Neighborhood-Level Burden of Social Risk Factors on Respiratory Syncytial Virus Hospitalization in Ontario, Canada, 2016-2019.

Background: Beyond clinical risk factors, little is known about the impact of social determinants on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) burden. Our study aimed to estimate RSV-related hospitalization rates across sociodemographic and housing characteristics.

Methods: We conducted a population-based study of all RSV-related hospitalizations in Ontario, Canada, between September 1, 2016, and August 31, 2019, using validated hospital discharge codes and census data.

Commentary on the adoption of a test-based versus syndromic-based approach to outbreak declaration and management in hospital and institutional settings.

At present, Ontario, like most other jurisdictions in Canada, uses a syndromic-based surveillance definition for acute respiratory infection (ARI) outbreaks in institutions and public hospitals. Confirmed outbreaks are defined as either two or more ARIs in 48 hours with any common epidemiological link and at least one that is laboratory-confirmed; or three cases of ARIs occurring within 48 hours with any common epidemiological link, and not necessarily with lab confirmation. However, with the adoption of broader test-based approaches for sick patients/residents throughout the pandemic, new challenges have surfaced regarding the declaration and management of ARI outbreaks with a variety of scenarios in respiratory testing results.

Nursing home crowding and its association with outbreak-associated respiratory infection in Ontario, Canada before the COVID-19 pandemic (2014-19): a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Studies conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic have shown that crowding in nursing homes is associated with high incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections, but this effect has not been shown for other respiratory pathogens. We aimed to measure the association between crowding in nursing homes and outbreak-associated respiratory infection incidence and related mortality before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of nursing homes in Ontario, Canada.

Determining Domains of Practice for Youth Support Co-Coordinator Work in Teenage/Young Adult Cancer Care in United Kingdom.

Youth support coordinators (YSCs) provide youth-focused psychosocial support to teenagers and young adults (TYA) with cancer, within multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) in National Health Service (NHS) specialist cancer environments. This action research project aimed to provide insight into the work of YSCs with TYA with cancer, within MDTs in clinical settings, and to develop a knowledge and skill framework for YSCs. An action research approach was taken involving two focus groups, with Health Care Professionals ( = 7) and TYA with cancer ( = 7), and a questionnaire with YSCs ( = 23).

Soil erosion response to land use change in a mountainous rural area of Son La Province of Vietnam.

This study investigated the changes in soil erosion associated with land use change from 2000 to 2020 in a mountainous rural area. Land use change was detected using Landsat images and soil erosion was estimated using the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE). The results show that deforestation and fallow cultivation caused substantial soil loss, whereas conversion from uncultivated land to cropland reduced soil erosion.

Effect of Pre-Slaughter Practises and Early Post-Mortem Interventions on Sheep Meat Tenderness and Its Impact on Microbial Status.

Tenderness, together with flavour, is the main quality trait that defines consumer acceptance of sheep meat. The factors affecting tenderness can be grouped as those influenced before slaughter, in the early post-mortem intervention and, finally, during the aging period. These factors have been extensively studied with respect to tenderness, but the impact of early post-mortem interventions and subsequent aging on the microbial quality of the final products has not been broadly reviewed to date.

Association of Age and Pediatric Household Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Importance: As a result of low numbers of pediatric cases early in the COVID-19 pandemic, pediatric household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 remains an understudied topic.

Objective: To determine whether there are differences in the odds of household transmission by younger children compared with older children.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This population-based cohort study took place between June 1 and December 31, 2020, in Ontario, Canada.

Application of multimedia models for understanding the environmental behavior of volatile methylsiloxanes: Fate, transport, and bioaccumulation.

Multimedia fate and transport models (MFTMs) describe how chemicals behave in the environment based on their inherent properties and the characteristics of receiving systems. We critically review the use of MFTMs for understanding the behavior of volatile methylsiloxanes (VMS). MFTMs have been used to predict the fate of VMS in wastewater treatment, rivers, lakes, marine systems, and the atmosphere, and to assess bioaccumulation and trophic transfers.

