Current Intervention Methods Research Articles

Research advances on mental disorders in patients with extensive burns

Extensive burns can cause nonnegligible acute and chronic damage to central nervous system of patients. The damage of central nervous system may have a profound impact on patients, including neurobehavioral changes such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and sleep disorder. These changes may persist after injury, greatly affecting patients' integration into society and return to work. This paper systematically reviewed the clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, and current intervention methods of mental disorders in patients with extensive burns, aiming to provide a basis for further understanding, prevention, and treatment of patients with mental disorders after burns.

The Role of Horticulture Therapy in Autism Spectrum Disorder of Chinese Children

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a subtype of pervasive developmental disorder which mainly characterized by cognitive and communication impairments, often accompanied by symptoms such as social disorder, Stereotypical behavior, and Perceptual disorders, which not only affect the physical and mental health development of children but also brings a heavy burden to the families and society of patients. Horticultural therapy, as an ecological psychotherapeutic method, has more obvious and positive intervention effects on the above-mentioned symptoms in children with autism and has gradually gained attention in recent years. However, its application sites are mainly concentrated in special education schools and medical institutions, and it has not been widely used and promoted; its researchers are mainly concentrated in garden designers and special educators, with less participation from psychologists and horticultural therapists. This paper describes the current intervention methods and effects of horticultural therapy on the above three major impairment characteristics of children with autism in China, summarizes the application overview and progress of horticultural therapy, and gives some perspectives and recommendations for the following research.

Regional anesthesia global health collaborations- a scoping review of current intervention methods.

Perioperative anesthesia-related mortality is significantly higher in low-resource compared to high-resource countries. Regional anesthesia techniques can provide safety, cost, and access benefits when compared to general anesthesia in these settings but is underutilized primarily due to a lack of experienced educators and training opportunities. Academic institutions and international organizations are attempting to fill this educational gap through collaborations, but these efforts need examination for best practices going forward. Most collaborative anesthesia interactions between high and low resource areas have occurred between North America or Europe, and Africa or Asia and a majority have involved an educational intervention. Only 7% of the studies used a recognized framework to evaluate the intervention used in their research, such as the Kirkpatrick, REAIM or CFIR method. All recent studies reviewed reported a positive impact from educational collaborations. Only 7% of interventions have had a primary focus on regional anesthesia and most were reported between 2016 and 2022. Robust reports on international collaborations providing capacity enhancing educational interventions in regional anesthesia have increased in recent years but are still rare and should be encouraged going forward. Short courses supported by high-resource countries can be effective in low-resource areas when partnerships produce curricula that are well designed.

DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERVENTION SCHEME TO ADDRESS LOW RETENTION RATE OF A FIRST-YEAR CALCULUS COURSE – A SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS OF CURRENT TRENDS

Students in engineering and the sciences often complete their studies in mathematics before they have an opportunity to develop an appreciation for the application of mathematical concepts in their major field. It can be argued that without a solid foundation in mathematics at the calculus level, an engineering or science student will find difficulty in understanding and applying the knowledge involved in upper-level classes. 
 In this study, we examined an Ontario university where the dropout rates could reach as high as fifty percent from a mandatory first-year calculus course and as a response, we would like to develop an intervention mechanism. Using a conceptual framework, we systematically analysed various intervention mechanisms employed by institutions around the world. The framework looks at each intervention strategy and tries to understand how the mechanism identifies who needs intervention, how it is funded, and the steps necessary for a student who would want to receive such an intervention voluntarily. This study will help us to identify key features that are effective in current intervention methods, address the gaps that were observed, and to develop an intervention scheme that addresses high dropout rates from the first-year calculus course.

