scholarly journals Seroepidemiologic Survey of Lyme Disease among Forestry Workers in National Park Offices in South Korea

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 2933
Author(s):  
Dilaram Acharya ◽  
Ji-Hyuk Park
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Lyme Disease ◽  
South Korea ◽  
National Park ◽  
Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Forestry Workers ◽  
Independent Risk Factors

Limited data are available on the current status of Lyme disease in South Korea. The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Lyme disease infection among forestry workers in National Park Offices in South Korea. We enrolled National Park Office forestry workers (NPOFWs) who had worked for ≥1 year. Participants completed questionnaires that addressed various subjects including work types and work hygiene-related factors. Collected serum samples were tested using immunofluorescence assay to detect anti-Borrelia antibodies. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors of seroprevalence. Of 1,410 NPOFWs, 655 (46.5%) participated in this study, and an overall seroprevalence of Lyme disease antibodies was 8.1%. Analysis showed that always eating meals in woodland (odds ratio (OR), 5.11; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.08–12.52) and raising dogs outside homes (OR, 3.25; 95% CI, 1.57–6.75) were significantly associated with Lyme disease infection. This seroprevalence study indicates that Lyme disease is an important disease among NPOFWs in South Korea. These identified modifiable risk factors should be considered while designing preventive strategies for reducing Lyme disease infection among NPOFWs.

scholarly journals Seroprevalence and Factors Associated with Scrub Typhus Infection among Forestry Workers in National Park Offices in South Korea

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 3131
Author(s):  
Ji-Hyuk Park ◽  
Byoungchul Gill ◽  
Dilaram Acharya ◽  
Seok-Ju Yoo ◽  
Kwan Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
National Parks ◽  
National Park ◽  
Scrub Typhus ◽  
Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Forestry Workers

Scrub typhus is caused by the arthropod-borne bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi and is an endemic infectious disease in the Asia-Pacific area. This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of scrub typhus and identify associated risk and protective factors among forestry workers, a neglected risk group for scrub typhus, in National Park Offices in South Korea. A nationwide cross-sectional serosurvey was carried out on 1945 National Park Office forestry workers (NPOFWs) in South Korea during December 2016. We visited 29 main offices and used a structured questionnaire to collect data regarding general characteristics, work activities, work hygiene-related factors, and other potential risk factors. Serum samples from NPOFWs were tested using indirect immunofluorescence assay to detect O. tsutsugamushi immunoglobulin (Ig) G and M antibodies. Of the 1945 NPOFWs, 718 (36.9%) participated in this cross-sectional study. The seroprevalence, defined as ≥1:256 for IgG and/or ≥1:16 for IgM, was 4.9% (35/718). In multivariate logistic analysis, longer duration of work in national parks (≥15 years; odds ratio (OR), 4.19; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.71–10.28) and dry field farming (OR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.12–5.46) were significantly associated with a higher risk of scrub typhus infection. Furthermore, the risk of scrub typhus infection was significantly lower among NPOFWs who washed working clothes daily (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.18–0.75). This study indicated that scrub typhus is an important disease among NPOFWs in South Korea. Work hygiene, especially washing working clothes daily, needs to be emphasized among NPOFWs. Additionally, more precautions are required to diminish the rate of scrub typhus infection among NPOFWs who perform dry field farming.

scholarly journals Incidence and risk factors for deep venous thrombosis of lower extremity after surgical treatment of isolated patella fractures

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhanchao Tan ◽  
Hongzhi Hu ◽  
Xiangtian Deng ◽  
Jian Zhu ◽  
Yanbin Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Venous Thrombosis ◽  
Deep Venous Thrombosis ◽  
Medical Data ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Patella Fractures ◽  
Independent Risk Factors ◽  
Associated Risk Factors

