Intestinal parasitic infections and associated epidemiological drivers in two rural communities of the Bolivian Chaco

Introduction: In 2013 a coproparasitological survey was carried out in two rural communities of the Bolivian Chaco to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) and to investigate on possible infection drivers through a questionnaire interview. Methodology: Faecal samples were examined by microscopy. Samples positive for Entamoeba histolytica complex and Blastocystis were molecularly examined to identify the species/subtypes involved. Results: The overall infection rate was 86%, identical in both communities and mostly due to protozoa. Soil-transmitted helminths were detected in <3% of children and adults. Discussion: The protozoa detected, including Blastocystis subtypes, indicate faecal contamination of the environment by both humans (as confirmed by the presence of Hymenolepis nana) and animals. Nested-PCR identified E. histolytica, thus signalling the possible occurrence of invasive amoebosis. Lack of safe water, environmental contamination, poor sanitation and hygiene, shared by both communities, are the main drivers of IPIs. In addition, unlike gender and socioeconomic factors, childhood (only for some species), crowding and cohabitation with animals proved to be further significant protozoon infection risk factors. Conclusions: These results highlight the need for the promotion of access to clean water, improved sanitation and better hygiene, thus reducing the frequency of preventive chemotherapy for STHs while continuing to monitor the population for possible recrudescence

Viscerotropic disease: case definition and guidelines for collection, analysis, and presentation of immunization safety data

Viscerotropic disease (VTD) is defined as acute multiple organ system dysfunction that occurs following vaccination. The severity of VTD ranges from relatively mild multisystem disease to severe multiple organ system failure and death. The term VTD was first used shortly after the initial published reports in 2001 of febrile multiple organ system failure following yellow fever (YF) vaccination. To date, VTD has been reported only in association with YF vaccine and has been thus referred to as YF vaccine-associated viscerotropic disease (YEL-AVD)

Gaia Early Data Release 3: Structure and properties of the Magellanic Clouds

We compare the Gaia DR2 and Gaia EDR3 performances in the study of the Magellanic Clouds and show the clear improvements in precision and accuracy in the new release. We also show that the systematics still present in the data make the determination of the 3D geometry of the LMC a difficult endeavour; this is at the very limit of the usefulness of the Gaia EDR3 astrometry, but it may become feasible with the use of additional external data. We derive radial and tangential velocity maps and global profiles for the LMC for the several subsamples we defined. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the two planar components of the ordered and random motions are derived for multiple stellar evolutionary phases in a galactic disc outside the Milky Way, showing the differences between younger and older phases. We also analyse the spatial structure and motions in the central region, the bar, and the disc, providing new insights into features and kinematics. Finally, we show that the Gaia EDR3 data allows clearly resolving the Magellanic Bridge, and we trace the density and velocity flow of the stars from the SMC towards the LMC not only globally, but also separately for young and evolved populations. This allows us to confirm an evolved population in the Bridge that is slightly shift from the younger population. Additionally, we were able to study the outskirts of both Magellanic Clouds, in which we detected some well-known features and indications of new ones

The Gaia mission

Gaia is a cornerstone mission in the science programme of the EuropeanSpace Agency (ESA). The spacecraft construction was approved in 2006, following a study in which the original interferometric concept was changed to a direct-imaging approach. Both the spacecraft and the payload were built by European industry. The involvement of the scientific community focusses on data processing for which the international Gaia Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC) was selected in 2007. Gaia was launched on 19 December 2013 and arrived at its operating point, the second Lagrange point of the Sun-Earth-Moon system, a few weeks later. The commissioning of the spacecraft and payload was completed on 19 July 2014. The nominal five-year mission started with four weeks of special, ecliptic-pole scanning and subsequently transferred into full-sky scanning mode. We recall the scientific goals of Gaia and give a description of the as-built spacecraft that is currently (mid-2016) being operated to achieve these goals. We pay special attention to the payload module, the performance of which is closely related to the scientific performance of the mission. We provide a summary of the commissioning activities and findings, followed by a description of the routine operational mode. We summarise scientific performance estimates on the basis of in-orbit operations. Several intermediate Gaia data releases are planned and the data can be retrieved from the Gaia Archive, which is available through the Gaia home page. http://www.cosmos.esa.int/gai

