A comparative study on the benefits and challenges of the application of mobile technology in health

Background: The application of mobile technology in the health domain i.e mobile health (mhealth) commonly refers to the use of mobile telecommunication and multi-media technologies for providing health services and public health systems. Some scholars consider mobile health as a subsystem of health technology which, due to the existing conditions, has become more significant compared to other interventions in this field. The present study intends to investigate the global approach on mobile health technology on the one hand, and its benefits and challenges on the other. Materials and Methods: As a comparative-descriptive study conducted in 2011, the present study has tried to explore mhealth technology strategies in public health domain, different types of mhealth interventions and benefits of using mhealth as well as its challenges and obstacles. The data were collected through informational sources such as articles, books, magazines and valid websites. Then, the status of the countries were compared and analyzed as far as the development of this technology is concened. Results:Based on the findings of the study, one of the criteria affecting the development of mhealth is the high penetration of mobile phone. By October, 2011, the estimated number of mobile users has been over 5 billion showing a penetration coefficient of 76. The review of the research on the obstacles and challenges experienced in moving towards the development of this technology by World Health Organization revealed that prioritization and increasing knowledge level are the most significant obstacles in the way to develop this technology. Discussions: Mhealth technology has been provided in most countries with the aim of promoting public health and accelerating the supply of health services. Having a penetration coefficient of over 90 in Iran, it can be predicted that this country can take effective steps towards development of this technology

Designing an organizational memory model for reporting the medical errors

Background: The increasing growth in the volume of the data in the organizations and the resultant challenges due to medical errors during the last two decades have made the necessity of reporting and managing medical errors more apparent. Organizational memory (OM) has been known as one of the tools appropriate for implementing knowledge management. The goal of the present study is to design an organizational memory model for medical departments of the teaching and medical centers of Charmahal va Bakhtiyari province in Iran. Materials and Methods: This study is descriptive - applied in nature and its population consisted of the personnel of teachingmedical centers in Charmahal va Bakhtiyari province. Identifying the processes was performed through observation and the required data for identifying and reporting the medical errors was collected through conducting one structured interview with 65 personnel from the medical departments of 5 centers under research. OMs were derived through library research and online search. Based on the results of need-analysis and reviewing of the models, the proposed model was prepared and then was judged and evaluated by the medical professionals through Delphi test technique. Results: The personnel who took part in the study believed if they have access to the data and information required for reporting the medical errors, they will have a better performance (85). they regarded the use of organizational memory as a necessity (98) and enumerated the occurrence of errors, slowness of the work, irregularity, discontent and wonderlessness of the customers as some challenges resulting from human error and system fault (86). Discussions: Organizational memory system which relates organizational knowledge to job functions related to reporting the errors not to recognize the wrongdoer but to prevent error repetition, is one of the requirements of the medical centers which can promote the efficiency and organizational learning

Progranulin as a biomarker and potential therapeutic agent

Progranulin is a cysteine-rich secreted protein with diverse pleiotropic actions and participates in several processes, such as inflammation or tumorigenesis. Progranulin was first identified as a growth factor and, recently, it was characterised as an adipokine implicated in obesity, insulin resistance and rheumatic disease. At a central level, progranulin acts as a neurotropic and neuroprotective factor and protects from neural degeneration. In this review, we summarise the most recent research advances concerning the potential role of progranulin as a therapeutic target and biomarker in cancer, neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases

Communication aid requirements of intensive care unit patients with transient speech loss

Alert and transiently nonvocal intensive care unit (ICU) patients are dependent on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Unfortunately, the literature demonstrates that existent AAC devices have not been widely adopted, and unaided methods are often the primary modalities used despite being insufficient, and frustrating. We present the results of a qualitative semi-structured interview study with 8 ex-ICU patients, 4 ICU patient relatives, and 6 ICU staff, exploring their AAC needs and requirements. Participants identified important AAC hardware, software, and content requirements. Salient factors impacting on AAC adoption in the ICU setting were also highlighted and included the need for staff training and bedside patient assessment. Based on the study results, we propose a series of recommendations regarding the design and implementation of future AAC tools specifically targeted at this group

Chondrocyte secretome: a source of novel insights and exploratory biomarkers of osteoarthritis

