Overview of international teledermatology

Teledermatology is essentially “dermatology at a distance”, using one of many communication technologies to expand the reach of a dermatologist to those in need of their specialized knowledge. Most international teledermatology is store-and-forward in nature, a method in which images are stored on a computer and then transmitted electronically to a consulting dermatologist. This system is more convenient and less costly than realtime teledermatology. This review will focus on several of the store-and-forward teledermatology systems being developed and utilized successfully internationally. This discussion of “who” is practicing teledermatology is not comprehensive, but attempts to show some of the breadth of teledermatology practice around the world, including government national health plans, commercial endeavors, and charitable work by individuals and institutions. The goal in many instances is to provide better health outcomes through increased access, efficiency, and/or costeffectiveness. More studies ultimately need to be conducted to develop a more comprehensive and sustainable model for teledermatology

Determination of absorption of vitamin B<SUB>12</SUB> by a double isotope tracer technique

A new simple method for the study of vitamin B12 absorption involving the use of two tracers is described. Along with 58Co labeled vitamin B12 an unabsorbable marker in the form of 51Cr labeled chromic oxide is administered to the patients. The ratio of the activities of the two isotopes in the standard is compared with the ratio of the activies of these isotopes in an aliquot of a stool sample collected after 24 or 48 hours. The absorption of labeled vitamin B12 is estimated from the alteration in the ratio of absorbable and unabsorbable isotopes in the stool sample. The method compares well with other methods of estimating vitamin B12 absorption such as Schilling's test, total faecal collection and whole body counting

High-Redshift Dust Obscured Galaxies: A Morphology-Spectral Energy Distribution Connection Revealed by Keck Adaptive Optics

A simple optical to mid-IR color selection, R – [24]>14, i.e., f_ν(24 μm)/f_ν(R) ≳ 1000, identifies highly dust obscured galaxies (DOGs) with typical redshifts of z ~ 2 ± 0.5. Extreme mid-IR luminosities (L_(IR) > 10^(12-14)) suggest that DOGs are powered by a combination of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and star formation, possibly driven by mergers. In an effort to compare their photometric properties with their rest-frame optical morphologies, we obtained high-spatial resolution (0."05-0."1) Keck Adaptive Optics K'-band images of 15 DOGs. The images reveal a wide range of morphologies, including small exponential disks (eight of 15), small ellipticals (four of 15), and unresolved sources (two of 15). One particularly diffuse source could not be classified because of low signal-to-noise ratio. We find a statistically significant correlation between galaxy concentration and mid-IR luminosity, with the most luminous DOGs exhibiting higher concentration and smaller physical size. DOGs with high concentration also tend to have spectral energy distributions (SEDs) suggestive of AGN activity. Thus, central AGN light may be biasing the morphologies of the more luminous DOGs to higher concentration. Conversely, more diffuse DOGs tend to show an SED shape suggestive of star formation. Two of 15 in the sample show multiple resolved components with separations of ~1 kpc, circumstantial evidence for ongoing mergers

Complex networks generated by the Penna bit-string model: emergence of small-world and assortative mixing

The Penna bit-string model successfully encompasses many phenomena of population evolution, including inheritance, mutation, evolution, and aging. If we consider social interactions among individuals in the Penna model, the population will form a complex network. In this paper, we first modify the Verhulst factor to control only the birth rate, and introduce activity-based preferential reproduction of offspring in the Penna model. The social interactions among individuals are generated by both inheritance and activity-based preferential increase. Then we study the properties of the complex network generated by the modified Penna model. We find that the resulting complex network has a small-world effect and the assortative mixing property

Clinical profile of children with pneumonia admitted at tertiary care hospital, Belgaum: A prospective study

Background: Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are a public health problem in India. Timely intervention, correct treatment, and&nbsp;referral service can save many deaths, particularly pneumonia. Objective: This study aimed to study the sociodemographic and&nbsp;clinical profile of children hospitalized with pneumonia and its relation to the duration of stay at a tertiary care center at Belgaum&nbsp;district, Karnataka. Methodology: The study was conducted in Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences, a referral hospital, during&nbsp;2013-2015.&nbsp; Sociodemographic and clinical features of children aged from more than 2 months to 18 years of age were studied.&nbsp;A total of 84 children who met the inclusion criteria for community-acquired pneumonia were studied. The patient population&nbsp;comprises mainly of the low-income group from rural areas, urban slums, referred patients from surrounding rural areas, and private&nbsp;clinics. Results: A total of 84 children were studied, 48 boys and 36 girls. Maximum numbers of children were in low socioeconomic&nbsp;group (43 in upper lower and 37 in lower group) according to modified Kuppuswamy classification. Passive smoking was present&nbsp;in 40.5% of studied and overcrowding was seen in 51% of children studied. 44% of children were breastfed for &lt;6 months, and&nbsp;30.64% were partially immunized. There is a significant association between passive smoking, delayed medical attention, and&nbsp;duration of stay. Conclusion: With this study, we can conclude that children who got early medical attention (&lt;4 days) stayed for&nbsp;less period of time in the hospital (&lt;7 days). Children exposed to passive smoking had a longer duration of stay

An observational comparative study of intraocular pressure changes in post-operative cataract patients treated with dexamethasone and difluprednate

