Search Results (30)

Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes are associated with a higher risk of several health conditions. We conducted a cross-sectional study to compare the prevalence of comorbidities among 88,724 adults with prediabetes and 12,071 adults with type 2 diabetes in El Paso, Texas, using data from the Paso del Norte Health Information Exchange (PHIX) from 1 January 2021, to 31 January 2023. We estimated prevalence ratios (aPR) adjusted for age decade, gender, and Hispanic ethnicity. Individuals with prediabetes, compared to type 2 diabetes, had lower adjusted prevalence of circulatory (59.1% vs. 80.4%; aPR = 0.82 [95% CI: 0.81–0.84]), genitourinary (44.9% vs. 50.5%; aPR = 0.97 [0.96–0.99]), respiratory (32.0% vs. 35.7%; aPR = 0.94 [0.92–0.97]), neurological (27.4% vs. 32.8%; aPR = 0.91 [0.88–0.94]), blood (21.2% vs. 30.5%; aPR = 0.77 [0.75–0.80]), mental (19.5% vs. 26.1%; aPR = 0.72 [0.69–0.75]), infectious (12.8% vs. 21.5%; aPR = 0.63 [0.60–0.66]), skin (12.2% vs. 14.8%; aPR = 0.82 [0.78–0.86]), and COVID-19 (10.2% vs. 11.9%; aPR = 0.86 [0.81–0.91]) diseases/conditions. Adjusted prevalence was higher among those with prediabetes for musculoskeletal (53.8% vs. 47.0%; aPR = 1.19 [1.17, 1.21]), ear (18.4% vs. 12.9%; aPR = 1.54 [1.47–1.60]), eye (11.1% vs. 7.8%; aPR = 1.52 [1.43, 1.61]), digestive (44.0% vs. 44.0%; aPR = 1.02 [1.00–1.05]), and neoplastic (14.4% vs. 14.5%; aPR = 1.12 [1.06–1.17]) diseases/conditions. People with prediabetes in El Paso, Texas, had a lower prevalence of most comorbidities than those with type 2 diabetes, suggesting that preventing prediabetes from progressing to type 2 diabetes could have a beneficial impact on comorbid disease burden. Full article

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a widespread gastric infectious disease, posing significant challenges due to the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance. This study aimed to evaluate the synergistic antibacterial activity of Takifugu obscurus skin peptides (TSPs) and the cell-free supernatant of Lactobacillus plantarum WUH3 (LCFS) in developing a potential green and efficient dietary supplement therapy. Using enzymatic hydrolysis and ultrafiltration techniques, the most bioactive peptide fraction, TSPb (1–3 kDa), was identified. The effects of TSPb and LCFS—both individually and in combination—on H. pylori biofilm function, membrane morphology, and internal structure were systematically analyzed using urease activity, N-phenyl naphthylamine (NPN) uptake, nucleic acid leakage, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The results showed that both LCFS and TSPb significantly inhibited H. pylori urease activity, with inhibition rates of 53.60% and 54.21% at 24 h, respectively, and the highest inhibition rate of 74.64% was observed with their combined treatment. SEM, NPN fluorescence, and nucleic acid leakage analyses revealed distinct mechanisms of action for each treatment. LCFS treatment caused membrane surface loosening and morphological deformation, while TSPb induced the formation of localized membrane pores. IR spectroscopy further confirmed that the combined treatment led to a more severe disruption of the lipid and protein structure within the bacterium. Overall, compared to individual treatments, the combination of TSPb and LCFS exhibited enhanced intracellular penetration and a more significant effect on bacterial viability. This study successfully identified TSPb as a highly bioactive peptide and elucidated its potential synergistic antibacterial mechanism with LCFS. These findings provide scientific evidence for the development of functional antimicrobial foods and gastric health dietary supplements, offering a promising strategy for the prevention and management of H. pylori infections. Full article

