Latest Scientific Evidence Research Articles

STUDY ON BUILDING GUIDELINE OF MEDICAL FACILITY FOR TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS

In the current laws and ordinances, the matter to accommodate the tuberculosis patient who is an airborne infectious disease is not exhibited. In this study, we discussed the building standard of the medical institution which accommodate tuberculosis patient, for the purpose of showing recommendations. The medical institution to accommodate tuberculosis patients needs to keep building facilities corresponding to the airborne infection, and it is necessary to perform use based on the latest scientific evidences.

Medical-Grade Calcium Sulfate Hemihydrate in Clinical Implant Dentistry: A Review

Medical-grade calcium sulfate has been successfully used for several decades as a bone filler and as a carrier with medications or bone growth factors for the treatment of bone defects. The present review illustrates the biological behavior and clinical outcomes of this material when used in clinical implant dentistry. Furthermore, the review illustrates the different indications specifically related to implant dentistry when medical-grade calcium sulfate has been used alone or in combination with bone grafting materials. The histological published evidence is reviewed together with successful clinical results. This material, well known since the 1800's, continues to be used by clinicians and researchers worldwide, and the latest scientific evidence clearly indicates that medical-grade calcium sulfate can be used alone or in combination with biologically active proteins in applications such as socket preservation, ridge augmentation, and sinus lift procedures.

The missing link in protecting against back pain

Whether you suffer from lower back pain or merely wish to improve your fitness odds are you have been told to build up your abdominals. While the abdominals are important, studies have shown that the often ignored spinal extensors (your back muscles) are at least as important (BieringSorensen, 1984; Luoto et al., 1995). Yet, most people do not know how to train these vitally important muscles. Think for a second about your upright posture e or lack thereof! It is easy to become slouched, stooped, or slumped. After all, we tend to sit way too much. The most popular abdominal exercise is the sit-up which actually makes us bend forward even more. Scientific investigations have discovered that normally our back muscles have onethird more endurance than our abdominals. But, in back pain patients this endurance is equal to the abdominals. So the message from the latest scientific evidence is clear e to protect your back strengthen it! Besides helping low back pain, spine extensor training is an ideal way to build up bone density in the spinal column of pre-menopausal women. In fact, whereas sit-ups have been shown to be dangerous for osteoporotic women, back extensor exercises have been shown to be safe. Here are a few excellent trunk extensor exercises that you can perform with a gymnastic ball.

Dietary portfolio approach to reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease: The Polymeal revisited

AbstractAims: The Polymeal was first proposed as a ‘tastier and safer’ alternative to a polypharmacy approach to cardiovascular disease risk reduction. The present study aimed to examine the affordability of the Polymeal, and to propose modifications based on economic considerations, and the latest scientific evidence, to achieve consistency with current public health recommendations.Methods: Prices for each food component specified in the Polymeal were obtained from a major and independent supermarket chain in a representative middle socioeconomic demographic region of metropolitan Melbourne, Australia. Items included fish (114 g, four times/week), fruits and vegetables (400 g/day), dark chocolate (100 g/day), garlic (2.7 g/day), almonds (68 g/day) and red wine (150 mL/day). Prices were calculated using an average of the major brands, or the most commonly eaten fruits, vegetables or fish. Modifications of the Polymeal were proposed based on published research and public health recommendations since the Polymeal was first proposed.Results: Average price of the Polymeal was AU$11.89 per day falling to AU$8.46 if the cheapest food items were chosen. Modifications to the Polymeal included: consuming fish oil capsules instead of fish, reduction in the quantity of dark chocolate and removal of red wine. These modifications halved the cost of the Polymeal, while choosing the cheapest food items further lowered the cost to AU$3.49 per day. Modification of the Polymeal gave substantial reductions in both energy and saturated fat (51% and 84%, respectively).Conclusion: The modified Polymeal is a more affordable variation of the Polymeal, which takes into account current scientific evidence and public health recommendations.

