scholarly journals Beyond the List: Bioagent-Agnostic Signatures Could Enable a More Flexible and Resilient Biodefense Posture Than an Approach Based on Priority Agent Lists Alone

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1497
Author(s):  
Owen P. Leiser ◽  
Errett C. Hobbs ◽  
Amy C. Sims ◽  
George W. Korch ◽  
Karen L. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Research Community ◽  
Interdisciplinary Teams ◽  
World Health ◽  
Biological Warfare ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Data Analytic ◽  
Current List ◽  
Great Harm

As of 2021, the biothreat policy and research communities organize their efforts around lists of priority agents, which elides consideration of novel pathogens and biotoxins. For example, the Select Agents and Toxins list is composed of agents that historic biological warfare programs had weaponized or that have previously caused great harm during natural outbreaks. Similarly, lists of priority agents promulgated by the World Health Organization and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases are composed of previously known pathogens and biotoxins. To fill this gap, we argue that the research/scientific and biodefense/biosecurity communities should categorize agents based on how they impact their hosts to augment current list-based paradigms. Specifically, we propose integrating the results of multi-omics studies to identify bioagent-agnostic signatures (BASs) of disease—namely, patterns of biomarkers that accurately and reproducibly predict the impacts of infection or intoxication without prior knowledge of the causative agent. Here, we highlight three pathways that investigators might exploit as sources of signals to construct BASs and their applicability to this framework. The research community will need to forge robust interdisciplinary teams to surmount substantial experimental, technical, and data analytic challenges that stand in the way of our long-term vision. However, if successful, our functionality-based BAS model could present a means to more effectively surveil for and treat known and novel agents alike.

scholarly journals Psychometric validation of the Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales among elderly residents in long-term care facilities with joint contractures

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-chang Chen ◽  
Keh-chung Lin ◽  
Chen-Jung Chen ◽  
Shu-Hui Yeh ◽  
Ay-Woan Pan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Chinese Version ◽  
World Health ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Joint Contractures ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Background Joint contractures, which affect activity, participation, and quality of life, are common complications of neurological conditions among elderly residents in long-term care facilities. This study examined the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales in a population with joint contractures. Methods A cross-sectional study design was used. The sample included elderly residents older than 64 years with joint contractures in an important joint who had lived at one of 12 long-term care facilities in Taiwan for more than 6 months (N = 243). The Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales for joint contractures was generated from the English version through five stages: translation, review, back-translation, review by a panel of specialists, and a pretest. Test-retest reliability, internal consistency reliability, construct validity, and criterion validity were evaluated, and the results were compared with those for the World Health Organization Quality of Life scale and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule. Results The Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales had excellent reliability, with a Cronbach α coefficient of 0.975 (mean score, 28.98; standard deviation, 17.34). An exploratory factor analysis showed three factors and one factor with an eigenvalue > 1 that explained 75.176 and 62.83 % of the total variance in the Activity subscale and Participation subscale, respectively. The subscale-to-total scale correlation analysis showed Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.881 for the Activity subscale and 0.843 for the Participation subscale. Pearson’s product-moment correlation revealed that the correlation coefficient (r) between the Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule was 0.770, whereas that for the World Health Organization Quality of Life scale was − 0.553; these values were interpreted as large coefficients. Conclusions The underlying theoretical model of the Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales functions well in Taiwan and has acceptable levels of reliability and validity. However, the Chinese version must be further tested for applicability and generalizability in future studies, preferably with a larger sample and in different clinical domains.

scholarly journals Coronavirus Pandemic: Coping with the Psychological Outcomes, Mental Changes, and the “New Normal” During and After COVID-19

2020 ◽  
pp. 07-19
Author(s):  
Hiba Takieddine ◽  
Samaa AL Tabbah
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
World Health ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
New Normal ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly infectious disease that has rapidly swept across the world, inducing a considerable degree of fear, worry and concern in the population at large and among certain groups in particular, such as older adults, healthcare providers and people with underlying health conditions. Authorities around the world tried to prevent the virus spread by imposing social distancing measures, quarantining citizens and isolating infected persons. Apart from its physical impact, COVID-19 pandemic has brought numerous changes to people’s lives. It changed daily routines, caused worldwide economic crisis, increased unemployment, and placed people under emotional and financial pressures. It affected people psychologically and mentally especially in terms of emotions and cognition. During the acute crisis, everyone to varying degrees experienced fear of infection, somatic concerns, worries about the pandemic’s consequences, loneliness, depression, stress, as well as increased alcohol and drug use. As part of its public health response, the World Health Organization (WHO) has worked with partners to develop a set of new guidelines and messages that can be used to prevent, manage, and support mental and psychological well-being in different vulnerable target groups during the outbreak. Whether people like it or not, the psychological sequela of this pandemic will emerge and persist for months and years to come leading to long-term consequences. New lifestyles and “New Normals” will surely emerge. The main purpose of this review is to summarize the impact of coronavirus pandemic on the psychological and mental health of people around the world especially vulnerable groups. It also presents the relevant intervention actions and recommendations to cope efficiently and effectively with the psychological short-term and long-term outcomes, mental changes, and the “New Normal” during and after COVID-19. Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus, Psychological; Mental; New Normal

