Hand hygiene practices among community Health Officers in Rivers State,Nigeria

Background

Health care associated infections are most commonly transmitted by the hands of Health care workers and other hospital personnel.

Objective

To investigate compliance with hand hygiene guidelines and methods of hand hygiene practice among community health officers in Rivers State Nigeria.

Methods

Self administered questionnaires were distributed to 68 community health officers. The questionnaires consisted of 19 items which contained information on bio-demographic characteristics and hand hygiene practices. Data were analysed using SPSS-16 statistical software. Proportions were compared using Chi- square test and ‘p’ value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

The response rate was 97.1%. There were 11 (16.7%) males and 55 (83.3%) females with a male to female ratio of 1: 5. The age of the participants ranged from 28–56 years with a mean age of 39.7±6.7. Washing of hands before and after contact with patient was 60.1% and 97% respectively. The difference was significant (p<0.01). Allergy to gloves was 15.2%. About three-quarter (77.3%) of the workers used soap and water to wash the hands when soiled or visibly contaminated. None of the workers used alcohol hand rub.

Conclusion

Though there was improved compliance to hand hygiene guidelines, this still fall short of acceptable standards. The provision and promotion of the proper use of alcohol-based hand rub may further improve compliance with hand hygiene by reducing the time required to perform it and the convenience of the method.     

Treatment of lipomas assisted with tumescent liposuction

BACKGROUND: Lipoma is a common soft-tissue tumour of mature fat cells. Although surgical excision is effective, treatments that are less invasive and not associated with disfigurement of scar would be ideal for the treatment of lipomas. Recently, tumescent liposuction has been used for the treatment of lipomas. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of tumescent liposuction in lipoma treatment, we reviewed our experience of lipoma treatment by tumescent liposuction. METHODS: A total of 21 patients presenting with 31 lipomas were treated with tumescent liposuction. After liposuction, remaining stromas were removed by a haemostat through the small incision. Tumour size and post-operative complications were recorded before and after treatment. RESULTS: A total of 31 lipomas of 21 patients were treated by tumescent liposuction. The size of lipomas ranged between 1.2 and 11 cm (mean size, 4.1 cm). In 23 cases, there were no complications. However, remnant lipomas, bruise, haematoma and immediate dimpling were found as complications. CONCLUSION: Tumescent liposuctions with extracting remnant fat tissue and fibrous tissue through the opening for liposuction can be an effective treatment technique in lipoma treatment in the efficacy and cosmetic outcomes and this method can be a substitute for excision in treating large lipomas.     

Surfactant protein B deficiency: Clinical, histological and molecular evaluation

Congenital alveolar proteinosis due to surfactant protein B deficiency is an inherited disease which results in severe respiratory failure in term infants soon after birth. The pathophysiologic basis of this disease is now known to be an inability to synthesise adequate quantities of normally functioning surfactant protein B. We report a male infant with fatal respiratory failure of neonatal onset, and histopathological features typical of those seen in congenital alveolar proteinosis. Molecular analysis of genomic DNA revealed two mutations, the 'common' 121ins2 mutation in exon 4, and a novel 2bp frameshift mutation in exon 5. We believe this is the first Australian case of surfactant protein B deficiency confirmed by molecular analysis.     