Background: Yaws is an infectious, neglected tropical disease that affects the skin of many children and adolescents who live in poor, rural, low-income communities in humid, tropical areas of Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Yaws is currently endemic in at least 15 countries, but adequate surveillance data are lacking. In line with the WHO’s effort to improve early detection, diagnosis, and proper management leading to the eventual eradication of yaws, this article reviews the existing literature on yaws in Africa to highlight the epidemiological pattern, genetic variability, diagnosis modalities, treatment, and control strategies, the challenges and prospects for yaws eradication. Methods: We searched PubMed and Scopus databases to identify published data in line with the review objectives. Results: One hundred and eighty-eight peer-reviewed articles were identified by PubMed and Scopus, out of which thirty were eligible. The studies covered 11 African countries, with the reported prevalence ranging from 0.50% to 43.0%. Conclusions: There is a great prospect for eradication if countries capitalize on the availability of simple, inexpensive, and well-tolerated oral treatment that has proven effective, validated point-of-care diagnostic tests and new molecular tests. Countries should embark on integrated disease control efforts to increase sustainability and improve the quality of life for people living with this NTD in poor communities. Full article

Introduction: Fibromyalgia (FM) patients are known to have medical comorbidities. This study characterized the rates of infectious diseases in FM patients compared to the general population. Methods: A nationwide population-based case-control study was conducted, including all patients diagnosed with FM by a rheumatologist compared to a matched 5:1 control group within a large health maintenance organization in Israel (January 2002 to December 2023). Demographic, anthropometric, and health habit data were extracted from medical records as well as the ICD-9 codes of diagnoses related to infectious diseases in 9232 FM patients and 46,160 controls. Infection rates in the FM patients were compared to the controls over a mean follow-up of 6.7 years. Results: The FM patients had a significantly higher incidence of viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic diseases compared to the controls. The FM patients had significantly higher odds ratios (ORs) for respiratory/sinopulmonary infections, including upper respiratory tract infections (OR = 1.49), influenza (OR = 1.80), tonsillitis (OR = 1.40), sinusitis (OR = 1.98), otitis media (OR = 1.84), otitis externa (OR = 1.48), and pneumonia (OR = 1.60), all p < 0.01. They also experienced more gastrointestinal infections, including gastroenteritis (OR = 1.40), Helicobacter pylori (OR = 2.05), candidal esophagitis (OR = 7.88), and giardiasis (OR = 3.41), all p < 0.01. They had a higher prevalence of genitourinary infections, including urinary tract infections (OR = 1.79) and pelvic inflammatory disease (OR = 3.17), p < 0.01 as well as skin infections such as abscess (OR = 1.74) and cellulitis (OR = 1.64) and systemic infections such as symptomatic COVID-19 (OR = 1.76) and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) (OR = 1.85), all p < 0.01. Conclusions: The FM patients had a significantly higher incidence of infectious diseases than the general population. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms and develop targeted interventions to address infection risks in FM patients. Full article

Background/Objectives: Dermatological complaints are commonly seen in the emergency department (ED) setting and may be attributed to infectious, inflammatory, allergic, hypersensitivity, or traumatic processes, yet few studies have been carried out in Saudi Arabia addressing this topic. This study, therefore, aimed to explore this issue by investigating the most common dermatology-related ED encounters in a large tertiary care center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and estimating the incidence of these encounters. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted in the ED of King Abdulaziz Medical City, a tertiary care center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Data included all patients with dermatology-related ED visits during the period of 2022–2023. Demographic information including, for example, age and sex was collected. The International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) was used for the classification of diagnoses. Results: A total of 11,443 patients were included in the study, with male patients making up the majority (54.9%). The mean age upon diagnosis was 22.4 ± 23.2 years. More than half of the patients (55.3%) were diagnosed during childhood (<18), while proportions of older ages declined gradually. Average monthly presentations ranged from 400 to 560. Rash and non-specific skin eruptions (16%), cellulitis (13.6%), and urticaria (12.2%) were the most frequent dermatological emergencies. Conclusions: This study examined the dermatological conditions commonly seen in the emergency department. The findings highlighted a range of dermatology diseases that are typically seen in the ED. Addressing these prevalent disorders in the future will enhance ER physicians’ understanding and management of such common dermatological problems. Full article