Beyond flu: Trends in respiratory infection outbreaks in Ontario healthcare settings from 2007 to 2017, and implications for non-influenza outbreak management.

Background: Outbreaks cause significant morbidity and mortality in healthcare settings. Current testing methods can identify specific viral respiratory pathogens, yet the approach to outbreak management remains general.

Objectives: Our aim was to examine pathogen-specific trends in respiratory outbreaks, including how attack rates, case fatality rates and outbreak duration differ by pathogen between hospitals and long-term care (LTC) and retirement homes (RH) in Ontario.

Increased Household Secondary Attacks Rates With Variant of Concern Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Index Cases.

We compared secondary attack rates in households with B.1.1.

Epidemiology, clinical characteristics, household transmission, and lethality of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection among healthcare workers in Ontario, Canada.

Introduction: Protecting healthcare workers (HCWs) from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a priority to maintain a safe and functioning healthcare system. Our objective was to describe and compare the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and lethality of SARS-CoV-2 infections among HCWs compared to non-HCWs.

Methods: Using reportable disease data at Public Health Ontario, we conducted a population-based cross-sectional study comparing demographic, exposure, and clinical variables between HCWs and non-HCWs with SARS-CoV-2 infections as of 30 September 2020.

The support and information needs of adolescents and young adults with cancer when active treatment ends.

Background: The end of active treatment is a period of high stress for young people with cancer, but limited literature exists about their information and support needs during this phase. This study aimed to understand the needs of young people with cancer, how these needs are currently being met, and how best to provide information and support at the end of active treatment.

Methods: This was a multi-stage, mixed methods study exploring the end of treatment experience from the perspectives of young people, and the healthcare professionals caring for them.

Surveillance of persons-who tested negative for COVID-19 in Ontario, January 22-February 22, 2020.

As of January 22, 2020, "disease caused by a novel coronavirus" became a reportable disease of public health significance in Ontario. Public health units were provided with guidance on the entry of patients tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus causing 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), into the provincial public health information system. Between January 22 and February 22, 2020, there were 359 individuals who had a negative test result recorded and three confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Exploring Young People's Experience of Ending Active Cancer Treatment: When the "Little Cancer Treatment Bubble" Pops.

Background: The end of active cancer treatment is described as a stressful period for adolescents and young adults (AYAs). However, research evidence describing the experience of AYAs as they transition from active treatment into follow-up care is scarce.

Objective: We aimed to understand AYAs' experiences within the first 12 months of ending active treatment.

All together now: aggregating multiple records to develop a person-based dataset to integrate and enhance infectious disease surveillance in Ontario, Canada.

Setting: Syndemics occur when two or more health conditions interact to increase morbidity and mortality and are exacerbated by social, economic, environmental, and political factors. Routine provincial surveillance in Ontario assesses and reports on the epidemiology of single infectious diseases separately. Therefore, we aimed to develop a method that allows disease overlaps to be examined routinely as a path to better understanding and addressing syndemics in Ontario.

Increasing plant availability of legacy phosphorus in calcareous soils using some phosphorus activators.

Legacy phosphorus (P) in soil, accumulated over several years of fertilizer application in excess of crop demand, represents a huge and largely untapped resource. P activators can increase the availability of this P to plants by accelerating its transformation into soluble P fractions. In this study, we evaluated the potentials of four "P activators" (oxalic acid, lignin, phytase and ascorbic acid) to increase plant available P in a laboratory incubation experiment with two P-deficient calcareous soils used for wheat production.

Getting a grippe on severity: a retrospective comparison of influenza-related hospitalizations and deaths captured in reportable disease and administrative data sources in Ontario, Canada.

Background: Since 2009, in Ontario, reportable disease surveillance data has been used for timely in-season estimates of influenza severity (i.e., hospitalizations and deaths).

