scholarly journals Assessing Diazinon Pollution in the Three Major Rivers Flowing into the Caspian Sea (Iran)

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 335
Author(s):  
Reza Dahmardeh Behrooz ◽  
Abbas Esmaili-sari ◽  
Magdalena Urbaniak ◽  
Paromita Chakraborty
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Organophosphorus Pesticides ◽  
Aquatic Organisms ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Caspian Sea ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
Haraz River ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Medium Risk

The aim of this study was to investigate the seasonal and spatial variations in the concentrations of a widely used organophosphorous pesticide (OPP), diazinon, and the associated risk posed by this OPP in the surface water from the three largest rivers located in the northern province of Iran: the Haraz, the Talar and the Babolrood rivers. These rivers are located in the agriculture province of Mazandaran, and are exposed to high doses of organophosphorus pesticides, especially diazinon. The concentration of diazinon was determined using gas chromatography, while the potential risk posed by diazinon was elucidated using a Risk Quotient (RQ) calculated for general (RQm) and worst-case (RQex) scenarios. The obtained results demonstrated that the average diazinon concentrations ranged from 41 ± 76 ng/L in the Talar River and 57 ± 116 ng/L in the Haraz River, to 76.5 ± 145 ng/L in the Babolrood River, with a significant difference noted between summer and autumn seasons for all three rivers. For some stations, the concentration of diazinon is higher than the standard guidelines of Australian/New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (FMWQ) and the United States Criteria Maximum Concentration (CMC). The calculated RQs indicated a medium risk of diazinon, RQm = 0.73 and RQex = 2.27, in the Talar River; RQm = 1.02 and RQex = 2.49 in the Haraz River; and RQm = 1.35 and RQex = 4.54 in the Babolrood River. The overall exposure of diazinon was defined to have a high risk (RQm and RQex > 1); however, the summer sampling revealed a high risk (RQm and RQex > 1), while the autumn had a medium risk (RQm and RQex < 1). The obtained results revealed not only elevated concentrations of diazinon in the studied rivers but most importantly the high risk posed by this OPP for the aquatic organisms and the wellbeing of the whole river ecosystem. The current study showed that development and implementation of appropriate standards and regulations toward diazinon in countries such as Iran are required to reduce the pollution levels and risks related to elevated concentrations of the studied pesticide.

scholarly journals First Mildly Ill, Nonhospitalized Case of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Without Viral Transmission in the United States—Maricopa County, Arizona, 2020

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (15) ◽  
pp. 807-812 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah E Scott ◽  
Karen Zabel ◽  
Jennifer Collins ◽  
Katherine C Hobbs ◽  
Melissa J Kretschmer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
High Risk ◽  
The United States ◽  
Asymptomatic Infection ◽  
Illness Severity ◽  
Risk Exposure ◽  
Intimate Contact ◽  
Maricopa County ◽  
Medium Risk ◽  
County Resident

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes a range of illness severity. Mild illness has been reported, but whether illness severity correlates with infectivity is unknown. We describe the public health investigation of a mildly ill, nonhospitalized COVID-19 case who traveled to China. Methods The case was a Maricopa County resident with multiple severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)–positive specimens collected on 22 January 2020. Contacts were persons exposed to the case on or after the day before case diagnostic specimen collection. Contacts were monitored for 14 days after last known exposure. High-risk contacts had close, prolonged case contact (≥ 10 minutes within 2 m). Medium-risk contacts wore all US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention–recommended personal protective equipment during interactions. Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal (NP/OP) specimens were collected from the case and high-risk contacts and tested for SARS-CoV-2. Results Paired case NP/OP specimens were collected for SARS-CoV-2 testing at 11 time points. In 8 pairs (73%), ≥ 1 specimen tested positive or indeterminate, and in 3 pairs (27%) both tested negative. Specimens collected 18 days after diagnosis tested positive. Sixteen contacts were identified; 11 (69%) had high-risk exposure, including 1 intimate contact, and 5 (31%) had medium-risk exposure. In total, 35 high-risk contact NP/OP specimens were collected for SARS-CoV-2 testing; all 35 pairs (100%) tested negative. Conclusions This report demonstrates that SARS-CoV-2 infection can cause mild illness and result in positive tests for up to 18 days after diagnosis, without evidence of transmission to close contacts. These data might inform public health strategies to manage individuals with asymptomatic infection or mild illness.

scholarly journals Association of APOL1 Genotypes With Measures of Microvascular and Endothelial Function, and Blood Pressure in MESA

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (17) ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa K. Chen ◽  
Ronit Katz ◽  
Michelle M. Estrella ◽  
Wendy S. Post ◽  
Holly Kramer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Endothelial Function ◽  
Aortic Distensibility ◽  
The United States ◽  
Flow Mediated Dilation ◽  
Arterial Elasticity ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Significant Difference

