A qualitative evaluation of gender aspects of agricultural intensification practices in central Malawi

United States Agency for International Developmen

2011 SOSORT guidelines: Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation treatment of idiopathic scoliosis during growth

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The International Scientific Society on Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT), that produced its first Guidelines in 2005, felt the need to revise them and increase their scientific quality. The aim is to offer to all professionals and their patients an evidence-based updated review of the actual evidence on conservative treatment of idiopathic scoliosis (CTIS).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>All types of professionals (specialty physicians, and allied health professionals) engaged in CTIS have been involved together with a methodologist and a patient representative. A review of all the relevant literature and of the existing Guidelines have been performed. Documents, recommendations, and practical approach flow charts have been developed according to a Delphi procedure. A methodological and practical review has been made, and a final Consensus Session was held during the 2011 Barcelona SOSORT Meeting.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The contents of the document are: methodology; generalities on idiopathic scoliosis; approach to CTIS in different patients, with practical flow-charts; literature review and recommendations on assessment, bracing, physiotherapy, Physiotherapeutic Specific Exercises (PSE) and other CTIS. Sixty-five recommendations have been given, divided in the following topics: Bracing (20 recommendations), PSE to prevent scoliosis progression during growth (8), PSE during brace treatment and surgical therapy (5), Other conservative treatments (3), Respiratory function and exercises (3), Sports activities (6), Assessment (20). No recommendations reached a Strength of Evidence level I; 2 were level II; 7 level III; and 20 level IV; through the Consensus procedure 26 reached level V and 10 level VI. The Strength of Recommendations was Grade A for 13, B for 49 and C for 3; none had grade D.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These Guidelines have been a big effort of SOSORT to paint the actual situation of CTIS, starting from the evidence, and filling all the gray areas using a scientific method. According to results, it is possible to understand the lack of research in general on CTIS. SOSORT invites researchers to join, and clinicians to develop good research strategies to allow in the future to support or refute these recommendations according to new and stronger evidence.</p

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PURE AND APPLIED RESEARCH IN ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY A PATH FOR HORIZING YOUR INNOVATIVE WORK APPLICATION OF VIRTUAL REALITY IN MODERN SOCIETY

Abstract In this article, we provide the nontechnical reader with a fundamental understanding of the components of virtual reality (VR) and a thorough discussion of the role VR has played in social science. First, we provide a brief overview of the hardware and equipment used to create VR and review common elements found within the virtual environment that may be of interest to social scientists, such as virtual humans and interactive, multisensory feedback. Then, we discuss the role of VR in existing social scientific research. Specifically, we review the literature on the study of VR as an object, wherein we discuss the effects of the technology on human users; VR as an application, wherein we consider real-world applications in areas such as medicine and education; and VR as a method, wherein we provide a comprehensive outline of studies in which VR technologies are used to study phenomena that have traditionally been studied in physical settings, such as nonverbal behavior and social interaction Research Articl

Capsazepine, rimonabant, WIN55, 212-2 and lidocaine attenuated acute lung inflammation induced by co-exposure of capsaicin and cigarette smoke extract in rats

297-304Cigarette smoking is central to the pathogenesis of lung inflammatory diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The study evaluated the effect of drugs belonging to pharmacologically different classes viz., capsazepine, a TRPV1 antagonist; rimonabant, a CB1 antagonist; WIN 55,212-2, a cannabimimetic; and lidocaine, a local anaesthetic in lung inflammation induced by cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and Capsaicin. Capsazepine (10 mg/kg), rimonabant (3 mg/kg), WIN 55,212-2 (3 mg/kg), and lidocaine (1 mg/kg), were intraperitoneally (i.p.) administered to Wistar rats. They were then exposed to capsaicin (20 mg of Capsicum oleoresin/kg body weight i.p.) followed by intratracheal administration of CSE (1.3 mL/kg). After 24 hours, Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed, and lungs were removed and processed to assess the various lung inflammatory parameters. Co-exposure with capsaicin and CSE lead to rise in leucocyte counts and total proteins in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Pretreatment with capsazepine, rimonabant, WIN 55,212-2 and lidocaine significantly abrogated the lung inflammation. They also prevented the rise in lung tumor necrosis factor α (TNF α), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP 9) activities. This was further corroborated with histopathological evidences. The study reveals that these drugs act through distinct mechanisms to abate capsaicin- and CSE-induced lung inflammation in rats. The effects may be attributed to direct or indirect inhibition of the inflammatory cascade after transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV1) channel activation by CSE and capsaicin. The impact of the test drugs in reducing capsaicin plus CSE induced lung inflammation makes them potential candidates for the treatment of lung inflammatory diseases