Il principio di precauzione: il Codice di condotta della Fao per la pesca responsabile e la politica comunitaria della pesca

- "From ancient times, fishing has been a major source of food for humanity and a provider of employment and economic benefits to those engaged in this activity. The wealth of aquatic resources was assumed to be an unlimited gift of nature. However, with increased knowledge and the dynamic development of fisheries after the Second World War, this myth has faded in face of the realization that aquatic resources, although renewable, are not infinite and need to be properly managed, if their contribution to the nutritional, economic and social well-being of the growing world's population is to be sustained" (Fao Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries - Preface). Thus fishing has to be conducted in a responsible and sustainable manner because fish provides a vital source of food and, at the same time, fishing is closely connected to the environment because, if it is not properly practised can it cause irreparable damage. This work analyses the principle of precaution which was recognized as principle no. 15 in the Declaration of Rio on Environment and Development in 1992 and mentioned at the Conference on Biological Diversity. It represents one of the fundamental principles of the Fao Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and Common Fisheries Policy (Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002). States should apply a precautionary approach choosing the best measures and policy, taking into account the latest scientific evidence available. The aim is «to protect and conserve living aquatic resources, to provide for their sustainable exploitation and to minimise the impact of fishing activities on marine eco-systems.» (article 2 Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002).Parole chiave: scienza, protezione, precauzione, pesca, sviluppo.Key words: Science, Protection, Precaution, Fishing, Development.

Rupture of gastroesophageal varices DEA managing

This article on upper digestive tract bleeding, dedicated to the rupture of gastroesophageal varices, deals with the issues connected to their treatment in the Emergency Room. The authors refer to concepts of epidemiology, natural history, physiopathology of the oesophageal and gastric varices and elements of therapy, including both specific (stabilisation) and specific (pharmacology and endoscopy) aspects, based on the latest scientific evidence. The main interest of the ER doctor obviously involves the measures needed to achieve haemodynamic stabilisation and specific pharmacological therapy. Although the article does not examine the endoscopic and prophylactic measures taken by ER doctors, these are dealt with briefly for a better understanding of the issue as a whole.

Evidence Locator: Sources of Evidence-Based Dentistry Information

Multiple resources are available to help practitioners access the latest scientific evidence. Evidence-based dentistry (EBD) is an approach to clinical decision making that incorporates the most current and comprehensive scientific evidence with the practitioner's judgment and the patient's needs and preferences. One challenge in implementing this approach is access to evidence, and there are multiple online resources that can be used in this endeavor. This article presents the Evidence Locator, a list of Web sites that provide access to "secondary sources" of evidence. Such "secondary sources" are typically summaries of systematic reviews and evidence-based clinical recommendations or guidelines. Also presented is a list of other Web sites that may be useful to the practitioner in implementing EBD.

Decision Making in Oncology: A Review of Patient Decision Aids to Support Patient Participation

Although cancer management is becoming more structured with disease-specific guidelines and clinical pathways, many decisions remain complex. Contributing to this complexity is the need to make value tradeoffs between benefits and harms across cancer treatment and/or screening options. Since there is no "best" option for everyone, decisions are defined as being of higher quality when informed with the latest scientific evidence and based on patients' informed values associated with outcomes of options. However, clinicians are not good judges of patients' values, and patients often have inadequate knowledge, unrealistic expectations, and decisional conflict that interfere with their involvement in decision making. Effective approaches to support patient involvement into clinical decisions include clinicians trained in shared decision making, question prompt sheets, patient decision aids, and decision coaching by nurses and other allied health professionals. Based on systematic review of 23 randomized trials of cancer patient decision aids, patients exposed to decision aids are more likely to participate in decision making and achieve higher-quality decisions. This review highlights key historical changes leading to patient involvement in decision making, summarizes evidence on effective interventions to support shared decision making, explores strategies to implement these interventions in oncology practices, and identifies future directions.

Risk of authoritarianism: fibrinogen-transmitted hepatitis C in Japan

In 1977, the US Food and Drug Administration revoked all licences for fibrinogen concentrate because of the risk for hepatitis infection and suspected lack of effectiveness. However, in Japan, fibrinogen concentrate was used routinely for treatment of obstetric bleeding until 1988. Even in 1997, academic texts by Japanese authorities in obstetrics still recommended that obstetricians use the product. An estimated 10 000 cases of hepatitis C infection are attributable to use of fibrinogen in Japan and are a result of authoritarianism that hindered effective policy changes. Scientists have a duty to refine repeatedly the quality of their evidence, and policymakers need to adjust existing policies continually to accord with the latest scientific evidence.

