Meningococcal disease: treatment and prevention

Many countries have been experiencing a significant increase in meningococcal disease. With the strains currently circulating, septicaemia is now a more frequent manifestation than meningitis and early recognition of disease manifestations by patient, parent or physician as well as early recognition of disease severity are the most important factors in attempting to reduce mortality and morbidity. Ceftriaxone is the treatment of choice but must be accompanied by aggressive supportive therapy in those with severe disease. The role of steroids is unknown. The evidence to support their use in both meningitis and severe systemic sepsis is discussed. The purified polysaccharide vaccines that have been available for some years may play a limited role in disease prevention. The recently introduced conjugate vaccine for preventing serogroup C disease represents a major advance but no vaccine is currently available to prevent serogroup B disease, cases of which will continue to challenge clinical practice.     

Meningococcal disease: treatment and prevention

Many countries have been experiencing a significant increase in meningococcal disease. With the strains currently circulating, septicaemia is now a more frequent manifestation than meningitis and early recognition of disease manifestations by patient, parent or physician as well as early recognition of disease severity are the most important factors in attempting to reduce mortality and morbidity. Ceftriaxone is the treatment of choice but must be accompanied by aggressive supportive therapy in those with severe disease. The role of steroids is unknown. The evidence to support their use in both meningitis and severe systemic sepsis is discussed. The purified polysaccharide vaccines that have been available for some years may play a limited role in disease prevention. The recently introduced conjugate vaccine for preventing serogroup C disease represents a major advance but no vaccine is currently available to prevent serogroup B disease, cases of which will continue to challenge clinical practice.     

Case finding: a new approach to chronic disease prevention

A working group of Specialist Nurses, Mental Health Nurses, DN Nurse Practitioners, and Community Development staff mapped the journey of a person identified with risk factors for chronic disease at a community health promotion event. The mapping exercise demonstrated that the GP was the main and only gatekeeper to a range of nursing and other services, and any health outcome depended upon the person seeking an appointment with the GP. Once a person was identified at an event, there was no follow up or mechanism of tracking the outcome.     

Respiratory syncytial virus disease: update on treatment and prevention

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young children, accounting for more than 100,000 hospitalizations per year in the USA. The majority of hospitalizations occur in infants less than 1 year of age. Worldwide, RSV is associated with an annual mortality rate of 160,000-600,000 deaths. Premature infants, and infants with congenital heart disease, neuromuscular disease, structural airway abnormalities and immunodeficiencies are at increased risk for severe RSV disease. Despite the magnitude of RSV disease, treatment remains primarily supportive. Trials of bronchodilators, corticosteroids and montelukast have not demonstrated conclusive clinical benefit. The antiviral drug ribavirin has demonstrated only marginal clinical benefit and is not routinely indicated in treatment of RSV disease. Palivizumab is beneficial in prophylaxis for infants at high-risk for severe RSV infection although optimal indications based on cost-effectiveness considerations have not been defined. Future directions in treatment and prevention of RSV infections likely include the second-generation monoclonal antibody motavizumab, more potent antiviral compounds and more unique anti-inflammatory agents. Vaccination against RSV is in development but not eminent.     

慢性阻塞性肺病社区综合防治状况研究

目的提高慢性阻塞性肺病(COPD)社区综合防治水平,研究COPD社区的患病情况,探讨调查发病的危险因素,及COPD防治现状。方法选取上海市虹口区乍浦街道两个社区40岁以上居民进行肺功能筛查和呼吸情况问卷调查,并评估其发病危险因素。结果社区COPD总患病率为11.02%(102/926),男性患病率显著高于女性(分别为14.51%、7.84%,P<0.01),患病率随年龄增大而增大。性别、年龄、吸烟史、教育程度、儿童期呼吸疾病史与COPD的发生有密切的关系。高危人群患病率显著高于非高危人群(P<0.01)。患者中仅19.60%曾被诊断为慢性支气管炎或支气管哮喘,35.29%患者无呼吸系统症状,仅3.92%患者做过肺功能检查。结论社区40岁以上人群COPD发病率较高,COPD社区防治水平较低下,需努力提高COPD社区综合防治水平。     

慢性阻塞性肺病社区综合防治状况研究

目的提高慢性阻塞性肺病（COPD）社区综合防治水平,研究COPD社区的患病情况,探讨调查发病的危险因素,及03PD防治现状。方法选取上海市虹口区乍浦街道两个社区40岁以上居民进行肺功能筛查和呼吸情况问卷调查,并评估其发病危险因素。结果社区COPD总患病率为11．02％（102／926）,男性患病率显著高于女性（分别为14．51％、7．84％,P〈0．01）,患病率随年龄增大而增大。性别、年龄、吸烟史、教育程度、儿童期呼吸疾病史与00PD的发生有密切的关系。高危人群患病率显著高于非高危人群（P〈0．01）。患者中仅19．60％曾被诊断为慢性支气管炎或支气管哮喘,35．29％患者无呼吸系统症状,仅3．92％患者做过肺功能检查。结论社区40岁以上人群COPD发病率较高,COPD社区防治水平较低下,需努力提高COPD社区综合防治水平。     

