Last data update: May 13, 2024. (Total: 46773 publications since 2009)
Records 1-24 (of 24 Records) |
Query Trace: Takahashi M[original query] |
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Emergence of zoonotic sporotrichosis in Brazil: a genomic epidemiology study
Ribeiro Dos Santos A , Misas E , Min B , Le N , Bagal UR , Parnell LA , Sexton DJ , Lockhart SR , de Souza Carvalho Melhem M , Takahashi JPF , Oliboni GM , Bonfieti LX , Cappellano P , Sampaio JLM , Araujo LS , Alves Filho HL , Venturini J , Chiller TM , Litvintseva AP , Chow NA . Lancet Microbe 2024 BACKGROUND: Zoonotic sporotrichosis is a neglected fungal disease, whereby outbreaks are primarily driven by Sporothrix brasiliensis and linked to cat-to-human transmission. To understand the emergence and spread of sporotrichosis in Brazil, the epicentre of the current epidemic in South America, we aimed to conduct whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to describe the genomic epidemiology. METHODS: In this genomic epidemiology study, we included Sporothrix spp isolates from sporotrichosis cases from Brazil, Colombia, and the USA. We conducted WGS using Illumina NovaSeq on isolates collected by three laboratories in Brazil from humans and cats with sporotrichosis between 2013 and 2022. All isolates that were confirmed to be Sporothrix genus by internal transcribed spacer or beta-tubulin PCR sequencing were included in this study. We downloaded eight Sporothrix genome sequences from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (six from Brazil, two from Colombia). Three Sporothrix spp genome sequences from the USA were generated by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as part of this study. We did phylogenetic analyses and correlated geographical and temporal case distribution with genotypic features of Sporothrix spp isolates. FINDINGS: 72 Sporothrix spp isolates from 55 human and 17 animal sporotrichosis cases were included: 67 (93%) were from Brazil, two (3%) from Colombia, and three (4%) from the USA. Cases spanned from 1999 to 2022. Most (61 [85%]) isolates were S brasiliensis, and all were reported from Brazil. Ten (14%) were Sporothrix schenckii and were reported from Brazil, USA, and Colombia. For S schenckii isolates, two distinct clades were observed wherein isolates clustered by geography. For S brasiliensis isolates, five clades separated by more than 100 000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms were observed. Among the five S brasiliensis clades, clades A and C contained isolates from both human and cat cases, and clade A contained isolates from six different states in Brazil. Compared with S brasiliensis isolates, larger genetic diversity was observed among S schenckii isolates from animal and human cases within a clade. INTERPRETATION: Our results suggest that the ongoing epidemic driven by S brasiliensis in Brazil represents several, independent emergence events followed by animal-to-animal and animal-to human transmission within and between Brazilian states. These results describe how S brasiliensis can emerge and spread within a country. FUNDING: Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Brazil; the São Paulo Research Foundation; Productivity in Research fellowships by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, and Ministry of Science and Technology of Brazil. |
Validity of administrative claims and electronic health registry data from a single practice for eye health surveillance
Wittenborn JS , Lee AY , Lundeen EA , Lamuda P , Saaddine J , Su GL , Lu R , Damani A , Zawadzki JS , Froines CP , Shen JZ , Kung TH , Yanagihara RT , Maring M , Takahashi MM , Blazes M , Rein DB . JAMA Ophthalmol 2023 IMPORTANCE: Diagnostic information from administrative claims and electronic health record (EHR) data may serve as an important resource for surveillance of vision and eye health, but the accuracy and validity of these sources are unknown. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the accuracy of diagnosis codes in administrative claims and EHRs compared to retrospective medical record review. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cross-sectional study compared the presence and prevalence of eye disorders based on diagnostic codes in EHR and claims records vs clinical medical record review at University of Washington-affiliated ophthalmology or optometry clinics from May 2018 to April 2020. Patients 16 years and older with an eye examination in the previous 2 years were included, oversampled for diagnosed major eye diseases and visual acuity loss. EXPOSURES: Patients were assigned to vision and eye health condition categories based on diagnosis codes present in their billing claims history and EHR using the diagnostic case definitions of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System (VEHSS) as well as clinical assessment based on retrospective medical record review. MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES: Accuracy was measured as area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of claims and EHR-based diagnostic coding vs retrospective review of clinical assessments and treatment plans. RESULTS: Among 669 participants (mean [range] age, 66.1 [16-99] years; 357 [53.4%] female), identification of diseases in billing claims and EHR data using VEHSS case definitions was accurate for diabetic retinopathy (claims AUC, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.91-0.98; EHR AUC, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95-0.99), glaucoma (claims AUC, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.88-0.93; EHR AUC, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.90-0.95), age-related macular degeneration (claims AUC, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.83-0.92; EHR AUC, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.94-0.98), and cataracts (claims AUC, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.79-0.86; EHR AUC, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.89-0.93). However, several condition categories showed low validity with AUCs below 0.7, including