97 research outputs found
Susceptibility to Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Ex Vivo Predicts Outcome of a Prime-Boost Vaccine After SIVmac239 Challenge
No full textMucosal prior to systemic application of recombinant adenovirus boosting is more immunogenic than systemic application twice but confers similar protection against SIV-challenge in DNA vaccine-primed macaques
No full textAbstractWe investigated the immunogenicity and efficacy of a bimodal prime/boost vaccine regimen given by various routes in the Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) rhesus monkey model for AIDS. Twelve animals were immunized with SIV DNA-vectors followed by the application of a recombinant adenovirus (rAd5) expressing the same genes either intramuscularly (i.m.) or by oropharyngeal spray. The second rAd5-application was given i.m. All vaccinees plus six controls were challenged orally with SIVmac239 12 weeks post-final immunization.Both immunization strategies induced strong SIV Gag-specific IFN-γ and T-cell proliferation responses and mediated a conservation of CD4+ memory T-cells and a reduction of viral load during peak viremia following infection. Interestingly, the mucosal group was superior to the systemic group regarding breadth and strength of SIV-specific T-cell responses and exhibited lower vector specific immune responses. Therefore, our data warrant the inclusion of mucosal vector application in a vaccination regimen which makes it less invasive and easier to apply
Mathematical Model on the Effect of Disinfection and Treatment on the Transmission of Melioidosis
No full textAbstract: Melioidosis is an infectious disease caused by Burkoldera pseudomallei bacteria. In this study, we have developed a Mathematical model on the effects of disinfection and treatment on the transmission of Melioidosis. From analyzing how disinfection and treatment affect different compartments, we have demonstrated that varying the rate of these two control measures will vary the rate of transmission of melioidosis disease. The R0 was developed and the model stability and the existence of equilibrium points determined. From the quantitative analysis of the study, it was found that the local stability existed when R0 <1. The D.F.E is also globally stable when R0 <1. The numerical analysis determined that disinfecting the environment and treating the infected reduces the rate of infection of the disease.
Keywords: Melioidosis, Modelling, disinfection, treatment, stability, transmission, contamination, stability, equilibrium.
Title: Mathematical Model on the Effect of Disinfection and Treatment on the Transmission of Melioidosis
Author: Joseph Ochieng Obuya, Brian Nyanaro Nyasagare, Okumu Argan Wekesa
International Journal of Novel Research in Physics Chemistry & Mathematics
ISSN 2394-9651
Vol. 10, Issue 1, January 2023 - April 2023
Page No: 10-19
Novelty Journals
Website: www.noveltyjournals.com
Published Date: 07-February-2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7615727
Paper Download Link (Source)
https://www.noveltyjournals.com/upload/paper/Mathematical%20Model%20on%20the%20Effect-07022023-3.pdfInternational Journal of Novel Research in Physics Chemistry & Mathematics, ISSN 2394-9651, Novelty Journals, Website: www.noveltyjournals.co
Improving Glycemic Control in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes through Formal Education
No full textabstract: Background and Purpose: Over 30 million people in the United States (U.S.) have diabetes mellitus, which comprises about 9% of the population, and about 90% of individuals with diabetes have type 2 diabetes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2017). Adults with type 2 diabetes at a local internal medicine clinic were consistently having high glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) levels, demonstrated by data collected from the electronic health record (EHR), and there was no ordering process for referring patients to diabetes management education and support (DSMES) services. The purpose of this project was to improve glycemic control, demonstrated by lower HbA1C levels, and reach a diabetes education attendance rate of 62.5% at an internal medicine clinic in Chandler, Arizona.
Methods: An electronic health record (EHR) template was created and brief staff training was completed to connect patients with diabetes in the community to a local formal diabetes education program. HbA1C levels were measured before and three months after adults with education program. HbA1C levels were measured before and three months after adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) received physicians’ orders for a DSMES program, and rates of attendance to the program were calculated. Data was collected through the EHR and through feedback from the DSMES program. Descriptive statistics were used in data analysis.
Outcomes: The participants’ results did not demonstrate significant differences in pre-referral and post-referral HbA1C results after they were ordered DSMES services (p = .506). The proportion of education attendance (30%) was lower than the project goal of 62.5%, but increased from the clinic baseline.
