Search

Centralisation of rectal cancer surgery to designated centres was a key objective of the Irish national cancer control program. A national audit of rectal cancer surgery indicated centralisation was associated with improved early surgical outcomes. This study aimed to determine the impact of implementation of the national cancer strategy on survival from rectal cancer.Data were collected from the National Cancer Registry of Ireland to include all patients with Stage I-III rectal cancer undergoing rectal cancer surgery with curative intent between 2003 and 2012. Five-year overall survival and cancer-specific survival was compared between patients in the pre-centralisation (2003-2007) and post-centralisation period (2008-2012) and between patients receiving surgery in designated cancer centres and non-cancer centres.The proportion of rectal cancer surgery performed in a designated cancer centre increased from 42% during 2003-2007 to 58% during 2008-2012. Five-year overall survival increased from 66.1% in 2003-2007 to 73.5% in 2008-2012 (p 0.001). Five-year cancer-specific survival increased from 75.3% in 2003-2007 to 81.9% in 2008-2012 (p 0.001). Surgery in a cancer centre and surgery post-centralisation were significantly associated with overall and cancer specific survival using Cox proportional hazards regression.Survival following resection of rectal cancer was significantly improved following implementation of a national cancer strategy incorporating centralisation of rectal cancer surgery.

In a post-thermal-quench plasma, mitigated or unmitigated, the plasma power balance is mostly between collisional or Ohmic heating and plasma radiative cooling. In a plasma of atomic mixture { n α } with α labeling the atomic species, the power balance sets the plasma temperature, ion charge state distribution { n α i } with i the charge number, and through the electron temperature T e and ion charge state distribution { n α i } , the parallel electric field E ∥ . Since the threshold electric field for runaway avalanche growth E a v is also set by the atomic mixture, ion charge state distribution and its derived quantity, the electron density n e , the plasma power balance between Ohmic heating and radiative cooling imposes a stringent constraint on the plasma regime for avoiding and minimizing runaways when a fusion-grade tokamak plasma is rapidly terminated.

Mobile whole‐room UVGI devices are used in healthcare settings to control surface‐borne pathogens. Unfortunately, no standard method comparing the efficacy of these devices is available. We accessed the effect of shadows on UVC 254 nm inactivation. The evaluation of a mobile whole‐room UVGI device used spores of Bacillus atrophaeus as a surrogate for Clostridium difficile and Staphylococcus aureus as a surrogate for MSRA. Inactivation after 10 min of exposure varied significantly depending on whether the spores received direct UV exposure (4.3 log reduction), both direct and reflected UV exposure (3.0–4.0 log reduction) or reflected UV exposure alone (, Mobile whole‐room UVGI devices are used to control surface‐borne pathogens. No standard method comparing the efficacy of these devices is available. We accessed the effect of shadows on UVC (254 nm) inactivation. Our evaluation used spores of B. atrophaeus, surrogate for C. difficile, and S. aureus surrogate for MSRA. Inactivation after 10 min of exposure varied significantly depending on whether the spores received direct UV exposure, both direct and reflected UV exposure or reflected UV exposure alone. Reflected dose ranged from 0.46% to 1.47%. Based on our findings, B. atrophaeus spores should be considered as a model organism for testing.

We identified seasonal human coronaviruses, influenza viruses and rhinoviruses in exhaled breath and coughs of children and adults with acute respiratory illness. Surgical face masks significantly reduced detection of influenza virus RNA in respiratory droplets and coronavirus RNA in aerosols, with a trend toward reduced detection of coronavirus RNA in respiratory droplets. Our results indicate that surgical face masks could prevent transmission of human coronaviruses and influenza viruses from symptomatic individuals.