diagnosed disorders of refraction and accommodation (claims AUC, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.49-0.60; EHR AUC, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.56-0.67), diagnosed blindness and low vision (claims AUC, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.53-0.58; EHR AUC, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.54-0.59), and orbital and external diseases (claims AUC, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.57-0.69; EHR AUC, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.59-0.70). CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: In this cross-sectional study of current and recent ophthalmology patients with high rates of eye disorders and vision loss, identification of major vision-threatening eye disorders based on diagnosis codes in claims and EHR records was accurate. However, vision loss, refractive error, and other broadly defined or lower-risk disorder categories were less accurately identified by diagnosis codes in claims and EHR data. |
Comparing telephone survey responses to best-corrected visual acuity to estimate the accuracy of identifying vision loss: Validation study
Wittenborn J , Lee A , Lundeen EA , Lamuda P , Saaddine J , Su GL , Lu R , Damani A , Zawadzki JS , Froines CP , Shen JZ , Kung TH , Yanagihara RT , Maring M , Takahashi MM , Blazes M , Rein DB . JMIR Public Health Surveill 2023 9 e44552 BACKGROUND: Self-reported questions on blindness and vision problems are collected in many national surveys. Recently released surveillance estimates on the prevalence of vision loss used self-reported data to predict variation in the prevalence of objectively measured acuity loss among population groups for whom examination data are not available. However, the validity of self-reported measures to predict prevalence and disparities in visual acuity has not been established. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of self-reported vision loss measures compared to best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), inform the design and selection of questions for future data collection, and identify the concordance between self-reported vision and measured acuity at the population level to support ongoing surveillance efforts. METHODS: We calculated accuracy and correlation between self-reported visual function versus BCVA at the individual and population level among patients from the University of Washington ophthalmology or optometry clinics with a prior eye examination, randomly oversampled for visual acuity loss or diagnosed eye diseases. Self-reported visual function was collected via telephone survey. BCVA was determined based on retrospective chart review. Diagnostic accuracy of questions at the person level was measured based on the area under the receiver operator curve (AUC), whereas population-level accuracy was determined based on correlation. RESULTS: The survey question, "Are you blind or do you have serious difficulty seeing, even when wearing glasses?" had the highest accuracy for identifying patients with blindness (BCVA ≤20/200; AUC=0.797). The highest accuracy for detecting any vision loss (BCVA <20/40) was achieved by responses of "fair," "poor," or "very poor" to the question, "At the present time, would you say your eyesight, with glasses or contact lenses if you wear them, is excellent, good, fair, poor, or very poor" (AUC=0.716). At the population level, the relative relationship between prevalence based on survey questions and BCVA remained stable for most demographic groups, with the only exceptions being groups with small sample sizes, and these differences were generally not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Although survey questions are not considered to be sufficiently accurate to be used as a diagnostic test at the individual level, we did find relatively high levels of accuracy for some questions. At the population level, we found that the relative prevalence of the 2 most accurate survey questions were highly correlated with the prevalence of measured visual acuity loss among nearly all demographic groups. The results of this study suggest that self-reported vision questions fielded in national surveys are likely to yield an accurate and stable signal of vision loss across different population groups, although the actual measure of prevalence from these questions is not directly analogous to that of BCVA. |
Culture cell block controls as a tool to the biomolecular diagnosis of infectious diseases
Jose Tadeu de Araujo L , Salas-Gomez D , Midori Kimura L , Fernandes Possatto Takahashi J , de Souza Barrel J , Rollin DC , Mariotti Guerra J . Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 2019 28 (6) 484-487 The cell block (CB) technique has allowed easy obtainment of samples such as cellular and culture suspensions, to perform specific molecular tests such as immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. It has been improved along time, accuracy, and quality of the diagnoses, however, the cost of a commercial gel matrix for the preparation of CB is high and not suitable depending on the situation. The objective of this study is to test agarose as an alternative to the commercial gel matrix in the preparation of Aspergillus fumigatus' CB. |
Working Time Society consensus statements: Regulatory approaches to reduce risks associated with shift work-a global comparison
