Migraine, Fibromyalgia, and Depression among People with IBS: A Prevalence Study

BACKGROUND. Case descriptions suggest IBS patients are more likely to have other disorders, including migraine, fibromyalgia, and depression. We sought to examine the prevalence of these conditions in cohorts of people with and without IBS. METHODS. The source of data was a large U.S. health plan from January 1, 1996 though June 30, 2002. We identified all people with a medical claim associated with an ICD-9 code for IBS. A non-IBS cohort was a random sample of people with an ICD-9 code for routine medical care. In the cohorts, we identified all claims for migraine, depression, and fibromyalgia. We estimated the prevalence odds ratios (PORs) of each of the three conditions using the Mantel-Haenszel method. We conducted quantitative sensitivity analyses to quantify the impact of residual confounding and in differential outcome identification. RESULTS. We identified 97,593 people in the IBS cohort, and a random sample of 27,402 people to compose the non-IBS comparison cohort. With adjustment, there was a 60% higher odds in the IBS cohort of having any one of the three disorders relative to the comparison cohort (POR 1.6, 95% CI 1.5 – 1.7). There was a 40% higher odds of depression in the IBS cohort (POR 1.4, 95% CI 1.3 – 1.4). The PORs for fibromyalgia and migraine were similar (POR for fibromyalgia 1.8, 95% CI 1.7 – 1.9; POR for migraine 1.6, 95% CI 1.4 – 1.7). Differential prevalence of an unmeasured confounder, or imperfect sensitivity or specificity of outcome detection would have impacted the observed results. CONCLUSION. People in the IBS cohort had a 40% to 80% higher prevalence odds of migraine, fibromyalgia, and depression

Media consumption and creation in attitudes toward and knowledge of inflammatory bowel disease: web-based survey

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic gastrointestinal condition affecting over 5 million people globally and 1.6 million in the United States but currently lacks a precisely determined cause or cure. The range of symptoms IBD patients experience are often debilitating, and the societal stigmas associated with some such symptoms can further degrade their quality of life. Better understanding the nature of this public reproach then is a critical component for improving awareness campaigns and, ultimately, the experiences of IBD patients. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to explore and assess the public's awareness and knowledge of IBD, as well as what relationship, if any, exists between the social stigma surrounding IBD, knowledge of the disease, and various media usage, including social media. METHODS: Utilizing a Web-based opt-in platform, we surveyed a nationally representative sample (n=1200) with demographics mirroring those of the US Census figures across baseline parameters. Using constructed indices based on factor analysis, we were able to build reliable measures of personal characteristics, media behaviors, and perceptions and knowledge of IBD. RESULTS: Among the American public, IBD is the most stigmatized of seven diseases, including genital herpes and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Additionally, IBD knowledge is generally low with 11.08% (133/1200) of the sample indicating no familiarity with the disease and 85.50% (1026/1200) of participants inaccurately answering two-thirds of the IBD index questions with which their knowledge was assessed. Increased knowledge of IBD is associated with lower levels of stigma. However, social media use is currently related to lower levels of IBD knowledge (P<.05). Furthermore, findings indicate that participants who most frequently engaged in producing social media content are less knowledgeable about IBD (P<.10), highlighting the potential for a dangerous cycle should they be contributing to a Web-based IBD dialogue. CONCLUSIONS: Greater efforts must be taken to stymie IBD misinformation across all media, but especially in social media channels, to increase IBD knowledge and reduce stigma surrounding IBD. These findings pave the way for further research qualitatively examining the pervasiveness of specific IBD messages found in today's social media landscape and their impact on enacted stigmas so as to better equip providers and patient advocacy organizations with impactful communication solutions

Aplicación de conceptos de marca ciudad en la Parroquia San Miguel de Nono, Quito-Ecuador Campaña "Nono, Tu Escape a un Paso!"

