Areas Of Prevalence Research Articles

The effect of spatial variation on linkage to care and treatment rates among patients with hepatitis C: A Canadian population-based study

Introduction: Despite significant global efforts towards eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, multiple challenges remain in achieving this goal. In this study, we assessed the impact of geographical variation on HCV diagnosis and treatment rates in Alberta, Canada. Methods: Adults aged ≥20 years with a positive HCV antibody were identified from the provincial administrative sources from the fiscal years 2012 through 2017. To assess the differences across Alberta's rural-urban continuum, high-resolution spatial analyses using global and local spatial autocorrelation were applied to the HCV age- and sex-standardized prevalence rate at the sub-local geographic area level. We compared and tested differences in HCV RNA tests, HCV RNA positivity rates, and HCV treatment status across the different areas. Results: Between 2012 and 2017, we identified 18,768 patients who had tested positive for HCV Ab. Within this cohort, only 63.1% had HCV RNA repetitive. The HCV RNA positivity rate was 42.1%, and 65.3% had received HCV treatment after testing as HCV RNA positive. HCV Ab positive case counts exhibited a spatial distribution consistent with that of the population at risk: 67.5% in metro, 11.1% in urban, 19.7% in rural, and 1.8% in remote areas. The metropolitan area of Edmonton's age-and sex-standardized prevalence of 8.2 (95% CI 8.0–8.4) per 1,000 persons was higher than Calgary's standardized prevalence of 5.0 (95% CI 5.1–5.4) per 1,000 persons ( p < 0.001). HCV RNA and HCV treatment rates demonstrated significant spatial variation. Conclusions: HCV prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment exhibit significant spatial variation across rural-urban Alberta. Implementation of geographically oriented screening and treatment interventions would result in a time- and cost-efficient HCV elimination strategy.

Impact of Clinical Characteristics and Treatment on Cholangiocarcinoma Prognosis in Southern Thailand.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is most commonly seen in Northeastern Thailand and other parts of Asia where liver flukes are prevalent. However, it is unknown whether CCA patients in low and high liver fluke prevalence areas are similar. This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics and outcomes of CCA patients in Southern Thailand. We retrospectively reviewed 223 patients diagnosed with CCA between 2018 and 2021 in a tertiary-care center. Clinicopathologic data were reviewed and compared between intrahepatic, perihilar, and distal CCA (iCCA, pCCA, and dCCA, respectively). Overall survivals (OS) were determined by Kaplan-Meier method and multivariable Cox regressions. The mean age was 63.9 years; 50.7% were men. The most common subtype was iCCA (49.3%), followed by pCCA (36.3%) and dCCA (14.3%). Most patients were diagnosed at a later stage: 59.4% TMN stage IV and 23.3% stage III. Cirrhosis was present in 6.3%, while the presence of liver fluke was not detected. Only 15.1% of the cohort were deemed resectable. The median OS for iCCA, pCCA, and dCCA patients were 27.3, 22.0, and 19.3 weeks, respectively (p = 0.9). One-year survival rate differed significantly between resectable and unresectable patients (85.2% vs. 21.2%, p < 0.0001). TMN stage (aHR 1.88), palliative biliary drainage (aHR 0.31), and systemic chemotherapy (aHR 0.19) were independent predictors for mortality in unresectable pCCA and dCCA patients. In unresectable iCCA patients, only systemic chemotherapy was significant (aHR 0.30). Most patients were diagnosed late, and the median OS was only 5-6 months. Unresectable CCA patients with systemic chemotherapy and palliative biliary drainage had better survival rates.

Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis Research Network (UK-CLIF): Building consensus for hepatology trials in the UK

Liver disease is a major, and increasing, cause of death in the UK. The UK Chronic Liver Failure network (UK-CLIF) was developed as a multi-stakeholder network with the aim to advance cirrhosis research, with emphasis on geographical areas of high disease prevalence or limited research activity. The process involved network development through dissemination and snowball sampling techniques, with monitoring of network development and connections between participants, developed over two online meetings. Network membership included representatives from patients, carers, clinicians, researchers, R&amp;D professionals, industry representatives, and the third sector. Subsequently, two facilitated in-person workshops were conducted with network participants. World Café methodology and participant dot voting was used to develop areas of priority and consensus in: (i) research infrastructure for cirrhosis clinical trials, (ii) clinical factors affecting research delivery, and (iii) research priorities for future trials. Thematic analysis demonstrated that the need for patient-centric trial materials, a lack of resource for clinicians to participate in research, and variability in the standard of inpatient care for cirrhosis, were barriers for cirrhosis clinical trials. Future activities for UK-CLIF include participation in a process of quality standard setting for inpatient care for cirrhosis, and coordination of a James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership to develop research questions for liver cirrhosis.

Sickle Cell Disease Prevalence, Social Vulnerability, and Rural-Urban Commuting Area: A National Snapshot from Electronic Medical Data

Sickle Cell Disease Prevalence, Social Vulnerability, and Rural-Urban Commuting Area: A National Snapshot from Electronic Medical Data

Bovine tuberculosis trends in Wales between 2010 and 2021.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is the most important animal health concern in Wales. Annual testing across all cattle herds in Wales commenced in 2010. In 2017, a new geographic division of Wales was conceived, with bespoke cattle controls and eradication milestones reflecting the geographical heterogeneity of bTB distribution. This observational study uses descriptive analysis and Poisson regression modelling to analyse bTB surveillance data from all herds in Wales. Since 2010, there has been a significant decrease (p < 0.0001) in bTB incidence (8.6%‒6.3%) and plateauing prevalence across Wales. Conversely, there has been an increase in bTB incidence and prevalence in discrete areas. Recurrence and persistence remain important drivers of bTB infection. One of the sharpest declines in bTB incidence was observed in an intensive action area where enhanced cattle control and wildlife vaccination were implemented in an area of high bTB prevalence. Increased herd size, dairy herd type and herd location are important risk factors affecting the rate of bTB incidents in Wales. This study includes data from Wales only. Improvements in trends of bTB occurred from 2010 to 2021, but the spatial variations described in this paper support the continued need for regionally adapted surveillance and control measures.

Prevalence of atopic eczema in adolescents from a very low prevalence area (Kosovo): role of wheezing, gender, exercise, and paracetamol.

The epidemiology of atopic eczema in adolescents in Kosovo is virtually unknown, and the risk factors for the condition in very low-prevalence areas (as it was the case) are not well studied. The objective of the present study was to better know those factors and whether the presence of comorbid wheezing symptoms modifies the factors. The cross-sectional survey, Global Asthma Network-validated questionnaire, which includes questions on eczema symptoms and environmental factors (such as smoking, pet ownership, paracetamol usage, truck traffic, siblings, time spent using screens or watching television, and physical exercise), was administered to adolescents in the following main cities of Kosovo: Ferizaj, Gjakova, Gjilan, Peja, Prishtina, and Prizren. Additionally, height and weight were measured at school. Prevalence of eczema symptoms ranged from 2.2% in Ferizaj to 5.5% in Gjakova. Severe symptoms were <1% in all cities. Eczema ever ranged from 3.0% in Ferizaj to 6.4% in Prizren. Factors significantly associated with the prevalence of current eczema symptoms in the meta-analysis were males (pooled adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.50, 95% Confidence Interval [95% CI] 0.37-0.66); physical exercise (pooled aOR 2.79, 95% CI 1.89-4.10); and paracetamol intake (pooled 1.86, 95% CI 1.32-2.64). The corresponding figures for eczema ever were as follows: pooled aOR: 0.68, 95% CI 0.44-1.06; pooled aOR 2.07, 95% CI 1.48-2.90; and pooled aOR 1.19, 95% CI 0.88-1.60. The associations tended to be higher in the subpopulation with eczema and wheezing comorbidity. The prevalence of atopic eczema is very low in Kosovo and is associated with females, physical exercise, and paracetamol intake. These associations are higher when eczema and wheezing are comorbid conditions.

