The application of the drug user quality of life scale (DUQOL) in Australia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The concept of quality of life relates to the perceptions of individuals about their mental and physical health as well as non-health related areas. The evaluation of quality of life in the context of substance abuse has been conducted using generic instruments. The Drug Users Quality of Life Scale (DUQOL) is a specific assessment tool in which the most pertinent and salient areas to drug abusers are taken into consideration. In this study, the authors report the results of a validation study in which the DUQOL was used for the first time in Australia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A sample of 120 participants from inpatient and outpatient treatment facilities completed a series of questionnaires, including the DUQOL and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). Parameters investigated in this study included the demographic characteristics of the sample, internal structure, and convergent validity. Correlations between the DUQOL scale scores and the scores of the WHOQOL-Bref test were investigated via Pearson product-moment correlation analyses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The English version of the DUQOL attained a significant overall Cronbach's alpha of 0.868. The factorial analysis of the DUQOL identified one principal factor that accounted for 28.499% of the variance. Convergent validity analyses demonstrate significant correlations (<it>p </it>< 0.01) between the DUQOL scores and the scores of all four dimensions of the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study demonstrates that the DUQOL constitutes a reliable research instrument for evaluating quality of life of substance users in Australia.</p

Comparison and concordance of health-related quality of life tests among substance users

Background: In the field of drug and alcohol abuse, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been used as an important clinical and research outcome. The aim of this study was to establish score linkages (concordance) among three HRQoL assessment tools: WHOQOL-BREF, DUQOL and HRQOLDA scores, applying a Rasch-based common person equating procedure. Methods: One hundred and twenty one adults were recruited from inpatient and outpatient treatment facilities in Sydney West Area Health Service. WHOQOL-BREF, DUQOL and HRQOLDA tests were administered. Item parameters were calculated applying Rating Scale Model, a Rasch model. Results: Fit statistics suggest acceptable goodness-of-fit to the RSM for three instruments. Correlations between HRQOLDA and WHOQOL-BREF and between HRQOLDA and DUQOL scores were 0.719 and 0.613, and the RiU index was 30.4 % and 20.9 %, respectively. All three tests performed adequately for differentiating between individuals whose scores are located at different points along the continuum of the HRQoL construct. Conclusion: The results demonstrated a higher concordance between the HRQoLDA and WHOQOL-BREF than between the HRQoLDA and the DUQOL. However, it cannot be established unequivocally that the scores of these tools are concordant. In this study, the utility of the application of the Rasch model to provide an empirical benchmark for the selection of measurement tools to be used in the context of health care and research is demonstrated

Human urogenital myiasis : A systematic review of reported cases from 1975 to 2017

The public health importance of myiasis [infestation with dipterous (fly) larvae] remains unknown. This disease is spread worldwide in animals and humans, but baseline data on its prevalence are limited. In particular, knowledge on human urogenital myiasis (UGM) is scattered. As such, a systematic search was undertaken of five English and five Persian databases for publications describing UGM cases in English or Persian published between 1975 and 2017. In total, 45 papers reporting 59 UGM cases from various regions of the world are included in this review. All included papers were from the English databases. The age of patients ranged from 5 to 89 years, and the mean age was 40.6 years. Thirty-six of the patients were female and 19 were male. The highest number of cases (n = 12) was reported from Brazil. The most common genera causing UGM were Psychoda spp. (23.7%) and Cochliomyia spp. (11.8%). The vagina was the most commonly reported anatomical location of UGM for women, and the urogenital tract was the most commonly reported location for men. Thirteen cases were reported from rural areas and eight cases from urban areas; the location of other cases was not specified. The incidence of UGM is likely to be substantially underestimated when evaluated based on published case reports. Epidemiological studies, such as questionnaires to medical doctors, could help to gather the necessary baseline data on the occurrence of UGM. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Morphological Description, Phylogenetic and Molecular Analysis of Dirofilaria immitis Isolated from Dogs in the Northwest of Iran

