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Our objective was to assess levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices against COVID-19. A total of 3774 persons were surveyed between September 18 and October 16, 2020. Eighty% resided in Buenos Aires City or Buenos Aires Province: 58% had completed tertiary education; 72% worked either independently or as employees in the public or the private sector; 51% used a prepaid health care plan, 34% were covered by a trade union-based health system, and near 10% used the public health services. According to the socio-demographic variables analyzed, the population studied was representative of the middle class. A total of 7% had been diagnosed with COVID-19. There was a high level of knowledge about the disease, judging by the high proportion of correct answers (80-90%). Regarding the measures taken by the government, the answers varied widely ("correct", "inadequate", "harmful", "unnecessary", etc.). The medical staff was the preferred source of information; 44% of respondents felt protected by their health system; 28% would only seek healthcare when feeling very sick. There was a high degree of compliance with most protection measures, except for attendance to social events in poorly ventilated spaces (50%). The results of these studies contribute to establishing communication strategies for the prevention and control of COVID-19 and thus deal more efficiently with eventual outbreaks of the disease.Nuestro objetivo fue evidenciar el nivel de conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas frente al COVID-19. Fueron encuestados 3774 individuos mayores de 16 años entre el 18/09/20 y el 16/10/20. El 80% residía en la ciudad de Buenos Aires o la Provincia de Buenos Aires. El 58% había completado estudio terciario. El 72% tenía actividad laboral independiente o en relación de dependencia pública o privada. Utilizaban el sistema de salud prepago el 51%, obra social laboral el 34%, y sistema público de salud cerca del 10%. De acuerdo a las variables socio-demográficas analizadas, la mayoría de la población fue representativa de la clase media. Del total de encuestados, el 7% tuvo diagnóstico de COVID-19. Observamos un alto nivel de conocimiento de la enfermedad, con 80 a 90% de respuestas correctas. En relación a las medidas adoptadas por las autoridades, los juicios emitidos variaron entre "correctas", "insuficientes", "perjudiciales", "innecesarias", etc. El 44% se sentía protegido por el sistema de salud. En cuanto a los referentes válidos para transmitir información, la respuesta preponderante fue el personal médico. En cuanto al momento deconsultar por síntomas, un porcentaje importante (28%) lo haría en forma tardía. Observamos un alto grado de cumplimiento de las medidas de protección, a excepción del ítem "Asistencia a reuniones" (50%). Los resultados de estos estudios contribuyen a establecer estrategias comunicacionales para la prevención y el control de la enfermedad y de ese modo enfrentar de forma más eficiente eventuales rebrotes de la enfermedad.

Background: This study aims to determine the prevalence and characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus in Belgian cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Methods: Non-duplicate respiratory samples from 510 CF-patients (2012−2013) were examined. One isolate per patient was analysed unless different phenotypes were recovered. Isolates were investigated for mecA/mecC, toxins presence, spa-typing, MLST and SCCmec-typing. Potential livestock-associated (LA) isolates were examined for their immune-evasion-cluster (IEC) genes. Results: S. aureus (n = 380), including 41 small-colony variants (SCVs), were isolated from 66.7% patients. The prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) colonization was 4.9%. Two MRSA isolates carried toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1). Most MRSA (65%) belonged to two nosocomial epidemic clones (CC5, CC8) widespread in Belgium. Methicillin susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) showed great genetic diversity. Five of 33 isolates belonging to potential LA-lineages were IEC negative, including three methicillin-resistant isolates, suggesting an animal origin. Conclusions: The MRSA-prevalence in Belgian CF-patients remained constant (2001−2013), but SCV-prevalence increased. Most MRSA belonged to health-care-associated clones. Three patients carrying LA-MRSA were found, requiring further investigation to determine the risk factors for LA-MRSA acquisition., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