Conclusions: EHR template implementation for referral to DSMES may increase rates of formal diabetes education and improve glycemic control. Larger sample sizes, longer project periods, alternative methods of communication, and increased follow-up of participants may be required to produce significant results
Pressure Injury Prevention in the Inpatient Setting
No full textabstract: Background: Pressure injuries inflict a major, preventable burden onto hospital systems, healthcare providers, and patients. The purpose of this evidence based project was to evaluate the impact of a pressure injury prevention education program on nursing staff knowledge and pressure injury rates in an Arizona post-cardiac care unit.
Method: A single group pre-test post-test design was utilized to evaluate nursing staff knowledge before and after an education program on pressure injury prevention. Staff knowledge was evaluated using a modified version of the Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Assessment Tool 2.0. Participants completed pre- and post-education surveys. Rates of hospital acquired pressure injuries were obtained via chart review.
Results: Pre- and post-education scores were analyzed in participants who completed both surveys using a paired t-test. Post-education scores (M = 0.73, SD = 0.07) were significantly higher than pre-education scores (M = 0.59, SD = 0.09); t(7) = -5.39, p = .001. Pre- and post-education median scores of all participants were analyzed using two-tailed Mann-Whitney U test. Post-education scores (Mdn = 0.71) were significantly higher compared to pre-education scores (Mdn = 0.56); U = 102.5, z = -4.05, p = .001. Monthly incidence of pressure injuries on the unit increased following education.
Discussion: Increase in scores from pre- to post-education surveys indicate staff knowledge improved. The increased incidence of pressure injuries is thought to be secondary to staff’s increased ability to detect pressure injuries. Staff education is recommended, but more research is needed regarding the impact on pressure injury rates
Effective Utilization of HealthCare Resources: An Educational Intervention for Adult Patients
No full textabstract: Over the last ten years, a dramatic increase in Emergency Department (ED) visits has been prominent. Non-emergent chief complaints, such as repeat chronic care needs, are causing increased ED visits. The underutilization of primary care resources has been correlated with the overutilization of emergency care resources. ED overutilization is having a negative rippling effect on the ability of the US healthcare system to care for patients. Emergency department personnel and other resources are strained, leading to overcrowding and decreased quality of care. Health insurance and provider accessibility has been linked to the high rates of ED usage by adults age 18 – 64, with the highest rates seen in those under public health coverage, such as Medicaid, compared to those who were uninsured. To encourage primary care visits and discourage non-emergent ED usage, the United States health system includes patient education on the appropriate ED use, higher-copayment as financial disincentives, and encouragement of provider-patient relationships with Primary care providers (PCP). The public health clinics, including Federally Qualified Health Centers, provide patient education on the appropriate use of PCP versus ED resources, and offer extended office hours during evenings and weekends; trimming the rate of non-emergent ED visits can significantly reduce health care costs
Diabetes Self-Management Education Effects on Hemoglobin A1c
No full textabstract: Diabetes, a common chronic condition, effects many individuals causing poor quality of life, expensive medical bills, and devasting medical complications. While health care providers try to manage diabetes during short office visits, many patients still struggle to control their diabetes at home. Lack of diabetes self-management (DSM) is a potential barrier for people with diabetes having to maintain healthy hemoglobin A1cs (HgA1c). In hopes of addressing this concern, an evidenced-based intervention; diabetic education and phone calls, using the chronic care model as its framework was implemented. The intervention targeted people with type II diabetes at a transitional care setting. Measured variables included HgA1c and DSM. Statistically significant improvements were seen in reported physical activity. Average improvements were seen in HgA1c and DSM after three months of diabetes self-management education (DSME). Attrition, cultural sensitivity, and increasing DSME hours should be further evaluated for future projects
Voucher privatization with investment funds : an institutional analysis
