Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Factors influencing the work efficiency of district health managers in low-resource settings: a qualitative study in Ghana
Conclusions: Filling District Health Management Team vacancies, developing leadership and management skills of district health managers, ensuring a better flow of district funds, and delegating more authority to the districts seems to be a promising intervention package, which may result in better and more efficient management practices and stronger health system performance. (Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations)
Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations - January 14, 2016 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Marc BonenbergerMoses AikinsPatricia AkweongoKaspar Wyss Source Type: research

A comprehensive benchmarking study of protocols and sequencing platforms for 16S rRNA community profiling
Conclusion: We have assessed a range of experimental conditions across several next generation sequencing platforms using the most up-to-date configurations. We propose that the choice of sequencing platform and experimental design needs to be taken into consideration in the early stage of a project by running a small trial consisting of several hypervariable regions to quantify the discriminatory power of each region. We also suggest that the use of a synthetic community as a positive control would be beneficial to identify the potential biases and procedural drawbacks that may lead to data misinterpretation. The results ...
Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations - January 14, 2016 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Rosalinda D’AmoreUmer IjazMelanie SchirmerJohn KennyRichard GregoryAlistair DarbyMigun ShakyaMircea PodarChristopher QuinceNeil Hall Source Type: research

Feeding cessation alters host morphology and bacterial communities in the ascidian Pseudodistoma crucigaster
Conclusions: These findings suggest that physical (thickened cuticle) and metabolic (feeding cessation) changes in host ascidians have cascading effects on associated bacteria, where modified oxygen concentrations and chemical substrates for microbial metabolism may create anaerobic microhabitats and promote colonization by environmental microorganisms. (Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations)
Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations - January 14, 2016 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Susanna López-LegentilXavier TuronPatrick Erwin Source Type: research

Treatment intensity, age and outcome in medical ICU patients: results of a French administrative database
Background: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are aging, and older age has been associated with higher mortality in ICU. As previous studies have reported that older age was also associated with less intensive treatment, we investigated the relationship between age, treatment intensity and mortality in medical ICU patients. Methods: Data were extracted from the administrative database of 18 medical ICUs. Patients with a unique medical ICU stay and a Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (without age-related points) >15 were included. Treatment intensity was described with a novel indicator, which is a four-group classifica...
Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations - January 14, 2016 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Vincent PeigneDominique SommeEmmanuel GuérotEmilie LenainGilles ChatellierJean-Yves FagonOlivier Saint-Jean Source Type: research

Prevalence of coronary artery disease and its risk factors in Kerala, South India: a community-based cross-sectional study
Background: There are no recent data on prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Indians. The last community based study from Kerala, the most advanced Indian state in epidemiological transition, was in 1993 that reported 1.4 % definite CAD prevalence. We studied the prevalence of CAD and its risk factors among adults in Kerala. Methods: In a community-based cross sectional study, we selected 5167 adults (mean age 51 years, men 40.1 %) using a multistage cluster sampling method. Information on socio-demographics, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, dietary habits and personal history of hypertension, diabetes...
Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations - January 14, 2016 Category: Epidemiology Authors: M. KrishnanG. ZachariahK. VenugopalP. MohananS. HarikrishnanG. SanjayL. JeyaseelanK. Thankappan Source Type: research

Endovascular management of hemosuccus pancreaticus, a rare case report of gastrointestinal bleeding
Conclusion: HP should be included in the differential diagnosis of intermittent gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with histories of chronic alcoholism, even when they do not have a history of chronic pancreatitis. We recommend an interventional procedure with a metal stent for the initial treatment of HP. (Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations)
Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations - January 14, 2016 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Hye SulHyun LeeJeong KimSung ChaYoo ChoiGi KimByung Kwak Source Type: research

An open source software for analysis of dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance images: UMMPerfusion revisited
Conclusion: We developed open source software to analyse DCE-MRI perfusion data. The software is designed as plugin for the DICOM Workstation OsiriX. It features a clean GUI and provides a simple workflow for data analysis while it could also be seen as a toolbox providing an implementation of several recent compartment models to be applied in research tasks. Integration into the infrastructure of a radiology department is given via OsiriX. Results can be saved automatically and reports generated automatically during data analysis ensure certain quality control. (Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations)
Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations - January 14, 2016 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Frank ZöllnerMarkus DaabSteven SourbronLothar SchadStefan SchoenbergGerald Weisser Source Type: research

The development of ORACLe: a measure of an organisation’s capacity to engage in evidence-informed health policy
Conclusion: We utilised qualitative and quantitative methods to develop a system to assess and score organisations’ capacity to engage with and apply research to policy. Our measure assesses a broad range of capacity domains and identifies the relative importance of these capacities. ORACLe data can be used by organisations keen to increase their use of evidence to identify areas for further development. (Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations)
Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations - January 14, 2016 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Steve R MakkarTari TurnerAnna WilliamsonJordan LouviereSally RedmanAbby HaynesSally GreenSue Brennan Source Type: research

