Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Treatment Measures (treatment + measure)
Selected AbstractsMULTIDISCIPLINARY PAIN ABSTRACTS: 48PAIN PRACTICE, Issue 1 2004Article first published online: 15 MAR 200 The goals of this study were to establish the frequency of palliative and aggressive treatment measures among patients with and without dementia during the last 6 months of life, to identify relationships between the severity of dementia and aggressive and palliative care, and to determine whether treatment patterns have changed over time. Antemortem data for 279 patients with dementia and 24 control patients who were brought for autopsy in chronic care facilities between 1985 and 2000 were reviewed. The severity of dementia was defined by scores on the Clinical Dementia Rating scale. Data on use of systemic antibiotics (designated as an aggressive treatment measure) and on use of narcotic and nonnarcotic pain medications and nasal oxygen (defined as palliative measures) were collected from medical charts. Fifty-three percent of the patients with dementia and 46% of those without dementia had received systemic antibiotics. Fourteen percent of the patients with dementia and 38% of those without dementia had received narcotic pain medications. The prevalence of aggressive and palliative measures did not vary significantly with the severity of dementia. Eleven percent of the patients with dementia who died between 1991 and 1995 and 18% of those who died between 1996 and 2000 had received narcotic pain medications in the last 6 months of their lives. It was concluded that the use of systemic antibiotics is prevalent in the treatment of patients with end-stage dementia, despite the limited utility and discomfort associated with the use of these agents. Patients with severe dementia and those with milder cognitive impairment received similar treatment may be contrary to good clinical practice, given the poor prognosis of patients with severe dementia. [source] Does NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) Chapter 19 make a difference?CONTEMPORARY ECONOMIC POLICY, Issue 2 2000Dispute settlement, the incentive structure of U.S./Canada unfair trade petitions NAFTA Chapter 19 sets up bilateral review panels to replace the domestic judicial appeals process of resolving disputes among NAFTA members over the enforcement of unfair trade laws. In principle, such panels can change the incentive structure of filing unfair trade law petitions by reducing the likelihood of an affirmative finding of injurious unfair trade. Using data from U.S. and Canadian unfair trade petition filings, empirical tests show support for this hypothesis. However, a more comprehensive settlement of conflicts will require progressive legal integration, including an extension of national treatment measures to alleged "unfair trade" that is not currently envisaged under the NAFTA. [source] Salient virulence factors in anaerobic bacteria, with emphasis on their importance in endodontic infectionsENDODONTIC TOPICS, Issue 1 2004Ingar Olsen Endodontic infections by microbial invasion of the necrotic pulp lead to apical periodontitis of both acute and chronic forms. Acute lesions often develop from multiplication of bacteria in primary infections. Such lesions may also occur as exacerbations of chronic forms provoked for example in conjunction with endodontic treatment measures. The clinical course appears related to the character of the microflora. While primary infections are predominated by a mixed flora of anaerobic bacteria and resembles that of aggressive marginal periodontitis, chronic forms of apical periodontitis emerge following regression of the acute infection, whereupon prevailing bacteria have assumed low activity. The significance of virulence factors is easy to understand as far as acute inflammatory conditions are concerned. The role of virulence factors for sustaining chronic inflammation is more unclear and complex. This review is about salient virulence factors in some selected bacterial genera such as Peptostreptococcus, Porphyromonas, Prevotella and Fusobacterium, which often predominate the root canal microbiota in the acute phase of endodontic infections. [source] Records of Bursaphelenchus spp. intercepted in imported packaging wood at Ningbo, ChinaFOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 5 2006J. Gu Summary From January 2003 to June 2005, samples from 3416 batches of wooden packaging material were inspected for the presence of nematodes in the Ningbo