SARS Coronavirus Detection Methods

Using clinical samples from patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome, we showed that the sensitivities of a quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (80% for fecal samples and 25% for urine samples) were higher than those of the polyclonal (50% and 5%) and monoclonal (35% and 8%) antibody-based nucleocapsid antigen capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays

Burden of waiting for surveillance CT colonography in patients with screen-detected 6–9 mm polyps

Purpose: We assessed the burden of waiting for surveillance CT colonography (CTC) performed in patients having 6–9 mm colorectal polyps on primary screening CTC. Additionally, we compared the burden of primary and surveillance CTC. Materials and methods: In an invitational population-based CTC screening trial, 101 persons were diagnosed with <3 polyps 6–9 mm, for which surveillance CTC after 3 years was advised. Validated questionnaires regarding expected and perceived burden (5-point Likert scales) were completed before and after index and surveillance CTC, also including items on burden of waiting for surveillance CTC. McNemar’s test was used for comparison after dichotomization. Results: Seventy-eight (77 %) of 101 invitees underwent surveillance CTC, of which 66 (85 %) completed the expected and 62 (79 %) the perceived burden questionnaire. The majority of participants (73 %) reported the experience of waiting for surveillance CTC as ‘never’ or ‘only sometimes’ burdensome. There was almost no difference in expected and perceived burden between surveillance and index CTC. Waiting for the results after the procedure was significantly more burdensome for surveillance CTC than for index CTC (23 vs. 8 %; p = 0.012). Conclusion: Waiting for surveillance CTC after primary CTC screening caused little or no burden for surveillance participants. In general, the burden of surveillance and index CTC were comparable. Key points: • Waiting for surveillance CTC withi

The mitochondrial genome of the thermal dimorphic fungus Penicillium marneffei is more closely related to those of molds than yeasts

AbstractWe report the complete sequence of the mitochondrial genome of Penicillium marneffei, the first complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of a thermal dimorphic fungus. This 35 kb mitochondrial genome contains the genes encoding ATP synthase subunits 6, 8, and 9 (atp6, atp8, and atp9), cytochrome oxidase subunits I, II, and III (cox1, cox2, and cox3), apocytochrome b (cob), reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide ubiquinone oxireductase subunits (nad1, nad2, nad3, nad4, nad4L, nad5, and nad6), ribosomal protein of the small ribosomal subunit (rps), 28 tRNAs, and small and large ribosomal RNAs. Analysis of gene contents, gene orders, and gene sequences revealed that the mitochondrial genome of P. marneffei is more closely related to those of molds than yeasts

Computer tomography colonography participation and yield in patients under surveillance for 6-9 mm polyps in a population-based screening trial

Purpose: Surveillance CT colonography (CTC) is a viable option for 6-9 mm polyps at CTC screening for colorectal cancer. We established participation and diagnostic yield of surveillance and determined overall yield of CTC screening. Material and methods: In an invitational CTC screening trial 82 of 982 participants harboured 6-9 mm polyps as the largest lesion(s) for which surveillance CTC was advised. Only participants with one or more lesion(s) ≥6 mm at surveillance CTC were offered colonoscopy (OC); 13 had undergone preliminary OC. The surveillance CTC yield was defined as the number of participants with advanced neoplasia in the 82 surveillance participants, and was added to the primary screening yield. Results: Sixty-five of 82 participants were eligible for surveillance CTC of which 56 (86.2 %) participated. Advanced neoplasia was diagnosed in 15/56 participants (26.8 %) and 9/13 (69.2 %) with preliminary OC. Total surveillance yield was 24/82 (29.3 %). No carcinomas were detected. Adding surveillance results to initial screening CTC yield significantly increased the advanced neoplasia yield per 100 CTC participants (6.1 to 8.6; p < 0.001) and per 100 invitees (2.1 to 2.9; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Surveillance CTC for 6-9 mm polyps has a substantial yield of advanced adenomas and significantly increased the CTC yield in population screening. Key Points: • The participation rate in surveillance CT colonography (CTC) is 86 %. • Advanced adenoma prevalence in a 6-9 mm CTC surveillance population is high. • Surveillance CTC significantly increases the yield of population screening by CTC. • Surveillance CTC for 6-9 mm polyps is a safe strategy. • Sur