Gartner J , Rosa RR , Roach G , Kubo T , Takahashi M . Ind Health 2019 57 (2) 245-263 A large number of workers worldwide engage in shift work that can have significant influences upon the quality of working life. For most jurisdictions, setting and enforcing appropriate policies, regulations, and rules around shift work is considered essential to (a) prevent potentially negative consequences of shift work and (b) to improve worker health and well-being. However, the best ways to do this are often highly contested theoretical spaces and often culturally and historically bound. In this paper, we examine the regulatory approaches to regulating shift work in four different regions: Europe, North America, Australasia, and East Asia (Japan, China, and Korea). Despite the fact that social and cultural factors vary considerably across the regions, comparing regulatory frameworks and initiatives in one region can be instructive. Different approaches can minimally provide a contrast to stimulate discussion about custom and practice and, potentially, help us to develop new and innovative models to improve worker well-being and organizational productivity simultaneously. In this paper, our goal is not to develop or even advocate a "perfect" sets of regulations. Rather, it is to compare and contrast the diversity and changing landscape of current regulatory practices and to help organizations and regulators understand the costs and benefits of different approaches. For example, in recent years, many western countries have seen a shift away from prescriptive regulation toward more risk-based approaches. Advocates and critics vary considerably in what drove these changes and the benefit-cost analyses associated with their introduction. By understanding the different ways in which shift work can be regulated, it may be possible to learn from others and to better promote healthier and safer environments for shift-working individuals and workplaces. |
The seasonality of nonpolio enteroviruses in the United States: Patterns and drivers
Pons-Salort M , Oberste MS , Pallansch MA , Abedi GR , Takahashi S , Grenfell BT , Grassly NC . Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018 115 (12) 3078-3083 Nonpolio enteroviruses are diverse and common viruses that can circulate year-round but tend to peak in summer. Although most infections are asymptomatic, they can result in a wide range of neurological and other diseases. Many serotypes circulate every year, and different serotypes predominate in different years, but the drivers of their geographical and temporal dynamics are not understood. We use national enterovirus surveillance data collected by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during 1983-2013, as well as demographic and climatic data for the same period, to study the patterns and drivers of the seasonality of these infections. We find that the seasonal pattern of enterovirus cases is spatially structured in the United States and similar to that observed for historical prevaccination poliomyelitis (1931-1954). We identify latitudinal gradients for the amplitude and the timing of the peak of cases, meaning that those are more regularly distributed all year-round in the south and have a more pronounced peak that arrives later toward the north. The peak is estimated to occur between July and September across the United States, and 1 month earlier than that for historical poliomyelitis. Using mixed-effects models, we find that climate, but not demography, is likely to drive the seasonal pattern of enterovirus cases and that the dew point temperature alone explains approximately 30% of the variation in the intensity of transmission. Our study contributes to a better understanding of the epidemiology of enteroviruses, demonstrates important similarities in their circulation dynamics with polioviruses, and identifies potential drivers of their seasonality. |
Position statement: Reducing fatigue associated with sleep deficiency and work hours in nurses
Caruso CC , Baldwin CM , Berger A , Chasens ER , Landis C , Redeker NS , Scott LD , Trinkoff A . Nurs Outlook 2017 65 (6) 766-768 The American Academy of Nursing promotes management practices in health care organizations and | strategies in the nurse’s personal life to support sleep | health in nurses and, as a result, an alert nursing | workforce fit to perform their jobs and more able to live | healthy lives. Society requires critical nursing services | around the clock. Consequently, shift work and long | work hours are common in health care organizations | and negatively affect a significant percent of nurses. | Working at night and irregular hours compromise | human physiology dictated by the need for sleep and | circadian rhythms. The challenge that nurses on shift | work face is the need to work at night (when our | physiology promotes sleep) and sleep during the day | (when our physiology promotes activity). When shift | work combines with long work hours (e.g., shifts of | 12 hr or more) and leads to sleep deficiency or disruption to circadian rhythms, the health and safety costs | of this conflict with human physiology are potentially | significant. Sleep deficiency is a broad term that includes inadequate sleep duration, poor sleep quality, | untreated sleep disorders, and mistimed sleep that is | not synchronized with circadian rhythms. Sleep deficiency can affect nurses’ work readiness and health, | safety, and well-being. Evidence is building that long | shifts, shift rotations, double shifts, evening, and night | shifts are associated with multiple short- and longterm health and safety risks to the nurse (National | Institute for Occupational Safety and Health [NIOSH]; | NIOSH, Caruso, Geiger-Brown, Takahashi, Trinkoff, & | Nakata, 2015). Tired nurses are also at risk for making | fatigue-related patient care errors that can endanger | their patients (Bae & Fabry, 2014). These risks also | extend to the nurse’s family, their employer/health | care organization, and the broader society when tired | nurses make errors at work and home or crash their vehicle due to drowsy driving. This complex hazard | requires a variety of personal, workplace, and public | health strategies to reduce these risks. Unfortunately, | persons working in health care organizations may not | fully understand the health and safety risks that are | associated with fatigue and may be unaware of | evidence-based strategies to reduce these risks. Yet | evidence shows that it is possible to limit or modify the | adverse impact of shift work and long work hours on | nurses by improving their sleep and reducing fatigue. |
Genomic characterization of urethritis-associated Neisseria meningitidis shows that a wide range of N. meningitidis strains can cause urethritis.
