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Japanese researchers report rise in CJD incidence and mortality
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a debilitating disorder that causes rapid degeneration of the brain as well as progressing dementia. It is a fatal disorder, often leading to death within just several years of the onset. CJD is the most common form of a human disorder caused by “prions,” pathogenic agents that induce abnormal folding of specific cellular proteins in the brain called “prion proteins.” The major type of CJD, accounting for 85% of the cases, is called sporadic CJD (sCJD). Because sCJD mainly occurs in late- middle old age, an increase in the ageing population worldwide can potentially cause a rise in CJD cases, which is a pressing global concern. Thus, to help policymakers plan ahead and establish a robust strategy, it is essential to estimate the trends of CJD- associated deaths and incidence.
To this end, a team of researchers at Okayama University, including Dr. Yoshito Nishimura, Dr. Toshihiro Koyama, and Dr. Hideharu Hagiya, conducted a trend analysis of the incidence and mortality of CJD in Japan, between 2005 and 2014. Their findings are published in Scientific Reports, a Nature Research journal. Dr. Nishimura, the first author of this study, said: “Despite CJD being a rare disease, the phenomenon of population ageing may trigger a rise in the incidence and, thus, the socioeconomic and healthcare burden of CJD.” For their analysis, the scientists used national vital statistics data on CJD- associated deaths among individuals aged over 50 years as well as the government- funded nationwide CJD surveillance data (from 2005 to 2014) in Japan. Their analysis revealed that, from 2005 to 2014,
Could microwaves deactivate coronavirus?
As the pandemic has continued to spread globally, studies indicate the COVID-19 virus may be contained in aerosols that can be generated and spread through breathing, coughing, sneezing, or talking by infected individuals. Researchers are increasingly focused on developing tools and methods to assist in decontaminating surfaces and spaces. While scientists have previously explored the use of electromagnetic energy to deactivate flu virus in bulk fluids, less work has been done to understand the role of non-ionising radiation, such as microwaves, in reducing the infectivity of viral pathogens in aerosols. The tools required to both safely contain contaminated aerosol streams and expose these aerosols to controlled, well- characterised microwave doses have not been readily available. In Review of Scientific Instruments,
by AIP Publishing, researchers from the Air Force Research Laboratory report development of a set of experimental tools capable of presenting electromagnetic waves to an aerosol mixture of biological media and virus with the capability to vary power, energy, and frequency of the electromagnetic exposure. The researchers seek to better characterise the threshold levels of microwave energy needed to inactivate aerosolised viral particles and, thus, reduce their ability to spread infection. “In this way, we believe our experimental design is capable of a fundamental
investigation of a wide variety of inactivation mechanisms. This range of capability is especially important given the range of potential interaction mechanisms found in the literature,” said co-author John Luginsland. The key portions of each system fit within standard biosafety cabinets, ensuring multiple layer containment of pathogens. Additionally, the systems are designed to prevent release of microwave radiation into the laboratory environment, which, at elevated levels, could potentially interfere with diagnostic equipment and other electronics. During initial experiments, the AFRL researchers are exposing a human-safe coronavirus surrogate, bovine coronavirus, to a range of microwave waveforms at frequencies ranging from 2.8 GHz to 7.5 GHz. “The bovine coronavirus is similar in size and configuration to human coronavirus but is safe to humans,” said co-author Brad Hoff.
If exposure to microwaves is demonstrated to be sufficiently effective in reducing infectivity, experimental efforts could then proceed to use aerosols containing COVID-19 coronavirus or other human-infecting pathogens. “If shown to be effective, the use of microwaves may enable the potential for rapid decontamination not currently addressed by ultraviolet light or chemical cleaning for highly cluttered areas, while potentially operating at levels safely compatible with human occupancy,” said Hoff.
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there was a significant increase in the absolute number of deaths, mortality rates, and incidence rates associated with CJD, even after adjusting for age. In particular, the average increase in incidence was estimated to be 6.4% per year. This trend in CJD-associated mortality and incidence rates was especially prominent in the older-age group, particularly in those over the age of 70 years. Although a previous report by the Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease International Surveillance Network had stated that annual death rates of sCJD had risen in most participating countries in the past two decades, this study shows that Japan might have had higher CJD-associated deaths and incidence than other countries, which the scientists attributed to a rise in the ageing population.
Investment in Southampton SSD
Major investment, worth £500,000, is being invested in an upgrade of the Theatre Sterile Supply Unit (TSSU) at the Practice Plus Group Hospital Southampton. Around 41,000 items are processed by the nine-member team each year, to support procedures carried out in the hospital’s operating theatres, dental suite, and Outpatient Department. The new equipment allows for faster processing and up to three times as many instruments decontaminated per hour. The system is also greener – over a year it is estimated that it will save almost 1 million litres of water with associated financial savings. Elaine Fox, TSSU manager at Practice Plus Group Hospital Southampton, commented: “Our new system allows us to do more at greater efficiency. The newly upgraded, future proof department will ensure the best possible quality and assurance of decontamination for years to come here. This is especially important given the current situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.” John McMenamin, hospital director at
Practice Plus Group Hospital Southampton, added: “This is the latest in a long line of investment made by us at this hospital, and it stands testament to the commitment we make to ensure that patients in Hampshire and beyond get the best care possible.”
APRIL 2021
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