Progressão dos casos confirmados de COVID-19 após implantação de medidas de controle / Progression of confirmed COVID-19 cases after the implementation of control measures

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar as medidas adotadas por países que demonstraram controle sobre a transmissão da doença pelo novo coronavírus 2019 (COVID-19) e também como cada curva de casos acumulados se comportou após a implantação dessas medidas. Métodos: A metodologia adotada para este estudo compreendeu três fases: sistematização das medidas de controle adotadas por diferentes países, identificação dos pontos de inflexão na curva do crescimento do número de casos nesses países e análise específica dos dados brasileiros. Resultados: Observamos que China (excluindo-se Hubei), Hubei e Coreia do Sul foram eficazes na desaceleração das taxas de crescimento dos casos de COVID-19. A eficácia das medidas tomadas por esses países pode ser observada após 1 ou 2 semanas de sua aplicação. Na Itália e Espanha, foram tomadas medidas de controle em nível nacional em uma fase tardia da epidemia, o que pode ter contribuído para a elevada propagação da COVID-19. No Brasil, Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo adotaram medidas que podem ter sido eficazes na redução da rapidez da propagação do vírus, entretanto, só temos expectativa de ver seus efeitos no crescimento da curva nos próximos dias. Conclusão: Nossos resultados podem ajudar os responsáveis pela tomada de decisões em países em estágios relativamente precoces da epidemia, especialmente no Brasil, a compreenderem a importância das medidas de controle para desaceleração da curva de crescimento de casos confirmados.

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyse the measures adopted by countries that have shown control over the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and how each curve of accumulated cases behaved after the implementation of those measures. Methods: The methodology adopted for this study comprises three phases: systemizing control measures adopted by different countries, identifying structural breaks in the growth of the number of cases for those countries, and analyzing Brazilian data in particular. Results: We noted that China (excluding Hubei Province), Hubei Province, and South Korea have been effective in their deceleration of the growth rates of COVID-19 cases. The effectiveness of the measures taken by these countries could be seen after 1 to 2 weeks of their application. In Italy and Spain, control measures at the national level were taken at a late stage of the epidemic, which could have contributed to the high propagation of COVID-19. In Brazil, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo adopted measures that could be effective in slowing the propagation of the virus. However, we only expect to see their effects on the growth of the curve in the coming days. Conclusion: Our results may help decisionmakers in countries in relatively early stages of the epidemic, especially Brazil, understand the importance of control measures in decelerating the growth curve of confirmed cases.

Colletotrichum spp. associated with agricultural crops in Malaysia, causal pathogens and potential control methods

ABSTRACT@#Colletotrichum is one of the most significant and common plant pathogens, infecting many economically important crops worldwide. Colletotrichum is also one of the most studied fungal genera in Malaysia because it contains many species that infect various types of agricultural crop including fruit, vegetable and industrial crops. Studies on Colletotrichum spp. are mostly focused on the causal pathogens, the host range and disease management. Among the host crops, most studies on Colletotrichum spp. have been conducted on infection in chilli (Capsicum spp.), which, in Malaysia, first arose in the 1980s and still continues to be a problem to this day. Studies have also been conducted on Colletotrichum spp. associated with anthracnose in fruit crops including dragon fruit, papaya, banana and mango. Disease management of anthracnose pathogens postharvest has also been conducted to prolong the shelf life of these fruit crops. In this review, Colletotrichum spp. associated with chilli and several fruit crops as well as their disease management are highlighted. There have been many changes in Colletotrichum taxonomy and systematics in recent years, affecting the identification of anthracnose pathogens reported in Malaysia. Colletotrichum species identified solely by morphology or solely via the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region should be referred to as sensu lato (in the broad sense) since many species belong to species complexes. Species within a species complex are closely related, and most are cryptic species particularly species in the C. gloeosporioides and C. acutatum complexes which are commonly associated with agricultural crops in Malaysia. Due to the importance of Colletotrichum spp. as plant pathogens, up-to-date identification methods should be used since accurate species identification of Colletotrichum is crucial for formulating suitable disease management programmes as well as for plant quarantine and biosecurity purposes. This review provides the current knowledge on the status of Colletotrichum spp. associated with agricultural crops in Malaysia and potential control methods on different types of agricultural crops.

