Awareness and knowledge of ionizing radiation risks between prescribed and self-presenting patients for common diagnostic radiological procedures in Bahrain

Objectives: Between 20 to 50% of medical imaging examinations are considered inappropriate, and unnecessary ionizing radiation exposures may lead to cancer. We hypothesized that Bahraini patients who self-present for ionizing radiation procedures are not aware of, and lack the requisite knowledge of, the inherent risks associated with their use than patients prescribed for diagnostic purposes. We attempted to examine and compare the awareness and knowledge of the associated risks of ionizing radiation in common diagnostic radiological procedures between prescribed and self-presenting patients in Bahrain

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 416 Bahraini patients attending the radiology department of the Salmaniya Medical Complex [SMC], a secondary health care center, who had been referred by primary care physicians or self-presented to the center. Data was collected via face-to-face interviews

Results: Prescribed patients [n = 358] had a better awareness than self-presenting [n = 58] patients on all ionizing radiation awareness statements [i.e., risks, permissible levels, willingness to undergo the procedure, and preference for a clinical examination over a radiological procedure] [p < 0.050]. Of the 10 knowledge statements, the prescribed patients agreed on four statements than the self-presenting patients: preventing or minimizing exposure improves health, people can prevent or minimize exposure, a lifelong health concern, and radiological procedures offer best diagnoses compared to medical tests or procedures [p < 0.050]

Conclusions: Bahraini patients who reported to SMC lack awareness and knowledge on ionizing radiation. The proportion of appropriate responses to awareness and knowledge questions were paltry for self-presenting patients and deficient for the prescribed patients in the knowledge segment alone

Leveraging ''big data'' to enhance the effectiveness of ''one health'' in an era of health informatics

Zoonoses constitute 61% of all known infectious diseases. The major obstacles to control zoonoses include insensitive systems and unreliable data. Intelligent handling of the cost effective big data can accomplish the goals of one health to detect disease trends, outbreaks, pathogens and causes of emergence in human and animals

Quality Assessment of Systematic Reviews of Health Care Interventions using AMSTAR.

Appraisal of the methodological quality of systematic reviews would reflect on their utility for the clinicians and policymakers. This study was done to assess the quality of systematic reviews published in five leading Indian medical journals using AMSTAR. 22 systematic reviews of healthcare interventions were identified. The scores ranged 0 to 10 (mean 3.77 and median 2.5), 9 reviews scored > 4/11. Most frequent ‘yes’ and ‘no’ scores were: publication status as an inclusion criterion (12 / 22), respectively and duplicate study selection and data extraction (17 /22). Several suboptimal aspects of methodological quality were identified in the reviews evaluated.

An outbreak of food poisoning in Tamil Nadu associated with Yersinia enterocolitica.

An outbreak of food poisoning in a Tamil Nadu village, affecting 25 of 48 individuals who participated in a feast, was investigated. The risk of developing illness was associated with consumption of buttermilk (relative risk 3.8). None of the food items consumed during the feast was available for analysis. Toxin-producing Y. enterocolitica (serotype 3, biotype 4) was grown from 1 of 11 stool samples from affected individuals, as well as from a water sample from the source used to dilute the buttermilk. High titres of antibody of Yersinia were detected in 2 of 12 patients but in neither of the two groups of controls. Toxin production was noted in buttermilk incubated for 6 h with Y. enterocolitica. This is the first report from India of a food poisoning outbreak associated with this organism.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome among acute psychiatric admissions in Barbados

The main features of the Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS), a complication of neuroleptic therapy, are fever, muscle rigidity, autonomic dysfunction, and an alteration in consciousness level. We describe five cases of NMS comprising 0.6 per cent of acute neuroleptically-treated admissions to a psychiatric hospital over a one-year period. All patients, four females aged 26 to 63 years, and one male, aged 65 years, were of African origin and received multiple neuroleptic drugs, at least one of which was a depot preparation. Four were being treated for functional psychiatric disorders while one had dementia. All patients had fever and depressed consciousness level while four had rigidity and autonomic dysfunction. Serum creatine phosphokinase was elevated in 4 cases, and there was indirect evidence of myoglobinuria in 3 cases suggested by a positive urine dipstick test for blood despite the absence of red cells on microscopy. Rhabdomyolysis was associated with renal failure in one case. Both bromocriptine mesylate and dantrolene sodium were given in two cases. Three patients died in hospital, one with persistent rigidity and progressive decubitus ulceration, one from peritonitis following dialysis, and another suddenly. Early recognition of NMS is important; it should be considered in any patient on neuroleptic therapy who develops fever, rigidity or alteration in consciousness level.