Behavior as an Illness Indicator

Behavior and Cognition of the Senior Cat and Its Interaction with Physical Disease

In cats, age-related pathologic condition and neurologic degeneration can produce changes in activity, vocalization, appearance, appetite, litter box use, sleep-wake cycle, personality, and cognitive ability. These changes can influence the relationship between owner and pet. Although cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) can cause altered behavior later in life, other medical or behavioral causes may mimic these clinical signs or complicate diagnosis. Management and treatment of CDS can be accomplished through pharmacologic intervention, diet and nutritional supplementation, and environmental enrichment aimed at slowing the progression of the disease.

Tungiasis: Participation of Cats and Chickens in the Dispersion and Maintenance of the Disease in an Endemic Tourist Area in Brazil

Tunga spp. are fleas commonly found in impoverished tropical regions. In Vila Juerana, a tourist community in Ilheus, Bahia, Brazil, where tungiasis is endemic, dogs are the main host of fleas during their life cycle. However, there is no information about the role of cats and chickens in tungiasis in the village. Of the 272 households investigated, 112 had domestic animals, 48 had only dogs, 28 had only cats, and nine had only chickens. Of the 27 households with cohabitation among species, 16 had cats and dogs, eight had chickens and dogs, and three had dogs, cats, and chickens. The injuries due to tungiasis were ranked according to the Fortaleza classification, considering stages I, II, and III as viable lesions. The paws/feet of 71/111 (63.9%) cats and 173/439 (39.4%) chickens were inspected. Dogs that lived with positive cats and chickens also were inspected. Among the 38% (27/7; 95% IC 26.74-49.32) positive cats, 16 cohabited houses with infected dogs but none lived with positive chickens. Of the chickens, 2.3% (4/173; 95% IC 0.07-4.5) had lesions caused by tungiasis. In each household where a cat was infected, the dog was also positive. Two chickens cohabited with an infected dog and the other two did not coexist with other species. Cohabitation with infected dogs and the absence of house confinement restrictions in Vila Juerana make cats important carriers that spread tungiasis in this community. Chickens had a low frequency of tungiasis lesions despite living in proximity to infected dogs and cats.

Does the disclosure of medical insurance information affect patients' willingness to adopt the diagnosis related groups system

Introduction

Medical insurance information disclosure is not only a direct way for the public to understand and master social insurance information and resource use benefits, but also an important way for the public to participate in medical service governance and supervision. Some studies have shown that information disclosure can significantly reduce the risk perception of user groups, strengthen their trust and reduce the negative impact of information asymmetry.

Methods

Based on risk perception and trust perception theories, this paper focuses on the mechanisms influencing patients' attitudes in the process of implementing a Diagnosis Related Groups payment system. Using medical insurance information disclosure from a governance perspective as the research object, the impact of medical insurance information disclosure on patients' willingness to adopt the Diagnosis Related Groups payment system was analyzed by means of a questionnaire survey, Data analysis and hypothesis testing via SPSS while the mechanism of the impact of medical insurance information disclosure on patients' attitudes was explored in depth.

Results

It was found that medical insurance information disclosure had a significant positive effect on patients' trust perceptions and a significant negative effect on patients' risk perceptions. The more comprehensive information patients received, the stronger their trust and the lower their perceived risk.

Discussion

This paper conducts an empirical study from patients' perspective, broadens the scope of research on medical insurance Diagnosis related groups, enriches the application of risk perception and trust perception theories in the medical field, and provides management suggestions for medical institutions in the management of medical insurance information disclosure.