Molecular characterization of Blastocystis spp. in Hotan Black chickens in southern Xinjiang.

To determine the infection status and assess the zoonotic potential of Blastocystis spp. in Hotan Black chickens in southern Xinjiang, China, fecal samples were collected from 617 chickens on 18 large-scale farms. The presence of Blastocystis spp. was determined using polymerase chain reaction based on the small subunit rRNA (SSU rRNA) locus. The results revealed an overall infection rate of 26.3% (162/617). Samples from Farm 1 in Luopu County showed the highest infection rate (76.3%, 29/38). The highest and lowest infection rates were detected in the <30-day (34.4%, 43/125) and > 90-day age groups (12.4%, 11/89), respectively. The infection rate decreased with increasing age. Statistical analysis showed significant differences in the infection rates of Blastocystis spp. among the different sampling sites (p < 0.05) and age groups (p < 0.05). Four Blastocystis spp. subtypes (ST6, ST7, ST10, and ST23) were identified. The infection rates of the zoonotic subtypes, ST6 and ST7, were 3.2% (20/617) and 22.2% (137/617), respectively. The presence of Blastocystis spp. and zoonotic subtypes provided evidence for the potential transmission of this pathogen between Hotan Black chickens and humans, especially in animal handlers in this area.

Monitoring epidemic processes under political measures.

Statistical modeling of epidemiological curves to capture the course of epidemic processes and to implement a signaling system for detecting significant changes in the process is a challenging task, especially when the process is affected by political measures. As previous monitoring approaches are subject to various problems, we develop a practical and flexible tool that is well suited for monitoring epidemic processes under political measures. This tool enables monitoring across different epochs using a single statistical model that constantly adapts to the underlying process, and therefore allows both retrospective and on-line monitoring of epidemic processes. It is able to detect essential shifts and to identify anomaly conditions in the epidemic process, and it provides decision-makers a reliable method for rapidly learning from trends in the epidemiological curves. Moreover, it is a tool to evaluate the effectivity of political measures and to detect the transition from pandemic to endemic. This research is based on a comprehensive COVID-19 study on infection rates under political measures in line with the reporting of the Robert Koch Institute covering the entire period of the pandemic in Germany.

Evaluating the dynamic interplay of social distancing policies regarding airborne pathogens through a temporal interaction-driven model that uses real-world and synthetic data.

OBJECTIVE: The recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has exhibited diverse patterns of spread across countries and communities, emphasizing the need to consider the underlying population dynamics in modeling its progression and the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical intervention strategies in combating viral transmission within human communities. Such an understanding requires accurate modeling of the interplay between the community dynamics and the disease propagation dynamics within the community. METHODS: We build on an interaction-driven model of an airborne disease over contact networks that we have defined. Using the model, we evaluate the effectiveness of temporal, spatial, and spatiotemporal social distancing policies. Temporal social distancing involves a pure dilation of the timeline while preserving individual activity potential and thus prolonging the period of interaction; spatial distancing corresponds to social distancing pods; and spatiotemporal distancing pertains to the situation in which fixed subgroups of the overall group meet at alternate times. We evaluate these social distancing policies over real-world interactions' data and over history-preserving synthetic temporal random networks. Furthermore, we evaluate the policies for the disease's with different number of initial patients, corresponding to either the phase in the progression of the infection through a community or the number of patients infected together at the initial infection event. We expand our model to consider the exposure to viral load, which we correlate with the meetings' duration. RESULTS: Our results demonstrate the superiority of decreasing social interactions (i.e., time dilation) within the community over partial isolation strategies, such as the spatial distancing pods and the spatiotemporal distancing strategy. In addition, we found that slow-spreading pathogens (i.e., pathogens that require a longer exposure to infect) spread roughly at the same rate as fast-spreading ones in highly active communities. This result is surprising since the pathogens may follow different paths. However, we demonstrate that the dilation of the timeline considerably slows the spread of the slower pathogens. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that the temporal dynamics of a community have a more significant effect on the spread of the disease than the characteristics of the spreading processes.

