Evaluating the outcomes of DOTS program is essential for recognizing and amending system failures before the incidence and proportion of resistant isolates rise. In this study, we seek to evaluate the impact of DOTS s...Evaluating the outcomes of DOTS program is essential for recognizing and amending system failures before the incidence and proportion of resistant isolates rise. In this study, we seek to evaluate the impact of DOTS strategy on tuberculosis treatment success rate in Dabat, northwest Ethiopia. Medical records of 1305 pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients registered from 2007 to 2012 at two health centers in Dabat district, northwest Ethiopia, were reviewed. Treatment outcomes and forms of tuberculosis were assessed according to WHO guidelines. Descriptive analyses were performed using frequencies and percentages. Treatment success rate was observed in 1146 (87.8%) patients. Out of these, 534 (89.1%) of the males and 612 (86.7%) of the females were successfully treated. It was also true in 338 (87.8%) of the smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients, 473 (85.7%) of the smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis patients, and 335 (91.0%) of the extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients. In conclusion, treatment success rate in the current study was slightly higher than the WHO international updated target for the period 2011 to 2015. However, this doesn’t mean that there will be no need for further enhancement of supervision and monitoring techniques, strengthening counseling and health education programs, and improving the quality of laboratory diagnostic services.展开更多
Objective： Analysis of abstinence rates of smokers per gender at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months in a Smoking Cessation Unit from January 2008 to December 2009. Methods： Descriptive retrospective study. Analysis of socio-demo...Objective： Analysis of abstinence rates of smokers per gender at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months in a Smoking Cessation Unit from January 2008 to December 2009. Methods： Descriptive retrospective study. Analysis of socio-demographic variables, smoking patterns, associated comorbidities, continuous abstinence rates, success, relapses, failure and dropping out. Results： 278 smokers started treatment （33%）; 55.4% males and 44.6% females （mean age of 48.3 and 44.06 years, respectively）. The main associated comorbidities were： psychiatric （38.7%）, cardiovascular （dyslipemia 25%） and respiratory （COPD （chronic obstructive pulmonary disease） 9.7%） in females; cardiovascular （dyslipemia 34.4%）, psychiatric （34.4%） and respiratory （COPD 19.5%） in males. VRN （Varenicline） was prescribed in 40.2% males and 32.2% females; NRT （nicotine replacement therapy） was used in 46.6% and 38.7%, respectively; bupropion was employed in 6.5% and 21.8%, respectively. Psychological counseling was offered only to 7.8% males and 8.1% females. The continuous abstinence rates in males at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months were 51.3%, 37.7%, 32.5% and 30.5%, respectively, and were 45.2%, 29.8%, 25.0% and 24.2% for females. Failure was 9.7% for females and 18.8% for males. Success was more frequent for those on VRN （n = 41 males; n = 12 females）. No relapses were indicated for 42 females and 71 males. The percentage of relapses was higher at 3 months （29.0% females, 19.5% males）. Conclusions： The study observed differences in treating abstinence between genders （in the abstinence rates and failure index）. This implies having to consider incorporating the gender variable into the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of smoking.展开更多
Dear Editor,Epithelial downgrowth（EDG）is an uncommon and serious complication of intraocular surgery and trauma[1].It is recognized clinically by a translucent membrane on the corneal endothelium or iris.Treatment o...Dear Editor,Epithelial downgrowth（EDG）is an uncommon and serious complication of intraocular surgery and trauma[1].It is recognized clinically by a translucent membrane on the corneal endothelium or iris.Treatment of EDG is controversial and generally has a low success rate.Recent treatment modalities have been invasive and damaging to the anatomy of the eye[1].展开更多
文摘Evaluating the outcomes of DOTS program is essential for recognizing and amending system failures before the incidence and proportion of resistant isolates rise. In this study, we seek to evaluate the impact of DOTS strategy on tuberculosis treatment success rate in Dabat, northwest Ethiopia. Medical records of 1305 pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients registered from 2007 to 2012 at two health centers in Dabat district, northwest Ethiopia, were reviewed. Treatment outcomes and forms of tuberculosis were assessed according to WHO guidelines. Descriptive analyses were performed using frequencies and percentages. Treatment success rate was observed in 1146 (87.8%) patients. Out of these, 534 (89.1%) of the males and 612 (86.7%) of the females were successfully treated. It was also true in 338 (87.8%) of the smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients, 473 (85.7%) of the smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis patients, and 335 (91.0%) of the extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients. In conclusion, treatment success rate in the current study was slightly higher than the WHO international updated target for the period 2011 to 2015. However, this doesn’t mean that there will be no need for further enhancement of supervision and monitoring techniques, strengthening counseling and health education programs, and improving the quality of laboratory diagnostic services.
文摘Objective： Analysis of abstinence rates of smokers per gender at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months in a Smoking Cessation Unit from January 2008 to December 2009. Methods： Descriptive retrospective study. Analysis of socio-demographic variables, smoking patterns, associated comorbidities, continuous abstinence rates, success, relapses, failure and dropping out. Results： 278 smokers started treatment （33%）; 55.4% males and 44.6% females （mean age of 48.3 and 44.06 years, respectively）. The main associated comorbidities were： psychiatric （38.7%）, cardiovascular （dyslipemia 25%） and respiratory （COPD （chronic obstructive pulmonary disease） 9.7%） in females; cardiovascular （dyslipemia 34.4%）, psychiatric （34.4%） and respiratory （COPD 19.5%） in males. VRN （Varenicline） was prescribed in 40.2% males and 32.2% females; NRT （nicotine replacement therapy） was used in 46.6% and 38.7%, respectively; bupropion was employed in 6.5% and 21.8%, respectively. Psychological counseling was offered only to 7.8% males and 8.1% females. The continuous abstinence rates in males at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months were 51.3%, 37.7%, 32.5% and 30.5%, respectively, and were 45.2%, 29.8%, 25.0% and 24.2% for females. Failure was 9.7% for females and 18.8% for males. Success was more frequent for those on VRN （n = 41 males; n = 12 females）. No relapses were indicated for 42 females and 71 males. The percentage of relapses was higher at 3 months （29.0% females, 19.5% males）. Conclusions： The study observed differences in treating abstinence between genders （in the abstinence rates and failure index）. This implies having to consider incorporating the gender variable into the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of smoking.
文摘Dear Editor,Epithelial downgrowth（EDG）is an uncommon and serious complication of intraocular surgery and trauma[1].It is recognized clinically by a translucent membrane on the corneal endothelium or iris.Treatment of EDG is controversial and generally has a low success rate.Recent treatment modalities have been invasive and damaging to the anatomy of the eye[1].
