6867 research outputs found
Sort by
Genome editing and its role in vaccine, diagnosis, and therapeutic advancement
No full textGenome editing involves precise modification of specific nucleotides in the genome using nucleases like CRISPR/Cas, ZFN, or TALEN, leading to increased efficiency of homologous recombination (HR) for gene editing, and it can result in gene disruption events via non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) or homology-driven repair (HDR). Genome editing, particularly CRISPR-Cas9, revolutionizes vaccine development by enabling precise modifications of pathogen genomes, leading to enhanced vaccine efficacy and safety. It allows for tailored antigen optimization, improved vector design, and deeper insights into host genes\u27 impact on vaccine responses, ultimately enhancing vaccine development and manufacturing processes. This review highlights different types of genome editing methods, their associated risks, approaches to overcome the shortcomings, and the diverse roles of genome editing
Biomimetic ghost nanomedicine-based optotheranostics for cancer
No full textTheranostic medicine combines diagnostics and therapeutics, focusing on solid tumors at minimal doses. Optically activated photosensitizers are significant examples owing to their photophysical and chemical properties. Several optotheranostics have been tested that convert light to imaging signals, therapeutic radicals, and heat. Upon light exposure, conjugated photosensitizers kill tumor cells by producing reactive oxygen species and heat or by releasing cancer antigens. Despite clinical trials, these molecularly conjugated photosensitizers require protection from their surroundings and a localized direction for site-specific delivery during blood circulation. Therefore, cell membrane biomimetic ghosts have been proposed for precise and safe delivery of these optically active large molecules, which are clinically relevant because of their biocompatibility, long circulation time, bypass of immune cell recognition, and targeting ability. This review focuses on the role of biomimetic nanoparticles in the treatment and diagnosis of tumors through light-mediated diagnostics and therapy, providing insights into their preclinical and clinical status
Le soutien à la scolarisation des filles et leur maintien à l’école
No full textSérie SWEDD: Guide de Bonnes Pratiques no. 2
Ce Guide fait partie d’une série qui documente d’une manière rétrospective le processus de mise en œuvre des interventions du projet SWEDD, et décrit les bonnes pratiques, les défis et les leçons apprises. Le projet “Autonomisation des Femmes et Dividende Démographique au Sahel” (SWEDD) a été lancé en novembre 2015 avec le soutien financier de la Banque mondiale, et l’appui technique du Fonds des Nations Unies pour la population (UNFPA) et de l’Organisation Ouest -Africaine pour la Santé (OOAS). Les recherches menant à ce Guide ont été dirigées par le Population Council
Le rôle des leaders de groupes dans les espaces sûrs et les clubs des maris/futurs maris
No full textSérie SWEDD: Guide de Bonnes Pratiques no. 6
Ce Guide fait partie d’une série qui documente d’une manière rétrospective le processus de mise en œuvre des interventions du projet SWEDD, et décrit les bonnes pratiques, les défis et les leçons apprises. Le projet “Autonomisation des Femmes et Dividende Démographique au Sahel” (SWEDD) a été lancé en novembre 2015 avec le soutien financier de la Banque mondiale, et l’appui technique du Fonds des Nations Unies pour la population (UNFPA) et de l’Organisation Ouest -Africaine pour la Santé (OOAS). Les recherches menant à ce Guide ont été dirigées par le Population Council et Equimundo
In situ photo responsive biodegradable nanoparticle forming intrauterine implant for drug delivery to treat ovarian diseases: A rationale-based review
No full textOvarian disease constitutes various types of endocrine disorders, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), ovarian cancer, premature ovarian failure, ovarian endometriosis, and ovarian cysts. The prevalence of ovarian-related diseases is highly vulnerable in the world. The utility of various drug delivery systems for ovarian diseases has resulted in varied success. Moreover, most of them lead to severe adverse effects and are incapable of ameliorating the signs and symptoms of the condition. Intrauterine devices (IUDs) have positioned themselves as a mechanism to deliver the drug for various ovarian-related diseases. Thereby avoiding various stability-related issues arising due to various physiological barriers of the female reproductive tract. However, the use of intrauterine devices for drug delivery to the ovaries has not been fully explored. This is attributed to the fact that they cause cysts in the ovaries and skepticism among patients and physicians. Photo-sensitive devices are an appealing approach for managing disorders affecting the ovaries. Photo-sensitive in situ forming intrauterine implants (IUIs) have several advantages, including simplicity in application, reduced invasiveness, as well as improved site-specific drug release control. Polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) loaded with a drug may be a suitable choice to provide sustained release, alter the pharmacokinetics, and reduce the dose and dosing frequency. The current manuscript hypothesizes the utility of a PNP-loaded biodegradable photo-responsive intrauterine implantable device as an alternate novel strategy for ameliorating ovarian-related diseases
Data-driven decision making for health and population: The Integrated Health and Population Dashboard (IHPD)—Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)
Get PDFImproving possible serious bacterial infection (PSBI) management in young infants when referral is not feasible: Lessons from embedded implementation research in Ethiopia and Kenya
