Attitudes about tuberculosis prevention in the elimination phase: a survey among physicians in Germany.

BACKGROUND: Targeted and stringent measures of tuberculosis prevention are necessary to achieve the goal of tuberculosis elimination in countries of low tuberculosis incidence. METHODS: We ascertained the knowledge about tuberculosis risk factors and stringency of tuberculosis prevention measures by a standardized questionnaire among physicians in Germany involved in the care of individuals from classical risk groups for tuberculosis. RESULTS: 510 physicians responded to the online survey. Among 16 risk factors immunosuppressive therapy, HIV-infection and treatment with TNF-antagonist were thought to be the most important risk factors for the development of tuberculosis in Germany. Exposure to a patient with tuberculosis ranked on the 10th position. In the event of a positive tuberculin-skin-test or interferon-γ release assay only 50%, 40%, 36% and 25% of physicians found that preventive chemotherapy was indicated for individuals undergoing tumor necrosis factor-antagonist therapy, close contacts of tuberculosis patients, HIV-infected individuals and migrants, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A remarkably low proportion of individuals with latent infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis belonging to classical risk groups for tuberculosis are considered candidates for preventive chemotherapy in Germany. Better knowledge about the risk for tuberculosis in different groups and more stringent and targeted preventive interventions will probably be necessary to achieve tuberculosis elimination in Germany

Water oxygen saturation, infra-red plethysmograph readings and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging of Cancer pagurus subjected to acute severe hypoxia

Edible crabs Cancer pagurus were subjected to acute severe hypoxia (15% air saturation). The cardiac responses were monitored with infra-red plethysmography (IR-PPG) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The oxygen partial pressure in the water was monitored using fibre-optic oxygen sensors. "PO2_record_IR-PPG_File_1" contains the recordings relevant for animals 1 (1st run), 3, and 4. "PO2_record_IR-PPG_File_2" contains the recordings for animals 1 (2nd run) and 2. IR-PPG recordings yielded heart rates as peak frequency. Data were also evaluated for signal peak area (integral, relative to a 1-minute minimum) and the average cyclic height as proxies for stroke volume changes. Cardiac MRI are from 4D (i.e. time-resolved 3D) stacks of images. The time series contains the entire contraction of one cardiac cycle. The volume stack covers the entire ventricle