Some Unexpected Effects of a Police Service for Victims

1987 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 490-501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wesley G. Skogan ◽  
Mary Ann Wycoff

This article examines the impact of a special police program for crime victims. Police officers recontacted recent victims by telephone. The officers were to find out whether they needed any assistance, refer them to support services, offer advice and information, gather any new information on the case, and indicate the department's continuing concern for their plight. Participating victims also were sent crime prevention materials. The program was evaluated using an experimental design. Victims were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups, and only the former were contacted. Then, follow-up interviews were conducted with all victims in order to assess the impact of the program.

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 470-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carine K. Souza ◽  
Daniela S. Rajão ◽  
Crystal L. Loving ◽  
Phillip C. Gauger ◽  
Daniel R. Pérez ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTWhole inactivated virus (WIV) vaccines are widely used in the swine industry to reduce clinical disease against homologous influenza A virus (IAV) infection. In pigs experimentally challenged with antigenically distinct heterologous IAV of the same hemagglutinin subtype, WIV vaccinates have been shown to develop vaccine-associated enhanced respiratory disease (VAERD). We evaluated the impact of vaccine valency, age at vaccination, and duration between vaccination and challenge on the development of VAERD using vaccine containing δ1-H1N2 and challenge with pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) virus. Pigs were vaccinated with monovalent WIV MN08 (δ1-H1N2) and bivalent (δ1-H1N2–H3N2 or δ1-H1N2–pH1N1) vaccines and then were challenged with pH1N1 at 3 weeks postboost (wpb). Another group was vaccinated with the same monovalent WIV and challenged at 6 wpb to determine if the time postvaccination plays a role in the development of VAERD. In a follow-up study, the impact of age of first WIV vaccination (at 4 versus 9 weeks of age) with a boost 3 weeks later (at 7 versus 12 weeks of age) was evaluated. A monovalent live-attenuated influenza virus (LAIV) vaccine administered at 4 and 7 weeks of age was also included. All mismatched WIV groups had significantly higher lung lesions than the LAIV, bivalent MN08-CA09, and control groups. Age of first vaccination or length of time between booster dose and subsequent challenge did not alter the development of VAERD in WIV-vaccinated pigs. Importantly, the mismatched component of the bivalent MN08-CA09 WIV did not override the protective effect of the matched vaccine component.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Te-Wei Ho ◽  
Yi-Ju Tsai ◽  
Chun-Ta Huang ◽  
Angela Shin-Yu Lien ◽  
Feipei Lai

AbstractComorbidities adversely affect the quality of life and survival of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and timely identification and management of comorbidities are important in caring for COPD patients. This study aimed to investigate the impact of COPD on long-term developmental trajectories of its comorbidities. From 2010 to 2013, all spirometry-confirmed COPD patients with a 5-year follow-up period were identified as the cases. The prevalence of comorbidities and their trajectories in COPD cases were obtained and compared with those in non-COPD controls matched for age, sex, smoking status and Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). Over the study period, a total of 682 patients, 341 each in COPD and control groups were included, with a mean age of 69.1 years and 89% male. The baseline mean CCI was 1.9 for both groups of patients and significantly increased to 3.4 and 2.7 in COPD and control groups after 5 years, respectively (both P < 0.001). Through the 5-year follow-up, a significant increase in the prevalence of all comorbidities of interest was observed in the COPD cohort and the incidence was remarkably higher for hypertension [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.495; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.017–2.198], malignancy (IRR 2.397; 95% CI 1.408–4.081), diabetes mellitus (IRR 2.927; 95% CI 1.612–5.318), heart failure (IRR 2.531; 95% CI 1.502–4.265) and peptic ulcer disease (IRR 2.073; 95% CI 1.176–3.654) as compared to the non-COPD matched controls. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the presence of COPD may be considered a pathogenic factor involved in the development of certain comorbidities.


2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (16) ◽  
pp. 1816-1835 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Bahr ◽  
David J. Cherrington ◽  
Lance D. Erickson

Using a sample of 256 juvenile offenders who were randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, this study evaluates a cognitive-behavioral program that combines cognitive training, goal setting, and a phone-coach follow-up. The training involved six classroom sessions where participants received instruction and help in creating individualized goals. After attending the classes, participants received automated phone calls twice a day for up to a year. During the year following the program, the treatment and control groups were not significantly different in whether or not they were rearrested or in total rearrests. However, the total number of calls received had a significant negative association with whether or not they were rearrested for a felony and with the total number of felony rearrests.


2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. 487-487
Author(s):  
Guy C. Toner ◽  
Hayley S. Whitford ◽  
Pawel Kalinowski ◽  
Peter S. Grimison ◽  
Martin R. Stockler ◽  
...  

