The clinico-epidemiological characteristics of Omsk hemorrhagic fever in 1988-1992

Materials on morbidity in Omsk hemorrhagic fever at the period of 1988-1992 in the districts of the Novosibirsk region are presented. Cases of the disease were registered mainly in September-October (83.3% of cases). Transmission of the disease by contact played the leading role in the epidemiology of Omsk hemorrhagic fever. The disease took the course of medium severity with faintly pronounced hemorrhagic syndrome.     

Sex, birth order, and maternal age characteristics of infants with congenital heart defects

The records of the New England Regional Infant Cardiac Program, a service program covering all of New England, provide a useful source of information about the characteristics of children born with congenital heart defects. Data were analyzed on more than 2000 children born in New England who were diagnosed with a congenital heart defect before the first birthday. Children with arterio-venous fistula, aortic stenosis, transposition of the great arteries or hypoplastic left ventricle were predominantly male; children with persistent ductus arteriosus and endocardial cushion defect were predominantly female. Positive trends in risk with increasing birth order were present for pulmonic stenosis and transposition of the great arteries, and a negative trend was seen for persistent ductus arteriosus. What evidence there was for associations with maternal age was greatly reduced after controlling for confounding by birth order.     

淮安市2000-2009年艾滋病流行病学特征分析

截止2009年底,中国现存活艾滋病病毒感染者和病人约74万,中国艾滋病疫情处于总体低流行,特定人群和局部地区高流行态势(1).淮安市2000-2009年累计发现HIV/AJDS 135例,为了解淮安市HIV/AIDS流行特征,为开展艾滋病防治工作和制定干预措施提供依据,现对淮安市2000-2009年艾滋病疫情进行分析.     

Epidemiologic characteristics of benign breast disease

To see if the risk factors associated with fibroadenoma and cystic disease were similar to those reported for breast cancer, a retrospective study of benign breast tumor in a general population was conducted in Washington County, Maryland. The study population consisted of 320 white women 20 to 49 years of age who had had benign breast disease and 320 age-matched controls. More cystic disease cases than controls had the following characteristics, which had been reported to have been associated with breast cancer in other studies: higher socioeconomic status; fewer pregnancies; and a lack of association with lactation patterns. Nulliparity, late natural menopause and a maternal history of breast cancer were also more common among cystic cases than controls, although these differences could have occurred by chance. Cystic disease cases and controls did not differ with respect to other factors associated with breast cancer, such as early age at menarche, late age at first pregnancy, and negative history of artificial menopause. In contrast to cystic breast disease, fibroadenoma was not associated with most of the risk factors of breast cancer.     

Nursing homes--structure and selected characteristics, 1987 and 1996

This paper briefly describes changes in the nursing home market over a nine-year period, 1987 to 1996. Estimates are based on the "Institutional Population Component" of the 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey (NMES) and the "Nursing Home Component" of the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). Both surveys were sponsored by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. On January 1, 1996, approximately 1.56 million residents were receiving care in 16,840 nursing homes with 1.76 million beds. This compares to 1.36 million residents in 14,050 nursing homes with 1.48 million beds in 1987, increases of 15, 20 and 19 percent, respectively. The average size of a nursing home remained constant. The occupancy rate decreased from 92 percent in 1987 to 89 percent in 1996, in spite of the growth of the elderly population, both in relative and absolute terms. There was also a significant drop in the supply of nursing home beds relative to the elderly population; this decrease was observed in all four regions of the country, with the greatest drop being in the West. In 1987 only 28 percent of nursing homes were certified by both Medicare and Medicaid (dually certified), while this proportion increased to 73 percent in 1996. Conversely, while only 17 percent of nursing homes were certified by only Medicaid in 1996, a full 50 percent were certified as such in 1987. By far the most common type of nursing home in both 1987 and 1996 was the nursing home with only nursing home beds. Such nursing homes represented 87 percent of the market in 1987 but just 77 percent in 1996. The remaining were either hospital-based or nursing homes with personal care and/or independent living beds in addition to nursing home beds or were part of a continuing care retirement community.     

