Epidemiology of Sapovirus Infections in a Birth Cohort in Peru.

Background: Sapovirus is one of the primary viral causes of acute gastroenteritis (AGE), especially where rotavirus vaccination has been implemented. The characteristics and impact of natural infection at the community level, however, have not been well documented. Methods: Stool samples were analyzed from 100 children randomly selected from a community-based birth cohort study in Peru. All diarrheal and 1 nondiarrheal stools collected trimonthly from children up to age 2 years (n = 1669) were tested for sapovirus detection. Viral shedding duration was determined by testing additional weekly samples (n = 440) collected before and after a sapovirus-positive sample. Results: The incidence of sapovirus infection in the first and second years of life was 4.3 and 11.1 per 100 child-months, respectively. By age 2 years, 82% of children had at least 1 sapovirus infection, and 64% had at least 1 sapovirus-associated diarrhea episode. The median shedding period was 18.5 days. In 112 of 175 infections, 14 genotypes from 4 genogroups (GI, GII, GIV, and GV) were determined. Among genogroups, GI were more frequently found in symptomatic infections than in asymptomatic infections (odds ratio, 3.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-7.4). Fifty-nine children had serial sapovirus infections, but only 3 had repeated infection of the same genotype. Conclusions: Sapovirus was frequently detected in children with AGE at the community level during the first 2 years of life. Serial sapovirus infections by multiple genotypes in a child suggest genotype-specific immunity from each infection, which needs to be taken into account for vaccine development.

Endemic and Epidemic Human Alphavirus Infections in Eastern Panama: An Analysis of Population-Based Cross-Sectional Surveys.

Madariaga virus (MADV) has recently been associated with severe human disease in Panama, where the closely related Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) also circulates. In June 2017, a fatal MADV infection was confirmed in a community of Darien Province. We conducted a cross-sectional outbreak investigation with human and mosquito collections in July 2017, where sera were tested for alphavirus antibodies and viral RNA. In addition, by applying a catalytic, force-of-infection (FOI) statistical model to two serosurveys from Darien Province in 2012 and 2017, we investigated whether endemic or epidemic alphavirus transmission occurred historically. In 2017, MADV and VEEV IgM seroprevalences were 1.6% and 4.4%, respectively; IgG antibody prevalences were MADV: 13.2%, VEEV: 16.8%, Una virus (UNAV): 16.0%, and Mayaro virus: 1.1%. Active viral circulation was not detected. Evidence of MADV and UNAV infection was found near households, raising questions about its vectors and enzootic transmission cycles. Insomnia was associated with MADV and VEEV infections, depression symptoms were associated with MADV, and dizziness with VEEV and UNAV. Force-of-infection analyses suggest endemic alphavirus transmission historically, with recent increased human exposure to MADV and VEEV in Aruza and Mercadeo, respectively. The lack of additional neurological cases suggests that severe MADV and VEEV infections occur only rarely. Our results indicate that over the past five decades, alphavirus infections have occurred at low levels in eastern Panama, but that MADV and VEEV infections have recently increased-potentially during the past decade. Endemic infections and outbreaks of MADV and VEEV appear to differ spatially in some locations of eastern Panama.

Medios de comunicación y eutanasia en Colombia. Análisis de contenido y categorización argumentativa / Mass media and euthanasia in Colombia. Content analysis and argumentative categorization

Resumen Introducción. La eutanasia fue despenalizada en Colombia mediante la Sentencia C-239/97 y reglamentada por la Resolución 1216 de 2015 del Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social. Se investigó en algunos medios de circulación nacional la posición a favor, neutra y en contra sobre la eutanasia y su carga argumentativa entre los años 1997 y 2015. Objetivos. Determinar la posición de algunos medios de comunicación frente a la eutanasia durante 1997-2015 y analizar su contenido argumentativo. Materiales y métodos. Tras una búsqueda en las versiones virtual e impresa de los periódicos El Tiempo y El Espectador y la Revista Semana, se realizó una clasificación y análisis de contenido de los artículos sobre la eutanasia con apoyo del programa ATLAS.ti, versión 8. Resultados. De 257 artículos recuperados, 190 incluyeron el término eutanasia en relación con el final de la vida y la salud. El 45% fueron neutros y de carácter informativo y el 78.9% no mencionó los cuidados paliativos. La carga argumentativa a favor recayó sobre contenidos de dignidad, sufrimiento y regulación. Conclusiones. Los artículos presentaron posiciones opuestas con errores de contenido y superficialidad en el tratamiento del concepto. La postura prevalente fue neutra seguida de la posición a favor. Se evidencia escasa participación de la comunidad médica y casi ninguna mención de los cuidados paliativos.

Abstract Introduction: Euthanasia was decriminalized in Colombia by means of Sentence C-239/97 and regulated through Resolution 1216 of2015 of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection. Some Colombian media were consulted to identify whether their position was in favor, neutral or against euthanasia and their reasons during the period 19972015. Objectives: To establish the position of some media regarding euthanasia during 1997-2015 and analyze their reasoning. Materials and methods: After conducting a search in the digital and printed versions of El Tiempo, El Espectador and Revista Semana, a classification and content analysis of the articles on euthanasia was carried out using the software ATLAS.ti, version 8. Results: From 257 articles retrieved, 190 included the term euthanasia in the context of health and end of life. 45% of the articles were neutral and informative and 78.9% did not mention palliative care. Favorable opinions were related to contents about dignity, suffering and regulation. Conclusions: The articles presented contrasting positions with content mistakes and superficial discussions on the issue. The prevailing position was neutral followed by favorable. There was little involvement of the medical community and almost no mention of palliative care.