The extracellular matrix (ECM) of articular cartilage is comprised of complex networks of proteins and glycoproteins, all of which are expressed by its resident cell, the chondrocyte. Cartilage is a unique tissue given its complexity and ability to resist repeated load and deformation. The mechanisms by which articular cartilage maintains its integrity throughout our lifetime is not fully understood, however there are numerous regulatory pathways known to govern ECM turnover in response to mechanical stimuli. To further our understanding of this field, we envision that proteomic analysis of the secretome will provide information on how the chondrocyte remodels the surrounding ECM in response to load, in addition to providing information on the metabolic state of the cell. In this review, we attempt to summarize the recent mass spectrometry-based proteomic discoveries in healthy and diseased cartilage and chondrocytes, to facilitate the discovery of novel biomarkers linked to degenerative pathologies, such as osteoarthritis (OA)

Intersection of inflammation and herbal medicine in the treatment of osteoarthritis

Herbal remedies and dietary supplements have become an important area of research and clinical practice in orthopaedics and rheumatology. Understanding the risks and benefits of using herbal medicines in the treatment of arthritis, rheumatic diseases, and musculoskeletal complaints is a key priority of physicians and their patients. This review discusses the latest advances in the use of herbal medicines for treating osteoarthritis (OA) by focusing on the most significant trends and developments. This paper sets the scene by providing a brief introduction to ethnopharmacology, Ayurvedic medicine, and nutrigenomics before discussing the scientific and mechanistic rationale for targeting inflammatory signalling pathways in OA by use of herbal medicines. Special attention is drawn to the conceptual and practical difficulties associated with translating data from in-vitro experiments to in-vivo studies. Issues relating to the low bioavailability of active ingredients in herbal medicines are discussed, as also is the need for large-scale, randomized clinical trial

Comparison of different techniques for characterizing the diesel injector internal dimensions

[EN] The geometry of certain parts of diesel injectors is key to the injection, atomization and fuel-air mixing phenomena. Small variations on the geometrical parameters may have a strong influence on the aforementioned processes. Thus, OEMs need to assess their manufacturing tolerances, whereas researchers in the field (both experimentalists and modelers) rely on the accuracy of a certain metrology technique for their studies. In the current paper, an investigation of the capability of different experimental techniques to determine the geometry of a modern diesel fuel injector has been performed. For this purpose, three main elements of the injector have been evaluated: the control volume inlet and outlet orifices, together with the nozzle orifices. While the direct observation of the samples through an optical microscope is only possible for the simplest pieces, both Computed Tomography Scanning and the visualization of silicone molds technique have proven their ability to characterize the most complex internal shapes corresponding to the internal injector elements. Indeed, results indicate that the differences observed among these methodologies for the determination of the control volume inlet orifice diameter and the nozzle orifice dimensions are smaller than the uncertainties related to the experimental techniques, showing that they are both equally accurate. This implies that the choice of a given technique for the particular application of determining the geometry of diesel injectors can be done on the basis of availability, intrusion and costs, rather than on its accuracy.This work was partly sponsored by "Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad", of the Spanish Government, in the frame of the Project "Estudio de la interaccion chorro-pared en condiciones realistas de motor", Reference TRA2015-67679-c2-1-R.Salvador, FJ.; Gimeno, J.; De La Morena, J.; Carreres, M. (2018). Comparison of different techniques for characterizing the diesel injector internal dimensions. Experimental Techniques. 42(5):467-472. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40799-018-0246-1S467472425Mobasheri R, Peng Z, Mostafa S (2012) Analysis the effect of advanced injection strategies on engine performance and pollutant emissions in a heavy duty DI-diesel engine by CFD modeling. 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A consensus-based framework for conducting and reporting osteoarthritis phenotype research

Background The concept of osteoarthritis (OA) heterogeneity is evolving and gaining renewed interest. According to this concept, distinct subtypes of OA need to be defined that will likely require recognition in research design and different approaches to clinical management. Although seemingly plausible, a wide range of views exist on how best to operationalize this concept. The current project aimed to provide consensus-based definitions and recommendations that together create a framework for conducting and reporting OA phenotype research. Methods A panel of 25 members with expertise in OA phenotype research was composed. First, panel members participated in an online Delphi exercise to provide a number of basic definitions and statements relating to OA phenotypes and OA phenotype research. Second, panel members provided input on a set of recommendations for reporting on OA phenotype studies. Results Four Delphi rounds were required to achieve sufficient agreement on 11 definitions and statements. OA phenotypes were defined as subtypes of OA that share distinct underlying pathobiological and pain mechanisms and their structural and functional consequences. Reporting recommendations pertaining to the study characteristics, study population, data collection, statistical analysis, and appraisal of OA phenotype studies were provided. Conclusions This study provides a number of consensus-based definitions and recommendations relating to OA phenotypes. The resulting framework is intended to facilitate research on OA phenotypes and increase combined efforts to develop effective OA phenotype classification. Success in this endeavor will hopefully translate into more effective, differentiated OA management that will benefit a multitude of OA patients