Trends in HIV surveillance data in the EU/EEA, 2005 to 2014: New HIV diagnoses still increasing in men who have sex with men

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission remains significant in Europe. Rates of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have declined, but not in all countries. New HIV diagnoses have increased among native and foreign-born men who have sex with men. Median CD4+T-cell count at diagnosis has increased, but not in all groups, and late diagnosis remains common. HIV infection and AIDS can be eliminated in Europe with resolute prevention measures, early diagnosis and access to effective treatment

STABILISING TRENDS OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY AMONG 5-14-YEAR-OLDS IN LIECHTENSTEIN BETWEEN 2004 AND 2012

Background: The worldwide trends in childhood obesity and associated health-related risks are a cause of concern. In view of this alarming tendency continuous monitoring and information on a wide age-range of children is important. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to observe national trends of childhood overweight (ow) and obesity (ob) among 5-14-year-olds in Liechtenstein over a 9-year period. Methods: The study is based on a series of 5 cross-sectional screening examinations conducted at two-year intervals from 2004 to 2012 and includes data of 3,711 children. Boys and girls are equally represented (50.1 % and 49.9 %). BMI was calculated on standardised measurements and classified by using the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut-offs. Results: Using IOTF reference, currently 16.6 % of pre-schoolers and school children in Liechtenstein are overweight (incl. obesity), i.e. approximately every 6th child is affected. Over the studied 9-year period, a non-significant decrease in the combined prevalence (owob) was observed in both boys and girls. Gender specific analysis showed that differences between boys and girls were rather weakly expressed, but seemed to increase during school age with a tendency of more overweight boys in secondary school. Conclusions: This study suggests an apparent levelling off in childhood overweight and obesity in Liechtenstein between 2004 and 2012 and corroborates similar findings from other countries

Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in next of kin during suspension of ICU visits during the COVID-19 pandemic: a prospective observational study

During the COVID-19 pandemic, suspension of visits by next of kin to patients in intensive care units (ICU), to prevent spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has been a common practice. This could impede established family-centered care and may affect the mental health of the next of kin. The aim of this study was to explore symptoms of post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) in the next of kin of ICU patients.; In this prospective observational single-center study, next of kin of ICU patients were interviewed by telephone, using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), to assess symptoms of acute stress disorder during the ICU stay and PTSD symptoms at 3 months after the ICU stay. The primary outcome was the prevalence of severe PTSD symptoms (IES-R score ≥ 33) at 3 months. The secondary outcomes comprised the IES-R scores during the ICU stay, at 3 months, and the prevalence of severe symptoms of acute stress disorder during ICU stay. An inductive content analysis was performed of the next of kin's comments regarding satisfaction with patient care and the information they were given.; Of the 411 ICU patients admitted during the study period, 62 patients were included together with their next of kin. An IES-R score > 33 was observed in 90.3% (56/62) of next of kin during the ICU stay and in 69.4% (43/62) 3 months later. The median IES-R score was 49 (IQR 40-61) during the ICU stay and 41 (IQR 30-55) at 3 months. The inductive content analysis showed that communication/information (55%), support (40%), distressing emotions (32%), and suspension of ICU visits (24%) were mentioned as relevant aspects by the next of kin.; During the suspension of ICU visits in the COVID-19 pandemic, high prevalence and severity of both symptoms of acute stress disorder during the ICU stay and PTSD symptoms 3 months later were observed in the next of kin of ICU patients