Perfil clínico epidemiológico de infección por hantavirus en la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina, periodo 1996 – 2009

ntroduction: Hantavirus infection is considered a viral zoonosis. More than 21 species have been indentified throughout the world, transmitted by different rodents, which are its natural reservoir. Until 2004, Argentina was the country with the highest incidence in South America, Buenos Aires being one of the provinces with the highest incidence in the country. Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the clinical and epidemiological variables of the disease in the Buenos Aires Province, analyzing 14 years of historical trends (1996-2009). Materials and methods: 704 clinical-epidemiological notifications were analyzed. Serological detection of antibodies was carried out using ELISA. The variables studied were sex, age, residence according to health system district, epidemiological week (EW), incidence rate, lethality, clinical evolution, and the presence of different syndromes. Results: 622 cases (88.3%) had a laboratory serological report, 291 (46.8%) of those being positive cases or those confirmed with IgM. Analyzing clinical evolution, (194 patients included this data, 67%) 112 patients were cured y 79 died. The average age of deceased patients was 33 years. Lethality for each syndrome was: influenza 39.9%, respiratory 42.1%, renal 43.9%, hepatic 38.5%, neurological 57.1% y hematological 40%. This study contributes to knowledge of the clinical epidemiological profile of hantavirus in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.Introducción: La infección denominada hantavirus es considerada una zoonosis viral. Se han identificado más de 21 especies en todo el mundo, transmitidas por diferentes roedores, que son su reservorio natural. Argentina hasta el año 2004 fue el país con mayor incidencia en América del Sur siendo Buenos Aires una de las provincias de mayor incidencia del país. Objetivo: El objetivo del presente trabajo fue analizar las variables clínico-epidemiológicas de la enfermedad en la Provincia de Buenos Aires analizando la serie histórica de 14 años (1996-2009). Material y método: Se analizaron 704 fichas de notificación clínica-epidemiológica. La detección serológica de anticuerpos se realizó mediante Elisa. Las variables estudiadas fueron sexo, edad, residencia según partido y región sanitaria, semana epidemiológica (SE), tasa de incidencia y letalidad, evolución clínica y la presencia de diferentes síndromes. Resultados: 622 casos (88.3%) presentaron estudio de laboratorio serológico, siendo 291 los casos (46.8%) positivos o confirmados con IgM. Analizando la evolución clínica, (194 pacientes con dato, 67%) 112 pacientes curaron y 79 fallecieron. La edad promedio de pacientes fallecidos fue de 33 años. La letalidad para cada síndrome fue: gripal 39.9%, respiratorio 42.1% con el, renal 43.9%, hepático 38.5% , neurológico 57.1% y hematológico 40%. El estudio resulta un aporte al conocimiento de la prevalencia del perfil clínico epidemiológico del hantavirus en la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina

Perfil clínico epidemiológico de infección por hantavirus en la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina, periodo 1996 – 2009

