Blue Ribbon Committee on Bloodborne Parasitic Diseases.
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In summary, the A1 recommendations are related to: developing a network (epidemiologic and demographic aspects); undertaking activities within the network; providing support for parasite research testing; developing new policies, and; preparing a Memorandum to Cabinet for submission by September 1, 2001, for funding from April 2002 over 5 years. The A recommendations deal with sustaining the network and addressing existing needs, including Public and professional education Review of current policies Business plan Development of a contribution program to meet operational needs. The B recommendation(s) will be dealt with by the future Treasury Board submission. The group identified no C recommendations. (+info)
The T(1858) variant predisposing to the precore stop mutation correlates with one of two major genotype F hepatitis B virus clades.
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The precore mutation G(1896)-->A occurs frequently in anti-HBe-positive carriers of HBsAg with T(1858) in the stem of the encapsidation signal. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype F, considered an Amerindian genotype, subdivides into two clades and the precore mutation occurs in Central American F strains. To investigate the relationship between substitutions at position 1858 and these clades, the precore and small S genes of 48 strains of HBV genotype F were subjected to phylogenetic analyses. Isolates of one clade, formed mainly of Central American strains, all had T(1858) and Thr(45) in the S gene, whereas in the other clade, formed mainly of South American strains and one strain from Polynesia, all had C(1858) and Leu(45). The latter strain was related to strains from Venezuela and Colombia, supporting an Amerindian contribution to the Polynesian population. The position of the Polynesian strain in the phylogenetic tree indicates that the two clades have resulted from an early split, showing a high degree of genetic stability of the stem of the HBsAg encapsidation signal. (+info)
EDUCATION FOR MEDICAL LIBRARIANS AROUND THE WORLD.
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This paper describes the training of medical librarians in England, the European continent, the United States, Latin America, Israel, and Asia, with special reference to the level of such training (i.e., primarily for practitioners or for those who will make advances in the field). At the end of the paper, there is a short discussion of the need for advancing education for medical librarians, and the personal belief is stated that medical librarians should be trained at the highest level possible to avoid intellectual serfdom, to see that society receives the best return on its investment in medical libraries, and to insure that the help which medical libraries can give to society is actually available where needed. (+info)
ACUTE DIARRHOEAL DISEASE IN LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES. I. AN EIDEMIOLOGICAL BASIS FOR CONTROL.
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Some of the acute diarrhoeas of man are specific infectious diseases. Another and major proportion have no demonstrated infectious agent. No characteristic clinical pattern regularly distinguishes one specific disease entity from another, nor specific from non-specific infections, nor epidemic from endemic disease. Since clinical and laboratory differentiation is at present possible for only a small fraction of the diarrhoeas, an alternative in community control, especially where facilities are limited, is to regard all diarrhoeal disease as constituting a clinical syndrome, "acute undifferentiated diarrhoeal disease", and to base control measures on the epidemiological characteristics common to the group. (+info)
ACUTE DIARRHOEAL DISEASE IN LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES. 3. METHODS FOR PREVENTION AND CONTROL.
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The programme presented in this article for controlling the diarrhoeas and dysenteries of less developed countries is based on epidemiological principles applicable to acute undifferentiated diarrhoeal disease-its specific as well as its non-specific elements. The dominant importance of weanling diarrhoea requires a main emphasis on maternal and child health procedures, with nutrition singled out for attention, along with public health education and medical care of patients: this in addition to the established worth of means for promoting environmental sanitation. The several features of the suggested programme are within four broad divisions: preventive measures; control of patients, contacts and the immediate environment; measures specifically useful in epidemics; and international measures conducive to broad restriction of the syndrome. (+info)
THE PATHOGENESIS OF ACUTE DIARRHOEAL DISEASE IN EARLY LIFE.
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Consecutive deaths of children in Guatemala City were investigated with a view to discovering possible correlations between malnutrition, enteric infection and diarrhoeal disease. Malnutrition and diarrhoeal disease were common in this childhood population. It was found that enteric pathogens did not occur in large enough numbers to constitute a major cause of diarrhoeal disease. Children with malnutrition and diarrhoeal disease not associated with enteric pathogens were noted to have a non-ulcerative inflammatory reaction in the jejunal mucosa. The jejunum of these children contained an abnormally large population of bacteria, not recognized as bacterial pathogens, and whose presence may be the basis of diarrhoeal disease in children suffering from malnutrition.The author suggests that diarrhoeal disease in association with malnutrition be treated with antibiotics, fluids and electrolytes as a short-term measure, and by raising the nutritional standard as a long-term measure. (+info)
ACUTE DIARRHOEAL DISEASE IN LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES. 2. PATTERNS OF EPIDEMIOLOGICAL BEHAVIOUR IN RURAL GUATEMALAN VILLAGES.
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A number of primary epidemiological characteristics are recognized as common to members of a syndrome designated "acute undifferentiated diarrhoeal disease". This syndrome includes both specific and non-specific diarrhoeal disorders. Within the existing knowledge and with the facilities available in less developed countries, an epidemiological basis for control, directed against the syndrome as a whole, is presented as the practical approach to community management. Clinical and microbiological distinctions do not extend to the main bulk of the problem. Individual epidemiological patterns exist according to age and varying social and ecological conditions. Field study by periodic home visits over four years has defined these patterns in highland rural villages in Guatemala. The chief problem was weanling diarrhoea. (+info)
Socio-demographic characteristics and sex practices related to herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in Mexican and Central American female sex workers.
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This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between HSV-2 infection and several socio-demographic and sexual practices of Mexican and Central American female sex workers (FSWs) in the Soconusco region in the State of Chiapas, Mexico. A cross-sectional study was carried out based on a sample frame of bars where FSWs were active in the Soconusco region. FSWs consented to investigations and answered a questionnaire and provided a blood sample for specific HSV-2 antibody analysis. One hundred and sixteen bars were studied and 484 women were interviewed. The overall frequency of HSV-2 infected women was 85.7%. Variables that reflected exposure to HSV-2 were significantly associated with the frequency of the infection. Additionally, variables such as education and country of origin were significantly associated with HSV-2 infection. These results suggest that this infection is highly endemic in the Soconusco, posing a health risk for the study population. (+info)