Summary of the Fourth Report on the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents

The Working Group on High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents has published the Fourth Report on the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents1 (www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/hypertension/child_tbl.htm). This publication, from the National High Blood Pressure Education Program, updates the previous 1996 publication.2 The purpose of the Fourth Report is to inform clinicians on the latest scientific evidence regarding blood pressure in children and to provide recommendations for evaluation and treatment of hypertension in the young. The Working Group reexamined the childhood blood pressure database with the addition of new data from the 1999 to 2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The Working Group also evaluated the recent information on instrumentation for blood pressure measurement in the young, the evidence of target-organ damage in children and adolescents with hypertension, and the results of recent studies on antihypertensive therapy in the young. The fourth report provides new guidelines to clinicians on evaluation and management of children with hypertension and also for children with significant risk for hypertension. The definition of hypertension in children and adolescents remains unchanged and is based on blood pressure percentile. Hypertension is defined as average systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure that is ≥95th percentile for gender, age, and height on 3 or more separate occasions. Blood pressure levels that are ≥90th percentile but 120 mm Hg by age 12 years. Adolescents with blood pressure ≥120/80 mm Hg (but <95th percentile) have prehypertension. The Fourth Report has added a method for staging the severity of hypertension by providing the range of blood pressure elevation for stage 1 and stage 2 hypertension. Stage 2 hypertension is generally ≈12 …

The Fourth Report on the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents

The Fourth Report on the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents

Revision of the Facts on Osteoporosis Quiz.

Few instruments exist that measure knowledge of osteoporosis, a health risk for 28 million Americans. The original Facts on Osteoporosis Quiz (FOOQ), which was theoretically informed by Orem's (1995) Self-Care Theory, was published in 1998. In 2000, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) held a consensus conference on osteoporosis in which previous knowledge was modified based on current science. The goal was to update the original instrument based on the latest scientific evidence and to determine its psychometric properties. The quiz content was validated by osteoporosis experts and is theoretically informed by Orem's (2001) Self-Care Theory. An iterative process was used to design an instrument with an acceptable reading level. Reliability, item discrimination, and item difficulty were assessed in a convenience sample of 256 participants. The revised quiz, content-based on the 2000 NIH osteoporosis consensus conference, includes 20 questions. The quiz has a content validity index of.87, an internal consistency reliability of.76 and a 6th grade reading level. Item difficulty and item discrimination are also reported. The revised version of the FOOQ provides a valid, reliable, and theoretically informed instrument with acceptable psychometric properties.

From Nuclear Bombs to Food Safety: A Personal Odyssey

HE public attitude about irradiation of food has R improved considerably. However, reinforced by X 2 media misinformation and visions of Hiroshima, I , 5 many conjure up images of a mushroom cloud when they think of radiation. But most now consider the many benefits that properly controlled radiation brings to society. One environmental health professional has used the term "gnosophobia" to describe the disease of "fear of the unknown" or "fear of intellectual knowledge" regarding those who continue their efforts to prevent any beneficial use of radiation. Americans have a love affair with calamities and many are more eager to believe the latest alleged catastrophe of the week than the latest scientific evidence. We have learned a lot about the dangers and the benefits of radiation since the first atomic detonation at Trinity Site in New Mexico some 54 years ago. I became intimately aware of the awesome power and danger of radiation at an early date. As a Public Health Service Commissioned Officer, I monitored fall-out from nuclear devices (we were not allowed to call them bombs) at the Nevada Test Site in the I950s. I witnessed many "shots" (we did not call them explosions) both on-site and off-site. The one I best remember was Project Hood, the largest nuclear device ever detonated within the continental United States. I was standing in the darkness some ioo miles from ground zero and could have read a newspaper illuminated by the spectacular light of the fireball. In the I960s, I was assigned to monitor a peacetime underground "shot" termed Project Gnome near Carlsbad, New Mexico. This was