However, compliance with pre-travel advice on personal hygiene measures was limited, since half of the participants experienced one or more episodes of diarrhea, indicating exposure to feco-oral infection, as was demonstrated in another study conducted in the same cohort.8 These results suggest that personal hygiene measures were of limited contribution to the low seroconversion to anti-HEV. Pre-travel, we found an anti-HEV seroprevalence of 2.0% (24 out of 1206) which is comparable to the seroprevalence in the general Dutch population (0.5–2%).9,10 No risk factors for previous HEV infection

were identified. Despite the limitations of this study we conclude that the risk for short-term travelers Belinostat clinical trial to acquire a hepatitis E infection is very low. The authors state they have no conflicts of interest to declare. “
“It is well known that animals show a stress response when confronted with a novel environment. The aim of the this study was to investigate whether humans show a similar response by studying the reaction to a travel-related transitory change of residence. Forty-eight individuals (32 women, 16 men, age 40–83 years) traveling to a health resort approximately 120 km from their home town participated in the study. Individuals

monitored their blood pressure (BP) twice a day 3 weeks before AZD5363 cost (baseline) and during the stay and filled out a diary stating their mood and sleep. The change of the variables relative to baseline on the day before departure, the travel day, and the day after arrival as well as 5 days after arrival were determined. Systolic and diastolic BPs were increased on the day before travel and diastolic BP remained increased on the travel day and the day after arrival. Sleep was poorer during the first night at the new residence. All three variables had returned to baseline level 5 days into the stay. Mood was not affected by the

change of residence. The aminophylline results indicate that not only the change of residence but also its anticipation affects individuals in a transient way. The findings are relevant not only for the basic understanding of the reaction to novel environments but also to travel, tourism as well as rehabilitation, and spa-research. Humans as well as animals are sensitive to changes in their environment. The most prominent feature is the so-called orienting response, a short-term psychophysiological reaction improving information uptake and attention and potentially preparing for fight or flight when confronted with a novel stimulus.[1-3] Typically, however, the individual will get used to the stimuli after repeated presentations or prolonged exposure and habituate, thereby ceasing to show any further response.[4, 5] In animals, a commonly used paradigm for the study of more enduring reactions is “environmental novelty” used to explore, among others, stress, fear, and exploration.