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PloS One 2022Urogenital schistosomiasis has been known to be endemic in several lowland areas of Ethiopia. It is caused by Schistosoma haematobium and causes considerable public...
BACKGROUND
Urogenital schistosomiasis has been known to be endemic in several lowland areas of Ethiopia. It is caused by Schistosoma haematobium and causes considerable public health problems to schoolchildren. Ethiopia, after mapping the distribution of the disease (2013 to 2015), launched school-based mass deworming program to treat schoolchildren for schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) across the country since 2015. However, there is no recent information about the prevalence of the disease among schoolchildren in the current study areas. Diagnostic performance of urine filtration method and urinalysis reagent strip is also lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis in schoolchildren, and to evaluate diagnostic performance of urine filtration and urinalysis reagent strip in Amibara, Kurmuk and Abobo districts, Ethiopia.
METHODS
Across-sectional study was conducted involving 1,171 schoolchildren in Abobo, Amibara and Kurmuk districts from October, 2020 to January, 2021. The study participants were selected using random sampling technique. From each study participant, 10 ml urine samples were collected and examined using urine filtration method and urinalysis reagent strip. Data obtained from the survey were entered into Microsoft Excel 2010 and analysed with SPSS version 20.0. Data was summarized using descriptive statistics. Chi-square, bivariate and multivariable logistic regression and Pearson correlation test were used to measure associations between urogenital schistosomiasis, age, sex and haematuria. Odds ratio was used to measure strengths of association between variables. Agreement between urine filtration method and urinalysis reagent strip was determined using Kappa statistics. P-value < 0.05 at 95% CI was considered as statistically significant.
RESULTS
Among the 1,171 urine samples from schoolchildren examined by urine filtration method, 143 (12.2%) were S.haematobium egg positive. Out of 143 positive children 126(88.1%) were lightly infected and 17 (11.9%) were heavily infected. Among the total of 1,171 urine samples tested by dipstick, 264(22.5%) were positive for haematuria. Prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis by both urine filtration and urinalysis reagent strip method was higher in Abobo than Hassoba (Amibara) and Kurmuk (P< 0.001). The number of egg counts (intensity of infections) were significantly correlated with intensity of haematuria (r = 0.6, P < 0.001). Egg-positive children had significantly higher risk of having haematuria compared to S. haematobium egg negative children (OR; 6.96; 95%CI: 4.98, 8.940). Compared to urine filtration method, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) of urinalysis reagent strip were 99.3%, 88.1%, 53.8% and 99.8%, respectively. Furthermore, its positive likelihood ratio (PLR) and negative likelihood ratio (NLR) were 8.34 and 0.008, respectively. The accuracy index and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of reagent strip were 0.89 and 1054, respectively. The agreement level between urine filtration methods and urinalysis reagent strip for detecting urogenital schistosomiasis was substantial (Kappa = 0.64).
CONCLUSION
This study showed that urogenital schistosomiasis was prevalent in schoolchildren in Abobo, Hassoba and Kurmuk districts. Urogenital schistosomiasis prevalence in Hassoba-bure and Kurmuk falls under low category whereas moderate in Abobo and is almost four times compared to Kurmuk and Hassoba-bure. Chemotherapy is needed in schoolchildren in such endemic areas and other measures like access to safe water, improved sanitation, hygiene, and health education should be implemented to control and prevent schistosomiasis effectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of urinalysis reagent strip were higher and could serve as alternative for mass screening of urogenital schistosomiasis, for surveillance and evaluation of schistosomiasis intervention programs.
Topics: Animals; Child; Ethiopia; Hematuria; Humans; Prevalence; Reagent Strips; Schistosoma haematobium; Schistosomiasis haematobia; Urinalysis
PubMed: 35877771
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271569 -
Risk Management and Healthcare Policy 2022Early case detection, treatment, and timely referral for better services can significantly reduce the negative outcomes of preeclampsia and eclampsia. However, evidence...
BACKGROUND
Early case detection, treatment, and timely referral for better services can significantly reduce the negative outcomes of preeclampsia and eclampsia. However, evidence on health facilities' readiness to provide such services and the associated challenges is limited in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the readiness of Ethiopian health care facilities to manage preeclampsia and eclampsia.
