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Disaster Responders Need Care, Too
It’s a sad sign of the times that “disaster behavioral health” is a category of mental health care. The Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC) of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration prepares states, territories, tribes, and local entities to deliver an effective behavioral health-related response to disasters.
Whether natural or manmade, the DTAC recognizes the toll disasters take on everyone and have multiple options for helping the people who assist the victims. Those options include webinars and podcasts on resilience and stress management, such as “Understanding Compassion Fatigue and Compassion Satisfaction: Tips for Disaster Responders.”
The Deployment Supports for Disaster Behavioral Health Responders and Self-Care for Disaster Behavioral Health Responders presentations offer advice on every step of disaster response from pre- to post-deployment. “Skills applied in outpatient clinical treatment offices are not the same as disaster response skills,” the DTAC cautions in a presentation. It also advises that the key to resiliency is learning how to identify the symptoms of stress and using available support whenever needed.
The presentations emphasize practical self-care to mitigate such effects as secondary traumatic stress—that is, the experience of trauma symptoms as a result of exposure to clients’ trauma. It was recommended that disaster responders should rest and avoid following all response activities when off duty. Responders also should prepare for physical symptoms such as headaches and exhaustion, and emotional ones such as irritability.
SAMHSA urges disaster responders to monitor compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, and burnout regularly.
It’s a sad sign of the times that “disaster behavioral health” is a category of mental health care. The Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC) of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration prepares states, territories, tribes, and local entities to deliver an effective behavioral health-related response to disasters.
Whether natural or manmade, the DTAC recognizes the toll disasters take on everyone and have multiple options for helping the people who assist the victims. Those options include webinars and podcasts on resilience and stress management, such as “Understanding Compassion Fatigue and Compassion Satisfaction: Tips for Disaster Responders.”
The Deployment Supports for Disaster Behavioral Health Responders and Self-Care for Disaster Behavioral Health Responders presentations offer advice on every step of disaster response from pre- to post-deployment. “Skills applied in outpatient clinical treatment offices are not the same as disaster response skills,” the DTAC cautions in a presentation. It also advises that the key to resiliency is learning how to identify the symptoms of stress and using available support whenever needed.
The presentations emphasize practical self-care to mitigate such effects as secondary traumatic stress—that is, the experience of trauma symptoms as a result of exposure to clients’ trauma. It was recommended that disaster responders should rest and avoid following all response activities when off duty. Responders also should prepare for physical symptoms such as headaches and exhaustion, and emotional ones such as irritability.
SAMHSA urges disaster responders to monitor compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, and burnout regularly.
It’s a sad sign of the times that “disaster behavioral health” is a category of mental health care. The Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC) of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration prepares states, territories, tribes, and local entities to deliver an effective behavioral health-related response to disasters.
Whether natural or manmade, the DTAC recognizes the toll disasters take on everyone and have multiple options for helping the people who assist the victims. Those options include webinars and podcasts on resilience and stress management, such as “Understanding Compassion Fatigue and Compassion Satisfaction: Tips for Disaster Responders.”
The Deployment Supports for Disaster Behavioral Health Responders and Self-Care for Disaster Behavioral Health Responders presentations offer advice on every step of disaster response from pre- to post-deployment. “Skills applied in outpatient clinical treatment offices are not the same as disaster response skills,” the DTAC cautions in a presentation. It also advises that the key to resiliency is learning how to identify the symptoms of stress and using available support whenever needed.
The presentations emphasize practical self-care to mitigate such effects as secondary traumatic stress—that is, the experience of trauma symptoms as a result of exposure to clients’ trauma. It was recommended that disaster responders should rest and avoid following all response activities when off duty. Responders also should prepare for physical symptoms such as headaches and exhaustion, and emotional ones such as irritability.
SAMHSA urges disaster responders to monitor compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, and burnout regularly.
Needlesticks and Infections: Still Not Enough Information
“Safety-engineered” syringes were designed to help reduce sharps-related injuries by preventing the injury (eg, with self-retractable needles, internal blunt needles, or external shielding) or by preventing reuse (eg, a metal clip blocks the plunger once the injection has been given). But do these syringes prevent injuries and infections?
Researchers from the American University of Beirut and Lebanese University both in Beirut, Lebanon and researchers from the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland aimed to find out by reviewing randomized and nonrandomized trials of health care workers delivering intramuscular, subcutaneous, or intradermal injectable medications. The study outcomes found HIV, HBV, and HCV infections as well as other blood-borne infections, abscesses, or needlestick injuries among health care workers.
