179 research outputs found
Long-term outcome after SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers: a single centre cohort study
BACKGROUND: Long-term symptoms after acute COVID-19 are highly debated. Nevertheless, data on long-term symptoms of COVID-19 in healthcare workers are scarce. METHODS: We assessed frequency and risk factors of persisting symptoms in a retrospective cohort of healthcare workers infected with SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: Persistent symptoms at 3 and 12 months were reported by 26.5% and 13.5% of participants, respectively. Most commonly reported symptoms were fatigue, impaired sense of taste or smell and general weakness. A history of depression or state of exhaustion, pre-existing lung disease and older age were associated with persisting symptoms. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that a relevant proportion of healthcare workers with mild COVID-19 report persisting symptoms over 3 and 12 months. Although in the majority of cases symptoms are mild, this study highlights the need for further research into causes and therapy
Cepheid Calibration of the Peak Brightness of SNe Ia -- IX. SN 1989B in NGC 3627
(Abridged) Repeated imaging observations have been made of NGC 3627 with the
HST in 1997/98, over an interval of 58 days. Images were obtained on 12 epochs
in the F555W band and on five epochs in the F814W band. The galaxy hosted the
prototypical, `Branch normal', type Ia supernova SN 1989B. A total of 83
variables have been found, of which 68 are definite Cepheid variables with
periods ranging from 75 days to 3.85 days. The de-reddened distance modulus is
determined to be (m-M)_0= 30.22+/-0.12 (internal uncertainty) using a subset of
the Cepheid data whose reddening and error parameters are secure.
The photometric data of Wells et al. (1994), combined with the Cepheid data
for NGC 3627 give M_B(max)= -19.36+/-0.18 and M_V(max)= -19.34+/-0.16 for SN
1989B. Combined with the previous six calibrations in this program, plus two
additional calibrations determined by others gives the mean absolute magnitudes
at maximum of = -19.48+/-0.07 and = -19.48 +/-0.07 for `Branch
normal' SNe Ia at this interim stage in the calibration program.
The second parameter correlations of M(max) of blue SNe Ia with decay rate,
color at maximum, and Hubble type are re-investigated. The dependence of
on decay rate is non-linear, showing a minimum for decay rates between
1.0< Delta m_15 <1.6. Magnitudes corrected for decay rate show no dependence on
Hubble type, but a dependence on color remains. Correcting both the fiducial
sample of 34 SNe Ia with decay-rate data and the current 8 calibrating SNe Ia
for the correlation with decay rate as well as color gives H_0= 60+/-2
(internal) km/s/Mpc, in both B and V. The same value to within 4% is obtained
if only the SNe Ia in spirals (without second parameter corrections) are
considered.Comment: 32 pages (with 7 tables and 14 figures) LaTeX, uses emulateapj.sty; a
full-resolution version with complete figs. 4 and 5 is available at
http://www.astro.unibas.ch/cosmology/papers.html ; accepted for publication
in Ap
Cepheid Calibration of the Peak Brightness of SNe Ia. X. SN 1991T in NGC 4527
Repeated imaging observations have been made of NGC 4527 with the Hubble
Space Telescope between April and June 1999, over an interval of 69 days.
Images were obtained on 12 epochs in the F555W band and on five epochs in the
F814W band. The galaxy hosted the type Ia supernova SN1991T, which showed
relatively unusual behavior by having both an abnormal spectrum near light
maximum, and a slower declining light curve than the proto-typical Branch
normal SNe Ia.
A total of 86 variables that are putative Cepheids have been found, with
periods ranging from 7.4 days to over 70 days. From photometry with the DoPHOT
program, the de-reddened distance modulus is determined to be (m-M)_0 = 30.67
+/- 0.12 (internal uncertainty) using a subset of the Cepheid data whose
reddening and error parameters are secure. A parallel analysis of the Cepheids
using photometry with ROMAFOT yields (m -M)_0 =30.82 +/- 0.11. The final
adopted modulus is (m -M)_0 =30.74 +/- 0.12 +/- 0.12 (d=14.1 +/- 0.8 +/- 0.8
Mpc).
