Journal of Tropical Medicine最新文献

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the clinical features of patients with autoimmune liver disease (AILD) following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: For the AILD group, 19 inpatients who were first diagnosed with AILD were enrolled from Wuxi Fifth People's Hospital between January 2021 and December 2021. The post-COVID-19 AILD group comprised seven patients recruited after December 2022 who were initially diagnosed with COVID-19 and later diagnosed with AILD. Routine blood indices, biochemical parameters, serum-related antibodies, and serum immunoglobulin levels were assessed in the two groups. Ultrasound-guided liver biopsy was performed to observe the pathological characteristics of the liver in the two groups. The expression of immune indices in the two groups was observed by immunohistochemistry.

Results: The age and calcium levels of the post-COVID-19 AILD patients were significantly lower than those of the AILD patients (p < 0.05). The IgM levels were significantly higher in the post-COVID-19 AILD group than in the AILD group (p < 0.05). No significant differences in the other routine blood and blood biochemical indices were present between the two groups. The antinuclear antibody (ANA) and SM antibody levels were compared, revealing a significantly higher percentage of ANA positivity among post-COVID-19 AILD patients than AILD patients (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: AILD following COVID-19 has typical AILD characteristics, including acute onset, but has other characteristics that allow it to be distinguished from other AILDs.

Linarin, a flavonoid glycoside found in the Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, and Scrophulariaceae families, shows diverse therapeutic benefits in laboratory studies. This study aims to evaluate the pharmacological effects of linarin through clinical and preclinical experiments, investigating its mechanisms against different diseases. To achieve this, data collection and search operations were carried out (current as of April 09, 2024) in several reliable online databases, such as PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Springer Link, ScienceDirect, Wiley Online, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, as part of this research. Studies revealed that linarin provides benefits against inflammation and various diseases, including osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, liver injuries, diabetes, hypertension, and neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer's, ischemia-reperfusion, convulsions, and depression. Our results further reveal that linarin displays remarkable anticancer potentials through multiple molecular pathways, including apoptotic cell death, oxidative stress induction, cytotoxic effect, antiproliferative effect, genotoxic effect, and mitigation of cancer cell migration and invasion and migration against a range of malignancies, including lung, brain, prostate, and glioma cell cancers. Database reports and the current literature-based study suggest that linarin might be a prospective lead chemical for treating a range of illnesses and ailments. For linarin to be proven as a medicine, further clinical and preclinical trials are required.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) has significant economic losses on the livestock productivity and poses serious public health risks worldwide. In Ethiopia, bTB is endemic and distributed across all parts of the country. Therefore, the systematic review aims to provide comprehensive investigations of the trends, risk factors, and zoonotic impacts of bTB in Ethiopia. Only English language publications from 2009 to 2022 were included. Databases searched included PubMed, PubMed Central, Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate. From a total of 129 articles retrieved, only 44 studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The overall pooled prevalence of bTB over 15 years was 11.04%. Female cattle had a significantly higher prevalence (19.85%) compared to male cattle (4.07%) (p=0.002). Emaciated animals were more affected than those in good body condition (p=0.04). Prevalence differed significantly among intensive (22.60%), semi-intensive (17.08%), and extensive (13.70%) production systems (p=0.01). The prevalence of bTB showed statistical significance (p=0.001) in three different breeds. Exotic breeds had the highest prevalence (28.46%), followed by crossed (12.61%) and local breeds (9.56%). Large herds showed a higher prevalence (42.69%) compared to medium (12.13%) and small herds (11.26%) (p=0.001). Poor management systems had a higher positivity rate (31.27%) compared to medium (15.23%) and good (9.89%) management systems (p=0.01). Studies with sample sizes less than 400 reported higher prevalence (20.70%) compared to those with 400-800 samples (11.70%) and more than 800 samples (5.83%) (p=0.001). Significant variations were observed among different diagnosis techniques (p=0.004). Only 40.82% and 35.51% of cattle owners had knowledge of bTB and awareness of its zoonotic impacts, respectively. Overall, the trends of bTB remain a significant impact in Ethiopia, affecting both livestock productivity and public health. Understanding these trends is essential for the development of evidence-based control strategies. The integration of epidemiological modeling with public health impact assessments can further strengthen policy formulation and guide resource prioritization more effectively. Therefore, effective control and prevention measures, along with continuous public education, are essential to mitigate economic losses and reduce the zoonotic impacts of bTB in the country. Using improved diagnostic techniques should be recommended to estimate the actual prevalence of the disease.

