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Omega-3 fatty acids and non-communicable diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To review the relation between dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFA) and non-communicable diseases. METHOD: Data were collected from scientific journals and conference publications, MEDLINE (1979 - 2002) and current content which included 68 prospective, cross-sectional, case control and dietary-intervention studies. Scientific paper selections were based on the association between omega-3 PUFA and non-communicable diseases. RESULTS: omega-3 PUFA has beneficial effects on increasing heart rate variability, decreasing the risk of stroke, reducing both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, insulin resistance and glucose metabolism. Long chain omega-3 PUFA has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities. omega-3 PUFA has also been reported to have a beneficial effect on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and schizophrenia, and may be effective in managing depression in adults. CONCLUSIONS: Results from epidemiological and dietary intervention studies have shown that omega-3 PUFA represent powerfully a class of bioactive compounds and that dietary intake of omega-3 PUFA plays a critical role in human health in relation to non-communicable diseases.

Diabetes Mellitus↗

[Surveillance of communicable diseases using a computer database of reported cases].

Epidemiology services during the surveillance of communicable diseases collects of different sorts of data, which are used for an analysis of epidemiologic situation. Those data are the starting point for timeline control and preventive activities. Data processing of notified communicable diseases cases provides information on types of diseases, number of cases, time and place of their occurrence. Manual data processing, used till 1993, was slow, unreliable and considerably decreased the efficiency of epidemiology service activities. In this paper we have set the hypothesis that is possible to form a computerized database with the following aims: to form user friendly computerized database model for those without knowledge in using computers: to get output spread sheets with information needed for epidemiologic situation analyses at any time. Database was developed in 1993 and has been used as source of the information in epidemiologic diagnosis process. The significant accuracy, reliability, timelines, and shortening of the time of data processing was achieved. The database can also serve as the initial component for designing an epidemiologic services information network in Belgrade county. In designing such a network it is necessary to form the additional databases of isolated infectious agents and their drug resistance, database of health status of persons under surveillance and database of environmental and sanitary condition in children and youth facilities.

Communicable Disease Control↗

Regional development and seasonality of communicable diseases in rural Andhra Pradesh, India.

This paper explores the seasonality of morbidity due to communicable diseases in Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh, India. The district has been divided into development regions using cluster analysis. Seasonality of selected communicable diseases is then compared with the levels of development. It is shown that seasonality is most pronounced in the least developed region of the district. In the most developed region, seasonality of morbidity is low. The paper supports the general hypothesis that there is a decreased seasonality of illness as development takes place.

Communicable Diseases↗

Communicable disease epidemiology training in Northern Europe.

The five Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) have a long tradition of collaboration in communicable disease epidemiology and control. The state epidemiologists and the immunisation programme managers have met regularly to discuss common challenges and exchange experiences in surveillance and control of communicable diseases. After the three Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) regained independence in 1991 and the Soviet Union dissolved, contacts were made across the old iron curtain in several areas, such as culture, education, business, military and medicine. Each of the Nordic communicable disease surveillance institutes started projects with partners in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania or the Russian Federation. The projects were in such diverse areas as HIV surveillance and prevention, vaccination programmes and antibiotic resistance.

Curriculum↗

Communicable disease in the South Pacific Islands, 1.

An outline is given of the pattern of communicable disease in the South Pacific, as far as it is known. Surveillance and research are imcomplete and the World Health Organization is assisting in carrying these out. Reporting and laboratory diagnosis of communicable disease are inadequate and sometimes inaccurate. This is being improved. Medical checks for intending migrants from the South Pacific are, in a number of cases, inadequately performed in the country of origin and this situation should be altered. The risks to surrounding developed countries from migrants, temporary workers and returning travellers are not tremendous but they cannot be neglected and vigilance has to be maintained. Tuberculosis importation does present risks, as does that of typhoid. Malaria importation carries risks for Northern Australia. Leprosy poses little real risk to Australia or New Zealand and neither does filariasis. Cholera would have to be watched for closely should there ever be a South Pacific outbreak, but the developed countries around the South Pacific which are cholera-non-receptive can control occasional cases. Other than malaria, tuberculosis, typhoid and possibly dengue, problems are thus mainly in the diagnosis and treatment of individuals.

Bacterial Infections↗

Reduction of vaccine-preventable communicable diseases in a Bedouin population: summary of a community-based intervention programme.

BACKGROUND: The Bedouin Arab population of southern Israel is in transition from a semi-nomadic lifestyle to permanent settlement, with many characteristics of a third-world population. A major outbreak of measles in the winter of 1990-91, with an incidence of 415.6 per 100,000 and a case fatality rate of 2.2 % among the Bedouin, led to the establishment of a national committee, which recommended an intervention programme. We report on the effect of the programme implementation on the reduction of vaccine-preventable communicable diseases in a Bedouin Arab population. METHODS: We compared immunisation coverage and incidence of reportable vaccine-preventable communicable diseases before and after implementation of the intervention programme. FINDINGS: Implementation of the intervention programme was associated with a marked increase in immunisation coverage, from 53% for first measles immunisation among those born in 1988, and reaching 2 years of age in 1990 at the start of the outbreak, to 90% at age 2 years among those born in 2001. We noted a decrease in all vaccine-preventable communicable diseases, except for pertussis, during this period. INTERPRETATION: The implementation of a targeted programme to improve immunisation coverage, and other concomitant changes in health-care delivery, was temporally associated with reduction of vaccine-preventable communicable diseases in a population of Bedouin Arabs in Israel who are living in semi-nomadic conditions. The success of the programme could be applicable to semi-nomadic populations living in other areas of the middle east.

Adolescent↗

Survey of general practitioner satisfaction with a district communicable disease control service.

General practitioners (GPs) have an important role in disease surveillance and control, and are therefore a key target audience for a district communicable disease control (CDC) service. The feedback of surveillance information, and the provision of policies, guidance and specialist advice, are essential functions of a CDC service. This survey was undertaken to assess how well a CDC service was meeting the needs of GPs. Satisfaction with the service was assessed using a questionnaire survey of 166 GPs. The response rate was 42%. GPs reported a high level of overall satisfaction. The service was valued and it influenced GP practice. The service was valued more for responses to requests for information and assistance than for communicable disease control policies. The highest satisfaction was expressed for communication and for immunisation advice. Several areas of need were identified, including the need for surveillance information on antibiotic resistance and for sexually transmitted infections. The survey tool is recommended as a way of auditing standards for Good Public Health Practice, as identified by the Faculty of Public Health Medicine.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

Communicable disease outbreaks in long day care centres in western Sydney: occurrence and risk factors.

We surveyed the directors of all 92 long day care centres in western Sydney to document the occurrence of communicable disease outbreaks during 1992 and to identify risk factors for the occurrence of these outbreaks. A total of 6092 children were enrolled at the centres, of whom 530 (8.7%) were less than 3 years old. Most centres (80.4%) reported at least one outbreak of communicable disease. Diarrhoea was the most commonly reported outbreak type (60 outbreaks), followed by conjunctivitis, head louse infestation and chicken pox (46, 44 and 24 outbreaks, respectively). Chicken pox outbreaks had the largest mean number of cases per outbreak (9.6) and the longest mean outbreak duration (4.4 weeks). Centres with a large total enrollment (50 or more children), those that were open for 12 or more hours each day and those which had commenced operating in 1990 or more recently were generally more likely to report outbreaks, particularly of diarrhoea. The vast majority of communicable disease outbreaks (92.1%) were handled by day-care staff without seeking outside assistance. Day-care centre directors may be unaware of the health services that could help them. We need to work more closely with long day care centres, and to focus preventative efforts on large centres, those open for long hours, and newly opened centres.

Chickenpox↗

[Testing pest control products for use under the Federal Communicable Disease Act].

The examination of pest control products and procedures under section 10 of the Federal Communicable Diseases Act is restricted to such products and procedures which are useful for the official control of arthropods as vectors of communicable diseases, i.e. which are effective and safe from the toxicological point of view if properly used. Insecticides and acaricides which are mainly intended for application in the household by laymen such as pressurized aerosol and strip formulations as well as products against nuisances such as silverfishes, dust mites or wasps are thus not accepted for examination, apart from a few exceptional cases where examination is still required. The examination of the products and procedures is first performed in the laboratory and then in the field if laboratory tests have revealed their effectiveness. Products and procedures are tested for their effectiveness, i.e. their knock-down, repellent, flashing, immediate and/or long-term effects. This is done on substrates of varying sorption capacities and with different pH values against all stages of development and nutrition in the indicated fields of application and, as far as necessary, also against strains of varying sensitivity of the species to be controlled.

Communicable Disease Control↗

Communicable diseases: infection prevention for nurses at work and at home.

Nurses are at risk for acquiring communicable disease both at work and home. This article discusses methods to protect nurses, their patients, and their families from acquiring or spreading some of the more common communicable diseases. Pertinent immunizations, recommended postexposure prophylaxis, and current work-restriction guidelines are presented. The special concerns of the pregnant nurse are also addressed.

Communicable Disease Control↗

The Abrams report--communicable disease control; how do Health Districts measure up to the recommendations?

BACKGROUND: The aims of the study were to examine whether Health Districts in the North Western Region complied with the recommendations in the Abrams report regarding the control of communicable disease [incorporated into the Annex to Circular HSG(93)56], and to identify areas that need further attention. METHODS: The recommendations were extracted and arranged in questionnaire form. Further items were included dealing with the use of Epinet in communicating with the profession. A compliance score was derived from affirmative and qualified affirmative responses. RESULTS: Many recommendations were met by all or most Districts. Compliance was 90 percent or over for 58 percent of the questions where an assessment was appropriate. Of the 16 Districts in consortia, 75 percent did not have a consortium plan. Day-to-day plans were informal in 21 percent of Districts. In 63 percent of Districts the Family Health Services Authority (FHSA) was not involved to the extent that it should be. The Consultant in Communicable Disease Control (CCDC) had insufficient District Health Authority support in 42 percent of Districts and insufficient Local Authority support in 16 percent of Districts. In 58 percent of Districts there was lack of inclusion of matters relating to the control of infectious disease in contractual statements between purchaser and provider. There was a lack of audit in 47 percent of Districts. CONCLUSIONS: One plan or a compatible series of plans are required across each District. Informal day-to-day plans should be formalized. The FHSA should be fully involved in infectious disease control plans. Certain Districts require a Community Infection Control Nurse, accountable to the CCDC and/or administrative support to input and scan surveillance data. Contractual statements between purchaser and provider should include appropriate infection control requirements when this is not already the case. Communicable disease control audit should be a regular part of CCDC duties.

Communicable Disease Control↗