The photometric data for SN1991T are used in combination with the Cepheid
distance to NGC 4527 to obtain the absolute magnitude for this supernova of
M_V^0(max) = -19.85 +/- 0.29. The relatively large uncertainty is a result of
the range in estimates of the reddening to the supernova. Thus SN1991T is seen
to be only moderately brighter (by ~ 0.3 mag) than the mean for
spectroscopically normal supernovae, although magnitude differences of up to
0.6 mag cannot be ruled out.Comment: 46 pages, LATEX using aaspp4.sty, including 9 embedded tables, 19
figures (gif and jpg files), a full-resolution version (ps files) is
available at http://www.astro.unibas.ch/forschung/ll/cepheid.shtml, accepted
for publication in the Astrophysical Journa
Community-based care models for arterial hypertension management in non-pregnant adults in sub-Saharan Africa: a literature scoping review and framework for designing chronic services
BACKGROUND: Arterial hypertension (aHT) is the leading cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor in sub-Saharan Africa; it remains, however, underdiagnosed, and undertreated. Community-based care services could potentially expand access to aHT diagnosis and treatment in underserved communities. In this scoping review, we catalogued, described, and appraised community-based care models for aHT in sub-Saharan Africa, considering their acceptability, engagement in care and clinical outcomes. Additionally, we developed a framework to design and describe service delivery models for long-term aHT care. METHODS: We searched relevant references in Embase Elsevier, MEDLINE Ovid, CINAHL EBSCOhost and Scopus. Included studies described models where substantial care occurred outside a formal health facility and reported on acceptability, blood pressure (BP) control, engagement in care, or end-organ damage. We summarized the interventions' characteristics, effectiveness, and evaluated the quality of included studies. Considering the common integrating elements of aHT care services, we conceptualized a general framework to guide the design of service models for aHT. RESULTS: We identified 18,695 records, screened 4,954 and included twelve studies. Four types of aHT care models were identified: services provided at community pharmacies, out-of-facility, household services, and aHT treatment groups. Two studies reported on acceptability, eleven on BP control, ten on engagement in care and one on end-organ damage. Most studies reported significant reductions in BP values and improved access to comprehensive CVDs services through task-sharing. Major reported shortcomings included high attrition rates and their nature as parallel, non-integrated models of care. The overall quality of the studies was low, with high risk of bias, and most of the studies did not include comparisons with routine facility-based care. CONCLUSIONS: The overall quality of available evidence on community-based aHT care is low. Published models of care are very heterogeneous and available evidence is insufficient to recommend or refute further scale up in sub-Sahara Africa. We propose that future projects and studies implementing and assessing community-based models for aHT care are designed and described according to six building blocks: providers, target groups, components, location, time of service delivery, and their use of information systems
A Cepheid Distance to NGC 4603 in Centaurus
In an attempt to use Cepheid variables to determine the distance to the
Centaurus cluster, we have obtained images of NGC 4603 with the Hubble Space
Telescope on 9 epochs using WFPC2 and the F555W and F814W filters. This galaxy
has been suggested to lie within the ``Cen30'' portion of the cluster and is
the most distant object for which this method has been attempted. Previous
distance estimates for Cen30 have varied significantly and some have presented
disagreements with the peculiar velocity predicted from redshift surveys,
motivating this investigation. Using our observations, we have found 61
candidate Cepheid variable stars; however, a significant fraction of these
candidates are likely to be nonvariable stars whose magnitude measurement
errors happen to fit a Cepheid light curve of significant amplitude for some
choice of period and phase. Through a maximum likelihood technique, we
determine that we have observed 43 +/- 7 real Cepheids and that NGC 4603 has a
distance modulus of 32.61 +0.11/-0.10 (random, 1 sigma) +0.24/-0.25
(systematic, adding in quadrature), corresponding to a distance of 33.3 Mpc.