Infectious diseases are largely preventable, yet they continue to pose a significant threat to public health, particularly among vulnerable populations in developing countries. Basic hygiene practices, especially hand and skin hygiene, have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of the cross-transmission of infections, including those caused by multi-drug-resistant organisms. In light of the growing global concern about antimicrobial resistance, there is an urgent need to review and reinforce these practices. This study provides a general overview of the role that hand hygiene practices play in decreasing infectious diseases by conducting a comprehensive review. Multiple online databases, including Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science, were searched using relevant keywords such as “hygiene practices”, “infectious diseases”, “public health”, “Africa”, and “sanitation”. After filtering the search results for relevancy, selected studies were narratively synthesized to present the latest data on hand hygiene and its impact on infectious diseases. Strengthening hand and skin hygiene, along with environmental sanitation and preventive measures, can help reduce the spread of nosocomial infections. By emphasizing the importance of these fundamental hygiene practices, particularly in regions where the burden of infectious diseases is highest, the development of antibiotic-resistant diseases can be prevented, improving patient safety, and enhancing public health outcomes. Adopting comprehensive hygiene policies, including regular handwashing, is crucial for reducing the prevalence of infectious diseases and improving health outcomes in developing countries. Full article

Dermatophytoses are infectious skin diseases of public health importance because of their transmissibility and high prevalence, especially among children. This is the first study aiming to estimate and report the burden of dermatophytoses on school-age children on the island of Santiago in Cape Verde, an African country that is an archipelago. A total of 249 students attending the afternoon shift of three elementary schools in the city of Achada Igreja were examined. Of these, 60 had suspected lesions of dermatophyte infection. However, from the samples collected from these 60 students, including hair, nails, and skin scrapings, only 18 dermatophyte isolates were obtained, corresponding to a point prevalence of 7.2%. Morphological species identification demonstrated three different species: Trichophyton soudanense, Trichophyton rubrum, and Trichophyton violaceum; re-identification by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 and 2 regions of ribosomal DNA, and the 5.8S rDNA encoding gene (ITS-5.8S region), revealed T. soudanense as the most prevalent species, with only one case of T. rubrum. This is the first epidemiological data describing dermatophytoses and dermatophytes in Cape Verde among school-age children on one of the archipelago islands. It reinforces the need of using culture and accurate identification methodologies when gathering epidemiological data on dermatophytoses. Full article

The diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in dark phototypes can be a challenging task due to the lack of relevant clues and its variable presentation. In this regard, there is growing evidence that dermoscopy may benefit the recognition of BCC even for skin of color (SoC). The objective of this review is to provide an up-to-date overview on clinical and dermoscopic patterns of BCC in SoC, also comparing such findings with those of the main clinical mimickers reported in the literature. A comprehensive search of the literature through the PubMed electronic database was carried out in order to identify papers describing the clinical and dermoscopic features of BCC in dark phototypes (IV–VI). By finding macroscopic clinical presentations of BCCs in SoC patients and any possible clinical mimickers considered in the retrieved papers, we built a differential diagnosis list and analyzed the dermoscopic findings of such conditions to facilitate the diagnosis of BCC. BCC in darker skin may present as pigmented nodular lesions, pigmented patches or plaques, ulcers, erythematous nodular lesions, erythematous plaques or patches, or scar-like lesions, depending on its subtype and body site. The differential diagnosis for BCC in patients with SoC includes squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, nevi, adnexal tumors and sebaceous keratosis. Additionally, it differs from that of Caucasians, as it also includes lesions less common in fair skin, such as dermatosis papulosa nigra, melanotrichoblastoma, and pigmented dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, and excludes conditions like actinic keratosis and keratoacanthoma, which rarely appear in darker skin. The resulting differences also include infectious diseases such as deep cutaneous mycosis and inflammatory dermatoses. The most prevalent differentiating dermoscopic feature for BCC includes blue, black and gray dots, though arborizing vessels still remain the predominant BCC feature, even in dark phototypes. Diagnostic approach to BCC in dark-skinned patients varies due to the prevalence of dermoscopy findings associated with hyperpigmented structures. Clinicians should be aware of such points of differentiation for a proper management of this tumor in SoC. Full article