Ma KC , Unemo M , Jeverica S , Kirkcaldy RD , Takahashi H , Ohnishi M , Grad YH . J Clin Microbiol 2017 55 (12) 3374-3383 Neisseria meningitidis, typically a resident of the oro- or nasopharynx and the causative agent of meningococcal meningitis and meningococcemia, is capable of invading and colonizing the urogenital tract. This can result in urethritis, akin to the syndrome caused by its sister species N. gonorrhoeae, the etiologic agent of gonorrhea. Recently, meningococcal strains associated with outbreaks of urethritis were reported to share genetic characteristics with gonococcus, raising the question of the extent to which these strains contain features that promote adaptation to the genitourinary niche, making them gonococcal-like and distinguishing them from other N. meningitidis Here, we analyzed the genomes of 39 diverse N. meningitidis isolates associated with urethritis, collected independently over a decade and across three continents. In particular, we characterized the diversity of the nitrite reductase gene (aniA), the factor-H binding protein gene (fHbp), and the capsule biosynthetic locus, all of which are loci previously suggested to be associated with urogenital colonization. We observed notable diversity including frameshift variants in aniA and fHbp, and the presence of intact, disrupted, and absent capsule biosynthetic genes, indicating that urogenital colonization and urethritis caused by N. meningitidis is possible across a range of meningococcal genotypes. Previously identified allelic patterns in urethritis-associated N. meningitidis may reflect genetic diversity in the underlying meningococcal population rather than novel adaptation to the urogenital tract. |
A comparative assessment of major international disasters: the need for exposure assessment, systematic emergency preparedness, and lifetime health care
Lucchini RG , Hashim D , Acquilla S , Basanets A , Bertazzi PA , Bushmanov A , Crane M , Harrison DJ , Holden W , Landrigan PJ , Luft BJ , Mocarelli P , Mazitova N , Melius J , Moline JM , Mori K , Prezant D , Reibman J , Reissman DB , Stazharau A , Takahashi K , Udasin IG , Todd AC . BMC Public Health 2017 17 (1) 46 BACKGROUND: The disasters at Seveso, Three Mile Island, Bhopal, Chernobyl, the World Trade Center (WTC) and Fukushima had historic health and economic sequelae for large populations of workers, responders and community members. METHODS: Comparative data from these events were collected to derive indications for future preparedness. Information from the primary sources and a literature review addressed: i) exposure assessment; ii) exposed populations; iii) health surveillance; iv) follow-up and research outputs; v) observed physical and mental health effects; vi) treatment and benefits; and vii) outreach activities. RESULTS: Exposure assessment was conducted in Seveso, Chernobyl and Fukushima, although none benefited from a timely or systematic strategy, yielding immediate and sequential measurements after the disaster. Identification of exposed subjects was overall underestimated. Health surveillance, treatment and follow-up research were implemented in Seveso, Chernobyl, Fukushima, and at the WTC, mostly focusing on the workers and responders, and to a lesser extent on residents. Exposure-related physical and mental health consequences were identified, indicating the need for a long-term health care of the affected populations. Fukushima has generated the largest scientific output so far, followed by the WTCHP and Chernobyl. Benefits programs and active outreach figured prominently in only the WTC Health Program. The analysis of these programs yielded the following lessons: 1) Know who was there; 2) Have public health input to the disaster response; 3) Collect health and needs data rapidly; 4) Take care of the affected; 5) Emergency preparedness; 6) Data driven, needs assessment, advocacy. CONCLUSIONS: Given the long-lasting health consequences of natural and man-made disasters, health surveillance and treatment programs are critical for management of health conditions, and emergency preparedness plans are needed to prevent or minimize the impact of future threats. |
Global, regional, and national cancer incidence, mortality, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-adjusted life-years for 32 cancer groups, 1990 to 2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study
Fitzmaurice C , Allen C , Barber RM , Barregard L , Bhutta ZA , Brenner H , Dicker DJ , Chimed-Orchir O , Dandona R , Dandona L , Fleming T , Forouzanfar MH , Hancock J , Hay RJ , Hunter-Merrill R , Huynh C , Hosgood HD , Johnson CO , Jonas JB , Khubchandani J , Kumar GA , Kutz M , Lan Q , Larson HJ , Liang X , Lim SS , Lopez AD , MacIntyre MF , Marczak L , Marquez N , Mokdad AH , Pinho C , Pourmalek F , Salomon JA , Sanabria JR , Sandar L , Sartorius B , Schwartz SM , Shackelford KA , Shibuya K , Stanaway J , Steiner C , Sun J , Takahashi K , Vollset SE , Vos T , Wagner JA , Wang H , Westerman R , Zeeb H , Zoeckler L , Abd-Allah F , Ahmed MB , Alabed S , Alam NK , Aldhahri SF , Alem G , Alemayohu MA , Ali R , Al-Raddadi R , Amare A , Amoako Y , Artaman A , Asayesh H , Atnafu N , Awasthi A , Saleem HB , Barac A , Bedi N , Bensenor I , Berhane A , Bernabe E , Betsu B , Binagwaho A , Boneya D , Campos-Nonato I , Castaneda-Orjuela C , Catala-Lopez F , Chiang P , Chibueze C , Chitheer A , Choi JY , Cowie B , Damtew S , das Neves J , Dey S , Dharmaratne S , Dhillon P , Ding E , Driscoll T , Ekwueme D , Endries AY , Farvid M , Farzadfar F , Fernandes J , Fischer F , GHiwot TT , Gebru A , Gopalani S , Hailu A , Horino M , Horita N , Husseini A , Huybrechts I , Inoue M , Islami F , Jakovljevic M , James S , Javanbakht M , Jee SH , Kasaeian A , Kedir MS , Khader YS , Khang YH , Kim D , Leigh J , Linn S , Lunevicius R , El Razek HM , Malekzadeh R , Malta DC , Marcenes W , Markos D , Melaku YA , Meles KG , Mendoza W , Mengiste DT , Meretoja TJ , Miller TR , Mohammad KA , Mohammadi A , Mohammed S , Moradi-Lakeh M , Nagel G , Nand D , Le Nguyen Q , Nolte S , Ogbo FA , Oladimeji KE , Oren E , Pa M , Park EK , Pereira DM , Plass D , Qorbani