Positive Reaction Research Articles

A Chinese individual with DEL phenotype caused by a novel RHD allele.

BackgroundRhD variants are categorized into partial D, weak D, and DEL. The detection of DEL can only be achieved through the adsorption and elution method or by using molecular techniques. Here, we report a case of DEL phenotypes associated with a novel allele in a Chinese individual. Study Design and MethodsWe used serological methods such as saline, indirect anti-human globulin and adsorption-elution. The RHD genotype was determined by the PCR-sequence specific primer (PCR-SSP) method as well as the Sanger dideoxy sequencing. ResultsRBCs of the sample were found to be DEL phenotype by serological testing, with negative reaction in the saline and indirect anti-human globulin test while positive reaction by the absorption–elution method. The genotyping results revealed a hemizygous (RHDc.1127T>G/RHD-). The novel allele sequence has been submitted to GenBank (Accession number: OR608456). ConclusionOur study demonstrates a case of a Chinese individual with DEL phenotype caused by a novel allele RHD c.1127T>G. It expands the database of the DEL variant.

Impact of antibiotic therapy in patients with respiratory viral infections: a retrospective cohort study

Objectives The impact of antibiotics in patients with positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for respiratory viruses without evidence of a respiratory bacterial co-infection is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the association of antibiotics on 30-day mortality and length of hospital stay in patients with an acute respiratory infection and PCR documented presence of respiratory viruses. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult patients admitted to hospital between 2012 and 2021 with positive PCR for influenza virus (H3N2, H1N1, influenza B), respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. We used logistic regression, the Kaplan–Meier estimator and Poisson’s regression to assess the impact of antibiotic therapy on outcomes. Results Among 3979 patients, 67.7% received antibiotics. In adjusted analyses, antibiotics initiated in the emergency department (adjusted OR 1.23, 95% CI 0.77–1.96) and days of antibiotic therapy (adjusted OR per day of therapy 0.98, 95% CI 0.95–1.00) had no significant impact on mortality, whereas antibiotics initiated later during admission (adjusted OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.26–4.02) was associated with increased mortality. Patients prescribed antibiotics had longer duration of hospital admission. Conclusions We observed no protective association between in-hospital antibiotic therapy and outcomes, suggesting overuse of antibiotics in respiratory infections with proven respiratory viruses. A restrictive antibiotic strategy may be warranted.

A one-pot loop-mediated isothermal amplification platform using fluorescent gold nanoclusters for rapid and naked-eye pathogen detection

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a rapid and sensitive nucleic acid testing method for pathogen detection, yet the absence of a straightforward readout strategy remains challenging. We've successfully designed polyethyleneimine-stabilized gold nanoclusters (PEI-AuNCs) as a cationic AuNCs indicator tailored for distinguishing LAMP results, enabling direct visual inspection under UV light. Positive LAMP reactions with PEI-AuNCs, in combination with magnesium pyrophosphate crystals, yield red-fluorescent bulk precipitates visible to the naked eye. To address contamination concerns, we introduced a one-pot reaction by incorporating AuNCs into the lid recess. This one-pot LAMP assay demonstrates exceptional detection capability, identifying Salmonella enterica at concentrations as low as 101 CFU/mL within approximately 50 min, excluding nucleic acid extraction. The platform's versatility, achieved through customizable primers, positions it as a promising molecular diagnostic tool for rapid and visual pathogen detection across scientific disciplines.

Clinical Characterization, Transmissibility, and Seroconversion of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children (before the Start of Vaccination) in the Barcelona Metropolitan Region (Spain)

