Trends in meningococcal disease in Italy in 1988

Meningococcal disease in Italy decreased 15% in 1988 from the previous year (290 vs. 342 cases). The decline was particularly evident in military cases (1.7/100,000 in 1988 vs. 5/100,000 in 1987) reflecting the full coverage of bivalent serogroup (A + C) meningococcal polysaccaride vaccine in army recruits, achieved since January 1988. The highest proportion of cases was seen in people older than 25 years of age (25%). Serogroup C constituted 60% of the isolates, while 19% belonged to serogroup B. The proportion of strains resistant to sulphonamides was 45%, while 15% were resistant to Minocycline and none to Rifampin. Out of the five military cases, only one (due to serogroup C) was attributable to the vaccine failure. A single coprimary case, but no secondary cases occurred among civilians. These findings are consistent with the trends reported in Italy in the previous years.     

Trends in changes in plant fiber consumption in Poland

The purpose of the study was an analysis of changes in the consumption of plant fibre in Poland in the period 1950-1987. The analysis included plant fibre content in four groups of products considered as the main source of fibre in diet: cereals, potatoes, vegetables and fruit. A reduction was noted in the consumption of plant fibre in general, and the fibre present in cereals and potatoes, while that present in fruit and vegetables has increased. The pattern of plant fibre consumption in Poland is becoming ever more similar to that in highly developed countries. Systematic studies are proposed on the consumption of plant fibre by various groups of the population. It would be indicated to explain to the population the importance and role of plant fibre and introduction for marketing of food providing this fibre, in the first place increased supply of brown bread.     

2019年中国肿瘤流行病学研究进展

恶性肿瘤已成为中国居民的主要死因之一。近些年来,中国政府积极推进肿瘤预防和控制领域的研究工作,取得了很大的进步。本文简要汇总中国在肿瘤流行病学领域的研究进展,具体包括2019年的肿瘤负担、癌症危险因素及其干预、筛查和早期发现、癌症防治专项行动(2019-2022年)方案等方面,以期为我国肿瘤防治工作的有效开展提供技术支撑和理论依据。     

Changes in nursing administration in supporting transplantation in Brazil

This historical and bibliographic study aimed to understand how Nursing was organized to support care in transplantation. The HISA, LILACS, BDENF, PERIENF and DEDALUS databases were consulted, and thirteen references were found, ten of which were scientific articles, two were master's dissertations and one was a doctoral thesis. The span of time chosen for study ranges from the date of the first kidney transplant in Brazil (1965), to the date of publication of the last scientific article found in the databases mentioned above (2003). After reading these articles, the ones that were similar in topic were grouped together, thus creating the thematic axis for the presentation of the results. The results showed that the Nursing profession has played an important and active role in transplants ever since the first procedure in 1965.     

Changes in Fatty Acid Composition in Beef in Italy

Results from a study conducted in Italy concerning the updating of composition data of beef consumed in Italy are reported here. The study required a very wide sampling plan with regard to both animals and cuts to analyse. Data related to lipid composition of the most widely used type of beef consumed in Italy (young bull, 16–22 months old) show a reduction in total lipid content (which, according to the cuts, ranges between 1.8 and 10.2%) and a substantial change in fatty acid composition, with a high % of polyunsaturated fatty acids (mean 20% of total fatty acids). Such data have been confirmed by other studies conducted in Italy, and are in contrast with data reported in the tables of food composition from other countries, reporting a fatty acid composition characterized by a high fatty acid saturation degree. The occurrence of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid is probably due to the high ratio of phospholipids: triglycerides, occurring when the content in intramuscular lipid is very low; to the young age of animals; to the reduced activity of the rumen, where saturation of fatty acids occurs. It may be concluded that a fatty acid composition, which is particularly rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, seems typical for Italian products.     

