2005-2007年厦门市流感监测分析

[目的]了解和掌握厦门市流感活动状况及流行动态变化规律。[方法]建立流感监测点，定期采集流感样标本，用MDCK细胞分离病毒，并通过血凝抑制试验鉴定分离毒株。[结果]从2430份标本中分离到流感病毒181株，分离率7．4％；4～6月为活动高峰。2005年以甲3型为主，2006年为甲1和乙型，2007年为甲3和乙型。2005-2007年局部暴发疫情19起，有73．7％发生在中小学校。[结论]近3年厦门市流感未发生流行和大规模暴发，不同型别毒株表现出交替占优势的特征，活动高峰主要集中在每年的4～6月。     

多重逆转录聚合酶链反应检测主要上呼吸道病毒

目的：建立用多重逆转录聚合酶链反应（mRT-PCR）检测甲1型、甲3型、乙型流感病毒以及呼吸道全胞病毒（RSV）A型、B型等主要上呼吸道病毒的方法，以快速检测上呼吸道感染主要病毒及对甲型、甲亚型、乙型流感病毒在上海地区人群感染、流行情况设计。方法：采用经MDCK细胞接种培养的甲3型、乙型流感病毒和Hep-2细胞接种培养的RSV A型、B型标准毒株病毒液，以及甲1型、甲3型、乙型流感病毒和RSV A型、B型混合毒株病毒液，使用5组引物，分别为HA1-5al和Hal-3al（甲1型流感病毒）、HA3-5al和HA3-3al和HA3-3al（甲3型流感病毒）、NP-5b1和NP-3bl（乙型流感病毒）、RSVAF和RSVAR(RSVA型)、RSVBF和RSVBR(RSVB型)，经mRT-PCR，琼脂糖凝胶电泳，于紫外灯下观察上述病毒特异核苷酸条带。结果：甲1型、甲3型、乙型流感病毒，RSVA型、B型分别在431，210，390，334，183bp处出现清晰的5条DNA条带。结论：应用5组引物，mRT-PCR可用于快速检测临床上呼吸道感染标本中的流感病毒和RSV，并可对其进行分型，对上呼吸道病毒感染性疾病的诊断和流感的监测方面是非常重要的。     

宁波市2002～2004年流行性感冒的检测与HA1序列分析

目的：为了解近年来宁波市流行性感冒的流行情况以及病毒抗原性的变异情况。方法：采用MDCK细胞培养和鸡胚培养法分离流感病毒，交叉血凝抑制法进行抗原分析，对甲3型流感病毒的HA1血凝素基因作了核苷酸序列测定。结果：2002年-2004年共分离到流感病毒330株，其中甲3型324株(98．2％)、甲1型1株(0．3％)、乙型5株(1．5％)。甲3型毒株2002年与2003年及2004年的抗原比分别为1．9和2．45，核苷酸序列测定结果2002年～2004年HA1区约以5个氨基酸改变的速度变异。结论：3年来宁波市一直以甲3型流感为主要流行株，甲1型及乙型流感则以散发存在。甲3型流感病毒虽说没有发生重大变异，但其抗原性每年都有一定的漂移。     

东莞市2004年人群流感病毒检测与分析

目的：了解东莞市流感病毒感染的流行情况。方法：对门诊病人采取咽拭子分泌物，接种到MDCK细胞，放33．5℃温箱培养。对MDCK细胞上清液进行血凝试验。结果：333份标本中分离出流感病毒42株，流感病毒分离率为12．6％。3-6月份主要为H3N2型，7～10月份主要为B型。结论：2004年东莞地区主要为甲、乙型流感病毒流行。3～6月以H3N2型流感流行为主，7-10主要以B型流感流行为主。     

河北省2006～2007年度流感监测分析

[目的]分析2006～2007年度河北省流感流行特征与流感病毒亚型分布情况.[方法]收集2006～2007年度河北省流感样病例(Influenza Like Illness, ILI)监测资料,采集ILI咽拭子标本用MDCK细胞分离病毒,血凝抑制试验鉴定病毒型别.[结果]2006～2007年度河北省流感监测表明:ILI就诊百分比为3.22%,其中儿童为6.59%,成人为0.74%,按月统计ILI就诊高峰出现在2007年1月;采集ILI咽拭子标本727份,分离到流感病毒88株,分离率为12.10%,毒株型别以甲3亚型为主,66株(占75%),甲1亚型次之,21株(占23.86%),乙型最少,仅1株(占1.14%),其中67株是1月分离到的,其高峰值出现时间与ILI就诊高峰期一致.[结论]2006～2007年度河北省流感流行高峰为1月,先后出现甲1、甲3和乙型流感病毒的流行,甲3亚型为优势毒株.     

