Multi-Component Solar Protection Interventions: The Impact of Modelling and “Trickle Down”?

1997 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 48-68
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Gregory ◽  
Nick Higginbotham ◽  
John D. Shea
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Skin Cancer ◽  
Technical College ◽  
Composite Index ◽  
Ultra Violet ◽  
Test Occasion ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
The Impact

AbstractWorkers in outdoor occupations routinely face unavoidable exposure to the sun's ultra violet rays with attendant risk of skin cancer, and this study evaluated a multi-faceted education program aimed at improving the solar protection practices of Australian Technical College Surveying students performing outdoor field exercises. One hundred and fifteen students were randomly assigned (by class) to either a Control or Treatment group, and given slides, information sheets, and a guest talk by a young woman who had recovered from life-threatening skin cancer, with a baseline and two follow-up assessments being made on field days using a behavioural diary. A greater proportion of students receiving the solar education increased sunscreen cream application and hat use compared with Control participants, and a composite index of solar protection favoured the Treatment group. Moreover, Control participants significantly changed some solar protection behaviours, possibly through modelling the Treatment group, and Treatment participants showed significantly higher rates of particular sun protection behaviours at the second post test occasion than at the first post test occasion.

Regression of cardiac amyloid deposits with novel therapeutics: reaching new frontiers in cardiac ATTR amyloidosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Chacko ◽  
A Martinez-Naharro ◽  
T Kotecha ◽  
R Martone ◽  
D Hutt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Cardiac Amyloidosis ◽  
T1 Mapping ◽  
Group Versus ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cardiac Amyloid ◽  
Attr Amyloidosis ◽  
Amyloid Load ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Cardiac involvement is the main driver of outcome in ATTR amyloidosis. Advances in therapeutics hold potential in transforming the course of the disease but the impact on cardiac amyloid load is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of patisiran, a new double stranded RNA based gene silencing therapy and a stabilizer, diflunisal, on cardiac amyloid load as measured by CMR and T1 mapping, in patients with ATTR amyloidosis. Methods and results Thirty-two patients with hereditary cardiac amyloidosis were studied. Sixteen patients received treatment with patisiran, and sixteen control subjects did not receive any disease modifying treatment. Patients were assessed with echocardiogram, CMR, NT-proBNP and six-minute walk time measurements at baseline and at 1 year (Mean interval 11.45±3.08 months in treatment group, mean interval 12.82±5.06 months in the control group). CMR analysis comprised LV volumes, T1 mapping to measure the extracellular volume (ECV) occupied by amyloid, T2 mapping and late gadolinium enhancement imaging. At 1-year follow-up, there was a substantial reduction in cardiac amyloid burden, in keeping with cardiac amyloid regression in 45% of patients on treatment. Overall the treatment group showed a reduction in ECV at 1 year follow up compared to an increase in ECV at 1 year in the control group (−1.37%, 95% CI: −3.43 to 0.68% versus 5.02%, 95% CI: 2.86% to 7.18% respectively, p<0.001). The treatment group also showed an improvement in change in 6MWT at 1 year follow up compared to 6MWT at 1 year in the control group (−8.12 meters, 95% CI: −50.8 to 34.6 meters in the treatment group versus −132.27 meters, 95% CI: −216 to −48.6 meters in the control group, p=0.002). The treatment group showed a reduction in BNP at 1 year follow up compared to an increase in the control group (−567.87, 95% CI: −1288.90 to 153.15 in the treatment group versus 2004, 95% CI: 12.82 to 3995.45 in the control group, p<0.001). There was no significant difference from baseline and 1-year data between the control and treatment groups for the difference in echocardiographic parameters, native T1, T2. There was a significant reduction in the percentage of injected dose by 99Tc-DPD scintigraphy in treated patients at 1 year compared to baseline. Conclusions These findings provide the first compelling evidence of substantial cardiac amyloid regression in ATTR amyloidosis, as well as the potential for CMR to be used to track response in treated patients with ATTR cardiac amyloidosis. Combination therapy with transthyretin knock down and stabilizing agents may well be synergistic given enhanced stoichiometry of stabilizers in the face of much reduced plasma transthyretin concentration. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Ovine Biosynthetic Grafts for Aortoiliac Reconstructions in Nonsterile Operative Fields

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hazem El Beyrouti ◽  
Mohammad Bashar Izzat ◽  
Angela Kornberger ◽  
Nancy Halloum ◽  
Kathrin Dohle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Vascular Grafts ◽  
Graft Infection ◽  
Prosthetic Graft ◽  
Vascular Graft Infection ◽  
Vascular Prostheses ◽  
Graft Thrombosis ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Omniflow Ii

