scholarly journals A 10-Year Immunopersistence Study of Hepatitis E Antibodies in Rural Bangladesh

2018 ◽  
Vol 187 (7) ◽  
pp. 1501-1510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brittany L Kmush ◽  
Khalequ Zaman ◽  
Mohammed Yunus ◽  
Parimalendu Saha ◽  
Kenrad E Nelson ◽  
...  

Abstract Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of acute viral hepatitis in Southeast Asia. Several studies have suggested that antibody persistence after HEV infection may be transient, possibly increasing the risk of reinfection and contributing to the frequency of outbreaks in HEV-endemic regions. The specific conditions under which antibodies to HEV are lost, or “seroreversion” occurs, are poorly understood. Here, 100 participants from population-based studies in rural Bangladesh were revisited in 2015, 10 years after a documented HEV infection, to examine long-term antibody persistence. Twenty percent (95% confidence interval: 12.0, 28.0) of the participants no longer had detectable antibodies at follow-up, suggesting that antibodies generally persist for at least a decade after infection in rural Bangladesh. Persons who were seronegative at follow-up were generally younger at infection than those who remained positive (14.4 years vs. 33.6 years; P < 0.0001). This age-dependent antibody loss could partially explain cross-sectional seroprevalence data from Southeast Asia, where children have reportedly low antibody prevalence. The results of this study provide new insight into the immunological persistence of HEV infection in a micronutrient-deficient rural population of South Asia, highlighting the importance of age at infection in the ability to produce long-lasting antibodies against HEV.

2019 ◽  
Vol 103 (11) ◽  
pp. 1605-1609 ◽  
Author(s):  
Preeti Gupta ◽  
Alfred Tau Liang Gan ◽  
Ryan Eyn Kidd Man ◽  
Eva K Fenwick ◽  
Charumathi Sabanayagam ◽  
...  

Background/AimThe relationship between diabetic retinopathy (DR) and cognitive impairment (CI) is unclear due to equivocal findings from cross-sectional studies and a lack of long-term data. In this population-based cohort study, we investigated the longitudinal association between the severity of DR and the incidence of CI.Methods682 participants with diabetes, gradable retinal photographs and no CI at baseline 2004–2011) and complete relevant data at follow-up 2010–2016 from the Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Disease Study were included. CI was assessed using the validated Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT), defined as scores of ≤6 and ≤8 for those with 0–6 and >6 years of formal education, respectively. Six-year incident CI was defined as having no CI at baseline but present at the follow-up visit.ResultsOf the 682 included participants, 483 (70.8%) had no DR and 199 (29.2%) had any DR. Of those with DR, 142 (20.8%) had minimal/mild DR and 57 (8.4%) had moderate or worse DR at baseline. At the follow-up visit, 40 (5.9%) participants had incident CI based on AMT. In multivariate analysis compared with participants without DR, those with any DR had more than twofold increased odds of incident CI (OR (95% CI): 2.32 (1.07 to 5.03)). Participants with moderate or worse DR had threefold increased odds of developing CI (3.41 (1.06 to 11.00)), compared with those with no DR.ConclusionsDR, particularly at the more severe stages, is associated with increased risk of developing CI, independent of vision and other risk factors.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rania Abu Seir ◽  
Kifaya Azmi ◽  
Ayob Hamdan ◽  
Hanan Namouz ◽  
Fuad Jaar ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundPneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs), PCV10 and PCV13, are currently used in different countries. We have previously reported the effectiveness of PCV7, following its introduction in Israel and before PCVs were introduced in Palestine. Here, we extended the study and compared the initial impact of PCV10 to that of PCV7/13.MethodsFour cross-sectional surveys of S. pneumoniae carriage among children <5y through 2009-2014 were preformed among two proximate populations, living under two distinct health authorities, with different vaccination policies. In East-Jerusalem (EJ), PCV7 was implemented in 2009 and replaced by PCV13 in late 2010, while in Palestine (PA), PCV10 was implemented in 2011.ResultsA total of 1267 and 2414 children from EJ and PA were screened. Implementation of both PCV7 (in EJ) and PCV10 (in PA) did not affect overall S. pneumoniae carriage (∼30%), but resulted in a significant decrease in carriage of VT7 strains. In the pre-vaccine era, VT7/VT13 strains consisted 47.0%/62.0% and 41.2%/54.8% of pneumococci in EJ and PA, respectively. A 48.6% and 53.9% decrease was observed within 3 years of PCV7 implementation in EJ (p= 0.001) and PCV10 in PA (p<0.0001), respectively. These vaccination policies also resulted in ∼50% reduction in VT13-added serotypes especially 6A (from 11.0% to 0.0% (EJ) and 9.5% to 4.9% (PA)). Three years after PCV13 implementation in EJ, an additional 67% decrease in VT13 strains was observed, yet an increase in serotype 3 was observed (0.0% to 3.4%, p=0.056). The prevalence of non-VT13 strains increased during the study period from 38% and 45.3% to 89.8% and 70.7%, in EJ and in PA respectively.ConclusionsWithin the first three years following PCV implementation, we observed similar reductions in carriage of VT10 and VT13 strains with either vaccination policies, with no effect on overall carriage. Further follow-up is needed to compare the long-term effects.


