Knowledge and awareness of COVID-19 among Indonesian migrant workers in the Greater China Region.

OBJECTIVES: Migrant workers are one of the most vulnerable population groups during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study investigated knowledge and awareness of COVID-19 among Indonesian migrant workers (IMWs) in Macao (SAR), Hong Kong (SAR), and Taiwan. STUDY DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. METHODS: Data were collected through an online survey in February and March 2020 to gain information on (1) participants' sociodemographic characteristics, (2) experience and awareness regarding COVID-19 information, and (3) knowledge and understanding of COVID-19. A series of Chi-squared, t-test, and logistic regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 491 participants (92.1% female). Knowledge of COVID-19 was obtained from multiple sources, including a large proportion from online social media. However, participants who obtained information from their employer, local social networks, and migrant organisations answered a greater number of questions correctly. One-third of participants reported receiving hoax, fake news, and incorrect information and obtained information from unverified sources. Participants were most interested in information about how to cure COVID-19, and 57.8% knew that no specific drug or vaccine was currently available. Almost all participants correctly identified fever and wearing a facemask as the main COVID-19 symptom and prevention strategy, respectively. Participants with senior high school or higher education and who worked as domestic or care workers had a greater knowledge of COVID-19 than their counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Public health communication strategies using multiple channels, including employers and community organisations, would help to minimise COVID-19 knowledge gaps. In addition, it is recommended that digital literacy content is added to public health campaigns.

Worldwide prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide plan among people with schizophrenia: a meta-analysis and systematic review of epidemiological surveys.

Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder with high premature mortality rates. This is a meta-analysis and systematic review of the prevalence of suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide plan (SP) among people with schizophrenia. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and PsycINFO were systematically searched from their respective inception to October 10, 2020. Data on prevalence of SI and/or SP were synthesized using the random effects model. Twenty-six studies covering 5079 people with schizophrenia were included for meta-analysis. The lifetime and point prevalence of SI were 34.5% (95% CI: 28.2-40.9%), and 29.9% (95% CI: 24.2-35.6%), respectively. The lifetime prevalence of SP was 44.3% and the point prevalence of SP ranged between 6.4 and 13%. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses revealed that source of patients, survey countries, and sample size were significantly associated with the point prevalence of SI, while male proportion and quality assessment scores were significantly associated with the lifetime and point prevalence of SI. Survey time and mean age were significantly associated with lifetime prevalence of SI. Both SI and SP are common in people living with schizophrenia, especially in males and inpatients. Routine screening and effective interventions for SI and SP should be implemented in this population.

An evaluation of a common elements treatment approach for youth in Somali refugee camps.

BACKGROUND: This paper reports on: (1) an evaluation of a common elements treatment approach (CETA) developed for comorbid presentations of depression, anxiety, traumatic stress, and/or externalizing symptoms among children in three Somali refugee camps on the Ethiopian/Somali border, and (2) an evaluation of implementation factors from the perspective of staff, lay providers, and families who engaged in the intervention. METHODS: This project was conducted in three refugee camps and utilized locally validated mental health instruments for internalizing, externalizing, and posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms. Participants were recruited from either a validity study or from referrals from social workers within International Rescue Committee Programs. Lay providers delivered CETA to youth (CETA-Youth) and families, and symptoms were re-assessed post-treatment. Providers and families responded to a semi-structured interview to assess implementation factors. RESULTS: Children who participated in the CETA-Youth open trial reported significant decreases in symptoms of internalizing (d  =  1.37), externalizing (d  =  0.85), and posttraumatic stress (d  =  1.71), and improvements in well-being (d  =  0.75). Caregivers also reported significant decreases in child symptoms. Qualitative results were positive toward the acceptability and appropriateness of treatment, and its feasibility. CONCLUSIONS: This project is the first to examine a common elements approach (CETA: defined as flexible delivery of elements, order, and dosing) with children and caregivers in a low-resource setting with delivery by lay providers. CETA-Youth may offer an effective treatment that is easier to implement and scale-up versus multiple focal interventions. A fullscale randomized clinical trial is warranted.

An immunoperoxidase study of senile cerebral amyloidosis with pathogenetic considerations.