Background: Dirofilariasis is a globally distributed arthropod-borne parasitic disease of mainly canids and felids. We evaluated to extend the knowledge of morpho-molecular characteristics and outer ultrastructure of Dirofilaria immitis isolated from Northwest of Iran. Methods: Overall, 67 filarial worms including 41 females and 26 males parasites were collected from the cardiovascular system of the 43 stray dogs in Meshkinshar, Ardebil Province, Northwest of Iran in 2017, and subjected to light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as carmine alum staining for morpho-molecular and identification. Molecular methods were used for confirmation of morphological findings by sequencing of Cyto-chrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) gene. Results: The partial DNA sequencing of cox1 gene of adult parasites showed considerable homology and close proximity to the previously isolated from Kerman and Meshkinshahr, Iran. The lowest genetic variation and the highest intra-species variability was found in D. immitis and Dirofilaria repens, respectively. No similarity was identified between D. immitis nucleotide sequence and Wolbachia species as its endosymbiont bacteria. Conclusion: The SEM technique is an excellent tool for differential recognition of the parasite surface morphology and molecular techniques could differentiate and identify Dirofilaria spp. keywords: Dirofilaria immitis, Homology, Iran, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM

May Measurement Month 2018: a pragmatic global screening campaign to raise awareness of blood pressure by the International Society of Hypertension

Aims Raised blood pressure (BP) is the biggest contributor to mortality and disease burden worldwide and fewer than half of those with hypertension are aware of it. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global campaign set up in 2017, to raise awareness of high BP and as a pragmatic solution to a lack of formal screening worldwide. The 2018 campaign was expanded, aiming to include more participants and countries. Methods and results Eighty-nine countries participated in MMM 2018. Volunteers (≥18 years) were recruited through opportunistic sampling at a variety of screening sites. Each participant had three BP measurements and completed a questionnaire on demographic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Hypertension was defined as a systolic BP ≥140 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg, or taking antihypertensive medication. In total, 74.9% of screenees provided three BP readings. Multiple imputation using chained equations was used to impute missing readings. 1 504 963 individuals (mean age 45.3 years; 52.4% female) were screened. After multiple imputation, 502 079 (33.4%) individuals had hypertension, of whom 59.5% were aware of their diagnosis and 55.3% were taking antihypertensive medication. Of those on medication, 60.0% were controlled and of all hypertensives, 33.2% were controlled. We detected 224 285 individuals with untreated hypertension and 111 214 individuals with inadequately treated (systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg) hypertension. Conclusion May Measurement Month expanded significantly compared with 2017, including more participants in more countries. The campaign identified over 335 000 adults with untreated or inadequately treated hypertension. In the absence of systematic screening programmes, MMM was effective at raising awareness at least among these individuals at risk

Evaluation of Heavy Metals Resistance in Biofilm Cells of Native Rhodococcus spp. Isolated from Soil

