The process of informed consent remains a constant challenge in clinical research. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the understanding of researchers and members of Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) regarding the essential elements of an Informed Consent Form (ICF) as required by internationally recognized regulations. Using eight case studies to illustrate basic ethical elements, the study involved 107 participants, mainly from the Asia Pacific and African regions. The results showed that most of the participants had general knowledge regarding the essential elements required in an ICF. However, the issues of confidentiality of data and payment for study participation proved to be problematic for some participants, accounting for 35% and 28% of all incorrect answers respectively. This suggests that participants’ understanding of the underlying concepts of the required ICF elements is limited. Ethical training of researchers and IRB members, particularly in the Asia Pacific and African regions, concerning valid informed consent is still needed.

Dengue virus (DENV) infection is a significant burden in Indonesia and other tropical countries. DENV infection has a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, i.e. asymptomatic, dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. The variety of clinical manifestations may be due to the diversity of genetic constitution of the host. The C-type lectin DC-SIGN (CD209) has been identified as the major dengue receptor on human dendritic cells. There are at least five polymorphisms in exon 5 and 6 of the DC-SIGN encoded gene which have been identified and recorded in dbSNP. The aim of this work is to measure the frequency of these polymorphisms among asymptomatic and hospitalized DENV-infected patients. We enrolled 23 hospitalized and 73 asymptomatic DENV-infected patients. Among the subjects, we performed PCR amplification and DNA direct seqencing for 23 hospitalized DENV-infected patients and 24 asymptomatic DENV-infected patients. The result showed that there were no polymorphic nucleotides in the CD209 encoded gene among the patients.

Background: Given the shortage of medical professionals in the Philippines, Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) may play a role in providing postpartum healthcare services. However, as there are no reports regarding BHW activities in postpartum healthcare, we conducted this study to understand postpartum healthcare services and to explore the challenges and motivations of maternal health service providers. Methods: Focus group interview (FGI) of 13 participants was conducted as qualitative research methodology at Muntinlupa City. The results were analyzed according to the interview guide. The proceedings of the FGI were transcribed verbatim, and researchers read and coded the transcripts. The codes were then used to construct categories. Results: Four important activities were highlighted among 11 analysis codes. These activities were “Assessment of postpartum women’s conditions,” “Recommendation to visit a health facility,” “Measurement of blood-pressure and vitamin intake,” and “Providing postpartum health information.” Among five analysis codes, we identified three challenges that BHWs face, which were “No current information regarding postpartum care,” “Some postpartum women do not want to receive healthcare services from BHW,” and “Too many assigned postpartum women.” Among five analysis codes, we identified two reasons for continuing BHW activities, which were “Hospitality to help postpartum women and their family in the community” and “Performance of mission in providing BHW services.” Conclusion: This study is the first to evaluate BHW activities in postpartum healthcare services. Our results indicate that BHWs play a potentially important role in evaluating postpartum women’s physical and mental conditions through home-visiting services. However, several difficulties adversely affected their activities, and these must be addressed to maximize the contributions of BHWs to the postpartum healthcare system.

We encountered a probable case of loiasis in a returned traveler from Central Africa. A 52-year-old Japanese woman presented to our hospital complaining of discomfort in her eyes and skin. She reported having frequently visited Central Africa over many years and having been extensively exposed to the rainforest climate and ecosystem. Although no microfilariae were found in her blood, there was an elevated level of IgG antibodies against the crude antigens of Brugia pahangi, which have cross-reactivity with Loa loa. She was treated with albendazole for 21 days, after which the antigen-specific IgG level decreased and no relapse occurred.

Organizations working for the elimination of Chlamydia-triggered blindness (trachoma) follow the WHO SAFE strategy (surgery for trichiasis, antibiotics, face washing and environmental changes) with the aim to achieve a minimum of 80% of children with clean faces in endemic communities, mass treatment covering the whole district with trachoma rates of 10% or more and surveillance plans. Trachoma recurrence that is common after implementing the SAFE strategy 3, 5 or even 7 times evidence that the cognitive processes requiring assimilation and integration of knowledge did not register with parents, caretakers and children. Moreover, repeated awareness campaigns to improve hygiene did not systematically produce irreversible changes of behavior in neglected populations. In view of this evidence, the rational behind mass drug administration as the mainstay of preventable blindness elimination demands a wider scope than simple mathematical models. The reluctance to see disappointing outcomes that leads to repeated interventions may suggest from a sociologic point of view that the strategies are products of those evaluating the activities of those who fund them and vice versa. A similar articulation emerges for reciprocal interactions between researchers and those judging the pertinence and quality of their work. So far, the lack of autocritic elimination strategy approaches may expose inbred circles that did not properly grasp the fact that antibiotics, trichiasis surgery and education limited to improvement of hygiene are inefficient if not associated with long-term basic educational actions in schools.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging disease endemic in East Asia. Transmitted to other organisms by infected ticks, the SFTS virus (SFTSV) and is endemic to Nagasaki in western Japan. However, epidemiological information regarding SFTSV in Nagasaki ticks has not been available to date. In this study, we began by examining the sensitivities of SFTSV gene detection by real-time RT-PCR and virus isolation in cultured cells and mice. These methods could detect SFTSV in the samples containing more than 4 × 10⁰ ffu. Next, we attempted to isolate SFTSV and to detect viral gene in 2,222 nymph and adult ticks collected from May to August 2013 among seven regions of Nagasaki. However, neither virus isolation nor viral gene detection were confirmed in the tick pools. SFTSV positivity rates are considered to be very low in ticks, and viral loads are also very limited. Further investigations increasing the number of ticks and including larval samples as well as improved detection methods, may be required to find SFTSV-positive ticks in this region.

