The impact of imperfect screening tools on measuring the prevalence of epilepsy and headaches in Burkina Faso.

Background: Epilepsy and progressively worsening severe chronic headaches (WSCH) are the two most common clinical manifestations of neurocysticercosis, a form of cysticercosis. Most community-based studies in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) use a two-step approach (questionnaire and confirmation) to estimate the prevalence of these neurological disorders and neurocysticercosis. Few validate the questionnaire in the field or account for the imperfect nature of the screening questionnaire and the fact that only those who screen positive have the opportunity to be confirmed.

Effectiveness of a community-based educational programme in reducing the cumulative incidence and prevalence of human Taenia solium cysticercosis in Burkina Faso in 2011-14 (EFECAB): a cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Background: The effectiveness of drug-free interventions in controlling human cysticercosis is not well known. We aimed to estimate the effectiveness of a community-based educational intervention in reducing the frequency of human cysticercosis in Burkina Faso.

Methods: We did a cluster-randomised controlled trial between 2011 and 2014.

Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Human Cysticercosis in 60 Villages in Three Provinces of Burkina Faso.

Background: Taenia solium, a zoonotic infection transmitted between humans and pigs, is considered an emerging infection in Sub-Saharan Africa, yet individual and community-level factors associated with the human infection with the larval stages (cysticercosis) are not well understood. This study aims to estimate the magnitude of association of individual-level and village-level factors with current human cysticercosis in 60 villages located in three Provinces of Burkina Faso.

Methodology/principal Findings: Baseline cross-sectional data collected between February 2011 and January 2012 from a large community randomized-control trial were used.

Higher coated-platelet levels are associated with stroke recurrence following nonlacunar brain infarction.

Coated-platelets are procoagulant platelets observed upon dual-agonist stimulation with collagen and thrombin. Coated-platelet levels are elevated in patients with nonlacunar (large-vessel) ischemic stroke and decreased in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage as compared with controls. The purpose of this study was to investigate a possible relationship between coated-platelet levels and stroke recurrence in patients with nonlacunar ischemic stroke.

Association of direct helicopter versus ground transport and in-hospital mortality in trauma patients: a propensity score analysis.

Objectives: Helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) transport of trauma patients has been used for decades. Its use, however, is still a subject of debate, including issues such as high costs, increasing numbers of crashes, and conflicting results regarding effectiveness in reducing mortality. The aim of this study was to examine whether mode of transport (HEMS vs.

Clinical manifestations associated with neurocysticercosis: a systematic review.

Background: The clinical manifestations of neurocysticercosis (NCC) are poorly understood. This systematic review aims to estimate the frequencies of different manifestations, complications and disabilities associated with NCC.

Methods: A systematic search of the literature published from January 1, 1990, to June 1, 2008, in 24 different electronic databases and 8 languages was conducted.

Quality of life in patients with neurocysticercosis in Mexico.

The objective of this study was to compare quality of life measures in patients with neurocysticercosis (NCC) to those of a matched control group. The NCC outpatients and their controls were recruited from two neurology referral hospitals in Mexico City, Mexico during 2007-2008. The quality of life of 224 NCC patients was compared with 224 age-sex-hospital-day matched controls using the short form 12 v2 (SF-12 v2) quality of life survey.

Copper supplementation improves functional activities of daily living in adults with copper deficiency.

Objective: Neurologic manifestations of copper deficiency in adults are increasingly recognized. We sought to determine if copper supplementation over a period of 12 months would improve functional activities of daily living (ADLs) in patients with copper deficiency.

Methods: We studied 15 consecutively diagnosed patients with copper deficiency that received 12 months of copper supplementation.

Factors associated with the prevalence of circulating antigens to porcine cysticercosis in three villages of burkina faso.

Background: little is known about porcine cysticercosis in Burkina Faso. We conducted a pilot study to estimate the prevalence of antigens of Taenia solium cysticercosis and to identify associated factors in pigs of three villages in Burkina Faso, selected to represent different pig management practices: one village where pigs are allowed to roam freely (Batondo), one village where pigs are penned part of the time (Pabré) and one village with limited pig farming (Nyonyogo).

Methods/principal Findings: a clustered random sampling design was used.

Factors at the scene of injury associated with air versus ground transport to definitive care in a state with a large rural population.

Background: Once emergency medical services (EMS) personnel decide to transport a trauma patient directly to definitive care, the next key decision at the scene of injury is whether to transport by air or ground.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify factors at the scene of injury that are associated with this decision.

Methods: All trauma patients transported directly to a level I or level II trauma center by either air or ground EMS over a four-year period were selected from the Oklahoma State Trauma Registry.

Survival benefit of transfer to tertiary trauma centers for major trauma patients initially presenting to nontertiary trauma centers.

Objectives: Recent evidence suggests a measurable reduction in mortality for patients transferred from a nontertiary trauma center (Level III or IV) to a Level I trauma center, but not for those transferred to a Level II trauma center. Whether this can be generalized to a predominantly rural region with fewer tertiary trauma care resources is uncertain. This study sought to evaluate mortality differences for patients initially presenting to nontertiary trauma centers in a predominantly rural region depending on transfer status.

Directness of transport of major trauma patients to a level I trauma center: a propensity-adjusted survival analysis of the impact on short-term mortality.

Background: Whether severely injured patients should be transported directly to tertiary trauma centers, bypassing closer nontertiary facilities, or be transported first to nearby, less-specialized facilities for immediate care and stabilization has been studied with mixed findings. Differences in study locale, case mix, and variation in the structure and level of maturation of the trauma system may explain some of the discrepancy in findings. In addition, risk adjustment strategies used in these studies did not take into account prehospital baseline characteristics as well as time since injury.

