Correlation of dengue cases and pluviometric precipitation, in Pará state, Brazil (2014 to 2019)

The climate can lead to the emergence of environments conducive to the proliferation of dengue vectors, in addition to diseases and illnesses related to climatic phenomena. In this context, it is necessary to relate the exposure devices, that is, as associated variables associated with dengue cases. The objective of this research was to carry out a retrospective epidemiological study, with an emphasis on sex, age group and municipalities reporting dengue cases, as well as to correlate the cases of the disease with rainfall levels, in the state of Pará, Brazil. The correlation between rainy periods, transition from rainy to less rainy (C-MC) and less rainy to rainy (MC-C) showed a statistical correlation (p <0.05) with dengue cases in the period studied. Thus, it was found that dengue cases had an increase in the year subsequent to 2018, in which the majority were women with complete high school, in the age group of 20 to 39 years old. Given this scenario, the analysis of epidemiological data is important so that preventive measures and control of the agent are adopted by the government.Keywords: clinical-laboratory; epidemiological; gender; age group. Correlação de casos de dengue e precipitação pluviométrica, no estado do Pará, Brasil (2014 a 2019) RESUMOO clima pode levar ao surgimento de ambientes propícios à proliferação de vetores da dengue, além de doenças e enfermidades relacionadas aos fenômenos climáticos. Nesse contexto, é necessário relatar os mecanismos de exposição, ou seja, as variáveis climáticas associada aos casos de dengue. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi realizar um estudo epidemiológico retrospectivo, com ênfase no sexo, faixa etária e municípios que notificaram casos de dengue, bem como correlacionar os casos da doença com os níveis de precipitação, no estado do Pará, Brasil. A correlação entre os períodos chuvoso, transição de chuvoso para menos chuvoso (C-MC) e menos chuvoso para chuvoso (MC-C) apresentou correlação estatística (p <0,05) com os casos de dengue no período estudado. Assim, constatou-se que os casos de dengue aumentaram no ano subsequente a 2018, em que a maioria eram mulheres com ensino médio completo, na faixa etária de 20 a 39 anos. Diante desse cenário, a análise dos dados epidemiológicos é importante para que medidas preventivas e de controle do agente sejam adotadas pelo poder público.Palavras-chave: clínico-laboratorial; epidemiológico; Gênero sexual; grupo de idade.

Developing Theoretical Underpinnings for Nursing Workaround Research Using a Mixed Method Approach

The use of health information technology (HIT) in acute care had an unexpected impact on nursing workflow. It often took a nurse extra steps or extra time to complete a process once documentation and medication administration was automated. In response to HIT problems, nurses developed workarounds. Research on workarounds has been hindered by a lack of variable definitions and research models. This paper presents results of a mixed methods study that proposes definitions for workarounds, associated variables and a multi-level model.

Exploring Perceptions of Religion and Science among Turkish Academics

The religiosity of academics has been studied for over a decade. With few exceptions, this research has been conducted on American “elite” scientists, and data from non-Western countries is lacking. Drawing from psychological and sociological literature, the present exploratory study investigates the religiosity of Turkish academics (N = 361) and their perceptions on the relationship between religion and science, and associated variables such as interpretation of the Quran, and belief in evolution and creationism. Moreover, we address criticism directed at previous research by probing for different God concepts among believing academics. Although cultural differences can be identified, the results generally support the idea that academics are less religious with 54% identifying as “less religious” or “not religious,” compared to 24.2% self-identifying as “religious” or “extremely religious.”

Friends and family matter Most: a trend analysis of increasing e-cigarette use among Irish teenagers and socio-demographic, personal, peer and familial associations

