Novel therapies for the prevention of malaria

Background: Malaria continues to exact a huge toll on the health of residents of endemic countries. Thus, new approaches to prevention and treatment are needed. Objective: To provide an update on novel therapies for the prevention of malaria. Methods: Systematic MEDLINE search from 1956 to 2008 using the search term ‘malaria’ (with the subheadings ‘intermittent preventive treatment’, ‘mass drug administration’, ‘chemotherapy’, ‘artemisinin-based combination therapy’ and ‘home-based management of malaria’). Conclusions: Chemoprophylaxis is used as a short-term protective measure for non-immune visitors to malaria-endemic countries. However, in malaria-endemic areas, chemoprophylaxis has not been implemented widely because of concerns related to sustainability, cost-effectiveness, appropriate delivery systems and development of drug resistance. Intermittent preventive treatment, a novel approach to malaria control, has the potential to provide some of the benefits of sustained chemoprophylaxis without some of its drawbacks.     

风险管理方法在高龄透析护理中的运用

目的探讨采用风险管理方法在高龄透析患者的应用效果,以供临床参考。方法将我院2010年1月至2011年12月收治的51例共3787次高龄血液透析随机分为两组。I组患者给予一般常规护理,II组患者在护理管理中采用风险管理,比较两组护理风险发生率及患者对护理工作的满意度。结果 I组26例1348次透析共发生护理风险27例,II组发生3例,II组明显少于I组,P<0.05;II组患者护士护理工作的满意度明显优于I组患者,P<0.05。结论采用风险管理方法在高龄患者透析中应用,能取得较好的效果,降低护患风险发生率,是一种效果较好的护理管理方法。     

基于危机管理理论的H7N9型禽流感等公共健康危机事件应对探讨

各类公共健康危机事件频发引发人们对其如何应对的探讨，危机管理理论为其提供了科学有效的理论依据，公共健康危机事件应对可以从危机的预防、准备、确认、控制、解决和总结6个方面开展。当前的实际工作中，应该重点加强危机的预防和危机事件应对总结。     

Development of a new tool for predicting the behavior of individuals with intellectual disability in the dental office: A pilot study

BackgroundThe dental treatment of individuals with intellectual disability can represent a considerable professional challenge.ObjectiveTo develop a model for predicting the behavior of patients with intellectual disability in the dental office.MethodsThe study group comprised 250 patients with Down syndrome (DS), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), cerebral palsy (CP), idiopathic cognitive impairment or rare disorders. We collected their demographic, medical, social and behavioral information and identified potential predictors (chi-squared test). We developed stratified models (Akaike information criterion) to anticipate the patients'behavior during intraoral examinations and to discern whether the dental treatment should be performed under general anesthesia. These models were validated in a new study group consisting of 80 patients. Goodness of fit was quantified with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). We developed a mathematical algorithm for executing the models and developed software for its practical implementation (PREdictors of BEhavior in Dentistry, “PREBED”).ResultsFor patients with DS, ASD and CP, the model predicting the need for physical restraint during examination achieved a PPV of 0.90, 0.85 and 1.00, respectively, and an NPV of 0.66, 0.76 and 1.00, respectively. The model predicting the need for performing treatment under general anesthesia achieved a PPV of 0.63, 1.00 and 1.00, respectively, and an NPV of 1.00, 1.00 and 0.73, respectively. However, when validating the stratified models, the percentage of poorly classified individuals (false negatives + false positives) ranged from 24% to 46.6%.ConclusionsThe results of the PREBED tool open the door to establishing new models implementing other potentially predictive variables.     

主动脉夹层术后患者心理状况及躯体症状对生活质量的影响

目的 探讨主动脉夹层术后患者心理状况、躯体症状对其生活质量的影响及作用机制，为制订干预计划提供参考。方法 采用广泛性焦虑障碍量表、患者健康问卷抑郁量表、躯体症状量表、12项简明健康状况调查表对327例主动脉夹层术后患者进行调查，根据相关性分析结果提出假设，应用AMOS软件进行结构方程模型分析。结果 主动脉夹层术后患者生活质量得分（81.56±7.36）分，焦虑得分2.00(0, 3.00)分，抑郁得分2.00(0, 3.00)分，躯体症状得分5.00(2.00, 8.00)分；焦虑、抑郁、躯体症状对生活质量有直接影响，焦虑、抑郁通过躯体症状对生活质量有间接影响（均P<0.05）。结论 主动脉夹层术后患者生活质量处于中等偏上水平，应早期对主动脉夹层术后患者的心理状况与躯体症状进行动态评估与监测，及时进行心理干预和症状管理，以改善其生活质量。     

The effects of physical environments in medical wards on medication communication processes affecting patient safety

Physical environments of clinical settings play an important role in health communication processes. Effective medication management requires seamless communication among health professionals of different disciplines. This paper explores how physical environments affect communication processes for managing medications and patient safety in acute care hospital settings. Findings highlighted the impact of environmental interruptions on communication processes about medications. In response to frequent interruptions and limited space within working environments, nurses, doctors and pharmacists developed adaptive practices in the local clinical context. Communication difficulties were associated with the ward physical layout, the controlled drug key and the medication retrieving device. Health professionals should be provided with opportunities to discuss the effects of ward environments on medication communication processes and how this impacts medication safety. Hospital administrators and architects need to consider health professionals' views and experiences when designing hospital spaces.