Is diabetes a risk factor for a severe clinical presentation of dengue? Review and meta-analysis (Publications)
symptoms of dengue fever episodes as well as of hyperglycemia in the past, and at the time of dengue diagnosis, are needed to properly address the effect of diabetes on the clinical presentation of an acute [...] BACKGROUND: The mean age of acute dengue has undergone a shift towards older ages. This fact points towards the relevance of assessing the influence of age-related comorbidities, such as diabetes, on the [...] the clinical presentation of dengue episodes. Identification of factors...
Legionnaires' disease: a qualitative study on Swiss physicians' approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (Publications)
BACKGROUND: The number of reported cases of Legionnaires' disease has increased significantly over the last decade in Switzerland and abroad. Along with the number of cases, the volume of testing has increased [...] lower levels of awareness, reflecting the fact that they treat pneumonia cases empirically without identification of the causative agent, in accordance with current guidelines. The value of the diagnostic [...] been partially attributed to a change in awareness of the disease. Yet,...
Prereferral rectal artesunate and referral completion among children with suspected severe malaria in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria... (Publications)
the rapid improvement of a child's condition after RAS administration may influence a caregiver's decision to follow this recommendation. Currently, the evidence on the effect of RAS on referral completion [...] limited. METHODS: An observational study accompanied the roll-out of RAS in three malaria endemic settings in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Nigeria and Uganda. Community health workers and [...] pre-roll-out phase (aOR=1.81, 95% CI 1.17 to 2.79). CONCLUSIONS: The findings o...
Social-political and vaccine related determinants of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Tanzania: a qualitative inquiry (Publications)
possessed a range of questions regarding COVID-19 vaccines that they wanted answered by the government. Social factors included preference for traditional and home remedies and influence from others. Political [...] and doubts about the existence of COVID-19 and the vaccine. Our findings suggest that the COVID-19 vaccine is beyond a medical intervention, it carries with it a variety of expectations and myths that need [...] doubts, and concerns over safety issues. An understanding of...
Factors associated with health-related quality of life among home-dwelling older adults aged 75 or older in Switzerland: a cross-sectional study (Publications)
indicator of individuals' perception of their overall health, including social and environmental aspects. As a multidimensional concept, HRQoL can be influenced by a multitude of factors. Studies of HRQoL [...] provide a better understanding of the construct and the role of the environment on how they perceive their HRQoL. Thus, we aimed to assess the HRQoL and investigate the correlates of HRQOL among home-dwelling [...] factors beyond the individual level that impact the HRQoL of home-dwelling...
The promotion and development of One Health at Swiss TPH and its greater potential (Publications)
thinking. The history of ideas and processes leading to the development of One Health research at the Swiss TPH were inspired by far-sighted and open ideas of the directors and heads of departments, without [...] mentions of One Health in the biomedical literature. Here, we summarise the history of ideas and processes that led to the development of One Health research and development at the Swiss TPH, clarify its [...] becoming part of reporting under the International Health Legislation (IHR...
Pharmacokinetic parameters of artesunate and dihydroartemisinin in rats infected with <em>Fasciola hepatica</em> (Publications)
half-lives (t(1/2)) of artesunate and DHA were considerably altered in infected rats following oral and iv administration of artesunate. CONCLUSIONS: F. hepatica infections strongly influence the disposition [...] vein and blood samples were withdrawn at selected timepoints following 10 mg/kg of iv and a single 100 mg/kg oral dose of artesunate. Plasma was analysed for artesunate and DHA by liquid chromatography [...] infections revealed considerable changes in PK parameters of artesunate and...
The equity impacts of community financing activities in three African countries (Publications)
equity primarily through consideration of the design of these financing activities and through the perceptions of different actors, within a limited number of purposively selected geographical areas in [...] achieved, as well as as an influence over both the distributional and procedural justice of the financing activities, the pattern of decision-making. Across countries there was evidence of relative affordability [...] either to the issue of absolute affordability, through the implementation...
First insights into the phylogenetic diversity of <em>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</em> in Nepal (Publications)
Nepal. Strain variation in Mycobacterium tuberculosis may influence the outcome of TB infection and disease. To date, the phylogenetic diversity of M. tuberculosis in Nepal is unknown. METHODS AND FINDINGS: [...] evidence for an association of Lineage 2 with age or BCG vaccination status. CONCLUSIONS: We found a large genetic diversity of M. tuberculosis in Nepal with representation of all four major lineages. Lineages [...] (SNP) typing and spoligotyping. Drug resistance was determined by...
Obstacles to prompt and effective malaria treatment lead to low community-coverage in two rural districts of Tanzania (Publications)
information. A census of drug retailers and health facilities provided data on availability and location of treatment sources. RESULTS: After intensive health education, the biomedical concept of malaria has largely [...] 8) of the fever cases in children and 80.7% (68.1-90.0) in adults were treated with one of the recommended antimalarials (at the time SP, amodiaquine or quinine). However, only 22.5% (13.9-33.2) of the [...] 0-21.5) of the adults received prompt and appropriate antimalarial...