Occupational stress in nurses in psychiatric institutions in Taiwan

Nurses are known to be exposed to occupational stress. However, occupational stress is not well documented for nurses in psychiatric institutions in Taiwan. A cross-sectional study was conducted to explore the work-related stress and risk factors of nurses in psychiatric institutions in Taiwan. A structured questionnaire was distributed to nurses at five state-owned psychiatric hospitals in Taiwan in 2001. Demographic information, working environment, and personal health status were inquired. Occupational stress was assessed based on the Chinese version of Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). General health status and mental health were evaluated by the International Quality of Life Assessment Short Form-36 (IQOLA SF-36). A total of 573 questionnaires were disseminated to nurses and 518 (90.4%) were satisfactorily completed by nurses, including 408 female full-time nurses who had been in their current work for more than 6 months. In the past one month, 17.2% of nurses reported being under significant stress often or always. Assault episodes were reported by 45.1% of nurses in the past 6 months. Among the nurses, 16.9%, 25.2%, 50.0%, and 7.8% belong to the "High strain", "Low strain", "Active", and "Passive" groups, respectively. Perceived occupational stress was associated with young age, widowed/divorced/separated marital status, high psychological demand, low workplace support, and threat of assault at work. Lower general health score was associated with low job control, high psychological demand, and perceived occupational stress. A lower mental health score was associated with low job control, high psychological demand, low workplace support, and perceived occupational stress. We concluded that nurses in psychiatric institutions are under significant stress related to work factors.     

Pertussis in Poland in 2002

Reemergence of pertussis in a form of epidemic was observed in Poland in 1997/1998. It is rather sustained trend of increased incidence and shift in the age of infected. It may be due to the level of immunity decreasing with age, since according to the vaccination calendar in Poland, last pertussis vaccination is given before the age of two. 1788 cases were reported in 2002, a slight drop from the previous year (2411 in 2001) More cases occurred among females (1043 cases, 5.3/100,000) than among males (745 cases, 4.0/100,000) and in urban areas (5.7/100,000) than in the rural ones (3.0/100,000). Big differences in numbers of cases reported between different districts and between urban and rural areas bring strong possibility of insufficient sensitivity of the surveillance in many regions of Poland. It is concluded that increase of pertussis incidence in Poland, brings urgent need of additional vaccination in the age of 6 to secure protection for the older age groups. Additional dose of pertussis vaccine was included in vaccination calendar for 2003.     

Rabies in Poland in 2001

In Poland in 2001, no case of human rabies was reported. Mass oral vaccination of wild animals against rabies, which was introduced in 1993, seems to show a positive impact on the epizootic situation of rabies in Poland. However, this year is the second one when we observed an increase in number of animal rabies cases. This year outbreak of animal rabies starts in Wielkopolskie voivodeship where we observed six-fold increase of animal rabies cases. Moreover sources of wild and domestic animal rabies are present on the north-east, east, and south-east of the country. Out of 9210 persons vaccinated in Poland against rabies, 3080 (33%) were bitten by or were in contact with a rabid animal. Main reason for vaccination against rabies was exposure to an animal category C--rabies not excluded (6747 cases, 73%) or category D--animals healthy at the moment of an exposition (1147 cases, 12%).     

2003年汕头市住院婴儿住院情况分析

目的调查住院婴儿疾病分布情况。方法利用SAS8．0对汕头市2003年住院婴儿2923例病例进行统计分析。结果婴儿住院的病因包括：早产、新生儿窒息、呼吸道及消化道感染、新生儿黄疸以及先天性疾病等；造成婴儿死亡的前5位病因主要是出生窒息、窘迫、先天性肺炎、新生儿吸人性肺炎以及先天性心脏畸形；婴儿的住院时间越长，入院情况越危急，受到医院感染的机会越大；入院婴儿平均住院日为7．089天，平均住院费用3717．834元。结论婴儿发病入院主要由于先天性疾病以及后天感染，这是家庭及社会进行婴儿健康干预与促进的重点。     

