scholarly journals High prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in repatriation flights to Greece from three European countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodore Lytras ◽  
George Dellis ◽  
Anastasia Flountzi ◽  
Sophia Hatzianastasiou ◽  
Georgia Nikolopoulou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
European Countries ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Almost All

Passengers on repatriation flights to Greece from the UK, Spain and Turkey were screened with oropharyngeal swabs on arrival for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Despite almost all passengers being asymptomatic, many tested positive (3.6% from the UK, 6.3% from Spain and 6.3% from Turkey), indicating widespread transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in these countries.

Thaumetopoea processionea (oak processionary moth).

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Beverley
Keyword(s):  
Animal Health ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Thaumetopoea Pityocampa ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Processionary Moth ◽  
Thaumetopoea Processionea ◽  
Oak Trees ◽  
Oak Processionary Moth ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Almost All

Abstract T. processionea, commonly known as the oak processionary moth, is a major pest in many European countries and threatens the health of oak trees. The common and scientific names of T. processionea refer to the behaviour of the larvae to form long processions. The larvae cause severe defoliation, reducing the viability of oak trees. They also pose a risk to both human and animal health because they shed poisonous hairs, which can result in severe allergic reactions, amongst other health problems. The moth is native to central and southern Europe but is now present in almost all European countries and also in parts of the Middle East. EPPO issued a Pest Risk Analysis in 2007 for the UK in response to infestations of the species in Europe from 2006. At this time, infestations of the moth were observed on a range of oak (Quercus) species in London. The adult males are strong fliers and can fly long distances, such as from France to the UK (Evans, 2007). Host plants of this pest include many species of deciduous Quercus, and to a much lesser degree, Betula, Carpinus, Castanea, Corylus, Crataegus, Robinia and Fagus; plants commonly found in forests, woods or ornamental plantations in the UK, for example (Evans, 2007). Therefore, areas where these plants are present and offer a suitable climate for pest development are likely to be under threat from T. processionea. Various pines have been reported as hosts, but such records are suspect and are probably the result of confusion with the pine processionary (Thaumetopoea pityocampa).

Welfare State Regimes and Reforms: A Classification of Ten European Countries between 1990 and 2006

2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuela Arcanjo
Keyword(s):  
Welfare State ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Welfare Regimes ◽  
Social Changes ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Welfare State Regimes

As from the beginning of the 1990s, almost all European countries have introduced wide-reaching social changes, among others in eligibility, entitlement, benefits structures and in the sources of financing. In this article, we propose that a consequence of those reforms may have been a repositioning of some countries in the welfare clusters. To test this hypothesis, we apply the two bi-dimensional classifications of Bonoli (1997) and Kautto (2002) to ten countries as representative of different welfare regimes. Our results reveal an interesting repositioning of some countries, especially Portugal, the UK and Sweden that represents evidence of welfare state reforms.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Epidemic and Pattern of Global Distribution

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 125-137
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
United States Of America ◽  
The United States ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Geographical Pattern ◽  
The World ◽  
Global Spread ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Viral Outbreak

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a highly contagious viral infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which originated in Wuhan, China, and spread around the world. We have understudied the epidemiological and geographical pattern of distribution of COVID-19 in five different continents of global spread. An online sample of distribution was successfully recruited from America, Africa, Oceania, Asia, and Europe. The epidemiological curve and pattern of geographical distribution as of 9th and 10th April 2020 were also reviewed and results show that European countries like France, Spain, Italy, the UK and the United States of America indicate an epidemic progression relative to the same curve detected in China in January and February 2020. European countries record more cases since the outbreak of the resulted deadly COVID-19, followed by Asia and America. We call for a vital need for countries to develop effective vaccines and therapeutic combinations to cope with this viral outbreak globally.

scholarly journals Soy product consumption in 10 European countries: the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study

2002 ◽  
Vol 5 (6b) ◽  
pp. 1217-1226 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Keinan-Boker ◽  
PHM Peeters ◽  
AA Mulligan ◽  
C Navarro ◽  
N Slimani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Europe ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Nutritional Factors ◽  
Dietary Recall ◽  
Product Consumption ◽  
Adjusted Means ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Prospective Investigation