Jurisdictional trends in opioid overdose deaths, 1988-96

Management factors in 36 Pacific Northwest dairy herds were evaluated for their association with the prevalence of Shiga toxin-positive Escherichia coli O157 (E. coli O157) in dairy cattle. The within-herd prevalence of E. coli O157 was estimated by bacteriological culture of fecal pat samples, collected monthly for 6 months (approximately 60 per visit), from heifer cattle. During the first visit to each farm, a management questionnaire was administered that covered a broad range of animal husbandry practices. On each subsequent visit, a brief questionnaire was administered to detect changes in management practices. A significantly higher prevalence of E. coli O157 was noted in herds that fed corn silage to heifers compared to herds that did not feed corn silage. More tentative associations of E. coli O157 prevalence were observed for weaning method, protein level of calf starter, feeding of ionophores in heifer rations, feeding of grain screens to heifers, and feeding of animal by-products to cows.     

Hospital employment trends in California, 1982-1994

During the 1980s California hospitals responded to selective contracting, growth in managed care, and the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) by controlling their level of spending. This DataWatch examines whether these hospitals achieved these savings by changing the number and/or the mix of hospital employees. We examined employment trends because wages represent the largest component of hospital budgets and because the number and mix of personnel can be changed in the short run. Analysis of the California Health Facilities Cost Report data shows that employment increased steadily during 1982-1994. There is no evidence that hospitals responded to growing competition by altering the rate of growth in hospital personnel and only weak evidence that they altered the mix of personnel by hiring a greater proportion of nonclinical staff. We conclude that increased competition had only a minor effect on hospital employment decisions.     

Epidemiology of congenital diaphragmatic hernia, Hawaii, 1987-1996

Congenital diaphragmatic hernias (CDHs) in Hawaii between 1987 and 1996 were examined with data from a birth defects surveillance system. There were 51 cases of CDH (prevalence 2.45 per 10,000 births). Forty-nine percent of livebirths survived, an increase over the rate reported in Hawaii in 1975-1982. These results are similar to those reported by other population-based studies.     

Childhood cancer incidence and trends in Minnesota, 1988-1994

Childhood cancer incidence patterns for Minnesota, obtained from the Minnesota Cancer Surveillance System, were compared with national rates as well as with historic data from eight Minnesota counties. In total, 1,140 neoplasms were diagnosed in children (ages 0 to 14) between 1988 and 1994. Leukemias were the most common diagnosis for boys (30.3%) and girls (29.6%), followed by central nervous system tumors. The average annual age-adjusted incidence rates for all cancer sites were 167.2 and 136.2 per million for boys and girls, respectively. These rates were somewhat higher than national rates. In particular, the incidence rate for astrocytoma in boys was significantly elevated. Childhood cancer incidence, particularly brain tumors, has increased in the eight-county region from 1969 to 1994. This analysis demonstrated the Minnesota's childhood cancer incidence patterns are similar to national patterns.     

Epidemiologic observations of influenza B virus infections in Houston, Texas, 1976-1977

Influenza B virus infections were documented in Houston, Texas, in 726 patients with febrile respiratory illnesses who presented to representative primary care facilities during the 1976-1977 respiratory disease season. This epidemic followed a "herald wave" of illness associated with influenza B during the preceding spring. Over one-half the virus isolates were from children aged 5-19 years, and school absenteeism rates indicated that about 40 per cent of the students in the Houston area were ill enough to miss school during the epidemic. The rapid rise in the number of cases among students after the school holiday recess demonstrated the importance of school attendance for the rapid dissemination of influenza viruses. During the later phase of the epidemic, most of the cases were preschool children and adults. In addition to disease of the respiratory tract, the epidemic was accompanied by cases of Reye's syndrome at a rate expected for an urban area.     

