Syndromic surveillance and heat wave morbidity: a pilot study based on emergency departments in France

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The health impacts of heat waves are serious and have prompted the development of heat wave response plans. Even when they are efficient, these plans are developed to limit the health effects of heat waves. This study was designed to determine relevant indicators related to health effects of heat waves and to evaluate the ability of a syndromic surveillance system to monitor variations in the activity of emergency departments over time. The study uses data collected during the summer 2006 when a new heat wave occurred in France.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data recorded from 49 emergency departments since July 2004, were transmitted daily via the Internet to the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance. Items collected on patients included diagnosis (ICD10 codes), outcome, and age. Statistical t-tests were used to compare, for several health conditions, the daily averages of patients within different age groups and periods (whether 'on alert' or 'off alert').</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A limited number of adverse health conditions occurred more frequently during hot period: dehydration, hyperthermia, malaise, hyponatremia, renal colic, and renal failure. Over all health conditions, the total number of patients per day remained equal between the 'on alert' and 'off alert' periods (4,557.7/day vs. 4,511.2/day), but the number of elderly patients increased significantly during the 'on alert' period relative to the 'off alert' period (476.7/day vs. 446.2/day p < 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results show the interest to monitor specific indicators during hot periods and to focus surveillance efforts on the elderly. Syndromic surveillance allowed the collection of data in real time and the subsequent optimization of the response by public health agencies. This method of surveillance should therefore be considered as an essential part of efforts to prevent the health effects of heat waves.</p

Exercise therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy to improve fatigue, daily activity performance and quality of life in Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome: the protocol of the FACTS-2-PPS trial

Contains fulltext : 88661.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome (PPS) is a complex of late onset neuromuscular symptoms with new or increased muscle weakness and muscle fatigability as key symptoms. Main clinical complaints are severe fatigue, deterioration in functional abilities and health related quality of life. Rehabilitation management is the mainstay of treatment. Two different therapeutic interventions may be prescribed (1) exercise therapy or (2) cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). However, the evidence on the effectiveness of both interventions is limited. The primary aim of the FACTS-2-PPS trial is to study the efficacy of exercise therapy and CBT for reducing fatigue and improving activities and quality of life in patients with PPS. Additionally, the working mechanisms, patients' and therapists' expectations of and experiences with both interventions and cost-effectiveness will be evaluated. METHODS/DESIGN: A multi-centre, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial will be conducted. A sample of 81 severely fatigued patients with PPS will be recruited from 3 different university hospitals and their affiliate rehabilitation centres. Patients will be randomized to one of three groups i.e. (1) exercise therapy + usual care, (2) CBT + usual care, (3) usual care. At baseline, immediately post-intervention and at 3- and 6-months follow-up, fatigue, activities, quality of life and secondary outcomes will be assessed. Costs will be based on a cost questionnaire, and statistical analyses on GEE (generalized estimated equations). Analysis will also consider mechanisms of change during therapy. A responsive evaluation will be conducted to monitor the implementation process and to investigate the perspectives of patients and therapists on both interventions. DISCUSSION: A major strength of the FACTS-2-PPS study is the use of a mixed methods design in which a responsive and economic evaluation runs parallel to the trial. The results of this study will generate new evidence for the rehabilitation treatment of persons with PPS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Dutch Trial Register NTR1371

Granulocyte/monocyte adsorptive apheresis for the treatment of therapy-refractory chronic active ulcerative colitis

International audienceObjectives Current options for patients with steroid-dependent, chronic-active ulcerative colitis (UC) with insufficient response/intolerance to immunosuppressants (ISs) and/or biologics are limited. The aim of this study was to assess the long-term outcome of granulocyte/monocyte adsorptive (GMA) apheresis (Adacolumn®) in this population. Materials and methods Ninety five adults with steroid-dependent active UC and insufficient response/intolerance to IS and/or TNF inhibitors received 5–8 aphereses in a single induction series of ≤10 weeks. Endpoints included rates of remission (clinical activity index [CAI] ≤ 4) at weeks 24 and 48. Results Of 94 patients (ITT population), remission and response rates were 34.0% and 44.7% at week 24, and 33.0% and 39.4% at week 48. Among 30 patients with prior failure of IS and biologics, 33.3% and 20.0% were in remission at weeks 24 and 48. At both weeks, 19.2% of patients achieved steroid-free remission. Sustained remission or response occurred in 27.7% of patients at 48 weeks. The cumulative colectomy rate at week 96 was 23.4%. Safety was consistent with previous findings. Conclusions This study confirms findings of the 12-week interim analysis and demonstrates that GMA apheresis provides a safe and beneficial long-term outcome for patients with chronic active UC resistant/intolerant to IS and/or TNF inhibitors. © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor and Francis Group

World apheresis registry data from 2003 to 2007, the pediatric and adolescent side of the registry

Objectives: Paediatric patients are a special group in apheresis. It is general accepted to use adult indications in paediatric patients, but data in this age group are rare. In order to provide more information of apheresis practise in children and young adults ( Methods: This is a web-based registry. A link is available from the WAA homepage (www.worldapheresis.org). So far data from 12,448 procedures have been included. Six hundred and twelve procedures were performed in 135 children and young adults (308 procedures <16a, 237 from 17 to 20a, and 67 with 21a) representing 5% of the total population. The median age was 14 years (range 1-21 years), 74 male and 61 female. These data were entered by 15 centres with a frequency of in median 18 aphereses in young patients per centre (range 1-287) from 2003 to 2007. Results: Main indications: haematological diseases and also nephrological, and neurological. The type of aphereses was mainly Leukapheresis (196, 33%), plasma exchange (149, 25%), photopheresis (127, 21%), and lipid aphereses (79, 13%). Blood access: peripheral vessels in 305 procedures (50 K, compared to 73% in adults), central venous catheter in 239 (38%), and AV-fistula in 2% and 0.3%, and in 8 (1.31%) procedures an arterial line was used. Anticoagulation was mostly by ACD (71%), heparin (18% or the combination of both (3%). 39 adverse events (AE) were registered in 22 (=3.59%) of the procedures. mostly graded as mild. Treatment was interrupted in 14 procedures (2.29%. AE's were abdominal pain, anaphylactic shock, flush, hyper- and hypotension, nausea, vertigo, cephalea and need for sedation and technical problems with the device and problems with the venous access. The rate of AE's was similar for stem cell harvesting and for plasma exchange (4%, and 4.7%). respectively). Conclusion: The paediatric data compared to the whole registry data set are showing that aphereses are performed as safe in paediatrics as in adults. Centres are mostly handling only a few cases younger than 21. Therefore more exchange of information and experience in paediatric apheresis is warranted. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved