Natural hazards and mental health among US Gulf Coast residents

BACKGROUND

Individuals affected by disasters are at risk for adverse mental health sequelae. Individuals living in the US Gulf Coast have experienced many recent major disasters, but few studies have explored the cumulative burden of experiencing multiple disasters on mental health.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between disaster burden and mental health.

METHODS

We used data from 9278 Gulf Long-term Follow-up Study participants who completed questionnaires on perceived stress, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in 2011-2013. We linked 2005-2010 county-level data from the Spatial Hazard Events and Losses Database for the United States, a database of loss-causing events, to participant's home address. Exposure measures included total count of loss events as well as severity quantified as property/crop losses per capita from all hazards. We used multilevel modeling to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each exposure-outcome relationship.

RESULTS

Total count of loss events was positively associated with perceived stress (ORQ4:1.40, 95% CI:1.21-1.61) and was inversely associated with PTSD (ORQ4:0.66, 95% CI:0.45-0.96). Total duration of exposure was also associated with stress (ORQ4:1.16, 95% CI:1.01-1.33) but not with other outcomes. Severity based on cumulative fatalities/injuries was associated with anxiety (ORQ4:1.31, 95% CI:1.05-1.63) and stress (ORQ4:1.34, 95% CI:1.15-1.57), and severity based on cumulative property/crop losses was associated with anxiety (ORQ4:1.42, 95% CI:1.12-1.81), depression (ORQ4:1.22, 95% CI:0.95-1.57) and PTSD (ORQ4:1.99, 95% CI:1.44-2.76).

Neighborhood Deprivation, Obesity, and Diabetes in Residents of the US Gulf Coast

Socioeconomic status has been associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors. However, few studies have examined this relationship among populations in the US Gulf Coast region. We assessed neighborhood deprivation in relation to obesity and diabetes in 9,626 residents participating in the Gulf Long-Term Follow-Up Study (2011-present) who completed a home visit (2011-2013) with height, weight, waist, and hip measurements. Obesity was categorized as body mass index of at least 30, and diabetes was defined by doctor's diagnosis or prescription medication. Participant home addresses were linked to an established Area Deprivation Index and categorized into 4 levels (1 = least deprived). In adjusted, modified Poisson regression models, participants with greatest deprivation were more likely to have obesity compared with those with least deprivation (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) = 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08, 1.35), central obesity (aPR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.19), and diabetes (aPR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.03, 2.14). Repeated analyses among a subgroup of participants (n = 3,016) whose hemoglobin A1C values were measured 3 years later indicated the association with diabetes (defined as diagnosis, medications, or hemoglobin A1C ≥ 6.5) was similar (aPR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.14, 1.86). Results suggest neighborhood deprivation is associated with obesity and diabetes in a US region with high baseline prevalence.

Effect and molecular regulatory mechanism of monochromatic light colors on the egg-laying performance of Yangzhou geese

Photoperiodic control is essential for manipulating the reproductive performance of avian species. This study was conducted to assess the neuroendocrine mechanisms that regulate reproductive functions of Yangzhou geese when there are different monochromatic light colors from light emitter diode (LED) sources. A flock of geese was divided into four groups with white, red, blue, and green light treatments being imposed. The results indicated that peak laying rates and reproductive performance were greater in geese treated with white or red as compared with blue or green light treatments. The fertilization rate of eggs and hatchability of fertilized eggs were greater with the white or red as compared with blue or green light treatments. There was a greater abundance of OPN5, Dio2, c-Fos, and GnRH-I mRNA in the hypothalamus earlier in the treatment period and abundances of these hypothalamic factors were greater with the white or red light treatments. Abundances of pituitary LH beta and FSH beta mRNA increased at a lesser rate with the blue or green light treatments and were in greater abundances with the white or red light treatments. The lighting regimen also resulted in photo-refractoriness with there being greater abundances of GnIH, VIP, and PRL mRNA with the use of white or red light treatments. The results indicate that the use of white or red monochromatic lights while imposing a long photoperiod of 11 h daily could result in sustaining functions of the reproductive system of Yangzhou geese for considerably longer times, thus, resulting in greater egg-laying performance.

