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Biomedical subjects

S Reef

Publications and source records attributed to S Reef.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Rubella mass campaigns.

The availability of vaccines that contain both measles and rubella components allows for the elimination of both diseases. Although routine infant vaccination with rubella vaccine has had profound effects on the incidence of both acquired and congenital rubella, mass vaccination rapidly stops circulation of the virus and prevents paradoxical increases in susceptibility of women that might result from decreased exposure in childhood. Whereas routine rubella vaccination has eliminated the infection from many developed countries, mass vaccination has rapidly accomplished the same goal in Latin America and the Caribbean, and is being applied in other developing country areas.

Humans↗
PubMed2005

Rubella and measles seroprevalence among women of childbearing age, Argentina, 2002.

To assess rubella and measles susceptibility among women of childbearing age we conducted a cross-sectional seroprevalence study in four cities and one rural area in Argentina. A convenience sample of women aged 15-49 years seeking care in public health-care institutions was selected (n=2804). Serum specimens were tested for rubella and measles IgG antibody titres. The overall susceptibility to rubella and measles was 8.8 and 12.5% respectively. Seroprevalence differences were found for both rubella (P<0.001) and measles (P=0.002) across sites. Rubella seroprevalence was higher in women aged >or=40 years than in younger women (P=0.04). Measles seroprevalence tended to increase with age (P<0.001). Approximately 15% of women aged 15-29 years were not immune to measles. No risk factors were associated with rubella seronegativity; however, age (P<0.001) and having less than four pregnancies (P<0.001) were factors associated with measles seronegativity. Our findings support the introduction of supplemental immunization activities targeting adolescents and young adults to prevent congenital rubella syndrome and measles outbreaks over time.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Congenital rubella syndrome in Costa Rica: importance of active surveillance].

OBJECTIVE: To identify cases of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) and their form of presentation in children aged < 3 months in the National Children's Hospital of Costa Rica between 1996 and 2000. METHODS: Between 1996 and 2000, patients aged 1 day to 3 months with positive IgM serology for rubella, identified by means of the computerized database of the National Children's Hospital Laboratory, were selected. Their corresponding medical records were reviewed and the characteristics of these patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Sixty-six children with positive serology were identified, of which 49 had a complete medical record that allowed review. Of these, 29 (60 %) were boys. The mean age at which IgM serology was requested was 33 days. The principal manifestations leading to serology were hepatosplenomegaly, microcephaly and multiple congenital anomalies. The initial diagnosis was TORCH infection. Of the 49 patients, 45 were classified as CRS and four as infection with rubella. CONCLUSIONS: The present study highlights the need to increase active surveillance of CRS. Greater vigilance in applying the criteria for clinical diagnosis is required to allow an adequate degree of suspicion and early reporting of cases.

Costa Rica↗
PubMed2004

A large rubella outbreak, Romania--2003.

Romania experienced a large rubella outbreak in 2002-03, with more than 115,000 reported cases nationwide, and an incidence of 531 reported cases per 100,000 population. The incidence was highest in children of school age. The cohorts of adolescent girls vaccinated in 1998 and 2002 (when a rubella-containing vaccine was available) had significantly lower incidence rates (p<0.001) compared with those in boys in the same age groups who were not vaccinated. In 2003, of the 150 suspected congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) cases reported, seven (4.6%) were confirmed by positive rubella IgM antibodies. In the absence of available rubella containing vaccine for outbreak control, an outbreak response plan to improve the detection of cases and to limit rubella virus transmission was developed. The following activities were conducted: surveillance of pregnant women with suspected rubella or history of exposure to rubella virus was implemented, with follow up of pregnancy outcomes; surveillance for CRS was strengthened; existing infection control guidelines to prevent disease transmission within healthcare facilities were reinforced; and a communication plan was developed. In May 2004, Romania is introducing measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine for routine vaccination of children aged 12 to 15 months, while continuing vaccination of girls in the 8th grade of school (13-14 years of age) with rubella-only vaccine.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Unseen blindness, unheard deafness, and unrecorded death and disability: congenital rubella in Kumasi, Ghana.

OBJECTIVES: Although rubella serosusceptibility among women of reproductive age in West Africa ranges from 10% to 30%, congenital rubella syndrome has not been reported. In Ghana, rubella immunization and serologic testing are unavailable. Our objectives were to identify congenital rubella syndrome cases, ascertain rubella antibody seroprevalence during pregnancy, and recommend strategies for congenital rubella syndrome surveillance. METHODS: Congenital rubella syndrome cases were identified through prospective surveillance and retrospective surveys of hospital records. A rubella serosurvey of pregnant urban and rural women was performed. RESULTS: Eighteen infants born within a 5-month period met the congenital rubella syndrome case definitions, coinciding with a 9-fold increase in presentation of infantile congenital cataract. The congenital rubella syndrome rate for this otherwise unrecorded rubella epidemic was conservatively estimated to be 0.8 per 1000 live births. A postepidemic rubella immunity rate of 92.6% was documented among 405 pregnant women; susceptibility was significantly associated with younger age (P = .000) and ethnicity (northern tribes, P = .024). CONCLUSIONS: Congenital rubella syndrome occurs in Ghana but is not reported. Information about congenital rubella syndrome and rubella in sub-Saharan Africa is needed to evaluate inclusion of rubella vaccine in proposed measles control campaigns.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Measles, mumps, and rubella--vaccine use and strategies for elimination of measles, rubella, and congenital rubella syndrome and control of mumps: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