scholarly journals A review of post infectious pulmonary fibrosis in the era of COVID-19 and potential treatment options

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (40) ◽  
pp. 37-46
Author(s):  
Medha Ghose ◽  
Maehali Patel
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
World Health ◽  
Potential Treatment ◽  
Pulmonary Injury ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Post Infectious

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a statement characterizing COVID-19 as a pandemic that has, as of October 2020, caused almost 36 million confirmed global cases and over 1 million deaths. One of the long-term complications suggested by researchers is fibrosis. It has been hypothesized that the combination of ongoing pulmonary injury caused by COVID-19 and the inability to promptly repair damage results in interstitial matrix widening and eventual compression and destruction of alveoli and capillaries. Here we focus on pathogenesis, risk factors, different infectious causes of fibrosis along with COVID-19, and potential treatment options that might reduce its effects. Key words: COVID-19, pulmonary fibrosis, mechanism, treatment

Gynecologic Cancer InterGroup (GCIG) Consensus Review for Ovarian Small Cell Cancers

2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (Supp 3) ◽  
pp. S30-S34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Simon Reed ◽  
Patricia Pautier ◽  
Elizabeth Åvall-Lundqvist ◽  
Chel-Hun Choi ◽  
Andreas du Bois ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Poor Prognosis ◽  
Gynecologic Cancer ◽  
Small Cell ◽  
World Health ◽  
Ovarian Cancers ◽  
The World ◽  
Aggressive Tumors ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Long Term Survivors

AbstractSmall cell carcinomas of the ovary are uncommon and account for less than 1% of ovarian cancers. They were first recognized in 1979, and a number of reports appeared during the next 2 decades. They are highly aggressive tumors and usually carry a poor prognosis, although this may reflect that most are diagnosed at advanced stage; however, those diagnosed as stage 1A have only 30% to 40% of long-term survivors. More reports followed extending our experience in the diagnosis and management of these rare cancers. The classification is described below and shown in Table 1, but a revision is expected to be published from the World Health Organization in 2014.

scholarly journals Sexual Violence and Trauma in Childhood: A Case Report Based on Strategic Counseling

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5259
Author(s):  
Valeria Saladino ◽  
Stefano Eleuteri ◽  
Elisa Zamparelli ◽  
Monica Petrilli ◽  
Valeria Verrastro
Keyword(s):  
Case Report ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Sexual Exploitation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Behavioral Strategies ◽  
Counseling Process ◽  
The World ◽  
Victims Of Violence ◽  
Health Organization

Children and adolescents are too often victims of sexual abuse and harassment. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 150 million girls and 73 million children <18 have been victims of violence and sexual exploitation during their childhood. Data show that females are more likely to be a victim of abuse and violence than males (20% vs. 5–10%). Such abuses lead to long-term psychophysical and relational consequences and victims are often afraid of asking for support from both parents and professionals. This case report shows the story of a 17-year-old adolescent, Sara, involved by her mother in a strategic counseling process, to solve BDSM-type sexual addiction (slavery and discipline, domination and submission, sadism and masochism), self-aggressive behavior, and alcohol abuse issues. The strategic counseling process is structured in 15 sessions and was based on problem-solving techniques and corrective behavioral strategies. During the sessions, it emerged that Sara had been a victim of sexual violence at the age of 6 and that she had never talked about the rape with anyone. At the age of 12, she began to experience social anxiety and shame, feelings that led her to use alcohol and seek violent sexual partners and bondage relationships. During the counseling sessions, Sara elaborated on her trauma, becoming more aware of her resources and her desires, and she learned to manage the sense of guilt and shame associated with the violence suffered, through alternative strategies. At the end of the process, Sara normalized her relationship with sex and alcohol, regaining her identity.

scholarly journals Psychometric validation of the Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales among elderly residents in long-term care facilities with joint contractures

