bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Memory impairment after one year of the acute episode of Covid-19 infection
Authors: Zemni I , Kacem M , Bennasrallah C , Dhouib W , Ben Fredj M , Abroug H , Ben Rached N , Mhalla A , Bouanene I , Sriha A 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Introduction
Memory impairment is one of the most frequently reported sequelae of COVID-19 infection. The aim of our study was to estimate the risk of memory disorders one year after the acute episode of COVID-19 infection in the Tunisian population of Monastir.

Methods
This is a cohort study conducted in Monastir University Hospital. The study included two groups: Exposed subjects were randomly selected among those with a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 between September 2021 and January 2022. The non exposed group was selectd among subjects with a negative COVID-19 diagnosis during the same period and who had no COVID infection during the following year. The Mac Nair scale was used to assess memory impairment after one year of follow up.

Results
Our study included 140 subjects diagnosed with Covid-19 and 139 subjects who had never been in contact with this virus. The incidence rate of memory impairment at one year post-Covid-19 infection was 17.9% (IC95% [11.5 - 24.2%]), whereas in the non exposed group it was 9.4% (IC95% [4.45% -14.5%]). Multivariate analysis revealed that the group exposed to Covid-19 had a significantly higher Mac-Nair Total score after one year of the acute episode of infection compared with the non exposed group (exp β = 1.25, IC95% [1.10; 1.42]). The other main predictors of memory impairment in the study population were age (exp β = 1.006, IC95% [1.001; 1.01]), diabetes (exp β = 1.67, IC95% [1.44; 1.95]), history of anxiety and depression ((exp β = 1.71, IC95% [1.35; 2.17]) and obesity (exp β = 1.25, IC95% [1.10; 1.42]), whereas vaccination with two or more doses prior to COVID-19 infection (exp β = 0.84, IC95% [0.74; 0.96]) and male gender (exp β = 0.65, IC95% [ 0.57; 0.73]) were found to be protective against these disorders.

Conclusions
Our study allowed us to estimate the risk of long-term memory disorders following Covid-19 infection. This could help better guide preventive measures to reduce the incidence of these disorders.

Key messages
• The incidence rate of memory impairment at one year post-Covid-19 infection was 17.9%.
• The main other predictors of memory impairment were age, female gender, diabetes, history of anxiety and depression and obesity whereas vaccination prior to COVID-19 infection was a protective factor.
Trends in diabetes morbi-mortality and its association with abdominal obesity among Tunisian adults
Authors: Zribi M , Zoghlami N , Elati J , Traissac P , Aounallah-Skhiri H 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Introduction
Tunisia is undergoing rapid nutritional transition, with increasing rates of abdominal obesity. Coupled with rising diabetes prevalence, it poses significant challenges to public health. This study aimed to estimate the morbi-mortality prevalence and trends of diabetes among Tunisian adults, particularly examining its association with abdominal obesity.

Methods
We conducted a secondary data analysis on adults aged 35 to 70 from three national surveys in Tunisia, in 1996 (n = 3513), 2005 (n = 7700), and 2016 (n = 6007) respectively. Mortality data was sourced from the Tunisian National Information System on Causes of Death in 2020. The underlying cause of death was determined using the IRIS software, following WHO guidelines for tabulating mortality statistics. Diabetes was defined according to the American Association of Diabetes criteria. Abdominal obesity was defined as a waist-to-height ratio ≥ 0.6. We performed chi-squared test for trend analysis.

Results
A total of 17220 participants were analyzed. We found a significant upwards trend in diabetes prevalence (p &lt; 10-3): it increased from 13.1%[11.9-14.3] in 1996 to 15.1% [12.5-17.4] in 2005, then to 20.5%[18.9-22.1] in 2016. Linear trend test concluded to significant increase in diabetes prevalence estimated at 56.6% in two decades. Diabetes was significantly associated with abdominal obesity (Odds ratio (OR)=2.17[2.11-2.21]). Diabetes was the leading cause of death among Tunisian adults in 2020 (n = 22715). The proportional mortality due to diabetes was estimated at 6.2% (n = 1407) (6.4% for men and 6% for women). The age group with the highest proportional mortality due to diabetes was 65-70 years old (44.6%).

Conclusions
Our findings highlight the burden of diabetes on public health in Tunisia and its association with abdominal obesity. Hence the urgency to strengthen comprehensive preventive and control measures to alleviate its repercussions among the Tunisian population.

