Surveillance of <i>Legionella</i> spp. in Open Fountains: Does It Pose a Risk?

Clusters of outbreaks or cases of legionellosis have been linked to fountains. The function of fountains, along with their inadequate design and poor sanitation, in combination with the warm Mediterranean climate, can favor the proliferation of Legionella in water systems. Public fountains in Mediterranean cities may pose a significant risk for public health due to the aerosolization of water. Nevertheless, few studies have been conducted on Legionella and the risk of infection in humans through fountains. In our study, the presence and quantity of Legionella spp. in fifteen external public fountains were investigated. Two samplings were performed in two different periods (dry and wet). Sixty samples were collected, quantified and analyzed with a culture ISO method. The operation of all fountains was evaluated twice using a standardized checklist. In accordance with their operation, a ranking factor (R factor) was suggested. Finally, based on these results, a quantitative microbial risk assessment was performed. Thirty water samples taken from the fountains (100%) during the dry sampling period were positive for Legionella (mean log concentration: 3.64 ± 0.45 cfu/L), whereas 24 water samples taken from the fountains during the wet period were Legionella-positive (mean log concentration: 2.36 ± 1.23 cfu/L). All fountains were classified as unsatisfactory according to the checklist for the evaluation of their function. A statistically significant correlation was found between Legionella concentration and the assessment score. The risk of Legionella infection was estimated in both periods, with higher risk in the dry period. The surveillance and risk assessment of Legionella spp. in the fountains of Patras confirmed a high prevalence and a high risk to public health

Ordering Mechanisms in Epitaxial Sige Nanoislands

We investigate and elucidate the surprising observation of atomically ordered domains in dome-shaped SiGe nanoislands. We show, through atomistic MonteCarlo simulations, that this ordering is a surface-related phenomenon, and that is driven by surface equilibrium rather than by surface kinetics. The ordering depends on facet orientation. The main source of ordering is the {15323} facet, while the {105} and {113} facets contribute less. Subsurface ordered configurations self-organize under this facet and are frozen-in and buried during island growth, giving rise to the ordered domains. Ordering mechanisms based on constrained surface kinetics, requiring step-mediated segregation at the island facets, are shown to be much less likely

Additional file 1: Table S1. of Global avian influenza outbreaks 2010–2016: a systematic review of their distribution, avian species and virus subtype

Avian influenza birds affected per virus subtype, country, epidemiological unit and year. References for Table S1. (ZIP 230 kb

Interfacial disorder and optoelectronic properties of diamond nanocrystals

We present in this work a theoretical framework based on the tight-binding method, which is able to probe at a local atomic level the optoelectronic response of nanomaterial systems and link it to the associated disorder. We apply this methodology to carbon nanocomposites containing diamond nanocrystals. We find that significant structural and topological disorder exists at the interface between the nanodiamonds and the embedding amorphous carbon matrix. This can be quantitatively probed by extracting the Urbach energies from the optical parameters. Disorder in the nanocrystals appears in their outer shell near the interface and is manifested as bond length and angle distortions. Energetics and stability analysis show that nanodiamonds embedded in matrices with high density and high fraction of fourfold coordinated atoms are more stable

Additional file 1 of Hepatitis B, C and human immunodeficiency virus knowledge among the general greek population: results from the Hprolipsis nationwide survey

Additional file 1: Annex 1. Knowledge of HBV, HCV and HIV in the general adult Greek population: Questions and replies. Annex 2. Risk Factors Questions and replies

Cardiovascular risk factors in HIV infected individuals: Comparison with general adult control population in Greece.

BackgroundAlthough combined antiretroviral therapy has substantially improved the prognosis of people living with HIV (PLHIV), mortality remains higher compared to the general population, mainly due to higher prevalence of non-HIV-related comorbidities, including cardiovascular diseases (CVD). We assessed the prevalence of CVD risk and its contributing factors in adult PLHIV versus general population controls in Greece.SettingsCross-sectional comparison of PLHIV (Athens-Multicenter-AIDS-Cohort-Study; AMACS) versus general population controls (National health examination survey; EMENO).MethodsAll HIV-infected adults with ≥1 measurement of interest (blood pressure, lipids, glucose, weight, height) between 2012-2014 and all EMENO participants (2014-2016) were included. Ten-year total CVD risk was estimated using the Framingham (FRS) or the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) equations.Results5839 PLHIV (median age:41.6 years, 85.4% males) and 4820 controls (median age:48 years, 48.4% males) were included. Adjusting for age, sex and origin, PLHIV were more likely to be current smokers (adjusted OR:1.53 [95% CI:1.35-1.74]) and dyslipidemic (aOR:1.18; [1.04-1.34]), less likely to be obese (aOR:0.44 [0.38-0.52], with no differences in hypertension, diabetes or high (≥20%) FRS but with greater odds of high (≥5%) SCORE (aOR:1.55 [1.05-2.30]). Further adjustment for educational level, anti-HCV positivity and BMI showed higher prevalence of hypertension in PLHIV.ConclusionsDespite the relative absence of obesity, PLHIV have higher prevalence of traditional CVD risk factors and higher risk of fatal CVD compared to general population. Regular screening and early management of CVD risk factors in PLHIV should be of high priority for CVD prevention