Background: Cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide. Treatment of cataract is surgical. Topical corticosteroids are routinely used in the treatment of post-operative inflammation following cataract surgery. This study aims to compare the intraocular pressure changes caused by topical steroids (dexamethasone and difluprednate) and to detect adverse effects.Methods: All patients operated by phacoemulsification in ophthalmology Department of SMIMER Surat were taken as subjects. Depending on topical steroids prescribed after surgery, subjects were separated into 2 groups, group 1 - difluprednate and group 2 - dexamethasone. Changes in intra-ocular pressure (IOP) of patients were collected from the data available pre-operative, 1st ,2nd ,3rd ,4th week after surgery and were analyzed. Other parameters whose data were collected are-adverse effects and compliance of patients.Results: In group 1 preoperative mean IOP was 15.5. At the end of 1st week, the mean IOP was significantly increased to 15.8. There was equal rise in IOP during 3rd week and 4th week which means that after 3rd week IOP remains stable. In group 2 preoperative mean IOP was 15.4. At the end of 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th there was significant increase in IOP as compared to preoperative mean IOP. Adverse effects were reported more in group 2.Conclusions: In group 1 there was a rise in IOP up to three weeks but after 3rd week IOP remained stable. In group 2 rise in IOP was seen throughout 4 weeks of treatment. Adverse effects seen more in group 2. Compliance of patients was better in group 1

GIS-based Earthquake Disaster Management A case study for Solapur city (Maharashtra, India)

This paper aims to demonstrate a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based study on development of City Disaster Management System for earthquake for Solapur city (India).An approach has been designed to explore the scope for the combination of Disaster Management and GIS. The disaster-prone areas have been identified and their positions are marked using ArcView 9.1. GIS has been exploited to obtain the spatial information for the effective disaster management for earthquake-affected areas. ArcView 9.1 has been used as a tool for storing all types of relevant data for analysis and decision making. The various thematic maps include road network map, drinking water sources map, land use map, population density map, ward boundaries and location of slums. The paper proposes development of a GIS-based early response system, and an emergency preparedness plan for the Solapur city and also analysis of the impact of earthquake disasters in the region and its relationship to infrastructure development with a view to identifying how local governing bodies could be helped in addressing these issues. The proposed GIS-based flood mitigation and management program would improve the current practices of disaster management process. If implemented properly, it would result in proper and quick decisions for the rescue and safetyof the general public, which in turn would help in minimizing loss of life and propert

Incremental role of male circumcision on a generalised HIV epidemic through its protective effect against other sexually transmitted infections: from efficacy to effectiveness to population-level impact.

The protection of MC against STI contributes little to the overall effect of MC on HIV. Additional work is needed to determine whether, and under what conditions, the protective effect of MC efficacy against STIs can have a significant incremental benefit on the HIV epidemic

An observational comparative study of intraocular pressure changes in post-operative cataract patients treated with dexamethasone, difluprednate and prednisolone in a tertiary care centre

Background: Cataract is opacity of lens which is treated surgically. Topical corticosteroids are routinely used in the treatment of post-operative inflammation following cataract surgery. This study aims to compare the intraocular pressure changes caused by various topical steroids (prednisolone, dexamethasone and difluprednate) in post cataract patients. To compare compliance and to detect any significant adverse effects.Methods: Patients admitted in ophthalmology department for cataract surgery operated by phacoemulsification were taken as subjects. Total number of patients enrolled in the study were 354. Subjects were separated into 3 groups depending on topical steroids which were prescribed after surgery: group 1 - difluprednate, group 2 -dexamethasone and group 3 - prednisolone. Changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) of patients were measured by ophthalmology department preoperatively and postoperatively after 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th week of surgery. These data were collected and analysed. Adverse effects, Compliance of patients and number of bottles of drug used after surgery were also noted.Results: On comparing IOP, there was significant variation (p&lt;0.027) between 3 drugs after one week of drug administration. When group 1 was compared with group 2 or group 3 there was no significant difference Average cost of difluprednate is about 3 times higher than the cost of dexamethasone or prednisolone.Conclusions: All the three topical steroids cause a rise in intraocular pressure in post cataract patients. But in group 1 (difluprednate) there was a rise in IOP up to three weeks after surgery but after 3rd week IOP remained stable. Adverse effects were seen more in group 2 and group 3.

The Sizes of 1720 MHz OH Masers: VLBA and MERLIN Observations of the Supernova Remnants W44 and W28

We have used the NRAO Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) to image OH(1720 MHz) masers in the supernova remnants W28 and W44 at a resolution of 40 mas. We also used MERLIN to observe the same OH(1720 MHz) masers in W44 at a resolution of 290 x 165 mas. All the masers are resolved by these VLBA and MERLIN observations. The measured sizes range from 50 to 180 mas and yield brightness temperature estimates from 0.3--20 x 10**8 K. We investigate whether these measured angular sizes are intrinsic and hence originate as a result of the physical conditions in the supernova remnant shock, or whether they are scatter broadened sizes produced by the turbulent ionized gas along the line of sight. While the current data on the temporal and angular broadening of pulsars, masers and extragalactic soures toward W44 and W28 can be understood in terms of scattering, we cannot rule out that these large sizes are intrinsic. Recent theoretical modeling by Lockett et al. suggests that the physical parameters in the shocked region are indicative of densities and OH abundances which lead to estimates of sizes as large as what we measure. If the sizes and structure are intrinsic, then the OH(1720 MHz) masrs may be more like the OH(1612 MHz) masers in circumstellar shells than OH masers associated with HII regions. At two locations in W28 we observe the classical S-shapes in the Stokes V profiles caused by Zeeman splitting and use it to infer magnetic fields of order 2 milliGauss.Comment: 24 pages, 6 figures, accepted by Ap