The Impact of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Primary Care: A Population Health Perspective

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of liver disease worldwide, with rising rates in parallel to those of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. NAFLD encompasses a wide spectrum of pathology from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis, which are linked to poor outcomes. Studies confirm a significant amount of undiagnosed NAFLD and related fibrosis within the community, increasing the overall burden of the disease. NAFLD appears to be more prevalent in certain populations, such as those with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Early detection and lifestyle modifications, including weight loss and regular exercise, have been shown to improve outcomes. Adverse cardiovascular events are a key contributor to NAFLD-associated morbidity and mortality, and efforts to minimize their occurrence are essential. A targeted and algorithmic approach using noninvasive diagnostic techniques is promptly required to identify and risk-stratify patients with NAFLD. Patients at low risk of progression to NASH and advanced fibrosis can be managed in the primary care setting, while those at high risk of disease progression should be referred to hepatology specialists for surveillance and treatment. This review summarizes the key data of NAFLD's impact within primary care populations and proposes a potential algorithmic approach to identifying and managing such patients.     

Pilot study on efficacy of reduced cathartic bowel preparation with polyethylene glycol and bisacodyl

AIM:To evaluate the efficacy of reduced cathartic bowel preparation with 2 L polyethylene glycol(PEG)-4000 electrolyte solution and 10 mg bisacodyl enteric-coated tablets for computed tomographic colonography(CTC).METHODS:Sixty subjects who gave informed consent were randomly assigned to study group A,study group B or the control group.On the day prior to CTC,subjects in study group A were given 20 mL 40% wt/vol barium sulfate suspension before 3 mealtimes,60 mL 60% diatrizoate meglumine diluted in 250 mL water after supper,and 10 mg bisacodyl enteric-coated tablets 1 h before oral administration of 2 L PEG-4000 electrolyte solution.Subjects in study group B were treated identically to those in study group A,with the exception of bisacodyl which was given 1 h after oral PEG-4000.Subjects in the control group were managed using the same strategy as the subjects in study group A,but without administration of bisacodyl.Residual stool and fluid scores,the attenuation value of residual fluid,and discomfort during bowel preparation in the three groups were analyzed statistically.RESULTS:The mean scores for residual stool and fluid in study group A were lower than those in study group B,but the differences were not statistically significant.Subjects in study group A showed greater stool and fluid cleansing ability than the subjects in study group B.The mean scores for residual stool and fluid in study groups A and B were lower than those in the control group,and were significantly different.There was no significant difference in the mean attenuation value of residual fluid between study group A,study group B and the control group.The total discomfort index during bowel preparation was 46,45 and 45 in the three groups,respectively,with no significant difference.CONCLUSION:Administration of 10 mg bisacodyl enteric-coated tablets prior to or after oral administration of 2 L PEG-4000 electrolyte solution enhances stool and fluid cleansing ability,and has no impact on the attenuation value of residual fluid or the discomfor     

Aiding risk information learning through simulated experience (ARISE): Using simulated outcomes to improve understanding of conditional probabilities in prenatal Down syndrome screening

ObjectiveTo determine whether the use of visually-presented simulated experiences to communicate statistical information can improve an individual’s understanding of conditional probabilities—specifically the positive predictive value (PPV) of prenatal screening tests for Down syndrome.MethodsIn Experiment 1 (N = 64) and Experiment 2 (N = 180) participants were asked to estimate the PPV of a prenatal screening test for Down syndrome based on either (1) explicit statistics regarding the prevalence of Down syndrome and the sensitivity and specificity of a prenatal screening test for Down syndrome, or (2) experiencing up to 5000 simulated test results over a short time.ResultsParticipants’ estimates of the PPV were more accurate when they had learned via simulated experiences (79% accuracy) compared with estimates based on explicitly described statistics (14%). Participants in the simulated experience condition also reported decreased interest in screening and decreased concern with a positive test result.ConclusionA visual paradigm presenting simulated experiences improves PPV estimates, compared to estimates derived from explicitly provided statistics, while also shifting attitudes away from screening.Practice implicationsThe use of simulated experiences may prove to be simple but powerful tool to communicate complex statistical information to patients in medical decision making situations.     

