PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Program Accessibility”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources

A computer-controlled ventilator weaning system.

Weaning of patients from mechanical ventilation is a time-consuming, labor-intensive process. Because most weaning decisions are based on objective data, we tested a computer-directed weaning system on postoperative patients. We developed an automatic, computer-controlled ventilator weaning system which interfaces a laptop computer to a ventilator and a pulse oximeter. The laptop computer program accesses patient data through the ventilator and pulse oximeter to make weaning decisions. The computer directly controls the ventilator through an interface developed for this system. We tested the system in nine postoperative patients who met the following criteria: negative inspiratory force less than or equal to -20 cm H2O, vital capacity greater than 10 ml/kg, inspired oxygen concentration less than or equal to 40 percent, and satisfactory arterial blood gas parameters (pH between 7.32 and 7.48, PCO2 between 32 and 48, and oxygen saturation greater than or equal to 90 percent). The computer decreased the SIMV rate by 2 breaths/min every 5 min until a rate of 2 breaths/min was reached, then decreased pressure support by 4 cm H2O every 5 min as long as the patient met the following criteria: respiratory rate between 8 and 25 breaths/min, minute ventilation between 6 and 14 L, and pulse oximeter oxygen saturation greater than or equal to 90 percent. If unsatisfactory weaning criteria were noted, the system automatically returned the patient to the previous weaning level. We successfully weaned nine patients using the system. Additional studies are underway to determine if this system can be used in medical patients. We believe this computer-controlled ventilator weaning system can be used successfully in patients requiring mechanical ventilation and may decrease the time and cost associated with the care of these patients.

Adult↗

Computational prediction of protein-protein interactions.

Eukaryotic proteins typically contain one or more modular domains such as kinases, phosphatases, and phoshopeptide-binding domains, as well as characteristic sequence motifs that direct post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation, or mediate binding to specific modular domains. A computational approach to predict protein interactions on a proteome-wide basis would therefore consist of identifying modular domains and sequence motifs from protein primary sequence data, creating sequence specificity-based algorithms to connect a domain in one protein with a motif in another in "interaction space," and then graphically constructing possible interaction networks. Computational methods for predicting modular domains in proteins have been quite successful, but identifying the short sequence motifs these domains recognize has been more difficult. We are developing improved methods to identify these motifs by combining experimental and computational techniques with databases of sequences and binding information. Scansite is a web-accessible program that predicts interactions between proteins using experimental binding data from peptide library and phage display experiments. This program focuses on domains important in cell signaling, but it can, in principle, be used for other interactions if the domains and binding motifs are known. This chapter describes in detail how to use Scansite to predict the binding partners of an input protein, and how to find all proteins that contain a given sequence motif.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Youth access interventions do not affect youth smoking.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of laws restricting youth access to cigarettes on prevalence of smoking among teens. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of studies that reported changes in smoking associated with the presence of restrictions on the ability of teens to purchase cigarettes. We calculated the correlation between merchant compliance levels with youth access laws and prevalence (30-day and regular) prevalence of youth smoking, and between changes in compliance and prevalence associated with youth access interventions. We also conducted a random effects meta-analysis to determine the change in youth prevalence associated with youth access interventions from studies that included control communities. RESULTS: Based on data from 9 studies, there was no detectable relationship between the level of merchant compliance and 30-day (r =.116; n = 38 communities) or regular (r =.017) smoking prevalence. There was no evidence of a threshold effect. There was no evidence that an increase in compliance with youth access restrictions was associated with a decrease in 30-day (r =.294; n = 18 communities) or regular (r =.274) smoking prevalence. There was no significant difference in youth smoking in communities with youth access interventions compared with control communities; the pooled estimate of the effect of intervention on 30-day prevalence was -1.5% (95% confidence interval: -6.0% to +2.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Given the limited resources available for tobacco control, as well as the expense of conducting youth access programs, tobacco control advocates should abandon this strategy and devote the limited resources that are available for tobacco control toward other interventions with proven effectiveness.

Adolescent↗

[Prevalence of dental fluorosis in 12 and 15 years old schoolchildren in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, 2001].