487 Background: Neuropsychological assessments suggest chemotherapy may lead to cognitive impairment but causal links remain unclear. Prospective longitudinal studies are needed to address methodological limitations, with different chemotherapy regimens, appropriate controls and adjusting confounders. Methods: This 16 centre, prospective observational study accrued 145 patients with testicular cancer treated with surgery, or surgery + chemotherapy, as determined by disease staging. Cognition was assessed by CogHealth, a 10-minute online playing-card format tool designed to overcome language limitations, assessment burden, and practice/ceiling effects. Quality of life, fatigue, anxiety, depression and self-perceived cognitive function were also assessed. Comparisons were made between baseline (≤6 months from orchidectomy/pre-chemotherapy) and follow-Up (12-18 months), for 3 groups with sufficient data; cisplatin-based chemotherapy (BEP/EP, n=41), carboplatin (n=20), and controls (n=41). Results: With age as a covariate, linear mixed models were used to compare the 3 groups over time. There were no significant differences between groups over time for cognitive tasks assessing psychomotor function, complex decision making, visual learning, working memory, and visual attention; self-perceived cognitive function matched actual performance. At baseline, for fatigue (p = 0.008), BEP/EP scored significantly worse than carboplatin (d = -0.75) and control groups (d = -0.80). For anxiety (p = 0.005), BEP/EP scored worse than controls (d = -0.91). For all groups anxiety (p = 0.03), emotional (p = 0.001) and functional wellbeing (p = 0.002), improved over time. BEP/EP with poorest scores at baseline, improved the most by follow-up (d = 0.63, -1.24, -1.17, respectively). Only physical wellbeing showed significant effects (p ≤ 0.03) for group, time, and a differing pattern of change across groups; the BEP/EP group scoring worse at baseline compared to carboplatin (d = -0.94) and control groups (d = -1.16), improving by follow-Up (d = -1.21). Conclusions: For patients with testicular cancer there were no statistically significant differences between groups for cognition scores or self-reported cognitive function. Clinical trial information: 12609000545268.


Author(s):  
Seyedeh Maryam Noormohamadi ◽  
Mokhtar Arefi ◽  
Karim Afshaini ◽  
Keivan Kakabaraee

Abstract Background Mental health is a significant part of one’s health and it is very important to pay attention to mental health. Objectives The aim of the study was to examine the effect of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on the mental health of adolescents with an emotional breakdown (EB). Methods This was a semi-experimental study, in which the students with an EB were divided into two groups: the experimental and control groups. Twenty people were selected using the convenience sampling method and randomly assigned to the ACT and control groups (each with 10 people). After obtaining consent to participate in the study, they were asked to fill the questionnaires as a pre-test. Then, the experimental group was treated for nine individual sessions (weekly one session). As this was a repeated measurement method, in sessions 3, 6 and 9, the questionnaires were completed again and the follow-up period was 1 month after the end of the interventions. Results Before the intervention, there was no difference between the score of the impact of love and rumination among the students in the experimental and control groups (p > 0.05); but after the intervention, the score of the impact of love and rumination in the experimental group decreased (p < 0.05). Conclusions It is suggested that ACT should be used at counseling centers of universities and educational institutions.


Crisis ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 238-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul W. C. Wong ◽  
Wincy S. C. Chan ◽  
Philip S. L. Beh ◽  
Fiona W. S. Yau ◽  
Paul S. F. Yip ◽  
...  

Background: Ethical issues have been raised about using the psychological autopsy approach in the study of suicide. The impact on informants of control cases who participated in case-control psychological autopsy studies has not been investigated. Aims: (1) To investigate whether informants of suicide cases recruited by two approaches (coroners’ court and public mortuaries) respond differently to the initial contact by the research team. (2) To explore the reactions, reasons for participation, and comments of both the informants of suicide and control cases to psychological autopsy interviews. (3) To investigate the impact of the interviews on informants of suicide cases about a month after the interviews. Methods: A self-report questionnaire was used for the informants of both suicide and control cases. Telephone follow-up interviews were conducted with the informants of suicide cases. Results: The majority of the informants of suicide cases, regardless of the initial route of contact, as well as the control cases were positive about being approached to take part in the study. A minority of informants of suicide and control cases found the experience of talking about their family member to be more upsetting than expected. The telephone follow-up interviews showed that none of the informants of suicide cases reported being distressed by the psychological autopsy interviews. Limitations: The acceptance rate for our original psychological autopsy study was modest. Conclusions: The findings of this study are useful for future participants and researchers in measuring the potential benefits and risks of participating in similar sensitive research. Psychological autopsy interviews may be utilized as an active engagement approach to reach out to the people bereaved by suicide, especially in places where the postvention work is underdeveloped.


SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A180-A181
Author(s):  
Mustafa Jafri ◽  
Gabrielle Rosa-Acosta ◽  
Jose Flores Martinez ◽  
Elizabeth Schofield ◽  
Cy Wilkins ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Untreated polycythemia leads to complications including thrombosis. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is commonly associated with secondary erythrocytosis, which testosterone therapy can perpetuate. Effects of positive airway pressure (PAP) on elevated hematocrit (HCT) is unknown. We hypothesize PAP adherence can reduce HCT in men with OSA and polycythemia. Methods Retrospective chart review of male outpatients with newly diagnosed OSA and HCT≥45% at or 3 months before polysomnography (PSG) was conducted. Intervention group consisted of patients initiating PAP for OSA. HCT within 6 months of PAP initiation and PSG were recorded for intervention and control groups, respectively. Primary endpoint was time-to-HCT reduction of HCT&lt;50% plus 3% decrease. Cox proportional-hazards analysis was used to assess time-to-HCT response. Demographics, smoking history, testosterone administration, STOP-Bang score, AHI, and PAP compliance data were obtained. Patients excluded if PAP not indicated, or if PSG, PAP compliance, or repeat HCT were unavailable. Results 41 men with OSA had HCT≥45%, of which 16 had HCT≥50%. Median age was 60 years and median BMI was 32 kg/m2. 28 started PAP. 21 met definition for PAP compliance within 6 months. Median AHI of intervention and control groups were 23 and 19 events/hr, respectively. Mean baseline HCT of both groups were 49 and 50, respectively. No significant difference in age, BMI, smoking history, testosterone therapy, and baseline HCT between both groups noted. 39% of intervention group exhibited HCT response at 1 or more longitudinal assessments, versus 38% of control. Intervention group had higher mean STOP-Bang than control (mean 5.9 vs. 4.6, p=0.01) and trended towards higher mean baseline AHI (27.4 vs. 19.0, p= 0.06). Time-to-event analysis controlling for STOP-Bang and AHI demonstrated PAP was not associated with time-to-HCT response (HR = 1.3, 95% CI = 0.4–4.4). In moderate-severe OSA patients, 40% of intervention group had HCT response compared to 14% of control, though difference was not significant (HR = 2.5, 95% CI = 0.3–20.0). Conclusion Moderate-severe OSA patients trended towards reduction in HCT with PAP, although not statistically significant. Testosterone administration did not affect HCT response to PAP in this cohort. Larger studies are required to determine HCT response to PAP in these patients. Support (if any):


1991 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 736-740 ◽  
Author(s):  
L E Spitler

We conducted a long-term follow-up (median, 10.5 years) of patients included in a randomized trial of levamisole versus placebo as surgical adjuvant therapy in 203 patients with malignant melanoma. Of the patients randomized, 104 received levamisole, and 99 received placebo. The results show that there is no difference between the treatment and control groups with regard to any of the three end points analyzed. These included disease-free interval, time to appearance of visceral metastasis, and survival. Moreover, there was no significant difference between the treatment and control groups after adjusting for age, sex, or stage of disease.


2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 471-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilo de la Fuente-Sandoval ◽  
Pablo León-Ortiz ◽  
Mariana Azcárraga ◽  
Rafael Favila ◽  
Sylvana Stephano ◽  
...  

Abstract Increased glutamate levels in the associative-striatum have been described in subjects at ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR); nevertheless, it is unclear whether this abnormality predicts the conversion to psychosis. Nineteen subjects at UHR and 26 controls were studied using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Subjects at UHR were clinically followed for 2 yr. Seven UHR subjects (37%) transitioned to a psychotic disorder and the remaining 12 did not exhibit psychotic symptoms at the most recent follow-up. The psychosis transition group had higher glutamate levels compared to both non-transition and control groups (p = 0.02 and p < 0.01, respectively; effect size 1.39). These pilot findings suggest that the conversion to psychosis is associated with increased glutamate levels in the associative-striatum.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 773
Author(s):  
Lia Ardiana Safitri

This study was conducted with the aim of knowing the significant role of WhatsApp in teaching vocabulary, especially staff learning achievement which was limited to vocabulary achievement as measured by a vocabulary test at Umbul Ponggok Klaten. Participants in this study amounted to 30 people consisting of 15 men and 15 women. All participants will learn English as a foreign language using WhatsApp to learn new vocabulary items via their mobile, tablet or laptop. Participants' English level will be measured. Random sampling procedure was carried out. To carry out the research, a true experimental design was used. The participants were assigned to two experimental and control groups. The assessment instrument in this study used a pre-test and post-test. The results showed that the use of the WhatsApp application in teaching vocabulary to the Umbul Ponggok Klaten staff was able to improve the achievement of new English vocabulary mastery of the Umbul Ponggok Klaten staff which was getting better.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document