Risk for the occupational infection by cytomegalovirus among health-care workers

Background Cytomegalovirus (CMV) are ubiquitously distributed worldwide, causing a wide range of clinical manifestations from congenital infection to a life-threatening disease in immunocompromised individuals. CMV can be transmitted via human-to-human contact through body fluids; however, the risk of CMV infection among healthcare workers (HCWs) has not been fully evaluated. Aim This study aimed to assess the risk of CMV infection among HCWs through daily medical practices. Methods Serum samples from HCWs at Osaka University Hospital (Japan) were analysed. Initially, we compared CMV IgG seropositivity among HCWs (medical doctors, nurses, and others) in 2017, which was examined after 1 year to evaluate seroconversion rates among those with seronegative results. Then, we examined CMV seroconversion rates in HCWs who were exposed to blood and body fluids. Findings We analysed 1153 samples of HCWs (386 medical doctors, 468 nurses, and 299 others), of which CMV seropositivity rates were not significantly different (68.9%, 70.3%, and 70.9%, respectively). Of these, 63.9% (221/346) of CMV seronegative HCWs were followed after 1 year, with CMV seroconversion rates of 3.2% (7/221). Among 72 HCWs who tested negative for CMV IgG when exposed to blood and body fluids, the CMV seroconversion rate was 2.8% (2/72). The CMV seroconversion rates between the two situations were not significantly different. Conclusion Our study indicated that CMV infection through daily patient care seems quite rare. Further well-designed studies with a large sample size are warranted to verify our finding

Durability of immunity by hepatitis B vaccine in Japanese health care workers depends on primary response titers and durations

Photograph taken by Salt Lake Tribune staf

Durability of immunity by hepatitis B vaccine in Japanese health care workers depends on primary response titers and durations

Yoshioka N, Deguchi M, Hagiya H, Kagita M, Tsukamoto H, Takao M, et al. (2017) Durability of immunity by hepatitis B vaccine in Japanese health care workers depends on primary response titers and durations. PLoS ONE 12(11): e0187661

Support for UNRWA's survival

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) provides life-saving humanitarian aid for 5·4 million Palestine refugees now entering their eighth decade of statelessness and conflict. About a third of Palestine refugees still live in 58 recognised camps. UNRWA operates 702 schools and 144 health centres, some of which are affected by the ongoing humanitarian disasters in Syria and the Gaza Strip. It has dramatically reduced the prevalence of infectious diseases, mortality, and illiteracy. Its social services include rebuilding infrastructure and homes that have been destroyed by conflict and providing cash assistance and micro-finance loans for Palestinians whose rights are curtailed and who are denied the right of return to their homeland

The Homeodomain Protein Defective Proventriculus Is Essential for Male Accessory Gland Development to Enhance Fecundity in Drosophila

The Drosophila male accessory gland has functions similar to those of the mammalian prostate gland and the seminal vesicle, and secretes accessory gland proteins into the seminal fluid. Each of the two lobes of the accessory gland is composed of two types of binucleate cell: about 1,000 main cells and 40 secondary cells. A well-known accessory gland protein, sex peptide, is secreted from the main cells and induces female postmating response to increase progeny production, whereas little is known about physiological significance of the secondary cells. The homeodomain transcriptional repressor Defective proventriculus (Dve) is strongly expressed in adult secondary cells, and its mutation resulted in loss of secondary cells, mononucleation of main cells, and reduced size of the accessory gland. dve mutant males had low fecundity despite the presence of sex peptide, and failed to induce the female postmating responses of increased egg laying and reduced sexual receptivity. RNAi-mediated dve knockdown males also had low fecundity with normally binucleate main cells. We provide the first evidence that secondary cells are crucial for male fecundity, and also that Dve activity is required for survival of the secondary cells. These findings provide new insights into a mechanism of fertility/fecundity

能登半島地震前後の環境放射能の変動 (<特集>2007年能登半島地震 その2)

金沢大学環日本海域環境研究センターVariations of radiation levels before and after the Noto Hanto Earthquake in 2007 have been analyzed from the point of view of environmental radioactivity. The 210Pb activities in the airborne particles are collected from Nishi-Futamata in Wajima, are analyzed. The Radon activity at Hegura Island located 50km North of Wajima, and the spatial gamma rays at Nishi-Futamata are measured since April 21, 2007. Abnormal increase of 210Pb activity started 3 weeks before the earthquake are found, suggesting the maximum value just before the earthquake, because it decrease to normal level after 2 weeks. Increase of radon level was not observed at Hegura Island, however, increase of radiation level at Nishi-Futamata area continued for 6 weeks after the earthquake, and settled to normal level in middle of May 2007.環境放射能の観点から能登半島地震発生前後の放射能関連のデータの解析を試みた.解析したのは,輪島市西二又地区で採取した大気浮遊塵中の210Pb,輪島沖50kmに位置する舳倉島のラドン濃度,地震発生後の4月21日から西二又地区で連続測定を実施した空間γ線レベルの3項目である.その結果,地震発生約3週間前から大気浮遊塵試料のラドンの娘核種210Pbの濃度が増加し,地震直前にピークに達した後に低下に転じ,約2週間後にほぼ平常値に回復していたことが分かった.舳倉島のラドンには地震の影響は見られなかったが,西二又における空間γ線レベルはラドンに由来すると考えれる高い値が約6週間後も続き5月中頃に平常値に戻ったことが明らかになった