Issues experienced and support provided to adolescents and young adults at the end of active treatment for cancer: A rapid review of the literature.

Introduction: The end of active treatment is a stressful period for adolescents and young adults (AYA), but little is known about AYA experiences at this time point. The aim was to describe the issues young people experienced and identify interventions to support AYA at the end of treatment.

Methods: We conducted a rapid review of published primary research to identify what is currently known about AYA experiences of the end of treatment, the issues which arise and existing interventions to support AYA at this time.

Microbial community composition and activity controls phosphorus transformation in rhizosphere soils of the Yeyahu Wetland in Beijing, China.

Microorganisms in the rhizosphere of wetland plants can have a significant impact on phosphorus (P) interception. We investigated the seasonal pattern of microbial community structure and its relationship with different P forms in the rhizosphere of three plants Scirpus planiculmis, Zizania latifolia, and Phragmites australis from the Yeyahu Wetland, China. Chloroform fumigation-extraction was used to determine the soil microbial biomass P (SMBP) and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) were used to characterize microbial community composition.

A virus-like particle vaccine candidate for influenza A virus based on multiple conserved antigens presented on hepatitis B tandem core particles.

Existing Influenza A virus (IAV) vaccines target variable parts of the virus that may change between seasons. Vaccine design relies on predicting the predominant circulating influenza strains but when there is a mismatch between vaccine and circulating strains, efficacy is sub-optimal. Furthermore, current approaches provide limited protection against emerging influenza strains that may cause pandemics.

Predicted persistence and response times of linear and cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes in global and local environments.

We investigated the response times of eight volatile methylsiloxanes (VMSs) in environmental systems at different scales from local to global, with a particular focus on overall loss rates after cessation of emissions. In part, this is driven by proposals to restrict the use of some of these compounds in certain products in Europe. The GloboPOP model estimated low absolute Arctic Contamination Potentials for all VMSs and rapid response times in all media except sediment.

The Effect of Changes in Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines on Chlamydia Testing.

Purpose: Many chlamydia infections are identified through screening, which is frequently offered to females concomitantly with cervical cancer screening. Recent cervical cancer screening guidelines recommend screening less frequently and starting later. We sought to evaluate the impact of the May 2012 Ontario, Canada, cervical cancer screening guideline change on Papanicolaou (Pap) and chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia) testing and incidence.

Understanding of Cyclic Volatile Methyl Siloxane Fate in a High Latitude Lake Is Constrained by Uncertainty in Organic Carbon-Water Partitioning.

Cyclic volatile methyl siloxanes (cVMS) are emitted to aquatic environments with wastewater effluents. Here, we evaluate the environmental behavior of three cVMS compounds (octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4), decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) and dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane (D6)) in a high latitude lake (Storvannet, 70°N 23°E), experiencing intermittent wastewater emissions and high latitude environmental conditions (low temperatures and seasonal ice cover). Measured cVMS concentrations in lake water were below detection limits in both March and June 2014.

Predicting Aspergillus fumigatus exposure from composting facilities using a dispersion model: A conditional calibration and validation.

Bioaerosols are released in elevated quantities from composting facilities and are associated with negative health effects, although dose-response relationships are unclear. Exposure levels are difficult to quantify as established sampling methods are costly, time-consuming and current data provide limited temporal and spatial information. Confidence in dispersion model outputs in this context would be advantageous to provide a more detailed exposure assessment.

Technology and tuberculosis control: the OUT-TB Web experience.

Objective: Develop a tool to disseminate integrated laboratory, clinical, and demographic case data necessary for improved contact tracing and outbreak detection of tuberculosis (TB).

Methods: In 2007, the Public Health Ontario Laboratories implemented a universal genotyping program to monitor the spread of TB strains within Ontario. Ontario Universal Typing of TB (OUT-TB) Web utilizes geographic information system (GIS) technology with a relational database platform, allowing TB control staff to visualize genotyping matches and microbiological data within the context of relevant epidemiological and demographic data.