Biomedical subjects

E Elliott

Publications and source records attributed to E Elliott.

57 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Intestinal amoebiasis and giardiasis in southern Indian infants and children.

The role of Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia as causative agents of paediatric diarrhoea was studied in a southern Indian population. Relationship between infant feeding practices, co-existing malnutrition and the occurrence of intestinal amoebiasis and giardiasis was also examined. The subjects were 361 paediatric patients with acute diarrhoea and 70 hospitalized control children without diarrhoea. Faecal samples from cases and controls were examined for the protozoal pathogens using faecal preservatives, permanent staining and formalin-ether concentration. Bacteriological studies were conducted on 244 of the 361 cases. A high prevalence of invasive amoebiasis was seen in the 0-6 month (12.5%) and 7-12 month (20.3%) age groups. Giardiasis was uncommon under 6 months (2.1%) but occurred in 8-10% of all other age groups. Invasive amoebiasis occurred mainly in children on weaning foods (45.9%) but also [corrected] in exclusively breast-fed children (13.5%). Giardiasis was not seen in exclusively breast-fed infants, but commonly occurred in older children on normal diets. There was no association between amoebiasis or giardiasis and malnutrition.

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Role of exposure databases in epidemiology.

At present, exposure databases record data primarily for regulatory purposes; they have not focused on serving the needs of epidemiologists or public health. However, the modification of exposure databases could facilitate their use in epidemiology. Characteristics necessary to enhance the use of all databases include easy access by users; documentation of methods, sampling bias, error, and inconsistences; widespread coverage in time and space; and methods and measures for estimating exposure of individuals as well as populations. Also needed are exposure scenarios and models to estimate exposures for geographic areas and time intervals not currently sampled. Multidisciplinary teams are needed to examine current databases, to review strategies for improving data collection, and to suggest and help implement appropriate changes. A long-term goal is to develop and validate data from exposure scenarios and models using data on the relationship of exposure to doses measured in humans.

Databases, Factual↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Paediatric cardiology in a sub-regional cardiothoracic unit.

The aim of this study was to examine the pattern of referrals the number of admissions, cardiac catheterisations and surgical procedures-including outcome-in infants and children referred to a sub-regional cardiothoracic unit during a 6-year period. The unit is served by one paediatric cardiologist and four general cardiothoracic surgeons, two of whom undertake paediatric surgery. Referrals were received from within the Trent Regional Health Authority, and from three other health Regions. During the study period 2,097 infants and children were admitted to the unit with cardiac disease, and 730 underwent cardiac surgery. The proportion of admissions undergoing surgery increased significantly with time, as did the neonatal and infant surgical procedures and infant surgical procedures. Overall, the surgical mortality did not alter with time, and was comparable to the national average. The results show an increase in the demand for cardiac investigations and surgery, and this was most evident in infants, particularly for open procedures. This unit serves a large population with proven needs, and the number of children treated falls within the range of existing supra-regional centres. The combination of available expertise, and a cost-effective patient outcome measure, should place such units in a category of high priority for resource allocation.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