scholarly journals Human infections and co-infections with helminths in a rural population in Guichi, Anhui Province, China

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Hu ◽  
Rui Li ◽  
Michael P. Ward ◽  
Yue Chen ◽  
Henry Lynn ◽  
...  

Helminth infections are believed to be common in tropical and subtropical countries. A cross-sectional study was carried out in two villages located in Guichi District in Anhui Province, the People’s Republic of China, where multiparasitism was investigated using parasitological tests. The data collected were fitted to Bayesian multi-level models to profile risk factors for helminth infections. The prevalence of <em>Schistosoma</em> (<em>S.</em>) <em>japonicum</em>, <em>Ascaris</em> (<em>A.</em>) <em>lumbricoides</em> and <em>Trichuris</em> (<em>T.</em>) <em>trichiura</em> were 0.43% (range: 0-0.87% at the village level), 2.28% (range: 1.69-2.88%), and 0.21% (range: 0-0.42%), respectively. No hookworm infection was found. With regard to multiparasitism, only a 33-year-old female was found to be co-infected with <em>S. japonicum</em> and <em>A. lumbricoides</em>. Multiparasitism was unexpectedly rare in the study area, which contrasts with results from other studies carried out elsewhere in the country. The long-term usage of albendazole for individuals serologically positive for schistosomiasis may be the main reason, but this needs to be confirmed by future studies.

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (01) ◽  
pp. 034-038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Al Rasyid ◽  
Mohammad Kurniawan ◽  
Taufik Mesiano ◽  
Rakhmad Hidayat ◽  
Salim Harris

AbstractStroke is the leading cause of death and disability in the world as well as in Indonesia. Initial stroke severity is an important factor that affects short- and long-term stroke outcomes. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital from July 2017 to January 2018 to investigate the factors that affect stroke severity. A total of 77 acute ischemic stroke patients were divided into three groups, which include low blood homocysteine levels (< 9 μmol/L), moderate blood homocysteine levels (9–15 μmol/L), and high blood homocysteine levels (> 15 μmol/L). The acquired data were analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis test and a significant difference of initial National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and blood homocysteine levels (H = 13.328, p = 0.001) were seen, with a mean rank of 25.86 for low blood homocysteine levels, 33.69 for moderate blood homocysteine levels, and 48.94 for high blood homocysteine levels. The patients were then divided into two groups based on the NIHSS (≤5 and > 5) to calculate the risk correlation of blood homocysteine levels and NIHSS by using regression. We found that patients with high blood homocysteine levels had 14.4 times higher risk of having NIHSS > 5 compared with those with low blood homocysteine levels (p = 0.002, 95% confidence interval [CI] [2.714–76.407]), and 3.9 times higher risk compared with those with moderate blood homocysteine levels (p = 0.011, 95% CI [1.371–11.246]). We concluded that homocysteine is a risk factor for a higher stroke severity. Future studies to evaluate the usefulness of homocysteine-lowering therapy in stroke patients are recommended.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 70
Author(s):  
Rita Baptista ◽  
Ryane Englar ◽  
Berta São Braz ◽  
Rodolfo Oliveira Leal

In both human and veterinary healthcare, gastrointestinal protectants (GIPs) are considered a staple of clinical practice in that they are prescribed by general practitioners (GPs) and specialists alike. Concerning GIP use, overprescription of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) has become a growing concern among human healthcare providers. This trend has also been documented within veterinary practice, prompting the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) to publish a consensus statement in 2018 concerning evidence-based indications for GIP use. This observational cross-sectional study evaluated self-reported prescribing protocols among Portuguese GPs to determine whether there is adherence to the consensus guidelines. Respondents were Portuguese GPs recruited by social media posts in veterinarian online forums. Data were collected from 124 respondents concerning their GIPs of choice and their rationales for prescribing them. Data were mined for prescription patterns and protocols. Among GIPs, PPIs were prescribed more often. Rationales for use included gastrointestinal ulceration and erosion (GUE), prophylactic management of nonerosive gastritis, pancreatitis, reflux esophagitis, and steroid-induced ulceration. Once-daily administration of PPIs was the most frequent dosing regime among respondents. Ninety-six percent of PPI prescribers advocated that the drug be administered either shortly before or at mealtime. Forty-nine percent of respondents supported long-term use of PPIs. Fifty-nine percent of respondents acknowledged discontinuing PPIs abruptly. This study supports that Portuguese GPs commonly prescribe GIPs in accordance with ACVIM recommendations to medically manage GUE. However, misuse of GIPs does occur, and they have been prescribed where their therapeutic value is debatable. Educational strategies should target GPs in an effort to reduce GIP misuse.


Author(s):  
Bum Jung Kim ◽  
Sun-young Lee

Extensive research has demonstrated the factors that influence burnout among social service employees, yet few studies have explored burnout among long-term care staff in Hawaii. This study aimed to examine the impact of job value, job maintenance, and social support on burnout of staff in long-term care settings in Hawaii, USA. This cross-sectional study included 170 long-term care staff, aged 20 to 75 years, in Hawaii. Hierarchical regression was employed to explore the relationships between the key independent variables and burnout. The results indicate that staff with a higher level of perceived job value, those who expressed a willingness to continue working in the same job, and those with strong social support from supervisors or peers are less likely to experience burnout. Interventions aimed at decreasing the level of burnout among long-term care staff in Hawaii may be more effective through culturally tailored programs aimed to increase the levels of job value, job maintenance, and social support.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larissa Cristina Lins Berber ◽  
Mariana Silva Melendez-Araújo ◽  
Eduardo Yoshio Nakano ◽  
Kênia Mara Baiocchi de Carvalho ◽  
Eliane Said Dutra

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (687) ◽  
pp. e675-e681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Tierney ◽  
Geoff Wong ◽  
Kamal R Mahtani

BackgroundCare navigation is an avenue to link patients to activities or organisations that can help address non-medical needs affecting health and wellbeing. An understanding of how care navigation is being implemented across primary care is lacking.AimTo determine how ‘care navigation’ is interpreted and currently implemented by clinical commissioning groups (CCGs).Design and settingA cross-sectional study involving CCGs in England.MethodA questionnaire was sent to all CCGs inviting them to comment on who provided care navigation, the type of patients for whom care navigation was provided, how individuals were referred, and whether services were being evaluated. Responses were summarised using descriptive statistics.ResultsThe authors received usable responses from 83% of CCGs (n = 162), and of these >90% (n = 147) had some form of care navigation running in their area. A total of 75 different titles were used to describe the role. Most services were open to all adult patients, though particular groups may have been targeted; for example, people who are older and those with long-term conditions. Referrals tended to be made by a professional, or people were identified by a receptionist when they presented to a surgery. Evaluation of care navigation services was limited.ConclusionThere is a policy steer to engaging patients in social prescribing, using some form of care navigator to help with this. Results from this study highlight that, although this type of role is being provided, its implementation is heterogeneous. This could make comparison and the pooling of data on care navigation difficult. It may also leave patients unsure about what care navigation is about and how it could help them.


Author(s):  
Barbro Fostad Salvesen ◽  
Jostein Grytten ◽  
Gunnar Rongen ◽  
Odd Carsten Koldsland ◽  
Vaska Vandevska-Radunovic

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