Background APOL1 high‐risk genotypes are associated with increased risk for hypertension‐attributed kidney disease among Black adults in the United States. Biopsy studies show differences in kidney vasculature by APOL1 status; less is known about the variants' associations with systemic vascular and endothelial function. Whether APOL1 risk variants are associated with blood pressure (BP) is also uncertain. Methods and Results Using linear regression, we examined cross‐sectional associations of APOL1 risk genotypes (high=2 risk alleles, low=0 or 1 risk allele) with subclinical measures of vascular function (small arterial elasticity, n=1586; large arterial elasticity, n=1586; ascending aortic distensibility, n=985) and endothelial function (flow‐mediated dilation, n=777). Using linear mixed‐effects models, we studied longitudinal associations of APOL1 risk genotypes with BP (n=1619), adjusting for age, sex, and African ancestry. Among 1619 (12% APOL1 high‐risk) Black participants in MESA (Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis), mean age was 62 years old, 58% had hypertension, and mean systolic BP was 131 mm Hg at baseline. At examination 1 (2000–2002), there was no significant difference in small arterial elasticity, large arterial elasticity, ascending aortic distensibility, or flow‐mediated dilation in participants with APOL1 high‐ versus low‐risk genotypes ( P >0.05 for all). Over a mean follow‐up of 7.8 years, relative annual changes in systolic and diastolic BP and pulse pressure did not differ significantly by APOL1 risk status (between‐group differences of −0.20, −0.14, and −0.25, respectively; P >0.05 for all). Conclusions Among Black participants in MESA, APOL1 high‐risk genotypes were not associated with subclinical vascular and endothelial function or BP trajectories. The relationship of APOL1 with kidney disease may be intrinsic to the kidney rather than through peripheral effects on systemic vasculature or BP.

scholarly journals Predictors of Latent Tuberculosis Infection Treatment After Introduction of a New Regimen: A Retrospective Cohort Study at an Inner City Clinic

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aliya Yamin ◽  
Ethan Bornstein ◽  
Rachel Hensel ◽  
Omar Mohamed ◽  
Russell R. Kempker
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis ◽  
Treatment Completion ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
The United States ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Completion Rates ◽  
Ltbi Treatment ◽  
Stable Housing ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Background.  Despite the low and decreasing prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) in the United States, there remain certain high-risk groups with high incidence rates. The targeted screening and treatment of latent TB infection (LTBI) among these high-risk groups are needed to achieve TB elimination; however, by most accounts, LTBI treatment completion rates remain low. Methods.  We retrospectively studied all patients accepting treatment for LTBI at the Fulton County Health Department TB clinic over 2 years. Medical chart abstraction was performed to collect information on sociodemographics, medical, and LTBI treatment history. Treatment completion was defined as finishing ≥88% of the prescribed regimen. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of treatment completion. Results.  Among 547 adults offered LTBI treatment, 424 (78%) accepted treatment and 298 of 424 (70%) completed treatment. The median age was 42 years, most patients were black (77%), and close to one third did not have stable housing. No significant difference in completion rates was found between the 3 regimens of 9 months isoniazid (65%), 4 months rifampin (71%), and 3 months of weekly rifapentine and isoniazid (79%). In multivariate analysis, having stable housing increased the odds of finishing treatment, whereas tobacco use and an adverse event decreased the odds. Conclusion.  Utilizing comprehensive case management, we demonstrated high rates of LTBI treatment completion, including among those receiving a 3-month regimen. Completion rates were higher among persons with stable housing, and this finding highlights the need to develop strategies that will improve adherence among homeless persons.

A Comparison of the Roche Cobas HPV Test With the Hybrid Capture 2 Test for the Detection of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Genotypes

2016 ◽  
Vol 140 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelique W. Levi ◽  
Jane I. Bernstein ◽  
Pei Hui ◽  
Kara Duch ◽  
Kevin Schofield ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Papillomavirus ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Linear Array ◽  
The United States ◽  
Hybrid Capture ◽  
Human Papillomavirus Testing ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Hybrid Capture 2 ◽  
Papillomavirus Dna ◽  
Roche Cobas

