Search

The suitability of 'design' height amplification factors (HAF) for the purpose of seismic assessment of existing non-structural unreinforced masonry (URM) components with known strength was evaluated through a numerical study. Four building typologies were included that represented pre-1940 URM construction in Australia and New Zealand. Through pushover and incremental dynamic analyses, the effects of diaphragm flexibility and nonlinear building response on floor accelerations were studied. It was found that Australia/New Zealand code procedures include significant inelastic building behaviour that reduces HAF. An interpretation was made on the applicability of the assumptions in the context of assessing non-structural URM components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This systematic review aims to examine the health-related quality of life (QOL) in Iranian patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and its related factors., Methods: A thorough, systematic search was conducted in different international electronic databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Persian electronic databases such as Iranmedex, and Scientific Information Database using keywords such as "Colorectal neoplasm", "Colorectal tumors", "Colorectal cancer", "Quality of life", and "Life quality" from the earliest to 17 October 2022. The quality of the studies included in this systematic review was evaluated using the appraisal tool for cross-sectional studies (AXIS tool)., Results: There were 820 CRC patients in the five cross-sectional studies that made up this systematic review. The mean score of QOL in patients with CRC was 61.99 (SD=15.87) out of 100 based on EORTC-QLQ-C30, which indicates a moderate to good level of QOL. Factors such as age, gender, living conditions, level of education, occupation, monthly income, health insurance, physical activity, performance status, and comorbidities had a significant relationship with QOL in patients with CRC., Conclusion: In sum, the findings of the five studies that were a part of this systematic review revealed that Iranian patients with CRC had a moderate to good QOL. Therefore, managers and health policymakers can create psychological counseling programs with an emphasis on the factors affecting the QOL of patients in light of how crucial it is to raise patients' understanding of the long-term impacts of CRC and how they affect their QOL., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.Sponsorships or competing interests that may be relevant to content are disclosed at the end of this article., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Introduction: Despite their effectiveness in reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and cardiovascular disease risk, high-intensity statins are underutilized among adults with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≥190 mg/dL. This study determined whether a safety net program (SureNet) facilitating medication and laboratory test orders improved statin initiation and laboratory test completions after (SureNet period: April 2019-September 2021) and before implementation (pre-SureNet period: January 2016-September 2018)., Methods: Kaiser Permanente Southern California members aged 20-60 years with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ≥190 mg/dL and no statin use in previous 2-6 months were included in this retrospective cohort study. Statin orders within 14 days and statin fills, laboratory test completions, and improved low-density lipoprotein cholesterol within 180 days of the high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (pre-SureNet) or outreach (SureNet period) were compared. Analyses were conducted in 2022., Results: Overall, 3,534 and 3,555 adults were eligible for statin initiation during the pre-SureNet and SureNet periods, respectively. Overall, 759 (21.5%) and 976 (27.5%) had a statin approved by their physician during pre-SureNet and SureNet periods, respectively (p<0.001). After multivariable adjustment for demographics and clinical characteristics, adults during the SureNet period had a higher likelihood of receiving a statin order (prevalence ratio=1.36, 95% CI=1.25, 1.48), filling their statin (prevalence ratio=1.32, 95% CI=1.26, 1.38), completing their laboratories (prevalence ratio=1.41, 95% CI=1.26, 1.58), and improving low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (prevalence ratio=1.21, 95% CI=1.07, 1.37) than in pre-Surenet period., Conclusions: The SureNet program was able to improve prescription orders, fills, laboratory test completions, and lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Optimizing both physician adherence to treatment guidelines; and patient adherence to the program may improve low-density lipoprotein cholesterol lowering., (Copyright © 2023 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Activities of daily living (ADL) refer to the ability to perform the essential self-care activities that are necessary to have a life without dependency. Development of chronic diseases such as heart disease, as age progresses, can affect ADL. Facilitating the return of patients to the ADL and determining the level of care is one of the responsibilities of nurses. Therefore, using Barthel and Katz indexes, this study aimed to assess ADL dependency after discharge from cardiac care unit (CCU). Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 180 patients were selected by the available sampling method. Data were analyzed before and after admission to the CCU using SPSS software version 13. Results: The mean score of the Barthel and Katz indexes, before admission to the CCU, was 92.96 and 5.37, respectively, which changed to 82.85 and 4.57 post-cardiac care unit (P-CCU). Accordingly, ADL dependency increased after discharge from CCU. Conclusion: After discharge from the CCU (in P-CCU), patients do not return to the same level of activities before hospitalization, and the functional status and ability of patients to perform daily activities decrease., (© 2022 The Author(s).)