Occurrence of COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) litters along the eastern coast of Palawan Island, Philippines.

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused worldwide health constraints. This study was conducted to establish a baseline monitoring survey to describe the distribution of PPE litters during the COVID-19 pandemic in the province of Palawan, Philippines. A total of 386 COVID-19-related PPE items were present in 83 % of coastal sampling sites with over a cumulative area of 48,200 m2, with a density of 8 × 10-3 items m-2. The facemask (98 %; n = 377) was the primary type of PPE, followed by face shield (2 %; n = 9). Meanwhile, the daily density of PPE litters in San Manuel, Puerto Princesa ranged from 0 to 9.9 × 10-2 items m-2, with a mean density of 8 × 10-3 items m-2. The accumulation rates of PPE items ranged from 3.27 × 10-1 items to 1.143 items d-1, with an average rate of 7.29 × 10-1 items d-1.

Use of non-invasive stimulation in movement disorders: a critical review.

BACKGROUND: Noninvasive stimulation has been widely used in the past 30 years to study and treat a large number of neurological diseases, including movement disorders. OBJECTIVE: In this critical review, we illustrate the rationale for use of these techniques in movement disorders and summarize the best medical evidence based on the main clinical trials performed to date. METHODS: A nationally representative group of experts performed a comprehensive review of the literature in order to analyze the key clinical decision-making factors driving transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in movement disorders. Classes of evidence and recommendations were described for each disease. RESULTS: Despite unavoidable heterogeneities and low effect size, TMS is likely to be effective for treating motor symptoms and depression in Parkinson's disease (PD). The efficacy in other movement disorders is unclear. TMS is possibly effective for focal hand dystonia, essential tremor and cerebellar ataxia. Additionally, it is likely to be ineffective in reducing tics in Tourette syndrome. Lastly, tDCS is likely to be effective in improving gait in PD. CONCLUSIONS: There is encouraging evidence for the use of noninvasive stimulation on a subset of symptoms in selected movement disorders, although the means to optimize protocols for improving positive outcomes in routine clinical practice remain undetermined. Similarly, the best stimulation paradigms and responder profile need to be investigated in large clinical trials with established therapeutic and assessment paradigms that could also allow genuine long-term benefits to be determined.

Plastic litter pollution along sandy beaches in Puerto Princesa, Palawan Island, Philippines.

Marine plastic litter pollution has become an emerging threat to the Philippines, especially in Palawan. This study was conducted to investigate the macroplastic litter and determine the clean-coast index (CCI) of the residential and non-residential sites on the coasts of Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Plastic litters were sampled from 21 coastal barangays by delineating a 50-m-long transect line with three 4 m × 4 m quadrats. The litter sampled were counted and sorted into categories. The results showed that 17 sites were contaminated with plastic litters. In terms of residential and non-residential sites, the east coast has thrice as much plastic, 2.61 items/m2 and 1.26 items/m2 compared to west coast with only 1.57 items/m2 and 0.14 items/m2, respectively. The plastics sampled were predominantly fishing line (nylon), food packaging, and fragments. The calculated CCI revealed that 76% of the sites sampled were categorized as dirty and extremely dirty.

Healthcare-associated infections in high-risk neonates: Temporal trends in a national surveillance system.

BACKGROUND: Increased survival of preterm neonates who require hospitalization at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit has led to an increase in infections. This study aims to describe the temporal trend, risk factors, and outcome of healthcare-associated infections in a NICU of a high complexity hospital, with emphasis on the differences of incidence between bacterial and fungal infections. METHODS: The study was carried out from January 2013 to December 2016, with daily follow-up of the newborns by the National Healthcare Safety Network. RESULTS: The study included 881 newborns, of whom 214 had a bacterial infection, 19 had fungi infection, and 12 bacterial and fungal infections associated. The hospital infection rate was 12/1000 patient-days. SNAPPE>24, days of hospitalization and PICC days were independent risk factors for the development of fungal and bacterial infection, respectively, with statistical significance for bacterial and fungal infections. The mortality rate was 2.6 times higher in those who had fungal infection than in those who had a bacterial infection. The occurrence of invasive infections was higher in the years 2015 and 2016 and Gram-negative bacteria and yeasts were more frequent, impacting morbidity and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The use of invasive devices is a risk factor for the occurrence of HAI caused by bacteria and fungi. The frequency of deaths was higher in the group of neonates with fungal infection. These results point to the importance of constant epidemiological surveillance and measures of effective control of infections in NICU.

