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Control of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Myanmar: results of 7 years…

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Demonstrating Progress: Building a More Equitable Global R&D System

van de Weg CAM, Pannuti CS, de Araújo ESA, van den Ham H-J, Andeweg AC, et al. (2013) Microbial Translocation Is Associated with Extensive Immune Activation in Dengue Virus Infected Patients with Severe Disease. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 7(5): e2236. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0002236 This Week in PLOS Pathogens: Wild plants interact with many other living entities such as animals, insects, other plants, as well as their physical environment.

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This Week in PLOS NTD and PLOS Pathogens: Plant-Virus Ecology; a Genomic…

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Background: A discrete choice experiment was conducted to investigate preferences for job characteristics among nursing students and practicing nurses to determine how these groups vary in their respective preferences and to understand whether differing policies may be appropriate for each group. Methods: Participating students and workers were administered a discrete choice experiment that elicited preferences for attributes of potential job postings. Job attributes included salary, duration of service until promotion to permanent staff, duration of service until qualified for further study and scholarship, housing provision, transportation provision, and performance-based financial rewards. Mixed logit models were fit to the data to estimate stated preferences and willingness to pay for attributes. Finally, an interaction model was fit to formally investigate differences in preferences between nursing students and practicing nurses.

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Differences in preferences for rural job postings between nursing students…

Background: While combination antiretroviral therapy has extended the life expectancy of those infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), there is a high prevalence of comorbidities that increase the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The side effects associated with antiretroviral therapy (ART) lead to multiple metabolic disorders, making the management of these metabolic issues and risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in those treated with ART a critical issue. Clinical research trials, primarily clinical exercise, rarely include this population due to unique challenges in research methods with underserved minority populations living with a life threatening illness like HIV/AIDS. This paper describes the rationale and design of a randomized clinical trial evaluating the feasibility of a home-based exercise program designed to increase physical activity (PA) and reduce the risk of CVD in PLWHA. Methods: PLWHA being treated with ART will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: a home-based PA intervention or standard care

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A home-based exercise intervention to increase physical activity among…

Background: To study costs and outcome for serious hand and arm injuries during the first year after the trauma. Methods: In patients with a Hand Injury Severity Score (HISS) > 50, DASH and EQ-5D scores as well as factors related to costs within the health care sector, costs due to lost production and total costs were evaluated. Cox-regression analysis stratifying for mechanism of injury was used to analyse return to work. Results: The majority of the 45 included patients (median 42 years 16–64) were men with severe (n = 9) or major (n = 36) injuries with different type of injuries (amputations n = 13; complex injuries n = 18; major nerve injuries/full house n = 13; burn injury n = 1). DASH and EQ-5D decreased and increased, respectively, significantly over time during one year

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Costs and outcome for serious hand and arm injuries during the first year…

Background: Colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) is the only type of cancer screening where both genders reduce risks by similar proportions with identical procedures. It is an important context for examining gender differences in disease-prevention, as CRCS significantly reduces mortality via early detection and prevention. In efforts to increase screening adherence, there is increasing acknowledgment that obstructive attitudes prevent CRCS uptake. Precise identification of the gender differences in obstructive attitudes is necessary to improve uptake promotion. This study randomly sampled unscreened, screening – eligible individuals in Ontario, employing semi-structured interviews to elicit key differences in attitudinal obstructions towards colorectal cancer screening with the aim of deriving informative differences useful in planning promotions of screening uptake.

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Gender differences in attitudes impeding colorectal cancer screening

Background: Although the nonprescribed use of tranquilizers or sedatives by adolescents is a cause for concern in many countries, there is a shortage of data from low and middle income countries (LAMIC). The present study aims to estimate the prevalence of nonprescribed use of tranquilizers/sedatives by adolescents in Brazil, and to assess how socioeconomic and demographic circumstances, as well as indicators of access to these substances are associated with their use and with risk perception. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a multi-stage probability sample of 18131 high school students from public and private schools from all 27 Brazilian state capitals. A self-reporting questionnaire was used to obtain information on social and economic circumstances, nonprescribed use of tranquilizers or sedatives and risk perception of their use.