M , Radfar A , Rafay A , Rahman M , Rana SM , Soreide K , Satpathy M , Sawhney M , Sepanlou SG , Shaikh MA , She J , Shiue I , Shore HR , Shrime MG , So S , Soneji S , Stathopoulou V , Stroumpoulis K , Sufiyan MB , Sykes BL , Tabares-Seisdedos R , Tadese F , Tedla BA , Tessema GA , Thakur JS , Tran BX , Ukwaja KN , Uzochukwu BS , Vlassov VV , Weiderpass E , Wubshet Terefe M , Yebyo HG , Yimam HH , Yonemoto N , Younis MZ , Yu C , Zaidi Z , Zaki ME , Zenebe ZM , Murray CJ , Naghavi M . JAMA Oncol 2016 3 (4) 524-548 Importance: Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Current estimates on the burden of cancer are needed for cancer control planning. Objective: To estimate mortality, incidence, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 32 cancers in 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2015. Evidence Review: Cancer mortality was estimated using vital registration system data, cancer registry incidence data (transformed to mortality estimates using separately estimated mortality to incidence [MI] ratios), and verbal autopsy data. Cancer incidence was calculated by dividing mortality estimates through the modeled MI ratios. To calculate cancer prevalence, MI ratios were used to model survival. To calculate YLDs, prevalence estimates were multiplied by disability weights. The YLLs were estimated by multiplying age-specific cancer deaths by the reference life expectancy. DALYs were estimated as the sum of YLDs and YLLs. A sociodemographic index (SDI) was created for each location based on income per capita, educational attainment, and fertility. Countries were categorized by SDI quintiles to summarize results. Findings: In 2015, there were 17.5 million cancer cases worldwide and 8.7 million deaths. Between 2005 and 2015, cancer cases increased by 33%, with population aging contributing 16%, population growth 13%, and changes in age-specific rates contributing 4%. For men, the most common cancer globally was prostate cancer (1.6 million cases). Tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer was the leading cause of cancer deaths and DALYs in men (1.2 million deaths and 25.9 million DALYs). For women, the most common cancer was breast cancer (2.4 million cases). Breast cancer was also the leading cause of cancer deaths and DALYs for women (523000 deaths and 15.1 million DALYs). Overall, cancer caused 208.3 million DALYs worldwide in 2015 for both sexes combined. Between 2005 and 2015, age-standardized incidence rates for all cancers combined increased in 174 of 195 countries or territories. Age-standardized death rates (ASDRs) for all cancers combined decreased within that timeframe in 140 of 195 countries or territories. Countries with an increase in the ASDR due to all cancers were largely located on the African continent. Of all cancers, deaths between 2005 and 2015 decreased significantly for Hodgkin lymphoma (-6.1% [95% uncertainty interval (UI), -10.6% to -1.3%]). The number of deaths also decreased for esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, and chronic myeloid leukemia, although these results were not statistically significant. Conclusion and Relevance: As part of the epidemiological transition, cancer incidence is expected to increase in the future, further straining limited health care resources. Appropriate allocation of resources for cancer prevention, early diagnosis, and curative and palliative care requires detailed knowledge of the local burden of cancer. The GBD 2015 study results demonstrate that progress is possible in the war against cancer. However, the major findings also highlight an unmet need for cancer prevention efforts, including tobacco control, vaccination, and the promotion of physical activity and a healthy diet. |
Comparison of the efficiency and cost of West Nile virus surveillance methods in California
Healy JM , Reisen WK , Kramer VL , Fischer M , Lindsey NP , Nasci RS , Macedo PA , White G , Takahashi R , Khang L , Barker CM . Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2015 15 (2) 147-55 Surveillance systems for West Nile virus (WNV) combine several methods to determine the location and timing of viral amplification. The value of each surveillance method must be measured against its efficiency and costs to optimize integrated vector management and suppress WNV transmission to the human population. Here we extend previous comparisons of WNV surveillance methods by equitably comparing the most common methods after standardization on the basis of spatial sampling density and costs, and by estimating optimal levels of sampling effort for mosquito traps and sentinel chicken flocks. In general, testing for evidence of viral RNA in mosquitoes and public-reported dead birds resulted in detection of WNV approximately 2-5 weeks earlier than serological monitoring of sentinel chickens at equal spatial sampling density. For a fixed cost, testing of dead birds reported by the public was found to be the most cost effective of the methods, yielding the highest number of positive results per $1000. Increased spatial density of mosquito trapping was associated with more precise estimates of WNV infection prevalence in mosquitoes. Our findings also suggested that the most common chicken flock size of 10 birds could be reduced to six to seven without substantial reductions in timeliness or sensitivity. We conclude that a surveillance system that uses the testing of dead birds reported by the public complemented by strategically timed mosquito and chicken sampling as agency resources allow would detect viral activity efficiently in terms of effort and costs, so long as susceptible bird species that experience a high mortality rate from infection with WNV, such as corvids, are present in the area. |
A single-item global job satisfaction measure is associated with quantitative bliood immune indices in white-collar employees