Rabies in Poland in 2002

In Poland in 2002, one case of human rabies was reported. There is no information about bitemark of the person with rabies and the person has not vaccinated. Mass oral vaccination of wild animals against rabies, which was introduced in 1993, seems to show a positive impact on the epizootic situation of rabies in Poland. In 2002 year we observed more than two-fold decrease in number of animal rabies cases. The outbreak of animal rabies, which started in 2001 year in Wielkopolskie voivodeship was still present. Moreover sources of wild and domestic animal rabies are present on the north-east, east, and south-east of the country. Out of 8,239 persons vaccinated in Poland against rabies, 1,179 (14%) were bitten by or were in contact with a rabid animal. Main reason for vaccination against rabies was exposure to an animal category C--rabies not excluded (6,071 cases, 74%) or category D--animals healthy at the moment of an exposition (989 cases, 12%).     

Viruses in acute gastroenteritis in children in Pune, India

A 2-year study from January 1981 to December 1982 was undertaken to determine the role of viruses in the causation of diarrhoea in hospitalized children in Pune, Maharashtra State, India. The stool samples of 426 children (213 diarrhoeal and 213 non-diarrhoeal controls) were investigated by electron microscopy and ELISA for the presence of viruses. Six morphologically distinct viruses were visualized: rotavirus, coronavirus-like particles (CVLP), adenovirus, astrovirus, calicivirus and small round virus-like particles (SRV). Rotavirus was detected in 28.6% of the diarrhoeal patients and in 1.4% of the controls. The frequency of infection with rotavirus was highest in the children aged less than 5 years. The mean age of rotavirus-positive patients was 11 months. Although rotavirus was detected in almost every month, there has a seasonal trend for colder months when CVLP cases were fewest. However, the prevalence of CVLP was greater in the control group (23.0%) rather than in those with diarrhoea (8.9%). In the control group, CVLP were detected more frequently during the summer months. An inverse relationship between CVLP and rotavirus was observed in children. Adenovirus, astrovirus, calicivirus and SRV were detected in a small proportion of children with and without clinical symptoms of gastroenteritis.     

Dysentery in Poland in 2001

The notified number of dysentery cases is still very low, similar to the number reported in 2000. Only 128 cases were notified in the year 2001 (incidence 0.33/100,000 population) while 121 cases were notified in 2000 (incidence 0.31/100,000). No death due to dysentery was notified. The last three death cases were notified in 1999. Only one outbreak of foodborne infection due to S. sonnei involving 28 patients was registered, less than in 2000 when 2 outbreaks, one due to S. flexneri and one due to S. sonnei, and less than in 1999, when four outbreaks involving 146 patients were registered. S. sonnei remains the dominant etiological agent. It was isolated in 91% of notified dysentery cases and S. flexneri was isolated only in 10% of cases. S. dysenteriae and S. boydii were not found among persons examined bacteriologically by laboratory service of Epidemiological and Sanitary Stations. The external control of selective media used in 37 laboratories for routine bacteriological diagnosis of humans intestinal infections in the Sanitary--Epidemiological Stations (SSE) in Poland was performed. It was shown that the quality of the Mac Conkey medium was adequate for all 4 bacterial strains checked: S. sonnei, S. flexneri, S. Typhi and S. Enteritidis. All specimens of the SS medium were acceptable only for diagnosis of S. Enteritidis infections. The quality of media used in nearly 1/3 of SSE bacteriological laboratories was inadequate for diagnosis of S. flexneri infections and in some laboratories even not sufficient for diagnosis of infections due to S. Typhi and S. sonnei. In the period of low frequency of Shigella infections the external control of the quality of bacteriological media and laboratory procedures is needed and should be done regularly.     