Related: Hospital-Acquired Infections on the Decline
The researchers concluded that there is moderate-quality evidence that injury-prevention syringes reduce the incidence of needlestick injuries in health care workers. However, the researchers did not find studies that met their eligibility criteria for data on infections or the effect of reuse on infections. That pointed to another issue; the lack of studies evaluating the effects of the safety devices on anything other than needlesticks, “whether benefits or harms.”
Related:The Immunization Community
Out of 6,566 identified citations the researchers judged, only 9 were eligible for their review. Given the paucity of information on the effectiveness of reuse prevention syringes, the researchers suggest that health care managers consider mainly using settings with high rates of syringe reuse and high prevalence of blood-borne pathogens.
Source:
Harb AC, Tarabay R, Diab B, Ballout RA, Khamassi S, Akl EA. BMC Nursing. 2015;14:71.
“Safety-engineered” syringes were designed to help reduce sharps-related injuries by preventing the injury (eg, with self-retractable needles, internal blunt needles, or external shielding) or by preventing reuse (eg, a metal clip blocks the plunger once the injection has been given). But do these syringes prevent injuries and infections?
Researchers from the American University of Beirut and Lebanese University both in Beirut, Lebanon and researchers from the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland aimed to find out by reviewing randomized and nonrandomized trials of health care workers delivering intramuscular, subcutaneous, or intradermal injectable medications. The study outcomes found HIV, HBV, and HCV infections as well as other blood-borne infections, abscesses, or needlestick injuries among health care workers.
Related: Hospital-Acquired Infections on the Decline
The researchers concluded that there is moderate-quality evidence that injury-prevention syringes reduce the incidence of needlestick injuries in health care workers. However, the researchers did not find studies that met their eligibility criteria for data on infections or the effect of reuse on infections. That pointed to another issue; the lack of studies evaluating the effects of the safety devices on anything other than needlesticks, “whether benefits or harms.”
Related:The Immunization Community
Out of 6,566 identified citations the researchers judged, only 9 were eligible for their review. Given the paucity of information on the effectiveness of reuse prevention syringes, the researchers suggest that health care managers consider mainly using settings with high rates of syringe reuse and high prevalence of blood-borne pathogens.
Source:
Harb AC, Tarabay R, Diab B, Ballout RA, Khamassi S, Akl EA. BMC Nursing. 2015;14:71.
“Safety-engineered” syringes were designed to help reduce sharps-related injuries by preventing the injury (eg, with self-retractable needles, internal blunt needles, or external shielding) or by preventing reuse (eg, a metal clip blocks the plunger once the injection has been given). But do these syringes prevent injuries and infections?
Researchers from the American University of Beirut and Lebanese University both in Beirut, Lebanon and researchers from the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland aimed to find out by reviewing randomized and nonrandomized trials of health care workers delivering intramuscular, subcutaneous, or intradermal injectable medications. The study outcomes found HIV, HBV, and HCV infections as well as other blood-borne infections, abscesses, or needlestick injuries among health care workers.
Related: Hospital-Acquired Infections on the Decline
The researchers concluded that there is moderate-quality evidence that injury-prevention syringes reduce the incidence of needlestick injuries in health care workers. However, the researchers did not find studies that met their eligibility criteria for data on infections or the effect of reuse on infections. That pointed to another issue; the lack of studies evaluating the effects of the safety devices on anything other than needlesticks, “whether benefits or harms.”
Related:The Immunization Community
Out of 6,566 identified citations the researchers judged, only 9 were eligible for their review. Given the paucity of information on the effectiveness of reuse prevention syringes, the researchers suggest that health care managers consider mainly using settings with high rates of syringe reuse and high prevalence of blood-borne pathogens.
Source:
Harb AC, Tarabay R, Diab B, Ballout RA, Khamassi S, Akl EA. BMC Nursing. 2015;14:71.
Cholesterol Medications—Who Isn’t Taking Them?
According to Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, nearly half of American adults who could be taking cholesterol-lowering medicines are not. CDC researchers examined data from the 2005-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys and found that 78 million people aged 21 or older (37% of American adults) were eligible for cholesterol-lowering medication or already taking it. Of those, 56% were taking medication, 47% were making lifestyle changes, 37% were doing both, and 36% were doing neither.
Black adults who did not have a routine place for health care were found least likely to be taking cholesterol-lowering drugs. However, the CDC study also found that black men have a lower prevalence of high cholesterol compared with whites and Hispanics.
Although the study included all forms of cholesterol-lowering medications, nearly 90% of patients were taking statins.