New Lymphogranuloma Venereum Chlamydia trachomatis Variant, Amsterdam

We retrospectively conducted a study of men who have sex with men who visited the Amsterdam, the Netherlands, sexually transmitted diseases clinic from January 2002 to December 2003 and had rectal Chlamydia trachomatis infections. We found that symptomatic (73%) as well as asymptomatic (43%) patients were infected with a new C. trachomatis LGV variant

A Gestão Estratégica dos Recursos Humanos nas Autarquias Locais: estudo de caso na Câmara Municipal de Cantanhede

Os Recursos Humanos são fundamentais para o prosseguimento da missão e dos objetivos de qualquer organização. A Gestão Estratégica dos Recursos Humanos, permite que uma organização alcance os seus objetivos, através do aumento da probabilidade de realização dos mesmos. Esta lógica de Gestão dos Recursos Humanos, revela-se como uma promessa explícita de eficácia organizacional, que pode ser alcançada pelo desenvolvimento do conjunto de práticas de RH internamente consistentes e adequadas aos contextos organizacionais. O concretizar de uma Gestão Estratégica dos Recursos Humanos nas organizações da Administração Pública, considerando a complexidade humana e o valor inerente, é uma via para o desenvolvimento a todos os níveis. Nas Câmaras Municipais, enquanto órgãos executivos de uma das formas de Autarquias Locais que é o Município, a Gestão Estratégica dos Recursos Humanos torna-se um investimento necessário para a melhoria contínua na prestação de serviços públicos. Isso, tendo em conta que a descentralização de competências da Administração Pública Central, para as Autarquias Locais, acarreta um aumento de responsabilidades e requer maior capacidade de resposta às demandas sociais. É no contexto da Administração Pública, em particular das Autarquias Locais, que se realiza o estudo de caso na Câmara Municipal de Cantanhede. O objetivo desta investigação é compreender a dinâmica do sector dos Recursos Humanos nas Autarquias Locais, sob a perspetiva da Gestão Estratégica dos Recursos Humanos, e perceber a importância que esta tem no desempenho global dessas organizações. O tipo de pesquisa que se materializa é qualitativo e exploratório, com a realização de observação direta, análise documental e entrevistas semiestruturadas. Verifica-se com este estudo, que é preocupação da Câmara Municipal de Cantanhede e do sector dos Recursos Humanos, desenvolver procedimentos estratégicos de Gestão dos Recursos Humanos. Apesar de ser um processo limitado pelos problemas relativos à atualização das carreiras, baixa remuneração, ausência de compensações e prémio de desempenho. Para que a Gestão Estratégica dos Recursos Humanos tenha efetivamente campo de ação, é preciso que a Gestão dos Recursos Humanos seja desmistificada enquanto conceito e experienciada de forma expressiva nas Autarquias Locais, em conjunto com o reforço da autonomia dessas organizações. / Human Resources are fundamental for the pursuit of the mission and goals of any organization. The Strategic Management of Human Resources allows an organization to achieve its objectives by increasing the probability of achieving them. This Human Resource Management logic is an explicit promise of organizational effectiveness that can be achieved by developing a set of HR practices that are internally consistent and appropriate to organizational contexts. The realization of a Strategic Management of Human Resources in Public Administration organizations, considering the human complexity and the inherent value, is a way for development at all levels. In the Municipal Councils, as an executive bodies of one of the forms of Local Authorities that is the Municipality, the Strategic Management of Human Resources becomes a necessary investment for the continuous improvement in the provision of public services. This, taking into account that the decentralization of competences of the Central Public Administration, for Local Authorities, entails an increase in responsibilities and requires greater capacity to respond to social demands. It is in the context of the Public Administration, in particular the Local Authorities, that the case study is carried out in Cantanhede Town Hall. The objective of this research is to understand the dynamics of the Human Resources sector in Local Authorities, from the perspective of the Strategic Management of Human Resources, and realize the importance it has in the overall performance of these organizations. The type of research that materializes is qualitative and exploratory, with direct observation, documental analysis and semi-structured interviews. It is verified with this study, that is concern of the Cantanhede Town Hall and of the Human Resources sector to develop strategic human resources management procedures. Although it is a process limited by the problems related to the updating of the careers, low remuneration, absence of compensations and performance bonus. In order for the Strategic Management of Human Resources to have an effective field of action, it is necessary that the Human Resources Management be demystified as a concept and experienced in an expressive way in Local Authorities, together with the reinforcement of the autonomy of these organizations