Digital strategies to a local cultural tourism development: Project e-Carnide

Digital humanities and smart economy strategies are being seen as an important link between tourism and cultural heritage, as they may contribute to differentiate the audiences and to provide different approaches. Carnide is a peripheral neighbourhood of Lisbon with an elderly population, visible traces of rurality, and strong cultural and religious traditions. The academic project e-Carnide concerns its tangible and intangible cultural heritage and the data dissemination through a website and a mobile app, with textual and visual information. The project aims to analyse the impact of technological solutions on cultural tourism development in a sub-region, involving interdisciplinary research in heritage, history of art, ethnography, design communication and software engineering and the collaboration between the university and local residents in a dynamic and innovative way. Framed by a theoretical approach about the role of smart economy for the cultural tourism development in peripheral areas, this paper focuses on a case study, dealing with documents, interviews and observations, in order to understand how the e-Carnide project evolves. The study comprises an analysis about the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT analysis) of the project in view to realize its social and cultural implications and to appreciate how it can be applied in other similar and enlarged projects. Results of the research indicates that the new technological strategies can promote the involvement of the population in the knowledge of its own heritage as a factor of cultural and creative tourism development centred on an authentic and immersive experience of the places

Chapter 12: Systematic Review of Prognostic Tests

A number of new biological markers are being studied as predictors of disease or adverse medical events among those who already have a disease. Systematic reviews of this growing literature can help determine whether the available evidence supports use of a new biomarker as a prognostic test that can more accurately place patients into different prognostic groups to improve treatment decisions and the accuracy of outcome predictions. Exemplary reviews of prognostic tests are not widely available, and the methods used to review diagnostic tests do not necessarily address the most important questions about prognostic tests that are used to predict the time-dependent likelihood of future patient outcomes. We provide suggestions for those interested in conducting systematic reviews of a prognostic test. The proposed use of the prognostic test should serve as the framework for a systematic review and to help define the key questions. The outcome probabilities or level of risk and other characteristics of prognostic groups are the most salient statistics for review and perhaps meta-analysis. Reclassification tables can help determine how a prognostic test affects the classification of patients into different prognostic groups, hence their treatment. Review of studies of the association between a potential prognostic test and patient outcomes would have little impact other than to determine whether further development as a prognostic test might be warranted

Haemophilus influenzae oral whole cell vaccination for preventing acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis

Background: Acute bronchitis leading to ongoing exacerbations is a serious condition predisposed to by viruses, bacteria or environmental factors. It can be fatal. Antibiotic therapy is not particularly useful. An oral Haemophilus influenzae vaccine has been developed. Objectives: To assess the effects of an oral, monobacterial whole‐cell, killed, nontypeable H. influenzae vaccine in protecting against recurrent acute episodes in chronic bronchitis. Search methods: In this updated review, we searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library Issue 1, 2006), MEDLINE (1966 to January Week 4 2006), EMBASE (1990 to September 2005) and ISI Current Contents (2004 to May 2006). Selection criteria: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effects of the H. influenzae vaccine on patients with recurrent acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis were included when there was overt matching of the vaccine and placebo groups on clinical grounds. Data collection and analysis: Three authors extracted data and assessed trial quality independently from original records and publications for incidence and severity of bronchitis episodes and carriage rate of nontypeable H. influenzae measured in the upper respiratory tract every three months following vaccination. Main results: Six trials were included in the study with a total of 440 participants. The vaccine reduced the incidence of bronchitic episodes at three months after vaccination (rate ratio is 0.69; 95% CI 0.41 to 1.14) and at six months after vaccination (rate ratio 0.82; 95% CI 0.62 to 1.09). If these results been statistically significant, they would have represented a reduction in acute bronchitic attacks for vaccinated individuals of 31% at three months, and 18% at six. The effect had disappeared by nine months. The severity of exacerbations in the treatment group, as measured by requirement to prescribe antibiotics, was likewise reduced by 58% at three months (Peto odds ratio = 0.42; 95% CI 0.16 to 1.13), and by 65% at six months (Peto odds ratio = 0.35; 95% CI 0.16 to 0.75). Authors' conclusions: Vaccinating patients with recurrent acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis in the autumn may reduce the number and severity of exacerbations over the following winter. A large clinical trial is needed.Full Tex

General practice encounters for psychological problems in rural, remote and metropolitan areas in Australia

Previous Australian research suggests there is very little difference in the prevalence of mental health disorders across rural, remote and metropolitan areas. However, mental health specialists are particularly scarce in rural and remote areas and some researchers have argued that non-metropolitan residents rely heavily on general practitioners (GPs) for mental health care. This article investigated rates of GP services for psychological problems across rural, remote and metropolitan areas.The Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) program, Medicare and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data were used in this report. Data included all psychological, depression and anxiety problems reported as managed by GPs and prescriptions for mental health medications (written and filled). Problem and medication rates are given per 100 patient encounters and per 1000 population.Only a few regional differences were evident in the rate of psychological problems and prescriptions for mental health medications per 100 GP-patient encounters. However, rural and remote residents visited GPs less frequently than their metropolitan counterparts. Lower rates of GP encounters for psychological problems were evident for residents of most non-metropolitan areas (per 1000 population). Additionally, GPs prescribed mental health medications at half the rate for residents of remote areas than capital cities.General practitioners provide fewer mental health services per capita in non-metropolitan areas. This difference could represent completely untreated psychological problems or fewer follow-up consultations. While non-metropolitan residents have limited access to specialists, rates of GP encounters for psychological problems are also very low

Community-acquired pneumonia: A practical approach to management for the hospitalist

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is common, and inpatient physicians should be familiar with the most current evidence about and guidelines for CAP management. Our conclusions and recommendations include: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common identified cause of CAP requiring hospitalization, whereas Legionella pneumophila is a common cause of severe CAP. The chest radiograph remains an essential initial test in the diagnosis of CAP and should be supplemented by blood cultures sampled prior to antibiotic therapy and sputum for gram stain and culture if a high-quality specimen can be rapidly processed. Once the diagnosis is made, the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) should be used to optimize the location of treatment and to provide prognostic information. Absent other mitigating factors, patients in PSI risk classes I, II, and III can safely be treated as outpatients. Hospitalized patients with CAP should be treated promptly with empiric antibiotics. Nonsevere pneumonia should be treated with a parenteral Β-lactam plus either doxycycline or a macrolide. Patients admitted to the intensive care unit should be treated with a Β-lactam plus either a macrolide or a fluoroquinolone as well as be evaluated for pseudomonal risk factors. Most patients with nonsevere CAP reach clinical stability in 2–3 days and should be considered for a switch to oral therapy and discharge shortly thereafter. Patients should receive pneumococcal vaccination, influenza vaccination, and tobacco cessation counseling prior to discharge if eligible. Multiple quality indicators are measured and publicly reported in the management of CAP, which provides hospitals with an opportunity to improve care processes and patient outcomes. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2006;1:177–190. © 2006 Society of Hospital Medicine.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/50681/1/95_ftp.pd