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Journal of UOEH 2023We investigated whether a combined program for heat disorder prevention can improve the behaviors and knowledge of heat disorder prevention in older adults participating... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
We investigated whether a combined program for heat disorder prevention can improve the behaviors and knowledge of heat disorder prevention in older adults participating in salons. This non-randomized parallel-group comparison study includes 59 participants from two salons. The intervention group met on alternate weeks on a salon day to watch an educational DVD and conduct hands-on education (Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) measurements inside and outside the meeting place). The intervention group conducted calls every other week except salon week to prevent action for heat disorder prevention information based on a leaflet and monitored WBGT in their bedrooms daily at bedtime. We assessed changes in recognition of heat disorders and prevention behavior between baseline, one and a half months after intervention, and post-season (approximately two months after baseline), using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Recognition of heat disorder scores and preventive behavior improved from pre- to post-season in the intervention group. It was suggested that the approach toward older adults participating in salons could improve their recognition and behavior in preventing heat disorders.
Topics: Aged; Humans; Hot Temperature; Knowledge; Seasons; Heat Stress Disorders; Health Promotion; Patient Education as Topic
PubMed: 37661386
DOI: 10.7888/juoeh.45.143 -
Journal of Dairy Science Oct 2023Calf mortality can be used as an indicator of animal health and welfare on dairy farms. However, several challenges surround the estimation and reporting of this metric,... (Review)
Review
Calf mortality can be used as an indicator of animal health and welfare on dairy farms. However, several challenges surround the estimation and reporting of this metric, specifically: (1) lack of records or reliable data, (2) methods of data collection, and (3) inconsistencies in calculation and definitions used. Therefore, despite its importance, the lack of consensus on a definition of calf mortality makes it difficult to compare mortality rates between dairy farms or studies. Monitoring factors associated with calf mortality is vital to create preventative strategies. Although common strategies have been set about how to raise dairy calves and manage dairy calves, discrepancies among studies evaluating factors associated with calf mortality still exist. This review summarizes research on the evaluation of calf mortality and associated risk factors, specifically, the lack of reliable data and standardization of the definition of calf mortality. In addition, current strategies to monitor and prevent calf mortality will be presented in this review.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Farms; Cattle Diseases; Dairying; Risk Factors
PubMed: 37210372
DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-22795 -
The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery :... 2020Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) pose a major threat to the United States healthcare system as well as patients and their families. High ulcer recurrence rates indicate that...
Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) pose a major threat to the United States healthcare system as well as patients and their families. High ulcer recurrence rates indicate that existing preventive measures are not effective. A new generation of multimodal preventive devices may reduce ulceration and amputation rates. Because previous research has revealed that tissue maintained at cooler temperatures is more resistant to breaking down, the evaluated technology may prevent foot ulceration. The purpose of this study was to test previously designed Temperature and Pressure Monitoring and Regulating Insoles (TAPMARI) in diabetic neuropathic and healthy subjects. A cooling unit, a mini-water pump, a battery pack, and a microcontroller (or simply thermostat) were placed inside a box attached to the subjects' calf, which provided cooling inside the shoe. The microcontroller was set at 28°C. Eight subjects provided informed consent, 3 of whom had diabetic neuropathy. Subjects used the instrumented shoe on the right foot and the matching control shoe on the left and walked on a treadmill for 5 minutes at self-selected speeds. Baseline and postwalking thermographs were obtained with a thermal camera. At the 2-hour midpoint, subjects again walked on the treadmill for 5 minutes at self-selected speeds. Second baseline and postwalking thermographs were captured. Plantar pressure distributions were also quantified. The TAPMARI successfully regulated foot temperatures at or below the target temperature. The mean baseline temperature of the right (regulated) and left (control) feet were 28.1 ± 1.9°C (mean ± standard deviation) for all subjects. The mean temperatures at the end of the study were 25.9 ± 2.5°C (right) and 31.7 ± 1.6°C (left) in all subjects. In the diabetic neuropathy group, the final mean temperatures were 27.5 ± 2.4°C (right) and 31.6 ± 0.8°C (left), which indicated that the temperature goal was met inside the instrumented shoe. By regulating temperatures, TAPMARI may reduce the metabolic demands in the foot and prevent cell autolysis by eliminating the imbalance between oxygen demand and supply. This study warrants further development and testing of TAPMARI as well as investigating the clinical effectiveness in preventing DFUs.