VASA ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 291-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soumia Taimour ◽  
Moncef Zarrouk ◽  
Jan Holst ◽  
Olle Melander ◽  
Gunar Engström ◽  
...  

Abstract. Background: Biomarkers reflecting diverse pathophysiological pathways may play an important role in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm (aortic diameter ≥30 mm, AAA), levels of many biomarkers are elevated and correlated to aortic diameter among 65-year-old men undergoing ultrasound (US) screening for AAA. Probands and methods: To evaluate potential relationships between biomarkers and aortic dilatation after long-term follow-up, levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), proneurotensin (PNT), copeptin (CPT), lipoprotein-associated phospholipase 2 (Lp-PLA2), cystatin C (Cyst C), midregional proatrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP), and midregional proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) were measured in 117 subjects (114 [97 %] men) aged 47–49 in a prospective population-based cohort study, and related to aortic diameter at US examination of the aorta after 14–19 years of follow-up. Results: Biomarker levels at baseline did not correlate with aortic diameter after 14–19 years of follow up (CRP [r = 0.153], PNT [r = 0.070], CPT [r = –.156], Lp-PLA2 [r = .024], Cyst C [r = –.015], MR-proANP [r = 0.014], MR-proADM [r = –.117]). Adjusting for age and smoking at baseline in a linear regression model did not reveal any significant correlations. Conclusions: Tested biomarker levels at age 47–49 were not associated with aortic diameter at ultrasound examination after 14–19 years of follow-up. If there are relationships between these biomarkers and aortic dilatation, they are not relevant until closer to AAA diagnosis.


2002 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 229-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kurt A. Heller ◽  
Ralph Reimann

Summary In this paper, conceptual and methodological problems of school program evaluation are discussed. The data were collected in conjunction with a 10 year cross-sectional/longitudinal investigation with partial inclusion of control groups. The experiences and conclusions resulting from this long-term study are revealing not only from the vantage point of the scientific evaluation of new scholastic models, but are also valuable for program evaluation studies in general, particularly in the field of gifted education.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 215013272097774
Author(s):  
Stephanie T. Fulleborn ◽  
Paul F. Crawford ◽  
Jeremy T. Jackson ◽  
Christy J.W. Ledford

Introduction Recent evidence reveals that diabetes and prediabetes (preDM) can be reversed to normal glucose regulation (NGR) through significant weight loss, but how physicians clinically identify the principles of partial and complete remission of diabetes is largely unknown. Methods As part of the cross-sectional omnibus survey conducted in March 2019 at a professional annual meeting in the United States, physician participants answered case scenario questions about the diagnosis and documentation of patients with preDM and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Results Of the registered conference attendees, 387 (72.7%) responded. When presented with the initial case of preDM, 201 physicians (70.8%) selected R73.03 Prediabetes. In a follow-up encounter with improved lab results, 118 physicians (58.7%) indicated that they would not chart any diabetes-related code and 62 (30.8%) would chart preDM again. When presented with the case of T2DM, 256 physicians (90.1%) indicated E11.0–E11.9 Type 2 Diabetes. In the follow-up encounter, only 38 (14.8%) coded a diagnosis reflecting remission from T2DM to prediabetes and 211 (82.4%) charted T2DM. Conclusion Physicians may be reluctant to document diabetes regression as there is little evidence for long-term outcomes and “downgrading” the diagnosis in the medical record may cause screenings to be missed. Documenting this regression in the medical record should communicate the accurate point on the continuum of glucose intolerance with both the patient and the care team.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaro Salosensaari ◽  
Ville Laitinen ◽  
Aki S. Havulinna ◽  
Guillaume Meric ◽  
Susan Cheng ◽  
...  

AbstractThe collection of fecal material and developments in sequencing technologies have enabled standardised and non-invasive gut microbiome profiling. Microbiome composition from several large cohorts have been cross-sectionally linked to various lifestyle factors and diseases. In spite of these advances, prospective associations between microbiome composition and health have remained uncharacterised due to the lack of sufficiently large and representative population cohorts with comprehensive follow-up data. Here, we analyse the long-term association between gut microbiome variation and mortality in a well-phenotyped and representative population cohort from Finland (n = 7211). We report robust taxonomic and functional microbiome signatures related to the Enterobacteriaceae family that are associated with mortality risk during a 15-year follow-up. Our results extend previous cross-sectional studies, and help to establish the basis for examining long-term associations between human gut microbiome composition, incident outcomes, and general health status.