The association between N-nitrosamines exposure and lipid metabolism in the high incidence area of esophageal cancer: A case-control analysis

Environmental carcinogens such as N-nitrosamines are high-risk factors for the development of esophageal cancer (EC). However, the association between nitrosamines exposure and lipid metabolism disorders in human EC remained largely obscure. Therefore, we conducted a population-based case-control study established with esophageal inflammation (BCH), esophageal heterotrophic hyperplasia (DYS), patients with primary EC and matched controls in high prevalence area of EC in China. Our prospective work investigated the joint and independent effects of N-nitrosamines co-exposure on the risk of EC development. Lipidomics analysis was employed to screen differential lipid biomarkers in serum, and the mediating effects of key lipid metabolites in the association between nitrosamines exposure and EC were evaluated. After adjustment for confounders, N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA, 1.79 (95% CI: 1.35, 2.39)), N-nitrosodi-n-propylamine (NDPA, 1.55 (95%CI: 1.15, 2.09)), N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA, 1.82 (95%CI: 1.36, 2.45)), N-nitrosodibutylamine (NDBA, 1.60 (95%CI: 1.20, 2.13)), N-nitrosomethylethylamine (NMEA, 1.81 (95%CI: 1.36, 2.41)) and N-nitrosomorpholine (NMOR, 1.84 (95%CI: 1.38, 2.45)) exposure all elevated the risks of EC development. The Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) with hierarchical variable selection showed significant positive joint associations of urinary NDMA, NDPA, NMOR, NDEA and EC development, when all nitrosamines were at the 55th percentiles or above, compared with the median. Lipidomic screening of serum samples from the stages of BCH, DYS and EC suggested the perturbation in the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acid metabolism pathway, of which myristic acid (FFA 14:0), palmitoleic acid (FFA 16:1), docosahexaenoic acid (FFA 22:6) exerted remarkable mediation effects in the association between N-nitrosamines exposure and EC development. These findings provided new sights for screening early lipid biomarkers and intervention targets in human EC.

Artificial Intelligence as a Tool for the Development of Soft Skills: A Bibliometric Review in the Context of Higher Education

Skills such as communication, teamwork, adaptability and problem-solving are essential for professional and personal development. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the process of building these skills in students represents a significant innovation in higher education. This is because AI offers new teaching methods that can be more effective and personalized than traditional approaches. Thus, it is relevant to investigate the bibliometric indicators that reflect the trends in which AI enables the development of soft skills in the context of higher education. The approach used is the mixed, exploratory-descriptive level. The total number of studies reviewed was 78, all of them extracted from the Scopus database. The results show that the most prevalent thematic areas are “Communication skills development”, “Teamwork and collaboration” and “Critical thinking and problem-solving”. This is a result of AI’s ability to create more personalized, interactive and adaptive learning environments. However, it is concluded that scientific production in this field of study is still developing and requires greater attention from researchers. It is important to reflect that the implementation of AI in higher education must be supported by policies that regulate its effective integration and maximize its impact. Future studies should employ systematic reviews to address the impact of AI on soft skills according to the area of knowledge, such as engineering, social sciences or health sciences, identifying the skills to which AI is contributing most significantly.

