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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
Long-Term Health And Wellbeing Of People Affected By The 2002 Bali Bombing, Garry J. Stevens, Julie C. Dunsmore, Kingsley E. Agho, Melanie R. Taylor, Alison L. Jones, Jason J. Van Ritten, Beverley Raphael
Long-Term Health And Wellbeing Of People Affected By The 2002 Bali Bombing, Garry J. Stevens, Julie C. Dunsmore, Kingsley E. Agho, Melanie R. Taylor, Alison L. Jones, Jason J. Van Ritten, Beverley Raphael
Alison L Jones
Objective: To examine the physical and mental health status of individuals directly affected by the 2002 Bali bombing, 8 years after the incident. Design, setting and participants: Cross-sectional study of people directly exposed to and/or bereaved by the 2002 Bali bombing who had participated in a New South Wales Health therapeutic support program. Telephone interviews were conducted during July - November 2010. The sample was weighted to reflect the population of interest, registered participants in the program (n = 115). Main outcome measures: Self-rated physical health, personal resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale), past-month psychological distress and daily functioning (Kessler Psychological Distress …
Perceived Coping & Concern Predict Terrorism Preparedness In Australia, Garry Stevens, Kingsley Agho, Melanie Taylor, Alison L. Jones, Margo Barr, Beverley Raphael
Perceived Coping & Concern Predict Terrorism Preparedness In Australia, Garry Stevens, Kingsley Agho, Melanie Taylor, Alison L. Jones, Margo Barr, Beverley Raphael
Alison L Jones
Background In the aftermath of major terrorist incidents research shows population shifts towards protective behaviours, including specific preparedness and avoidance responses. Less is known about individual preparedness in populations with high assumed threat but limited direct exposure, such as Australia. In this study we aimed to determine whether individuals with high perceived coping and higher concern would show greater preparedness to respond to terrorism threats. Methods Adults in New South Wales (NSW) completed terrorism perception and response questions as part of computer assisted telephone interviews (CATI) in 2010 (N=2038). Responses were weighted against the NSW population. Multiple logistic regression analyses …
An Olfactory 'Stress Test' May Detect Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease, Peter W. Schofield, Houman Ebrahimi, Alison L. Jones, Grant A. Bateman, Sonya R. Murray
An Olfactory 'Stress Test' May Detect Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease, Peter W. Schofield, Houman Ebrahimi, Alison L. Jones, Grant A. Bateman, Sonya R. Murray
Alison L Jones
Background: The olfactory bulb (OB) receives extensive cholinergic input from the basal forebrain and is affected very early in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We speculated that an olfactory ‘stress test’ (OST), targeting the OB, might be used to unmask incipient AD. We investigated if change in olfactory performance following intranasal atropine was associated with several known antecedents or biomarkers of AD. Methods: We measured change in performance on the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) in the left nostril before (20-items) and after (remaining 20-items) intranasal administration of 1 mg of atropine. We administered cognitive tests, measured hippocampal volume from …
Paracetamol Poisoning: Can It Be Prevented? , E Norman, R Dhairiwan, Paul I. Dargan, Craig I. Wallace, Alison L. Jones
Paracetamol Poisoning: Can It Be Prevented? , E Norman, R Dhairiwan, Paul I. Dargan, Craig I. Wallace, Alison L. Jones
Alison L Jones
No abstract provided.