In the version of this article initially published, in the first sentence of the third paragraph of the discussion, "for rhinovirus we detected virus in aerosols in 19 of 34 (56%) participants (compared to 4 of 10 (40%) for influenza and 8 of 23 (35%) for coronavirus)" should have read "for rhinovirus we detected virus in aerosols in 19 of 34 (56%) participants (compared to 4 of 10 (40%) for coronavirus and 8 of 23 (35%) for influenza)," with 'influenza' and 'coronavirus' transposed The error has been corrected in the HTML and PDF versions of the article Copyright © 2020, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc

There are few studies describing the presence of respiratory viruses in respiratory droplets and aerosols in the exhaled breath of infected persons, and the efficacy of facemasks as a source control to prevent respiratory virus transmission. Here, we recruited children and adults with acute respiratory illness and collected respiratory droplets and aerosols, with and without surgical facemasks. We identified human coronaviruses, influenza virus and rhinovirus from both respiratory droplets and aerosols. Surgical face masks reduced detection of coronavirus RNA in both respiratory droplets and aerosols, but only respiratory droplets and not aerosols for influenza virus RNA. Our results provide mechanistic evidence that surgical facemasks could prevent transmission of human coronavirus and influenza virus infections if worn by symptomatic individuals.Authors Donald K Milton and Benjamin J Cowling are joint senior authors.

We identified seasonal human coronaviruses, influenza viruses and rhinoviruses in exhaled breath and coughs of children and adults with acute respiratory illness. Surgical face masks significantly reduced detection of influenza virus RNA in respiratory droplets and coronavirus RNA in aerosols, with a trend toward reduced detection of coronavirus RNA in respiratory droplets. Our results indicate that surgical face masks could prevent transmission of human coronaviruses and influenza viruses from symptomatic individuals.

Infectious diseases represent a major public health challenge worldwide. There are various modes for the transmission of these diseases, with surface and airborne transmission being two of the most important ones. The inefficiencies of current intervention methods have resulted in the emergence of nosocomial infections. Here, we report the use of a nanotechnology based antimicrobial platform using Engineered Water Nanostructures (EWNS) generated using a combined electrospray and ionization of an aqueous suspension of various active ingredients (AIs). These EWNS based nano-sanitizers were tested in terms of their ability to efficiently deliver AI and inactivate Acinetobacter baumannii and influenza H1N1/PR/8 on both surfaces and air. Results indicate a significant reduction in the concertation of the pathogens, while the delivered to pathogen AI doses required for inactivation were miniscule (nanogram level), indicating the viability of such nano-carrier platform as an intervention technology against infectious microorganisms.

The threshold limit value (TLV) guideline for ultraviolet (UV) radiation specifies that irradiance measurements to ensure occupant safety be taken over an angle of 80° at the sensor. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of an 80° field of view (FOV) tube on lower room UV-C irradiation measurements. Measurements were made in an experimental chamber at a height of 1.73m with and without an FOV tube. The FOV tube reduced the lower room irradiance readings by 18-34%, a statistically significant reduction compared to the bare sensor. An 80° FOV tube should be used for lower room irradiance measurements to comply with the TLV guideline. The resulting lower readings would allow more UV-C radiation in the upper room without compromising occupant safety. More UV-C radiation in the upper room could increase efficacy of UVGI systems for reducing transmission of airborne infectious diseases. In addition, recommendations are made to standardize lower room irradiance measurement techniques.

Significance Emerging respiratory pathogens pose significant public health threats as a result of their potential for rapid global spread via multiple non-mutually exclusive modes of transmission. The relative significance of contact, droplet, and airborne transmission for many respiratory pathogens remains a knowledge gap, and better understanding is essential for developing evidence-based measures for effective infection control. Here, we describe and evaluate a transmission chamber that separates virus-laden particles in air by size to study airborne particles that mediate influenza transmission in ferrets. Our results provide direct experimental evidence of influenza transmission via droplets and fine droplet nuclei, albeit at different efficiency. This transmission device can also be applied to elucidate the mode of transmission of other respiratory pathogens., Epidemics and pandemics of influenza are characterized by rapid global spread mediated by non-mutually exclusive transmission modes. The relative significance between contact, droplet, and airborne transmission is yet to be defined, a knowledge gap for implementing evidence-based infection control measures. We devised a transmission chamber that separates virus-laden particles by size and determined the particle sizes mediating transmission of influenza among ferrets through the air. Ferret-to-ferret transmission was mediated by airborne particles larger than 1.5 µm, consistent with the quantity and size of virus-laden particles released by the donors. Onward transmission by donors was most efficient before fever onset and may continue for 5 days after inoculation. Multiple virus gene segments enhanced the transmissibility of a swine influenza virus among ferrets by increasing the release of virus-laden particles into the air. We provide direct experimental evidence of influenza transmission via droplets and fine droplet nuclei, albeit at different efficiency.

