ABSTRACT
This review summarizes the recent Global Meningococcal Initiative (GMI) regional meeting, which explored meningococcal disease in North America. Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) cases are documented through both passive and active surveillance networks. IMD appears to be decreasing in many areas, such as the Dominican Republic (2016: 18 cases; 2021: 2 cases) and Panama (2008: 1 case/100,000; 2021: <0.1 cases/100,000); however, there is notable regional and temporal variation. Outbreaks persist in at-risk subpopulations, such as people experiencing homelessness in the US and migrants in Mexico. The recent emergence of ß-lactamase-positive and ciprofloxacin-resistant meningococci in the US is a major concern. While vaccination practices vary across North America, vaccine uptake remains relatively high. Monovalent and multivalent conjugate vaccines (which many countries in North America primarily use) can provide herd protection. However, there is no evidence that group B vaccines reduce meningococcal carriage. The coronavirus pandemic illustrates that following public health crises, enhanced surveillance of disease epidemiology and catch-up vaccine schedules is key. Whole genome sequencing is a key epidemiological tool for identifying IMD strain emergence and the evaluation of vaccine strain coverage. The Global Roadmap on Defeating Meningitis by 2030 remains a focus of the GMI.
Subject(s)
Meningitis, Meningococcal , Meningococcal Infections , Meningococcal Vaccines , Neisseria meningitidis , Humans , Incidence , Meningococcal Infections/epidemiology , Meningococcal Infections/prevention & control , Neisseria meningitidis/genetics , Vaccines, Conjugate , Meningitis, Meningococcal/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Background: Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection associated with exposure to bat guano. An outbreak of an unknown severe febrile illness occurred among tunnel workers in the Dominican Republic, and resulted in several deaths. We conducted an investigation to confirm etiology and recommend control measures. Methods: A case was defined as fever and ≥2 symptoms consistent with histoplasmosis in a tunnel worker, July-September 2015. We interviewed workers and family members, reviewed medical records, tested serum and urine for Histoplasma antigen/antibody, and conducted a cohort study to identify risk factors for histoplasmosis and severe infection (intensive care). Results: A crew of 36 male workers removed large amounts of bat guano from tunnels without respiratory protection for a median of 24 days per worker (range, 1-25 days). Median age was 32 years (range, 18-62 years); none were immunocompromised. Thirty (83%) workers had illness that met the case definition, of whom 28 (93%) were hospitalized, 9 (30%) required intensive care, 6 (20%) required intubation, and 3 (10%) died. The median time from symptom onset to antifungal treatment was 6 days (range, 1-11 days). Twenty-two of 34 (65%) workers had laboratory evidence of infection. Conclusions: Severe illnesses and death likely resulted from exposure to large inocula of Histoplasma capsulatum spores in an enclosed space, lack of respiratory protection, and delay in recognition and treatment. Clinician education about histoplasmosis, improved laboratory capacity to diagnose fungal infections, and occupational health guidance to protect workers against endemic fungi are recommended in the Dominican Republic.
Subject(s)
Disease Outbreaks , Histoplasmosis/epidemiology , Histoplasmosis/etiology , Occupational Exposure , Adolescent , Adult , Animals , Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use , Cohort Studies , Dominican Republic , Histoplasmosis/drug therapy , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Respiratory Protective Devices , Young AdultABSTRACT
Se han descrito cambios en la composición corporal en pacientes VIH mediante el análisis de la bioimpedancia eléctrica (ABE). Hay pocos estudios que describan estos cambios en la composición corporal en pacientes VIH en Venezuela. Objetivo: Conocer cuáles son las características de la composición corporal de los pacientes VIH (Hospitalizados y Ambulatorios), período enero - agosto 2015. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio descriptivo - transversal. Tres grupos: Hospitalizados: pacVIH-h (n=22), Ambulatorio: pacVIH-a (n=47) y No VIH: Control (n=28). Se registraron género, peso, talla y LCD4+. Mediante ABE se obtuvo: Masa grasa (MG), Tejido adiposo abdominal (TAA), Agua corporal total (ACT), Agua intracelular (AIC), Agua extracelular (AEC), Masa celular corporal (MCC), Masa libre de grasa (MLG), Potasio corporal total (KCT), Ángulo de Fase (AF). Resultados: Peso, IMC, LCD4+ fue menor en pacVIH-h. La MG y TAA fue menor en grupos de pacientes VIH con respecto al Control. No hubo diferencias en Agua Corporal. MMC fue menor en pacVIH-a. AF fue menor en pacVIH. Una correlación significativa entre MG y TAA, y LCD4+. Conclusión: Este estudio ha permitido exponer y reconocer los aspectos relacionados con los cambios en la composición corporal que ocurren en el paciente VIH adulto. La relación entre el compartimento graso y CD4+ permitiría explorar el papel del tejido adiposo en la reconstitución inmune.
Body composition in HIV patients have been assessed previously using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Lack of studies that describes changes in body composition in Venezuelan HIV patients. Objective: To assess body composition characteristic of HIV patients (hospitalized, ambulatory) , period January-August 2015. Methods: Descriptive-transversal study. Three groups: hospitalized: HIV-h (n=22), ambulatory: HIV-a (n=47) and Control (n=28). Gender, weight, height, CD4+ were measured. By BIA: Fat Mass (FM), Abdominal Adipose Tissue (AAT), Total body water (TBW), Intracellular water (ICW), Extracellular water (ECW), Body cell mass (BCM),Free Fat Mass (FFM), Total body potassium (TBK), Phase angle (PA). Results: Weight, BMI, CD4+ were lower in HIV-h. FM and AAT were lower in HIV patients. Water compartment showed no differences. BCM were lower in HIV-a. PA was lower in HIV patients. Significant relationship between FM, ATT and CD4+ was found. Conclusions: This study let us expose and recognize body composition changes that occur in HIV patients. Relationship between FAT, AAT and CD4+ can let us explore the possible role of adipose tissue in immune reconstitution.
ABSTRACT
La empresa Superel Ltda. presenta serios problemas en la maquinaria y equipo despues de trabajar con el personal en el area se concluyo que la camara de frio no se encuentra en condiciones optimas demandando la reparacion del sistema de refrigeracion, tambien requiere una reinstalcion electrica, su maquinaria no cuenta con un sistema de automatizacion, debido a estos problemas la empresa tiene costos elevados de energia electrica, por tanto se efectuo cotizaciones en las empresas Frio Control y Todo Frio del Ing.Amador caro la misma que fue contratada por Superel para su modernizacion y mejoramiento. Finalamente se realiza el estudio de Ingenieria del proyecto sugiriendo la innovacion de productos con el incremento del volumen de produccion y mejoras en la presentacion de postres y torats, nuevos servicios(distribucion a domicilio) y el analisis financiero correspondiente comparando la situacion futura de la empresa con y sin proyecto.
