Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been widely prevalent among older men (aged ≥50 years old) in Sichuan Province. The study aimed to discover associated factors with the new HIV infection in older men, and provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in this group. A cross-sectional survey study of newly reported HIV/AIDS and general male residents aged 50 years and older was conducted between April and June 2019, with a resample of respondents to identify cases and controls, followed by a case–control study. Logistic regression was applied to analyse the association between the selected factors and new HIV infection among older men. At last, 242 cases and 968 controls were included. The results of multiple logistic regression suggested that many factors including living alone/concentrated (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.20–2.04, P = 0.001), have a history of migrant worker (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.61–2.73, P < 0.001), have commercial sexual behaviour (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.32–2.22, P < 0.001), married (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.37–0.64, P < 0.001), have a history of HIV antibody testing (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.56–0.96, P = 0.026), HIV-related knowledge (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.42–0.72, P < 0.001) were associated with new HIV infection among older men. The present study revealed some potential risky/protective factors altogether. The results highlighted the direction of HIV/AIDS prevention and control among older men, and it is a social issue that requires the joint participation of the whole society.

1. A spontaneous epidemic of Gaertner infection among rats was found associated with methaemoglobinaemia and, in some cases, anaemia.

2. Strains of Gaertner's bacillus isolated from these rats reproduced methaemoglobinaemia in fresh rats but not in rabbits, guinea-pigs or mice.

3. Other strains of Gaertner's bacillus from rats, guinea-pigs and human sources also caused methaemoglobinaemia either before or after passage through rats.

4. Other organisms pathogenic for rats did not produce methaemoglobinaemia.

The outbreak of Diphtheria which occurred in Cambridge and Chesterton last October and November has already been the subject of a paper in this Journal, which dealt with the facts observed up to January 5th, 1901. The present communication deals with a return of the disease in the Spring of this year.

The impact of hepatitis C virus infection (HCI), the most common bloodborne virus infection in the USA, on outcome of active tuberculosis (TB) treatment is largely unknown. We aimed to describe characteristics of TB patients with hepatitis C virus infection (TB-HCI) in King County, Washington, including TB treatment duration and outcome. We reviewed 1510 records of patients treated for active TB at the Public Health – Seattle & King County Tuberculosis Control Program between 2000 and 2010, and identified 53 with HCI. Advanced age, being born in the USA, HIV infection, homelessness and injection drug use were independently associated with HCI in TB cases. Independent factors associated with increased treatment duration included HIV infection, excess alcohol use, extrapulmonary TB, and any drug-resistant TB disease. Our findings suggest that TB-HCI patients can be successfully treated for active TB without extending treatment duration.

Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance data from India were analysed to examine sensitivity of poliovirus isolation from stool specimens and the added sensitivity obtained from collection of a second stool specimen. Analysis was restricted to Indian AFP cases, 1998–2000, with two adequate stool specimens. The proportion of cases confirmed with wild poliovirus isolation by the second specimen only was calculated, regardless of specimen quality. Overall specimen sensitivity (1998–2000) was 81% using the first specimen, 78% using the second, and 96% using both. Sensitivity increased from 1998 to 2000, with slightly higher sensitivity each year for the first specimen. The second specimen increased sensitivity by 15% overall and contributed more when the first specimen was collected late or was in poor condition. As wild poliovirus disappears, increased sensitivity provided by a second stool specimen may reduce the risk of missing circulating virus.

Active protection against Pseudomonas aeruginosa could be induced in mice by immunization with either the phenol killed cells or the alcohol precipitated fraction of the slime layer, or the ribosomal vaccine preparation. Passive protection could also be induced by injecting into mice antisera prepared in rabbits against these bacteria. This protection was due to the production of antibodies in reaction to the slime layer; the absorption of these antibodies by the slime caused the loss of protection. The fact that mice were also protected by vaccination with strains other than those used for challenging was attributed to the presence of an antigenically similar slime. Passive protection towards a heterologous strain, even one with an antigenically similar slime layer, was dependent on the dose of the challenging injection.

An examination of the literature shows that there is considerable difference of opinion on this subject. Some workers found that sera obtained from cases of scarlatina agglutinated scarlet fever streptococci to a high titre, while others believed that no agglutination could be obtained unless the sera were concentrated.

Monitoring the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) community-wide transmission with a suitable and effective sampling method would be of great support for public health response to the spreading due to asymptomatic subjects in the community.

Here, we describe how using saliva samples for SARS-CoV-2 detection has allowed for a weekly surveillance of a small business company and the early detection of coronavirus disease 2019 cases.

As on 23rd March, two cases were detected and investigated, and control measures were rapidly applied.

