scholarly journals Clinical and epidemiological investigation of a fatal anthrax case in China

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (02) ◽  
pp. 214-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haiying Chen ◽  
Wanguo Bao ◽  
Yang Wang ◽  
Kaiyu Zhang ◽  
Feng Wang
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Anthracis ◽  
Epidemiological Investigation ◽  
Disease Manifestation ◽  
Outbreak Management ◽  
Underdeveloped Countries ◽  
The Past ◽  
Agrarian Communities ◽  
Changchun City ◽  
Bacterium Bacillus ◽  
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Anthrax is a recessive infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, and is primarily a zoonotic disease. Until recently, Bacillus anthracis infections were relatively infrequent and confined to agrarian communities in underdeveloped countries. No anthrax cases were reported in Changchun City in the past few decades until a male patient from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region presented the anthrax disease manifestation. This paper describes an anthrax patient’s diagnosis, isolation and treatment which involved institutions in two different Chinese provinces; the foci epidemiological investigation alongside with the outbreak management process, which is of great significance to control the spread of the recessive infection is also described.

scholarly journals A Rare Glimpse into the Past of the Anthrax Pathogen Bacillus anthracis

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 298
Author(s):  
Peter Braun ◽  
Mandy Knüpfer ◽  
Markus Antwerpen ◽  
Dagmar Triebel ◽  
Gregor Grass
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Anthracis ◽  
Central Europe ◽  
Causative Agent ◽  
Genomic Sequencing ◽  
Genetic Lineage ◽  
Isolation Method ◽  
High Quality ◽  
The Past ◽  
Bacterium Bacillus ◽  
Europe Today

The bacterium Bacillus anthracis is the causative agent of the zoonotic disease anthrax. While genomics of extant B. anthracis isolates established in-depth phylogenomic relationships, there is scarce information on the historic genomics of the pathogen. Here, we characterized the oldest documented B. anthracis specimen. The inactive 142-year-old material originated from a bovine diseased in Chemnitz (Germany) in 1878 and is contemporary with the seminal studies of Robert Koch on B. anthracis. A specifically developed isolation method yielded high-quality DNA from this specimen for genomic sequencing. The bacterial chromosome featuring 242 unique base-characters placed it into a major phylogenetic clade of B. anthracis (B.Branch CNEVA), which is typical for central Europe today. Our results support the notion that the CNEVA-clade represents part of the indigenous genetic lineage of B. anthracis in this part of Europe. This work emphasizes the value of historic specimens as precious resources for reconstructing the past phylogeny of the anthrax pathogen.

China’s evolving humanitarian diplomacy: Evidence from China’s disaster-related aid to Nepal

2021 ◽  
pp. 205789112110192
Author(s):  
Peng Lin
Keyword(s):  
Humanitarian Assistance ◽  
Underdeveloped Countries ◽  
The Past ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
High Degree ◽  
The Belt And Road ◽  
Post Disaster ◽  
Effective Channel ◽  
India And China

Engaging in disaster relief and, more recently, post-disaster reconstruction in developing countries with critical geoeconomic and geopolitical interests has become an increasingly regular and institutionalized component of China’s evolving humanitarian diplomacy over the past decade. Drawn upon novel evidence from China’s growing disaster-related humanitarian assistance to Nepal and unprecedented engagement in Nepal’s long-term post-earthquake rebuild since 2015, this article explores the dynamics behind China’s transforming humanitarian diplomacy. The findings of this article suggest that: 1) geopolitical and geoeconomic interests, represented by the Belt-and-Road Initiative, serve as a critical driver for the development of China’s bilateral partnership with other countries in the disaster sector; 2) long-term cooperation with underdeveloped countries like Nepal provides China, both government and non-state actors (NSAs), with an effective channel to engage with the international humanitarian community and to internalize humanitarian norms; 3) although humanitarian missions remain contingent and instrumental in China’s international relations, they are laying the foundations for a specialized humanitarian policy area with more relevant normative assets, more professional actors, and more sophisticated institutions; 4) NSAs, represented by private foundations and civil NGOs, have played active roles in the state-dominant cooperation in disaster management. This article also suggests that intensified geopolitical confrontations, such as military clashes between India and China along their disputed borders over the past year, would lead to a high degree of politicization of humanitarian missions and partnerships counter-conducive to humanitarian goals.