Entry,Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, China. Bursaphelenchus spp. were detected in 202 batches from 25 different countries. The following species were identified on the basis of their morphology and their intergenic transcribed spacer-restriction fragment length polymorphism (ITS-RFLP) patterns: B. xylophilus, B. fungivorus, B. rainulfi, B. hylobianum, B. thailandae, B. mucronatus, B. aberrans, B. lini, B. singaporensis, B. doui, B. conicaudatus, B. vallesianus, B. pinasteri, B. hofmanni and B. arthuri. The most frequently found species were B. mucronatus (57 batches), B. xylophilus (40 batches), B. fungivorus (21 batches), B. rainulfi (19 batches) and B. thailandae (nine batches). The pine wood nematode B. xylophilus was not only found in packaging wood imported from areas where it is known to occur (i.e. The United States of America, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan), but also from countries considered to be free of this dangerous pest (i.e. Brazil, Thailand, Belgium, The Netherlands, Italy and Spain). The occurrence of B. xylophilus in packaging wood from countries regarded as being free of the nematode can most likely be explained by the global circulation of wooden packaging material among infested and non-infested countries. Our findings emphasize the need to fully implement international standards on phytosanitary treatment of packaging wood, in order to prevent further spread of the pine wood nematode, and the need for careful re-examination of the current heat treatment measures. Résumé De Janvier 2003 à Juin 2005, des échantillons de 3416 lots de matériel d'emballage en bois ont été inspectés pour rechercher la présence de nématodes au bureau de quarantaine de Ningbo, en Chine. Des Bursaphelenchus spp. ont été détectés dans 202 lots en provenance de 25 pays différents. Les espèces suivantes ont été identifiées sur la base de leur morphologie et des profils de restriction de l'ITS: B. xylophilus, B. fungivorus, B. rainulfi, B. hylobianum, B. thailandae, B. mucronatus, B. aberrans, B. lini, B. singaporensis, B. doui, B. conicaudatus, B. vallesianus, B. pinasteri, B. hofmanni, et B. arthuri. Les espèces les plus fréquemment trouvées sont B. mucronatus (57 lots), B. xylophilus (40 lots), B. fungivorus (21 lots), B. rainulfi (19 lots) et B. thailandae (9 lots). Le nématode du pin, B. xylophilus, a été trouvé dans du bois d'emballage en provenance non seulement de zones où sa présence est connue (Etats-Unis, Japon, République de Corée, Hongkong et Taïwan) mais aussi de pays considérés comme indemnes de ce redoutable pathogène (Brésil, Thaïlande, Belgique, Pays-Bas, Italie et Espagne). La présence de B. xylophilus dans du bois d'emballage de pays considérés comme indemnes s'explique probablement par la circulation généralisée de matériel d'emballage en bois entre pays infestés ou non. Nos résultats soulignent la nécessité d'appliquer pleinement les normes de traitement phytosanitaire du bois d'emballage, afin d'éviter une plus grande dissémination du nématode du pin, et de réexaminer de façon approfondie les mesures actuelles de traitement thermique. Zusammenfassung Von Januar 2003 bis Juni 2005 wurde im Quarantäne-Inspektionsbüro in Ningbo, China, das Verpackungsholz von 3416 Sendungen nematologisch untersucht. Bursaphelenchus spp. wurden in 202 Sendungen aus 25 verschiedenen Ländern festgestellt. Folgende Arten wurden morphologisch und mit Hilfe der ITS-RFLP-Methode identifiziert: B. xylophilus, B. fungivorus, B. rainulfi, B. hylobianum, B. thailandae, B. mucronatus, B. aberrans, B. lini, B. singaporensis, B. doui, B. conicaudatus, B. vallesianus, B. pinasteri, B. hofmanni, und B. arthuri. Die am häufigsten gefundenen Arten waren B. mucronatus (57 mal), B. xylophilus (40), B. fungivorus (21), B. rainulfi (19) and B. thailandae (9). Der Quarantäneschädling B. xylophilus wurde nicht nur in Verpackungsholz aus Gebieten mit bekannter Verbreitung des Nematoden (USA, Japan, Republik Korea, Hongkong, Taiwan) gefunden, sondern auch aus Ländern, die als frei vom Kiefernholznematoden gelten (Brasilien, Belgien, Niederlande, Italien, Spanien). Die Feststellung von B. xylophilus in Verpackungsholz aus Nichtbefallsländern kann nur durch Zirkulation des Verpackungsholzes zwischen Befalls- und Nichtbefallsländern erklärt werden. Der mittlere prozentuale Anteil der jegliche Nematoden enthaltenden Packholzproben lag im Zeitraum von Januar 2000 bis August 2005 bei 21,3 %; eine klare Tendenz zur Zu- oder Abnahme war während dieser Jahre nicht