International Journal of Medicine and Public Health

PROTACs: Opportunities and Challenges Ahead in the Field of Drug Discovery

Anish Kizhakkekkara Vadukoot — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) are alternatives to traditional small molecule-based drug discovery techniques that focus on direct regulation of protein activity. Targeted protein degradation in cells by heterobifunctional small molecules has emerged as one of the most promising technologies for modulating a protein of interest (POI). PROTACs connect three chemical elements: POI ligand to an E3 ubiquitin ligase (E3) recruiting ligand with an optimal linker for conjugating these two ligands.1 PROTACs cause degradation via the ubiquitinproteasome system (UPS) through proximityinduced ubiquitination of the POI. PROTACs induce target protein degradation at low exposures due to their catalytic mode of action thus making them an attractive platform for cancer therapy and other diseases. Read more....

Breast Feeding and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in Syria: A Potential Association

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Objectives: This study aims to assess the interaction between Breastfeeding and ALL incidence and different ALL variables in children. Methods: Our case-control study was conducted in the major paediatric cancer centre in Syria. Information was obtained from the hospital’s records of patients who did not have a hereditary or chromosomal syndrome and aged 4 years and less. The cases had ALL and controls were hospital inpatients. Children were divided into 3 groups depending on their feeding habits before the age of 6 months. Results: Sixty (85.7%) cases and 59 (72%) controls were exclusively breastfed. Exclusive breastfeeding was found more frequently in the case group P=0.04 (OR, 2.339; CI, 1.025 -5.336). In case group, parents of a low educational level breastfed their children more frequently (P<0.05). Number of siblings was not associated with ALL or any of its variables. Furthermore, infancy feeding pattern correlation with gender, being born with no complications, consanguinity, CD10, FAB classification, ALL-subtype, risk, and family history were insignificant. Conclusion: There are certain practices among the Syrian people, especially among parents of a low educational level that has possibly exposed to carcinogenic substances which were possibly transferred through BF. However, BF had minor effects on the prognosis and subtype of ALL, and number of siblings had no effect on ALL.

Effects of Wood Smoke Exposure and Associated Factors on Respiratory Parameters of Pygmies Involved in the Smoking of Game Meat in the Congo/Brazzaville

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Introduction: This study assesses the effects of pollutants generated by the burning of firewood by pygmies practicing the smoked meat trade. Materials and Methods: A total of 56 rural pygmies aged 36.92 ± 4.69 years old were divided into two groups, whose 29 exposed pygmies (practicing meat smoking) and 27 less exposed pygmies (not practicing this trade). Levels of PM2.5 pollutants and respiratory parameters were measured. A questionnaire including demographic data and another to identify symptoms of respiratory diseases were used. Epi info 7 software was used to perform the analyses. Results: This study indicates high concentrations of pollutants in the environment where this occupation is practiced. All spirometric parameters decreased in the exposed pygmies. The symptomatology was chronic cough, shortness of breath, wheezing and dyspnea that were higher in the exposed pygmy group. There was a strong association between the age of the subjects, the duration of exposure and the level of pollutants with certain symptoms. Conclusion: These results suggest that pygmies involved in smoking game meat inhale significant quantities of toxic particles. This pollution has health and environmental implications. Screening programmer are needed for this population.

Application of Stem Cell Therapy (SCT) to Covid-19: A Scientometric Assessment of Global Publications during 2020-21