The redesign of the branding of a city or country plays a critical role in the economic and tourism sectors on which modern civilization is based. A brand has the ability to attract and get the attention of consumers and even hook them unto your products. In the same way that product brands compete on rack for consumer attention, countries and cities have been involved in the same scenario. It is necessary to give a brand to any community or city, giving it an image that people can remember, to thus strengthen consumer-destination relationships in the long-term; and boost tourism and the economy. This work was based on the concepts of nation and city branding, for their application in a smaller community, the parish of San Miguel de Nono, Quito, Ecuador. The parish of Nono, which is located 30 minutes from the city of Quito, features a large number of tourist attractions. It offers horseback riding, excursions to waterfalls, excellent food, adventure, bird watching, crafts and accommodation, all at an affordable price and reasonable distance. For this reason, it was decided to carry out the practical activities of the thesis within this community. To generate a large reach within the population, it was decided to make a global 360º communications campaign that would promote the image of the parish of Nono in the city of Quito. The first thing was to design a logo that is very striking and easy to recognize, then, it was to create social networking profiles to inform the public and the media about the campaign. Partnering with national assemblywoman Soledad Buendía who sponsored the project as the spokesperson of the campaign, we had the opportunity to have a broader media reach. About 15 representatives of the media covered the initiative and to date that number continues to grow. It was necessary to work hard with the community of the parish, teaching them things like protocol for customer service and things like the importance of a logo and an image that goes with their specific business. Also, we have the support of the Government of the Parish of Nono, who helped and contributed much to this cause. “Nono, tu escape a un paso!” is the fair that was organized with the motive of generating a tourism and economic boost in the parish of Nono. In this fair, there were around 30 stands with different products and services for show. The categories that stood out were crafts, cuisine, music, dance, adventure, hotels and lodging, bird watching, eco routes and community tourism. To make this fair happen, we had to make a brand design for the parish, thus, generating a logo that is identifiable with the community. Starting from this point, having an image, we began to attack with advertising through social networks and traditional media. In the same way, allying with National Assemblywoman Soledad Buendía who is the official spokesperson of “Nono, tu escape a un paso!”, we managed for the importance of this initiative to be recognized. An expectation campaign was also conducted in the city of Quito, which aroused the curiosity of passers-by who got involved in asking what the campaign was about. 10 The work of creating this identifying image of Nono and positioning it in the city of Quito, and in this way receiving a boost in tourism and the economy of the area was done under the guidance of the theories of Nation Branding as such. We believe it is important that each region, community or city has its own brand, with which its citizens can identify, adding value and thus attracting the attention of consumers and reel them in. The city branding not only serves to generate greater economic investment or affluence of people, but it also strengthens the sense of belonging and national pride in the people, thus achieving a feeling that every citizen is an ambassador for his city and go where they may go, they carry it with them in their heart. The purpose of this campaign is an activism, which calls for the recognition of Nono for its tourism qualities as a major tourist attraction in the city of Quito, and in the same way, encourages the replication of this initiative again in the parish of Nono. Likewise, it seeks that government agencies can take this initiative and replicate it in the remaining 32 parishes around the city; however, as of this moment nothing has been finalized yet.El rediseño de la marca de una ciudad o país juega un papel fundamental en los ejes económicos y turísticos en los que se basa la civilización moderna. Una marca tiene la capacidad de atraer, de llamar la atención de los consumidores y engancharlos. Así como las marcas de productos compiten en perchas por la atención del consumidor, los países y ciudades se han visto involucrados en el mismo escenario. Es necesario darle una marca a cualquier comunidad o ciudad, darle una imagen que las personas puedan recordar, para de esta manera, afianzar relaciones entre consumidor y destino a largo plazo; e impulsar el turismo y la economía. Este trabajo se basó en los conceptos acerca de marca país y ciudad, para aplicarlos en una comunidad más pequeña, en la parroquia de San Miguel de Nono, Quito – Ecuador. La parroquia de Nono, la cual está localizada a 30 minutos de la ciudad de Quito, cuenta con un gran número de atractivos turísticos. Ofrece cabalgatas, cascadas, gastronomía, aventura, avistamiento de aves, artesanías y hospedaje, todo a un cómodo precio y razonable distancia. Por esta razón, se decidió realizar las actividades practicas de la tesis en esta comunidad. Para generar un gran alcance en la población, se decidió hacer una campaña comunicacional global 360º que impulsara la imagen de la parroquia de Nono en la ciudad de Quito. Lo primero fue diseñar un logotipo que sea fácil de reconocer y muy llamativo, después, fue crear los perfiles de redes sociales de la campaña para informar a la población y medios de comunicación de que se trataba. Aliándonos son la Asambleísta Soledad Buendía como vocera de la campaña, tuvimos la oportunidad de tener un alcance mayor en medios de comunicación. La iniciativa fue cubierta por alrededor de 15 medios de comunicación y hasta la fecha seguimos contando. Se tuvo que realizar un arduo labor con la comunidad de la parroquia, enseñarles desde protocolo de atención al cliente, hasta el porque de la importancia de contar con un logotipo y una imagen alineada a su negocio. También, contamos con el apoyo del Gobierno Parroquial de Nono, quien ayudó y aportó mucho para esta causa. “Nono, tu escape a un paso!” , es la feria que se organizó con motivo de generar un impulso turístico y económico en la parroquia de Nono. En esta feria, se pudo contar con al rededor de 30 stands con diferentes productos y servicios para mostrar. Las categorías que se destacaron fueron artesanías, gastronomía, música, danza, aventura, hotelería y hospedaje, avistamiento de aves, eco rutas y turismo comunitario. Para realizar esta feria, tuvimos que realizar un diseño de marca de la parroquia, para así, generar un logotipo que sea identificable con la misma. Partiendo de este punto, teniendo una imagen, comenzamos por atacar con publicidad mediante redes sociales y medios de comunicación tradicionales. De la misma manera, aliándonos con la Asambleísta Soledad Buendía quien es la vocera oficial de la campaña “Nono, tu escape a un paso!”, logramos que se reconociera lo importante de esta iniciativa. Se realizó una campaña de expectativa en la ciudad de Quito, la cual despertaba la curiosidad de los transeúntes y se involucraban en preguntar de que se trataba. La labor de crear esta imagen que identifique a Nono y posicionarla en la ciudad de Quito, para de esta forma conseguir un impulso en el turismo de la zona y su economía se 8 realizó bajo los lineamientos de las teorías de la Marca País como tal. Creemos que es importante que cada región, comunidad o ciudad tenga su marca, con la que sus ciudadanos se identifiquen, darle un valor agregado y de esta manera llamar la atención de los consumidores y engancharlos. La marca ciudad no solamente sirve para generar mayor inversión económica o afluencia de personas, también afianza el orgullo de pertenencia y el orgullo nacional en los habitantes, logrando de esta manera, que cada ciudadano sea un embajador de su ciudad y vaya a donde vaya, la lleve en el corazón. La finalidad de esta campaña, es un activismo en el cual se pide que se reconozca a Nono por su cualidades turísticas como un atractivo turístico importante dentro de la ciudad de Quito, y de la misma manera, incentivar la replica de esta iniciativa nuevamente en la parroquia de Nono. De la misma manera, se busca por parte de organismos gubernamentales, que esta iniciativa sea replicada en las 32 parroquias restantes de los alrededores de la ciudad, sin embargo, no se ha concretado nada todavía