Context All Food and Drug Administration–approved methods in the United States for human papillomavirus testing including the Hybrid Capture 2 human papillomavirus assay and the Roche cobas human papillomavirus test are approved for cytology specimens collected into ThinPrep media but not for specimens collected into SurePath solution. Objective To compare the performance of the Roche cobas and Hybrid Capture 2 tests for the detection of high-risk human papillomavirus using both ThinPrep and SurePath preparations as part of a validation study. Design One thousand three hundred seventy-one liquid-based cytology samples, including 1122 SurePath and 249 ThinPrep specimens, were tested for high-risk human papillomavirus DNA using the Roche cobas human papillomavirus test and the Hybrid Capture 2 human papillomavirus assay. For cases with discrepant results, confirmatory testing was performed using Linear Array human papillomavirus testing. Results One hundred and fifty-six (11.38%) and 184 (13.42%) of the 1371 specimens tested positive for high-risk human papillomavirus DNA using the Hybrid Capture 2 human papillomavirus assay and Roche cobas human papillomavirus assay, respectively. In addition, 1289 (94.0%) of 1371 specimens demonstrated concordant high-risk human papillomavirus results with a κ value of 0.72 (95% confidence interval, 065–0.78). There was no statistically significant difference in the percentage of positive high-risk human papillomavirus results between the 2 liquid-based preparations with either assay. Discordant results between the 2 assays were noted in 82 of 1371 cases (6%). Twenty-seven of 82 cases (32.9%) were Hybrid Capture 2 positive/Roche cobas negative and 55 of 82 cases (67.1%) were Roche cobas positive/Hybrid Capture 2 negative. Two of 20 Hybrid Capture 2–positive/Roche cobas–negative cases (10%) and 26 of 37 Roche cobas–positive/Hybrid Capture 2–negative cases (70%) tested positive for high-risk human papillomavirus by Linear Array. Conclusions Both assays showed good agreement and excellent specificity with either ThinPrep or SurePath preparations. The number of discordant results was relatively small. The performance of both assays was similar for ThinPrep specimens, but the Roche cobas test demonstrated higher sensitivity with SurePath specimens.

scholarly journals A Comparison of Cut Points for Measuring Risk Factors for Adolescent Substance Use and Antisocial Behaviors in the U.S. and Colombia

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 470
Author(s):  
Eric C. Brown ◽  
Pablo Montero-Zamora ◽  
Francisco Cardozo-Macías ◽  
María Fernanda Reyes-Rodríguez ◽  
John S. Briney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
The United States ◽  
Adolescent Substance Use ◽  
Adolescent Substance ◽  
Cut Points ◽  
Essential Question ◽  
Significant Difference

As the identification and targeting of salient risk factors for adolescent substance use become more widely used globally, an essential question arises as to whether U.S.-based cut points in the distributions of these risk factors that identify “high” risk can be used validly in other countries as well. This study examined proportions of youth at “high” risk using different empirically derived cut points in the distributions of 18 measured risk factors. Data were obtained from large-scale samples of adolescents in Colombia and the United States. Results indicated that significant (p < 0.05) differences in the proportions of “high” risk youth were found in 38.9% of risk factors for 6th graders, 61.1% for 8th graders, and 66.6% for 10th graders. Colombian-based cut points for determining the proportion of Colombian youth at “high” risk were preferable to U.S.-based cut points in almost all comparisons that exhibited a significant difference. Our findings suggest that observed differences were related to the type of risk factor (e.g., drug specific vs. non-drug specific). Findings from this study demonstrate the need for collecting large-scale national data on risk factors for adolescent substance use and developing country-specific cut points based on the distributions of these measures to avoid misidentification of youth at “high” risk.

scholarly journals Prognostic impact of heart mate risk score among elderly heart failure patients with non-responder for cardiac resynchronization therapy

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Yoshimura ◽  
N Kikuchi ◽  
A Suzuki ◽  
S Saito ◽  
H Hattori ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Risk Group ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
High Risk Group ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Cardiac Resynchronization ◽  
Resynchronization Therapy ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Medium Risk ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Background For patients with severe heart failure (HF) who are not eligible for transplantation, there is destination therapy (DT) that uses a continuous flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Implantation of LVAD improves HF and can be expected to improve the prognosis of life. Elderly refractory HF patients with non-responders for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) may benefit from LVAD as DT. In considering indications of LVAD as DT for the elderly in Japan, conditions such as a low risk of Heart Mate Risk Score (HMRS) have been raised. HMRS has been shown to correlate with mortality in the cohort of LVAD patients enrolled in the Heartmate II trials. Purpose Because elderly CRT non-responder refractory HF patients are not indicated for transplantation and may benefit from LVAD as DT in Japan, we aimed to investigate the HMRS and prognosis among elderly CRT non-responders. Methods Of 467 patients underwent CRT implantation between 2000 and 2015, 157 were aged 65–75 years old. Of which 59 patients who could be determined to be non-responders based on echocardiographic data were included in this study. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality, the secondary was readmission for HF and appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy. Results The patients' mean age was 68 years, males were 71%. The mean serum creatinine value was 1.1 mg/dl, albumin was 3.8 mg/dl, and BNP was 383 pg/ml. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 26%. The subjects were divided into 3 groups according to HMRS. The average of HMRS was 2.2, the low-risk group included 17 (29%) patients, the medium was 22 (37%), and the high was 20 (34%). There was no significant difference in age, LVEF, BNP, and NYHA functional classification at the time of CRT implantation between three groups. In the low-risk group, creatinine and INR were significantly lower, and albumin was significantly higher compared to the high-risk group. BNP tended to be lower in the low-risk group, but there was no significant difference. The mortality rate by HMRS was 12% in the low-risk group, 36% in the medium-risk group, and 50% in the high-risk group. On the Kaplan-Meier analysis, the low-risk group had a significantly lower mortality rate than the high-risk group (Figure). Furthermore, focusing on HF readmission, the rate of readmission was 59% in the low-risk group, 86% in the medium -risk group, and 65% in the high-risk group, and there was no significant difference between three groups. There was also no significant difference in appropriate ICD therapy between three groups. Conclusion Approximately 30% of elderly non-responders of CRT are in the low-risk group by HMRS and their mortality was lower than that of the other two groups. These elderly CRT non-responder patients might be considered a candidate for DT in Japan. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Harmonization of the human resource audit in the field of international practice