Topics: Diabetes Mellitus; Diabetic Foot; Diabetic Neuropathies; Humans; Shoes; Temperature; Walking
PubMed: 32386918
DOI: 10.1053/j.jfas.2019.05.009 -
Journal of Community Health Apr 2021This study aims to understand the knowledge, attitudes and practices of COVID-19 in the Chinese context and to provide insights for developing targeted outbreak...
This study aims to understand the knowledge, attitudes and practices of COVID-19 in the Chinese context and to provide insights for developing targeted outbreak prevention and control measures among the general public. We conducted an online survey of urban and rural residents in Henan Province. A total of 517 valid questionnaires were collected via the online platform. The mean scores for knowledge and practice were 5.57/9 and 2.04/3, respectively. More than 90% of the participants believed COVID-19 was serious and preventable, were concerned about the disease process, and actively engaged in learning related knowledge. Our results showed that the COVID-19 knowledge level was significantly different among groups with different ages, genders, education levels and marital statuses; COVID-19 practice was significantly different among different regions. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that education level, female sex, unmarried status, and health care worker status had a significant impact on COVID-19 knowledge; urban area was associated with a higher practice score; COVID-19 knowledge was significantly associated with residents' attitude toward preventive measures that can prevent COVID-19 infection; urban area was significantly related to the willingness to go to a fever clinic to check for suspected infection. We found that Chinese urban and rural residents held a moderate level of COVID-19 knowledge and practice and showed a positive attitude toward the disease. It is necessary to develop relevant education programs targeting the general population in China to improve COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes and practices, particularly for rural and undereducated residents.
Topics: Adult; COVID-19; China; Cross-Sectional Studies; Educational Status; Female; Health Behavior; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Linear Models; Male; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Rural Population; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
PubMed: 32757087
DOI: 10.1007/s10900-020-00877-x -
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Feb 2020Our objective was to identify preventable adverse drug events and factors contributing to their development.
AIM
Our objective was to identify preventable adverse drug events and factors contributing to their development.
METHODS
We performed a retrospective chart review combining data from three prospective multicentre observational studies that assessed emergency department patients for adverse drug events. A clinical pharmacist and physician independently reviewed the charts, extracted data and rated the preventability of each adverse drug event. A third reviewer adjudicated all discordant or uncertain cases. We calculated the proportion of adverse drug events that were deemed preventable, performed multivariable logistic regression to explore the characteristics of patients with preventable events, and identified contributing factors.
RESULTS
We reviewed the records of 1 356 adverse drug events in 1 234 patients. Raters considered 869 (64.1%) of adverse drug events probably or definitely preventable. Patients with mental health diagnoses (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.3-2.5) and diabetes (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.2-2.4) were more likely to present with preventable events. The medications most commonly implicated in preventable events were warfarin (9.4%), hydrochlorothiazide (4.5%), furosemide (4.0%), insulin (3.9%) and acetylsalicylic acid (2.7%). Common contributing factors included inadequate patient instructions, monitoring and follow-up, and reassessments after medication changes had been made.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that patients with mental health conditions and diabetes require close monitoring. Efforts to address the identified contributing factors are needed.
Topics: Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Emergency Service, Hospital; Humans; Pharmacists; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 31633827
DOI: 10.1111/bcp.14139 -
BMJ Open Jan 2022Acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) due to alcohol and/or tobacco abuse is a preventable disease which lowers quality of life and can lead to chronic pancreatitis. The...
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
Acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) due to alcohol and/or tobacco abuse is a preventable disease which lowers quality of life and can lead to chronic pancreatitis. The REAPPEAR study aims to investigate whether a combined patient education and cessation programme for smoking and alcohol prevents ARP.
METHODS AND ANALYSIS
The REAPPEAR study consists of an international multicentre randomised controlled trial (REAPPEAR-T) testing the efficacy of a cessation programme on alcohol and smoking and a prospective cohort study (REAPPEAR-C) assessing the effects of change in alcohol consumption and smoking (irrespective of intervention). Daily smoker patients hospitalised with alcohol-induced acute pancreatitis (AP) will be enrolled. All patients will receive a standard intervention priorly to encourage alcohol and smoking cessation. Participants will be subjected to laboratory testing, measurement of blood pressure and body mass index and will provide blood, hair and urine samples for later biomarker analysis. Addiction, motivation to change, socioeconomic status and quality of life will be evaluated with questionnaires. In the trial, patients will be randomised either to the cessation programme with 3-monthly visits or to the control group with annual visits. Participants of the cessation programme will receive a brief intervention at every visit with direct feedback on their alcohol consumption based on laboratory results. The primary endpoint will be the composite of 2-year all-cause recurrence rate of AP and/or 2-year all-cause mortality. The cost-effectiveness of the cessation programme will be evaluated. An estimated 182 participants will be enrolled per group to the REAPPEAR-T with further enrolment to the cohort.
ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION
The study was approved by the Scientific and Research Ethics Committee of the Hungarian Medical Research Council (40394-10/2020/EÜIG), all local ethical approvals are in place. Results will be disseminated at conferences and in peer-reviewed journals.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
NCT04647097.
Topics: Acute Disease; Cigarette Smoking; Cohort Studies; Humans; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Pancreatitis; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Nicotiana
PubMed: 34983758
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050821 -
Annali Di Igiene : Medicina Preventiva... 2022The literature claims that an increased risk of complications from pertussis and influenza exists for pregnant women and infants. Maternal tetanus, diphtheria, and...
BACKGROUND
The literature claims that an increased risk of complications from pertussis and influenza exists for pregnant women and infants. Maternal tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) and influenza vaccines seem to decrease this risk so that several countries are committed to increase vaccination uptake, but not all of them know their own vaccination coverage and factors that motivate this population to vaccination.
STUDY DESIGN
A cross-sectional survey was conducted.
METHODS
We conducted this survey to estimate among pregnant women: 1) the vaccine coverage, 2) the availability of information, 3) the knowledge about maternal Tdap and influenza vaccination, 4) the factors that could have driven unvaccinated pregnant women to have themselves vaccinated. In addition, determinants of Tdap and influenza vaccine uptake and correct knowledge about vaccine-preventable diseases and vaccination in pregnancy were assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses.
RESULTS
Of the 250 women included in the present study, only 58 (23.2%, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 18-28.4%) and 21 (8.1%, 95% CI: 5-11.8%) reported that they had been vaccinated with Tdap and influenza vaccine, respectively, during their current pregnancy. The most common reasons cited for getting themselves vaccinated was having background knowledge of the health problems due to the diseases prevented by Tdap and influenza vaccines, awareness regarding these vaccines being recommended in pregnancy, knowledge of their effectiveness and/or side effects, and having been informed about vaccination by a healthcare professional.
CONCLUSIONS
Influenza and Tdap vaccine uptake among pregnant women in Italy is low, however, the present study showed that women are available to get vaccinated during pregnancy when adequately informed about the vaccines recommended.
Topics: Cross-Sectional Studies; Diphtheria; Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines; Female; Humans; Infant; Influenza Vaccines; Influenza, Human; Pregnancy; Tetanus; Vaccination; Whooping Cough
PubMed: 35195239
DOI: 10.7416/ai.2022.2503 -
Vaccine May 2023To evaluate the effectiveness of the tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine containing five pertussis components (Tdap5; Adacel®, Sanofi) when...
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of the tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine containing five pertussis components (Tdap5; Adacel®, Sanofi) when given during pregnancy at preventing pertussis in infants less than 2 months of age.
METHODS
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with the Emerging Infections Program (EIP) Network, undertook a case-control study evaluating the effectiveness of Tdap vaccination in pregnancy against pertussis in infants less than 2 months of age based on data collected by the EIP Network from 2011 through 2014. The dataset from the CDC/EIP Network study was used to conduct this product-specific vaccine effectiveness analysis of Tdap5 vaccination in pregnancy to prevent disease in young infants. The main outcome of interest was vaccine effectiveness in infants whose pregnant parents were vaccinated with Tdap5 between 27 and 36 weeks' gestation, in accordance with the ideal timing for Tdap vaccination in pregnancy recommended by the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Odd ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using conditional logistic regression, and vaccine effectiveness was calculated as (1-OR) × 100 %.
RESULTS
There were 160 infant pertussis cases and 302 matched controls included in this Tdap5-specific study. Tdap5 effectiveness in preventing pertussis in infants whose pregnant parents were vaccinated between 27 and 36 weeks' gestation was 92.5 % (95 % CI, 38.5 %-99.1 %). Effectiveness of Tdap5 against pertussis-related hospitalization in infants whose pregnant parents were vaccinated between 27 and 36 weeks' gestation could not be calculated due to lack of discordance among matched cases and controls. Vaccination of the parents after pregnancy or less than 14 days before delivery did not protect infants from pertussis.
