Risk factors and predictors of angiostrongylosis in naturally infected dogs in the southeast of England

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 233-240
Author(s):  
Sarah Holmes ◽  
Phillip Paine ◽  
Ian Wright ◽  
Eric R. Morgan ◽  
Hany M. Elsheikha
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Clinical Presentation ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Parasitic Infection ◽  
Control Sample ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Significant Risk Factor ◽  
Pharmaceutical Products ◽  
Infected Group

Canine pulmonary angiostrongylosis is a snail-borne parasitic infection caused by the nematode Angiostrongylus vasorum. The spread of A. vasorum across the UK in recent years, alongside the launch of new pharmaceutical products licenced for its treatment and prevention, has led to raised awareness of this parasite among veterinarians and the public alike. This raised profile has been beneficial in reducing canine morbidity and mortality associated with infection, especially in parts of the country where it had not previously been routinely diagnosed. It is vital, therefore, given raised public awareness and geographical spread of the parasite, that the veterinary professionals have demographic data to help give accurate risk-based advice. This study retrospectively evaluated demographic factors (age, gender and breed) and clinical presentation of 100 dogs with natural A. vasorum infection by reviewing the clinical record database at private practices, spanning the period from 2003 to 2009, alongside 100 dogs presenting for other reasons as a control sample. A significant relationship was detected between young age and A. vasorum infection (P<0.001), with dogs less than 1 year of age 4.2 times more likely to fall into the infected group. Gender was not identified as a significant risk factor for A. vasorum infection in dogs. Breed was a significant risk factor, with Cocker Spaniels over-represented in the infected group, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers and cross-breeds under-represented. The strongest contrast was between cross-bred and pure-bred dogs as a whole, with the latter 23 times more likely to present with angiostrongylosis. Significant associations were found between A. vasorum infection and dogs presenting with cough, coagulopathy, vomiting/diarrhoea and/or lethargy (P<0.05). The diagnostic value of clinical signs for the presence of disease, expressed by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, was >0.7, indicating that correct diagnosis (discrimination between dogs with or without the disease) can be achieved in 70% of the clinical cases by accurate history taking. These findings provide important clues regarding the risk of infection to an individual dog, and thus may facilitate improved recognition of infection based on clinical presentation, and implementation of preventative strategies to combat A. vasorum infection.

scholarly journals Sex differences in clinical presentation in acute MI

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 940
Author(s):  
Ashwin Kodliwadmath ◽  
Naren V. Nimbal
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Chest Pain ◽  
Clinical Presentation ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Significant Risk Factor ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Acute Mi

Background: Acute myocardial infarction differs in women and men with respect to risk factors and clinical presentation. There are studies carried out worldwide on this issue but few from India. This study was done to study the sex based differences in the risk factors and clinical features of acute MI in patients with Indian ethnicity.Methods: Comparative prospective study consisting of 100 women as study group and 100 men as control group with acute MI, who were admitted in a tertiary care hospital, from December 2016 to June 2017.Results: Chest pain was the main complaint in majority of the women (82%) and men (88%). Radiation of chest pain (87%) and sweating (90%) were significantly present in men compared to women (65% and 62% respectively), while breathlessness was significantly present in women (78%) compared to men (64%) and fatigue in women (76%) significantly more than men (55%). Smoking was a significant risk factor in men (69%) compared to women (5%), while diabetes mellitus was a significant risk factor in women (62%) compared to men (39%).Conclusions: Women with acute MI had more atypical presentation of symptoms, similar risk factors, compared to men except for smoking which was more significant in men and diabetes more common in women.

scholarly journals Who let the cats out? A global meta-analysis on risk of parasitic infection in indoor versus outdoor domestic cats ( Felis catus )

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 20180840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kayleigh Chalkowski ◽  
Alan E. Wilson ◽  
Christopher A. Lepczyk ◽  
Sarah Zohdy
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Parasitic Infection ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Significant Risk Factor ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Domestic Animal ◽  
Parasite Transmission ◽  
Toxocara Cati ◽  
Negative Impacts

Parasitic infection risks in domestic animals may increase as a result of outdoor activities, often leading to transmission events to and from owners, other domestic animals and wildlife. Furthermore, outdoor access has not been quantified in domestic animals as a risk factor with respect to latitude or parasite transmission pathway. Cats are an ideal model to test parasitic infection risk in outdoor animals because there have been many studies analysing this risk factor in this species; and there is a useful dichotomy in cat ownership between indoor-only cats and those with outdoor access. Thus, we used meta-analysis to determine whether outdoor access is a significant risk factor for parasitic infection in domestic pet cats across 19 different pathogens including many relevant to human, domestic animal and wildlife health, such as Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara cati . Cats with outdoor access were 2.77 times more likely to be infected with parasites than indoor-only cats. Furthermore, absolute latitude trended towards significance such that each degree increase in absolute latitude increased infection likelihood by 4%. Thus, restricting outdoor access can reduce the risk of parasitic infection in cats and reduce the risk of zoonotic parasite transmission, spillover to sympatric wildlife and negative impacts on feline health.