No full textCommon wisdom among post-socialist reformers has beento use voucher investment funds to provide the corporate governance needed to restructure newly privatized enterprises after mass privatization efforts. The idea has been that mass privatization would spread the ownership too wide and make corporate governance difficult. The author examines the likely institutional behavior of voucher funds and the possible effects of their development on a transition economy. Since most policy advice has been in favor of voucher privatization with investment funds, the author can be seen as playing the devil's advocate, but his argument is institutional, not statistical. Policymaking requires insight and foresight into how institutions will tend to function. He concludes that voucher funds will introduce a bias in the economy away from the real industrial sector toward an ersatz"financial sector"that will have little if any positive financial role but will be well-protected by friendly regulators. One long-term consequence of voucher privatization with investment funds, according to this view, is a de facto"industrial policy"of real sector decapitalization in favor of short-term rent-seeking by fund managers through board sinecures and lucrative side deals with portfolio companies and through financial market manipulation and paper entrepreneurship in the"financial sector."Without strong corporate governance from the funds and without stable ownership of their own, many enterprise managers will exploit the post-socialist version of the"separation of ownership and control"to grab what they can in the form of salaries, bonuses, perquisites, and side deals. The most likely results of the strategy of voucher privatization with investment funds may be a two-sided grab fest by fund managers and enterprise managers -- together with the accompanying drift, stagnation, and decapitalization of the privatized industrial sector.Economic Adjustment and Lending,Payment Systems&Infrastructure,International Terrorism&Counterterrorism,Economic Theory&Research,Banks&Banking Reform,International Terrorism&Counterterrorism,Banks&Banking Reform,Economic Adjustment and Lending,Environmental Economics&Policies,Economic Theory&Research
Improving End-of-Life Care in the Primary Care Setting: Implementation of the Serious Illness Care Program
No full textabstract: Early and effective end-of-life care are associated with increased quality of life for those patients who may be nearing the end-of-life (EOL). However, evidence suggests that most non-palliative healthcare providers lack the skills and confidence to initiate EOL conversations. Consequently, about 70% of Americans would prefer to die at home with their families, yet only 25% die according to their wishes (State of California Department of Justice, n.d). In alignment with the Peaceful End of Life Theory, the purpose of this evidence-based project is to increase primary healthcare providers’ level of skills and confidence in end-of-life discussions. This project utilized a pre and post study design. A total of 11 participants were recruited using convenience sampling from three primary care clinics in Phoenix, Arizona. Due to the small sample size and assumption of a non-normal distribution of the data, Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test and Pearson correlation coefficient were used for statistical analysis. There were clinical and statistical significant improvements in the EOL knowledge of the participants after the implementation of the two-and-a-half-hour Serious Illness Care Program (Z = -2.950, p = .003) with a large effect size (r = -0.62). The project evaluation also demonstrated that most participants deemed that the intervention was effective. A brief and systematic education session, such as the SICP can be utilized to improve non-palliative healthcare providers’ skills in having more and effective end-of-life conversations
Developing countries'participation in the World Trade Organization
No full textIn the 1960s and 1970s developing countries viewed UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade&Development) rather than the GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs&Trade) as the main institution through which to promote their interests in international trade. But beginning with the Uruguay Round in the mid-1980s, their attitude changed, many more of them became members of the GATT, and a significant number played an active role in negotiations. The author analyzes developing countries'representation and participation in the World Trade Organization (WTO) as of mid-1997 to determine how developing countries can effectively promote their interests and discharge their responsibilities under the rules and agreements of the new organization. He concludes that although many developing countries are actively participating in the new process, more than half of the developing countries that are members of the WTO participate little more than they did in the early 1980s and have not increased their staffing, despite the vastly greater complexity of issues and obligations. Institutional weaknesses at home are the main constraints to effective participation and representation of their interests at the WTO. To make their participation more effective, he recommends that the developing countries establish adequately staffed WTO missions based in Geneva; failing that, pooling their resources and representation in Geneva; and being sure to pay their dues, which are typically small. He also recommends that the international community place higher priority on programs of assistance in support of institutional development of poorer countries aimed at enhancing their capacity to participate in the international trading system and the WTO -- and that the WTO review its internal rules and procedures to ensure that inadvertently they do not make developing countries participation more difficult.Economic Theory&Research,Decentralization,Economic Conditions and Volatility,Country Strategy&Performance,Labor&Employment Law,Trade and Services,Poverty Assessment,Economic Theory&Research,World Trade Organization,Country Strategy&Performance
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