The burden of hypoglycaemia is important, particularly in elderly type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients. Unfortunately, however, few studies are available concerning this population. GERODIAB is a prospective, multicentre, observational study that aims to describe the 5-year morbidity and mortality of 987 T2D patients aged 70 years and older. After analyzing the frequency of and factors associated with hypoglycaemia in the 6 months prior to study inclusion, it was found that hypoglycaemia was associated with retinopathy, lower levels of LDL cholesterol and altered mini-Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) scores.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the point prevalence of carbapenem-non-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae (CNSE) and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) isolates among hospitalized patients in Belgium. METHODS: Twenty-four hospital-based laboratories prospectively collected 200 non-duplicated Enterobacteriaceae isolates from clinical specimens of hospitalized patients over a 2 month period. All isolates were screened locally for decreased susceptibility to carbapenem drugs using a disc diffusion method according to CLSI interpretative criteria. CNSE strains were referred centrally for confirmation of carbapenemase by phenotypic and molecular testing. RESULTS: From February to April 2012, 158 of the 4564 screened Enterobacteriaceae isolates were categorized as non-susceptible to carbapenems, resulting in a point prevalence of CNSE of 3.5% (95% CI: 2.9%-4.2%; range per centre: 0.5%-8.5%). Of the 125 referred CNSE isolates, 11 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates [OXA-48 (n = 7), KPC type (n = 3) and NDM type (n = 1)], 1 OXA-48-positive Escherichia coli isolate and 1 KPC-positive Klebsiella oxytoca isolate were detected in eight hospitals. None of the 72 carbapenem-non-susceptible Enterobacter spp. isolates were confirmed as CPE. The minimal estimated point prevalence of CPE isolates was 0.28% (13/4564; 95% CI: 0.13%-0.44%) overall (range per centre: 0%-1.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the overall low prevalence of CNSE found in this study, the detection of CPE isolates in one-third of the participating centres raises concerns and highly suggests the spread and establishment of CPE in Belgian hospitals.

Diabetes & Metabolism - In Press.Proof corrected by the author Available online since jeudi 31 octobre 2013

Maternal and child mortality rates are still unacceptably high in South Africa. The health status of women in peri-urban areas has been influenced by political and socio-economic factors. Examining socio-economic variables (SEV) in a population aids in the explanation of the impact of social structures on an individual. Risk factors can then be established and pregnant women in these higher risk groups can be identified and given additional support during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between SEV and gestational Body Mass Index (GBMI) in a peri-urban settlement, South Africa. This was a sub-study of the Philani Mentor Mothers' Study (2009-2010). Maternal anthropometry and SEV were obtained from 1,145 participants. Multinomial regression was used to analyse the data. Household income was the only SEV that was significantly associated with GBMI. The odds of being underweight rather than normal weight during pregnancy increase by a factor of 2.145 (P < 0.05) for those who had a household income lower than R2000 per month. All other SEV were not significant. Logistic regression was therefore not carried out. Women who had a lower income were at risk of having a lower GBMI during pregnancy. This can lead to adverse birth outcomes such as premature birth, low birth weight, height and head circumference. Public health policy needs to be developed to include optimal nutrition health promotion strategies targeting women with a low income ante and post-natally. Once implemented, they need to be evaluated to assess the impact on maternal and child mortality.

We report the case of a 38-year-old woman, born and raised in Congo, in France for 7 years, who developed ascites 2 months after delivery by C-section. Thrombopenia at 95,000 elements per millimeter cube was diagnosed during her pregnancy and her obstetrician initiated a treatment with corticosteroids. Analysis of the ascitic fluid showed a high concentration of proteins (55.7 g/l), with 2000 elements, 80% of which were lymphocytes, and very high levels of adenosine deaminase. Thoracoabdominal tomodensitometry revealed ascites, a multinodular spleen, and hyperemia of the peritoneum; but the liver and the lungs were normal and no adenoma was identified. Laparoscopy was not performed and the suspected diagnosis of peritoneal tuberculosis was confirmed by only one culture of ascitic fluid.

The heat lability of early acting components of human complement was studied in detail. Kinetic disappearance of individual components was monitored by hemolytic assay. C2 and factor B were the most heat labile components. We took advantage of the difference in heat stability between C2 and C1 to develop a hemolytic assay for human C2.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive brain cancer and its relapse after surgery, chemo and radiotherapy appears to be led by GBM stem cells (GSLCs). Also, tumor networking and intercellular communication play a major role in driving GBM therapy-resistance. Tunneling Nanotubes (TNTs), thin membranous open-ended channels connecting distant cells, have been observed in several types of cancer, where they emerge to drive a more malignant phenotype. Here, we investigated whether GBM cells are capable to intercommunicate by TNTs. Two GBM stem-like cells (GSLCs) were obtained from the external and infiltrative zone of one GBM from one patient. We show, for the first time, that both GSLCs, grown in classical 2D culture and in 3D-tumor organoids, formed functional TNTs which allowed mitochondria transfer. In the organoid model, recapitulative of several tumor’s features, we observed the formation of a network between cells constituted of both Tumor Microtubes (TMs), previously observed in vivo, and TNTs. In addition, the two GSLCs exhibited different responses to irradiation in terms of TNT induction and mitochondria transfer, although the correlation with the disease progression and therapy-resistance needs to be further addressed. Thus, TNT-based communication is active in different GSLCs derived from the external tumoral areas associated to GBM relapse, and we propose that they participate together with TMs in tumor networking.