Lauritsenmcconnell3682

BACKGROUND This study assesses the level of knowledge and attitudes toward organ donation among doctors, nurses, medical students, patients, and relatives of patients at Dhaka Medical College Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh. METHODS A cross sectional study was conducted at Dhaka Medical College Hospital among doctors, nurses, medical students, patients, and attendants (100 participants in each group). Participants completed a 20-item self-administered questionnaire that assessed levels of knowledge and attitudes regarding organ donation. RESULTS Among the 500 participants, 85% had heard about organ donation, but only 46% of doctors, 33% of nurses, and 41% of medical students could report the names of all the organs that can be donated. One-fourth (25.4%) had agreed to donate their organs (23% of doctors, 17% of nurses, 28% of medical students, 29% of patients, and 30% of attendants), and 26.0% did not agree to donate (17% of doctors, 19% of nurses, 16% of medical students, 42% of patients, and 36% of relatives). Less than half (43.8%) of participants reported that they would donate organs to help someone when they die. Among the entire sample, 16% reported that their family would be upset if they donated organs, and 12.6% reported that it was against their religion. CONCLUSION Although medical professionals have a better understanding of organ donation than nonmedical individuals, their attitudes toward organ donation are similar to that of the general population. A strategic approach should be taken to develop and launch public campaigns targeting both medical professionals and the general population to educate and raise awareness about organ donation. BACKGROUND AND AIM Cavernous malformations are low-flow vascular malformations of the central nervous system. MTX-531 Brainstem location and prior hemorrhage increase future hemorrhage risk. We sought to determine the influence of physical activity on hemorrhage risk. METHODS Consecutive patients with radiologically confirmed cavernous malformations participated in a prospective registry with structured, baseline interviews, surveys, and examinations. Patients were asked about unusual events prior to initial clinical presentation. Medical records and MRIs were reviewed. Patients were surveyed about their physical activity after receiving their diagnosis. Annual follow-up surveys to patients ascertained new hemorrhages. Follow-up terminated at last follow-up, hemorrhage, surgery, or death. Univariate analysis assessed the risk of physical activities on prospective hemorrhage. RESULTS Of 195 patients, 117 (60%) were female. Median diagnosis age was 41 years. After diagnosis, 103 (52.8%) patients returned the physical activity survey (cerebral n = 100; spine n = 3). Over 539.4 patient years, 23 had a prospective hemorrhage. Five patients were removed from analysis because they had less than 6 weeks of physical-activity exposure before censor. The remaining 98 had no difference in prospective hemorrhage risk than those patients participating greater than or equal to 3 times monthly in walking, running, greater than 20-pound or less than 20-pound weight lifting, or noncontact sports. Few (n = 5) reported contact-sport participation, scuba diving (n = 2), or high-altitude climbing (n = 1) greater than 3 times monthly. CONCLUSIONS Aerobic activity and noncontact sports do not increase hemorrhage risk in cerebral cavernous malformation; patients should not be restricted. Less is known about contact sports, high-altitude climbing, scuba diving, and those with spinal-cord cavernous malformation. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Acute rehabilitation is known to enhance stroke recovery. However, poststroke lethargy and fatigue can hinder participation in rehabilitation therapies. We hypothesized that in patients with moderate to severe stroke complicated by poststroke fatigue and lethargy early stimulant therapy with modafinil increases favorable discharge disposition defined as transfer to acute inpatient rehabilitation or home. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed a cohort of patients with acute stroke admitted to the stroke service over a 3-year period. All patients 18 years or older with confirmed ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, an NIHSS greater than or equal to 5 and documentation of fatigue/lethargy in clinical documentation were included. We compared patients that were treated with modafinil 50-200 mg to those managed with standard care. The primary outcome measure was discharge disposition. Secondary outcome was 90 day modified Rankin score (mRS). Statistical significance was determined using chi-square teed for percutaneous gastrostomy tubes. The benefit of modafinil was seen across all subgroups except those with severe stroke (NIHSS ≥ 15). There were no significant adverse events associated with modafinil administration. CONCLUSIONS Modafinil use in acute in-hospital stroke patients with moderate stroke complicated by lethargy and fatigue was associated with improved discharge disposition. Randomized controlled trials are needed to further study the safety, efficacy, and long-term effects of modafinil in this patient population. OBJECTIVE Geographic region can be an important source of variation in the immune response to pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV). The aim of this study was to collate data from available PCV clinical trials in order to characterize the differences in antibody responses in different countries. METHODS A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to examine the difference in antibody responses after primary series of PCVs in infants, associated with geographic regions, compared with each other and with the different PCVs using random-effects models. RESULTS A total of 69 trials were included. Studies conducted in the Western Pacific Region (WPR) showed higher geometric mean concentrations (GMC) compared to studies conducted in Europe. The pooled GMC for serotype 4 after three doses of PCV7 in the WPR was 5.19 μg/ml (95% confidence interval 4.85-5.53 μg/ml), while for studies conducted in Europe this was 2.01 μg/ml (95% confidence interval 1.88-2.14 μg/ml). The IgG GMC ratios among the WPR versus European regions ranged from 1.