Epidemiological investigation of an outbreak of cutaneous sporotrichosis, Northern Territory, Australia
Conclusions: This constitutes the third reported outbreak of S. schenckii sporotrichosis attributable to contaminated hay in Australia and the first outbreak of sporotrichosis in the NT. This outbreak prompted public health interventions, including distribution of information to general practitioners, farmers and suppliers in the Top End. Media reporting led to the identification and treatment of an additional case. Local practitioners should remain alert to the possibility of further occurrences of sporotrichosis. (Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations)
Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations - January 13, 2016 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Sarah McGuinnessRowena BoydSarah KiddCharlie McLeodVicki KrauseAnna Ralph Source Type: research

The human RNA surveillance factor UPF1 regulates tumorigenesis by targeting Smad7 in hepatocellular carcinoma
Conclusion: Our findings revealed that UPF1 is a potential tumor suppressive gene and may be a potential therapeutic target for HCC. (Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations)
Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations - January 13, 2016 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Lei ChangCuicui LiTao GuoHaitao WangWeijie MaYufeng YuanQuanyan LiuQifa YeZhisu Liu Source Type: research

Circulating growth arrest-specific protein 6 levels are associated with erythropoietin resistance in hemodialysis patients
Growth arrest-specific protein 6 (Gas6) works synergistically with erythropoietin (EPO) to increase the proliferation and maturation of erythroblasts. However, the role of Gas 6 levels on EPO resistance in hemodialysis (HD) patients remains unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study was the first to examine the correlation between plasma Gas6 levels and EPO resistance in HD patients. We enrolled 134 HD patients and 85 healthy individuals. The HD patients were divided into 2 groups: 98 non-EPO-resistant patients and 36 EPO-resistant patients. Plasma levels of Gas6, interleukin 6 (IL-6), high-sensitivity C-reactive prot...
Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations - January 13, 2016 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Miao-Pei ChenChien-Wen ChenJin-Shuen ChenHung-Chung MaoChu-Lin Chou Source Type: research

Novel anti-infective potential of salvianolic acid B against human serious pathogen Neisseria meningitidis
Conclusions: Our results indicate that plant SA-B may prevent meningococcal infections by inhibiting meningococcal binding and may thus have an impact on the amount of nasopharyngeal carriers of N. meningitidis. This may prevent the spreading of meningococcal infections between humans. One could conclude that SA-B and its source dried radix S. miltiorrhizae, which is an important part of Chinese folk medicine, could be valuable candidates for further research in meningococcal disease prevention. (Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations)
Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations - January 13, 2016 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Sanna HuttunenMarko ToivanenChenghai LiuCarina Tikkanen-Kaukanen Source Type: research

Ligation of lymph vessels for the treatment of recurrent inguinal lymphoceles following lymphadenectomy
Conclusions: Ligation of lymph vessels for the treatment of recurrent inguinal lymphoceles appears to be an appropriate treatment modality that is both quick and easy to perform with minimum risk, and in most cases, it results in immediate complete stop in the lymphocele formation. (Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations)
Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations - January 13, 2016 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Navid ToyserkaniHenrik NielsenVivi BakholdtJens Sørensen Source Type: research

Elevated C-reactive protein levels at ICU discharge as a predictor of ICU outcome: a retrospective cohort study
Background: Before discharging a patient from the ICU, an adequate patient evaluation is needed to detect individuals as high risk for unfavorable outcome. A pro- or anti-inflammatory status is a potential risk factor for an adverse outcome, and elevated CRP concentrations have shown to correlate with organ failure. Several studies have been performed to evaluate the use of CRP as a marker of post-ICU prognosis. Results are seemingly conflicting, and it is worthwhile to investigate these markers further as CRP is an adequate marker of pro- and anti-inflammatory status of the patient. We aimed to test the hypothesis that el...
Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations - January 13, 2016 Category: Epidemiology Authors: S. GülcherNynke BruinsW. KingmaE. Boerma Source Type: research

Using global transcription machinery engineering (gTME) to improve ethanol tolerance of Zymomonas mobilis
Conclusions: Collectively, these results demonstrate that the RpoD mutation can enhance ethanol tolerance in Z. mobilis. Our results also suggested that RpoD may play an important role in resisting high ethanol concentration in Z. mobilis and manipulating RpoD via global transcription machinery engineering (gTME) can provide an alternative and useful approach for strain improvement for complex phenotypes. (Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations)
Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations - January 13, 2016 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Furong TanBo WuLichun DaiHan QinZongxia ShuiJingli WangQili ZhuGuoquan HuMingxiong He Source Type: research