METHODS
This study used the 2016 Ethiopia national emergency management of obstetrics and newborn care (EmONC) survey. This survey was a national cross-sectional census of health facilities that provided delivery services. Data on facility infrastructure, equipment and supplies were collected through a facility checklist, and interview health provider experiences. Cross tabulation, summarisation and chi square tests by facility type, location, and management authority were conducted.
RESULTS
There were 3804 health facilities included in the survey across all regions of Ethiopia. The majority of facilities (92%) were public/government managed with only 1% of available hospitals located in rural areas. Poor availability of dipsticks for proteinuria tests (55.3%), caesarean sections (7.9%), and ambulance services (18.4%) were reported across health facilities with high variations in terms of facility type, location, and type of managing authority. Diazepam was a widely available anticonvulsant compared with magnesium sulfate (MgSO), with more available in private for-profit facilities compared with public facilities. Nearly one third of health care providers were not trained to administer MgSO intravenously. The result indicated that the chi-square test was statistically significant at P < 0.001.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
There were notable gaps in readiness of facilities in detection and management of preeclampsia/eclampsia that increase maternal and perinatal mortality in Ethiopia. Therefore, availability of essential supplies, medications, and referrals are required. In addition, refresher training to healthcare providers on screening, diagnosis and management of preeclampsia/eclampsia and continuous supervision should be provided.
PubMed: 35734013
DOI: 10.2147/RMHP.S366055 -
Veterinary Clinical Pathology Dec 2022Urine dipstick and Heller's reaction are easy first-line screening tests for the detection of proteinuria; however, the performance of these methods in alkaline ovine...
BACKGROUND
Urine dipstick and Heller's reaction are easy first-line screening tests for the detection of proteinuria; however, the performance of these methods in alkaline ovine urine is largely unknown.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of Heller's reaction alone or in combination with dipstick for the detection of proteinuria in sheep, using the urine protein to creatinine ratio (UP/C) with two cut-off values as the reference method.
METHODS
Ninety-eight urine samples were collected from sheep using the transient apnea method. Heller's reaction, the dipstick method, and the UP/C ratio were used to assess proteinuria. The results were statistically analyzed twice, based on two different UP/C cut-off values of 0.2 and 0.5. Cohen's kappa value was used to determine the agreement between the UP/C ratios and Heller's reaction, the dipstick method, or the combination of methods. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were calculated. ROC curves were also generated, and the areas under the curve (AUC) were evaluated to determine the optimal threshold for the numerical values of the two methods.
RESULTS
Heller's reaction is more specific (96.67% and 96.00% when the cut-off value is 0.2 and 0.5, respectively) than the dipstick method, while the dipstick method was more sensitive (91.18% and 91.30%, when the cut-off value was 0.2 and 0.5, respectively) than Heller's reaction for the detection of proteinuria. Both tests were accurate when any grade >0 was considered positive.
CONCLUSIONS
Proteinuria can almost be excluded in ovine urine samples with negative Heller's reaction and dipstick test.
Topics: Sheep; Animals; Reagent Strips; Creatinine; Sensitivity and Specificity; Proteinuria; ROC Curve; Urinalysis; Sheep Diseases
PubMed: 35624545
DOI: 10.1111/vcp.13131 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2022Cancer is a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Detection and quantification of cancer biomarkers plays a critical role in cancer early diagnosis,... (Review)
Review
Cancer is a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Detection and quantification of cancer biomarkers plays a critical role in cancer early diagnosis, screening, and treatment. Clinicians, particularly in developing countries, deal with high costs and limited resources for diagnostic systems. Using low-cost substrates to develop sensor devices could be very helpful. The interest in paper-based sensors with colorimetric detection increased exponentially in the last decade as they meet the criteria for point-of-care (PoC) devices. Cellulose and different nanomaterials have been used as substrate and colorimetric probes, respectively, for these types of devices in their different designs as spot tests, lateral-flow assays, dipsticks, and microfluidic paper-based devices (μPADs), offering low-cost and disposable devices. However, the main challenge with these devices is their low sensitivity and lack of efficiency in performing quantitative measurements. This review includes an overview of the use of paper for the development of sensing devices focusing on colorimetric detection and their application to cancer biomarkers. We highlight recent works reporting the use of paper in the development of colorimetric sensors for cancer biomarkers, such as proteins, nucleic acids, and others. Finally, we discuss the main advantages of these types of devices and highlight their major pitfalls.
