Bodyweight Perceptions among Texas Women: The Effects of Religion, Race/Ethnicity, and Citizenship Status

Despite previous work exploring linkages between religious participation and health, little research has looked at the role of religion in affecting bodyweight perceptions. Using the theoretical model developed by Levin et al. (Sociol Q 36(1):157–173, 1995) on the multidimensionality of religious participation, we develop several hypotheses and test them by using data from the 2004 Survey of Texas Adults. We estimate multinomial logistic regression models to determine the relative risk of women perceiving themselves as overweight. Results indicate that religious attendance lowers risk of women perceiving themselves as very overweight. Citizenship status was an important factor for Latinas, with noncitizens being less likely to see themselves as overweight. We also test interaction effects between religion and race. Religious attendance and prayer have a moderating effect among Latina non-citizens so that among these women, attendance and prayer intensify perceptions of feeling less overweight when compared to their white counterparts. Among African American women, the effect of increased church attendance leads to perceptions of being overweight. Prayer is also a correlate of overweight perceptions but only among African American women. We close with a discussion that highlights key implications from our findings, note study limitations, and several promising avenues for future research

Costi del trattamento con oloprazina nelle fasi iniziali della schizofrenia

Objective: In Italy, use of olanzapine in the public sector was limited by law to patients that had failed treatment with conventional antipsychotics, due to the higher purchase price of the drug. This restriction prevented first-episode patients and patients early in the course of their illness from being treated with olanzapine. The present study investigates economic consequences of this policy. Design: The present study retrospectively outlines treatment costs of patients switched to olanzapine during the early stages of schizophrenia as compared to the costs of patients switched during a later stage of the illness. Setting: The study was conducted within Italian Community Mental Health Services. Patients: The cost of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment was retrospectively calculated in 25 out-patients with schizophrenia and related disorders over a one-year span. Thirteen patients were switched to olanzapine in the early stage of their illness, prior to drug approval under a compassionate use regimen. Twelve patients started olanzapine under the restriction in a later stage of illness following failed treatment with a conventional antipsychotic. Results: While total treatment costs between the two groups was similar, cost distribution was different. Early Switch patients had higher drug costs and higher rehabilitation costs, while Late Switch patients had higher hospitalisation costs. Conclusions: Small patient numbers and design limitations prevent conclusions being drawn regarding the ultimate impact on outcome and total treatment cost of restriction of olanzapine to second-line use. Despite this, our findings demonstrate that within the context of the Italian CMHS, patients treated with olanzapine while still in the early stages of schizophrenia do not necessarily cost more overall compared to patients who receive olanzapine after failing treatment with a conventional antipsychotic

Subjective response to antipsychotic treatment and compliance in schizophrenia. A naturalistic study comparing olanzapine, risperidone and haloperidol (EFESO Study)

BACKGROUND: In order to compare the effectiveness of different antipsychotic drugs in the treatment of schizophrenia it is very important to evaluate subjective response and compliance in patient cohorts treated according to routine clinical practice. METHOD: Outpatients with schizophrenia entered this prospective, naturalistic study when they received a new prescription for an antipsychotic drug. Treatment assignment was based on purely clinical criteria, as the study did not include any experimental intervention. Patients treated with olanzapine, risperidone or haloperidol were included in the analysis. Subjective response was measured using the 10-item version of the Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI-10), and treatment compliance was measured using a physician-rated 4 point categorical scale. RESULTS: A total of 2128 patients initiated treatment (as monotherapy) with olanzapine, 417 with risperidone, and 112 with haloperidol. Olanzapine-treated patients had significantly higher DAI-10 scores and significantly better treatment compliance compared to both risperidone- and haloperidol-treated patients. Risperidone-treated patients had a significantly higher DAI-10 score compared to haloperidol-treated patients. CONCLUSION: Subjective response and compliance were superior in olanzapine-treated patients, compared to patients treated with risperidone and haloperidol, in routine clinical practice. Differences in subjective response were explained largely, but not completely, by differences in incidence of EPS

T4-Related Bacteriophage LIMEstone Isolates for the Control of Soft Rot on Potato Caused by ‘Dickeya solani’