Samples of human cerebral cortex were obtained from twelve autopsied patients with Alzheimer's disease or "normal" aging. Rabbit or goat anti-human antisera to the following plasma proteins: IgG, F(ab')2, Fc, kappa and lambda light chains, IgM, IgA, fibrinogen, albumin, C3, lysozyme, haptoglobin, macroglobulin, and microglobulin; antibodies to the following intracellular proteins: glial fibrillary acidic (GFA) protein, filamin, actin, non-muscle myosin, tubulin, cholinergic vesicle proteins, and neurofilament (NF) proteins were utilized in the immunoglobulin peroxidase bridge. Amyloid cores of classical or perivascular plaques and dyshoric angiopathy exhibited a strong reaction for intact IgG and for both of its light chains, moderate reactions for lysozyme, fibrinogen, albumin and IgA, and weak reactions for IgM, C3, Fc, F(ab')2, haptoglobin, macroglobulin and microglobulin. Antibodies to all three NF proteins, individually and pooled, stained dyshoric and plaque amyloid, while antibodies to other intracellular proteins did not. The coronae of classical plaques and many primitive plaques stained for GFA, but inconsistently for IgG, both light chains, lysozyme, actin, tubulin, and NF proteins. Affected vessels of three patients with Congophilic angiopathy were reactive for all plasma proteins (especially IgG, fibrinogen, and albumin) and for NF proteins. NF staining in Congophilic blood vessels, although variable, revealed a peripheral or adventitial distribution, whereas plasma proteins tended to be localized in the media of the vessel wall. The distributions of Congo red and NF positivity were often identical. Both NF and Congo red staining was sensitive to oxidation. Isolated NF proteins were Congophilic and capable of displaying apple-green birefringence. A hypothesis concerning the role of NF proteins in senile cerebral amyloid is presented.

Cytochemical differentiation of nucleic acids with a Schiff-methylene blue sequence.

A method is described whereby a Feulgen type of hydrolysis of deoxyribonucleic acid is carried out on paraffin sections of routinely fixed tissues by controlled exposure of the sections to Bouin's fluid. Subsequent staining with Schiff reagent followed by methylene blue distinguishes red-to purple-stained deoxyribonucleic acid from blue-stained ribonucleic acid. This Schiff-methylene blue sequence visualizes ribonucleic acid in nucleoli and the chromidial substance of various normal and neoplastic cells and provides an assessment of their protein synthetic activity. The method has proved valuable in demonstrating normal immunocytes and immunoglobulin-forming tumor cells in pathologic specimens.

Characterization of paramyxoviruses isolated from three snakes.

Multiple epizootics of pneumonia in captive snakes have been attributed to viruses which have been tentatively placed in the family Paramyxoviridae. Viruses isolated from an ill Neotropical rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus terrificus), from an Aruba Island rattlesnake (Crotalus unicolor), and from a bush viper (Atheris sp.) were propagated in Vero cells and characterized. Viral particles produced in Vero cells were pleomorphic, enveloped, and contained helical nucleocapsids. The viruses were sensitive to ether and to acidic and basic pH. Moreover, they had neuraminidase activity and were able to agglutinate erythrocytes from chicken and a variety of species of mammals. Hemagglutination was inhibited with rabbit antiserum raised against each virus. The buoyant densities of the three isolates ranged from 1.13/cm3 to 1.18/cm3, values consistent with that for an enveloped virus. The nucleic acid in the virion was determined to be RNA by [3H]uridine incorporation. Viral proteins characteristic of paramyxoviruses were immunoprecipitated from cells infected with each of the three isolates using rabbit anti-Neotropical virus serum. The morphologic appearance, physico- and biochemical properties, and cytopathologic effects of these snake viruses were consistent with those of certain members of the family Paramyxoviridae.

Ion-molecule reactions of oxygenated chemical ionization reagents with vincamine.

The ion-molecule reactions of ions from acetone, dimethyl ether, 2-methoxyethanol, and vinyl methyl ether with vincamine were investigated. Reactions with dimethyl ether result in [M+13](+) and [M+45](+) products, reactions with 2-methoxyethanol produce [M+13](+) and [M+89](+) ions, and reactions with acetone or vinyl methyl ether ions generate predominantly [M+43](+) ions. Collision-activated dissociation and deuterium labeling experiments allowed speculation about the product structures and mechanisms of dissociation. The methylene substitution process was shown to occur at the hydroxyl oxygen and the phenyl ring of vincamine for dimethyl ether reactions, but the methylene substitution process was not favored at the hydroxyl oxygen for the 2-methoxyethanol reactions, instead favored at the 12 phenyl position. The reaction site is likely different for the 2-methoxyethanol ion due to its capability for secondary hydrogen-bonding interactions. For the [M+45](+) and [M+89](+) ions, evidence suggests that charge-remote fragmentation processes occur from these products. In general, the use of dimethyl ether ions or 2-methoxyethanol ions for ionmolecule reactions prove highly diagnostic for the characterization of vincamine; both molecular weight and structural information are obtained. Limits of detection for vincamine with dimethyl ether chemical ionization via this technique on a benchtop ion trap gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer are in the upper parts per trillion range.

Physical activity as a risk factor for osteoarthritis of the knee.