Gunshot injuries in Mobile County, Alabama: 1985-1987

Although much information about firearm fatalities has been published, few articles have characterized all types of gunshot victims, the weapons used, and the injuries sustained in a well-defined geopolitical unit. This study of 597 persons sustaining gunshot injuries serious enough to cause death or hospitalization in Mobile County Alabama during 1985-1987, addresses that deficit. The overall rate of these 597 seriously gunshot-injured victims was 53/100,000 population per annum. Of the 597 victims, 215 died, resulting in a rate of 18.9 per 100,000 population per annum. Demographic characteristics of the homicide victims, predominantly young black men, and the suicide victims, predominantly middle-aged and elderly white men, are similar to those reported from other parts of the country. Assault victims accounted for the largest (316) number of victims: again, young black men also constituted the largest demographic group among assault victims. Handguns accounted for 71% of the weapons used. No assault type weapons were employed. Head, neck, and chest wounds led with the greatest fatality rates. Information about nonfatally wounded victims, particularly data about the weapons, proved difficult to obtain. This was one of the many problems encountered in this type of project and, consequently, is discussed at some length. Additional population-based studies using prospective methods and a variety of investigators, including persons knowledgeable of firearms, are needed.     

Decrease and inequalities of infant mortality in Salvador, 1980-1988

This study sought to describe the changes in mortality among infants under one year of age in different areas of the city of Salvador, Bahia, during the period 1980-1988. This was done using estimates of variation in two indicators: proportional infant mortality and the coefficient of infant mortality. Values for the first indicator were separated into low, intermediate, high, and very high quartiles for 1980 and then calculated again using 1988 data. The second indicator was derived from the estimated number of live births using the rate of 33.4/1,000 inhabitants for 1980 and 31.4/1,000 for the years thereafter. The results showed that infant mortality in that age group had declined over the period, but that at the end of the period inequalities persisted in the distribution of infant deaths, which confirmed that conditions remained adverse for certain segments of the population.     

Acute asthma epidemics, weather and pollen in England, 1987-1994

Recent epidemics of acute asthma have caused speculation that, if their causes were known, early warnings might be feasible. In particular, some epidemics seemed to be associated with thunderstorms. We wondered what risk factors predicting epidemics could be identified. Daily asthma admissions counts during 1987-1994, for two age groups (0-14 yrs and > or = 15 yrs), were measured using the Hospital Episodes System (HES). Epidemics were defined as combinations of date, age group and English Regional Health Authority (RHA) with exceptionally high asthma admission counts compared to the predictions of a log-linear autoregression model. They were compared with control days 1 week before and afterwards, regarding seven meteorological variables and 5 day average pollen counts for four species. Fifty six asthma epidemics were identified. The mean density of sferics (lightning flashes), temperature and rainfall on epidemic days were greater than those on control days. High sferics densities were overrepresented in epidemics. Simultaneously high sferics and grass pollen further increased the probability of an epidemic, but only to 15% (95% confidence interval 2-45%). Two thirds of epidemics were not preceded by thunderstorms. Thunderstorms and high grass pollen levels precede asthma epidemics more often than expected by chance. However, most epidemics are not associated with thunderstorms or unusual weather conditions, and most thunderstorms, even following high grass pollen levels, do not precede epidemics. An early warning system based on the indicators examined here would, therefore, detect few epidemics and generate an unacceptably high rate of false alarms.     

Red-back spider bites to Perth children, 1979-1988

The aim of this study was to describe the pattern of illness caused by red-back spider bites to children in Perth, Western Australia, over a 10 year period, and to compare it with that in adults. The case-notes of 241 (89%) of the 271 children admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital and Fremantle Hospital with suspected red-back spider bite from 1979 to 1988 were available for analysis. A definite bite was defined as a definite bite by a positively identified red-back spider, positive identification of a red-back spider with no definite bite but the later development of typical symptoms or no definite history of red-back spider bite but strong clinical evidence and complete recovery after administration of antivenom. Systemic envenomation was accepted if there were symptoms of vomiting, generalized pain or sweating, or abdominal pain. Sixty-five per cent of children were definitely bitten. As found in previous adult and mixed studies, there was a peak incidence in the warmer months with a male preponderance (68%); 81% of bites were to the extremities and 83% of bites occurred in the daytime. The syndrome produced in children was usually similar to that seen in adults. Twenty-one per cent of children received antivenom, a rate comparable to previous studies in older age groups; however, no child received more than one ampoule. Compared with data extracted from a previously published study at Fremantle Hospital, in which 37% of adults treated with antivenom received more than one ampoule, these findings suggest that contrary to current opinion children may not be at an increased risk of morbidity from latrodectism.     

