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International Journal of Environmental... Jun 2024In the last ten years, multimorbidity in children under the age of five years has become an emerging health issue in developing countries. The study of multimorbidity of...
In the last ten years, multimorbidity in children under the age of five years has become an emerging health issue in developing countries. The study of multimorbidity of anaemia, malaria, and malnutrition (MAMM) among children in Nigeria has not received significant attention. This study aims to investigate what risk factors are associated with the prevalence of multimorbidity among children aged 6 to 59 months in Nigeria. This study used two nationally representative cross-sectional surveys, the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey and the 2018 National Human Development Report. A series of multilevel mixed-effect ordered logistic regression models were used to investigate the associations between child/parent/household variables (at level 1), community-related variables (at level 2) and area-related variables (at level 3), and the multimorbidity outcome (no disease, one disease only, two or more diseases). The results show that 48.3% (4917/10,184) of the sample of children aged 6-59 months display two or more of the disease outcomes. Being a female child, the maternal parent having completed higher education, the mother being anaemic, the household wealth quintile being in the richest category, the proportion of community wealth status being high, the region being in the south, and place of residence being rural were among the significant predictors of MAMM ( < 0.05). The prevalence of MAMM found in this study is unacceptably high. If suitable actions are not urgently taken, Nigeria's ability to actualise SDG-3 will be in grave danger. Therefore, suitable policies are necessary to pave the way for the creation/development of integrated care models to ameliorate this problem.
Topics: Humans; Nigeria; Anemia; Infant; Malaria; Female; Male; Child, Preschool; Risk Factors; Prevalence; Multimorbidity; Cross-Sectional Studies; Malnutrition; Socioeconomic Factors
PubMed: 38929011
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060765 -
International Journal of Environmental... May 2024Multidrug- and artemisinin-resistant (ART-R) parasites represent a challenge for malaria elimination worldwide. Molecular monitoring in the Kelch domain region gene...
Multidrug- and artemisinin-resistant (ART-R) parasites represent a challenge for malaria elimination worldwide. Molecular monitoring in the Kelch domain region gene allows tracking mutations in parasite resistance to artemisinin. The increase in illegal miners in the Roraima Yanomami indigenous land (YIL) could favor ART-R parasites. Thus, this study aimed to investigate ART-R in patients from illegal gold mining areas in the YIL of Roraima, Brazil. A questionnaire was conducted, and blood was collected from 48 patients diagnosed with or mixed malaria (). The DNA was extracted and the gene was amplified by PCR. The amplicons were subjected to DNA-Sanger-sequencing and the entire amplified fragment was analyzed. Among the patients, 96% (46) were from illegal mining areas of the YIL. All parasite samples carried the wild-type genotypes/ART-sensitive phenotypes. These data reinforce the continued use of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) in Roraima, as well as the maintenance of systematic monitoring for early detection of parasite populations resistant to ART, mainly in regions with an intense flow of individuals from mining areas, such as the YIL. This is especially true when the achievement of falciparum malaria elimination in Brazil is planned and expected by 2030.
Topics: Artemisinins; Brazil; Plasmodium falciparum; Humans; Antimalarials; Drug Resistance; Malaria, Falciparum; Male; Mining; Adult; Female; Middle Aged; Young Adult; Adolescent; Genotype
PubMed: 38928926
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060679 -
International Journal of Environmental... May 2024Besides being vectors of the onchocerciasis parasite, blackflies are a source of nuisance in onchocerciasis-endemic communities. We investigated the experience of...
Community Perceptions of Blackfly Nuisance and Acceptability of the "Slash and Clear" Vector Control Approach in the Ntui Health District of Cameroon: A Qualitative Study.
Besides being vectors of the onchocerciasis parasite, blackflies are a source of nuisance in onchocerciasis-endemic communities. We investigated the experience of residents in the Ntui Health District (Cameroon) regarding blackfly nuisance and assessed their perceptions of a novel "Slash and Clear" (S&C) intervention for blackfly control. Focus group discussions were conducted before and after S&C implementation (respectively, in February 2022 and December 2023). Blackflies were known to emerge from the river areas and cause disease. To prevent blackfly bites, the population often covered their body with protective clothing and applied various substances (kerosene, oil, or lemon) to their skin. Post-intervention data showed reduced blackfly nuisance, and the willingness to sustain blackfly control in the long-term was unanimous among community leaders and members, including the village volunteers who implemented the S&C intervention. In conclusion, blackfly nuisance is evident in the Ntui onchocerciasis focus of Cameroon and led to a panoply of coping practices, some of which could be detrimental to their health. Implementing S&C for blackfly control is well accepted and could sustainably alleviate the nuisance caused by blackflies while simultaneously breaking the onchocerciasis transmission cycle.