Transport Mobility for Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy (CP)

Background: The transport mobility of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) is of vital interest for the individual, as well as for society. Enhanced transport mobility can be related to improved functional health status and a higher degree of autonomy, which in turn may reduce the demand for societal support. UN Resolution 48/96, together with Swedish legislation and ''Vision Zero'' have in different ways established that the transport system must be designed to meet also the needs of children and adolescents with disabilities. Hence, it is necessary to identify and eliminate obstacles hindering children and adolescents with CP from using public transport and other means of transport, such as their own cars, at the same level as other members of society. However, in the case of children and adolescents with CP, the transport situation and the learner driver's educational situation have so far been largely unknown. Aim: The general aim of the thesis was to describe and analyse, from a legislative and a public health perspective, the transport mobility situation for children and adolescents with CP. Furthermore, the general aim was to identify obstacles for the target group to use public transport and other means of transportation, at the same level as other members of the society, and to suggest improvements that will remove the identified obstacles. Material and methods: Several different data collection methods were used. Data, concerning travel habits and parents' perceived risks regarding transportation, were taken from a postal questionnaire addressed to parents of children and adolescents with CP. In order to estimate the numbers of potential learner drivers with CP in each age group in Sweden, a literature review was conducted, based on Swedish material. Furthermore, logbooks for learner drivers with CP were analysed retrospectively, in order to identify procedures, problems and key tasks in their driver education. Visual search strategies for learner drivers with CP were analysed, utilizing an eye tracker, and an attempt was made to introduce a screening tool for predicting the outcome of driver education. Results: Children and adolescents with CP were found to be transported under unsafe conditions, causing worry among their parents. When transporting children in the family vehicle, the parents were exposed to a very heavy burden, which increased their worry. The prevalence of potential learner drivers with CP who were in need of highly specialised driver education, including individually adapted driver training vehicles, was estimated to be 0.15 per 1,000 of a population-based age group of learner drivers in Sweden. Complex procedures, structural problems and financial obstacles made it difficult for adolescents with CP to obtain a driving licence and an adapted vehicle. The total duration of the driving tuition given by a driving instructor was found to be almost nine times higher for learner drivers with CP than for non-disabled learner drivers. Visual search strategies among learner drivers with CP were found to be less flexible than among other learner drivers. This fact indicated a need for better methods of teaching such strategies to this group as an integral component of their driver education. The validity of the motor-free visual perceptual test, TVPS-UL, for predicting the outcome of driver education for learner drivers, was found to be low. In order to find a reliable and valid screening tool for this purpose, future studies should focus on cross-validation of visual perceptual and dual task performance tests for different types of independent variables, such as obtaining a driving licence or not, accident involvement and driving ability. Conclusion: The transport system was found, from a legislative and public health perspective, to be unsuitable to meet the needs of children and adolescents with CP. Suggestions for improving transport mobility for children and adolescents with CP are provided. Several of these suggestions are practical, concrete and contextual for Swedish conditions, and some of them necessitate future research. However, a number of these suggestions are also applicable in an international context.     

Patient knowledge of hysterectomy and pap screening after minimally invasive hysterectomy

ObjectiveTo determine whether women know their own cervical cancer screening recommendations after hysterectomy, and to evaluate patients’ understanding of hysterectomy terminology and cervical cancer screening.MethodsA 19-item questionnaire was developed and administered to 413 women who had undergone minimally invasive hysterectomy with benign pathology between January 2008 and January 2012.ResultsA total of 190 women (46%) participated in the survey. The majority of respondents were Caucasian (61%) and had a college education (66%). Fifty-nine percent of respondents knew that a Pap test screens for cervical cancer, and 40% knew that HPV is related to cervical cancer. Eight-four percent understood that Pap screening is recommended if a woman still has a cervix after hysterectomy. Only 67% correctly identified if their cervix had been removed during their own surgery and if they needed future cervical cancer screening per current guidelines. Caucasian race and higher income were significant predictors of hysterectomy and screening knowledge.ConclusionKnowledge regarding Pap tests, HPV, and implications of a supracervical hysterectomy is lacking, even among a post-hysterectomy population.Practical implicationsPatient educational information is needed to improve perioperative counseling regarding the type of hysterectomy performed and indications for future cervical cancer screening.