Nakata A , Irie Masahiro , Takahashi M . Ind Health 2013 51 (2) 193-201 Although a single-item job satisfaction measure has been shown to be reliable and inclusive as multiple-item scales in relation to health, studies including immunological data are few. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of single-item job and family life satisfaction based on its association with immune indices. A total of 189 white-collar employees (70% men) underwent a blood draw for the measurement of natural killer (NK), total T, and B cell counts as well as plasma immunoglobulin (Ig) G concentrations and completed single-item job and family life satisfaction measures, respectively. The response options for satisfaction measures were 'dissatisfied' (coded 1) to ‘satisfied’ (coded 4). Spearman’s partial correlations controlling for cofactors revealed that increased job satisfaction was positively associated with NK cells (rsp=.201, p=.007) and IgG (rsp=.178, p=.018), while family life satisfaction was unrelated to immune indices. Those who reported a combination of low job/low family life satisfaction had significantly lower NK and higher B cell counts than those with a high job/high family life satisfaction. Our study suggests that the single-item summary measure of job satisfaction, but not family life satisfaction, may be a valid tool to evaluate immune status in healthy white-collar employees. |
Effort-reward imbalance, overcommitment, and cellular immune measures among white-collar employees
Nakata A , Takahashi M , Irie M . Biol Psychol 2011 88 270-9 We investigated whether chronic job stress, i.e., effort-reward imbalance (ERI) and overcommitment is associated with cellular immunity among 190 male and 157 female white-collar daytime employees (mean age 38; range 22-69 years). Participants provided a blood sample for the measurement of circulating immune (natural killer (NK), B, and T) cell counts and NK cell cytotoxicity (NKCC) and completed a questionnaire survey during April to June 2002. Stepwise multiple linear regression analyses revealed that NK cells were inversely associated with effort (beta=-.230; p=.013), reward (beta=.169; p=.047), and ERI (beta=-.182; p=.047) scores but not with overcommitment in men; reward score was positively associated with NKCC (beta=.167; p=.049) and inversely associated with B cells (beta=-.181; p=.030). No significant associations were found in women. Although the picture remains less clear in women, our findings suggest a potential immunological pathway linking adverse working conditions and stress-related disorders in men. |
Association of general fatigue with cellular immune indicators among healthy white-collar employees
Nakata A , Irie M , Takahashi M . J Occup Environ Med 2011 53 (9) 1078-86 OBJECTIVE: Although fatigue is a common complaint in the working population, underlying immunological mechanisms are not well understood. This study investigated the association of general fatigue with cellular immune indicators. METHODS: A total of 148 healthy white-collar employees (70% men) underwent a blood draw for the measurement of natural killer (NK), B, and T cell counts as well as NK cell cytotoxicity (NKCC) and completed two different fatigue scales, that is, Profile of Mood State (POMS) and Maastricht Questionnaire (MQ). RESULTS: Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that POMS fatigue score was significantly associated with decreases of NK cells (beta = -.407) and NKCC (beta = -.215), whereas MQ fatigue score was significantly associated with reduced NK cells (beta = -.290) but not with NKCC (beta = -.127). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that general fatigue may be related to impaired NK cell competency among healthy employees. |
Association of overtime work with cellular immune markers among healthy daytime white-collar employees
Nakata A , Takahashi M , Irie M . Scand J Work Environ Health 2011 38 (1) 56-64 OBJECTIVES: Even though overtime work has been suspected to be a risk factor for ill health, little research has been done to determine the underlying immunological mechanisms. This study investigated the association between overtime work and cellular immunity among Japanese white-collar workers. METHODS: A total of 306 healthy, full-time, non-shift, daytime employees (165 men and 141 women), aged 22-69 (mean 36) years, provided a blood sample for the measurement of circulating immune [natural killer (NK), B, and T] cells and NK cell cytotoxicity (NKCC) and completed a questionnaire survey including overtime/month. Blood samples were collected between 09.00-11.00 hours during the working days and participants completed the questionnaire within the two weeks prior to the blood sampling. Stepwise linear regression analyses controlling for confounders were carried out to examine the relationship between overtime work and immune markers. RESULTS: Overtime work was mainly related to short sleep duration, increased weight, and reduced job satisfaction, and it was more prevalent among men than women and among younger and married employees. Amount of overtime was inversely associated with NK (CD3-CD56+) cell counts (beta=-0.145; P =0.032) but was not associated with NKCC, NKCC/NK cell ratio, T or B cells. CONCLUSIONS: The NK cell is a lymphocyte that possesses killer activity against tumor and virus-infected cells and constitutes a major component of the innate immune system. A decrease of NK cell counts from overtime work suggests a dampened innate immune defense. However, the finding needs to be further validated with a well-designed study using objective overtime measures. |
Psychological distress, depressive symptoms, and cellular immunity among healthy individuals: a 1-year prospective study
