5 results
Design and implementation of a digital site-less clinical study of serial rapid antigen testing to identify asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection
- Apurv Soni, Carly Herbert, Caitlin Pretz, Pamela Stamegna, Andreas Filippaios, Qiming Shi, Thejas Suvarna, Emma Harman, Summer Schrader, Chris Nowak, Eric Schramm, Vik Kheterpal, Stephanie Behar, Seanan Tarrant, Julia Ferranto, Nathaniel Hafer, Matthew Robinson, Chad Achenbach, Robert L. Murphy, Yukari C. Manabe, Laura Gibson, Bruce Barton, Laurel O’Connor, Nisha Fahey, Elizabeth Orvek, Peter Lazar, Didem Ayturk, Steven Wong, Adrian Zai, Lisa Cashman, Lokinendi V. Rao, Katherine Luzuriaga, Stephenie Lemon, Allison Blodgett, Elizabeth Trippe, Mary Barcus, Brittany Goldberg, Kristian Roth, Timothy Stenzel, William Heetderks, John Broach, David McManus
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- Journal:
- Journal of Clinical and Translational Science / Volume 7 / Issue 1 / 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 10 May 2023, e120
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Background:
Rapid antigen detection tests (Ag-RDT) for SARS-CoV-2 with emergency use authorization generally include a condition of authorization to evaluate the test’s performance in asymptomatic individuals when used serially. We aim to describe a novel study design that was used to generate regulatory-quality data to evaluate the serial use of Ag-RDT in detecting SARS-CoV-2 virus among asymptomatic individuals.
Methods:This prospective cohort study used a siteless, digital approach to assess longitudinal performance of Ag-RDT. Individuals over 2 years old from across the USA with no reported COVID-19 symptoms in the 14 days prior to study enrollment were eligible to enroll in this study. Participants throughout the mainland USA were enrolled through a digital platform between October 18, 2021 and February 15, 2022. Participants were asked to test using Ag-RDT and molecular comparators every 48 hours for 15 days. Enrollment demographics, geographic distribution, and SARS-CoV-2 infection rates are reported.
Key Results:A total of 7361 participants enrolled in the study, and 492 participants tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, including 154 who were asymptomatic and tested negative to start the study. This exceeded the initial enrollment goals of 60 positive participants. We enrolled participants from 44 US states, and geographic distribution of participants shifted in accordance with the changing COVID-19 prevalence nationwide.
Conclusions:The digital site-less approach employed in the “Test Us At Home” study enabled rapid, efficient, and rigorous evaluation of rapid diagnostics for COVID-19 and can be adapted across research disciplines to optimize study enrollment and accessibility.
Prevalence of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) at a Tertiary-Care Center in the United States
- Diane Heipel, Yvette Major, Carli Viola-Luqa, Michelle Elizabeth Doll, Michael Stevens, Kaila Cooper, Emily Godbout, Gonzalo Bearman
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- Journal:
- Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology / Volume 41 / Issue S1 / October 2020
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 02 November 2020, pp. s494-s495
- Print publication:
- October 2020
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Background: Quantification of the magnitude of CRE both within a facility and regionally poses a challenge to healthcare institutions. Periodic point-prevalence surveys are recommended by the CDC CRE tool kit as a facility-level prevention strategy. A 2016 point-prevalence survey of 2 high-risk units at a tertiary-care center in the United States for CRE colonization found that all patients surveyed were negative for CRE. The infection prevention (IP) team repeated the study in 2019 to reassess the prevalence of CRE in the healthcare facility. Methods: A point-prevalence survey was performed in November 2019 on the same 2 high-risk units surveyed in 2016. A perirectal flocked swab was collected from all patients unless a patient refused and/or a contraindication to rectal swab was present. Swabs were inoculated onto HardyChrom TM CRE agar for incubation in ambient air at 35°C for 24 hours. Organism identification was performed using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry on a MBT Smart by Bruker. Results: None of the patients on either high-risk unit was known to be colonized or infected with CRE at the time of the point-prevalence survey. Of 41 perirectal swabs collected, 4 (9.8%) were positive for CRE. None (0 of 20) were surgical ICU patients and 4 of 21 (19%) were medical ICU patients. All positive swabs revealed different organisms identified as follows: Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Enterobacter kobai, and Enterobacter aerogenes. All 4 positive patients had had recent contact with multiple acute-care hospitals. Also, 2 had been transferred for liver transplant evaluation. None of these patients had received a carbapenem during their admission to the facility. Conclusion: CRE are increasingly identified in healthcare centers in the United States. Centers previously classified as low prevalence will need to maintain preventive strategies to limit transmission risks as colonized patients arrive in the facility for care. Adoption of a robust horizontal infection prevention program may be an effective strategy to avoid the spread of CRE.
