Zika Virus Infection

This Phase 1 study is designed to assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of single and multiple intravenous doses of BWC0977 when administered to healthy adult volunteers. This is a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled, ascending dose, multi-cohort trial. A total of 64 healthy volunteers are expected to be enrolled in 8 Cohorts. The study will be conducted in two phases: A single ascending dose (SAD) phase, followed by a multiple ascending dose (MAD) phase. In SAD, participants in Cohorts 1 - 2 will receive one dose of BWC0977 or placebo. In MAD, participants in cohorts 3 - 7 will receive multiple doses of BWC0977 or placebo for 7-10 consecutive days (as per the schedule). In both parts, sequential cohorts will be exposed to increasing doses of BWC0977.

Pregnancy is a critical period for cardiovascular health risk assessment and interventions to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease in both mother and child generations. Recently, the American Heart Association proposed the latest cardiovascular health assessment indicator "Life's Essential 8". However, there is still a lack of application data for pregnant women. This project intends to explore the application potential of Life's Essential 8 in cardiovascular health assessment of pregnant women and establish appropriate gestaional cardiovascular health standards.

It has not been objectively clarified how the thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) changes the biomechanical adaptations that occur in the lumbopelvic region during pregnancy and whether it is associated with pelvic girdle pain (PGP). Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the biomechanical and viscoelastic properties of TLF, which adapts to the changes in the lumbopelvic region in pregnant women with pelvic girdle pain, and to investigate its relationship with PGP.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: I. To compare novel, home-based methods of quantitating medication concentrations in either saliva or sweat to the 'gold standard' of liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry of plasma. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To compare novel home-based methods of quantitating substances in either saliva or sweat to the 'gold standard' in plasma. II. Assess the ease of obtaining home-based samples. OUTLINE: Patients undergo collection of sweat samples via Macroduct Sweat Collection System 3710S and saliva and blood samples within 24 hours after medication administrations. Patients also complete questionnaires over 5-10 minutes and have medical charts reviewed. After completion of study, patients are followed up periodically.

The study aims to assess the effectiveness of male-female VHV/Ws working in pairs on women's uptake of second PNC visits in rural Sepone, Lao PDR. Methods A quasi-experimental cluster study will be conducted between July 2024 and October 2026 in 37 selected sites from two districts in southern Lao PDR. In 19 selected intervention villages in the Sepone district, female-male VHV/Ws pairs will promote postpartum services, whereas, in 18 similar control villages in the Vilabuly district, VHV/Ws will work as individuals.

This study will be a single blinded, randomized, prospective controlled study. After obtaining written informed consents, 86 patients of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status II, aged 20-40 years old, undergoing spinal anesthesia for elective cesarean section will be investigated at El-Shatby University Hospital. The patients will be randomized into two groups of n=43 each using a computer-generated sequence. Allocation concealment will be done using sealed envelope technique. Depending on the group allocation either to receive IV Pethidine 0.5mg/kg (Group A n=43 patients) as premedication mixed into 10 ml isotonic saline slowly IV or intrathecal Pethidine 0.2 mg/kg and 2.5 ml Bupivacaine 0.5% (Group B n=43 patients). SA will be given at either L3-L4 or L4-L5 in the sitting position by the anesthetist using 22-25-gauge Quincke spinal needles. Patients will be covered with drapes but not actively warmed. 10mg ephedrine will be given if the patient becomes hypotensive (hypotension is defined as a decrease in MAP of \>20% from the baseline). 0.5 mg atropine IV will be given if HR less than 50 beats/min. Rescue 4 mg ondansetron IV will be given for vomiting episodes. Room temperature will be maintained about 21 - 24ºC during the perioperative period in the OR and in the PACU, using temperature control system. The presence of shivering will be observed and graded after spinal injection by using Tsai and Chu Scale. The following parameters will be measured: 1. Vital signs (heart rate, and blood pressure) will be measured at baseline and every 5 minutes after administration of the drug for 30 minutes, then every 15 minutes till the end of surgery and every 30 minutes in the first two hours postoperatively 2. Body temperature (in degrees Celsius), will be measured, using axillary thermometer before drug administration then every 15 minutes till the end of surgery. After surgery, axillary temperature will be measured every 30 minutes for 2 hours. 3. Using Tsai and Chu Scale for shivering assessment, the incidence, duration, time interval from onset of spinal block to shivering occurrence, and intensity of shivering will be recorded every 15 minutes during the surgery and every 30 minutes for 2 hours postoperatively in the recovery room. 4. Complications of the drugs, such as nausea, vomiting and sedation will be recorded. The primary aim of this study will be to assess the effect of IV pethidine and intrathecal pethidine on the incidence, onset, duration, and intensity of shivering. The secondary aims will be to assess the effect of different routes of administration of the drug on hemodynamic stability, nausea, vomiting, and sedation.

This prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to evaluate and compare the efficacy of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) and folic acid supplementation in increasing red blood cell (RBC) folate levels among pregnant women in their first trimester. The study is grounded in the understanding that both food folate and folic acid are metabolized into 5-MTHF, the active form of folate essential for DNA synthesis and homocysteine remethylation. Given the established links between folate deficiency, hyperhomocysteinemia, and adverse pregnancy outcomes, including neural tube defects (NTDs), pre-eclampsia, and premature birth, this research seeks to determine if 5-MTHF, as the direct active form, offers superior benefits over traditional folic acid supplementation. The findings will provide crucial insights into optimizing folate supplementation strategies during early pregnancy, potentially improving maternal and fetal health outcomes. The study will recruit 100 pregnant women aged 25-35 years, with gestational ages between 9-14 weeks, who meet the inclusion criteria of normal BMI (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), hemoglobin levels above 11 g/dL, and a declaration of good health based on prior medical examinations. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one receiving 600 mcg (1.35 μmol) of folic acid and the other receiving 1100 mcg (1.35 μmol) of 5-MTHF glucosamine salt (HY-FOLIC®), ensuring an equimolar dosage comparison. Exclusion criteria include pre-existing upper gastrointestinal diseases, history or current use of drugs interacting with folate metabolism (e.g., methotrexate), antiepileptic therapy, or concomitant use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), antacids, or H2 receptor blockers within the past three months. This rigorous selection process aims to minimize confounding variables and ensure the internal validity of the study. The primary outcome of this research is to determine the difference in RBC folate levels between the two supplementation groups at the end of the three-month study period. Secondary outcomes include the proportion of pregnant women in each group achieving an RBC folate level threshold of 906 nM, as well as changes in plasma 5-MTHF, homocysteine, and unmetabolized folic acid (UMFA) levels from baseline to the end of the intervention period. These outcomes will provide a comprehensive assessment of the comparative effectiveness of 5-MTHF and folic acid in improving folate status and related biomarkers in pregnant women. Blood samples will be collected at baseline and at the end of the third month to measure these parameters, ensuring objective and quantifiable data for analysis. Ethical considerations are paramount in this study. All participants will provide written informed consent prior to enrollment, and the study protocol will be reviewed and approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or equivalent ethics committee. Participant confidentiality will be maintained throughout the study, and data will be anonymized during analysis and reporting. Any potential risks associated with blood sampling or supplementation will be thoroughly explained to participants, and appropriate safety measures will be implemented. Participants will be informed of their right to withdraw from the study at any time without penalty. The results of this study are expected to contribute significantly to the current understanding of optimal folate supplementation during pregnancy, potentially impacting clinical guidelines and practices. By comparing 5-MTHF and folic acid directly, this research will provide evidence-based recommendations for healthcare providers to ensure adequate folate levels in pregnant women, thereby reducing the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and promoting maternal and fetal health.

Congenital cytomegalovirus infection (cCMV) is the main non-genetic cause of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), and a major cause of neuro-disability. High maternal CMV prevalence seems to be consistently associated with high prevalence of cCMV infection but the associated morbidity might be different from one population to another. There exists no serologic marker useful to differentiate non-primary infection from primary infection. Since the morbidity of cCMV is similar between both primary and non-primary maternal infection, and to be infected in the first trimester is the major risk factor for long-term sequelae in neonates. Hence, it is needed to focus on finding markers that predict cCMV after maternal infection in the first trimester of pregnancy. To date, the epidemiology of cCMV, the morbidity related to cCMV in Vietnamese population and the predictive value of Cytomegalovirus Polymerase Chain Reaction (CMV PCR) in maternal blood and urine in the first trimester remain unknown. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct this study.

The goal of this cluster randomized trial is to develop and test a new method for preparing indigenous (locally termed as Orang Asli) households in Selangor, a state in Malaysia, for outbreaks and Disease X, a potential unknown infectious threat. It aims to determine if the new method, a health education package comprised of workshops, simulation exercises, and card game play sessions, can enhance the readiness of these families for such outbreaks. The main questions it is looking to answer are: 1. Will the intervention package increase the level of preparedness for a Disease X and outbreaks among indigenous households in Selangor? 2. Will the intervention improve the awareness and attitudes of the indigenous people in Selangor towards outbreak preparedness? 3. Will it lead to more proactive preparedness actions by these households? To evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention package, researchers will compare outcomes between two groups: the intervention group receiving both the intervention package and educational brochures on communicable disease prevention, and the control group receiving only the brochures. Participants will: 1. Participate in the activities in the newly developed intervention package, which would include workshops, simulation exercises, and card game play sessions. 2. Answer surveys four times: before, immediately after, 1 month after and 2 months after the intervention, to measure any changes in their preparedness levels for an outbreak.

The results of this study suggest that spousal and family support has a positive impact on psychosocial health during pregnancy for women who become pregnant after an earthquake. It was determined that participants had difficulties in accessing health services and exhibited symptoms of fear, sleep disorders, depression and trauma. However, pregnancy, even if unplanned, was considered a hope for a new beginning for many women after a devastating earthquake. The study also emphasizes the importance of pregnant women's need for spiritual care, support and especially attention during this process. In summary, comprehensive mental health support will play a critical role in improving the well-being of earthquake-affected pregnant women.