Association of Malassezia furfur with Onychomycosis patients In Baghdad, Iraq

Background:Onychomycosis is a fungal nail infection. It infected about 10 % of the adults. The prevalence of onychomycosis is around 5% of fungal infections. Malassezia furfur is a basidiomycetous yeast and a part of normal human skin flora. By using biochemical, immunological and molecular methods on Malassezia yeast, this genus comprises 14 species. The higher detection rate of Malassezia furfur was observed by using molecular identification methods, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit (LSU) regions. Objective: To detect of Malassezia furfur associated with Onychomycosis and evaluate the application of molecular method as rapid identification of Malassezia furfur. Patients and Methods:Fifty samples have been collected from  patients presented signs of onychomycosis in Al- Imammian Al-Kadhamain Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq for a period of six months (from 1st of October to the 30rd of April). Clinical diagnosis was done by consultant dermatologist. Twenty nine were males and twenty one were females, the mean age of studied group was (26.12 ± 9.89) years old, with age ranging from 10 to 60 years old. Fifty healthy volunteers as control includes nail clips, the range of ages was from 1 to 60 years old with a mean of (27.88 ± 12.03) years. Patients and control were investigated for M. furfur using phenotypic and molecular analysis. Results:Males were more infected with onychomycosis than females, with a frequency percentage (58%). According to age, the most frequent among (31-40 years old) age groups. On the basis of Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method it was showed a positive result in 6 (12%) out of 50 onychomycosis patients and a positive result in 1 (2%) out of 50 healthy volunteers. Conclusion:From these findings, it was concluded that the males were most infected than females. PCR technique is sensitive, specific and less time consuming than cultural methods

Physicians' acquaintance with a new procedure results in higher patient referral: experience of Kosovo in coronary angiography

The first coronary angiography in Kosovo was completed in 2003. We analyzed coronary angiographies performed in our center from October 2003 until October 2009 divided into two 3-year periods. The aims of our study were: to compare the number of coronary angiographies completed in the two periods; to evaluate the prevalence of normal coronary angiographies diagnosed in the first period compared to the second period; and to assess the prevalence of advanced coronary artery disease in the first three years compared to the last three years. This was a prospective angiography study that included 1,139 patients. The first group had 422 patients, who underwent the angiography procedure during the first three years, and the second group had 717 patients that went through the procedure during the last three years. In the first year, 109 coronary angiographies were completed, followed by 137, 176, 213, 218 and 286 (P<0.001) procedures in the subsequent years. In the first period, a normal or near-normal coronary artery profile was found in 27% of patients, while this figure rose to approximately 39% in the second period (P=0.004). Advanced coronary artery disease was found in 45% of the patients who underwent coronary angiography during the first three years, whereas this figure was only 24% of cases during the second period (P<0.001). We believe that the availability of specialized resources and the physicians' familiarity with coronary angiography in our country influenced their decision to refer more patients for this procedure

Barriers and needs in paediatric palliative home care in Germany: a qualitative interview study with professional experts

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In North-Rhine Westphalia (Germany) a pilot project for an extensive service provision of palliative care for children and adolescents has been implemented. Accompanying research was undertaken with the aim to assess the status quo of service delivery at the outset of the project and to evaluate the effects of the pilot project. As part of the research, barriers and needs with respect to paediatric palliative home care in the target region were explored.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Semi-structured interviews with 24 experts in the field of paediatrics, palliative and hospice care have been conducted and were analysed by qualitative content analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Four main categories emerged from the interviews: (1) specific challenges and demands in palliative care for children and adolescents, (2) lack of clear legal and financial regulations, (3) gaps in the existing care delivery, and (4) access to services. Generally the interviews reflected the observation that the whole field is currently expanding and that certain deficits are temporary barriers that will be resolvable in the medium-term perspective.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Predominant barriers were seen in the lack of clear legal and financial regulations which take into account the specific challenges of palliative care in children and adolescents, as well as in a shortcoming of specialist services for a local based care provision throughout the federal country.</p