CONCLUSIONS
Tdap5 vaccination in pregnancy between 27 and 36 weeks' gestation is highly effective at protecting young infants from pertussis.
STUDY REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05040802.
Topics: Female; Humans; Infant; Pregnancy; Case-Control Studies; Diphtheria; Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines; Tetanus; Vaccination; Vaccine Efficacy; Whooping Cough
PubMed: 37032227
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.03.048 -
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies Nov 2023The increasing incidence of cognitive impairment has become a health problem in the aging society. Owing to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, Brazilian...
BACKGROUND
The increasing incidence of cognitive impairment has become a health problem in the aging society. Owing to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, Brazilian green propolis-derived from Baccharis dracunculifolia-is anticipated to possess anticognitive properties. However, the preventive effect of Brazilian green propolis on cognitive impairment remains unexplained. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Brazilian green propolis on cognitive impairment using a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD) induced by intracerebroventricular injection of amyloid beta (Aβ).
METHODS
Five-week-old male Slc:ddY mice were randomly divided into five groups (n = 8). The groups were pretreated with vehicle and propolis at a dose of 100, 300 and 900 mg/kg body weight for 8 days, then AD-like phenotypes were induced by intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of Aβ. A sham operation group was set as the control. Memory and learning ability were measured at 7 to 8 days after ICV injection. Gene expression and histological studies were performed at the endpoint of the study.
RESULTS
In a passive avoidance test, the administration of Brazilian green propolis prevented the impairment of learning and memory function. Furthermore, comprehensive gene expression analysis in the hippocampus and forebrain cortex revealed that Brazilian green propolis suppressed Aβ-induced inflammatory and immune responses. In particular, Brazilian green propolis prevented alterations in gene expressions of microglial and astrocytic markers such as Trem2 and Lcn2 induced by Aβ injection, suggesting the suppression of excessive activation of glial cells in the brain. In addition, Brazilian green propolis suppressed the elevation of plasma interleukin (IL)-6 levels induced by Aβ injection.
CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that the prophylactic administration of Brazilian green propolis has a preventive effect against AD by suppressing excessive inflammation and immune response in glial cells. To our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate that Brazilian green propolis may inhibit the hyperactivation of microglia and astrocytes as a mechanism of action to prevent AD. Thus, it is a promising ingredient for preventing AD-type dementia.
Topics: Male; Humans; Alzheimer Disease; Amyloid beta-Peptides; Propolis; Brazil; Cognitive Dysfunction
PubMed: 37978479
DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04247-7 -
Infection, Disease & Health May 2022Millions of people have acquired and died from SARS-CoV-2 infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are required to wear personal protective... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Millions of people have acquired and died from SARS-CoV-2 infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), including surgical masks and P2/N95 respirators, to prevent infection while treating patients. However, the comparative effectiveness of respirators and masks in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection and the likelihood of experiencing adverse events (AEs) with wear are unclear.
METHODS
Searches were carried out in PubMed, Europe PMC and the Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register to 14 June 2021. A systematic review of comparative epidemiological studies examining SARS-CoV-2 infection or AE incidence in HCWs wearing P2/N95 (or equivalent) respirators and surgical masks was performed. Article screening, risk of bias assessment and data extraction were duplicated. Meta-analysis of extracted data was carried out in RevMan.
RESULTS
Twenty-one studies were included, with most having high risk of bias. There was no statistically significant difference in respirator or surgical mask effectiveness in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR 0.85, [95%CI 0.72, 1.01]). Healthcare workers experienced significantly more headaches (OR 2.62, [95%CI 1.18, 5.81]), respiratory distress (OR 4.21, [95%CI 1.46, 12.13]), facial irritation (OR 1.80, [95%CI 1.03, 3.14]) and pressure-related injuries (OR 4.39, [95%CI 2.37, 8.15]) when wearing respirators compared to surgical masks.
CONCLUSION
The existing epidemiological evidence does not enable definitive assessment of the effectiveness of respirators compared to surgical masks in preventing infection. Healthcare workers wearing respirators may be more likely to experience AEs. Effective mitigation strategies are important to ensure the uptake and correct use of respirators by HCWs.
Topics: COVID-19; Humans; N95 Respirators; Pandemics; Personal Protective Equipment; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 35151628
DOI: 10.1016/j.idh.2022.01.001