B M Gupta, Mallikarjun Kappi, K K Mueen Ahmed — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Objectives: The study makes a bibliometric evaluation of global publications on “Application of Stem Cell Therapy to Covid-19” during 2020-22. Methods: The published publications on this theme were searched, retrieved, and downloaded from the Elsevier’s Scopus international database and analyzed using bibliometric techniques based on select bibliometric indicators. The VOSviewer software and Biblioshiny application were used to construct and visualize bibliometric networks. Results: In all 1413 publications were indexed on “Application of Stem Cell Therapy to Covid-19” in the Scopus database till 30 December 2021. These publications registered an average of 18.03 citations per paper. Of these, the funded publications were 452(31.99%). In all, 91 countries, 690 organizations, and 1068 authors participated in global research and published in 317 journals. Among participating countries, China, the U.K., Italy, and India lead in publications output (with 185, 148, 127, and 110 papers) and China (58.38 and 3.24), France (47.0 and 2.61), Netherlands (46.63 and 2.59) and the U.K. (41.84 and 2.32) leads in citation impact. Among participating organizations, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran (37 papers), Harvard Medical School, USA (36 papers), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, USA (29 papers) and Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran (26 papers) leads in publications productivity (with 37, 36, 29 and 26 papers) and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, USA (110.78 and 6.14), Massachusetts General Hospital, USA (81.35 and 4.51), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA (78.95 and 4.38) and Harvard Medical School, USA (75.42 and 4.18) leads in citation impact. Among participating authors, K.K.Sahu (9 papers), J. Cerny (7 papers), M.A. Perales and M.Z. Ratajzak (7 papers each) leads in publication productivity and M. Mohty (37.0 and 2.05), P.R.M. Rocco (35.8 and 1.99), D.J. Weiss (33.5 and 1.86) and M.A. Perales (32.86 and 1.82) leads in citation impact. Stem Cell Reviews and Reports (35 papers), Frontiers in Immunology (32 papers), Bone Marrow Transplantation (30 papers) leads in publication productivity and Journal of Medical Virology (132.10), American Journal of Hematology (75.20), Aging and Disease (55.46) and Cell Stem Cell (33.14) leads in citation impact. Conclusion: The research is mainly dominated by North America and Western Europe, but with some contribution from China, India, Iran, and Brazil playing also an important role. The developing countries need to prioritize their research in this area and increase their collaboration with North America and Western Europe countries. The analysis will help scholars and policy-makers to take stock of the present situation and decide the future course of action on the “Application of Stem Cells in Covid-19”

The Impact and Sustainability of Hand-hygiene Practices on Health Facilities in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic. A Case Study of Busia County (Kenya)

William Okedi, Caroline Wakoli, Irene Emojong — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Introduction: Health care associated infections including COVID-19 are drawing attention from patients, insurers and Governments worldwide because of the magnitude of the problem i.e. morbidity, mortality and treatment, although these are preventable. Literature review shows there is very little published information on hand washing practices of health care workers in Kenya. This study provides important inputs for planning, policy making and informs future research areas and methods. Methods: A cross sectional study design was conducted in Matayos, Teso South and Teso North sub-counties of Busia County. The study covered 33 consenting health workers in 7 health facilities. An interview guide and observation checklist were used to collect data and to ascertain availability of hygiene and sanitation facilities. Thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data while quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: That there was no policy on hand hygiene in 6 (86%) health facilities; awareness about hand hygiene was high; knowledge on critical moments for hand hygiene was unsatisfactory but nurses scored better. Only 44% respondents knew effectiveness of alcohol-based sanitizer; on disposal of waste, maternity wards ranked highest 6(87.7%) complying. Laxity in enforcing obligatory use of hand hygiene was high only 2(28.6 %.) of facilities complying. Respondents attributed reduction in diarrheal infections and improvements in sanitation during covid-19 pandemic to rigorous hand hygiene practices. Found that hand hygiene compliance by health care workers can reduce infections in health facilities. That lack of piped water, erratic supply of soap, sanitizers and dependency on external partners were perceived to be important barriers for the sustainability of hand washing practices. Conclusion: The hand hygiene initiative has occupied a new and important place in the minds of health workers, policy makers and communities due to its contribution in the prevention and control of one of the most serious diseases of the 21st century. The initiative has presented a compelling case for investment in preventive and promotive health and demonstrated the power of the old adage “prevention is better than cure”. Purposeful partnerships and collaborations are powerful tools to achieve common goals. The study also exposed various systemic weaknesses within the public health sector and the political leadership that needs to be addressed to ensure sustainability of hand hygiene.