Abstract Objective Analyzing the clinical and microbiological characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in children seems essential to determine their role in the etiopathogenesis of the disease. Methods A prospective, longitudinal, and observational study, including children with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection, in the Barcelona Metropolitan Region (Spain), was performed. The recruitment pathways were: (1) children who attended a summer school and were included in an active surveillance study and (2) children who were visited in the Emergency Department of Hospital Sant Joan de Déu with symptoms. Close contacts with positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results were also included. The children recruited were followed up for 5 weeks. Evaluation of participants included a questionnaire for COVID-19 symptoms, nasopharyngeal swabbing for real-time PCR at 0, 7, and 14 days (weekly repeated up to week 5 if it resulted positive at 14 days), and serology testing at the recruitment and at the fifth week of follow-up. Results A total of 90 children were recruited, of which 32% were asymptomatic. Transmission was studied in 70/90 children, and in 12 cases (17%), transmission to other children or adults was observed. No clinical or epidemiological differences were found between children who transmitted and those who did not. At the end of the follow-up, 11% of nasopharyngeal PCR remained positive. The serological response was studied in 73/90 children, and 80.82% of children seroconverted. Conclusion No differences in epidemiological characteristics were found between children who transmitted and those who did not. PCR can be persistently positive for more than 5 weeks. The majority of patients who suffer from the disease produce antibodies against it.

High prevalence but no current clinical relevance of methyldibromo glutaronitrile since its ban in Turkey in 2015.

Regulatory actions significantly reduced methyldibromo glutaronitrile (MDBGN)-induced allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) from cosmetics in Europe. Turkey banned MDBGN in 2015. To assess sensitization and ACD rates to MDBGN before and after its ban in Turkey. Data from 2653 consecutively patch tested patients between 1996 and 2023 with MDBGN 0.1% pet. (n = 573) or 0.2%-0.3% pet. (n = 1310) or 0.5% pet. (n = 770) were analysed. MDBGN was tested as MDBGN/phenoxyethanol (PE) in 1434 patients. The sensitization prevalence was 1.7% (45/2653), peaking at 5.3% in 2018 and 2023 with MDBGN 0.3% pet. There was a two-fold male predominance, with patients exclusively ≥20 years old. None of the patients reacted to PE. ACD occurred in 0.7% (19/2653), mainly affecting hands and linked to non-occupational exposure (78.9%), particularly from rinse-off/leave-on cosmetics. The pattern of 'middle-aged men with hand eczema and fragrance allergy' was particularly notable. Occupational ACD was rare (21.1%), occurring mainly in hairdressers from hair gel. Positive reactions with current clinical relevance dropped from 48.3% (1996-2014) to zero after 2015 (p < 0.001). The ban effectively reduced MDBGN-induced ACD in Turkey, yet the prevalence of positive patch test reactions remains high, likely due to past exposures or other undisclosed sources. We suggest continued testing of MDBGN in the EBS in Turkey.

Integrated on-slide positive controls for immunocytochemistry on cytology slides.

Integrated on-slide positive controls are a standard quality assurance and quality control measure for immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections. They ensure identical analytical conditions for the control and patient samples. Our aim was to develop a procedure for preparing integrated on-slide positive controls for immunocytochemistry (ICC) on methanol-fixed cytospins. Leftover diagnostic cytology samples with sufficient cells and confirmed expression of Calretinin, MOC31, TTF1, and hormone receptors were used as control samples. Cells from the control samples were deposited on the peripheral part of objective slides using standard cytocentrifuge equipment. Cytospins were immediately fixed in methanol for at least 30 minutes and then covered with polyethylene glycol (PEG). Completely dry and solid PEG was removed from the central part of the objective slides and stored at room temperature. Patient samples were subsequently added to the central part of a PEG-protected slide, with an appropriate positive control placed on the peripheral part, and then fixed in methanol. Immunocytochemistry was performed on the Ventana/Roche automated platform ULTRA, using optimized and validated protocols for TTF1, hormone receptors, and double immunostaining for Calretinin/MOC31. The quality of ICC reactions for both deposits on the same slide and potential cell carryover was evaluated retrospectively. In the period from October 2021 to December 2023, the majority of integrated positive controls (364/368, 99%) consistently exhibited unequivocally positive reactions for TTF-1 (n = 93), hormone receptors (n = 84), and double staining for Calretinin/MOC31 (n = 191), with easily interpretable ICC reactions on corresponding patient samples. No obvious carryover of cells from the control sample to the patient sample was observed during this period. A novel approach developed for preparing integrated on-slide positive controls for ICC on methanol-fixed cytospins using standard cytocentrifugation is low-cost and can be widely applied in diagnostic cytology laboratories. Simultaneous ICC procedures for the control and patient samples on the same slide ensure identical analytical conditions for both samples, providing the highest level of quality control while reducing costs. Interpreting both ICC reactions on the same slide is time-efficient and convenient.

