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Using Twitter to Elicit the Patient Perspective
Katherine A Margolis,
Laura Catalusci,
Jacqueline Cleary
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2014
Pages:
1-8
Received:
13 November 2013
Published:
20 December 2013
Abstract: The social media platform, Twitter, was used to understand the patient perspective on experiences with asthma. A content analysis of 844 tweets was conducted. The sample of tweets was obtained by performing a keyword search over the course of a one week period. The categories for coding were established based on a literature review. The most frequently occurring theme to emerge in the data was general disease state (n=115, 13.7%). The next most frequently found themes included triggers of asthma (n=100, 11.8 %) and general treatment (n=95, 11.2%). Asthma was often discussed in a joking manner and tweets were utilized to share medical information. Results proved that Twitter can serve as a valuable research tool to understand how people communicate about health topics.
Abstract: The social media platform, Twitter, was used to understand the patient perspective on experiences with asthma. A content analysis of 844 tweets was conducted. The sample of tweets was obtained by performing a keyword search over the course of a one week period. The categories for coding were established based on a literature review. The most frequ...
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Survival Factors of Burkitts Lymphoma Patients at Discharge: The Case of St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor in Northern Uganda
Mbazira Mike,
Wesonga Ronald,
Nabugoomu Fabian
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2014
Pages:
9-14
Received:
10 November 2013
Published:
10 January 2014
Abstract: The purpose was to explore the contribution of the presenting demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics to the survival status at discharge and duration of admission. The study used secondary data of the Burkitts Lymphoma (BL) patients who were admitted at St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor between the period 2003 and 2009. Regressive methods were developed to establish the factors explaining the dependent variables. Whereas majority of the admissions were males (60%), the proportion of females diagnosed with the cancer progressively increased more than that of males over years. Regardless of any other anatomic site involved; 74 percent of the patients had abdominal tumors, 49 percent had tumors in the face and 23 percent had tumors in the CNS. Females were more likely to have abdominal tumor involvement than males. On the other hand, males were twice more likely to have facial or CNS tumor involvement than the females. Over 80 percent of the patients were staged C or D suggesting delays in seeking for treatment. Patients with adnominal or CNS tumor involvement were more likely to be staged C or D. Seven percent died within the average admission period of 96 days. All deaths were observed among stages C and D patients. The duration of admission between the discharged dead and alive was significantly different. Stage C and D patients tended to have longer duration of admission. Further, older patients tended to have a longer duration of admission than the younger ones. Other variables such as sex, and site tumor involvement did not have a significant effect on the duration of admission. The duration of admission and survival status tended to influence each other. Though marginal, age at admission had a significant role to play in explaining the length of admission. The deaths before admission were observed among stage C and D patients, of which over 80% of the patients were staged. This calls in a community-level follow-up study to assess their survival. The above findings suggest an accelerated risk to death among the discharged stage C and D patients.
Abstract: The purpose was to explore the contribution of the presenting demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics to the survival status at discharge and duration of admission. The study used secondary data of the Burkitts Lymphoma (BL) patients who were admitted at St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor between the period 2003 and 2009. Regressive methods wer...
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Meningitis Induced by Streptococcus Pneumoniae Elicits Cellular Damage but not DNA Damage during the Acute Phase of Infection in the Hippocampus of Wistar Rats
Daphne Santhosh,
Indira Bairy
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2014
Pages:
15-19
Received:
31 December 2013
Published:
30 January 2014
Abstract: Pneumococcal meningitis is associated with high mortality and morbidity. Great majority of survivors are affected by neurological sequelae due to a wide spectrum of brain injury mainly affecting the cortex and hippocampus. Published data suggest histomorphological observations of these sequelae indicating a pattern of brain damage characterized by necrotic tissue damage in the cerebral cortex and apoptosis of neurons in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Aim of the present study was to investigate and correlate data for any DNA damage due to the effect of pneumococcal meningitis on the hippocampus in Wistar rats, during the acute phase of the infection. Thirty days old rats were divided into normal control (NC) and meningitis (M) groups. Rats in the meningitis group were infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae, intracisternally on postnatal day 31. The concentration of the bacterial suspension in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was 1×106 CFU/ml. The rats were kept under observation for 18 hrs for clinical symptoms of meningitis to develop. 10-50µl of the CSF sample was collected for confirmation by gram’s staining and culture. The rats were perfused transcardially with saline followed by 10% formalin. Brains were removed, processed for paraffin sectioning and stained with cresyl violet staining. Neurodegeneration in the hippocampal CA1, CA3 and dentate hilus were quantified. DNA damage was assessed by the alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis “comet assay” method. The hippocampal sub-regions showed neurodegeneration in the form of cellular damage. Significant fractions of neurons in the above regions were darkly stained and were irregular in shape. There was 56-81% neuronal loss in these regions. The surviving neurons showed 34-45% decrease in cell diameter and 28-29% decrease in the cross-sectional area in the hippocampal sub regions. But there were no DNA damage observed in all the regions of the hippocampus as a whole. Pneumococcal meningitis that was induced in the 30 days old rats conformed to the clinical parameters observed for meningitis and the histological analysis showed cellular damage likewise; but most interestingly there was no DNA damage in the hippocampus. This could be due to the fact that the rats were only in the acute phase of infection. Most probably, the time required for the DNA damage to occur would require that the rats proceed to a chronic phase. This finding could very well hold hope for meningitis cases that could be salvaged during the acute phase itself, thereby curtailing the neurological sequelae commonly observed after recovering from an untreated or chronic pneumococcal infection.
Abstract: Pneumococcal meningitis is associated with high mortality and morbidity. Great majority of survivors are affected by neurological sequelae due to a wide spectrum of brain injury mainly affecting the cortex and hippocampus. Published data suggest histomorphological observations of these sequelae indicating a pattern of brain damage characterized by ...
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A Study of the Nutritional Status and Dietary Intake of Lactating Women in Umuahia, Nigeria
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2014
Pages:
20-26
Received:
16 November 2013
Published:
20 February 2014
Abstract: Background: The lactation period is a major source of concern in developing countries because of its positive impact on the health and nutrition of children. Adequate nutrition for the mothers is therefore important for their good health as well as for that of their offspring. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess nutritional status of lactating women in Umuahia, Nigeria. Materials and methods: This cross sectional study was conducted on 240 randomly selected women attending post natal clinics with their infants (0-6 months) in four health facilitates in Umuahia North Local Government Area (LGA) of Abia State, Nigeria. A structured, validated and pre-tested questionnaire was used to obtain information on socioeconomic characteristics. Body Mass Index (BMI) was used to assess nutritional status by taking height and weight measurements using standard procedures. Dietary intake was assessed using 24 hour recall and a validated food frequency questionnaire. Mean nutrient intake was calculated and expressed as percentages of FAO/WHO recommended values. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine association between BMI and nutrient intake. Results: Majority of the women (71.30%) were in the age range of 26-35yrs and had a total family monthly income >N20,000 (85%). The prevalence of overweight and obesity were 52.10 and 18.30%, respectively. Cereals/cereal based dishes (1430) and leafy/non leafy vegetables (1079) were consumed more frequently while legumes were less frequently consumed on a daily basis. Energy (2279.01±446.79kcal), protein (50.02±12.23g), calcium (339.21±186.35mg) and vitamin A (698.52±615.50 µgRE) intake were lower than recommendations. No significant correlation was found between BMI and energy intake (p=0.793). Conclusion: Intake of some essential nutrients was lower than recommendations. Intervention programs such as nutrition education and dietary diversity should be emphasized during antenatal and lactation period to improve better health and nutrition outcomes.
Abstract: Background: The lactation period is a major source of concern in developing countries because of its positive impact on the health and nutrition of children. Adequate nutrition for the mothers is therefore important for their good health as well as for that of their offspring. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess nutritional status of lactating...
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Psycho-Emotional Disorders in Women with Unplanned Pregnancies
Patricia Cortés-Salim,
Marisol González-Barrón,
Gustavo Romero-Gutiérrez
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2014
Pages:
27-32
Received:
22 January 2014
Published:
20 February 2014
Abstract: Introduction: Unplanned pregnancy has been associated with postpartum depression but there is little information about other psycho-emotional disorders. Objective: We aimed to determine the presence of psycho-emotional disorders in women with unplanned pregnancy. Methods: Six-hundred and four women were recruited and divided into two groups: One consisting of 302 women with unplanned pregnancies and one with 302 women with planned pregnancies. To evaluate the presence of psycho-emotional disorders, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 was applied. Results: Women with unplanned pregnancies had more psycho-emotional disorders (66.2% vs. 43.7%, respectively, p < 0.001). The most common disorders were anxiety (39.4%), post-traumatic stress (37.1%) and depression (31.5%), p = 0.001. Conclusion: Women with unplanned pregnancies have more frequency of psycho-emotional disorders. It is suggested screening not only for postpartum depression, but also for more comprehensive psycho-emotional disorders in women with unplanned pregnancies. Then early psychological support could be provided to the mother.
Abstract: Introduction: Unplanned pregnancy has been associated with postpartum depression but there is little information about other psycho-emotional disorders. Objective: We aimed to determine the presence of psycho-emotional disorders in women with unplanned pregnancy. Methods: Six-hundred and four women were recruited and divided into two groups: One co...
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