Scabies is a parasitic infestation of the skin with high prevalence in crowded spaces. In some instances, scabies becomes the underlying factor for complicated skin-borne opportunistic pathogens infections in both children and adults. Geographic area and socio-economic factors are determinants of the endemic pattern of this disease. Currently, the treatment of scabies has been under special attention. A combination of oral therapy with Ivermectin and sulfur-based ointments are the gold standard. However, caution is required in patients with kidney impairment. The renal involvement in children with scabies is mainly caused by acute glomerulonephritis. The severity of the nephritic syndrome can lead to other complications. Also, Ivermectin possesses a nephrotoxic effect. Severe hypertension can lead to neurological complications. The aim of our case report is to present two unusual complications in brothers with scabies. We report the cases of two brothers with scabies who presented with severe skin infection that developed acute post infectious glomerulonephritis (APIGN). In addition, one of the brothers presented with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). The other one developed acute tubule-interstitial acute kidney injury following Ivermectin administration. The evolution of skin lesions was favorable, and kidney function returned to normal in both brothers. Full article

Dermatophytes are widely distributed in the environment, with an estimated prevalence of 20–25% of the the global population yearly. These fungi are keratinophilic and keratinolytic and cause the infection of keratin-rich structures such as skin, hair, and nails. The pattern of this infectious disease covers a wide spectrum from exposed individuals without symptoms to those with acutely inflammatory or non-inflammatory, chronic to invasive, and even life-threatening symptoms. This review summarizes current information on the pathogenicity, virulence factors, and drug resistance mechanisms associated with dermatophytes. A greater number of virulence factors of these fungi are important for the occurrence of infection and the changes that occur, including those regarding adhesins, the sulfite efflux pump, and proteolytic enzymes. Other virulence factors include mechanisms of evading the host defense, while the development of resistance to antifungal drugs is increasing, resulting in treatment failure. The investigation of host-pathogen interactions is essential for developing a more complete understanding of the mechanisms underlying dermatophyte pathogenesis and host response to inform the use of diagnostics methods and antifungal therapeutics to minimize the high fungal burden caused by dermatophytes and to control the spread of resistance. Full article

Diabetes prevalence continues to increase worldwide, which has led to a rising incidence of diabetes-related foot infections (DFIs). There is significant local variation in the microbiology of DFIs, and Pseudomonas spp. is suggested to be more prevalent in subtropical climates. The aim of this study was to investigate the local microbiological findings in patients admitted to the hospital with DFIs. This retrospective study analysed data from all adult patients diagnosed with diabetes and admitted to the hospital for the treatment of a DFI between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2022. Both superficial wound swabs and tissue cultures were included. The Infectious Diseases Society of America classification system was used to categorise the severity of the DFI. Patient characteristics and demographics were analysed using descriptive statistics. One hundred fifty-one episodes of care were included. Most of the DFIs were classified as moderate infections 101/151 (67%). The most commonly isolated microorganism was Staphylococcus aureus (33%) followed by normal skin flora (11%) and β-haemolytic streptococci (7%). P. aeruginosa was isolated more commonly in those with chronic DFIs (10%) compared to those with acute DFIs (2%). Despite the frequent identification of S. aureus, 83% of patients received an antipseudomonal antibiotic. The introduction of multidisciplinary DFI rounds should be considered. Full article

In this study, we aimed to characterize a cohort of children hospitalized due to varicella before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical charts of all children hospitalized in the Regional Hospital of Infectious Diseases in Warsaw due to varicella in the years 2019 and 2022 were retrospectively analyzed and compared. In total, 221 children were included in the analysis; 59 of them were hospitalized in 2019, whereas 162 were hospitalized in 2022. Children hospitalized in 2022 were older than those reported in 2019 (median 4.0 vs. 3.0 years, p = 0.02). None of the hospitalized children received complete varicella vaccination. The most common complication in both years was bacterial superinfection of skin lesions, found in 156/221 (70.6%) of patients. This complication rate was higher in 2022 (50.8% in 2019 vs. 77.8% in 2022, p = 0.0001), OR = 3.38, 95% CI: 1.80–6.35. Moreover, skin infections in 2022 more often manifested with cellulitis (in 2022 13.6% vs. 3.4% in 2019, p = 0.03), OR = 4.40, 95% CI: 1.00–19.33. Sepsis as a complication of varicella was almost five-fold more prevalent in 2022 than in 2019 (p = 0.009), OR = 5.70, 95% CI: 1.31–24.77. Antibiotic use increased between 2019 and 2022 (71.2% vs. 85.2%, p = 0.01). Furthermore, patients were treated more frequently with the combination of two different antibiotics simultaneously (only 3.4% of patients in 2019 compared to 15.4% in 2022, p = 0.01). Primary infections with varicella zoster virus in 2022 led to a more severe course of the disease. Full article

