Trachoma control:the SAFE strategy

As a contagious bacterial infection that affects the conjunctival covering of the eye, the cornea and the eyelids, trachoma is controlled by an endorsed integrated strategy consisting of surgery for trichiasis, antibiotic therapy, facial cleanliness and environmental improvement, namely, the SAFE strategy developed by World Health Organization. Developed based on evidence from previous field trials and constantly modified in practice, SAFE strategy has greatly boosted the progress in trachoma control. Regardless of the fact that there are still many pending questions, national program coordinators are convinced that trachoma control initiative based on SAFE strategy would be effective.

Smart antioxidant function enhancing(SAFE)nucleic acid therapy for ROS-related chronic diseases and comorbidities

Reactive oxygen species(ROS)-mediated oxidative stress exacerbates chronic diseases such as organ damage and neurodegenerative disorders.The Keap1-Nrf2-ARE pathway is a widely distributed endogenous antioxidant system.However,ROS under redox homeostasis regulates a wide range of life activities.Therefore,smart scavenging of excess ROS under pathological conditions is essential to treat chronic diseases safely.This study reports a smart antioxidant function enhancement(SAFE)strategy.On-demand release of nucleic acid drugs in a pathological ROS environment smartly activates the endogenous antioxidant system,thereby smartly alleviating oxidative stress in an exogenous antioxidant-independent manner.Through structural modulation and ligand modification,we develop SAFE nanoparticles based on nanohybrid complexes(SAFE-complex)adapted to brain delivery of nucleic acid drugs.SAFE-complex with homogeneous monodisperse structure efficiently treat ROS-related neurodegenerative diseases while protecting the major organ from oxidative stress damage.Moreover,SAFE-complex can stabilize storage in the form of freeze-dried powder.These data indicate that SAFE nanoparticles hold promise for treating ROS-related chronic diseases and comorbidities through rational transformation.

The burden of and risk factors for active trachoma in the North and South Wollo Zones of Amhara Region,Ethiopia:a crosssectional study

Background:Trachoma is a disease of the eye,caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis,which can lead to blindness if left untreated.Ethiopia is one of the most trachoma-affected countries in the world.The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of and associated risk factors for active trachoma among children in selected woredas of North and South Wollo Zones in Amhara Region,Ethiopia.Methods:This study was a community-based,cross-sectional study,which was conducted from October to December 2014 among children aged 1-8.A four-stage random cluster sampling technique was employed to select the study areas and participants.From each selected household,one child was clinically assessed for active trachoma.A structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic,behavioral,and clinical data.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the association between predictor variables and active trachoma.Results:The overall prevalence of active trachoma among 1358 children was found to be 21.6%(95%CI:19.4-23.8%).When analyzed by the presence or absence of individual WHO simplified system signs of active trachoma,trachomatous inflammation-follicular cases constituted18%(95%CI:15.9-20.2%),while 4.7%(95%CI:3.6-5.8%)were trachomatous inflammation-intense cases.Ocular discharge(aOR=5.2;95%CI:3.3-8.2),nasal discharge(aOR=1.8;95%CI:1.2-2.7),time taken to fetch water(aOR=0.02;95%CI:0.01-0.05),frequency of hand and face washing(aOR=4.4;95%CI:1.1-17.8),and access to a latrine(aOR=0.006;95%CI:0.001-0.030)were found to be independently associated with the presence of active trachoma.Conclusions:There is a high burden of active trachoma among children in the study areas.Lack of personal hygiene and limited access to a safe water supply and latrines were associated with increased prevalence of active trachoma.In order to reduce the burden of active trachoma,facial cleanliness and environmental improvement components of the SAFE strategy should be upgraded in the study areas.