According to Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, nearly half of American adults who could be taking cholesterol-lowering medicines are not. CDC researchers examined data from the 2005-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys and found that 78 million people aged 21 or older (37% of American adults) were eligible for cholesterol-lowering medication or already taking it. Of those, 56% were taking medication, 47% were making lifestyle changes, 37% were doing both, and 36% were doing neither.
Black adults who did not have a routine place for health care were found least likely to be taking cholesterol-lowering drugs. However, the CDC study also found that black men have a lower prevalence of high cholesterol compared with whites and Hispanics.
Although the study included all forms of cholesterol-lowering medications, nearly 90% of patients were taking statins.
According to Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, nearly half of American adults who could be taking cholesterol-lowering medicines are not. CDC researchers examined data from the 2005-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys and found that 78 million people aged 21 or older (37% of American adults) were eligible for cholesterol-lowering medication or already taking it. Of those, 56% were taking medication, 47% were making lifestyle changes, 37% were doing both, and 36% were doing neither.
Black adults who did not have a routine place for health care were found least likely to be taking cholesterol-lowering drugs. However, the CDC study also found that black men have a lower prevalence of high cholesterol compared with whites and Hispanics.
Although the study included all forms of cholesterol-lowering medications, nearly 90% of patients were taking statins.
Using a Multiplex of Biomarkers to Detect Prostate Cancer
Because prostate cancer (PCa) is a heterogeneous disease, researchers from Universitat de Barcelona in Spain say that a combination of biomarkers would outperform single markers in detection. In a previous study, they identified new putative mRNA markers for PCa diagnosis, tested some of those biomarkers, and validated the commercially available test based on urine prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3 ) expression along with the best-performing mRNA panels of biomarkers reported.
Related:Early-Stage Prostate Cancer Incidence Declines Following USPSTF Guidelines Update
Urine samples collected from 224 men and 10 patients with prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels > 4 were included as controls. Seven of 42 genes that the researchers evaluated were independent predictors for PCa. From these data, the researchers developed a 4-gene expression signature, HIST1H2BG, SPP1, ELF3, and PCA3, with higher diagnostic accuracy than PCA3, the only noninvasive urinary biomarker commercially available. Their 4-gene signature had a sensitivity of 77% and specificity of 67% for discriminating between tumor and control urines and a positive predictive value of 83%.
Related: Prostate Cancer in Seniors, Part 1: Epidemiology, Pathology, and Screening
The researchers say their findings suggest that a urinary biomarker panel could improve detection of PCa. However, they add that the accuracy of the available urinary panels—including their signature—is not yet high enough to warrant using them routinely.
Related: Prostate Cancer Survivorship Care
Mengual L, Lozano JJ, Ingelmo-Torres M, et al. BMC Cancer. 2016;16(1):76.
Because prostate cancer (PCa) is a heterogeneous disease, researchers from Universitat de Barcelona in Spain say that a combination of biomarkers would outperform single markers in detection. In a previous study, they identified new putative mRNA markers for PCa diagnosis, tested some of those biomarkers, and validated the commercially available test based on urine prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3 ) expression along with the best-performing mRNA panels of biomarkers reported.
Related:Early-Stage Prostate Cancer Incidence Declines Following USPSTF Guidelines Update
Urine samples collected from 224 men and 10 patients with prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels > 4 were included as controls. Seven of 42 genes that the researchers evaluated were independent predictors for PCa. From these data, the researchers developed a 4-gene expression signature, HIST1H2BG, SPP1, ELF3, and PCA3, with higher diagnostic accuracy than PCA3, the only noninvasive urinary biomarker commercially available. Their 4-gene signature had a sensitivity of 77% and specificity of 67% for discriminating between tumor and control urines and a positive predictive value of 83%.
Related: Prostate Cancer in Seniors, Part 1: Epidemiology, Pathology, and Screening
The researchers say their findings suggest that a urinary biomarker panel could improve detection of PCa. However, they add that the accuracy of the available urinary panels—including their signature—is not yet high enough to warrant using them routinely.
Related: Prostate Cancer Survivorship Care
Mengual L, Lozano JJ, Ingelmo-Torres M, et al. BMC Cancer. 2016;16(1):76.
Because prostate cancer (PCa) is a heterogeneous disease, researchers from Universitat de Barcelona in Spain say that a combination of biomarkers would outperform single markers in detection. In a previous study, they identified new putative mRNA markers for PCa diagnosis, tested some of those biomarkers, and validated the commercially available test based on urine prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3 ) expression along with the best-performing mRNA panels of biomarkers reported.