AbstractObjective:The aim of this study was to describe the variation of soy product intake in 10 European countries by using a standardised reference dietary method. A subsidiary aim was to characterise the pattern of soy consumption among a sub-group of participants with a habitual health-conscious lifestyle (HHL), i.e. non-meat eaters who are fish eaters, vegetarians and vegans.Design:A 24-hour dietary recall interview (24-HDR) was conducted among a sample (5–12%) of all cohorts (n = 36 900) in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). Study participants totalled 35 955 after exclusion of subjects younger than 35 or older than 74 years of age. Soy products were subdivided into seven sub-groups by similarity. Distribution of consumption and crude and adjusted means of intake were computed per soy product group across countries. Intake of soy products was also investigated among participants with an HHL.Results:In total, 195 men and 486 women reported consuming soy products in the 24-HDR interview. Although soy product intake was generally low across all countries, the highest intake level was observed in the UK, due to over-sampling of a large number of participants with an HHL. The most frequently consumed soy foods were dairy substitutes in the UK and France and beans and sprouts among mid-European countries. For both genders, the sub-group of soy dairy substitutes was consumed in the highest quantities (1.2 g day−1 for men; 1.9 g day−1 for women). Participants with an HHL differed substantially from others with regard to demographic, anthropometric and nutritional factors. They consumed higher quantities of almost all soy product groups.Conclusions:Consumption of soy products is low in centres in Western Europe. Soy dairy substitutes are most frequently consumed. Participants with an HHL form a distinct sub-group with higher consumptions of fruit, vegetables, legumes, cereals and soy products compared with the other participants.

scholarly journals Trends in adolescent drinking across 39 high-income countries: exploring the timing and magnitude of decline

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rakhi Vashishtha ◽  
Amy Pennay ◽  
Paul Dietze ◽  
Melvin Barrientos Marzan ◽  
Robin Room ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
High Income ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Adolescent Drinking ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Recent Trends ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Relative Change

Abstract Background Evidence suggests adolescent alcohol consumption has declined since the turn of the millennium in almost all high-income countries. However, differences in the timing and magnitude of the decline have not been explored across countries. Methods We examined trends in adolescent past month or monthly alcohol consumption prevalence from cross-national or national survey reports for 39 countries and four US territories. For each country, we calculated the magnitude of the decline in youth drinking as the relative change in prevalence from the peak year to the most recent year available. Heat maps were utilized to present the timing and magnitudes of these declines. Results The timing and extent of youth drinking declines have varied markedly across countries. The decline began in the USA before 1999, followed by Northern European countries in the early 2000s; Western Europe and Australasia in the mid-2000s. The steepest declines were found for Northern Europe and the UK, and the shallowest declines were observed in Eastern and Southern European countries. Conclusions Previous analyses of the decline in adolescent drinking have emphasized the wide reach of the changes and their near-coincidence in time. Our analysis points to the other side of the picture that there were limits to the wide reach, and that there was considerable variation in timing. These findings suggest that as well as broader explanations that stretch across countries, efforts to explain recent trends in adolescent drinking should also consider factors specific to countries and regions.

scholarly journals Post-migration acquisition of HIV: Estimates from four European countries, 2007 to 2016

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (33) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zheng Yin ◽  
Alison E Brown ◽  
Brian D Rice ◽  
Gaetano Marrone ◽  
Anders Sönnerborg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Cell Count ◽  
Strong Predictor ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Migrant Communities ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Hiv Acquisition ◽  
Group Sex ◽  
The Uk

Background The assumption that migrants acquire human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) before migration, particularly those from high prevalence areas, is common. Aim We assessed the place of HIV acquisition of migrants diagnosed in four European countries using surveillance data. Methods Using CD4+ T-cell count trajectories modelled to account for seroconversion bias, we estimated infection year of newly HIV-diagnosed migrants residing in the United Kingdom (UK), Belgium, Sweden and Italy with a known arrival year and CD4+ T-cell count at diagnosis. Multivariate analyses identified predictors for post-migration acquisition. Results Between 2007 and 2016, migrants constituted 56% of people newly diagnosed with HIV in the UK, 62% in Belgium, 72% in Sweden and 29% in Italy. Of 23,595 migrants included, 60% were born in Africa and 70% acquired HIV heterosexually. An estimated 9,400 migrants (40%; interquartile range (IQR): 34–59) probably acquired HIV post-migration. This proportion was similar by risk group, sex and region of birth. Time since migration was a strong predictor of post-migration HIV acquisition: 91% (IQR: 87–95) among those arriving 10 or more years prior to diagnosis; 30% (IQR: 21–37) among those 1–5 years prior. Younger age at arrival was a predictor: 15–18 years (81%; IQR: 74–86), 19–25 years (53%; IQR: 45–63), 26–35 years (37%; IQR: 30–46) and 36 years and older (25%; IQR: 21–33). Conclusions Migrants, regardless of origin, sex and exposure to HIV are at risk of acquiring HIV post-migration to Europe. Alongside accessible HIV testing, prevention activities must target migrant communities.

