The profile of prisoners with tuberculosis in Japan

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 153-162
Author(s):  
Lisa Kawatsu ◽  
Kazuhiro Uchimura ◽  
Makoto Kobayashi ◽  
Nobukatsu Ishikawa
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Potential Risk ◽  
Prison Population ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Fisher Exact Test ◽  
Continuous Variables ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Potential Risk Factors

Purpose Although globally, prisoners are considered one of the vulnerable groups to tuberculosis (TB), little is known about the situation of TB in prison setting in Japan. The purpose of this paper is to examine the characteristics of TB among prisoners in Japan. Design/methodology/approach Records of TB patients from one medical prison were analyzed in terms of general demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, risk factors and delay in diagnosis and in initiating treatment, and compared with data from the national TB surveillance and other published data on health of inmates, where appropriate. Continuous variables were compared using student independent samples t-test. Proportions were compared using χ2 or Fisher exact test as appropriate. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was conducted to determine the time from entry to prison institution to diagnosis of TB. Findings A total of 49 patients were analyzed. The mean age was 49.5 (±14.3) and 69.4 percent were males. Being unemployed and homeless prior to incarceration, and several co-morbidities were potential risk factors for TB (p<0.01). Analysis of diagnosis and treatment delay showed that 16.1 percent of smear positive patients took more than a week to be placed on treatment after being diagnosed of TB. Approximately 50 percent of the patients were diagnosed within four months of entering the prison institution. Practical implications Several potential risk factors identified suggest the need to strengthen screening for specific sub-groups within the prison population, such as those with poor socio-economic status and co-morbidities, as well as to consider the possible role of systematic screening for latent TB infection. Originality/value This study presents some important data to help understand the profile of TB patients in prisons in Japan, as well as showing that a detailed epidemiological analysis of existing records can provide useful insight.

scholarly journals Complications in Surgery of the Small Intestine

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-40
Author(s):  
Carlos Manterola ◽  
Sebastián Urrutia
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Small Intestine ◽  
Potential Risk ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Intestinal Surgery ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Emergency Event ◽  
Potential Risk Factors ◽  
Systemic Pathology

Performing a surgical procedure of the small intestine, whether it is a scheduled elective or an emergency event, may be associated with the occurrence of disorders of diverse etiology; either as a result of prior illness, the onset of systemic pathology associated with the surgical event or complications related to the surgery itself. The development of morbidity in patients undergoing intestinal surgery has been outlined in this article on medical and surgical complications. These will be discussed based on clinical manifestations, potential risk factors associated with their occurrence and certain preventive measures.

scholarly journals Potential risk factors associated with seropositivity for Toxoplasma gondii among pregnant women and HIV infected individuals in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. e0008944
Author(s):  
Zewdu Seyoum Tarekegn ◽  
Haileyesus Dejene ◽  
Agerie Addisu ◽  
Shimelis Dagnachew
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Potential Risk ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Potential Risk Factors ◽  
Women And Hiv

Background Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular and neurotropic apicomplexan protozoan parasite infecting almost all warm-blooded vertebrates including humans. To date in Ethiopia, no systematic study has been investigated on the overall effects of potential risk factors associated with seropositivity for Toxoplasma gondii among pregnant women and HIV infected individuals. We intended to determine the potential risk factors (PRFs) associated with seropositivity for Toxoplasma gondii from published data among pregnant women and HIV infected individuals of Ethiopia. Methodology An systematic review of the previous reports was made. We searched PubMed, Science Direct, African Journals Online, and Google Scholar for studies with no restriction on the year of publication. All references were screened independently in duplicate and were included if they presented data on at least two risk factors. Meta-analysis using the random or fixed-effects model was made to calculate the overall effects for each exposure. Results Of the 216 records identified, twenty-four reports met our eligibility criteria, with a total of 6003 individuals (4356 pregnant women and 1647 HIV infected individuals). The pooled prevalences of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies were found at 72.5% (95% CI: 58.7% - 83.1%) in pregnant women and 85.7% (95% CI: 76.3% - 91.8%) in HIV infected individuals. A significant overall effect of anti-Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity among pregnant women (p < 0.05) was witnessed with age, abortion history, contact with cats, cat ownership, having knowledge about toxoplasmosis, being a housewife and having unsafe water source. Age, cat ownership, and raw meat consumption were also shown a significant effect (p < 0.05) to anti-Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity among HIV infected individuals. Conclusions This review showed gaps and drawbacks in the earlier studies that are useful to keep in mind to design accurate investigations in the future. The pooled prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies was found to be higher among pregnant women and HIV infected individuals. This suggests that thousands of immunocompromised individuals (pregnant women and HIV infected patients) are at risk of toxoplasmosis due to the sociocultural and living standards of the communities of Ethiopia. Appropriate preventive measures are needed to reduce the exposure to Toxoplasma gondii infection. Further studies to investigate important risk factors are recommended to support the development of more cost-effective preventive strategies.

scholarly journals Importance of collecting data on socioeconomic determinants from the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak onwards