Related:Early-Stage Prostate Cancer Incidence Declines Following USPSTF Guidelines Update
Urine samples collected from 224 men and 10 patients with prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels > 4 were included as controls. Seven of 42 genes that the researchers evaluated were independent predictors for PCa. From these data, the researchers developed a 4-gene expression signature, HIST1H2BG, SPP1, ELF3, and PCA3, with higher diagnostic accuracy than PCA3, the only noninvasive urinary biomarker commercially available. Their 4-gene signature had a sensitivity of 77% and specificity of 67% for discriminating between tumor and control urines and a positive predictive value of 83%.
Related: Prostate Cancer in Seniors, Part 1: Epidemiology, Pathology, and Screening
The researchers say their findings suggest that a urinary biomarker panel could improve detection of PCa. However, they add that the accuracy of the available urinary panels—including their signature—is not yet high enough to warrant using them routinely.
Related: Prostate Cancer Survivorship Care
Mengual L, Lozano JJ, Ingelmo-Torres M, et al. BMC Cancer. 2016;16(1):76.
HIV Antibody Infusion Safely Reduces Viral Load
According to a small study reported by the NIH, antibody infusions dramatically suppressed the level of HIV virus in patients not taking antiretroviral therapy (ART).
The phase 1 clinical trial at the Vaccine Research Center of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) involved 23 HIV-infected people, of whom 15 were taking ART and 8 were not. Patients on ART were given 2 infusions of VRC01 28 days apart, those not on ART received 1 antibody infusion. The researchers say infusing the antibodies into a vein or under the skin was safe and well tolerated.
Related: Initiatives Aim at Improving HIV and Mental Health Services
The antibody infusions did not reduce the amount of HIV in the blood cells, but these infusions reduced plasma viral load by 10-fold in 6 patients not on ART. The antibody also did not appear to have any effect in people taking ART whose virus was already suppressed.
Related:Anthrax Antitoxin Drugs Added to the Stockpile
In 2 patients who began with the lowest viral loads, the antibody suppressed HIV to extremely low levels for approximately 3 weeks or as long as VRC01 was present at therapeutic concentrations. In 4 other people whose HIV levels declined, viral load fell “substantially” although not to undetectable levels. In 2 people not on ART, viral loads remained steady. The researchers subsequently found that the predominant HIV strain in these patients’ bodies had been resistant to VRC01 at the outset.
According to a small study reported by the NIH, antibody infusions dramatically suppressed the level of HIV virus in patients not taking antiretroviral therapy (ART).
The phase 1 clinical trial at the Vaccine Research Center of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) involved 23 HIV-infected people, of whom 15 were taking ART and 8 were not. Patients on ART were given 2 infusions of VRC01 28 days apart, those not on ART received 1 antibody infusion. The researchers say infusing the antibodies into a vein or under the skin was safe and well tolerated.
Related: Initiatives Aim at Improving HIV and Mental Health Services
The antibody infusions did not reduce the amount of HIV in the blood cells, but these infusions reduced plasma viral load by 10-fold in 6 patients not on ART. The antibody also did not appear to have any effect in people taking ART whose virus was already suppressed.
Related:Anthrax Antitoxin Drugs Added to the Stockpile
In 2 patients who began with the lowest viral loads, the antibody suppressed HIV to extremely low levels for approximately 3 weeks or as long as VRC01 was present at therapeutic concentrations. In 4 other people whose HIV levels declined, viral load fell “substantially” although not to undetectable levels. In 2 people not on ART, viral loads remained steady. The researchers subsequently found that the predominant HIV strain in these patients’ bodies had been resistant to VRC01 at the outset.
According to a small study reported by the NIH, antibody infusions dramatically suppressed the level of HIV virus in patients not taking antiretroviral therapy (ART).
The phase 1 clinical trial at the Vaccine Research Center of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) involved 23 HIV-infected people, of whom 15 were taking ART and 8 were not. Patients on ART were given 2 infusions of VRC01 28 days apart, those not on ART received 1 antibody infusion. The researchers say infusing the antibodies into a vein or under the skin was safe and well tolerated.
Related: Initiatives Aim at Improving HIV and Mental Health Services
The antibody infusions did not reduce the amount of HIV in the blood cells, but these infusions reduced plasma viral load by 10-fold in 6 patients not on ART. The antibody also did not appear to have any effect in people taking ART whose virus was already suppressed.
Related:Anthrax Antitoxin Drugs Added to the Stockpile
In 2 patients who began with the lowest viral loads, the antibody suppressed HIV to extremely low levels for approximately 3 weeks or as long as VRC01 was present at therapeutic concentrations. In 4 other people whose HIV levels declined, viral load fell “substantially” although not to undetectable levels. In 2 people not on ART, viral loads remained steady. The researchers subsequently found that the predominant HIV strain in these patients’ bodies had been resistant to VRC01 at the outset.
