Application of satellite precipitation data to analyse and model arbovirus activity in the tropics

Background  

Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) is a mosquito-borne Flavivirus (Flaviviridae: Flavivirus) which is closely related to Japanese encephalitis virus, West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis virus. MVEV is enzootic in northern Australia and Papua New Guinea and epizootic in other parts of Australia. Activity of MVEV in Western Australia (WA) is monitored by detection of seroconversions in flocks of sentinel chickens at selected sample sites throughout WA.     

Prevalence of Farm and Slaughterhouse Workers Carrying Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli in Korea

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of Shiga toxin (Stx) gene-positive stool samples from dairy farmer and slaughterhouse workers in Gyeonggi-Do province.

Methods

A total of 621 samples from healthy farmers and 198 samples from slaughterhouse workers were screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) infection on stool samples.

Results

The PCR product of Stx-encoding genes was detected in 21 (3.4%) of 621 farmers and 15 (7.6%) of 198 slaughterhouse workers’ stool samples. Distribution of the Stx PCR positive workers by age increment revealed an increase in STEC infection with age increment in both workers. Distribution of the Stx PCR positive workers by working years revealed an increase in STEC infection with working years in farmers.

Conclusion

These results of the study show that slaughterhouse workers are at higher risk of STEC infection than farmers. In addition, slaughterhouse workers have a more potential source of food contamination of STEC and transmission.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">"The solution needs to be complex."</Emphasis>Obese adults' attitudes about the effectiveness of individual and population based interventions for obesity

Background  

Previous studies of public perceptions of obesity interventions have been quantitative and based on general population surveys. This study aims to explore the opinions and attitudes of obese individuals towards population and individual interventions for obesity in Australia.     

The effect of phosphatidylserine administration on memory and symptoms of attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomised,double‐blind,placebo‐controlled clinical trial

Background

Attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed behavioural disorder of childhood, affecting 3–5% of school‐age children. The present study investigated whether the supplementation of soy‐derived phosphatidylserine (PS), a naturally occurring phospholipid, improves ADHD symptoms in children.

Methods

Thirty six children, aged 4–14 years, who had not previously received any drug treatment related to ADHD, received placebo (n = 17) or 200 mg day^–1 PS (n = 19) for 2 months in a randomised, double‐blind manner. Main outcome measures included: (i) ADHD symptoms based on DSM‐IV‐TR; (ii) short‐term auditory memory and working memory using the Digit Span Test of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children; and (iii) mental performance to visual stimuli (GO/NO GO task).

Results

PS supplementation resulted in significant improvements in: (i) ADHD (P < 0.01), AD (P < 0.01) and HD (P < 0.01); (ii) short‐term auditory memory (P < 0.05); and (iii) inattention (differentiation and reverse differentiation, P < 0.05) and inattention and impulsivity (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in other measurements and in the placebo group. PS was well‐tolerated and showed no adverse effects.

Conclusions

PS significantly improved ADHD symptoms and short‐term auditory memory in children. PS supplementation might be a safe and natural nutritional strategy for improving mental performance in young children suffering from ADHD.     

Protracted outbreak of <Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>. Enteritidis PT 21c in a large Hamburg nursing home

Background  

During August 2006, a protracted outbreak of Salmonella (S.) Enteritidis infections in a large Hamburg nursing home was investigated.     

Cancer screening among migrants in an Australian cohort; cross-sectional analyses from the 45 and Up Study

Background  

Limited evidence suggests that people from non-English speaking backgrounds in Australia have lower than average rates of participation in cancer screening programs. The objective of this study was to examine the distribution of bowel, breast and prostate cancer test use by place of birth and years since migration in a large population-based cohort study in Australia.     

Transmission pathways for sporadic Shiga-toxin producing E. coli infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Shiga-toxin E. coli infections remain a public health concern because of the severity of the gastrointestinal illness and associated complications. Transmission pathways are typically elucidated from outbreaks, with foodborne transmission the primary source. However, most STEC cases are sporadic. This systematic review aimed to identify the most common pathways for sporadic STEC transmission and quantify their importance.

Time to delivery: Transfers for threatened preterm labour and prelabour rupture of membranes in Western Australia

Objective

To describe the outcomes of patients transferred to King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) with signs of labour at preterm gestations.

Design

A retrospective observational study of the 69 cases transferred to KEMH during 2015.

Setting

Patient transfers from all locations across Western Australia (WA) to the sole tertiary perinatal centre in Perth.

Participants

Pregnant women within WA with threatened or actual preterm labour (PTL) or preterm prelabour rupture of membranes (PPROM) between 23 and 32 weeks gestation.

Main outcome measures

The occurrence of delivery during the admission and time‐to‐delivery as well as length of admission and association between clinical factors and time‐to‐delivery.

Results

The percentage of the study population delivered during the admission following transfer was 72.5%. Eighty‐six per cent of those who delivered did so within 72 hours of transfer. The median time from transfer to delivery was 1 day. Sixty‐three per cent of those who did not deliver during the admission progressed to 36 weeks gestation. Patients transferred with PPROM were less likely to deliver during the admission compared to those with uterine activity (50% versus 19.6%, P = 0.007) and nulliparas were more likely to deliver (93.5% versus 55.3%, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The majority of women transferred with signs of PTL progress to delivery during the same admission with the highest risk of delivery being the first 72 hours following transfer. If the pregnancy is ongoing at 72 hours, there is a reasonable chance of progression to late preterm gestation supporting the return of woman to their place of origin for antenatal care following discharge.     