Risk Of Road Traffic Accidents In Patients Discharged Following Treatment For Psychotropic Drug Overdose: A Self-Controlled Case Series Study In Australia, Tharaka L. Dassanayake, Alison L. Jones, Patricia Michie, Gregory Carter, Patrick Mcelduff, Barrie J. Stokes, Ian Whyte
Risk Of Road Traffic Accidents In Patients Discharged Following Treatment For Psychotropic Drug Overdose: A Self-Controlled Case Series Study In Australia, Tharaka L. Dassanayake, Alison L. Jones, Patricia Michie, Gregory Carter, Patrick Mcelduff, Barrie J. Stokes, Ian Whyte
Alison L Jones
Background: Use of psychotropic drugs is known to impair driving and increase the risk of road traffic accidents. They are also the most common drugs taken in overdose in hospital-treated episodes of self-poisoning. Most patients who take psychotropic drug overdoses are discharged within 48 hours, while they still have possible subclinical drug effects. Objective: Using a self-controlled case series design, we aimed to determine whether patients with psychotropic drug overdose are at a higher risk of a traffic accident in the period following discharge compared with a control period not associated with hospital-treated drug overdose. Methodology: Using the New South …
Management Of Self Poisoning, Alison L. Jones, Glyn Volans
Management Of Self Poisoning, Alison L. Jones, Glyn Volans
Alison L Jones
Around 15%20% of the workload of medical units and 10% of the workload of accident and emergency departments in the United Kingdom are due to self poisoning.1 2 Episodes of self poisoning in the United Kingdom continue to rise, particularly in young men, and alcohol is often taken with the overdose.2 In general the severity of poisoning has diminished over the past 10 years with the introduction of safer drugs, such as newer serotonin reuptake inhibitors, but the total number of deaths from poisoning in the United Kingdom remains steady at 4000 per year, and the commonest cause of death …
Mercury: Answering Some Of The Current Controversies About It, David M. Wood, Paul I. Dargan, Alison L. Jones
Mercury: Answering Some Of The Current Controversies About It, David M. Wood, Paul I. Dargan, Alison L. Jones
Alison L Jones
Recently there has been a lot of interest in the medical and lay press concerning exposure to mercury and its potential toxic effects. Mercury is a naturally occurring metallic element, which can be found as Hg or inorganic and organic salts. In this article we will review the risks of exposure and toxicity of each of the forms of mercury, including some of the current guidance concerning the risks of mercury toxicity from eating fish, dental amalgam and vaccinations containing mercury (thiomersal) preservatives.
Insufficient Evidence That Agitation Is Common In Y-Hydroxybutyrate Toxicity, David Wood, Indika Gawarammana, Shaun Greene, Paul Dargan, Alison Jones
Insufficient Evidence That Agitation Is Common In Y-Hydroxybutyrate Toxicity, David Wood, Indika Gawarammana, Shaun Greene, Paul Dargan, Alison Jones
Alison L Jones
Zvosec and Smith have reported that agitation is common in patients who present with c-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) toxicity. Previously, many clinicians would be aware that people withGHBtoxicity typically present with sedation, respiratory depression, and, potentially, coma if severely intoxicated. The authors’ finding that agitation is common in patients with GHB toxicity should alert physicians to other previously unreported potential clinical manifestations of GHB intoxication or to consider intoxication with other agents that cause agitation, such as amphetamine derivatives. However, the data the authors have presented from their observational study do not support their conclusion that agitation is common in people with …
Comparison Of Assays For Measuring Plasma Paracetamol. Possibility Of Calibration Error Needs Evaluation, Alison L. Jones, D R. Jarvie, D Simpson, L F. Prescott
Comparison Of Assays For Measuring Plasma Paracetamol. Possibility Of Calibration Error Needs Evaluation, Alison L. Jones, D R. Jarvie, D Simpson, L F. Prescott
Alison L Jones
Egleston et al report a significant difference in plasma paracetamol concen trations assayed with the AcetaSite bench assay and a standard laboratory assay. Rapid and accurate determinations of plasma paracetamol concentrations are crucial in the expeditious and appropriate administration of antidotal treatment, which prevents severe liver damage if given sufficiently early in the course of poisoning.
Lesson Of The Week: Alcohol Hand Rubs - Hygiene And Hazard, J.R.H Archer, David M. Wood, Zoe Tizzard, Alison L. Jones, Paul I. Dargan
Lesson Of The Week: Alcohol Hand Rubs - Hygiene And Hazard, J.R.H Archer, David M. Wood, Zoe Tizzard, Alison L. Jones, Paul I. Dargan
Alison L Jones
Hospital acquired infections are common and increase morbidity, mortality, and length of stay. The benefit of hand washing has been highlighted, and studies have shown that alcohol hand rub is significantly better than soap in reducing hand contamination. In 2004, NHS trusts were advised to introduce “near patient” alcohol based hand rubs (for example, attached beds and at entrances to wards) by April 2005. With the widespread introduction of these hand rubs, risk assessments were made for the possibility of fire and ingestion. Although alcohol hand rub is flammable, no incidents involving fire have occurred. The risk of ingestion was …
Drug Misuse Should Always Be Considered In Young People With Impaired Consciousness, K R. Whelan, Alison L. Jones, Paul I. Dargan
Drug Misuse Should Always Be Considered In Young People With Impaired Consciousness, K R. Whelan, Alison L. Jones, Paul I. Dargan
Alison L Jones
We agree with Ikeda et al that the absence of systolic hypertension may provide some discriminatory power towards exclusion of brain lesions, be they ischaemic, haemorrhagic, or space occupying in nature.1 However, we disagree with them that neurological examination of patients with impaired consciousness is often a waste of time and resources and can delay diagnosis.