Eritema multiforme limitado à cavidade oral em um cão: relato de caso / Multiforme erythema limited to the oral cavity in a dog: case report

O eritema multiforme é uma doença incomum em cães, que afeta pele e mucosas, cuja etiologia ainda não foi completamente elucidada. Contudo, o envolvimento exclusivo da cavidade oral é considerado raro, tendo sido descrito poucas vezes até o presente momento. O objetivo deste trabalho é descrever um caso de eritema multiforme limitado à cavidade oral em um canino. Um cão, fêmea, Akita, com sete anos de idade, apresentou histórico de ulcerações na cavidade oral e nas laterais da língua, sem alterações cutâneas ou sistêmicas. O diagnóstico definitivo foi realizado por meio do exame histopatológico da mucosa oral, e a terapia imunossupressora empregada mostrou-se eficaz. Embora o eritema multiforme seja considerado incomum na espécie canina, este relato de caso apresenta a forma mais rara da doença, com poucos casos descritos em medicina veterinária.(AU)

Multiforme erythema is an uncommon disease in dogs that affects the skin and mucous membranes, the etiology of which has not yet been fully elucidated. However, the exclusive involvement of the oral cavity is considered rare, having been described few times until the present moment. The aim of this work is to describe a case of multiforme erythema limited to the oral cavity in a canine. A seven-year-old female dog, akita, presented a history of ulcerations in the oral cavity and on the sides of the tongue, with no cutaneous or systemic changes. The definitive diagnosis was made through the histopathological examination of the oral mucosa and the immunosuppressive therapy used proved to be effective. Although multiforme erythema is considered uncommon in the canine species, this case report presents the rarest form of the disease, with few cases described in veterinary medicine.(AU)

Association between inflammatory potential of the diet and sleep parameters in sleep apnea patients.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the association between the inflammatory potential of diet and sleep parameters in individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the dietary inflammatory index (DII) at predicting sleep pattern. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with mild to severe OSA were included in the study (N = 296). Sleep pattern was analyzed by polysomnography and subjective sleep parameters. DII scores were calculated from a validated food frequency questionnaire. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and generalized linear models were conducted. RESULTS: DII scores were efficient at predicting apnea severity (P < 0.05) and daytime sleepiness (P = 0.02) in age stratification and predicting rapid eye movement latency in obese individuals (P = 0.03). No significant associations were found between DII scores and the majority of sleep parameters. The DII was only associated with daytime sleepiness; patients with a more proinflammatory diet (quintile 4) showed more subjective sleepiness than the group with a more anti-inflammatory diet (quintile 1; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Findings from this study indicated that the DII could be sensitive and specific for predicting apnea severity in individuals commonly associated with OSA. Although the DII was not associated with most of the sleep parameters, the few associations found demonstrated the need for more studies that evaluate whether DII is associated with the risk for OSA symptoms.

