Public awareness, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors regarding the role of pharmacists as immunizers.

Vaccine coverage is below desired levels in Canada, despite National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommendations. One solution to improve coverage is to offer vaccines in pharmacies. We explore the awareness, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of the general public in four communities in Nova Scotia (NS) and New Brunswick (NB) about the changing role of pharmacists as immunizers. Adult members of the public were invited to complete an online survey through advertisements in print and online, and through e-mail lists at local universities. Immunization status among participants (n = 985) varied across vaccines with slightly more than one-half of the participants (51.8%) reporting receipt of a seasonal influenza vaccine last year, 38.0% reporting receipt of the meningococcal C or ACWY vaccine, and 77.7% reporting receipt of the pertussis vaccine. Despite variable self-reported receipt of vaccines, the pervasive belief that participants were not at risk of getting vaccine-preventable diseases, and a lack of awareness about which vaccines are recommended for adults, participants in this study held vaccine-positive beliefs. Participants, especially those who had previously been vaccinated in a pharmacy (39.0%), were supportive of the inclusion of pharmacists as immunizers although nearly one-half of the participants would feel more comfortable getting vaccinated by a pharmacist if another practitioner recommended it to them. While cost threatens to be a barrier to pharmacists as immunizers, this study suggests that they are well-positioned to improve vaccine coverage and to communicate recommendations and other vaccine-related information to the public.

Motivation for participating in phase 1 vaccine trials: Comparison of an influenza and an Ebola randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION/HYPOTHESIS: Recruitment of participants into phase 1 vaccine clinical trials can be challenging since these vaccines have not been used in humans and there is no perceived benefit to the participant. Occasionally, as was the case with a phase 1 clinical trial of an Ebola vaccine in Halifax, Canada, during the 2014-2016 West African Ebola virus outbreak, recruitment is less difficult. In this study, we explored the motivations of participants in two phase 1 vaccine trials that were concurrently enrolling at the same centre and compared the motivations of participants in a high-profile phase 1 Ebola vaccine trial to those in a less high-profile phase 1 adjuvanted seasonal influenza vaccine study. METHODS: An online survey which included participants' prior experience with clinical trials, motivations to participate (including financial incentives), and demographic information was developed to examine the motivations of healthy participants in two phase 1 clinical vaccine trials conducted at the Canadian Center for Vaccinology in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Participants were invited via email to complete the online survey. Readability and clarity were assessed through pilot testing. RESULTS: A total of 49 (55.7%) of 88 participants of the two studies completed the survey (22 [55%] of 40 participants from the Ebola vaccine study and 27 [56.3%] of 48 from the adjuvanted influenza vaccine study). Motivations that were most frequently ranked among participants' top three in both trials were (1) wanting to contribute to the health of others, (2) wanting to participate in something important, (3) wanting to contribute to the advancement of science, and (4) wanting to receive an incentive such as money or a tablet. CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS: Although media attention and financial compensation were more often cited by Ebola vaccine trial participants as a reason to participate, both altruistic and self-interested factors were important motivations for participants in their decision to participate in a phase 1 vaccine clinical trial.

The entity of thermal-crush-avulsion hand injury (hot-press roller burns) treated with fast acting debriding enzymes (nexobrid): literature review and report of first case.

Hand burns are present in >60% of all burn cases and in fire mass casualty incidents even up to 100%. Most trauma and especially burns may be detrimental to the complex and delicate structures of the hand by direct injury, indirect BICS (Burn Induced Compartment Syndrome and interstitial high pressure) or by delayed or faulty treatment. BICS represents a special threat as the increasing swelling and oedema of the small diameter hand and forearm will exert pressure on the capillary/venous system, eventually ending in irreversible damage to the skin, nerves, muscle and vascular bed. Immediate release of constricting skin by incisional escharotomy and sometimes fasciotomy may arrest this vicious cycle: escharotomy is simple for experienced hand or burn surgeons, but they are not always present at the primary treatment site. The diagnosis of BICS is not simple either, as the direct measurement of interstitial/compartment pressure is rarely done. Burns caused by hot rollers such as industrial linen ironing machines are especially traumatic as besides the "simple" thermal burn, the hot rollers exert immense crushing pressure to the hand caught between the rollers. Over the last few years, several publications have described the role of a newly approved Bromelain derived enzymatic debriding agent (NexoBrid) for burns in general and hand burns in particular, and its ability to resolve or prevent BICS. We present a rare severe thermal/crush hand injury case where we were able to successfully treat the patient with NexoBrid enzymatic debridement-escharotomy.

Une atteinte des mains est observée dans plus de 60% des brûlures, et dans quasiment tous les cas de catastrophes. La plupart des traumaitismes, en particulier les brûlures, peuvent être délétères pour les structures complexes et délicates de la main. Ceci peut être dû à la brûlure elle même, à un syndrome compartimental (SC), à un traitement tardif ou mal conduit. Le SC est particulièrement dangereux dans les espaces ténus de l'avant bras et de la main. L'augmentation de pression consécutive à l'oedème obère la microcirculation, entraînant au bout du compte des lésions cutanées, nerveuses, vasculaires et musculaires irréversibles. La libération immédiate des tissus ainsi comprimés par incision de décharge cutanée voire aponévrotomie peut interrompre le cercle vicieux. Il s'agit d'un geste simple pour des chirurgiens spécialisés, malheureusement pas toujours disponibles sur le site du traitement initial. Le diagnostic de SC n'est pas toujours aisé si la mesure directe des pressions tissulaires n'est pas réalisée. Les brûlures dues à des rouleaux chauffés comme ceux des presses à repasser industrielles car, outre le dégagement de chaleur, les rouleaux exercent une pression intense sur la main coincée entre eux. Depuis quelques années, plusieurs articles on décrit le rôle d'un nouvel agent de débridement enzymatique à base de bromélaïne (Nexobrid) pour le traitement des brûlures dont celles des mains ainsi que ses capacité à prévenir et traiter les SC. Nous présentons ici un cas de main de presse avec utilisation, couronnée de succès, de Nexobrid.