职业病防治措施之探讨

为了进一步贯彻"预防为主、防治结合"的方针和<中华人民共和国职业病防治法>及相关的法律、法规,加强并规范职业卫生管理,改善生产作业环境,减少职业病危害因素,保障作业工人的身体健康,保障企业的经济利益,促进经济发展,现结合我市的实际情况,对职业病的防治提出一些具体的建议.     

Dietary guidelines for chronic disease prevention

In developed nations, diet is related directly or indirectly to the most prevalent chronic diseases. Research has helped clarify diet-disease relationships and enabled the promulgation of dietary recommendations for chronic disease prevention. We reviewed epidemiologic study results, clinical trial data, and general dietary recommendations from various agencies to develop a set of overall dietary guidelines for the prevention of the most common chronic diseases in the United States, including coronary heart disease, hypertension, cancer, and osteoporosis. Intake of monounsaturated fats, fiber, calcium, vegetables and fruits, and whole grains should be promoted. Consumption of saturated and trans fats, sodium, and refined grains should be minimized. Moderation in alcohol and caloric intake should be encouraged. Although research into associations between diet and disease is constantly in flux, our guidelines are based on replicated findings and provide a starting point for assisting patients in improving their diets.     

Tobacco smoking and nonspecific lung diseases

The data obtained by the authors indicate that the relationship between chronic nonspecific pulmonary diseases (CNPD) was only found in men and was established to be particularly dependent on the age, onset and duration of tobacco smoking. In men, the relationship manifested itself in the fact that with age and increase of the period of tobacco smoking the risk for pulmonary diseases rose. In women, such relationship appeared immaterial, but they also demonstrated a tendency towards the growth of the CNPD incidence with the rise of the period of tobacco smoking.     

Chronic kidney disease: prevention and treatment of common complications

Chronic kidney disease is a progressive condition that results in significant morbidity and mortality. Because of the important role the kidneys play in maintaining homeostasis, chronic kidney disease can affect almost every body system. Early recognition and intervention are essential to slowing disease progression, maintaining quality of life, and improving outcomes. Family physicians have the opportunity to screen at-risk patients, identify affected patients, and ameliorate the impact of chronic kidney disease by initiating early therapy and monitoring disease progression. Aggressive blood pressure control, with a goal of 130/80 mm Hg or less, is recommended in patients with chronic kidney disease. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin-II receptor antagonists are most effective because of their unique ability to decrease proteinuria. Hyperglycemia should be treated; the goal is an AIC concentration below 7 percent. In patients with dyslipidemia, statin therapy is appropriate to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Anemia should be treated, with a target hemoglobin concentration of 11 to 12 g per dL (110 to 120 g per L). Hyperparathyroid disease requires dietary phosphate restrictions, antacid use, and vitamin D supplementation; if medical therapy fails, referral for surgery is necessary. Counseling on adequate nutrition should be provided, and smoking cessation must be encouraged at each office visit.     

Association between smoking behavior patterns and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a long-term follow-up study among Finnish adults

Low-rate smoking patterns are common, but their pulmonary effects remain poorly known. The study hypothesis was that any level of daily smoking may cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We investigated the association between longitudinal smoking patterns and COPD using logistic regressions and survival models adjusted for multiple covariates. Data from Finnish Twin Cohort surveys were used. Participants (n = 21,609) were grouped into categories describing 1981 smoking and change in smoking during 1975-1981. Light smoking was defined as < 5 cigarettes per day, moderate 5-19 cigarettes, and heavy ≥ 20 cigarettes per day. Finland's Social Insurance Institution provided data on inhaled anticholinergics purchases (1995-2008) and diagnoses entitling to special reimbursements (1981-2008). We defined COPD as regular anticholinergic use or special reimbursement eligibility for COPD, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis. COPD incidence was 2.5% (n = 528). Elevated disease risks were observed in former, moderate, and heavy smokers, in all who increased smoking, and in those who reduced from moderate to light smoking. Increased risk for anticholinergic use was found in former smokers, in constant light, moderate, and heavy smokers, and in increasers. Former, light, moderate, and heavy smoking in 1981 was associated with future development of disease. Our results demonstrate that all daily smoking patterns may impair pulmonary function.