A922 Sequential measurement of 1 hour creatinine clearance (1-CRCL) in critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI)

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Current concepts in the prevention of pathogen transmission via blood/plasma-derived products for bleeding disorders

The pathogen safety of blood/plasma-derived products has historically been a subject of significant concern to the medical community. Measures such as donor selection and blood screening have contributed to increase the safety of these products, but pathogen transmission does still occur. Reasons for this include lack of sensitivity/specificity of current screening methods, lack of reliable screening tests for some pathogens (e.g. prions) and the fact that many potentially harmful infectious agents are not routinely screened for. Methods for the purification/inactivation of blood/plasma-derived products have been developed in order to further reduce the residual risk, but low concentrations of pathogens do not necessarily imply a low level of risk for the patient and so the overall challenge of minimising risk remains. This review aims to discuss the variable level of pathogenic risk and describes the current screening methods used to prevent/detect the presence of pathogens in blood/plasma-derived products

Prevalence and associations of symptoms of upper extremities, repetitive strain injuries (RSI) and 'RSI-like condition'. A cross sectional study of bank workers in Northeast Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The repetitive strain injury syndrome (RSI) is a worldwide occupational health problem affecting all types of economic activities. We investigated the prevalence and some risk factors for RSI and related conditions, namely 'symptoms of upper limbs' and 'RSI-like condition'. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 395 bank workers in Recife, Northeast Brazil. Symptoms of upper limbs and 'RSI-like condition' were assessed by a simple questionnaire, which was used to screen probable cases of RSI. The diagnosis of RSI was confirmed by clinical examination. The associations of potential risk factors and the outcomes were assessed by multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: We found prevalence rates of 56% for symptoms of the upper limbs and 30% for 'RSI-like condition'. The estimated prevalence of clinically confirmed cases of RSI was 22%. Female sex and occupation (as cashier or clerk) increased the risk of all conditions, but the associations were stronger for cases of RSI than for less specific diagnoses of 'RSI-like condition' and symptoms of upper limbs. Age was inversely related to the risk of symptoms of upper limbs but not to 'RSI-like' or RSI. CONCLUSION: The variation in the magnitude of risk according to the outcome assessed suggests that previous studies using different definitions may not be immediately comparable. We propose the use of a simple instrument to screen cases of RSI in population based studies, which still needs to be validated in other populations. The high prevalence of RSI and related conditions in this population suggests the need for urgent interventions to tackle the problem, which could be directed to individuals at higher risk and to changes in the work organization and environment of the general population

Prevenção da hipertensão e sua relação com o estilo de vida de trabalhadores Prevención de la hipertensión y de su relación a la forma de vida de trabajadores Prevention of hypertension and its relation to the lifestyle of workers

A hipertensão arterial é uma doença de fácil diagnóstico e com uma diversidade terapêutica eficaz para seu controle. Entretanto, grande parte dos hipertensos continuam ignorando-a, não controlando seus níveis tensionais, mesmo após diagnosticados. Dessa maneira, objetivou-se averiguar o conhecimento dos trabalhadores de uma Universidade Pública acerca do controle e da manutenção da pressão arterial dentro dos parâmetros normais e analisar a prática das medidas preventivas com vista à adoção de um estilo de vida compatível com o nível funcional ótimo. Foi realizado estudo descritivo com 32 trabalhadores de uma Universidade Pública Estadual em Fortaleza-Ceará. Utilizou-se um roteiro de entrevista semi-estruturado, sendo as falas categorizadas em unidades temáticas. Depreendeu-se que os trabalhadores conhecem as mudanças de hábito a serem adotadas para prevenção da hipertensão. Relativo à obesidade, 26 (81%) a consideram como fator de risco para a hipertensão. Quanto ao álcool e à raiva, 25 (78%) e 17 (53%), respectivamente, afirmaram serem indicativos para elevação da pressão arterial, bem como o fumo, citado por 23 (72%) respondentes. Entretanto, a alimentação desses trabalhadores urge maior atenção, visto que 19 (60%) não seguem uma dieta balanceada, tornando-se obesos ou com sobrepeso. Assim, notou-se que alterar hábitos é difícil, sobretudo os alimentares. Porém, a mudança de estilo de vida relaciona-se a ações educativas e à necessidade imperiosa de cada indivíduo frente aos seus problemas de saúde e sua resolução de querer atingir seu nível funcional ótimo.<br>La hipertensión arterial es una enfermedad de fácil diagnóstico y con una diversidad terapéutica eficaz para su control. Sin embargo, gran parte de los hipertensos siguen ignorándola, no controlando sus niveles tensionales, incluso después de diagnosticados. De ese modo, se objetivó averiguar el conocimiento de los trabajadores de una Universidad Pública sobre el control y sobre el mantenimiento de la tensión arterial dentro de los parámetros normales y analizar la práctica de las medidas preventivas con miras a la adopción de un estilo de vida compatible con el nivel funcional óptimo. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo con 32 trabajadores de una Universidad Pública Estatal en Fortaleza, Ceará. Se procesó los datos y se categorizaron las hablas en unidades temáticas. Se percibió que los trabajadores conocen los cambios de hábito a ser adoptados para la prevención de la hipertensión. Con relación a la obesidad, 26 (el 81%) la consideran como factor de riesgo para la hipertensión. En cuanto al alcohol y a la rabia, 25 (el 78%) y 17 (el 53%), respectivamente, afirmaron ser indicativos para la elevación de la tensión arterial, bien como el tabaco, citado por 23 (el 72%) de los entrevistados. Sin embargo, la alimentación de esos trabajadores urge mayor atención, una vez que 19 (el 60%) no siguen una dieta equilibrada, volviéndose obesos o con sobrepeso. Así, se percibió que alterar hábitos es difícil, sobre todo los alimentarios. No obstante, el cambio de estilo de vida está relacionado a acciones educativas y a la necesidad imperiosa de cada individuo frente a sus problemas de salud y su resolución de querer alcanzar su nivel funcional óptimo.<br>Arterial hypertension is an easily diagnosed illness and with efficient therapeutic diversity for its control. However, a large number of those affected continue to ignore it, not controlling their pressure levels even after diagnosis. In this way, the objective was to verify the awareness of workers at a public university concerning the control and maintenance of arterial pressure within normal parameters, and analyze the practice of preventative measures with a view to adopting a lifestyle compatible with an optimal functional level. A descriptive study was conducted with 32 workers of the Public State University in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. The data and comments were categorized in thematic units. The conclusion was that the workers knew which changes of habits need to be adopted to prevent hypertension. With respect to obesity, 26 (81%) considered it a risk factor for hypertension. Concerning alcohol and anger, 25 (78%) and 17 (53%) respectively agreed that they were indicative for a rise in arterial pressure. Similarly, smoking was mentioned by 23 (72%) interviewees. Nevertheless, the eating habits of these workers demands more attention, as 19 (60%) were not following a balanced diet, becoming obese or overweight. Thus it was observed that changing habits is difficult, especially eating habits. However, a change in lifestyle is related to awareness activities and the imperious needs of each individual with respect to his health problems and his determination to want to attain his optimal functional level