Disclosures and social reactions to sexual violence: factor structure of the social reactions questionnaire shortened and sex differences in Iceland

This study assessed disclosures of lifetime sexual violence and social reactions using the Social Reactions Questionnaire Shortened (SRQ-S) in Iceland, with a focus on sex differences and relations to mental health. Because the Icelandic version of the SRQ-S has not been studied before, we also examined its factor structure and reliability. A phone survey was conducted with a nationally representative sample of Icelandic adults. Of 1766 participants, 563 (31.9%) had experienced sexual violence in their lifetime. Women were more likely than men to have experienced sexual violence and to have disclosed it to someone. About one-third of those victimized delayed their disclosure for over ten years. Younger survivors and those who knew their perpetrator were more likely to delay their disclosures, but no sex difference was observed in disclosure delay. The SRQ-S demonstrated reliability as measure of social reactions for men and women with two primary subscales, positive and negative. Participants reported significantly more positive reactions than negative reactions. Negative reactions were more robustly related to adverse mental health outcomes. The SRQ-S could be a valuable instrument for clinicians to identify individuals that have encountered negative reactions and to provide them with appropriate support in the Icelandic context.

Evaluation of the blended public health empowerment program-basic field epidemiology in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic encouraged the shift toward technology-based learning globally, impacting education systems profoundly. In response to this emerging need, the Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET) adapted its Public Health Empowerment Program-Basic Field Epidemiology (PHEP-BFE) to a Blended Learning Model. This study evaluates the Blended PHEP-BFE program in Iraq, Egypt, and Lebanon, focusing on participant reactions and learning outcomes.MethodsA descriptive evaluation was conducted, aligned with the first two levels of Kirkpatrick's model. Online questionnaires were administered to participants and facilitators through EMPHNET's Learning Management System (LMS). Qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed to assess program effectiveness, satisfaction, and challenges.ResultsA total of 138 PHEP-BFE participants (119 (86.2%) males and 19 (13.8%) females) from Iraq (n = 61), Egypt (n = 66), and Lebanon (n = 11) responded to the questionnaire. The majority of the participants (96.4%) reported that they were satisfied with PHEP-BFE. Notably, 77.5% of participants rated the blended learning program as very good or excellent, 18.1% rated it good, and 3.6% found it average, with a minimal 0.7% expressing dissatisfaction. The majority of participants agreed that the blended PHEP-BFE enhanced their capacity to conduct, review and monitor surveillance data (95.7%), perform descriptive data analysis (94.2%), effectively communicate information with agency staff and the local community (95.7%), write summaries of surveillance findings or outbreak investigations (95.7%), use MS Excel to enter, analyze, and display public health surveillance data (91.3%), prepare and administer an oral presentation for fieldwork (94.9%), and increase their knowledge of fundamental field epidemiology (94.9%). The participants responded positively to the program's content, training duration, learning platform, facilitators and mentors, and fieldwork.ConclusionThe study showcases the success of the blended PHEP-BFE in diverse contexts, emphasizing positive participant reactions and improved competencies. The evaluation underscores the program's success in advancing public health training in the EMR. Blended learning models prove promising for future FETP initiatives, contributing valuable insights to public health workforce development. Positive outcomes and identified challenges, provide a roadmap for continuous improvement.