Key messages
• The prevalence of diabetes increased significantly amongTunisian adults in the past two decades.
• Immediate implementation of targeted interventions and policy measures is imperative to effectively address this issue.
Resistance Profiles of the ESKAPEE Complex at Veracruz’ s Children Hospital, 2023
Authors: Ceballos Vela M , Marín Vargas J A , Castillo Ceballos C E , Villegas-Dominguez J E , Sosa Gonzalez Y R , Bravo Sarmiento E , Alba Aburto D E 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Introduction
ESPAKEE complex bacteria are well known as a Multidrug Resistance Organisms that cause difficult mange infections. Management of these infections should be based on the monitoring of resistance profiles to provide appropriate therapy to reduce hospitalization costs and patient improvement.

Materials and methods
A cross-sectional, retrospective, descriptive study analyzed 179 ESKAPEE bacteria isolated from pediatric patients (0-18 years) between January 1 and December 31, 2023. Laboratory tests utilized VITEK 2.0 technology, reporting Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and classifying them as resistant or non-resistant. Descriptive statistics were generated using SPSS v22.

Results
The study included 179 antibiograms. Among Enterobacter species, E. aerogenes (3) and E. cloacae (17) showed 100% resistance to cefalotin. S. aureus (22) exhibited the highest resistance to Oxacillin (36.4%). Klebsiella pneumoniae (40) demonstrated 97.5% resistance to Ampicillin, followed by resistance to first-generation cephalosporins: cefalotin 62.5%, and third-generation cephalosporins: ceftriaxone and ceftazidime both at 60%. Acinetobacter baumannii (9) showed 100% resistance to Fosfomycin. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (30) displayed 100% resistance to Ceftriaxone, Cefotaxime, and Cefuroxime. Enterococcus faecium (2) exhibited 100% resistance to ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, ampicillin, and levofloxacin, while Enterococcus faecalis (16) showed 50% resistance to tetracycline. E. coli (39) exhibited the highest resistance to Ampicillin (87.2%), while in first-generation cephalosporins: cefalotin 66.7%, third generation: cefotaxime 66.7%, ceftazidime 64.1%, and ceftriaxone 66.7%.

Conclusions
The ESKAPEE complex species isolated in the hospital displayed diverse resistance profiles against various antibiotic families.

Key messages
• Monitoring ESKAPEE bacteria’s resistance profiles enables physicians to select appropriate antibiotics at optimal dosages and timings.
• Physician should know the rate of resistance of the antibiotics that they use for treatment of ESKAPEE bacteria.
Long-Term Impact of Infertility and Assisted Reproductive Technology on Cardio-Renal Health in Sweden
Authors: Mezzoiuso A G , Ye M , Noto M E , Henriksson P , Rodriguez-Wallberg K , Rado M , Öberg A S 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
The use of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), is rising in Europe. These treatments involve high doses of hormones to increase oocyte collection. While most safety studies in women have focused on cancer risks, the association with cardio-renal diseases remains under-explored. This study examines whether the use of ART is linked to coronary ischemic disease (CHD), stroke, brain hemorrhage, other cerebrovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, and aortic aneurysm/dissection, while also exploring the association between infertility and these conditions.

Methods
A nationwide cohort study was conducted using Swedish national registries, following all nulliparous women who gave birth between 1982 and 2002 until the end of 2017. Descriptive statistics and inverse probability weighted Kaplan-Meier curves to adjust for body mass index, maternal age, country of origin, smoking, and year of delivery, were used to compare 1) women who conceived with or without ART, 2) women who used IVF or ICSI respectively to women with known infertility that conceived without ART, and 3) women with and without known infertility.

Results
Compared to all other women, women undergoing ART were at elevated risk for CHD, stroke, and other cerebrovascular diseases, but after adjustment for underlying risk factors, including infertility, no substantial differences were seen. As a group, women with known infertility were at elevated risk of CHD and stroke, also after adjustment for known background factors.

Conclusions
Data suggest that the use of ART does not increase the long-term risk of cardio-renal diseases. Nonetheless, infertility itself is associated with a higher risk of CHD and stroke.

Key messages
• Infertility, more so than the use of ART, is linked to elevated risks of CHD and stroke.
• Preventive measures for these conditions should be considered for women with infertility.
Health symptoms in individuals with and without post-covid in the Dutch general population
Authors: Gerbecks J , Yzermans C J , Duckers M , Baliatsas C 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Health symptoms, often non-specific in nature such as headache and sleep problems, are more prevalent in the aftermath of disasters. Relatively little research focused on non-specific symptoms in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, including those with post-covid conditions. The aim of this study was to assess the symptomatic profile of people with post-covid conditions, and to assess differences in health symptoms between non-infected individuals, infected individuals, and individuals with post-covid.

Methods
A nation-wide cross-sectional health survey performed in 2022 was combined with routine primary care electronic health records (EHRs). Prevalence of individual symptoms was analyzed, as well as symptom scores for number, duration, and severity of symptoms. The total survey sample consisted of 315,586 individuals. The EHR sample consisted of 29,797 individuals with matched survey data. Both samples were divided into three groups: non-infected, infected, and post-covid.

