scholarly journals Genetic diversity and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in Belgium during the first wave outbreak

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony Wawina-Bokalanga ◽  
Joan Marti-Carreras ◽  
Bert Vanmechelen ◽  
Mandy Bloemen ◽  
Elke Wollants ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Geographic Distribution ◽  
Causative Agent ◽  
Synonymous Mutations ◽  
Data Analyses ◽  
Intervention Measures ◽  
Functional Implications ◽  
Variant Analysis ◽  
One Year ◽  
Over Time

SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19 was first detected in Belgium on 3rd February 2020, albeit the first epidemiological wave started in March and ended in June 2020. One year after the first epidemiological wave hit the country data analyses reveled the temporal and variant distribution of SARS-CoV-2 and its implication with Belgian epidemiological measures. In this study, 766 complete SARS-CoV-2 genomes of samples originating from the first epidemiological were sequenced to characterize the temporal and geographic distribution of the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium through phylogenetic and variant analysis. Our analysis reveals the presence of the major circulating SARS-CoV-2 clades (G, GH and GR) and lineages circulating in Belgium at that time. Moreover, it contextualizes the density of SARS-CoV-2 cases over time with non-intervention measures taken to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Belgium, specific international case imports and the functional implications of the most representative non-synonymous mutations present in Belgium between February to June 2020.

scholarly journals Molecular Epidemiology Surveillance of SARS-Cov-2: Mutations and Genetic Diversity One Year After Emerging

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Flores-Alanis ◽  
Armando Cruz-Rangel ◽  
Flor Rodríguez-Gómez ◽  
James González ◽  
Carlos Alberto Torres-Guerrero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Viral Fitness ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Molecular Surveillance ◽  
Low Genetic Diversity ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Frequent Mutations ◽  
One Year ◽  
Over Time

In December 2019, the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in the province of Wuhan, China. Since then, it has spread worldwide with new mutations being reported. We performed genomic analysis to identify the changes in genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 between December 2019 and November 2020, and through molecular surveillance, we monitored the mutations that could be involved in viral fitness. We analyzed 2,213 complete genomes from 6 geographical regions worldwide, which were downloaded from GenBank and GISAID databases. Although SARS-CoV-2 presented low genetic diversity, there has been an increase over time, with the presence of several hotspot mutations throughout its genome. We identified 7 frequent mutations that resulted in non-synonymous substitutions (dN). Two of them, C14408T>P323L and A23403G>D614G, located in the nsp12 and Spike protein, respectively, emerged early in the pandemic and showed a considerable increase in frequency over time. Two other mutations, A1163T>I120F in nsp2 and G22992A>S477N in the Spike protein emerged recently and have spread in Oceania and Europe. Continuous molecular surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 will be necessary to detect and describe the transmission dynamics of new variants of the virus with clinical relevance. This information is important to improve programs to control the virus.

scholarly journals Molecular Epidemiology Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2: Mutations and Genetic Diversity One Year after Emerging

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 184
Author(s):  
Alejandro Flores-Alanis ◽  
Armando Cruz-Rangel ◽  
Flor Rodríguez-Gómez ◽  
James González ◽  
Carlos Alberto Torres-Guerrero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Molecular Surveillance ◽  
Low Genetic Diversity ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Frequent Mutations ◽  
One Year ◽  
The City ◽  
Over Time

