Thesis (doctoral)--Göteborgs universitet. / Added t.p. with thesis statement, inserted. Includes bibliographical references (p. 253-264).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of New South Wales, 2002. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on July 18, 2005). Includes bibliographical references (p. 261-281).

Objective: To examine the hypothesis that the “natural” combination of delusions and hallucinations in psychotic disorders in fact represents a selection of early subclinical hallucinatory experiences associated with delusional ideation, resulting in need for care and mental health service use. Methods: In the Early Developmental Stages of Psychopathology study, a prospective, 10-year follow-up of a representative cohort of adolescents and young adults in Munich, Germany (n = 2524), clinical psychologists assessed hallucinations and delusions at 2 time points (T2 and T3). Analyses compared differences in psychopathology, familial liability for nonpsychotic disorder, nongenetic risk factors, persistence, and clinical outcome between groups characterized by: (1) absence of positive psychotic symptoms, (2) presence of isolated hallucinations, (3) isolated delusions, and (4) both hallucinations and delusions. Results: Delusions and hallucinations occurred together much more often (T2: 3.1%; T3: 2.0%) than predicted by chance (T2: 1.0%; T3: 0.4%; OR = 11.0; 95% CI: 8.1, 15.1). Content of delusions was contingent on presence of hallucinations but modality of hallucinations was not contingent on presence of delusions. The group with both hallucinations and delusions, compared to groups with either delusions or hallucinations in isolation, displayed the strongest associations with familial affective liability and nongenetic risk factors, as well as with persistence of psychotic symptoms, comorbidity with negative symptoms, affective psychopathology, and clinical need. Conclusions: The early stages of psychosis may involve hallucinatory experiences that, if complicated by delusional ideation under the influence of environmental risks and (liability for) affective dysregulation, give rise to a poor prognosis hallucinatory–delusional syndrome.

Prevention of cardiovascular disease including myocardial infarction is in recent years a widely discussed topic. Cardiovascular diseases are currently the most widespread disease among the worldwide. This thesis deals with the participation of patients after myocardial infarction in active care of their health in secondary prevention. For failure principles of secondary prevention is increased morbidity of these cardiovascular diseases and subsequently increase the costs for further treatment. Well-timed and targeted prevention is very important how to reduce the cost of treatment and the restoration of health and maintaining a good quality of life. The thesis is composed of two parts, theoretical and empirical. The theoretical part of the thesis describes cardiovascular diseases, especially acute myocardial infarction, prevention and education, including educational process of secondary prevention. The empirical part was realized by qualitative research. Information was collected by semi-standardized interview technique. The interview was composed of both closed and open-ended questions where had respondents the opportunity to express individually. The research group consisted of patients and nurses of three selected cardiocenters in Czech Republic - University Hospital Motol, České Budějovice Hospital, a.s. and Faculty Hospital Plzeň. In the first phase of the research we examined the awareness of patients of secondary prevention. In addition we inquire into the level of their activities in the care of their health and the impact of realized changes to their life satisfaction. The research sample is consisted of 12 respondents - patients who in former times have had a myocardial infarction and now were re- hospitalized due to symptoms of heart problems. For the research were patients selected by random sampling and divided into three groups, four from each cardiocenter. In the second phase of the research, we investigated the options and rate of education of nurses taking care of patients after myocardial infarction in pursuance of secondary prevention and types of nursing documentation kept by nurses of cardiology ward. This part of the study sample was consisted of nine nurses working in selected cardiocentre. For one interview were approached three nurses from each chosen department with longer experience in the field of cardiology. For the research was established six goals and eight research questions. The results of the research showed that the patients are relatively well educated in the principles of secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, but not enough by nurses. The knowledge of patients of prevention of myocardial infarction and secondary prevention measures is at a relatively good level. The rate of changes in the approach to secondary prevention is unsatisfactory and doesn´t meet the rate of improvement of capabilities of modern medicine regardless of their age and length of treatment. The research also showed a positive effect of the principles of secondary prevention on the quality of life of patients.