High prevalence of hepatitis C virus among criminals in rehabilitation facilities in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: There is a high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) carriers in prison in several developed countries, but the situation in Japan has not been well reported. This study aimed to determine the state of HCV infection among criminals in Japan. METHODS: We enrolled 533 criminals in rehabilitation facilities (354 men and 179 women) who underwent a medical check-up from April 2014 to March 2022. Their records of blood tests, medical history, and drug injection use were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The HCV-antibody positive rate was 11.1 % (59/533), with rates of 8.2 % (29/354) in men and 16.8 % (30/179 in women. Approximately half of the HCV-infected residents had a history of drug injection, and this rate did not vary by age or by sex. Although an opportunity to treat HCV infection with medical assistance from government was provided to all residents who were positive for HCV RNA, 26.5 % of them abandoned the treatment. CONCLUSION: In spite of the generous economical support to treat HCV infection by the government and the free access system in Japan, eliminating HCV in criminals appears to be difficult. The reason for this problem might be the criminals' negligent attitude to life.

An epidemiological survey of COVID-19 serology and its association with clinical infection among older adults- does antibody titer matter?

BACKGROUND: Older adults are at increased risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this study we assessed the response to COVID-19 vaccination and infection rates among nursing homes (NH) and assisted-living care home (ALCH) residents. METHODS: The study was conducted between August 2021 and January 2022, after widespread population vaccination with the third dose of Pfizer-BioNtech mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in Israel. Three groups were addressed: hospitalized older patients; NH and ALCH residents. Demographic data, COVID-19 serology (anti-spike IgG antibodies) and PCR test results were obtained to assess the dynamics of antibody titers and its correlation to infection rates. RESULTS: Two-hundred eighty-five individuals were evaluated; 92 hospitalized patients; 100 ALCH residents and 93 NH residents. In the latter two groups two serology surveys were conducted three months apart. Hospitalized patients were younger than ALCH and NH residents (mean age 80.4 ± 8 versus 82.6 ± 8 and 83.6 ± 5, respectively, p = 0.01), and had more comorbidities (p = 0.003). The degree of decline in the antibody level overtime was similar in ALCH and NH residents. Infection rates were higher among NH residents than ALCH residents [35/91 (38.4%) versus 11/100 (11%), p < 0.001]. Antibody level was lower among those infected [2113 (1271-3512) Au/ml versus 4113 (3364-5029) Au/ml, p < 0.001]. Adjusted analysis showed that NH residence, but not antibody levels, were significantly associated with infection. CONCLUSION: Among older adults, infection rates inversely correlated with antibody level. However, only nursing home residence was significantly associated with infection, suggesting that other factors such as crowding considerably contribute to the risk of infection.

Molecular detection and genetic characteristics of Giardia duodenalis in dairy cattle from large-scale breeding farms in Xinjiang, China.

Giardia duodenalis is an intestinal protozoan that can infect both humans and animals, leading to public health issues and economic losses in the livestock industry. G. duodenalis has been reported to infect dairy cattle, but there is limited information available on large-scale dairy farms in Xinjiang, China. The study collected 749 fresh faecal samples from five large-scale cattle farms in Xinjiang, China. The study used a nested PCR assay of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA*) gene to determine the presence of G. duodenalis. The results showed that 24.0% (180/749) of dairy cattle were positive for G. duodenalis, with the highest infection rate observed in pre-weaned calves (45.1%, 69/153). Among the 180 G. duodenalis positive samples, three assemblages were identified: assemblage E (n = 176), assemblage A (n = 3) and assemblage B (n = 1). Sixty-nine, 67 and 49 sequences were obtained for the beta-giardin (bg*) gene, the glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh*) gene and the triose phosphate isomerase (tpi*) gene, respectively. Thirteen novel sequences of assemblage E were identified, including five sequences from the bg* gene, four sequences from the gdh* gene and four sequences from the tpi* gene. This study found that 32 G. duodenalis assemblage E isolates formed 26 MLGs, indicating genetic variation and geographic isolation-based differentiation in bovine-derived G. duodenalis assemblage E. These findings provide fundamental insights into the genetic diversity of G. duodenalis in dairy cattle and can aid in the prevention and control of its occurrence in large-scale dairy cattle farms.