In December 2019, the first cases of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were identified in the city of Wuhan, China. Since then, it has spread worldwide with new mutations being reported. The aim of the present study was to monitor the changes in genetic diversity and track non-synonymous substitutions (dN) that could be implicated in the fitness of SARS-CoV-2 and its spread in different regions between December 2019 and November 2020. We analyzed 2213 complete genomes from six geographical regions worldwide, which were downloaded from GenBank and GISAID databases. Although SARS-CoV-2 presented low genetic diversity, there has been an increase over time, with the presence of several hotspot mutations throughout its genome. We identified seven frequent mutations that resulted in dN substitutions. Two of them, C14408T>P323L and A23403G>D614G, located in the nsp12 and Spike protein, respectively, emerged early in the pandemic and showed a considerable increase in frequency over time. Two other mutations, A1163T>I120F in nsp2 and G22992A>S477N in the Spike protein, emerged recently and have spread in Oceania and Europe. There were associations of P323L, D614G, R203K and G204R substitutions with disease severity. Continuous molecular surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 will be necessary to detect and describe the transmission dynamics of new variants of the virus with clinical relevance. This information is important to improve programs to control the virus.

Thinning in mature eastern white pine: 43-year case study

2002 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
pp. 539-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul D Anderson ◽  
John C Zasada ◽  
Glen W Erickson ◽  
Zigmond A Zasada
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Large Diameter ◽  
White Pine ◽  
Thinning Intensity ◽  
Pine Regeneration ◽  
Volume Production ◽  
Pine Stands ◽  
Over Time

A white pine (Pinus strobus L.) stand at the western margin of the species range, approximately 125 years of age at present, was thinned in 1953 from 33.5 m2 ha-1 to target residual basal areas of 18.4, 23.0, 27.5, and 32.1 m2 ha-1 . Repeated measurement over the following 43-years indicated that the greatest total volume production and the greatest number of large diameter trees occurred in the unit of highest residual density. Over time, the distribution of stems was predominantly random although mortality between 1979 and 1996 resulted in a tendency for clumping in the 23.0 and 27.5 m2 ha-1 treatments. DNA analysis indicated that thinning intensity had little effect on the genetic diversity of residual white pine. This study suggests that mature white pine stands in northern Minnesota may be managed at relatively high densities without loss of productivity. However, regardless of overstory density, there was little or no white pine regeneration occurring in this stand. Key words: thinning, growth, genetic diversity, molecular markers, spatial pattern, regeneration

Genetic diversity and geographic distribution of parasitic flies of the Philornis torquans complex in Argentina

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Percara ◽  
M. A. Quiroga ◽  
P. M. Beldomenico ◽  
L. D. Monje
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Geographic Distribution

scholarly journals Trends in mortality, co-morbidity and treatment after acute myocardial infarction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis 1998–2013

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 931-938 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mattias Skielta ◽  
Lars Söderström ◽  
Solbritt Rantapää-Dahlqvist ◽  
Solveig W Jonsson ◽  
Thomas Mooe
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Heart Failure ◽  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Acute Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Congestive Heart Failure ◽  
Cox Regression Analysis ◽  
Co Morbidity ◽  
One Year ◽  
Over Time

Aims: Rheumatoid arthritis may influence the outcome after an acute myocardial infarction. We aimed to compare trends in one-year mortality, co-morbidities and treatments after a first acute myocardial infarction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis versus non-rheumatoid arthritis patients during 1998–2013. Furthermore, we wanted to identify characteristics associated with mortality. Methods and results: Data for 245,377 patients with a first acute myocardial infarction were drawn from the Swedish Register of Information and Knowledge about Swedish Heart Intensive Care Admissions for 1998–2013. In total, 4268 patients were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to study mortality trends over time and multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to identify variables associated with mortality. The one-year mortality in rheumatoid arthritis patients was initially lower compared to non-rheumatoid arthritis patients (14.7% versus 19.7%) but thereafter increased above that in non-rheumatoid arthritis patients (17.1% versus 13.5%). In rheumatoid arthritis patients the mean age at admission and the prevalence of atrial fibrillation increased over time. Congestive heart failure decreased more in non-rheumatoid arthritis than in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, kidney failure, rheumatoid arthritis, prior diabetes mellitus and hypertension were associated with significantly higher one-year mortality during the study period 1998–2013. Conclusions: The decrease in one-year mortality after acute myocardial infarction in non-rheumatoid arthritis patients was not applicable to rheumatoid arthritis patients. This could partly be explained by an increased age at acute myocardial infarction onset and unfavourable trends with increased atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure in rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis per se was associated with a significantly worse prognosis.