Separation, purification, and identification of flagellin, and preparation of its antisera

The aim of this study was to separate, purify, and identify Salmonella paratyphi A flagellin, and to prepare its antisera. Primary flagellin was isolated from S. paratyphi A using the acid lysis method. The flagellin was purified with weak anion exchange chromatography and the protein was identified with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), Western blot, and negative staining with phosphotungstic acid with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The production of the obtained flagellin was then quantified. New Zealand white rabbits were then immunized with the isolated flagellin, the presence of serum anti-flagellin antibodies was assessed with the immunoblot test, and its potency was determined with the double immunodiffusion test. The results of SDS-PAGE showed that the molecular weight (m.w.) of the purified flagellin was 52 x 10(3). The immunoblot test also showed a band at 52 x 10(3) m.w. The SEM results showed that the flagellin was filamentous. These three results showed that the protein was homogeneous. The protein quantification analysis found that 4.8 ± 0.5 mg flagellin could be extracted per 1 g wet weight bacteria. The titer of the anti-flagellin antiserum was 1:64. Through this method, we obtained high productions of flagellin, which could be easily purified, identified, and prepared into high titer antiserum.

[Observation of live, attenuated hepatitis A vaccines in humans]

Hepatitis A viruses L-A-1 and MBB strains were attenuated by serial passages in laboratory, then appropriately attenuated strains were screened based on marmosets experiments. Three live attenuated vaccine lots L-A-1/P14, L-A-1/P21, MBB/P13 (35 degrees C) were prepared respectively. Three vaccine lots titer were 10(5.5), 10(5.0), 10(4.5) TCID50/ml. Each vaccine lot was inoculated into 2 adults and 8 children 1.0 ml intramuscularly in the upper arm. All volunteers were closely observed for 4 weeks after the inoculation: No one showed local or systemic side-effects and serum ALT, ICD were normal. Every body developed anti-HAV 2-3 weeks postinoculation. Anti-HAV IgM also seroconverted. Neutralizing antibody was detected in serum 4-6 months after inoculation. Three vaccine lots showed no significant difference in safety and immunogenicity. The experimental data showed that the live vaccines were safe and had good immunogenicity.

An epidemic of hepatitis A attributable to the ingestion of raw clams in Shanghai, China

An epidemic of hepatitis A in 1988 in Shanghai had an overall attack rate of 4083/100,000 population (292,301 cases). The epidemic curve showed three peaks in January and February. A case-control study of 1208 matched pairs supported that clams were the vehicle for the virus (summary odds ratio, 9.47; P less than .001). Analysis of subsets who had eaten clams indicated that only 3.5% with hepatitis A had cooked their clams compared with 18.1% without hepatitis A, and those with the disease consumed more clams. A historical cohort study indicated that approximately 31.7% of the population had eaten clams one or more times between 9 December 1987 and 3 January 1988. The estimated attack rates in those who had and had not eaten clams were 11.93% and 0.52%, respectively (relative risk, 22.94; attributable risk, 11.41%). The three peaks in the consumption curve correlated with those in the epidemic curve. Hepatitis A virus was demonstrated in clams taken from the Shanghai markets and from the catching area.

[An axillary approach in cardio-pulmonary surgery]

From the experience in axillary approach in 219 cases of thoracic surgery including 202 cases of various lung resections, 2 cases of excision of mediastinal tumor in adults and 15 cases of ligature of PDA in children, it is found that in comparison with the ordinary postero-lateral approach, this hidden incision alongside the lateral chest wall averages 20 cm shorter in adults. No rib resection is needed, the surgical trauma and bleeding is much less and the operative course is shorter. The approach is to be recommended in selected cases of pulmonary and cardiac surgery for all ages. The operative procedure is described in detail.

Epidemiology of hepatitis A and B in the Shanghai area: prevalence of serum markers

Different population groups from the Shanghai area were surveyed by radioimmunoassay for serologic markers of previous infections with hepatitis A virus and hepatitis B virus. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) in males and females, or in persons living in rural or urban areas. The prevalence of anti-HAV showed a biphasic increase with age, approaching 100% above age 50 years whereas the geometric mean titers declined. The rate of infection (attack rate) with hepatitis A among susceptibles in Shanghai declined appreciably between 1950 and 1960. The prevalence of hepatitis B markers also did not differ in the sexes, or in rural and urban populations. The patterns of prevalence of hepatitis B markers at different ages were compared to various theoretical mathematical models, and the data fitted best a model constructed from the assumption that two subpopulations of approximately equal size, one at low and the other at high risk, existed in the population groups studied. It was estimated that in Shanghai up to 12% of all individuals infected with hepatitis B became chronic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers, although the overall prevalence of HBsAg carriers was only 6.9%. All HBsAg-positive individuals subtyped had been infected with hepatitis B virus of the subtype ad; 41.7% of HBsAg carriers also had hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), whereas in 32% of HBsAg carriers antibodies to HBe were present. Antibodies to HBsAg appeared to be lower in titer than in Western populations and to decline with age, and age-specific prevalence data indicated a relatively longer persistence of antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen.