ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The knowledge about Internet search trends helps to know the information-seeking behavior of the Internet users and this would help in formulating Information Education and Communication strategy. AIM: The aim of this study was to explore the global Internet search trends about vaccine-related information in English. MATERIALS AND METHODS: First, we conducted a pilot interview with 15 participants (convenience sample from a tertiary care hospital) to make a list of five common query keywords (viz., When, Where, Cost, Side effect, Schedule) for vaccine-related search. Then, we obtained the search trends from "Google trends" for 5 years with the five query keywords prefixed with vaccine (e.g. vaccine when). In the second phase, individual vaccine search was conducted with a particular vaccine name and query keyword (e.g. measles vaccine side effect). RESULTS: Five-year search trend showed that the highest volume of search was for "schedule" (36.79%), followed by "when" (26.57%), "cost" (21.97%), and "where" (11.99%). The "side effect" showed the lowest volume of search (2.68%) (χ2 = 10595, P < 0.0001). The search volume was increased over the years. The highest volume of the "when" and "where" were searched from the USA. The "cost" was searched in the highest volume from Australia. "Side effect" and "schedule" of the vaccine were searched with the highest volume from Philippines and Nepal, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study provides a glimpse of global vaccine-related search trends over a period of 5 years. Information on the "schedule" and "when" to get the vaccine should be strengthened for wider dissemination of knowledge.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition characterized by the infiltration of fat in the liver cells. High levels of fat in the liver associated with increased risk of diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease, high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between NAFLD and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) among nondiabetic individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 90 in-patients and outpatients (45 NAFL subjects and 45 patients with the normal liver as controls) with NAFL on abdomen ultrasound scan from Bangalore Baptist Hospital were included in our study. All the participants were subjected to a doppler study for carotid intima thickness and a blood sample (4 ml) was collected from all the subjects. RESULTS: In this study, there is an elevated level of BMI, weight, dyslipidemia in NAFLD compared with controls. The present study suggests that cardiovascular risk factors such as increased carotid intima-media thickness occur more frequently among NAFLD patients compared to healthy individuals. CONCLUSION: We can conclude that NAFL has a significant association with higher cardiovascular risk in terms of carotid intima-media thickness, dyslipidemia, and hypoalphalipidemia. Lifestyle changes include weight loss, dietary changes, reduction of sedentary habits and physical exercise are recommended in the NAFL disease subjects with higher BMI and weight.