Nakata A , Irie M , Takahashi M . Int J Psychophysiol 2011 81 (3) 191-7 Cross-sectional and case-control studies have reported that psychological distress and depression are associated with reduced cellular immune competence but the directionality of the relationship remains uncertain. This study investigated whether levels of psychological distress and depressive symptoms are related to subsequent changes in counts of lymphocyte subsets (natural killer (NK), B, and T cell) and/or whether changes of immune markers predict psychological distress/depressive symptoms in a 1-year prospective study design. A total of 105 healthy employees (67 men and 38 women), aged 23-59 (mean 40) years with an average of 15years of education, underwent a blood draw for the measurement of circulating immune cells and completed the Japanese version of the 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) in April 2002 (time 1) and 2003 (time 2). Hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses revealed that GHQ-28 and CES-D scores at time 1 were significantly (p<.05) and inversely associated with NK cells at time 2 controlling for potential confounders including time 1 NK cells (beta=-.221 and -.177, respectively). In contrast, NK cells and NK cell cytotoxicity at time 1 did not predict GHQ-28 or CES-D score at time 2 controlling for GHQ-28/CES-D score at time 1. GHQ-28 and CES-D scores were not related to T or B cells at times 1 and 2. The present findings indicate that psychological distress and depressive symptoms may precede and predict suppression of NK cell immunity while NK cells did not lead to subsequent psychological distress and depressive symptoms, suggesting an absence of the bi-directional relationships. |
Association between workaholism and sleep problems among hospital nurses
Kubota K , Shimazu A , Kawakami N , Takahashi M , Nakata A , Schaufeli WB . Ind Health 2010 48 (6) 864-71 The present study examined the association between workaholism, the tendency to work excessively hard in a compulsive fashion, and sleep problems among Japanese nurses. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 600 nurses from 2 university hospitals in Japan using a self-reported questionnaire on workaholism, sleep, job-related variables (i.e., job demands, job control, and worksite support), and demographic variables. A total of 394 nurses returned the questionnaire (response rate=65.7%) and complete data from 312 female nurses were used for analyses (final coverage rate=52.0%). Workaholics, as measured using the Japanese version of the Dutch Workaholism Scale, were defined as those having high scores on both the "work excessively" and "work compulsively" subscales. Logistic regression analyses revealed that workaholics had higher risks for sleep problems in terms of subjective sleep insufficiency, excessive daytime sleepiness at work, difficulty awakening in the morning, and feeling tired when waking up in the morning (odds ratios [OR] of 4.40, 3.18, 3.48, and 4.61, respectively, p<0.05). These remained significant even after adjusting for demographic and job-related variables (OR 3.41, 5.36, 2.56, and 2.77, respectively). However, no significant associations were found between workaholism and insomnia symptoms. These results suggest that workaholic nurses had higher risks for impaired awakening, insufficient sleep, and workplace sleepiness. |
Job satisfaction, common cold, and sickness absence among white-collar employees: a cross-sectional survey
Nakata A , Takahashi M , Irie M , Ray T , Swanson NG . Ind Health 2010 49 (1) 116-21 The purpose of this study is to examine the independent association of job satisfaction with common cold and sickness absence among Japanese workers. A total of 307 apparently healthy white-collar employees (165 men and 142 women), aged 22-69 (mean 36) yr, completed a questionnaire survey during April to June, 2002. Global job satisfaction was measured by a 4-item scale from the Japanese version of a generic job stress questionnaire with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction. Information about whether the employees had a common cold (within the past 6 months) and sickness absence (within the past 12 months) was self-reported. Hierarchical log-linear Poisson regression analysis controlling for confounders revealed that greater job satisfaction was inversely correlated with days (B=-0.116; p<0.001) and times (B=-0.058; p=0.067) of common cold and days (B=-0.160; p<0.001) and times (B=-0.141; p<0.001) of sickness absence. Our findings suggested that poor job satisfaction is associated with both common cold and sickness absence. |
Job satisfaction is associated with elevated natural killer cell immunity among healthy white-collar employees
Nakata A , Takahashi M , Irie M , Swanson NG . Brain Behav Immun 2010 24 (8) 1268-75 Although the association of job satisfaction with health has been well documented, little is known about the biological mechanisms underlying this relationship. This study investigates the association of job satisfaction with cell-mediated immunity among Japanese white-collar daytime workers. A total of 306 healthy full-time employees (141 women and 165 men), aged 22-69 (mean 36) years, provided a blood sample for the measurement of circulating immune (natural killer (NK), B, and total T) cells and NK cell cytotoxicity (NKCC) and completed a questionnaire survey during April to June 2002. Job satisfaction was measured by a 4-item scale from the Japanese version of the generic job stress questionnaire with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction. Analyses were done separately for women and men using a hierarchical multiple linear regression model controlling for multiple confounders. The results revealed that greater job satisfaction was positively correlated with NKCC (beta=.207; p=.029) and the number of NK (CD3(-)CD56(+)) cells (beta=.261; p=.008) in women. In men, job satisfaction was marginally correlated with NKCC (beta=.165; p=.050) but was not correlated with the number of NK (CD3(-)CD56(+)) cells (beta=.142; p=.107). Job satisfaction did not correlate with numbers of T (CD3(+)CD56(-)) and B (CD19(+)) cells in both women and men. Our findings suggest an independent association between job satisfaction and NK cells but the association seems to be stronger in women than in men. Although the results provide a support for the biological plausibility of the job satisfaction-health relationship, additional research is required to determine whether greater job satisfaction contributes to recovery/maintenance of NK cell immunity and host defense over time. |
Is self-rated health associated with blood immune markers in healthy individuals?
