are risk factors. These findings, which are not supported by other studies, provide insight into the relationships between these factors and IBD.

Predictors of children's headaches during the second COVID-19 pandemic wave in the country with long-lasting lockdown.

The current study examined the links and interactions among headaches, screen-based media use, physical activity, sleep, and the family environment in Lithuanian school-aged children during the second COVID-19 lockdown. The study comprised data of 541 children aged 7-14 years from different Lithuania regions, and without chronic health conditions or developmental disorders. Information about the child was provided by their parents or caregivers who filled questionnaire on child's screen time, sleep duration and quality, physical activity, parental distress, parent-child relationship, history of child's headaches and infectious diseases. During the study period, 54% of the children had headaches, and the frequency was positively associated with child's age, screen time and parental distress, as well as negatively related to physical activity (PA), sleep quality, and the parent-child relationship. Parental education was related to child's PA, screen time and sleep quality. The results of binary logistic regression analysis and path analysis revealed that sleep quality and parental distress were significant predictors of headaches in children. Family and child or adolescent education and lifestyle modification aiming to improve sleep hygiene and PA, and to reduce screen-based sedentary behaviour should be provided. Family centred approach for more effective coping with distress and improvement of parent-child relationship is also important in treating child and adolescent headache.