scholarly journals Incidence, Characteristics, and Prognosis of Incidentally Discovered Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Liver Transplantation

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walid El Moghazy ◽  
Samy Kashkoush ◽  
Glenda Meeberg ◽  
Norman Kneteman
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Liver Transplantation ◽  
Tumor Recurrence ◽  
Patient Survival ◽  
Steady Increase ◽  
Liver Transplants ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
One Year ◽  
Over Time

Background. We aimed to assess incidentally discovered hepatocellular carcinoma (iHCC) over time and to compare outcome to preoperatively diagnosed hepatocellular carcinoma (pdHCC) and nontumor liver transplants.Methods.We studied adults transplanted with a follow-up of at least one year. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.Results.Between 1990 and 2010, 887 adults were transplanted. Among them, 121 patients (13.6%) had pdHCC and 32 patients (3.6%) had iHCC; frequency of iHCC decreased markedly over years, in parallel with significant increase in pdHCC. Between 1990 and 1995, 120 patients had liver transplants, 4 (3.3%) of them had iHCC, and only 3 (2.5%) had pdHCC, while in the last 5 years, 263 patients were transplanted, 7 (0.03%) of them had iHCC, and 66 (25.1%) had pdHCC (P<0.001). There was no significant difference between groups regarding patient survival; 5-year survival was 74%, 75.5%, and 77.3% in iHCC, pdHCC, and non-HCC groups, respectively (P=0.702). Patients with iHCC had no recurrences after transplant, while pdHCC patients experienced 17 recurrences (15.3%) (P=0.016).Conclusions.iHCC has significantly decreased despite steady increase in number of transplants for hepatocellular carcinoma. Patients with iHCC had excellent outcomes with no tumor recurrence and survival comparable to pdHCC.

Changes in commitment to change among leaders in home help services

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 216-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina Westerberg ◽  
Susanne Tafvelin
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Change ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Change Initiatives ◽  
Commitment To Change ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Team Meetings ◽  
Home Help ◽  
Home Help Services ◽  
One Year ◽  
Over Time

Purpose – The purpose of the this study was to explore the development of commitment to change among leaders in the home help services during organizational change and to study this development in relation to workload and stress. During organizational change initiatives, commitment to change among leaders is important to ensure the implementation of the change. However, little is known of development of commitment of change over time. Design/methodology/approach – The study used a qualitative design with semi-structured interviews with ten leaders by the time an organizational change initiative was launched and follow-up one year later. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze the interviews. Findings – Commitment to change is not static, but seems to develop over time and during organizational change. At the first interview, leaders had a varied pattern reflecting different dimensions of commitment to change. One year later, the differences between leaders’ commitment to change was less obvious. Differences in commitment to change had no apparent relationship with workload or stress. Research limitations/implications – The data were collected from one organization, and the number of participants were small which could affect the results on workload and stress in relation to commitment to change. Practical implications – It is important to support leaders during organizational change initiatives to maintain their commitment. One way to accomplish this is to use management team meetings to monitor how leaders perceive their situation. Originality/value – Qualitative, longitudinal and leader studies on commitment to change are all unusual, and taken together, this study shows new aspects of commitment.