These revised recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on measles, mumps, and rubella prevention supersede recommendations published in 1989 and 1990. This statement summarizes the goals and current strategies for measles, rubella, and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) elimination and for mumps reduction in the United States. Changes from previous recommendations include: Emphasis on the use of combined MMR vaccine for most indications; A change in the recommended age for routine vaccination to 12-15 months for the first dose of MMR, and to 4-6 years for the second dose of MMR; A recommendation that all states take immediate steps to implement a two dose MMR requirement for school entry and any additional measures needed to ensure that all school-aged children are vaccinated with two doses of MMR by 2001; A clarification of the role of serologic screening to determine immunity; A change in the criteria for determining acceptable evidence of rubella immunity; A recommendation that all persons who work in health-care facilities have acceptable evidence of measles and rubella immunity; Changes in the recommended interval between administration of immune globulin and measles vaccination; and Updated information on adverse events and contraindications, particularly for persons with severe HIV infection, persons with a history of egg allergy or gelatin allergy, persons with a history of thrombocytopenia, and persons receiving steroid therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Outbreak of sporotrichosis among tree nursery workers.

In spring 1994, an outbreak of sporotrichosis occurred at a tree nursery in Florida; 9 (14%) of 65 workers involved in production of sphagnum moss topiaries developed lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis. A cohort study of all 65 employees was conducted to identify risk factors for sporotrichosis, and an environmental investigation was done. The risk of sporotrichosis increased significantly with the duration of working with sphagnum moss (P < .05), in particular with filling topiaries (P < .05), and with having less gardening experience (P < .05). Wearing gloves was protective (P < .005). Sporothrix schenckii was cultured from patients and sphagnum moss used in topiary production. Use of restriction fragment length polymorphism revealed an identical pattern for patient isolates that was different from the patterns of environmental isolates. Physicians should be aware of sporotrichosis in patients with ulcerative skin lesions who have a history of occupational or recreational exposure to sphagnum moss.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome: the first 100 US cases.

In the spring of 1993, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) "emerged" in the southwestern United States, where a multiagency investigation led to the rapid description of this new clinical entity and its etiology. Analysis of the first 100 US cases identified showed that the disease was distributed in 21 states, had gone unrecognized since at least 1959, and had a distinct spring-early summer seasonality. Of the infected persons, 54% were male; 63% were Caucasian, 35% were Native American, and 2% were African American. The average age of case-patients was 34.9 years, and 8 were children or adolescents aged < or = 16 years. The overall case-fatality rate was 52%. There was a 91% concordance among serologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular results. HPS in the United States is caused by at least three newly described pathogenic hantaviruses, each of which has a distinct rodent host, and cases of HPS have been recently recognized in Canada and South America. National surveillance of this sporadic disease remains essential for further defining the epidemiology and clinical spectrum.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

ELISPOT: a new approach to studying the dynamics of virus-immune system interaction for diagnosis and monitoring of HIV infection.

A new approach to detect and enumerate HIV-specific antibody-secreting cells (ASC) in the peripheral blood was developed using the enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) methodology. ASC to an HIV envelope recombinant protein were demonstrated in 75% of 16 adults and 72% of 21 children with untreated AIDS or ARC and in 63% of 34 asymptomatically infected adults but in none of the 51 HIV antibody-negative individuals. Only 1 of the 13 adults receiving AZT therapy yielded a positive reaction, and 27% of the 30 infants born to seropositive mothers were found to have HIV-ASC. The number of HIV-ASC in positive individuals varied from 8 to 202 per 10(6) circulating mononuclear cells. The reactivity was specifically inhibited by soluble HIV antigen and was abrogated by cycloheximide, indicating that the observed reaction was the result of de novo synthesis of HIV-specific antibodies. Nonspecific polyclonal B cell activation was unlikely to be responsible for the results observed as no reactivity was found to a common antigen, tetanus toxoid. Since circulating antigen-specific ASC reflect persistent or recent antigenic stimulation, our findings indicate that this new approach could provide a dynamic perspective of the natural course of virus-immune system interactions in individuals infected with HIV, as well as in those undergoing prophylactic or therapeutic interventions.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1988

The effect of euglycemic hyperinsulinemia on cerebral cortical glucose metabolism in newborn beagles.

There is a paucity of information on the significance of insulin on neonatal cerebral glucose metabolism. The effect of insulin on neonatal cerebral glucose uptake and cerebral cortical metabolic intermediates was investigated with the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp in unanesthetized beagles during the first day of life. Insulin was infused at various rates to sustain an elevated steady state plasma insulin concentration in individual pups. Furthermore, blood glucose and 2-deoxyglucose levels were also maintained ("clamped") in a steady state by infusion of glucose and 2-deoxy-[14C]-glucose. Mean (+/- SD) plasma insulin levels were 20 +/- 12 and 2971 +/- 3386 (33-14330) microU/ml in control and hyperinsulinemic pups. Blood glucose concentration was 4.43 +/- 2.64 mM during basal periods and 4.54 +/- 2.87 mM during the clamp period in study pups. Basal fasting glucose utilization in study pups was 43.9 +/- 24 mumol/kg/min and increased to 60.9 +/- 35.2 mumol/kg/min (p less than 0.001) during hyperinsulinemia. Immediately after the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp or fasting in control pups, the cerebral cortex was frozen to the temperature of liquid nitrogen. No differences were noted for any cerebral cortical intermediate between the two pup groups. In addition, there was no relationship between the cerebral intermediates concentration when analyzed as a function of plasma insulin levels. The uptake of cerebral 2-deoxyglucose was analyzed as a function of plasma insulin concentration (120-6900 microU/ml). Brain tissue demonstrated a positive linear relationship for 2-deoxyglucose uptake as a function of plasma insulin concentration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphate↗