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Outbreaks of human adenovirus (HAdV) acute respiratory illness (ARI) have been well documented among civilians and unvaccinated military recruits. Among the 7 recognized HAdV species (A to G), species B (particularly serotypes 3, 7, 11, 14, and 21) and E (serotype 4) have more often been associated with epidemic ARI. Rapid detection and type-specific identification of these viruses would enhance outbreak response and help guide prevention and control measures. To this end, we developed type-specific real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays for HAdV types 3, 4, 7, 11, 14, 16, and 21 targeting the HAdV hexon gene. All type-specific qPCR assays reproducibly detected as few as 10 copies/reaction of quantified hexon recombinant plasmids with a linear dynamic range of 8 log units (101 to 108 copies); in contrast, a generic qPCR assay that detects all HAdV types run concurrently detected between 10 and 100 copies/reaction, depending on the virus type. No nonspecific amplifications were observed with concentrated nucleic acid from 51 HAdV prototype strains or other common respiratory pathogens. All members of a panel of 137 previously typed HAdV field isolates and positive clinical specimens were correctly characterized by the type-specific qPCR assays; two different HAdV types were detected in three of the clinical specimens and confirmed by amplicon sequencing. The qPCR assays permit sensitive, specific, and quantitative detection and identification of seven clinically important respiratory HAdVs and should provide a convenient adjunct to classical typing methods for a rapid response to HAdV outbreaks.

We examined the role gender plays in managerial stereotypes and changes that have occurred in the US for executive women in the workforce. We also investigated factors and personality traits that affect advancement into upper management for all executives and those that affect women in particular. Despite increased organisational sensitivity, public policies, and equal rights legislation, women continue to be underrepresented in corporate America. Pay increases and promotions for females have not kept pace with those for men. Study results also indicate that managerial womenwho juggle jobs and family life benefit from these multiple roles, but women who put off marriage and family to build top‐level careers suffer in later years from greatly reduced chances of finding spouses and having children. Further adaptation of organisational culture in the new economy, weakening of the glass ceiling phenomenon, and family friendly work policies may alleviate some of the difficulties experienced by women who want it all.

Les procédures d'accès précoce à l'innovation rendent possible l'accès aux médicaments qui n'ont pas encore obtenu leur autorisation de mise sur le marché (AMM) à une population prédéfinie de patients. Dans le cadre réglementaire français, sous ce régime appelé « Autorisation Temporaire d'Utilisation » (ATU), les prix ne sont pas réglementés : ils sont librement fixés par le laboratoire pharmaceutique, ce qui contraste avec le système des prix administrés en vigueur pour les médicaments remboursés. Cette étude contribue à la littérature peu abondante sur le sujet en analysant le régime d'ATU depuis sa mise en œuvre en 1994 jusqu'en 2016. Cette longue période permet de documenter et de décrire le régime des ATU et son impact sur les prix. Nous analysons la différence de prix entre le prix librement établi sous ATU et le prix post AMM, après négociation avec le Comité Économique des Produits de Santé (CEPS). Notre principal résultat montre qu'après la réforme réglementaire de 2007 qui a contraint, le cas échéant, les laboratoires pharmaceutiques à rembourser la différence entre le prix ATU et le prix post AMM, les prix post AMM négociés par le CEPS sont plus souvent inférieurs aux prix ATU. Plusieurs interprétations, non exclusives les unes des autres, peuvent être avancées pour expliquer ce résultat. Celui-ci peut signifier que la réforme a renforcé le pouvoir de négociation du CEPS. Il peut aussi signifier que le remboursement du trop-perçu pendant la période d'ATU ne constitue pas une incitation suffisante pour que les laboratoires modèrent véritablement leurs prix ATU. Enfin, il se peut qu'indépendamment de la réforme, les laboratoires surestiment depuis quelques années la valeur thérapeutique de leurs médicaments.