The Relationship between Reduced Meals for Controlling Weight and Suicidal Ideations in Korean Women Aged 20–40 Years: The 2010–2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

BACKGROUND: Attempting unhealthy weight control can be related to psychological problems such as suicidal ideations, depression, and eating disorders. Therefore, we analyzed the relationship between reduced meals for controlling weight and suicidal ideations in Korean women aged 20–40 years.METHODS: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey is a cohort survey investigating the health behavior, chronic disease prevalence, and food and nutrition intake status of the Korean population. Ours is a cross-sectional study of 1,761 Korean women aged 20–40 years who were especially interested in weight control and who participated in the 2010–2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination. We measured the percentages of smoking, drinking, educational standards, personal income, stress perception, depression, suicidal ideations, and obesity among the subjects. The participants' age and body mass index were measured as weighted means and standard errors. The relationship between reduced meals for controlling weight and suicidal ideations in Korean women aged 20–40 years was examined by logistic regression analysis.RESULTS: Of the 1,761 participants who took the survey, 642 participants experienced suicidal ideations. After making all adjustments, the odds ratio of suicidal ideations with reduced meals was 1.237 (0.588–2.602).CONCLUSION: The finding of this study revealed that there was no relationship between reduced meals for controlling weight and suicidal ideations.

Laparoscopic resection of hemangiomas in the right posterior hepatic section without any blood flow occlusion: a study on 28 patients / 中华肝胆外科杂志

Objective To study the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic resection of hemangioma in the right posterior hepatic section without any blood flow occlusion.Methods Patients with hemangiomas in the right posterior section of liver operated from January 2016 to June 2018 in the Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical College for Nationalities were studied retrospectively.There were 19 females and 9 males.The average age was (37.9 ± 6.1).The operation methods,perioperative factors,hospitalization cost and follow-up outcomes were recorded and analyzed.Results 28 patients with hemangiomas were treated with laparoscopic resection of right posterior hepatic section without any blood flow occlusion.An ultrasound scalpel was applied to split the liver in 27 patients,and ultrasound scalpel combined with Ligasure to split the liver in 1 patient.The mean diameter of the hepatic hemangiomas was (6.7 ± 1.3) cm.The intraoperative blood loss was (330.4 ± 139.0) ml and the operation time was (87.4 ±27.9) min.One patient required conversion to open surgery due to rupture and bleeding of the hemangioma.The conversion rate was 3.6％ (1/28).The postoperative drainage time was (45.4 ± 18.9) h.The postoperative hospitalization time was (7.5 ± 1.3) d,and the hospitalization cost was (3.1 ± 0.5) ten thousand yuan.No death or serious complications occurred.No reoperation was needed.The follow-up period ranged from 1 to 30 months,and all the patients were well on follow-up.Conclusions Laparoscopic resection of hemangioma in the right posterior hepatic section without any blood flow occlusion was safe and efficacious.This method can be used for hemangiomas in the right posterior section of liver.

Epidemic situation and control methods of human brucellosis in Three Rivers Fountainhead of Qinghai Province / 中华地方病学杂志

