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de Aguirre PM, Carlos S, Pina-Sánchez M, Mbikayi S, Burgueño E, Tendobi C, Chiva L, Holguín Á, Reina G. High pre-Delta and early-Omicron SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence detected in dried blood samples from Kinshasa (D.R. Congo). J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29529. [PMID: 38516764 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Studies on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa have yielded varying results, although authors universally agree the real burden surpasses reported cases. The primary objective of this study was to determine SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among patients attending Monkole Hospital in Kinshasa (D.R. Congo). The secondary objective was to evaluate the analytic performance of two chemiluminescence platforms: Elecsys® (Roche) and VirClia® (Vircell) on dried blood spot samples (DBS). The study population (N = 373) was recruited in two stages: a mid-2021 blood donor cohort (15.5% women) and a mid-2022 women cohort. Crude global seroprevalence was 61% (53.9%-67.8%) pre-Delta in 2021 and 90.2% (84.7%-94.2%) post-Omicron in 2022. Anti-spike (S) antibody levels significantly increased from 53.1 (31.8-131.3) U/mL in 2021 to 436.5 (219.3-950.5) U/mL in 2022 and were significantly higher above 45 years old in the 2022 population. Both platforms showed good analytic performance on DBS samples: sensitivity was 96.8% for IgG (antiN/S) (93.9%-98.5%) and 96.0% (93.0%-98.0%) for anti-S quantification. These results provide additional support for the notion that exposure to SARS-CoV-2 is more widespread than indicated by case-based surveillance and will be able to guide the pandemic response and strategy moving forward. Likewise, this study contributes evidence to the reliability of DBS as a tool for serological testing and diagnosis in resource-limited settings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Silvia Carlos
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA) Irunlarrea, 3, Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - Samclide Mbikayi
- Centre Hospitalier Monkole, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Eduardo Burgueño
- Centre Hospitalier Monkole, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Céline Tendobi
- Centre Hospitalier Monkole, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Luis Chiva
- Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - África Holguín
- Laboratorio Epidemiología Molecular VIH-1, Hospital Ramón y Cajal -IRYCIS y CIBERESP-RITIP, Madrid, Spain
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Garcia-Vicuña D, López-Cheda A, Jácome MA, Mallor F. Estimation of patient flow in hospitals using up-to-date data. Application to bed demand prediction during pandemic waves. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282331. [PMID: 36848360 PMCID: PMC9970104 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Hospital bed demand forecast is a first-order concern for public health action to avoid healthcare systems to be overwhelmed. Predictions are usually performed by estimating patients flow, that is, lengths of stay and branching probabilities. In most approaches in the literature, estimations rely on not updated published information or historical data. This may lead to unreliable estimates and biased forecasts during new or non-stationary situations. In this paper, we introduce a flexible adaptive procedure using only near-real-time information. Such method requires handling censored information from patients still in hospital. This approach allows the efficient estimation of the distributions of lengths of stay and probabilities used to represent the patient pathways. This is very relevant at the first stages of a pandemic, when there is much uncertainty and too few patients have completely observed pathways. Furthermore, the performance of the proposed method is assessed in an extensive simulation study in which the patient flow in a hospital during a pandemic wave is modelled. We further discuss the advantages and limitations of the method, as well as potential extensions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ana López-Cheda
- Departamento de Matemáticas, Research Group MODES, CITIC, Universidade da Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
| | - María Amalia Jácome
- Departamento de Matemáticas, Research Group MODES, CITIC, Universidade da Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Fermin Mallor
- Institute of Smart Cities, Public University of Navawordpadrre, Pamplona, Spain
- * E-mail:
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Tellechea E, Asensio AC, Ciaurriz P, Buezo J, López-Gómez P, Urra M, Moran JF. A Study of the Interface of Gold Nanoparticles Conjugated to Cowpea Fe-Superoxide Dismutase. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:2082. [PMID: 36358454 PMCID: PMC9686739 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11112082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The iron superoxide dismutase (FeSOD) is a first barrier to defend photosynthetic organisms from superoxide radicals. Although it is broadly present in plants and bacteria, FeSODs are absent in animals. They belong to the same phylogenic family as Mn-containing SODs, which are also highly efficient at detoxifying superoxide radicals. In addition, SODs can react with peroxynitrite, and FeSOD enzyme has already been used to evaluate the anti-nitrative capacity of plant antioxidants. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been shown to significantly improve the functionality and the efficiency of ligands, providing they are properly assembled. In this work, the characteristics of the recombinant cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) FeSOD (rVuFeSOD) immobilized onto AuNPs were investigated as a function of (1) NP surface chemistry and (2) biofunctionalization methods, either physical adsorption or covalent bonding. The NP surface chemistry was studied by varying the concentration of the ligand molecule 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) on the NP surface. The coverage and activity of the protein on AuNPs was determined and correlated to the surface chemistry and the two biofunctionalization methods. rVuFeSOD-AuNPs conjugate stability was monitored through absorption measurements, agarose gel electrophoresis and DLS, enzymatic activity by a colorimetric assay and by in-gel activity assay, and coverage was measured by colorimetric assay. When using physical adsorption, the NP is the most perturbing agent for the activity of the enzyme. In contrast, only the NP coverage was affected by MUA ligand concentration. However, during covalent attachment, both the NP and the concentration of MUA on the surface influenced the enzyme activity, while the coverage of the NP remained constant. The results evidence the importance of the biomolecule and AuNP interaction for the functionality of the hybrid. These strategies can be used to develop electrochemical biosensors for O2•- and for peroxynitrite in biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edurne Tellechea
- NAITEC-Technological Center of Automotive and Mechatronics, C/Tajonar 20, 31006 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Aaron C. Asensio
- NAITEC-Technological Center of Automotive and Mechatronics, C/Tajonar 20, 31006 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Paula Ciaurriz
- NAITEC-Technological Center of Automotive and Mechatronics, C/Tajonar 20, 31006 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Javier Buezo
- Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology (IMAB), Department of Sciences, Public University of Navarre (UPNA); Avda. de Pamplona 123, 31192 Mutilva, Spain
| | - Pedro López-Gómez
- Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology (IMAB), Department of Sciences, Public University of Navarre (UPNA); Avda. de Pamplona 123, 31192 Mutilva, Spain
| | - Marina Urra
- Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology (IMAB), Department of Sciences, Public University of Navarre (UPNA); Avda. de Pamplona 123, 31192 Mutilva, Spain
| | - Jose F. Moran
- Institute for Multidisciplinary Research in Applied Biology (IMAB), Department of Sciences, Public University of Navarre (UPNA); Avda. de Pamplona 123, 31192 Mutilva, Spain
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Carlos S, López-del Burgo C, Ndarabu A, Osorio A, Rico-Campà A, Reina G, Burgueño E, de Irala J. Heterosexual oral and anal sex in Kinshasa (D.R.Congo): Data from OKAPI prospective cohort. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0210398. [PMID: 30650137 PMCID: PMC6334946 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sexually transmitted infections can be spread through oral and anal heterosexual sex. There are few data on these practices in Sub-Saharan Africa. We analyzed the prevalence of heterosexual oral and anal sex among HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) attendees in Kinshasa and the associated sociodemographics, perceptions and behavioral factors. METHODS OKAPI (Observational Kinshasa AIDS Prevention Initiative) prospective cohort study. It evaluates the VCT impact on HIV-related knowledge and behaviors at 6 and 12-month follow-up. Since April 2016 until April 2018, 797 persons aged 15-59 years were HIV tested and replied to a baseline interview, including information about anal and oral sex. Descriptive, bi- and multivariate analyses were performed using baseline data. RESULTS Among 718 sexually active participants reporting heterosexual sex, 59% had had oral sex, 22% anal sex and 18% both practices. Among participants reporting "not" having had sex, 6% reported oral sex, 3% anal sex and 1% both. Oral sex was associated with a daily use of the Internet/mobile phone, perceiving low community HIV risk, reporting HIV-related behaviors (multiple partners, inconsistent condom use, anal, paid and forced sex) and having been pregnant. Being married-monogamous was inversely associated with oral sex. Anal sex was directly associated with having other risk sexual behaviors. CONCLUSIONS Oral and anal sex were common among people reporting heterosexual sex in Kinshasa. Perceiving a low community HIV risk and having other sexual risk behaviors are associated with these practices, which are commonly not considered as risky despite their strong association with HIV/STIs. They need to be considered when designing preventive strategies in Kinshasa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Carlos
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health Department, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
- Institute for Culture and Society (ICS), Education of Affectivity and Human Sexuality, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- * E-mail:
| | - Cristina López-del Burgo
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health Department, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
- Institute for Culture and Society (ICS), Education of Affectivity and Human Sexuality, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - Alfonso Osorio
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
- Institute for Culture and Society (ICS), Education of Affectivity and Human Sexuality, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- School of Education and Psychology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Anaïs Rico-Campà
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health Department, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Centre Network on Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERobn), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gabriel Reina
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
- Microbiology Service, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Eduardo Burgueño
- Monkole Hospital, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
- School of Medicine, University of Mwene-Ditu, Mwene-Ditu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Jokin de Irala
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health Department, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
- Institute for Culture and Society (ICS), Education of Affectivity and Human Sexuality, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
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