Search results for " outbreak"
showing 10 items of 640 documents
Measles in Italy: Viral strains and crossing borders
2019
In 2017, Italy experienced one of the largest outbreaks of measles in recent years, with 5404 notified cases and 4347 confirmed cases. A further 2029 cases were notified during the first 6 months of 2018, and 1516 of them were laboratory-confirmed. The B3 and D8 genotypes were identified as those responsible for the outbreak. Possible transmission routes can be established by monitoring the circulating measles virus strains in support of the national health authorities to warn people and travellers. Keywords: Outbreak, Measles, Genotype identification, Surveillance
Endothel, vaskuläre Funktion und COVID-19
2020
ZusammenfassungSeit Beginn der COVID-19-Pandemie konnten zahlreiche Erkenntnisse über den 3-phasigen Verlauf einer SARS-CoV-2-Infektion, den Infektionsweg und die Bedeutung einer vaskulären Dysfunktion gewonnen werden. Im Rahmen der Infektion kann es zu einer hyperinflammatorischen Phase mit sekundären Organschäden bis hin zum Tod kommen. Diese schweren Krankheitsverläufe gehen mit einer unkontrollierten Freisetzung von Entzündungsmediatoren und Zytokinen einher. Auf zellulärer Ebene bedingt der membrangebundene ACE-2-Rezeptor die Invasion des Virus und stimuliert über einen 2. Mechanismus die Metalloprotease ADAM17 sowie die Freisetzung von Zytokinen. Vasokonstriktive Veränderungen sowie d…
Lymphopenia in COVID-19: γδ T Cells-Based Therapeutic Opportunities
2021
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection dysregulates the immune system by lymphopenia of B cells, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, and cytotoxic cells such as CD8, γδ T cells, and natural killer (NK) cells. Despite many studies being conducted to better understand the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the immune system, many mechanisms still remain unclear, hindering the development of novel therapeutic approaches and strategies to improve the host’s immune defense. This mini-review summarizes the findings on the role of γδ T cells in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), providing an overview of the excellent anti-viral therapeutic potential of γδ T cells, that had n…
The Potential Role of Direct and Indirect Contacts on Infection Spread in Dairy Farm Networks.
2017
Animals’ exchanges are considered the most effective route of between-farm infectious disease transmission. However, despite being often overlooked, the infection spread due to contaminated equipment, vehicles, or personnel proved to be important for several livestock epidemics. This study investigated the role of indirect contacts in a potential infection spread in the dairy farm network of the Province of Parma (Northern Italy). We built between-farm contact networks using data on cattle exchange (direct contacts), and on-farm visits by veterinarians (indirect contacts). We compared the features of the contact structures by using measures on static and temporal networks. We assessed the d…
Proper assignation of reactivation in a COVID-19 recurrence initially interpreted as a reinfection
2021
A 77-year-old-male (Case R) who had had a previous diagnosis of mild COVID-19 episode, was hospitalized 35 days later. On Day 23 post-admission, he developed a second COVID-19 episode, now severe, and finally died. Initially, Case R COVID-19 recurrence was interpreted as a reinfection due to the exposure to a SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR-positive room-mate. However, whole-genome-sequencing indicated that case R recurrence corresponded to a reactivation of the strain involved in his first episode. Case R reactivation had major consequences, leading to a more severe episode, and causing a subsequent transmission to another two hospitalized patients, one of them with fatal outcome.
Cryptosporidiosis Outbreak in Immunocompetent Children from a Remote Area of French Guiana: CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS OUTBREAK IN AMAZONIAN CHILDREN
2018
International audience; In September 2014, an increase in the number of Cryptosporidium spp. gastrointestinal tract infections was reported over a 6-month period among children living in a remote area along the Maroni River in French Guiana. Children presented gastroenteritis symptoms with Cryptosporidium-positive stools. Questionnaires were administered and stool examinations were controlled 3 months after the onset of symptoms. Data collection included demographics, food consumption, river behavior, symptoms, and outcome. Stool specimens were tested using microscopy and polymerase chain reaction. Samples from the water systems were examined for turbidity and culture for bacteria. Data fro…
Influenza like Illness among Medical Residents Anticipates Influenza Diffusion in General Population: Data from a National Survey among Italian Medic…
2016
The aim of this multicentre study was to assess incidence of influenza like illness (ILI) among Italian medical residents (MRs) during 2011±2012 influenza season, to detect variables associated with ILI and to compare estimated ILI incidence among MRs and general population. A cross-sectional survey was carried out throughout an anonymous questionnaire administered to all MRs attending the post-graduate medical schools of 18 Italian Universities. At the same time an analysis of the ILI incidence in the Italian general population was conducted through the Italian Influenza Surveillance Network. Of a total of 2,506 MRs, 1,191 (47.5%) reported at least one ILI episode. A higher proportion of I…
Adipose-derived stromal stem cells (ASCs) as a new regenerative immediate therapy combating coronavirus (COVID-19)-induced pneumonia.
2020
A coronavirus (HCoV-19) has caused the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Wuhan, China. Preventing and reversing the cytokine storm may be the key to save the patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been shown to possess a comprehensive powerful immunomodulatory function. This study aims to investigate whether MSC transplantation improves the outcome of 7 enrolled patients with COVID-19 pneumonia in Beijing YouAn Hospital, China, from Jan 23, 2020 to Feb 16, 2020. The clinical outcomes, as well as changes of inflammatory and immune function levels and adverse effects of 7 enrolled patients were assessed for 14 days after MSC injection. MSCs …
High-throughput sequencing (HTS) for the analysis of viral populations
2020
The development of High-Throughput Sequencing (HTS) technologies is having a major impact on the genomic analysis of viral populations. Current HTS platforms can capture nucleic acid variation across millions of genes for both selected amplicons and full viral genomes. HTS has already facilitated the discovery of new viruses, hinted new taxonomic classifications and provided a deeper and broader understanding of their diversity, population and genetic structure. Hence, HTS has already replaced standard Sanger sequencing in basic and applied research fields, but the next step is its implementation as a routine technology for the analysis of viruses in clinical settings. The most likely appli…
The usefulness of NEWS2 at day 7 of hospitalization in predicting COVID-19 evolution and as an early endpoint in therapeutic trials
2021
Highlights • There is a need for reliable tools to predict the evolution of hospitalized patients suffering from COVID-19 • The likelihood of unfavourable evolution for patients hospitalized for COVID-19 with a National • Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) below 7 at Day 7 of hospitalization is nearly non-existent • Such a score could thus be used to allow earlier discharge of the patients and as a judgement criterion in therapeutic trials