Human adenovirus type 4 (HAdV-4) is most commonly isolated in military settings. We conducted detailed molecular characterization on 36 HAdV-4 isolates recovered from civilian adults with acute respiratory disease (ARD) in the northeastern United States during 2011–2015. Specimens came from college students, residents of long-term care facilities or nursing homes, a cancer patient, and young adults without co-morbidities. HAdV-4 genome types 4a1 and 4a2, the variants most frequently detected among US military recruits in basic training before the restoration of vaccination protocols, were isolated in most cases. Two novel a-like variants were recovered from students enrolled at a college in Tompkins County, New York, USA, and a prototype-like variant distinguishable from the vaccine strain was isolated from an 18-year-old woman visiting a physician's office in Ulster County, New York, USA, with symptoms of influenza-like illness. Our data suggest that HAdV-4 might be an underestimated causative agent of ARD among civilian adults.

BACKGROUND: Myopia is the most common visual impairment in children and adolescents worldwide. This study described an economical and effective population-based screening pipeline and performed the project of a million scale children and adolescents myopia survey (CAMS), which will shed light on the further study of myopia from the level of epidemiology and precision medicine. METHODS: We developed a novel population-based screening pattern, an intelligent screening process and internet-based information transmission and analysis system to carry out the survey consisting of school children in Wenzhou, China. The examination items include unaided distance visual acuity, presenting distance visual acuity, and non-cycloplegic autorefraction. Myopia and high myopia were defined as spherical equivalent (SE) ≤ − 1.00 diopters (D) and SE ≤ − 6.00 D, respectively. Next, the reports of the vision checking were automatically sent to parents and the related departments. The CAMS project will be done two to four times annually with the support of the government. An online eyesight status information management system (OESIMS) was developed to construct comprehensive and efficient electronic vision health records (EVHRs) for myopia information inquiry, risk pre-warning, and further study. RESULTS: The CAMS completed the first-round of screening within 30 days for 99.41% of Wenzhou students from districts and counties, in June 2019. A total of 1,060,925 participants were eligible for CAMS and 1,054,251 (99.37% participation rate) were selected through data quality control, which comprised 1305 schools, and 580,609, 251,050 and 170,967 elementary, middle, and high school students. The mean age of participants was 12.21 ± 3.32 years (6–20 years), the female-to-male ratio was 0.82. The prevalence of myopia in elementary, middle, and high school students was 38.16%, 77.52%, and 84.00%, respectively, and the high myopia incidence was 0.95%, 6.90%, and 12.98%. CONCLUSIONS: The CAMS standardized myopia screening model involves ...

BACKGROUND: Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) are commonly associated with acute respiratory illness. HAdV outbreaks are well documented in congregate military training settings, but less is known about outbreaks on college campuses. During fall 2018 and spring 2019, 5 United States (US) colleges reported increases in HAdV-associated respiratory illness. Investigations were performed to better understand HAdV epidemiology in this setting. METHODS: A case was defined as a student at one of the 5 colleges, with acute respiratory illness and laboratory-confirmed HAdV infection during October 2018–December 2018 or March–May 2019. Available respiratory specimens were typed by HAdV type-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction assays, and for a subset, whole genome sequencing was performed. We reviewed available medical records and cases were invited to complete a questionnaire, which included questions on symptom presentation, social history, and absenteeism. RESULTS: We identified 168 HAdV cases. Median age was 19 (range, 17–22) years and 102 cases (61%) were male. Eleven cases were hospitalized, 10 with pneumonia; 2 cases died. Among questionnaire respondents, 80% (75/94) missed ≥ 1 day of class because of their illness. Among those with a type identified (79%), HAdV types 4 and 7 were equally detected, with frequency of each varying by site. Genome types 4a1 and 7d were identified, respectively, by whole genome sequence analysis. CONCLUSIONS: HAdV respiratory illness was associated with substantial morbidity and missed class time among young, generally healthy adults on 5 US college campuses. HAdVs should be considered a cause of respiratory illness outbreaks in congregate settings such as college campuses.