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-Chang Chen ◽  
Keh-Chung Lin ◽  
Shu-Hui Yeh ◽  
Ay-Woan Pan ◽  
Hao-Ling Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Chinese Version ◽  
World Health ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Joint Contractures ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Background: Joint contractures, which affect activity, participation, and quality of life, are common complications of neurological conditions among elderly residents in long-term care facilities. The aim of this study is to examine the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales in a population with joint contractures. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. The sample included elderly residents older than 64 years with joint contractures in an important joint who had lived at one of 12 long-term care facilities in Taiwan for more than 6 months (N = 243). The Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales of joint contractures was generated in 5 stages: translation, review, back-translation, review by a panel of specialists, and a pretest. Test-retest reliability, internal consistency reliability, construct validity, and criterion validity were evaluated, and the results were compared with those for the World Health Organization Quality of Life scale and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule.Results: The Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales had excellent reliability with a Cronbach’s α coefficient of .975 (M = 28.98; SD = 17.34). An exploratory factor analysis showed 3 factors and 1 factor with an eigenvalue > 1 that explained 75.176% and 62.83% of the total variance in the Activity subscale and Participation subscale, respectively. The subscale-to-total scale correlation analysis showed a Pearson correlation coefficient of .881 for the Activity subscale and .843 for the Participation subscale. Pearson’s product-moment correlation revealed that the correlation coefficient (r) between the Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule was .770, and that for the World Health Organization Quality of Life scale was -.553; these values were interpreted as large coefficients. Conclusions: The underlying theoretical model of the Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales functions well in Taiwan, and it has acceptable levels of reliability and validity. However, the Chinese version needs to be further tested for applicability and generalizability in future studies, preferably with a larger sample and in different clinical domains.Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2000030413. Registered 1 March 2020, http://www.chictr.org.cn/usercenter.aspx

scholarly journals Epidemiologic and Clinic Characteristics of the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Hospitalized Patients from Galați County

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (18) ◽  
pp. 4210
Author(s):  
Mihaela-Camelia Vasile ◽  
Anca-Adriana Arbune ◽  
Gabriela Lupasteanu ◽  
Constantin-Marinel Vlase ◽  
George-Cosmin Popovici ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cumulative Risk ◽  
Late Presentation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Immune Senescence ◽  
Term Care ◽  
High Death Rate ◽  
The World ◽  
High Death ◽  
Health Organization

The first cases of COVID-19 were reported in Wuhan Province, in China, in December 2019, spreading rapidly around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared this pandemic at the beginning of March 2020 and, at the same time, the first patient in Galați County was confirmed. Both the global and the regional epidemiological evolutions have taken place with variations in incidence, which have been graphically recorded in several “waves”. We conducted a retrospective study on cases of COVID-19 infection, hospitalized between March and June 2020 in an infectious diseases clinic from Galati, in the south-east of Romania. The present paper describes the “first-wave” regional epidemiological and clinical-biological features and the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic. A poor outcome was related to late presentation to hospital, old age, and over six comorbid conditions including Alzheimer’s disease. The high death rate among people from long-term care institutions is the consequence of the cumulative risk factors associated with immune senescence and inflammation, while COVID-19 is more likely a contributing factor to lower life expectancy.

scholarly journals Long Term Effect of COVID-19 on the Brain: Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Shreerag Devkumar ◽  
Rakesh Kumar Jha ◽  
Dhruba Hari Chandi
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Severe Pneumonia ◽  
World Health ◽  
Clinical Disorder ◽  
Corona Virus ◽  
Long Term Effect ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Corona viruses (CoVs) are well-covered RNA viruses that cause enteric and respiratory infections in humans and animals. Many human CoVs have recently gained global interest because of their lethal power and high contagious power. SARS-CoV-2, or COVID-19, is a pathogenic coV that first appeared in Wuhan, China. Corona virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) created by SARS-CoV-2, has been declared as pandemic by the World Health Organization since March 11, 2020. The epidemic started in Wuhan and spread rapidly around the world. Corona virus is facing a major epidemic: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). SARS-CoV-2 is a virus closely related to SARS. Corona virus (COVID-19) is caused by SARS-CoV-2 VIRUS, a complex clinical disorder characterized by severe pneumonia and acute respiratory stress syndrome. Serious and neurological disorders, such as encephalitis, coma, fever, epilepsy, and Guillain-Barré syndrome, are more common in cases of COVID-19. In addition, chronic autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases may occur in SARS-CoV-2 immunopathology and colonization of intestinal and central nervous system, as well as systemic inflammatory response during COVID-19. Parkinson's disease is a common neurodegenerative condition that causes the development of motor and non-motor symptoms.

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