scholarly journals A longitudinal study on emotional distress among local government staff seven years after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunge Fan ◽  
Lili Guan ◽  
Hu Xiang ◽  
Xianmei Yang ◽  
Guoping Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Wenchuan Earthquake ◽  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
2008 Wenchuan Earthquake ◽  
The 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake ◽  
One Year ◽  
Self Reporting Questionnaire ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background The current study examined the change in local government staff’s emotional distress over 7 years after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, and the influence of earthquake exposure and professional quality of life (ProQOL) on emotional distress. Methods This longitudinal study assessed 250 participants at 1 year after the earthquake; 162 (64.8%) were followed up at 7 years. Emotional distress was assessed with the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ) at both time points. We assessed ProQOL, including compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress, and earthquake exposure at 1 year. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were performed to test longitudinal changes in emotional distress. Hierarchical multiple regression was conducted to examine the effect of earthquake exposure and ProQOL. Results The positive screening rate of emotional distress (SRQ ≥ 8) was 37.6 and 15.4% at one and 7 years, respectively. Emotional distress scores declined over time (p < 0.001). Earthquake exposure and ProQOL predicted one-year (ps < 0.05) but not seven-year emotional distress, whereas burnout predicted both one-year (p = 0.018) and seven-year (p = 0.047) emotional distress. Conclusions Although emotional distress can recover over time, it persists even 7 years later. Actions to reduce burnout during the early stage of post-disaster rescue have long-term benefits to staff’s psychological outcomes.

In the eye of the recipient

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrin Riese ◽  
Mareike Bayer ◽  
Gerhard Lauer ◽  
Annekathrin Schacht
Keyword(s):  
Pupil Diameter ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Narrative Fiction ◽  
Data Analyses ◽  
Different Dimensions ◽  
Literary Classics ◽  
The 19Th Century ◽  
Physiological Indicator ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Cognitive Dimensions

Plot suspense is one of the most important components of narrative fiction that motivate recipients to follow fictional characters through their worlds. The present study investigates the dynamic development of narrative suspense in excerpts of literary classics from the 19th century in a multi-methodological approach. For two texts, differing in suspense as judged by a large independent sample, we collected (a) data from questionnaires, indicating different affective and cognitive dimensions of receptive engagement, (b) continuous ratings of suspense during text reception from both experts and lay recipients, and (c) registration of pupil diameter as a physiological indicator of changes in emotional arousal and attention during reception. Data analyses confirmed differences between the two texts at different dimensions of receptive engagement and, importantly, revealed significant correlations of pupil diameter and the course of suspense over time. Our findings demonstrate that changes of the pupil diameter provide a reliable ‘online’ indicator of suspense.

Abstract 3143: Reverse Hemodynamic Remodelling May Be Possible Over Time

Circulation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (suppl_16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynne W Stevenson ◽  
Yong K Cho ◽  
J. T Heywood ◽  
Robert C Bourge ◽  
William T Abraham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Chronic Heart Failure ◽  
Pulmonary Artery ◽  
Right Ventricular ◽  
Nyha Class ◽  
Systolic Pressure ◽  
Filling Pressure ◽  
Class Iii ◽  
One Year ◽  
Over Time

Introduction : Elevated filling pressures are a hallmark of chronic heart failure. They can be reduced acutely during HF hospitalization but the hemodynamic impact of ongoing therapy to maintain optivolemia has not been established. Methods and Results : After recent HF hospitalization, 274 NYHA Class III or IV HF patients were enrolled in the COMPASS-HF study at 28 experienced HF centers and received intense HF management (average 24.7 staff contacts/ 6 months) ± access to filling pressure information to adjust diuretics to maintain optivolemia, usually defined as estimated pulmonary artery diastolic (PAD) pressure of 12±4 mmHg. Filling pressure information was available for half the patients during the first 6 months (the Chronicle group, <Access), and for all patients during the next 6 months. Diuretics were adjusted 12.7 times per patient in the Chronicle group and 8.2 times per patient in the Control (-Access) group during the first 6 months (p = 0.0001). Compared to baseline, decreases in RV systolic pressure (RVSP) and ePAD were significant for the +Access patients by one year (p=0.0012 and p =.04, respectively). The Control patients exhibited a similar trend 6 months after crossing to +Access (figure ). Conclusions: Targeted therapeutic adjustments, based on continuous filling pressures along with intensification of HF management contacts, are associated with a reduction in chronic left-sided filling pressures and right ventricular load.

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