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) inhabit waters across a broad natural salinity gradient and exhibit changes in skin condition based on the quality of their environment. Prolonged exposure to low salinities (≤10–20 ppt) degenerates the epidermal barrier and causes cutaneous lesions in dolphins, while the role of high salinity exposure (>35 ppt) in lesion development remains unknown. We assessed seasonal lesion prevalence in three free-ranging dolphin stocks inhabiting coastal Gulf of Mexico (GoM) waters of different salinities (0–30 ppt, 22–35 ppt, and 36+ ppt) using images of dolphin bodies. Lesions were documented on 44% of the dolphins photographed (n = 432), and lesion occurrence was significantly related to cold seasons and water temperatures but not salinity. Cold water temperatures may heighten dolphin susceptibility to infectious pathogens and disease and compound the effects of anthropogenic pollutants in the GoM. As dolphins are a bioindicator species of marine habitat welfare, natural studies assessing dolphin skin may reveal environmental degradation with potential impacts on marine ecosystems and human health. Full article

Commercially available wearable devices (wearables) show promise for continuous physiological monitoring. Previous works have demonstrated that wearables can be used to detect the onset of acute infectious diseases, particularly those characterized by fever. We aimed to evaluate whether these devices could be used for the more general task of syndromic surveillance. We obtained wearable device data (Oura Ring) from 63,153 participants. We constructed a dataset using participants’ wearable device data and participants’ responses to daily online questionnaires. We included days from the participants if they (1) completed the questionnaire, (2) reported not experiencing fever and reported a self-collected body temperature below 38 °C (negative class), or reported experiencing fever and reported a self-collected body temperature at or above 38 °C (positive class), and (3) wore the wearable device the nights before and after that day. We used wearable device data (i.e., skin temperature, heart rate, and sleep) from the nights before and after participants’ fever day to train a tree-based classifier to detect self-reported fevers. We evaluated the performance of our model using a five-fold cross-validation scheme. Sixteen thousand, seven hundred, and ninety-four participants provided at least one valid ground truth day; there were a total of 724 fever days (positive class examples) from 463 participants and 342,430 non-fever days (negative class examples) from 16,687 participants. Our model exhibited an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.85 and an average precision (AP) of 0.25. At a sensitivity of 0.50, our calibrated model had a false positive rate of 0.8%. Our results suggest that it might be possible to leverage data from these devices at a public health level for live fever surveillance. Implementing these models could increase our ability to detect disease prevalence and spread in real-time during infectious disease outbreaks. Full article

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in bone health and musculoskeletal development. The aim of this narrative review is to present up-to-date information about the impact of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) on the health status of infants in their first year of life. Vitamin D is indispensable for skeletal growth and bone health, and emerging research suggests that it may also have significant roles in maternal and fetal health. VDD affects a large proportion of infants according to current guidelines. However, its prevalence varies depending on geographic location, skin pigmentation, and the time of year. Based on current guidelines for normal vitamin D levels and recommended daily intake, studies suggest that VDD is a global health issue with potentially significant implications for those at risk, especially infants. Our understanding of the role of vitamin D has improved significantly in the last few decades. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses investigating the effect of vitamin D on preterm birth, low birth weight, anthropometric parameters, and health outcomes such as infectious diseases in infants, have found conflicting or inconsistent results. It is important to encourage further research to fill in these knowledge gaps and develop national or global strategies that ease the burden of VDD, especially in groups at risk. Full article