Abstract Background Prosthetic vascular grafts placed surgically or via endovascular techniques can be subject to the risk of life-threatening graft infections. The Omniflow II vascular prosthesis is a biosynthetic graft that was reported to have favorable properties in resisting infections. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed our 3 years' experience of using the Omniflow II prostheses for aortoiliac reconstructions in patients considered to carry a substantial risk of subsequent prosthetic graft infections (prevention group) as well as in patients with actively infected prosthetic vascular grafts (treatment group). Results Aorto-bi-iliac (n = 4) and aortobifemoral (n = 12) vascular reconstructions were performed using bifurcated Omniflow II prostheses in nine patients in the prevention group and seven patients in the treatment group. During mean follow-up of 28.6 ± 17.2 months, there was one case of graft infection (6.3%) and graft thrombosis (6.3%) with subsequent successful thrombectomy. Early and late surgical revisions were required in eight (50%) and two (12.6%) patients, respectively. All graft prostheses were patent at last follow-up. Conclusion Using bifurcated Omniflow II vascular prostheses in patients with or at a high risk of vascular graft infection is advisable, and is associated with acceptable reinfection and patency rates.

NANO-BASED THERAPY FOR TREATMENT OF SKIN CARCINOMA

INDIAN DRUGS ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (11) ◽  
pp. 7-17
Author(s):  
Goutam K. Jena ◽  
Chinam N. Patra ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Skin Cancer ◽  
Drug Carrier ◽  
Normal Skin ◽  
Ultra Violet ◽  
Skin Carcinoma ◽  
Conventional Chemotherapy ◽  
Skin Cells ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Current Scenario

Skin carcinoma is a frequently occurring cancer caused due to ultra violet rays of the Sun. It starts from normal skin cells but later on transforms into cells which undergo uncontrolled mitosis. Skin cancer is not as deadly as other cancers and has no metastasis and is not life threatening. Conventional chemotherapy has in general failed to treat skin cancer due to non specific targeting, which is accompanied by several side effects. Novel therapeutic approach based on nanotechnology have emerged as the best alternative for skin cancer treatment. We presented current scenario of nano based particulate drug carrier approaches for effective therapy for skin carcinoma by reducing side effects. This approach also reduces frequency of administration and improves patient compliance. Nanotechnology has emerged as the best alternative for conventional therapy for the effective treatment of skin cancer. Nanoparticles can specifically target skin carcinoma and are able to sustain drug release and reduce side effects to a greater extent.

Intervention Mediators in a Randomized Controlled Trial to Increase Physical Activity and Fatigue Self-management Behaviors Among Adults With Multiple Sclerosis

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Plow ◽  
Robert W Motl ◽  
Marcia Finlayson ◽  
Francois Bethoux
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Goal Setting ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Outcome Expectations ◽  
Step Count ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Post Test ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background People with multiple sclerosis (MS) often experience fatigue, which is aggravated by inactivity. Identifying mediators of changes in physical activity (PA) and fatigue self-management (FSM) behaviors could optimize future interventions that reduce the impact of MS fatigue. Purpose To examine the effects of telephone-delivered interventions on Social Cognitive Theory constructs and test whether these constructs mediated secondary outcomes of PA and FSM behaviors. Methods Participants with MS (n = 208; Mean age = 52.1; Female = 84.6%) were randomized into contact–control intervention (CC), PA-only intervention, and PA+FSM intervention. Step count (Actigraphy) and FSM behaviors as well as self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and goal setting for PA and FSM were measured at baseline, post-test (12 weeks), and follow-up (24 weeks). Path analyses using bias-corrected bootstrapped 95% confidence intervals (CI) determined whether constructs at post-test mediated behaviors at follow-up when adjusting for baseline measures. Results Path analysis indicated that PA-only (β = 0.50, p < .001) and PA+FSM interventions (β = 0.42, p < .010) had an effect on goal setting for PA, and that PA + FSM intervention had an effect on self-efficacy for FSM (β = 0.48, p = .011) and outcome expectations for FSM (β = 0.42, p = .029). Goal setting for PA at post-test mediated the effects of PA-only (β = 159.45, CI = 5.399, 371.996) and PA + FSM interventions (β = 133.17, CI = 3.104, 355.349) on step count at follow-up. Outcome expectations for FSM at post-test mediated the effects of PA + FSM intervention on FSM behaviors at follow-up (β = 0.02, CI = 0.001, 0.058). Conclusions Goal setting for PA and outcome expectations for FSM may be important constructs to target in telephone-delivered interventions designed to reduce the impact of MS fatigue. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01572714)

scholarly journals The impact on adolescents of a Transtheoretical Model-based programme on fruit and vegetable consumption

