Antibiotic prescribing in primary care by international medical graduates and graduates from Swedish medical schools.

Studies of antibiotic prescribing related to diagnosis comparing prescribers trained abroad with those trained in Sweden are lacking

Разработка конструкции стенда для испытаний системы выгрузки зерна комбайна КЗС-10К

Материалы VIII Междунар. науч.-техн. конф. студентов, магистрантов и молодых ученых, Гомель, 28–29 апр. 2008

Weight reduction is not a major reason for improvement in rheumatoid arthritis from lacto-vegetarian, vegan or Mediterranean diets

OBJECTIVES: Several investigators have reported that clinical improvements of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), from participating in therapeutic diet intervention studies, have been accompanied by loss of body weight. This has raised the question whether weight reduction per se can improve RA. In order to test this hypothesis, three previously conducted diet intervention studies, comprising 95 patients with RA, were pooled. Together with Age, Gender, and Disease Duration, change during the test period in body weight, characterised dichotomously as reduction or no reduction (dichoΔBody Weight), as well as Diet (dichotomously as ordinary diet or test diet), were the independent variables. Dependent variables were the difference (Δ) from baseline to conclusion of the study in five different disease outcome measures. ΔESR and ΔPain Score were both characterised numerically and dichotomously (improvement or no improvement). ΔAcute Phase Response, ΔPhysical Function, and ΔTender Joint Count were characterised dichotomously only. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyse associations between the independent and the disease outcome variables. RESULTS: Statistically significant correlations were found between Diet and three disease outcome variables i.e. ΔAcute-Phase Response, ΔPain Score, and ΔPhysical Function. Δ Body Weight was univariately only correlated to ΔAcute-Phase Response but not significant when diet was taken into account. CONCLUSION: Body weight reduction did not significantly contribute to the improvement in rheumatoid arthritis when eating lacto-vegetarian, vegan or Mediterranean diets

Clinical impact of real-time evaluation of the biological activity and degradation of hepatocyte growth factor

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is essential for injury repair. Despite high HGF levels in chronic ulcers, up-regulation of HGF receptor in ulcer tissue and decreased biological activity of HGF in ulcer secretions have been observed. With a surface plasmon resonance-based method, we assessed the binding of HGF to antibodies, receptors, and the basement membrane and identified binding interactions that are indispensable for the biological activity of HGF. Recombinant HGF (rHGF) lots were tested for activity, structural integrity, and degradation, and the results were verified in an in vitro model of cell injury. Biologically active rHGF, as well as plasma from healthy volunteers, bound to heparan sulphate proteoglycan (HSPG) and to anti-HGF antibodies. Decreased binding to HSPG was the first event in rHGF degradation. This study established the feasibility of identifying patients with chronic inflammation who need exogenous HGF and of using ligand-binding assessment to evaluate rHGF lots for biological activity

Longitudinal peak strain detects a smaller risk area than visual assessment of wall motion in acute myocardial infarction

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Opening of an occluded infarct related artery reduces infarct size and improves survival in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In this study we performed tissue Doppler analysis (peak strain, displacement, mitral annular movement (MAM)) and compared with visual assessment for the study of the correlation of measurements of global, regional and segmental function with final infarct size and transmurality. In addition, myocardial risk area was determined and a prediction sought for the development of infarct transmurality ≥50%.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty six patients with STEMI submitted for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were examined with echocardiography on the catheterization table. Four to eight weeks later repeat echocardiography was performed for reassessment of function and magnetic resonance imaging for the determination of final infarct size and transmurality.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>On a global level, wall motion score index (WMSI), ejection fraction (EF), strain, and displacement all showed significant differences (p ≤ 0.001, p ≤ 0.001, p ≤ 0.001 and p = 0.03) between the two study visits, but MAM did not (p = 0.17). On all levels (global, regional and segmental) and both pre- and post PCI, WMSI showed a higher correlation with scar transmurality compared to strain. We found that both strain and WMSI predicted the development of scar transmurality ≥50%, but strain added no significant information to that obtained with WMSI in a logistic regression analysis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In patients with acute STEMI, WMSI, EF, strain, and displacement showed significant changes between the pre- and post PCI exam. In a ROC-analysis, strain had 64% sensitivity at 80% specificity and WMSI around 90% sensitivity at 80% specificity for the detection of scar with transmurality ≥50% at follow-up.</p