Nakata A , Takahashi M , Otsuka Y , Swanson NG . Int J Behav Med 2010 17 (3) 234-42 BACKGROUND: Although self-rated health (SRH) has been established as a robust predictor of morbidity and mortality, the immunological mechanisms underpinning this relationship are poorly understood. PURPOSE: This study examined the association of SRH with humoral and cellular immune markers in healthy individuals who reported no physical illnesses. METHOD: A total of 116 healthy Japanese white-collar employees (79 women and 37 men) at a pharmaceutical company, aged 23-62 (mean 32) years, underwent a blood draw for the measurement of circulating immune (T, B, and natural killer) cells, inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha), and plasma immunoglobulin G (IgG) and completed a health survey including SRH. The question regarding SRH ranged from "very good" (coded 1) to "very poor" (coded 5). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was carried out to calculate the relationship between SRH and immune markers. RESULTS: In this sample, poor SRH was positively correlated with B (CD19(+)) cell numbers (beta = 0.260, p < 0.05) and IgG levels (beta = 0.335, p < 0.01) even after adjusting for depressive symptoms, age, education, marital status, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, body mass index, sex, and sex x SRH interaction. The interaction between SRH and sex on the immune markers was not significant. CONCLUSION: Although the connection between SRH and immune markers was not strong in this context, the results suggest that poor SRH may be associated with reduced humoral immune system capacity to respond to new/latent challenges. The results provide some support for the immunological basis of SRH in healthier individuals. |
Novel Corynebacterium diphtheriae in domestic cats
Hall AJ , Cassiday PK , Bernard KA , Bolt F , Steigerwalt AG , Bixler D , Pawloski LC , Whitney AM , Iwaki M , Baldwin A , Dowson CG , Komiya T , Takahashi M , Hinrikson HP , Tondella ML . Emerg Infect Dis 2010 16 (4) 688-91 Novel nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae was isolated from a domestic cat with severe otitis. Contact investigation and carrier study of human and animal contacts yielded 3 additional, identical isolates from cats, although no evidence of zoonotic transmission was identified. Molecular methods distinguished the feline isolates from known C. diphtheriae. |
National use of asbestos in relation to economic development
Le GV , Takahashi K , Karjalainen A , Delgermaa V , Hoshuyama T , Miyamura Y , Furuya S , Higashi T , Pan G , Wagner G . Environ Health Perspect 2010 118 (1) 116-9 BACKGROUND: National disparities in asbestos use will likely lead to an unequal burden of asbestos diseases.OBJECTIVES: As economic status may be linked to asbestos use, we assessed, globally, the relationship between indicators of national economic development and asbestos use.MEHTODS: For the 135 countries that have ever used asbestos, per capita asbestos use (kilograms per capita per year) was compared with per capita gross domestic product (GDP) in 1990 GearyKhamis dollars (GKD) for the period 1920-2003. Countries were grouped into three income levels (high, middle, and low) that were adapted from the 2003 World Bank categories.RESULTS: The historical pattern of asbestos use followed the environmental Kuznets curve in which use by high-income countries peaked when incomes attained 10,000-15,000 GKD and essentially ceased at income levels over 20,000 GKD. Currently, middle- and low-income countries are increasing their use of asbestos, closely following the paths once traced by higher income countries.CONCLUSIONS: Developing countries have the opportunity to eliminate asbestos use sooner than high-income countries and thus reduce the future burden of asbestos diseases. EDITOR'S SUMMARY: Adverse health effects of asbestos have prompted many countries to ban its use, but use and importation continues in many low income and developing countries. Le et al. (p. 116) studied the relationship between national economic development and asbestos use among 135 countries that used asbestos at any time during 19202003. Worldwide asbestos use data were obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey and used to estimate per capita use (kilograms per person per year). Economic development was classified based on a standardized measure of per capita gross domestic product [in 1990 GearyKhamis dollars (GKD)], and countries were grouped according to 2003 World Bank categories as high, middle, or low income. The authors report that asbestos use increases with economic growth up to an average per capita income level of approximately 10,000-15,000 GKD, declines with further economic development, and effectively ceases when income levels exceed 20,000 GKD. This pattern appears to be replicated as countries undergo economic development, independent of the calendar period when early growth takes place. The authors conclude that countries should be encouraged to reduce asbestos use at an earlier stage in economic development in order to reduce the future burden of asbestos-related disease. |
Active cigarette smoking, secondhand smoke exposure at work and home, and self-rated health
Nakata A , Takahashi M , Swanson NG , Ikeda T , Hojou M . Public Health 2009 123 (10) 650-6 OBJECTIVES: Although active smoking has been reported to be associated with poor self-rated health (SRH), its association with secondhand smoke (SHS) is not well understood. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the association of active smoking and SHS exposure with SRH. METHODS: A total of 2558 workers (1899 men and 689 women), aged 16-83 (mean 45) years, in 296 small and medium-sized enterprises were surveyed by means of a self-administered questionnaire. Smoking status and exposure levels to SHS (no, occasional or regular) among lifetime non-smokers were assessed separately at work and at home. SRH was assessed with the question: How would you describe your health during the past 1-year period (very poor, poor, good, very good)? SRH was dichotomized into suboptimal (poor, very poor) and optimal (good, very good). Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for reporting suboptimal vs optimal SRH according to smoking status and smoke exposure were calculated. RESULTS: Current heavy smokers (20+ cigarettes/day) had a significantly increased suboptimal SRH than lifetime non-smokers after adjusting for sociodemographic, lifestyle, physical and occupational factors (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.06-1.69). Similarly, lifetime non-smokers occasionally exposed to SHS at work alone had worse SRH than their unexposed counterparts (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.02-2.11). In contrast, lifetime non-smokers exposed at home alone had no significant increase in suboptimal SRH. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates an increase in suboptimal SRH among current heavy smokers, and suggests that SHS exposure at work is a possible risk factor for non-smokers. Whether or not the association is causal, control of smoking at work may protect workers from developing future health conditions. |
Prevalence of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 6C among invasive and carriage isolates in metropolitan Salvador, Brazil, from 1996 to 2007
Campos LC , Carvalho Mda G , Beall BW , Cordeiro SM , Takahashi D , Reis MG , Ko AI , Reis JN . Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2009 65 (2) 112-5 The newly described Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 6C accounted for 2.3% (16/709) of meningitis cases and 3.2% (3/95) of nasopharyngeal isolates from healthy individuals in Brazil. The strains were multidrug resistant (18.8%) and genetically diverse. Despite low serotype 6C prevalence, continuous surveillance is necessary to guide vaccine strategies. |
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