A case-control study was conducted to evaluate the association between knee osteoarthritis (OA) and physical activity (PA) among a community group aged 40 years and older. Case patients (85 males, 154 females) had radiologically confirmed knee OA with grade 2+ changes, according to Kellgren and Lawrence criteria. Control subjects (85 males, 154 females) had no radiologic evidence of knee OA. A statistically significant positive association between high PA level and knee OA was observed for women, with an age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 1.66 and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.01 to 2.72. In men no association was observed (OR = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.49 to 1.83). These associations persisted when controlling simultaneously for potential confounders including age, obesity, history of knee injury, and socioeconomic status, indicating that the OA-PA association is limited to women. One possible explanation is that risk factors for knee OA are influenced by hormones.

An in vitro preparation of frog nose and brain for the study of odour-evoked oscillatory activity.

An in vitro preparation is described that consists of frog brain rostral to the brainstem connected to the nasal epithelium by the olfactory nerves. Field potential and intracellular recordings from various brain structures can be obtained while stimulating the nasal epithelium with air-borne odours for at least 12 h after removal of the brain. Power spectra, amplitude and duration of odour-evoked and spontaneous field potentials in vitro are similar to those obtained from paralyzed, spinal cord pithed frogs. A brief puff of odorant applied to the olfactory epithelium produces a 1-2 s bout of 7-13 Hz oscillations in the field potential recorded from the ipsilateral bulb and various ventral, lateral and medial telencephalic structures. Odour evoked bulbar oscillations are maintained after removal of the telencephalon. Electrical stimulation of the olfactory nerves will not elicit oscillations like those evoked by odour stimulation. High-pressure puffs of non-odorised, moist air, elicit olfactory bulb oscillations similar to those evoked by lower pressure puffs of odorised air. Intracellular recordings from most mitral cells reveal oscillations in membrane potential that are phase-locked to the field potential. The extent to which these phase-locked oscillations produce action potentials varies, apparently as a function of the strength and duration of a long-lasting inhibitory potential that is superimposed upon the 7-13 Hz oscillations. This preparation is well-suited for the study of the cellular basis of oscillatory activity in vertebrate brain, and the function of sensory-evoked oscillatory responses in processing of sensory information.

Determination of barbiturates by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and ion trap gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) in conjunction with quadrupole ion trap GC-MS was applied to the determination of a series of barbiturates. A 65 microns Carbowax-divinylbenzene (DVB) SPME fiber was used to successfully extract a series of eight barbiturates from aqueous solution. Absorption kinetics and distribution coefficients for the 65 microns Carbowax-DVB SPME fiber were determined for the compounds. In addition the method was evaluated with respect to linearity, limit of detection, precision, desorption time, and the effect of salt. Limits of detection reached 1 ng/ml for the barbiturates. Linearity was established for the barbiturates over a concentration range of 10-1000 ng/ml, with coefficients of correlation 0.99. Overall, the precision of the method fell between 2.2%-6.5%, depending on the barbiturate. SPME was applied to the identification and quantitation of the barbiturates in a urine matrix. The method was validated by analyzing a reference standard pentobarbital-spiked urine sample. Both standard addition and internal standard with [2H5]-pentobarbital techniques were evaluated, with recoveries found to be 93% and 104%, respectively SPME was then used to rapidly screen a urine specimen tested positive for barbiturates, and butalbital was detected and quantified.

The effect on diagnostic quality of using dual isotope imaging for 81Krm ventilation and 99Tcm-MAA perfusion lung scanning.

It is the practice in some centres to use dual isotope imaging to reduce imaging times in lung ventilation and perfusion studies with 81Krm gas and 99Tcm-macroaggregated albumin (99Tcm-MAA) by simultaneous acquisition of the two images. The resulting loss of image caused by cross-talk between the two energy windows was investigated using two phantoms, one with cold 99Tcm lesions of varying size and contrast, and the other a uniform field of 81Krm. It was found that, under scatter conditions typical of a patient study, the use of dual isotope acquisition and a krypton generator of 470 MBq or greater resulted in a perceptible loss of image quality with lesions up to 4 cm in diameter being missed. On an older camera system, without modern energy and linearity correction facilities, a lower generator activity of only 120 MBq was sufficient to cause image degradation even under very low scatter conditions. Seventy-five patient studies were performed using both single and dual isotope imaging with generator activities ranging from 80 to 282 MBq. At these low generator activities, the studies did not demonstrate any differences between the images that would result in a different diagnosis. We conclude that the use of dual isotope V/Q scanning reduces the diagnostic value of the perfusion image if the activity of the 81Krm generator is too high, although at generator activities of 300 MBq or less no loss of image quality will occur on modern camera systems.

Reported maltreatment in children with multiple disabilities.

