Publications by authors named "Hanako Iwashita"

Article Synopsis
  • The COVID-19 pandemic significantly strained healthcare systems worldwide, impacting patients with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in low-income countries like Nepal, where this study focused on understanding their experiences during the crisis.
  • A telephonic survey of 102 NCD patients and interviews with healthcare providers revealed that while most had no issues getting medication, over half struggled to access routine medical care due to barriers like fear of infection and lack of transportation.
  • The study highlights the need for implementing telemedicine services and community programs to enhance health literacy and ensure ongoing care for NCD patients in resource-limited settings during future health emergencies.
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Article Synopsis
  • A scoping review was conducted to assess neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Japan, highlighting a lack of existing literature on the subject in high-income countries, specifically Japan.
  • The review identified various NTDs present in Japan, such as echinococcosis, dengue, and scabies, while also noting that several others have been imported into the country.
  • The research emphasized the need for improved public health responses, including the establishment of legal frameworks, better access to diagnostic tests, and more affordable treatment options for these diseases in Japan.
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Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has increased globally; with a disproportionate burden in South and Southeast Asian countries, including Nepal. There is an urgent need for clinically and cost-effective culturally adapted T2DM management programs. In this study, we aim to assess the effectiveness of community based culturally appropriate lifestyle intervention in improving the management and care of people with T2DM.

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Article Synopsis
  • Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) is a group of harmful bacteria causing severe diarrhea in kids in developing countries, especially Vietnam, with limited understanding of their characteristics.
  • In a study of 61 isolates from infants, researchers identified 57 different strains of DEC, with the majority being enteroaggregative E. coli (54.1%) and enteropathogenic E. coli (32.8%), along with some strains of Escherichia albertii.
  • Many of these DEC strains showed genetic traits linked to antibiotic resistance, posing treatment challenges, as up to 65.6% were resistant to ciprofloxacin and 41% to ceftriaxone, indicating the need for ongoing research and
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Background: During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, ordinary dental services were sustained in Nepal. Because a dental practice is considered to involve a high risk of infection, the needs of dentists should be identified, and demand-driven support should be provided. The purpose of this study was to investigate the situation and needs of dentists during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to guide demand-driven support.

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Background: Nepal, in recent years, is witnessing an increasing problem of type 2 diabetes that has resulted significant premature deaths and disability. Prevention and management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including diabetes have been prioritized in the national policies and guidelines of the Nepal Government. However, research looking at the overview of the implementation of the existing policies and guidelines for diabetes prevention and control is scarce.

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In Vietnam, data on the risk factors for diarrhea at the community level remain sparse. This study aimed to provide an overview of diarrheal diseases in an agricultural community in Vietnam, targeting all age groups. Specifically, we investigated the incidence of diarrheal disease at the community level and described the potential risk factors associated with diarrheal diseases.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence of Cryptosporidium infection and the potential for transmission of Cryptosporidium spp. between animals and humans in northern Vietnam. A total of 2715 samples (2120 human diarrheal samples, 471 human non-diarrheal samples, and 124 animal stool samples) were collected through our community survey in an agricultural area.

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spp. is detected frequently in humans and animals. Although many studies have been conducted on the epidemiology of giardiasis, there is a scarcity of information on the genetic diversity and the dynamics of transmission of spp.

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Vibrio cholerae O1 causes cholera, and cholera toxin, the principal mediator of massive diarrhea, is encoded by ctxAB in the cholera toxin (CTX) prophage. In this study, the structures of the CTX prophage region of V. cholerae strains isolated during the seventh pandemic wave 1 in Asian countries were determined and compared.

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Background: Many arboviral outbreaks have occurred in various locations in Kenya. Entomological surveys are suitable methods for revealing information about circulating arboviruses before human outbreaks are recognized. Therefore, mosquitoes were collected in Kenya to determine the distribution of arboviruses.

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Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor, the pathogen responsible for the current cholera pandemic, became pathogenic by acquiring virulent factors including Vibrio seventh pandemic islands (VSP)-I and -II. Diversity of VSP-II is well recognized; however, studies addressing attachment sequence left (attL) sequences of VSP-II are few. In this report, a wide variety of V.

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Background: Mass insecticide treated bed net (ITN) deployment, and its associated coverage of populations at risk, had "pushed" a decline in malaria transmission. However, it is unknown whether malaria control is being enhanced by zooprophylaxis, i.e.

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Background: Although insecticide-treated bed nets are effective tools, use often does not follow ownership. House structure and space arrangements may make the attempt to use bed nets difficult, especially for school age children. The objectives of this study were to explore whether an individual's sleeping arrangements and house structure affect bed net use in villages along Lake Victoria in western Kenya.

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