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9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2026

Emerging hantavirus risks in mass gatherings: epidemiology, diagnostic challenges, and outbreak preparedness.

Hantaviruses are emerging rodent borne zoonotic pathogens of increasing global public health concern because of their high mortality, expanding ecological distribution, and potential for international dissemination. Although traditionally associated with sporadic rural outbreaks, recent ecological disruption, climate variability, urbanization, and increased global mobility have heightened concerns regarding hantavirus risks in mass gathering settings. This review critically examines the epidemiology, transmission uncertainty, diagnostic and surveillance challenges, and preparedness strategies related to hantavirus infections in the context of mass gatherings, including religious events, refugee settlements, cruise tourism, sporting events, and temporary accommodations. Particular emphasis is placed on the 2026 multinational cruise ship associated outbreak linked to the MV Hondius, which highlighted vulnerabilities related to delayed diagnosis, international passenger dispersal, and uncertainties surrounding possible human to human transmission of Andes virus. Current evidence indicates that hantavirus transmission occurs primarily through inhalation of aerosolized rodent excreta; however, controversies regarding limited interpersonal transmission, environmental persistence, and asymptomatic infections continue to complicate risk assessment and outbreak preparedness. Diagnostic limitations, underreporting, insufficient environmental surveillance, and lack of mass gathering specific preparedness frameworks remain major public health challenges, especially in resource limited settings. Strengthening proactive preparedness through integrated One Health approaches, ecological surveillance, genomic monitoring, AI driven epidemic intelligence, and coordinated international response systems is essential for mitigating future risks. The review emphasizes the urgent need for multidisciplinary research and evidence based policy development to improve global preparedness against emerging hantavirus associated threats in increasingly interconnected mass gathering environments.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

MERS-CoV in the Middle East and Africa: from surveillance gaps in humans and dromedary camels to One Health frameworks for spillover, prevention, research and response preparedness.

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) remains a low-incidence but high-consequence zoonotic coronavirus threat. Since its identification in Saudi Arabia in 2012, more than 2600 laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported from 27 countries, most from the Arabian Peninsula; the reported case fatality ratio is high but probably overestimates infection fatality because mild and asymptomatic infections are under-detected. Dromedary camels across the Middle East, North Africa, East Africa, the Horn of Africa, and parts of the Sahel show extensive evidence of MERS-CoV infection or exposure, yet PCR-confirmed human disease has rarely been reported from Africa. This "Africa paradox" is one of the most important unresolved issues in MERS-CoV epidemiology. We propose a dromedary camel-centered One Health framework for the connected Middle East-Africa dromedary belt. The framework is organized around two linked barriers: an upstream barrier that detects and reduces zoonotic spillover at the camel-human interface, and a downstream healthcare barrier that prevents amplification after human infection occurs. Preparedness should include sentinel surveillance for severe acute respiratory infection and atypical pneumonia in camel-exposed populations, linked animal-human genomic surveillance, culturally respectful and occupationally practical risk reduction, rapid diagnostic pathways, healthcare infection prevention and control, mass-gathering and travel preparedness, and preapproved research platforms. A Middle East-Africa preparedness compact aligned with the International Health Regulations, One Health governance, and equitable pathogen access and benefit sharing could transform fragmented surveillance into a standing transregional system for early detection, prevention, and research-ready response.

Africa paradox↗

PubMed1978

[Mass spectrometry and combined techniques in medicine, clinical chemistry and clinical biochemistry. Report on the conference at the Medizinische Klinik of the University of Tübingen on November 14--15, 1977 (author's transl)].

Mass spectrometry, especially in combination with gas chromatography, is the most flexible and powerful analytical technique available today for organic substances, with the exception of macromolecules. It is distinguished by vary high sensitivity combined with high specificity, and enables the identification and quantification of substances in biological material even in very low concentration. The conference was divided into five sessions: Main areas of application, Hormones and active substances, Profile analyses, Methodical and theoretical aspects, Pharmacological and toxicological applications. It was the goal of the symposium to gather scientists and clinicians and to define the scope and place of mass spectrometry in clinical chemical and medical research, and in routine analysis, and to identify the kind of problems it can help to solve.

Biochemistry↗

PubMed1977

Preleptotene chromosome condensation in mouse oogenesis.

In the embryonic mouse ovary, studies of meiotic onset reveal the existence of a preleptotene stage of chromosome condensation. This stage begins with the appearance of very fine and irregular filaments, which gather around the chromocenters constituted by centromeric heterochromatin. At maximal condensation the nucleus contains 40 compact chromosomal masses. Decondensation engenders the reappearance of filaments more dense and regular than those seen at the onset of the condensation stage. The filaments elongate while progressively taking on the appearance of leptotene-stage chromosomes. The oocytes at different phases of condensation stage represent 41% of the germ cels in the 13-day-old mouse embryo. This proportion reaches 63% at 14 days and then declines to 3% at 17 days. Spectrophotometric studies of the condensation-stage nucleus, following staining by the Feulgen reaction, indicated that the nucleus contains 4C DNA. This observation, together with the morphologic characteristics of this stage, suggests that the oocyte is already engaged in prophase. Time studies indicate that the condensation stage occurs immediately prior to leptotene.