Walk to recovery: an evaluation of adventure therapy in an early intervention for psychosis service

ABSTRACT Background It was considered useful to describe service-users’ and staff’s experience of Adventure Therapy (AT) in an Early Intervention for Psychosis (EIP) service, exploring the impact on personal wellbeing and feasibility of use. Method Focus groups were conducted with 14 participants, immediately following, and three months after a four day hiking trip. Transcripts were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Questionnaires were administered pre and post trip to describe service-users’ physical activity, recovery and personal goals. Results A majority of participants reported progress towards personal goals on the AT trip and improvements in confidence and connectedness. Questionnaire items did not show improvements in physical activity and recovery measures at 3- and 6-month follow-up. Four key themes emerged from the focus groups. The themes centred around the social experience of being in relation to others and a more personal emotional experience: (a) social connectedness, (b) challenging perceptions of self-capabilities, (c) positive reaction to new experiences and (d) motivation for more. Discussion AT was positively experienced by both staff and service-users. Key areas of benefit were recognised and considered for utilisation in services in different ways. Further studies are warranted exploring maintaining and supporting benefits gained following AT.

A correlational study on the experiences of family members of trans and gender diverse people in Portugal

Introduction : Research on the experiences of family members of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people remains limited, despite their crucial impact on the well-being of TGD individuals. This study aimed to fill this gap, by investigating their experiences within the wider ecological context that influences them. Method : A sample of 87 parents, siblings, partners, children, and extended family members of TGD people (M age = 39.9) were surveyed through questionnaires about their reactions and concerns regarding the disclosure of their TGD relatives, experiences in education and health contexts, and perceptions of the Portuguese legal framework. Results: The results revealed largely positive reactions to disclosure, favorable experiences with healthcare services, and optimistic views of the Portuguese legal framework. Average scores were reported regarding distress and concerns at the time of disclosure and experiences with the education system. Additionally, results revealed a significant correlation between greater concerns and more negative reactions to disclosure. Discussion: These findings highlight the need for support and resources for family members of TGD people and wider dissemination of information on gender identity issues.

Walk to recovery: an evaluation of adventure therapy in an early intervention for psychosis service

ABSTRACT Background It was considered useful to describe service-users’ and staff’s experience of Adventure Therapy (AT) in an Early Intervention for Psychosis (EIP) service, exploring the impact on personal wellbeing and feasibility of use. Method Focus groups were conducted with 14 participants, immediately following, and three months after a four day hiking trip. Transcripts were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Questionnaires were administered pre and post trip to describe service-users’ physical activity, recovery and personal goals. Results A majority of participants reported progress towards personal goals on the AT trip and improvements in confidence and connectedness. Questionnaire items did not show improvements in physical activity and recovery measures at 3- and 6-month follow-up. Four key themes emerged from the focus groups. The themes centred around the social experience of being in relation to others and a more personal emotional experience: (a) social connectedness, (b) challenging perceptions of self-capabilities, (c) positive reaction to new experiences and (d) motivation for more. Discussion AT was positively experienced by both staff and service-users. Key areas of benefit were recognised and considered for utilisation in services in different ways. Further studies are warranted exploring maintaining and supporting benefits gained following AT.

Tuberculin Skin Test Reactivity among Health Care Workers in the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba South-east Nigeria

Background Tuberculosis is one of the infections targeted for eradication and is still under surveillance. Hospital workers in Nigeria take little or no precautions against tuberculosis while attending to patients. Objectives This research aimed to study the prevalence of the reactivity of positive Tuberculin Skin Tests among healthcare workers in a Nigerian University Teaching Hospital. Methods Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained from the participants. Two hundred and ten consented participants were recruited for this study, while 185 contributed till the end. The Tuberculin Skin Test was conducted following the standard operating procedures. The chi-square test was used to compare the variable at a significant level of P &lt; 0.05. Of those who received a BGC vaccine &lt; 3 years, 4.8% were excluded from the analyses. Results Mean ± SD of participants’ age was approximately 30 ± 8 years. Participants comprised 87 (47%) males and 98 (53%) females. The modal age group was 21-25 years. Most participants were clinical medical students, 93(50.3%), while doctors, 7 (3.8%), were second to least. The prevalence of positive reactivity to the Tuberculin Skin Test was 29.9%. There was no significant difference observed regarding sexes and positive reactivity. A significant difference was found in reactivity ≥ 10 mm between those who didn’t receive BCG and those who received BCG vaccine ≥ 10 years before the study. Conclusion Healthcare workers can be potential active TB patients and reservoirs. We recommend highly sensitive and specific periodic TB screening, prophylactic treatment, and re-vaccination of Health Care Workers in Nigeria.

