Epidemiologic and socioeconomic factors impacting hepatitis B virus and related hepatocellular carcinoma

Chronic Hepatitis B is a highly prevalent disease worldwide and is estimated to cause more than 800000 annual deaths from complications such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although universal hepatitis B vaccination programs may have reduced the incidence and prevalence of chronic hepatitis B and related HCC, the disease still imposes a significant healthcare burden in many endemic regions such as Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. This is especially concerning given the global underdiagnosis of hepatitis B and the limited availability of vaccination, screening, and treatment in low-resource regions. Demographics including male gender, older age, ethnicity, and geographic location as well as low socioeconomic status are more heavily impacted by chronic hepatitis B and related HCC. Methods to mitigate this impact include increasing screening in high-risk groups according to national guidelines, increasing awareness and health literacy in vulnerable populations, and developing more robust vaccination programs in under-served regions.     

Efficacy,immunogenicity, and safety of available vaccines in children on biologics: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Vaccinations are essential for preventing infectious diseases in children with chronic diseases as they have increased risk of infection from frequent use of biologics. Response to immunizations in this group is not well known.ObjectiveA systematic review was performed to evaluate three primary outcomes: efficacy; immunogenicity; and safety of vaccines in children with chronic conditions treated with biologics.MethodsThe protocol for our systematic review and meta-analysis was registered and published with PROSPERO. We searched electronic bibliographic databases for studies published from 2009 to 2019, focusing on vaccinations in children with chronic conditions treated with biologics.ResultsWe retrieved 532 records. Thirty-one full-text articles were selected, and 14 were included in the meta-analysis. No significant publication bias was found. Efficacy: limited data are available regarding the efficacy of vaccination, as most studies have focused on immunogenicity as surrogate outcome for efficacy. Immunogenicity: patients receiving anti-TNF-alpha therapy had a statistically significant risk of poor seroconversion (p = 0.028) and seroprotection by the serotype B influenza vaccine [inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) p = 0.013; juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) p = 0.004]. We found adequate responses with H1N1 and H3N2 serotypes. Few studies existed for pneumococcal, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, varicella-zoster virus, Measles Mumps Rubella virus, and multiple vaccine administration. Safety: vaccine administration was not associated with serious side effects, but JIA patients on anti-TNF alpha therapy had a statistically significant risk of presenting with myalgia or arthralgia postinfluenza vaccine (p = 0.014).ConclusionsMore evidence concerning efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of vaccinations is needed to guide physicians in the vaccine decision process for this pediatric population.     

2015—2018年西安市百日咳流行特征分析

目的 分析西安市2015—2018年百日咳流行病学特征，为预防和控制百日咳传播提供参考。方法 采用描述流行病学方法，对中国疾病预防控制信息系统中2015—2018年期间西安市百日咳报告病例和此期间西安市百日咳哨点监测病例的数据进行统计学分析。结果 西安市2015—2018年共报告百日咳确诊病例1 635例，发病率分别为3.97/10万、4.11/10万、4.85/10万和5.28/10万，发病有逐年上升趋势（χ2趋势 = 21.719，P＜0.001）；高发季为3—8月（2015—2018年分别占该年度总发病数的75.73%、66.76%、78.97%和80.27%）；以3～6月龄发病比例最高（2015—2018年分别占该年度总发病数的50.58%、48.60%、48.36%和41.22%）；未全程接种疫苗患儿所占比例最大（2015—2018年分别为36.26%、23.74%、42.76%和33.73%），未到接种年龄就发病所占比例有逐年升高趋势（χ2趋势 = 10.302，P = 0.001），无免疫史患儿比例呈逐年降低趋势（χ2趋势 = 36.088，P＜0.001）；3种实验室检测方法中荧光PCR的检出率最高（40.12%）；传播模式除了散发病例，出现了家庭聚集现象，且所有流行病学相关病例均被漏诊或误诊。结论 西安市近年来百日咳发病率有明显上升趋势，＜6月龄婴儿为主要发病人群，百日咳的日常监测仍有待加强，且其家庭聚集式传播现象值得关注。     

Geographic Characteristics of Various Cancers in Yogyakarta Province,Indonesia: A Spatial Analysis at the Community Level

Background: Cancer remains a significant public health problem in Indonesia and worldwide. Yogyakarta Province has the largest number of cancer cases in Indonesia. Maps of the distribution of cancer cases are useful tools for stratification of cancer risk and for selective prevention strategies. The aim of this study was to determine the spatial distribution of cancer cases in Yogyakarta Province. Methods: Cancer patient data registered by the Yogyakarta Provincial Health Office during 2019-2020 were analysed in this study (n=9,933). To evaluate cancer pattern distributions, ArcGIS 10.2 and Excel 2016 software were used. Results: The mean participant age (± standard deviation) was 55.08 ± 15.46 years, and 79.40% were female. Breast and cervical cancer were the most frequently diagnosed, and the majority of patients were located in Sleman district. The incidence of all cancer types varied by county-level. The majority of cancer patients lived below the poverty line. Cancer screening rates were low, and screening was limited to breast and cervical cancer. Conclusion: Various types of cancers were identified in Yogyakarta, Indonesia; of them, breast and cervical cancer predominated. Most of the cancer patients were from Sleman district and economically poor areas. Geospatial techniques are useful for identifying environmental factors related to cancer and improving cancer control strategies and resource allocation.     

社区动脉粥样硬化风险研究的进展和展望

社区动脉粥样硬化风险（ARIC）研究是1987年由美国心、肺和血液研究所资助的关注非洲裔美国人心血管健康的最大研究。旨在调查心脏病的危险因素以及心血管疾病与认知之间的联系。ARIC研究的许多发现加深了对动脉粥样硬化性心血管病病因的了解,在心血管病预防领域做出了重大贡献,证明了以人群为基础的研究对改善健康和预防疾病的重要性。主要概述ARIC研究的起源、目的、研究设计、对心血管医学的贡献以及未来的发展方向。     

Changing populations being treated with ECMO in the neonatal period – who are the others?

Extracorporeal life support via extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has served the sickest of neonates for almost 50 years. Naturally, the characteristics of neonates receiving ECMO have changed. Advances in care have averted the need for ECMO for some, while complex cases with uncertain outcomes, previously not eligible for ECMO, are now considered. Characterizing the disease states and outcomes for neonates on ECMO is challenging as many infants do not fall into classic categories, i.e. meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), or congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Since 2017, over one third of neonatal respiratory ECMO runs reported to the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry are grouped as Other, a catch-all that encompasses those with a diagnosis not included in the classic categories. This review summarizes the historical neonatal ECMO population, reviews advances in therapy and technology impacting neonatal care, and addresses the unknowns in the ever-growing category of Other.