Marina El-Alamein. Polsko-egipska misja konserwatorska

W okresie od 15 kwietnia do 30 maja 2007 roku, w Marina El-Alamein, na terenie wczesnorzymskiego miasta, trzynasty sezon pracowała polsko-egipska misja konserwatorska w składzie: Stanisław Medeksza, Rafał Czerner, Wiesław Grzegorek i Małgorzata Krawczyk-Szczerbińska - architekci, Grażyna Bąkowska i Monika Więch - archeolodzy, Piotr Zambrzycki Joanna Lis i Irma Fuks- Rembisz - konserwatorzy kamienia i rzeźby, Janusz Skoczylas i Małgorzata Mrozek-Wysocka - geolodzy. Stronę egipską reprezentował dyrektor Marina El-Alamein Mahmud Jasin, inspektorka Nama Sanad Yakoub oraz konserwator Achmed Rashad Ahmed, którym składamy podziękowania i słowa uznania za pomoc, jaką starali się okazywać nam w czasie trwania sezonu.In the period from 15 April to 30 May 2007, at the Marina El-Alamein, in the Early City, thirteenth season worked Polish-Egyptian mission Conservation composed Stanislaw Medeksza, Rafal Czerner Wieslaw Grzegorek and Małgorzata Krawczyk-Szczerbinska - architects, Grazyna Bąkowska and Monika Więch - archaeologists, Peter Zambrzycki Joanna Fox and Irma Fuks-Rembisz - stone and sculpture conservators Janusz Skoczylas and Margaret Mrozek-Wysocka - geologists. Egyptian Party was represented by director Marina El-Alamein, Mahmoud Yasin, Provincial Nama Sanad Yakoub and restorer Ahmed Rashad Ahmed, which our thanks and words of appreciation for the help I have tried to show us during the season

Implementation of field detection devices for antimalarial quality screening in Lao PDR-A cost-effectiveness analysis

Substandard and falsified (SF) antimalarials have devastating consequences including increased morbidity, mortality and economic losses. Portable medicine quality screening devices are increasingly available, but whether their use for the detection of SF antimalarials is cost-effective is not known. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of introducing such devices in post-market surveillance in pharmacies in Laos, conservatively focusing on their outcome in detecting SF artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). We simulated the deployment of six portable screening devices: two handheld near-infrared [MicroPHAZIR RX, NIR-S-G1], two handheld Raman [Progeny, TruScan RM]; one portable mid-infrared [4500a FTIR] spectrometers, and single-use disposable paper analytical devices [PADs]. We considered two scenarios with high and low levels of SF ACTs. Different sampling strategies in which medicine inspectors would test 1, 2, or 3 sample(s) of each brand of ACT were evaluated. Costs of inspection including device procurement, inspector time, reagents, reference testing, and replacement with genuine ACTs were estimated. Outcomes were measured as disability adjusted life years (DALYs) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were estimated for each device compared with a baseline of visual inspections alone. In the scenario with high levels of SF ACTs, all devices were cost-effective with a 1-sample strategy. In the scenario of low levels of SF ACTs, only four devices (MicroPHAZIR RX, 4500a FTIR, NIR-S-G1, and PADs) were cost-effective with a 1-sample strategy. In the multi-way comparative analysis, in both scenarios the NIR-S-G1 testing 2 samples was the most cost-effective option. Routine inspection of ACT quality using portable screening devices is likely to be cost-effective in the Laos context. This work should encourage policy-makers or regulators to further investigate investment in portable screening devices to detect SF medicines and reduce their associated undesired health and economic burdens

A comparative field evaluation of six medicine quality screening devices in Laos

Background Medicine quality screening devices hold great promise for post-market surveillance (PMS). However, there is little independent evidence on their field utility and usability to inform policy decisions. This pilot study in the Lao PDR tested six devices’ utility and usability in detecting substandard and falsified (SF) medicines. Methodology/principal findings Observational time and motion studies of the inspections by 16 Lao medicine inspectors of 1) the stock of an Evaluation Pharmacy (EP), constructed to resemble a Lao pharmacy, and 2) a sample set of medicines (SSM); were conducted without and with six devices: four handheld spectrometers (two near infrared: MicroPHAZIR RX, NIR-S-G1 & two Raman: Progeny, Truscan RM); one portable mid-infrared spectrometer (4500a), and single-use paper analytical devices (PAD). User experiences were documented by interviews and focus group discussions. Significantly more samples were wrongly categorised as pass/fail with the PAD compared to the other devices in EP inspections (p<0.05). The numbers of samples wrongly classified in EP inspections were significantly lower than in initial visual inspections without devices for 3/6 devices (NIR-S-G1, MicroPHAZIR RX, 4500a). The NIR-S-G1 had the fastest testing time per sample (median 93.5 sec, p<0.001). The time spent on EP visual inspection was significantly shorter when using a device than for inspections without devices, except with the 4500a, risking missing visual clues of samples being SF. The main user errors were the selection of wrong spectrometer reference libraries and wrong user interpretation of PAD results. Limitations included repeated inspections of the EP by the same inspectors with different devices and the small sample size of SF medicines. Conclusions/significance This pilot study suggests policy makers wishing to implement portable screening devices in PMS should be aware that overconfidence in devices may cause harm by reducing inspectors’ investment in visual inspection. It also provides insight into the advantages/limitations of diverse screening devices in the hands of end-users