Dronabinol: A Controversial Acute Leukemia Treatment
Researchers from University Hospital Tübingen, Germany, say that although the data for treating acute leukemia with dronabinol (THC), a cannabinoid derivative, are “controversial,” it has been shown to have antitumor potential for several cancers. When the researchers tested THC in several leukemia cell lines and native leukemia blasts cultured ex vivo, they found “meaningful” antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects.
Related: Lawmakers Urge VA to Reform Medical Marijuana Rules
From the data, they also found cannabinoid receptor agonists may be useful as low-toxic agents, especially for patients who are “heavily pretreated,” elderly, or have refractory disease. Evidence was cited that THC retained antileukemic activity in a sample from a patient with otherwise chemotherapy- and steroid-refractory acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).
Related: Veterans’ Use of Designer Cathinones and Cannabinoids
Due to the excellent safety profile of THC, the researchers say, effective doses are achievable in vivo, although tolerable doses may vary widely. They suggest starting with a subeffective dose and increasing gradually, which will help the patient build tolerance to the well-known psychoactive effects, which have been a drawback to widespread use of THC for patients with cancer.
They add that, due to sparse densities of cannabinoid receptors in lower brain stem areas, severe intoxications with THC rarely have been reported.
Related: Surgeon General Murthy Discusses Marijuana Efficacy
In addition to the direct antileukemic effects, the researchers suggest that therapeutic use of THC has many desirable adverse effects, such as general physical well-being, cachexia control, and relief of pain, anxiety and stress—which, they note, should “facilitate the decision process.”
Source:
Kampa-Schittenhelm KM, Salitzky O, Akmut F, et al. BMC Cancer. 2016;16(25)1-12.
doi: 10.1186/s12885-015-2029.
Researchers from University Hospital Tübingen, Germany, say that although the data for treating acute leukemia with dronabinol (THC), a cannabinoid derivative, are “controversial,” it has been shown to have antitumor potential for several cancers. When the researchers tested THC in several leukemia cell lines and native leukemia blasts cultured ex vivo, they found “meaningful” antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects.
Related: Lawmakers Urge VA to Reform Medical Marijuana Rules
From the data, they also found cannabinoid receptor agonists may be useful as low-toxic agents, especially for patients who are “heavily pretreated,” elderly, or have refractory disease. Evidence was cited that THC retained antileukemic activity in a sample from a patient with otherwise chemotherapy- and steroid-refractory acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).
Related: Veterans’ Use of Designer Cathinones and Cannabinoids
Due to the excellent safety profile of THC, the researchers say, effective doses are achievable in vivo, although tolerable doses may vary widely. They suggest starting with a subeffective dose and increasing gradually, which will help the patient build tolerance to the well-known psychoactive effects, which have been a drawback to widespread use of THC for patients with cancer.
They add that, due to sparse densities of cannabinoid receptors in lower brain stem areas, severe intoxications with THC rarely have been reported.
Related: Surgeon General Murthy Discusses Marijuana Efficacy
In addition to the direct antileukemic effects, the researchers suggest that therapeutic use of THC has many desirable adverse effects, such as general physical well-being, cachexia control, and relief of pain, anxiety and stress—which, they note, should “facilitate the decision process.”
Source:
Kampa-Schittenhelm KM, Salitzky O, Akmut F, et al. BMC Cancer. 2016;16(25)1-12.
doi: 10.1186/s12885-015-2029.
Researchers from University Hospital Tübingen, Germany, say that although the data for treating acute leukemia with dronabinol (THC), a cannabinoid derivative, are “controversial,” it has been shown to have antitumor potential for several cancers. When the researchers tested THC in several leukemia cell lines and native leukemia blasts cultured ex vivo, they found “meaningful” antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects.
Related: Lawmakers Urge VA to Reform Medical Marijuana Rules
From the data, they also found cannabinoid receptor agonists may be useful as low-toxic agents, especially for patients who are “heavily pretreated,” elderly, or have refractory disease. Evidence was cited that THC retained antileukemic activity in a sample from a patient with otherwise chemotherapy- and steroid-refractory acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).
Related: Veterans’ Use of Designer Cathinones and Cannabinoids
Due to the excellent safety profile of THC, the researchers say, effective doses are achievable in vivo, although tolerable doses may vary widely. They suggest starting with a subeffective dose and increasing gradually, which will help the patient build tolerance to the well-known psychoactive effects, which have been a drawback to widespread use of THC for patients with cancer.