Emerging Aspects Of Assessing Lead Poisoning In Childhood, Alison L. Jones
Emerging Aspects Of Assessing Lead Poisoning In Childhood, Alison L. Jones
Alison L Jones
No abstract provided.
Does It Matter Who Writes Medical News Stories?, Amanda J. Wilson, Jane Robertson, Patrick Mcelduff, Alison L. Jones, David Henry
Does It Matter Who Writes Medical News Stories?, Amanda J. Wilson, Jane Robertson, Patrick Mcelduff, Alison L. Jones, David Henry
Alison L Jones
The news media have a crucial role in supporting health literacy, and multiple surveys have shown the extent to which the public relies on them for information about medical advances [1,2]. However, the mainstream media are undergoing rapid and unprecedented change, with a shift from the traditional outlets (broadsheet newspapers and flagship current affairs programs) to online news services and blogs that are available free of charge. These online sources, and the more recent Web 2.0 activities (e.g., FaceBook and Twitter), still rely on the quality of the news coverage by the traditional media, which they frequently cite as information …
Media Reporting Of Health Interventions: Signs Of Improvement, But Major Problems Persist, Amanda J. Wilson, Billie Bonevski, Alison L. Jones, David Henry
Media Reporting Of Health Interventions: Signs Of Improvement, But Major Problems Persist, Amanda J. Wilson, Billie Bonevski, Alison L. Jones, David Henry
Alison L Jones
Background: Studies have persistently shown deficiencies in medical reporting by the mainstream media. We have been monitoring the accuracy and comprehensiveness of medical news reporting in Australia since mid 2004. This analysis of more than 1200 stories in the Australian media compares different types of media outlets and examines reporting trends over time. Methods and Findings: Between March 2004 and June 2008 1230 news stories were rated on a national medical news monitoring web site, Media Doctor Australia. These covered a variety of health interventions ranging from drugs, diagnostic tests and surgery to dietary and complementary therapies. Each story was …
Improving The Debate On Cannabis: "The Effects Of Cannabis On Driving Are Difficult To Evaluate", Sarah Levy, Alison L. Jones
Improving The Debate On Cannabis: "The Effects Of Cannabis On Driving Are Difficult To Evaluate", Sarah Levy, Alison L. Jones
Alison L Jones
In their article on the cannabis debate, Strang et al raise the issue of cannabis and its effects on driving, suggesting that “a clearer understanding will be required of the extent to which a particular concentration of the drug (or its metabolites) can reliably be taken as evidence that an individual's driving ability was consequently impaired.” A review of the literature, however, suggests that defining an acceptable level of cannabis consumption for driving is unlikely to be possible for several reasons.
Annual Incidence Of Snake Bite In Rural Bangladesh, Ridwanur Rahman, M. Abdul Faiz, Shahjada Selim, Bayzidur Rahman, Ariful Basher, Alison Jones, Catherine D'Este, Moazzem Hossain, Ziaul Islam, Habib Ahmed, Abdul Hasnat Milton
Annual Incidence Of Snake Bite In Rural Bangladesh, Ridwanur Rahman, M. Abdul Faiz, Shahjada Selim, Bayzidur Rahman, Ariful Basher, Alison Jones, Catherine D'Este, Moazzem Hossain, Ziaul Islam, Habib Ahmed, Abdul Hasnat Milton
Alison L Jones
Background Snake bite is a neglected public health problem in the world and one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity in many areas, particularly in the rural tropics. It also poses substantial economic burdens on the snake bite victims due to treatment related expenditure and loss of productivity. An accurate estimate of the risk of snake bite is largely unknown for most countries in the developing world, especially South-East Asia. Methodology/Principal Findings We undertook a national epidemiological survey to determine the annual incidence density of snake bite among the rural Bangladeshi population. Information on frequency of snake bite …