Pediatric Gastrointestinal Outcomes During the Post-Acute Phase of COVID-19: Findings from RECOVER Initiative from 29 Hospitals in the US.

The profile of gastrointestinal (GI) outcomes that may affect children in post-acute and chronic phases of COVID-19 remains unclear. To investigate the risks of GI symptoms and disorders during the post-acute phase (28 days to 179 days after SARS-CoV-2 infection) and the chronic phase (180 days to 729 days after SARS-CoV-2 infection) in the pediatric population. We used a retrospective cohort design from March 2020 to Sept 2023. twenty-nine healthcare institutions. A total of 413,455 patients aged not above 18 with SARS-CoV-2 infection and 1,163,478 patients without SARS-CoV-2 infection. Documented SARS-CoV-2 infection, including positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR), serology, or antigen tests for SARS-CoV-2, or diagnoses of COVID-19 and COVID-related conditions. Prespecified GI symptoms and disorders during two intervals: post-acute phase and chronic phase following the documented SARS-CoV-2 infection. The adjusted risk ratio (aRR) was determined using a stratified Poisson regression model, with strata computed based on the propensity score. Our cohort comprised 1,576,933 patients, with females representing 48.0% of the sample. The analysis revealed that children with SARS-CoV-2 infection had an increased risk of developing at least one GI symptom or disorder in both the post-acute (8.64% vs. 6.85%; aRR 1.25, 95% CI 1.24-1.27) and chronic phases (12.60% vs. 9.47%; aRR 1.28, 95% CI 1.26-1.30) compared to uninfected peers. Specifically, the risk of abdominal pain was higher in COVID-19 positive patients during the post-acute phase (2.54% vs. 2.06%; aRR 1.14, 95% CI 1.11-1.17) and chronic phase (4.57% vs. 3.40%; aRR 1.24, 95% CI 1.22-1.27). In the post-acute phase or chronic phase of COVID-19, the risk of GI symptoms and disorders was increased for COVID-positive patients in the pediatric population. Question: Does COVID-19 increase the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and diseases during the post-acute phase in children and adolescents?Findings: Newly diagnosed GI symptoms and disorders such as diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting are seen more commonly in children and adolescents with SARS-CoV-2 infection.Meaning: Clinicians need to be mindful that after SARS-CoV-2 infection in children, lingering GI symptoms without a unifying diagnosis may be more common than among uninfected children.

Brain Metabolite Differences in Fetuses With Cytomegalovirus Infection: A Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common intrauterine infection and may be associated with unfavorable outcomes. While some CMV-infected fetuses may show gross or subtle brain abnormalities on MRI, their clinical significance may be unclear. Conversely, normal development cannot be guaranteed in CMV-infected fetuses with normal MRI. To assess brain metabolite differences in CMV-infected fetuses using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Retrospective. Out of a cohort of 149 cases, 44 with maternal CMV infection, amniocentesis results, and good-quality MRS were included. CMV-infected fetuses with positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (N = 35) were divided based on MRI results as follows: typical brain abnormalities (gross findings, N = 8), exclusive white matter hyperintense signal (WMHS) on T2-weighted images (subtle findings, N = 7), and normal MRI (N = 20). Uninfected fetuses (negative PCR) with normal MRI were included as controls (N = 9). 3 T, T2-weighted half Fourier single-shot turbo spin-echo (HASTE), T2-weighted true fast imaging with steady-state free precession (TrueFISP), T1- and T2*-weighted fast low angle shot (FLASH), and 1H-MRS single-voxel point resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) sequences. MRI findings were assessed by three radiologists, and metabolic ratios within the basal ganglia were calculated using LCModel. Analysis of covariance test with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons was used to compare metabolic ratios between groups while accounting for gestational age. A P-value <0.05 was deemed significant. MRS was successfully acquired in 63% of fetuses. Substantial agreement was observed between radiologists (Fleiss' kappa [k] = 0.8). Infected fetuses with gross MRI findings exhibited significantly reduced tNAA/tCr ratios (0.64 ± 0.08) compared with infected fetuses with subtle MRI findings (0.85 ± 0.19), infected fetuses with normal MRI (0.8 ± 0.14) and controls (0.81 ± 0.15). No other significant differences were detected (P ≥ 0.261). Reduced tNAA/tCr within the apparently normal brain tissue was detected in CMV-infected fetuses with gross brain abnormalities, suggesting extensive brain damage. In CMV-infected fetuses with isolated WMHS, no damage was detected by MRS. 3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3.

