Dynamics of a disabled population in Morocco

BACKGROUND: The disabled population constitutes a class of people needing special care and necessitating important economic and social effort. METHODS: In this paper, using specific parameter settings, partial differential equations are used to model the temporal change of the proportion of the disabled population in Morocco. RESULTS: Combining different forms and values of the parameters, a numerical method is proposed and three scenarios are considered. These forms and values are determined by data fitting and simulation. CONCLUSIONS: The experiments show clearly the dynamical evolution of the disabled population with time and age according to each scenario

Ethnomedicinal survey of traditional antidiabetic plants in Baturraden and Sumbang

Background: The scientific-based jamu development program enables the development of medicinal plants in the traditional medicine system that eventual-ly can be used in the formal healthcare system. Baturraden and Sumbang are considered as areas with abundant plant biodiversity in Java, where the local community has used those plants for medicinal purposes.Objective: This study is conducted to qualitative and quantitatively record and conserve the knowledge of the Baturraden and Sumbang community on the utilization of plants for treating diabetes mellitus.Method: The data of the plant’s local names, plant organs, methods of prepara-tion, and routes of administration of the herbal preparations used for treating diabetes mellitus were collected through semi-structured interviews with 97 informants. The species use-value (SUV), the relative frequency of citation (RFC), and fidelity level (FL) of each species were calculated accordingly to determine their relative importance and value to the local community.Result: There were 11 plant species from 10 families mentioned. The most commonly used plant organ, preparation method, and administration route were leaves, decoction, and oral, respectively. The most important and valuable plants were including Piper ornatum (SUV = 0.19, RFC = 0.13, FL = 23.09%) and An-drographis paniculata (SUV = 0.09, RFC = 0.07, FL = 42.86%).Conclusion: As the most critical antidiabetic plant in the studied area, the decoction or infusion of Piper ornatum leaves is taken orally 1-2 times a day. However, there are no reports on its anti-diabetic-related activities available to date. In contrast, the uses of Andrographis paniculata as the antidiabetic agent has been widely proven. Baturraden and Sumbang people orally consumed the decoction of this plant’s leaves once a day for the said purpos

A mathematical model for the burden of diabetes and its complications

BACKGROUND: The incidence and prevalence of diabetes are increasing all over the world. Complications of diabetes constitute a burden for the individuals and the whole society. METHODS: In the present paper, ordinary differential equations and numerical approximations are used to monitor the size of populations of diabetes with and without complications. RESULTS: Different scenarios are discussed according to a set of parameters and the dynamical evolution of the population from the stage of diabetes to the stage of diabetes with complications is clearly illustrated. CONCLUSIONS: The model shows how efficient and cost-effective strategies can be obtained by acting on diabetes incidence and/or controlling the evolution to the stage of complications

A critical review of mathematical models and data used in diabetology

The literature dealing with mathematical modelling for diabetes is abundant. During the last decades, a variety of models have been devoted to different aspects of diabetes, including glucose and insulin dynamics, management and complications prevention, cost and cost-effectiveness of strategies and epidemiology of diabetes in general. Several reviews are published regularly on mathematical models used for specific aspects of diabetes. In the present paper we propose a global overview of mathematical models dealing with many aspects of diabetes and using various tools. The review includes, side by side, models which are simple and/or comprehensive; deterministic and/or stochastic; continuous and/or discrete; using ordinary differential equations, partial differential equations, optimal control theory, integral equations, matrix analysis and computer algorithms

Investigating the spatial distribution of diabetes in Africa using both classical and Bayesian approaches.

Master of Science in Statistics. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2017.Abstract available in PDF file

Quality of care for patients with type 2 diabetes in general practice according to patients' ethnic background: a cross-sectional study from Oslo, Norway

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In recent decades immigration to Norway from Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe has increased rapidly. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of care for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients from these ethnic minority groups compared with the care received by Norwegians.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In 2006, electronic medical record data were screened at 11 practices (49 GPs; 58857 patients). 1653 T2DM patients cared for in general practice were identified. Ethnicity was defined as self-reported country of birth. Chi-squared tests, one-way ANOVAs, multiple regression, linear mixed effect models and generalized linear mixed models were used.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Diabetes was diagnosed at a younger age in patients from the ethnic minority groups (South Asians (SA): mean age 44.9 years, Middle East/North Africa (MENA): 47.2 years, East Asians (EA): 52.0 years, others: 49.0 years) compared with Norwegians (59.7 years, p < 0.001). HbA1c, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and s-cholesterol were measured in >85% of patients in all groups with minor differences between minority groups and Norwegians. A greater proportion of the minority groups were prescribed hypoglycaemic medications compared with Norwegians (≥79% vs. 72%, p < 0.001). After adjusting for age, gender, diabetes duration, practice and physician unit, HbA1c (geometric mean) for Norwegians was 6.9% compared to 7.3-7.5% in the minority groups (p < 0.05). The proportion with poor glycaemic control (HbA1c > 9%) was higher in minority groups (SA: 19.6%, MENA: 18.9% vs. Norwegians: 5.6%, p < 0.001. No significant ethnic differences were found in the proportions reaching the combined target: HbA1c ≤ 7.5%, SBP ≤ 140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≤ 85 mmHg and total s-cholesterol ≤5.0 mmol/L (Norwegians: 25.5%, SA: 24.9%, MENA: 26.9%, EA: 26.1%, others:17.5%).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Mean age at the time of diagnosis of T2DM was 8-15 years younger in minority groups compared with Norwegians. Recording of important processes of care measures is high in all groups. Only one in four of most patient groups achieved all four treatment targets and prescribing habits may be sub-optimal. Patients from minority groups have worse glycaemic control than Norwegians which implies that it might be necessary to improve the guidelines to meet the needs of specific ethnic groups.</p

Factors associated with patient and health system delay in diagnosis and commencement of treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): systematic review

This MPH dissertation undertakes a systematic review on factors associated with patient and health system delay in diagnosing and commencing treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis in Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The dissertation is composed of three main parts: namely parts A, B and C. Part A is the research protocol, which give brief background to research topic and the process of this review. This systematic review aims to assess factors associated with patient and health system delay for diagnosis and initiation of treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Part B elaborates on the background and highlights the importance of this research by examining the existing theoretical and empirical literature relevant to the topic. Part C presents the entire research project in a format suitable for PLOS journal submission. The background of this research project is summarized and the results are presented and discussed