Absence of Measles Virus Detection from Stapes of Patients with Otosclerosis

2017 ◽  
Vol 158 (1) ◽  
pp. 158-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
María de Lourdes Flores-García ◽  
Claudia Adriana Colín-Castro ◽  
Mario Sabas Hernández-Palestina ◽  
Roberto Sánchez-Larios ◽  
Rafael Franco-Cendejas

Objective To determine molecularly the presence of measles virus genetic material in the stapes of patients with otosclerosis. Study Design A cross-sectional study. Setting A tertiary referral hospital. Subjects and Methods Genetic material was extracted from the stapes of patients with otosclerosis (n = 93) during the period from March 2011 to April 2012. The presence of viral measles sequences was evaluated by the real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression of the CD46 gene was determined. Results Ninety-three patients were included in the study. No sample was positive for any of 3 measles virus genes (H, N, and F). Measles virus RNA was not detected in any sample by real-time RT-PCR. CD46 levels were positive in 3.3% (n = 3) and negative in 96.7% (n = 90). Conclusion This study does not support the theory of measles virus as the cause of otosclerosis. It is necessary to do more research about other causal theories to clarify its etiology and prevention.

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pegah Shakib ◽  
Mohammad Reza Zolfaghari

Background: Conventional laboratory culture-based methods for diagnosis of Streptococcus pneumoniae are time-consuming and yield false negative results. Molecular methods including real-time (RT)-PCR rapid methods and conventional PCR due to higher sensitivity and accuracy have been replaced instead traditional culture assay. The aim of the current study was to evaluate lytA gene for detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the cerebrospinal fluid of human patients with meningitis using real-time PCR assay. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 30 clinical specimens were collected from patients in a period from September to December 2018. In order to evaluate the presence of lytA gene, conventional and real-time PCR methods were used without culture. Results: From 30 sputum samples five (16.66%) isolates were identified as S. pneumoniae by lytA PCR and sequencing. Discussion: In this research, an accurate and rapid real-time PCR method was used, which is based on lytA gene for diagnosis of bacteria so that it can be diagnosed. Based on the sequencing results, the sensitivity for detection of lytA gene was 100% (5/5).


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Umar Saeed ◽  
Sara Rizwan Uppal ◽  
Zahra Zahid Piracha ◽  
Azhar Rasheed ◽  
Zubair Aftab ◽  
...  

AbstractRapid diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 during pandemic enables timely treatment and prevention of COVID-19. Evaluating the accuracy and reliability of rapid diagnostic testing kits is crucial for surveillance and diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infections in general population, injection drug users, multi-transfused populations, healthcare workers, prisoners, barbers and other high risk populations. The aim of this study was to evaluate performance and effectiveness of nasopharyngeal swab (NSP) and saliva based rapid antigen detection testing kits in comparison with USFDA approved triple target gold standard real-time polymerase chain reaction. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 33,000 COVID-19 suspected patients. From RT-PCR positive patients, nasopharyngeal swab (NSP) and saliva samples were obtained for evaluation of rapid COVID-19 testing kits (RDT). 100/33,000 (0.3%) of specimens were RT-PCR positive for SARS-CoV-2. Among RT-PCR positive, 62% were males, 34% were females, and 4% were children. The NSP-RDT (Lepu Medical China) analysis revealed 53% reactivity among males, 58% reactivity among females, and 25% reactivity among children. However saliva based RDT (Lepu Medical China) analysis showed 21% reactivity among males and 23% among females, and no reactivity in children. False negative results were significantly more pronounced in saliva based RDT as compared to NSP-RDT. The sensitivity of these NSP-RDT and saliva based RDT were 52% and 21% respectively. The RDTs evaluated in this study showed limited sensitivities in comparison to gold standard RT-PCR, indicating that there is a dire need in Pakistan for development of suitable testing to improve accurate COVID-19 diagnosis in line with national demands.


Author(s):  
Sebastián Videla ◽  
Aurema Otero ◽  
Sara Martí ◽  
M. Ángeles Domínguez ◽  
Nuria Fabrellas ◽  
...  

