Low uptake of Japanese encephalitis vaccination among Australian travellers

Author(s):  
Deborah J Mills ◽  
Colleen L Lau ◽  
Luis Furuya-Kanamori

Highlight Less than a third of Australian travellers who attended a travel medicine specialist prior to a trip to a Japanese encephalitis (JE) risk area opted to be vaccinated. Perception of low risk of the disease and vaccine cost were possible drivers for the low uptake. Cheaper vaccination alternatives for travellers at risk of JE may increase the uptake.

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 1944-1955 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Schwarz ◽  
Elizabeth C. Ward ◽  
Petrea Cornwell ◽  
Anne Coccetti ◽  
Pamela D'Netto ◽  
...  

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine (a) the agreement between allied health assistants (AHAs) and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) when completing dysphagia screening for low-risk referrals and at-risk patients under a delegation model and (b) the operational impact of this delegation model. Method All AHAs worked in the adult acute inpatient settings across three hospitals and completed training and competency evaluation prior to conducting independent screening. Screening (pass/fail) was based on results from pre-screening exclusionary questions in combination with a water swallow test and the Eating Assessment Tool. To examine the agreement of AHAs' decision making with SLPs, AHAs ( n = 7) and SLPs ( n = 8) conducted an independent, simultaneous dysphagia screening on 51 adult inpatients classified as low-risk/at-risk referrals. To examine operational impact, AHAs independently completed screening on 48 low-risk/at-risk patients, with subsequent clinical swallow evaluation conducted by an SLP with patients who failed screening. Results Exact agreement between AHAs and SLPs on overall pass/fail screening criteria for the first 51 patients was 100%. Exact agreement for the two tools was 100% for the Eating Assessment Tool and 96% for the water swallow test. In the operational impact phase ( n = 48), 58% of patients failed AHA screening, with only 10% false positives on subjective SLP assessment and nil identified false negatives. Conclusion AHAs demonstrated the ability to reliably conduct dysphagia screening on a cohort of low-risk patients, with a low rate of false negatives. Data support high level of agreement and positive operational impact of using trained AHAs to perform dysphagia screening in low-risk patients.


Author(s):  
Anna Giovenzana ◽  
Federica Vecchio ◽  
Federica Cugnata ◽  
Alessandro Nonis ◽  
Alessandra Mandelli ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims Alterations of the exocrine pancreas have been reported in type 1 diabetes, but their contribution to the pathogenesis of the disease is poorly understood. Here, we investigated markers of exocrine pancreas dysfunction in individuals at-risk of developing type 1 diabetes. Methods Serum P-amylase and lipase levels were assessed in samples obtained from healthy controls, patients with new onset type 1 diabetes, relatives participating to the TrialNet Pathway to Prevention who were, at blood collection, autoantibody negative or positive for a single autoantibody (low-risk individuals), and positive for multiple autoantibodies (high-risk individuals). Linear mixed models were adopted to estimate variation of pancreatic enzymes among the groups and to evaluate the influence of high-risk HLA genotypes and residual beta cell function on exocrine pancreas function. Results In adults, but not children, reduced levels of P-amylase and lipase were shown in at-risk individuals, including (for P-amylase levels only) those at low-risk, and in T1Dnew. Furthermore, while high-risk HLA genotypes negatively affected P-amylase levels in autoantibody negative adult individuals, fasting C-peptide levels did not correlate with pancreatic enzyme levels. Conclusions Exocrine pancreas dysfunction precedes the onset of type 1 diabetes in adult at-risk individuals and may be unrelated to fasting C-peptide levels.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ravi D. Mill ◽  
Brian A. Gordon ◽  
David A. Balota ◽  
Jeffrey M. Zacks ◽  
Michael W. Cole

AbstractAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is linked to changes in fMRI task activations and fMRI resting-state functional connectivity (restFC), which can emerge early in the timecourse of illness. Study of these fMRI correlates of unhealthy aging has been conducted in largely separate subfields. Taking inspiration from neural network simulations, we propose a unifying mechanism wherein restFC network alterations associated with Alzheimer’s disease disrupt the ability for activations to flow between brain regions, leading to aberrant task activations. We apply this activity flow modeling framework in a large sample of clinically unimpaired older adults, which was segregated into healthy (low-risk) and at-risk subgroups based on established imaging (positron emission tomography amyloid) and genetic (apolipoprotein) risk factors for AD. We identified healthy task activations in individuals at low risk for AD, and then by estimating activity flow using at-risk AD restFC data we were able to predict the altered at-risk AD task activations. Thus, modeling the flow of healthy activations over at-risk AD connectivity effectively transformed the healthy aged activations into unhealthy aged activations. These results provide evidence that activity flow over altered intrinsic functional connections may act as a mechanism underlying Alzheimer’s-related dysfunction, even in very early stages of the illness. Beyond these mechanistic insights linking restFC with cognitive task activations, this approach has potential clinical utility as it enables prediction of task activations and associated cognitive dysfunction in individuals without requiring them to perform in-scanner cognitive tasks.Significance StatementDeveloping analytic approaches that can reliably predict features of Alzheimer’s disease is a major goal for cognitive and clinical neuroscience, with particular emphasis on identifying such diagnostic features early in the timeline of disease. We demonstrate the utility of an activity flow modeling approach, which predicts fMRI cognitive task activations in subjects identified as at-risk for Alzheimer’s disease. The approach makes activation predictions by transforming a healthy aged activation template via the at-risk subjects’ individual pattern of fMRI resting-state functional connectivity (restFC). The observed prediction accuracy supports activity flow as a mechanism linking age-related alterations in restFC and task activations, thereby providing a theoretical basis for incorporating restFC into imaging biomarker and personalized medicine interventions.