Current status of ruminant anaplasmosis in Algeria: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Anaplasmosis is an emerging infectious disease that is being recognised all over the world, with impact on animal health.This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the rate infection of Anaplasma spp. infection in Algerian ruminants. Three databases were searched to identify eligible studies for the final systematic review and meta-analysis. The 'meta' package in the R software was used for the meta-analysis, and the random effects model was chosen to pool the data. Meta-analysis encompasses 14 research papers spanning 19 years (2004-2023), out of an initial pool of 737 articles retrieved from various databases. The study included a total of 1515 cattle, 190 sheep, and 310 goats, and the overall Anaplasma infection rate was estimated at 28% (95% CI, 17-41%). The analysis revealed varying infection rates among species, with cattle at 20%, sheep at 30%, and goats at 61%. Five classified species and two unclassified strains belonging to Anaplasma genus were identified in ruminants, which are A. marginale, A. centrale, A. bovis, A. ovis, A. phagocytophilum, A. phagocytophilum-like strains, and A. platys-like strains. Among these, A. marginale was prevalent in ten out of eleven cattle studies. The data also revealed regional variations, with Northeastern Algeria showing a higher infection rate (26%) compared to North-central Algeria (9%). In the subgroup analysis, clinically healthy cattle had a higher infection rate (28%) compared to suspected disease cattle (16%). Molecular biology screening methods yielded a significantly higher infection rate (33%) than microscopy (12%). Gender analysis suggested slightly higher infection rates among male cattle (19%) compared to females (16%). Age analysis indicated that Anaplasma infection was more common in cattle less than 12 months (14%) compared to those over 12 months (9%). This systematic review provides valuable insights, highlighting the need for continued surveillance and potential preventive strategies in different regions and among different animal populations in Algeria.

Risk of SARS-CoV-2 following joint and epidural corticosteroid injections: A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The immunosuppressive effects of corticosteroid (CS) injections have come under more scrutiny during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The aim of the study was to explore any relationship between joint/epidural CS injection and SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positivity. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients 18 years or over who received at least one joint or epidural CS injection by physiatrists in a tertiary care center between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021. This cohort of patients was then compared to a control group who did not receive any CS injection during this time period. RESULTS: A total of 766 patients were identified in the CS injection group and 1546 patients in the control group. Overall, 12.27% of patients turned SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive in the CS injection group, which was similar to 11.90% in the control group (p = 0.797). But 3-month SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity rate showed a statistically significant higher rate among the CS injection group (3.30% in the CS injection group vs. 2.10% in the control group; p = 0.027). In multivariate regression analysis, after adjusting both groups for Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), there was statistically significant higher SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity rate in the CS injection group (p = 0.024). However, after adjusting both groups for age and total number of comorbidities, there was no difference between the groups in regard to SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity rate (p = 0.081). In the subgroup analysis of only COVID-19 vaccinated patients, there was an increased 3-month SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity rate among patients with severe comorbidities in the CS injection group (p = 0.036). CONCLUSION: The study was not conclusive on the effect of joint or epidural CS injection on SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity rate, although adjusted analysis suggests higher 3-month SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity rate after CS injection in patients with severe comorbidities with significant disease burden when compared to controls.

Pediatric peritoneal dialysis training program and its relationship to peritonitis: a study of the International Pediatric Peritoneal Dialysis Network.

BACKGROUND: The guidelines for training of patients and caregivers to perform home peritoneal dialysis (PD) uniformly include recommendations pertaining to the prevention of peritonitis. The objective of this study conducted by the International Pediatric Peritoneal Dialysis Network (IPPN) was to investigate the training practices for pediatric PD and to evaluate the impact of these practices on the peritonitis and exit-site infection (ESI) rate. METHODS: A questionnaire regarding details of the PD program and training practices was distributed to IPPN member centers, while peritonitis and ESI rates were either derived from the IPPN registry or obtained directly from the centers. Poisson univariate and multivariate regression was used to determine the training-related peritonitis and ESI risk factors. RESULTS: Sixty-two of 137 centers responded. Information on peritonitis and ESI rates were available from fifty centers. Training was conducted by a PD nurse in 93.5% of centers, most commonly (50%) as an in-hospital program. The median total training time was 24 hours, with a formal assessment conducted in 88.7% and skills demonstration in 71% of centers. Home visits were performed by 58% of centers. Shorter (< 20 hours) training duration and lower number of training tools (both p < 0.02) were associated with higher peritonitis rate, after adjustment for proportion of treated infants and income of country of residence. CONCLUSIONS: An association between training duration and the number of training tools represent potentially modifiable risk factors to reduce peritonitis rates within the pediatric PD population. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric tuberculosis: decrease in notification rates and increase in clinical severity.