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is an important disease of the central nervous system caused by infection with Taenia solium metacestodes. In addition to the clinical findings and the imaging analysis, the results of immunological tests are informative for the diagnosis of NCC. To compare the usefulness of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples for antibody detection, paired serum and CSF samples from patients with NCC and other neurological diseases were examined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with low-molecular-weight antigens purified from T. solium cyst fluid in a blinded fashion. The sensitivity of both serum and CSF samples was 25.0% in inactive NCC cases (n = 4) and 90.9% in active NCC cases (n = 33), and the specificity of serum and CSF was 100% and 95.8%, respectively. When the serum and CSF samples were combined, the sensitivity in active NCC cases became 100%. There was no difference in test performance between serum and CSF samples. Based on these results, we recommend the detection of specific antibodies in serum for the diagnosis of active NCC because of the ease of collection. When the antibody test is negative, however, CSF should be used to confirm NCC and to rule out other medical disorders of the central nervous system. Antibody detection test using only serum or CSF has a limited diagnostic value and cannot be recommended for the diagnosis of suspected inactive NCC cases.

Leprosy leads to chronic granulomatous inflammation in skin and peripheral nerves that can lead to sensory, motor and autonomic impairments. Autonomic dysfunctions may result in dryness and cracking of the skin. In this study, we present the use of ozone provided by a high-frequency device to treat hand ulcers (wounds) in an 80-year-old man who was diagnosed as multibacillary in 2007. In the first visit, the patient was evaluated and received verbal and written instructions about self-care. Treatment consisted of five sessions, once per week. The ozone provided by a high-frequency device seemed to be useful in the treatment of ulcers, thus, contributing to the healing process. Research that investigates the use of high frequencies in the treatment of ulcers associated or not with other interventions (self-care strategies, protective clothing, adapted tools and footwear adaptation) is strongly recommended.

Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe acute gastroenteritis in children worldwide, and globally licensed vaccines are available. To expedite the introduction of rotavirus vaccines in the national immunisation programme, a simple, ecological method to monitor changes in the burden of rotavirus disease may be of great help. Here, we report an application of a time-series analysis on a publicly-available dataset in Japan on the weekly number of laboratory-confirmed rotavirus-positive samples over the last 5 year period between the 36th week of 2009 and the 35th week of 2014 during which rotavirus vaccines became marketed in Japan and presumed to reach an uptake rate of at least 39% as a national average. Compared with the expected number of rotavirus detection based on the preceding four rotavirus seasons, the number of rotavirus detection during the 2013–2014 season was 42.9% (95% CI: 38.6, 47.8). This suggests that the use of rotavirus vaccine had a positive impact on reducing the burden of rotavirus diarrhoea in Japan. This method, because of its simplicity and little cost, should be applicable to early detection of the impact of rotavirus vaccine even in resource-poor countries where the World Health Organization funded and implemented the sentinel surveillance programmes of laboratory-confirmed rotavirus cases.

Congenital syphilis (CS) is a public health burden in both developing and developed countries. We report two cases of CS in premature neonates with severe clinical manifestations; Patient 1 (gestational age 31 weeks, birth weight 1423 g) had disseminated idiopathic coagulation (DIC) while Patient 2 (gestational age 34 weeks and 6 days, birth weight 2299 g) had refractory syphilitic meningitis. Their mothers were single and had neither received antenatal care nor undergone syphilis screening. Both neonates were delivered via an emergency cesarean section and had birth asphyxia and transient tachypnea of newborn. Physical examination revealed massive hepatosplenomegaly. Laboratory testing of maternal and neonatal blood showed increased rapid plasma reagin (RPR) titer and positive Treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay. Diagnosis of CS was further supported by a positive IgM fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test and large amounts of T. pallidum spirochetes detected in the placenta. Each neonate was initially treated with ampicillin and cefotaxime for early bacterial sepsis/meningitis that coexisted with CS. Patient 1 received fresh frozen plasma and antithrombin III to treat DIC. Patient 2 experienced a relapse of CS during initial antibiotic treatment, necessitating parenteral penicillin G. Treatment was effective in both neonates, as shown by reductions in RPR. Monitoring of growth and neurological development through to age 4 showed no evidence of apparent delay or complications. Without adequate antenatal care and maternal screening tests for infection, CS is difficult for non-specialists to diagnose at birth, because the clinical manifestations are similar to those of neonatal sepsis and meningitis. Ampicillin was insufficient for treating CS and penicillin G was necessary.