Treatment of patients with myocardial infarction depends on history of cancer

Background: Although cancer treatment considerably affects cardiovascular health, little is known about how cancer patients are treated for an acute myocardial infarction. We aimed to investigate whether acute myocardial infarction patients with a history of cancer received the same guideline recommended treatment as those acute myocardial infarction patients without and whether they differ with respect to inhospital outcome. Methods: All patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, enrolled between 2002 and mid-2015 in the acute myocardial infarction in Switzerland (AMIS Plus) registry with comorbidity data based on the Charlson comorbidity index were analysed. Patients were classified as having cancer if one of the cancer diseases of the Charlson comorbidity index was indicated. Immediate treatment strategies and inhospital outcomes were compared between groups using propensity score matching. Results: Of 35,249 patients, 1981 (5.6%) had a history of cancer. After propensity score matching for age, gender, Killip class &gt;2, ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and renal disease (1981 patients per group), significant differences were no longer found for a history of acute myocardial infarction, hypertension, diabetes, heart failure and cerebrovascular disease between cancer and non-cancer patients. However, cancer patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention less frequently (odds ratio (OR) 0.76; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.67–0.88) and received P2Y12 blockers (OR 0.82; 95% CI 0.71–0.94) and statins (OR 0.87; 95% CI 0.76–0.99) less frequently. Inhospital mortality was significantly higher in cancer patients (10.7% vs. 7.6%, OR 1.45; 95% CI 1.17–1.81). However, the main cause of death was cardiac in both groups ( P=0.06). Conclusion: Acute myocardial infarction patients with a history of cancer were less likely to receive guideline recommended treatment and had worse inhospital outcomes than non-cancer patients. </jats:sec

RiFNet: Automated rib fracture detection in postmortem computed tomography

Imaging techniques are widely used for medical diagnostics. In some cases, a lack of medical practitioners who can manually analyze the images can lead to a bottleneck. Consequently, we developed a custom-made convolutional neural network (RiFNet = Rib Fracture Network) that can detect rib fractures in postmortem computed tomography. In a retrospective cohort study, we retrieved PMCT data from 195 postmortem cases with rib fractures from July 2017 to April 2018 from our database. The computed tomography data were prepared using a plugin in the commercial imaging software Syngo.via whereby the rib cage was unfolded on a single-in-plane image reformation. Out of the 195 cases, a total of 585 images were extracted and divided into two groups labeled “with” and “without” fractures. These two groups were subsequently divided into training, validation, and test datasets to assess the performance of RiFNet. In addition, we explored the possibility of applying transfer learning techniques on our dataset by choosing two independent noncommercial off-the-shelf convolutional neural network architectures (ResNet50 V2 and Inception V3) and compared the performances of those two with RiFNet. When using pre-trained convolutional neural networks, we achieved an F$_{1}$ score of 0.64 with Inception V3 and an F$_{1}$ score of 0.61 with ResNet50 V2. We obtained an average F$_{1}$ score of 0.91 ± 0.04 with RiFNet. RiFNet is efficient in detecting rib fractures on postmortem computed tomography. Transfer learning techniques are not necessarily well adapted to make classifications in postmortem computed tomography

Introduction and reproducibility of an updated practical grading system for lumbar foraminal stenosis based on high-resolution MR imaging

Abstract In this paper we sought to develop and assess the reproducibility of an updated 6-point grading system for lumbar foraminal stenosis based on the widely used Lee classification that more accurately describes lumbar foraminal stenosis as seen on high-resolution MRI. Grade A indicates absence of foraminal stenosis. Grades B, C, D and E indicate presence of foraminal stenosis with contact of the nerve root with surrounding anatomical structures (on one, two, three or four sides for B, C, D and E respectively) yet without morphological change of the nerve root. To each grade, a number code indicating the location of contact between the nerve root and surrounding anatomical structure(s) is appended. 1, 2, 3 and 4 indicate contact of the nerve root at superior, posterior, inferior and anterior position of the borders of the lumbar foramen. Grade F indicates presence of foraminal stenosis with morphological change of the nerve root. Three readers graded the lumbar foramina of 101 consecutive patients using high-resolution T2w (and T1w) MR images with a spatial resolution of beyond 0.5 mm3. Interreader agreement was excellent (Cohen’s Kappa = 0.866–1). Importantly, 30.6%/31.6%/32.2% (reader 1/reader 2/ reader 3) of foramina were assigned grades that did not appear in the original Lee grading system (grades B and D). The readers found no foramen that could not be described accurately with the updated grading system. Thus, an updated 6-point grading system for lumbar foraminal stenosis is reproducible and comprehensively describes lumbar foraminal stenosis as seen on high-resolution MRI

