			Home About us Contact

Increased Opportunities (increased + opportunity)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	85%

Selected Abstracts

The Bushmeat Trade: Increased Opportunities for Transmission of Zoonotic Disease

MOUNT SINAI JOURNAL OF MEDICINE: A JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED AND TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE, Issue 5 2009
William B. Karesh DVM
Abstract Bushmeat is a term that refers to the use of wild animals, ranging from cane rats to gorillas, for food. The term typically refers to the practice in forests of Africa. The bushmeat trade is an example of an anthropogenic factor that provides opportunities for the transmission of diseases from wildlife to humans. The expansion of the bushmeat trade over the past 2 decades has provided a venue for the emergence of zoonotic diseases by providing an increased opportunity for the transmission of organisms known to cause disease and organisms with an unknown impact on humans. Because the bushmeat trade is embedded in a complex cultural, political, and economic context, efforts to prevent the emergence of zoonoses require a multidisciplinary approach. Mt Sinai J Med 76:429,434, 2009. © 2009 Mount Sinai School of Medicine [source]

Australasian emergency physicians: A learning and educational needs analysis.

EMERGENCY MEDICINE AUSTRALASIA, Issue 2 2008
Part Three: Participation by FACEM in available CPD: What do they do, do they like it?
Abstract Objective: To determine the participation of Emergency Physicians (EP) in currently available continuing professional development opportunities (CPD), their perception of the usefulness of available CPD and their preferred format or method of CPD desired in the future. Method: A mailed survey of Fellows of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine with 17 Likert type options on educational methods and qualitative analysis grouping volunteered free text responses. Results: The most frequent learning methods reported by EP are on the job contact with other clinicians, formal ED based teaching and reading journals, which were also perceived as useful or very useful learning methods by more than 90% of EP. Less than 15% often or always participate on hospital grand rounds, high fidelity simulation, computer programmes or commercially sponsored events. Increased exposure was desired to high-fidelity simulation center skills training by 58% of respondents with nearly 49% of fellows also wanting more participation in international conferences with around 44% of fellows also wanting more participation in international conferences with around 44% desiring more formal teaching in the ED, more formal feedback on performance, and more meetings with other hospital departments. Over 50% of EP want less or no exposure to commercially sponsored dinners or events. Conclusion: Whilst emergency physicians currently participate in a wide variety of learning methods, the results of this survey suggest EP most appreciate ED based teaching, would like more contact with other departments, along with increased opportunities for simulation based learning and attendance at international conferences. [source]

HOST GROWTH CONDITIONS INFLUENCE EXPERIMENTAL EVOLUTION OF LIFE HISTORY AND VIRULENCE OF A PARASITE WITH VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL TRANSMISSION

EVOLUTION, Issue 7 2010
Hélène Magalon
In parasites with mixed modes of transmission, ecological conditions may determine the relative importance of vertical and horizontal transmission for parasite fitness. This may lead to differential selection pressure on the efficiency of the two modes of transmission and on parasite virulence. In populations with high birth rates, increased opportunities for vertical transmission may select for higher vertical transmissibility and possibly lower virulence. We tested this idea in experimental populations of the protozoan Paramecium caudatum and its bacterial parasite Holospora undulata. Serial dilution produced constant host population growth and frequent vertical transmission. Consistent with predictions, evolved parasites from this "high-growth" treatment had higher fidelity of vertical transmission and lower virulence than parasites from host populations constantly kept near their carrying capacity ("low-growth treatment"). High-growth parasites also produced fewer, but more infectious horizontal transmission stages, suggesting the compensation of trade-offs between vertical and horizontal transmission components in this treatment. These results illustrate how environmentally driven changes in host demography can promote evolutionary divergence of parasite life history and transmission strategies. [source]

Long-term follow-up of women with gestational diabetes mellitus: The South Australian Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Recall Register

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 2 2010
Catherine R. CHITTLEBOROUGH
Background:, Women who have had gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Early detection and management of type 2 diabetes are important for reducing associated complications and costs. Aims:, To evaluate an existing register for long-term follow-up of women who have been diagnosed with GDM. Methods:, Recruitment to the GDM Recall Register began at the diabetes centres of two hospitals in South Australia from July 2002, and was expanded to include a third hospital from September 2005. Women enrolled on the Register are sent an annual letter reminding them that they are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and encouraging them to get their blood glucose checked. An update form is also included for women to complete and return to the Register. Results:, As at 30 June 2009, 817 women were enrolled on the Register. Of women diagnosed with GDM at the participating hospital sites, recruitment to the Register was 68.4% in 2002 and 64.4% in 2007. Of the 429 women who had been sent their first reminder letter, 46.4% had returned the update form. Of these, 56.3% had undergone a glucose test for diabetes. Two women reported developing type 2 diabetes. Conclusions:, Expansion of the GDM Recall Register is likely to result in increased opportunities for early detection of diabetes for this high-risk group in South Australia, therefore allowing earlier intervention and treatment to prevent or reduce serious, costly diabetes-related complications. [source]

