2,517 research outputs found
A systematic review of naturalistic interventions in refugee populations
Naturalistic interventions with refugee populations examine outcomes following mental health interventions in existing refugee service organisations. The current review aimed to examine outcomes of naturalistic interventions and quality of the naturalistic intervention literature in refugee populations with the view to highlight the strengths and limitations of naturalistic intervention studies. Database search was conducted using the search terms ârefugeeâ, âasylum seekerâ, âtreatmentâ, âtherapyâ and âintervention. No date limitations were applied, but searches were limited to articles written in English. Seven studies were identified that assessed the outcome of naturalistic interventions on adult refugees or asylum seekers in a country of resettlement using quantitative outcome measures. Results showed significant variation in the outcomes of naturalistic intervention studies, with a trend towards showing decreased symptomatology at post-intervention. However, conclusions are limited by methodological problems of the studies reviewed, particularly poor documentation of intervention methods and lack of control in the design of naturalistic intervention studies. Further examination of outcomes following naturalistic interventions is needed with studies which focus on increasing the rigour of the outcome assessment process
Towards a greater engagement of universities in addressing climate change challenges
Many higher education institutions around the world are engaged in efforts to tackle climate change. This takes place by not only reducing their own carbon footprint but also by educating future leaders and contributing valuable research and expertise to the global effort to combat climate change. However, there is a need for studies that identify the nature of their engagement on the topic, and the extent to which they are contributing towards addressing the many problems associated with climate change. Against this background, this paper describes a study that consisted of a review of the literature and the use of case studies, which outline the importance of university engagement in climate change and describe its main features. The study identified the fact that even though climate change is a matter of great relevance to universities, its coverage in university programmes is not as wide as one could expect. Based on the findings, the paper also lists the challenges associated with the inclusion of climate change in university programmes. Finally, it describes some of the measures which may be deployed in order to maximise the contribution of higher education towards handling the challenges associated with a changing climate
Thermoelectric spin voltage in graphene
In recent years, new spin-dependent thermal effects have been discovered in
ferromagnets, stimulating a growing interest in spin caloritronics, a field
that exploits the interaction between spin and heat currents. Amongst the most
intriguing phenomena is the spin Seebeck effect, in which a thermal gradient
gives rise to spin currents that are detected through the inverse spin Hall
effect. Non-magnetic materials such as graphene are also relevant for spin
caloritronics, thanks to efficient spin transport, energy-dependent carrier
mobility and unique density of states. Here, we propose and demonstrate that a
carrier thermal gradient in a graphene lateral spin valve can lead to a large
increase of the spin voltage near to the graphene charge neutrality point. Such
an increase results from a thermoelectric spin voltage, which is analogous to
the voltage in a thermocouple and that can be enhanced by the presence of hot
carriers generated by an applied current. These results could prove crucial to
drive graphene spintronic devices and, in particular, to sustain pure spin
signals with thermal gradients and to tune the remote spin accumulation by
varying the spin-injection bias
Cumplimiento, conocimiento y automedicaciĂłn como factores asociados a los resultados clĂnicos negativos de la farmacoterapia
The patient plays a fundamental role in the attainment of good results in pharmacotherapy. Noncompliance,self-medication, or insufficient knowledge of the therapy being employed may provide asource for the causes of these negative clinical outcomes, otherwise known as medicine related problems(MRP). he Dader method was used in the evaluation, identification and classification of MRP. Theassociation of variables was established through the statistical Chi square test. Patient knowledge of themedicine, degree of compliance to therapy and self-medication were studied as causes of the negativeoutcomes encountered. 2556 patients were interviewed throughout the year that the study took place,giving a total of 2261 of valid cases. 33% presented an MRP as the cause of his/her visit to the hospitalemergency ward. Knowledge of the medicine, compliance and self-medication were only studied in thepopulation that presented an MRP and in this work it is demonstrated that these are aspects that areassociated with different dimensions of MRP. It is not possible to establish an association between theexistence or not of negative clinical outcomes in patients with the factors of knowledge of medication,compliance and self-medication. This is due to the fact that these variables are not attributable to thepatient himself, but rather are associated with the characteristics of each medicine.El paciente juega un papel primordial en la consecuciĂłn de los resultados terapĂ©uticos. El incumplimiento,la automedicaciĂłn, o la falta de conocimiento del la farmacoterapia pueden ser causas de esosresultados clĂnicos negativos, denominados en ocasiones problemas relacionados con medicamentos(PRM). El mĂ©todo DĂĄder se utilizĂł para la evaluaciĂłn, identificaciĂłn y clasificaciĂłn de PRM. LaasociaciĂłn de variables se estableciĂł mediante el estadĂstico chi cuadrado. El conocimiento de la medicaciĂłn,el cumplimiento y la automedicaciĂłn fueron estudiados como causa de estos resultados negativosde la medicaciĂłn. Fueron entrevistados 2556 pacientes durante el año de estudio, resultando 2261 casosvĂĄlidos. El 33 % presentaron un PRM como causa de visita a urgencias. El conocimiento de la medicaciĂłn,el cumplimiento y la automedicaciĂłn fueron estudiados solo en la poblaciĂłn que presentĂł unPRM y se demuestra que son aspectos asociados a las distintas dimensiones de PRM. No es posibleestablecer asociaciĂłn entre la existencia o no de resultados clĂnicos negativos en los pacientes con elconocimiento de la medicaciĂłn, el cumplimiento y la automedicaciĂłn, debido a que estas variables noson atributos del paciente sino que estĂĄn asociadas a cada medicamento
Eco-bio-social determinants for house infestation by non-domiciliated Triatoma dimidiata in the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico
Background
Chagas disease is a vector-borne disease of major importance in the Americas. Disease prevention is mostly limited to vector control. Integrated interventions targeting ecological, biological and social determinants of vector-borne diseases are increasingly used for improved control.