Epidemiologic characteristics of viral dermatoses--results of a retrospective study

INTRODUCTION: A great number of skin diseases are caused by viruses (1, 2, 3). Virus infections can cause skin diseases due to three mechanisms: direct inoculation, systemic infection and local spreading of the internal focus. The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics of virus-associated dermatoses (VD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ambulant patients of policlinical department of the Clinic of Infectious and Dermatovenereological Diseases Novi Sad were included in this study. Epidemiologic characteristics were analyzed by retrospective studying of medical documentation. RESULTS: During a five-year-period (1991-1995), 1,461 cases of VD were registered or 7.09% of the total number of patients examinated in this period (N = 20.596). Majority of the observed patients were males (N = 788-53.25%) and female patients were less frequent (N = 683-46.75%, table 1). Table 2 shows the age distribution of our patients. Most of the patients were in the 20-29 year age group (N = 443 or 30.32%). The mean age of patients was X = 36.14 years (SD = 19.02). Table 3 shows the occupational structure of our patients. The most frequent was the group of employed (N = 773 or 50.17%). Table 4 shows the structure of the patients according to pathogenic agents. The most frequent was the group of warts and condylomata (N = 900 or 61.60%). It is apparent that the number of VD is increasing. DISCUSSION: According to collected data, patients with VD make up a great group being treated at dermatological clinics. Our findings (7.09%) are compatible to the standard results. A relative high mean age of our patients is determinated by the fact that the children are managed at the Institute of Health Care of Mother and Child Novi Sad (the warts are most frequent in this population) or in other dermatological ambulants. There is no evidence that actual socio-political events affect the spreading of VD. Most patients belong to the urban population making up dominant groups (employed, scholars, pensioners). CONCLUSION: The number of patients with VD is increasing. Although from year to year the number of diseased increases or decreases, generally speaking there is an increasing trend of VD.     

Yersinia enterocolitica isolates from humans in California, 1968-1975

This paper reports on the serological and biochemical characteristics of 24 human isolates of Yersinia enterocolitica submitted to the California Department of Health from 1968 through 1975. Nine different serotypes were represented. The majority of strains were serotype O:8 (six strains) and serotype O:5 (five strains). Sources of the isolates included feces (12 cases), blood (3), sputum or throat (3), bile or bowel drainage (2), wounds (2), breast abscess (1), and skin abscess (1). Clinical histories indicated a number of different syndromes. Underlying medical conditions existed in 13 cases. Results of selected biochemical tests and antimicrobial susceptibility tests on the strains indicated grouping compatible with the O serotypes of the organisms.     

Epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of migraine and tension-type headache in Korea

This is the first population-based epidemiologic study of chronic headache in South Korea. The diagnosis and classification of headache was according to the criteria of the International Headache Society. Sixty-eight percent of the studied population experienced headache during the preceding year. The estimated prevalences were 22.3% for migraine (male 20.2%, female 24.3%) and 16.2% for tension-type headache (male 17.8%, female 14.7%). In migraine, the 15- to 19-year age group showed maximal prevalence in both sexes (male 28.5%, female 34.7%). The prevalence of tension-type headache was highest in the 50- to 59-year age group in men (24.2%) and in the 20- to 29-year age group in women (20.2%). In migraine, headache intensity was more severe in women than in men, but in tension-type headache there was no difference in the severity of headache between the sexes. Phonophobia was the most common associated symptom of migraine (65.1%). In the migraine with aura group, the most common aura was visual disturbance, including scintillation and image distortion (82.3%). Only 24.4% of migraineurs and 12.3% of patients with tension-type headache had ever consulted a doctor for headache. The prevalence of migraine was not lower than in western countries and much higher than in previous studies conducted in other Asian countries.