General hospital staff worries, perceived sufficiency of information and associated psychological distress during the A/H1N1 influenza pandemic
Abstract Background Health care workers (HCWs) presented frequent concerns regarding their health and their families' health and high levels of psychological distress during previous disease outbreaks, such as the SARS outbreak, which was associated with social isolation and intentional absenteeism. We aimed to assess HCWs concerns and anxiety, perceived sufficiency of information, and intended behavior during the recent A/H1N1 influenza pandemic and their associations with psychological distress. Method Between September 1st and 30th, 2009, 469 health-care workers (HCWs) of a tertiary teaching hospital completed a 20-item questionnaire regarding concerns and worries about the new A/H1N1 influenza pandemic, along with Cassileth's Information Styles Questionnaire (part-I) and the GHQ-28. Results More than half of the present study's HCWs (56.7%) reported they were worried about the A/H1N1 influenza pandemic, their degree of anxiety being moderately high (median 6/9). The most frequent concern was infection of family and friends and the health consequences of the disease (54.9%). The perceived risk of being infected was considered moderately high (median 6/9). Few HCWs (6.6%) had restricted their social contacts and fewer (3.8%) felt isolated by their family members and friends because of their hospital work, while a low percentage (4.3%) indented to take a leave to avoid infection. However, worry and degree of worry were significantly associated with intended absenteeism (p < 0.0005), restriction of social contacts (p < 0.0005), and psychological distress (p = 0.036). Perceived sufficiency of information about several aspects of the A/H1N1 influenza was moderately high, and the overall information about the A/H1N1 influenza was considered clear (median 7.4/9). Also, perceived sufficiency of information for the prognosis of the infection was significantly independently associated with the degree of worry about the pandemic (p = 0.008). Conclusions A significant proportion of HCWs experienced moderately high anxiety about the pandemic, and their degree of worry was an independent correlate of psychological distress. Since perceived sufficiency of information about the A/H1N1 influenza prognosis was associated with reduced degree of worry, hospital managers and consultation-liaison psychiatry services should try to provide for HCWs' need for information, in order to offer favourable working conditions in times of extreme distress, such as the current and future pandemics.
Mantis Dimitrios, Dimitroula Danai, Mantas Christos, Goulia Panagiota, Hyphantis Thomas
фенол, формалин, щавелевая кислота, новолак, олигомер, реакция поликонденсации, материальные расчеты, технология производства, аппаратурная схема
The paper presents the improvement of production technology of novolac phenol-formaldehyde oligo-mers by introducing the new scheme of capture of exhaust gases due to waste production, which leads to a reduction of costs and increase economic efficiency. The calculation of the material balance of the pro-duction of novolac phenol-formaldehyde oligomer at 300 kg/h of technical product is performed, the technological calculation of the basic equipment and selection of auxiliary equipment is produced. The apparatus scheme of production is made and the description of the process is represented. The draft of the main reactor is made.
Uralʹskij federalʹnyj universitet imeni pervogo Prezidenta Rossii B.N. Elʹcina
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus: A Review
Context: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection is an emerging human disease that has been reported from the Arabian Peninsula and Middle East countries since 2012. Although zoonotic transmission was postulated, virological and serological finding suggest that the dromedary camels act as the potential reservoirs of MERS-CoV infection to humans. As October 2014, a totally 855 confirmed cases with 333 related deaths were reported to WHO. All cases occurred in or epidemiologically linked to affected countries. The virus ability to induce a pandemic attack is limited. The clinical presentations vary and range from asymptomatic infection to severe respiratory disease and death. However, most severe disease occurs in elderly and in those with underlying conditions. Infection prevention and control measures are critical to prevent the possible spread of MERS-CoV infection is health care facilities and in the community. The WHO encourages all member states to perform surveillance of patients with acute severe respiratory infection and to carefully monitor any unusual patterns. This paper aims to review the current key characteristics of MERS-CoV infection in human and update the WHO recommendations about this illness.
Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences
Design and Implementation of a Multi-Band Active Radar Calibrator for SAR
multi-band, Transponder, active radar calibrator, calibration, SAR
Over the past decade, IECAS (Institute of Electronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences) has developed a set of L-, S-, C-, and X-band active radar calibrators that are deployed during the calibration campaigns for HJ1C synthetic aperture radar (SAR), Gaofen-3 SAR, and so on. In the near future, P-band and Ka-band spaceborne SARs will be launched. We found that it is not convenient to develop special active radar calibrators (ARCs) for a specific SAR or a specific frequency band SAR, and the acquired experience could help in the design and development of a multi-band ARC. This paper describes the design and implementation of a multi-band active radar calibrator which can operate in the L-, C-, X-, and Ka-bands. Moreover, laboratory measurements are performed to characterize the performance of the multi-band ARC, paying particular attention to the gain stability, the system transfer function, the gain flatness, and the linearity of the ARC receiver. Three such ARCs are developed, and to our knowledge, the multi-band ARC is the first of its kind in China or even in the world, and it can be used to implement the calibration campaigns of the Chinese Gaofen-3 SAR, Shenzhen-1 SAR, Luojia-2 SAR, and so on.
Liang Li, Gukun Liu, Jun Hong, Feng Ming, Yu Wang
Virucidal Influence of Ionic Liquids on Phages P100 and MS2
ionic liquids, virus, phage, side chain effect, structure-activity relationship, disinfection
An increasing number of publications describe the potential of ionic liquids (ILs) as novel antimicrobials, antibacterial coatings and even as active pharmaceutical ingredients. Nevertheless, a major research area, notably their impact on viruses, has so far been neglected. Consequently the aim of this study was to examine the effects of ILs on the infectivity of viruses. A systematic analysis to investigate the effects of defined structural elements of ILs on virus activity was performed using 55 ILs. All structure activity relationships (SARs) were tested on the human norovirus surrogate phage MS2 and phage P100 representing non-enveloped DNA viruses. Results demonstrate that IL SAR conclusions, established for prokaryotes and eukaryotes, are not readily applicable to the examined phages. A virus-type-dependent IL influence was also apparent. Overall, four ILs, covering different structural elements, were found to reduce phage P100 infectivity by ≥4 log10 units, indicating a virucidal effect, whereas the highest reduction for phage MS2 was about 3 log10 units. Results indicate that future applications of ILs as virucidal agents will require development of novel SARs and the obtained results serve as a good starting point for future studies.
Susanne Fister, Patrick Mester, Julia Sommer, Anna K. Witte, Roland Kalb, Martin Wagner, Peter Rossmanith
Infectious Diseases, Urbanization and Climate Change: Challenges in Future China
climate change, urbanization, infectious disease, disease surveillance, Challenges, disease control and prevention
China is one of the largest countries in the world with nearly 20% of the world’s population. There have been significant improvements in economy, education and technology over the last three decades. Due to substantial investments from all levels of government, the public health system in China has been improved since the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak. However, infectious diseases still remain a major population health issue and this may be exacerbated by rapid urbanization and unprecedented impacts of climate change. This commentary aims to explore China’s current capacity to manage infectious diseases which impair population health. It discusses the existing disease surveillance system and underscores the critical importance of strengthening the system. It also explores how the growing migrant population, dramatic changes in the natural landscape following rapid urbanization, and changing climatic conditions can contribute to the emergence and re-emergence of infectious disease. Continuing research on infectious diseases, urbanization and climate change may inform the country’s capacity to deal with emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in the future.
Michael Xiaoliang Tong, Alana Hansen, Scott Hanson-Easey, Scott Cameron, Jianjun Xiang, Qiyong Liu, Yehuan Sun, Philip Weinstein, Gil-Soo Han, Craig Williams, Peng Bi
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
No evidence of enteric viral involvement in the new neonatal porcine diarrhoea syndrome in Danish pigs
Diarrhoea, Neonatal piglets, NNPDS, virus
Abstract Background The aim of this study was to investigate whether the syndrome New Neonatal Porcine Diarrhoea Syndrome (NNPDS) is associated with a viral aetiology. Four well-managed herds experiencing neonatal diarrhoea and suspected to be affected by NNPDS were included in a case-control set up. A total of 989 piglets were clinically examined on a daily basis. Samples from diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic piglets at the age of three to seven days were selected for extensive virological examination using specific real time polymerase chain reactions (qPCRs) and general virus detection methods. Results A total of 91.7% of the animals tested positive by reverse transcription qPCR (RT-qPCR) for porcine kobuvirus 1 (PKV-1) while 9% and 3% were found to be positive for rotavirus A and porcine teschovirus (PTV), respectively. The overall prevalence of porcine astrovirus (PAstV) was 75% with 69.8% of the PAstV positive pigs infected with PAstV type 3. No animals tested positive for rotavirus C, coronavirus (TGEV, PEDV and PRCV), sapovirus, enterovirus, parechovirus, saffoldvirus, cosavirus, klassevirus or porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2). Microarray analyses performed on a total of 18 animals were all negative, as were eight animals examined by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Using Next Generation de novo sequencing (de novo NGS) on pools of samples from case animals within all herds, PKV-1 was detected in four herds and rotavirus A, rotavirus C and PTV were detected in one herd each. Conclusions Our detailed analyses of piglets from NNPDS-affected herds demonstrated that viruses did not pose a significant contribution to NNPDS. However, further investigations are needed to investigate if a systemic virus infection plays a role in the pathogenesis of NNPDS.