Evaluation of portable devices for medicine quality screening: Lessons learnt, recommendations for implementation, and future priorities

Céline Caillet and co-authors discuss a Collection on use of portable devices for the evaluation of medicine quality and legitimacy

MATLAS project - Advanced methods of materials engineering in diagnostics of art works after renovation by means of shaped, high-energy laser radiation pulses

Projekt MATLAS PL0259, realizowany w ramach Mechanizmu Finansowego EOG/Norweskiego Mechanizmu Finansowego, w Obszarze Priorytetowym "Konserwacja Europejskiego Dziedzictwa Kultury", został z powodzeniem rozpoczęty w lipcu 2008 r. Naukowe cele projektu obejmują opracowanie metod diagnostyki powierzchni dzieł sztuki wykonanych z metali (stopów) w celu ich bezpiecznej renowacji laserowej, opracowanie systemu laserowego zdolnego do generacji impulsów o wymaganym w renowacji, kontrolowanym kształcie i czasie trwania oraz analizy zjawisk indukowanych przez impulsy laserowe na powierzchni obiektów historycznych. Artykuł przedstawia uczestniczące w projekcie ośrodki naukowe, projekt i wykonanie laserowego systemu czyszczącego oraz metodykę badań eksperymentalnych. Podsumowuje on również najnowsze wyniki projektu oraz przedstawia metalowe dzieła sztuki wybrane do badań, wraz z ich analizami historycznymi i strukturalnymi.MATLAS project PL0259 successfully started in July 2008 under the EEA Financial Mechanism/ Norwegian Financial Mechanism and in the Key Priority Section "Conservation of European Cultural Heritage". The scientific aims of the project include: development of diagnostic methods for analysis of metal (alloy) artworks surfaces for safe laser renovation; development of a laser system capable of generating pulses with controlled shape and time duration required for renovation, and analysis of phenomena induced by laser pulses in the treated surfaces of historical objects. The paper presents participating scientific teams, design and realization of laser cleaning system and methodology of experimental investigations. It also summarizes the latest project results and presents metal artworks selected for examination with their historical and structural analysis

EURObservational Research Programme: Regional differences and 1-year follow-up results of the Heart Failure Pilot Survey (ESC-HF Pilot)

AimsThe ESC-HF Pilot survey was aimed to describe clinical epidemiology and 1-year outcomes of outpatients and inpatients with heart failure (HF). The pilot phase was also specifically aimed at validating structure, performance, and quality of the data set for continuing the survey into a permanent Registry.MethodsThe ESC-HF Pilot study is a prospective, multicentre, observational survey conducted in 136 Cardiology Centres in 12 European countries selected to represent the different health systems across Europe. All outpatients with HF and patients admitted for acute HF on 1 day per week for eight consecutive months were included. From October 2009 to May 2010, 5118 patients were included: 1892 (37%) admitted for acute HF and 3226 (63%) patients with chronic HF. The all-cause mortality rate at 1 year was 17.4% in acute HF and 7.2% in chronic stable HF. One-year hospitalization rates were 43.9% and 31.9%, respectively, in hospitalized acute and chronic HF patients. Major regional differences in 1-year mortality were observed that could be explained by differences in characteristics and treatment of the patients.ConclusionThe ESC-HF Pilot survey confirmed that acute HF is still associated with a very poor medium-term prognosis, while the widespread adoption of evidence-based treatments in patients with chronic HF seems to have improved their outcome profile. Differences across countries may be due to different local medical practice as well to differences in healthcare systems. This pilot study also offered the opportunity to refine the organizational structure for a long-term extended European network

EURObservational Research Programme: Regional differences and 1-year follow-up results of the Heart Failure Pilot Survey (ESC-HF Pilot)

AimsThe ESC-HF Pilot survey was aimed to describe clinical epidemiology and 1-year outcomes of outpatients and inpatients with heart failure (HF). The pilot phase was also specifically aimed at validating structure, performance, and quality of the data set for continuing the survey into a permanent Registry.MethodsThe ESC-HF Pilot study is a prospective, multicentre, observational survey conducted in 136 Cardiology Centres in 12 European countries selected to represent the different health systems across Europe. All outpatients with HF and patients admitted for acute HF on 1 day per week for eight consecutive months were included. From October 2009 to May 2010, 5118 patients were included: 1892 (37%) admitted for acute HF and 3226 (63%) patients with chronic HF. The all-cause mortality rate at 1 year was 17.4% in acute HF and 7.2% in chronic stable HF. One-year hospitalization rates were 43.9% and 31.9%, respectively, in hospitalized acute and chronic HF patients. Major regional differences in 1-year mortality were observed that could be explained by differences in characteristics and treatment of the patients.ConclusionThe ESC-HF Pilot survey confirmed that acute HF is still associated with a very poor medium-term prognosis, while the widespread adoption of evidence-based treatments in patients with chronic HF seems to have improved their outcome profile. Differences across countries may be due to different local medical practice as well to differences in healthcare systems. This pilot study also offered the opportunity to refine the organizational structure for a long-term extended European network. © 2013 The Author