Recently Published Articles
Supporting Quality Data Systems: Lessons Learned from Early Implementation of Routine Viral Load Monitoring at a Large Clinic in Lilongwe, Malawi
Abstract:
Successful viral load programs rely on the presence of data systems and high quality of patient data. Using a cohort of 49 patients at Partners in Hope, a large, urban HIV clinic in Malawi, we performed a quality improvement assessment of a new viral load program with a focus on accuracy of data collected from patients as well as adherence to Malawi HIV Guidelines in regard to response to elevated viral loads (≥1,000 copies/mL). Data were obtained from three parallel medical record systems to investigate the proportion of patients with a repeat viral load and whether the three data systems agreed in regard to sociodemographic and clinical data. Fewer than 30% of patients had a repeat viral load within six months, as recommended in the Malawi HIV Guidelines. There were significant problems with data agreement across the three parallel databases used for care. Date of birth was consistent for 55.1% (N=27) of patients, while a different date of birth was noted i...
Antibiotic Resistance in the Elderly
Abstract:
This is a short communication article on antibiotic resistance in the elderly. The elderly is prone to infections and therefore the use of antibiotics in the elderly is common. Literature review was done using Medline, Google and PubMed.
Differentiating Depression from Apathy in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Prospective Study
Abstract:
Emotional deterioration is frequently found in patients with chronic kidney disease, but some patients are affected by depressed mood without fulfilling the criteria of a depressive disorder. Those patients might rather suffer from an apathy symptom. Apathy as a symptom of a medical disease is accompanied by loss of motivation and interest, cognitive impairments, and emotional distress. Our study tested how groups of apathetic and depressed chronic kidney disease patients responded to a single haemodialysis session on measures of mood. 21 haemodialysis patients were assigned to subgroups (depressed, apathetic only, without depression and apathy) according to clinical relevant cut-offs. Sensitive questionnaires were administered to monitor mood state in general and mood changes before and after a ...
Exploring Factors that Contribute to Regular Participation and Practice in Cognitive Stimulation Training for Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Qualitative Study
Abstract:
Cognitive stimulation training was effective in reducing risk of cognitive decline and dementia in patients with mild cognitive impairment. The present study aimed to explore factors that contribute to regular participation and practice cognitive stimulation training for elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment. Data were collected through individual face-to-face interviews with 25 elderly subjects with mild cognitive impairment, and analyzed using interpretive description method. Five core themes emerged from the analysis of data: (i) program with four subthemes of “interesting session, ” “effective teaching materials,” “suitable duration and freque...
Can Poor Hydration Amongst Older Hospitalized People be Identified by Single Point Total Body Water Assessment? – A Pilot Study
Abstract:
Dehydration in acute care is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. However, no standard approach to hydration assessment exists in clinical settings. The pilot study aimed to explore total body water content as means for immediately assessing hydration status in clinical settings. People aged 60 years or more, voluntarily admitted to a tertiary teaching hospital’s Geriatric and Rehabilitation Unit were eligible for participation. Total body water assessment by tracer dilution was compared with standard clinical assessment of hydration status. The study participants (78.6±8.5 years, 6/14, 43% male) clinically assessed with poor hydration (3/14) had a higher percentage of body weight as water (59.0±2.3 vs 50.6±6.4%), and lower mean weight (54.1±12.9 vs 77.5±24.1 kg) and lower body mass index (20.0±3.7 vs 30.2±6.5 kg/m2) than the well-hydrated (11/14). Weight (n=14) and body mass index (n=11) explained a substantial proportion of vari...
Bioinformatic Analysis of Coronary Disease Associated SNPs and Genes to Identify Proteins Potentially Involved in the Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis
Abstract:
Factors that contribute to the onset of atherosclerosis may be elucidated by bioinformatic techniques applied to multiple sources of genomic and proteomic data. The results of genome wide association studies, such as the CardioGramPlusC4D study, expression data, such as that available from expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) databases, along with protein interaction and pathway data available in Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA), constitute a substantial set of data amenable to bioinformatics analysis. This study used bioinformatic analyses of recent genome wide association data to identify a seed set of genes likely associated with atherosclerosis. The set was expanded to include protein interaction candidates to create a network of proteins possibly influencing the onset and progression of atherosclerosis. Local average connectivity (LAC), eigenvector centrality, and betweenness metrics were calculated for the interaction network to identify top gene and ...
The Effect of HLA-DRB1 Allele Mismatch on the Results after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Abstract:
This article examines how HLA‑DRB1 allele mismatching influences outcomes after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. It reviews graft‑versus‑host disease risk, engraftment, and survival metrics in the context of donor matching strategies. The findings support careful allele‑level typing to optimize donor selection and improve post‑transplant prognosis.
Synthesis of Labeled Rifabutin Dithiocarbamate: A Potential Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Imaging Agent
Abstract:
In this investigation, Rifabutin dithiocarbamate (RFND) was labeled with Technetium-99m (99mTc) using tricarbonyl technique. The labeled RFND was further characterized in terms of radiochemical purity, stability in saline & serum, in vitro bacterial binding, biodistribution in animal model rats and for scintigraphic accuracy in animal model rabbit. Finally different radiobiological characteristics of the 99mTc(CO)3-RFND was compared with the recently reported 99mTc-RFN. It was observed that the dithiocarbamate form of RFN showed better radiochemical purity, stability in saline, bacterial binding, biodistribution and targeted imaging than the recently reported 99mTc-RFN. These better radiobiological parameters posed 99mTc(CO)3-RFND as a more reliable agent for tuberculosis imaging.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy in The School Setting: A Case Study of A Nine Year Old Anxious Boy with Extreme Blushing
Abstract:
Within the field of school psychology there is a gap between research and practice, caused by difficulties in translating the programs from research to the realities of the school setting. Illustrations of real-life cases may help school psychologists gain insight into the application of interventions. The purpose of this study was to describe an example of small group cognitive behavior therapy in the school setting. It concerned test anxiety with extreme blushing. A single subject case study of a nine year old Dutch boy was described. Interviews, observations and questionnaires were used for evaluation, as well as a standard national achievement test. The results indicate that the test anxiety and blushing decreased and on the achievement test three years later, performance was good. As it concerns a case study, the results are discussed tentatively. It was concluded that the intervention was successful without alterations to the program. This study provides ...
Dual Effects of Neuroprotection and Neurotoxicity by General Anesthetics on Neural Stem Cells: Role of Autophagy
Abstract:
General anesthetics (GAs) are widely used for various essential surgical or medical procedures. Recent studies implicate the GAs has dual effects of neuroprotection and neurotoxicity on neurogenesis with unclear mechanisms. This minireview summarizes recent studies on GAs mediated effects on neurogenesis and proposed mechanisms, with focus on autophagy regulation and intracellular calcium homeostasis.