Author
Stephen R. C. Howie
Other affiliations: Health Science University, University of London, Medical Research Council ...read more
Bio: Stephen R. C. Howie is an academic researcher from University of Auckland. The author has contributed to research in topics: Pneumonia & Population. The author has an hindex of 32, co-authored 86 publications receiving 4801 citations. Previous affiliations of Stephen R. C. Howie include Health Science University & University of London.
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
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University of Edinburgh1, University of Glasgow2, Johns Hopkins University3, University of Colorado Boulder4, University of the Witwatersrand5, International Military Sports Council6, Aga Khan University7, Medical Research Council8, King George's Medical University9, Kenya Medical Research Institute10, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention11, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh12, University of Bergen13, Tribhuvan University14, University of Barcelona15, Utrecht University16, Emory University17, All India Institute of Medical Sciences18, University of Liverpool19, Boston Children's Hospital20, National Institute of Virology21, University of Zambia22, University of Health Sciences Antigua23, National Health Laboratory Service24, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention25, Austral University26, University of Michigan27, Vanderbilt University28, University of New South Wales29, University of Otago30, University of Auckland31, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala32, University of Jordan33, University of Maryland, Baltimore34, National Scientific and Technical Research Council35, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine36, Pwani University College37, University of Cape Town38, University of Warwick39, Academy of Medical Sciences, United Kingdom40, Tohoku University41, École normale supérieure de Lyon42, John E. Fogarty International Center43, Charité44, Universidad Nacional de Asunción45, Tehran University of Medical Sciences46, Robert Koch Institute47, University of London48, University of New Mexico49, Capital Medical University50, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium51, Innlandet Hospital Trust52, Columbia University53, Mahidol University54, University of Pretoria55, Thailand Ministry of Public Health56, Peking Union Medical College57, Nagasaki University58, Public Health Foundation of India59
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors estimated the incidence and hospital admission rate of RSV-associated acute lower respiratory infection (RSV-ALRI) in children younger than 5 years stratified by age and World Bank income regions.
1,470 citations
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University of Edinburgh1, Public Health Foundation of India2, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh3, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention4, University of Barcelona5, University of Oxford6, University of the Witwatersrand7, University of California, Berkeley8, National Institutes of Health9, Fukushima Medical University10, Medical Research Council11, All India Institute of Medical Sciences12, University of Colorado Denver13, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine14, Kenya Medical Research Institute15, Johns Hopkins University16, Pasteur Institute17, Delta State University18, University of Pretoria19, Columbia University20, World Health Organization21, Emory University22, Dartmouth College23, University of Split24
TL;DR: The role of influenza in childhood mortality from ALRI is estimated by combining incidence estimates with case fatality ratios from hospital-based reports and identifying studies with population-based data for influenza seasonality and monthly ALRI mortality.
804 citations
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TL;DR: Estimating causes of pneumonia in young African and Asian children, using novel analytical methods applied to clinical and microbiological findings, estimated that viruses accounted for 61·4% (95% credible interval [CrI] 57·3–65·6) of causes, whereas bacteria accounted for 27·3% (23·3-31·6).
492 citations
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention1, RMIT University2, University of Edinburgh3, Public Health Foundation of India4, Children's Hospital at Westmead5, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention6, Addis Ababa University7, Medical Research Council8, University of Auckland9, University of Otago10, University of Ghana11, National Institute of Virology12, Pasteur Institute13, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí14, Federal Ministry of Health15, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine16, University of Pretoria17, Thailand Ministry of Public Health18
TL;DR: Influenza-associated hospitalization rates were more than three times higher in developing countries than in industrialized countries (150/ 100,000 children/year versus 48/100,000); however, differences in hospitalization practices between settings are an important limitation in interpreting these findings.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The global burden of pediatric severe respiratory illness is substantial, and influenza viruses contribute to this burden. Systematic surveillance and testing for influenza among hospitalized children has expanded globally over the past decade. However, only a fraction of the data has been used to estimate influenza burden. In this analysis, we use surveillance data to provide an estimate of influenza-associated hospitalizations among children worldwide. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We aggregated data from a systematic review (n = 108) and surveillance platforms (n = 37) to calculate a pooled estimate of the proportion of samples collected from children hospitalized with respiratory illnesses and positive for influenza by age group (<6 mo, <1 y, <2 y, <5 y, 5-17 y, and <18 y). We applied this proportion to global estimates of acute lower respiratory infection hospitalizations among children aged <1 y and <5 y, to obtain the number and per capita rate of influenza-associated hospitalizations by geographic region and socio-economic status. Influenza was associated with 10% (95% CI 8%-11%) of respiratory hospitalizations in children <18 y worldwide, ranging from 5% (95% CI 3%-7%) among children <6 mo to 16% (95% CI 14%-20%) among children 5-17 y. On average, we estimated that influenza results in approximately 374,000 (95% CI 264,000 to 539,000) hospitalizations in children <1 y-of which 228,000 (95% CI 150,000 to 344,000) occur in children <6 mo-and 870,000 (95% CI 610,000 to 1,237,000) hospitalizations in children <5 y annually. Influenza-associated hospitalization rates were more than three times higher in developing countries than in industrialized countries (150/100,000 children/year versus 48/100,000). However, differences in hospitalization practices between settings are an important limitation in interpreting these findings. CONCLUSIONS: Influenza is an important contributor to respiratory hospitalizations among young children worldwide. Increasing influenza vaccination coverage among young children and pregnant women could reduce this burden and protect infants <6 mo.
