Correlates of HCV seropositivity among familial contacts of HCV positive patients

BACKGROUND: Determinants of intrafamilial HCV transmission are still being debated. The aim of this study is to investigate the correlates of HCV seropositivity among familial contacts of HCV positive patients in Italy. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 175 HCV positive patients (index cases), recruited from Policlinico Gemelli in Rome as well as other hospitals in Central Italy between 1995 and 2000 (40% female, mean age 57 ± 15.2 years), and 259 familial contacts. Differences in proportions of qualitative variables were tested with non-parametric tests (χ(2), Yates correction, Fisher exact test), and a p value < 0.05 was considered significant. A multivariate analysis was conducted using logistic regression in order to verify which variables statistically have an influence on HCV positivity in contact individuals. RESULTS: Seropositivity for HCV was found in 8.9% of the contacts. From the univariate analysis, risk factors significantly associated to HCV positivity in the contacts were: intravenous drug addiction (p = 0.004) and intercourse with drug addicts (p = 0.005). The only variables associated significantly and independently to HCV seropositivity in patients' contacts were intercourse with drug addicts (OR = 19.28; 95% CI: 2.01 – 184.94), the retirement status from work (OR = 3.76; 95% CI: 1.17 – 11.98), the time of the relationship (OR = 1.06; 95% CI: 1.00 – 1.11) and tattoos (OR = 7.68; 95% CI: 1.00 – 60.20). CONCLUSION: The present study confirms that having intercourse with a drug addict is the most significant risk factor for intrafamilial HCV transmission. The association with retirement status from work could be related to both a long-term relationship with an index case and past exposure to common risk factors

Conference report on “Ottoman Continuities – Republican Inventions: Symposium in Honor of Erik Jan Zürcher”, 23–25. August 2018, Leiden University

Middle Eastern Studie

De toekomst van Turkije is niet veilig onder Erdogan

Middle Eastern Studie

Maternal grand sire and birth season on senepol calves growt in Yaracuy state, Venezuela. Technical note

Dentro de un clima de bosque húmedo tropical, en Aroa, municipio Bolívar del estado Yaracuy, Venezuela, un rebaño Senepol compuesto de 62 animales puros fue evaluado por crecimiento de la progenie nacida en los años 96, 97, 98 y 99, producto de un plan de selección y apareamiento que utilizó 19 toros de catálogo por inseminación artificial (IA) en vacas y novillas de la hacienda Senegal. Todo el rebaño de cría se maneja a pastoreo rotativo en 30 ha con potreros de pasto estrella de 1,5 ha c/u, con disponibilidad ad libitum de sal común, minerales y agua fresca. Los becerros se alimentan exclusivamente con leche completa al pié de la madre hasta el destete a los 8 meses de edad. Un total de 39 registros correspondientes a becerros y becerras fueron analizados por un modelo que incluyó los efectos fijos del abuelo materno (AMT; 8 toros), época de nacimiento del becerro (ENT; sequía y lluvias) y regresión del año de nacimiento de la madre (ANV; 92, 93, 94 y 95) sobre las variables de crecimiento de los becerros: peso al nacer (PN), peso al destete (PD), ganancia diaria de peso (GDP), peso ajustado a 205 días (P205-d), ganancia diaria de peso a 205 días (GDP205-d) y cocientes de peso por sexo a 205 días (CD205). Los promedios para PN (33,6 kg), PD (244,7 kg), GDP (0,842 kg/d), P205-d (206,1 kg), GDP205-d (1,050 kg/d) y CD205 (97,5) sugieren un comportamiento para crecimiento excelente por los becerros dentro de la raza. Con excepción del PN, la ENT afectó (P<0,05) todos los caracteres de crecimiento, favoreciendo a los becerros nacidos en época lluviosa. El AMT solo influenció (P=0,08) el PD. Las regresiones ANV sobre PN, PD, GDP, P205-d y GDP205-d fueron, respectivamente, 1,5 kg; -23 kg; -0,09 kg/d; -18 kg; y -0,08 kg/d. La falta de efecto significativo de los abuelos sobre el crecimiento de su progenie indica una gran capacidad genética transmisora de los toros Senepol mejoradores en los rebaños de carne en la región húmeda de Yaracuy.510 - 516BimestralIn a humid tropical forest climate in Aroa, Bolivar county, Yaracuy State, Venezuela, a 62 Senepol-herd was evaluated for growth of progeny born in 96, 97, 98 and 99, as a result of selection and breeding plans that utilized artificial insemination (Al) with 19 registered bulls in cows and heifers on the Senegal Ranch. The entire herd is managed on, rotational grazing over 30 hectares of pasturage (Star grass) in fields of 1.5 ha each, with ad libitum availability of common salt, minerals and fresh water. Calves are exclusively fed whole milk nursed from their dams until 8 months of age. A total of 39 calf records were analyzed by a model that included fixed effects of dam's sire (DS; 8 bulls), birth season (BS; dry and rainy) and the regression of dam's age (DA; 92, 93, 94 y 95) on calf growth records: birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), average daily gain (ADG), 205-day adjusted weight (205-d WT), 205-day adjusted ADG (205-d ADG) and 205-day sex ratios (205-d RT). Means for the traits evaluated were: 33.6 kg (BW), 244.7 kg (WW) 0.842 kg/d (ADG), 206.1 kg (205-d WT), 1.050 kg/d (205-d ADG) and 97.5 (205-d RT). These results suggest an excellent performance of the Senepol calves for growth. With the exception of BW, BS affected (P<0.05) the rest of the traits by favor¬ing those calves born in the rainy season. DS only influenced (P=0.08) the WW. The DA for BW, WW, ADG, 205-d WT and 205-d ADG were, respectively, 1.5 kg, -23 kg, -0.09 kg/d, -18 Kg and -0,08 kg/d. A lack of a significant effect due to grand sires on their progeny growth was interpreted as an indication Y the great potential transmission ability by Senepol bulls to consistently improve beef cattle herds in the humid zone of Yaracuy