[Cognitive decline in geriatric oncology: Trends, evaluation and treatment]. / Cancer de la personne âgée : rechercher, évaluer et prendre en charge le déclin cognitif.

Cancer prevalence increases with aging. Prevalent or incident neurocognitive disorders are frequent in geriatric oncology. Cognitive decline associated with cancer increases the risk of under or over-cancer treatment and makes therapeutic decisions complex. In this context, we present tools to optimize cognitive impairment screening, identification of underlying mechanisms and specific treatments. Geriatric specialists intervention can help global care, social services utilization and patient's orientation when ambulatory cares become difficult.

Epidemiological study of malnutrition in elderly patients in acute, sub-acute and long-term care using the MNA.

MNA is a simple and accurate way to assess the nutritional status in routine practice, and is suitable for systematic use and large epidemiologic studies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the difference in the nutritional status of elderly patients hospitalized in different types of care in the same hospital, and to evaluate its relationship with risk factors. Nutritional status was evaluated in 918 elderly patients hospitalized in acute care (AC) (n=299), sub-acute care (SAC) (n=196) or long-term care (LTC) (n=423), using the MNA (Mini-Nutritional Assessment), a nutritional assessment tool including 18 items grouped in 4 domains, within the first 48 h after admission (all subjects) and at the end of hospitalization (AC, SAC). More patients were rated in the "malnourished" class in SAC (32.5%) than in AC (24.5%) and LTC (24. 7%). Retrospective analysis showed that the initial nutritional status was linked to the type of care and the nature of underlying pathology. The nutritional status on arrival was worse in patients in SAC, and better in those in LTC (p = 0.005). This is probably due to a difference in the kind of patients hospitalized. The nutritional status was worse in patients suffering from infectious disease, stroke, dementia and traumatic injuries, and, conversely, better in patients suffering from cardiopathy, metabolic and gastro-intestinal (except cancerous) diseases (p < 0.0001). Prospective analysis showed that duration of hospitalization was the only variable found to be linked to an improvement of nutritional status. The MNA is a rapid, effective and cheap tool for the assessment of nutritional status and moreover for evaluation of the mortality risk of patients admitted into AC and SAC.

[Drug interactions: study of 409 prescriptions at the time of discharge from geriatric hospitalization]. / Interactions médicamenteuses: étude de 409 ordonnances établies à l'issue d'une hospitalisation gériatrique.

In order to specify the frequency and the potential consequences of drug interactions in the elderly, we retrospectively analysed 409 discharge prescriptions. The possibility of drug interactions was screened out for each prescription in the software version of the Vidal drug compendium. It appears that prescriptions are mainly adapted to the elderly with respect to posology and pharmacokinetics. Potentially dangerous drug interactions ('contraindicated' or 'unsuitable' associations) were found in 6 per cent of prescriptions; after careful assessment, this frequency decreased to less than 1 per cent. The most common orthoergic side effects were sedation (15 per cent) and hypotension (14.5 per cent). This study points out the multiplicity of criteria to be considered in order to prevent drug interactions, and the gaps in available software.

[Leiomyosarcoma and Stauffer syndrome]. / Léiomyosarcome et syndrome de Stauffer.

INTRODUCTION: Stauffer's syndrome is a non-metastatic anicteric cholestasis and an inflammatory syndrome usually associated with renal cell carcinoma. EXEGESIS: We present a case report of an eighty-four-year-old woman who had a leiomyosarcoma revealed by Stauffer's syndrome, which disappeared after surgery. CONCLUSION: Abnormal secretion of interleukin-6 by the leiomyosarcoma could explain this syndrome. The association of Stauffer's syndrome and leiomyosarcoma has never been described.

[Calcification of the pectineal ligament. An usual radiological imaging in pediatrics]. / Calcification du ligament pectiné. Une image radiologique d'observation courante en gériatrie.

OBJECTIVES: Since its first description several years ago in the elderly subject, calcification of the Cooper ligament is often considered as a rare anecdotal phenomenon. We present the radiographic presentation which is often not well known. METHODS: Two experienced radiologists examined independently a series of 100 consecutive X-rays of the pelvis performed in a population of elderly subjects (mean age 84.4 +/- 9.2), looking for calcification of the Cooper ligament. RESULTS: Calcification of the Cooper ligament was observed on 7 of the 100 images of the pelvis. There was no significant difference in age, sex, or reason for ordering the examination between subjects with calcification and those without calcifications. Arterial calcifications were observed at an equal frequency. The usual aspect of the Cooper ligament was a fine opaque line following along the upper border of the iliopectinate crest. Oblique views visualized the calcification better. The line of calcification was either continuous of fragmented and was bilateral in all 7 cases. CONCLUSION: These images are apparently of no pathological significance. Clinicians should however be aware of the radiographic presentation in order to avoid confusion with visceral calcification or periosteal deposits.