Preterm Birth: A Prominent Risk Factor for Low Apgar Scores

Objective. To determine predictive risk factors for Apgar scores less than 7 at 5 minutes at two hospitals providing tertiary care and secondary care, respectively. Methods. A retrospective registry cohort study of 21126 births (2006-2010) using data from digital medical records. Risk factors were analyzed by logistic regression analyses. Results. AS(5min) less than 7 was multivariately associated with the following: preterm birth; gestational week 32 + 0-36 + 6, OR = 3.9 (95% CI 2.9-5.3); week 28 + 0-31 + 6, OR = 8 (5-12); week less than 28 + 0, OR = 15 (8-29); postterm birth, OR = 2.0 (1.7-2.3); multiple pregnancy, OR = 3.53 (1.79-6.96); previous cesarean section, OR = 3.67 (2.31-5.81); BMI 25-29, OR = 1.30 (1.09-1.55); BMI greater than= 30 OR = 1.70 (1.20-2.41); nonnormal CTG at admission, OR = 1.98 (1.48-2.66). greater than= 1-para was associated with a decreased risk for AS(5min) less than 7, OR = 0.34 (0.25-0.47). In the univariate logistic regression analysis AS(5min) less than 7 was associated with tertiary level care, OR = 1.48 (1.17-1.87); however, in the multivariate analysis there was no significant difference. Conclusion. A number of partially preventable risk factors were identified, preterm birth being the most evident. Further, no significant difference between the two hospital levels regarding the risk for low Apgar scores was detected.Funding Agencies|Medical Research Council of Southeast Sweden</p

Nurse Managers' prerequisite for nursing development : a survey on pressure ulcers and contextual factors in hospital organizations

Aim To describe and compare pressure ulcer prevalence in two county councils and concurrently explore Nurse Managers perspective of contextual factors in a hospital organization. Background Despite good knowledge about risk factors and prevention of pressure ulcers, the prevalence of pressure ulcers remains high. Nurse Managers have a key role in implementing evidence-based practice. Methods The present study included five hospitals in two Swedish county councils: county council A (non-university setting) and county council B (university setting). A pressure ulcer prevalence study was conducted according to the methodology developed by the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel. The Nurse Managers answered a (27-item) questionnaire on contextual factors. Results County council B had significantly less pressure ulcers grade (2–4) (7.7%) than county council A (11.3%). The Nurse Managers' assessed only two out of the 27 general contextual items significantly differently. Some significant differences were observed in ward organization. Conclusions In county council B, the Nurse Managers seemed more aware of prevention strategies compared with Nurse Managers in county council A. The Nurse Managers should take more responsibility to develop the prerequisite for quality improvement in nursing. Implication for nursing management Nursing outcomes (e.g. pressure ulcers) should be incorporated into national quality registries for benchmarking and Nurse Managers competence in evidence-based practice and research methodology increased

The relationship between six-minute walked distance and health-related quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure

Objectives. To assess the relationship between the six-minute walk test (6MWT) and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with chronic heart failure. Methods. Forty-six patients (37 men and 9 women) with chronic heart failure, mean age 68 (SD 9), NYHA II-III and EF 29 (9) % were included. They performed 6MWT and assessed HRQL using two tools, a Swedish version of the 36-item Short Form (SF-36) and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ). This was performed repeatedly during a study period of one year. Results. Patients with a walking distance lower than median experienced a lower HRQL than the higher performing half of the cohort, in four dimensions of the SF-36 and the summary of physical and mental components, but not in the dimensions of MLHFQ. Conclusion. Patients with heart failure with a short walking distance assessed their quality of life as inferior in half of the dimensions in the SF-36 but not in the dimensions measured with the MLHFQ. Thus, different aspects of the symptomatology are uncovered using the 6MWT and the different HRQL tools