erkennbar. Die Befunde unterstreichen die Notwendigkeit der strikten Anwendung international erarbeiteter Standards der phytosanitären Behandlung von Verpackungsholz zur Verhinderung der Verschleppung des Kiefernholznematoden und der Überprüfung der Wirksamkeit der zur Zeit angewandten Maßnahmen. [source] The Effect of State Medicaid Case-Mix Payment on Nursing Home Resident AcuityHEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, Issue 4p1 2006Zhanlian Feng Objective. To examine the relationship between Medicaid case-mix payment and nursing home resident acuity. Data Sources. Longitudinal Minimum Data Set (MDS) resident assessments from 1999 to 2002 and Online Survey Certification and Reporting (OSCAR) data from 1996 to 2002, for all freestanding nursing homes in the 48 contiguous U.S. states. Study Design. We used a facility fixed-effects model to examine the effect of introducing state case-mix payment on changes in nursing home case-mix acuity. Facility acuity was measured by aggregating the nursing case-mix index (NCMI) from the MDS using the Resource Utilization Group (Version III) resident classification system, separately for new admits and long-stay residents, and by an OSCAR-derived index combining a range of activity of daily living dependencies and special treatment measures. Data Collection/Extraction Methods. We followed facilities over the study period to create a longitudinal data file based on the MDS and OSCAR, respectively, and linked facilities with longitudinal data on state case-mix payment policies for the same period. Principal Findings. Across three acuity measures and two data sources, we found that states shifting to case-mix payment increased nursing home acuity levels over the study period. Specifically, we observed a 2.5 percent increase in the average acuity of new admits and a 1.3 to 1.4 percent increase in the acuity of long-stay residents, following the introduction of case-mix payment. Conclusions. The adoption of case-mix payment increased access to care for higher acuity Medicaid residents. [source] MULTIDISCIPLINARY PAIN ABSTRACTS: 48PAIN PRACTICE, Issue 1 2004Article first published online: 15 MAR 200 The goals of this study were to establish the frequency of palliative and aggressive treatment measures among patients with and without dementia during the last 6 months of life, to identify relationships between the severity of dementia and aggressive and palliative care, and to determine whether treatment patterns have changed over time. Antemortem data for 279 patients with dementia and 24 control patients who were brought for autopsy in chronic care facilities between 1985 and 2000 were reviewed. The severity of dementia was defined by scores on the Clinical Dementia Rating scale. Data on use of systemic antibiotics (designated as an aggressive treatment measure) and on use of narcotic and nonnarcotic pain medications and nasal oxygen (defined as palliative measures) were collected from medical charts. Fifty-three percent of the patients with dementia and 46% of those without dementia had received systemic antibiotics. Fourteen percent of the patients with dementia and 38% of those without dementia had received narcotic pain medications. The prevalence of aggressive and palliative measures did not vary significantly with the severity of dementia. Eleven percent of the patients with dementia who died between 1991 and 1995 and 18% of those who died between 1996 and 2000 had received narcotic pain medications in the last 6 months of their lives. It was concluded that the use of systemic antibiotics is prevalent in the treatment of patients with end-stage dementia, despite the limited utility and discomfort associated with the use of these agents. Patients with severe dementia and those with milder cognitive impairment received similar treatment may be contrary to good clinical practice, given the poor prognosis of patients with severe dementia. [source] ORIGINAL RESEARCH,INTERSEX AND GENDER IDENTITY DISORDERS: Gender Assignment and Medical History of Individuals with Different Forms of Intersexuality: Evaluation of Medical Records and the Patients' PerspectiveTHE JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE, Issue 4i 2007Lisa Brinkmann PhD ABSTRACT Introduction., Until now, there are only few studies that focus on the specific treatment experiences of people with intersexuality and evaluate their outcome in terms of psychological, physical, and social well-being. Further, the presentation of the patients' perspective is often