AWARE—AWAreness during REsuscitation—A prospective study

BackgroundCardiac arrest (CA) survivors experience cognitive deficits including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is unclear whether these are related to cognitive/mental experiences and awareness during CPR. Despite anecdotal reports the broad range of cognitive/mental experiences and awareness associated with CPR has not been systematically studied.MethodsThe incidence and validity of awareness together with the range, characteristics and themes relating to memories/cognitive processes during CA was investigated through a 4 year multi-center observational study using a three stage quantitative and qualitative interview system. The feasibility of objectively testing the accuracy of claims of visual and auditory awareness was examined using specific tests. The outcome measures were (1) awareness/memories during CA and (2) objective verification of claims of awareness using specific tests.ResultsAmong 2060 CA events, 140 survivors completed stage 1 interviews, while 101 of 140 patients completed stage 2 interviews. 46% had memories with 7 major cognitive themes: fear; animals/plants; bright light; violence/persecution; deja-vu; family; recalling events post-CA and 9% had NDEs, while 2% described awareness with explicit recall of ‘seeing’ and ‘hearing’ actual events related to their resuscitation. One had a verifiable period of conscious awareness during which time cerebral function was not expected.ConclusionsCA survivors commonly experience a broad range of cognitive themes, with 2% exhibiting full awareness. This supports other recent studies that have indicated consciousness may be present despite clinically undetectable consciousness. This together with fearful experiences may contribute to PTSD and other cognitive deficits post CA.     

产后抑郁症发病特点及社区干预策略

目的了解本地区产后抑郁症在不同年龄段，独生子女与非独生子女的发病特点和相关因素，为社区干预策略提供干预依据。方法用自行设计的产后抑郁症知晓率问卷，一般情况调查表和爱丁堡产后抑郁量表对800名产妇进行调查。知晓率问卷用百分比表示，一般情况调查表各因素用P值。结果产后抑郁症发生率为18．63％。80后独生子女发病率高，产后7～14天为疾病高发期，产妇对产后抑郁症的知晓率低，多因素共同影响产后抑郁症发生。结论提高产后抑郁症知晓率和社区医疗干预很有必要。社区干预的重点在健康教育，心理干预。     

Awareness,attitude, and distribution of high blood pressure among health professionals

BackgroundBP control is suboptimal Worldwide. Little is known about attitudes of health professionals toward their BP status.AimTo estimate awareness, attitudes, and distribution of blood pressure among health professionals.Study designProspective cross-sectional survey.MethodsStudy was conducted among health professionals in two tertiary hospitals in Riyadh, KSA during December 2010. Socio-demographics, risk factors for high BP, awareness, and adherence to treatment were recorded.ResultsSix hundred and seventy-two subjects, 66.6% females, mean age 36.2 + 13.9 years. Prevalence of Hypertension (HTN) was 28%. 114 (60.6%) patients had self reported HTN in HTN group while 74 (11%) of total study population, were not aware that they have HTN which was detected on screening. Stress and lack of formal exercise were prevalent risk factors for HTN, present in 44.1% and 36.1%, of patients, respectively, while obesity was present in 19.4%. Many participants were not aware of recently recommended target value of blood pressure. 22.3% patients were irregular for their follow-up. 12.2% patients were not adherent to the treatment. Isolated systolic hypertension was more common in men. A point of serious concern was that relatively young health professionals, who were not known to be hypertensive did not monitor their BP, found to have HTN.ConclusionSuboptimal awareness and lack of adherence to the treatment for BP among health professionals is of serious concern, for increased chances of cardiovascular events. Physical exercise, correction of obesity and compliance with treatment may reduce the risk of HTN-related adverse outcome in this special subset of the population.     

