Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors for Severe Dengue Fever in Xishuangbanna, During the Dengue Outbreak in 2019

Epidemiological Trends and Public Health Implications of Dengue Fever in Zhejiang Province, China: A Decadal Analysis from National to Cangnan Perspectives

Objective

To analyze dengue fever outbreaks in China, Zhejiang Province, and a local region to provide a scientific basis for early warning surveillance and the prevention and control of dengue epidemics.

Methods

This retrospective study examines dengue fever data from China and Zhejiang Province over the past decade, including incidence, mortality, seasonal distribution, age characteristics, and regional distribution. Local data from the past decade were also analyzed.

Results

Over the last ten years, the average annual incidence rate of dengue fever in China has been 0.7764 per 100,000 individuals, with a mortality rate of 0.000945 per 100,000. In the same period, the incidence rate in Zhejiang Province was 0.4546 per 100,000, with no fatalities reported. Dengue fever cases in both China and Zhejiang Province are primarily seen during the summer and autumn seasons. Between 2014 and 2020, cases were documented across all age groups in China, demonstrating an age-specific pattern in the annual average incidence rate, with rates initially increasing to peak in young adults and subsequently declining with advancing age. The highest rates were noted in the 20-29.9 and 30-39.9 age brackets. With the exception of Tibet, all regions in China have recorded cases, with Guangdong, Yunnan, Fujian and Zhejiang in the southern part of the country being the main high-incidence areas. In Cangnan County, 30 cases of dengue fever were reported over the past decade, predominantly affecting imported cases, males, and young to middle-aged adults.

Conclusion

Dengue fever cases are rising in China, particularly in southern regions. 15 to 50 years old people are most affected. There is a pressing need for region-specific strategies to mitigate the impact of dengue fever, particularly in high-incidence areas.

Hypoalbuminemia as a predictor of severe dengue: a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Dengue fever is a significant health concern globally, especially in tropical regions. Identifying reliable markers for severe dengue, such as hypoalbuminemia, is crucial for early diagnosis and treatment.

METHODS

This review systematically explores the association between hypoalbuminemia and severe dengue. We searched databases including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science until 28 December 2023, focusing on studies that reported albumin levels in dengue patients. Our selection criteria aimed at observational studies, from which data extraction and quality assessment were performed using Nested- Knowledge and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

RESULTS

A meta-analysis of 17 studies involving 974 severe and 18,496 non-severe dengue patients identified a standardized mean difference (SMD) in albumin levels of -1.625 g/dL (95% CI: -3.618 to -0.369). Subgroup analysis indicated more pronounced hypoalbuminemia in pediatric patients, with a pooled SMD of -1.08 g/dL (95% CI: -1.71 to -0.45). Our analysis demonstrated the link between hypoalbuminemia and severe dengue, indicating a significant pooled relative risk of 2.286, within 95% CI 1.308 to 3.996.

CONCLUSIONS

The study confirms hypoalbuminemia as a significant predictor of severe dengue. Recognizing hypoalbuminemia in dengue patients can aid clinicians in forecasting the severity, potentially improving patient outcomes through targeted therapeutic strategies.

Allosteric inhibition of dengue virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase by Litsea cubeba phytochemicals: a computational study

RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) is considered a potential drug target for dengue virus (DENV) inhibition and has attracted attention in antiviral drug discovery. Here, we screened 121 natural compounds from Litsea cubeba against DENV RdRp using various approaches of computer-based drug discovery. Notably, we identified four potential compounds (Ushinsunine, Cassameridine, (+)-Epiexcelsin, (-)-Phanostenine) with good binding scores and allosteric interactions with the target protein. Moreover, molecular dynamics simulation studies were done to check the conformational stability of the complexes under given conditions. Additionally, we performed post-simulation analysis to find the stability of potential drugs in the target protein. The findings suggest Litsea cubeba-derived phytomolecules as a therapeutic solution to control DENV infection.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Genotype of dengue virus serotype 1 in relation to severe dengue in Guangzhou, China

Guangzhou has been the city most affected by the dengue virus (DENV) in China, with a predominance of DENV serotype 1 (DENV-1). Viral factors such as dengue serotype and genotype are associated with severe dengue (SD). However, none of the studies have investigated the relationship between DENV-1 genotypes and SD. To understand the association between DENV-1 genotypes and SD, the clinical manifestations of patients infected with different genotypes were investigated. A total of 122 patients with confirmed DENV-1 genotype infection were recruited for this study. The clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, and levels of inflammatory mediator factors were statistically analyzed to investigate the characteristics of clinical manifestations and immune response on the DENV-1 genotype. In the case of DENV-1 infection, the incidence of SD with genotype V infection was significantly higher than that with genotype I infection. Meanwhile, patients infected with genotype V were more common in ostealgia and bleeding significantly. In addition, levels of inflammatory mediator factors including IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10, and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 were higher in patients with SD infected with genotype V. Meanwhile, the concentrations of regulated upon activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted and growth-related gene alpha were lower in patients with SD infected with genotype V. The higher incidence of SD in patients infected with DENV-1 genotype V may be attributed to elevated cytokines and adhesion molecules, along with decreased chemokines.

The impact of curcumin on livestock and poultry animal's performance and management of insect pests

Plant-based natural products are alternative to antibiotics that can be employed as growth promoters in livestock and poultry production and attractive alternatives to synthetic chemical insecticides for insect pest management. Curcumin is a natural polyphenol compound from the rhizomes of turmeric (Curcuma spp.) and has been suggested to have a number of therapeutic benefits in the treatment of human diseases. It is also credited for its nutritional and pesticide properties improving livestock and poultry production performances and controlling insect pests. Recent studies reported that curcumin is an excellent feed additive contributing to poultry and livestock animal growth and disease resistance. Also, they detailed the curcumin's growth-inhibiting and insecticidal activity for reducing agricultural insect pests and insect vector-borne human diseases. This review aims to highlight the role of curcumin in increasing the growth and development of poultry and livestock animals and in controlling insect pests. We also discuss the challenges and knowledge gaps concerning curcumin use and commercialization as a feed additive and insect repellent.

Cross-Reactive Immunity among Five Medically Important Mosquito-Borne Flaviviruses Related to Human Diseases

Flaviviruses cause a spectrum of potentially severe diseases. Most flaviviruses are transmitted by mosquitoes or ticks and are widely distributed all over the world. Among them, several mosquito-borne flaviviruses are co-epidemic, and the similarity of their antigenicity creates abundant cross-reactive immune responses which complicate their prevention and control. At present, only effective vaccines against yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis have been used clinically, while the optimal vaccines against other flavivirus diseases are still under development. The antibody-dependent enhancement generated by cross-reactive immune responses against different serotypes of dengue virus makes the development of the dengue fever vaccine a bottleneck. It has been proposed that the cross-reactive immunity elicited by prior infection of mosquito-borne flavivirus could also affect the outcome of the subsequent infection of heterologous flavivirus. In this review, we focused on five medically important flaviviruses, and rearranged and recapitulated their cross-reactive immunity in detail from the perspectives of serological experiments in vitro, animal experiments in vivo, and human cohort studies. We look forward to providing references and new insights for the research of flavivirus vaccines and specific prevention.