Alert But Less Alarmed: A Pooled Analysis Of Terrorism Threat Perception In Australia, Garry Stevens, Kingsley Agho, Melanie Taylor, Alison L. Jones, Jennifer Jacobs, Margo Barr, Beverley Raphael
Alert But Less Alarmed: A Pooled Analysis Of Terrorism Threat Perception In Australia, Garry Stevens, Kingsley Agho, Melanie Taylor, Alison L. Jones, Jennifer Jacobs, Margo Barr, Beverley Raphael
Alison L Jones
Background: Previous Australian research has highlighted disparities in community perceptions of the threat posed by terrorism. A study with a large sample size is needed to examine reported concerns and anticipated responses of community sub-groups and to determine their consistency with existing Australian and international findings. Methods: Representative samples of New South Wales (NSW) adults completed terrorism perception questions as part of computer assisted telephone interviews (CATI) in 2007 (N = 2081) and 2010 (N = 2038). Responses were weighted against the NSW population. Data sets from the two surveys were pooled and multivariate multilevel analyses conducted to identify health …
Legal 'Highs' Available Through The Internet-Implications And Solutions?, Alison L. Jones
Legal 'Highs' Available Through The Internet-Implications And Solutions?, Alison L. Jones
Alison L Jones
Prescription drugs are purchased via the Internet, but the consistent finding across many different populations is that the Internet appears to be a relatively minor source for illicit purchases of prescription medications by individual end users, the obvious exception being phosphodiesterase inhibitors for erectile dysfunction. In contrast, the world of escalating availability of illicit drugs via the Internet is paralleled by escalating availability of ‘legal highs’ via the Internet. These sites represent an important public health challenge, not least because of the ease of purchase but also because of the ‘relative anonymity’ for the purchaser.
The Management Of Tricyclic Antidepressant Poisoning: The Role Of Gut Decontamination, Extracorporeal Procedures And Fab Antibody Fragments, Paul I. Dargan, Mark G. Colbridge, Alison Jones
The Management Of Tricyclic Antidepressant Poisoning: The Role Of Gut Decontamination, Extracorporeal Procedures And Fab Antibody Fragments, Paul I. Dargan, Mark G. Colbridge, Alison Jones
Alison L Jones
Although there have been descriptive, uncontrolled clinical reports of removal of tablet debris by gastric lavage, there have been no clinical studies that have demonstrated that this has any impact on outcome in patients with tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) poisoning. There is also the possibility that lavage may increase drug absorption by pushing tablets into the small intestine. Furthermore, gastric lavage in patients with TCA poisoning may induce hypoxia and a tachycardia potentially increasing the risk of severe complications such as arrhythmias and convulsions. In view of the paucity of evidence that gastric lavage removes a significant amount of drug and …
Managing Self Poisoning: "Gastric Lavage Is Perhaps More Important In Developing Countries", Alison L. Jones, Glyn Volans
Managing Self Poisoning: "Gastric Lavage Is Perhaps More Important In Developing Countries", Alison L. Jones, Glyn Volans
Alison L Jones
In their clinical review of recent advances in the management of self poisoning, Jones and Volans briefly discuss gastric lavage and state: “many clinical toxicologists rarely use this method now.”1 The impression given could support the abandonment of gastric lavage. This could be particularly deleterious in developing countries.