2020 ◽  
pp. jech-2020-214297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saman Khalatbari-Soltani ◽  
Robert G Cumming ◽  
Cyrille Delpierre ◽  
Michelle Kelly-Irving
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Potential Risk ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Occupational Position ◽  
Socioeconomic Characteristics ◽  
Socioeconomic Determinants ◽  
Potential Risk Factors

Disadvantaged socioeconomic position (SEP) is widely associated with disease and mortality, and there is no reason to think this will not be the case for the newly emerged coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that has reached a pandemic level. Individuals with a more disadvantaged SEP are more likely to be affected by most of the known risk factors of COVID-19. SEP has been previously established as a potential determinant of infectious diseases in general. We hypothesise that SEP plays an important role in the COVID-19 pandemic either directly or indirectly via occupation, living conditions, health-related behaviours, presence of comorbidities and immune functioning. However, the influence of socioeconomic factors on COVID-19 transmission, severity and outcomes is not yet known and is subject to scrutiny and investigation. Here we briefly review the extent to which SEP has been considered as one of the potential risk factors of COVID-19. From 29 eligible studies that reported the characteristics of patients with COVID-19 and their potential risk factors, only one study reported the occupational position of patients with mild or severe disease. This brief overview of the literature highlights that important socioeconomic characteristics are being overlooked when data are collected. As COVID-19 spreads worldwide, it is crucial to collect and report data on socioeconomic determinants as well as race/ethnicity to identify high-risk populations. A systematic recording of socioeconomic characteristics of patients with COVID-19 will be beneficial to identify most vulnerable groups, to identify how SEP relates to COVID-19 and to develop equitable public health prevention measures, guidelines and interventions.

scholarly journals Factors associated with the prevalence of Otodectes cynotis in an ambulatory population of dogs

2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (8) ◽  
pp. 375-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clarissa P. Souza ◽  
Regina R. Ramadinha ◽  
Fabio B. Scott ◽  
Maria Júlia S. Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Potential Risk ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Fisher Exact Test ◽  
Environmental Cleaning ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Potential Risk Factors ◽  
Veterinary Hospital ◽  
Otodectes Cynotis

The objective was to evaluate the factors associated with the prevalence of Otodectes cynotis infestations in dogs assisted at the Dermatology Service of the Veterinary Hospital, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro. A total of 250 dogs were examined through direct smear of ear samples using a stereoscopic microscope, for the parasitological diagnostic. All dog owners were interviewed and data regarding the animals and their environments were individually recorded. Mite infestation was observed in 15 animals, with a prevalence of 6%. The variables were tested regarding their association with the mites, using the χ2 test and, when appropriate, the Fisher exact test. There were no evidences that age (p = 0,20), sex (p = 0,31), breed (p = 0,50), shape of ear (p = 0,66), type (p = 0,19) and length of hair (p = 0,14) and contact with other animals (p = 0,06) could act as potential risk factors for O. cynotis infestation. However, living environment (p = 0,03) and frequency of environmental cleaning (p = 0,005) may facilitate the infestation. The occurrence of pruritus was associated to the presence of mites (p<0,001), suggesting to be an effect of the parasitism.

scholarly journals COVID 19 - a new threat for smokers and vapers?

Pneumologia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-118
Author(s):  
Florin Mihălţan ◽  
Corina Oprea ◽  
Valentin Coşei ◽  
Ancuţa Constantin
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Potential Risk ◽  
Early Identification ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Pathogenic Mechanisms ◽  
Potential Risk Factors ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The new pandemic disease Covid-19 compelled all the researchers to investigate for early identification of the potential risk factors. Further, the relation between smoking and infections are well known. The authors are trying to find the epidemiological links, the pathogenic mechanisms and also the impact of this coronavirus on different respiratory chronic diseases, based on the last published data about the consequences of smoking and vaping on consumers.

Premature Arterial Disease Associated with Familial Antithrombin III Deficiency

1990 ◽  
Vol 63 (01) ◽  
pp. 013-015 ◽  
Author(s):  
E J Johnson ◽  
C R M Prentice ◽  
L A Parapia
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Venous Thromboembolism ◽  
Potential Risk ◽  
Antithrombin Iii ◽  
Arterial Disease ◽  
Coagulation System ◽  
Early Age ◽  
Arterial Thromboembolism ◽  
Potential Risk Factors ◽  
Antithrombin Iii Deficiency

SummaryAntithrombin III (ATIII) deficiency is one of the few known abnormalities of the coagulation system known to predispose to venous thromboembolism but its relation to arterial disease is not established. We describe two related patients with this disorder, both of whom suffered arterial thrombotic events, at an early age. Both patients had other potential risk factors, though these would normally be considered unlikely to lead to such catastrophic events at such an age. Thrombosis due to ATIII deficiency is potentially preventable, and this diagnosis should be sought more frequently in patients with arterial thromboembolism, particularly if occurring at a young age. In addition, in patients with known ATIII deficiency, other risk factors for arterial disease should be eliminated, if possible. In particular, these patients should be counselled against smoking.

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