scholarly journals The brief comparison of the operational efficiency of pool-testing strategies for COVID-19 mass testing in PCR laboratories

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirill Vechera
Keyword(s):  
Computer Program ◽  
Operational Efficiency ◽  
Splitting Algorithm ◽  
Maximum Reduction ◽  
Testing Strategies ◽  
Operational Characteristics ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Binary Splitting ◽  
Low Prevalence ◽  
Efficiency Indicators

This paper addresses the operational efficiency of different pool-testing strategies in typical scenarios of a PCR laboratory working in mass testing for COVID-19 with different values of prevalence, limitations and conditions of testing, and priorities of optimization. The research employs a model of the laboratory's testing process, created after interviewing of PCR laboratories and studying their operations. The limitations and operational characteristics of this model were applied in a simulation of the testing process with different pool-testing strategies managed by a computer program developed in the LOMT project. The efficiency indicators assessed are the number of assays needed to obtain results of a batch of specimens, the number of specimens identified after the first analysis, and total time to obtain all results. Depending on prevalence, constraints of testing, and priorities of optimization, different pool-testing strategies provide the best operational efficiency. The binary splitting algorithm provides the maximum reduction of the number of assays: from 1.99x reduction for a high prevalence (10%) to 25x reduction for a low prevalence (0.1%), while other algorithms provide the least amount of time to obtain results or the maximum number of the specimens classified after the first analysis.

scholarly journals Assessment of exposure to influenza A viruses in pigs between weaning and market age

2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Bonin Ferreira ◽  
Zvonimir Poljak ◽  
Robert Friendship ◽  
Éva Nagy ◽  
Greg Wideman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Ha Gene ◽  
Testing Strategies ◽  
Common Causes ◽  
Nasal Swabs ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
2009 H1n1 ◽  
Low Prevalence

AbstractInfluenza A viruses (IAVs) are common causes of respiratory infection in pigs. The objective of this study was to characterize the circulation of IAVs between weaning and market age on the basis of development of antibody response and molecular epidemiology of detected viruses. Two batches of weaned pigs were followed in the nursery and finisher barns with a sample of 81 and 75 pigs. Nasal swabs and blood samples were collected from individual pigs for virological and serological analyses. A H3N2 subtype virus, of cluster IV, was detected in Study 1, with a maximum of 97.9% identity to HA gene of viruses previously isolated in Ontario. In Study 2, a H1N1 subtype virus, of 2009 H1N1 pandemic lineage, was detected, with a maximum of 97.8% identity to HA gene of viruses previously isolated in Ontario. On the basis of HA gene, it was observed that pigs were being detected with the same virus over time. The existence of antibody titers for IAV other than the isolated one confirmed that more than one subtype can circulate in the same population. In Study 1, pigs with higher numbers of IAV detection had lower serological titers for the same virus that was confirmed to circulate in the nursery (P < 0.01). Thorough knowledge of all endemic viral strains is fundamental for development of infection and disease control, particularly in complex production systems. This may include consideration of sampling and testing strategies which could detect circulation of all IAV variants, even if they have low prevalence.

scholarly journals Changes in contraception use among Brazilian women after childbirth, 2006-2013

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Felisbino-Mendes ◽  
B Barrozo Siqueira
Keyword(s):  
Health System ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Regional Inequalities ◽  
Unified Health System ◽  
Contraception Use ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Modern Methods ◽  
Low Prevalence

Abstract Introduction There are gaps in knowledge regarding the neglected and vulnerable subgroups of FP actions in Brazil, such as postpartum women and women in general, regardless of their marital status. Objective To assess changes in the prevalence of use and in the contraceptive pattern of Brazilian women up to two years after pregnancy, between 2006 and 2013. Methods Cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study which used secondary data from national surveys. We studied Brazilian women with up to 2 years postpartum, of reproductive age, sexually active, non-pregnant and menstruating, and compared them with all the other women. We estimated the prevalence of use, contraception pattern of contraception and ranking of modern methods. Percentual change in indicators between the years was evaluated by calculating the difference between estimates. Results 85% of Brazilian women used CM, remaining stable in 2006 and 2013, with a high prevalence of modern methods use. An increase in the use of CM was observed among those with up to six months postpartum (71.0% to 89.0%). Pills and condoms accounted for about 60% of modern methods used in the postpartum period in both surveys. There was an increase in dual protection (2.9% to 10.1%) and contraceptive insecurity (1.6% to 5.7%) and a reduction in sterilization (16.2% to 13.4%) and traditional methods (2.1% to 1.4%). Conclusions Even with the maintenance of a high prevalence of use of CM and with the increase in contraception among women with up to six months postpartum, regional inequalities in access to CM and low prevalence of the use of other methods made available by the Unified Health System (SUS) persist, pointing out the maintenance of the insufficient care, failures in the means to regulate fertility and that public policies still hinder to guarantee the sexual and reproductive rights of the most vulnerable population. Key messages Regional inequalities in access to contraceptive methods and low prevalence of other methods made available by the Unified Health System (SUS) persist. There was an increase in contraception use among women with up to six months postpartum in Brazil.