Foodborne diseases caused by the consumption of food contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms or their toxins have very serious economic and public health consequences. Here, we explored the effectiveness of a recently developed intervention method for inactivation of microorganisms on fresh produce, and food production surfaces. This method utilizes Engineered Water Nanostructures (EWNS) produced by electrospraying of water vapor. EWNS possess unique properties; they are 25 nm in diameter, remain airborne in indoor conditions for hours, contain Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and have very strong surface charge (on average 10 e/structure). Here, their efficacy in inactivating representative foodborne bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, and Listeria innocua, on stainless steel surfaces and on organic tomatoes, was assessed. The inactivation was facilitated using two different exposure approaches in order to optimize the delivery of EWNS to bacteria: (1) EWNS were delivered on the surfaces by diffusion and (2) a "draw through" Electrostatic Precipitator Exposure System (EPES) was developed and characterized for EWNS delivery to surfaces. Using the diffusion approach and an EWNS concentration of 24,000 #/cm3, the bacterial concentrations on the surfaces were reduced, depending on the bacterium and the surface type, by values ranging between 0.7 to 1.8 logs. Using the EPES approach and for an aerosol concentration of 50,000 #/cm3 at 90 min of exposure, results show a 1.4 log reduction for E. coli on organic tomato surfaces, as compared to the control (same conditions in regards to temperature and Relative Humidity). Furthermore, for L. innocua, the dose-response relationship was demonstrated and found to be a 0.7 and 1.2 logs removal at 12,000 and 23,000 #/cm3, respectively. The results presented here indicate that this novel, chemical-free, and environmentally friendly intervention method holds potential for development and application in the food industry, as a "green" alternative to existing disinfection methods.

Increasing a ceiling fan's speed from its lowest setting of 61 rpm, which resulted in 0.77 m3/s of airflow, to its highest setting of 176 rpm, which resulted in 2.5 m3/s of airflow, or having the fan blow either upward or downward had no statistically significant effect on the efficacy of upper-room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI). This outcome suggests that air circulation due to the ceiling fan was sufficient and that any additional increase would not improve efficacy. Numerous experimental studies on upper-room UVGI in which fans were used to provide air mixing have been published. However, none have quantified the air movement produced by these fans or described their tests in sufficient detail to allow results to be compared to predictions using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The present work provides the required information. In addition to the usual boundary conditions needed for CFD, we made experimental measurements of UV susceptibility of the microorganisms used in the upper-room UVGI tests. We measured UV susceptibilities for Mycobacterium parafortuitum and Bacillus atrophaeus spores to be 0.074 and 0.018 m2/J, respectively. In a previous publication, we reported the spatial distribution of fluence rate, which is also needed for predicting efficacy from CFD. In a companion paper referred to as Part II, upper-room UVGI efficacy was predicted by both Eulerian and Lagrangian CFD and compared to the experimental results from the present study., Highlights • We measured the effect of ceiling fan direction on upper-room UVGI efficacy. • We measured the effect of ceiling fan speed on upper-room UVGI efficacy. • Based on 17 tests, we measured the UV susceptibility of airborne Mycobacterium parafortuitum. • Based on 19 tests, we measured UV susceptibility of airborne Bacillus atrophaeus spores. • We supply sufficient data to validate CFD predictions of upper-room UVGI efficacy.

Background Eggcrate upper-room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI), an engineering control method for reducing the airborne transmission of infectious diseases, was recently developed as an alternative to conventional upper-room UVGI using conventional louvered fixtures. A UV screen, which is composed of open-cell eggcrate panels supported in a frame designed for a conventional suspended ceiling, was used to minimize UV radiation in the lower room. A ceiling fan, which was blowing upward directly above the microbiological source, provided vertical air exchange between the upper and lower room. This system has been shown to be significantly more effective than conventional upper-room UVGI. Study Design In the present study, the microbiological source location and the airflow direction due to the ceiling fan were varied in order to evaluate their impact on germicidal efficacy. Results The test results clearly showed that placing an aerosol source directly underneath an upward blowing ceiling fan produces the maximum efficacy. Conclusions The likely explanation for this outcome is that the fan sucks the microorganisms emitted by the source into the UV beam before being mixed with the air in the room. This is somewhat analogous to local exhaust ventilation in which the contaminant is removed prior to being mixed with the air in the room. Thus, when possible, the ceiling fan should be blowing upward and directly above the source. However, for experimental testing, the source location should be varied in order to access the range of germicidal efficacies that can be expected.