The outbreak of COVID-19 resulted in a decrease in tuberculosis notification rates globally. We compared tuberculosis incidence rates and disease severity in children seen in our centre prior and during COVID-19 pandemic.We performed a cohort study enrolling children aged under 18 years who received a diagnosis of tuberculosis (January 1st, 2010-December 31st, 2021) at our Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit. Disease severity was evaluated based on: the classification proposed by Wiseman et al., smear positivity, presence of symptoms at presentation, lung cavitation, extrapulmonary disease, respiratory failure and need for intensive care support. Overall, 168 children (50.6% female, median age 69 months, IQR 95.4) received a diagnosis of tuberculosis, 156 (92.8%) between 2010-2019, before COVID-19 outbreak, and 12 (7.2%) between 2020-2021, during the pandemic. The annual tuberculosis notification rate dropped by 73% in 2021 (0.38/100000, 95%CI 0.1-0.96) compared with 2019 (1.46/100000, 95%CI 0.84-2.37). Compared to the pre-pandemic period, the proportion of children classified as severe was higher in 2020-2021 (5, 41.6% vs 23, 15.7%, p = 0.006) with a higher rate of respiratory failure (2, 16.7%, vs 4, 2.6%, p = 0.01) and an increased need for intensive care support (1, 8.3% vs 1, 0.6%, p = 0.01).   Conclusion: During COVID-19 pandemic we observed a reduction in tuberculosis notification rate in pediatric population and a significant increase in disease severity. This scenario may be the consequence of a delay in diagnosis and an underreporting of cases, rather than the effect of a reduced transmission of tuberculosis. Children reached health-care services only in the need of urgent medical attention. What is Known: • COVID-19 pandemic had a huge impact on national health care systems, resulting in a reduction of access to medical care. What is New: • In Campania Region, Italy, a low tuberculosis incidence country, we witnessed a 75% reduction in tuberculosis notification rate during pandemic. In parallel we demonstrated a significant increase in disease severity, suggesting that the reduction in notification rate may be attributed to an underreporting of cases and consequential diagnostic delay, rather than a reduced transmission of infection.

The role of universal health coverage and global health security nexus and interplay on SARS-CoV-2 infection and case-fatality rates in Africa : a structural equation modeling approach.

BACKGROUND: The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 infections remains a significant health challenge worldwide. There is paucity of evidence on the influence of the universal health coverage (UHC) and global health security (GHS) nexus on SARS-CoV-2 infection risk and outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the effects of UHC and GHS nexus and interplay on SARS-CoV-2 infection rate and case-fatality rates (CFR) in Africa. METHODS: The study employed descriptive methods to analyze the data drawn from multiple sources as well used structural equation modeling (SEM) with maximum likelihood estimation to model and assess the relationships between independent and dependent variables by performing path analysis. RESULTS: In Africa, 100% and 18% of the effects of GHS on SARS-CoV-2 infection and RT-PCR CFR, respectively were direct. Increased SARS-CoV-2 CFR was associated with median age of the national population (ß = -0.1244, [95% CI: -0.24, -0.01], P = 0.031 ); COVID-19 infection rate (ß = -0.370, [95% CI: -0.66, -0.08], P = 0.012 ); and prevalence of obesity among adults aged 18 + years (ß = 0.128, [95% CI: 0.06,0.20], P = 0.0001) were statistically significant. SARS-CoV-2 infection rates were strongly linked to median age of the national population (ß = 0.118, [95% CI: 0.02,0.22 ], P = 0.024); population density per square kilometer, (ß = -0.003, [95% CI: -0.0058, -0.00059], P = 0.016 ) and UHC for service coverage index (ß = 0.089, [95% CI: 0.04,0.14, P = 0.001 ) in which their relationship was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The study shade a light that UHC for service coverage, and median age of the national population, population density have significant effect on COVID-19 infection rate while COVID-19 infection rate, median age of the national population and prevalence of obesity among adults aged 18 + years were associated with COVID-19 case-fatality rate. Both, UHC and GHS do not emerge to protect against COVID-19-related case fatality rate.