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic started in December 2019 and still is a major global health challenge. Lockdown measures and social distancing sparked a global shift towards online learning, which deeply impacted universities’ daily life, and the University of Barcelona (UB) was not an exception. Accordingly, we aimed to determine the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic at the UB. To that end, we performed a cross-sectional study on a sample of 2784 UB members (n = 52,529). Participants answered a brief, ad hoc, online epidemiological questionnaire and provided a nasal swab for reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) SARS-CoV-2 analysis and a venous blood sample for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody assay. Total prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection (positive RT-PCR or positive IgG) was 14.9% (95%CI 13.3 to 17.0%). Forty-four participants (1.6%, 95%CI: 1.2–2.1%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR. IgG against SARS-CoV-2 was observed in 12.8% (95%CI: 11.6–14.1%) of participants. Overall, while waiting for population vaccination and/or increased herd immunity, we should concentrate on identifying and isolating new cases and their contacts.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaovi M. G. Hounmanou ◽  
Murielle S. S. Agonsanou ◽  
Victorien Dougnon ◽  
Mahougnon H. B. Vodougnon ◽  
Ephraim M. Achoh ◽  
...  

A cross-sectional study was conducted in March 2016 to assess the need of mobile phone technologies for health surveillance and interventions in Benin. Questionnaires were administered to 130 individuals comprising 25 medical professionals, 33 veterinarians, and 72 respondents from the public. All respondents possess cell phones and 75%, 84%, and 100% of the public, medical professionals, and veterinarians, respectively, generally use them for medical purposes. 75% of respondents including 68% of medics, 84.8% of veterinarians, and 72.2% of the public acknowledged that the current surveillance systems are ineffective and do not capture and share real-time information. More than 92% of the all respondents confirmed that mobile phones have the potential to improve health surveillance in the country. All respondents reported adhering to a nascent project of mobile phone-based health surveillance and confirmed that there is no existing similar approach in the country. The most preferred methods by all respondents for effective implementation of such platform are phone calls (96.92%) followed by SMS (49.23%) and smart phone digital forms (41.53%). This study revealed urgent needs of mobile phone technologies for health surveillance and interventions in Benin for real-time surveillance and efficient disease prevention.


Author(s):  
Thanh Xuan Nguyen

TÓM TẮT Đặt vấn đề: Bệnh COVID-19 đa dạng từ không có triệu chứng đến có các triệu chứng nhẹ cho đến viêm phổi nặng, hội chứng suy hô hấp cấp tiến triển (ARDS), nhiễm khuẩn huyết suy đa tạng và tử vong. Người cao tuổi, người có bệnh mạn tính sẽ có nguy cơ diễn biến nặng nhiều hơn. Nghiên cứu này nhằm xác định nồng độ lactate và PCT ở những bệnh nhân Covid-19 và xét mối liên quan giữa lactate và PCT trên bệnh nhân Covid-19. Đối tượng và phương pháp: Nghiên cứu mô tả cắt ngang trên 126 bệnh nhân được chẩn đoán nhiễm Sars-Cov-2 bằng xét nghiệm RT PCR. Kết quả: Tuổi trung bình 55,98 ± 17,1 tuổi (4 - 98 tuổi). Bệnh nhân > 60 tuổi chiếm tỉ lệ cao nhất (42,8%). Trung vị PCT: 3,6 (95%CI:3,21 - 3,75) ng/ml; trung vị lactate 1,5 (95%CI:1,21 - 1,91) mmol/L; lactate có tương quan thuận và yếu với procalcitonin với r = 0,241; p < 0,001. Nồng độ procalcitonin > 0,1 ng/ml; lactate > 2 mmol/l ở bệnh nhân Covid-19 chiếm tỷ lệ cao với 89,7% và 39,7%. Kết luận: Chỉ điểm procalcitonin, lactate tăng cao ở bệnh nhân Covid-19. ABSTRACT ASSESSMENT OF SERUM LEVEL OF LACTATE AND PROCALCITONIN IN COVID-19 PATIENTS Background: Sars-CoV-2 has been identified as the cause of acute respiratory infections in Wuhan city, Hubei province, China, and has since spread worldwide. Sars-CoV-2 is capable of aerosol transmission in enclosed, crowded, and poorly ventilated spaces. COVID-19 illness ranges from asymptomatic to mild symptoms to severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), sepsis, multiple organ failure, and death. This study aims to determine lactate and PCT levels in Covid-19 patients and examine the relationship between lactate and PCT in Covid-19 patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 126 patients diagnosed with Sars-Cov-2 infection by RT-PCR. Results: Mean age was 55.98 ± 17.1 years (range: 4-98 years). Patients more than 60 years old were accounted for the highest rate (42.8%). Median PCT: 3.6 (95%CI:3.21 - 3.75) ng/ml; median lactate 1.5 (95%CI:1.21 - 1,91) mmol/L; lactate has a positive and weak correlation with procalcitonin with r = 0.241; p < 0.001. Procalcitonin concentration > 0.1 ng/ml; lactate > 2 mmol/l in patients with Covid-19 accounted for a high rate with 89.7% and 39.7%. Conclusion: Serum level of procalcitonin and lactate raise highly in Covid-19 patients. Keywords: Covid-19, procalcitonin, lactate.