The importance of the aerosol mode for transmission of influenza is unknown. Understanding the role of aerosols is essential to developing public health interventions such as the use of surgical masks as a source control to prevent the release of infectious aerosols. Little information is available on the number and size of particles generated by infected persons, which is partly due to the limitations of conventional air samplers, which do not efficiently capture fine particles or maintain microorganism viability. We designed and built a new sampler, called the G-II, that collects exhaled breath particles that can be used in infectivity analyses. The G-II allows test subjects to perform various respiratory maneuvers (i.e. tidal breathing, coughing, and talking) and allows subjects to wear a mask or respirator during testing. A conventional slit impactor collects particles > 5.0 μm. Condensation of water vapor is used to grow remaining particles, including fine particles, to a size large enough to be efficiently collected by a 1.0 μm slit impactor and be deposited into a buffer-containing collector. We evaluated the G-II for fine particle collection efficiency with inert particle aerosols and evaluated infective virus collection using influenza A virus aerosols. Testing results showed greater than 85% collection efficiency for particles greater than 50nm and influenza virus collection comparable with a reference SKC BioSampler®. The new design will enable determination of exhaled infectious virus generation rate and evaluate control strategies such as wearing a surgical type mask to prevent the release of viruses from infected persons.

A chemical free, nanotechnology-based, antimicrobial platform using Engineered Water Nanostructures (EWNS) was recently developed. EWNS have high surface charge, are loaded with reactive oxygen species (ROS) and can interact-with and inactivate an array of microorganisms, including foodborne pathogens. Here, it was demonstrated that their properties during synthesis can be fine tuned and optimized to further enhance their antimicrobial potential. A lab based EWNS platform was developed to enable fine-tuning of EWNS properties by modifying synthesis parameters. Characterization of EWNS properties (charge, size and ROS content) was performed using state-of-the art analytical methods. Further their microbial inactivation potential was evaluated with food related microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Listeria innocua, Mycobacterium parafortuitum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae inoculated onto the surface of organic grape tomatoes. The results presented here indicate that EWNS properties can be fine-tuned during synthesis resulting in a multifold increase of the inactivation efficacy. More specifically, the surface charge quadrupled and the ROS content increased. Microbial removal rates were microorganism dependent and ranged between 1.0 to 3.8 logs after 45 mins of exposure to an EWNS aerosol dose of 40,000 #/cm3.

This study explores the sexual experiences and sexual health of Roman Catholic priests. The qualitative research design looked at priests' responses to the question, "Please share one or more sexual experiences in your lifetime." The qualitative responses were analyzed and categorized into seven groupings: (a) Childhood and adolescent homosexual experiences; (b) Childhood and adolescent heterosexual experiences; (c) Both homosexual and heterosexual childhood and adolescent experiences; (d) Adult sexual experiences before ordination to the priesthood; (e) Adult sexual experiences since ordination to the priesthood; (f) Masturbation; and (g) Other sexual experiences. The data were analyzed by frequency of responses and percentages within each of the seven categories. The results indicate the need for early intervention and education during seminary, ongoing education after ordination, and psychotherapy support for priests.

In an era of dissatisfaction with the nation's prekindergarten through grade 12 schools and criticism of teacher education programs, professional development school (PDS) partnerships have emerged as one solution. Using quantitative and qualitative data obtained during the first two years of an urban PDS network that includes a large, private university and six local public and private schools, the researchers document how the PDS relationships influenced preservice candidate preparation, with specific consideration given to changes over time. Through the data, the voices of the participants emerge to help the researchers understand how preservice candidates, through the PDS model, are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to meet the needs of P–12 students in their future classrooms.

This study explores the effects of disclosing a history of childhood sexual abuse on empathy for Roman Catholic priests. The research design randomly selected priests in good standing in the Roman Catholic Church from 10 locations in the United States. Three groups of priests were identified based on self-report: (a) priests who report sexual abuse and no disclosure, (b) priests who report sexual abuse and disclosure, and (c) priests who report no sexual abuse. The three groups were compared using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index dimensions of perspective-taking, empathic concern, and personal distress as the dependent variable. The data was analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression to examine the incremental contributions for the different sets of independent variables. Results indicate that empathy was not exclusively associated with disclosing sexual abuse. The need for earlier intervention, education, and assistance for priests in disclosing childhood sexual abuse is discussed.

