scholarly journals Directly-Observed Intermittent Therapy versus Unsupervised Daily Regimen during the Intensive Phase of Antituberculosis Therapy in HIV Infected Patients

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerardo Alvarez-Uria ◽  
Manoranjan Midde ◽  
Raghavakalyan Pakam ◽  
Praveen Kumar Naik

The World Health Organization strongly recommends using daily antituberculosis therapy (ATT) during the intensive phase for HIV infected patients. India has the highest burden of tuberculosis in the world, but HIV infected patients are still receiving intermittent ATT. In this study we compared the mortality in patients who received directly-observed intermittent ATT versus self-administered daily ATT with fixed dose combinations during the intensive phase in a context of freely available antiretroviral therapy. The study included 1460 patients, 343 in the intermittent ATT group and 1117 in the daily ATT group. Baseline covariates of the two groups were balanced using inverse probability of treatment weighting based on propensity score methods. In a sensitivity analysis, continuous variables (albumin, CD4 count, and age) were modelled using restricted cubic smoothing splines. Compared with patients who received daily ATT, patients who received intermittent ATT had a 40% higher risk of mortality (1.4 hazard ratio; 95% confidence interval, 1.14–1.7). We estimated that the use of daily ATT could achieve a 10% absolute reduction in mortality at 12 months. Self-administered daily ATT was not associated with an increased risk of default from treatment. These results support the immediate implementation of daily ATT for HIV infected patients during the intensive phase in India.

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Salman Tahir Shafi

In January 2020, the pathogen was identified and named by the World Health Organization as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2). The consequent SARS-CoV-2-related disease was defined as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). As data emerged about characteristics of the disease, it was found to be associated with increased risk of acute kidney injury (AKI). We explore the recent literature and reports emerging from the epicenters of the pandemic to help our viewers understand the nature of AKI among these patients. 


Author(s):  
Elise Paul

Specific populations at risk for suicide differ considerably according to region, country, sex, age, and the most common suicide methods used, highlighting the need for ongoing systematic surveillance to inform prevention efforts. The magnitude of the problem is not limited to suicide deaths. It is estimated that for every suicide, there are 20 more persons who have made an attempt. Individuals who have made a suicide attempt are at increased risk for dying by suicide. This chapter explores differences in the suicide and suicide attempt rates in the general population on different continents, by examining data from the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Health Estimates and the World Mental Health Survey Initiative. Differences across contexts in suicidal behaviours and the need for ongoing monitoring are emphasized.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1103-1116 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. L. Oliveira ◽  
P. R. Chellini ◽  
T. L. Amorim

According to the World Health Organization, rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol hydrochloride are the first-line drugs used to treat tuberculosis – an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-108
Author(s):  
Vesna Lazić ◽  
Biljana Mijović ◽  
Miloš Maksimović ◽  
Olivera Rašević ◽  
Maida Mulić ◽  
...  

Cardiovascular diseases rank first on the mortality list globally or 31%. The basic measure of prevention in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization is a change in risk lifestyle in terms of diet, physical activity, tobacco and alcohol consumption. Vitamin D was previously recognized as a regulator of calcium and phosphorus ratio, bone remodeling or the main controller of skeletal pathophysiology. However, vitamin D enjoys great interest in clinical and epidemiological research in terms of its possible impact on reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Among other things, vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of endothelial dysfunction. Although the deficiency has been identified as a risk marker for cardiovascular diseases, the mechanism of action of vitamin D on the path from endothelial dysfunction to cardiovascular diseases has not been fully revealed. The findings in this segment of activity of vitamin D would be significant in terms of reducing morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases.


2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 419-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ van Rensburg ◽  
M van Rooy ◽  
MJ Bester ◽  
JC Serem ◽  
C Venter ◽  
...  

Water contamination with metals due to anthropogenic activity is increasing and subsequent exposure increases the risk of associated toxicity. Exposure is not limited to a single metal but usually involves mixtures of different metals at different concentrations. Little is known about the contribution of this type of exposure, in humans, to the development of non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, and an increased risk to thrombosis. The World Health Organization has established limits for metal levels in drinking water and this includes levels for copper (Cu), manganese (Mn) and mercury (Hg). In this study, at 100X these limits, the ability of the metals’ oxidative effects as catalysts of the Fenton reaction and/or ability to bind glutathione (GSH) were determined. The haemostatic effects of these metals, alone and in combination, at the World Health Organization limit were then evaluated. The ultrastructural and viscoelastic alterations of exposed ex vivo whole blood were also evaluated using scanning electron microscopy and thromboelastography® (TEG), respectively. Cu, alone and in combination with Mn and/or Hg, induced hydroxyl radical formation and reduced GSH levels. Ex vivo exposure caused deformation of erythrocytes and accelerated platelet activation especially for Cu, alone and in combination, with Mn. Reduction in the lysis potential of the clot was also observed for all combinations, especially Cu in combination with Hg as well as Mn alone. Although the TEG findings were not statistically significant, the trends indicate that the exposure to these metals, alone and in combination, adversely affects thrombus formation in ex vivo blood, thereby potentially increasing the risk in exposed individuals for thrombosis.