肾移植受者CYP3A5基因多态性对术后他克莫司药物代谢的影响

目的 研究肾移植受者细胞色素P450 3A(CMP3A)酶系中的CYP3A5基因多态性对术后他克莫司(Tac)药物代谢的影响,并探讨测定CYP3A5基因型的方法 .方法 选取97例肾移植术后常规使用Tac+吗替麦考酚酯+泼尼松三联免疫抑制方案的受者.用焦磷酸测序法测定受者CYP3A5基因型;用均相酶扩大免疫分析法(EMIT)测定受者全血Tac浓度谷值(C0);比较不同基因型的受者肾移植术后第7天、第14天、1个月、3个月和6个月时的Tac C0,与Tac校正剂量的比值(Tac G0/Tac校正剂量).结果 焦磷酸测序法能够快速准确的测定肾移植受者CYP3A5基因型;97例肾移植受者CYP3A5基因型分别为:CYP3A5+1/*1型17例(17.5%),CYP3A5* 1/*3型35例(36.1%),CYP3A5*3/*3型45例(46.4%).CYP3A5*1/*1型和CYP3A5*1/*3型受者肾移植术后Tac G0/Tac校正剂量均显著低于CYP3A5*3/*3型受者.结论 肾移植受者CYP3A5基因型对Tac药物代谢具有显著的影响.采用焦磷酸法测定肾移植受者CYP3A5基因多态性,有助于确定不同个体移植术后理想的Tac起始剂量,实现Tac个体化用药.     

胸腺肽α1治疗高龄患者消化系统肿瘤的临床疗效分析

目的观察及评价胸腺肽α1(Tα1)对高龄消化系统恶性肿瘤患者细胞免疫功能的影响和临床疗效。方法96例高龄消化系统恶性肿瘤患者,随机分为对照组(化疗)和治疗组(化疗 Tα1),每组48例。治疗组在化疗的同时给予1.6mg Tα1皮下注射,隔日1次,连续应用8周,对照组则在化疗的同时给予等剂量生理盐水,用法与治疗组相同。在化疗前1周和化疗第2、4、8周分别检测患者T淋巴细胞亚群及NK淋巴细胞活性,并记录患者Karnofsky体力评分。结果治疗后治疗组患者的Karnofsky评分明显高于对照组(P<0.05)。治疗组机体免疫能力相关指标CD4 、CD4 /CD8 和NK细胞活性在治疗后明显高于治疗前,差异有显著性(P<0.05)。治疗后治疗组CD4 、CD4 /CD8 和NK细胞活性明显高于对照组,差异有显著性(P<0.05)。结论胸腺肽α1可提高高龄消化系统恶性肿瘤患者的细胞免疫功能,改善患者生活质量,对消化系统恶性肿瘤有一定的辅助治疗作用。     

Relation between regional and global systolic function in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy after β-Blocker therapy or revascularization

Background

To assess the relationship between improved regional and global myocardial function in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy in response to β-blocker therapy or revascularization.

Materials and methods

Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) was performed in 32 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy before and 8 ± 2 months after therapy. Patients were assigned clinically to β-blocker therapy (n = 20) or revascularization (n = 12). CMR at baseline was performed to assess regional and global LV function at rest and under low-dose dobutamine. Wall thickening was analyzed in dysfunctional, adjacent, and remote segments. Follow-up CMR included rest function evaluation.

Results

Augmentation of wall thickening during dobutamine at baseline was similar in dysfunctional, adjacent and remote segments in both patient groups. Therefore, baseline characteristics were similar for both patient groups. In both patient groups resting LV ejection fraction and end-systolic volume improved significantly (p < 0.05) at follow-up. Stepwise multivariate analysis revealed that improvement in global LV ejection fraction in the β-blocker treated patients was significantly related to improved function of remote myocardium (p < 0.05), whereas in the revascularized patients improved function in dysfunctional and adjacent segments was more pronounced (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

In patients with chronic ischemic LV dysfunction, β-Blocker therapy or revascularization resulted in a similar improvement of global systolic LV function. However, after β-blocker therapy, improved global systolic function was mainly related to improved contraction of remote myocardium, whereas after revascularization the dysfunctional and adjacent regions contributed predominantly to the improved global systolic function.     