Background Surfaces in congregate settings, such as vehicles used for mass transportation, can become contaminated with infectious microorganisms and facilitate disease transmission. We disinfected surfaces contaminated with H1N1 influenza viruses using hydrogen peroxide (HP) vapor at concentrations below 100 ppm and triethylene glycol (TEG)-saturated air containing 2 ppm of TEG at 25°C. Methods Influenza viruses in aqueous suspensions were deposited on stainless-steel coupons, allowed to dry at ambient conditions, and then exposed for up to 15 minutes to 10 to 90 ppm of HP vapor or TEG-saturated air. Virus assays were done on the solution used to wash the viruses from these coupons and from coupons treated similarly but without exposure to HP or TEG vapor. Results After 2.5 minutes, exposure to 10-ppm HP vapor resulted in 99% inactivation. For air saturated with TEG at 25 to 29°C, the disinfection rate was about 1.3 log10 reductions per hour, about 16 times faster than the measured natural inactivation rate under ambient conditions. Conclusions Vapor concentrations of 10 ppm HP or 2 ppm TEG can provide effective surface disinfection. At these low concentrations, the potential for damage to even the avionics of an airplane would be expected to be minimal. At a TEG vapor concentration of 2 ppm, there are essentially no health risks to people.

As a first step in conducting studies of airborne influenza transmission, we compared the collection performance of an SKC Biosampler, a compact cascade impactor (CCI), Teflon filters, and gelatin filters by collecting aerosolized influenza virus in a one-pass aerosol chamber. Influenza virus infectivity was determined using a fluorescent focus assay and influenza virus nucleic acid (originating from viable and non-viable viruses) was measured using quantitative PCR. The results showed that the SKC Biosampler recovered and preserved influenza virus infectivity much better than the other samplers - the CCI, Teflon, and gelatin filters recovered only 7-22% of infectious viruses compared with the Biosampler. Total virus collection was not significantly different among the SKC Biosampler, the gelatin, and Teflon filters, but was significantly lower in the CCI. Results from this study show that a new sampler is needed for virus aerosol sampling, as commercially available samplers do not efficiently collect and conserve virus infectivity. Applications for a new sampler include studies of airborne disease transmission and bioterrorism monitoring. Design parameters for a new sampler include high collection efficiency for fine particles and liquid sampling media to preserve infectivity. Practical Implications New air samplers are needed to study infectious airborne viruses and learn about airborne disease transmission. As a first step in designing a new air sampler to collect influenza virus we evaluated four commercial samplers and determined necessary design parameters for a new collector.

Interest in airborne smallpox transmission has been renewed because of concerns regarding the potential use of smallpox virus as a biothreat agent. Air disinfection via upper-room 254-nm germicidal UV (UVC) light in public buildings may reduce the impact of primary agent releases, prevent secondary airborne transmission, and be effective prior to the time when public health authorities are aware of a smallpox outbreak. We characterized the susceptibility of vaccinia virus aerosols, as a surrogate for smallpox, to UVC light by using a benchtop, one-pass aerosol chamber. We evaluated virus susceptibility to UVC doses ranging from 0.1 to 3.2 J/m 2 , three relative humidity (RH) levels (20%, 60%, and 80%), and suspensions of virus in either water or synthetic respiratory fluid. Dose-response plots show that vaccinia virus susceptibility increased with decreasing RH. These plots also show a significant nonlinear component and a poor fit when using a first-order decay model but show a reasonable fit when we assume that virus susceptibility follows a log-normal distribution. The overall effects of RH ( P < 0.0001) and the suspending medium ( P = 0.014) were statistically significant. When controlling for the suspending medium, the RH remained a significant factor ( P < 0.0001) and the effect of the suspending medium was significant overall ( P < 0.0001) after controlling for RH. Virus susceptibility did not appear to be a function of virus particle size. This work provides an essential scientific basis for the design of effective upper-room UVC installations for the prevention of airborne infection transmission of smallpox virus by characterizing the susceptibility of an important orthopoxvirus to UVC exposure.