Balance versus resistance training on postural control in patients with Parkinson's disease: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Evidences have shown that physiotherapy programs may improve the balance of individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD), although it is not clear which specific exercise program is better. AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of balance versus resistance training on postural control measures in PD patients. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: The study was conducted in a physiotherapy outpatient clinic of a university hospital. POPULATION: A total of 40 PD participants were randomly divided into two groups: balance training (BT) and resistance training (RT). METHODS: The BT group focused on balance training, functional independence and gait while the RT group performed resistance exercises emphasizing the lower limbs and trunk, both supervised by trained physiotherapists. Therapy sessions were held twice a week (at 60 minutes), totaling 24 sessions. The primary outcome was evaluated by force platform with center of pressure sway measures in different balance conditions and the secondary outcome was evaluated by Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) scale to determine the effects of the intervention on postural control. RESULTS: Significant improvement of postural control (pre vs. post 15.1 vs. 9.6 cm2) was only reported in favor of BT group (d=1.17) for one-legged stand condition on force platform. The standardized mean difference between groups was significantly (P<0.02), with 36% of improvement for BT vs. 0.07% for RT on this condition. Significant improvement (P<0.05) was also observed in favor of BT (in mean 3.2%) for balance gains in some BESTest scores, when compared to RT group (-0.98%). CONCLUSIONS: Postural control in Parkinson's disease is improved when training by a directional and specific balance program than a resistance training program. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: Balance training is superior to resistance training in regard to improving postural control of individuals with PD. Gold standard instruments (high in cost and difficult to access) were used to assess balance, as well as scales with clinical applicability (low cost, easily acceptable, applicable and valid), which can guide the management of physiotherapists both in their decision-making and in clinical practice.

Impact of UV-B radiation on Clonostachys rosea germination and growth.

Sensitivity to UV-B radiation is one of the main limitations of biological control of plant pathogens in the field. The effect of UV-B radiation on germination and leaf tissue colonization by the biological control agent Clonostachys rosea was evaluated. There were variations among C. rosea strains in sensitivity to UV-B radiation. The most tolerant strain (LQC62) had relative germination of about 60 % after irradiation of 4.2 kJ m(-2). The deleterious effects of UV-B radiation on C. rosea colonization were overcome by higher conidial concentration. In addition, the tolerance of C. rosea conidia was higher when irradiated over leaf disks compared to agar media, and this is very important information to determine the dose and spray strategies for applying C. rosea in the field.

Condição imunológica de bovinos das raças Holandesa e Nelore frente a Babesia bovis e B. bigemina em duas regiões do Estado de São Paulo / Immunological condition of cattle in Holstein and Nelore breed in regard to Babesia bovis and B. bigemina in two regions of the State of São Paulo

A resposta imunológica de uma população frente a um agente infeccioso pode variar entre as raças e o manejo dessa população. Dessa maneira, torna-se relevante a pesquisa regional, visando o conhecimento da inter-relação do agente com seu hospedeiro. Partindo desses pressupostos, investigou-se a ocorrência de imunoglobulinas da classe IgG, anti-Babesia bovis e anti-B. bigemina nas raças Nelore (Bos indicus) e Holandesa (Bos taurus), em duas regiões do Estado de São Paulo, distantes a 300 km. Pelo método de ELISA indireto, foram testadas 1.161 amostras de soro de bovinos. As freqüências médias de anticorpos mostraram que ambas as regiões se encontram em situação de estabilidade enzoótica para B. bovis para ambas as raças estudadas, embora haja tendência para área marginal na região de Presidente Prudente para raça Nelore. No referente a B. bigemina ambas as regiões são de estabilidade enzoótica para a raça Holandesa e de instabilidade enzoótica para a raça Nelore. Essa constatação é um alerta sanitário, pois casos agudos da doença ou surtos específicos de B. bigemina na raça Nelore podem ocorrer nessas regiões.

The immunological reply of a population to an infectious agent can vary between races and handling of this population. Regional research becomes important, in order to know the interrelation between the agent and its host. In this way, the occurrence of immunoglobulins of class G, anti-Babesia bovis and anti-Babesia bigemina in the Nelore (Bos indicus) and Hostein breed (Bos taurus), was investigated in two regions of the State of São Paulo, 300 km distant from each other. For the indirect method of ELISA, 1,161 bovine serum samples were tested. The medium frequencies of antibodies showed that in the two regions exists an enzootic stability for B. bovis in both breeds studied; even so there was a tendency of marginal area for the Nelore breed in one of the regions. Regarding B. bigemina, in both regions exists enzootic stability for the Hostein and enzootic instability for the Nelore breed. Therefore, acute cases of the disease or specific outbreaks by B. bigemina infection in the Nelore breed may occur in these regions.