Background & Aims of the Study: Rhodococci according to possess large genome, their active metabolism and survival under extreme conditions, are highly regarded for biodegradation and bioremediation of different pollutants especially heavy metals in the environment. Biofilms are more resistant to heavy metals than free-swimming organisms. The aim of this study was biofilm formation of two native Rhodococcus strains (Rhodococcus rhodochrous and Rhodococcus rhodnii) and comparative evaluation effects of heavy metals such as lead, copper, zinc, chromium and cadmium in various concentrations against biofilm and planktonic cells that carried out at the first time. Materials & Methods: Bacterial strains used in this investigation were isolated from agricultural soils in Qom, Iran. Biofilm formation was performed at 30 &deg;C and 37 &deg;C in tryptic soy broth (TSB) and brain heart infusion (BHI) broth, at 24,48,72 and 96 hours in 96-well microplate. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of heavy metals in various concentrations for planktonic cells was determined, using microdilution and macrodilution methods. Minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) and Minimum biofilm eradicating concentration (MBEC) in various concentrations of heavy metals for biofilm cells were evaluated by microdilution method. The result of this study confirmed, using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results: The best condition for biofilm formation of native R.rhodochrous isolate was determined after incubation at 37&deg;C in BHI broth, at 96 hours and the best condition for biofilm formation of native R.rhodnii isolate was determined at 30&deg;C in BHI broth, at 96 hours. MIC of heavy metals for planktonic cells of isolates for cadmium, zinc and lead was 8 mM and assayed for copper and chromium respectively 4 and 1 mM. MBEC of heavy metals for biofilm cells of isolates for cadmium, zinc and lead was 16 mM and assayed for copper and chromium respectively 8 and 4 mM. The results of present study showed biofilm cells of native Rhodococcus isolates were 2 times more resistance to lead, copper, zinc and cadmium than planktonic cells while biofilm cells were 4 times more resistance than planktonic cells to chromium. Conclusions: Biofilm formation of R.rhodochrous and R.rhodnii and their high resistance to various concentrations of heavy metals especially cadmium show that inoculation of these native Rhodococcus isolates to contaminated agricultural soils with heavy metals, have an effective role for bioremediation

Insights into some physiological and biochemical responses of Populus alba and Populus nigra to lead contamination

The effects of lead (PbCl2) increment, under hydroponic conditions up to 15, 45 and 90 mg/l in presence of EDTA, on some physiological and biochemical traits of one year old saplings of P. nigra and P. alba, were investigated. Six weeks after establishing in target concentration, the amount of lead, biomass, water, soluble sugars, proline, electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde, and pigments were assessed in different organs. The results revealed that with increasing lead concentration in culture medium in the studied period, the amount of lead in saplings increased, but no effect was observed on their biomass. In both species the magnitude of lead accumulation in root was higher than leaf. P. nigra had more water and less soluble sugars than P. alba. The concentration of soluble sugars increased up to 1.5 times with lead increment in both species, but proline content increased only in P. nigra up to 2 times and remained constant in P. alba. Elevation of electrolyte leakage in saplings of P. nigra in excess lead treatment was accompanied by no change in malondialdehyde content. Concentrations of pigments were not affected by lead, and only the ratio of chlorophyll a to b in P. nigra increased in high lead concentration. In general both species accumulated high extent of lead in their organs. But it seems that P. nigra, at least with respect of enhancing plasma membrane permeability, increasing proline and the ratio of chlorophyll a to b, was more sensitive to this toxic metal in compare with P. alba

Exploring the use of Virtual Reality to manage distress in adolescent patients in the Emergency Departments

Background: Adolescents are more likely than others to use emergency departments and find them distressing due to long waits, loud sounds, bright lights, privacy intrusions, and exposure to the distress of others. VR could be effective in not only dealing with pain while in emergency, but also blocking out distressing stimuli for a calming experience that could assist them in regulating their emotions.Aims: To explore the potential benefits of deploying VR for adolescents in the emergency department.Methods: Twenty-six participants who had voluntarily attended the ED in two university teaching hospitals received the VR intervention. Pre and post measures assessing changes in state anxiety, stress and affect, and physical bio-markers, were obtained.Results: The use of VR intervention was associated with significant reductions in distress (SSSQ-D; p&lt;0.001) and negative affect (I-PANAS-SF; p&lt;0.001). Most participants chose ‘Netflix’ as their content of choice. The technology was well received by the participants of the study with subjective reports indicating that receiving VR intervention was “insanely cool”, “takes you away from what’s actually happening”, and some participants felt “privileged to get this experience in a hospital.”Conclusions: VR technology can effectively be used in emergency departments to assist adolescents and young adults better manage their distress and take steps toward activating more self-control mechanisms that will in turn allow for more meaningful engagements to be established with health clinicians. This technology has broad implications for reducing distress in adolescents in a variety of clinical contexts