Funding: None
Disclosures: Michelle Doll reports a research grant from Molnlycke Healthcare.
20 - Nitrogen as a threat to European terrestrial biodiversity
- from Part IV - Managing nitrogen in relation to key societal threats
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- By Nancy B. Dise, Manchester Metropolitan University, Mike Ashmore, University of York, Salim Belyazid, Belyazid Consulting and Communication AB, Albert Bleeker, Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands, Roland Bobbink, Radboud University, Wim de Vries, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Jan Willem Erisman, Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands, Till Spranger, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Carly J. Stevens, Open University, Leon van den Berg, Radboud University Nijmegen
- Edited by Mark A. Sutton, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Clare M. Howard, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Jan Willem Erisman, Gilles Billen, Albert Bleeker, Peringe Grennfelt, Hans van Grinsven, Bruna Grizzetti
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- Book:
- The European Nitrogen Assessment
- Published online:
- 16 May 2011
- Print publication:
- 14 April 2011, pp 463-494
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Summary
Executive summary
Nature of the problem
Biodiversity is the variability among living organisms, from genes to the biosphere. The value of biodiversity is multifold, from preserving the integrity of the biosphere as a whole, to providing food and medicines, to spiritual and aesthetic well-being.
One of the major drivers of biodiversity loss in Europe is atmospheric deposition of reactive nitrogen (Nr).
Approaches
This chapter focuses on Nr impacts on European plant species diversity; in particular, the number and abundance of different species in a given area, and the presence of characteristic species of sensitive ecosystems.
We summarise both the scientific and the policy aspects of Nr impacts on diversity and identify, using a range of evidence, the most vulnerable ecosystems and regions in Europe.
Key findings/state of knowledge
Reactive nitrogen impacts vegetation diversity through direct foliar damage, eutrophication, acidification, and susceptibility to secondary stress.
Species and communities most sensitive to chronically elevated Nr deposition are those that are adapted to low nutrient levels, or are poorly buffered against acidification. Grassland, heathland, peatland, forest, and arctic/montane ecosystems are recognised as vulnerable habitats in Europe; other habitats may be vulnerable but are still poorly studied.
It is not yet clear if different wet-deposited forms of Nr (e.g. nitrate, NO3− versus ammonium, NH4+) have different effects on biodiversity. However, gaseous ammonia (NH3) can be particularly harmful to vegetation, especially lower plants, through direct foliar damage.
[…]
6 - Nitrogen processes in terrestrial ecosystems
- from Part II - Nitrogen processing in the biosphere
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- By Klaus Butterbach-Bahl, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Per Gundersen, University of Copenhagen, Per Ambus, Risø DTU National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Jürgen Augustin, Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Claus Beier, Risø DTU National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Pascal Boeckx, Ghent University, Michael Dannenmann, University of Freiburg, Benjamin Sanchez Gimeno, CIEMAT, Spain, Andreas Ibrom, Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Ralf Kiese, Karlsruhe Institute for Technology, Barbara Kitzler, Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Robert M. Rees, Scottish Agricultural College, Keith A. Smith, University of Edinburgh, Carly Stevens, Open University, Timo Vesala, University of Helsinki, Sophie Zechmeister-Boltenstern, Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests
- Edited by Mark A. Sutton, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Clare M. Howard, NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK, Jan Willem Erisman, Gilles Billen, Albert Bleeker, Peringe Grennfelt, Hans van Grinsven, Bruna Grizzetti
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- Book:
- The European Nitrogen Assessment
- Published online:
- 16 May 2011
- Print publication:
- 14 April 2011, pp 99-125
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Summary
Executive summary
Nature of the problem
Nitrogen cycling in terrestrial ecosystems is complex and includes microbial processes such as mineralization, nitrification and denitrification, plant physiological processes (e.g. nitrogen uptake and assimilation) and physicochemical processes (leaching, volatilization). In order to understand the challenges nitrogen puts to the environment, a thorough understanding of all these processes is needed.
Approaches
This chapter provides an overview about processes relating to ecosystem nitrogen input and output and turnover. On the basis of examples and literature reviews, current knowledge on the effects of nitrogen on ecosystem functions is summarized, including plant and microbial processes, nitrate leaching and trace gas emissions.
Key findings/state of knowledge
Nitrogen cycling and nitrogen stocks in terrestrial ecosystems significantly differ between different ecosystem types (arable, grassland, shrubland, forests).