Environmental samples analyzed by quantitative PCR (qPCR) are subject to interference by inhibitors present in the environment being sampled. A controlled determination of the effect of inhibitors associated with sampling indoor air and the ability of internal standard controls to detect inhibition was carried out by filter collection of air samples followed by spiking of the filters with green fluorescent protein-expressing Aspergillus fumigatus conidia. Microscopic conidial counts were compared with qPCR results and correlated with levels of particulate matter and viable airborne microorganisms. Our data showed that PCR can be inhibited by masses of particulate matter as low as 50 μg and that the amount of inhibition was positively correlated with the mass of particulate (r = 0.75) and the number of non-filamentous organisms (r = 0.73). The use of internal standard DNA identified the presence of inhibitors and indicated the need for additional sample processing or qualification of sample results.

This study used green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing Aspergillus fumigatus conidia to compare quantitative PCR (qPCR) enumeration with direct epifluorescent microscopic filter counts of conidia collected on filters in a test chamber. In separate experiments this study initially compared white versus fluorescent light microscopy for counting A. fumigatus conidia, then compared fluorescent microscopy counting of corresponding filter halves, and finally compared qPCR enumeration to counting by fluorescent light microscopy. The use of GFP-expressing conidia with epifluorescent microscopy yielded significantly higher conidia counts (p = 0.026, n = 41, mean of 4.1 conidia per counting field) and 40% faster counting times when compared to conventional counting using white light microscopy. GFP-expressing conidia were aerosolized in a test chamber and collected onto filters. Filters were divided in half and GFP-expressing conidia enumerated. There was no significant difference in the average conidia count per field between corresponding filter halves (p = 0.3, n = 9 filters, mean of 7.8 conidia per counting field). Thus, one filter half could be counted optically and would provide a reliable estimate of filter loading of the corresponding half, which could then be analyzed by qPCR. Filters (n = 38) loaded with GFP conidia in the aerosol chamber were divided in half and analyzed by either fluorescent microscopy or qPCR. The estimated filter loadings ranged from 15-30,000 conidia per filter. There was a linear relationship with a nearly 1:1 ratio between qPCR and direct microscopic estimates of filter loading (y = 1.06x + 404; R(2) = 0.91) showing that the outlined qPCR analysis method is in agreement with an external reference method and is reliable for enumerating A. fumigatus conidia collected on filters. The comparative data derived using GFP-expressing conidia confirmed that qPCR provides sensitive and accurate quantification of DNA from airborne conidia collected on filters.

The authors report the results of a survey on technology access and use in both religious and nonsectarian schools in the state of Illinois. Four hundred surveys were sent to a cross section of private schools, with a response rate of 45%. The study demonstrates there were only minimal differences between sectarian and nonsectarian schools and that they both had adequate, up-to-date equipment. Most schools provided their students and faculty with access to computer/internet technology in dedicated labs, media centers, and classrooms. The study does show that while both religious and nonsectarian private schools have the tools to integrate technology into the curriculum, and principals who positively rate the use of computer technology, most principals report that a majority of their teachers do not make use of technology in ways that promote higher-order thinking.

Infections caused by Toxoplasma gondii are widely prevalent in animals and humans throughout the world. In the United States, an estimated 23% of adolescents and adults have laboratory evidence of T. gondii infection. T. gondii has been identified as a major opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised individuals, in whom it can cause life-threatening disease. Water contaminated with feces from domestic cats or other felids may be an important source of human exposure to T. gondii oocysts. Because of the lack of information regarding the prevalence of T. gondii in surface waters, there is a clear need for a rapid, sensitive method to detect T. gondii from water. Currently available animal models and cell culture methods are time-consuming, expensive, and labor-intensive, requiring days or weeks for results to be obtained. Detection of T. gondii nucleic acid by PCR has become the preferred method. We have developed a PCR amplification and detection method for T. gondii oocyst nucleic acid that incorporates the use of hot-start amplification to reduce nonspecific primer annealing, uracil- N -glycosylase to prevent false-positive results due to carryover contamination, an internal standard control to identify false-negative results due to inadequate removal of sample inhibition, and PCR product oligoprobe confirmation using a nonradioactive DNA hybridization immunoassay. This method can provide positive, confirmed results in less than 1 day. Fewer than 50 oocysts can be detected following recovery of oocyst DNA. Development of a T. gondii oocyst PCR detection method will provide a useful technique to estimate the levels of T. gondii oocysts present in surface waters.