In foodborne outbreak investigations, case-control and cohort studies are used to test hypotheses and identify a source, but these studies are resource-intensive and may have challenges of representativeness, temporality or accessibility. We used online surveys to collect population control data for two foodborne outbreaks and compared the data collected to our cases and existing population exposure data. Online survey population controls were comparable to cases based on age and sex. Exposure data collected through online surveys were more precise than existing control data, represented the disease-specific exposure period and could be easily modified. In one outbreak the online control exposure data differed from established population data. In both outbreaks, the information from the online population control survey supported the hypothesis of the investigation. Our findings demonstrate that online surveys were a rapid and representative way to collect responses from controls during outbreak investigations.

Past studies using the positive deviance (PD) approach in the field of infection prevention and control (IPC) have primarily focused on impacts on healthcare-associated infection rates. This research aimed to determine if health professionals who exhibit PD behaviours have distinctive socio-cognitive profiles compared to non-PD professionals, and to examine the impact of a PD intervention on healthcare professionals’ (HPs) behavioural changes in maintaining IPC guidelines. In a cross-sectional study among 135 HPs, respondents first filled out a socio-cognitive characteristics questionnaire, and after 5 months were requested to complete a self-reported behavioural change questionnaire. The main findings indicate that socio-cognitive variables such as external locus of control, perceived threat and social learning were significant predictors of a person exhibiting PD behaviours. Almost 70% of HPs reported behavioural change and creating social networks as a result of the PD intervention in maintaining IPC guidelines, 16.9% of them are a ‘PD boosters’ (a new group of HPs who have adopted the positive practices of PDs that were originally identified, and also added additional practices of their own). Social networks can contribute to internalizing and raising personal accountability even among non-PD professionals, by creating a mind map that makes each person believe they are an important node in the network, regardless of their status and role. Health intervention programmes should purposely make visible and prominent social network connections in the hospital system.

Previous studies have reported the basic reproduction number (R0) of coronavirus disease from publicly reported data that lack information such as onset of symptoms, presence of importations or known super-spreading events. Using data from the Republic of Korea, we illustrated how estimates of R0 can be biased and provided improved estimates with more detailed data. We used COVID-19 contact trace system in Korea, which can provide symptom onset date and also serial intervals between contacted people. The total R0 was estimated as 2.10 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.84–2.42). Also, early transmission of COVID-19 differed by regional or social behaviours of the population. Regions affected by a specific church cluster, which showed a rapid and silent transmission under non-official religious meetings, had a higher R0 of 2.40 (95% CI 2.08–2.77).

An examination of some 10,000 tumour-bearing mice appertaining to 240 experiments comprising 24,000 animals has been made to find whether there was any difference in sensitiveness of the skin to our carcinogenic agents, according to colour of coat and eyes. Methods involving only elementary arithmetic have been utilised as we have, unfortunately, no statistical mind on our staff, and thus we have, presumably, failed to derive full benefit from the data available. We have ventured, however, to draw the following tentative conclusions as regards the particular animals under discussion, they being obtained from varied sources:

1. Self-coloured animals (excluding pure white) were more sensitive to petroleum oils (weak agents) than the corresponding piebald. (That is, a black was more sensitive than a black and white, etc.)

2. When tars (strong agents) were utilised instead of petroleum oils an opposite state of affairs existed, the self-coloured animal being more resistant than its piebald companion. This reversal may be explained on the grounds of cell tolerance.

3. Pink-eyed animals (excluding pure white) had a greater all-over sensitiveness of the skin to our agents than pigmented-eye animals.

4. On the whole the most sensitive animal was the pink-eyed fawn.

5. The frequency of hyaline degeneration of the spleen and marked thyroid enlargement was greater among pink-eyed animals, especially when fawn coloured, than among pigmented-eye animals.

Examination of sera from 184 children aged between 0 and 12 years and 161 adults revealed a close correlation between age and the level of humoral anti-RS virus immunity. Secretory IgG antibodies were found in children in their first months of life. Evidence for their release into secretions from the serum was obtained. This might explain the positive correlation between serum antibody levels in women recently confined with the morbidity due to RS virus in children during their first months of life. Secretory IgA antibodies were found from 4 months untill old age. The secretions of children and adults contained virus-neutralizing activity which was non-immunoglobulin in nature, as well as antibodies. However, in contrast to secretory antibody this material did not prevent development of severe RS virus infections.

Determination of the proportion of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) breakdowns attributed to a herd purchasing infected animals has not been previously quantified using data from the Animal and Public Health Information System (APHIS) database in Northern Ireland. We used a case–control study design to account for the infection process occurring in the disclosing bTB breakdown herds. Cases (N = 6926) were cattle moving to a future confirmed bTB breakdown where they would disclose as a confirmed bTB reactor or a Lesion at Routine Slaughter (LRS). Controls (N = 303 499) were cattle moving to a future confirmed bTB breakdown where they did not become a bTB reactor or LRS. Our study showed that the cattle leaving herds which disclosed bTB within 450 days had an increased odds of becoming a confirmed bTB reactor or LRS compared with the cattle which left herds that remained free for 450 days (odds ratio (OR) = 2·09: 95% CI 1·96–2·22). Of the 12 060 confirmed bTB breakdowns included in our study (2007–2015 inclusive), 31% (95% CI 29·8–31·5) contained a confirmed bTB reactor(s) or LRS(s) at the disclosing test which entered the herd within the previous 450 days. After controlling for the infection process occurring in the disclosing bTB breakdown herd, our study showed that 6·4% (95% CI 5·9–6·8) of bTB breakdowns in Northern Ireland were directly attributable to the movement of infected animals.