Low-pathogenicity avian influenza virus in live bird markets--what about the livestock area?

Low-pathogenic avian influenza virus (AV) continues to be isolated from the live bird markets (LBMs) in the Northeasten United States. Recent years have seen increasing numbers of these markets opening and an expansion of the type of animals they sell in conjunction with traditional live poultry. Specific-pathogen-free chickens were released into the livestock area of 13 New York City LBMs and then tested for evidence of AIV. We were able to recover virus or demonstrate seroconversion among the chickens introduced to four of the markets.

Humoral immune responses to chicken infectious anemia virus in three strains of chickens in a closed flock.

This is a comparative study on seroconversion to chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV) in a closed flock of specific-pathogen-free chickens undergoing a natural outbreak and after vaccination of some of these flocks with a commercial, live vaccine. The N2a strain (B21B21 haplotype) had the highest seroconversion after natural infection (94%) or vaccination (100%), followed by the P2a strain (B19B19) at 75%-82% seroconversion after natural infection and 85% seroconversion after vaccination. The S13 (B13B13) chickens were 26% seropositive after natural infection and 75% seropositive after vaccination. N2a chickens with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive tissues were 97% seropositive compared to 80%-83% PCR-positive and seropositive for the P2a chickens and only 8% seropositive and PCR-positive for the S13 chickens. Seroconversion occurred at or near sexual maturity after natural infection in seven flocks studied.

Characterization of Mexican strains of avian infectious bronchitis isolated during 1997.

Ten infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) isolates were recovered from broiler chickens in the states of Queretaro and Guanajuato in Mexico. The viruses were isolated from trachea, lung, kidney, and cecal tonsils of birds that showed respiratory signs in spite of vaccination with Massachusetts (Mass) and Connecticut strains of IBV. Each isolate was identified by an accession number from 1 to 10. Six of the isolates were neutralized by Mass monoclonal antibodies, whereas the other four were not. In addition, these four isolates did not produce lesions in embryos in the first five to seven passes. These four isolates were further characterized by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques. The electrophoretic patterns for the four isolates were identical but were different from other known IBV isolates.

Relationship between the immunosuppressive potential and the pathotype of Marek's disease virus isolates.

Isolates of Marek's disease virus (MDV) representing three pathotypes of differing virulence were compared for relative immunosuppressive properties in genetically susceptible P2a-strain and genetically resistant N2a-strain chickens. Criteria of immunosuppression were 1) persistence of early cytolytic infection (i.e., a delay or failure to enter latency) in lymphoid organs, 2) atrophy of the bursa of Fabricius and thymus as measured by organ weight proportional to body weight at 8 and 14 days postinfection (DPI), and 3) histopathologic evidence of necrosis and atrophy in lymphoid organs. No significant differences in infection level were observed among the pathotypes during the early (4-5 DPI) period of infection. However, the extent of persistent cytolytic infection at 7-8 DPI, based on numbers of tissues positive and mean scores in immunofluorescence tests, was greater (P < 0.05) for three isolates (RK1, 584A, 648A) in the highest virulence pathotype (very virulent-plus MDV [vv + MDV]) than for two isolates (JM16, GA5) in a lower virulence (virulent MDV [vMDV]) pathotype. Results from two isolates (RB1B, Md5) classified in the intermediate very virulent pathotype (very virulent MDV [vvMDV]) fell between those from the other two pathotypes. Similarly, there was a stepwise effect of viral pathotype in which the vv + MDV isolates caused the most severe damage to lymphoid organs in terms of atrophy (relative organ weights) and histopathologic changes. Organs from chickens infected with vv + MDVs showed little recovery between 8 and 14 DPI. The vMDV isolates caused the least severe damage, and lymphoid organs showed a significant return toward normal by 14 DPI; vvMDV isolates induced intermediate degrees of atrophy and recovery. The same pattern of relationship between virulence pathotype and degree of bursal and thymic atrophy was also observed in genetically resistant N2a chickens. These results suggest that the degree of immunosuppression is linked to virulence and that a simple measure of atrophic changes (relative organ weights) in the bursa of Fabricius and thymus might be useful in determining the pathotype classification of new MDV isolates. The basis for differences in immunosuppressive potential of MDV isolates needs further clarification.

A hypervariable region in VP1 of chicken infectious anemia virus mediates rate of spread and cell tropism in tissue culture.

Chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV) is a unique infectious agent with an amino acid composition that has been found to be remarkably conserved even in isolates from different parts of the world. We have characterized field isolates of CIAV which vary significantly in terms of their abilities to replicate in culture, demonstrating a biological difference between isolates. Two sublines of MDCC-MSB1 cells that differ in their abilities to support CIAV were identified. In the MSB1(S) subline the CIA-1 isolate of CIAV was found to be less cytopathogenic than the prototype Cux-1(C) isolate; the MSB1(L) subline, which supports Cux-1(C) replication, was found to be nonpermissive for CIA-1. Alignments of the VP1 sequences of previously examined isolates with those of the field isolates CIA-1 and L-028 and the culture-adapted ConnB isolate revealed a previously unreported hypervariable region spanning amino acid positions 139 to 151. Chimeras of Cux-1(C) and CIA-1 were constructed to examine the potential for this region to affect cytopathogenicity. Transfer of a 316-bp region of Cux-1(C) open reading frame 1 into CIA-1 produced a virus with a cytopathogenic profile typical of Cux-1(C), indicating that one or both of the amino acid differences at positions 139 and 144 affect the rate of replication or the spread of infection. Transfection experiments with additional chimeras indicated that the inability of CIA-1 to replicate in MSB1(L) cells is mediated by a larger region of the genome which contains the hypervariable region in addition to upstream amino acid differences. Analysis of chimeras excluding the entire region of open reading frame 1 suggested the presence of a secondary mediator in the progression of infection in culture that was localized to a region containing a single nucleotide difference which results in amino acid differences in both VP2 (V-153) and the nuclear localization signal of VP3 (C-118). Immunofluorescence assays indicated an increased cytoplasmic distribution of VP3 and a general lack of VP3-associated apoptotic bodies in infections of CIA-1 and chimeras containing V-153 or C-118, as opposed to a primarily nuclear distribution and association with well-formed apoptotic bodies in Cux-1(C)-infected cells.

Determination of the detection limit of the polymerase chain reaction for chicken infectious anemia virus.

Chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV) DNA in infected cell cultures and chicken tissues was detected using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The complete CIAV genome of several strains was amplified in two segments with two sets of primer pairs. The DNA segments of four CIAV strains and full-length Cux-1 strain DNA were cloned. After amplification, 100 original genome equivalents were detected by Southern hybridization. The sensitivity of the assay was enhanced considerably by performing a reamplification with nested primers. This modification permitted the detection of one molecule of CIAV DNA. Some problems of the assay and its possible application are discussed.

Depletion of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte subpopulations by CIA-1, a chicken infectious anemia virus.

The suppressive effect of chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV) on T-lymphocyte subpopulation was evaluated in vivo by flow cytometry and dual immunostaining on frozen sections. Between 14 and 21 days postinoculation (PI), the percentage of CD4-, CD8-, and CT1-positive (CD4+, CD8+, and CT1+) cells was significantly lower in chickens infected at 1 day of age with CIA-1 strain of CIAV than in controls. The mean percentage of CD4+ cells in the thymus was only 43%, whereas in the controls it was 77%. The mean percentages of CD8+ cells in the thymus in infected and control chickens was 54% and 90%, respectively, and of CT1+ cells, 44% and 92%, respectively. At 28 days PI, the percentage of CD4+, CD8+, and CT1+ cells was similar in infected and control chickens. Also at 14 and 21 days PI, immunoperoxidase staining demonstrated fewer CD4+, CD8+, and CT1+ cells in the thymus of infected chickens than in controls. In frozen sections of thymus stained with CIA-1 antibodies and CD4, CD8, or CT1, few of the cells positive for CIAV antigen seen in the outer zone of the cortex carried CD4, CD8, or CT1 molecules. These results suggest that CIA-1 infection either destroys cells expressing CD4, CD8, or CT1 molecules on their surface or interferes with the expression of these molecules.