scholarly journals Low Prevalence of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) but High Prevalence of Pneumocystis dihydropteroate synthase (dhps) Gene Mutations in HIV-Infected Persons in Uganda

PLoS ONE ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. e49991 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve M. Taylor ◽  
Steven R. Meshnick ◽  
William Worodria ◽  
Alfred Andama ◽  
Adithya Cattamanchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Mutations ◽  
Pneumocystis Pneumonia ◽  
Dihydropteroate Synthase ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Dhps Gene ◽  
Low Prevalence

scholarly journals Prevalence of ColE1-Like Plasmids and Colicin K Production among Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Strains and Quantification of Inhibitory Activity of Colicin K

2006 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 1029-1032 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matija Rijavec ◽  
Maruška Budič ◽  
Peter Mrak ◽  
Manica M�ller-Premru ◽  
Zdravko Podlesek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Inhibitory Activity ◽  
Insertion Sequence ◽  
Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli ◽  
Mosaic Structure ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Low Prevalence

ABSTRACT Colicin K exhibited pronounced inhibitory activity against uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains. Low prevalence of colicin K production and a relatively high prevalence of ColE1-like plasmids were determined among 215 UPEC strains from Slovenia. Sequencing of the colicin K-encoding pColK-K235 revealed a mosaic structure and the presence of the insertion sequence IS2.

scholarly journals Audit of antenatal screening for syphilis and HIV in migrant and refugee women on the Thai-Myanmar border: a descriptive study

F1000Research ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rose McGready ◽  
Joy Kang ◽  
Isabella Watts ◽  
Mary Ellen G Tyrosvoutis ◽  
Miriam B. Torchinsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Descriptive Study ◽  
First Year ◽  
Antenatal Screening ◽  
Testing Strategies ◽  
Syphilis Testing ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Syphilis Screening ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Low Prevalence ◽  
Positive Results

Objective: The antenatal prevalence of syphilis and HIV/AIDS in migrants and refugees is poorly documented. The aim of this study was to audit the first year of routine syphilis screening in the same population and reassess the trends in HIV rates.Methods: From August 2012 to July 2013, 3600 pregnant women were screened for HIV (ELISA) and syphilis (VDRL with TPHA confirmation) at clinics along the Thai-Myanmar border.Results: Seroprevalence for HIV 0.47% (95% CI 0.30-0.76) (17/3,599), and syphilis 0.39% (95% CI 0.23-0.65) (14/3,592), were low. Syphilis was significantly lower in refugees (0.07% 95% CI 0.01-0.38) (1/1,469), than in migrants (0.61% 95% CI 0.36-1.04) (13/2,123). The three active (VDRL≥1:8 and TPHA reactive) syphilis cases with VDRL titres of 1:32 were easy to counsel and treat. Women with low VDRL titres (>75% were < 1:8) and TPHA reactive results, in the absence of symptoms and both the woman and her husband having only one sexual partner in their lifetime, and the inability to determine the true cause of the positive results presented ethical difficulties for counsellors.Conclusion: As HIV and syphilis testing becomes available in more and more settings, the potential impact of false positive results should be considered, especially in populations with low prevalence for these diseases. This uncertainty must be considered in order to counsel patients and partners accurately and safely about the results of these tests, without exposing women to increased risk for abuse or abandonment. Our findings highlight the complexities of counselling patients about these tests and the global need for more conclusive syphilis testing strategies.

scholarly journals A Comparison of Mental Health Outcomes in the United States and Italy at Different Levels of Cumulative COVID-19 Prevalence

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony D Mancini ◽  
Gabriele Prati
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
New York ◽  
San Francisco ◽  
The United States ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
General Distress ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Low Prevalence ◽  
Different Levels

How does the prevalence of COVID-19 impact people’s mental health? In a preregistered study (N = 857), we sought to answer this question by comparing demographically matched samples in four regions in the United States and Italy with different levels of cumulative COVID-19 prevalence. No main effect of prevalence emerged. Rather, prevalence region had opposite effects, depending on the country. New York City participants (high prevalence) reported more general distress, PTSD symptoms, and COVID-19 worry than San Francisco (low prevalence). Conversely, Campania participants (low prevalence) reported more general distress, PTSD symptoms, and COVID-19 worry than Lombardy (high prevalence). Consistent with these patterns, COVID-19 worry was more strongly linked with general distress and PTSD symptoms in New York than San Francisco, whereas COVID-19 worry was more strongly linked with PTSD in Campania than Lombardy. In exploratory analyses, media exposure predicted and mapped on to geographic variation in mental health outcomes.