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Nonprescribed use of tranquilizers or sedatives by adolescents: a Brazilian…

Background: The DECIDE framework was developed to support evidence-informed health system decisions through evidence summaries tailored to health policymakers. The objective of this study was to determine policymakers’ perceptions regarding the criteria in the DECIDE framework and how best to summarise and present evidence to support health system decisions. Methods: We conducted an online survey of a diverse group of stakeholders with health system decision experience from 15 countries and the World Health Organization. We asked about perceptions of: criteria relevant to making health system decisions, use of evidence, grading systems and evidence summaries.

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Policymakers’ and other stakeholders’ perceptions of key considerations for…

Background: For chronic conditions, disparities can take effect cumulatively at various times as the disease progresses, even when care is provided. The aim of this study was to quantify the prevalence of diabetes, congestive heart failure (CHF) and coronary heart disease (CHD) in adults by citizenship, and to compare the performance of primary care services in managing these chronic conditions, again by citizenship. Methods: This is a population-based retrospective cohort study on 1,948,622 people aged 16 years or more residing in Italy. A multilevel regression model was applied to analyze adherence to care processes using explanatory variables at both patient and district level. Results: The age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes was found higher among immigrants from high migratory pressure countries (HMPC) than among Italians, while the age-adjusted prevalence of cardiovascular disease was higher for Italians than for HMPC immigrants or those from highly-developed countries (HDC)

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Prevalence of chronic diseases by immigrant status and disparities in…

Background: With accumulating evidence suggesting that CVD has its origins in childhood, the purpose of this study was to examine whether a high intensity training (HIT) intervention could enhance the CVD risk profile of secondary school aged adolescents in a time efficient manner. Methods: Participants in the study were adolescent school children (64 boys, 25 girls, 16.7 +/- 0.6 years). The intervention group (30 boys, 12 girls) performed three weekly exercise sessions over 7 weeks with each session consisting of either four to six repeats of maximal sprint running within a 20 m area with 30 s recovery. The control group were instructed to continue their normal behaviour. All participants had indices of obesity, blood pressure and nine biochemical risk markers for cardiovascular disease recorded as well as four physical performance measures at baseline and post-intervention

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High intensity interval running enhances measures of physical fitness but…

Background: Unemployed persons have a poorer health compared with employed persons and unemployment may cause ill health. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of re-employment on quality of life and health among unemployed persons on social benefits. Methods: A prospective study with 18 months follow-up was conducted among unemployed persons (n=4,308) in the Netherlands, receiving either unemployment benefits or social security benefits. Quality of life, self-rated health, and employment status were measured at baseline and every 6 months of follow up with questionnaires. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) modeling was performed to study the influence of re-employment on change in self-rated health and quality of life over time.

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The influence of re-employment on quality of life and self-rated health, a…

Background: Perceptions of the environment appear to be associated with walking and cycling. We investigated the reasons for walking and cycling to or from work despite reporting an unsupportive route environment in a sample of commuters. Methods: This mixed-method analysis used data collected as part of the Commuting and Health in Cambridge study. 1164 participants completed questionnaires which assessed the travel modes used and time spent on the commute and the perceived environmental conditions on the route to work. A subset of 50 also completed qualitative interviews in which they discussed their experiences of commuting

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Walking and cycling to work despite reporting an unsupportive environment:…

Background: The fear of crime may have negative consequences for health and wellbeing. It is influenced by factors in the physical and social environment. This study aimed to review and synthesize qualitative evidence from the UK on fear of crime and the environment. Methods: Eighteen databases were searched, including crime, health and social science databases. Qualitative studies conducted in the UK which presented data on fear of crime and the environment were included

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Fear of crime and the environment: Systematic review of UK qualitative…

Background: Osteoporosis is a disease of bone metabolism in which bisphosphonates (BPS) are the most common medications used in its treatment, whose main objective is to reduce the risk of fractures. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review on BPs adherence for treatment of osteoporosis. Methods: Systematic review of articles on BPs adherence for treatment of osteoporosis, indexed on MEDLINE (via PubMed) databases, from inception of databases until January 2013. Search terms were "Adherence, Medication" (MeSH term), "Bisphosphonates" (MeSH term), and "Osteoporosis" (MeSH term).

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Bisphosphonates adherence for treatment of osteoporosis

Global Public Health, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 1-15, Ahead of Print.

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Tracing health system challenges in post-conflict Côte d’Ivoire from 1893…