| 1. |
- Cohen, Adam L., et al.
(författare)
-
Epidemiology of Influenza Virus Types and Subtypes in South Africa, 2009-2012
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Emerging Infectious Diseases. - Atlanta, USA : Centers Disease Control. - 1080-6040 .- 1080-6059. ; 20:7, s. 1162-1169
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To determine clinical and epidemiologic differences between influenza caused by different virus types and subtypes, we identified patients and tested specimens. Patients were children and adults hospitalized with confirmed influenza and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) identified through active, prospective, hospital-based surveillance from 2009-2012 in South Africa. Respiratory specimens were tested, typed, and subtyped for influenza virus by PCR. Of 16,005 SARI patients tested, 1,239 (8%) were positive for influenza virus. Patient age and co-infections varied according to virus type and subtype, but disease severity did not. Case-patients with influenza B were more likely than patients with influenza A to be HIV infected. A higher proportion of case-patients infected during the first wave of the 2009 influenza pandemic were 5-24 years of age (19%) than were patients infected during the second wave (9%). Although clinical differences exist, treatment recommendations do not differ according to subtype; prevention through vaccination is recommended.
|
|
| 2. |
- Cohen, Cheryl, et al.
(författare)
-
Severe Influenza-associated Respiratory Infection in High HIV Prevalence Setting, South Africa, 2009-2011
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Emerging Infectious Diseases. - : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). - 1080-6040 .- 1080-6059. ; 19:11, s. 1766-1774
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Data on influenza epidemiology in HIV-infected persons are limited, particularly for sub-Saharan Africa, where HIV infection is widespread. We tested respiratory and blood samples from patients with acute lower respiratory tract infections hospitalized in South Africa during 2009-2011 for viral and pneumococcal infections. Influenza was identified in 9% (1,056/11,925) of patients enrolled; among influenza case-patients, 358 (44%) of the 819 who were tested were infected with HIV. Influenza-associated acute lower respiratory tract infection incidence was 4-8 times greater for HIV-infected (186-228/100,000) than for HIV-uninfected persons (26-54/100,000). Furthermore, multivariable analysis showed HIV-infected patients were more likely to have pneumococcal co-infection; to be infected with influenza type B compared with type A; to be hospitalized for 2-7 days or >7 days; and to die from their illness. These findings indicate that HIV-infected persons are at greater risk for severe illnesses related to influenza and thus should be prioritized for influenza vaccination.
|
|
| 3. |
|
|
| 4. |
|
|
| 5. |
- Kierkegaard, M, et al.
(författare)
-
The relationship between walking, manual dexterity, cognition and activity/participation in persons with multiple sclerosis
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England). - : SAGE Publications. - 1477-0970 .- 1352-4585. ; 18:5, s. 639-646
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Multiple sclerosis has a vast impact on health, but the relationship between walking, manual dexterity, cognition and activity/participation is unclear. Objective: The specific aims were to explore the discriminative ability of measures of walking, manual dexterity and cognition, and to identify cut-off values in these measures, for prediction of independence in personal and instrumental activities of daily living (ADL) and activity/participation in social and lifestyle activities. Methods: Data from 164 persons with multiple sclerosis were collected during home visits with the following measures: the 2 × 5 m walk test, the Nine-hole Peg Test, the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, the Katz Personal and Instrumental ADL Indexes, and the Frenchay Activities Index (measuring frequency in social and lifestyle activities). Results: The 2 × 5 m walk test and the Nine-hole Peg Test had high and better discriminative and predictive ability than the Symbol Digit Modalities Test. Cut-off values were identified. The accuracy of predictions was increased above all by combining the 2 × 5 m walk test and the Nine-hole Peg Test. Conclusion: The proposed cut-off values in the 2 × 5 m walk test and the Nine-hole Peg Test may be used as indicators of functioning and to identify persons risking activity limitations and participation restrictions. However, further studies are needed to confirm the usefulness in clinical practice.
|
|
| 6. |
- Moyes, Jocelyn, et al.