Influenza in Poland in 2003

Following two years of low influenza incidence in Poland, the activity of this disease markedly increased in 2003. In total 1,216,285 cases of influenza like illness were registered (incidence 3,184.4 per 100,000). Regionally the incidence ranged from 1,195.7 in Zachodniopomorskie to 5,719.7 per 100,000 in Mazowieckie. Children and adolescents under 15 years of age accounted for 41.7% of all cases (507,102 cases, age specific incidence 7,579.0 per 100,000). In this age group the incidence varied regionally from 2,718.1 in Podlaskie to 14,087.6 per 100,000 in Mazowieckie. 3,128 patients (0.26% of all cases) required hospital admission. There were 141 deaths due to influenza (mortality 0.12%) in 2003, in 78.7% these were persons over 70 years of age. Nineteen strains of influenza virus were isolated in 2003 in Poland, including 15 strains of subtype A(H3), 3 strains of subtype A(H1) and one strain of type B. Besides, in other 10 cases influenza A infection was confirmed by direct immunofluorescence test. All isolated influenza strains were antigenically similar to the vaccine strains recommended for the epidemic season 2002/03 and 2003/04.     

Increase in social inequality in health expectancy in Denmark

AIMS: Health expectancy represents the average lifetime in various states of health and differs among social groups. The purpose of the study was to determine trends in social inequality in health expectancy since 1994 between groups with high, medium and low educational levels in Denmark. METHODS: The study was based on data from nationwide registers on educational level and mortality during the period 1994-2005 and data on health status derived from the Danish Health Interview Surveys carried out in 1994, 2000 and 2005. Expected lifetime in self-rated good and poor health, lifetime without and with longstanding illness and expected lifetime without and with long-lasting difficulties or restrictions were estimated by Sullivan's method. RESULTS: Between 1994 and 2005, life expectancy at age 30 years increased by 1.9 years for men and 1.5 years for women with a low educational level. For people with a high educational level, the increase was 2.7 years for men and 2.2 years for women. The difference between people with low and high educational level in expected lifetime in self-rated good health increased by 2.0 and 1.3 years for 30-year-old men and women, respectively. The social gap also increased for other indicators. CONCLUSIONS: During the past 12 years, social inequality in life expectancy and health expectancy has increased in Denmark, but the proportion of the population with a low educational level has decreased.     

Rabies in Poland in 1999

Mass oral vaccination of wild animals against rabies which was introduced in 1993, shows a positive impact on the epizootic situation of rabies in Poland. Sources of wild and domestic animal rabies are present on the northeast part of the country, uncovered by oral vaccination. No cases of rabies in human beings have been reported in Poland in 1999. Out of 6,861 vaccinees, only 1,336 (19%) were bitten by or were in contact with a rabid animals. Main reason of vaccination against rabies were contacts with animals category C (rabies not excluded; 4,782 cases, 69%) or category D (animals healthy during the exposition, 743 cases, 10%.     

Measles in Poland in 2001

The number of notified measles cases in Poland in 2001 was 133, incidence per 100,000 inhabitants was 0.3. The low incidence has been observed for the last 3 years. Only 73 out of 133 cases were serologically confirmed, 6 other cases were epidemiologically linked to the laboratory confirmed cases. Unvaccinated cases have accounted for almost half of cases. Differences in incidence were noticed across the country and ranged from 0 cases in Opolskie and Zachodniopomorskie voivodeships to 0.7/100,000 in Ma?opolskie and 1.0/100,000 in Swietokrzyskie voivodeship. The highest incidence was observed in the children one year of age (3.7/100,000) and seven years old (2.3/100,000), however, in general, the age distribution of cases has been shifted toward older ages with 44 cases (33% of all cases) in adults. A proportion of children 13-24 months of age vaccinated with first dose of measles vaccine was 77.1%, and proportion of seven years old children vaccinated with second dose of measles vaccine was 81.7%.     

