Psychological well-being in Europe after the outbreak of war in Ukraine.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, has had devastating effects on the Ukrainian population and the global economy, environment, and political order. However, little is known about the psychological states surrounding the outbreak of war, particularly the mental well-being of individuals outside Ukraine. Here, we present a longitudinal experience-sampling study of a convenience sample from 17 European countries (total participants = 1,341, total assessments = 44,894, countries with >100 participants = 5) that allows us to track well-being levels across countries during the weeks surrounding the outbreak of war.

End-user acceptability of personal protective equipment disinfection for potential reuse: a survey of health-care workers in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted personal protective equipment (PPE) supply, distribution, and disposal issues worldwide. Calls to conserve PPE stocks and increase supply resulted in the rapid development of potential disinfection methods, with the possibility of improvements in medical waste reduction. However, how receptive health-care workers are to PPE reuse remains unknown.

Learning from healthcare workers' experiences with personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic in Aotearoa/New Zealand: a thematic analysis and framework for future practice.

Objectives: Safety and welfare are critical as pandemic-related demands on the healthcare workforce continue. Access to personal protective equipment (PPE) has been a central concern of healthcare workers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Against the backdrop of an already strained healthcare system, our study aimed to explore the experiences of healthcare workers with PPE during the first COVID-19 surge (February-June 2020) in Aotearoa/New Zealand (NZ).

Mixed-Methods Survey of Healthcare Workers' Experiences of Personal Protective Equipment during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

There have been widespread issues with the supply and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) globally throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, raising considerable public concern. We aimed to understand the experiences of healthcare workers using PPE during the first COVID-19 surge (February-June 2020) in Aotearoa/New Zealand (NZ). This study consisted of an online, voluntary, and anonymous survey, distributed nationwide via multimodal recruitment.

Ultraviolet-C Irradiation, Heat, and Storage as Potential Methods of Inactivating SARS-CoV-2 and Bacterial Pathogens on Filtering Facepiece Respirators.

The arrival of SARS-CoV-2 to Aotearoa/New Zealand in February 2020 triggered a massive response at multiple levels. Procurement and sustainability of medical supplies to hospitals and clinics during the then upcoming COVID-19 pandemic was one of the top priorities. Continuing access to new personal protective equipment (PPE) was not guaranteed; thus, disinfecting and reusing PPE was considered as a potential alternative.

Epigenetic inhibitors target multiple stages of Plasmodium falciparum parasites.

The epigenome of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is associated with regulation of various essential processes in the parasite including control of proliferation during asexual development as well as control of sexual differentiation. The unusual nature of the epigenome has prompted investigations into the potential to target epigenetic modulators with novel chemotypes. Here, we explored the diversity within a library of 95 compounds, active against various epigenetic modifiers in cancerous cells, for activity against multiple stages of P.

The relationship between chronic fatigue syndrome, burnout, job satisfaction, social support and age among academics at a tertiary institution.

Objectives: Over the last 20 years, tertiary institutions have been subjected to several changes. This has resulted in increased workloads for academics. Some academics have started to experience symptoms that are related to chronic fatigue syndrome and burnout.

Facial Adiposity, Attractiveness, and Health: A Review.

The relationship between facial cues and perceptions of health and attractiveness in others plays an influential role in our social interactions and mating behaviors. Several facial cues have historically been investigated in this regard, with facial adiposity being the newest addition. Evidence is mounting that a robust link exists between facial adiposity and attractiveness, as well as perceived health.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157 outbreak associated with likely transmission in an inflatable home paddling pool in England, June 2017.

In June 2017, an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157 infection with phage type 21/28 and identical genotypic profiles involving three children from Staffordshire was reported. Two cases developed haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). Person-to-person transmission via a shared inflatable home paddling pool was the most likely route of infection, following contamination by the first case.

Association between post-craniotomy Propionibacterium acnes infection and dural implants: a case-control study.

Background: In 2011, 15 deep-seated Propionibacterium acnes infections were identified in patients following craniotomies in a hospital in the UK.

Aim: To describe the outbreak and report findings from the investigation undertaken in order to identify the source and risk factors and inform control measures.

Methods: Data were obtained from hospital clinical records and included patient and surgical variables.

Quantitative chromatin proteomics reveals a dynamic histone post-translational modification landscape that defines asexual and sexual Plasmodium falciparum parasites.

Gene expression in Plasmodia integrates post-transcriptional regulation with epigenetic marking of active genomic regions through histone post-translational modifications (PTMs). To generate insights into the importance of histone PTMs to the entire asexual and sexual developmental cycles of the parasite, we used complementary and comparative quantitative chromatin proteomics to identify and functionally characterise histone PTMs in 8 distinct life cycle stages of P. falciparum parasites.

Public health action and mass chemoprophylaxis in response to a small meningococcal infection outbreak at a nursery in the West Midlands, England.