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of dental fluorosis in a sample of 3,313 schoolchildren (ages 12 and 15) in a health district in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was developed, and data were collected by seven examiners (kappa = 0.69) according to WHO criteria (the Dean index). Additional information such as participation in programs, access to a dentist, place of residence from 0-5 years of age, sex, and ethnicity were obtained through a questionnaire. A descriptive analysis was performed for the municipality as a whole and for each district. According to the results, 31.4% of the 12-year-olds and 27.6% of the 15-year-olds presented fluorosis, predominantly of the "very mild" type. Differences were found between the districts (p<0.05). The districts of Pau da Lima and Brotas had the highest percentages of healthy individuals at 12 years of age (81.8% and 81.6%). At 15 years, Subúrbio Ferroviário, Pau da Lima, and Cajazeiras were the districts with the lowest prevalence rates (13.0%, 14.6%, and 13.5%). The district of Liberdade had the highest prevalence (72.4% and 57.3%) at 12 and 15 years, respectively, attributed to differences in calibration. Differences were found between the health districts, thus emphasizing the need for health surveillance.

Adolescent↗

FDA drug approval summary: gefitinib (ZD1839) (Iressa) tablets.

On May 5, 2003, gefitinib (Iressa), ZD1839) 250-mg tablets received accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as monotherapy treatment for patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after failure of both platinum-based and docetaxel chemotherapies. Information provided in this summary includes efficacy and safety results of relevant clinical trials. Effectiveness was demonstrated in a randomized, double-blind, phase II, multicenter trial comparing two oral doses of gefitinib (250 mg/day versus 500 mg/day). Two hundred sixteen patients were enrolled. The 142 patients who were refractory to or intolerant of a platinum and docetaxel comprised the evaluable population for the efficacy analysis. A partial tumor response occurred in 14% (9 of 66) of patients receiving gefitinib 250 mg/day and in 8% (6 of 76) of patients receiving gefitinib 500 mg/day. The overall objective response rate for both doses combined was 10.6% (15 of 142 patients) (95% confidence interval 6.0%-16.8%). Responses were more frequent in females and in nonsmokers. The median duration of response was 7.0 months (range 4.6-18.6+ months). Other submitted data included the results of two large trials conducted in chemotherapy-naive, stage III and IV NSCLC patients. Patients were randomized to receive gefitinib (250 mg or 500 mg daily) or placebo, in combination with either gemcitabine plus cisplatin (n = 1,093) or carboplatin plus paclitaxel (n = 1,037). Results from those studies showed no benefit (response rate, time to progression, or survival) from adding gefitinib to chemotherapy. Consequently, gefinitib is only recommended for use as monotherapy. Common adverse events associated with gefitinib treatment included diarrhea, rash, acne, dry skin, nausea, and vomiting. Most toxicities were Common Toxicity Criteria grade 1 or 2. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) has been observed in patients receiving gefitinib. Worldwide, the incidence of ILD is about 1% (2% in the Japanese postmarketing experience and about 0.3% in a U.S. expanded access program). Approximately one-third of the cases were fatal. Physicians should promptly evaluate new or worsening pulmonary symptoms. If ILD is confirmed, appropriate management includes discontinuation of gefitinib. Gefitinib was approved under accelerated approval regulations on the basis of a surrogate end point response rate. No controlled gefitinib trials, to date, demonstrate a clinical benefit, such as improvement in disease-related symptoms or greater survival. Accelerated approval regulations require the sponsor to conduct further studies to verify that gefitinib therapy produces such a benefit.

Administration, Oral↗

Development and results of a Case Coordination Activity Tracking tool.

This study describes the development of a tool used to track the who, what, when, and how much of case coordination for elderly, community-based clients. The Case Coordination Activity Tracking Form measures phase of coordination (assessment, plan development, plan implementation, monitoring reassessient, and discharge), type of activity (in-person, telephone, documentation, research, travel, case conference), with whom contact took place (client, family, client/family together, supervisor/colleague, service provider, physician, program access committee), and special circumstances (e.g., infection control). Over a 6-month span, we used the tool to study case coordination of services for elderly, community-based clients. The average amount of coordination time was 5.15 hours (n = 234), with 71% of the clients requiring between 2 and 6hours of coordination, and 26% of the clients accounting for 49% of the total coordination time. Frequency and average amount of coordination declined greatly after the first month. Not all clients required coordination each month, and monitoring was the most common activity in later months. The tool was found to be reliable and easy to use, and of benefit to decision makers, managers, and case coordinators in measuring, analyzing, and describing case coordination. This tool could be readily used with other client groups.

