scholarly journals Co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus causes more severe and prolonged pneumonia in hamsters

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Takaaki Kinoshita ◽  
Kenichi Watanabe ◽  
Yasuteru Sakurai ◽  
Kodai Nishi ◽  
Rokusuke Yoshikawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Body Weight Loss ◽  
The Other ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Immunohistochemical Analyses

AbstractCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is currently a serious public health concern worldwide. Notably, co-infection with other pathogens may worsen the severity of COVID-19 symptoms and increase fatality. Here, we show that co-infection with influenza A virus (IAV) causes more severe body weight loss and more severe and prolonged pneumonia in SARS-CoV-2-infected hamsters. Each virus can efficiently spread in the lungs without interference by the other. However, in immunohistochemical analyses, SARS-CoV-2 and IAV were not detected at the same sites in the respiratory organs of co-infected hamsters, suggesting that either the two viruses may have different cell tropisms in vivo or each virus may inhibit the infection and/or growth of the other within a cell or adjacent areas in the organs. Furthermore, a significant increase in IL-6 was detected in the sera of hamsters co-infected with SARS-CoV-2 and IAV at 7 and 10 days post-infection, suggesting that IL-6 may be involved in the increased severity of pneumonia. Our results strongly suggest that IAV co-infection with SARS-CoV-2 can have serious health risks and increased caution should be applied in such cases.

scholarly journals Structural and Molecular Characterization of the Hemagglutinin from the Fifth-Epidemic-Wave A(H7N9) Influenza Viruses

2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hua Yang ◽  
Paul J. Carney ◽  
Jessie C. Chang ◽  
Zhu Guo ◽  
James Stevens
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Avian Influenza ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Surface Proteins ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
H7n9 Influenza ◽  
Epidemic Wave

ABSTRACTThe avian influenza A(H7N9) virus continues to cause human infections in China and is a major ongoing public health concern. Five epidemic waves of A(H7N9) infection have occurred since 2013, and the recent fifth epidemic wave saw the emergence of two distinct lineages with elevated numbers of human infection cases and broader geographic distribution of viral diseases compared to the first four epidemic waves. Moreover, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H7N9) viruses were also isolated during the fifth epidemic wave. Here, we present a detailed structural and biochemical analysis of the surface hemagglutinin (HA) antigen from viruses isolated during this recent epidemic wave. Results highlight that, compared to the 2013 virus HAs, the fifth-wave virus HAs remained a weak binder to human glycan receptor analogs. We also studied three mutations, V177K-K184T-G219S, that were recently reported to switch a 2013 A(H7N9) HA to human-type receptor specificity. Our results indicate that these mutations could also switch the H7 HA receptor preference to a predominantly human binding specificity for both fifth-wave H7 HAs analyzed in this study.IMPORTANCEThe A(H7N9) viruses circulating in China are of great public health concern. Here, we report a molecular and structural study of the major surface proteins from several recent A(H7N9) influenza viruses. Our results improve the understanding of these evolving viruses and provide important information on their receptor preference that is central to ongoing pandemic risk assessment.

Seniors' narratives of asking (and not asking) for help after a fall: implications for identity

2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 240-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
PATRICIA A. MILLER ◽  
CHRISTINA SINDING ◽  
LAUREN E. GRIFFITH ◽  
HARRY S. SHANNON ◽  
PARMINDER RAINA
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Work And Family ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
The Other ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Health And Social Care

ABSTRACTFalls among community-dwelling seniors constitute a major public health concern because of the potential morbidity and mortality associated with the fall. This study examined the informal care networks accessed by Canadian seniors who had visited the Emergency Department as a result of a fall, and considered the implications of the processes of asking for and receiving help on the senior's identity. Four themes were identified. The first was valuing independence. The remaining three themes concerned threats to the participants' identities linked to the need to ask for or receive help from family and friends. They were: becoming indebted, feeling devalued and becoming a burden to others. Seniors were noted to excuse family members from the expectation of helping because of work and family commitments, and illness. Participants described a mutually beneficial relationship with friends wherein both parties valued their independence and provided assistance to the other when needed. Their comments suggested that assistance was viewed as a good to be traded among peers. Our findings indicate that seniors value their independence and may not seek help even when it appears to be available, if asking threatens valued identities. Health and social care practitioners and policy makers responsible for planning and delivery of services should take this into account in order to ensure the best possible care for injured community-dwelling seniors.

scholarly journals Mechanically tenderized meat

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly Wrixon ◽  
BCIT School of Health Sciences, Environmental Health ◽  
Martin MacLeod ◽  
Lorraine McIntyre
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Meat Products ◽  
The Other ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Grocery Stores ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Operator Experience ◽  
Cooking Process ◽  
Public Health Officials ◽  
Level Of Knowledge

  Background: In 2012, mechanically tenderized meat raised public health concern when an E.Coli 0157:H7 outbreak was linked to the tenderization process. It was discovered that the machinery pushed the E.Coli from the surface of contaminated meat products such as steaks and roasts, into the interior, where it was able to survive the cooking process. Concerns were raised by Lorraine McIntyre and the BCCDC about this issue, and their desire to improve their knowledge base in order to adequately assess the risk. Methods: Data was gathered via a survey conducted electronically and by telephone. Questions were asked to determine the proportion of retail establishments that use their own tenderizing equipment. Questions also asked about other industry practices such as current sanitization and labeling practices. Results: The results of this study were that 24% of surveyed establishments mechanically tenderize their meat products. Of these establishments, 33% have a label that states the meat has been tenderized mechanically and 17% provide cooking instructions on this label. An association was found between mechanically tenderizing meat and establishment type, which suggests that grocery stores are more likely to mechanically tenderize than other establishments, such as restaurants. On the other hand, no association was found between operator experience and their level of knowledge regarding the risks of mechanical tenderization. Conclusions: Overall, this study has demonstrated the likelihood is high that consumers purchase and consume beef that has been mechanically tenderized at the retail level. The results from this study can be used to aid public health officials in quantifying the risk of mechanical tenderization at a retail level and aid in the development and implementation of new legislation such as mandatory labeling of all mechanically tenderized meat.  