Abstract Background Limited information exists on the incidence of postoperative deep venous thromboembolism (DVT) in patients with isolated patella fractures. The objective of this study was to investigate the postoperative incidence and locations of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremity in patients who underwent isolated patella fractures and identify the associated risk factors. Methods Medical data of 716 hospitalized patients was collected. The patients had acute isolated patella fractures and were admitted at the 3rd Hospital of Hebei Medical University between January 1, 2016, and February 31, 2019. All patients met the inclusion criteria. Medical data was collected using the inpatient record system, which included the patient demographics, patient’s bad hobbies, comorbidities, past medical history, fracture and surgery-related factors, hematological biomarkers, total hospital stay, and preoperative stay. Doppler examination was conducted for the diagnosis of DVT. Univariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify the independent risk factors. Results Among the 716 patients, DVT was confirmed in 29 cases, indicating an incidence of 4.1%. DVT involved bilateral limbs (injured and uninjured) in one patient (3.4%). DVT involved superficial femoral common vein in 1 case (3.4%), popliteal vein in 6 cases (20.7%), posterior tibial vein in 11 cases (37.9%), and peroneal vein in 11 cases (37.9%). The median of the interval between surgery and diagnosis of DVT was 4.0 days (range, 1.0-8.0 days). Six variables were identified to be independent risk factors for DVT which included age category (> 65 years old), OR, 4.44 (1.34-14.71); arrhythmia, OR, 4.41 (1.20-16.15); intra-operative blood loss, OR, 1.01 (1.00-1.02); preoperative stay (delay of each day), OR, 1.43 (1.15-1.78); surgical duration, OR, 1.04 (1.03-1.06); LDL-C (> 3.37 mmol/L), OR, 2.98 (1.14-7.76). Conclusion Incidence of postoperative DVT in patients with isolated patella fractures is substantial. More attentions should be paid on postoperative DVT prophylaxis in patients with isolated patella fractures. Identification of associated risk factors can help clinicians recognize the risk population, assess the risk of DVT, and develop personalized prophylaxis strategies.

scholarly journals Frequency of antibodies and risk factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in backyard pig production in the city of Mossoró, state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 508-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabela Maria Campanelli dos Santos ◽  
Alexandro Iris Leite ◽  
Maria Eduarda Chiaradia Furquim ◽  
Diego Carlos de Souza Zanatto ◽  
Simone de Jesus Fernandes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Rio Grande ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
P Value ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Igg Antibody ◽  
Source Of Infection ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii Infection

Abstract Toxoplasmosis is an important zoonosis for pregnant women and immunosuppressed people. The pig population also becomes infected by this pathogen, and undercooked or raw meat is an important source of infection for humans. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the rate of exposure of pigs to T. gondii in the municipality of Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte and seek to identify associations with possible risk factors. Blood samples were collected from 412 pigs and were analyzed using the immunofluorescence assay. Among these 412 serum samples, 40.7% were seropositive for T. gondii. The IgG antibody titers were 64 (56 specimens), 128 (32), 256 (37), 512 (23), 1024 (14), 2048 (5) and 4046 (1). Seropositivity for T. gondii was found to be related (p-value < 0.05) to the following factors: female gender, semi-confined rearing system, use of well water, dewormed animals, presence of cats, goats, sheep, mice and vultures on the farm and carcasses left on the ground. In contrast, seropositivity was not related (p-value < 0.05) to the age of the pigs, type of facility or feeding with human food remains. Preventive measures need to be adopted on the farms studied here, with the aim of decreasing the animals’ intake of sporulated oocysts.

scholarly journals Comparing the Climatic and Landscape Risk Factors for Lyme Disease Cases in the Upper Midwest and Northeast United States

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 1548
Author(s):  
Yuting Dong ◽  
Zheng Huang ◽  
Yong Zhang ◽  
Yingying X.G. Wang ◽  
Yang La
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
Upper Midwest ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Landscape Factors ◽  
Lyme Disease Risk