Aged↗

Risk management strategies in the postmarketing period : safety experience with the US and European bosentan surveillance programmes.

In view of the shortcomings of the current system for postmarketing drug surveillance that is based on voluntary spontaneous adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting, new approaches are needed. We describe an approach involving a combination of limited distribution, patient and physician education, as well as a novel pharmaco-vigilance system that is capable of promoting the safe and adequate use of a new drug. Importantly, it provides the possibility of calculating true ADR occurrence rates, as the exposed population (denominator) and the number of patients with events (numerator) are known. These measures were taken for the oral dual endothelin ET(A)/ET(B) antagonist bosentan (Tracleer). In recent guidelines issued by the European Society of Cardiology, American College of Chest Physicians and the WHO, this drug is considered as first-line oral treatment for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension, a devastating orphan disease associated with a poor prognosis. Bosentan was approved in 2001/2 on the basis of two pivotal studies that showed improved exercise capacity and haemodynamic parameters while delaying time to clinical worsening. Elevations in serum liver aminotransferase levels of >3 times the upper limit of normal were noted in 10.2% of patients (placebo-subtracted incidence). Therefore, liver function tests have to be performed on a regular basis. In addition, bosentan has potential as a teratogen. In the US, a controlled distribution network for bosentan (Tracleer) Access Program [T.A.P.]) and the development of a patient database to follow patients was set up. Accompanied by comprehensive physician and patient education programmes, T.A.P. was developed to provide a mechanism to assist with the primary risk management goals for bosentan therapy, namely pregnancy prevention and liver enzyme monitoring and prevention of hepatic injury. In Europe, the Tracleer) Excellence (TRAX PMS) database is a novel European non-interventional, prospective, internet-based surveillance system initiated by the manufacturer in cooperation with the European Medicines Agency. It collected potential safety signals associated with bosentan use including adverse events, elevations of liver aminotransferase levels, other abnormal laboratory values, death and hospitalisation. TRAX PMS has accrued 79% of all known patients in the EU and the data provide supportive 'real-life' evidence on the long-term safety of bosentan. The two different systems had similar goals and outcomes. The data received concerning thousands of patient-years of use have confirmed the clinical trial results regarding product safety and the favourable benefit/risk ratio of bosentan, especially with regard to known type A adverse events. The clinical monitoring algorithm has also been confirmed. In addition, no rare type B events were uncovered despite the increased reporting rate. These systems might serve as templates for future pharmaco-vigilance efforts regarding drugs that require particular safety attention.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

WF 10: Macrokine, TCDO, tetrachlorodecaoxide.

WF 10 [TCDO, Oxoferin, Immunokine, Macrokine] is a 1:10 dilution of tetrachlorodecaoxide formulated for IV delivery. It was developed by Oxo Chemie in Switzerland as an adjunctive therapy to combination antiretroviral and opportunistic infection prophylaxis regimens in AIDS patients. WF 10 specifically targets macrophages. Oxo Chemie has worldwide patent rights to WF 10 and Dimethaid Research has an exclusive licence for marketing and distribution in Canada. In May 2002, Oxo Chemie was acquired by Dimethaid Research. Oxo completed a trial in 72 cervical cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy in 1989. Results from this trial demonstrated complete remission in 75% of patients receiving WF 10. A follow-up placebo controlled trial in 1996 produced similar results. WF 10 has received regulatory approval in Thailand for postradiation cystitis following a trial completed in 1998 in 20 patients following radiation treatment for cervical carcinoma. This authorisation also allows limited availability of WF 10 at the physician's request in Germany. WF 10 is also available under Health Canada's Special Access Program. Oxo Chemie has completed a controlled randomised, crossover study in France in 1991 that examined the effects of 103 patients with acute radiation dermatitis and radiation- or chemotherapy-induced mucositis. Results demonstrated that WF 10 significantly improved lesions and accelerated recovery without side effects. Topical tetrachlorodecaoxide in a less concentrated formulation (1:55) is marketed in many countries as Oxoferin for wound healing. WF 10 is approved for use in Thailand under the name IMMUNOKINE in patients with postradiation chronic inflammatory disease including cystitis, proctitis and mucositis. In July 2003, the European examiners informed Oxo Chemie that they intend to grant the company additional patents to the technology platform that supports WF 10, extending the European protection granted in 1992 to cover a much broader range of diseases. The patents will be granted in Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. Patent claims cover potential treatment for autoimmune disease, organ transplant or graft rejection, lymphoma and inflammation manifested as hepatitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Efficacy and Safety of Durvalumab plus Tremelimumab for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Real-World Multicenter Observational Study.