Author(s):  
Nazia N. Shaik ◽  
Swapna M. Jaswanth ◽  
Shashikala Manjunatha

Background: Diabetes is one of the largest global health emergencies of the 21st century. As per International Federation of Diabetes some 425 million people worldwide are estimated to have diabetes. The prevalence is higher in urban versus rural (10.2% vs 6.9%). India had 72.9 million people living with diabetes of which, 57.9% remained undiagnosed as per the 2017 data. The objectives of the present study were to identify subjects who at risk of developing Diabetes by using Indian diabetes risk score (IDRS) in the Urban field practice area of Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital (RRMCH).Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted using a Standard questionnaire of IDRS on 150 individuals aged ≥20 years residing in the Urban field practice area of RRMCH. The subjects with score <30, 30-50, >or =60 were categorized as having low risk, moderate risk and high risk for developing diabetes type-2 respectively.Results: Out of total 150 participants, 36 (24%) were in high-risk category (IDRS≥60), the majority of participants 61 (41%) were in the moderate-risk category (IDRS 30–50) and 53 (35%) participants were found to be at low-risk (<30) for diabetes. Statistical significant asssociation was found between IDRS and gender, literacy status, body mass index (p<0.0000l).Conclusions: It is essential to implement IDRS which is a simple tool for identifying subjects who are at risk for developing diabetes so that proper intervention can be carried out at the earliest to reduce the burden of diabetes.


Author(s):  
Rajesh M Kabadi ◽  
Ankitkumar Patel ◽  
Rajani Sharma ◽  
Rita Schmidt ◽  
Elias Iliadis

Background: Lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a common syndrome that afflicts many individuals and leads to significant morbidity. Once appropriate at risk patients are identified, ankle-brachial index (ABI) testing is a relatively quick and inexpensive test that is recommended for proper assessment of PAD, per the recommendations outlined in the American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines for the Management of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) (JACC, 2006). Outpatient cardiology practices often take care of individuals at risk for PAD and have the opportunity to test and appropriately treat this condition. Methods: A randomly selected group of 367 outpatients seen in a large academic cardiology practice from September 2011 underwent retrospective chart review. Risk factors for PAD that were assessed include history of smoking, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, homocysteine levels, and CRP. Those that had three or more risk factors were classified as high risk and those with less than that were classified as low risk and frequency of ABI testing was evaluated. Fishers exact test was utilized for statistical analysis. Results: Fifty-one percent (N=187) of our population were classified as high risk for PAD, forty-three percent (N=158) were low risk, and six percent (N=22) were known to already have PAD. Amongst the high risk individuals, only six percent (N=12) had ABI testing performed while there were three percent (N=6) of low risk individuals that had this test (p=-0.34). Conclusions: There was no difference in ABI testing between high and low risk populations. Limitations of this study include lack of information regarding other diagnostic modalities that may have been used in place of ABI testing. Quality improvement may be achieved by increased use of such testing as this would allow for quicker identification of the disease, prompter treatment, and better outcomes, at a minimal cost.


1990 ◽  
Vol 259 (2) ◽  
pp. H560-H566 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. Loftus ◽  
G. M. Greene ◽  
K. N. Detwiler ◽  
G. L. Baumbach ◽  
D. D. Heistad

