Seasonal variation of outdoor airborne viable microfungi in Copenhagen,Denmark

Registration of viable microfungi in the Copenhagen outdoor air has been done since 1978 as a routine procedure for a service of the allergic patients.

Of the thirty-four genera of moulds and yeasts recorded Cladosporium, Alternaria, Penicillium, Aspergillus represent 84.1% of the total viable flora.

During the years the registrations have served as an actual information to allergic patients concerning the outdoor load of potential microfungal allergens. However, this long-term recordings may also serve as a database for comparison with actual measurement from the air over potential risk-areas such as open-air compost-plants or open air waste deposits with accumulation of organic debris. In many cases there will be a need for documentation of presence or absence of an additional microbial load.     

Apparent temperature and cause-specific emergency hospital admissions in Greater Copenhagen, Denmark

One of the key climate change factors, temperature, has potentially grave implications for human health. We report the first attempt to investigate the association between the daily 3-hour maximum apparent temperature (Tapp(max)) and respiratory (RD), cardiovascular (CVD), and cerebrovascular (CBD) emergency hospital admissions in Copenhagen, controlling for air pollution. The study period covered 1 January 2002-31 December 2006, stratified in warm and cold periods. A case-crossover design was applied. Susceptibility (effect modification) by age, sex, and socio-economic status was investigated. For an IQR (8°C) increase in the 5-day cumulative average of Tapp(max), a 7% (95% CI: 1%, 13%) increase in the RD admission rate was observed in the warm period whereas an inverse association was found with CVD (-8%, 95% CI: -13%, -4%), and none with CBD. There was no association between the 5-day cumulative average of Tapp(max) during the cold period and any of the cause-specific admissions, except in some susceptible groups: a negative association for RD in the oldest age group and a positive association for CVD in men and the second highest SES group. In conclusion, an increase in Tapp(max) is associated with a slight increase in RD and decrease in CVD admissions during the warmer months.     

Distribution of Dengue Virus Types 1 and 4 in Blood Components from Infected Blood Donors from Puerto Rico

Background

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the four dengue viruses (DENV-1 to 4) that can also be transmitted by blood transfusion and organ transplantation. The distribution of DENV in the components of blood from infected donors is poorly understood.

Methods

We used an in-house TaqMan qRT-PCR assay to test residual samples of plasma, cellular components of whole blood (CCWB), serum and clot specimens from the same collection from blood donors who were DENV-RNA-reactive in a parallel blood safety study. To assess whether DENV RNA detected by TaqMan was associated with infectious virus, DENV infectivity in available samples was determined by culture in mosquito cells.

Results

DENV RNA was detected by TaqMan in all tested blood components, albeit more consistently in the cellular components; 78.8% of CCWB, 73.3% of clots, 86.7% of sera and 41.8% of plasma samples. DENV-1 was detected in 48 plasma and 97 CCWB samples while DENV-4 was detected in 21 plasma and 31 CCWB samples. In mosquito cell cultures, 29/111 (26.1%) plasma and 32/97 (32.7%) CCWB samples were infectious. A subset of samples from 29 donors was separately analyzed to compare DENV viral loads in the available blood components. DENV viral loads did not differ significantly between components and ranged from 3–8 log₁₀ PCR-detectable units/ml.

Conclusions

DENV was present in all tested components from most donors, and viral RNA was not preferentially distributed in any of the tested components. Infectious DENV was also present in similar proportions in cultured plasma, clot and CCWB samples, indicating that these components may serve as a resource when sample sizes are limited. However, these results suggest that the sensitivity of the nucleic acid tests (NAT) for these viruses would not be improved by testing whole blood or components other than plasma.     

Variability of Microcirculation Detected by Blood Pulsation Imaging

The non-invasive assessment of blood flow is invaluable for the diagnostic and monitoring treatment of numerous vascular and neurological diseases. We developed a non-invasive and non-contact method of blood pulsation imaging capable of visualizing and monitoring of the two-dimensional distribution of two key parameters of peripheral blood flow: the blood pulsation amplitude and blood pulsation phase. The method is based on the photoplethysmographic imaging in the reflection mode. In contrast with previous imaging systems we use new algorithm for data processing which allows two dimensional mapping of blood pulsations in large object''s areas after every cardiac cycle. In our study we carried out the occlusion test of the arm and found (i) the extensive variability of 2D-distribution of blood pulsation amplitude from one cardiac cycle to another, and (ii) existence of the adjacent spots to which the blood is asynchronously supplied. These observations show that the method can be used for studying of the multicomponent regulation of peripheral blood circulation. The proposed technique is technologically simple and cost-effective, which makes it applicable for monitoring the peripheral microcirculation in clinical settings for example, in diagnostics or testing the efficiency of new medicines.     

Balancing sensitivity and specificity: sixteen year's of experience from the mammography screening programme in Copenhagen, Denmark

Aim: To report on sensitivity and specificity from 7 invitation rounds of the organised, population-based mammography screening programme started in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1991, and offered biennially to women aged 50–69. Changes over time were related to organisation and technology. Methods: Individualized data were retrieved on outcome of screening mammography, assessment, surgery, and interval cancers. European Guideline performance indicators were calculated, supplemented with false positive and interval cancer rates per 1000 screens. False positive tests were divided into those sorted out at assessment (Type 1) and at surgery (Type 2). Results: In total, 1392 invasive breast cancers/ductal carcinoma in situ cases (DCIS) were diagnosed, giving an overall detection rate of 7.6 per 1000 screens. Of 5178 false positive tests, 4666 were Type 1 and 512 Type 2. The 468 interval cancers constituted 25% of all breast cancers (=screen detected + interval cancer). Almost all outcome measures were well within the desirable level of the European Guidelines. Risk of Type 2 false positive tests was positively associated with detection rate especially at initial screen, and interval cancer rate was negatively associated with detection rate. This association was decoupled after introduction of high resolution ultrasound and stereotactic breast biopsies, resulting in a Benign-to-Malignant-Ratio (BMR) of 1:11.40. Conclusion: Mammography screening is a delicate balance between benefits and risks. Increase in detection rate came at cost of increase in risk of benign biopsies. Introduction of new technologies broke this pattern and a slight increase in detection rate coincided with an unprecedentedly low BMR.     