Dengue fever is highly prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, where it is caused by dengue virus (DENV) and transmitted by arthropods. While DENV infection manifests with a spectrum of clinical symptoms, severe cases can lead to hemorrhagic fever and shock syndrome. Increasing evidence over the past decade has highlighted the neurological complications associated with DENV; however, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Despite this knowledge gap, various central nervous system (CNS)-targeted drugs have shown promise in mitigating DENV-induced neurological impairment. In this review, we provide an overview of the neurotropic features of DENV and summarize current evidence on the antiviral effects of selected nervous system-acting compounds. We also explore the potential mechanisms by which these agents may reduce DENV infection. Given the urgent need for effective dengue therapeutics, repurposing CNS-targeting drugs represents a promising strategy. Finally, we examine the potential and underlying mechanisms for employing neuropharmaceutical agents as one of the antiviral therapies for DENV infection.

Background: Mosquito-borne diseases are a major cause of mortality and disease burden worldwide. This study aimed to assess the trends in total disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to five mosquito-borne diseases, as well as their association with poverty, gender inequality, underdevelopment, globalization, and climate change, both globally and for the period from 1990 to 2021.

Methods: This ecological time-series study with a longitudinal analytical framework used a total of 27 variables obtained from different sources. The dependent variable of the study was mosquito-borne DALYs. The trend of the numerical variables over time was analyzed using joinpoint regression. The relationships between the dependent variable and the independent variables were examined using univariate linear regression, LASSO regression, and ridge regression. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: During the study period, mosquito-borne DALYs decreased by 1.13 per 100,000 persons per year. The LASSO regression model explained 97.9% of the variability in mosquito-borne DALYs. Poverty headcount ratio at $6.85 a day, share of seats in parliament (female), global greenhouse gas emission, and Gender Inequality Index were found to be the most influential variables on mosquito-borne DALYs, respectively. When the optimum lambda, R ², MSE, and RMSE values were analyzed, the LASSO regression model was found to be more compatible than ridge regression for this data set.

Conclusion: The results demonstrate that mosquito-borne DALYs are primarily driven by poverty but are also influenced by gender inequality and climate change. These results highlight the urgent need for integrated and multifaceted public health strategies that go beyond traditional vector control methods.

To date, the reservoir host for visceral leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease caused by Leishmania donovani, is unknown, although studies pointing to dogs, domestic animals, and rodents are emerging. We aimed to investigate whether the dog (Canis familiaris, Linnaeus, 1758) is a potential reservoir for L. donovani in the Karamoja subregion of Uganda. Blood and lymph node aspirates were purposively collected from dogs (n = 139) in disease endemic villages of Amudat and Moroto districts in August 2023. An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect anti-Leishmania IgG antibodies in serum. DNA extracted from lymph node aspirates was subjected to a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the rRNA internal transcribed spacer region of Leishmania species. The sera from 139 dogs did not demonstrate any evidence of circulating antibodies against Leishmania, as the optical density (OD) values were all below 0.25, lower than the threshold value of 0.45. Similarly, all the dog lymph node DNAs (n = 139) were negative for Leishmania parasites. Although our results found no evidence to support dogs as reservoirs for L. donovani, in this study, further research utilizing larger sample sizes is recommended to confirm this finding. Furthermore, the presence of L. donovani in sand flies and other suspected reservoirs, such as domestic animals and wild rodents, requires further investigation.