Author(s):  
Tiziano Barbui ◽  
Tariq I. Mughal ◽  
Guido Finazzi

Polycythaemia vera (PV) is a clonal stem cell disorder characterized by erythrocytosis and associated with burdensome symptoms, risk of thrombohaemorrhagic complications, and transformation to myelofibrosis and acute myeloid leukaemia. Diagnostic criteria are very recently revised by the World Health Organization (WHO) based on haemoglobin and haematocrit levels, bone marrow morphology consistent with trilineage proliferation and presence of the JAK2 V617 mutation. Cytoreductive therapy is indicated in patients at increased risk of thrombosis. Hydroxyurea (HU) remains the most commonly used first-line cytoreductive therapy and interferon (IFN) is used either at failure of HU or in selected patients as first-line therapy. A recent phase 3 trial has shown the superiority of the JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib in comparison to best available treatment in HU-intolerant or resistant patients.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
NENI AWORABHI ◽  
Tamunowari Numbere ◽  
Mohammed Shakir Balogun ◽  
Aisha Usman ◽  
Rowland Utulu ◽  
...  

Abstract Measles is a vaccine preventable, highly transmissible viral infection that affects mostly children under five years. It has been ear marked for eradication and Nigeria adopted the measles elimination strategies of the World Health Organization (WHO) African region to reduce cases and deaths. This study was done to determine trends in measles cases in Bayelsa State, to describe cases in terms of person and place, identify gaps in the case-based surveillance data collection system and identify risk factors for measles infection. We carried out a secondary data analysis of measles case-based surveillance data for the period of January 2014 to December 2018 obtained in Microsoft Excel from the State Ministry of Health. Cases were defined according the World Health Organization (WHO) standard case definitions. We calculated frequencies, proportions, estimated odds ratios (OR), 95% confidence intervals (CI) and multivariate analysis. A total of 449 cases of measles were reported. There were 245(54.6%) males, the most affected age group was 1-4 years with 288(64.1%) cases. Of all cases, 289(9.35%) were confirmed and 70 (48.27%) had received at least one dose of measles vaccine. There was an all-year transmission with increased cases in the 4th quarter of the year. Yenegoa Local Government Area had the highest number of cases. Timeliness of specimen reaching the laboratory and the proportion of specimens received at the laboratory with results sent to the national level timely was below WHO recommended 80%. Predictors of measles infection were, age less than 5 years (AOR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.36-0.91) and residing in an urban area (AOR: 1.55, 95% CI:1.02-2.34). Measles infection occurred all-year round, with children less than 5 years being more affected. Measles case-based surveillance system showed high levels of case investigation with poor data quality and poor but improving indicators. Being less than 5 years was protective of measles while living in urban areas increased risk for infection. We recommended to state government to prioritize immunization activities in the urban centers, start campaigns by 4th quarter and continue to support measles surveillance activities while the federal government to strengthen regional laboratory capacities. Measles, Surveillance, Vaccination, Nigeria, Trend, Predictors


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-34
Author(s):  
Taemin Ha ◽  
Brian Dauenhauer

Physical activity is a significant factor in enhancing quality of life due to its various physical and mental benefits. According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2010), the recommended amount of physical activity for adults (>17 years old) is a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity every week, while the recommended amount for children and adolescents (5-17 years old) is at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily. However, when coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic on March 11th, 2020 (WHO, 2020a), people around the world had to adapt to new lifestyles involving shelter-in-place and social distancing orders. This phenomenon has disrupted the ability to reach the recommended amount of physical activity for people of all ages (Carvalho & Gois, 2020). The sedentary behaviors adopted during this unprecedented time could, for many people, give rise to an unhealthy lifestyle, which by extension may lead to an increased risk of coronavirus. The purpose of this paper is to review the issue and discuss ways to participate in health-enhancing physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 449
Author(s):  
Karolina Stojowska-Swędrzyńska ◽  
Adrianna Łupkowska ◽  
Dorota Kuczyńska-Wiśnik ◽  
Ewa Laskowska

Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the most common pathogens responsible for infections, including pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and bacteremias. The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae was recognized in 2017 by the World Health Organization as a critical public health threat. Heteroresistance, defined as the presence of a subpopulation of cells with a higher MIC than the dominant population, is a frequent phenotype in many pathogens. Numerous reports on heteroresistant K. pneumoniae isolates have been published in the last few years. Heteroresistance is difficult to detect and study due to its phenotypic and genetic instability. Recent findings provide strong evidence that heteroresistance may be associated with an increased risk of recurrent infections and antibiotic treatment failure. This review focuses on antibiotic heteroresistance mechanisms in K. pneumoniae and potential therapeutic strategies against antibiotic heteroresistant isolates.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document