The study of occlusal therapy in humans with periodontitis is problematic due to potential irreversible bone loss in control subjects. The hypothesis of this pilot investigation was that increased interocclusal contact initiated by short-term occlusal splint disuse would increase tooth mobility and the bone-resorptive cytokine interleukin (IL)-1beta in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), comparable to IL-1-positive genotype and increased periodontitis severity.Nineteen non-smoking chronic periodontitis patients using nocturnal occlusal splints and undergoing periodontal maintenance in a private practice were evaluated at five time points: 24 hours after continuous splint use; 1, 2, and 3 days after no occlusal splint use; and 14 days after resumption of customary nighttime splint use. Subjects were evaluated to confirm that the plaque index and gingival index wereor = 1.0, and to categorize past periodontitis (moderate or severe) and IL-1 genotype (1A +4845 plus IL-1B +3954). Test sites on two anterior teeth vulnerable to occlusal trauma were sampled for mobility, GCF IL-1beta, and IL-1 receptor antagonist (ra).Tooth mobility remained low during the 3-day period when patients were not wearing their occlusal appliance. GCF IL-1beta decreased after not wearing the appliances (P = 0.016), especially at 48 hours. At this time, genotype-positive subjects had higher levels of GCF IL-1beta/IL-1ra than genotype-negative subjects (P = 0.045), and patients who had experienced severe periodontitis had higher IL-1beta levels than moderate periodontitis subjects (P = 0.004).These findings suggest that short-term discontinuation of occlusal splint therapy in non-smoking periodontitis patients undergoing periodontal maintenance does not result in potential signs of early occlusal trauma (increasing mobility or GCF IL-1beta). Longer-term studies may be needed to determine appropriate therapy applications for periodontitis-susceptible patients with definable occlusal discrepancies and/or parafunction.

lergy have historically lived longer than other white-collar professionals, primarily due to less suicide, accidents, and infectious disease. As the health challenge in the United States has shifted to obesity-related chronic disease, clergy have experienced rates of obesity and corresponding chronic disease that are even higher than those of non-clergy. One possible explanation is the interplay between obesity and stress, and the variety of reasons for clergy stress is discussed. Research on clergy health, holistically defined, is needed. Important gaps in the literature include the healthrelated experiences of Jewish and Muslim clergy, clergy of diverse countries and cultures, and subgroups of clergy in the United States, including women and African-American clergy. The study of clergy health can shed light on more general research questions, such as the relation between health interventions and spirituality.

The MultiWave System III (MW III), a recently developed personal monitor for extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields, was compared with the standard EMDEX Lite (Electric and Magnetic Field Digital Exposure System), the type of monitor widely used in epidemiology and other exposure assessments. The MW III captures three-axis magnetic field waveforms for the calculation of many exposure metrics, while the EMDEX monitors measure only the root-mean-squared (RMS) vector magnitude (or resultant). Thirty-eight partial period personal samples were monitored in six different job classifications. The sampling time for each personal sample ranged from 90 to 133 min, with a mean sample time of 110 min. The EMDEX Lite and MW III were evaluated by comparing the maximum and partial period time-weighted average (TWA) of the ELF magnitude. TWA exposures measured for the 38 partial period samples by the EMDEX Lite ranged from 1.2 to 65.3 mG, with a mean of 18.1 mG, while corresponding values for the MW III ranged from 1.1 to 65.8 mG, with a mean of 17.7 mG. The maximum magnetic field exposures measured for the 38 partial period personal samples by the EMDEX Lite ranged from 27.0 to 420.2 mG, with a mean of 216.3 mG, while corresponding values for the MW III ranged from 40.2 to 1311.8 mG, with a mean of 368.4 mG. The maximum and TWA ELF magnetic field exposures measured by the EMDEX Lite and MW III were compared using a two-tailed, paired t-test. Analyses indicate that there was no significant difference in the TWA magnetic field magnitude measured by the EMDEX Lite and MW III. On the other hand, the EMDEX Lite reported significantly lower (P=0.002) maximum magnetic field measurements compared to the MW III. From a detailed analysis of the time traces, the EMDEX Lite appears to measure the ELF magnitude inaccurately when the field changes rapidly over a 4-s sampling interval. The results of this comparison suggest that the standard EMDEX Lite and MW III provide similar measure of the TWA magnetic field in a variety of occupational settings and ELF magnetic field magnitudes. However, the EMDEX Lite underestimates maximum exposures when compared to the MW III.