Background E-cigarette ever-use and current-use among teenagers has increased worldwide, including in Ireland. Methods We use data from two Irish waves (2015, 2019) of the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD) to investigate gender and teenage e-cigarette use (n = 3421 16-year-olds). Using chi-square analyses, we report changes in e-cigarette ever-use, current-use, and associated variables. Using multivariable logistic regression, we analyse the increase in e-cigarette use and socio-demographic, personal, peer and familial associations, focusing on gender differences. Results E-cigarette ever-use increased from 23% in 2015 to 37% in 2019, and current-use from 10 to 18%. Compared with 2015, the odds in 2019, of becoming both an e-cigarette ever-user and current-user, were significantly higher for girls than boys (ever-use: AOR 2.67 vs 2.04; current-use: AOR 3.11 vs 1.96). Smoking and e-cigarette use are linked but never-smokers who try e-cigarettes rose significantly from 33 to 67% and those using e-cigarettes to quit smoking decreased significantly from 17 to 3%. Almost two-thirds of respondents (66%) in 2019 said that their reason for trying e-cigarettes was “out of curiosity”. Peer smoking is significantly associated with likelihood of e-cigarette ever-use (AOR 6.52) and current-use (AOR 5.45). If “Most/All friends smoke”, odds were significantly higher for boys than for girls (ever-use AOR 7.07 vs 6.23; current-use AOR 5.90 vs 5.31). Less parental monitoring is significantly associated with greater e-cigarette ever-use (AOR 3.96) and current-use (4.48), and having parents who usually don’t know where their child is on Saturday nights was also associated with significantly higher odds for boys than for girls (ever-use AOR 5.42 vs 3.33; current-use AOR 5.50 vs 3.50). Conclusion Respondents had significantly higher odds of being e-cigarette ever- and current-users in 2019 compared with 2015. Use is higher among boys but girls are increasingly at risk. Two-thirds had never smoked cigarettes at first e-cigarette use; two-thirds used out of curiosity but few (3%) for smoking cessation. The most prominent risk factors for e-cigarette use were peer- and parent-related, especially so for boys. Interventions that take account of friend and family influences may provide mechanisms for preventing an increasing risk of nicotine addiction.

NAFLD mark: an accurate model based on microRNA-34 for diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients

Background It remains essential for non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) patients, to develop a sensitive and specific diagnostic model. Data regarding the use of micro (mi)RNA-34 for NAFLD diagnosis are few. Routine clinical assessment, laboratory tests were done for Egyptian individuals (n = 314) were included (100 healthy individuals and 214 NAFLD patients). Quantification of miRNA-34 was done using real-time PCR. Extremely significant variables were entered into stepwise logistic regression. The diagnostic power of variables was estimated by the area under the ROC (AUC). Results MiRNA-34 levels were higher in NAFLD patients than healthy individuals with a significant difference (P< 0.0001). The multivariate analysis was used to evaluate the NAFLD-associated variables (CRP, cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), ALT had p< 0.0001 while mRNA-34 had (p=0.0004). The AUCs (CI) of candidate NAFLD markers were in the order of miRNA-34 0.72 (0.66–0.77) < ALT 0.73 (0.67–0.79) < BMI 0.81 (0.76–0.86) < cholesterol < 0.85 (0.79–0.90) < CRP 0.88 (0.84–0.92). We developed a novel index for discriminating patients with NAFLD named NAFLD Mark. AUC was jumped to 0.98 (0.93–0.99) when five markers were combined. The AUC of NAFLD mark for NAFLD detection was higher than the AUCs of seven common NAFLD indexes (0.44–0.86). Conclusions The NAFLD mark is a non-invasive and highly sensitive and specific model for NAFLD diagnosis.

THE IMPACT OF THE EXCHANGE RATE ON THE IRAQI BALANCE OF ‎PAYMENTS FOR THE PERIOD (2004-2016)‎

The exchange rate is one of the important tools that are used to protect ‎the local economy from expected shocks, so the research focused on the ‎subject of the impact of this variable on the balance of payments ‎because these two variables have a very close relationship, which ‎consequently affects foreign trade and the structure of the national ‎economy, especially in Iraq, and contributes to treating various ‎imbalances of the local economy and restore balance and stability to ‎most of its associated variables. Keywords: Economy, Iraqi Balance, Local Economy

Alcohol problematic consumption and associated variables among users of a primary care service / Consumo problemático de álcool e variáveis associadas entre usuários de um serviço de atenção primária

Objetivo: identificar o consumo problemático de álcool e variáveis associadas (sóciodemográficas, clínicas e comportamentais) de usuários de um serviço de atenção primária à saúde localizado no município de São Paulo/ SP. Métodos: estudo transversal com 865 usuários. Utilizou-se o instrumento Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test e um questionário contendo variáveis sociodemográficas, clínicas e comportamentais. A associação entre cada variável do estudo e o consumo problemático de álcool foi realizada por meio da regressão Poisson estimando a razão de prevalência ajustada com intervalo de confiança de 95%. Resultados: constatou-se que 31,1% da amostra faz uso problemático. Destes,15,5% faziam uso de risco, 4,1% uso nocivo e 11,5% apresentavam provável transtorno por uso de álcool. Conclusão: as variáveis associadas ao consumo problemático foram ser do sexo masculino, idade jovem, ter infecções sexualmente transmissíveis, consumir substâncias, consumir pinga e consumir cerveja e pinga.