274 citations
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TL;DR: The evidence available is limited and includes findings from non-randomized studies showing a minimal risk with one-off sampling of up to 5% of TBV, consistent with the conclusion that all identified guidelines are within the limits of "minimal risk".
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To determine paediatric blood sample volume limits that are consistent with physiological "minimal risk." METHODS: A literature review was performed to search for evidence concerning the adverse effects of blood sampling in children and for guidelines on sampling volume in paediatric research. The search included Medline, EMBASE, other web-based and non-web-based sources and the bibliographies of the sources identified. Experts were also consulted. FINDINGS: Five studies and nine guidelines were identified. Existing guidelines specify paediatric blood sample volume limits ranging from 1% to 5% of total blood volume (TBV) over 24 hours and up to 10% of TBV over 8 weeks. The evidence available is limited and includes findings from non-randomized studies showing a minimal risk with one-off sampling of up to 5% of TBV. CONCLUSION: The evidence available is consistent with the conclusion that all identified guidelines are within the limits of "minimal risk." However, more and better evidence is required to draw firmer conclusions. Researchers and institutional review boards need to take into account the total sampling volume needed for both clinical care and research rather than for each alone. The child's general state of health should be considered and extra caution should be observed particularly with children whose illness can deplete blood volume or haemoglobin or hinder their replenishment. Local policies must also address the appropriateness and local acceptability of collection procedures and of the blood volumes drawn.
192 citations
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TL;DR: The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2010 aimed to estimate annual deaths for the world and 21 regions between 1980 and 2010 for 235 causes, with uncertainty intervals (UIs), separately by age and sex, using the Cause of Death Ensemble model.
11,809 citations
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TL;DR: In the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 (GBD 2013) as discussed by the authors, the authors used the GBD 2010 methods with some refinements to improve accuracy applied to an updated database of vital registration, survey, and census data.
5,792 citations
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01 Feb 2009
TL;DR: This Secret History documentary follows experts as they pick through the evidence and reveal why the plague killed on such a scale, and what might be coming next.
Abstract: Secret History: Return of the Black Death Channel 4, 7-8pm In 1348 the Black Death swept through London, killing people within days of the appearance of their first symptoms. Exactly how many died, and why, has long been a mystery. This Secret History documentary follows experts as they pick through the evidence and reveal why the plague killed on such a scale. And they ask, what might be coming next?
5,234 citations
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TL;DR: This analysis updates the widely-cited 10:1 ratio, showing that the number of bacteria in the body is actually of the same order as the numberof human cells, and their total mass is about 0.2 kg.
Abstract: Reported values in the literature on the number of cells in the body differ by orders of magnitude and are very seldom supported by any measurements or calculations. Here, we integrate the most up-to-date information on the number of human and bacterial cells in the body. We estimate the total number of bacteria in the 70 kg "reference man" to be 3.8·1013. For human cells, we identify the dominant role of the hematopoietic lineage to the total count (≈90%) and revise past estimates to 3.0·1013 human cells. Our analysis also updates the widely-cited 10:1 ratio, showing that the number of bacteria in the body is actually of the same order as the number of human cells, and their total mass is about 0.2 kg.
3,166 citations
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TL;DR: Early evidence suggests that a considerable proportion of HCWs experience mood and sleep disturbances during this outbreak, stressing the need to establish ways to mitigate mental health risks and adjust interventions under pandemic conditions.
Abstract: Background COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to significantly affect the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs), who stand in the frontline of this crisis. It is, therefore, an immediate priority to monitor rates of mood, sleep and other mental health issues in order to understand mediating factors and inform tailored interventions. The aim of this review is to synthesize and analyze existing evidence on the prevalence of depression, anxiety and insomnia among HCWs during the Covid-19 outbreak. Methods A systematic search of literature databases was conducted up to April 17th, 2020. Two reviewers independently assessed full-text articles according to predefined criteria. Risk of bias for each individual study was assessed and data pooled using random-effects meta-analyses to estimate the prevalence of specific mental health problems. The review protocol is registered in PROSPERO and is available online. Findings Thirteen studies were included in the analysis with a combined total of 33,062 participants. Anxiety was assessed in 12 studies, with a pooled prevalence of 23·2% and depression in 10 studies, with a prevalence rate of 22·8%. A subgroup analysis revealed gender and occupational differences with female HCPs and nurses exhibiting higher rates of affective symptoms compared to male and medical staff respectively. Finally, insomnia prevalence was estimated at 38·9% across 5 studies. Interpretation Early evidence suggests that a considerable proportion of HCWs experience mood and sleep disturbances during this outbreak, stressing the need to establish ways to mitigate mental health risks and adjust interventions under pandemic conditions.
2,306 citations