BioMed, Volume 3, Issue 3 (September 2023) – 9 articles

Background: Human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6) is a ubiquitous virus known as an etiological agent of exanthem subitum. HHV-6-encephalitis in immunocompetent children is a rare complication of the primary infection. There are a lack of data on the prevalence of HHV-6-encephalitis in Russia. The aim of our study was to analyze the prevalence of HHV-6 DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of immunocompetent children with suspected acute meningoencephalitis. Materials and Methods: A total of 712 CSF samples were tested using qualitative PCR over 12 years at N.F. Filatov Children’s City Clinical Hospital No.5, Saint-Petersburg, Russia. Results: HHV-6 DNA was detected in 20 (2.8%) of the samples. Retrospectively, we analyzed the medical records of 15 cases. There were seven boys and eight girls from 1 month to 7 years old; the mean age was 22.3 ± 5.6 months. Most HHV-6 DNA-positive cases were due to the primary form of HHV-6 infection. There were, in total, four cases of HHV-6-meningoencephalitis. All the children had a complete recovery, without neurological deficits or death. Conclusions: HHV-6 encephalitis is a very rare disease in immunocompetent children (four cases among 712 samples over 12 years). Additional studies are needed to develop accurate diagnostic criteria and therapeutic approaches. Full article

This scoping review provides an overview of the tools used to assess for early childhood caries (ECC) in Nigeria. A search of the literature in African Journals Online, Google Scholar, Medline, and Cochrane database was conducted in June 2023 using the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A combination of keywords related to caries risk assessment, preschool children, and evaluation tools was used for the search. Studies reported in English and assessing ECC were extracted. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the information on study characteristics, types of caries assessment tools, and study outcome. Caries assessment tools were divided into behavioural, social, and biological. After screening 964 potential studies, 16 were included in the review. ECC assessment tools were categorised into behavioural (snacking, frequency of consumption of refined carbohydrate in-between-meals, dental service utilisation, frequency of tooth brushing, use of fluoridated toothpaste, breast and bottle feeding patterns and duration), biological (birth rank, age, sex, anthropometric measures, molecular characterisation of isolated organisms, presence of plaque), and social (socioeconomic status of the child’s household, mother’s level of education, maternal income, occupation of the father, maternal decision-making ability). Twelve studies used behavioural assessment tools, 11 used biological, and 11 used social tools. Furthermore, 11 (70.1%) used a combination of tools, four (25.0%) used only biological tools, and one (6.2%) used only behavioural tools to assess ECC experience. No study screened for the risk of caries. In conclusion, we identified the need for comprehensive studies to identify the risk indicators of ECC in Nigeria. This will support the development of a caries risk assessment tool appropriate for the country context. Full article

The decarbonization of transport is a global initiative aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing the risks of global warming. This article explores the potential connections between the decarbonization of transport and oral health, highlighting the need for further research in this area. Emissions from vehicle exhausts, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, may have a modest impact on the risk of early childhood caries and other oral health diseases like periodontal diseases, oral cancer, and dental caries. Active transportation, which promotes regular exercise, has beneficial effects on overall health, including stimulating salivary protein production and reducing the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, both of which are linked to poor oral health. Transitioning to electric vehicles can also reduce noise pollution, positively impacting mental well-being, which is associated with improved oral hygiene practices. Furthermore, the development of sustainable infrastructure, including efficient public transportation systems, can enhance access to dental services. Further research is needed to establish stronger evidence for these connections and to explore how the global decarbonization of transport agenda can incorporate oral health considerations. Full article

Background: The effects of the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in elite endurance athletes are unclear. This case study reported the blood glucose (BG) levels of a female national-level marathon runner during a real-world marathon race. Methods: Heart rate and BG levels were monitored throughout the race. Results: The runner completed the race in 2:46 h:min, which was an improvement from her previous personal record by just under one min. Her BG levels were stable from approximately 5–40 km of the race at a mean concentration of 7.13 mmol/L, with a standard deviation of 0.20 mmol/L and a coefficient of variation of 2.8%. Increases in BG levels and heart rate were observed 6 min after the race and during the 40–42.195 km section, respectively. Conclusions: The runner broke her own record and exhibited stable BG levels throughout the race, with the highest BG value detected immediately after the race. Considering that quantity, content, and timing of pre-race meals and supplementation during the race can affect BG levels, future studies should assess additional detailed parameters in more detail and monitor multiple races with the same elite endurance athletes to acquire more definitive evidence on CGM usefulness among elite endurance athletes. Full article