Methodology/principal findings
We investigated key factors associated with transient house infestation by T. dimidiata in rural villages in Yucatan, Mexico, using a mixed modeling approach based on initial null-hypothesis testing followed by multimodel inference and averaging on data from 308 houses from three villages. We found that the presence of dogs, chickens and potential refuges, such as rock piles, in the peridomicile as well as the proximity of houses to vegetation at the periphery of the village and to public light sources are major risk factors for infestation. These factors explain most of the intra-village variations in infestation.
Conclusions/significance
These results underline a process of infestation distinct from that of domiciliated triatomines and may be used for risk stratification of houses for both vector surveillance and control. Combined integrated vector interventions, informed by an Ecohealth perspective, should aim at targeting several of these factors to effectively reduce infestation and provide sustainable vector control
Biosensores enzimĂĄticos, sensores biomimĂ©ticos y sensores quĂmicos para aplicaciones agroalimentarias, biomĂ©dicas y/o medio ambientales (applied-sens)
Association between proton pump inhibitor therapy and clostridium difficile infection: a contemporary systematic review and meta-analysis.
Abstract
Introduction
Emerging epidemiological evidence suggests that proton pump inhibitor (PPI) acid-suppression therapy is associated with an increased risk of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI).
Methods
Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus were searched from 1990 to January 2012 for analytical studies that reported an adjusted effect estimate of the association between PPI use and CDI. We performed random-effect meta-analyses. We used the GRADE framework to interpret the findings.
Results
We identified 47 eligible citations (37 case-control and 14 cohort studies) with corresponding 51 effect estimates. The pooled OR was 1.65, 95% CI (1.47, 1.85), I2 = 89.9%, with evidence of publication bias suggested by a contour funnel plot. A novel regression based method was used to adjust for publication bias and resulted in an adjusted pooled OR of 1.51 (95% CI, 1.26â1.83). In a speculative analysis that assumes that this association is based on causality, and based on published baseline CDI incidence, the risk of CDI would be very low in the general population taking PPIs with an estimated NNH of 3925 at 1 year.
Conclusions
In this rigorously conducted systemic review and meta-analysis, we found very low quality evidence (GRADE class) for an association between PPI use and CDI that does not support a cause-effect relationship
Spread of a highly mucoid Streptococcus pyogenes emm3/ST15 clone
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hyaluronic acid capsule plays a key role in <it>Streptococcus pyogenes </it>virulence. Circulation of mucoid or highly encapsulated strains has been related to rheumatic fever epidemics and invasive disease in several countries. In 2009, an outbreak of mucoid <it>S. pyogenes </it>isolates was detected in northern Spain. The aim of the study was to describe clinical and molecular characteristics of mucoid strains causing this outbreak and to compare them with a sample of non-mucoid <it>S. pyogenes </it>isolates obtained during the same period of time.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>All <it>S. pyogenes </it>isolates with a mucoid colony morphology (n = 132), 10% of non-mucoid (n = 144) and all invasive <it>S. pyogenes </it>isolates (n = 7) obtained in 2009 were included. Characterization was performed by T-agglutination, <it>emm </it>typing, pulsed field gel electrophoresis and multilocus sequence typing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>One clone characterized as <it>emm</it>3.1/ST15 comprised 98.5% (n = 130) of all mucoid isolates. Subjects of all ages were affected. Main clinical manifestations were pharyngitis and scarlet fever, but this clone also caused invasive disease: two cases of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, one arthritis, and one celullitis with a fatal outcome. Mucoid isolates were more prone to cause invasive disease than non-mucoid isolates (p = 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Although no acute rheumatic fever cases were detected, the most worrisome characteristics of this clone were the success for causing invasive disease and the merge of two virulent features: the serotype, <it>emm</it>3, and capsule hyper-production, expressed as a mucoid morphology.</p
Efficacy of a strategy for implementing a guideline for the control of cardiovascular risk in a primary healthcare setting: the SIRVA2 study a controlled, blinded community intervention trial randomised by clusters
This work describes the methodology used to assess a strategy for implementing clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for cardiovascular risk control in a health area of Madrid
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