The bacterium ‘Dickeya solani’, an aggressive biovar 3 variant of Dickeya dianthicola, causes rotting and blackleg in potato. To control this pathogen using bacteriophage therapy, we isolated and characterized two closely related and specific bacteriophages, vB_DsoM_LIMEstone1 and vB_DsoM_LIMEstone2. The LIMEstone phages have a T4-related genome organization and share DNA similarity with Salmonella phage ViI. Microbiological and molecular characterization of the phages deemed them suitable and promising for use in phage therapy. The phages reduced disease incidence and severity on potato tubers in laboratory assays. In addition, in a field trial of potato tubers, when infected with ‘Dickeya solani’, the experimental phage treatment resulted in a higher yield. These results form the basis for the development of a bacteriophage-based biocontrol of potato plants and tubers as an alternative for the use of antibiotics

Abstract WP7: Impact of Stent-Retrievers on Real World Stroke Outcomes Utilizing the National Inpatient Sample

Introduction: In 2015, mechanical thrombectomy (MT) with stent-retrievers became a standard of care treatment for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Data on the impact of stent-retrievers on clinical outcomes in non-trial settings is limited. This study examines the association between the transition from first generation devices to stent-retrievers and clinical outcomes in a large inpatient sample. Methods: We used data from the 2010 - 2013 National Inpatient Sample for patients (n=3553) with a diagnosis of AIS using the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9 CM) diagnosis codes who underwent MT using ICD-9-CM procedure code of 39.74. Patients in the 2010-2011 time period (Period 1) were categorized as first generation device patients and patients in the 2012-2013 time period (Period 2) were categorized as second generation device patients. Outcomes were in-hospital mortality (alive/dead), discharge disposition (favorable/unfavorable), and length of stay (normal/prolonged). Weighted binary logistic regression models adjusting for patient and hospital level factors were developed. Results: The number of procedures increases from 679 in 2010 to 1128 in 2013. In Period 1, 1443 patients were treated with MT and in Period 2, 2110 patients were treated with MT. In the adjusted model, compared to patients in Period 1, patients in Period 2 were 31% less likely to be deceased (aOR = 0.69; 95% CI = 0.58-0.83) and 22% less likely to be discharged to an unfavorable location (aOR = 0.78; 95% CI = 0.64-0.95). There was no statistically significant association between treatment period and length of stay (aOR = 0.95; 95% CI = 0.82-1.10). Conclusion: Patients that had an MT performed during the stent-retrievers years were less likely to expire and be discharged to an unfavorable location than patients in the first generation device years. This confirms the past literature on the beneficial effects of a second generation of stent-retrievers in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke in a real world setting. </jats:p

Work–family Conflict Among Black, White, and Hispanic Men and Women

Are there racial/ethnic differences in work–family conflict? Using a nationally representative survey of Americans, we analyze differences in work–family conflict among Blacks, Whites, and Hispanics and then utilize an intersectional approach, disaggregating men and women within each racial/ethnic group. Using structural equation modeling, we find that the usual predictors of conflict – family and work characteristics – have varied effects on work–family conflict among men and women of different racial/ethnic groups. Nonstandard schedules were uniformly linked to increased work-to-family conflict among all respondents, regardless of subgroup. Our findings reveal the merits of intersectional approaches, and suggest the need for theoretical models of the work–family interface that better reflect the experiences of men and women of color

Costi del trattamento con oloprazina nelle fasi iniziali della schizofrenia

Objective: In Italy, use of olanzapine in the public sector was limited by law to patients that had failed treatment with conventional antipsychotics, due to the higher purchase price of the drug. This restriction prevented first-episode patients and patients early in the course of their illness from being treated with olanzapine. The present study investigates economic consequences of this policy. Design: The present study retrospectively outlines treatment costs of patients switched to olanzapine during the early stages of schizophrenia as compared to the costs of patients switched during a later stage of the illness. Setting: The study was conducted within Italian Community Mental Health Services. Patients: The cost of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment was retrospectively calculated in 25 out-patients with schizophrenia and related disorders over a one-year span. Thirteen patients were switched to olanzapine in the early stage of their illness, prior to drug approval under a compassionate use regimen. Twelve patients started olanzapine under the restriction in a later stage of illness following failed treatment with a conventional antipsychotic. Results: While total treatment costs between the two groups was similar, cost distribution was different. Early Switch patients had higher drug costs and higher rehabilitation costs, while Late Switch patients had higher hospitalisation costs. Conclusions: Small patient numbers and design limitations prevent conclusions being drawn regarding the ultimate impact on outcome and total treatment cost of restriction of olanzapine to second-line use. Despite this, our findings demonstrate that within the context of the Italian CMHS, patients treated with olanzapine while still in the early stages of schizophrenia do not necessarily cost more overall compared to patients who receive olanzapine after failing treatment with a conventional antipsychotic