Clinical, diagnostic, and epidemiological features of a community-wide outbreak of canine leptospirosis in a low-prevalence region (Maricopa County, Arizona)

SummaryHaemophilia is the most frequent hereditary haemorrhagic illness and it is due to the deficiency of coagulation factors VIII (haemophilia A, HA) or IX (haemophilia B, HB).The prevalence of this disease varies according to the country, those having better survival rates having also higher prevalences. Specifically in Costa Rica, there are around 130 HA and 30 HB families. This study reports the prevalence and a spatial distribution analysis of both types of the disease in this country. The prevalence of haemophilia in this country is 7 cases per 100 000 men, for HA it is 6 cases per 100 000 and for HB it is 1 case per 100 000 male inhabitants. The prevalence of this disease is low when compared with other populations. This low prevalence could be due to the many patients that have died because of infection with human immunodeficiency virus during the 1980s. The prevalence of haemophilia in Costa Rica is almost one half of that present in developed countries. Nevertheless, the ratio between HA and HB follows world tendency: 5 : 1. In this study, nationwide geographical distribution maps were drawn in order to visualize the origin of severe cases and how this influences the pattern of distribution for both types of haemophilia. By means of these maps, it was possible to state that there is no association between the sites of maximum prevalence of mutated alleles and ethnicity. With this study, haemophilia prevalence distribution maps can be used to improve efforts for the establishment of hemophilia clinics or specialized health centers in those areas which hold the highest prevalences in this country. Also, this knowledge can be applied to improve treatment skills and offer the possibility of developing focused genetic counseling for these populations.

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Prevalence of Factor V Leiden Mutation in Non-European Populations

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1655963 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 77 (02) ◽

pp. 329-331 ◽

Cited By ~ 55

Author(s):

Guglielmina Pepe ◽

Olga Rickards ◽

Olga Camacho Vanegas ◽

Tamara Brunelli ◽

Anna Maria Gori ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Factor V Leiden ◽

Indirect Evidence ◽

Factor V ◽

Factor V Leiden Mutation ◽

The World ◽

Fv Leiden ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Low Prevalence ◽

European Populations ◽

Apparently Healthy

SummaryA difference in the prevalence of venous thromboembolism (TE) in major human groups has been described and an uneven distribution of FV Leiden mutation over the world has recently been reported.We investigated FV Leiden mutation in 584 apparently healthy sub#jects mostly from populations different from those previously investi#gated: 170 Europeans (Spanish, Italians), 101 sub-saharan Africans (Fon, Bariba, Berba, Dendi), 115 Asians (Indonesians, Chinese, Tharus), 57 Amerindians (Cayapa), 84 Afroamericans (Rio Cayapa, Viche), and 57 Ethiopians (Amhara, Oromo).The mutation was detected in only 1/115 Asian (Tharu) and in 5/170 Europeans (4 Italians, 1 Spanish).These data confirm that in non-Europeans the prevalence of FV mutation is at least 7 times lower than in Europeans and provide indirect evidence of a low prevalence not only of the FV Leiden gene but also of other genes leading to more severe thrombophilia. Finally, findings from the literature together with those pertaining to this study clearly show a marked heterogeneity among Europeans.

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Assessment of Risk Factors for Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 among Iranian Patients

10.32592/ircmj.2020.22.9.72 ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Immune System ◽

Medical Records ◽

Critical Role ◽

Diabetic Patients ◽

Medication History ◽

Epidemiological Features ◽

Hookah Smoking ◽

And Behavior ◽

Iranian Patients

Background: The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to a major concern for those who are more vulnerable to infections. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the most important risk factors for severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Methods: This retrospective study included information on clinical and epidemiological features of 105 patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia hospitalized in Tajrish Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Initially, the medical records of the patients were investigated, and an interview was conducted based on a pre-prepared checklist to seek information about symptoms, past medical history, medication history, and behavior before hospitalization. Results: Out of 105 participants, 76 (72.5%) cases were male, and 54 (51.4%) patients were older than 54 years old. The majority of the patients (n=18; 17.1%) had both hypertension and diabetes (n=12; 11.4%). Metformin (n=36; 34.3%) was the most used medication amongst the studied patient. In addition, 24 (22.9%) patients were recreational hookah smokers, and the majority (75%) of them were under the age of 46 years old. Eventually, 19 patients were excluded from the study, of whom 11 individuals had diabetes, and 10 cases were using metformin. Conclusion: Apparently, hookah smoking played a critical role in the spread of COVID-19 in Iran and has made younger people more susceptible. In addition to older age, the immunosuppressive effects of Metformin seem to make diabetic patients with an impaired immune system more vulnerable to severe COVID-19 pneumonia. More studies on the immune system of vulnerable individuals by identifying their differences can help to protect them.

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199-LB: Low Prevalence of Small-for-Gestational-Age in Women with Type 1 Diabetes and Chronic Hypertension

Diabetes ◽

10.2337/db19-199-lb ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 68 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 199-LB

Author(s):

SARIT HELMAN ◽

TAMARRA JAMES-TODD ◽

FLORENCE M. BROWN

Keyword(s):

Type 1 Diabetes ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Small For Gestational Age ◽

Chronic Hypertension ◽

Low Prevalence

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Staphylococcus aureus Nasal Carriage in Medical Students of Universiti Teknologi MARA

Journal of Clinical and Health Sciences ◽

10.24191/jchs.v2i1.5875 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 29 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Zaini Mohd Zain ◽

Muhammad Fikri Johari ◽

Nurul Shahirah Mohd Husin ◽

Nurul Syamimi Rozman ◽

Athirah Ab Rashid ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Staphylococcus Aureus ◽

Medical Students ◽

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus ◽

Nasal Carriage ◽

Tissue Necrosis ◽

Mannitol Salt Agar ◽

Microbiological Techniques ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Low Prevalence ◽

Panton Valentine Leukocidin

Introduction: To determine the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) nasal carriage and detection of S. aureus leukotoxins among medical students of Universiti Teknologi MARA. Methods: Both sides of the anterior nares of 136 volunteers, comprising 68 preclinical and 68 clinical medical students, were swabbed and immediately cultured onto mannitol salt agar for growth of S. aureus. Standard microbiological techniques were conducted to identify and confirm the S. aureus colonies and susceptibility test against oxacillin were conducted by using Kirby-Bauer method to determine their resistance to methicillin. Polymerase chain reaction was performed for detection of leukotoxins, i.e., Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) and -haemolysin genes. Results: Nineteen students (14%) consisting of 10 preclinical (14.7%) and 9 clinical (13.2%) were nasal carriers of S. aureus. However, none of the S. aureus isolates were MRSA. No PVL gene was detected but eight of them were positive for -haemolysin gene. Conclusion: There were no MRSA nasal carriers among the medical students, but a low prevalence of S. aureus nasal carriers was detected. These carriers do not pose as high risk because none of the strains of S. aureus possess both the -haemolysin toxin and the PVL toxin that are associated with tissue necrosis.

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