Introduction: Durvalumab plus tremelimumab (Durva/Treme) improved survival in the HIMALAYA trial for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but real-world evidence remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate clinical outcomes of Durva/Treme in routine practice. Methods: This retrospective multicenter study included patients with unresectable or advanced HCC who received Durva/Treme through the Expanded Access Program in Thailand between August 2023 and November 2025. Treatment outcomes and adverse events (AEs) were analyzed and descriptively compared with the HIMALAYA trial. Results: Fifty patients were included; median age was 62 years and 80% were male. Etiologies included hepatitis B (44%), hepatitis C (30%), and nonviral liver disease (26%). Most patients had Child-Pugh A (92%), while 24% had macrovascular invasion, including five with Vp4 portal vein involvement. The objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 12% and 60%, respectively. Among 43 patients meeting HIMALAYA eligibility criteria, ORR and DCR were 12% and 56%, respectively. With a median follow-up of 28.9 months, median progression-free survival (mPFS) and overall survival (mOS) were 4.6 and 10.5 months in the overall cohort, and 6.9 and 14.0 months in the HIMALAYA-eligible subgroup. Any-grade AEs occurred in 76% of patients, with grade &#x2265; 3 AEs in 24%. Hepatitis was the most common toxicity (48% overall; 14% grade &#x2265; 3). Conclusions: Durva/Treme demonstrated clinically meaningful activity with manageable toxicity in unresectable HCC. Outcomes among HIMALAYA-eligible patients were broadly consistent with the pivotal trial, supporting the feasibility of this regimen in routine clinical practice.

Aged↗

Cisapride: limited access and alternatives.

The withdrawal of cisapride from the market will present challenges for physicians treating patients with nocturnal heartburn, gastroparesis, and dyspepsia. However, alternatives to the drug exist, and it will continue to be available under a limited-access program for patients for whom other drug treatments fail.

Anti-Ulcer Agents↗

[Evolution of mortality and current status of an HIV-infected population cared for at a comprehensive HIV/AIDS center in Chile].

BACKGROUND: Chile, a middle-income country with an HIV epidemic of moderate proportions (global infection rate 0.2%) began a government sponsored, free, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for patients from the public health system in 2001 reaching in 2004 a 100% coverage. Arriaran Foundation (AF) is the largest public AIDS care center for adults in the country. AIM: To show the present status of the AF population and the evolution of mortality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Review of AF database from 1991-2004 that at 12/31/2004 had a total cumulative population of 2,259 adult patients; an active census of 1,065 patients and admitting rate 160-190 patients per years. RESULTS: The global mortality registered was 33.4%, with decreasing annual mortality from 15.7% of its active population in 1995 to 1.9% in 2004. As of 12/31/2004, 817 patients (76.7%) were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART); and 19.3% either did not require nor accept it. Thirty one percent received Combivir and nevirapine, with undetectable viral load (<400 copies per ml) in 78%. Thirty percent received Combivir and efavirenz with undetectable viral load in 80% at last count. Both regimens were used mainly as first therapy. Lopinavir/ritonavir was received by 6.3% of patients, mainly for post failure therapy and 58% had undetectable viral load. A baseline CD4 count <200 x mm(3) was present in 70% of patients, 45.3% had a count below 100 and 47.8% had clinical AIDS. At the last follow up assessment, CD4 count was <200 in 36.8%, <100 in 10.6% and 200-350 in 44.9%. CONCLUSION: The expanded access program to ART in a public, comprehensive AIDS care center in Chile has been highly successful in reaching high undetectability (75%), reducing mortality and improving immune status despite very advanced baseline disease.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Is there a greater incidence of abdominal pregnancy in developing countries? Report of four cases.