Objective To know the prevalence of brucellosis in Three Rivers Fountainhead of Qinghai Province,to analyze the influencing factors of human brucellosis and to provide reference for effective control of brucellosis epidemic.Methods The epidemiological data of human brucellosis in Three Rivers Fountainhead of Qinghai Province from 2012 to 2014 were collected from Qinghai Institute for Endemic Disease Prevention and Control.The distribution of time,area,population and the behavioral factors of the infected population were analyzed.Results A total of 6 310 people were surveyed,the infection rate was 2.23％ (141/6 310),the prevalence rate was 0.63％ (40/6 310),and the number of new cases was 40.Prevalence in Nangqian County was the highest [2.00％ (12/601)].From January to April,most cases were found,which accounting for 50.00％ (20/40).The main occupation of the patients was herdsmen,accounting for 87.50％ (35/40).The difference of constituent ratio of different nationalities in infected population was statistically significant (x2 =13.32,P ＜ 0.05).The dominant strain of brucellosis was Brucella ovis.The results of behavioral factors survey showed that the risk factors were epidemiological contact history,eating undercooked meat,no harmless treatment of diseased livestock products,no self-protection measures when contacting diseased livestock,frequent consumption of raw milk,direct unarmed contact with diseased livestock and their products,and lived in the same room with lambs (OR =21.530,3.337,6.227,1.760,3.874,4.602,3.753,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Brucellosis is common in winter and spring in Three Rivers Fountainhead of Qinghai Province,mainly among herdsmen and in local areas.Brucellosis in Three Rivers Fountainhead is related to many behavioral factors.

Approaches towards tick and tick-borne diseases control

Ticks are obligate haematophagous ectoparasites of wild and domestic animals as well as humans, considered to be second worldwide to mosquitoes as vectors of human diseases. Tick-borne diseases are responsible worldwide for great economic losses in terms of mortality and morbidity of livestock animals. This review concerns to the different tick and tick-parasites control methods having a major focus on vaccines. Control of tick infestations has been mainly based on the use of acaricides, a control measure with serious drawbacks, as responsible for the contamination of milk and meat products, as a selective factor for acaricide-resistant ticks and as an environmental contaminant. Research on alternatives to the use of acaricides is strongly represented by tick vaccines considered a more cost-effective and environmentally safe strategy. Vaccines based on the Bm86 tick antigen were used in the first commercially available cattle tick vaccines and showed good results in reducing tick numbers, affecting weight and reproductive performance of female ticks which resulted in reduction of cattle tick populations over time and consequently lower reduction of the pathogen agents they carry.

Modelación y parámetros genéticos de curvas de lactancia en bovinos Holstein en Colombia / Modeling and genetic parameters of lactation curves in Holstein bovine breed in Colombia

Objetivo. Evaluar diferentes modelos matemáticos aplicados a las curvas de lactancia, establecer cuál de ellos presenta el mejor ajuste y estimar los parámetros genéticos para las características derivadas del mejor modelo. Materiales y métodos. Se empleó la información de 426797 registros de control lechero mensual de 49108 vacas Holstein de 470 hatos de los departamentos de Cundinamarca, Antioquia, Valle, Boyacá, Nariño y Cauca. Fueron evaluados los modelos matemáticos no lineales propuestos por Wood, Brody, Wilmink y Papajcsik y Bodero. Luego de seleccionar el modelo que mejor ajustó las curvas de lactancia, se estimaron los parámetros genéticos para las características (βo), producción de leche al pico (y max), tiempo al pico (t pico) y producción total a los 305 días (P305) donde se emplearon los efectos fijos de zona, parto y grupo contemporáneo. Resultados. El modelo de Wood presentó valores altos de PAIC y PBIC y valores altos de R². En las características bo, y max, t pico y P305, derivadas del modelo de Wood, el valor promedio fue de 16.64±6.34 lt, 27.39±6.85 lt, 44.55 ± 13.19 días y 6212 ± 1690 lt, respectivamente. Las características βo y t pico presentaron una heredabilidad baja (0.02) y las características y max y P305 presentaron una heredabilidad de baja a media (0.15 y 0.17, respectivamente). Conclusiones. El modelo que mejor ajusta las curvas de lactancia en bovinos Holstein es el modelo de Wood. Las heredabilidades medias y la alta correlación genética entre y max y P305, indican que es posible incluirlas en programas de selección.

