Zika virus Concern and Preventative Behaviors During Pregnancy: Analysis of 2017 Georgia Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System data

Background: Zika virus infection can cause severe health complications in pregnant women such as microcephaly and other congenital anomalies in the developing fetus but it can be prevented. It is imperative to develop an understanding of concern about Zika virus among pregnant women as this can influence their Zika virus preventative behaviors. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of Zika virus concern among women in Georgia with live births in 2017 and to examine the frequency of condom use among those who were sexually active during their most recent pregnancy. Methods: This cross- sectional study used secondary data collected by Georgia Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System in 2017. Descriptive analyses were performed on variables of interest. Chi squared tests examined associations between level of concern about Zika virus and socio-demographic variables. Results: A total of 955 women (age range 18-45) completed the survey. Less than half of the women (n =418,47.4%) reported they were concerned about Zika virus. Consistent use of condoms was not associated with the level of concern of Zika virus. Among the women, those of Hispanic race/ethnicity were more likely to consistently use condoms during their most recent pregnancy (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 11.37; 95%CI: 3.95-32.81) when compared to Non-Hispanic white women, and this association was found to be statistically significant (p\u3c0.0001). Conclusion: Consistent use of condoms by sexually active women in Georgia during pregnancy appears to vary by race/ethnicity for these women. Findings of this study point to opportunities for engagement on Zika virus awareness and help with refining risk messaging for prevention of Zika virus (or other diseases of global concern) to pregnant wome

Spinale transkutane Gleichstromstimulation bei Patienten mit Spastik der unteren Extremität

Eine Spastik tritt nach Läsion zentralmotorischer Bahnen beim Menschen auf. Die Patienten leiden an der geschwindigkeitsabhängigen Erhöhung des Muskeltonus und damit verbundenen Bewegungseinschränkungen und Schmerzen. Vorstudien zur spinalen Gleichstromstimulation bei gesunden Probanden ergaben Hinweise auf eine Beeinflussung der motorischen Bahnen durch die Gleichstromstimulation. Diese Studie ging der Frage noch, ob eine spinale transkutane Gleichstromstimulation einen messbaren Effekt auf eine Spastik der unteren Extremität hat. Bei 17 Patienten mit verschiedenen chronischen neurologischen Grunderkrankungen und einer Spastik an der unteren Extremität wurde eine jeweils 15-minütige anodale, kathodale und Placebo-Gleichstromstimulation durchgeführt. Vor und nach jeder Gleichstromstimulation wurde ein umfangreiches Spastik-Assessment durchgeführt. Es zeigte sich jedoch bei keiner Stimulationsart ein Effekt auf die Spastik der unteren Extremität beim ausgewählten Patientengut. Möglicherweise zeigt die spinale Gleichstromstimulation bei chronisch erkrankten Patienten keinen Effekt oder die Stimulationsparameter müssen modifiziert werden

Spinale transkutane Gleichstromstimulation bei Patienten mit Spastik der unteren Extremität

Eine Spastik tritt nach Läsion zentralmotorischer Bahnen beim Menschen auf. Die Patienten leiden an der geschwindigkeitsabhängigen Erhöhung des Muskeltonus und damit verbundenen Bewegungseinschränkungen und Schmerzen. Vorstudien zur spinalen Gleichstromstimulation bei gesunden Probanden ergaben Hinweise auf eine Beeinflussung der motorischen Bahnen durch die Gleichstromstimulation. Diese Studie ging der Frage noch, ob eine spinale transkutane Gleichstromstimulation einen messbaren Effekt auf eine Spastik der unteren Extremität hat. Bei 17 Patienten mit verschiedenen chronischen neurologischen Grunderkrankungen und einer Spastik an der unteren Extremität wurde eine jeweils 15-minütige anodale, kathodale und Placebo-Gleichstromstimulation durchgeführt. Vor und nach jeder Gleichstromstimulation wurde ein umfangreiches Spastik-Assessment durchgeführt. Es zeigte sich jedoch bei keiner Stimulationsart ein Effekt auf die Spastik der unteren Extremität beim ausgewählten Patientengut. Möglicherweise zeigt die spinale Gleichstromstimulation bei chronisch erkrankten Patienten keinen Effekt oder die Stimulationsparameter müssen modifiziert werden

Improving Household Drinking Water Quality: Use of Biosand Filter in Cambodia

The BSF is a robust water treatment technology for use in rural Cambodian households, capable of effective removal of bacteria, and significant reduction of diarrheal disease. BSF performance is comparable to other recommended household water treatment interventions

Contributing Factors in a Successful Foodborne Outbreak Investigation: an Analysis of Data Collected by the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), 2003-2010.

