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Quantifying cost avoidance possibilities by investing in the
minimally-invasive mid-urethral sling
surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence D. Wayne
Taylor and Elisabeth Fowler
Abstract
Urinary
incontinence is one of the most prevalent, untreated chronic
conditions for individuals living in Canada. The impact of
incontinence on an individual’s quality of life is significant as it
negatively affects a person’s physical, psychological, sexual,
social and overall quality of life (QOL). Due to the stigma
associated with this condition, many individuals do not seek
treatment for their incontinence, even though 80% of incontinence
cases can be managed or cured. A variety of treatment options exist
for those living with incontinence. Women in Canada choosing to
undergo treatment via surgery face long wait times of up to two
years. An increase in funding for the treatment of incontinence is
desperately needed; however, treating incontinence may also provide
significant savings to government funders in the long run due to
delayed admissions to long term care facilities. This report
investigated possible cost savings to the Ontario Ministry of Health
and Long Term Care if future admissions to long-term care facilities
were delayed by 6
months, 1 year, or 4 years, and assuming that 10%, 25% and 40% of
those living with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) are reached and
treated with the minimally invasive mid-urethral sling (TVT). The
sensitivity analysis performed found that a modest investment on the
part of the Ministry in the treatment of SUI ($3.6-$14.5 million)
could reap significant rewards ($29.8 million – $1.1 billion)
through delayed admissions to long term care facilities. Calculated
as
a return on investment (ROI) the net savings produce an ROI ranging
from 8:1 up to 74:1. These are conservative financial gain
calculations as they do not take into consideration indirect savings
that may accrue to the health care system or improved quality of
life. Treatment and management of SUI as proposed will help
thousands of women living with incontinence remain independent, able
and productive members of society.
Full Article
Learning objectives in logbooks as indicators of problems in
teaching hospitals
Stefan Stieger, Andrea Praschinger, Kurt Kletter, and Franz
Kainberger
Abstract
Logbooks are used to grade, document, and establish the structure of
clinical clerkships, but a logbook can also be used as an instrument
to maintain uniform teaching between medical universities and
teaching hospitals. In this study, logbooks of 109 students were
collected and learning objectives (n = 141) were analyzed upon the
achieved skill levels. Analyses revealed differences in teaching
between university and a single teaching hospital. In this teaching
hospital students missed more learning objectives and had lower
amounts of upgrades onto a
higher skill level than demanded by the logbook. As we have shown,
logbooks can even be used as an aide to maintain uniform teaching in
medical universities and teaching hospitals
Full Article
Comparison of colorimetric and chemiluminescent ELISAs for the
detection of antibodies to Blastomyces dermatitidis Wayne
O. Hatch and Gene M. Scalarone
Abstract
The infectious disease, blastomycosis, caused by Blastomyces
dermatitidis can be present as an acute pulmonary infection that
resolves on its own to full blown dissemination if not treated
properly. Many immunodiagnostic assays have been developed to aid in
the diagnosis of blastomycosis. Here, the enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is discussed and a variation of the
indirect procedure is evaluated that uses a chemiluminescent
substrate in
its ability to detect antibodies to B. dermatitidis. In conclusion,
the chemiluminescent ELISA provides slight improvements in detection
of antibodies to B. dermatitidis (p=0.001).
Full Article
Ascorbic acid, Carotenoids, Total Phenolic content and Antioxidant
activity of various genotypes of Brassica Oleracea encephala.
Sharique Ahmed and Seerat Hussain Beigh
Abstract
The disease preventing potential of naturally occurring substances
in the diets is a major area of scientific interest. Recently
antioxidants and secondary metabolites have attracted a great deal
of attention for their effect in preventing disease due to oxidative
stress, which leads to degeneration of cell membranes and many
pathological diseases including cancer. In the current study, green
leafy vegetable extracts of six genotypes of kale (Brassica oleracea
acephala) were evaluated for total phenol, carotenoids, Vitamin C
content and antioxidant activities. Ascorbic acid ranged from 142 mg
per 100g in Wappal hakh to 164 mg per 100-g fr wt in knol khol. Wild
genotypes Wappal and Pumb, had significantly high phenolic content
(285 and 227 mg per 100 g fr wt) and possessed highest antioxidant
activities (840 and 780 umol FRAP petr g fr wt) than cultivated
genotypes. A positive and strong correlation (R2=0.807) between
total phenolic content and antioxidant activity suggests that kale
especially “Wappal and pumb” have
enormous potential to enhance the antioxidant potential of our daily
food supply.
Full Article
Antibacterial and antifungal analysis of crude extracts from the
leaves of Callistemon viminalis.
Chenielle Delahaye, Lois Rainford, Alison Nicholson, Sylvia
Mitchell, John Lindo, and Mohammed Ahmad
Abstract
Antimicrobial
resistance is a major cause of significant morbidity and mortality
globally. Ethnomedicine provides avenues for identification of
compounds with antimicrobial properties and potential new
antibiotics. Callistemon viminalis is an ethnomedicinal plant used
in Jamaica to treat intestinal illnesses. Methanol, hexane and
aqueous extracts of Callistemon viminalis were tested against eight
common bacteria and a single fungus of medical importance using a
quantitative agar well diffusion test and tube dilution assay. All
plant extracts showed antimicrobial activities against the selected
microorganisms; the methanol extracts were most effective. The
aqueous extract on the other hand, was very effective as a
bactericidal agent against the intestinal pathogens. These results
support the ethnomedicinal claim that C. viminalis is an effective
treatment for bacterial causes of intestinal illnesses.
Full Article
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