Badra lebanese fast food and drinks

The following study is based on the project Gastrochallenge First Edition of the Universidad San Francisco de Quito that took part for the completion of the career. The menu is based on Lebanese food that transmitted the Lebanese culinary culture: During the study there is a chapter that corresponds to the menu by Javier Farraye and Valeria Crespo. The dishes were served in tasting portions and as well there is included a dessert. The Lebanese menu was made with the purpose of publicizing those culinary traditions of an exotic country, showing rich products. In this case we chose the cuisine of Lebanon, which was prepared with traditional products and procedures of the country. The dishes were put on sale for the date of April 21 to May 7, 2014. Those dishes were; Tomato confit with sesame and honey, borek meat , cheese borek , vegetable dumpling , hummus, eggplant cream , falafel , chickpea dumpling , dumpling potatoes, saffron potatoes , Turkish pizza and tabulate . For dessert baklava was sold and equally natural fruit juices of various flavors were served.La siguiente tesis está basada en el proyecto Gastrochallenge Primera Edición de la Universidad San Francisco de Quito que formo parte para la culminación de la carrera. Durante la tesis se expone un capitulo que corresponde al menú realizado por Javier Farraye y Valeria Crespo: el menú es basado en comida libanesa, este consto de varios platos que transmitían la cultura gastronómica libanesa. Los platos fueron servidos en porciones degustación y de igual manera se contó con un postre. El menú libanes se lo realizó con la finalidad de dar a conocer aquellas tradiciones culinarias de un país exótico, mostrando riqueza de productos. En este caso escogimos la cocina del Líbano, gastronomía que fue elaborada con productos y procedimientos propios del país. Los platos que se pusieron a la venta durante la fecha del 21 de abril a mayo 7 fueron; tomate confitado con ajonjolí y miel, borek de carne, borek de queso, empanadilla de vegetales, hummus, crema de berenjena, falafel, albóndiga de garbanzo, albóndiga de papa, patatas al azafrán, pizza turca y tabule. Como postre se vendió baklava y de igual manera se sirvieron jugos de frutas naturales de varios sabores

