Radiotherapy in small countries

Aim To examine the availability of radiotherapy in small countries. Methods A small country was defined as a country with a population less than one million persons. The economic status of each country was defined using the World Bank Classification. The number of cancers in each country was obtained from GLOBOCAN 2012. The number of cancer cases with an indication or radiotherapy was calculated using the CCORE model. Results There were 41 countries with a population of under 1 million; 15 were classified as High Income, 15 Upper Middle Income, 10 Lower Middle Income and one Low Income. 28 countries were islands. Populations ranged from 799 (Holy See) to 886450 (Fiji) and the total number of cancer cases occurring in small countries was 21,043 (range by country from 4 to 2476). Overall the total number of radiotherapy cases in small countries was 10982 (range by country from 2 to 1239). Radiotherapy was available in all HIC islands with 80 or more new cases of cancer in 2012 but was not available in any LMIC island. Fiji was the only LMIC island with a large radiotherapy caseload. Similar caseloads in non-island LMIC all had radiotherapy services. Most non-island HIC did not have radiotherapy services presumably because of the easy access to radiotherapy in neighbouring countries. Conclusion There are no radiotherapy services in any LMIC islands

Influence of the way of reporting alpha-Amylase values in saliva in different naturalistic situations: A pilot study

The objective of this pilot study was to compare the different ways of measuring salivary alpha-amylase (sAA, enzymatic vs. concentration) and to evaluate the influence that the different ways of reporting the results can have in sAA interpretation. For this purpose, sAA was measured by direct quantification and also by an enzymatic assay in three different naturalistic situations, a physical stressor (situation 1) and two mental stressors of different intensity (situations 2 and 3). The results were expressed in three different ways (without correction, multiplied by flow rate and divided by protein concentration). sAA concentration and activity increased just after situations 1 and 3. When values were multiplied by the flow rate, significant changes after situation 1 were detected only for sAA activity but not for sAA concentration, being these changes of lower significance and magnitude that those observed for sAA activity without any correction. In addition, a significant increase in sAA activity was found at T+15 in situation 2. In situation 3 the significant decrease in sAA at T+15 disappeared. When values were divided by protein concentration, there were no significant changes in situations 1 or 3, but a decrease in situation 2 at T+0 and an increase at T+15. sAA activity and concentration showed a significant correlation in all situations. This pilot study points out that the way of expressing sAA can influence the results obtained in different stress models and also their interpretation. Therefore, how sAA is reported and the factors involved in the different ways of expressing sAA, should be taken into consideration for an objective interpretation of sAA values

Disinfection by Chemical Oxidation Methods

Poor quality in drinking water is primary cause of pathogen transmission and responsible of varied infectious diseases. Methods of water treatment for human consumption must pay special attention on microbiological safe disinfection. Indeed, from the past few years laws all around the world have included new, more stringent water quality parameters. Chlorination and other mainly used conventional disinfection processes usually do not achieve full inactivation of all microorganisms present in real water supplies, whereas the presence of even low concentrations of organic matter can lead to form harmful disinfection by-products. Protozoan parasites Giardia sp. and Cryptosporidium sp. are some of the microorganisms that cannot be completely inactivated via chlorination under the same contact times typical of bacteria or virus elimination. It has increased toxicological and microbiological risks as well as operational costs. Disinfection by the advanced oxidation process more intensively studied in the past few years has been reviewed including Fenton and photo-Fenton processes and photocatalytic and electro-catalytic variants; this vibrant topic still remains partially uncovered in the available scientific background, which has motivated many recent researches and publications. This chapter is then devoted to briefly review the most recent reports studying the disinfecting potential displayed by mentioned AOPs with respect to widely and currently used conventional techniques. Revision of the inactivation of water-borne pathogens including E. coli, total coliforms, parasites as Giardia and Cryptosporidium, and virus such as coliphages has focused on advantages and disadvantages in application of every particular AOP, their disinfecting mechanisms, and the main parameters affecting the disinfection response

The interest of the Spanish network of investigators in back pain for rehabilitation physician

Background: The Spanish Back Pain Research Network (REIDE) brings together teams of researchers and clinicians who are interested in nonspecific neck and back pain (BP). Its objective is to improve the efficacy, safety, effectiveness, and efficiency of the clinical management of BP. Method: The Network welcomes clinicians and researchers interested in BP. The only requirement to become a member of REIDE is to take part in one of its research projects, and any member can propose a new one. The Network supports those projects that are of interest to two or more groups by assuming their administration and management, which allows the researchers to focus on their task. Its working method ensures methodological quality, a multidisciplinary approach, and the clinical relevance of those projects that are carried out. Results: 179 researchers from 11 areas in Spain are involved in REIDE, including experts in all of the relevant fields of BP research. Most Spanish studies on BP that have been published in international scientific journals come from the teams involved in REIDE, and it currently has 13 ongoing research projects. Conclusions: The Network can help to enhance research among rehabilitation specialists who are interested in BP, and can contribute to the development of research projects which are of interest to the specialty. © 2005 Sociedad Española de Rehabilitación y Medicina Física (SERMEF) y Elsevier España, S.L