Effect of Thaw Conditions on Ground Beef1

1980 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 180-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. G. MARRIOTT ◽  
R. A. GARCIA ◽  
J. H. PULLEN ◽  
D. R. LEE
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Frozen Storage ◽  
Ground Beef ◽  
The Other ◽  
Microbial Load ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Retail Stores ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Overall Acceptability

Three sampling periods were selected to acquire ground beef packages from two retail stores. Initially, samples were subjectively evaluated for color and overall appearance. Microbial load and taxonomy were determined and the samples were subsequently frozen. After frozen storage, one-half of the packages were thawed at 5 C for 4, 8, 24, 48 and 72 h, whereas the other samples were thawed at 25 C for the same periods. After thawing, samples were evaluated for the same characteristics as before freezing. Samples from each treatment were also evaluated for flavor, odor and overall acceptability. Appearance traits, taste and microbial load were affected (P < .05) by thaw time and temperature. Major groups of bacteria identified were: micrococci, Pseudomonas, streptococci, staphylococci, Flavobacterium, lactobacilli and coliforms. Salmonella and pathogenic Staphylococcus were not found. Those microorganisms which were identified were considered to be responsible for deterioration of appearance and taste attributes. Increased coliform growth at 25 C, especially after 8 h, suggests a need to thaw ground beef at refrigerated temperature to reduce public health concern. Results suggest that a proper thaw time and temperature to maintain acceptable appearance and taste of ground beef would be 24 h or less at refrigerated temperature.

scholarly journals Broad-spectrum in vitro antiviral activity of ODBG-P-RVn: an orally-available, lipid-modified monophosphate prodrug of remdesivir parent nucleoside (GS-441524)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael K Lo ◽  
Punya Shrivastava-Ranjan ◽  
Payel Chatterjee ◽  
Mike Flint ◽  
James R Beadle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Antiviral Activity ◽  
Broad Spectrum ◽  
Airway Epithelial Cells ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Airway Epithelial ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Small Airway Epithelial Cells

The intravenous administration of remdesivir for COVID-19 confines its utility to hospitalized patients. We evaluated the broad-spectrum antiviral activity of ODBG-P-RVn, an orally available, lipid-modified monophosphate prodrug of the remdesivir parent nucleoside (GS-441524) against viruses that cause diseases of human public health concern, including SARS-CoV-2. ODBG-P-RVn showed 20-fold greater antiviral activity than GS-441524 and had near-equivalent activity to remdesivir in primary-like human small airway epithelial cells. Our results warrant investigation of ODBG-P-RVn efficacy in vivo.

"Stand down for the homeless". Podiatric screening of a homeless population in Cleveland

1996 ◽  
Vol 86 (6) ◽  
pp. 275-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
JM Robbins ◽  
LS Roth ◽  
MC Villanueva
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Medical Community ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Homeless Population ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
Resistant Tuberculosis ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Life Threatening

Health care for the homeless is a major public health concern. With the rise in antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis, the increase of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diseases, and other health risks, the medical community has begun to recognize the urgency of taking a proactive role in providing care for this population. Lower extremity pathology can result in limb-threatening and, in some cases, life-threatening sequelae for homeless populations. This patient group has limited access to regular hygiene, appropriate shoes, and podiatric medical care. Participation in the "Stand Down for the Homeless" projects provided an opportunity to evaluate the podiatric needs of a homeless population and to project a response to those needs. The authors define and compare this homeless population with the national homeless population, compare the podiatric needs of this homeless populations versus the general population, and respond to those needs.

Reframing Fatness: Critiquing ‘Obesity’

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bethan Evans ◽  
Charlotte Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Michel Foucault ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Policy Language ◽  
Religious Imagery ◽  
Fat Bodies

Over the last twenty years or so, fatness, pathologised as overweight and obesity, has been a core public health concern around which has grown a lucrative international weight loss industry. Referred to as a ‘time bomb’ and ‘the terror within’, analogies of ‘war’ circulate around obesity, framing fatness as enemy.2 Religious imagery and cultural and moral ideologies inform medical, popular and policy language with the ‘sins’ of ‘gluttony’ and ‘sloth’, evoked to frame fat people as immoral at worst and unknowledgeable victims at best, and understandings of fatness intersect with gender, class, age, sexuality, disability and race to make some fat bodies more problematically fat than others. As Evans and Colls argue, drawing on Michel Foucault, a combination of medical and moral knowledges produces the powerful ‘obesity truths’ through which fatness is framed as universally abject and pathological. Dominant and medicalised discourses of fatness (as obesity) leave little room for alternative understandings.

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