In Spain, vaccination against rubella was initiated in schoolgirls in the mid-1970s. In Gipuzkoa, subsequent extensions to the vaccination schedule culminated in 1992 with the introduction of the two-dose measles, mumps and rubella vaccine in children and adolescents of both sexes. Moreover, in 1985 a programme for the identification and vaccination of non-immune parturient women was implemented in the region's main hospital. The prevalence of rubella-susceptible parturient women decreased from 3·7% at the beginning of the study to <1·5% by 1992. Despite this overall decrease, 4·8% of adolescent parturients were susceptible to rubella during 2001–2002. From 1984, the number of reported cases of rubella (children and adults) progressively decreased until 1997, after which there have been no cases of indigenous rubella. There have been no cases of reported congenital rubella since 1984. These results indicate that the vaccine policy carried out in this geographical area has been effective in achieving considerable progress towards rubella elimination.

The usefulness of the meningococcal CF test was assessed by investigating sera from (a) patients with meningococcal meningitis from whom meningococci had been isolated, and (b) patients with aseptic meningitis in whom no virus aetiology had been demonstrated and from whose C.S.F. no bacteria had been isolated.

Meningococcal CF antibodies were relatively strain-specific; cross-reacting anti-bodies to heterologous strains were irregular both qualitatively and quantitatively.

Positive meningococcal CF tests were obtained in 8 cases of aseptic meningitis, 3 showing a predominance of lymphocytes and 5 a predominance of polymorpho-nuclears in C.S.F. As a result of these positive tests, the cases of lymphocytic aseptic meningitis were given energetic antibiotic therapy to avoid the possibility of more chronic infection.

We wish to thank many clinical and bacteriological colleagues for their co-operation, and Prof. S. Graham for details of one case. We are grateful to Dr Patricia Bradstreet, Standards Laboratory for Serological Reagents, London, N.W. 9, for meningococcal agglutination results, and to Miss C. Gourlay for valuable technical assistance.

Bovine brucellosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease that still burdens several countries in the Mediterranean, Asia, Africa and Latin America. Although the disease is present in Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands seem to be free from the disease based on a survey conducted in 1997 where all tested animals showed negative results. This study aimed at estimating the probability of freedom from brucellosis in this Ecuadorian province in 2014. A survey was implemented on the three main cattle-producing islands of the province: Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristóbal. Thirty-three cattle farms and 410 cattle were tested for brucellosis using the Rose Bengal test and indirect ELISA. All animals showed negative results for both tests. Probability of freedom was estimated at 98%, 91% and 88% for Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristóbal, respectively, considering a herd-level design seroprevalence of 20% and animal-level design seroprevalence of 15%, and assuming a perfect specificity of the survey. The negative results found in 1997 and present surveys suggest that the Galapagos Islands are free from bovine brucellosis.

From the faeces of a carrier a strain of Salm. paratyphi B was grown repeatedly which—even under conditions most favourable for bacterial motility—was completely non-motile despite its being richly flagellated and optimally Hagglutinable. The strain has in all subcultures, so far, for more than 1 year retained its peculiarity, viz. absence of the motor function of the flagella which morphologically and serologically appears to be normally developed.

This new bacterial variant, the non-motile H form, is considered to be the result of a loss variation which—possibly related to a somatic degradation of the bacilli—affects the genetic factor responsible for the function or the development of the centre for the motility of the flagella.

At the end of 2013, China reported a countrywide outbreak of measles. From January to May 2014, we investigated the clinical and immunological features of the cases of the outbreak admitted to our hospital. In this study, all 112 inpatients with clinically diagnosed measles were recruited from the 302 Military Hospital of China. The virus was isolated from throat swabs from these patients, and cytokine profiles were examined. By detecting the measles virus of 30 of the 112 patients, we found that this measles outbreak was of the H1 genotype, which is the major strain in China. The rates of complications, specifically pneumonia and liver injury, differed significantly in patients aged <8 months, 8 months to 18 years, and >18 years: pneumonia was more common in children, while liver injury was more common in adults. Pneumonia was a significant independent risk factor affecting measles duration. Compared to healthy subjects, measles patients had fewer CD4+IL-17+, CD4+IFN-γ+, and CD8+IFN-γ+ cells in both the acute and recovery phases. In contrast, measles patients in the acute phase had more CD8+IL-22+ cells than those in recovery or healthy subjects. We recommend that future studies focus on the age-related distribution of pneumonia and liver injury as measles-related complications as well as the association between immunological markers and measles prognosis.