Objective. Evaluate different mathematical models applied to lactation curves, determine which of them represent the best fit and estimate genetic parameters for the characteristics derived from the best model. Materials and methods. Information from 426797 monthly milk control records was used from 49108 Holstein cows coming from 470 dairy herds located in Cundinamarca, Antioquia, Valle, Boyacá, Nariño and Cauca. Nonlinear mathematical models proposed by Wood, Brody, Wilmink and Papajcsik and Bodero were evaluated. After selecting the model that best adjusted the lactation curves, genetic parameters were estimated for the characteristics (βo), peak milk production (y max), time to peak (t pico) and total production at 305 days (P305) where the fixed area effects, delivery and contemporary group were used. Results. Wood's model showed high values of PAIC and PBIC and high values of R². In relation to bo, y max, t pico y P305 characteristics, derived from the Wood model, the average value was 16.64 ± 6.34 lt, 27.39 lt ± 6.85, 44.55 ± 13.19 days and 6212 ± 1690 lt, respectively. βo y t pico characteristics presented a low heritability (0.02) and the y max and P305 showed a low to medium heritability (0.15 and 0.17, respectively). Conclusions. The model that best fit lactation curves in Holstein bovines is the Wood model. The average heritability and high genetic correlation between e y max and P305 indicate that it is possible to include them in breeding programs.

Weight Control Methods Related to Depressive Symptoms among Adults Living in Seoul / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a disease state which should be prevented and managed. However, attempting unhealthy weight control can be related to psychologic problem like depression. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between weight control methods and the depressive symptom among adults who have had weight control experience within recent 1 year. METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional study on 10,285 adults (age, 25 to 69 years), who had weight control experience within recent 1 year, from the Community Health Survey, Seoul, 2009. Depressive symptom, tried weight control methods, weight, height, smoking status, alcohol intake and socioeconomic status were surveyed through face-to-face interview. The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale is used for assessment of depressive symptom. RESULTS: Depressive symptom was diagnosed in 5.2% (male: 2.9%, female: 7.0%) of study subjects and the most frequent method for weight control within 1 year was exercise (77.9%). Among men, depressive symptom was related to high likelihood of trying one-food diet (odds ratio [OR], 3.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.62 to 6.62), fasting (OR, 3.59; 95% CI, 1.61 to 8.02), dietary supplements (OR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.40 to 4.73), Korean herbal medicine (OR, 2.85; 95% CI, 1.24 to 6.51), self-medication (OR, 5.50; 95% CI, 1.53 to 19.80). Among women, depressive symptom have relationship with high likelihood of trying one-food diet (OR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.14 to 2.94), fasting (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.10 to 2.59), prescribed medicine (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.48 to 3.52) and low likelihood of trying exercise (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.51 to 0.83). CONCLUSION: This study shows the difference of tried weight control methods depending on depressive symptom. Depressive symptom was related to high likelihood of trying weight control methods such as one-food diet, fasting and taking a diet-pill. In addition, that symptom was also related to low likelihood of trying exercise in women.

A study on epidemiological characteristics and control methods of EHEC infection in Korea / 한국역학회지