上海市SARS可疑病例主要呼吸道病毒培养检测

[目的]检测主要上呼吸道病毒，对上海市可疑SABS病例进行诊断排除。[方法]用MDCK、HEP-2、LLC三种定量混合细胞分离培养以及荧光抗体染色检测标本中主要呼吸道病毒。[结果]上海市24例SARS可疑病例检出甲3型流感病毒2例、乙型流感病毒5例、呼吸道合胞病毒1例、副流感病毒1例。[结论]采用流行病学、临床表现进行初步诊断，SARS可疑病例中有一部分患者是由常见呼吸道病毒引起的。     

浅析流感病毒鸡胚培养影响因素

目的:探讨流感病毒鸡胚培养影响因素。方法:选取经实时荧光PCR检测阳性同时流感病毒MDCK细胞培养阳性的样本,用原始标本接种SPF鸡胚培养、传代、收获、以人O型血红细胞凝集试验测定病毒滴度,滴度大于等于1:8倍用血凝抑制试验鉴定分型。结果:205.10.1-2016.3.31本流感网络实验室共采用实时荧光PCR检测样本1052份,阳性155份,流感病毒MDCK细胞培养血凝滴度1:8符合要求的阳性86株。选取MDCK细胞培养阳性鸡胚敏感的H1N1及B-Victoria样本共57例原始标本滤过除菌后接种SPF鸡胚经过2-3代鸡胚培养收获血凝滴度1:8符合要求的阳性病毒株20株。结论:流感病毒鸡胚培养的敏感性低于细胞培养,影响鸡胚培养的因素主要有鸡胚的选择,样品的毒力及保存时间,试验时样品的处理无菌操作等。     

云浮市2003年流感病毒实验室检测分析

目的　为掌握云浮市 2 0 0 3年流病毒毒株的流行情况 ,为制定防制决策提供科学依据。方法　用MDCK细胞培养技术对流感样病人咽拭标本进行病毒分离培养 ,用“O”型人血红细胞检测培养物的血凝性 ,阳性者送广东省疾病预防控制中心确认和鉴定分型。结果　 2 0 0 3年 3～ 10月在 3 0 2份流感样病人咽拭标本中共分离出流感病毒 2 4株 ,均是甲 3型 (H3N2 ) ,毒株检出率是 7 95 %。结论　云浮市流感病毒流行的毒株型别与广东省内其他地方基本一致 ,毒株未发生明显变异 ,但毒株检出率较低 ,原因有多方面 ,有待进一步改进和提高检测技术     

应用3种流感病毒检测方法检测流感样病例病原结果及分析

目的:比较所用流感检测方法的敏感性,确保明确感染因子。方法:在通州区24家医院采用胶体金法现场检测流感样病例咽拭子标本,阳性标本送北京市疾病预防控制中心做禽流感应急检测,阴性标本送通州区疾控中心实验室用RT-PCR法进行流感病毒核酸检测和分型;同时用狗肾细胞(MDCK)细胞培养法做流感病毒分离和血凝实验(HA);将HA≥1:8的病毒培养液送北京市疾控中心复核鉴定。结果:采集经胶体金法(甲型/乙型)检测阴性的流感样病例咽拭子143份,用RT-PCR法检测流感病毒核酸阳性82份,阳性检出率为57.34%,分型全部为甲型;用MDCK细胞培养法分离出流感病毒毒株37株,阳性检出率为25.9%,经分型鉴定,甲1亚型36株、甲3亚型1株;培养法阳性的标本均为RT-PCR法阳性。将HA≥1:8的病毒培养液再次用胶体金试纸检测,37份全部显示甲型强阳性结果,即经MDCK细胞培养阳性的37份病毒培养液用RT-PCR法和胶体金法检测的阳性符合率和型别符合率均为100%。结论:流感病毒胶体金快速检测试剂盒的敏感性较低(尤其是国产试剂盒),存在一定的假阴性结果。如果不提高检测试剂的敏感性,不能单独用做病例诊断或筛查。RT-PCR技术是疑似流感疫情和流感样病例可靠的快速诊断方法;2009年1月通州区流感流行的优势毒株为甲1(H1N1)亚型,同时有甲3(H3N2)亚型毒株的存在。     

流感病毒监测中一株甲3型变种的发现

目的：了解深圳市宝安区流感病毒的流行情况。方法：宝安区两家医院临床样本经鸡胚接种和MDCK细胞培养，用血凝试验和血糖抑制试验鉴定。结果：分离到甲3型流感病毒13株。阳性率为15%，并且在监测中发现一株甲3型流感病毒的新变种。结论：新变种出现可能造成流感流行，应加强流感病毒的监测和防治。     