Results
Survey participants with post-covid experienced significantly (CI 99%) more (incidence risk ratio (IRR) 1.55), longer lasting (IRR 1.87), and more severe self-reported symptoms (IRR 1.95) compared to non-infected individuals. For infected compared to non-infected survey participants, there were hardly differences in symptom scores. The most distinct differences in individual symptoms were observed for loss of smell or taste, fatigue, and respiratory problems. Based on EHR data, the post-covid group is at significantly higher risk of experiencing fatigue, shortness of breath, headache, sleep problems, and dizziness.

Conclusions
Individuals suffering from post-covid are at the highest risk of experiencing health symptoms, both based on self-reported symptoms as well as based on EHRs. The infected group generally experienced more self-reported symptoms than the non-infected, but on average, they experienced them at a shorter duration, and they also reported them to be less severe.

Key messages
• Health symptom prevalence is higher in individuals with post-covid in the Netherlands.
• This effect is confirmed in self-reported health surveys as well as in primary care registries.
Human Rights System Guidelines on the Benefit from Scientific Progress in Access to Medicines
Authors: Ventura da Silva M 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Health innovation and research has become an economic and profitable activity. Market practices have exposed inequalities, scarcities and inequities in access to treatments and have significantly reduced the decision-making power of governments in the field of public health. Documentary research on the human right (HR) to health (Art. 12) and its interrelationship with the right to benefit from scientific progress (Art. 15, b) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) on access to medicines in three bodies of the UN system - the ICESCR Monitoring Committee (CESCR), the Human Rights Council (HRC) and World Health Organisation - over the last 10 years. The documents address three main topics. Market: marketing restrictions, price controls and using flexibility in pharmaceutical patents to reduce costs and produce generics. Innovation: patent protection without barriers to access to medicines for people in need. Health system interventions: giving priority to economic efficiency and sustainability by institutionalising health technology assessment, selecting essential medicines, developing clinical guidelines and integrating and linking regulatory agencies. These normative guidelines minimise the ethical, political and legal dimensions of the human right to enjoy scientific progress in access to medicines as a priority value that should guide public and private action, and emphasise technocratic and financial measures that seek to reconcile the liberal and social logic of the ICESCR.

Key messages
• In order to maximise the guarantee of human rights in access to medicines, economic and financial considerations should play only a residual role in human rights.
• To give countries greater decision-making power at the global health, the scope of the right to benefit from scientific progress and its applications in health care needs to be expanded.
Ethics in social listening in infodemic management in health emergencies
Authors: Machiri S , Purnat T , Ishizumi A , Nguyen T , Von Harbou K , White B , Emiroglu N , Germani F , Spitali G , Reis A 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Issue
During the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent outbreaks, health organizations have increased the use of social listening to inform infodemic management and outbreak response activities. This demonstrated the need to provide ethical guidance to organizations, and individuals engaging in social listening practices before, during and after public health emergencies, whilst protecting human rights.

Description of the problem
Social listening as a public health activity draws on analysis of conversations in social media, internet platforms, and feedback from geographically localized communities. Infodemic insights are generated rapidly, to support agile action by health organizations that improves outbreak response, health information delivery, community engagement, or reduction of unintended harm experiences by communities. Social listening involves use of social media and internet trace data, which were traditionally not used in public health for understanding community expressions, WHO convened a panel of experts to develop a framework on ethical considerations for social listening in infodemic management to provide recommendations for health authorities and researchers on practical tools that support setting up new data analysis and use of insights hereto not used in routine.

Results
The guidance framework has been structured into segments that vary from ethical principles and challenges in social listening and generation of infodemic insights, alignment with human rights, substantive principles, procedural principles, and practical guidance for translating these principles into real-world practice.

Lessons
This guidance aims to illuminate the intricate ethical dimensions of social listening and stress the urgent need for ethical guidance in this realm. The framework is a comprehensive inquiry of the ethical scope in social listening, providing valuable insights, practical guidance, and case studies to enhance understanding of this critical global health issue.