scholarly journals Towards Developing Innovation Management Framework (IMF) for ICT Organizations at Pakistan

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eram Abbasi ◽  
Imran Amin ◽  
Shama Siddiqui
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Innovation Management ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Management Framework ◽  
Underdeveloped Countries ◽  
The Past ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Industry Culture ◽  
Developed World

Abstract Various aspects of innovation management have been discussed in literature over the past few decades. Most of the innovation management frameworks have been formulated by undertaking studies in the developed world and lack the industry / culture specific focus. In this paper we revisit the generic innovation management studies to develop an innovation management framework for highlighting the factors affecting innovation specifically at the ICT sector of Pakistan. A detailed literature review has been conducted to identify the factors included in the past innovation management models. To identify the factors specific for Pakistan, senior level professionals, working at the Pakistani ICT organizations were interviewed. A comparative analysis of the innovation management frameworks for Pakistan against those previously found in literature revealed interesting similarities and differences. Based on the study findings, an innovation management framework is developed that highlights the present factors which are important for innovation in the ICT sector for Pakistan. This framework can be used by Pakistan and other underdeveloped countries for improving their innovation in ICT sectors in particular and other sectors in general.

The Financing of Public Investment in Communist China

1961 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-48
Author(s):  
Feng-Hwa Mah
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Public Investment ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Crucial Importance ◽  
Investment Funds ◽  
Underdeveloped Countries ◽  
The Past ◽  
Communist China ◽  
Substantial Investment ◽  
Two Alternatives

For underdeveloped countries bent on accelerating their economic development, there are two alternatives: one is a mixed economy compatible with democracy, the other is planned development under totalitarianism. What has been happening in Communist China during the past few years is a striking example of the latter case, and its degree of success will undoubtedly have far-reaching influences on other economically backward countries desiring rapid economic development. Since rapid economic development is unattainable without substantial investment, the sources of investment funds are of crucial importance in the whole development program. The purpose of this paper is to explore how public investment was financed in Communist China, and to estimate which population groups bore the burden of such financing.

Trade and Development Problems of the Under-Developed Countries : the Back Ground To the United Nations' Conference

1964 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 24-48
Author(s):  
A. Maizels ◽  
L. F. Campbell-Boross ◽  
P. B. W. Rayment
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Slow Growth ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Current Level ◽  
Underdeveloped Countries ◽  
The Past ◽  
Back Ground ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
New Policies ◽  
The Many

The United Nations' Conference on Trade and Development now in session in Geneva is concerned essentially with the evolution of new policies for international trade which would assist the under-developed countries to expand substantially their current level of earnings from exports. The purpose of the present article is not to discuss the many alternative proposals which have been put forward at Geneva, but rather to examine the facts behind the slow growth in the export earnings of the underdeveloped countries over the past decade or so.

scholarly journals The Protective Role of Bacillus Anthracis Exosporium in Macrophage-Mediated Killing by Nitric Oxide

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Weaver ◽  
Tae Jin Kang ◽  
Kimberly Raines ◽  
Guan-Liang Cao ◽  
Stephen Hibbs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Bacillus Anthracis ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Oxygen Species ◽  
Activated Macrophages ◽  
Positive Bacterium ◽  
Bacterium Bacillus ◽  
Oxide Synthase ◽  
Inducible Nitric Oxide

The ability of the endospore-forming, gram-positive bacterium Bacillus anthracis to survive exposure to antibacterial killing mechanisms by activated macrophages is key to its germination and survival. These antibacterial killing mechanisms include, but are not limited to the generation of free radicals such as nitric oxide (•NO) and superoxide (O2•−) from the upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS 2) along with products derived from them, e.g., peroxynitrite (ONOO−), as part of microbicidal activity. However questions still remain as to how these species are involved in microbial killing, specifically with respect to B. anthracis. In a previous study, we demonstrated that exposure of primary murine macrophages to sonicated B. anthracis endospores up-regulated NOS 2 and demonstrated a •NO-dependent bactericidal response, but unanswered in that study was which of the NOS 2-derived reactive oxygen species was responsible for the observed bactericidal response. Since NOS 2 also generates O2•−, experiments were designed to determine whether NOS 2 formed ONOO− from the reaction of •NO with O2•− and if so, was ONOO− microbicidal toward B. anthracis.