2020 ◽  
pp. 25-32
Author(s):  
N.S. Bieliaieva
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Workforce Planning ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Management Control ◽  
Audit Risk ◽  
Service Contracts ◽  
Medium Risk ◽  
Talent Acquisition

The article explores the possibilities and problems of the process of harmonization of the HR audit in the field of international practice, taking into account the specifics of the market environment of Ukraine. The views of different authors on the problem of HR auditing were investigated. The idea was justified that the harmonization of accounting and financial reporting of economic entities is closely linked with the globalization of economic processes and the economy as a whole on a global scale, the processes of informatisation and digitalization of society, the same as for HR processes. During considering the concept of “HR audit” it should not be forgetting about the legislative component — HR audit is aimed, inter alia, at identifying violations with the law for timely management of weaknesses in the policy of the enterprise in the field of labor. Categorization of observations by impact of importance (high-risk, medium-risk, low-risk — categorization) was investigated; examples for high-risk observations (on the example of: workforce planning, service contract modalities) and medium-risk (on the example of: recruitment process governance, alignment of strategy and work plans, HR functional capacity in Country Offices, talent acquisition in Cos, recruitment processes in Cos, employee on-boarding, training and separation, national non-staff salary scales and pay adjustments, staffing and structure review exercises, social security transfers to service contracts, automation, information and data management, oversight of HR functions in Cos) are given in consideration with agreed actions of HRM and auditor. The ratings (satisfactory, partially satisfactory or unsatisfactory) of an HR audit that are part of the system of evaluating the adequacy of company’s audit risk management, control and governance processes were investigated. The point that the human resource auditing is something that many companies do annually, just as they audit their financial information (despite of their field of activity) is overlined in the article. The harmonization of the HR audit in the field of international practice is a process of unification of methods and principles of auditing in the form of standards is observed.

Personalized stratification of back to work risk amidst COVID-19: A machine learning approach (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carson Lam ◽  
Jacob Calvert ◽  
Gina Barnes ◽  
Emily Pellegrini ◽  
Anna Lynn-Palevsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Learning Algorithm ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
High Specificity ◽  
Population Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Available P ◽  
Severe Illness

BACKGROUND In the wake of COVID-19, the United States has developed a three stage plan to outline the parameters to determine when states may reopen businesses and ease travel restrictions. The guidelines also identify subpopulations of Americans that should continue to stay at home due to being at high risk for severe disease should they contract COVID-19. These guidelines were based on population level demographics, rather than individual-level risk factors. As such, they may misidentify individuals at high risk for severe illness and who should therefore not return to work until vaccination or widespread serological testing is available. OBJECTIVE This study evaluated a machine learning algorithm for the prediction of serious illness due to COVID-19 using inpatient data collected from electronic health records. METHODS The algorithm was trained to identify patients for whom a diagnosis of COVID-19 was likely to result in hospitalization, and compared against four U.S policy-based criteria: age over 65, having a serious underlying health condition, age over 65 or having a serious underlying health condition, and age over 65 and having a serious underlying health condition. RESULTS This algorithm identified 80% of patients at risk for hospitalization due to COVID-19, versus at most 62% that are identified by government guidelines. The algorithm also achieved a high specificity of 95%, outperforming government guidelines. CONCLUSIONS This algorithm may help to enable a broad reopening of the American economy while ensuring that patients at high risk for serious disease remain home until vaccination and testing become available.

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