2004 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayhan Kubar ◽  
Mehmet Yapar ◽  
Bulent Besirbellioglu ◽  
I.Yasar Avci ◽  
Cakır Guney

Author(s):  
Salah Tofik Jalal Balaky ◽  
Saeed Ghulam Hussain ◽  
Amer Ali Khaleel ◽  
Furat Tahseen Sabeer ◽  
Ahang Hasan Mawlood

Background & objectives: Introducing a nucleic acid test program is aimed to diagnose and reduces the risk of viral infection or transmission. DNA assay for HBV can detect infection in the windows period, chronic occult infection and can discriminate between active and inactive HBV infection. This cross-sectional study designed to diagnose, analyze HBV infection and to differentiate active from inactive infection based on viral DNA detection. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 256 patients previously diagnosed on the clinical ground as hepatitis B seropositive in Erbil Central Lab. The viral nucleic acid quantitative assessment was done for the collected samples using RT-PCR. Q-square was performed for statistical analysis. Results: Out of 256 collected blood samples 93 (36.3%) showed HBV-DNA positive titers above 50 IU/ml. Among positive subjects, 67 (72.04%) was categorized as inactive carriers (˂ 2000-20.000 IU/ml HBV-DNA titers). Conclusions: The data produced from this study confirmed the importance of the RT-PCR technique in sensitivity and reliability as a superior diagnostics tool specifically in differentiating active from inactive HBV carriers.


Author(s):  
Ana Cebrián-Cuenca ◽  
José Joaquín Mira ◽  
Elena Caride-Miana ◽  
Antonio Fernández-Jiménez ◽  
Domingo Orozco-Beltrán

Abstract Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting people worldwide. In Spain, the first wave was especially severe. Objectives: This study aimed to identify sources and levels of distress among Spanish primary care physicians (PCPs) during the first wave of the pandemic (April 2020). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a survey that included sociodemographic data, a description of working conditions related to distress [such as gaps in training in protective measures, cleaning, and hygiene procedures in work setting, unavailability of personal protective equipments (PPEs) and COVID-19 RT-PCR test, and lack of staff due to be infected] and a validated scale, the ‘Self-applied Acute Stress Scale’ (EASE). The survey was answered by a non-probability sampling of PCPs working in family healthcare centres from different regions of Spain. Analysis of variance and multivariate linear regression analysis were performed. Results: In all, out of 518 PCP participants, 123 (23.7%) obtained high psychological distress scores. Only half of them had received information about the appropriate use of PPE. PCP characteristics associated with higher levels of distress include female gender [1.69; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.54, 2.84]; lack of training in protective measures (1.96; 95% CI 0.94, 2.99); unavailable COVID-19 RT-PCR for health care workers after quarantine or COVID-19 treatment (−0.77 (−1.52, −0.02). Reinforcing disinfection of the work environment (P < 0.05), availability of PPEs (P < 0.05), and no healthcare professional was infected (P < 0.05) were related to the lowest distress score. Conclusions: A better understanding of the sources of distress among PCPs could prevent its effect on future outbreaks.


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