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (13) ◽  
pp. 2500-2508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamer Gur ◽  
Saime Erol ◽  
Hasibe Kadioglu ◽  
Ayse Ergun ◽  
Rukiye Boluktas
Keyword(s):  
Stages Of Change ◽  
Transtheoretical Model ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Decisional Balance ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable ◽  
Model Based ◽  
Post Test ◽  
The Impact

AbstractObjective:The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of a Transtheoretical Model-based programme titled ‘Fruit &amp; Vegetable-Friendly’ on the fruit and vegetable (F&amp;V) consumption of adolescents.Design:A quasi-experimental study. The ‘Fruit &amp; Vegetable-Friendly’, a multicomponent intervention based on the Transtheoretical Model, was completed in eight weeks. The data were collected one week before the intervention, one week after the completion of the intervention and six months after the post-test with an F&amp;V intake questionnaire and the stages of change, processes of change (α = 0·91), situational self-efficacy (α = 0·91) and decisional balance (α = 0·90 for pros, α = 0·87 for cons) scales. Data were analysed with the Friedman, Wilcoxon and marginal homogeneity tests.Setting:A public secondary school in Istanbul, Turkey.Participants:Seven hundred and two adolescents.Results:The mean (sd) F&amp;V intake of adolescents in the passive stages rose from the daily average at the time of the pre-test of 3·40 (1·79) portions to 5·45 (2·54) portions on the post-test and to 5·75 (2·70) portions on the follow-up test (P &lt; 0·01). While the students in the passive stages represented 41·6 % of the participants prior to the programme, this rate fell to 23·7 % at the post-test and to 22·7 % at the follow-up. Students in the active stages first represented 58·5 % of the participants; this rate rose to 76·4 % at the post-test and to 77·2 % at the follow-up test.Conclusions:The programme was effective in increasing the amount of F&amp;V the adolescents consumed on a daily basis.

scholarly journals The Positive Impact of Pharmacist Interventions Using Educational Video Technology on Patient Knowledge of and Satisfaction with Warfarin Therapy

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 2778-2789
Author(s):  
Sireen A. R. Shilbayeh ◽  
Abrar F. Al-Qarni ◽  
Malak M. Al-Turki ◽  
Meshael N. Al-Nuwisser ◽  
Ohud A. Al-Nuwaysir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Warfarin Therapy ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Knowledge Assessment ◽  
Patient Knowledge ◽  
Educational Video ◽  
Pharmacist Interventions ◽  
Post Test ◽  
The Impact

To assess the positive impact of pharmacist interventions via an educational video on patients’ knowledge of and satisfaction with warfarin therapy . This study used a prospective pre-test/post-test design that enrolled 91 patients from an anticoagulant clinic at King Khaled University Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All patients completed the Anticoagulation Knowledge Assessment (AKA) and Anti-Clot Treatment Satisfaction (ACTS) scales. Afterwards, the patients watched a 10-minute educational video containing basic information about warfarin and were given relevant informative booklets. The patients were reassessed after a mean follow-up period of approximately 52 days. In total, 85 patients completed the study. The impact of the intervention on patient knowledge was highly significant (mean difference=17.7%, 95% CI = 21.75-13.58, P.

Impact of an adaptive CRT optimization algorithm on the risk of life-threatening ventricular arrythmias of heart failure patients