scholarly journals Optimization of efficiency indicators of organization systems of technical operation and updating of aircraft radio-electronic systems

2020 ◽  
pp. 115-131
Author(s):  
Georgiy Konakhovych ◽  
Iryna Kozlyuk ◽  
Yuliia Kovalenko
Keyword(s):  
Operational Efficiency ◽  
Electronic Systems ◽  
Operational Control ◽  
Product Failure ◽  
Radio Electronic ◽  
Technical Operation ◽  
Efficiency Indicators

This paper is dedicated to solving the problem of identifying and refining optimization indicators of operational efficiency and updating of electronic systems of aircraft, which is a pertinent metrological task. An analysis of possible options for building a system of technical operation and updating of electronic systems of aircraft was conducted. The concept of the basic variant of construction of such a system is formulated. By means of defining classification features the basic variants of construction of a system of the technical operation and updating are selected. The notion of secondary and competing types of the basic variant of construction of such a system is defined. For this purpose, classification features have been introduced that characterize the properties of products of electronic systems: the place of updating the product, the place of fixing the product failure and the availability of means of operational control in the organization of maintenance.

Radiographs of 366 removed limb lengthening nails reveal differences in bone abnormalities between different nail types

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Christopher A. Iobst ◽  
Markus Winther Frost ◽  
Jan Duedal Rölfing ◽  
Ole Rahbek ◽  
Anirejuoritse Bafor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Series ◽  
Limb Lengthening ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Nail Insertion ◽  
Radiological Changes ◽  
Low Prevalence ◽  
Nail Removal ◽  
Mean Time ◽  
Bone Abnormalities

Aims Limb lengthening nails have largely replaced external fixation in limb lengthening and reconstructive surgery. However, the adverse events and high prevalence of radiological changes recently noted with the STRYDE lengthening nail have raised concerns about the use of internal lengthening nails. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of radiological bone abnormalities between STRYDE, PRECICE, and FITBONE nails prior to nail removal. Methods This was a retrospective case series from three centres. Patients were included if they had either of the three limb lengthening nails (STYDE, PRECICE, or FITBONE) removed. Standard orthogonal radiographs immediately prior to nail removal were examined for bone abnormalities at the junction of the telescoping nail parts. Results In total, 306 patients (168 male, 138 female) had 366 limb lengthening nails removed. The mean time from nail insertion to radiological evaluation was 434 days (36 to 3,015). Overall, 77% of STRYDE nails (20/26) had bone abnormalities at the interface compared with only 2% of FITBONE (4/242) and 1% of PRECICE nails (1/98; p < 0.001). Focal osteolysis in conjunction with periosteal reaction at the telescoping interface was only observed in STRYDE nails. Conclusion Bone abnormalities at the interface of telescoping nail parts were seen in the majority of STRYDE nails, but only very rarely with FITBONE or PRECICE nails. We conclude that the low prevalence of radiological changes at the junctional interface of 242 FITBONE and 98 PRECICE nails at the time of nail removal does not warrant clinical concerns.

Nutritional Profile of Oncology Patients from an Outpatient Nutritional Service in Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 170-175
Author(s):  
Vanessa Batista Pigioni ◽  
◽  
Camila Sanches Manca ◽  
Paula Garcia Chiarello ◽  
Juliana Maria Faccioli Sicchieri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Tumor Staging ◽  
Fat Free Mass ◽  
Malignant Neoplasms ◽  
Tumor Site ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Nutrition Service ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
Low Prevalence

Objective To characterize the nutritional variables of patients referred to an outpatient oncology nutrition service. Methods The electronic medical records of patients diagnosed with malignant neoplasms were analyzed for several parameters: weight loss, body mass index (BMI), hand-grip strength (HGS), fat-free mass index (FFMI) and serum C-reactive protein (CRP). Statistical methods included Pearson’s correlation (significance was set at P ≤ 0.05). Results There was a high prevalence of malnutrition (44%, n = 28) and sarcopenia (61%, n = 23) and a relatively low prevalence of cachexia (13%, n = 6). Moderate positive correlations were observed between the tumor site and CRP level, correlation r = 0.328 (P = 0.026); the tumor site and BMI (r = 0, P = 0.001); FFMI and BMI (r = 0.606, P = 4.334056e-005) and CRP and weight loss (r = 0.355, P = 0.024). There were negative correlations between the tumor staging and BMI r = -0.409, P = 0.001) and weight loss and FFMI (r = -0.467, P = 3,228325e-004). Conclusion These preliminary findings may help institutions implement nutritional approaches, such as the adoption of a line-ofcare focused on nutrition in the department of oncology.

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