We reported on the first laboratory-confirmed lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) case in Slovenia. It was diagnosed in 2015 in a man reporting unprotected insertive anal intercourse with two male partners in Croatia. He presented with inguinal lymphadenopathy. A rare variant L2c of C. trachomatis was identified in urethral swab and bubo aspirate presenting treatment failure to recommended regimen. We concluded that enhanced LGV surveillance might unveil hidden LGV epidemic among men who have sex with men in Slovenia and other central European countries with no reported cases previously.
COBISS.SI-ID: 32487641
Background: Electronic medical records (EMR) offer a major potential for secondary use of data for research which can improve the safety, quality and efficiency of healthcare. They also enable the measurement of disease burden at the population level. However, the extent to which this is feasible in different countries is not well known. This study aimed to: 1) assess information governance procedures for extracting data from EMR in 16 countries; and 2) explore the extent of EMR adoption and the quality and consistency of EMR data in 7 countries, using management of diabetes type 2 patients as an exemplar. Methods: We included 16 countries from Australia, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe to the Americas. We undertook a multi-method approach including both an online literature review and structured interviews with 59 stakeholders, including 25 physicians, 23 academics, 7 EMR providers, and 4 information commissioners. Data were analysed and synthesised thematically considering the most relevant issues. Results: We found that procedures for information governance, levels of adoption and data quality varied across the countries studied. The required time and ease of obtaining approval also varies widely. While some countries seem ready for secondary uses of data from EMR, in other countries several barriers were found, including limited experience with using EMR data for research, lack of standard policies and procedures, bureaucracy, confidentiality, data security concerns, technical issues and costs. Conclusions: This is the first international comparative study to shed light on the feasibility of extracting EMR data across a number of countries. The study will inform future discussions and development of policies that aim to accelerate the adoption of EMR systems in high and middle income countries and seize the rich potential for secondary use of data arising from the use of EMR solutions.
COBISS.SI-ID: 32952025
Background Phantom limb pain is a debilitating condition for which no effective treatment has been found. We hypothesised that re-engagement of central and peripheral circuitry involved in motor execution could reduce phantom limb pain via competitive plasticity and reversal of cortical reorganisation
COBISS.SI-ID: 2253673
In heart failure (HF), comorbidity burden and prognostic risks increase with age. Studies investigating outcome in elderly patients from large datasets are lacking, particularly in central and eastern European countries. We analyzed the Slovenian data on mortality and readmissions after first HF hospitalization in patients aged 65 years or over. In this observational epidemiological study, the Slovenian national hospitalization database was searched for HF patients aged ≥65 years with first HF hospitalization between 2008 and 2012. All-cause mortality and readmissions were compared in young-olds (65-74 years), middle-olds (75-84 years), and old-olds (≥85 years) using cumulative probability plots and log rank test. The prognostic value of comorbidities on mortality and readmissions for age groups were assessed using multiple Cox proportional hazards models. Overall, 36,824 patients were included (median age 80 years, 41 % men, 20 % in-hospital mortality). The proportions of young-olds, middle-olds, and old-olds were 26, 48, and 26 %, respectively. Arterial hypertension (60 %), pulmonary disease (44 %), and atrial fibrillation (38 %) were the most prevalent comorbidities, with little variation over age. While age group was associated with higher mortality (P ( 0.001), no such associations were seen for readmissions at any time points (P ) 0.1 for all). Importance of comorbidities as a predictor for mortality faded with increasing age while only small decrease in hazard ratios for readmissions were seen. Age is an independent predictor of mortality but not readmissions in elderly patients with first HF hospitalization. Comorbidities are important predictors for mortality and readmissions in elderly.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3759845
Purpose Evidence from studies mainly in children has shown that orally admin - istered probiotics may prevent respiratory tract infections and associated antibi - otic use. We evaluated whether advice to take daily probiotics can reduce antibi - otic prescribing for winter respiratory tract infections in people with asthma. Methods We conducted a randomized controlled, parallel-group pragmatic study for participants aged 5 years and older with asthma in a UK primary care setting. The intervention was a postal leaflet with advice to take daily probiotics from October 2013 to March 2014, compared with a standard winter advice leaf - let. Primary outcome was the proportion of participants prescribed antibiotics for respiratory tract infections. Results There were 1,302 participants randomly assigned to a control group (n = 650) or intervention group (n = 652). There was no significant differ - ence in the primary outcome measure, with 27.7% receiving antibiotics in the intervention group and 26.9% receiving antibiotics in the control group (odds ratio = 1.04; 95% CI, 0.82-1.34). Uptake of probiotics was low, but outcomes were similar in those who accessed probiotics (adjusted odds ratio = 1.08; 95% CI, 0.69-1.69, compared with controls). We also found no evidence of an effect on respiratory tract infections or asthma exacerbations. Conclusions In this pragmatic community-based trial in people with asthma, we found no evidence that advising use of winter probiotics reduces antibiotic prescribing.
COBISS.SI-ID: 32955609