ntroduction: Hantavirus infection is considered a viral zoonosis. More than 21 species have been indentified throughout the world, transmitted by different rodents, which are its natural reservoir. Until 2004, Argentina was the country with the highest incidence in South America, Buenos Aires being one of the provinces with the highest incidence in the country. Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the clinical and epidemiological variables of the disease in the Buenos Aires Province, analyzing 14 years of historical trends (1996-2009). Materials and methods: 704 clinical-epidemiological notifications were analyzed. Serological detection of antibodies was carried out using ELISA. The variables studied were sex, age, residence according to health system district, epidemiological week (EW), incidence rate, lethality, clinical evolution, and the presence of different syndromes. Results: 622 cases (88.3%) had a laboratory serological report, 291 (46.8%) of those being positive cases or those confirmed with IgM. Analyzing clinical evolution, (194 patients included this data, 67%) 112 patients were cured y 79 died. The average age of deceased patients was 33 years. Lethality for each syndrome was: influenza 39.9%, respiratory 42.1%, renal 43.9%, hepatic 38.5%, neurological 57.1% y hematological 40%. This study contributes to knowledge of the clinical epidemiological profile of hantavirus in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.Introducción: La infección denominada hantavirus es considerada una zoonosis viral. Se han identificado más de 21 especies en todo el mundo, transmitidas por diferentes roedores, que son su reservorio natural. Argentina hasta el año 2004 fue el país con mayor incidencia en América del Sur siendo Buenos Aires una de las provincias de mayor incidencia del país. Objetivo: El objetivo del presente trabajo fue analizar las variables clínico-epidemiológicas de la enfermedad en la Provincia de Buenos Aires analizando la serie histórica de 14 años (1996-2009). Material y método: Se analizaron 704 fichas de notificación clínica-epidemiológica. La detección serológica de anticuerpos se realizó mediante Elisa. Las variables estudiadas fueron sexo, edad, residencia según partido y región sanitaria, semana epidemiológica (SE), tasa de incidencia y letalidad, evolución clínica y la presencia de diferentes síndromes. Resultados: 622 casos (88.3%) presentaron estudio de laboratorio serológico, siendo 291 los casos (46.8%) positivos o confirmados con IgM. Analizando la evolución clínica, (194 pacientes con dato, 67%) 112 pacientes curaron y 79 fallecieron. La edad promedio de pacientes fallecidos fue de 33 años. La letalidad para cada síndrome fue: gripal 39.9%, respiratorio 42.1% con el, renal 43.9%, hepático 38.5% , neurológico 57.1% y hematológico 40%. El estudio resulta un aporte al conocimiento de la prevalencia del perfil clínico epidemiológico del hantavirus en la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina

Viscerotropic disease: case definition and guidelines for collection, analysis, and presentation of immunization safety data

Submitted by Repositório Arca ([email protected]) on 2018-07-25T12:28:46Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) Bio-0013.pdf: 852994 bytes, checksum: d75cd666d8542005d0e6016ba864dbf2 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Priscila Nascimento ([email protected]) on 2018-10-04T20:06:06Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Bio-0013.pdf: 852994 bytes, checksum: d75cd666d8542005d0e6016ba864dbf2 (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2018-10-04T20:06:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Bio-0013.pdf: 852994 bytes, checksum: d75cd666d8542005d0e6016ba864dbf2 (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Global Migration and Quarantine. National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases. Atlanta, GA, USA. / Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Vector-Borne Diseases. National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases. Fort Collins, CO, USA.World Health Organization. Department of Immunization, Vaccines, and Biologicals. Geneva, Switzerland.Institut Pasteur. Agence de Médecine Préventive. Paris, France.Hospital das Clinicas. Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy. São Paulo, SP, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública. Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.Sanofipasteur. Global Pharmacovigilance & Epidemiology. Lyon, France. Robert Koch Institute. Berlin, Germany. / Sanofipasteur. Division of Safety Monitoring and Risk Management for Pediatric and Travel Vaccines. Lyon, France.Department of International Health. Center for Immunization Research. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Baltimore, MD, USA.Barcelona Centre for International Health Research. Barcelona, Espanha.National Centre of Epidemiology. International Traveller’s Health and Vaccination Centre. Budapest, Hungary.Sanofipasteur. Global Pharmacovigilance and Epidemiology Department. Toronto, Canada.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto de Tecnologia em Imunobiológicos. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Ministry of Health. Epidemiology Direction. Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.Rouen University Hospital. Pharmacovigilance Regional Center of Upper-Normandy. Rouen, Cedex, France.Federal Ministry of Health. Federal Secretariat. Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria.National Institutes of Health. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Division of AIDS. Bethesda, USA.Novartis Vaccines. Cambridge, USA.Harvard School of Public Health. Department of Global Health and Population. Boston, USA

