Immunization in travel medicine

The specialty of travel medicine encompasses a broad and dynamic practice. A thorough pretravel consultation provides an individual with a comprehensive, evidence-based, contextual discussion of the risk profile for specific itinerary-based, travel-related illness and injury, allowing the traveler to use this information in conjunction with his or her personal health belief model, risk tolerance, and experience to decide on an informed management plan. This article focuses on the pretravel consultation with emphasis on the contribution of immunization to traveler's health.     

热带病防控人员全球卫生知识现状及培训需求调查

以中国疾病预防控制中心寄生虫病预防控制所2016年8月至2017年4月举办的3次热带病预防控制主题会议(培训班)的参会人员为调查对象,采用自填式问卷调查的方法收集信息,使用SPSS 20.0软件对数据进行统计分析。共发放问卷256份,获得有效问卷241份。从未听说过全球卫生概念者占14.5%(35/241),虽听说过但不太了解者占82.6%(199/241),熟悉者仅2.9%(7/241)。调查对象对流行病学与卫生统计学知识的熟悉程度显著高于全球卫生(P<0.01)。全球卫生基本概念的正确理解占比为42.7%(103/241),≤35岁组的正确理解占比为53.8%(56/104),>35岁组为34.3%(47/137),二者差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。97.1%(233/240)的调查对象表示有意愿参加全球卫生培训,培训内容需求排名前3的分别为疾病防控策略和技术,实验检测、诊断和研发技术,卫生管理知识;能力提升需求排名前3的分别为全球卫生视野、疾病防控经验和调查分析能力。培训方式以现场教学为主,采用教师学员互动教学模式,多聘用国外卫生系统师资。我国热带病防控人员对全球卫生知识的了解程度不容乐观,需要加强全球卫生培训和能力建设。     

Factors associated with human papillomavirus vaccine-series initiation and healthcare provider recommendation in US adolescent females: 2007 National Survey of Children's Health

Objective

To identify factors associated with initiation of the human papillomavirus vaccine series and parental report of a healthcare provider recommendation of the human papillomavirus vaccine in adolescent females.

Design

Cross-sectional analysis of 2007 National Survey of Children's Health.

Participants

Parents of 12–17 year-old US adolescent females.

Main outcome measures

Associations of sociodemographic and healthcare factors with initiation of the human papillomavirus vaccine series and parental report of a healthcare provider recommendation of the human papillomavirus vaccine.

Results

Data were analyzed for 16,139 adolescent females. Almost 20% of adolescent females initiated the HPV vaccine series. Significantly higher proportions of adolescent females who initiated the human papillomavirus vaccine series vs. those who did not initiate the human papillomavirus vaccine series had a parental report of their healthcare provider recommending the human papillomavirus vaccine (84% vs. 20%). In multivariable analyses, adolescent females who were American Indian/Alaska Native, were multiracial, received the meningococcal vaccine, received the tetanus/tetanus–diphtheria/tetanus–diphtheria–acellular pertussis vaccine, or were poor had higher adjusted odds of initiating the human papillomavirus vaccine series; parental report of a healthcare provider recommendation of the human papillomavirus vaccine was associated with about 18 times the adjusted odds of initiating the human papillomavirus vaccine series. In separate multivariable analyses, adolescent females who were African-American and uninsured had lower adjusted odds of a parental report of a healthcare provider recommendation of the human papillomavirus vaccine.

Conclusion

Parental report of a healthcare provider recommendation is significantly associated with human papillomavirus vaccine-series initiation. African-American race/ethnicity and uninsurance were associated with lower odds of a parental report of a healthcare provider recommendation of the human papillomavirus vaccine. Routine healthcare provider recommendation of human papillomavirus vaccination might improve adolescent females’ human papillomavirus vaccination rates.     

Contextualization of HIV and HPV risk and prevention among Pacific Islander young adults in Southern California

HIV and sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV) are associated with each other and with the development of comorbid cancer. Current epidemiology indicates that among Pacific Islanders in the United States, young adults are at highest risk of HIV and HPV. In our inductive community based participatory research study, we used focus groups and key informant interviews (March–August 2010) with young adults, parents, community leaders, and providers (n = 95) to identify and contextualize factors that shape HIV and HPV risk and prevention among young adults in Chamorro and Tongan communities in Southern California. We identified nine themes that incorporated the following principal factors: misinformation and otherization; dominant concerns regarding premarital pregnancy; restricted intergenerational communication; family shame and privacy; gendered manifestations of religio-cultural norms; barriers impeding access to sexual health resources; parents' role in prevention; community vs. individual responsibility; and family and ethnic pride. Our thematic findings fit well with Rhodes' “risk and enabling environment” heuristic ( 2009), which we used to contextualize risk and prevention at micro and macro levels of physical, social, economic, and policy environments. We propose the addition of a separate cultural environment to the heuristic and conclude that a focus on applying individual and community agency at the micro-level would be an approachable starting point for intervention for our local Pacific Islander communities and groups in similar ecological contexts globally. Enhanced community-led education programs and engagement of religious and other community leaders to facilitate intergenerational communication could counteract taboos that obstruct prevention.     