TransMVAN: Multi-view Aggregation Network with Transformer for Pneumonia Diagnosis.

Automated and accurate classification of pneumonia plays a crucial role in improving the performance of computer-aided diagnosis systems for chest X-ray images. Nevertheless, it is a challenging task due to the difficulty of learning the complex structure information of lung abnormality from chest X-ray images. In this paper, we propose a multi-view aggregation network with Transformer (TransMVAN) for pneumonia classification in chest X-ray images. Specifically, we propose to incorporate the knowledge from glance and focus views to enrich the feature representation of lung abnormality. Moreover, to capture the complex relationships among different lung regions, we propose a bi-directional multi-scale vision Transformer (biMSVT), with which the informative messages between different lung regions are propagated through two directions. In addition, we also propose a gated multi-view aggregation (GMVA) to adaptively select the feature information from glance and focus views for further performance enhancement of pneumonia diagnosis. Our proposed method achieves AUCs of 0.9645 and 0.9550 for pneumonia classification on two different chest X-ray image datasets. In addition, it achieves an AUC of 0.9761 for evaluating positive and negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Furthermore, our proposed method also attains an AUC of 0.9741 for classifying non-COVID-19 pneumonia, COVID-19 pneumonia, and normal cases. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our method over other methods used for comparison in pneumonia diagnosis from chest X-ray images.

TransMVAN: Multi-view Aggregation Network with Transformer for Pneumonia Diagnosis.

Automated and accurate classification of pneumonia plays a crucial role in improving the performance of computer-aided diagnosis systems for chest X-ray images. Nevertheless, it is a challenging task due to the difficulty of learning the complex structure information of lung abnormality from chest X-ray images. In this paper, we propose a multi-view aggregation network with Transformer (TransMVAN) for pneumonia classification in chest X-ray images. Specifically, we propose to incorporate the knowledge from glance and focus views to enrich the feature representation of lung abnormality. Moreover, to capture the complex relationships among different lung regions, we propose a bi-directional multi-scale vision Transformer (biMSVT), with which the informative messages between different lung regions are propagated through two directions. In addition, we also propose a gated multi-view aggregation (GMVA) to adaptively select the feature information from glance and focus views for further performance enhancement of pneumonia diagnosis. Our proposed method achieves AUCs of 0.9645 and 0.9550 for pneumonia classification on two different chest X-ray image datasets. In addition, it achieves an AUC of 0.9761 for evaluating positive and negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Furthermore, our proposed method also attains an AUC of 0.9741 for classifying non-COVID-19 pneumonia, COVID-19 pneumonia, and normal cases. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our method over other methods used for comparison in pneumonia diagnosis from chest X-ray images.

Neurological manifestations of Varicella zoster infection: A case series

Introduction: Varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes infection of the central nervous system, which manifests as various neurological syndromes. In this case series, we discuss three different clinical presentations of VZV reactivation (herpes zoster). The main clinical feature of herpes zoster is a pruritic vesicular rash, present in a dermatomal distribution, which occurs after reactivation of the virus because of immunosuppression.Patients presentation: We report on three individual cases of complicated herpes zoster that resulted in various neurological pathologies. The patients described in this case series each received a lumbar puncture with cerebrospinal fluid analysis, which showed a positive varicella zoster polymerase chain reaction test (VZV PCR).Management and outcome: All three patients received intravenous acyclovir as their core component of treatment. In addition to this, some received other adjunctive treatments, mainly corticosteroids. Two patients achieved disease resolution while one patient demised.Conclusion: The case series highlights the various ways in which VZV can affect the central nervous system (CNS) such as meningitis, encephalitis, myelitis and arteritis.Contribution: This is a brief overview of the clinical manifestations of VZV affecting the CNS in patients presenting to a regional hospital within the Western Cape province in South Africa.