Ventricular Catheter Tract Hemorrhage as a Risk Factor for Ventriculostomy-Related Infection

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Kim ◽  
James Lee ◽  
Rui Feng ◽  
Alexander Chartrain ◽  
Stanislaw Sobotka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
External Ventricular Drain ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Significant Risk Factor ◽  
Hospital Length ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Ventricular Catheter ◽  
Contributing Factors

Abstract BACKGROUND Ventriculostomy-related infection (VRI) is a feared complication of external ventricular drain (EVD) placement. Although many contributing factors to VRI have been examined, little is known whether there is an association between ventriculostomy-related catheter tract hemorrhage (VCTH) and VRI. OBJECTIVE To evaluate risk factors for VRI and assess possible correlations with VCTH. METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with EVD placement in a neurocritical care unit between 2011 and 2015. VRI was defined as clinical signs of infection with a positive cerebrospinal fluid gram stain and isolation of cerebrospinal fluid culture. VCTH was diagnosed by computed tomography immediately after EVD insertion. RESULTS A total of 247 patients with EVD were identified during the 5-yr study period. An association between VCTH and gram-negative VRI was identified (P = .02). Ten percent (25 of 247 patients) developed a VRI, and 7% (18 of 247 patients) had a VCTH. Of the 25 patients with VRI, 20% (n = 5) had a VCTH, compared to 6% (n = 13) of 222 patients who had an EVD placed but did not develop VRI. There were no significant differences in demographic and clinical factors except for multiple EVD insertions (P < .00001), EVD duration (P < .001), and hospital length of stay (P < .001). CONCLUSION VCTH is a potentially significant risk factor for VRI. Further analysis will be needed to confirm the strength of this association, and to delineate the possible mechanisms by which tract hemorrhage may serve as a nidus for bacterial penetration into the central nervous system.

Physical Illness and Suicide Risk in Rural Residents of Contemporary China

Crisis ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 330-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cun-Xian Jia ◽  
Lin-Lin Wang ◽  
Ai-Qiang Xu ◽  
Ai-Ying Dai ◽  
Ping Qin
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Significant Risk Factor ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Physical Illness ◽  
Rural Residents ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Study Population

Background: Physical illness is linked with an increased risk of suicide; however, evidence from China is limited. Aims: To assess the influence of physical illness on risk of suicide among rural residents of China, and to examine the differences in the characteristics of people completing suicide with physical illness from those without physical illness. Method: In all, 200 suicide cases and 200 control subjects, 1:1 pair-matched on sex and age, were included from 25 townships of three randomly selected counties in Shandong Province, China. One informant for each suicide or control subject was interviewed to collect data on the physical health condition and psychological and sociodemographic status. Results: The prevalence of physical illness in suicide cases (63.0%) was significantly higher than that in paired controls (41.0%; χ2 = 19.39, p < .001). Compared with suicide cases without physical illness, people who were physically ill and completed suicide were generally older, less educated, had lower family income, and reported a mental disorder less often. Physical illness denoted a significant risk factor for suicide with an associated odds ratio of 3.23 (95% CI: 1.85–5.62) after adjusted for important covariates. The elevated risk of suicide increased progressively with the number of comorbid illnesses. Cancer, stroke, and a group of illnesses comprising dementia, hemiplegia, and encephalatrophy had a particularly strong effect among the commonly reported diagnoses in this study population. Conclusion: Physical illness is an important risk factor for suicide in rural residents of China. Efforts for suicide prevention are needed and should be integrated with national strategies of health care in rural China.

scholarly journals Higher premature atrial complex burden from the Holter examination predicts poor cardiovascular outcome

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting-Chun Huang ◽  
Po-Tseng Lee ◽  
Mu-Shiang Huang ◽  
Pei-Fang Su ◽  
Ping-Yen Liu
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Dose Response ◽  
Cox Model ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Significant Risk Factor ◽  
Cardiovascular Death ◽  
Specific Model ◽  
Distribution Model ◽  
All Cause Mortality ◽  
Quartile Group