Aim: to explore the psychological wellbeing and work-related quality of life amongst United Kingdom (UK) health and social care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Subject and methods: Health and social care professionals within nursing, midwifery, allied health professions, social care and social work occupations working in the UK during the pandemic were recruited. Repeated cross-sectional online surveys were conducted during six time periods of the pandemic (May–July 2020, November–February 2021, May–July 2021, November 2021–February 2022, May–July 2022 and November 2022–February 2023). Results: Over 14,000 participants completed the surveys during the data collection periods. The findings revealed that over the pandemic, psychological wellbeing and work-related quality of life scores significantly decreased. Conclusions: The overall psychological wellbeing and work-related quality of life of health and social care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly declined. Further research is warranted on the lasting impact of the pandemic on this workforce. The health and social care workforce needs support to prevent further deterioration and to rebuild its wellbeing and resilience. Full article

The purpose of the present study was to review all available work published within the last decade focusing on coping strategies in stroke caregivers and their impact on quality of Life (QoL) and psycho-emotional status. A literature search of two databases (MEDLINE, Scopus) was conducted to identify all relevant full-text English studies published between 2013–2023. Sixteen articles were traced and were finally included. Cognitive and behavioral coping strategies were beneficial for stroke caregivers’ and survivors’ QoL. The level of mutuality in the caregiver-survivor relationship was associated with the impact of depressive symptoms on caregivers’ QoL and the protective effect of mutuality on survivors’ QoL over time. The level and quality of social support were positively associated with QoL for stroke caregivers and survivors. Caregivers’ preparedness was a moderator for the impact of depression on both caregivers’ and survivors’ QoL. High levels of spirituality had a significant role in ameliorating the negative impact of depressive symptoms on the psychological and physical QoL of stroke caregivers and survivors. In conclusion, the study of coping strategies can be used as a psychological reserve in the process of stroke rehabilitation and actively contribute to improving the QoL of both caregivers and stroke survivors. Full article

There exist a plethora of studies examining the psychological and physical impacts of COVID-19 on infected victims. Fewer studies have been published assessing the different types of impacts that an individual’s COVID-19 infection has on close friends and family members. This is the first scoping review to gauge the reported psychosocial issues and daily hassles that impact the relatives and friends of infected individuals. This study was conducted by inputting key terms/MeSH terms into selected internet databases to locate prospective studies. The frameworks of scoping reviews by Arksey et al. and the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analyses (PRISMA) were utilized in the methodology for identifying and selecting the studies. After data extraction, 37 studies were deemed suitable for analysis. The findings generated from each study were placed into combined categories. A total of 16 combined categories were generated from the amalgamation of the findings. The results show that psychosocial feelings (e.g., anxiety, stress, and depression) were the category with the highest prevalence of grouped findings. The results from this study may serve as the impetus for future interventions targeting the alleviation of psychosocial feelings or day-to-day hassles associated with having a loved one inflicted with a severe illness. Full article

Polypharmacy, the use of multiple and potentially inappropriate medications, is an increasing problem among older adults. The global polypharmacy prevalence is 34.6% in patients with COVID-19, and polypharmacy in COVID-19 increases with age. The present paper proposes that polypharmacy in older adults with COVID-19 and other comorbid conditions is linked to the medication outcome reporting bias of randomized controlled trials. Outcome reporting bias can occur when treatment efficacy is reported as relative risk reductions, which overestimates medication benefits and exaggerates disease/illness risk reductions compared to unreported absolute risk reductions. The comorbidities common in patients with COVID-19 include high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, dementia or cerebrovascular disease, and diabetes. Accordingly, the present paper reassesses the relative and absolute risk reductions in clinical trials from a small convenience sample of antihypertension, statin, anticoagulant, and antihyperglycemic medications. Examples demonstrate a wide gap between reported relative risk reductions and unreported absolute risk reductions in medication clinical trials. This paper concludes that medication clinical trial outcome reporting bias is an important upstream factor that contributes to biased medication benefits and poor clinical decision making, leading to polypharmacy in older adults with COVID-19 and other comorbid conditions. Public health campaigns are urgently needed to educate the public about the link between polypharmacy and medication outcome reporting bias. Full article

Dysautonomia in the post-COVID-19 condition appears to affect a significant number of patients, with reports raising the incidence up to 61%, having an overlap with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Quality of life and daily function are significantly impacted and conservative management interventions, despite the lack of high-quality evidence to date, are needed to ameliorate disability. A total of 50 adults with a dysautonomia post-COVID-19 diagnosis based on the Ewing battery and a NASA lean test will be enrolled in a randomized single blinded controlled trial with a crossover design. Feasibility and lack of definite dysautonomia diagnosis will be the primary outcomes, while secondary outcomes will be health-related, clinical and cardiopulmonary exercise test indicators. Safety and acceptance will also be checked, primarily excluding participants with post-exertional malaise. The Long-COVID patients Causal Diagnosis and Rehabilitation study in patients with Dysautonomia (LoCoDiRE-Dys) intervention will consist of an educational module, breathing retraining and an individualized exercise intervention of biweekly sessions for two months with regular assessment of both groups. LoCoDiRe-Dys aims to be the first post-COVID-19 randomized study in people with dysautonomia offering a multimodal intervention both in diagnosis and management. The need for evidence in effectively supporting patients is eminent. Full article