Epidemiological and phylogenetic investigation of Babesia spp. in dogs of Hainan Province/Island, China.

Babesiosis is a significant tick-borne disease, which is globally prevalent. Many previous research studies have discussed the presence of Babesia gibsoni, Babesia vogeli, and Babesia canis in dogs in China. In the present study, we have used distinct molecular approaches to detect the presence of Babesia spp. in dogs of Hainan Province/Island, China. A total of 1106 dog blood samples were collected from the Island, of which 61 dog samples were found to be positive for Babesia vogeli. The highest infection rate was 56.7% (17/30) detected from Tunchang, followed by 25.0% (3/12) from Baisha and 10.4% (5/48) from Wenchang. There was only one positive case of Babesia gibsoni, and the infection rate was found to be 0.1% (1/1106). The sequencing results showed that the subjected sample sequences were identical and resembled the Babesia vogeli and Babesia gibsoni sequences available in the database. The results derived from this study will be helpful for planning effective strategies for the treatment, control, and prevention of babesiosis in dogs of Hainan Province/Island.

Time varying Markov process with partially observed aggregate data: An application to coronavirus.

A major difficulty in the analysis of Covid-19 transmission is that many infected individuals are asymptomatic. For this reason, the total counts of infected individuals and of recovered immunized individuals are unknown, especially during the early phase of the epidemic. In this paper, we consider a parametric time varying Markov process of Coronavirus transmission and show how to estimate the model parameters and approximate the unobserved counts from daily data on infected and detected individuals and the total daily death counts. This model-based approach is illustrated in an application to French data, performed on April 6, 2020.

Infection Rate of a Prolonged Sacral Neuromodulation Test: A Large Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVES: It is estimated that 3.8% to 12.5% of patients develop a device infection during the two to four weeks of the sacral neuromodulation (SNM) test, leading to removal of the entire system. It is possible to prolong the test phase up to the clinician's decision, particularly when benefits are unclear. The aim of our study is to assess the device infection rate in a prolonged SNM test. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled patients who performed a prolonged SNM test (at least eight weeks) in the last five years (2017-2021). All procedures were performed using a standardized technique and the same prophylactic antibiotic protocol. In case of a clinical suspicion of infection, all components were explanted. Patient information (age at implantation, medical history of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, immunologic diseases, or chronic immunosuppressive therapy), surgical data (operative time, intraoperative complications), and infection data (timing of onset, symptoms reported, wound culture results) were recorded. RESULTS: We enrolled 232 patients who underwent a prolonged SNM test (mean duration 65.5 days). A local infection that led to the removal of the entire system occurred in six patients (2.6%). The gluteal pocket was always involved, and in two cases, infection was also extended to the exit point of the extension wire. No significant correlations with clinical data were found. Infection occurred beyond four weeks in two cases, between three and four weeks in three cases, and within two weeks in one case. Intraoperative wound culture was performed in five of six patients, and Staphylococcus aureus (S aureus) was isolated in four cases. One culture test gave negative bacterial growth results. CONCLUSIONS: The infection rate of a prolonged eight-week SNM test is low and does not differ from that reported in the literature for a two-to-four-week SNM test. S aureus remains the most frequent bacterium involved.

Outcomes of drain versus no drain in total knee arthroplasty: a retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: The use of suction drains in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains controversial. The aim of this study is to compare the outcomes of patients who received suction drains versus those who did not, focusing on blood loss, blood transfusion need, and length of hospital stay. METHODS: A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted at a tertiary hospital between January 1, 2015, and December 30, 2019, and included 262 patients who underwent unilateral non-traumatic primary TKA and were over 18 years old. The Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved the study (MRC-02-20-278). RESULTS: A total of 262 patients were included, with an age range of 47 to 91 years. Most of the included patients were females, 74.4% (195). Hypertension was the most frequent risk factor, 67.6%, followed by diabetes. Of 262 patients, 156 (59.5%) received a drain. The drain group had significantly longer hospital stay, 30% longer tourniquet time, greater haemoglobin and haematocrit drops, higher count of transfused packed RBC units, and lower use of anticoagulants. Moreover, tranexamic acid (TXA) use (n = 106) in surgery reduced hospital stays, tourniquet time, drain output, and increased pre- and postoperative haemoglobin and hematocrit levels compared to no TXA group (n = 156) (p < 0.05, z-score reported). CONCLUSIONS: This study found that patients who received a drain had longer hospital stays and greater blood loss and transfusion rates compared to those who did not. The use of TXA in surgery was associated with improved outcomes and reduced overall complications.