scholarly journals Multiple Mammarenaviruses Circulating in Angolan Rodents

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 982
Author(s):  
Jana Těšíková ◽  
Jarmila Krásová ◽  
Joëlle Goüy de Bellocq
Keyword(s):  
Geographical Area ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Virus Diversity ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Biogeographical Regions ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Rodent Community ◽  
High Virus ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Virus Genomes

Rodents are a speciose group of mammals with strong zoonotic potential. Some parts of Africa are still underexplored for the occurrence of rodent-borne pathogens, despite this high potential. Angola is at the convergence of three major biogeographical regions of sub-Saharan Africa, each harbouring a specific rodent community. This rodent-rich area is, therefore, strategic for studying the diversity and evolution of rodent-borne viruses. In this study we examined 290 small mammals, almost all rodents, for the presence of mammarenavirus and hantavirus RNA. While no hantavirus was detected, we found three rodent species positive for distinct mammarenaviruses with a particularly high prevalence in Namaqua rock rats (Micaelamys namaquensis). We characterised four complete virus genomes, which showed typical mammarenavirus organisation. Phylogenetic and genetic distance analyses revealed: (i) the presence of a significantly divergent strain of Luna virus in Angolan representatives of the ubiquitous Natal multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis), (ii) a novel Okahandja-related virus associated with the Angolan lineage of Micaelamys namaquensis for which we propose the name Bitu virus (BITV) and (iii) the occurrence of a novel Mobala-like mammarenavirus in the grey-bellied pygmy mouse (Mus triton) for which we propose the name Kwanza virus (KWAV). This high virus diversity in a limited host sample size and in a relatively small geographical area supports the idea that Angola is a hotspot for mammarenavirus diversity.

scholarly journals Thromboses and Hemostasis Disorders Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019: The Possible Causal Role of Cross-Reactivity and Immunological Imprinting

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darja Kanduc
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Natural Infection ◽  
Vascular Diseases ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Active Immunization ◽  
Thromboembolic Complications ◽  
Human Proteins ◽  
Almost All

AbstractBy examining the issue of the thromboses and hemostasis disorders associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) through the lens of cross-reactivity, it was found that 60 pentapeptides are shared by SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (gp) and human proteins that— when altered, mutated, deficient or, however, improperly functioning— cause vascular diseases, thromboembolic complications, venous thrombosis, thrombocytopenia, coagulopathies, and bleeding, inter alia. The peptide commonality has a relevant immunological potential as almost all of the shared sequences are present in experimentally validated SARS-CoV-2 spike gp-derived epitopes, thus supporting the possibility of cross-reactions between the viral gp and the thromboses-related human proteins. Moreover, many of the shared peptide sequences are also present in pathogens to which individuals have previously been exposed following natural infection or vaccinal routes, and of which the immune system has stored imprint. Such an immunological memory might rapidly trigger anamnestic secondary cross-reactive responses of extreme affinity and avidity, in this way explaining the thromboembolic adverse events that can associate with SARS-CoV-2 infection or active immunization.

scholarly journals Anti-phospholipid syndrome and COVID-19 thrombosis: connecting the dots

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Moon Ley Tung ◽  
Bryce Tan ◽  
Robin Cherian ◽  
Bharatendu Chandra
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Dysfunction ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Molecular Mimicry ◽  
Thromboembolic Events ◽  
The Past ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Connecting The Dots ◽  
Anti Phospholipid Syndrome

Abstract As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is spreading rapidly worldwide, it has emerged as a leading cause of mortality, resulting in >1 million deaths over the past 10 months. The pathophysiology of COVID-19 remains unclear, posing a great challenge to the medical management of patients. Recent studies have reported an unusually high prevalence of thromboembolic events in COVID-19 patients, although the mechanism remains elusive. Several studies have reported the presence of aPLs in COVID-19 patients. We have noticed similarities between COVID-19 and APS, which is an autoimmune prothrombotic disease that is often associated with an infective aetiology. Molecular mimicry and endothelial dysfunction could plausibly explain the mechanism of thrombogenesis in acquired APS. In this review, we discuss the clinicopathological similarities between COVID-19 and APS, and the potential role of therapeutic targets based on the anti-phospholipid model for COVID-19 disease.

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