Patient Perspectives on Language Discordance During Healthcare Visits: Findings From the Extremely High-Density Multicultural State of Qatar

Reducing language and cultural barriers in healthcare are significant factors in resolving health disparities. Qatar’s rapidly growing multicultural population presents new challenges to the healthcare system. The purpose of this research was to explore patients’ perspectives about language discordance, and the strategies used to overcome language barriers during patients’ visits. Participants were recruited and interviewed from four language groups (Arabic = 24, English = 20, Hindi = 20, and Urdu = 20), all of whom were living in Qatar and utilizing Hamad General Hospital-Outpatient Clinics as a source of their healthcare services. Using qualitative analysis procedures, relevant themes and codes were generated and data analyzed using Atlas-ti. As for results, most participants had experienced or witnessed language barriers during their outpatient clinics visits. Participants essentially were unfamiliar with professional medical interpreters and described their adaptive solutions, for example utilizing incidental interpreters, stringing together fragments of multiple languages, and using body language. Those not speaking mainstream languages of Hamad General Hospital (English and Arabic) were more vulnerable to health disparities due to language barriers. Despite the patient impetus to do something, patient-reported adaptive strategies could compromise patients’ safety and access to quality healthcare. Polices tackling the language barrier need to be reviewed in Qatar’s multicultural healthcare system and similar settings.     

The Health and Social Needs of Patients Discharged From the Emergency Department With Suspected COVID-19

Health-related social needs (HRSNs), such as food or housing insecurity, are important drivers of disparities in outcomes during public health emergencies. We describe the development of a telehealth follow-up program in Boston, Massachusetts, for patients discharged from the emergency department after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing to identify patients with worsening clinical symptoms, to screen for unmet HRSNs, and to deliver self-isolation counseling and risk-reduction strategies for socially vulnerable people. We prioritized telephone calls to patients with public health insurance and patients without primary care physicians. In the first 43 days of operation, March 30–May 12, 2020, our intervention reached 509 patients, with 209 (41.1%) patients reporting an HRSN, most commonly related to food, housing, or utilities. Thirty-one (6.1%) patients required assessment by a clinician for clinical worsening. This public health intervention may be useful for other institutions developing programs to address the social and health needs of patients discharged with suspected COVID-19.     

Population-attributable risk of dietary aflatoxins and hepatitis B virus infection with respect to hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Aflatoxins and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections are important risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study assesses the population-attributable risk of these two factors, both jointly and separately, with respect to HCC. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted in Sudan between 1996 and 1998. Among 114 cases and 198 controls the consumption of peanut butter (a major source of aflatoxins) and HBV infection were investigated, as were drinking and smoking habits. RESULTS: A clear dose-response relation was observed between increasing peanut butter consumption and HCC in people without HBV infection. Age-adjusted odds ratios for peanut butter consumption, HBV infection, and for the combination of both factors were, respectively, 5.1 (95% confidence interval = 1.8-13.9), 32.2 (4.0-257), and 41.5 (11.2-155). In this study, about 80% of the HCC cases are attributable to either peanut butter consumption or HBV infection. Depending on assumptions in the data analysis, 27-60% of all cases can be attributed to aflatoxin exposure and 49-52% to HBV infection; of these figures, 7-34% reflect a shared responsibility of the two factors. CONCLUSIONS: Both reduction of aflatoxin contamination of foods and HBV vaccination may be useful public health strategies in HCC prevention in Sudan.     

Are false negative direct immnufluorescence assays caused by varicella zoster virus gE mutant strains?

