Advances in Diagnosis of Respiratory Virus Infections

The diagnosis of respiratory virus infections has evolved substantially in recent years, with the emergence of new pathogens and the development of novel detection methods. While recent advances have improved the sensitivity and turn-around time of diagnostic tests for respiratory viruses, they have also raised important issues such as cost, and the clinical significance of detecting multiple viruses in a single specimen by molecular methods. This article reviews recent advances in specimen collection and detection methods for diagnosis of respiratory virus infections, and discusses the performance characteristics and limitations of these methods

Humanization of Logo as a Representation of Social Values in Halodoc

In utilizing the Halodoc application, there is a communication gap between direct speech communication and communication through the application. This research attempts to examine this problem and propose an alternative solution in the form of emoji humanization through the qualitative method and Roland Barthes' semiotic approach. The result of the research shows that Heidy's emoji structure is indeed synonymous with the Halodoc logo. Meanwhile, according to the connotative analysis, the emoji visualization characters are identical to today's human characters. This character is characterized by expressions and facial expressions that look cheerful and friendly. This study concludes that there are several indicators of success in composing humanist emojis and still referencing the main logo identity. In the principle of emoji design, structurally it must be dominated by a shape similar to the original logo. The addition of mimics, expressions, limb movements, and body movements itself must represent the true expressions of humans who provide health-ordering services. Thus, emojis are more attractive, interactive, and communicative. This intimacy between users and humanist emojis may strengthen customer trust in the services

Humanization of Logo as a Representation of Social Values in Halodoc

In utilizing the Halodoc application, there is a communication gap between direct speech communication and communication through the application. Through Roland Barthes' semiotic method, this research attempts to examine this problem and propose an alternative solution in the form of emoji humanization. Heidy's emoji structure is indeed synonymous with the Halodoc logo. Meanwhile, according to the connotative analysis, you can see the emoji visualization whose characters are identical to today's human characters. This character is characterized by expressions and facial expressions that look cheerful and friendly. This study concludes that there are a number of indicators of success in composing humanist emojis and still referencing the main logo identity. In the principle of emoji design, structurally it must be dominated by a shape similar to the original logo. The addition of mimics, expressions, limb movements, and body movements itself must represent the true expressions of humans who provide health ordering services. Thus, emojis are more attractive, interactive, and communicative. As confirmed by various studies, this intimacy between users and emojis that looks humanist has proven to strengthen customer trust in services

Otitis media

Otitis media (OM) or middle ear inflammation is a spectrum of diseases, including acute otitis media (AOM), otitis media with effusion (OME; ‘glue ear’) and chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM). OM is among the most common diseases in young children worldwide. Although OM may resolve spontaneously without complications, it can be associated with hearing loss and life-long sequelae. In developing countries, CSOM is a leading cause of hearing loss. OM can be of bacterial or viral origin; during ‘colds’, viruses can ascend through the Eustachian tube to the middle ear and pave the way for bacterial otopathogens that reside in the nasopharynx. Diagnosis depends on typical signs and symptoms, such as acute ear pain and bulging of the tympanic membrane (eardrum) for AOM and hearing loss for OME; diagnostic modalities include (pneumatic) otoscopy, tympanometry and audiometry. Symptomatic management of ear pain and fever is the mainstay of AOM treatment, reserving antibiotics for children with severe, persistent or recurrent infections. Management of OME largely consists of watchful waiting, with ventilation (tympanostomy) tubes primarily for children with chronic effusions and hearing loss, developmental delays or learning difficulties. The role of hearing aids to alleviate symptoms of hearing loss in the management of OME needs further study. Insertion of ventilation tubes and adenoidectomy are common operations for recurrent AOM to prevent recurrences, but their effectiveness is still debated. Despite reports of a decline in the incidence of OM over the past decade, attributed to the implementation of clinical guidelines that promote accurate diagnosis and judicious use of antibiotics and to pneumococcal conjugate vaccination, OM continues to be a leading cause for medical consultation, antibiotic prescription and surgery in high-income countries