Salmonellosis in Poland in 2001

Total number of salmonellosis cases has been gradually falling down since the year 1988. In 2001, 19,881 cases were reported to the sanitary epidemiological stations, incidence rate = 51.5 per 100,000 population (22,799 in the previous year). Over 52% of patients were hospitalized, but percentage of cases with extraintestinal manifestations was higher--over 88%. The seasonal peak was noted in July and August, which was two months later than in 2000. The decreasing trend in confirmation of clinical diagnosis can be observed since 1995 when Salmonella strains were isolated in 91% of patients, but in 2000 only 66% of cases were bacteriologically confirmed. Salmonella Enteritidis was the most frequent type: 88% of cases and 69% of infected healthy persons. Only four other serotypes (Typhimurium, Infantis, Hadar and Virchow) were identified in all of 16 voivodeship of Poland. The age, sex, urban/rural distribution of salmonellosis remain stable. The highest incidence was registered among children one year old (423/100,000). Extraintestinal manifestations of salmonellosis (septicaemia, meningitis, pneumonia, peritonitis, appendicitis and other), were observed in 93 patients with at least one non-fecal specimen culture-positive for non-typhoidal Salmonella. In older patients, other diseases like carcinoma, leukaemia, lupus erythematosus, contributed to Salmonella infection. Twelve of those patients died.     

芜湖地区儿童隐孢子虫病调查

1989年5月~9月,对安徽省芜湖市五所医院儿科就诊的腹泻患儿进行隐孢子虫病调查。粪检腹泻患儿3 498人,卵囊检出率1.9%。男女检出率无差异;6个月内的患儿中未检出卵囊阳性者;86.2%的卵囊阳性者分布于7个月~4岁年龄段;乡村患儿的卵囊检出率2倍于城市患儿;病例呈高度散发状态;卵囊检出率从6月下旬开始上升,在本调查中,92.5%的病例分布于6月下旬~9月。所见病例,从临床表现到大便性状均无特殊,且均呈自限性,病程似较文献报道者为短。     

Rabies in Poland in 2003

In Poland 399 cases of animal rabies were reported in 2003. Mass oral vaccination of wild animals against rabies, which was introduced in 1993, seems to show a positive impact on the epizootic situation of rabies in Poland. In 2003 we observed about three-fold decrease in number of animal rabies cases. The outbreak of animal rabies, which started in 2001 in Wielkopolskie voivodeship, was still present. About 42% of rabies cases were reported from this province. Moreover sources of wild and domestic animal rabies are present in the north-east, east, and south-east of the country. Out of 7 155 persons vaccinated in Poland against rabies, 519 (7%) were bitten by or had contact with a rabid animal. Main reason for vaccination against rabies was exposure to an animal category C--rabies not excluded (5 790 cases, 81%) or category D--animals healthy at the moment of an exposition (846 cases, 12%).     

Measles in Poland in 2003

In Poland 48 measles cases were registered in 2003 (0.13 per 100,000 population)--of which 65% were cases imported from Chechnya and Afghanistan. Measles outbreaks occurred in 3 centers for immigrants. In total, 31 cases were reported, of which 96.8% were unvaccinated, and 93.5% were under 15 years of age. Of 17 local cases, 5 (29.4%) cases occurred in unvaccinated persons, 3 (17.6%) in persons vaccinated with one dose and 7 (41.2%) in those vaccinated with two doses of measles vaccine (administered at the age of 13-15 months and 7 years). Among 12 vaccinated cases only one 2-year old child was recently vaccinated. The remaining cases were in the 3-7 and 10-24 age ranges. The most affected were infants (incidence 0.57 per 100,000), 1-year old (0.28) and 2-year old children (incidence 0.27). Cases among adolescents and adults over 15 years of age increased from 23.5% in 2002 to 47.1% in 2003. The increasing age of locally-acquired cases, together with constantly high immunization coverage indicates high effectiveness of vaccinations in Poland. Out of all reported cases 13 (38%) were hospitalized. There were no deaths due to measles in Poland in 2003. Poland participates in the WHO Measles Elimination Strategy. Presently, the most important is the maintenance of a sensitive and timely surveillance of measles and measles-compatible cases, with serologic confirmation of one rash-like illness per 100 000 population. The performance of the surveillance system is insufficient with only 55 measles-compatible cases reported in 2003 (15% of expected reports). Serologic confirmation of cases was also insufficient, with 22 cases (40.0%) confirmed by IgM ELISA test. These results indicate the need to maintain the high immunisation coverage and improve measles surveillance system.