The thesis is focused on leisure-time activities provided with respect to socio-pathic phenomena in selected Youth-drop centers. The aim of the thesis is to identify the forms of approach in social work with children with respect to culture and customs of given society. The reason for this topic selection is a personal experience of dealing with children and adolescents in Youth-drop institution as well as interest in presented problems. The thesis is divided into theoretical and survey parts. The theoretical part introduces social work as a preventing profession. Considering the compatibility, the theory was divided into social work with children and adolescents in the context of the Czech Republic and the Republic of Zambia, where the survey was implemented. Risk behavior, by which a target group of children and adolescents is threatened, was classified together with a possible prevention of pathological behavior. The survey part includes questionnaire construction, using both qualitative and quantitative methods in selected centers in the Czech Republic and the Republic of Zambia. The Qualitative research was implemented by a literal transcription method from provided interviews. The interviews were carried out together with the staff of institutions for children and adolescents of both the countries. Quantitative construction was implemented through anonymous questionnaires which were distributed among the children and adolescents in both the institutions. The scientific asset was the aforementioned identification of social work with children forms with respect to culture and customs of two different kinds of society. The thesis was a comparison with present status of services, stressing namely the activities aimed at socio-pathological traits prevention.

Thesis (MSc (Biomedical Technology))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. / Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of global mortality, of which over 75% occurred in low- and middle-income countries such as South Africa. The lipid profile, specifically decreased levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), elevated triglyceride levels and the presence of small-dense low density lipoprotein (sdLDL) has been reported associated with CVD. An increased number of sdLDL is also common in metabolic syndrome (MetS), visceral obesity and diabetes mellitus, the last a known risk factor for CVD. The modification of low density lipoprotein (LDL) size, or number of sdLDL particles, has been reported to significantly reduce CVD risk, but not conclusively so and needs further investigation. In this regard, sdLDL particles are seldom estimated routinely for clinical use because of financial and other limitations. Currently, an alternative approach for estimating sdLDL is to use equations derived from routine lipid measures, as has been proposed by several groups. However, there is a need for extensive evaluation of this equation across different ethnic and disease groups, especially since reports showed an inadequate performance of the equation in a Korean population. The aim of this study was to assess the performance of a recently proposed equation for the estimation of sdLDL in healthy and diabetic mixed ancestry South Africans. Furthermore, we also investigated the role of sdLDL as a cardiometabolic risk factor, as measured against known risk factors such as the glycemic and lipid profiles.

Vascular disease is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Incidence, risk factors, and outcome of coronary artery disease have been extensively studied, but there are fewer data on other forms of arterial disease, including carotid, aortic, visceral, and peripheral arterial disease. Although the burden of these diseases may be increasing due to the ageing population, we lack the most basic epidemiological data on which to base clinical decisions on individual patients (short and long-term prognosis); local service provision (current incidence and projected future burden); public health / screening initiatives (age and sex-specific incidence, risk factors, and outcome); and with which to assess current levels of primary prevention (pre-morbid risk factor control). Indeed, it is this lack of data, rather than a lack of treatments that is the greatest barrier to effective prevention. I have contributed to, cleaned, and analysed data from the Oxford Vascular Study, a prospective, population-based study (n=92,728) of all acute vascular events (2002-2012), and the Oxford Plaque Study, a carotid atherosclerosis biobank of over 1000 carotid plaques, in order to study these conditions. For acute aortic disease, I aimed to assess the risk factors associated with acute abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) and the population impact of the current UK AAA screening programme; and the incidence, risk factors, outcome, and projected future burden of acute aortic dissection. For acute peripheral arterial disease, I assessed the risk factors associated with premature onset and poor outcome, together with current levels of primary prevention. For symptomatic carotid artery disease, I studied the timing and benefits of surgical intervention in the current era; and went on to assess whether underlying carotid plaque morphology can be used to improve stroke risk stratification and help explain why ocular and cerebral stroke types have vast differences in future ipsilateral stroke risk. I found that compared with the current UK AAA screening strategy (one-off scan for men aged 65), screening of male smokers at 65 and all men at 75 would prevent nearly four-times as many deaths and three-times as many life-years lost with 21% fewer annual scans. I have also shown that incidence of acute aortic dissection is higher than previous estimates, a third of cases are out-of-hospital deaths, and uncontrolled hypertension is the most significant treatable risk factor for this condition. For acute peripheral arterial disease, the presence of multiple atherosclerotic risk factors are associated with premature onset, and severity of ischaemia, pre-morbid renal dysfunction, cardiac failure, and diabetes mellitus are predictive of future limb loss and survival. A significant proportion of acute peripheral events are AF-related in high risk patients who were not pre-morbidly anticoagulated despite having no contraindications and being at low risk of bleeding. Symptomatic carotid artery disease currently accounts for <10% of incident cerebrovascular events, and only 40% of these patients undergo surgical intervention. Due to improvements in medical therapy and on-going delays to intervention, little benefit is currently obtained from intervening in patients with <70% stenosis. Ipsilateral stroke risk is correlated with several carotid plaque features in a time-dependent manner, confirming the potential utility of plaque morphology in risk stratification. In addition, plaques from patients with cerebral events were significantly more unstable and inflammatory than from those with ocular events, helping explain differences in stroke risk between these groups. My findings advance the understanding of these conditions that form the backbone of modern vascular surgical practice, and I hope will improve prevention, clinical management, and outcome for patients with vascular disease.