Lyme disease, recognized as one of the most important vector-borne diseases worldwide, has been increasing in incidence and spatial extend in United States. In the Northeast and Upper Midwest, Lyme disease is transmitted by Ixodes scapularis. Currently, many studies have been conducted to identify factors influencing Lyme disease risk in the Northeast, however, relatively few studies focused on the Upper Midwest. In this study, we explored and compared the climatic and landscape factors that shape the spatial patterns of human Lyme cases in these two regions, using the generalized linear mixed models. Our results showed that climatic variables generally had opposite correlations with Lyme disease risk, while landscape factors usually had similar effects in these two regions. High precipitation and low temperature were correlated with high Lyme disease risk in the Upper Midwest, while with low Lyme disease risk in the Northeast. In both regions, size and fragmentation related factors of residential area showed positive correlations with Lyme disease risk. Deciduous forests and evergreen forests had opposite effects on Lyme disease risk, but the effects were consistent between two regions. In general, this study provides new insight into understanding the differences of risk factors of human Lyme disease risk in these two regions.

scholarly journals Dogs Vaccinated with Common Lyme Disease Vaccines Do Not Respond to IR6, the Conserved Immunodominant Region of the VlsE Surface Protein of Borrelia burgdorferi

2004 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 458-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P. O'Connor ◽  
Kathy J. Esty ◽  
Jancy L. Hanscom ◽  
Paulette Shields ◽  
Mario T. Philipp
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Surface Protein ◽  
Diagnostic Procedures ◽  
Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Specific Pathogen ◽  
Fort Dodge Animal Health

ABSTRACT A 25-amino-acid synthetic peptide (C6 peptide) derived from an immunodominant conserved region (designated IR6) of the VlsE protein of Borrelia burgdorferi has been identified and used to construct immunoenzyme-based diagnostic procedures. These procedures have excellent sensitivity and specificity. Previous reports have demonstrated the usefulness of the C6 peptide as an antigen for the serodiagnosis of human and canine Lyme disease. Results indicated that assays based on the C6 peptide were nonreactive to sera from vaccinated nonexposed animals. The purpose of the present study was to confirm these results in a controlled trial by testing sera from experimentally vaccinated dogs known to be uninfected. Nine specific-pathogen-free beagles were assigned to one of three vaccine groups, each containing three dogs. Each group received one of three commercial Lyme vaccines: RECOMBITEK Lyme (Merial), LymeVax (Fort Dodge Animal Health), and Galaxy Lyme (Schering-Plough Animal Health). Each animal was administered a total of five doses of vaccine over a period of 39 weeks. Serum samples were collected prior to vaccination and then on a weekly basis from weeks 3 to 18 and from weeks 33 to 43. Selected samples were tested by the immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and the Western blot (WB) assay using whole-cell B. burgdorferi antigen extracts, and the results were compared to those obtained with two immunoenzyme-based procedures formatted by using the C6 peptide. Serum specimens from all animals were reactive to the IFA and WB assay at week 5 and became highly reactive following the administration of multiple doses of vaccine. All serum specimens were uniformly nonreactive in the C6 peptide immunoenzyme procedures at all time points throughout the study.

scholarly journals Seroreactivity and Risk Factors Associated with Coxiella burnetii Infection among Cattle Slaughterhouse Workers in South Korea

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 2264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji-Hyuk Park ◽  
Seon Hwang ◽  
Dilaram Acharya ◽  
Seung Lee ◽  
Kyu Hwang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Q Fever ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Related Risk

Q fever, caused by Coxiella burnetii, is a zoonotic disease that is an occupational hazard to people who work in close contact with animals or their carcasses. A nationwide serologic study among cattle slaughterhouse workers who were presumed to be at risk of having C. burnetii infection in South Korea was performed to investigate the seroreactivity of C. burnetii infection and identify related risk factors. Out of 1017 cattle slaughterhouse workers in South Korea, 923 (90.8%) participated in this cross-sectional study. Samples were tested for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM) antibodies against phase II C. burnetii via indirect immunofluorescence assay. The overall seroreactivity, defined as IgG or IgM antibody titer cutoffs ≥1:16, was 9.1% (84/923). Additionally, a significant association was found between the seroreactivity of C. burnetii infection and performing carcass evisceration work (odds ratio, 2.36; 95% confidence interval, 1.39–4.03) in multivariate analysis. To diminish C. burnetii infection, cattle slaughterhouse workers need to take precautions during the evisceration process.