Topics: Cameroon; Animals; Simuliidae; Humans; Onchocerciasis; Insect Control; Female; Male; Adult; Insect Vectors; Middle Aged; Focus Groups; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Young Adult; Insect Bites and Stings
PubMed: 38928904
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060658 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Unlike sedentary plant-parasitic nematodes, migratory plant endoparasitic nematodes (MPENs) are unable to establish permanent feeding sites, and all developmental stages... (Review)
Review
Unlike sedentary plant-parasitic nematodes, migratory plant endoparasitic nematodes (MPENs) are unable to establish permanent feeding sites, and all developmental stages (except eggs) can invade and feed on plant tissues and can be easily overlooked because of the unspecific symptoms. They cause numerous economic losses in agriculture, forestry, and horticulture. In order to understand the pathogenetic mechanism of MPENs, here we describe research on functions and host targets focused on currently identified effectors from six MPENs, namely , spp., , , , and . This information will provide valuable insights into understanding MPEN effectors and for future fostering advancements in plant protection.
Topics: Animals; Plant Diseases; Host-Parasite Interactions; Plants; Nematoda; Helminth Proteins
PubMed: 38928141
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126435 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024The immune response dynamics in COVID-19 patients remain a subject of intense investigation due to their implications for disease severity and treatment outcomes. We...
BACKGROUND
The immune response dynamics in COVID-19 patients remain a subject of intense investigation due to their implications for disease severity and treatment outcomes. We examined changes in leukocyte levels, eosinophil activity, and cytokine profiles in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
METHODS
Serum samples were collected within the first 10 days of hospitalization/confirmed infection and analyzed for eosinophil granule proteins (EGP) and cytokines. Information from medical records including comorbidities, clinical symptoms, medications, and complete blood counts were collected at the time of admission, during hospitalization and at follow up approximately 3 months later.
RESULTS
Serum levels of eotaxin, type 1 and type 2 cytokines, and alarmin cytokines were elevated in COVID-19 patients, highlighting the heightened immune response ( < 0.05). However, COVID-19 patients exhibited lower levels of eosinophils and eosinophil degranulation products compared to hospitalized controls ( < 0.05). Leukocyte counts increased consistently from admission to follow-up, indicative of recovery.
CONCLUSION
Attenuated eosinophil activity alongside elevated chemokine and cytokine levels during active infection, highlights the complex interplay of immune mediators in the pathogenesis COVID-19 and underscores the need for further investigation into immune biomarkers and treatment strategies.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Male; Biomarkers; Female; Middle Aged; Eosinophils; Cytokines; Aged; SARS-CoV-2; Leukocyte Count; Adult; Hospitalization; Chemokine CCL11
PubMed: 38928133
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126427 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024is the dominant parasitic natural enemy of aphids. Elucidating the molecular mechanism of host recognition of would improve its biological control effect. Chemosensory...
is the dominant parasitic natural enemy of aphids. Elucidating the molecular mechanism of host recognition of would improve its biological control effect. Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) play a crucial role in insect olfactory systems and are mainly involved in host localization. In this study, a total of nine CSPs of with complete open reading frames were identified based on antennal transcriptome data. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that AgifCSPs were mainly clustered into three subgroups (AgifCSP1/2/7/8, AgifCSP3/9, and AgifCSP4/5/6). showed high expression in the antennae of both sexes. Moreover, was found to be specifically expressed in the antennae. In addition, fluorescent binding assays revealed that AifCSP5 had greater affinities for 7 of 32 volatile odor molecules from various sources. Molecular docking and site-directed mutagenesis results revealed that the residue at which AgifCSP5 binds to these seven plant volatiles is Tyr75. Behavior tests further confirmed that -2-nonenal, one of the seven active volatiles in the ligand binding test, significantly attracted female adults at a relatively low concentration of 10 mg/mL. In conclusion, AgifCSP5 may be involved in locating aphid-infested crops from long distances by detecting and binding -2-nonenal. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for further understanding the olfactory recognition mechanisms and indirect aphid localization behavior of from long distances by first identifying the host plant of aphids.
Topics: Animals; Aphids; Insect Proteins; Phylogeny; Female; Male; Host-Parasite Interactions; Arthropod Antennae; Molecular Docking Simulation; Amino Acid Sequence; Receptors, Odorant; Wasps
PubMed: 38928098
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126392 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Parasites are very widely distributed in the environment and form complex relationships with their hosts, forming host-parasite systems [...].
Parasites are very widely distributed in the environment and form complex relationships with their hosts, forming host-parasite systems [...].
Topics: Humans; Parasitic Diseases; Animals; Host-Parasite Interactions; Parasites
PubMed: 38928081
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126373 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024The identification of novel drug targets in plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) is imperative due to the loss of traditional nematicides and a lack of replacements....
