Factors associated with smoking in immigrants from non-western to western countries – what role does acculturation play? A systematic review

Reiss K, Lehnhardt J, Razum O. Factors associated with smoking in immigrants from non-western to western countries – what role does acculturation play? A systematic review. Tobacco Induced Diseases. 2015;13(1): 11.Introduction We aimed to identify factors associated with smoking among immigrants. In particular, we investigated the relationship between acculturation and smoking, taking into consideration the stage of the ‘smoking epidemic’ in the countries of origin and host countries of the immigrants. Methods We searched PubMed for peer-reviewed quantitative studies. Studies were included if they focused on smoking among adult immigrants (foreign-born) from non-western countries now residing in the USA, Canada, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the UK, and Australia. Studies were excluded if, among others, a distinction between immigrants and their (native-born) offspring was not made. Results We retrieved 27 studies published between 1998 and 2013. 21 of the 27 studies focused on acculturation (using bidimensional multi-item scales particularly designed for the immigrant group under study and/or proxy measures such as language proficiency or length of stay in host country) and 16 of those found clear differences between men and women: whereas more acculturated women were more likely to smoke than less acculturated women, the contrary was observed among men. Conclusion Immigrants’ countries of origin and host countries have reached different stages of the ‘smoking epidemic’ where, in addition, smoking among women lags behind that in men. Immigrants might ‘move’ between the stages as (I) the (non-western) countries of origin tend to be in the early phase, (II) the (western) host countries more in the advanced phase of the epidemic and (III) the arrival in the host countries initiates the acculturation process. This could explain the ‘imported’ high (men)/low (women) prevalence among less acculturated immigrants. The low (men)/high (women) prevalence among more acculturated immigrants indicates an adaptation towards the social norms of the host countries with ongoing acculturation

Qualität und Qualitätsdefizite in der stationären Langzeitpflege

Wingenfeld K, Gäbel N, Lehnhardt J. Qualität und Qualitätsdefizite in der stationären Langzeitpflege. Bielefeld; 2015

Entwicklung und Validierung einer Kurzversion des Fragebogeninventars für Freizeitinteressen (FIFI-K)

Nikstat A, Höft A, Lehnhardt J, Hofmann S, Kandler C. Entwicklung und Validierung einer Kurzversion des Fragebogeninventars für Freizeitinteressen (FIFI-K). Diagnostica. 2018;64(1):14-25

Suicide among immigrants in Europe-a systematic literature review

Spallek J, Reeske A, Norredam M, Nielsen SS, Lehnhardt J, Razum O. Suicide among immigrants in Europe-a systematic literature review. The European Journal of Public Health. 2015;25(1):63-71.Background: Concerns about increased suicide risk among immigrants to European countries have been raised. We review the scientific literature on differences in suicide among immigrants compared with the majority populations in Europe's major immigration countries. Methods: We searched the databases PubMed and PsycINFO for peer-reviewed epidemiological studies published in 1990-2011, which compared suicide risks of adult immigrant groups with the risks of the majority population in European countries. Hits were screened by two researchers. Results: We included 24 studies in the review. No generalizable pattern of suicide among immigrants was found. Immigrants from countries in which suicide risks are particularly high, i.e. countries in Northern and Eastern Europe, experienced higher suicide rates relative to groups without migration background. Gender and age differences were observed. Young female immigrants from Turkey, East Africa and South Asia are a risk group. Conclusion: Immigrants 'bring along' their suicide risk, at least for the initial period they spend in the immigration country. Health-care planners and providers need to be aware of this 'imported risks'. However, most immigrant groups do not have an increased suicide risk relative to the local-born population; some may even experience substantially lower risks

Surgical Debridement Is Superior to Sole Antibiotic Therapy in a Novel Murine Posttraumatic Osteomyelitis Model

<div><p>Introduction</p><p>Bone infections after trauma, <i>i</i>.<i>e</i>. posttraumatic osteomyelitis, pose one of the biggest problems of orthopedic surgery. Even after sufficient clinical therapy including vast debridement of infected bone and antibiotic treatment, regeneration of postinfectious bone seems to be restricted. One explanation includes the large sized defects resulting from sufficient debridement. Furthermore, it remains unclear if inflammatory processes after bone infection do affect bone regeneration. For continuing studies in this field, an animal model is needed where bone regeneration after sufficient treatment can be studied in detail.</p><p>Methods</p><p>For this purpose we created a stable infection in murine tibiae by <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> inoculation. Thereafter, osteomyelitic bones were debrided thoroughly and animals were subsequently treated with antibiotics. Controls included debrided, non-infected, as well as infected animals exclusively treated with antibiotics. To verify sufficient treatment of infected bone, different assessments detecting <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> were utilized: agar plates, histology and RT-qPCR.</p><p>Results</p><p>All three detection methods revealed massive reduction or eradication of <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> within debrided bones 1 and 2 weeks postoperatively, whereas sole antibiotic therapy could not provide sufficient treatment of osteomyelitic bones. Debrided, previously infected bones showed significantly decreased bone formation, compared to debrided, non-infected controls.</p><p>Discussion</p><p>Thus, the animal model presented herein provides a reliable and fascinating tool to study posttraumatic osteomyelitis for clinical therapies.</p></div

GRAM staining of infected tibiae.

<p>Bacteria could only be observed within the defect site, whereas surrounding tissue showed complete absence of GRAM-positive bacteria. Numbers in overview above correspond with insets, which are enlarged below. Scale bar represents 10 μm.</p

Sequence of surgical procedures.

<p>Upper row from left to right: 1. Drilling a 1 mm hole into proximal mouse tibia; 2. Inoculation of bacteria with a hamilton syringe; 3. Sealing of the defect with bone wax. Lower row from left to right: 1. Exposition of infected bone; 2. Debriding infected bone tissue with injection needle; 3. Thorough flushing of debrided bone.</p

Bone smears on culture plates as infection control.

<p>Culture plates (CHROMagar Staph aureus, BD, Franklin (USA)) with smears of infected bone before debridement and smears taken from animals of deb.W1 and 2 and nondeb.W1 and 2.</p

Results of qRT-PCR detecting Staph aureus DNA.

<p>The amount of <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> within the infected bone of deb.W1 and 2 and nondeb.W1 and 2 in comparison to initial amount of bacteria before debridement (Day 0) is depicted. Significant differences between deb. and nondeb.W1 and 2 could be found.</p