Previous studies of intracranial collateral circulation have not distinguished between true "collateral" blood flow (flow to a region that occurs only when a primary artery is occluded) and "overlap" flow (flow to a region that is present under both normal and demand conditions). These experiments had three purposes: 1) to identify tissues that were truly collateral dependent, 2) to determine potential for true collateral flow in the absence of overlap flow, and 3) to determine whether an anatomical basis for overlap flow could be demonstrated. Branches (700-900 microns) of the dog middle cerebral artery (MCA) were perfused with autologous blood. The perfused region, which was the area at risk, was identified by intravenous injection of neutral red dye. Microspheres were used to measure regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). Overlap flow was determined by perfusion of the artery with microsphere-free blood. True collateral flow (total rCBF minus overlap flow) was determined by analysis of rCBF to the risk area after cessation of vessel perfusion. Most of the risk area had substantial levels of overlap flow (about one-third of base line). In the center of the area at risk, the true collateral-dependent area was identified [mean overlap flow 4 +/- 1 (mean +/- SE) ml.min-1.100 g-1], which had high levels of perfusion from collateral vessels (102 +/- 14) within 30 s of vascular occlusion. Microfil injection into two adjacent MCA branches showed discrete borders between vascular territories, with no overlapping vessels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


2019 ◽  
pp. bmjspcare-2019-001828
Author(s):  
Mia Cokljat ◽  
Adam Lloyd ◽  
Scott Clarke ◽  
Anna Crawford ◽  
Gareth Clegg

ObjectivesPatients with indicators for palliative care, such as those with advanced life-limiting conditions, are at risk of futile cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if they suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Patients at risk of futile CPR could benefit from anticipatory care planning (ACP); however, the proportion of OHCA patients with indicators for palliative care is unknown. This study quantifies the extent of palliative care indicators and risk of CPR futility in OHCA patients.MethodsA retrospective medical record review was performed on all OHCA patients presenting to an emergency department (ED) in Edinburgh, Scotland in 2015. The risk of CPR futility was stratified using the Supportive and Palliative Care Indicators Tool. Patients with 0–2 indicators had a ‘low risk’ of futile CPR; 3–4 indicators had an ‘intermediate risk’; 5+ indicators had a ‘high risk’.ResultsOf the 283 OHCA patients, 12.4% (35) had a high risk of futile CPR, while 16.3% (46) had an intermediate risk and 71.4% (202) had a low risk. 84.0% (68) of intermediate-to-high risk patients were pronounced dead in the ED or ED step-down ward; only 2.5% (2) of these patients survived to discharge.ConclusionsUp to 30% of OHCA patients are being subjected to advanced resuscitation despite having at least three indicators for palliative care. More than 80% of patients with an intermediate-to-high risk of CPR futility are dying soon after conveyance to hospital, suggesting that ACP can benefit some OHCA patients. This study recommends optimising emergency treatment planning to help reduce inappropriate CPR attempts.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Nunohiro ◽  
S Kuwasaki ◽  
T Fukushima ◽  
S Furudono ◽  
H Suenaga ◽  
...  

Abstract The involvement of cholesterol crystals (CCs) in plaque progression and destabilization of atherosclerotic plaques has been recently recognized. However, little is known about CCs and myocardial salvage in the Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the existence of CCs at the site of culprit coronary artery and myocardial salvage index (MSI).To investigate, we applied the diagnostic resources of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). Methods This study included 53 AMI patients (90% with STEMI) who underwent primary PCI within 24h of onset. 53 STEMI patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) of 5th days and 3 months after PCI. Infarct size was measured on delayed-enhancement imaging, and area at risk was quantified on T2-weighted imaging. MSI was calculated as [area at risk − infarct size] × 100/area at risk. 3 months CMR with contrast-enhanced imaging of late gadolinium enhancement-LGE. Patients were divided 2 groups according to the existence of CCs at the site of culprit coronary artery. Results CCs occurs in 26 of 53 (49%). Acute 5th days risk area (13.5±4.1 vs 12.6±4.9, P=0.48) and 3months infarct size (5.3±3.5 vs 7.0±3.2, P=0.066) were not significant between CCs and no CCs group. But salvage index were significantly lower in patients with CCs group (47.7±17.5% vs 60.1±20.2%, P=0.021) Conclusion Salvage index in patients that CCs were found by the OCT analysis, remain low after AMI. This study demonstrates the potential correlation between the myocardial salvage and vulnerable morphological features of culprit lesion to the presence of CCs with AMI patients.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 56-58
Author(s):  
Dharma Raj Regmi ◽  
N. Basnet ◽  
C. Jaishwal ◽  
S. Pun

A case of a 2-year-old female child who initially presented with fever, later diagnosed and successfully treated as Malaria in Jajarkot Hospital in the District of Jajarkot which is a low malarial prevalence region. Patient had been treated with oral antibiotics in a local out of hospital pharmacy but continued to remain febrile. Patient admitted for evaluation of fever and inability to feed. Malaria was confirmed with ICT based Rapid Diagnostic Test after other foci/infection with high degree of suspicion were ruled out. Patient was treated based on the recent national guideline and eventually discharged after showing significant signs of improvement. This isolated case of malaria in a hilly low risk area like Jajarkot emphasizes the need to remain vigilant and adopt a stringent protocol-based diagnostic for diagnosis and treatment of a febrile patient.


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