Changing to AIS 2005 and agreement of injury severity scores in a trauma registry with scores based on manual chart review.

Background: The Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) recently underwent a major revision from AIS 98 to AIS 05. AIS injury codes form the basis of widely used injury severity scores such as the injury severity score (ISS). ISS thresholds are often used in trauma case definitions and ISS is widely used in injury research to adjust for injury severity.

A review of the epidemiologic evidence concerning the reproductive health effects of caffeine consumption: a 2000-2009 update.

This review of human studies of caffeine and reproductive health published between January 2000 and December 2009 serves to update the comprehensive review published by Leviton and Cowan (2002). The adverse reproductive outcomes addressed in this review include: (1) measures of subfecundity; (2) spontaneous abortion; (3) fetal death; (4) preterm birth; (5) congenital malformations; and (6) fetal growth restriction. Methodologic challenges and considerations relevant to investigations of each reproductive endpoint are summarized, followed by a brief critical review of each study.

A propensity score analysis of prehospital factors and directness of transport of major trauma patients to a level I trauma center.

Background: Indications for direct transport may be strongly related to risk of future health outcomes, and these indications may not be adequately controlled by considering only in-hospital variables. This study was designed to identify prehospital factors associated with directness of transport.

Methods: The study included 2,062 patients treated at a Level I trauma center between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2007.

Accuracy of serological testing for the diagnosis of prevalent neurocysticercosis in outpatients with epilepsy, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

Background: Few studies have estimated prevalence of neurocysticercosis (NCC) among persons with epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa. While the limitations of serological testing in identification of NCC are well known, the characteristics of persons who are misdiagnosed based on serology have not been explored. The first objective of this pilot study was to estimate the prevalence of NCC in epilepsy outpatients from an area of South Africa endemic for cysticercosis.

Seroprevalence to the antigens of Taenia solium cysticercosis among residents of three villages in Burkina Faso: a cross-sectional study.

Background: There is limited published information on the prevalence of human cysticercosis in West Africa. The aim of this pilot study was to estimate the prevalence of Taenia solium cysticercosis antigens in residents of three villages in Burkina Faso.

Methods/principal Findings: Three villages were selected: The village of Batondo, selected to represent villages where pigs are allowed to roam freely; the village of Pabré, selected to represent villages where pigs are usually confined; and the village of Nyonyogo, selected because of a high proportion of Muslims and limited pig farming.

Copper deficiency after gastric surgery: a reason for caution.

Background: : Acquired copper deficiency in adults leads to hematological and neurological manifestations that mimic vitamin B12 deficiency. A significant number of patients with copper deficiency syndrome have a history of gastric surgery, often remote. We sought to determine whether copper deficiency is present in a population of individuals with longstanding partial gastric resection.

Incidence and risk factors for stroke in American Indians: the Strong Heart Study.

Background: There are few published data on the incidence of fatal and nonfatal stroke in American Indians. The aims of this observational study were to determine the incidence of stroke and to elucidate stroke risk factors among American Indians.

Methods And Results: This report is based on 4549 participants aged 45 to 74 years at enrollment in the Strong Heart Study, the largest longitudinal, population-based study of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors in a diverse group of American Indians.

Hypocupremia associated with prior vitamin B12 deficiency.

Clinical similarities between vitamin B(12) and copper deficiencies prompted us to investigate if hypocupremia is present in patients receiving vitamin B(12) supplementation. Our pilot study results indicate that a significant number of elderly patients with prior diagnosis of vitamin B(12) deficiency have also undiagnosed hypocupremia.

Infectious disease outbreaks in competitive sports: a review of the literature.

Recent outbreaks of infectious diseases in athletes in competitive sports have stimulated considerable interest. The environments in which these athletes compete, practice, receive therapy for injuries, and travel, both domestically and internationally, provide varied opportunities for the transmission of infectious organisms. The purpose of this medical literature review is to identify the agents most commonly reported in the medical literature as responsible for infectious disease outbreaks in specific sports and their modes of transmission and to guide targeted prevention efforts.

Hysterectomy prevalence and cardiovascular disease risk factors in American Indian women.

Objectives: We investigated hysterectomy prevalence and associated demographic and reproductive factors among American Indian women. The association between hysterectomy and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors was also examined.

Methods: Data were from 2689 American Indian women who participated in the first examination of the Strong Heart Study from 1989 to 1992.

Methods for assessing the burden of parasitic zoonoses: echinococcosis and cysticercosis.

Cysticercosis and echinococcosis cause illness and productivity losses in human and agricultural animal populations. Recent studies suggest that these diseases have large societal impacts on endemic areas. Estimates of burden provide essential, evidence-based data for conducting cost-benefit and cost-utility analyses that will secure political will, and financial and technical resources.

Does participation in a nurse visitation programme reduce the frequency of adverse perinatal outcomes in first-time mothers?

Children First (C1), a nurse home visitation programme for first-time mothers, was implemented statewide in Oklahoma in mid-1997. The objective of this study was to compare the risks of low (< 2500 g) and very low birthweight (< 1500 g), preterm (< 37 weeks) and very preterm (< 30 weeks) deliveries and infant mortality between mothers participating and not participating in C1. All 239,466 Oklahoma birth certificates were reviewed.

Associations of postmenopausal hormone therapy with markers of hemostasis and inflammation and lipid profiles in diabetic and nondiabetic american Indian women: the strong heart study.

Objectives: To examine the associations of postmenopausal hormone therapy (PHT) with indicators of hemostasis and inflammation and with lipid profiles in American Indian women and to determine if diabetes modifies these associations.

Methods: This report is a cross-sectional analysis of data from 1446 postmenopausal women who were free from cardiovascular disease (CVD) at the second Strong Heart Study examination (1993-1995). Diabetes was diagnosed by WHO criteria.