Rickettsia communities and their relationship with tick species within and around the national park of Iguaçu, Brazil.

We report Rickettsia species from 2,334 ticks collected from environment (1,939 ticks) and animals (395 ticks) in the largest inland fragment of the Atlantic rainforest of southern Brazil and its fragments. Additionally, the DNA infection rates of Amblyomma ovale tick populations in the Neotropics with Rickettsia bellii and Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest were calculated using data from scientific publications, and their correlation was evaluated. From 11 tick species Rickettsia DNA was detected in seven (Amblyomma brasiliense, Amblyomma coelebs, Amblyomma incisum, Amblyomma longirostre, A. ovale, Haemaphysalis juxtakochi, Ixodes fuscipes) and was not detected in four species (Amblyomma dubitatum, Ixodes loricatus, Rhipicephalus microplus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato). DNA of five Rickettsia species was detected (R. bellii, Rickettsia amblyommatis, Rickettsia rhipicephali, Rickettsia felis and Rickettsia sp. Aragaoi). To determine the prevalence of Rickettsia DNA positivity according to vector species, ticks were processed individually or in pools of 2-10 individuals (samples). The most prevalent Rickettsia species was R. bellii, found in 112 samples, followed by R. amblyommatis, R. rhipicephali, R. felis and Rickettsia sp. Aragaoi, found in 16, five, two and one sample, respectively. Rickettsia bellii DNA was found in five tick species with the highest infection rate in A. ovale and A. brasiliense. Absence of R. parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest in A. ovale ticks was an unexpected result. Furthermore, a negative correlation was identified between the infection rates (DNA) of R. bellii and/or R. parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest within A. ovale tick populations in the Neotropics. Putting together current knowledge, it can be proposed that, within natural settings, the diversity of rickettsiae and ticks creates a buffering effect on the overgrowth of rickettsiae and episodes of bacteremia in the hosts.

Modeling and multi-objective optimal control of reaction-diffusion COVID-19 system due to vaccination and patient isolation.

In this paper, a reaction-diffusion COVID-19 model is proposed to explore how vaccination-isolation strategies affect the development of the epidemic. First, the basic dynamical properties of the system are explored. Then, the system's asymptotic distributions of endemic equilibrium under different conditions are studied. Further, the global sensitivity analysis of R 0 is implemented with the aim of determining the sensitivity for these parameters. In addition, the optimal vaccination-isolation strategy based on the optimal path is proposed. Meantime, social cost C ( m , σ ) , social benefit B ( m , σ ) , threshold R 0 ( m , σ ) three objective optimization problem based on vaccination-isolation strategy is explored, and the maximum social cost ( M S C ) and maximum social benefit ( M S B ) are obtained. Finally, the instance prediction of the Lhasa epidemic in China on August 7, 2022, is made by using the piecewise infection rates ß 1 ( t ) , ß 2 ( t ) , and some key indicators are obtained as follows: (1) The basic reproduction numbers of each stage in Lhasa, China are R 0 ( 1 : 8 ) = 0.4678 , R 0 ( 9 : 20 ) = 2.7655 , R 0 ( 21 : 30 ) = 0.3810 and R 0 ( 31 : 100 ) = 0.7819 ; (2) The daily new cases of this epidemic will peak at 43 on the 20th day (August 26, 2022); (3) The cumulative cases in Lhasa, China will reach about 640 and be cleared about the 80th day (October 28, 2022). Our research will contribute to winning the war on epidemic prevention and control.

Analysis of Demodex infection rate and risk factors in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction.

