Public health professionals' perceptions of the capacity of China's CDCs to address emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.

BACKGROUND: China's capacity to control and prevent emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases is critical to the nation's population health. This study aimed to explore the capacity of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCs) in China to deal with infectious diseases now and in the future. METHODS: A survey was conducted in 2015 among 973 public health professionals at CDCs in Beijing and four provinces, to assess their capacity to deal with emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. RESULTS: Although most professionals were confident with the current capacity of CDCs to cope with outbreaks, nearly all indicated more funding was required to meet future challenges. Responses indicated that Yunnan Province faced more challenges than Anhui, Henan and Liaoning Provinces in being completely prepared and able to deal with outbreaks. Participants aged 20-39 years were more likely than those aged 40 and over to believe strategies such as interdisciplinary and international collaborations for disease surveillance and control, would assist capacity building. CONCLUSION: The capacity of China's CDCs to deal with infectious diseases was excellent. However, findings suggest it is imperative to increase the number of skilled CDC staff, financial support, and strengthen county level staff training and health education programs.

Antibiotics and over the counter medication use and its correlates among Arab pregnant women visiting a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The use of over the counter medications (OTCMs) is a common practice globally. OTCMs are of special concern among pregnant women as they pose risk to the mother and fetus. The objective was to assess the use of OTCMs by pregnant woman, and factors associated with it. METHODS: A cross-sectional study, using a structured self-administrated questionnaire was conducted at the obstetric and antenatal clinics at King Khalid University hospital, Riyadh. 354 pregnant women were surveyed. RESULT: About 32% of the study participants used OTCMs without prescription at least once during their last pregnancy. The most commonly used OTCM was Paracetamol (22%). Pharmacists were the main source of knowledge (53%) for the participants. Correct knowledge regarding the drugs was associated with the usage of OTCM drug. CONCLUSION: Use of OTCMs and antibiotics during pregnancy is a common practice among Saudi pregnant women. General awareness regarding OTCMs use during pregnancy without prescription needs to be raised in the community. Pharmacists and media can help in providing accurate knowledge.

Rare case of pseudobulbar palsy: subopercular syndrome.

We present a case of a 73-year-old man who developed sudden onset dysarthria, dysphagia and bilateral facial weakness with automato-voluntary dissociation, which deteriorated rapidly to anarthria and aphonia within a few days. MRI scan of the head showed acute infarct in right internal capsule and an old infarct in the left corona radiata while the rest of the investigations were normal. Based on these findings, diagnosis was thought to be subopercular syndrome. He recovered significantly in a few weeks' time.

Dengue control in the context of climate change: Views from health professionals in different geographic regions of China.

BACKGROUND: Dengue is a significant climate-sensitive disease. Public health professionals play an important role in prevention and control of the disease. This study aimed to explore dengue control and prevention in the context of climate change in China. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 630 public health professionals in 2015. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression were performed. RESULTS: More than 80% of participants from southwest and central China believed climate change would affect dengue. However, participants from northeast China were less likely to believe so (65%). Sixty-nine percent of participants in Yunnan perceived that dengue had emerged/re-emerged in recent years, compared with 40.6% in Henan and 23.8% in Liaoning. Less than 60% of participants thought current prevention and control programs had been effective. Participants believed mosquitoes in high abundance, imported cases and climate change were main risk factors for dengue in China. CONCLUSION: There were varying views of dengue in China. Professionals in areas susceptible to dengue were more likely to be concerned about climate change and dengue. Current prevention and control strategies need to be improved. Providing more information for staff in lower levels of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may help in containing a possible increase of dengue.

Mandibular fractures of maxillofacial skeleton- the epidemiology and management; a two years experience in a tertiary care hospital

Background: The incidence of maxillofacial skeleton fractures is rising sharply world wide, the main contributors being road side accidents, interpersonal violence and falls from heights. If not treated properly, such fractures may lead to life long functional and structural disability

Objective: This study was planned to determine demographics, clinical features, patterns of mandibular bone fractures, management, postoperative evaluation and regulatory aspects of causes of such fractures

Patients and methods: This was a descriptive study, based on data of 150 consecutive patients of facial skeleton fractures, from January 2008 to December 2009. Variables examined included demographic and clinical features, patterns of mandibular bone fractures and results of open and closed reduction of isolated mandibular fractures using surgical stainless steel wires. Patients were followed up for one year

Results: There were 135 [90%] male and 15 [10%] females, age ranged from 5-70 years [mean age was 25 years]. Most common causes were motor bike accidents [57%], and falls from different heights [16%]. Nasal bone was the most commonly fractured bone, seen in 112 [75%] patients, followed by mandible fractures in 80 patients. In s62, selected cases of mandibular fractures postoperative complication rate was higher in closed reduction than in open reduction cases with internal fixation [ORIF]

Conclusion: Long-term collection of epidemiological data regarding maxillofacial skeleton and management aspects of mandibular fractures are important for the evaluation of existing preventive measures and useful in the development of new methods of injury prevention and treatment