E. coli is a bacterium that is commonly found in the gut of humans and warm-blooded animals. Most strains of E. coli are harmless. But some strains such as Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli(EHEC), can cause severe food borne disease. It is transmitted to humans primarily through consumption of contaminated foods, such as raw or undercooked ground meat. There is no widely agreed definition of when a shiga-toxin producing E. coli is considered to be an EHEC. But in Korea, the word "EHEC", "STEC", "VTEC" are often used as same meaning, which refer to the E.coli those producing shiga-toxin. We suggest the term STEC refers to those E. coli produce one or more shiga-toxins(stx), and the term EHEC refers only to STEC that cause a clinical illness. EHEC infection were designated as the class 1 notifiable disease in Korea in 2000. Although EHEC/STEC cases were not common in Korea, the number of STEC infection cases reported has increased since 2001. From 2001 to 2004, the number of STEC infection cases in Korea were 11, 8, 52, 118 respectively. These cases included 17 due to E. coli O157, 136 due to E. coli, serogroup non-O157, and 15 due to E. coli that were not serogrouped. The most common serotype implicated is E. coli O91 without virulent factor and clinical symptoms. But those cases involve in one epidemic in primary school in 2004. STEC infections in Korea occur in all age groups, with the highest frequencies in children less than 5 years old. Healthy cattle are the main animal reservoir for STEC and they harbor the organism as part of the bowel flora. The proportion of STEC in E. coli in animal feces was examined by using stool samples from 283 Korean beef cattle on 27 farms, 169 milk cattle on 28 frams, 455 swine on 50 farms. As determined by culture and toxin assay, the proportion of STEC was 25.8%(16 STEC/62 E. coli) in milk cattle, 18.8%(19 STEC/101 E.coli) in Korean beef cattle, 14.0%(25 STEC/178 E. coli) in swine. Effective surveillance of EHEC/STEC in humans is essential in order to protect the public health. EHEC infection is notifiable in many countries including USA, Japan, and Belgium, Finland, Italy, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom(UK), have sentinel systems. England, Wales, and Scotland have comprehensive national laboratory reporting schemes for STEC. And there has been an increase in the number of reported cases and outbreaks during the past decades in many countries Prevention of STEC infection requires control measures at all stages of surveillace, investigations and special pathogen tracing such as PulseNet.

Effectiveness and Side Effects of Postoperative Pain Control Methods in Stomach and Colorectal Cancer Patients

PURPOSE: The goal of postoperative pain management is to provide safe, continuous, effective analgesia, free from unwanted side effects. In doing so, it is hoped that postoperative morbidity is reduced, facilitating recovery, and hasten discharge from hospital. However, the effects of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) and complications after a major gastrointestinal operation are currently unclear. METHODS: Fifty four and 31 patients who had undergone an elective gastrectomy due to stomach cancer and elective colorectal surgery due to colorectal cancer, respectively, between August 2002 and April 2003 at the Hanyang University Hospital, were allocated to one of two groups; One received patient-controlled analgesia (PCA group), the other received preoperative fentanyl patch appliment (Patch group). The kind and amount of additional analgesics demanded, pain scale, clinical course, and side effects were analyzed. RESULT: After the stomach cancer surgery, the average postoperative pain scores (numeric scale+pain face scale) in the PCA and patch groups were 9.44 and 10.76, respectively (P=0.0325). After the colorectal cancer surgery, the average postoperative pain scores in the PCA and patch groups were 6.44 and 9.22, respectively (P=0.0072). The amount of additional analgesic agent required after gastrointestinal surgery was variable and unpredictable, but IV PCA resolved this problems and markedly reduced the need for additional analgesic agents. The clinical courses of the PCA and patch groups did not differ in terms of gas passing and resumption of diet. The complication rates of the two groups were similar. CONCLUSION: IV PCA after gastrointestinal surgery for stomach and colon cancers is better for the management of postoperative pain than other pain control methods, with similar complication rates.

Occurrence and spreading dynamics and control methods of Southern blight in Houttuynia cordata / 中草药

Objective To study the occurrence and spreading dynamics of Southern blight Houttuynia cordata and search for the control method so as to provide scientific basis for its integrated pets management (IPM). Methods The field investigation and the combined methods in both field trial and laboratory test were carried out for the research. Results After treated by Carbendaxim, the morbidity of Southern blight in H. cordata was the lowest and the yield of H. cordata reached to the highest level among all treatment groups. The PDA test revealed that Trichoderma huzirum had stronger antagonism to Southem blight in H. cordata than common fungicides. The best concentration of T. huzirum used in the soil treatment was 20 g/m2, which had a preventive effect against Southern blight up to 60.28%. Conclusion The Southern blight of H. cordata could be well suppressed while both Carbendaxim and T. huzirum are used to treat the seeds and soil, respectively.