Topics: Biomarkers; Biomarkers, Tumor; Colorimetry; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; Neoplasms; Paper; Point-of-Care Systems
PubMed: 35590912
DOI: 10.3390/s22093221 -
The Analyst May 2022Early diagnosis of tumor markers is of great importance for the successful treatment of cancer. As a high-throughput and high-sensitivity detection technology, liquid...
Early diagnosis of tumor markers is of great importance for the successful treatment of cancer. As a high-throughput and high-sensitivity detection technology, liquid suspension biochips based on quantum dot (QD) encoded microspheres have been widely used in the immunodetection of tumor markers. In this work, maleic anhydride grafted PLA (PLA-MA) microspheres based on quantum dot encoding were used as carriers for liquid phase suspension biochips for the immunoassay of tumor markers. PLA-MA fluorescent beads are prepared by embedding CdSe/ZnS quantum dots in PLA-MA using Shirasu porous glass (SPG) membrane emulsification technology, which has high fluorescence intensity, good stability, and good dispersion. Fluorescent immunoassays on dipsticks found that PLA-MA microspheres have high biological activity and good stability, which is conducive to immunoassays. Based on this, using the characteristics of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots and flow cytometry, monochromatic and two-color coding methods were developed, and 9 distinguishable coding beads were prepared. The results showed that PLA-MA fluorescent microspheres exhibited good biocompatibility, stable coding signals, low background noise, and low detection limits when performing quaternary immunoassays on tumor markers CA125, CA199, CA724, and CEA by CdSe/ZnS QD-encoded PLA-MA microsphere binding flow cytometry.
Topics: Biomarkers, Tumor; Cadmium Compounds; Coloring Agents; Immunoassay; Maleic Anhydrides; Microspheres; Polyesters; Quantum Dots; Selenium Compounds; Sulfides; Zinc Compounds
PubMed: 35420086
DOI: 10.1039/d2an00350c -
Micromachines Feb 2022Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a leading cause of permanent disability worldwide that has been listed as a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization....
Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a leading cause of permanent disability worldwide that has been listed as a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization. Significant progress made by the Global Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) has led to a substantial decline in the population of the worm that causes LF infection. Diagnostic assays capable of detecting low levels of parasite presence are needed to diagnose LF. There is also a need for new tools that can be used in areas where multiple filarial species are coendemic and for mass screening or for use in a point-of-care setting. In the present study, we applied our previously developed semi-automated microfluidic device in combination with our recently developed mini polymerase chain reaction (miniPCR) with a duplex lateral flow dipstick (DLFD) (miniPCR-DLFD) for rapid mass screening and visual species identification of lymphatic filariae in human blood. The study samples comprised 20 microfilariae (mf) positive human blood samples, 14 mf positive human blood samples and 100 mf negative human blood samples. Microfilariae detection and visual species identification was performed using the microfluidic device. To identify the species of the mf trapped in the microfluidic chips, DNA of the trapped mf was extracted for miniPCR amplification of and DNA followed by DLFD. Thick blood smear staining for microfilariae detection was used as the gold standard technique. Microfilariae screening and visual species identification using our microfluidic device plus miniPCR-DLFD platform yielded results concordant with those of the gold standard thick blood smear technique. The microfluidic device, the miniPCR and the DLFD are all portable and do not require additional equipment. Use of this screening and visual species identification platform will facilitate reliable, cost-effective, and rapid surveillance for the presence of LF infection in resource-poor settings.
PubMed: 35208460
DOI: 10.3390/mi13020336 -
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences :... Feb 2022To establish a sensitive, simple and rapid detection method for African swine fever virus (ASFV) B646L gene.
OBJECTIVE
To establish a sensitive, simple and rapid detection method for African swine fever virus (ASFV) B646L gene.
METHODS
A recombinase-aided amplification-lateral flow dipstick (RAA-LFD) assay was developed in this study. Recombinase-aided amplification (RAA) is used to amplify template DNA, and lateral flow dipstick (LFD) is used to interpret the results after the amplification is completed. The lower limits of detection and specificity of the RAA assay were verified using recombinant plasmid and pathogenic nucleic acid. In addition, 30 clinical samples were tested to evaluate the performance of the RAA assay.
RESULTS
The RAA-LFD assay was completed within 15 min at 37 °C, including 10 min for nucleic acid amplification and 5 minutes for LFD reading results. The detection limit of this assay was found to be 200 copies per reaction. And there was no cross-reactivity with other swine viruses.
