scholarly journals Assessing physical and environmental predictors of bovine Schistosoma japonicum infection in rural China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elise N Grover ◽  
Sara Paull ◽  
Katerina Kechris ◽  
Andrea G Buchwald ◽  
Katherine James ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Schistosoma Japonicum ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Environmental Predictors ◽  
Agricultural Risk ◽  
Village Level ◽  
Bovine Schistosomiasis ◽  
Animal Reservoirs

Background Bovines have been repeatedly highlighted as a major reservoir for human Schistosoma japonicum infection in rural farming villages in China. However, little is known about the individual and environmental risk factors for bovine schistosomiasis infection. The current body of literature on individual-level risk factors features inconsistent, and sometimes contradictory results, and to date, few studies have assessed the broader environmental conditions that predict bovine schistosomiasis. Methodology/Principal Findings Using data collected as a part of a longitudinal study in 39 rural villages in Sichuan, China from 2007 to 2016, we aimed to identifying the strongest individual, household and village-level predictors of bovine S. japonicum infection. Candidate predictors for this assessment included: 1) physical/biological characteristics of bovines, 2) potential human sources of environmental schistosomes, 3) socio-economic indicators, 4) potential animal reservoirs, and 5) agricultural risk factors. A Random Forests machine learning approach was used to determine which of our candidate predictors serve as the best predictors of bovine schistosomiasis infection in each survey year. Of the five categories of predictors, high-risk agricultural practices and animal reservoirs, specifically, bovine density at the village-level, were repeatedly found to be among the top predictors of bovine S. japonicum infection. Conclusion/Significance Our findings highlight the potential utility of presumptively treating bovines residing in villages and households that engage in high-risk agricultural practices, or bovines belonging to villages with particularly high levels of bovine ownership. Additionally, village-level predictors were stronger predictors of bovine infection than household-level predictors, suggesting future investigations and interventions may need to apply a broad ecological lens in order to successfully extricate and address environmental sources of ongoing transmission.

scholarly journals Comparison of Recombinant Proteins from Schistosoma japonicum for Schistosomiasis Diagnosis

2010 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 476-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ya-mei Jin ◽  
Ke Lu ◽  
Wei-Fang Zhou ◽  
Zhi-Qiang Fu ◽  
Jin-Ming Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Schistosoma Japonicum ◽  
Recombinant Proteins ◽  
Therapeutic Efficacy ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Antigen Preparation ◽  
Elisa Technique ◽  
Bovine Schistosomiasis ◽  
And Control ◽  
Egg Antigen ◽  
Animal Reservoirs

ABSTRACT The most important animal reservoirs of Schistosoma japonicum in China are bovines. Diagnosis and control of bovine schistosomiasis is critical for reducing the prevalence of the disease. We screened defined diagnostic antigens that have the potential to increase the sensitivity and specificity of serological assays and to distinguish between active and prior infections. Five recombinant proteins with the potential to be diagnostic antigens were compared to the native soluble egg antigen preparation by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We evaluated the potentials of the recombinant proteins for discriminating active from prior infections, as well as the therapeutic efficacy of the established ELISA technique.

Validity of Proxy-Based Reports of Impulsivity and Aggression in Chinese Research on Suicidal Behavior

Crisis ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 137-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing An ◽  
Michael R. Phillips ◽  
Kenneth R. Conner
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Suicidal Behavior ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Suicide Attempters ◽  
Barratt Impulsiveness Scale ◽  
Single Location ◽  
Aggression Questionnaire ◽  
Community Controls

Background: In studies about the risk factors for suicidal behavior, the assessment of impulsiveness and aggression often depend on information from proxy informants. Aims: To assess the validity of proxy informants’ reports on impulsiveness and aggression in China. Methods: Modified Chinese versions of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-CV) and the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (AQ-CV) were administered to 131 suicide attempters treated at a hospital in rural China, to coresident relatives about the attempters, to 131 matched community controls, and to coresident relatives about the controls. Results: BIS-CV and AQ-CV total scores and subscale scores were all significantly higher for suicide attempters than for matched controls. Proxy informants considered subjects slightly more impulsive and aggressive than the subjects reported themselves. Subject-proxy concordance for total BIS-CV and AQ-CV scores were excellent for both attempters and controls (ICCs = 0.76–0.83). Concordance for the three BIS-CV subscales was 0.74–0.81 for attempters and 0.74–0.83 for controls. Concordance for the five AQ-CV subscales was 0.66–0.85 for attempters and 0.56–0.82 for controls. Limitations: Results are based on respondents from a single location in rural China. Conclusions: The results support the validity of the BIS-CV and AQ-CV and of research on suicidal behavior in China that uses proxy-based reports of impulsiveness and aggression.

Prevention of Preterm Birth

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-104
Author(s):  
Ivan D. Ivanov ◽  
Stefan A. Buzalov ◽  
Nadezhda H. Hinkova
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Preterm Birth ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Medical Science ◽  
Secondary Prophylaxis ◽  
High Risk Group ◽  
Screening Methods ◽  
Perinatal Complications ◽  
Social Significance ◽  
Neonatal Deaths

Summary Preterm birth (PTB) is a worldwide problem with great social significance because it is a leading cause of perinatal complications and perinatal mortality. PTB is responsible for more than a half of neonatal deaths. The rate of preterm delivery varies between 5-18% worldwide and has not decreased in recent years, regardless of the development of medical science. One of the leading causes for that is the failure to identify the high-risk group in prenatal care. PTB is a heterogeneous syndrome in which many different factors interfere at different levels of the pathogenesis of the initiation of delivery, finally resulting in delivery before 37 weeks of gestation (wg). The various specificities of risk factors and the unclear mechanism of initiation of labour make it difficult to elaborate standard, unified and effective screening to diagnose pregnant women at high-risk for PTB correctly. Furthermore, they make primary and secondary prophylaxis less effective and render diagnostic and therapeutic measures ineffective and inappropriate. Reliable and accessible screening methods are necessary for antenatal care, and risk factors for PTB should be studied and clarified in search of useful tools to solve issues of risk pregnancies to decrease PTB rates and associated complications.

Behavioral Emergencies and Crises

2010 ◽  
pp. 739-762
Author(s):  
Phillip M. Kleespies ◽  
Justin M. Hill
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Emotional Impact ◽  
High Risk Patients ◽  
Risk Patients ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Behavioral Emergencies ◽  
And Training

This chapter illustrates the mental health clinician’s relationship with behavioral emergencies. The chapter begins by distinguishing the terms behavioral emergency and behavioral crisis, and underlying themes among all behavioral emergencies are identified. Given that most clinicians will face a behavioral emergency in their careers, the importance of enhancing the process of educating and training practitioners for such situations far beyond the minimal training that currently exists is highlighted. The chapter continues by exploring various aspects of evaluating and managing high-risk patients (i.e., those who exhibit violent tendencies toward themselves or others, and those at risk for victimization). It includes a discussion of the benefits and limitations to estimating life-threatening risk factors and specific protective factors. The chapter concludes by discussing the emotional impact that working with high-risk patients has on clinicians, and an emphasis is placed on the importance of creating a supportive work environment.

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