Stakeholder involvement in the systematic optimisation of two school-based relationships and sex education interventions,Project Respect and Positive Choices

Background

There is increasing emphasis on involving intended beneficiaries and other stakeholders in the development of public health interventions to maximise acceptability and remove barriers to adoption, implementation, and maintenance before costly implementation. Yet the processes whereby key actors are engaged in intervention development are rarely reported, and frameworks for carrying out such work remain limited. We outline our approach to involving stakeholders in the optimisation of two school-based relationships and sex education programmes (Project Respect and Positive Choices) and reflect on the challenges of co-producing with teachers, students, and other partners.

Gastric juice ascorbic acid is related to Helicobacter pylori infection but not ethnicity

BACKGROUND: Maori and Pacific Island ethnic groups in New Zealand have a high risk for gastric cancer. Low levels of gastric juice ascorbic acid (vitamin C) have been suggested to be a risk factor for gastric cancer. Previous studies have shown that gastric juice ascorbic acid may be independently associated with both ethnicity and Helicobacter pylori infection. This study aimed to examine the interrelationship between H. pylori and ethnicity in New Zealand. METHODS: Gastric juice was collected into 70% perchloric acid preservative and stored at -80 degrees C. Ascorbic acid was analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography using ion-pair chromatography and electrochemical detection. Inflammation and atrophy was graded from biopsies from multiple sites in the antrum and body. Gastric juice was collected from 89 patients during routine endoscopy. RESULTS: There was a wide range of measured gastric juice ascorbic acid from 0.001 to 410 microg/mL. The median concentration of ascorbic acid for H. pylori-negative patients was 1.78 microg/mL (n = 57) and 0.12 microg/mL (n = 32) for H. pylori-positive patients (P = 0.001). Gastric juice ascorbic acid concentration was not associated with age, endoscopic diagnosis or intestinal metaplasia, but was significantly associated with the degree of acute inflammation (P = 0.01) and the presence of atrophy (P = 0.04).The median ascorbic acid concentration for European patients was 0.92 microg/mL (n = 44) and 0.09 microg/mL (n = 38) for Maori and Pacific Island ethnic groups combined (P = 0.1). Multiple step-wise regression analysis showed that only H. pylori infection was a significant factor for predicting ascorbic acid concentrations (r2 = 0.12). CONCLUSIONS: This study has confirmed that gastric juice ascorbic acid concentration is lower in the presence of H. pylori infection.     

Older adults' trait ratings of three age-groups around the Pacific rim

In this paper, we assess the traits that older adultsassociate with younger, middle-aged, and older adults in fivePacific Rim nations from Western and Eastern cultural traditions(Australia, People's Republic of China (PRC), Hong Kong,Philippines, Thailand). We find cross-cultural trends whichreplicate patterns found in the US context. In most cultures,attractiveness, strength, activity, liberalism, health, andflexibility are seen to decline with increasing age. Kindnessassessments are positively associated with age across cultures. Mixed patterns are found with assessments of wisdom andgenerosity, with respondents from the PRC and Hong Kong beingnotably more negative about increasing age than otherrespondents. Implications for the aging process across culturesare discussed, and suggestions made for future research.     

烧伤患者医院感染病原菌分布及耐药变迁分析

目的了解烧伤病房感染病原菌分布及耐药变迁特点。方法回顾海南省人民医院2002-2009年住院烧伤感染患者病原菌的分布,并对比前、后4年病原菌构成比及耐药情况。结果检出634株病原菌,其中革兰阴性（G-）杆菌389株（61.4%）,主要为铜绿假单胞菌196株（30.9%）、鲍曼不动杆菌89株（14.0%）和大肠埃希菌56株（8.8%）;革兰阳性（G＋）球菌220株（34.7%）,主要为金黄色葡萄球菌109株（17.2%）和表皮葡萄球菌79株（12.5%）;真菌25株（3.9%）。前、后4年里,铜绿假单胞菌及金黄色葡萄球菌的构成比有下降趋势（P〈0.05）,而条件致病菌如鲍曼不动杆菌、表皮葡萄球菌的构成比呈明显上升趋势（P〈0.01）;铜绿假单胞菌、鲍曼不动杆菌对第三代头孢菌素、喹诺酮类抗生素的耐药率有上升趋势（P〈0.05）。109株金黄色葡萄球菌中耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌（MRSA）52株（47.8%）,对万古霉素100%敏感。结论近8年来烧伤病房患者感染病原菌以G-杆菌为主,条件致病菌的检出率呈上升趋势;常见病原菌对第三代头孢菌素的耐药率呈上升趋势,对此应予以重视。     

Lecture: Blood Donation Program in the Asia Pacific Region

As part of the Asia Pacific Blood Network (APBN) comparison of practice program, member countries review blood donor management practices to understand emerging trends in the region, and identify good practice opportunities which may benefit other members. Our membership includes Australia, Beijing, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. From 2006, we have jointly collected information for a range of donor related measures, including age and sex distribution of donors, criteria for donation, donation volumes and frequencies, transfusion transmitted disease rates, additional donor health screening initiatives and donor deferrals. Analysis of the donor management information both among member countries, and for individual countries over a period of 4 years, provides a useful window into some of the donor characteristics for our region. Whilst there are significant variations in population size of countries, there are shared trends in donor patterns subsequent to local disasters, reasons for donor deferrals, and the need for continued focus on relevant and effective donor retention and recruitment strategies. We continue to see lower red cell utilisation rates in Asia, in general a younger donor population with higher representation of male donors, and low haemoglobin as the single most common reason for donor deferral for most members. APBN members are actively pursuing opportunities for shared donor management approaches, and the progress with these strategies in addition to an overview of regional donor measure is provided.