Background. Foodborne disease is estimated to cause 48 million illnesses annually in the US resulting in 3000 deaths [1]. Although most infections occur as sporadic cases, outbreak surveillance offers valuable insight about the foods and pathogens responsible for illnesses [2]. A total of 1632 foodborne disease outbreaks were reported during 2011-2012 [3] and recent data indicates an overall decrease in the number of outbreaks reported each year [4]. Understanding which factors contribute to the successful identification of a food vehicle in a foodborne outbreak investigation is crucial for improving outbreak response [5-10]. The purpose of this study was to describe outbreak characteristics and to determine which may be associated with the success of a foodborne outbreak investigation (i.e. one in which a food vehicle has been reported). Methods. A foodborne disease outbreak was defined as the event in which two or more people acquired similar illnesses from consuming the same food or beverage. Outbreaks occurring in FoodNet sites during 2003 through 2010 were included in the analysis. Results. Data were available for 1441 (87%) of the 1655 foodborne disease outbreaks documented in FoodNet Outbreak Supplement forms from 2003 through 2010. A food vehicle was identified in 692 of the 1441 (48%) outbreaks. Six outbreak characteristics remained statistically significant in both univariate and multivariate analyses: environmental and/or food culture collection, FDA or state agriculture involvement, outbreak size, case-control studies, and number of fecal specimens tested for norovirus. Conclusions. Less than half of foodborne outbreaks examined here resulted in a food vehicle being identified. Having more robust resources available for outbreak detection and investigation may improve likelihood of a food vehicle being identified

The microbiological and health impact of the biosand filter in the Dominican Republic: a randomized controlled trial in Bonao

More than one billion people lack access to improved water supplies and even more lack access to safe water. Many household water treatment technologies have been documented to improve drinking water quality and reduce diarrheal disease. However, other technologies that are being used still lack rigorous evidence on ability to improve water quality and reduce diarrheal disease. One of these technologies is the biosand filter (BSF), an intermittently operated slow sand filter. It is estimated that more than 80,000 BSFs are in use world wide yet there is no rigorous evidence of their ability to reduce diarrheal disease and there is only limited evidence of their ability to improve drinking water. The purpose of this research was to examine the microbiological and health impact of the BSF in the laboratory and in the field. The laboratory research examined the ability of the BSF to reduce viruses and bacteria from water. The field research examined improvements in drinking water quality by the BSF in use in households and the ability of the BSF to reduce diarrheal disease. Based on the laboratory evidence, the BSF can achieve moderate to high reductions of bacteria 90-99% and moderate reductions of viruses (90%). The field study suggested moderate reductions of E. coli by the BSF in the field which was 80% on average yet it ranged 0-99.9%. The health impact portion of the field study found a 47% reduction in diarrheal disease in BSF users as compared to non-users. In addition, the health impact study found a weak association between increased contamination in drinking water as measured by E. coli and rates of diarrheal disease. The results from this research suggest that the biosand filter may be an effective way to improve drinking water quality and reduce diarrheal disease in the communities studied in Bonao, Dominican Republic

North Carolina Hispanic Farmworkers and Intestinal Parasitism: A Pilot Study of Prevalence and Health-Related Practices,and Potential Means of Foodborne Transmission

Migrant and seasonal farmworkers provide much of the necessary labor to harvest and process agricultural commodities desired by consumers. Little is known about the health status (especially the parasitic burden) of farm laborers, who handpick agricultural items such as fruits and vegetables, despite being implicated as a means of foodborne pathogen transmission. The goal of this research was to develop a framework to investigate enteric parasitic infections among Hispanic farmworkers in Eastern North Carolina. Seventy-one interviews were conducted, 16 stool samples were collected, and two parasite-positive workers were found. In addition, some potentially harmful health practices (e.g., self-medication) were identified. Further research is necessary to fully understand the scope of farmworker health issues and the potential risk of disseminating foodborne pathogens to humans. The study model presented provides a geographically expandable format to allow for various types of health investigations including the prevalence of other pathogens