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Chronic and Infectious Diseases
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Chronic and Infectious Diseases

A special issue of Diseases (ISSN 2079-9721). This special issue belongs to the section "Infectious Disease".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 November 2020) | Viewed by 22546

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Amal K. Mitra

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Public Health, Julia Jones Matthews School of Population and Public Health, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA
Interests: COVID-19; monkeypox; sleep disorders; health disparities; breastfeeding; lead poisoning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Because of epidemiological transition and demographic changes, many nations are still facing many infectious diseases and gradually transitioning to chronic and noncommunicable diseases. Based on the double burden of chronic and infectious diseases globally, researchers and health planners are continuously striving to reduce or eliminate infectious diseases using vaccines, identifying newer antimicrobials in the face of the increasing problem of drug resistance, educating people in preventive measures and personal hygiene, and early and effective screening for both infectious and chronic diseases.

The scope of this Special Issue is to address both chronic and infectious diseases. The editors welcome original articles, brief reports, and review articles (systematic review and meta-analysis) describing research findings on epidemiology, pathogenesis, management, treatment algorithms, clinical trials, microbial agents, etc. on infectious diseases. Similarly, this Special Issue provides a forum in which researchers from a wide variety of disciples can report their findings in a number of chronic and noncommunicable diseases and conditions, including population-based interventions of chronic diseases, minority health, health disparities, and disease prediction models.

Prof. Dr. Amal K. Mitra
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diseases is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Heart disease
  • Cancer
  • Stroke
  • Diabetes
  • Injury and injury prevention
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Smoking
  • Suicide
  • Depression
  • Aging
  • Drug addiction
  • Chronic disease prevention
  • Infectious diseases
  • Emerging infections
  • Outbreaks
  • New pathogens
  • Probiotics
  • Malnutrition
  • Pneumonia
  • Septicemia
  • Malaria
  • Vector-borne disease
  • Drug resistance
  • Micronutrients
  • Vaccines
  • Use of machine learning and modeling
  • Geographic information system
  • Economic analysis—cost effectiveness
  • Quality of life
  • Clinical trials
  • Community-based interventions
  • Minority health

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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16 pages, 268 KiB  
Article
Cystatin C, Vitamin D and Thyroid Function Test Profile in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients
by Marlene Tapper, Donovan A. McGrowder, Lowell Dilworth and Adedamola Soyibo
Diseases 2021, 9(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases9010005 - 3 Jan 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3401
Abstract
Background: The progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is concomitant with complications, including thyroid dysfunction, dyslipidemia and cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study is to determine serum cystatin C levels, and the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and thyroid dysfunction in CKD [...] Read more.
Background: The progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is concomitant with complications, including thyroid dysfunction, dyslipidemia and cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study is to determine serum cystatin C levels, and the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and thyroid dysfunction in CKD patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 140 CKD patients (stages 1–5) that were referred to a renal clinic. Demographic data was collected and thyroid function tests, serum 25-OH-vitamin D, cystatin C levels, and routine biochemistry tests were determined using cobas 6000 analyzer. Results: 129 (92.1%) of CKD patients had elevated serum cystatin C levels and there was a stepwise increase from stage 1–5. Overt hypothyroidism was present in one patient and nine had subclinical hypothyroidism. There was a stepwise reduction in serum 25-OH-vitamin D levels from stage 2–5, 31 (22.1%) had vitamin D insufficiency and 31 (22.1%) presented with deficiency. Conclusions: 25-OH-vitamin D deficiency and thyroid disorders are exhibited in chronic kidney disease patients and the severity of the former rises with disease progression, as indicated by elevated cystatin C levels. Routine screening and timely intervention is recommended so as to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chronic and Infectious Diseases)
16 pages, 457 KiB  
Article
Perceptions on Adherence to Dietary Prescriptions for Adults with Chronic Kidney Disease on Hemodialysis: A Qualitative Study
by Rose Okoyo Opiyo, Susan Akoth Nyawade, Michael McCaul, Peter Suwirakwenda Nyasulu, Daniel Bolo Lango, Anthony Jude Omolo Were, Esther Clyde Nabakwe, Zipporah Nekesa Bukania and Joyce Muhenge Olenja
Diseases 2020, 8(3), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases8030029 - 6 Aug 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5398
Abstract
Diet is one of the modifiable lifestyle factors in management of kidney disease. We explored perceptions on adherence to dietary prescriptions for adults with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis. This was a qualitative descriptive study. Participants were purposively selected at renal clinics/dialysis units [...] Read more.
Diet is one of the modifiable lifestyle factors in management of kidney disease. We explored perceptions on adherence to dietary prescriptions for adults with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis. This was a qualitative descriptive study. Participants were purposively selected at renal clinics/dialysis units at national referral hospitals in Kenya. Data were collected using in-depth interviews, note-taking and voice-recording. The data were managed and analyzed thematically in NVIV0-12 computer software. Study participants were 52 patients and 40 family caregivers (42 males and 50 females) aged 20 to 69 years. Six sub-themes emerged in this study: “perceived health benefits”; “ease in implementing prescribed diets”; “cost of prescribed renal diets”; “nutrition information and messages”; “transition to new diets” and “fear of complications/severity of disease”. Both patients and caregivers acknowledged the health benefits of adherence to diet prescriptions. However, there are mixed messages to the patients and caregivers who have challenges with management and acceptability of the prescriptions. Most of them make un-informed dietary decisions that lead to consumption of unhealthy foods with negative outcomes such as metabolic waste accumulation in the patients’ bodies negating the effects of dialysis and undermining the efforts of healthcare system in management of patients with chronic kidney disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chronic and Infectious Diseases)
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11 pages, 468 KiB  
Communication
Association between Biofilm-Production and Antibiotic Resistance in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC): An In Vitro Study
by Payam Behzadi, Edit Urbán and Márió Gajdács
Diseases 2020, 8(2), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases8020017 - 7 Jun 2020
Cited by 59 | Viewed by 6476
Abstract
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common infections requiring medical attention worldwide. The production of biofilms is an important step in UTIs, not only from a mechanistic point of view, but this may also confer additional resistance, distinct from other aspects [...] Read more.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common infections requiring medical attention worldwide. The production of biofilms is an important step in UTIs, not only from a mechanistic point of view, but this may also confer additional resistance, distinct from other aspects of multidrug resistance (MDR). A total of two hundred and fifty (n = 250) Escherichia coli isolates, originating from clean-catch urine samples, were included in this study. The isolates were classified into five groups: wild-type, ciprofloxacin-resistant, fosfomycin-resistant, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole-resistant and extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing strains. The bacterial specimens were cultured using eosine methylene blue agar and the colony morphology of isolates were recorded. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method and E-tests. Biofilm-formation of the isolates was carried out with the crystal violet tube-adherence method. n = 76 isolates (30.4%) produced large colonies (>3 mm), mucoid variant colonies were produced in n = 135 cases (54.0%), and n = 119 (47.6%) were positive for biofilm formation. The agreement (i.e., predictive value) of mucoid variant colonies in regard to biofilm production in the tube-adherence assay was 0.881 overall. Significant variation was seen in the case of the group of ESBL-producers in the ratio of biofilm-producing isolates. The relationship between biofilm-production and other resistance determinants has been extensively studied. However, no definite conclusion can be reached from the currently available data. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chronic and Infectious Diseases)
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11 pages, 870 KiB  
Brief Report
Evaluation of Plasma Circulating Cell Free DNA Concentration and Integrity in Patients with Prostate Cancer in Jamaica: A Preliminary Study
by Andrew Condappa, Donovan McGrowder, William Aiken, Wayne McLaughlin and Maxine Gossell-Williams
Diseases 2020, 8(3), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases8030034 - 7 Sep 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2693
Abstract
Background: Cell free circulating DNA (cfcDNA) is a promising diagnostic tool for prostate cancer (PCa). This study aimed to measure the cfcDNA concentration and integrity in PCa patients using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis. This study also assessed the correlation between these [...] Read more.
Background: Cell free circulating DNA (cfcDNA) is a promising diagnostic tool for prostate cancer (PCa). This study aimed to measure the cfcDNA concentration and integrity in PCa patients using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis. This study also assessed the correlation between these molecular biomarkers with total prostate-specific antigen (PSA), Gleason score, prostate volume, and age. Methods: Eleven PCa patients and 9 persons with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were recruited. Blood samples were collected before prostate biopsy and plasma quantified by qPCR amplification of the ALU 115 DNA sequence, with the ratio of ALU 247 to ALU 115 reflecting cfcDNA integrity. Results: There were no significant differences in median, interquartile range (IQR) cfcDNA concentration or cfcDNA integrity between the patients with PCa (47.9 (214.93) ng/mL; 0.61 (0.49)) and persons with BPH (41.5 (55.13) ng/mL, p = 0.382; 0.67 (0.45), p = 0.342). A weakly positive correlation exists between cfcDNA concentration and total PSA (r = 0.200, p = 0.555) but not with age or Gleason score in PCa patients. Conclusion: cfcDNA concentration was relatively nonsignificantly higher in PCa patients in comparison to persons with BPH, whereas cfcDNA integrity was similar in both groups. Though limited in sample size, this study shows that cfcDNA concentration may be a potentially valuable noninvasive biomarker for the diagnosis of PCa. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chronic and Infectious Diseases)
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6 pages, 230 KiB  
Brief Report
Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Biofilm-Forming Capabilities are not Predictable from Clinical Details or from Colonial Morphology
by Shane Whelan, Mary Claire O’Grady, Dan Corcoran, Karen Finn and Brigid Lucey
Diseases 2020, 8(2), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases8020011 - 30 Apr 2020
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3698
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is increasing to an extent where efficacy is not guaranteed when treating infection. Biofilm formation has been shown to complicate treatment, whereby the formation of biofilm is associated with higher minimum inhibitory concentration values of antibiotic. The objective of the current [...] Read more.
Antibiotic resistance is increasing to an extent where efficacy is not guaranteed when treating infection. Biofilm formation has been shown to complicate treatment, whereby the formation of biofilm is associated with higher minimum inhibitory concentration values of antibiotic. The objective of the current paper was to determine whether biofilm formation is variable among uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolates and whether formation is associated with recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI), and whether it can be predicted by phenotypic appearance on culture medium A total of 62 E. coli isolates that were reported as the causative agent of UTI were studied (33 from patients denoted as having recurrent UTI and 29 from patients not specified as having recurrent UTI). The biofilm forming capability was determined using a standard microtitre plate method, using E. coli ATCC 25922 as the positive control. The majority of isolates (93.6%) were found to be biofilm formers, whereby 81% were denoted as strong or very strong producers of biofilm when compared to the positive control. Through the use of a Wilcox test, the difference in biofilm forming propensity between the two patient populations was found to not be statistically significant (p = 0.5). Furthermore, it was noted that colony morphology was not a reliable predictor of biofilm-forming propensity. The findings of this study indicate that biofilm formation is very common among uropathogens, and they suggest that the biofilm-forming capability might be considered when treating UTI. Clinical details indicating a recurrent infection were not predictors of biofilm formation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chronic and Infectious Diseases)
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