Attentional gain and processing capacity limits predict the propensity to neglect unexpected visual stimuli

Exogenous allocation of attentional resources allows the visual system to encode and maintain representations of stimuli in visual working memory (VWM). However, limits in the processing capacity to allocate resources can prevent unexpected visual stimuli from gaining access to VWM and thereby to consciousness. Using a novel approach to create unbiased stimuli of increasing saliency, we investigated visual processing during a visual search task in individuals who show a high or low propensity to neglect unexpected stimuli. When propensity to inattention is high, ERP recordings show a diminished amplification concomitantly with a decrease in theta band power during the N1 latency, followed by a poor target enhancement during the N2 latency. Furthermore, a later modulation in the P3 latency was also found in individuals showing propensity to visual neglect, suggesting that more effort is required for conscious maintenance of visual information in VWM. Effects during early stages of processing (N80 and P1) were also observed suggesting that sensitivity to contrasts and medium‐to‐high spatial frequencies may be modulated by low‐level saliency (albeit no statistical group differences were found). In accordance with the Global Workplace Model, our data indicate that a lack of resources in low‐level processors and visual attention may be responsible for the failure to “ignite” a state of high‐level activity spread across several brain areas that is necessary for stimuli to access awareness. These findings may aid in the development of diagnostic tests and intervention to detect/reduce inattention propensity to visual neglect of unexpected stimuli.     

Acceptance and utilization of HIV testing among the youth: a cross-sectional study in Techiman,Ghana

BackgroundIn Ghana, efforts including ‘Know Your Status’ campaign have been made to increase awareness and improve the uptake of HIV screening.ObjectiveThis study examined the acceptance and utilization of the HIV/AIDS ‘Know Your Status’ campaign and determine dthe differences in HIV testing by demographic characteristics among the youth in Techiman, Ghana.MethodThis study was a cross-sectional study conducted among the youth aged 15–24 years. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 200 purposively selected respondents.ResultsThe mean age of the respondents was 19.6±2.72 years. There was a universal awareness (100%) of HIV/AIDs, and were knowledgeable about the mode of transmission, symptoms and the prevention of HIV. A high proportion of the respondents (n=161, 80.5%) had heard about the ‘Know Your Status’ (KYS) campaign. Less than half of respondents (n=91, 45.5%) had tested for HIV, and only 16.5% (n=15/91) of respondents tested through the KYS campaign. Testing for HIV was associated with age (p<0.001) and marital status (p<0.001).ConclusionThe youth should therefore be targeted in the awareness and the ‘Know Your Status campaigns’, and in an effortsto promote screening for HIV.     

基于论文内容分析法对中国人群AIDS认知程度的研究

目的 分析中国各类人群近几年对艾滋病(AIDS)相关知识的认知程度。方法 以1998—2000年在国内期刊上公开发表的AIDS健康教育及认知调查文献为数据基础，运用内容分析方法通过数据提炼对AIDS认知程度的基本情况进行综合评价。结果 共研究137篇1998—2000年的文献，人群总体认知水平为：对“艾滋病可以通过性接触途径传播”的认知达到85．30％；对“蚊虫叮咬不会传播艾滋病病毒”的正确认知仅为44．74％；对“应同情关怀艾滋病病毒感染者，他们可照常工作，不应受歧视”的认知为60．66％；对“使用安全套可避孕并减少感染性病、艾滋病的危险”的认知为60．78％。结论 利用层次分析法的两两比较手段，计算以上4项指标在AIDS认知水平中的重要性排序。从4项指标的综合评价结果来看，大中学生得分最高，而高危人群得分最低。3年纵向比较结果表明，认知程度在逐年提高，但总体认知水平还较低。     

武汉初中生家长对接种HPV疫苗接受度调查

目的了解武汉市初中生家长对孩子接种HPV疫苗的接受度,为在中国进行HPV疫苗接种提供科学依据。方法采取整群抽样方法抽取某初中一、二年级学生家长进行问卷调查。结果341名调查对象中,36．66％的人愿意孩子接种HPV疫苗。多元Logistic回归结果显示,家长的性别、HPV知晓情况和疫苗价格是影响家长对HPV疫苗接受度的主要因素。结论初中生家长对孩子接种HPV疫苗的接受度不高,积极开展HPV及HPV疫苗的认知教育对今后HPV疫苗的预防接种有潜在意义。