A Brief Overview of Ophthalmic Ultrasound Imaging

Ultrasound is one of the oldest imaging modalities. Sound waves are emitted into the body, and the returning echoes can be interpreted. It has become widely used because it can easily be done at bedside with a relatively small apparatus and does not expose the patient to any ionizing radiation. While this technique has seen widespread acceptance in other fields such as cardiology or obstetrics and gynecology, the general use in ophthalmology has been somewhat limited. However, recent advancements in ultrasonic arrays can be a powerful tool in the evaluation of ophthalmic pathology. Such systems can quickly generate very high detail images and 3D reconstructions without the need for extensive manual scanning. The application of this technology includes evaluation of traumatic eye injuries; assessing presence and location of an intraocular foreign body; evaluation of intraocular tumors, including small tumors that have not yet caused visual distortion; evaluation of retinal detachment; and evaluation of vascular disease. The goal of this article is to briefly review the history and development of ultrasound and to provide an overview of the most current systems and applications of ultrasound use in ophthalmologic clinical evaluation

Clinical evaluation of terminal body hair and hirsutism prevalence in university students from Manizales (Caldas), 2012

Objetivos: Determinar la prevalencia del hirsutismo en la ciudad de Manizales, caracterizar la patología desde su perspectiva demográfica y clínica, y relacionar las diferentes variables con la presencia o no de hirsutismo. Metodología: Investigación de corte transversal de nivel analítico, basada en el estudio de una población de acceso de 830 estudiantes de primer año de las universidades de la ciudad, quienes fueron encuestadas y examinadas aplicando la escala estandarizada de Ferriman y Gallwey modificada (F-Gm), previo consentimiento informado. Resultados: La prevalencia de hirsutismo encontrada para un puntaje de 8 de la escala de F-Gm es del 20,5%, el percentil 95 hallado equivale a 12 puntos. Se encontró mayor frecuencia de hirsutismo en los diferentes puntos de corte evaluados en las mujeres: con edad entre los 20 y 24 años, mestizas, con antecedente y presencia de acné, con padres con calvicie, con hermanas con hirsutismo. Existe correlación negativa entre el puntaje de la escala de F-Gm y edad de la pubarca, presión arterial sistólica y estrato socioeconómico; y correlación positiva con el perímetro abdominal. Conclusiones: Para la población estudiada el signo hirsutismo presenta prevalencia similar a la encontrada en otros estudios publicados, el percentil 95 como parámetro de normalidad de 12 en la escala F-Gm es superior a los puntos de corte informados en la literatura.Objectives:.To determine the prevalence of hirsutism in the city of Manizales (Colombia), to characterize its pathology from its demographic and medical perspective and to relate the different variables with the presence or absence of hirsutism. Methodology: Transversal analytical research based on the study of a population composed by 830 female freshmen attending several local universities who were surveyed and examined applying Ferriman and Gallwey modified scale (F-Gm) previous informed consent. Results: The prevalence of hirsutism for a score of 8 in the F-Gm scale was 20.5%; the 95 percentile found is equivalent to 12 points. An increased frequency of hirsutism was found in the cut off points evaluated in women with the following characteristics: age 20 to 24, mestizo, with a history and presence of acne, bald parents and sisters with hirsutism. There is negative relation between the score in the F-Gm scale and the pubarche age, systolic blood pressure, socio-economic status. On the contrary, it positively correlated with abdominal circumference. Conclusions: For the population studied hirsutism showed a similar prevalence to that found in the population studied compared to published data. Nevertheless, the 95 percentile, as a normality parameter of 12 in the F-Gm scale, is higher than the cut off points informed in the literature

Memorias IX Congreso Geológico Venezolano (1)

Memorias del IX Congreso Geológico Venezolan

Scaling up strategies of the chronic respiratory disease programme of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (Action Plan B3: Area 5)

Prevention, Population and Disease management (PrePoD

Integrated care pathways for airway diseases (AIRWAYS-ICPs)

The objective of Integrated Care Pathways for Airway Diseases (AIRWAYS-ICPs) is to launch a collaboration to develop multi-sectoral care pathways for chronic respiratory diseases in European countries and regions. AIRWAYS-ICPs has strategic relevance to the European Union Health Strategy and will add value to existing public health knowledge by: 1) proposing a common framework of care pathways for chronic respiratory diseases, which will facilitate comparability and trans-national initiatives; 2) informing cost-effective policy development, strengthening in particular those on smoking and environmental exposure; 3) aiding risk stratification in chronic disease patients, using a common strategy; 4) having a significant impact on the health of citizens in the short term (reduction of morbidity, improvement of education in children and of work in adults) and in the long-term (healthy ageing); 5) proposing a common simulation tool to assist physicians; and 6) ultimately reducing the healthcare burden (emergency visits, avoidable hospitalisations, disability and costs) while improving quality of life. In the longer term, the incidence of disease may be reduced by innovative prevention strategies. AIRWAYSICPs was initiated by Area 5 of the Action Plan B3 of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing. All stakeholders are involved (health and social care, patients, and policy makers)