No full textBackground: Sepsis is a leading cause of neonatal mortality, despite the availability of effective treatment of possible serious bacterial illness (PSBI), including when referral to a hospital is not feasible. Gaps in access and delivery worsened during COVID-19. We conducted embedded implementation research in Ethiopia and Kenya aimed at mitigating the impact of COVID-19 and addressing various implementation challenges to improve PSBI management. Methods: The implementation research projects were implemented at the subnational level in Ethiopia and Kenya between November 2020-June 2022 (Ethiopia) and December 2020-August 2022 (Kenya). Guided by the implementation research frameworks, both projects conducted mixed formative quantitative and exploratory research from April to May 2021, followed by summative evaluations conducted between June and July 2022. Frameworks encompassed Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM), as well as health systems framework that incorporates cascades of care and World Health Organization Health Systems Building Blocks. Results were synthesized across the projects through document review and sharing cross-project measures and strategies through a project community of practice. Results: Despite differences in settings across the projects, cross-cutting facilitators included community health worker program and support, and existence of guidelines for PSBI management at primary care levels. Barriers included community attitudes towards seeking care for sick newborns, COVID-19 risks and fear, and lack of health care worker competence. Country-specific contextual barriers included supply chain issues, civil conflict (Ethiopia), and labor strikes (Kenya). Strategies chosen to mitigate barriers and support implementation and sustainability in both settings included leveraging community health workers to address resistance to care-seeking, health workers’ training, COVID-19 infection prevention measures, stakeholder engagement, and advocacy to integrate PSBI management into existing programs, policies, and training. Other strategies addressing emerging project-specific barriers, included improving follow-up through a community health desk and PSBI mobile app (Kenya) and supply chain strengthening (Ethiopia). Both projects improved PSBI management coverage, increased adoption and uptake, and informed national policy changes supporting potential for sustainability. Conclusions: Pragmatic embedded implementation research effectively supports the identification of barriers and mapping to strategies designed to increase effective coverage of PSBI management when referral is not feasible during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite differences in context, cross-cutting strategies identified could inform broader scale-up in the region, including during future health system shocks
Understanding the education profiles of seven East and Southern African countries
Get PDFDespite significant progress in improving primary enrollment and attainment for girls in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in recent years, gender disparities in education persist and hinder opportunities for girls. Educational attainment for girls has plateaued in numerous countries, with only a few making significant strides in narrowing the gender gap. Moreover, attainment alone does not always translate to improved learning. Gender-related barriers such as school environments that are not conducive to learning and the experience of violence, early and forced marriage, and early childbearing, as well as a lack of support for girls’ education impede attainment and learning. The Population Council’s GIRL Center was commissioned by a private grantmaking foundation to conduct a scoping review and analysis to identify investment opportunities in East and Southern Africa and Latin America. The aim was to identify countries with both a need to advance girls’ education and skills and existing traction with potential for significant systemic progress in a five-year period. This brief contains profiles of seven East and Southern African countries (Kenya, Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia) and summarizes insights on key education indicators, school environment, gender-related barriers to education, and policies related to education
Young female migrants and job placement brokers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
No full textIntroduction: Rates of urbanization in Ethiopia are high and adolescent girls and young women are predominant among those who move from rural to urban areas. Young women frequently undertake rural-urban migration on their own or with a friend, and with little planning for their initial settlement in the city. They frequently rely on job placement brokers to place them into jobs upon arrival, with positions such as domestic work normally including accommodation. Methods: This is a qualitative study undertaken at the two largest bus stages in Addis Ababa, which are points of arrival for a large number of migrants from rural areas. Three categories of respondents were interviewed in-depth: migrant young women who had arrived within the last few days, job placement brokers who are located in and around the bus station, and market women/vendors at the bus stations who interact with both migrants and brokers. Results: Migrant girls\u27 point of arrival was an inflection point of risk, especially among girls who were on their own, not accompanied or met at the bus terminal and lacking in plans or preparation of accommodation. Such girls were targeted by thieves at the bus station and by unscrupulous brokers, some of whom forced girls into sexual relations before placing them into paid work. In contrast, market women and some well-meaning brokers took steps to protect girls such as providing temporary accommodation. Conclusion: This research underscores the need for intensified support to rural-urban migrants to ensure safety and security at the time of arrival at their destination. This includes promotion of pre-migration education and planning; safety assets including sufficient money, cell phones and alternative contacts in the city; and arrangement for immediate, safe and secure accommodation. As a result of the study, a pilot program has been developed, using local resources to extend support for newly arriving migrant girls and young women
Spousal concordance in attitudes toward intimate partner violence (IPV) and its association with physical IPV against women: A cross-sectional study among young married couples in rural India
No full textThis study aimed to assess couple concordance in attitudes toward intimate partner violence (IPV) and its association with physical IPV against women. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 1,201 nonsterilized women aged 18–29 years and their husbands. It was found that husbands were significantly more likely (69.9%, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 67.3%, 72.5%) to justify IPV than wives (56.5%, 95% CI: 53.7%, 59.3%). Couples who both hold attitudes justifying IPV against women (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 3.5; 95% CI: 1.57%–8.00%) and couples where women hold these attitudes, but men do not (AOR: 2.93; 95% CI: 1.18–7.28), were more likely to report male-perpetrated IPV against women in the prior 12 months