This is consistent with a number of recent estimates of the distance to NGC
4603 or Cen30 and implies a small peculiar velocity consistent with predictions
from the IRAS 1.2 Jy redshift survey if the galaxy lies in the foreground of
the cluster.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal. 17 pages with
17 embedded figures and 3 tables using emulateapj.sty. Additional figures and
images may be obtained from http://astro.berkeley.edu/~marc/n4603
Cepheids and Long Period Variables in NGC 4395
Repeated imaging observations of NGC 4395 were made with the WIYN 3.5 m and
the KPNO 2.1 m telescopes. From the photometry of the resolved brighter stars
in this galaxy eleven Cepheids with periods ranging between 12 and 90 days have
been identified. The true distance modulus has been derived from the apparent
distance moduli in g, r and i. The distance modulus is 28.02 +/- 0.18 based on
the LMC P-L relation by Sandage et al. 2003; this corresponds to a distance of
4.0 +/- 0.3 Mpc. Using the P-L relation from Madore & Freedman 1991, the
distance modulus is 28.15 +/- 0.18; which corresponds to a distance of 4.3 +/-
0.4 Mpc. The reddening is calculated to be E(g-r) = 0.06 +/- 0.08 and E(r-i) =
0.10 +/- 0.08, again from the distance moduli mu_g, mu_r and mu_i. In addition,
37 other variables have been detected, the majority of which have definite
periods. They are probably all red long period variables.Comment: 54 pages, 8 figures, 8 tables, accepted for publication in the
Astronomical Journa
Seroprofiling of antibodies against endemic human coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2 in an HIV cohort in Lesotho: correlates of antibody response and seropositivity.
BACKGROUND
Serological data on endemic human coronaviruses (HCoVs) and SARS-CoV-2 in southern Africa are scarce. Here, we report on i) endemic HCoV seasonality, ii) SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence, and iii) predictive factors for SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity and strength of SARS-CoV-2 and HCoV serological response during a 17-month period at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic among adults living with HIV.
METHODS
Plasma samples were collected from February 2020 to July 2021 within an outpatient HIV cohort in Lesotho. We used the ABCORA multiplex immunoassay to measure antibody responses to endemic HCoV (OC43, HKU1, NL63, and 229E) and SARS-CoV-2 antigens.
RESULTS
Results of 3'173 samples from 1'403 adults were included. Serological responses against endemic HCoVs increased over time and peaked in winter/spring. SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity reached >35% among samples collected in early 2021 and was associated with female sex (p = 0.004), obesity (p < 0.001), working outside the home (p = 0.02), and recent tiredness (p = 0.005) or fever (p = 0.007). Positive correlations were observed between the strength of response to endemic HCoVs and to SARS-CoV-2, and between older age or obesity and the IgG response to SARS-CoV-2.
CONCLUSIONS
These results add to our understanding of the impact of biological, clinical, and social/behavioural factors on serological responses to coronaviruses in southern Africa
Seroprofiling of Antibodies Against Endemic Human Coronaviruses and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Cohort in Lesotho: Correlates of Antibody Response and Seropositivity
BACKGROUND: Serological data on endemic human coronaviruses (HCoVs) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in southern Africa are scarce. Here, we report on (1) endemic HCoV seasonality, (2) SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence, and (3) correlates of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity and strength of SARS-CoV-2 and endemic HCoV serological responses among adults living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
METHODS: Plasma samples were collected from February 2020 to July 2021 within an HIV cohort in Lesotho. We used the AntiBody CORonavirus Assay (ABCORA) multiplex immunoassay to measure antibody responses to endemic HCoV (OC43, HKU1, NL63, and 229E) and SARS-CoV-2 antigens.
RESULTS: Results for 3173 samples from 1403 adults were included. Serological responses against endemic HCoVs increased over time and peaked in winter and spring. SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity reached >35% among samples collected in early 2021 and was associated with female sex, obesity, working outside the home, and recent tiredness or fever. Positive correlations were observed between the strength of response to endemic HCoVs and to SARS-CoV-2 and between older age or obesity and the immunoglobulin G response to SARS-CoV-2.
CONCLUSIONS: These results add to our understanding of the impact of biological, clinical, and social/behavioral factors on serological responses to coronaviruses in southern Africa
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