AbstractPremature atrial complexes (PACs) have been suggested to increase the risk of adverse events. The distribution of PAC burden and its dose–response effects on all-cause mortality and cardiovascular death had not been elucidated clearly. We analyzed 15,893 patients in a medical referral center from July 1st, 2011, to December 31st, 2018. Multivariate regression driven by ln PAC (beats per 24 h plus 1) or quartiles of PAC burden were examined. Older group had higher PAC burden than younger group (p for trend < 0.001), and both genders shared similar PACs distribution. In Cox model, ln PAC remained an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.09 per ln PAC increase, 95% CI = 1.06‒1.12, p < 0.001). PACs were a significant risk factor in cause-specific model (HR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.05‒1.22, p = 0.001) or sub-distribution model (HR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.04‒1.21, p = 0.004). In ordinal PAC model, 4th quartile group had significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality than those in 1st quartile group (HR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.13‒1.94, p = 0.005), but no difference in cardiovascular death were found in competing risk analysis. In subgroup analysis, the risk of high PAC burden was consistently higher than in low-burden group across pre-specified subgroups. In conclusion, PAC burden has a dose response effect on all-cause mortality and cardiovascular death.

Comorbidity and severity-of-illness risk adjustment for hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infection using data from the electronic medical record

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Stephanie M. Cabral ◽  
Katherine E. Goodman ◽  
Natalia Blanco ◽  
Surbhi Leekha ◽  
Larry S. Magder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Risk Adjustment ◽  
Community Hospital ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Significant Risk Factor ◽  
Bivariate Analysis ◽  
Patient Admissions ◽  
Clostridioides Difficile ◽  
Risk Adjustment Model

Abstract Objective: To determine whether electronically available comorbidities and laboratory values on admission are risk factors for hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infection (HO-CDI) across multiple institutions and whether they could be used to improve risk adjustment. Patients: All patients at least 18 years of age admitted to 3 hospitals in Maryland between January 1, 2016, and January 1, 2018. Methods: Comorbid conditions were assigned using the Elixhauser comorbidity index. Multivariable log-binomial regression was conducted for each hospital using significant covariates (P < .10) in a bivariate analysis. Standardized infection ratios (SIRs) were computed using current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) risk adjustment methodology and with the addition of Elixhauser score and individual comorbidities. Results: At hospital 1, 314 of 48,057 patient admissions (0.65%) had a HO-CDI; 41 of 8,791 patient admissions (0.47%) at community hospital 2 had a HO-CDI; and 75 of 29,211 patient admissions (0.26%) at community hospital 3 had a HO-CDI. In multivariable regression, Elixhauser score was a significant risk factor for HO-CDI at all hospitals when controlling for age, antibiotic use, and antacid use. Abnormal leukocyte level at hospital admission was a significant risk factor at hospital 1 and hospital 2. When Elixhauser score was included in the risk adjustment model, it was statistically significant (P < .01). Compared with the current CDC SIR methodology, the SIR of hospital 1 decreased by 2%, whereas the SIRs of hospitals 2 and 3 increased by 2% and 6%, respectively, but the rankings did not change. Conclusions: Electronically available patient comorbidities are important risk factors for HO-CDI and may improve risk-adjustment methodology.

scholarly journals Type-2 Diabetes as a Risk Factor for Severe COVID-19 Infection

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1211
Author(s):  
Mahnaz Norouzi ◽  
Shaghayegh Norouzi ◽  
Alistaire Ruggiero ◽  
Mohammad S. Khan ◽  
Stephen Myers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Significant Risk Factor ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽  
Immune System Dysfunction ◽  
Current Outbreak

The current outbreak caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), termed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has generated a notable challenge for diabetic patients. Overall, people with diabetes have a higher risk of developing different infectious diseases and demonstrate increased mortality. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a significant risk factor for COVID-19 progression and its severity, poor prognosis, and increased mortality. How diabetes contributes to COVID-19 severity is unclear; however, it may be correlated with the effects of hyperglycemia on systemic inflammatory responses and immune system dysfunction. Using the envelope spike glycoprotein SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 binds to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors, a key protein expressed in metabolic organs and tissues such as pancreatic islets. Therefore, it has been suggested that diabetic patients are more susceptible to severe SARS-CoV-2 infections, as glucose metabolism impairments complicate the pathophysiology of COVID-19 disease in these patients. In this review, we provide insight into the COVID-19 disease complications relevant to diabetes and try to focus on the present data and growing concepts surrounding SARS-CoV-2 infections in T2DM patients.

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