Nitrogen stocks of managed systems are increased by fertilization and N retention processes are negatively affected.
It is also obvious that nitrogen processes in natural and semi-natural ecosystems have already been affected by atmospheric Nr input.
Following perturbations of the N cycle, terrestrial ecosystems are increasingly losing N via nitrate leaching and gaseous losses (N2O, NO, N2 and in agricultural systems also NH3) to the environment.
Contributors
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- By Shamsuddin Akhtar, Greg Albert, Sidney Allison, Muhammad Anwar, Haruo Arita, Amanda Barker, Mary Hanna Bekhit, Jeanna Blitz, Tyson Bolinske, David Burbulys, Asokumar Buvanendran, Gregory Cain, Keith A. Candiotti, Daniel B. Carr, Derek Chalmers, John Charney, Rex Cheng, Roger Chou, Keun Sam Chung, Anna Clebone, Frederick Conlin, Susan Dabu-Bondoc, Tiffany Denepitiya-Balicki, Jeanette Derdemezi, Anahat Kaur Dhillon, Ho Dzung, Juan Jose Egas, Stephen M. Eskaros, Zhuang T. Fang, Claudia R. Fernandez Robles, Victor A. Filadora, Ellen Flanagan, Dan Froicu, Allison Gandey, Nehal Gatha, Boris Gelman, Christopher Gharibo, Muhammad K. Ghori, Brian Ginsberg, Michael E. Goldberg, Jeff Gudin, Thomas Halaszynski, Martin Hale, Dorothea Hall, Craig T. Hartrick, Justin Hata, Lars E. Helgeson, Joe C. Hong, Richard W. Hong, Balazs Horvath, Eric S. Hsu, Gabriel Jacobs, Jonathan S. Jahr, Rongjie Jaing, Inderjeet Singh Julka, Zeev N. Kain, Clinton Kakazu, Kianusch Kiai, Mary Keyes, Michael M. Kim, Peter G. Lacouture, Ryan Lanier, Vivian K. Lee, Mark J. Lema, Oscar A. de Leon-Casasola, Imanuel Lerman, Philip Levin, Steven Levin, JinLei Li, Eric C. Lin, Sharon Lin, David A. Lindley, Ana M. Lobo, Marisa Lomanto, Mirjana Lovrincevic, Brenda C. McClain, Tariq Malik, Jure Marijic, Joseph Marino, Laura Mechtler, Alan Miller, Carly Miller, Amit Mirchandani, Sukanya Mitra, Fleurise Montecillo, James M. Moore, Debra E. Morrison, Philip F. Morway, Carsten Nadjat-Haiem, Hamid Nourmand, Dana Oprea, Sunil J. Panchal, Edward J. Park, Kathleen Ji Park, Kellie Park, Parisa Partownavid, Akta Patel, Bijal Patel, Komal D. Patel, Neesa Patel, Swati Patel, Paul M. Peloso, Danielle Perret, Anthony DePlato, Marjorie Podraza Stiegler, Despina Psillides, Mamatha Punjala, Johan Raeder, Siamak Rahman, Aziz M. Razzuk, Maggy G. Riad, Kristin L. Richards, R. Todd Rinnier, Ian W. Rodger, Joseph Rosa, Abraham Rosenbaum, Alireza Sadoughi, Veena Salgar, Leslie Schechter, Michael Seneca, Yasser F. Shaheen, James H. Shull, Elizabeth Sinatra, Raymond S. Sinatra, Neil Singla, Neil Sinha, Denis V. Snegovskikh, Dmitri Souzdalnitski, Julie Sramcik, Zoreh Steffens, Alexander Timchenko, Vadim Tokhner, Marc C. Torjman, Co T. Truong, Nalini Vadivelu, Ashley Vaughn, Anjali Vira, Eugene R. Viscusi, Dajie Wang, Shu-ming Wang, J. Michael Watkins-Pitchford, Steven J. Weisman, Ira Whitten, Bryan S. Williams, Jeremy M. Wong, Thomas Wong, Christopher Wray, Yaw Wu, Anthony T. Yarussi, Laurie Yonemoto, Bita H. Zadeh, Jill Zafar, Martha Zegarra, Keren Ziv
- Edited by Raymond S. Sinatra, Jonathan S. Jahr, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine, J. Michael Watkins-Pitchford
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- Book:
- The Essence of Analgesia and Analgesics
- Published online:
- 06 December 2010
- Print publication:
- 14 October 2010, pp xi-xviii
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