(författare)
-
Epidemiology of Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Associated Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infection Hospitalizations Among HIV-Infected and HIV-Uninfected South African Children, 2010-2011
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Journal of Infectious Diseases. - : Oxford University Press. - 0022-1899 .- 1537-6613. ; 208:Supplement: 3, s. S217-S226
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background. There are limited data on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection among children in settings with a high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We studied the epidemiology of RSV-associated acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) hospitalizations among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected children in South Africa. Methods. Children aged <5 years admitted to sentinel surveillance hospitals with physician-diagnosed neonatal sepsis or ALRTI were enrolled. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were tested by multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction assays for RSV and other viruses. Associations between possible risk factors and severe outcomes for RSV infection among HIV-infected and uninfected children were examined. The relative risk of hospitalization in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected children was calculated in 1 site with population denominators. Results. Of 4489 participants, 4293 (96%) were tested for RSV, of whom 1157 (27%) tested positive. With adjustment for age, HIV-infected children had a 3-5-fold increased risk of hospitalization with RSV-associated ALRTI (2010 relative risk, 5.6; [95% confidence interval (CI), 4.5-6.4]; 2011 relative risk, 3.1 [ 95% CI, 2.6-3.6]). On multivariable analysis, HIV-infected children with RSV-associated ALRTI had higher odds of death (adjusted odds ratio. 31.1; 95% CI, 5.4-179.8) and hospitalization for >5 days (adjusted odds ratio, 4.0; 95% CI, 1.5-10.6) than HIV-uninfected children. Conclusion. HIV-infected children have a higher risk of hospitalization with RSV-associated ALRTI and a poorer outcome than HIV-uninfected children. These children should be targeted for interventions aimed at preventing severe RSV disease.
|
|
| 7. |
- Nzenze, S. A., et al.
(författare)
-
Temporal association of infant immunisation with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on the ecology of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Staphylococcus aureus nasopharyngeal colonisation in a rural South African community
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Vaccine. - : Elsevier. - 0264-410X .- 1873-2518. ; 32:42, s. 5520-5530
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Immunisation of children with pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) may affect the bacterial-ecology of the nasopharynx, including colonisation by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Staphylococcus aureus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of infant PCVimmunisation on the nasopharyngeal ecology of these potentially pathogenic bacteria in a rural African setting. Methods: Two cross sectional surveys were undertaken from May to October in 2009 (Period-1) which coincided with the introduction of 7-valent PCV (PCV7) and in May-October 2011 (Period-2). Consenting household members, where there was a child <2 years of age in residence, had nasopharyngeal swabs undertaken for culture. Results: From Period-1 to Period-2 in children 0-2 years and 3-12 years, prevalence of overall S. pneumoniae colonisation decreased from 74.9% to 67.0% (p < 0.001) and H. influenzae declined among children 3-12 years (55.1-45.3%, p < 0.001) but not among those <2 years. The prevalence of S. aureus remained unchanged in all children. Competitive associations were found between S. pneumoniae and S. aureus and between H. influenzae and S. aureus among children. In individuals >12 years, the prevalence of colonisation decreased from 11.2% to 6.8%, 16.7% to 8.8% and 31.2% to 23.7% for S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae and S. aureus, respectively; p < 0.001 for all comparions. Synergistic relationships for S. aureus with H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae were observed in both periods among this group.
|
|
| 8. |
- Riisager, K., et al.
(författare)
-
Be-11(beta p), a quasi-free neutron decay?
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Physics Letters, Section B: Nuclear, Elementary Particle and High-Energy Physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0370-2693. ; 732, s. 305-308
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We have observed beta(-)-delayed proton emission from the neutron-rich nucleus Be-11 by analyzing a sample collected at the ISOLDE facility at CERN with accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). With a branching ratio of (8.3 +/- 0.9). 10(-6) the strength of this decay mode, as measured by the B-GT-value, is unexpectedly high. The result is discussed within a simple single-particle model and could be interpreted as a quasi-free decay of the Be-11 halo neutron into a single-proton state.
|
|