The human drama of genetics: 'hard' and 'soft' media representations of inherited breast cancer

This paper examines media coverage of 'breast cancer genetics', and explores its implications for public understanding. We present a content analysis of coverage in British newspapers and look at a variety of popular forms, including women's magazines, television soap opera and radio drama. Genetic/inherited risk receives a great deal of coverage across a wide range of media formats and outlets. Much of this attention has focused on individuals from 'high risk families' and dilemmas around prophylactic mastectomies. Through examining media coverage, combined with interviews with media personnel and their sources, we show why this story proved so attractive to the media and highlight the different production values which influence coverage. Finally, we introduce preliminary findings from focus group discussions to demonstrate how such 'human interest' framing has engaged audience attention and influenced public understandings. The paper concludes by highlighting the implications for analysing, predicting, and engaging with, media representations of science.     

Worker education in the primary prevention of occupational dermatoses

This paper reports the evaluation of a skin care education programmeconducted on a fine chemicals manufacturing site where over1,000 employees are located. Approximately 60% are involvedin chemical manufacture. Over a 12 month period production staffreceived training in prevention of occupational dermatoses linkedto a site-wide poster initiative. The incidence of new casesof occupational dermatoses fell from 0.055 (70 cases in 1,277employees) to 0.021 (27 cases in 1,277 employees) before andafter the intervention respectively (p<0.0001). After otherfactors such as chemicals handled, observer bias and changesin reporting related to socioeconomic climate were taken intoaccount it is concluded that this study demonstrates the importanceof worker education as a tool for primary prevention of disease.Training materials such as video and poster presentations maybe effectively used in the chemical manufacturing industry asan adjunct to prevention and control of exposure to substanceshazardous to the skin. Such methods may also be used in otherindustries where there are significant risks of dermatoses.     

Regional Variation in Travel-related Illness acquired in Africa,March 1997–May 2011

To understand geographic variation in travel-related illness acquired in distinct African regions, we used the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network database to analyze records for 16,893 ill travelers returning from Africa over a 14-year period. Travelers to northern Africa most commonly reported gastrointestinal illnesses and dog bites. Febrile illnesses were more common in travelers returning from sub-Saharan countries. Eleven travelers died, 9 of malaria; these deaths occurred mainly among male business travelers to sub-Saharan Africa. The profile of illness varied substantially by region: malaria predominated in travelers returning from Central and Western Africa; schistosomiasis, strongyloidiasis, and dengue from Eastern and Western Africa; and loaisis from Central Africa. There were few reports of vaccine-preventable infections, HIV infection, and tuberculosis. Geographic profiling of illness acquired during travel to Africa guides targeted pretravel advice, expedites diagnosis in ill returning travelers, and may influence destination choices in tourism.     

Self-reported health problems among Swedish miners one year after unemployment

Unemployment is considered to be a public health concern sincedeterioration in the health of the unemployed is often anticipated.However, for some groups, such as miners, unemployment mightimprove health due to a cessation of potentially harmful occupationalexposures. This study evaluates the health of 79 miners in oneSwedish iron-ore mine, and 226 age-matched controls from thegeneral population, during one year after the closure of themine. The participants received a questionnaire regarding medicalhistory and subjective symptoms at the beginning of the studyperiod, and after one year. Statistically significant negativeeffects on self-reported health attributable to unemploymentwere not found, although neuropsychiatric symptoms were morecommon among the unemployed miners. The miners reported a statisticallysignificant improvement in grip force (p=0.031). They had asignificantly higher prevalence of symptoms associated withmining related exposures when compared with the population controls;pain in the upper extremities [relative risk (RR)=2.27, 95%confidence interval (Cl)=1.44–3.59), back pain (RR=1.84;Cl=1.237–2.75), vasospastic disease of the fingers (RR=2.05;Cl=1.18–3.57) and obstructive respiratory symptoms (attacksof dyspnea and wheezing: RR=3.67; Cl=1.167–11.6).     

Excès de cas humains et animaux de tularémie en France au cours de l’hiver 2007–2008 : émergence ou phénomène isolé ?

Context

Tularemia is a zoonosis affecting humans and hares in France. We describe the results of surveillance in both species, in 2007 and 2008.

Methods

Human tularemia cases are mandatorily notifiable in France since 2003. In hares, surveillance relies on volunteer hunter associations in all districts of the country. Data from mandatory reports and volunteer surveillance in 2007/2008 were analyzed and compared with previous results.

Results

In 2007/2008, 144 cases were reported in humans and 117 cases in hares. This was a 100% increase compared to previous years. Human cases differed from those of previous years only by the frequency of contact with breeding animals. Human cases without any documented risk exposure were also more frequent.