Abrogation of age-related resistance to chicken infectious anemia by embryonal bursectomy.

Embryonally bursectomized (Ebx) chickens developed signs and lesions typical of chicken infectious anemia (CIA) when infected with CIA-1 isolate of chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV) at 21 or 38 days of age. In both cases, the chickens had low hematocrit values after the 14th day of inoculation, and the percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ cells in the thymus was markedly reduced at 21 days postinoculation. Even though intact chickens became infected, they never developed low hematocrit values. The data support the hypothesis that age-related resistance to CIA is antibody-mediated and is not due to disappearance of the CIAV target cell; the data also suggest that CD4+/CD8+ cells are the target for infection.

Direct binding of protein A, protein G, and anti-IgG conjugates to chicken infectious anemia virus.

Recombinant Protein A, recombinant Protein G, and anti-chicken-IgG anti-bodies raised in rabbits, goats, or horses were found to bind directly to chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV). MSB-1 cells infected with the Cux-1 strain of chicken anemia agent, but not to uninfected MSB-1 cells were found to react with fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugates. In an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, rabbit anti-chicken horseradish peroxidase conjugate bound directly to CIA-1 CIAV-coated plates. In addition, sera from a low percentage of specific-pathogen-free breeder hens reacted in an indirect fluorescent antibody test to detect CIAV antibodies. These reactions generally disappeared within a month. The breeder flocks were demonstrated to be free of CIAV infection by the susceptibility of their progeny.

Tissue tropism of three cloacal isolates and Massachusetts strain of infectious bronchitis virus.

Three virus isolates (ECV-1, -2, and -3) recovered from cloacae of chickens in flocks that experienced drops in egg production were identified as infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), based on characteristic embryo lesions, chloroform sensitivity, coronavirus morphology, and serology. Because these isolates were recovered from the cloacae of the hens, their tissue tropism was compared with the prototype strain of IBV, Massachusetts-41 (M-41), in experimentally inoculated chickens. During the 39-day period postinoculation (PI), virus isolation was attempted from digestive and respiratory tracts, kidney, and cloacal swabs. ECV-1, ECV-2, and M-41 were more frequently recovered from the cecal tonsils than from other tissues. ECV-1, ECV-3, and M-41 were also recovered from kidney for up to 39 days PI. ECV-2 and ECV-3 had a limited distribution in respiratory tissues, being isolated only sporadically from trachea, bronchus, and lung. Surprisingly, ECV-2 was isolated from esophagus at 2, 16, 30, and 39 days PI; otherwise, its distribution in other tissues was sporadic. Results confirmed that IBV, including M-41, can infect a variety of tissues and that some isolates may be recovered frequently from digestive tract tissues, particularly from the cecal tonsils.

Serological and molecular characterization of three enteric isolates of infectious bronchitis virus of chickens.

Three coronaviruses isolated from the intestines of laying chickens were partially characterized. Serological and molecular assays indicated that the enteric coronaviruses are infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) isolates. Although the three isolates were recovered from three unrelated chicken flocks, their RNase T1-resistant oligonucleotide fingerprints were almost identical. The three isolates were not neutralized by antisera specific to IBV serotype Connecticut, but their RNase T1-resistant oligonucleotide fingerprints closely matched the fingerprints of strain Conn-46, a Connecticut serotype. This and the co-fingerprinting data suggested that the three field isolates may have emerged from the Connecticut virus through mutation(s). The mutation(s) apparently involved the S1 protein gene that determines the virus serotype.