Increased Risk of Pneumocystis Jiroveci Pneumonia Among Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease:

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may be at increased risk for pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP). Our aims were 1) to determine the incidence and relative risk of PCP in IBD and 2) to describe medication exposures in IBD patients with PCP

Immunization Rates and Vaccine Beliefs Among Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An Opportunity for Improvement

Immunosuppressive agents used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can increase the risk for infections, several of which are preventable through vaccination. Our study aimed to describe vaccine utilization by immunosuppression status, examine reasons for vaccine refusal, and identify characteristics associated with lack of influenza vaccination in IBD patients

Knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices about colorectal cancer among adults in an area of Southern Italy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer for both sexes in developed countries. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices regarding CRC of adults in Italy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A random sample of 1165 adults received a self-administered questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics; knowledge regarding definition, risk factors, and screening; attitudes regarding perceived risk of contracting CRC and utility of screening tests; health-related behaviors and health care use; source of information.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Only 18.5% knew the two main modifiable risk factors (low physical activity, high caloric intake from fat) and this knowledge was significantly associated with higher educational level, performing physical activity, modification of dietary habits and physical activity for fear of contracting CRC, and lower risk perception of contracting CRC. Half of respondents identified fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) as main test for CRC prevention and were more knowledgeable those unmarried, more educated, who knew the main risk factors of CRC, and have received advice by physician of performing FOBT. Personal opinion that screening is useful for CRC prevention was high with a mean score of 8.3 and it was predicted by respondents' lower education, beliefs that CRC can be prevented, higher personal perceived risk of contracting CRC, and information received by physician about CRC. An appropriate behavior of performing FOBT if eligible or not performing if not eligible was significantly higher in female, younger, more educated, in those who have been recommended by physician for undergo or not undergo FOBT, and who have not personal history of precancerous lesions and familial history of precancerous lesions or CRC.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Linkages between health care and educational systems are needed to improve the levels of knowledge and to raise CRC screening adherence.</p

Effects of sex, age, and visits on receipt of preventive healthcare services: a secondary analysis of national data

BACKGROUND: Sex and age may exert a combined influence on receipt of preventive services with differences due to number of ambulatory care visits. METHODS: We used nationally representative data to determine weighted percentages and adjusted odds ratios of men and women stratified by age group who received selected preventive services. The presence of interaction between sex and age group was tested using adjusted models and retested after adding number of visits. RESULTS: Men were less likely than women to have received blood pressure screening (aOR 0.44;0.40–0.50), cholesterol screening (aOR 0.72;0.65–0.79), tobacco cessation counseling (aOR 0.66;0.55–0.78), and checkups (aOR 0.53;0.49–0.57). In younger age groups, men were particularly less likely than women to have received these services. In adjusted models, this observed interaction between sex and age group persisted only for blood pressure measurement (p = .016) and routine checkups (p < .001). When adjusting for number of visits, the interaction of age on receipt of blood pressure checks was mitigated but men were still overall less likely to receive the service. CONCLUSION: Men are significantly less likely than women to receive certain preventive services, and younger men even more so. Some of this discrepancy is secondary to a difference in number of ambulatory care visits