Key messages
• While essential, social listening and infodemic insights come with ethical risks, including potential harm to populations in vulnerable situations, erosion of trust, and misuse of data.
• This ethical framework will govern social listening practices and ensure responsible and ethical social listening.
Reviewing and assessing emerging trends and needs for research, development and innovation (RDI) and capacity building in a short, medium and long-term perspective
Authors: Baron R , Hansen J 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
An important aim of the Partnership is to identify current and future health services and systems priorities and to identify capacity building and training needs to support RDI activities in health and care systems in the Partnership countries and the EU as a whole. This is being done by means of periodical reviews, among others building on scientific research literature, strategic and policy documents and consultations of stakeholders. At the conference workshop, results of the mapping are presented, with a special focus on priority areas that can contribute to health systems transformation towards sustainable and people-centred health and care systems accessible to all. The session will allow participants provide reflections on and refinements to potential common priorities across national RDI agendas. This will provide direction for future research calls, based on an inventory of priorities that are considered by both policy audiences, research and wider stakeholder communities that should be addressed at EU and national levels.
The corporate political activity of the food industry in Ireland: an analysis and proposed solutions
Authors: Campbell N , Finucane F , Walsh M , Reilly K 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
The study consisted of mapping the corporate political activity (CPA) of the food industry in Ireland. Following that study, we plan to benchmark the efforts made by the Irish government to address any undue corporate influence on public health policy.

Methods
We followed the INFORMAS methods for studying the food industry’s CPA (document analysis) and analysed the key commercial actors in Ireland and their activities over a 24-month period. We also conducted nine semi-structured interviews with key informants.

Results
We found a total of 147 CPA occurrences during the period of analysis. That data was triangulated and completed with information shared by our participants. We found examples of the food industry lobbying the government, shaping scientific evidence, and framing the problems and solutions on diet in ways that would not harm the industry. IBEC, a trade association, and the dairy sector were particularly active in trying to influence public health in Ireland.

Conclusions
Our study shows that the food industry uses its CPA to influence public policy, research, and practice in Ireland. The next step for our project will be to benchmark the Irish government against international standards for its efforts to limit the negative effects of the CPA on public health policy.

Key messages
• In Ireland, as in other countries, the food industry uses its CPA to interfere with public health policy, research and practice.
• There is a need to address that influence, and we will benchmark the efforts of the Irish government in trying to limit the CPA, against international standards.
Revealing the influence of food industry actors in relation to nutritional policies in Belgium
Authors: Cnockaert S , Vandevijvere S 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Unhealthy food is one of the prevailing risk factors of NCDs and cancers, making the food industry a key player in their prevention. However, evidence-based public health policies aimed at reducing consumption of unhealthy food, may threaten industry sales. In response, food industry actors try to influence the development and implementation of these nutritional policies by engaging in corporate political activities (CPA). As part of the Joint Action PreventNCD, the CPA of relevant food industry actors in relation to public health nutritional policies will be assessed. In Belgium, strategies of Fevia, the umbrella organization of the food industry, are examined. This study analyses publicly available information collected from Fevia’s website, social media accounts (i.e. X and LinkedIn), newsletters and newspapers. A thematic qualitative analysis is conducted using established frameworks to categorize both framing and action strategies used by the industry. The categorization of framing strategies reveals how the food industry presents the actors, problems, and solutions. The framework of action strategies categorizes the CPA of the food industry under the following six strategies: information and messaging; financial incentives; constituency building; legal action; policy substitution; opposition fragmentation and destabilization. Preliminary results indicate that the industry often frames itself as ‘the good actor’ and primarily uses strategies such as ‘information and messaging’, ‘constituency building’ and ‘policy substitution’ to influence policies in Belgium in their favor. In the next phase, interviews with stakeholders (e.g. policymakers, politicians,...) will be performed to collect undocumented information. Overall, this research sheds light on the ongoing CPA of the food industry and will increase transparency in their influence on the development and implementation of effective nutritional policies aimed at reducing the burden of NCDs and cancers.

Key messages
• This study reveals how the umbrella organization of the food industry in Belgium influences public health nutritional policies through various corporate political action and framing strategies.
• Identifying these CPA increases awareness of the industry’s influence, but also promotes their transparency and accountability, which is crucial for reliable and effective nutritional policy.
Enhancing policy impact: Bridging evidence to action
Authors: Fragny C , Delattre V , Samoila M , Stefan A , Da-Cruz L , Cucu I , Lazar S , Rus A , Ungureanu M 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
The aim of the THCS partnership, regarding bridging evidence to policy, is to develop evidence-based cooperation strategies that enable policymakers in partner countries to base their decisions on validated and reliable knowledge. This approach aims to drive meaningful transformation in our health and care systems collectively. Facilitating knowledge exchange and mutual learning among policymakers is key to achieving this goal. THCS seeks to foster the sharing of experiences, best practices, and lessons learned, and ultimately design tailored tools to ensure policymakers are aware of existing resources and opportunities for effective policy development. During the workshop, the presentation, discussions, and activities will focus on two main issues: identifying who should be considered a policymaker and determining the necessary tools to develop evidence-based strategies. Participants are encouraged to explore how evidence-based strategies can be translated into policy actions and integrated into practice at various levels of the health system, from local to national and European levels.