Children Need Toys...

What shall I give tiny John who is three, and June, who is seven

Girls Go to Geneva...

Marjorie countryman, home economics sophomore who has been awarded the Geneva scholarship by the Ames Faculty Women\u27s Club, will represent Iowa State College at the Y. W. C. A. camp at Lake Geneva this summer

The Iowa Homemaker vol.13, no.5

What a Big Difference… By Ruth Cook If You Can Can… By Hazel Moore Children Need Toys… By Gladys M. Johnson Miss 4-H Goes to College… By Edith Bloo

The Iowa Homemaker vol.13, no.4

Chop Sticks and Geishea… By Mitchell V. Charnley Coeds Choose Clever Clothes… By Virginia Kirstein ‘Twas a Lucky Guess… By Gladys M. Johnson Flowers in a Pumpkin Shell… By Ruth Coo

Building urban climate resilience through public health: Identifying strategies for integrated public health governance in Duran, Ecuador

In the poster it is presented the Case Study of Duran, Ecuador, a coastal city of 235.000 inhabitants which are exposed to annual flooding events that increase the risk of vector-borne and other infectious diseases. Duran is an in-dustrial satellite city of Guayaquil, the largest city of Ecuador, with a rapid population growth that lead to a large area of informal settle-ments on the city. Applying an integrated climate risk management and urban health focus, it is assessed the Duran strategies for reducing vulnerability to flooding, landslides and heat waves through a collabo-rative inter-sectoral approach among the health, urban, and scientific actors. Stakeholder engagement between municipality and researchers are providing evidence and building knowledge to implement “low re-gret” adaptation strategies and community active participation

Hantavirus Infection in Humans and Rodents, Northwestern Argentina

We initiated a study to elucidate the ecology and epidemiology of hantavirus infections in northern Argentina. The northwestern hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS)–endemic area of Argentina comprises Salta and Jujuy Provinces. Between 1997 and 2000, 30 HPS cases were diagnosed in Jujuy Province (population 512,329). Most patients had a mild clinical course, and the death rate (13.3%) was low. We performed a serologic and epidemiologic survey in residents of the area, in conjunction with a serologic study in rodents. The prevalence of hantavirus antibodies in the general human population was 6.5%, one of the highest reported in the literature. No evidence of interhuman transmission was found, and the high prevalence of hantavirus antibody seemed to be associated with the high infestation of rodents detected in domestic and peridomestic habitats

New Foci of Buruli Ulcer, Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo

We report 3 patients with laboratory-confirmed Buruli ulcer in Kafufu/Luremo, Angola, and Kasongo-Lunda, Democratic Republic of Congo. These villages are near the Kwango/Cuango River, which flows through both countries. Further investigation of artisanal alluvial mining as a risk factor for Buruli ulcer is recommended

Endemic Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis in Northern Peru

Since Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) was isolated in Peru in 1942, >70 isolates have been obtained from mosquitoes, humans, and sylvatic mammals primarily in the Amazon region. To investigate genetic relationships among the Peru VEEV isolates and between the Peru isolates and other VEEV strains, a fragment of the PE2 gene was amplified and analyzed by single-stranded conformation polymorphism. Representatives of seven genotypes underwent sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The results identified four VEE complex lineages that cocirculate in the Amazon region: subtypes ID (Panama and Colombia/Venezuela genotypes), IIIC, and a new, proposed subtype IIID, which was isolated from a febrile human, mosquitoes, and spiny rats. Both ID lineages and the IIID subtype are associated with febrile human illness. Most of the subtype ID isolates belonged to the Panama genotype, but the Colombia/Venezuela genotype, which is phylogenetically related to epizootic strains, also continues to circulate in the Amazon basin

The Comprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services (COMPASS) study: design and methods for a cluster-randomized pragmatic trial

Background: Patients discharged home after stroke face significant challenges managing residual neurological deficits, secondary prevention, and pre-existing chronic conditions. Post-discharge care is often fragmented leading to increased healthcare costs, readmissions, and sub-optimal utilization of rehabilitation and community services. The COMprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services (COMPASS) Study is an ongoing cluster-randomized pragmatic trial to assess the effectiveness of a comprehensive, evidence-based, post-acute care model on patient-centered outcomes. Methods: Forty-one hospitals in North Carolina were randomized (as 40 units) to either implement the COMPASS care model or continue their usual care. The recruitment goal is 6000 patients (3000 per arm). Hospital staff ascertain and enroll patients discharged home with a clinical diagnosis of stroke or transient ischemic attack. Patients discharged from intervention hospitals receive 2-day telephone follow-up; a comprehensive clinic visit within 2 weeks that includes a neurological evaluation, assessments of social and functional determinants of health, and an individualized COMPASS Care PlanTM integrated with a community-specific resource database; and additional follow-up calls at 30 and 60 days post-stroke discharge. This model is consistent with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services transitional care management services provided by physicians or advanced practice providers with support from a nurse to conduct patient assessments and coordinate follow-up services. Patients discharged from usual care hospitals represent the control group and receive the standard of care in place at that hospital. Patient-centered outcomes are collected from telephone surveys administered at 90 days. The primary endpoint is patient-reported functional status as measured by the Stroke Impact Scale 16. Secondary outcomes are: caregiver strain, all-cause readmissions, mortality, healthcare utilization, and medication adherence. The study engages patients, caregivers, and other stakeholders (including policymakers, advocacy groups, payers, and local community coalitions) to advise and support the design, implementation, and sustainability of the COMPASS care model. Discussion: Given the high societal and economic burden of stroke, identifying a care model to improve recovery, independence, and quality of life is critical for stroke survivors and their caregivers. The pragmatic trial design provides a real-world assessment of the COMPASS care model effectiveness and will facilitate rapid implementation into clinical practice if successful