Study on Weight Gain Efforts through Indigenous Technical Knowledge

Introduction: In India, under-five child malnutrition is a serious public health issue. This is demonstrated by the fact that India has one of the highest rates of underweight children worldwide. Aims: The study was carried out to assess the spatial distribution of nutritional status of children of 1-5 years through weight-for-age, height-for-age, weight-for-height data collected by the KVK. Preschoolers' dietary health was regressed on several sociodemographic factors after eliminating the effect of age. The information reveals that children's nutritional condition varies geographically and by gender in India. Methodology: A study was conducted in district Seoni of Madhya Pradesh to eliminate malnutrition via using indigenous technical knowledge (ITK). The trials were conducted in three following years viz 2020 to 2023. Primarily the training was conducted of mothers along with Anganwadi workers regarding the addition of sweet rice to kids from 1-5 years age group. Results: There was twice-daily portions of sweet rice, was prepared by using Jaggery by adding water, desi ghee, and roasted rice dry fruits added to it and then it cooked for 15-30 min and given for 45 days. The average body weight gain after evaluation and personal conversations of mothers was recorded as 9.91 kg and the proportion change against farmers practice was 13.48. Conclusion: The study concluded that rice prevalent areas and rice-based food habits for mothers and children should be adopted the sweet rice (ITK) the recommended practice against farmers’ practice.

CHRONIC HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF EPIDEMIOLOGY, MECHANISMS OF VIRAL PERSISTENCE AND TREATMENT OF THE CONDITION

Objective: The general objective of this study is to analyze the scientific production on chronic infection by the Hepatitis B virus, seeking to identify the main methods used in the treatment of this pathology. Methodology: This is a systematic review focused on understanding the main aspects that permeate chronic infection by the Hepatitis B virus. The research was guided by the question: “What are the main aspects that permeate chronic infection by the Hepatitis B virus, as well as what are the diagnostic and therapeutic resources used in clinical practice?”. To find answers, searches were performed in the PubMed database using five descriptors combined with the Boolean term “AND”. This resulted in 408 articles. Twenty-four articles were selected for analysis and 15 articles were used to compose the collection. Results: The eradication of hepatitis B depends on the combination of preventive and therapeutic efforts. The persistence of cccDNA in the liver, even after viral suppression, makes complete functional cure difficult. Antivirals such as entecavir and tenofovir are effective in reducing viral load, but they fail to eradicate the virus in most patients, requiring prolonged treatments. Furthermore, the variability in treatment responses, influenced by factors such as viral genotype and disease stage, highlights the need for personalized approaches to improve clinical management. In summary, despite advances, there are still important challenges to be addressed in the search for a cure for chronic hepatitis B. Conclusion: The systematic review highlighted the main aspects of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), emphasizing its challenges and advances in clinical management. Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a serious public health problem, with complications such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Prevention strategies, such as universal vaccination and immunoprophylaxis, are effective in reducing vertical transmission, especially in newborns, but global adherence still needs to improve, especially in areas of high prevalence.

Multicentric Castleman’s disease mimicking extrapulmonary tuberculosis

Castleman disease is a rare proliferative lymph node disease with distinct histopathological features that manifest without any obvious symptoms. In high HIV prevalent areas Castleman’s disease pose diagnostic difficulties due to resemblance with other etiologies of lymphadenopathy. We report a case of a 58-year-old man who presented with complain of generalized body malaise and easy fatigability. Examination findings revealed left posterior cervical and bilateral axillary lymphadenopathy with CT scan of the abdomen showing generalized lymphadenopathy. Excisional lymph node biopsy was done and histology findings confirmed multicentric Castleman’s disease. This case illustrates that Castleman’s disease though rare can easily be confused with mimics such as tuberculosis in HIV patients.

Key themes of community-oriented primary care projects from a longitudinal, rural interprofessional health professions curriculum (1997–2023)

BackgroundThe Community Oriented Primary Care Project Model (COPC) has been well studied globally as well as in the United States as a way to provide both community-centered primary care and to engage in community based research. Rural trainees through the University of Illinois College of Medicine’s Rural Medical Education Program (RMED) and Rural Pharmacy Education Program (RPHARM) students through the University of Illinois Chicago College of Pharmacy have participated in a COPC project as a capstone to a four month longitudinal, immersive community-based experience in a rural primary care setting. The purpose of this study was to assess the type of projects implemented through a rural health professions curriculum over a 30 year project period. .MethodsA research team reviewed projects on 30 elements; including topic and demographics. Patterns in COPC topics and rurality of the location in which the COPC project were also examined by using 2021 U.S. Census Bureau population data and Rural Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) Code.ResultsCOPC projects were categorized into 31 main topic areas with mental health being the most prevalent topic area covered by projects (n = 67, 15.7%) followed by 43 (10.1%) projects that focused on nutrition/exercise, and 41 (9.6%) focused on substance use (presented as a separate category from mental health in this analysis).ConclusionsFor three decades, COPC themes reflect priority health issues in rural communities while providing a scholarly activity for health profession student trainees Past projects have also been implemented in highly rural areas where research is not often conducted. The COPC research process can be easily replicated in other trainee models such as to fulfill ACGME requirements of scholarly activity and can provide a template for trainees of this model to implement community-engaged research in the future.

Cortical activity in body balance tasks as a function of motor and cognitive demands: A systematic review.

Technological tools, like electroencephalography and functional near-infrared spectroscopy, have deepened our understanding of cortical regions involved in balance control. In this systematic literature review, we aimed to identify the prevalent cortical areas activated during balance tasks with specific motor or cognitive demands. Our search strategy encompassed terms related to balance control and cortical activity, yielding 2250 results across five databases. After screening, 67 relevant articles were included in the review. Results indicated that manipulations of visual and/or somatosensory information led to prevalent activity in the parietal, frontal and temporal regions; manipulations of the support base led to prevalent activity of the parietal and frontal regions; both balance-cognitive dual-tasking and reactive responses to extrinsic perturbations led to prevalent activity in the frontal and central regions. These findings deepen our comprehension of the cortical regions activated to manage the complex demands of maintaining body balance in the performance of tasks posing specific requirements. By understanding these cortical activation patterns, researchers and clinicians can develop targeted interventions for balance-related disorders.

Self-reported prevalence of tuberculosis: unveiling spatial representation in the districts of Tamil Nadu.

The objective of the current study was to estimate the self-reported individual-level crude prevalence and cluster-level adjusted prevalence of TB for the districts of Tamil Nadu and to understand the spatial distribution of TB cases through spatial autocorrelation and hotspot analysis. National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data, gathered during 2014-2015 (NFHS-4) and 2019-2021 (NFHS-5), were used in the current study to estimate district-wise, individual-level crude and cluster-level adjusted TB prevalence per 100 000 population in Tamil Nadu. This was illustrated with the help of spatial geographic representation for various districts of Tamil Nadu using SPSS and QGIS software. The spatial autocorrelation and hotspot analysis were performed using Geoda software. The overall self-reported individual-level crude prevalence of TB was 337 (95% CI 302 to 375) and 169 (95% CI 144 to 197) per 100 000 population, whereas the cluster-level adjusted prevalence of TB was 356 (95% CI 311 to 405) and 184 (95% CI 154 to 219) per 100 000 population in NFHS-4 and NFHS-5, respectively. This study highlights those geographical areas with high rates of TB prevalence. This information would be useful for the state and district programme managers to identify areas of high TB prevalence where interventions can be focused.

Comparative Evaluation of GeneXpert With Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) Stain in Samples of Suspected Tuberculosis Cases at a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in Central India.