Airborne transmitted pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) cause serious, often fatal infectious disease with enormous global health implications. Due to their unique cell wall and slow growth, mycobacteria are among the most resilient microbial forms. Herein we evaluate the ability of an emerging, chemical-free, nanotechnology-based method to inactivate M. parafortuitum (Mtb surrogate). This method is based on the transformation of atmospheric water vapor into engineered water nano-structures (EWNS) via electrospray. We demonstrate that the EWNS can interact with and inactivate airborne mycobacteria, reducing their concentration levels significantly. Additionally, EWNS can inactivate M. parafortuitum on surfaces eight times faster than the control. The mechanism of mycobacteria inactivation was also investigated in this study. It was demonstrated that the EWNS effectively deliver the reactive oxygen species, encapsulated during the electrospray process, to the bacteria oxidizing their cell membrane resulting into inactivation. Overall, this is a method with the potential to become an effective intervention technology in the battle against airborne infections.This study demonstrates the feasibility of mycobacterium inactivation in airborne form or on contact surfaces using electrospray activated water nano-structures. Given that the method is free of toxic chemicals, this might become an important tool in the prevention of mycobacterial infections, which are notoriously hard to treat.

Periodontitis is a bacterial disease modified by multiple risk factors. The pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin- (IL-1) is a key regulator of the host responses to microbial infection and a major modulator of extracellular matrix catabolism and bone resorption. It has been reported that variations in the IL-1 gene cluster on chromosome 2 are associated with increased susceptibility to severe adult periodontitis.The present study evaluated the association between a composite IL-1 genotype, including allele 2 at each of two loci (IL-1A +4845 plus IL- B +3954), and a broad spectrum of periodontally healthy to diseased patients in a population that is typically encountered in a dental practice setting. Ninety patients, non-smokers or former smokers with less than 10 pack-year (pk/yr) history, were recruited from a private dental practice. The major outcome variable was bone loss determined by computerized linear measurements of radiographs. Genotypes were analyzed from finger-stick blood samples using previously reported methods.Multivariate logistic regression models demonstrated that patient age, former smoking history, and the IL-1 genotype were significantly associated with severity of adult periodontitis. For non-smokers or former light smokers (5 pk/yr), IL-1 genotype positives were at increased odds ratio of having moderate to severe periodontal disease of 3.75 (95% CI: 1.04-13.50) to 5.27 (95% CI: 1.23-22.70), depending on ethnicity, compared to IL-1 genotype negatives. Former moderate smokers (5 pk/yr and10 pk/yr) who were IL-1 genotype negative were at increased odds ratio of having moderate to severe periodontal disease of 7.43 (95% CI: 1.20-46.20) compared to non-smokers or former light smokers who were IL-1 genotype negative. In addition, past smoking history was also a significant effect modifier as demonstrated by the statistically significant interaction between past smoking history status and IL-1 genotype status.This study demonstrates that the composite IL-1 genotype is significantly associated with the severity of adult periodontitis. It also confirmed that both IL-1 genotyping and smoking history provide objective risk factors for periodontal disease in a private practice environment.

Airborne pathogens are associated with the spread of infectious diseases and increased morbidity and mortality. Herein we present an emerging chemical free, nanotechnology-based method for airborne pathogen inactivation. This technique is based on transforming atmospheric water vapor into Engineered Water Nano-Structures (EWNS) via electrospray. The generated EWNS possess a unique set of physical, chemical, morphological and biological properties. Their average size is 25 nm and they contain reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydroxyl and superoxide radicals. In addition, EWNS are highly electrically charged (10 electrons per particle on average). A link between their electric charge and the reduction of their evaporation rate was illustrated resulting in an extended lifetime (over an hour) at room conditions. Furthermore, it was clearly demonstrated that the EWNS have the ability to interact with and inactivate airborne bacteria. Finally, inhaled EWNS were found to have minimal toxicological effects, as illustrated in an acute in-vivo inhalation study using a mouse model. In conclusion, this novel, chemical free, nanotechnology-based method has the potential to be used in the battle against airborne infectious diseases.