PURPOSE: In the present study, we aimed to investigate the positive rate of Demodex infection in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and to analyze its risk factors. METHODS: A total of 178 MGD patients admitted to the Jinan Second People's Hospital from April 2020 to February 2021 were enrolled in the present study. All patients were examined for Demodex infection, and their medical history was collected. The positive rate of Demodex infection was calculated after the examination. The medical history, including age, eating habits, pet ownership, and so on, was collected. First, a univariate analysis was conducted to identify the factors associated with positive Demodex infection, and then, a multivariate comprehensive analysis was carried out to identify the main risk factors for positive Demodex infection. RESULTS: In the present study, the positive rate of Demodex infection in 178 MGD patients was 73.60%. The risk factors of Demodex infection in MGD patients were gender, pet ownership, toiletry sharing, and diabetes (all P ≤ 0.15). Age was one of the risk factors for infection [B = 0.105, OR 1.111 (95%CI 1.069-1.155), P = 0.000], and toiletry sharing was more likely to cause positive Demodex mite infection [B = 0.891, OR 2.439 (95%CI 1.066-5.577), P = 0.035]. The Demodex infection was not statistically associated with gender (P = 0.234), pet ownership (P = 1.141), and diabetes (P = 0.295). CONCLUSIONS: The positive rate of Demodex infection was higher in MGD patients. The main risk factors affecting the positive rate of Demodex infection included age and toiletry sharing.

Discrepancy between frequent occurrence of COVID-19-like symptoms and low seroconversion rates among healthcare workers.

During the first wave of the pandemic, we compared the occurrence of subjectively experienced COVID-19-like symptoms and true severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seroconversion rates among medical personnel in general practices. This cross-sectional study determined the SARS-CoV-2-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody status of medical staff from 100 outpatient practices in Germany. Study cohort characteristics and COVID-19-like symptoms were obtained by questionnaires. The initial screening for SARS-CoV-2-recognizing antibodies was performed using a commercial chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay. Positive results were controlled with another approved test. Samples with discrepant results were subjected to a third IgG-binding assay and a neutralization test. A total of 861 participants were included, 1.7% (n = 15) of whom tested positive for SARS-CoV-specific IgG in the initial screening test. In 46.6% (n = 7) of positive cases, test results were confirmed by an independent test. In the eight samples with discrepant results, neither spike-specific antibodies nor in vitro neutralizing capacity were detectable, resulting in a genuine seroprevalence rate of 0.8%. 794 participants completed the questionnaire. Intriguingly, a total of 53.7% (n = 426) of them stated episodes of COVID-19-like symptoms. Except for smell and taste dysfunction, there were no significant differences between the groups with and without laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion. Our results demonstrated that only 0.8% of participants acquired SARS-CoV-2 even though 53.7% of participants reportedly experienced COVID-19-like symptoms. Thus, even among medical staff, self-diagnosis based on subjectively experienced symptoms does not have a relevant predictive value.

Factors influencing SARS-CoV-2 infection rate in Belgian nursing home residents during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic.

In April 2020, Belgium experienced high numbers of fatal COVID-19 cases among nursing home (NH) residents. In response, a mass testing campaign was organised testing all NH residents and staff. We analysed the data of Flemish NHs to identify institutional factors associated with increased SARS-CoV-2 infection rates among NH residents. Cross-sectional study was conducted between 8 April and 15 May 2020. Data collected included demographics, group category (i.e. staff or resident), symptom status and test result. We retrieved additional data: number of beds and staff, type of beds (level of dependency of residents) and ownership (public, private for profit/non-profit institutions). Risk factor analysis was performed using negative binomial regression. In total, 695 NHs were included, 282 (41%) had at least one resident tested positive. Higher infection rate among residents was associated with a higher fraction of RVT beds, generally occupied by more dependent residents (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.97; 95% CI 1.00-3.86) and higher staff infection rate (IRR 1.89; 95% CI 1.68-2.12). No relationship was found between other investigated NH characteristics and infection rate among residents. Staff-resident interactions are key in SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics. Vaccination, regular staff testing, assessment of infection prevention and control strategies in all NHs are needed to face future SARS-CoV-2 epidemics in these settings.