The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
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HIV partner notification can help patients, partners, and disease control efforts in the community. The emphasis on HIV partner notification has varied widely in the United States. Stigma, denial, and competing priorities have limited the use of partner notification in many areas. ⋯ Understanding these forces will help predict where partner notification is headed and may help make it more effective. In this paper we review partner notification for HIV, discuss effectiveness, and outline changes over time. A comparison with contact tracing for TB leads us to conclude that partner notification for HIV is very different from contact tracing for TB.
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Int. J. Tuberc. Lung Dis. · Dec 2003
ReviewThe role of molecular epidemiology in contact investigations: a US perspective.
Preventing tuberculosis (TB) transmission through treatment of active cases and contact investigation is the highest priority of TB control programs in the United States. The role of contact investigation is becoming increasingly important as the number of TB cases declines nationally. ⋯ Molecular epidemiology has added a new dimension by enabling the recognition of unsuspected transmission, likely locations of transmission, and quantification of the extent of transmission that is occurring within a given population. In the future, as real-time genotyping becomes more available, the role of molecular epidemiology is likely to expand.
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Int. J. Tuberc. Lung Dis. · Mar 2003
ReviewTurning off the tap: the real solution to cigarette smuggling.
The tobacco industry has argued that tobacco smuggling is caused by market forces, i.e., by the price differences between countries, which create an incentive to smuggle cigarettes from 'cheaper' to 'more expensive' countries, and so urged governments to solve the problem by reducing taxes to remove this differential, which will also, they say, restore revenue. Although such market forces have some effect, smuggling is in fact more prevalent in 'cheaper' countries, and reducing tax is not the solution. Where taxes have been reduced tobacco consumption has risen and revenue has fallen, with disastrous consequences for public health. ⋯ They are often smuggled back into the country of origin, where they are sold at a third to half price. It is therefore profitable because duty has been illegally evaded. The key to controlling cigarette smuggling is not lowering taxes, it is controlling the tobacco manufacturing industry and its exporting practices.
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Much has been learned over the last decade about the genetic predisposition to different patterns of sarcoidosis and its pathogenesis. These major advances have been possible through the very rapid evolution of newer molecular technology. ⋯ Specific focus is given to genetic predisposition and trigger factors-molecular epidemiology. The more novel approaches that have been taken to attempt to treat this disease more effectively are also addressed.
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Int. J. Tuberc. Lung Dis. · Jun 2001
ReviewOxygen delivery to children with hypoxaemia in small hospitals in developing countries.
Oxygen administration is one of the most important modalities of therapy for a patient with hypoxaemia to prevent death. This review summarises the methods of oxygen delivery applicable in small hospitals in developing countries, and evaluates information about their safety and efficacy. The following criteria were considered: cost and availability, efficiency/oxygen concentration achieved, tolerability/comfort of the method, requirement of humidification, demand for nursing care, and safety of the method and complications. ⋯ Nasal prongs are the safest method of oxygen delivery, but nasopharyngeal catheters and nasal catheters are more easily available and less expensive. However, if they are used, they need close supervision to avoid serious complications. Nasal prongs are the method of choice for oxygen delivery in small hospitals in developing countries.