F1000Research
-
A recent meta-analysis of nine cohort studies in youths reported that baseline ever e-cigarette use strongly predicted cigarette smoking initiation in the next 6-18 months, with an adjusted odds ratio of 3.62 (95% confidence interval 2.42-5.41). A recent review of e-cigarettes agreed there was substantial evidence for this "gateway effect". However, the number of confounders considered in the studies was limited, so we investigated whether the effect might have resulted from inadequate adjustment, using Waves 1 and 2 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study. ⋯ We found that confounding is a major factor, explaining most of the observed gateway effect. However, our analyses are limited by small numbers of new smokers considered and the possibility of over-adjustment if taking up e-cigarettes affects some predictor variables. Further analyses are intended using Wave 3 data which should avoid these problems.
-
Review
Lifting the fog in intermediate-risk (submassive) PE: full dose, low dose, or no thrombolysis?
Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a disease frequently encountered in clinical practice. While the management of haemodynamically stable, low risk patients with acute PE is well established, managing intermediate disease often presents a therapeutic dilemma. ⋯ This includes thrombolysis, surgical embolectomy and catheter directed techniques. We have also explored the role of specialist PE response teams in the management of such patients. .
-
Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are members of the Mycobacterium genus other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and Mycobacterium leprae. NTM are widely distributed in the environment and are increasingly recognized as causes of chronic lung disease that can be challenging to treat. In this brief review, we consider recent developments in the ecology, epidemiology, natural history, and treatment of NTM lung disease with a focus on Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and Mycobacterium abscessus complex .
-
The fundamental goal of the growing open science movement is to increase the efficiency of the global scientific community and accelerate progress and discoveries for the common good. Central to this principle is the rapid disclosure of research outputs in open-access peer-reviewed journals and on pre-print servers. ⋯ Here, we highlight the benefits of open lab notebooks to science, society and scientists, and discuss the challenges that this nascent movement is facing. We also present the implementation and progress of our own initiative at openlabnotebooks.org, with more than 20 active contributors after one year of operation.
-
Background: India's national tuberculosis (TB) programme recommends that among patients with diabetes mellitus and TB, fasting blood glucose (FBG) be recorded at baseline, the end of intensive phase and the end of continuation phase of TB treatment. We conducted this operational research in select districts of Tamil Nadu, India, in 2016 to determine the availability of blood glucose records and glycemic control status during TB treatment. Methods: This was a descriptive study involving secondary programme data. ⋯ The proportion of patients with unfavourable TB treatment outcomes at the end of intensive phase was 11% (46/438) and at the end of continuation phase was 5% (21/438). We decided against assessing factors associated with glycemic control during TB treatment and association between glycemic control and TB treatment outcomes because glycemic control assessment, if any, was based mostly on RBG values. Conclusion: Among patients with diabetes and tuberculosis, recording of FBG during tuberculosis treatment requires urgent attention.