Improved strategies to counter the COVID-19 pandemic:Lockdowns vs. primary and community healthcare

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

High prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in adults living in Greece: the EMENO National Health Examination Survey

Background: Nationwide data on cardiovascular risk factors prevalence is lacking in Greece. This work presents the findings of the national health examination survey EMENO (2013–2016) regarding the prevalence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, obesity and smoking. Methods: A random sample of adults (≥18 years) was drawn by multistage stratified random sampling based on 2011 Census. All EMENO participants with ≥1 measurement of interest [blood pressure (BP), fasting glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol (TC), Body Mass Index (BMI)] were included. Hypertension was defined as BP ≥ 140/90 mmHg and/or antihypertensive treatment; diabetes as fasting glucose≥126 mg/dL and/or HbA1c ≥ 6.5% or self-reported diabetes; hypercholesterolemia as TC ≥ 190 mg/dL. Sampling weights were applied to adjust for study design and post-stratification weights to match sample age and sex distribution to population one. Non-response was adjusted by inverse probability weighting. Results: Of 6006 EMENO participants, 4822 were included (51.5% females, median age:47.9 years). The prevalence of hypertension was 39.2%, higher in men (42.4%) than in women (36.1%); of hypercholesterolemia 60.2%, similar in men (59.5%) and women (60.9%); of diabetes 11.6%, similar men (12.4%) and women (10.9%); of obesity 32.1%, higher in women (33.5% vs 30.2%), although in subjects aged 18–40 year it was higher in men; of current smoking 38.2%, higher in men (44.0%) than in women (32.7%). The prevalence of all risk factors increased substantially with age, except smoking, which followed an inverse U shape. Conclusions: The burden of cardiovascular risk factors among Greek adults is alarming. There is considerable preventive potential and actions at health care and societal level are urgently needed. © 2020, The Author(s)

High prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in adults living in Greece: the EMENO National Health Examination Survey

Background: Nationwide data on cardiovascular risk factors prevalence is lacking in Greece. This work presents the findings of the national health examination survey EMENO (2013–2016) regarding the prevalence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, obesity and smoking. Methods: A random sample of adults (≥18 years) was drawn by multistage stratified random sampling based on 2011 Census. All EMENO participants with ≥1 measurement of interest [blood pressure (BP), fasting glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol (TC), Body Mass Index (BMI)] were included. Hypertension was defined as BP ≥ 140/90 mmHg and/or antihypertensive treatment; diabetes as fasting glucose≥126 mg/dL and/or HbA1c ≥ 6.5% or self-reported diabetes; hypercholesterolemia as TC ≥ 190 mg/dL. Sampling weights were applied to adjust for study design and post-stratification weights to match sample age and sex distribution to population one. Non-response was adjusted by inverse probability weighting. Results: Of 6006 EMENO participants, 4822 were included (51.5% females, median age:47.9 years). The prevalence of hypertension was 39.2%, higher in men (42.4%) than in women (36.1%); of hypercholesterolemia 60.2%, similar in men (59.5%) and women (60.9%); of diabetes 11.6%, similar men (12.4%) and women (10.9%); of obesity 32.1%, higher in women (33.5% vs 30.2%), although in subjects aged 18–40 year it was higher in men; of current smoking 38.2%, higher in men (44.0%) than in women (32.7%). The prevalence of all risk factors increased substantially with age, except smoking, which followed an inverse U shape. Conclusions: The burden of cardiovascular risk factors among Greek adults is alarming. There is considerable preventive potential and actions at health care and societal level are urgently needed. © 2020, The Author(s)