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Briongos Figuero ◽  
A Estevez ◽  
M.L Perez ◽  
J.B Martinez-Ferrer ◽  
L Alvarez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ventricular Tachycardia ◽  
Biventricular Pacing ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia ◽  
Cardiac Resynchronization ◽  
Ventricular Pacing ◽  
Remote Monitoring System ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Introduction Adaptive cardiac resynchronization therapy (aCRT) algorithm provides ambulatory CRT optimization and synchronized left-ventricular pacing instead of conventional biventricular pacing. Purpose To analyze the impact of aCRT on the risk of life-threatening ventricular arrythmia (VA) in patients with concomitant defibrillator therapy. Methods Symptomatic HF patients, in sinus rhythm, with LVEF ≤35% and QRS complex ≥130 ms undergoing first CRT-defibrillator (CRT-D) implant were collected from the multicentre, prospective and nationwide UMBRELLA study (2012–2017). All device information was automatically stored and collected through the remote monitoring system. An experts committee analysed in a blinded manner all electrograms. The endpoint was first appropriate therapy (AT) delivered within ventricular fibrillation zone at 12-months follow-up. Results 206 patients were collected (66.1±8.7 years; 73.3% male). Fifty nine patients composed the aCRT group and 147 composed the non-aCRT group. At implant, LBBB was present in 93% of patients, functional class III or IV in 69.9%, non-ischemic HF in 63.1% of patients and mean LVEF was 26.5±5.6%. Optimal medical treatment was achieved in a majority (B-blockers in 92%; RAASi in 89% and MRA in 72.2%). The percentage of ventricular pacing through 12 months was 96.1±9.4% in non-aCRT patients and 97.5±2.7% in aCRT patients (p=0.261). At 1-year of follow-up, 16 patients were delivered an AT (event rate: 7.8%). Most of these episodes (n=14) were due to sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia while the rest were caused by sustained polymorphic ventricular tachycardia/VF. A lower incidence of AT was observed in aCRT patients (3.4%) compared to non-aCRT patients (9.5%) but with no statistical differences (OR=0.33, CI 0.07–1.51, p=0.155). Conclusions In patients undergoing CRT provided by aCRT algorithm the risk of malign VA after 1-year of follow-up was low. Randomized studies are needed to clarify the impact of this dynamic algorithm on the arrhythmic risk of HF patients. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

scholarly journals Improving Schools’ Readiness for Involvement in Suicide Prevention: An Evaluation of the Creating Suicide Safety in Schools (CSSS) Workshop

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. 2165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Breux ◽  
Dana E. Boccio
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Administrative Support ◽  
New York State ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
School Personnel ◽  
School Based ◽  
Post Test ◽  
The Impact

Schools have an important role to play in combatting suicide, a significant public health problem that disproportionately affects adolescents and young adults. Schools can work to reduce youth suicidality by adopting policies that align with best practice recommendations pertaining to suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. This study examined the impact of a one-day training, the Creating Suicide Safety in Schools (CSSS) workshop, on the readiness of school personnel to improve their schools’ suicide-related policies and procedures. Participants (N = 562) consisted predominantly of school-based mental health professionals working in communities of low or mixed socioeconomic status in New York State. Survey data were collected according to a one-group pre-test—post-test design with a 3-month follow-up. Workshop participants demonstrated improvements from pre-test to post-test in their attitudes about the importance of school-based suicide prevention, knowledge of best practices, perceptions of administrative support, and feelings of empowerment to work collaboratively to enhance their schools’ suicide safety. At follow-up, participants reported barriers to implementing changes, most commonly in the form of insufficient time and stigma surrounding the topic of suicide. The results of this study provide preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of the CSSS workshop as a promising method for improving schools’ suicide safety, yet additional research using randomized controlled trials needs to be conducted.

Impact of Pharmacist Education on Inhaler Technique and Adherence in an Outpatient Clinic

2021 ◽  
pp. 001857872110468
Author(s):  
Bianca Mayzel ◽  
Sarah Muench ◽  
Colleen Lauster
Keyword(s):  
Inhaler Technique ◽  
Asthma Control Test ◽  
Test Study ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Technique Evaluation ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Pharmacist Education

Background and Objectives: To assess the impact that pharmacist education has on proper inhaler technique and adherence in a teaching clinic. Methods: This was prospective, non-randomized, pre-test/post-test study. Patients were 18 years or older, had a diagnosis of asthma or COPD, and prescribed at least 1 inhaled medication. Initial visits consisted of a baseline asthma control test (ACT) or COPD assessment test (CAT), the Test of Adherence to Inhalers (TAI), and a baseline inhaler technique evaluation. The pharmacist then educated the patient. Then inhaler technique was assessed again (post-education inhaler technique evaluation #1). Follow-up visits occurred 4 to 8 weeks later. ACT or CAT and TAI test were administered and inhaler technique was assessed again (post-education inhaler technique #2). The primary outcome was the comparison of the percentage of correct steps performed from baseline to post-education inhaler technique evaluation #1 and from baseline to post-education inhaler technique evaluation #2. Results: Eighteen patients were included, with a mean age of 58 years old. Over half had asthma, were female and African American. There was a significant difference in inhaler technique from baseline to post-education inhaler evaluation #1 and from baseline to post-education inhaler evaluation #2. The most common step missed was no exhalation before inhalation. There was no significant difference when comparing the individual and overall TAI test scores from initial to follow up visit. Conclusions: This study supports pharmacist-led inhaler technique education.

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