A Review of Economic Consequences and Costs of Male Violence Against Women

[EN] This article focuses on male violence against women. As it takes place in what is often considered to be 'the private sphere' of the home, violence is difficult to prove, to measure, to prevent and easy to ignore. A multi-country study (WHO, 2005, WHO multi-country study on women's health and domestic violence against women: Summary report of initial results on prevalence, health outcomes and women's responses, Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization) shows that there are wide variations between countries resulting in 15 per cent to 71 per cent of women aged between 15 and 49 years saying that they have been victims of physical or sexual violence in intimate relationships. This article reviews and summarises literature that analyse types of economic costs that result from domestic violence and abuse perpetrated against women.The theoretical reflections and findings are from a research project funded by the European Commission through the Leonardo da Vinci Programme named 'Giving Hope to Victims of Abuse through Vocational Guidance', promoted and coordinated by the University Miguel Hernandez of Elche. The content of this paper does not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union or the National Agency, nor does it involve any responsibility on their part (Agreement number: 2011/3500-516610-LLp-1-2011-1-ES-LEONARDO-LMP).López-Sánchez, MJ.; Belso-Martínez, JA.; Hervás Oliver, JL. (2019). A Review of Economic Consequences and Costs of Male Violence Against Women. Indian Journal of Gender Studies. 26(3):424-434. https://doi.org/10.1177/0971521519861194S424434263Babcock, J. C., Waltz, J., Jacobson, N. S., & Gottman, J. M. (1993). Power and violence: The relation between communication patterns, power discrepancies, and domestic violence. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61(1), 40-50. doi:10.1037/0022-006x.61.1.40Bloch, F., & Rao, V. (2002). Terror as a Bargaining Instrument: A Case Study of Dowry Violence in Rural India. American Economic Review, 92(4), 1029-1043. doi:10.1257/00028280260344588Comijs, H. C., Pot, A. M., Smit, J. H., Bouter, L. M., & Jonker, C. (1998). Elder Abuse in the Community: Prevalence and Consequences. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 46(7), 885-888. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1998.tb02724.xFord-Gilboe, M., Wuest, J., & Merritt-Gray, M. (2005). Strengthening Capacity to Limit Intrusion: Theorizing Family Health Promotion in the Aftermath of Woman Abuse. Qualitative Health Research, 15(4), 477-501. doi:10.1177/1049732305274590Garbarino, J., & Crouter, A. (1978). Defining the Community Context for Parent-Child Relations: The Correlates of Child Maltreatment. Child Development, 49(3), 604. doi:10.2307/1128227Grana, S. J. (2001). Journal of Family Violence, 16(4), 421-435. doi:10.1023/a:1012229011161HEISE, L. L. (1998). Violence Against Women. Violence Against Women, 4(3), 262-290. doi:10.1177/1077801298004003002Kim, J., & Gray, K. A. (2008). Leave or Stay? Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 23(10), 1465-1482. doi:10.1177/0886260508314307Krug, E. G., Mercy, J. A., Dahlberg, L. L., & Zwi, A. B. (2002). The world report on violence and health. The Lancet, 360(9339), 1083-1088. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(02)11133-0LAMBERT, L. C., & FIRESTONE, J. M. (2000). Economic Context and Multiple Abuse Techniques. Violence Against Women, 6(1), 49-67. doi:10.1177/1077801200006001004Max, W., Rice, D. P., Finkelstein, E., Bardwell, R. A., & Leadbetter, S. (2004). The Economic Toll of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in the United States. Violence and Victims, 19(3), 259-272. doi:10.1891/vivi.19.3.259.65767(2003). Costs of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in the United States. PsycEXTRA Dataset. doi:10.1037/e721242007-001Reeves, C., & O’Leary-Kelly, A. M. (2007). The Effects and Costs of Intimate Partner Violence for Work Organizations. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 22(3), 327-344. doi:10.1177/0886260506295382Roldós, M. I., & Corso, P. (2013). The Economic Burden of Intimate Partner Violence in Ecuador: Setting the Agenda for Future Research and Violence Prevention Policies. Western Journal of Emergency Medicine, 14(4), 347-353. doi:10.5811/westjem.2013.2.15697Schiamberg, L. B., & Gans, D. (1999). An Ecological Framework for Contextual Risk Factors in Elder Abuse by Adult Children. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 11(1), 79-103. doi:10.1300/j084v11n01_05(1993). World Development Report 1993. doi:10.1596/0-1952-0890-0TOLMAN, R. M., & ROSEN, D. (2001). Domestic Violence in the Lives of Women Receiving Welfare. Violence Against Women, 7(2), 141-158. doi:10.1177/1077801201007002003Wuest, J., Ford-Gilboe, M., Merritt-Gray, M., & Berman, H. (2003). Intrusion: The Central Problem for Family Health Promotion among Children and Single Mothers after Leaving an Abusive Partner. Qualitative Health Research, 13(5), 597-622. doi:10.1177/1049732303013005002Yodanis, C. L., Godenzi, A., & Stanko, E. A. (2000). The Benefits of Studying Costs: A Review and Agenda for Studies on the Economic Costs of Violence Against Women. Policy Studies, 21(3), 263-276. doi:10.1080/0144287002001953