Background: Meningococcal infection is fatal in 10% of cases, and age-specific attack rates are highest in infancy. A nursery outbreak was declared just before a bank holiday weekend in August 2010, when two children attending the same nursery were confirmed to have meningococcal infection. Although such outbreaks are rare, they generate considerable public alarm and are challenging to manage and control.

An outbreak of Legionnaires' disease associated with a display spa pool in retail premises, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom, July 2012.

Twenty-one confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease (Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1) were identified in the Stoke-on-Trent area of England with onsets since 2 July 2012. Sequence-based typing results are available for nine cases; all are a unique type (ST1268). Initial interviews highlighted a number of possible environmental sources.

Limiting worker exposure to highly pathogenic avian influenza a (H5N1): a repeat survey at a rendering plant processing infected poultry carcasses in the UK.

Background: Current occupational and public health guidance does not distinguish between rendering plant workers and cullers/poultry workers in terms of infection risk in their respective roles during highly pathogenic avian influenza poultry outbreaks. We describe an operational approach to human health risk assessment decision making at a large rendering plant processing poultry carcasses stemming from two separate highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) outbreaks in England during 2007.

Methods: During the first incident a uniform approach assigned equal exposure risk to all rendering workers in or near the production line.

A cluster of Listeria monocytogenes infections in hospitalised adults, Midlands, England, February 2011.

Hospital-acquired listeriosis cases are not commonly reported but remain a significant public health problem. We report on three cases in patients with underlying conditions occurring during one week in February 2011. The cases had common exposure to pre-packed sandwiches and salads manufactured in compliance with regulations.

Community and nosocomial transmission of Panton-Valentine leucocidin-positive community-associated meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: implications for healthcare.

In the UK, infections due to Panton-Valentine leucocidin-positive community-associated meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (PVL-MRSA) have been reported sporadically. In September 2006, a fatal PVL-MRSA infection occurred in a Filipino healthcare worker (HCW) after she underwent caesarean section. Throat and nasal swabs were obtained from contacts of cases in community and hospital.

Legionnaires' disease cluster linked to a metal product aqueous pre-treatment process, Staffordshire, England, May 2008.

In May 2008, a report of two workers from the same construction equipment manufacturing plant who were admitted to hospital with Legionnaires disease confirmed by urine antigen prompted an outbreak investigation. Both cases were middle aged men, smokers, and with no travel, leisure or other common community exposure to Legionella sources. There were no wet cooling towers at the plant or in the surrounding area.

Partner notification.

Introduction: Many people diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease (STD) do not have symptoms, and may not inform their past or current sexual partners of their diagnosis or routinely use condoms. Several strategies have been used to notify and treat partners of people diagnosed with an STD, but only a limited number of RCTs of their effectiveness have been undertaken.

Methods And Outcomes: We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical questions: What are the effects of partner notification strategies in people with different STDs? What are the effects of interventions to improve effectiveness of patient referral in people with STDs? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to August 2008 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically; please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review).

Many vaginal microbicide trial participants acknowledged they had misreported sensitive sexual behavior in face-to-face interviews.

Objective: We investigated whether participants in a phase II randomized clinical trial of a candidate vaginal microbicide ever intentionally misled interviewers.

Study Design And Setting: We used audio computer-assisted self-interviews (ACASI) to ask the South African women (n=132) participating in the trial about the accuracy of self-reported data collected during face-to-face interviews. The trial protocol recommended that women use their assigned gel (active microbicide or placebo) with condoms during each vaginal sex act.

A swimming pool-associated outbreak of cryptosporidiosis in Staffordshire, England, October to December 2007.

In October 2007 an increase in laboratory-confirmed cryptosporidiosis cases in Staffordshire, England prompted an outbreak investigation. Case ascertainment included interviewing suspected cases and contacts and obtaining faecal specimens from those with diarrhoea for laboratory identification. Over a three-month period we identified 57 cases of cryptosporidiosis (39 confirmed) distributed across 36 households.

Phase III microbicide trial methodology: opinions of experienced expanded safety trial participants in South Africa.

In preparation for effectiveness trials of candidate vaginal microbicides, scientists are debating trial design and implementation challenges, including choice of control arm(s), product-sharing across arms, and visit schedules. This study involved a survey of South African women participating in an expanded safety trial of the candidate microbicide Carraguard gel. The first 100 consenting women who attended the study clinics in Ga-Rankuwa and Gugulethu (total N = 200) were interviewed; all women had been using a study gel for at least 6 months at the time of the interview.

Agreement between self- and clinician-collected specimen results for detection and typing of high-risk human papillomavirus in specimens from women in Gugulethu, South Africa.

We assessed the agreement in detection of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), as well as specific HPV types, between self- and clinician-obtained specimens for 450 women over 18 years of age attending a community health center in Gugulethu, South Africa. Both self-collected swabs and tampons had high agreement with clinician-obtained brushes when the Roche Reverse Line Blot Assay (RLBA) was used (for swabs, 86% concordance, with a kappa statistic [kappa] of 0.71; for tampons, 89% concordance, with kappa of 0.