The identification of novel drug targets in plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) is imperative due to the loss of traditional nematicides and a lack of replacements. Chemosensation, which is pivotal for PPNs in locating host roots, has become a focus in nematode behavioral research. However, its underlying molecular basis is still indistinct in such a diverse group of PPNs. To characterize genes participating in chemosensation in the Javanese root-knot nematode , RNA-sequencing of the second-stage juveniles (J2s) treated with tomato root exudate (TRE) for 1 h and 6 h was performed. Genes related to chemosensation in . mainly responded to TRE treatment at 1 h. Moreover, a gene ontology (GO) analysis underscored the significance of the neuropeptide G protein-coupled receptor signaling pathway. Consequently, the repertoire of putative neuropeptides in . , including FMRFamide-like peptides (FLPs), insulin-like peptides (ILPs), and neuropeptide-like peptides (NLPs), were outlined based on a homology analysis. The gene , harboring two neuropeptides, was significantly up-regulated at 1 h TRE treatment. Through peptide synthesis and J2 treatment, one of the two neuropeptides (MjFLP-14-2) was proven to influence the J2 chemotaxis towards tomato root tips. Overall, our study reinforces the potential of nematode neuropeptides as novel targets and tools for root-knot nematode control.
Topics: Animals; Tylenchoidea; Neuropeptides; Plant Roots; Solanum lycopersicum; Plant Diseases; Chemotaxis; Helminth Proteins
PubMed: 38928010
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126300 -
Genes Jun 2024The grooming behavior of honeybees serves as a crucial auto-protective mechanism against mite infestations. Compared to , demonstrates more effective grooming behavior... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
The grooming behavior of honeybees serves as a crucial auto-protective mechanism against mite infestations. Compared to , demonstrates more effective grooming behavior in removing mites from the bodies of infested bees. However, the underlying mechanisms regulating grooming behavior remain elusive. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of the auto-grooming behavior between and and employed RNA-sequencing technology to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in bee brains with varying degrees of grooming behavior intensity. We observed that exhibited a higher frequency of mite removal between day 5 and day 15 compared to , with day-9 bees showing the highest frequency of mite removal in . RNA-sequencing results revealed the differential expression of the and genes in and the and genes in . Subsequent homology analysis identified the gene and gene of as homologous to the gene and gene of . These DEGs are annotated in the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway, the glutamatergic synaptic pathway, and the calcium signaling pathway. Moreover, , , , and may be closely related to the auto-grooming behavior of , conferring resistance against infestation. Our results further explain the relationship between honeybee grooming behavior and brain function at the molecular level and provide a reference basis for further studies of the mechanism of honeybee grooming behavior.
Topics: Animals; Bees; Varroidae; Grooming; Brain; Transcriptome; Mite Infestations; Gene Expression Profiling
PubMed: 38927699
DOI: 10.3390/genes15060763 -
Genes May 2024Infections with gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) reduce the economic efficiency of sheep operations and compromise animal welfare. Understanding the host's response to...
Infections with gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) reduce the economic efficiency of sheep operations and compromise animal welfare. Understanding the host's response to GIN infection can help producers identify animals that are naturally resistant to infection. The objective of this study was to characterize the hepatic transcriptome of sheep that had been naturally exposed to GIN parasites. The hepatic transcriptome was studied using RNA-Sequencing technology in animals characterized as high ( = 5) or medium ( = 6) based on their innate immune acute-phase (AP) response phenotype compared with uninfected controls ( = 4), and with biased antibody-mediated (AbMR, = 5) or cell-mediated (CMR, = 5) adaptive immune responsiveness compared to uninfected controls ( = 3). Following the assessment of sheep selected for innate responses, 0, 136, and 167 genes were differentially expressed (DE) between high- and medium-responding animals, high-responding and uninfected control animals, and medium-responding and uninfected control animals, respectively (false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05, and fold change |FC| > 2). When adaptive immune responses were assessed, 0, 53, and 57 genes were DE between antibody- and cell-biased animals, antibody-biased and uninfected control animals, and cell-biased and uninfected control animals, respectively (FDR < 0.05, |FC| > 2). Functional analyses identified enriched gene ontology (GO) terms and metabolic pathways related to the innate immune response and energy metabolism. Six functional candidate genes were identified for further functional and validation studies to better understand the underlying biological mechanisms of host responses to GINs. These, in turn, can potentially help improve decision making and management practices to increase the overall host immune response to GIN infection.
Topics: Animals; Sheep; Transcriptome; Liver; Nematode Infections; Sheep Diseases; Immunity, Innate; Nematoda; Adaptive Immunity; Gastrointestinal Diseases
PubMed: 38927648
DOI: 10.3390/genes15060713