N. B. Goecke, C. K. Hjulsager, H. Kongsted, M. Boye, S. Rasmussen, F. Granberg, T. K. Fischer, S. E. Midgley, L. D. Rasmussen, Ø. Angen, J. P. Nielsen, S. E. Jorsal, L. E. Larsen
The predictors of 3- and 30-day mortality in 660 MERS-CoV patients
Mortality, MERS-CoV, elderly, camels, Saudi Arabia
Abstract Background The mortality rate of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) patients is a major challenge in all healthcare systems worldwide. Because the MERS-CoV risk-standardized mortality rates are currently unavailable in the literature, the author concentrated on developing a method to estimate the risk-standardized mortality rates using MERS-CoV 3- and 30-day mortality measures. Methods MERS-CoV data in Saudi Arabia is publicly reported and made available through the Saudi Ministry of Health (SMOH) website. The author studied 660 MERS-CoV patients who were reported by the SMOH between December 2, 2014 and November 12, 2016. The data gathered contained basic demographic information (age, gender, and nationality), healthcare worker, source of infection, pre-existing illness, symptomatic, severity of illness, and regions in Saudi Arabia. The status and date of mortality were also reported. Cox-proportional hazard (CPH) models were applied to estimate the hazard ratios for the predictors of 3- and 30-day mortality. Results 3-day, 30-day, and overall mortality were found to be 13.8%, 28.3%, and 29.8%, respectively. According to CPH, multivariate predictors of 3-day mortality were elderly, non-healthcare workers, illness severity, and hospital-acquired infections (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) =1.7; 8.8; 6.5; and 2.8, respectively). Multivariate predictors of 30-day mortality were elderly, non-healthcare workers, pre-existing illness, severity of illness, and hospital-acquired infections (aHR =1.7; 19.2; 2.1; 3.7; and 2.9, respectively). Conclusions Several factors were identified that could influence mortality outcomes at 3 days and 30 days, including age (elderly), non-healthcare workers, severity of illness, and hospital-acquired infections. The findings can serve as a guide for healthcare practitioners by appropriately identifying and managing potential patients at high risk of death.
A novel Coltivirus-related virus isolated from free-tailed bats from Côte d’Ivoire is able to infect human cells in vitro
Reoviridae, Chiroptera, bats, Coltivirus, Chaereophon aloysiisabaudiae, Colorado tick fever
Abstract Background Zoonotic transmission events play a major role in the emergence of novel diseases. While such events are virtually impossible to predict, wildlife screening for potential emerging pathogens can be a first step. Driven by recent disease epidemics like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and Ebola, bats have gained special interest as reservoirs of emerging viruses. Methods As part of a bigger study investigating pathogens in African bats we screened animals for the presence of known and unknown viruses. Results We isolated and characterised a novel reovirus from blood of free-tailed bats (Chaereophon aloysiisabaudiae) captured in 2006 in Côte d’Ivoire. The virus showed closest relationship with two human pathogenic viruses, Colorado tick fever virus and Eyach virus, and was able to infect various human cell lines in vitro. Conclusion The study shows the presence of a coltivirus-related virus in bats from Sub-Sahara Africa. Serological studies could help to assess its impact on humans or wildlife health.
Sabrina Weiss, Piotr Wojtek Dabrowski, Andreas Kurth, Siv Aina J. Leendertz, Fabian H. Leendertz