scholarly journals Immunodiagnosis of Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis by Using Culture-Derived Human Isolates †

1998 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1480-1488 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Dana Ravyn ◽  
Jesse L. Goodman ◽  
Carrie B. Kodner ◽  
Deborah K. Westad ◽  
Lisa A. Coleman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Immunoblot Analysis ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
Etiologic Agent ◽  
Immunoglobulin M ◽  
Test Method ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis ◽  
Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis

Human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) is an emerging infection caused by an Ehrlichia species closely related toEhrlichia equi and Ehrlichia phagocytophila. Recent advances in the isolation and cultivation of this organism have allowed us to develop an immunofluorescence assay (IFA), enzyme immunoassay (EIA), and Western immunoblotting (WB) using HL-60 cell culture-derived human isolates. Antibody was detected in sera from culture-confirmed HGE patients by IFA and EIA, and these samples were reactive when analyzed by immunoblot analysis. HGE patient sera had high antibody titers and did not react with uninfected HL-60 cells. When IFA, EIA, and WB were used to analyze sera from healthy donors or those with a range of other disorders, including infections caused byEhrlichia chaffeensis, Rickettsia rickettsii, and Coxiella burnetti, no significant cross-reactivity could be detected by EIA or immunoblot analysis with the exception of two of four serum samples from R. rickettsii-infected patients that were reactive by IFA only. Sera from HGE patients did not significantly cross-react in serologic tests for Borrelia burgdorferi. Using sera from patients previously enrolled in two clinical trials of treatment for early Lyme disease, we evaluated a two-step approach for estimation of the seroprevalence of antibodies reactive with the etiologic agent of HGE. On the basis of the immunoblot assay results for sera from culture-confirmed HGE patients, WB was used to confirm the specificity of the antibody detected by EIA and IFA. EIA was found to be superior to IFA in the ability to detect WB-confirmed antibodies to the HGE agent. When EIA and WB were used, 56 (19.9%) patients with early Lyme disease (n = 281) had either specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) or IgG antibodies; 38 patients (13.5%) had IgM only, 6 (2.1%) had IgG only, and 12 (4.3%) had both IgM and IgG. Therefore, Lyme disease patients are at high potential risk for exposure to Ehrlichia. Analysis by immunoblotting of serial samples from persons with culture-confirmed HGE or patients with Lyme disease and antibodies to the agent of HGE revealed a reproducible pattern of the immune response to specific antigens. These samples confirmed the importance of the 42- to 45-kDa antigens as early, persistent, and specific markers of HGE infection. Other significant immunogenic proteins appear at 20, 21, 28, 30, and 60 kDa. Use of the two-test method of screening by EIA and confirming the specificity by WB appears to offer a sound approach to the clinical immunodiagnosis of HGE.

scholarly journals The incidence, risk factors and predictive nomograms for early death of lung cancer with synchronous brain metastasis: A retrospective study in the SEER database

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heng Shen ◽  
Gang Deng ◽  
Qianxue Chen ◽  
Jin Qian
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Early Death ◽  
Gleason Grade ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Prediction Ability ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Independent Risk Factors