No difference in self‐reported frequency of choking between infants introduced to solid foods using a baby‐led weaning or traditional spoon‐feeding approach

Background

Baby‐led weaning (BLW) where infants self‐feed family foods during the period that they are introduced to solid foods is growing in popularity. The method may promote healthier eating patterns, although concerns have been raised regarding its safety. The present study therefore explored choking frequency amongst babies who were being introduced to solid foods using a baby‐led or traditional spoon‐fed approach.

Methods

In total, 1151 mothers with an infant aged 4–12 months reported how they introduced solid foods to their infant (following a strict BLW, loose BLW or traditional weaning style) and frequency of spoon‐feeding and puree use (percentage of mealtimes). Mothers recalled if their infant had ever choked and, if so, how many times and on what type of food (smooth puree, lumpy puree, finger food and specific food examples).

Results

In total, 13.6% of infants (n = 155) had ever choked. No significant association was found between weaning style and ever choking, or the frequency of spoon or puree use and ever choking. For infants who had ever choked, infants following a traditional weaning approach experience significantly more choking episodes for finger foods (F_2,147 = 4.417, P = 0.014) and lumpy purees (F_2,131 = 6.46, P = 0.002) than infants following a strict or loose baby‐led approach.

Conclusions

Baby‐led weaning was not associated with increased risk of choking and the highest frequency of choking on finger foods occurred in those who were given finger foods the least often. However, the limitations of noncausal results, a self‐selecting sample and reliability of recall must be emphasised.     

Hypocholesterolemic effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nostoc commune var. sphaeroides Kützing,</Emphasis> an edible blue-green alga

Background  

Intake of an edible blue-green alga Nostoc commune var. sphaeroides Kützing (N. Commune) has been shown to lower plasma total cholesterol concentration, but the mechanisms behind the hypocholesterolemic effect have not been elucidated.     

Are liver and renal lesions in East Greenland polar bears (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ursus maritimus</Emphasis>) associated with high mercury levels?

Background  

In the Arctic, polar bears (Ursus maritimus) bio-accumulate mercury as they prey on polluted ringed seals (Phoca hispida) and bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus). Studies have shown that polar bears from East Greenland are among the most mercury polluted species in the Arctic. It is unknown whether these levels are toxic to liver and kidney tissue.     

Aqueous extract of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Piper sarmentosum</Emphasis> decreases atherosclerotic lesions in high cholesterolemic experimental rabbits

Background  

Piper sarmentosum (P.s) has flavonoid component in its leaves which has antioxidative effect. To date, its effect on atherosclerosis has not been studied histologically.     

Studies on the antihypertensive and antidyslipidemic activities of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Viola odorata</Emphasis> leaves extract

Background  

This study was undertaken to provide pharmacological basis for the medicinal use of Viola odorata Linn. in hypertension and dyslipidemia using the in vivo and in vitro assays.     

Completeness and timeliness of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmonella</Emphasis> notifications in Ireland in 2008: a cross sectional study

Background  

In Ireland, salmonellosis is the second most common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis. A new electronic system for reporting (Computerised Infectious Disease Reporting - CIDR) of Salmonella cases was established in 2004. It collates clinical (and/or laboratory) data on confirmed and probable Salmonella cases. The authors studied the completeness and the timeliness of Salmonella notifications in 2008.     

The use of a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cissus quadrangularis/Irvingia gabonensis</Emphasis> combination in the management of weight loss: a double-blind placebo-controlled study

Aim  

To evaluate the effects of two formulations, Cissus quadrangularis -only and a Cissus quadrangularis/Irvingia gabonensis combination, on weight loss in overweight and obese human subjects.     

Health-related quality of life and mental health in the medium-term aftermath of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prestige</Emphasis> oil spill in Galiza (Spain): a cross-sectional study

Background  

In 2002 the oil-tanker Prestige sank off the Galician coast. This study analyzes the effect of this accident on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and mental health in the affected population.     

Prevalence of multidrug-resistant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmonella enteric</Emphasis> serotype typhi and paratyphi A of human cases from the Tiruchirappalli district,India, and their associated virulent markers

Aim  

The study sought to determine the multidrug resistance (MDR) of Salmonella enterica typhi and paratyphi A isolates in correlation with the presence of virulent markers detected by a PCR-based approach.     

Studies on antidyslipidemic effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Morinda citrifolia</Emphasis> (Noni) fruit,leaves and root extracts

Background  

The objective of present study was to provide the pharmacological basis for the medicinal use of Morinda citrifolia Linn in dyslipidemia using the aqueous-ethanolic extracts of its fruits (Mc.Cr.F), leaves (Mc.Cr.L) and roots (Mc.Cr.R).     

The effectiveness of community-based cycling promotion: findings from the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cycling Connecting Communities</Emphasis>project in Sydney,Australia

Background  

Encouraging cycling is an important way to increase physical activity in the community. The Cycling Connecting Communities (CCC) Project is a community-based cycling promotion program that included a range of community engagement and social marketing activities, such as organised bike rides and events, cycling skills courses, the distribution of cycling maps of the area and coverage in the local press. The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of this program designed to encourage the use of newly completed off-road cycle paths through south west Sydney, Australia.