They add that, due to sparse densities of cannabinoid receptors in lower brain stem areas, severe intoxications with THC rarely have been reported.
Related: Surgeon General Murthy Discusses Marijuana Efficacy
In addition to the direct antileukemic effects, the researchers suggest that therapeutic use of THC has many desirable adverse effects, such as general physical well-being, cachexia control, and relief of pain, anxiety and stress—which, they note, should “facilitate the decision process.”
Source:
Kampa-Schittenhelm KM, Salitzky O, Akmut F, et al. BMC Cancer. 2016;16(25)1-12.
doi: 10.1186/s12885-015-2029.
Home-Visiting Program to Support Young Native American Families
The Denan Project, a Connecticut-based nonprofit, has begun training more than 20 Native American medical community health nurses, paraprofessionals, and health technicians to support young parents and their families. Home-based lessons will be given to expectant and young mothers from pregnancy to 3 years postpartum. By the end of the year the program will support 150 at-risk families.
The Denan Project is an all-volunteer community-based organization that provides health and development assistance to underserved people in remote areas. It is committing financial resources for more than 2 years to support the Family Spirit program of the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health. Family Spirit is an evidence-based and culturally tailored home-visiting program delivered by Native American paraprofessionals. It operates in 59 reservation and urban Native American communities in 14 states. After 12 years of operation in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the Denan Project launches its first US-based program with training in the Navajo communities of Chinle, Pinon, and Tsaile, in Arizona.
With a mission to provide help to people living in the most remote and poorest places in the world, Dick Young, president and founder said, “we felt it was right to work closer to home and identified the Family Spirit initiative as an excellent partner.”
The Denan Project, a Connecticut-based nonprofit, has begun training more than 20 Native American medical community health nurses, paraprofessionals, and health technicians to support young parents and their families. Home-based lessons will be given to expectant and young mothers from pregnancy to 3 years postpartum. By the end of the year the program will support 150 at-risk families.
The Denan Project is an all-volunteer community-based organization that provides health and development assistance to underserved people in remote areas. It is committing financial resources for more than 2 years to support the Family Spirit program of the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health. Family Spirit is an evidence-based and culturally tailored home-visiting program delivered by Native American paraprofessionals. It operates in 59 reservation and urban Native American communities in 14 states. After 12 years of operation in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the Denan Project launches its first US-based program with training in the Navajo communities of Chinle, Pinon, and Tsaile, in Arizona.
With a mission to provide help to people living in the most remote and poorest places in the world, Dick Young, president and founder said, “we felt it was right to work closer to home and identified the Family Spirit initiative as an excellent partner.”
The Denan Project, a Connecticut-based nonprofit, has begun training more than 20 Native American medical community health nurses, paraprofessionals, and health technicians to support young parents and their families. Home-based lessons will be given to expectant and young mothers from pregnancy to 3 years postpartum. By the end of the year the program will support 150 at-risk families.
The Denan Project is an all-volunteer community-based organization that provides health and development assistance to underserved people in remote areas. It is committing financial resources for more than 2 years to support the Family Spirit program of the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health. Family Spirit is an evidence-based and culturally tailored home-visiting program delivered by Native American paraprofessionals. It operates in 59 reservation and urban Native American communities in 14 states. After 12 years of operation in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the Denan Project launches its first US-based program with training in the Navajo communities of Chinle, Pinon, and Tsaile, in Arizona.
With a mission to provide help to people living in the most remote and poorest places in the world, Dick Young, president and founder said, “we felt it was right to work closer to home and identified the Family Spirit initiative as an excellent partner.”
CDC Reviews a Year of Health ‘Nightmares’
The CDC recently released an article titled 2015: What Kept Us Up at Night and What Will Keep Us Busy in 2016, which lists antibiotic resistance as a top concern. According to the CDC, in 2015 more than 23,000 Americans died from these “largely preventable” infections; but it “learned that when health care facilities coordinate their efforts, they can prevent the spread of nightmare bacteria resistant to most antibiotics.” Newly published guidelines intended to support better communication and prevent the spread of bacteria provide instructions on how state and local health departments can alert local facilities when antibiotic-resistant bacteria are reported in their area.
In 2016, the CDC will aim to reverse the number of deaths from infections resistant to antibiotics. The next steps include the debut of the AR Patient Safety Atlas, an interactive web platform with open access to antibiotic resistance data on healthcare-associated infections reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network.
This year the CDC also will release the first antibiotic stewardship report on progress in prescribing practices. “We must preserve these miracle medications,” the year-end review says, “so we can avoid returning to the pre-antibiotic era when minor infections often led to death.”