Animals↗

PubMed1976

Unilateral hematocolpos and ipsilateral renal agenesis: report of two cases and review of the literature.

Two cases are presented of a partially duplicated vagina characterized by a one-sided hematocolpos associated with renal agenesis on the same side. A review of the English literature reveals 39 previously reported cases. Invariably this complex of anomalies is seen in adolescents and young women with progressively severe abdominal pain, menstrual irregularities, and a pelvic mass. It is important to make an early accurate diagnosis since they are usually managed as having an ovarian mass and submitted to multiple laparotomies and occasionally to mutilating surgery. An analysis is presented of the salient embryologic, clinical, and radiologic features of the 41 cases gathered. The need for definitive preoperative evaluation of both the urinary tract (urography and cystoscopy) and the genital tract (hysterosalpingography) cannot be overemphasized.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1977

Detection of breast cancer. A practitioner's viewpoint.

Ultimate responsibility for the early diagnosis of breast cancer rests upon the front line or primary care physician, just as management decisions following diagnosis fall principally upon the surgeon, radiotherapist, and oncologist. The value of mammography as an effective screening test for the early detection of disease has been enthusiastically endorsed over the past several years on the basis of encouraging results of several studies. Serious reservations regarding the safety of mammography as a screening procedure have subsequently been raised. The practicing physician is faced with a serious problem of time lag in gathering information upon which to base clinical decisions. The purpose of this article is to review the pros and cons in the controversy over mammography so that informed decisions can be made on behalf of patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2026

Assessing the potential of wastewater-based epidemiology to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 policy changes on stimulant use across 17 countries.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A limited number of studies have employed wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) to assess the impact of specific COVID-19 public health directives on stimulant consumption. This study investigates the potential of WBE as a complementary information source to support decision-making, by examining drug use changes during the pandemic. METHODS: WBE data on stimulant use from 2019 through 2022 was obtained from 17 countries covering a total of 47 wastewater treatment plants worldwide. The Oxford Coronavirus Government Response Tracker stringency index was used to standardize the severity of the COVID-19 interventions across different countries. A multiple linear regression model was fitted for the population-normalized mass loads of amphetamine, cocaine (through its metabolite benzoylecgonine), MDMA, and methamphetamine to investigate whether changes in COVID-19 restrictions influenced stimulant use, controlling for possible week-weekend and spatial effects. RESULTS: In most locations, WBE suggests that stimulant use was not significantly affected by the COVID-19 interventions, or even increased under the stricter measures. Methamphetamine use showed the largest decrease with increasing policy stringency, with a negative linear relationship found in 19% of cities, followed by MDMA (18%), cocaine (15%) and amphetamine (6%). Social gathering restrictions mainly impacted cocaine and MDMA use, while methamphetamine consumption declined most under stringent travel restrictions. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the heterogeneous effects of the COVID-19 policy changes on stimulant use, even within countries. The ability of WBE to compile consecutive daily estimates proves to be particularly useful to assess the direct effect of specific policy changes on the consumption of different stimulants.

COVID-19 interventions↗

PubMed1978

Isolated aneurysms of the iliac artery.

Clinical and diagnostic material were gathered from eight cases of iliac aneurysms encountered over a ten-year period. From the literature, descriptions of 36 lesions were also reviewed to identify their outcome when treated conservatively. Six of the eight aneurysms treated as expected resulted in eventual rupture. Although 48% of all patients (those in the present series and those reported in the literature) had symptoms before rupture, the symptoms of intact iliac aneurysms often mimicked urological or neurological diseases. In contrast to persons with abdominal aortic aneurysms, only 36% of all patients had a palpable abdominal or rectal mass before rupture. In 65% of all cases, noninvasive roentgenography failed to show the lesions. An aneurysmal lesion was often (23%) present in the opposite iliac system as well. Ninety-three percent of all patients survived after an elective operation, but only 48% survived after an emergency iliac aneurysmectomy after rupture occurred.

Aged↗

PubMed1977

Screening schoolchildren for high risk of emotional and educational disorder.

Junior schoolchildren were screened for high risk of emotional and educational disorder. The information was gathered from the school, using standard and objective tests. The multiple criterion screen employed, comprised: (a) classroom behaviour scale (Rutter B Scale), rated by teachers; (b) sociometric tests; choice of companions by classmates. From these, lack of positive choices was taken as a measure of isolation and a high rate of negative choices, as a measure of rejection; (c) Reading quotient of 75 or below on the Young Reading Test; (d) Absence from school for reasons considered by teachers to be trivial. The number of cases identified by the screening was found to be 322 children per thousand. They may be seen as representing a high risk rate. Using extreme scores as indicative of high risk, approximately 17 per cent of children were identified on the basis of the behaviour test; 12 per cent by the reading test; 9 per cent by the isolation test; 8 per cent by the rejection test and 3 per cent by the absenteeism test. Seventy per cent of the identified children were rated clinically as disturbed. Absenteeism identified the smallest percentage of cases and made the smallest independent contribution of identification. Isolation was not impressively related to neurotic or antisocial behaviour. The three important criteria, therefore, were behaviour, rejection and reading. Corrected disturbance rates for our population of 7-8-year-old children, including those not identified by the screen, were 6-8 per cent markedly maladjusted and 33-7 per cent somewhat maladjusted.

Absenteeism↗