New HIV diagnoses among adults aged 50 years or older in 31 European countries, 2004–15: an analysis of surveillance data

Background The HIV burden is increasing in older adults in the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA). We investigated factors associated with HIV diagnosis in older adults in the 31 EU/EEA countries during a 12 year period. Methods In this analysis of surveillance data, we compared data from older people (aged ≥50 years) with those from younger people (aged 15–49 years). We extracted new HIV diagnoses reported to the European Surveillance System between Jan 1, 2004, and Dec 31, 2015, and stratified them by age, sex, migration status, transmission route, and CD4 cell count. We defined late diagnosis as CD4 count of less than 350 cells per μL at diagnosis and diagnosis with advanced HIV disease as less than 200 cells per μL. We compared the two age groups with the χ2test for difference, and used linear regression analysis to assess temporal trends. Findings During the study period 54 102 new HIV diagnoses were reported in older adults. The average notification rate of new diagnoses was 2·6 per 100 000 population across the whole 12 year period, which significantly increased over time (annual average change [AAC] 2·1%, 95% CI 1·1–3·1; p=0·0009). Notification rates for new HIV diagnoses in older adults increased significantly in 16 countries in 2004–15, clustering in central and eastern EU/EEA countries. In 2015, compared with younger adults, older individuals were more likely to originate from the reporting country, to have acquired HIV via heterosexual contact, and to present late (p&lt;0·0001 for all comparisons). HIV diagnoses increased significantly over time among older men (AAC 2·2%, 95% CI 1·2–3·3; p=0·0006), women (1·3%, 0·2–2·4; p=0·025), men who have sex with men (5·8%, 4·3–7·5; p&lt;0·0001), and injecting drug users (7·4%, 4·8–10·2; p&lt;0·0001). Interpretation Our findings suggest that there is a compelling need to deliver more targeted testing interventions for older adults and the general adult population, such as by increasing awareness among health-care workers and expanding opportunities for provider-initiated and indicator-condition-guided testing programmes. Funding European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

The role and utilisation of public health evaluations in Europe: a case study of national hand hygiene campaigns

To access publisher's full text version of this article, please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field or click on the hyperlink at the top of the page marked Files. This article is open access.Evaluations are essential to judge the success of public health programmes. In Europe, the proportion of public health programmes that undergo evaluation remains unclear. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control sought to determine the frequency of evaluations amongst European national public health programmes by using national hand hygiene campaigns as an example of intervention.A cohort of all national hand hygiene campaigns initiated between 2000 and 2012 was utilised for the analysis. The aim was to collect information about evaluations of hand hygiene campaigns and their frequency. The survey was sent to nominated contact points for healthcare-associated infection surveillance in European Union and European Economic Area Member States.Thirty-six hand hygiene campaigns in 20 countries were performed between 2000 and 2012. Of these, 50% had undergone an evaluation and 55% of those utilised the WHO hand hygiene intervention self-assessment tool. Evaluations utilised a variety of methodologies and indicators in assessing changes in hand hygiene behaviours pre and post intervention. Of the 50% of campaigns that were not evaluated, two thirds reported that both human and financial resource constraints posed significant barriers for the evaluation.The study identified an upward trend in the number of hand hygiene campaigns implemented in Europe. It is likely that the availability of the internationally-accepted evaluation methodology developed by the WHO contributed to the evaluation of more hand hygiene campaigns in Europe. Despite this rise, hand hygiene campaigns appear to be under-evaluated. The development of simple, programme-specific, standardised guidelines, evaluation indicators and other evidence-based public health materials could help promote evaluations across all areas of public health