2021 ◽  
pp. jnnp-2021-326043
Author(s):  
Alis Heshmatollah ◽  
Lisanne J. Dommershuijsen ◽  
Lana Fani ◽  
Peter J. Koudstaal ◽  
M. Arfan Ikram ◽  
...  

ObjectiveAlthough knowledge on poststroke cognitive and functional decline is increasing, little is known about the possible decline of these functions before stroke. We determined the long-term trajectories of cognition and daily functioning before and after stroke.MethodsBetween 1990 and 2016, we repeatedly assessed cognition (Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), 15-Word Learning, Letter–Digit Substitution, Stroop, Verbal Fluency, Purdue Pegboard) and basic and instrumental activities of daily living (BADL and IADL) in 14 712 participants within the population-based Rotterdam Study. Incident stroke was assessed through continuous monitoring of medical records until 2018. We matched participants with incident stroke to stroke-free participants (1:3) based on sex and birth year. Trajectories of cognition and daily functioning of patients who had a stroke 10 years before and 10 years after stroke and the corresponding trajectories of stroke-free individuals were constructed using adjusted linear mixed effects models.ResultsDuring a mean follow-up of 12.5±6.8 years, a total of 1662 participants suffered a first-ever stroke. Patients who had a stroke deviated from stroke-free controls up to 10 years before stroke diagnosis in cognition and daily functioning. Significant deviations before stroke were seen in scores of MMSE (6.4 years), Stroop (5.7 years), Purdue Pegboard (3.8 years) and BADL and IADL (2.2 and 3.0 years, respectively).ConclusionPatients who had a stroke have steeper declines in cognition and daily functioning up to 10 years before their first-ever stroke compared with stroke-free individuals. Our findings suggest that accumulating intracerebral pathology already has a clinical impact before stroke.


Author(s):  
Giorgi Kuchukhidze ◽  
Davit Baliashvili ◽  
Natalia Adamashvili ◽  
Ana Kasradze ◽  
Russell R Kempker ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND High rates of loss to follow-up (LFU) exist among patients with multi-drug and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (M/XDR TB); We aimed to identify long-term clinical outcomes of patients who were LFU during second-line TB treatment. METHODS We conducted a follow-up study among adults who received second-line TB treatment in the country of Georgia during 2011-2014 with a final outcome of LFU. We attempted to interview all LFU patients, administered a structured questionnaire and obtained sputum samples. Active TB at follow-up was defined by positive sputum Xpert-TB/RIF or culture. RESULTS Follow-up information was obtained for 461 patients, among these patients, 107 (23%) died and 177 (38%) were contacted, of those contacted 123 (69%) consented to participate and 92 provided sputum samples. Thirteen (14%) had active TB with an estimated infectious time-period for transmitting drug-resistant TB in the community of 480 days (IQR=803). In multivariable analysis, positive culture at the time of LFU was associated with active TB at the time of our study (adjusted risk ratio=13.3, 95% CI: 4.2, 42.2) CONCLUSIONS Nearly one-quarter of patients on second-line TB treatment who were LFU died. Among those LFU evaluated in our study, one in seven remained in the community with positive sputum cultures. To reduce death and transmission of disease, additional strategies are needed to encourage patients to complete treatment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marit Engeseth ◽  
Tone Enden ◽  
Per Morten Sandset ◽  
Hilde Skuterud Wik

Abstract Background Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a frequent chronic complication of proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower limb, but predictors of PTS are not well established. We aimed to examine predictors of PTS in patients with long-term PTS following proximal DVT. Methods During 2006–09, 209 patients with a first time acute upper femoral or iliofemoral DVT were randomized to receive either additional catheter-directed thrombolysis or conventional therapy alone. In 2017, the 170 still-living participants were invited to participate in a cross-sectional follow-up study. In the absence of a gold standard diagnostic test, PTS was defined in line with clinical practice by four mandatory, predefined clinical criteria: 1. An objectively verified DVT; 2. Chronic complaints (> 1 month) in the DVT leg; 3. Complaints appeared after the DVT; and 4. An alternative diagnosis was unlikely. Possible predictors of PTS were identified with multivariate logistic regression. Results Eighty-eight patients (52%) were included 8–10 years following the index DVT, and 44 patients (50%) were diagnosed with PTS by the predefined clinical criteria. Younger age and higher baseline Villalta score were found to be independent predictors of PTS, i.e., OR 0.96 (95% CI, 0.93–0.99), and 1.23 (95% CI, 1.02–1.49), respectively. Lack of iliofemoral patency at six months follow-up was significant in the bivariate analysis, but did not prove to be significant after the multivariate adjustments. Conclusions In long-term follow up after high proximal DVT, younger age and higher Villalta score at DVT diagnosis were independent predictors of PTS.


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