neglected in research. Aim., Overview of preliminary results of the Hamburg-Intersex-Study on gender assignment and medical history of adult subjects with intersexuality (disorders of sex development), as well as the patients retrospectively stated thoughts and feelings regarding these interventions. Main Outcome Measures., Medical records from participants of the study were analyzed. The subjective attitudes and evaluation of the treatment measures were assessed with a self-constructed questionnaire. Data on psychological well-being were measured with the Brief Symptom Inventory. Methods., In total, 37 adult participants (mean age 30.6 years) with following diagnosis were included: congenital adrenal hyperplasia, complete and partial androgen insensitivity syndrome, gonadal dysgenesis and disturbances of the androgen biosynthesis, such as 5 alpha reductase deficiency and 17 beta hydroxysteroid deficiency. Results., The majority of participants had (often multiple) genital surgery to correct the appearance of their genitalia and/or to enable sexual functioning. The diagnostic groups differ not only in amount and invasiveness of experienced surgical and medical treatment but also in the subjective and retrospective evaluation of the treatment measures and in the amount of reported psychological distress. Conclusion., Many subjects stated to have experienced the medical procedures and care very negatively, whereby the aspects of secrecy, untruthfulness, and concealment were stated as most difficult and burdening. Brinkmann L, Schuetzmann K, and Richter-Appelt H. Gender assignment and medical history of individuals with different forms of intersexuality: Evaluation of medical records and the patients' perspective. J Sex Med 2007;4:964,980. [source] A comparison of two multicomponent procedures to increase food consumptionBEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS, Issue 2 2005Scott D. Buckley We compared two procedural variations of response cost (RC) of preferred materials to increase mouth clean in a five-year-old boy diagnosed with autism. Noncontingent presentation of preferred materials (NCR) was compared to differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) when returning preferred materials once they have been removed for refusal or expulsion of food. Results indicated that both procedures increased swallowing and reduced problem behavior; however, NCR,+,RC was superior to DRA,+,RC with respect to overall mean and initial treatment measures. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Risk Assessment and Treatment Countermeasures for the Barrier Lakes of Wenchuan Earthquake on May 12th, 2008ACTA GEOLOGICA SINICA (ENGLISH EDITION), Issue 4 2009Fawang ZHANG Abstract: This paper introduced the first hand investigation results of the risk and treatment measures for the barrier lakes triggered by the earthquake of Wenchuan. Characteristics of 10 barrier lakes were investigated and analyzed; procedure and methods for barrier lake treatment were brought forward. The dams of the barrier lakes can be classified as two classes: block rock in the south and loose deposit in the north. All the barrier dams were stable at the time of investigation, but water drainage channel needed to be constructed and to be protected from blockage or collapse. After the rain season of 2008, some dams needed to be consolidated, and change the barrier lakes to reservoirs. [source] Is therapist alliance or whole group cohesion more influential in group psychotherapy outcomes?CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHOTHERAPY (AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THEORY & PRACTICE), Issue 4 2008Trevor P. Crowe This study examined the differential ability of early in treatment measures of therapeutic alliance (Working Alliance Inventory), group cohesion (California Psychotherapy Alliance Scale for Group) and group climate (Group Climate Questionnaire) to predict outcome in a 16-session dynamic group psychotherapy for adults with major depression. Six successful therapy groups with 30 patients receiving psychodynamic group therapy were studied. Patient perceptions of the therapist alliance was not related to outcome, however, perceptions of levels of conflict and group members' ability to work actively and purposefully in treatment did predict outcome. Future research should further investigate how patients' perceptions of the whole group influence their clinical improvement. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | |||||||||||||