The CDC recently released an article titled 2015: What Kept Us Up at Night and What Will Keep Us Busy in 2016, which lists antibiotic resistance as a top concern. According to the CDC, in 2015 more than 23,000 Americans died from these “largely preventable” infections; but it “learned that when health care facilities coordinate their efforts, they can prevent the spread of nightmare bacteria resistant to most antibiotics.” Newly published guidelines intended to support better communication and prevent the spread of bacteria provide instructions on how state and local health departments can alert local facilities when antibiotic-resistant bacteria are reported in their area.
In 2016, the CDC will aim to reverse the number of deaths from infections resistant to antibiotics. The next steps include the debut of the AR Patient Safety Atlas, an interactive web platform with open access to antibiotic resistance data on healthcare-associated infections reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network.
This year the CDC also will release the first antibiotic stewardship report on progress in prescribing practices. “We must preserve these miracle medications,” the year-end review says, “so we can avoid returning to the pre-antibiotic era when minor infections often led to death.”
The CDC recently released an article titled 2015: What Kept Us Up at Night and What Will Keep Us Busy in 2016, which lists antibiotic resistance as a top concern. According to the CDC, in 2015 more than 23,000 Americans died from these “largely preventable” infections; but it “learned that when health care facilities coordinate their efforts, they can prevent the spread of nightmare bacteria resistant to most antibiotics.” Newly published guidelines intended to support better communication and prevent the spread of bacteria provide instructions on how state and local health departments can alert local facilities when antibiotic-resistant bacteria are reported in their area.
In 2016, the CDC will aim to reverse the number of deaths from infections resistant to antibiotics. The next steps include the debut of the AR Patient Safety Atlas, an interactive web platform with open access to antibiotic resistance data on healthcare-associated infections reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network.
This year the CDC also will release the first antibiotic stewardship report on progress in prescribing practices. “We must preserve these miracle medications,” the year-end review says, “so we can avoid returning to the pre-antibiotic era when minor infections often led to death.”
Military Wound Dressing Now for Civilian Traumatic Injuries
According to the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, 30% to 40% of civilian deaths from traumatic injury are due to hemorrhaging, and as many as half of patients die before reaching a hospital.
Recently, the FDA approved the use of XStat 30, a wound dressing used to control severe bleeding on the battlefield, for civilian emergencies and patients at high risk of life-threatening hemorrhagic shock.
The manufacturer calls it a first of its kind hemostatic device that comprises syringe-style applicators with 92 compressed cellulose sponges and an absorbent coating. Each sponge also contains an X-ray-detectable marker.
The tiny sponges are dispensed directly into the wound where they expand within 20 seconds of contact with blood, blocking blood flow and providing hemostatic pressure for wounds in the groin or axilla when a tourniquet cannot be placed. Each applicator’s worth of sponges can absorb about a pint of blood and can be used for up to 4 hours, allowing time to get the patient to a hospital.
According to the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, 30% to 40% of civilian deaths from traumatic injury are due to hemorrhaging, and as many as half of patients die before reaching a hospital.
Recently, the FDA approved the use of XStat 30, a wound dressing used to control severe bleeding on the battlefield, for civilian emergencies and patients at high risk of life-threatening hemorrhagic shock.
The manufacturer calls it a first of its kind hemostatic device that comprises syringe-style applicators with 92 compressed cellulose sponges and an absorbent coating. Each sponge also contains an X-ray-detectable marker.
The tiny sponges are dispensed directly into the wound where they expand within 20 seconds of contact with blood, blocking blood flow and providing hemostatic pressure for wounds in the groin or axilla when a tourniquet cannot be placed. Each applicator’s worth of sponges can absorb about a pint of blood and can be used for up to 4 hours, allowing time to get the patient to a hospital.
According to the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, 30% to 40% of civilian deaths from traumatic injury are due to hemorrhaging, and as many as half of patients die before reaching a hospital.
Recently, the FDA approved the use of XStat 30, a wound dressing used to control severe bleeding on the battlefield, for civilian emergencies and patients at high risk of life-threatening hemorrhagic shock.
The manufacturer calls it a first of its kind hemostatic device that comprises syringe-style applicators with 92 compressed cellulose sponges and an absorbent coating. Each sponge also contains an X-ray-detectable marker.
The tiny sponges are dispensed directly into the wound where they expand within 20 seconds of contact with blood, blocking blood flow and providing hemostatic pressure for wounds in the groin or axilla when a tourniquet cannot be placed. Each applicator’s worth of sponges can absorb about a pint of blood and can be used for up to 4 hours, allowing time to get the patient to a hospital.