Background: Nigeria has the highest burden of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the lack of a robust surveillance system and program data has limited the understanding of the burden and the distribution of HBV across different populations. This narrative review aimed to summarize available data on the epidemiology of HBV in Nigeria and identify research gaps in the existing literature. Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for relevant articles published between January 2000 and June 2025. Primary studies, reviews, and reports that contained data of interest, including prevalence, incidence, mode of transmission, mortality, and genotypes, were included in this review. Where available, we restricted our results to findings from representative surveys (conducted across the six geopolitical zones) or systematic reviews. Prevalence rates < 2%, 2%-7%, and ≥ 8% were described as low, intermediate, and high, respectively. Results: Studies on the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) have reported intermediate to high rates in the general population (5.4%-13.6%), with evidence suggesting declining trend. The most recent estimates showed a prevalence of 5.4% in 2022, corresponding to approximately 14.4 million people living with HBV. Available data indicate sociodemographic disparities in HBV prevalence, with higher rates among men, adults (> 18 years), and rural dwellers. Reported prevalence rates among specific subpopulations include blood donors (13.2%-14.0%), pregnant women (5.5%-14.1%), prison inmates (4%-42.2%), people who inject drugs (7%-7.8%), healthcare workers (1.1%-25.7%), female sex workers (0%-17.1%), men who have sex with men (8.4%-11.7%), and transgender women (15.6%). The prevalence of hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) in the general population ranged from 6.0% to 23.6%. The prevalence of occult HBV infection (OBI) ranged from 0.9% to 17.0%. Genotype E was consistently reported as the predominant HBV genotype. Most studies reported low, intermediate, and high prevalence rates for HBV-hepatitis C virus (HCV), HBV-hepatitis D virus (HDV), and HBV-HIV coinfections, respectively. In 2022, approximately 46,000 deaths were attributed to HBV, translating to a mortality rate of 21 per 100,000 population. Conclusions: A wide range of HBV prevalence rates has been observed across various population groups in Nigeria. Key research gaps in HBV epidemiology that must be addressed include modes of transmission, incidence rate, prevalence among key populations, prevalence of OBI in the general population, and spatial distribution of the burden.

Due to the increasing resistance to synthetic insecticides and the proliferation of resistant strains of malaria vectors, plant-derived essential oils (EOs) are gaining prominence as an alternative for controlling Anopheles gambiae s.l. larvae. This study evaluated the larvicidal efficacy of EOs from Azadirachta indica and Schinus molle, both individually and in combination, against early 4^th-instar Anopheles gambiae s.l. larvae under laboratory and semifield conditions. The EOs were extracted using ethanol in a Soxhlet apparatus. Twenty-five treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design for experimentation. Temephos (Abate) and distilled water served as positive and negative controls, respectively. Each treatment contained 20 larvae, which were acclimatized for 2 h prior to exposure to EOs. Treatment cups were covered with muslin cloth to prevent debris contamination. Larval mortality was assessed at 24, 48, and 72 h postexposure at concentrations of 25, 50, and 75 ppm. In the laboratory, A. indica oil exhibited the highest larvicidal activity among plant treatments, with 71.66% mortality at 75 ppm after 72 h, while S. molle and the combined treatment produced moderate effects. LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values confirmed A. indica's superior potency, with significantly lower lethal concentrations across all exposure times (p < 0.05). In simulated field trials, A. indica oil also demonstrated time- and dose-dependent larvicidal activity, achieving 68.33% mortality at 75 ppm after 72 h. Synthetic larvicide Temephos (Abate) consistently caused 100% mortality within 24 h at all concentrations in both settings. These findings suggest that A. indica EO, particularly at higher concentrations and longer exposures, may serve as an effective botanical alternative for larval control in integrated vector management programs.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/jotm/5040196.].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/jotm/1307578.].