CONCLUSION
A highly sensitive, specific, and simple RAA-LFD method was developed for the rapid detection of the ASFV.
Topics: African Swine Fever; African Swine Fever Virus; Animals; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; Recombinases; Sensitivity and Specificity; Swine; Viral Proteins
PubMed: 35197178
DOI: 10.3967/bes2022.018 -
The British Journal of General Practice... Apr 2022Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the commonest bacterial infections in general practice, with urine testing a frequent feature of its management. Urinary... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the commonest bacterial infections in general practice, with urine testing a frequent feature of its management. Urinary dipsticks are widely used, with urine culture the reference standard test. To avoid contamination, patients are advised to discard the first part of the urine stream, retaining the midstream part for the sample. This process, however, can be challenging both to explain and to perform. There is a lack of literature investigating women's perceptions and understanding of urine sampling.
AIM
To explore women's understanding of urine collection, sample contamination, and how information from samples informed UTI management.
DESIGN AND SETTING
Qualitative study embedded in a UK randomised controlled trial (RCT) of urinary collection devices (UCDs) among women attending primary care with a suspected UTI.
METHOD
Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 29 women participating in the RCT. Interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed.
RESULTS
Participants were not always aware about what midstream samples were and why they were preferable. They also lacked understanding about how urine samples may be contaminated, and sources of contamination. Participants experienced variability in the information received following analysis of their sample.
CONCLUSION
Provision of clear information could help provide better urine samples, aiding the diagnosis of UTIs, presenting results with greater clarity, and creating less need for repeat samples. Sharing of information derived from uncontaminated samples may also support better UTI management, helping to reduce unnecessary prescribing and antibiotic resistance.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Family Practice; Female; Humans; Qualitative Research; Urinalysis; Urinary Tract Infections; Urine Specimen Collection
PubMed: 35190371
DOI: 10.3399/BJGP.2021.0564 -
Talanta May 2022African swine fever virus (ASFV) can cause highly contagious and fatal disease among domestic pigs, resulting in considerable economic losses for swine breeders. There...
African swine fever virus (ASFV) can cause highly contagious and fatal disease among domestic pigs, resulting in considerable economic losses for swine breeders. There is a strong demand for accurate, rapid, and simple detection methods especially for on-site application. Nucleic acid testing is the most commonly used method for ASFVdetection. However, traditional nucleic acid purification step is time- and labor-consuming. The nucleic acid purification, amplification and amplicons detection rely on laboratory settings which limits the on-site detection. Here, we proposed a simple and cost-effective detection method that utilized filter paper to purify nucleic acids from swine blood and employed CRISPR/Cas12a-mediated loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) reaction to detect ASFV. The filter paper which was made into dipsticks could effectively purify nucleic acids from whole blood in 2 min. This simple and low-cost purification method avoided multiple pipetting steps and potential amplification inhibitors (e.g., ethanol) that were generally used in traditional nucleic acids extraction processes. After nucleic acid purification, the lyophilized LAMP reagent dissolved by elution solution was employed to perform isothermal amplification reaction on a portable heating block. The CRISPR/Cas12a system was designed to specifically detect amplicons. Assisted by a portable homemade device, the fluorescent signals produced by positive samples could be observed by the naked eye, while negative samples remained colorless. The whole detection procedure could be finished within 50 min with a detection limit of one copies/μL. This established method provided a novel strategy for rapid visualized detection and showed great potential for on-site application.
Topics: African Swine Fever; African Swine Fever Virus; Animals; CRISPR-Cas Systems; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; Nucleic Acids; Sensitivity and Specificity; Swine
PubMed: 35149424
DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2022.123294 -
Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice Feb 2022Transport workers, seafarers and fishers have biannual mandatory fit-for duty medical examinations. Urinedipstick is used for early diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes...
Transport workers, seafarers and fishers have biannual mandatory fit-for duty medical examinations. Urinedipstick is used for early diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Due to low sensitivity with more than 80% false negatives the method should be replaced by highly sensitive blood tests, Hb1Ac or similar for diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes mellitus to pursue the UN Global Sustainable Goals, especially Goal 3: Good health and well-being for all workers and Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.
Topics: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Early Diagnosis; Humans; Reagent Strips; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 35114298
DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2022.109222