Abstract Background Patients of lung cancer with synchronous brain metastases (LCBM) have a poor prognosis and die within a short period of time. However, little is known about the early mortality and related factors of LCBM patients. Methods Patients with LCBM diagnosed between 2010 and 2016 were enrolled from the surveillance, epidemiology, and end result (SEER). Significant independent prognostic factors were identified by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Nomograms of overall and cancer-specific early death were constructed using independent risk factors. The prediction ability and clinical application value of the model was verified by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and decision curve analyses (DCAs). Results A total of 29902 cases of LCBM patients were enrolled in this study. 44.4% had early deaths, of which 38.2% died of lung cancer. Age, race, gender, Gleason grade, histological type, T stage, N stage, bone metastasis, liver metastasis, surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and marital status were significant independent risk factors of overall and cancer-specific early death and was used to construct the nomogram. The areas under the curve (AUC) of the training group were 0.828 (95%CI: 0.822–0.833) and 0.800 (95%CI: 0.794–0.806) in the model of overall and cancer-specific early death, respectively. The DCA analysis showed that the model had good clinical benefits and utility Conclusions We established a comprehensive nomogram to distinguish early death in lung cancer patients with synchronous brain metastases which may help oncologists develop better treatment strategies, such as clinical trials and hospice care.

scholarly journals Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among healthy blood donors in two locations in Tunisia and associated risk factors

Parasite ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Arwa Lachkhem ◽  
Ibtissem Lahmar ◽  
Lokman Galal ◽  
Oussama Babba ◽  
Habib Mezhoud ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Adjusted Odds Ratio ◽  
Blood Donors ◽  
Protozoan Parasite ◽  
Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
Birth Place ◽  
Independent Risk Factors ◽  
Associated Risk Factors

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that can be transmitted to humans through a variety of routes including blood transfusion. This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection and associated risk factors in healthy blood donors in Tunisia. A total of 800 healthy blood donors from two blood centers in south and coastal Tunisia were analyzed for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and enzyme-linked immunoassays (ELISA), respectively. Structured questionnaires were used to gather information on risk factors for T. gondii infection during collection. The overall seroprevalence was 44.4% of which 352 (44%) and 3 (0.4%) were positive for IgG and both IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that T. gondii seropositivity was significantly associated with the birth place (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.72; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.49–4.94) and the age of the donors (adjusted OR = 4.98; 95% CI: 1.50–16.58) which are independent risk factors. In addition, the variables of hand washing before eating (adjusted OR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.37–0.74) and living in an urban environment (adjusted OR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.13–0.71) are two protective factors. This study provided the first data on the seroprevalence and epidemiology of T. gondii infection in healthy blood donors in Tunisia.

scholarly journals Cardiac Catheterization Procedures in Patients with HIV: A Retrospective Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
Bertrand Ebner ◽  
Louis Vincent ◽  
Jelani Grant ◽  
Claudia Martinez
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiac Catheterization ◽  
Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease ◽  
South Florida ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Cvd Risk Factors ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Significant Difference

With the advent of effective antiretroviral therapies, there has been a decrease in HIV-related mortality, but an increase in non-AIDS-related comorbidities including cardiovascular disease (CVD). We sought to investigate current status of cardiac catheterization (CC) procedures in people with HIV (PWH). This is a retrospective study done at a University Hospital in South Florida between 2017 and 2019. Medical records from 985 PWH indicated that CC was performed in 1.9% of the cases. Of the PWH who underwent CC, 68% were found to have obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Among obstructive CAD cases, PCI was performed in 77% and CABG in 21% of cases; 26% had a repeat procedure and 11% died from non-cardiac causes. When comparing PWH who had CC to those who did not, there was a significantly higher rate of statin use (63% vs. 25%, p < 0.015) and a higher prevalence of low ejection fraction (38% vs. 11%, p = 0.004) among those patients who underwent CC. However, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of hypertension (p = 0.13), HbA1c levels (p = 0.32), CD4 count (p = 0.45) nor in undetectable viral load status (p = 0.75) after controlling for age, sex and BMI. Despite the finding of traditional CVD risk factors among PWH, there were no differences in HIV-related factors among patients requiring CC, supporting the importance of optimization of traditional CVD risk factors in this population.

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