The thesis discusses the primary prevention of risk behaviour as it is known in the Czech Republic and in Europe. The theoretical part is trying to comprehensively discuss the issue, however, it does not deal with present only it also charts its historical development. Based on the available literature and on personal experience of the author, there is an overall insight into the school primary prevention. At the beginning, the author tries to clarify the differences in terminology in this country and in Europe, as well as to deal with various forms of risky behaviour, which primary prevention focuses. A large section is devoted to teachers dealing with primary prevention and other participants of prevention such as students and their parents. As an integral part the theory also includes a chapter on specific activities, including examples of good practice especially from abroad, which can be used by school prevention methodologist in their work. The practical part of the thesis aims to propose to school prevention methodologists the right method of creating systematic strategy for primary prevention of risk behaviour phenomena in the school environment. The largest part consists of a model strategy for particular High School, from which it is clear how such a strategy should look like. The model...

The diploma thesis is devoted to the area of mental health problems / mental illnesses as a possible topic of general primary prevention in the school environment. It points out, that the mental health and illness is not being systematically solved. In the area of primary prevention is not given the kind of attention it deserves. In the theoretical part, basic notions are defined first, such as mental health and illness, risk behavior, stigma and prevention. The focus is on the period of adolescence and the perspective of possible links between risky behaviors and mental health problems/illnesses. The theoretical part of the work is also centered on the coping strategies of adolescents and the area of general primary prevention of risk behavior in the current concept of the Ministry of Education. That includes ensuring and controlling the quality and effectiveness of primary prevention programs. In brief, follow-up care - supported education and early intervention is discussed. The aim of the work is to map the relation of the needs of young people with mental illnesses and primary prevention. In addition, the findings will be a base for recommendations how to incorporate the topic of mental health and illness into the existing system of primary prevention. The methodology is based on a qualitative research...

Le droit international encadre l’exercice de la diplomatie des États dans une finalité de prévenir l’insécurité et, par extension, les conflits armés. Le droit de la diplomatie préventive reflète ainsi l’idée que la prévention de risques imminents de dommages matériels graves délimite l’objet d’un principe général de droit international. L’affirmation d’un principe est fondée sur l’analyse inductive des conventions majeures conclues en matière de maintien de la sécurité collective de 1899 à 1945. Elle est vérifiée à la lumière de la pratique de leur application par les Membres de la SdN et, depuis 1945, de l’ONU. Le caractère général de ce principe est déduit d’une étude combinée de la jurisprudence d’un nombre de juridictions internationales dans une variété de domaines du droit international. Les efforts individuels et collectifs de prévention des conflits obéissent donc à un régime juridique général qui organise le système contemporain de maintien de la paix internationale. / International law regulates States’ diplomacy for the purpose of preventing insecurity, and, by extension, armed conflicts. Accordingly, the law of preventive diplomacy reflects, in a sense, the idea that prevention of imminent risks of serious material damages defines a general principle of international law. The assertion of such a principle is based on an inductive analysis of the major treaties on collective security concluded between 1899 and 1945. It is verified in light of their application by Member States of the League of Nations and, since 1945, of the United Nations. The general nature of this principle is deduced from a combined study of the jurisprudence of a number of international courts and tribunals in various fields of international law. Those findings support the idea that individual and collective efforts of conflict prevention are subject to the respect of a general legal regime governing the current international system of peace-maintenance and collective security.