Doxycycline-induced large esophageal ulcer resembling esophageal cancer

More than 100 medications are reported to cause pill-induced esophagitis (PIE). Doxycycline is the most common cause. Common symptoms are chest pain, odynophagia, dysphagia and heartburn.The authors report a young female internist presenting with a large esophageal ulcer resembling esophagealcancer caused by doxycycline. She was successfully treated with sucralfate and xylocaine viscous. Her symptoms improved within 1 week. Thus, medical personnel and patients should be aware of PIE

Microbial Interactions during Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

Competitive interactions between bacteria differ by number and species present; thus, vaccination and treatment strategies may alter nasopharyngeal flora and disease susceptibility

Thoracic empyema with scarlatiniform rash and acral desquamation: a case report

A 5 year old girl with thoracic empyema developed a scarlatiniform rash and acral desquamation. Cultures from blood, throat, and pleural fluid all grew Streptococcus pyogenes, a common etiologic agent of pediatric thoracic empyema. The presence of a scarlatiniform rash and acral desquamation in children with a thoracic empyema may help identify the causative organism

Factors Affecting the Prescribing Patterns of Antibiotics and Injections

There are serious problems concerning the inadequate prescription of antibiotics and overuse of injections in primary care. However, the determinants of prescription patterns in Korea are not well-documented. To examine the area characteristics affecting the prescription of antibiotics and injections in primary care practices in the treatment of respiratory tract infections (RTIs), a nationwide cross-sectional study was performed in all 250 administrative districts of Korea. The outcome was modeled as a binary variable: over-prescription or not compared with the nation-wide average. Over-prescription of antibiotics was associated with the ratio of specialists to general physicians and over-prescription in previous years in the area (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5-14.8; and aOR, 12.0; 95% CI 5.5-25.9, respectively). Over-use of injections was associated with younger population, urban living and the number of hospital beds in the area (aOR, 0.2; 95% CI 0.1-0.4; aOR, 0.3; 95% CI 0.1-0.8; and aOR, 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.9; respectively). There were differences in the prescribing patterns in different districts; prescription patterns were affected more by supply factors than by demand factors. Highly competitive medical environment associated with supply factors is a significant determinant of prescription patterns in Korea

Middle ear microbiome differences in indigenous Filipinos with chronic otitis media due to a duplication in the A2ML1 gene

Middle ear microbial profiles of indigenous Filipinos with chronic otitis media. All panels compare carriers with non-carriers of the A2ML1 duplication variant. Panel description: (A) ι-diversity by observed OTUs; (B) ι-diversity by the Shannon diversity index; (C) β-diversity from unweighted UniFrac principal coordinate analysis; (D) β-diversity from weighted UniFrac principal coordinate analysis. (PDF 1019 kb

Microbial Communities of the Upper Respiratory Tract and Otitis Media in Children

Streptococcus pneumoniae asymptomatically colonizes the upper respiratory tract of children and is a frequent cause of otitis media. Patterns of microbial colonization likely influence S. pneumoniae colonization and otitis media susceptibility. This study compared microbial communities in children with and without otitis media. Nasal swabs and clinical and demographic data were collected in a cross-sectional study of Philadelphia, PA, children (6 to 78 months) (n = 108) during the 2008-2009 winter respiratory virus season. Swabs were cultured for S. pneumoniae. DNA was extracted from the swabs; 16S rRNA gene hypervariable regions (V1 and V2) were PCR amplified and sequenced by Roche/454 Life Sciences pyrosequencing. Microbial communities were described using the Shannon diversity and evenness indices. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to group microbial community taxa into four factors representing correlated taxa. Of 108 children, 47 (44%) were colonized by S. pneumoniae, and 25 (23%) were diagnosed with otitis media. Microbial communities with S. pneumoniae were significantly less diverse and less even. Two PCA factors were associated with a decreased risk of pneumococcal colonization and otitis media, as follows: one factor included potentially protective flora (Corynebacterium and Dolosigranulum), and the other factor included Propionibacterium, Lactococcus, and Staphylococcus. The remaining two PCA factors were associated with an increased risk of otitis media. One factor included Haemophilus, and the final factor included Actinomyces, Rothia, Neisseria, and Veillonella. Generally, these taxa are not considered otitis media pathogens but may be important in the causal pathway. Increased understanding of upper respiratory tract microbial communities will contribute to the development of otitis media treatment and prevention strategies