Early ectopic pregnancies often are unrecognized in rural areas of Papua New Guinea. Some of these untreated tubal pregnancies abort into the peritoneal cavity and continue as advanced abdominal pregnancies. Of 72 ectopic pregnancies that were treated surgically over a 67-month period, four fetuses were found to be implanted in the abdomen. Two of these pregnancies proceeded to term and viable normal infants were delivered. One in 18 ectopic pregnancies were of advanced gestation in the abdomen. This incidence is higher than has been reported previously and is related to the poor utilization of medical care by pregnant women in rural areas of Papua New Guinea.

Adult↗

Rationing healthcare in New Zealand: the use of clinical guidelines.

A 1991 "Green and White Paper", Your health and the public health. A statement of government health policy, advised that healthcare services in New Zealand could be rationed by a simple list. The Health and Disability Services Act 1993 provided a framework for resource allocation. The Core Services Committee rejected the "Oregon approach" of using a simple list to determine what condition/treatment pairs should be funded, preferring the development of clinical guidelines as a basis for assessment. Clinical priority assessment criteria derived from guidelines are used to define the degree of clinical benefit for public funding. Criteria have been developed for entry into end-stage renal failure programs, access to coronary artery surgery, and entry into booking systems for other elective services. The development of clinical criteria to define access to services has had a difficult road, but is a start in defining public expectations of New Zealand's healthcare system.

Appointments and Schedules↗

Health care lessons from Thailand.

Thailand's health care system incorporates the private and public sectors. The government regulates health care through a system of capping, which protects its interests while providing a climate for competition. As a result, the private sector has developed and implemented some interesting concepts in health care as it turned to prevention, hospital care alternatives, neighbourhood-based ambulatory care and home care. The author suggests that Canada could benefit by examining some of Thailand's innovations.

Asia, Southeastern↗

Nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in state and local government services--Department of Justice. Final rule.

This rule implements subtitle A of title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Public Law 101-336, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by public entities. Subtitle A protects qualified individuals with disabilities from discrimination on the basis of disability in the services, programs, or activities of all State and local governments. It extends the prohibition of discrimination in federally assisted programs established by section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to all activities of State and local governments, including those that do not receive Federal financial assistance, and incorporates specific prohibitions of discrimination on the basis of disability from titles I, III, and V of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This rule, therefore, adopts the general prohibitions of discrimination established under section 504, as well as the requirements for making programs accessible to individuals with disabilities and for providing equally effective communications. It also sets forth standards for what constitutes discrimination on the basis of mental or physical disability, provides a definition of disability and qualified individual with a disability, and establishes a complaint mechanism for resolving allegations of discrimination.

Architectural Accessibility↗

A psychosocial model of health behavior: implications for nutrition education, research and policy.

The paper presents a multidimensional psychological model of determinants of health behavior, tested empirically in three countries to ascertain its validity. The model postulates that given that ethnic, socioeconomic, and biological statuses (exogenous variables) are homogeneous, a health risk-taking behavior in a population is a function of direct, additive, and interaction effects of five categories of independent variables both internal to the persons and external in the action environment. Although the model is tested on contraceptive behavior, it is argued that the determinants and basic processes of this risk-taking behavior are similar to those involved in other health risk behaviors and that the five basic factors identified affect nutritional behaviors as well. The paper presents several broad implications on the model for nutrition education and research; but holds that specific implications could be best derived by the specialists in nutrition field.

Contraception↗

Maternal care receptivity--an innovative approach for the evaluation of MCH services.

Despite rapid expansion in the maternal and child health and family planning services, there have been few attempts made to study the extent of utilisation of these services and their impact. The present study reports a simple method evolved in the quantification of utilisation of maternal care services (called maternal care receptivity - MCR), the relationship of factors such as age, parity, caste of the women and the distance of the health centre on the MCR and the impact of MCR on perinatal and neonatal mortalities. An inverse relationship was observed between MCR and perinatal and neonatal mortality rates and the two rates were three times less among babies born to mothers with high MCR scores compared to those with poor MCR scores.

Analysis of Variance↗