Strains of Varicella zoster virus (VZV) have been described recently in which a single base mutation in the gE epitope abrogates binding of the 3B3 monoclonal antibody, which is widely used for virus detection in diagnostic laboratories. These strains, named VZV-MSP, are associated with a distinct phenotype in both in vitro culture and in SCID-hu mice. We investigated the possibility that negative direct immunofluorescence results, using the 3B3 antibody, where the presence of virus was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or tissue culture are due in some cases to the MSP strain of VZV. A total of 249 vesicle fluid specimens from people with suspected shingles were examined using direct immunofluorescence, tissue culture and a nested multiplex PCR for VZV, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2). VZV was detected in 218 of 249 (87.6%) cases. Forty-five confirmed VZV specimens, but with negative (30) or indeterminate (15) immunofluorescence results, were analysed further. PCR was used to amplify a fragment in ORF 68 that encodes the VZV gE ectodmain recognised by 3B3 antibody. The fragments were sequenced and analysed for the single base change G448A (D150N), which is present in VZV-MSP as compared with the reference Dumas strain. No VZV gE mutant (MSP/MSP-like) was detected. Overall, PCR was found to be the most sensitive method of confirming VZV infection. False negative VZV immunofluorescence results are unlikely to be due to virus variants.     

Infection with Helicobacter pylori strains carrying babA2 and cagA is associated with an increased risk of peptic ulcer disease development in Iraq

Background and study aimSeveral genes of Helicobacter pylori, such as vacA, cagA, iceA and babA, have been reported to significantly increase the risk of gastrointestinal diseases. The aim of this study was to study the relationship between H. pylori virulence factors and clinical outcomes and identify the independent markers of peptic ulcer disease in Iraq.Patients and methodsDNA was extracted from specimens taken from 154 unselected H. Pylori positive Iraqi patients. Genotyping was performed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using specific primers for cagA, vacA (s, m), iceA and babA2 genes.ResultsA total of 56 (82%) peptic ulcer disease (PUD) patients carried cagA+ strains, significantly more than the 56 (65%) non-ulcer disease (NUD) patients (p = 0.017). The difference in the prevalence of babA2 positivity was significant between patients with NUD (33.7%) and PUD (58.8%) (p = 0.002). In addition, babA2 was associated as an independent factor, with PUD (p = 0.005; odds ratio (OR) = 0.4; confidence interval (CI) = 0.18–0.68) followed by cagA (p = 0.05; OR = 0.4; CI = 0.18–0.85). Forty-five isolates (29%) were typed as ‘triple positive’ strains, and their presence was significantly associated with PUD (p = 0.001).ConclusionThe cagA and babA2 genotypes might be considered as useful markers for PUD patients. However, iceA1 and iceA2 seem not to be good markers for the disease. The presence of H. pylori strains with triple-positive status is of high clinical relevance to H. pylori-associated diseases.     

Initial Experience of Endoscopic Radiofrequency Waves Delivery to the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (Stretta Procedure) on Symptomatic Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Post-Sleeve Gastrectomy

Background

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs de novo or intensifies after sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Endoscopic radiofrequency (Stretta) is a minimally invasive, effective tool to treat GERD. However, Stretta safety and efficacy are unknown in patients with GERD after LSG. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Stretta treatment post-LSG GERD, quality of life, and PPI dose up to 6 months.

Methods

A retrospective review of all patients’ data who underwent Stretta procedure in our center. Demographics, pre-Stretta lower esophageal manometry, 24-h pH monitoring, endoscopic and radiological findings, GERD symptoms using Quality of Life (HR-QoL) questionnaire, and PPI doses at 0, 3, and 6 months were reviewed.

Results

Fifteen patients had an initial BMI of 44.4?±?9 kg/m². Pre-Stretta BMI was 29.7?±?6.3 kg/m² with an EWL% of 44?±?21.4%. Pre-Stretta endoscopic reflux esophagitis was found in 26.7%, and barium imaging showed severe reflux in 40%. The mean DeMeester score was 27.9?±?6.7. Hypotensive LES pressure occurred in 93.3% of patients. Patients’ mean HR-QoL scores were 42.7?±?8.9 pre-Stretta and 41.8?±?11 at 6 months (P?=?0.8). One case (6.7%) was complicated by hematemesis. At 6 months, 66.7% of patients were not satisfied, though the PPI medications were ceased in 20%. Two patients (13.3%) underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass at 8 months post-Stretta to relieve symptoms.

Conclusions

Stretta did not improve GERD symptoms in patients post-LSG at short-term follow-up, and about 6.7% complication rate was reported. Patients were not satisfied despite the decrease in PPI dose.