Effects Of Benzodiazepines, Antidepressants And Opioids On Driving: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Epidemiological And Experimental Evidence, Tharaka L. Dassanayake, Patricia Michie, Gregory Carter, Alison L. Jones
Effects Of Benzodiazepines, Antidepressants And Opioids On Driving: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Epidemiological And Experimental Evidence, Tharaka L. Dassanayake, Patricia Michie, Gregory Carter, Alison L. Jones
Alison L Jones
Background: Many individuals in the community are prescribed psychoactive drugs with sedative effects. These drugs may affect their daily functions, of which automobile driving is a major component. Objective: To examine the association of three classes of commonly used psychoactive drugs (viz. benzodiazepines and newer non-benzodiazepine hypnotics, antidepressants and opioids) with (i) the risk of traffic accidents (as indexed by epidemiological indicators of risk); and (ii) driving performance (as indexed by experimental measures of driving performance). Methods: A literature search for material published in the English language between January 1966 and January 2010 in PubMed and EMBASE databases was combined …
Building Research Capacity: An Exploratory Model Of Gps’ Training Needs And Barriers To Research Involvement, Alison Jones, Teresa A. Burgess, Elizabeth Farmer, Jeffrey Fuller, Nigel P. Stocks, Judy E. Taylor, Raechel L. Waters
Building Research Capacity: An Exploratory Model Of Gps’ Training Needs And Barriers To Research Involvement, Alison Jones, Teresa A. Burgess, Elizabeth Farmer, Jeffrey Fuller, Nigel P. Stocks, Judy E. Taylor, Raechel L. Waters
Alison L Jones
Aims: To determine general practitioners’ research training needs, and the barriers to involvement in research. Method: Semi-structured interviews with 11 GPs in rural and metropolitan South Australia, analysed using a grounded theory approach. Results: General practitioners’ perceptions about their research needs were limited by their own experience and focussed at an individual level. Overlapping needs and barriers emerged, categorised as: ‘individual issues’ (a lack of research training or experience, concepts and attitudes to research, and research interest) and ‘systems issues’ (funding arrangements for general practice, access to resources, opportunity for publication and the role of The Royal Australian College of …
Responses To Pandemic (H1n1) 2009, Australia, Keith Eastwood, David N. Durrheim, Michelle Butler, Alison L. Jones
Responses To Pandemic (H1n1) 2009, Australia, Keith Eastwood, David N. Durrheim, Michelle Butler, Alison L. Jones
Alison L Jones
In 2007, adults in Australia were interviewed about their willingness to comply with potential health interventions during a hypothetical influenza outbreak. After the first wave of pandemic (H1 N1) 2009 in Australia, many of the same respondents were interviewed about behavior and protection measures they actually adopted. Of the original 1,155 respondents, follow-up interviews were conducted for 830 (71.9%), Overall, 20.4% of respondents in 2009 had recently experienced influenza-like illness, 77.7% perceived pandemic (H1 N1) 2009 to be mild, and 77.8% reported low anxiety. Only 14.5% could correctly answer 4 questions about influenza virus transmission, symptoms, and infection control. Some …
Toxicology, Alison L. Jones
Toxicology, Alison L. Jones
Alison L Jones
Introduction Poisoning is one of the commonest medical emergencies in the UK and accounts for 10%-20% of acute medical admissions. The most common causes of poisoning in the UK are outlined in Table 13.1. Assessing poisoned patients and managing them is an exciting challenge because they often have complex psychosocial issues, together with general medical problems, and have taken toxins in sizeable doses. They require the best of clinical skills to provide the best outcome. Sadly, poisoned patients do not always meet with the sympathies of admitting doctors because th? ~ay be perceived to have "self-inflicted illness." This is a …
Sources And Coverage Of Medical News On Front Pages Of Us Newspapers, William Y.Y Lai, Trevor Lane, Alison L. Jones
Sources And Coverage Of Medical News On Front Pages Of Us Newspapers, William Y.Y Lai, Trevor Lane, Alison L. Jones
Alison L Jones
Background Medical news that appears on newspaper front pages is intended to reach a wide audience, but how this type of medical news is prepared and distributed has not been systematically researched. We thus quantified the level of visibility achieved by front-page medical stories in the United States and analyzed their news sources. Methodology Using the online resource Newseum, we investigated front-page newspaper coverage of four prominent medical stories, and a high-profile non-medical news story as a control, reported in the US in 2007. Two characteristics were quantified by two raters: which newspaper titles carried each target front-page story (interrater …
Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) Poisoning: No Need To Change Current Guidelines To Accident Departments, P Routledge, J Allister Vale, D Nicholas Bateman, G. Denis Johnston, Alison L. Jones, Alan Judd, Simon Thomas, Glyn Volans, L F. Prescott, A T. Proudfoot
Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) Poisoning: No Need To Change Current Guidelines To Accident Departments, P Routledge, J Allister Vale, D Nicholas Bateman, G. Denis Johnston, Alison L. Jones, Alan Judd, Simon Thomas, Glyn Volans, L F. Prescott, A T. Proudfoot
Alison L Jones
Paracetamol is an effective, simple analgesic that is well tolerated by adults and children at therapeutic doses. In many countries it is available without prescription. Unfortunately, its ready availability is associated with episodes of poisoning that prompt 3.3% of inquiries to US regional poisons centres, 10% of inquiries to the UK National Poisons Information Service, and up to 43% of all admissions to hospital with self poisoning in the United Kingdom.3 In the United States paracetamol alone accounted for 4.1% of deaths from poisoning reported to American poisons centres in 1997. Most deaths are associated with deliberate self poisoning, but …