This study examined a population of children with multiple disabilities to investigate whether functional, developmental, or perinatal factors could differentiate children reported and substantiated as maltreated from those not so reported. Data were collected from medical records of a cohort of 500 children evaluated between 1973 and 1984 at the Kennedy Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. Maltreatment reporting was documented through the State of Maryland Abuse Registry and the counties of residence of all study children. Results indicated that the profiles of demographic and family characteristics associated with child maltreatment reporting in this population are consistent with the literature, but child functional and developmental characteristics were not confirmed as risk factors for substantiated maltreatment reports. Indeed, contrary to investigator expectations, the more severely disabled children, in terms of functioning, appeared at less risk of maltreatment than did disabled children functioning at more age-appropriate levels.

Staining and morphologic features of bone marrow hematopoietic cells in desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii).

OBJECTIVES: To determine optimal site for collection of bone marrow from desert tortoises, and to characterize cytologic staining and morphologic features of bone marrow hematopoietic cells. ANIMALS: 16 desert tortoises. PROCEDURE: Bone marrow was obtained at necropsy from the pelvis, proximal portion of the humerus, femur, and thickened portions of the cranial to craniolateral and caudal to caudolateral margins of the carapace and plastron for histologic and cytologic examinations. Cytocentrifuged preparations of marrow cells were evaluated for reactivity to cytochemical stains. RESULTS: Histologic sections were adequate for evaluating acidophils, acidophil precursors, and erythrocyte precursors. It was difficult to differentiate among monocytes, lymphocytes, thrombocytes, and blast cells, and eosinophils could not be differentiated from heterophils. Basophils were in rare, small clusters of 3 to 12 cells. A few lymphoid follicles were found in the pelvis and long bones. Use of cytochemical staining accomplished differentiation between agranular heterophil precursors and granulated heterophils, and between granulated eosinophils and basophils. Monocytes, azurophils, and monoblasts had similar staining features. Staining of erythrocyte precursors with Sudan black B differentiated them from lymphocytes. Only a few small cells with periodic acid-Schiff-positive cytoplasm were identified as thrombocytes. Lymphocytes did not stain with any of the cytochemical stains. CONCLUSIONS: For histologic and cytologic evaluation of bone marrow hematopoietic cells, pelvis, proximal portion of the humerus, femur, and thickened portions of the peripheral cranial and caudal regions of the carapace and plastron are suitable sites to collect specimens. There are distinct cytochemical markers for heterophil, monocyte, and erythrocyte precursors, as well as later stage heterophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, and azurophils.

Aqueous phase hexylchloroformate derivatization and solid phase microextraction: determination of benzoylecgonine in urine by gas chromatography-quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry.

A derivatization/solid phase microextraction (SPME) method for the determination of benzoylecgonine in urine was developed. The derivatization is conducted directly in 1 mL of urine while sonicating for 3 min with 12 microL of hexyl chloroformate and 70 microL of a mixture containing acetonitrile:water:hexanol:2-dimethylaminopyridine (5:2:2:1 v/v), yielding benzoylecgonine hexyl ester (BHE) as the product. After the 3 min period, an aliquot of 250 microL is transferred to a vial for SPME. After the desired extraction time the 100 microns polydimethylsiloxane SPME fiber was transferred to the GC-MS for separation and analysis with a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. The hexyl chloroformate derivatization and SPME procedures were optimized for compatibility and sensitivity. The method was found linear for 0.10 to 20.0 micrograms/mL (r2 = 0.999) of benzoylecgonine in urine using benzoylecgonine-d3 as an internal standard (1.5 micrograms/mL). Intra-day precisions were 8.8 and 6.8% RSD for 0.30 microgram/mL and 17 micrograms/mL benzoylecgonine standards in urine (n = 6), respectively. Inter-day precision (n = 3) were < or = 3.3% RSD, indicating good reproducibility. A detection limit of 0.03 microgram/mL (S/N = 3) was achieved, thus making the SPME method a simplified alternative to SPE for GC-MS confirmation after EMIT tests for benzoylecgonine which have a cutoff of 0.30 microgram/mL. Quantitative results by SPME and SPE of two clinical urine specimens known positive for cocaine by EMIT were in excellent agreement. Benzoylecgonine was detected by the derivatization/SPME method in 22 out of 22 other urine specimens known positive for cocaine.

Characteristics of canine melanomas and comparison of histology and DNA ploidy to their biologic behavior.

The biologic behavior of 179 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded canine melanomas was correlated with their histologic appearance. In addition, flow cytometric analysis of DNA content was performed on 54 of these tumors. Histologic examination accurately predicted clinical course in 89% of the melanomas with known behavior. Flow cytometry accurately predicted behavior in 93% of tumors with diagnostic histograms and demonstrated malignant features in 100% of metastases from malignant oral tumors; histograms were non-diagnostic for 15% of tumors tested. Histologic examination, flow cytometry, and biologic behavior were in agreement for 93% of the tumors with diagnostic histograms. Interpretive problems were encountered in analyzing heavily pigmented melanomas using this flow cytometry technique.