A Randomized,Placebo-Controlled,Active-Reference,Double-Blind,Flexible-Dose Study of the Efficacy of Vortioxetine on Cognitive Function in Major Depressive Disorder

This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, active-referenced (duloxetine 60 mg), parallel-group study evaluated the short-term efficacy and safety of vortioxetine (10–20 mg) on cognitive function in adults (aged 18–65 years) diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) who self-reported cognitive dysfunction. Efficacy was evaluated using ANCOVA for the change from baseline to week 8 in the digit symbol substitution test (DSST)–number of correct symbols as the prespecified primary end point. The patient-reported perceived deficits questionnaire (PDQ) and physician-assessed clinical global impression (CGI) were analyzed in a prespecified hierarchical testing sequence as key secondary end points. Additional predefined end points included the objective performance-based University of San Diego performance-based skills assessment (UPSA) (ANCOVA) to measure functionality, MADRS (MMRM) to assess efficacy in depression, and a prespecified multiple regression analysis (path analysis) to calculate direct vs indirect effects of vortioxetine on cognitive function. Safety and tolerability were assessed at all visits. Vortioxetine was statistically superior to placebo on the DSST (P<0.05), PDQ (P<0.01), CGI-I (P<0.001), MADRS (P<0.05), and UPSA (P<0.001). Path analysis indicated that vortioxetine''s cognitive benefit was primarily a direct treatment effect rather than due to alleviation of depressive symptoms. Duloxetine was not significantly different from placebo on the DSST or UPSA, but was superior to placebo on the PDQ, CGI-I, and MADRS. Common adverse events (incidence ⩾5%) for vortioxetine were nausea, headache, and diarrhea. In this study of MDD adults who self-reported cognitive dysfunction, vortioxetine significantly improved cognitive function, depression, and functionality and was generally well tolerated.     

Cervista和MALDI-TOF-MS HPV法用于子宫颈癌筛查效果评价检测

目的：中美合作深圳万例子宫颈癌筛查项目（SHENCCASTⅡ）,主要研究目的就是评价人类乳头状瘤病毒（HPV）作为子宫颈癌初筛方法的可行性。笔者报道研究项目中期评估数据,以HybridCaptureII（HC-II）法HPV检测为对照,评价新的CervistaHPV检测方法和MALDI-TOF-MSHPV基因分型检测技术（MALDI-TOF-MS）在宫颈癌筛查中的效果。方法：本研究拟募集深圳市区、郊区及周边农村地区1万名年龄25岁至59岁、至少3年未参加过子宫颈癌筛查、未接受过子宫切除术及放疗、有过性生活的非孕期女性为筛查对象。宫颈细胞由医生取样,收集在PreservCyt细胞保存液中,首先液基细胞学制片,然后进行HC-Ⅱ、Cervista和MALDI-TOF-MS3种方法的HPV检测。细胞学≥ASCUS及任一方法HPV检测结果阳性者均进一步行阴道镜下四象限多点活检及ECC病理诊断。结果：5316例参加筛查女性中,5043例数据齐全。HC-Ⅱ、Cervist、MALDI-TOF-MS3种HPV检测方法HPV阳性率分别是：14.6%,12.2%,14%。发现CIN2以上病变150例,CIN3以上病变97例,宫颈癌5例。对于发现CIN2及以上病变,HC-Ⅱ、Cervista、MALDI-TOF-MS3种HPV检测的敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值、阴性预测值分别是：94.7%、87.9%、19.3%、99.8%;90.7%、90.2%、22%、99.7%和92.7%、88.4%、19.7%、99.8%。对于检出CIN3及以上病变,HC-Ⅱ、Cervista、MALDI-TOF-MS的敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值、阴性预测值分别是：97%、87%、12.8%、99.9%;91.8%、89.3%、14.4%、99.8%和94.9%、87.6%、13.1%、99.9%。Cervista和HC-Ⅱ、MALDI-TOF-MS的敏感性、特异性比较有统计学差异（P〈0.01）,但MALDI-TOF-MS和HC-Ⅱ比较没有显著差异。结论：HPV检测作为人群为基础的子宫颈癌筛查的初筛方法是可行的,MALDI-TOF-MSHPV检测的敏感性、特异性可与目前公认的金标准HC-Ⅱ法HPV检测相媲美,同时又因其检测的高通量、相对较低的价格,以及可行基因分型而更具应用前景。