The analysis of 2-amino-2-thiazoline-4-carboxylic acid in the plasma of smokers and non-smokers

ATCA (2-amino-2-thiazoline-4-carboxylic acid) is a promising marker to assess cyanide exposure because of several advantages of ATCA analysis over direct determination of cyanide and alternative cyanide biomarkers (i.e. stability in biological matrices, consistent recovery, and relatively small endogenous concentrations). Concentrations of ATCA in the plasma of smoking and non-smoking human volunteers were analyzed using gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry to establish the feasibility of using ATCA as a marker for cyanide exposure. The levels of ATCA in plasma of smoking volunteers, 17.2 ng/ml, were found to be significantly (p < 0.001) higher than that of non-smoking volunteers, 11.8 ng/ml. Comparison of ATCA concentrations of smokers relative to non-smokers in both urine and plasma yielded relatively similar results. The concentration ratio of ATCA for smokers versus non-smokers in plasma and urine was compared to similar literature studies of cyanide and thiocyanate, and correlations are discussed. This study supports previous evidence that ATCA can be used to determine past cyanide exposure and indicates that further studies should be pursued to validate the use of ATCA as a marker of cyanide exposure

Paediatric palliative home care by general paediatricians: a multimethod study on perceived barriers and incentives

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Non-specialist palliative care, as it is delivered by general practitioners, is a basic component of a comprehensive palliative care infrastructure for adult patients with progressive and far advanced disease. Currently palliative care for children and adolescents is recognized as a distinct entity of care, requiring networks of service providers across different settings, including paediatricians working in general practice. In Germany, the medical home care for children and adolescents is to a large extent delivered by general paediatricians working in their own practice. However, these are rarely confronted with children suffering from life-limiting diseases. The aim of this study was therefore to examine potential barriers, incentives, and the professional self-image of general paediatricians with regard to paediatric palliative care.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Based on qualitative expert interviews, a questionnaire was designed and a survey among general paediatricians in their own practice (n = 293) was undertaken. The survey has been developed and performed in close cooperation with the regional professional association of paediatricians.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results showed a high disposition on part of the paediatricians to engage in palliative care, and the majority of respondents regarded palliative care as part of their profile. Main barriers for the implementation were time restrictions (40.7%) and financial burden (31.6%), sole responsibility without team support (31.1%), as well as formal requirements such as forms and prescriptions (26.6%). Major facilitations were support by local specialist services such as home care nursing service (83.0%), access to a specialist paediatric palliative care consultation team (82.4%), as well as an option of exchange with colleagues (60.1%).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Altogether, the high commitment to this survey reflects the relevance of the issue for paediatricians working in general practice. Education in basic palliative care competence and communication skills was seen as an important prerequisite for the engagement in paediatric palliative home care. A local network of specialist support on site and a 24/7 on-call service are necessary in order to facilitate the implementation of basic palliative care by paediatricians in their own practice.</p

Deficits in visuo-spatial working memory, inhibition and oculomotor control in boys with ADHD and their non-affected brothers.

Few studies have assessed visuo-spatial working memory and inhibition in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by recording saccades and consequently little additional knowledge has been gathered on oculomotor functioning in ADHD. Moreover, this is the first study to report the performance of non-affected siblings of children with ADHD, which may shed light on the familiality of deficits. A total of 14 boys with ADHD, 18 non-affected brothers, and 15 control boys aged 7-14 years, were administered a memory-guided saccade task with delays of three and seven seconds. Familial deficits were found in accuracy of visuo-spatial working memory, percentage of anticipatory saccades, and tendency to overshoot saccades relative to controls. These findings suggest memory-guided saccade deficits may relate to a familial predisposition for ADHD

The effects of aging of scientists on their publication and citation patterns

The average age at which U.S. researchers get their first grant from NIH has increased from 34.3 in 1970, to 41.7 in 2004. These data raise the crucial question of the effects of aging on the scientific creativity and productivity of researchers. Those who worry about the aging of scientists usually believe that the younger they are the more creative and productive they will be. Using a large population of 13,680 university professors in Quebec, we show that, while scientific productivity rises sharply between 28 and 40, it increases at a slower pace between 41 and 50 and stabilizes afterward until retirement for the most active researchers. The average scientific impact per paper decreases linearly until 50-55 years old, but the average number of papers in highly cited journals and among highly cited papers rises continuously until retirement. Our results clearly show for the first time the natural history of the scientific productivity of scientists over their entire career and bring to light the fact that researchers over 55 still contribute significantly to the scientific community by producing high impact papers.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure