Background: Human trafficking is considered a hidden global crime with unsubstantiated numbers. Despite the challenges in counting or measuring this crime, reports revealed the presence of around 40.3 million victims worldwide. Human trafficking results in severe detrimental impacts on both mental and physical health. Given the sensitivity and negative consequences of human trafficking on the global system and victims, and considering the scarce research in this area, our current study aimed at describing the (i) Sociodemographic profiles of anonymized victims, (ii) Means of control, and (iii) Purpose of trafficking, utilizing the largest anonymized and publicly available dataset on victims of human trafficking. Methods: This is a retrospective secondary analysis of the Counter-Trafficking Data Collaborative (CTDC) data pool in the period from 2010 to 2020. The utilized dataset is called the k-anonymized global victim of trafficking dataset, and it is considered the largest global dataset on victims of human trafficking. Data from the k-anonymized data pool were extracted and exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences, SPSS® version 27.0 for Windows (IBM Corp. Version 27.0. Armonk, NY) for quality check and analysis using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 87003 victims of human trafficking were identified in the period from 2010 to 2020. The most age category encountered among victims was 9–17 years with 10326 victims (11.9%), followed by 30–38 years with 8562 victims (9.8%). Females comprised 70% of the sample with 60938 victims. The United States (n = 51611), Russia (n = 4570), and the Philippines (n = 1988) comprised the most countries of exploitation/trafficking. Additionally, the year 2019 witnessed the greatest number of victims registered for assistance by anti-trafficking agencies with around 21312 victims (24.5%). Concerning means of control, threats, psychological abuse, restriction of the victim’s movement, taking the victim’s earnings, and physical abuse were the most reported means. 42685 victims (49.1%) reported sexual exploitation as the purpose of their trafficking, followed by forced labor with 18176 victims (20.9%). Conclusion: Various means and methods can be used by traffickers to control the victims to be trafficked for many purposes, with sexual exploitation and forced labor being the most common ones. Global anti-trafficking efforts should be brought together in solidarity through utilizing the paradigm of protection of victims, prosecution of traffickers, prevention of trafficking, and inter-sectoral partnerships. Despite being a global concern with various reports that tried to capture the number of trafficked victims worldwide, human trafficking still has many unseen aspects that impose a significant challenge and adds to the global burden in combatting this threat.

Artemether-lumefantrine is often coadministered with efavirenz-based antiretroviral therapy for malaria treatment in HIV-infected women during pregnancy. Previous studies showed changes in lumefantrine pharmacokinetics due to interaction with efavirenz in nonpregnant adults.

Introduction: Obesity has emerged as a global pandemic, with its prevalence notably increasing during the COVID-19 lockdown of 2019. In response, many individuals have turned to pharmacological interventions, including antidiabetic medications, as means of achieving weight loss with minimal effort. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the Jordanian population regarding the use of antidiabetic agents, specifically glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and biguanides, for weight management. Method: A self-administered validated online questionnaire was developed and disseminated to public utilizing a cross-sectional design. Data were extracted to examine descriptive statistics. Linear regression was performed to evaluate associations with knowledge and attitude. A p-value ≤0.05 was chosen to indicate statistical significance. Results: Total of 389 responses were analyzed, 65.6% females, 54.2% married, 78.1% living in the center of Jordan, 35.5% overweight and 26.5% have >1000 Jordanian Dinars monthly income. Fifty seven percent of the study participants think that antidiabetics could be used for weight loss. 47.27%, 44.55%, 68.18% recognized glucagon-like peptide-1receptor agonists; (Ozempic^®), (Saxenda^®), (Mounjaro^®) as well as (Glucophage^®) use for weight loss, respectively and 12.3% of participants used medications to lose weight. Neutral attitude was observed. Gender and body mass index were significantly affecting the participants knowledge (p<0.001, p = 0.002, respectively). Conclusion: Use of (Ozempic^®), (Saxenda^®) and other antidiabetics to lose weight become a common practice. The results of this study suggests supervising prescription and dispensing to avoid misuse, especially, in people who are contraindicated to use them.

Background and Aim: Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists (GLP‐1RAs) were initially developed for type 2 diabetes but have gained widespread use for weight management, including among non‐diabetic individuals. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of GLP‐1RA use, describe usage patterns, and explore healthcare providers' (HCPs) perceptions of their efficacy and safety.Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted among 657 HCPs from 10 countries using a structured online survey between September and December 2023. Convenience sampling was employed, statistical analyses were performed using STATA 17. Associations between demographic characteristics and perceptions of GLP‐1RAs were analyzed using the chi‐square test.Results: Among 657 HCPs, 59.2% were female and 40.8% were male, with a median age of 36.0 years (IQR: 29.0–44.0) and a median BMI of 26.7 (IQR: 23.8–30.7). Among professional groups, nurses accounted for 44.7%, followed by physicians (36.2%) and allied health professionals (18.7%). Semaglutide (45.7%, 95% CI: 41.8%−49.5%) was the most commonly used GLP‐1RA, followed by Liraglutide (36.9%, 95% CI: 33.2%−40.8%). Other GLP‐1RAs were used less frequently, including Dulaglutide (17.0%, 95% CI: 14.2%−20.1%), Exenatide (14.1%, 95% CI: 11.5%−17.0%), Albiglutide (7.0%, 95% CI: 5.1%−9.2%), and Lixisenatide (8.5%, 95% CI: 6.5%−10.9%. Regarding perceived safety, 68.6% considered GLP‐1RAs safe. Safety perceptions were significantly associated with educational level (p = 0.022), with participants holding higher degrees being more likely to perceive GLP‐1RAs as unsafe (18.3%) compared to those with a bachelor's degree or lower (10.8%). No associations were found with age (p = 0.487), sex (p = 0.729), or BMI (p = 0.089). Similarly, 73.5% of participants considered GLP‐1RAs effective for perceived efficacy. No associations were found with sex (p = 0.663) or BMI (p = 0.446). Older participants (p = 0.011) and those with higher education (p = 0.006) were more likely to perceive GLP‐1RAs as ineffective.Conclusion: This study provides the first prevalence estimate of GLP‐1RA use among HCPs and GLP1‐Ras users and explores the associations between demographic characteristics and perceptions of safety and efficacy. The findings highlight the self‐prescribing practices of these medications for weight management and underscore the need for appropriate monitoring to avoid potential health risks.

Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a rare but highly contagious and lethal disease that occurs predominantly in African countries, with a case-fatality rate of 30–90%. The causative viral pathogens of EVD are within the genus Ebolavirus in the family Filoviridae. The primary route of human-to-human transmission is through direct contact with blood, bodily fluids and secretions from infected individuals. Direct contact with virally contaminated objects and sexual transmission have also been reported. Management of EVD is aggressive supportive care with possibly new therapeutic options. On 20 September 2022, an EVD outbreak was declared in Uganda, caused by Sudan ebolavirus. As of 7 November 2022, a total of 136 confirmed cases, 53 confirmed deaths have been reported, including 18 cases with seven deaths among healthcare workers. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), an EVD outbreak was also declared on 22 August 2022 (which ended on 27 September 2022); with only one case, a middle-aged woman. At the time when most countries in the world have been occupied with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the recent human monkeypox outbreak, these two outbreaks of EVD have the potential to significantly add to the burden on global health. Authorities need to augment their multi-faceted response, including stringent contact tracing and border control, to avoid the catastrophe of the 2014–2016 EVD epidemic.

Background: Coadministration of artemether–lumefantrine and efavirenz has been shown to result in significant interactions. The influence of functional genetic polymorphisms in selected CYPs on the magnitude of this interaction was investigated in pregnant and nonpregnant adults. Method: A standard 3-day regimen of artemether–lumefantrine was administered to each patient on steady-state efavirenz-based antiretroviral therapy (ART). Pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained from intensive plasma concentration–time data. Genotyping data were tested for compliance with Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium by Chi-square test. Linear regressions, Mann–Whitney U-test or Kruskal–Wallis tests were conducted to examine the association of lumefantrine plasma level with CYP2B6 c.516G>T, NR1I3 152c-1089T>C, CYP2B6 c.983T>C, CYP3A5*3 and CYP3A4*22. Results: Among a total of 69 malaria–HIV coinfected patients (34 nonpregnant and 35 pregnant), median (interquartile range) age was 33 (27–36.5) years and body weight was 59.5 (50–67.5) kg. In nonpregnant group, CYP2B6 c.516G>T was significantly associated with lower log C _{day 7} of lumefantrine using multivariate linear regressions (β = −0.239; P = 0.013). In 59% of women with CYP2B6 c.516T, C _{day 7} of lumefantrine was below the target of 280 ng/mL compared to 47% in the noncarriers. CYP2B6 c.983T>C significantly associated with higher log C _{day 7} of desbutyl lumefantrine in both pregnant (β = 0.383; P = 0.033) and nonpregnant (β = 0.395; P = 0.023) groups. Composite genotypes for both CYP2B6 Single-nucleotide polymorphisms strongly associated with lumefantrine plasma concentration. An associative trend between lumefantrine pharmacokinetics and NR1I3 152c-1089T>C genotypes indicated that 70% of the C _{day 7} of lumefantrine in those with NR1I3 152c-1089TT genotype was below 280 ng/mL compared to 53% in those with NR1I3 152c-1089CC or CT genotype. Conclusion: The findings revealed that the efavirenz–lumefantrine interaction was accentuated in the group with CYP2B6 c.516T, c.983C and NR1I3 152c-1089T alleles. This warrants further investigations of other drug–drug interactions for optimising dosing in genetically defined subgroups, particularly during drug development.