Multiple pathology and tails of disability: Space,time structure of disability in longevity

GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2003
Satoru Matsushita
Disability and the resulting lowered quality of life are serious issues accompanying increased longevity. Curiously, despite its potential contribution to aging theory, complete statistical and etiological structures of this common and unwelcome aging phenotype before death have not been well identified. Another neglected issue in aging and disability is the principles of phylogenesis and morphogenesis, which contemporary life science invariably starts with. In the present review these two related subjects are addressed, with an introduction of an analysis on patients and published data. Statistically rigorous log,normal and normal distributions distinguish disability for its duration and age-wise distribution, respectively. Multiple pathology and diverse effects of various endogenous diseases on disability are confirmed. The robust long-tailed log,normal distribution for various phases of disability validates the fact that patients in disability undergo series of stochastic subprocesses of many independent endogenous diseases until death. For 60% of patients, the log,normal distribution is mimicked by a random walk model. Diseases of core organs are major causes of the long tails. A declining force of natural selection after reproduction and trade-off of life history through pleiotropy of the genes are considered to be the roots of aging. The attenuated selection pressure and the resulting decrease of genetic constraints produce an increased opportunity for chance and stochastics. Elucidated stochastic behaviors of disability underscore the key role of chance in aging. Evolutionary modifications in the development of the structure tend to favor developmentally later stages first. Distal parts are developmentally last, therefore most subject to modification. The rate of molecular evolution of the genes is also found to be relatively slow at the core and rapid at the edge of cells and organs. Therefore, systems at the core must be relatively slow and inactive to comply with pleiotropy and trade-offs in comparison with systems at the edge. Hence, against flat and probabilistic aging, the core organs must be moulded to be more robust with a lower threshold for dysfunction, to age relatively slowly, and should have less of a disease quota in aging. The principle of core protective aging assures possibilities not only to reduce disability but also to accomplish the Third Age as well. Finally, it must also be acknowledged that the principle is a double-edged sword. Paradoxically, the developed biological and societal organization provides protection for the injured core, and so develops long tails of disability. The principle of core protective aging re-emphasizes the key role of prevention in order to reduce the amount of disability. [source]

Climate change and vector-borne viral diseases potentially transmitted by transfusion

ISBT SCIENCE SERIES: THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTRACELLULAR TRANSPORT, Issue 1 2009
M. Rios
Vector-borne diseases occur when infectious agents (virus, protozoa, bacteria, or helminthes) are transmitted to their hosts by a carrier organism. Climate conditions and their changes play a role in the inter-relationship between these agents, the vectors and the host (or hosts). This review is focused on arthropod-borne viruses (Arboviruses). These viruses are transmitted between susceptible vertebrate hosts by blood-feeding arthropods, and may be transmitted by blood transfusion, tissue and organ transplantation and breast feeding. The lifecycle of arboviruses is influenced by changes in temperature, rainfall, humidity, length of day, average daily solar radiation and/or storm patterns, as well as changes in the frequency of rare events such as floods or droughts. A plethora of studies have suggested that climate changes, particularly temperature changes, are likely to be induced by increase in the amount of greenhouse gases, such as methane, carbon dioxide (CO2) and chlorofluorocarbons, which deplete ozone in the atmosphere leading to an increase in ultraviolet radiation. Current models predict that ambient temperature will increase by 3,5°C on average with a doubling in CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. Vectors, pathogens and hosts each survive and reproduce within a range of optimal climatic conditions: temperature and precipitation being most important, while sea level elevation, wind and daylight duration are also important. Climate changes may affect important determinants of vector-borne disease transmission including (i) vector survival and reproduction, (ii) the vector's biting rate, and (iii) the pathogen's incubation rate within the vector organism. Droughts can increase the dissemination of arboviral diseases in urban areas by allowing a boost in the population of mosquitoes in foul water concentrated in catch basins where they breed. Furthermore, eggs can be vertically infected with arboviruses and heat waves speed up the maturation of the mosquitoes and of the viruses within mosquitoes. Droughts also cause a decline in mosquito predators like frogs, darning needles and dragonflies. In addition, birds congregate around shrinking water sites, enhancing circulation of viruses among birds and mosquitoes. In conclusion, the seriousness of some of the recent epidemics like West Nile virus and Dengue appear to has been influenced by climate change. As most of the arboviral infections are asymptomatic in humans, there is an increased opportunity for blood, organ and tissue donations by infected individuals during the viraemic period, resulting in an increased risk of transmission of arboviruses. [source]