Conclusion

An increase of tularemia cases occurred in 2007/2008 in both species. Complementary studies are needed to identify the species reservoir in France to understand the causes of this peak of cases.     

The design of hazard risk assessment matrices for ranking occupational health risks and their application in mining and minerals processing

Two hazard risk assessment matrices for the ranking of occupational health risks are described. The qualitative matrix uses qualitative measures of probability and consequence to determine risk assessment codes for hazard-disease combinations. A walk-through survey of an underground metalliferous mine and concentrator is used to demonstrate how the qualitative matrix can be applied to determine priorities for the control of occupational health hazards. The semi-quantitative matrix uses attributable risk as a quantitative measure of probability and uses qualitative measures of consequence. A practical application of this matrix is the determination of occupational health priorities using existing epidemiological studies. Calculated attributable risks from epidemiological studies of hazard-disease combinations in mining and minerals processing are used as examples. These historic response data do not reflect the risks associated with current exposures. A method using current exposure data, known exposure-response relationships and the semi-quantitative matrix is proposed for more accurate and current risk rankings.     

Occupational health hazards in mining: an overview

This review article outlines the physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and psychosocial occupational health hazards of mining and associated metallurgical processes. Mining remains an important industrial sector in many parts of the world and although substantial progress has been made in the control of occupational health hazards, there remains room for further risk reduction. This applies particularly to traumatic injury hazards, ergonomic hazards and noise. Vigilance is also required to ensure exposures to coal dust and crystalline silica remain effectively controlled.     

Manufacture and use of nanomaterials: current status in the UK and global trends

This paper provides an overview of the production and use of nanomaterials (NMs), particularly in the UK. Currently, relatively few companies in the UK are identifiable as NM manufacturers, the main emphasis being the bulk markets in metals and metal oxides, and some niche markets such as carbon nanotubes and quantum dots. NM manufacturing in the UK does not reflect the global emphasis on fullerenes, nanotubes and fibres. Some assumptions have been made about the types of NM that are likely to be imported into the UK, which currently include fullerenes, modified fullerenes and other carbon-based NMs including nanotubes. Many university departments, spin-offs and private companies have developed processes for the manufacture of NMs but may only be producing small quantities for research and development (R&D) purposes. However, some have the potential to scale up to produce large quantities. The nanotechnology industry in the UK has strong R&D backup from universities and related institutions. This review has covered R&D trends at such institutions, and appropriate information has been added to a searchable database. While several companies are including NMs in their products, only a few (e.g. manufacturers of paints, coatings, cosmetics, catalysts, polymer composites) are using nanoparticles (NPs) in any significant quantities. However, this situation is likely to change rapidly. There is a need to collect more information about exposure to NPs in both manufacturing and user scenarios. As the market grows, and as manufacturers switch from the micro- to the nanoscale, the potential for exposure will increase. More research is required to quantify any risks to workers and consumers.     

The rise and fall in incidence of malignant mesothelioma from a British Naval Dockyard, 1979-1999

BACKGROUND: The incidence of malignant mesothelioma in Britain is predicted to rise over the next 15-25 years because of past failure to protect the workforce against inhalation of asbestos. In British Naval dockyards, alternative insulation materials and respiratory protection were introduced from the mid-1960s. Aims This study was carried out to investigate the effects of these control measures on mesothelioma deaths in dockyard workers. METHODS: Cases of mesothelioma of the pleura and peritoneum between 1979 and 1999 in workers from the Devonport Naval Dockyard, south-west England, were sought from coroners' and medico-legal records. RESULTS: Three hundred and one cases were identified, 7% peritoneal. The peak incidence occurred in 1991 with 25 cases per annum (quadratic model fit R(2) = 74.2%, P < 0.001) and we predict that by 2003 the incidence will fall to fewer than five cases per annum. The mean time between first exposure and presentation was 48.5 years [95% confidence interval (CI) = 47.3-49.8], but this was significantly shorter in the more heavily exposed trades, when compared with the less heavily exposed (42 years, 95% CI = 39.0-45.0, versus 49.5 years, 95% CI = 48.2-50.9). Those with higher exposure were also at significantly greater risk of peritoneal disease (P < 0.023, Fisher's exact test). CONCLUSION: The reduction in incidence of mesothelioma is greater than can be accounted for by reduction in numbers of dockyard workers over the last 50 years. Changes in insulation materials and improved industrial hygiene measures introduced into the Devonport Dockyard from the mid-1960s have resulted in an earlier decline in the incidence of malignant mesothelioma than that predicted for the British workforce as a whole.