Inactivation of common hospital acquired pathogens on surfaces and in air utilizing engineered water nanostructures (EWNS) based nano-sanitizers

Infectious diseases represent a major public health challenge worldwide. There are various modes for the transmission of these diseases, with surface and airborne transmission being two of the most important ones. The inefficiencies of current intervention methods have resulted in the emergence of nosocomial infections. Here, we report the use of a nanotechnology based antimicrobial platform using Engineered Water Nanostructures (EWNS) generated using a combined electrospray and ionization of an aqueous suspension of various active ingredients (AIs). These EWNS based nano-sanitizers were tested in terms of their ability to efficiently deliver AI and inactivate Acinetobacter baumannii and influenza H1N1/PR/8 on both surfaces and air. Results indicate a significant reduction in the concertation of the pathogens, while the delivered to pathogen AI doses required for inactivation were miniscule (nanogram level), indicating the viability of such nano-carrier platform as an intervention technology against infectious microorganisms.

Interventions for children with dyslexia: A review on current intervention methods.

Dyslexia is a neurobiological impairment that primarily affects reading ability. It is commonly known as a reading disorder which is likely to be present at birth and is generally identified at pre-school level. Dyslexia is manifested through difficulties with accurate word recognition and also by poor performance in reading and writing. The main objective of this paper is to review the various methods or treatments that are used to manage the literacy and cognitive abilities for children with dyslexia particularly in Malaysia. The articles were obtained from online databases such as PubMed, Ebscohost and Medline during the time frame of six years starting from 2000 until 2016. An initial count of 300 articles were generated but only 13 articles met the inclusive criteria. There are a few types of interventions such as the multisensory method, the phonological intervention, and the cognitive training method which can be used to improve literacy and cognitive deficits among children with dyslexia. In Malaysia, most of the treatments are focused on the aspects of language such as word mastery, alphabet identification and writing skills. The cognitive training were carried out to improve specific domain such as visuospatial skills, memory skills and psychomotor skills. There is yet no studies which has employed the comprehensive method of combining the intervention of cognitive functions and linguistics-literacy deficits. It is imperative that researchers in Malaysia go beyond literacy skills and take into consideration the underlying cognitive functions which contribute to the specific reading and writing difficulties of Malaysian children with dyslexia.

Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis in the Indian subcontinent: A threat to the South-East Asia Region Kala-azar Elimination Programme.

BackgroundThe South-East Asia Region Kala-azar Elimination Programme (KAEP) is expected to enter the consolidation phase in 2017, which focuses on case detection, vector control, and identifying potential sources of infection. Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is thought to play a role in the recurrence of visceral leishmaniasis (VL)/kala-azar outbreaks, and control of PKDL is among the priorities of the KAEP.Methodology and principal findingWe reviewed the literature with regard to PKDL in Asia and interpreted the findings in relation to current intervention methods in the KAEP in order to make recommendations. There is a considerable knowledge gap regarding the pathophysiology of VL and PKDL, especially the underlying immune responses. Risk factors (of which previous VL treatments may be most important) are poorly understood and need to be better defined. The role of PKDL patients in transmission is largely unknown, and there is insufficient information about the importance of duration, distribution and severity of the rash, time of onset, and self-healing. Current intervention methods focus on active case detection and treatment of all PKDL cases with miltefosine while there is increasing drug resistance. The prevention of PKDL by improved VL treatment currently receives insufficient attention.Conclusion and significancePKDL is a heterogeneous and dynamic condition, and patients differ with regard to time of onset after VL, chronicity, and distribution and appearance of the rash, as well as immune responses (including tendency to self-heal), all of which may vary over time. It is essential to fully describe the pathophysiology in order to make informed decisions on the most cost-effective approach. Emphasis should be on early detection of those who contribute to transmission and those who are in need of treatment, for whom short-course, effective, and safe drug regimens should be available. The prevention of PKDL should be emphasised by innovative and improved treatment for VL, which may include immunomodulation.