Distribution of Blood Types of Four Systems and AB0 Incompatibility in Migrants of a Northern Town

The distribution of blood groups of the AB0, Rh, MN, and Kell systems were studied in migrants of a northern town of reproductive age and their newborn babies. Migrants of different ethnic groups exhibited significantly different frequencies of AB0 and Rh phenotypes. Maternal sera were tested for the presence of isoimmune antibodies to determine AB0 compatibility (or incompatibility) in mother–neonate pairs. Parents with blood group combinations resulting in mother–neonate pairs incompatible for erythrocyte antigens were less likely to have offspring with the paternal AB0 phenotype.     

Oscillations and chaos in epidemics: A nonlinear dynamic study of six childhood diseases in Copenhagen, Denmark

Using traditional spectral analysis and recently developed non-linear methods, we analyze the incidence of six childhood diseases in Copenhagen, Denmark. In three cases, measles, mumps, rubella, the dynamics suggest low dimensional chaos. Outbreaks of chicken pox, on the other hand, conform to an annual cycle with noise superimposed. The remaining diseases, pertussis and scarlet fever, remain problematic. The real epidemics are compared with the output of a Monte Carlo analog of the SEIR model for childhood infections. For measles, mumps, rubella, and chicken pox, we find substantial agreement between the model simulations and the data.     

Randomization Modeling to Ascertain Clustering Patterns of Human Papillomavirus Types Detected in Cervicovaginal Samples in the United States

Detection of multiple human papillomavirus (HPV) types in the genital tract is common. Associations among HPV types may impact HPV vaccination modeling and type replacement. The objectives were to determine the distribution of concurrent HPV type infections in cervicovaginal samples and examine type-specific associations. We analyzed HPV genotyping results from 32,245 cervicovaginal specimens collected from women aged 11 to 83 years in the United States from 2001 through 2011. Statistical power was enhanced by combining 6 separate studies. Expected concurrent infection frequencies from a series of permutation models, each with increasing fidelity to the real data, were compared with the observed data. Statistics were computed based on the distributional properties of the randomized data. Concurrent detection occurred more than expected with 0 or ≥3 HPV types and less than expected with 1 and 2 types. Some women bear a disproportionate burden of the HPV type prevalence. Type associations were observed that exceeded multiple hypothesis corrected significance. Multiple HPV types were detected more frequently than expected by chance and associations among particular HPV types were detected. However vaccine-targeted types were not specifically affected, supporting the expectation that current bivalent/quadrivalent HPV vaccination will not result in type replacement with other high-risk types.     

Salmonella Types Isolated from the Gulf of Aarhus Compared with Types from Infected Human Beings, Animals, and Feed Products in Denmark

A 2-year examination for Salmonella was conducted in the gulf of Aarhus, which receives waste water from local industries and from about 100,000 inhabitants. An approximately rectilinear relationship is shown between the most probable number of Escherichia coli and species of Salmonella. Salmonella species can be demonstrated with the same frequency in inlets and outlets of the treatment plants. Data on the distribution of Salmonella types in the gulf of Aarhus and in Oeresound outside Copenhagen (1 million inhabitants) in 1966 and 1968 and the distribution in man, animals, and feeding stuff during the period 1960 to 1968 in Denmark as a whole are shown. This indicates that the classical chain of infection (feed stuff-animals-food-man) is without importance in Denmark, and that a great nlumber of the human cases may be due to increasing communication, because severa of the demonstrated types have been found neither in feed stuff nor in animals in this period. We suggest that E. coli counts, currently used in examination of waters receiving effluents of streams and sewage treatment plants, should be supplemented at intervals with qualitative Salmonella examinations.     

新疆维族妇女感染的HPV型别分布的研究

目的:探讨人乳头瘤状病毒(Human papillomavirus,HPV)在新疆南部维族妇女人群中的型别分布情况.方法:以年龄在30-59岁的新疆伽师县夏普吐勒乡维吾尔族妇女人群为基础进行筛查,签署知情同意书后,采集受试者宫颈脱落细胞,利用PCR和基因芯片技术检测HPVDNA并分型.结果:共2473名妇女入选.HPV总的感染率为9.1%,高危型中HPV-16的感染率最高为6.9%,其他高危型的感染率从高到低依次为HPV-59、HPV-56、HPV-18、HPV-33、HPV-58、HPV-51、HPV-31、HPV-45、HPV-52、HPV-68、HPV-35和HPV-39.低危型中HPV11感染率最高,其他低危型的感染率从高到低依次为HPV-42、HPV-43、HPV-6、HPV-53、HPV-66和HPV-73.HPV-44、HPV-83、HPV-MM4没检测到.多重感染率为34.2%.结论:新疆维吾尔族妇女人群中以HPV16感染为主,其次为HPV59、56、18、33等.HPV59可能是新疆维吾尔族妇女较易感染的类型.体现了新疆维吾尔族妇女感染HPV的特殊性.