When Does Hip Pain Mean Osteoarthritis?
Although mention of hip pain usually triggers a physical examination followed by an X-ray, hip osteoarthritis might be missed if practitioners rely only on hip radiographs, say researchers from Boston University, University of California, Tufts Medical Center, and others.
Their study found that most older patients with frequent hip pain did not have radiographic hip osteoarthritis and vice versa. They analyzed data from pelvic radiographs in 2 groups: the Framingham Osteoarthritis Study and the Osteoarthritis Initiative.
The Framingham study had radiographic evidence of hip osteoarthritis present in only 16% of 946 patients with frequent hip pain; 21% of hips with radiographic hip osteoarthritis were frequently painful. Sensitivity of X-ray for hip pain localized to the groin was 37%, specificity 91%, positive predictive value 6.0%, and negative predictive value 99%. Factoring in painful internal rotation did not change the outcomes.
Among the 4,366 Osteoarthritis Initiative patients, only 9% of those with painful hips showed X-ray evidence of osteoarthritis, and 24% of those with radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis were painful. The sensitivity was 17%, specificity 94%, positive predictive value 7%, and negative predictive value 98%.
The researchers note that inadequate recognition of osteoarthritis has consequences in older patients, such as increased morbidity from heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and frailty. Health professionals should continue with the evaluation and treatment of osteoarthritis, they conclude, despite negative radiographic findings.
Source:
Kim C, Nevitt MC, Niu J. et al. BMJ. 2015;351:1-8.
doi: 10 .113 6/bmj.h5983.
Although mention of hip pain usually triggers a physical examination followed by an X-ray, hip osteoarthritis might be missed if practitioners rely only on hip radiographs, say researchers from Boston University, University of California, Tufts Medical Center, and others.
Their study found that most older patients with frequent hip pain did not have radiographic hip osteoarthritis and vice versa. They analyzed data from pelvic radiographs in 2 groups: the Framingham Osteoarthritis Study and the Osteoarthritis Initiative.
The Framingham study had radiographic evidence of hip osteoarthritis present in only 16% of 946 patients with frequent hip pain; 21% of hips with radiographic hip osteoarthritis were frequently painful. Sensitivity of X-ray for hip pain localized to the groin was 37%, specificity 91%, positive predictive value 6.0%, and negative predictive value 99%. Factoring in painful internal rotation did not change the outcomes.
Among the 4,366 Osteoarthritis Initiative patients, only 9% of those with painful hips showed X-ray evidence of osteoarthritis, and 24% of those with radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis were painful. The sensitivity was 17%, specificity 94%, positive predictive value 7%, and negative predictive value 98%.
The researchers note that inadequate recognition of osteoarthritis has consequences in older patients, such as increased morbidity from heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and frailty. Health professionals should continue with the evaluation and treatment of osteoarthritis, they conclude, despite negative radiographic findings.
Source:
Kim C, Nevitt MC, Niu J. et al. BMJ. 2015;351:1-8.
doi: 10 .113 6/bmj.h5983.
Although mention of hip pain usually triggers a physical examination followed by an X-ray, hip osteoarthritis might be missed if practitioners rely only on hip radiographs, say researchers from Boston University, University of California, Tufts Medical Center, and others.
Their study found that most older patients with frequent hip pain did not have radiographic hip osteoarthritis and vice versa. They analyzed data from pelvic radiographs in 2 groups: the Framingham Osteoarthritis Study and the Osteoarthritis Initiative.
The Framingham study had radiographic evidence of hip osteoarthritis present in only 16% of 946 patients with frequent hip pain; 21% of hips with radiographic hip osteoarthritis were frequently painful. Sensitivity of X-ray for hip pain localized to the groin was 37%, specificity 91%, positive predictive value 6.0%, and negative predictive value 99%. Factoring in painful internal rotation did not change the outcomes.
Among the 4,366 Osteoarthritis Initiative patients, only 9% of those with painful hips showed X-ray evidence of osteoarthritis, and 24% of those with radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis were painful. The sensitivity was 17%, specificity 94%, positive predictive value 7%, and negative predictive value 98%.
The researchers note that inadequate recognition of osteoarthritis has consequences in older patients, such as increased morbidity from heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and frailty. Health professionals should continue with the evaluation and treatment of osteoarthritis, they conclude, despite negative radiographic findings.
Source:
Kim C, Nevitt MC, Niu J. et al. BMJ. 2015;351:1-8.
doi: 10 .113 6/bmj.h5983.