Anthrax

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Les Baillie ◽  
Theresa Huwar
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Anthracis ◽  
Contaminated Soil ◽  
Animal Husbandry ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
The Status ◽  
Bacterium Bacillus ◽  
Developed World

Anthrax is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, a Gram-positive aerobic spore-forming bacillus, primarily infecting herbivores. Although rare in the developed world the organism remains a threat to livestock in African and Asian countries where control depends on appropriate animal husbandry approaches such as vaccination and disposal/decontamination of carcasses. Animals are thought to contract anthrax by ingesting spores from contaminated soil while humans become infected via contact with diseased animals, their products or as a consequence of acts of bio-terrorism such as occurred in 2001. This unprecedented act has stimulated a burst of research, shedding new light on the biology of the organism and its ability to cause disease. It is to be hoped that this renewed interest will see anthrax once more regain the status of an exotic disease of antiquity.

Immunogenicity and Biodistribution of Anthrax DNA Vaccine Delivered by Intradermal Electroporation

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 414-421
Author(s):  
Na Young Kim ◽  
Won Rak Son ◽  
Jun Young Choi ◽  
Chi Ho Yu ◽  
Gyeung Haeng Hur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Bacillus Anthracis ◽  
Dna Vaccine ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Protective Antigen ◽  
Dna Vaccines ◽  
Bacterial Disease ◽  
Intradermal Administration ◽  
Bacterium Bacillus

Purpose: Anthrax is a lethal bacterial disease caused by gram-positive bacterium Bacillus anthracis and vaccination is a desirable method to prevent anthrax infections. In the present study, DNA vaccine encoding a protective antigen of Bacillus anthracis was prepared and we investigated the influence of DNA electrotransfer in the skin on the induced immune response and biodistribution. Methods and Results: The tdTomato reporter gene for the whole animal in vivo imaging was used to assess gene transfer efficiency into the skin as a function of electrical parameters. Compared to that with 25 V, the transgene expression of red fluorescent protein increased significantly when a voltage of 90 V was used. Delivery of DNA vaccines expressing Bacillus anthracis protective antigen domain 4 (PAD4) with an applied voltage of 90 V induced robust PA-D4-specific antibody responses. In addition, the in vivo fate of anthrax DNA vaccine was studied after intradermal administration into the mouse. DNA plasmids remained at the skin injection site for an appropriate period of time after immunization. Intradermal administration of DNA vaccine resulted in detection in various organs (viz., lung, heart, kidney, spleen, brain, and liver), although the levels were significantly reduced. Conclusion: Our results offer important insights into how anthrax DNA vaccine delivery by intradermal electroporation affects the immune response and biodistribution of DNA vaccine. Therefore, it may provide valuable information for the development of effective DNA vaccines against anthrax infection.

A public health outbreak management framework applied to surges in opioid overdoses

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kieran Moore, MD, CCFP (EM), FCFP, MPH, DTM&H, FRCPC ◽  
Maximilien Boulet, BSc ◽  
Julia Lew, BSc ◽  
Nicholas Papadomanolakis-Pakis, BSocSc, MPA
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
The United States ◽  
Opioid Overdose ◽  
Prescription Opioids ◽  
Outbreak Management ◽  
Management Framework ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
The Past ◽  
Health Agencies ◽  
Related Mortality

Objective: Over the past decade, Canada and the United States have been facing an epidemic of harms from prescription opioids. More recently, opioid-naïve individuals have been exposed to illicit opioids through adulterated combination products. This has resulted in sudden surges of opioid-related mortality. A proactive public health solution is needed to prevent further death. We propose examining these surges in opioid overdoses as outbreaks and investigating them in a similar way to an outbreak of an infectious disease. An epidemiologic investigation model for opioid overdose outbreaks, that could be modified by other public health agencies,is discussed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document