Firms’ voluntary climate action disclosures and stock market reaction: A BERT-based analysis of earnings conference calls in China

Climate information disclosure plays a pivotal role in fostering sustainable practices and enhancing transparency in climate risk. However, it is unclear whether firms’ voluntary climate-related disclosures effectively convey incremental information to investors. In the empirical context of Chinese listed firms, we explore the valuation effect of firms’ voluntary climate action disclosures, which is quantified from the transcripts of earning conference calls using a novel natural language model, BERT. Our results reveal that firms with more voluntary climate action disclosures experience more positive stock market reactions, indicating that investors value transparency on corporate commitment to future climate actions. The positive valuation effect of disclosures tends to be more pronounced in firms with higher disclosure quality, more green-preference investors, and higher investor attention. Moreover, we find that the positive valuation effect is achieved through enhancing corporate reputation and investor confidence. We further show that firms’ voluntary climate action disclosures exhibit a significant positive correlation with green innovations and environmental pillar scores, dispelling concerns of mere “greenwashing”. Overall, our evidence contributes to understanding the role of climate disclosures in investor assessment of firms’ climate risks and opportunities. The findings provides fresh insights for policymakers and regulatory bodies involved in shaping disclosure frameworks that promote sustainable business practices.

Prevalence Studies on Brucellosis in Buffalo Population in Nearby Region of Hyderabad, Telangana

Background: Brucellosis in India is highly endemic in many states and reported as the most prevalent disease in dairy cattle. Brucellosis is a highly contagious bacterial disease caused by various Brucella species mainly affecting wide range of different species of animals like cattle, sheep, goat and pigs. The present study was undertaken to ascertain the prevalence of brucellosis in suspected buffalo population showing reproductive disorders in selected dairy farms residing nearby region of Hyderabad, Telangana. Methods: Total number of 204 vaginal swab samples were collected aseptically from suspected buffaloes in nearby private dairy farms and were screened by employing various diagnostic methods. Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA), Lateral Flow Assay (LFA) and molecular identification through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) were conducted. The sensitivity of tests was recorded considering PCR as gold standard method. Result: Screening of 204 vaginal swab samples and prevalence of brucellosis were recorded by ensuring the positive reactions and also depicting the sensitivity of various diagnostic tests namely ELISA, LFA and PCR accounting 92(45.1%), 87 (42.64%) and 113(55.4%) samples respectively. The specificity of both LFA and ELISA were recorded 100% when compared to PCR assay.

Prevalence Studies on Brucellosis in Buffalo Population in Nearby Region of Hyderabad, Telangana

Background: Brucellosis in India is highly endemic in many states and reported as the most prevalent disease in dairy cattle. Brucellosis is a highly contagious bacterial disease caused by various Brucella species mainly affecting wide range of different species of animals like cattle, sheep, goat and pigs. The present study was undertaken to ascertain the prevalence of brucellosis in suspected buffalo population showing reproductive disorders in selected dairy farms residing nearby region of Hyderabad, Telangana. Methods: Total number of 204 vaginal swab samples were collected aseptically from suspected buffaloes in nearby private dairy farms and were screened by employing various diagnostic methods. Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA), Lateral Flow Assay (LFA) and molecular identification through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) were conducted. The sensitivity of tests was recorded considering PCR as gold standard method. Result: Screening of 204 vaginal swab samples and prevalence of brucellosis were recorded by ensuring the positive reactions and also depicting the sensitivity of various diagnostic tests namely ELISA, LFA and PCR accounting 92(45.1%), 87 (42.64%) and 113(55.4%) samples respectively. The specificity of both LFA and ELISA were recorded 100% when compared to PCR assay.