Transcriptomic analysis of Escherichia coli MG1655 cells exposed to pulsed electric fields

Abstract DNA microarrays were used for the first time to study the mechanism of bacterial inactivation by pulsed electric fields (PEF). Escherichia coli MG1655 cells were PEF-treated for 50 pulses (0.08 Hz) at 20 kV/cm (2.10 kJ/kg per pulse) in buffer at pH 4.0 (100 μs PEF treatment time). After this PEF treatment, 47 genes demonstrated transcriptional differences. Among the 20 up-regulated genes, we found cytochrome bo oxidase genes (cyoB, cyoC, cyoD) and heme O synthase (cyoE), succinate dehydrogenase (sdhCDAB) operon, and transcriptional repressors of bet genes and chromosomal ars operon (betI and arsR, respectively). Gene class testing showed relevance of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle pathway, confirming cell requirement for energy and reducing power after PEF treatments. Transcriptomics after this PEF treatment were compared with cell transcriptome after a heat treatment using the same experimental setup, revealing a weaker cell response to PEF, which mainly involves components and functions directly associated with the cytoplasmic membrane. Resistance experiments confirmed results observed by transcriptomics, showing the lack of cross-resistance phenomena by PEF treatments. Industrial relevance The molecular approach to the description of the mechanism of microbial inactivation by pulsed electric fields (PEF) could result in a more efficient design of preservation process. Confirmation of cytoplasmic membrane as a PEF bacterial target, as well as metabolic routes involved in cell response to PEF, could assist in deciding other technologies to combine with PEF. Furthermore, the lack of PEF-induced cross resistance under non-thermal conditions to other food preservation technologies, such as heat and antimicrobial compounds, could help in maintaining the efficiency of hurdle technologies that rely upon the imposition of multiple stresses. This information will facilitate the knowledge-based enhancement of current intervention methods or the design of new preservation processes involving PEF.

Colonization factors of Campylobacter jejuni in the chicken gut.

Campylobacter contaminated broiler chicken meat is an important source of foodborne gastroenteritis and poses a serious health burden in industrialized countries. Broiler chickens are commonly regarded as a natural host for this zoonotic pathogen and infected birds carry a very high C. jejuni load in their gastrointestinal tract, especially the ceca. This eventually results in contaminated carcasses during processing. Current intervention methods fail to reduce the colonization of broiler chicks by C. jejuni due to an incomplete understanding on the interaction between C. jejuni and its avian host. Clearly, C. jejuni developed several survival and colonization mechanisms which are responsible for its highly adapted nature to the chicken host. But how these mechanisms interact with one another, leading to persistent, high-level cecal colonization remains largely obscure. A plethora of mutagenesis studies in the past few years resulted in the identification of several of the genes and proteins of C. jejuni involved in different aspects of the cellular response of this bacterium in the chicken gut. In this review, a thorough, up-to-date overview will be given of the survival mechanisms and colonization factors of C. jejuni identified to date. These factors may contribute to our understanding on how C. jejuni survival and colonization in chicks is mediated, as well as provide potential targets for effective subunit vaccine development.

Early intervention for problem drinkers: readiness to participate among general practitioners and nurses in Swedish primary health care.

An exploration was made of attitudes and practices of general practitioners (GPs) and nurses concerning early identification of, and intervention for, alcohol-related problems. Sixty-five GPs and 141 nurses in 19 primary health centres in a county in southern Sweden answered a 28-item questionnaire before implementation of an intervention programme. The questionnaire covered experiences with patients with alcohol-related health problems, knowledge and perceived capacity concerning early identification and intervention, attitudes towards the role of primary care staff in early identification and intervention and current intervention methods in use at the health centre. Self-reported frequency of asking about alcohol use was higher among GPs than nurses. Both groups reported more frequently asking about alcohol consumption in cases where they believed that the health status was influenced by alcohol. For both professions, knowledge and skills concerning identification were rated as better understood than that concerning intervention methods. Nurses rated their knowledge and skills less confidently than GPs. The overall attitude was fairly positive towards early identification and intervention, but nurses were more worried than GPs that patients would react negatively to questions about alcohol. Attitudes, self-rated capacity, and practice were related. The low level of early identification and intervention in primary care appears to be related more to insufficient practical skills than to attitudes. Nurses appear to be an unexploited resource, in need of training and support. Nurses may need to be convinced that an active role does not interfere with the nurse-patient relationship. Building teams of GPs and nurses in primary care might enhance the dissemination of alcohol prevention into regular practice.