Double precision trajectory program /DPTRAJ 2.2C/

Four part program computes trajectory of space probe moving in solar system and subject to variety of forces

Dupuytren's Disease–Etiology and Treatment

BACKGROUND: The worldwide prevalence of Dupuytren’s disease (DD) is 8%. DD is a chronic disease for which there is no cure. Various treatments are available. METHODS: This review is based on pertinent publications retrieved by a selective search in PubMed and Embase. RESULTS: Genetic factors account for 80% of the factors involved in causing this disease. Diabetes mellitus, hepatic diseases, epilepsy, and chronic occupational use of vibrating tools are also associated with it. Limited fasciectomy is the most common treatment and is considered the reference standard. Possible complications include persistent numbness in areas where the skin has been elevated, cold sensitivity, and stiffness, with a cumulative risk of 3.6 –39.1% for all complications taken together. The recurrence rate at 5 years is 12–73%. Percutaneous needle fasciotomy is the least invasive method, with more rapid recovery and a lower complication rate than with limited fasciectomy. 85% of patients have a recurrence after an average of 2.3 years. Radiotherapy can be given before contractures arise in patients with high familial risk, or postoperatively in selected patients with a very high individual risk of recurrence. CONCLUSION: Although DD is not curable, good treatments are available. Recurrences reflect the pathophysiology of the disease and should not be considered complications of treatment. When counseling patients about the available treatment options, particularly the modalities and timing of surgery, the physician must take the patient’s degree of suffering into account. Nowadays, fast recovery from surgery and less postoperative pain are a priority for many patients. Different surgical methods can be used in combination. It remains difficult to predict the natural course and the time to postoperative recurrence in individual patients; these matters should be addressed in future studies

Antimicrobial activity of Cosmos caudatus extract against foodborne pathogens

The antimicrobial activity of Cosmos caudatus extract was evaluated against Bacillus cereus(ATCC 33019), Bacillus subtilis(ATCC 6633), Proteus mirabilis (ATCC 21100), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 9027) and Candida albicans (ATCC 10231) using the methods as recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI). The antimicrobial tests were conducted in term of susceptibility, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC) and killing-time curve. The results showed that C. caudatus extract was susceptible against all tested pathogens; the inhibition zone ranged from 8.60 mm to 9.83 mm. The MIC and MBC/MFC values were ranged from 6.25 mg/ml-12.50 mg/ml and 12.50 mg/ml-50.00 mg/ml, respectively. Mean while, killing-time curves showed that C. caudatus extract can killed the B. cereus, B. subtilis, P. mirabilis, P. aeruginosa and C. albicans at concentration of 8 MIC for 2 h, 4 MIC for 2 h or 2 MIC for 2 h, 8 MIC for 4 h, 4 MIC for 0.5 h and 4 MIC for 1 h, as respectively. Findings indicated that C. caudatus extract has the potentiality to develop as a natural antimicrobial agent

A cost effectiveness analysis of salt reduction policies to reduce coronary heart disease in four Eastern Mediterranean countries.

BACKGROUND: Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is rising in middle income countries. Population based strategies to reduce specific CHD risk factors have an important role to play in reducing overall CHD mortality. Reducing dietary salt consumption is a potentially cost-effective way to reduce CHD events. This paper presents an economic evaluation of population based salt reduction policies in Tunisia, Syria, Palestine and Turkey. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Three policies to reduce dietary salt intake were evaluated: a health promotion campaign, labelling of food packaging and mandatory reformulation of salt content in processed food. These were evaluated separately and in combination. Estimates of the effectiveness of salt reduction on blood pressure were based on a literature review. The reduction in mortality was estimated using the IMPACT CHD model specific to that country. Cumulative population health effects were quantified as life years gained (LYG) over a 10 year time frame. The costs of each policy were estimated using evidence from comparable policies and expert opinion including public sector costs and costs to the food industry. Health care costs associated with CHDs were estimated using standardized unit costs. The total cost of implementing each policy was compared against the current baseline (no policy). All costs were calculated using 2010 PPP exchange rates. In all four countries most policies were cost saving compared with the baseline. The combination of all three policies (reducing salt consumption by 30%) resulted in estimated cost savings of $235,000,000 and 6455 LYG in Tunisia;$39,000,000 and 31674 LYG in Syria; $6,000,000 and 2682 LYG in Palestine and$1,3000,000,000 and 378439 LYG in Turkey. CONCLUSION: Decreasing dietary salt intake will reduce coronary heart disease deaths in the four countries. A comprehensive strategy of health education and food industry actions to label and reduce salt content would save both money and lives

Augmented Reality for Real-time Navigation Assistance to Wheelchair Users with Obstacles' Management

International audienceDespite a rapid technological evolution in the field of technical assistance for people with motor disabilities, their ability to move independently in a wheelchair is still limited. New information and communication technologies (NICT) such as augmented reality (AR) are a real opportunity to integrate people with disabilities into their everyday life and work. AR can afford real-time information about buildings and locations' accessibility through mobile applications that allow the user to have a clear view of the building details. By interacting with augmented environments that appear in the real world using a smart device, users with disabilities have more control of their environment. In this paper, we propose a decision support system using AR for motor disabled people navigation assistance. We describe a real-time wheelchair navigation system equipped with geological mapping that indicates access path to a desired location, the shortest route towards it and identifies obstacles to avoid. The prototyped wheelchair navigation system was developed for use within the University of Lille campus

Sri Lankan tsunami refugees: a cross sectional study of the relationships between housing conditions and self-reported health

BACKGROUND: On the 26th December 2004 the Asian tsunami devastated the Sri Lankan coastline. More than two years later, over 14,500 families were still living in transitional shelters. This study compares the health of the internally displaced people (IDP), living in transitional camps with those in permanent housing projects provided by government and non-government organisations in Sri Lanka. METHODS: This study was conducted in seven transitional camps and five permanent housing projects in the south west of Sri Lanka. Using an interviewer-led questionnaire, data on the IDPs' self-reported health and housing conditions were collected from 154 participants from transitional camps and 147 participants from permanent housing projects. Simple tabulation with non-parametric tests and logistic regression were used to identify and analyse relationships between housing conditions and the reported prevalence of specific symptoms. RESULTS: Analysis showed that living conditions were significantly worse in transitional camps than in permanent housing projects for all factors investigated, except 'having a leaking roof'. Transitional camp participants scored significantly lower on self-perceived overall health scores than those living in housing projects. After controlling for gender, age and marital status, living in a transitional camp compared to a housing project was found to be a significant risk factor for the following symptoms; coughs OR: 3.53 (CI: 2.11-5.89), stomach ache 4.82 (2.19-10.82), headache 5.20 (3.09-8.76), general aches and pains 6.44 (3.67-11.33) and feeling generally unwell 2.28 (2.51-7.29). Within transitional camp data, the only condition shown to be a significant risk factor for any symptom was household population density, which increased the risk of stomach aches 1.40 (1.09-1.79) and headaches 1.33 (1.01-1.77). CONCLUSION: Internally displaced people living in transitional camps are a vulnerable population and specific interventions need to be targeted at this population to address the health inequalities that they report to be experiencing. Further studies need to be conducted to establish which aspects of their housing environment predispose them to poorer health