Publications from the Faculty of Medical Sciences
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Browsing Publications from the Faculty of Medical Sciences by Issue Date
Now showing 1 - 20 of 32
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item The rise of global health diplomacy: An interdisciplinary concept linking health and International Relations(Wolters Kluwer, 2017-06-02) Chattu, Vijay KumarGlobal health diplomacy (GHD) is relatively a very new field that has yet to be clearly defined and developed though there are various definitions given by different experts from foreign policy, global health, diplomacy, international relations, governance, and law. With the intensification of globalization and increasing gaps between countries, new and reemerging health threats such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome, Ebola, and Zika and a gradual rethinking on security concepts framed a new political context. The health problems addressed diplomatically have also become diverse ranging from neglected tropical diseases, infectious diseases, sale of unsafe, counterfeit drugs to brain drain crisis. We see that global health has become more diverse as the actors widened and also the interests appealing not only to the traditional humanitarian ideals associated with health but also to the principles grounded in national and global security. Recently, we are witnessing the increased priority given to the GHD because the issue of health is discussed by various actors outside the WHO to shape the global policy for health determinants. In fact, the area of health has become the part of UN Summit Diplomacy involving the G8, G20, BRICS, and the EU. The recent WHO Pandemic Influenza Framework, UN High Level Framework on Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases, and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control are some of the examples of long-term negotiation processes for agreements that took place.Item Statins in COPD: Selection Modalities and Mortalities(Elsevier, 2018-02) Sateesh, Sakhamuri; Chattu, Vijay KumarCardiovascular disease contributes a significant share in the all-cause mortality of COPD, and therefore it is sensible to assume similar positive outcomes with its mortality benefiting measures in the COPD group as well. Raymakers et al. study published in CHEST (September 2017) portrayed a significant all-cause and COPD related mortality benefits with statins. The inclusion of a vast number of participants from databases with a follow-up for a reasonable duration and a focus on adherence towards statins are the strengths of this retrospective study. Though the results endorsed a clear benefit with statins, the rationale for certain selection methods and their potential bias cannot be overlooked. In contrary to the authors’ quotation on the frequent existence of COPD among the population older than 30 years of age, they have only included individuals aged 50 years and above. A population with a mean age of 70 years might have integrated a high prevalence of known or subclinical cardiovascular disease. Remarkably, documentation of this morbidity’s existence in the studied COPD population was not attempted. It could have been more interesting to observe the statin-related mortality benefit among the subgroup of COPDs without having a known cardiovascular disease. Most importantly, identifying COPD patients based on anticholinergic or beta agonist use without spirometry confirmation might have allowed diagnostic inaccuracies and also unexploited the significance of disease severity. Occurrence of such misdiagnosis without the support of spirometry was recognized by few studies earlier and for that reason the evidence based guidelines strongly recommended the objective measurement of airflow limitation for confirmation.Item Time for the Two-spirits: Shaping the inclusive policy environment for Hispanics and Transgenders through Global Health Diplomacy(Wolters Kluwer, 2018-02-15) Chattu, Vijay Kumar; Mario, O Laplume; Soosanna, KumaryMinority populations in the world are permanently challenged with unequal living and working conditions in their daily lives that compromise their access to needed clinical and preventive services. When we discuss the healthcare conditions for minorities we must address the social determinants of access that are ultimately determined by the policies and politics of the governments. Renowned experts of Quality in Health care have been critical of the current design and implementation of randomized clinical trials, the gold standard of clinical research, because they believe that they often, but not always, presume a linear, mechanistic system when in fact improvement in Health care takes place within complex adaptive systems that evolve. The combined action of ignorance and prejudice can impair the efficient recruitment and retaining of “different people” like Hispanics and Transgender that have long suffered discrimination in their access to health care services in spite that they are more prone to have chronic conditions. Even though the incidence of AIDS has decreased in the general population during the past two decades, it is continuing in the gay population due to educational issues, discrimination in health care access and lack of proper public and private funding for the life-saving retroviral medication. The declaration of the “International Conference on Health Promotion” sponsored by PAHO in Colombia in 1992 have emphasized the aim of reducing differences in health status as well as ensuring equal opportunities and resources to enable all people to achieve their full health potential. Through the entreaties of the Global Health Diplomacy, the resiliently hard core issues of discrimination and marginalization must be addressed by encouraging public policies that guarantee equity and ensure access for the most socially castigated groups.Item Port of Spain Declaration for global NCD prevention(The Lancet, 2018-04-28) Chattu, Vijay Kumar; Sakhamuri, SateeshAs global health researchers working in the areas of NCDs and global health diplomacy, we were delighted to see the priority and emphasis given for global commitment to tackle the epidemic of NCDs in the Lancet Comment “The NCDs Cooperative: a call to action” (Sep 18, 2017)1. The author suggests excellent strategies like proposing a multi-stakeholder structure to serve as a holistic platform with transparency and accountability to negotiate policy space for NCDs. The commentary also highlights that none of the 80 disease-specific policies created do address holistically for NCDs, which require a multi-sectoral, partnership-based solution, however, we would also like to highlight the Port of Spain Declaration - “Uniting to Stop the Epidemic of Chronic NCDs” which was convened in September 2007. This Summit of CARICOM Heads of Government on NCDs was a “first in the world”, as their Declaration focused on the problem and the risks and gave clear policy directions for an inter-sectoral approach, with a 15 point declaration which addresses many key risk factors ranging from Tobacco, physical activity, healthy diet, health services, surveillance, mobilizing society and observing Caribbean wellness days. Through successful global health diplomacy and negotiations, this Caribbean declaration was elevated at a global level which finally resulted in the development of “Political Declaration of the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of NCDs” on 19th September 20113. Therefore it is high time to ensure political commitment and intersectoral collaboration to form an agency like NCD cooperative through global health diplomacy.Item Distended bladder presenting with constipation and venous obstruction: a case report(Journal of Medical Case Reports) Sharma A; Naraynsingh VItem Comparing the results penetrating colon injuries based on intervention by surgeons with different levels of experience in West Indies.(Journal of Emergencies, Trauma, and Shock) Naraynsingh V; Ramdass MJItem Pattern of seat belt use by drivers in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies(BMC Research Notes) Olukoga A; Legall G; Odekunle AItem Pattern of seat belt use by drivers in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies(BMC Research Notes) Olukoga A; Legall G; Odekunle AItem Evolutionary history and phylogeography of rabies viruses associated with outbreaks in Trinidad.(PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases) Seetahal JF; Velasco-Villa, A; Allicock, OM; Bissessar J; Adesiyun AA; Amour K; Phillip-Hosein A; Marston DA; McElhinney LM; Shi M; Wharwood CA; Fooks AR; Carrington CVItem Genetic structure and demographic history of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides sensulato and C. truncatum isolates from Trinidad and Mexico.(BMC Evolutionary Biology) Rampersad SN; Perez-Brito D; Torres-Calzada C; Tapia-Tussell R; Carrington CVItem Rapid detection of Panton-Valentine leukocidin in Staphylococcus aureus cultures by use of a lateral flow assay based on monoclonal antibodies(Journal of Clinical Microbiology) Monecke S; Müller E; Buechler J; Rejman J; Stieber B; Akpaka PE; Bandt D; Burris R; Coombs G; Hidalgo-Arroyo GA; Hughes P; Kearns A; Abós SM; Pichon B; Skakni L; Söderquist B; Ehricht R.Item Hypoglycemic and hepatoprotective activity of fermented fruit juice of Morinda citrifolia (Noni) in diabetic rats.(Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine) Nayak SB; Marshall JR; Isitor G; Adogwa AItem Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma presenting as recurrent adhesion obstruction in general surgery: a case report(Journal of Medical Case Reports) Naraynsingh V; Ramdass MJ; Lum CLItem Complications of uterine fibroids and their management.(Obstetrics and Gynecology International) Fletcher H, Burrell C, Bassaw B, Thomas EItem Bariatric surgery in the Caribbean: is it safe in a low-volume, third world setting?(Minimally Invasive Surgery) Dan D; Singh Y; Naraynsingh V; Hariharan S; Maharaj R; Teelucksingh SItem Methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus producing Panton-Valentine leukocidin toxin in Trinidad & Tobago: a case report(Journal of Medical Case Reports) Akpaka PE; Monecke S; Swanston WH; Rao AC; Schulz R; Levett PNItem Trinidadian women's knowledge, perceptions, and preferences regarding cesarean section: how do they make choices?(International Journal of Women's Health) Mungrue K; Nixon C; David Y; Dookwah D; Durga S; Greene K; Mohammed HItem Missile injury by a weed wacker resulting in a false aneurysm of the brachial artery(Open Colloid Science Journal [Outside of RoMEO: Open Cardiovascular Medical Journal]) Naraynsingh V, Ramdass MJItem Does insulin resistance co-exist with glucocorticoid resistance in the metabolic syndrome? Studies comparing skin sensitivity to glucocorticoids in individuals with and without acanthosis nigricans.(Cardiovascular Diabetology) Teelucksingh S; Jaimungal S; Pinto Pereira L; Seemungal T; Nayak SItem Portal vein thrombosis following laparoscopic cholecystectomy complicated by dengue viral infection: a case report(Journal of Medical Case Reports) Dan D; King K; Seetahal S; Naraynsingh V; Hariharan S