Autosomal Recessive Hypercholesterolemia: Long-Term Cardiovascular Outcomes

none33siAutosomal recessive hypercholesterolemia (ARH) is a rare lipid disorder characterized by premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). There are sparse data for clinical management and cardiovascular outcomes in ARH. Evaluation of changes in lipid management, achievement of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals and cardiovascular outcomes in ARH. Published ARH cases were identified by electronic search. All corresponding authors and physicians known to treat these patients were asked to provide follow-up information, using a standardized protocol. We collected data for 52 patients (28 females, 24 males; 31.1 +/- 17.1 years of age; baseline LDL-C: 571.9 +/- 171.7 mg/dl). During a mean follow-up of 14.1 +/- 7.3 years, there was a significant increase in the use of high-intensity statin and ezetimibe in combination with lipoprotein apheresis; in 6 patients, lomitapide was also added. Mean LDL-C achieved at nadir was 164.0 +/- 85.1 mg/dl (similar to 69.6% from baseline), with a better response in patients taking lomitapide (+/- 88.3%). Overall, 23.1% of ARH patients reached LDL-C of = 30 years) and the presence of coronary artery disease at diagnosis were the major predictors of incident ASCVD. Despite intensive treatment, LDL-C in ARH patients remains far from targets, and this translates into a poor long-term cardiovascular prognosis. Our data highlight the importance of an early diagnosis and treatment and confirm the fact that an effective treatment protocol for ARH is still lacking.mixedD'Erasmo, Laura*; Minicocci, Ilenia; Nicolucci, Antonio; Pintus, Paolo; Roeters Van Lennep, Janine E.; Masana, Luis; Mata, Pedro; Sánchez-Hernández, Rosa Maria; Prieto-Matos, Pablo; Real, Josè T.; Ascaso, Juan F.; Lafuente, Eduardo Esteve; Pocovi, Miguel; Fuentes, Francisco J.; Muntoni, Sandro; Bertolini, Stefano; Sirtori, Cesare; Calabresi, Laura; Pavanello, Chiara; Averna, Maurizio; Cefalu, Angelo Baldassare; Noto, Davide; Pacifico, Adolfo Arturo; Pes, Giovanni Mario; Harada-Shiba, Mariko; Manzato, Enzo; Zambon, Sabina; Zambon, Alberto; Vogt, Anja; Scardapane, Marco; Sjouke, Barbara; Fellin, Renato; Arca, MarcelloD'Erasmo, Laura; Minicocci, Ilenia; Nicolucci, Antonio; Pintus, Paolo; Roeters Van Lennep, Janine E.; Masana, Luis; Mata, Pedro; Sánchez-Hernández, Rosa Maria; Prieto-Matos, Pablo; Real, Josè T.; Ascaso, Juan F.; Lafuente, Eduardo Esteve; Pocovi, Miguel; Fuentes, Francisco J.; Muntoni, Sandro; Bertolini, Stefano; Sirtori, Cesare; Calabresi, Laura; Pavanello, Chiara; Averna, Maurizio; Cefalu, Angelo Baldassare; Noto, Davide; Pacifico, Adolfo Arturo; Pes, Giovanni Mario; Harada-Shiba, Mariko; Manzato, Enzo; Zambon, Sabina; Zambon, Alberto; Vogt, Anja; Scardapane, Marco; Sjouke, Barbara; Fellin, Renato; Arca, Marcell

Autosomal Recessive Hypercholesterolemia Long-Term Cardiovascular Outcomes

BACKGROUND Autosomal recessive hypercholesterolemia (ARH) is a rare lipid disorder characterized by premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). There are sparse data for clinical management and cardiovascular outcomes in ARH. OBJECTIVES Evaluation of changes in lipid management, achievement of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals and cardiovascular outcomes in ARH. METHODS Published ARH cases were identified by electronic search. All corresponding authors and physicians known to treat these patients were asked to provide follow-up information, using a standardized protocol. RESULTS We collected data for 52 patients (28 females, 24 males; 31.1 +/- 17.1 years of age; baseline LDL-C: 571.9 +/- 171.7 mg/dl). During a mean follow-up of 14.1 +/- 7.3 years, there was a significant increase in the use of high-intensity statin and ezetimibe in combination with lipoprotein apheresis; in 6 patients, lomitapide was also added. Mean LDL-C achieved at nadir was 164.0 +/- 85.1 mg/dl (similar to 69.6% from baseline), with a better response in patients taking lomitapide (+/- 88.3%). Overall, 23.1% of ARH patients reached LDL-C of = 30 years) and the presence of coronary artery disease at diagnosis were the major predictors of incident ASCVD. CONCLUSIONS Despite intensive treatment, LDL-C in ARH patients remains far from targets, and this translates into a poor long-term cardiovascular prognosis. Our data highlight the importance of an early diagnosis and treatment and confirm the fact that an effective treatment protocol for ARH is still lacking. (c) 2018 by the American College of Cardiology Foundatio