Constructing public health policies in post crisis countries: lessons to learn from the associations between free-sugars consumption and diabetes, obesity and dental caries before, during and after sanctions in Iraq.

BACKGROUND: This article aims to provide evidence for an informed public health policy on free-sugar consumption in post-crisis countries. METHODS: Iraq was selected as a case study. A systematic search for published data on the prevalence/incidence of type-2 diabetes, overweight/obesity, dental caries and free-sugar consumption levels in Iraq was conducted using MEDLINE, the Iraqi Academic Scientific journals and relevant international organisations' websites. Comparable data before (1980-1990), during (1991-2002) and after (2003-2015) the United Nations sanctions (UNS) were included. RESULTS: Ten studies were included. Quality scores ranged between 3 and 7/8. Free-sugar consumption decreased dramatically during the UNS (from 50 to 16.3 kg/person/year) and started increasing afterwards (24.1 kg/person/year). Changes in type-2 diabetes, overweight/obesity and caries levels mirrored those of free-sugar consumption. Caries declined markedly during UNS and started increasing afterwards. Comparable data on diabetes and overweight/obesity were only available for the periods during and after the UNS. Both of these conditions started increasing with increased free-sugar consumption after lifting the UNS. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to develop a public health policy in post-crisis countries to maintain the reduction in free-sugar consumption, and hence promote both general and dental health, by integrating the common risk factor approach into the social determinant framework

Multiresolution Texture Analysis of four classes of Mice liver cells using different cell cluster representations

We have analyzed first and second order multiresolution texture features in order to discriminate normal and pathological liver cell nuclei. Several combinations of first and second order texture features discriminate animals from the four different groups. The best feature pair (graylevel Variance of the euchromatine and Diagonal moment of the GLCM) gave a correct classification result of 95 %. Representing the cell clusters using different representation methods seems to improve the classification result. Classification with one feature measured at two different resolutions gives the same result as two different features measured at the same resolution. Because of the small dataset further testing is needed to confirm the results. 1. Introduction Chromatin structure in the cell nucleus has traditionally been an important feature in tumor diagnostics. Previous work has shown that chromatin changes in liver cells can be measured by image analysis (Danielsen et al. 1989 [1]). Tumor dia..

Characterisation of the components of a prototype scanning intelligent imaging system for use in digital mammography: The I-ImaS system

The physical performance characteristics of a prototype scanning digital mammography (DM) system have been investigated. The I-ImaS system utilises CMOS MAPS technology promoting on-chip data processing; consequently statistical analysis is therefore achievable in real-time for the purpose of exposure modulation via a feedback mechanism during the image acquisition procedure. The imager employs a dual array of twenty CMOS APS sensing devices each individually coupled to a 100 μm thick thallium doped structured CsI scintillator. The x-ray performance of the sensors was characterised where the presampled modulation transfer function (MTF), normalised noise power spectrum (NNPS), and the detective quantum efficiency (DQE) was determined. The presampled MTF was measured utilising the slit technique and was found to be 0.1 at 6 lp/mm. The NNPS measured utilising a W/Al target/filter combination hardened with 38 mm PMMA was seen to decrease with increasing exposure as expected and the manifesting DQE was 0.30 at close to zero spatial frequency at an exposure of 1.75 mR. Preliminary image stitching of the individual steps acquired from the scanning system is presented. A conventionally acquired image that is without the implementation of beam modulation or off-line intelligence is compared and contrasted to an intelligently off-line processed image. Results indicate the implementation of real-time intelligence into the image acquisition phase of digital mammography is foreseeable. © 2006 IEEE

Characterisation of the Components of a PrototypeScanning Intelligent Imaging System for Use inDigital Mammography: The I-ImaS System

The physical performance characteristics of a prototype scanning digital mammography (DM) system have been investigated. The I-ImaS system utilises CMOS MAPS technology promoting on-chip data processing; consequently statistical analysis is therefore achievable in real-time for the purpose of exposure modulation via a feedback mechanism during the image acquisition procedure. The imager employs a dual array of twenty CMOS APS sensing devices each individually coupled to a 100 mum thick thallium doped structured CsI scintillator. Results indicate the implementation of real-time intelligence into the image acquisition phase of digital mammography is foreseeable

Design and characterization of the I-ImaS multi-element X-ray detector system

I-ImaS (Intelligent Imaging Sensors) is a European project aiming to produce new, intelligent x-ray imaging systems using novel APS sensors to create optimal diagnostic images. Initial systems have been constructed for medical imaging; specifically mammography and dental encephalography. However, the I-ImaS system concept could be applied to all areas of x-ray imaging, including homeland security and industrial QA. The I-ImaS system intelligence is implemented by the use of APS technology and FPGAs, allowing real-time analysis of data during image acquisition. This gives the system the capability to perform as an on-the-fly adaptive imaging system, with the potential to create images with maximum diagnostic information within given dose constraints. The I-ImaS system uses a scanning linear array of scintillatorcoupled 1.5-D CMOS Active Pixel Sensors to create a full 2-D x-ray image of an object. This paper describes the parameters considered when choosing the scintillator elements of the detectors. A study of the positioning of the sensors to form a linear detector is also considered, along with a discussion of the potential losses in image quality associated with creating a linear sensor by tiling many smaller sensors. Preliminary results show that the detectors have sufficient performance to be used successfully in the initial mammographie and encephalographic I-ImaS systems that are currently under construction. © 2008 IEEE