Background Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health challenge, particularly in developing countries, where delayed diagnosis contributes to ongoing transmission. Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) smear microscopy, commonly used for TB diagnosis, has limitations in sensitivity, especially in cases of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (ETB). The GeneXpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)/rifampicin (RIF) assay, a molecular diagnostic tool, offers rapid and accurate detection of MTBand RIF resistance. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic efficacy of GeneXpert MTB/RIF with ZN staining in detecting pulmonarytuberculosis (PTB) and ETB. Methods A prospective study was conducted over two years (April 2022 to April 2024) at a tertiary care teaching hospitalin India. A total of 319 clinical samples from patients with suspected PTB and ETB were analyzed. Samples underwent ZN staining and GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated using mycobacterial culture as the gold standard. The chi-square test was employed to compare diagnostic accuracy, with a p-value of <0.05 considered statistically significant. Results Of the 319 samples, ZN staining was positive in 18.2% of cases, while GeneXpert was positive in 21.6%. GeneXpert demonstrated a perfect sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 98.81%, compared to ZN staining's sensitivity of 84.85% and specificity of 99.21%. GeneXpert showed superior performance in detecting TB in both pulmonary and extrapulmonary samples, with a statistically significant difference (p<0.001). Additionally, GeneXpert identified six cases of RIF resistance. Conclusion The GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay outperforms ZN staining in diagnosing TB, offering higher sensitivity and comparable specificity. Its ability to detect RIF resistance adds significant clinical value. Despite its cost, the integration of GeneXpert into routine diagnostic workflows, particularly in high TB prevalence areas, is recommended to enhance early detection and treatment, thereby reducing TB transmission.

Environmental suitability throughout the late quaternary explains population genetic diversity

Genetic variation among populations is reflected in biogeographic patterns for many species, but general rules of spatial genetic variation have not been established. In this paper, we establish a theoretical framework based on projecting environmental Grinellian niches back through time to relate the present geographic distribution of population genetic structure to a given species' historical evolutionary context. Thanks to advances in next‐generation sequencing technologies, as well as more accurate climate models and the amassing of information stored in biological collections, it is possible to implement this theoretical framework directly. We develop a case study of the tassel‐eared squirrel Sciurus aberti to jointly analyze spatial, environmental, and genetic data to predict the historical endemic area of this species. Our results reveal that in cases of genetic isolation by geographic distance, the prevalence of environmental suitability over time corresponds to the genetic fixation index (Fst) of populations with respect to a source population. Populations closer to the historical endemic area show higher genetic diversity and a lower Fst value. This empirical example relates back to the theoretical framework, allowing two further advances: 1) a layer of biogeographic explanation for the results obtained from population genomic methods; and 2) predictive maps of this genetic structure to support biodiversity conservation efforts. Overall, this work advances a perspective that integrates population genetics with historical patterns of species distribution. The limitations posed in the theoretical framework should be considered before implementing the suitability prevalence area (SPA) in a general way over different taxa. Otherwise, the predictability of the genetic diversity of populations as a product of environmental stability over time may not be adequate.

LiteFer: An Approach Based on MobileViT Expression Recognition.

Facial expression recognition using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) is a prevalent research area, and the network's complexity poses obstacles for deployment on devices with limited computational resources, such as mobile devices. To address these challenges, researchers have developed lightweight networks with the aim of reducing model size and minimizing parameters without compromising accuracy. The LiteFer method introduced in this study incorporates depth-separable convolution and a lightweight attention mechanism, effectively reducing network parameters. Moreover, through comprehensive comparative experiments on the RAFDB and FERPlus datasets, its superior performance over various state-of-the-art lightweight expression-recognition methods is evident.

Error Analysis of Grammatical Features in Saudi Undergraduate EFL Writing

Mastery of English grammatical accuracy is paramount for developing proficiency as a foreign language. However, research examining tendencies among Saudi undergraduate writers remains limited. This study aimed to address such gaps through a comprehensive identification and categorization of errors present in student essays. A rigorous mixed-methods approach analyzed over 350 grammatical mistakes across 50 female students' writing samples. Errors were systematically coded and categorized to reveal frequency data through quantitative analysis. Findings demonstrated spelling, subject-verb agreement, and capitalization as the most prevalent issue areas, collectively accounting for over 75% of errors. Examples uncovered specific challenges involving verb tense, sentence fragments, and article usage. While outcomes aligned with previous literature, linguistic influences on persistent spelling difficulties were explored to broaden understandings. Recommendations for targeted exercises strengthening weaker domains like phonics rules and irregular verbs were provided. Continuing periodic error analyses can optimally inform evolving pedagogy tailored to emerging needs over time. Significantly, this novel diagnostic approach begins addressing critical literature gaps through data-driven insights that meaningfully inform curriculum development to better support the still under-researched Saudi EFL student population.

A pilot field study on Dengue vectors with locally manufactured inexpensive gravid female traps

High prevalence of Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus vectors and dengue incidence as well as the presence of the four dengue virus serotypes underscore the need for effective and simple tools to monitor dengue vectors in Sri Lanka. Field studies were therefore undertaken with inexpensive gravid female trap (GFT) fabricated from local materials in Jaffna city in northern Sri Lanka. The study was initiated in April 2022, and GFT-based mosquito collection was conducted from June 2022 to April 2023. Five blocks of 30 to 40 houses, were selected in areas of high dengue prevalence in Jaffna city. Thirty houses were selected within each block and provided with five traps to be placed indoor and outdoor in each house. Conventional larval indices were determined at the beginning, middle and end of the study. Nine rounds of GFT collections were performed to identify and quantify trapped mosquitoes, their parity, and infection with virus serotypes. A total of 2177 and 3069 Aedes were collected respectively in indoor and outdoor GFTs, during nine rounds of collections and identified at the species level where possible. A total of 679 and 433 Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus were collected in indoor traps and 377 and 1288 in outdoor traps respectively. Adult and larval indices decreased respectively by 50% and 100% by the end of the study. Parous mosquitoes comprised 93% (of 120) and 94% (of 288) of the collected Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus respectively. In 110 pools of female Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus screened for virus serotype by PCR, five pools of Ae. aegypti and six pools of Ae. albopictus from both indoor and outdoor collections were positive for DENV-2. GFTs fabricated with locally available and inexpensive materials described here can be effective for monitoring the prevalence of Aedes vector species, parity and dengue virus infection status. The larval indices suggest that the use of GFTs can contribute to reducing dengue transmission.

Research trends of bone tumor treatment with 3D printing technology from 2013 to 2022: a bibliometric analysis

ObjectiveBibliometrics was employed in this study to determine the research trends in the worldwide application of 3D printing technology to treat bone tumors over the previous 10 years.MethodsPublished from 2013 to 2022, the papers related to bone tumors treated with 3D printing were located in Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), PubMed, and Scopus. The screened articles were included in this bibliometric study. From these papers in WoSCC, information on annual publications, journals, keywords, countries, authors, institutions, and cited references were extracted and visualized with CiteSpace (version 6.1.R6) software to investigate the state of bone tumor treatment using 3D printing as well as research hotspots. The Carrot2 online visualization tool and Vosviewer software (version 1.6.20) were employed to visualize the publications from PubMed and Scopus, respectively, in order to ascertain the most popular research topics from both databases.ResultsA total of 606, 233, and 364 publications were obtained from WoSCC, PubMed, and Scopus, respectively, between the years 2013 and 2022. In WoSCC, the peak number of publications was found in 2021, with 145 publications published. Acta Biomaterialia (11 publications) and World Neurosurgery (10 publications) were the most prolific journals, and Biomaterials was the journal cited the most (244 times). Yong Zhou was the most productive author with 14 publications, while Kwok-Chuen Wong (69 citations) and William F Enneking, (69 citations) possessed the most citations. The country with the largest quantity of publications was China (207). Among all institutions, Shanghai Jiao Tong University produced the most publications (29). Rapid prototyping was the keyword with the strongest citation burst (4.73). ‘Reconstruction’, ‘surgery’, ‘resection’, and ‘design’ caught the significant attention of researchers. 3D-printed materials, pelvic reconstruction, mandibular reconstruction, computer-assisted surgical techniques, photothermal therapy, and in vitro experiments were recognized as hot subjects and trends in current research. The most frequently occurring topics in Scopus are not significantly different from those found in WoSCC. The most prevalent research areas in PubMed encompass implant, patient-specific, bioceramic, models, and pelvic.