| 1. |
- Sommerfeld, D. K., et al.
(författare)
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Pain following stroke, initially and at 3 and 18 months after stroke, and its association with other disabilities
- 2012
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Ingår i: European Journal of Neurology. - : Wiley. - 1351-5101 .- 1468-1331. ; 19:10, s. 1325-1330
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background and purpose A general hypothesis is that pain following stroke (PFS) causes disabilities. However, the clinical implication of PFS on other disabilities after stroke and vice versa has not been fully investigated. The aims of this observational study were to analyze the correlation between PFS and other disabilities at different time points after stroke, whether PFS can be a predictor of coming disabilities and whether other disabilities can be predictors of coming PFS. Methods Patients with a first-ever stroke were assessed initially (n similar to=similar to 109), and at 3 (n similar to=similar to 95) and 18 months (n similar to=similar to 66) after stroke for PFS, mobility, self-care as well as touch, proprioceptive, muscle tone, and movement functions. Results PFS was correlated to impaired upper extremity movement function on all occasions, while the correlations between PFS and other disabilities varied across the three occasions. Initial PFS and PFS at 3 similar to months did not independently predict coming disabilities. Initial mobility limitation independently predicted PFS at 3 similar to months and impaired touch function, initially and at 3 similar to months, independently predicted PFS at 18 similar to months. No other disabilities independently predicted coming PFS. Conclusions The present results do not support the hypothesis that PFS causes other disabilities. Our results indicate that PFS is correlated to other disabilities; however, no ultimate conclusions can be drawn on causality. PFS was not a predictor of coming disabilities, while some disabilities were predictors of coming PFS.
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| 2. |
- Wai, K. T., et al.
(författare)
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Community-centred eco-bio-social approach to control dengue vectors: an intervention study from Myanmar
- 2012
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Ingår i: Pathogens and Global Health. - : Informa UK Limited. - 2047-7724 .- 2047-7732. ; 106:8, s. 461-468
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: To build up and analyse the feasibility, process, and effectiveness of a partnership-driven ecosystem management intervention in reducing dengue vector breeding and constructing sustainable partnerships among multiple stakeholders. Methods: A community-based intervention study was conducted from May 2009 to January 2010 in Yangon city. Six high-risk and six low-risk clusters were randomized and allocated as intervention and routine service areas, respectively. For each cluster, 100 households were covered. Bi-monthly entomological evaluations (i.e. larval and pupal surveys) and household acceptability surveys at the end of 6-month intervention period were conducted, supplemented by qualitative evaluations. Intervention description: The strategies included eco-friendly multi-stakeholder partner groups (Thingaha) and ward-based volunteers, informed decision-making of householders, followed by integrated vector management approach. Findings: Pupae per person index (PPI) decreased at the last evaluation by 5.7% (0.35-0.33) in high-risk clusters. But in low-risk clusters, PPI remarkably decreased by 63.6% (0.33-0.12). In routine service area, PPI also decreased due to availability of Temephos after Cyclone Nargis. As for total number of pupae in all containers, when compared to evaluation 1, there was a reduction of 18.6% in evaluation 2 and 44.1% in evaluation 3 in intervention area. However, in routine service area, more reduction was observed. All intervention tools were found as acceptable, being feasible to implement by multi-stakeholder partner groups. Conclusions: The efficacy of community-controlled partnership-driven interventions was found to be superior to the vertical approach in terms of sustainability and community empowerment.
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| 3. |
- Wai, K. T., et al.
(författare)
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Estimating dengue vector abundance in the wet and dry season: implications for targeted vector control in urban and peri-urban Asia
- 2012
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Ingår i: Pathogens and Global Health. - : Informa UK Limited. - 2047-7724 .- 2047-7732. ; 106:8, s. 436-445
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Research has shown that the classical Stegomyia indices (or "larval indices'') of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti reflect the absence or presence of the vector but do not provide accurate measures of adult mosquito density. In contrast, pupal indices as collected in pupal productivity surveys are a much better proxy indicator for adult vector abundance. However, it is unknown when it is most optimal to conduct pupal productivity surveys, in the wet or in the dry season or in both, to inform control services about the most productive water container types and if this pattern varies among different ecological settings. Methods: A multi-country study in randomly selected twelve to twenty urban and peri-urban neighborhoods ("clusters'') of six Asian countries, in which all water holding containers were examined for larvae and pupae of Aedes aegypti during the dry season and the wet season and their productivity was characterized by water container types. In addition, meteorological data and information on reported dengue cases were collected. Findings: The study reconfirmed the association between rainfall and dengue cases ("dengue season'') and underlined the importance of determining through pupal productivity surveys the "most productive containers types'', responsible for the majority (> 70%) of adult dengue vectors. The variety of productive container types was greater during the wet than during the dry season, but included practically all container types productive in the dry season. Container types producing pupae were usually different from those infested by larvae indicating that containers with larval infestations do not necessarily foster pupal development and thus the production of adult Aedes mosquitoes. Conclusion: Pupal productivity surveys conducted during the wet season will identify almost all of the most productive container types for both the dry and wet seasons and will therefore facilitate cost-effective targeted interventions.
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