Caractéristiques de l’association diabète type 2 et hypertension artérielle chez le sujet âgé de 65 ans et plus

Introduction: L’HTA du diabétique âgé est particulière par sa fréquence et sa gravité. Cette association HTA-diabète type 2 (DT2) est particulièrement fréquente chez la personne âgée, et responsable d’une majoration du risque cardiovasculaire et d’une accélération de l’atteinte dégénérative du diabète. Méthodes: Etude descriptive, concernant 100 patients diabétiques de type 2 hypertendus âgés de 65 ans ou plus, suivis au service d’endocrinologie-diabétologie du CHU de Marrakech, du mois de Novembre 2010 au mois de Juillet 2011. Le logiciel SPSS version 18 a été utilisé pour l’analyse statistique. Résultats: Le sex-ratio des patients étudiés était de 0,26, l’âge moyen était de 69,2 ± ; 4,3 ans, l’ancienneté du diabète était de 9,3 ± ; 6,7 ans. Le diagnostic du diabète précédait celui de l’HTA dans 67,7 % des cas. Seulement 4,2% avaient une HbA1c ≤ 6,5%. 60% des patients avaient une HTA de grade I. L’IMC moyen était de 28,1 ± ; 4,6 kg/m2. La dyslipidémie était présente chez 59,6% de nos patients avec essentiellement une hypoHDLémie (75,9%). La macroangiopathie était observée chez 40% des patients avec essentiellement une cardiopathie ischémique (29%). Elle était significativement plus fréquente chez les patients ayant une HbA1c supérieure à 9%, LDL-c ≥ 1 g/l et une hypoHDLémie. La microangiopathie présente dans 82% des cas était significativement en relation avec l’HbA1c, le DFG et le taux des triglycérides. Conclusion: Une prise en charge complète du risque cardio-vasculaire chez les sujets âgés se heurte à des problèmes objectifs en pratique courante, en particulier, la polymédication, source d’une mauvaise compliance et donc de mauvais résultats. Mots clés : Complications dégénératives, Diabète type 2, Dyslipidémie, Hypertension artérielle, Sujet âgé.Pan African Medical Journal 2013; 14: 10

Real-time Road Obstacle Detection Using Association and Symmetry Recognition

This paper presents a fast road obstacle detection system based on association and symmetry. This approach consists to exploit the edges extracted from consecutive images acquired by a stereo sensor embedded in a moving vehicle. The algorithm contains three main components: edges detection, association detection and symmetry calculation. The edges detection is achieved by using the canny operator and point corner to extract all possible edges of different objects at the image. The association technique is used to exploit relationship between the edges of two consecutives images by combining it with the moment operator. The symmetry is used as road obstacle validation; the road obstacles like vehicle and pedestrian have a vertical symmetry. The proposed approach has been tested on different images. The provided results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method

Quels agents incriminés dans les mycoses du pied ? Enquête auprès des diabétiques consultant au CHU Mohammed VI de Marrakech

Les infections mycosiques du pied constituent un motif fréquent de consultation chez les diabétiques, le diabète constituant à la fois un facteur favorisant et aggravant les lésions cutanéomuqueuses. L'objectif  de ce travail était d'identifier la flore mycologique locale responsable des lésions du pied chez le  diabétique et déterminer les facteurs favorisant la survenue de mycoses. Il s'agissait d'une étude  transversale intéressant des diabétiques suivis en consultation; un prélèvement mycologique, avec  examen direct et culture, a été réalisé devant toute suspicion clinique de lésion mycosique. Quatre- vingt-deux patients ont été inclus. L'hémoglobine glycosylée moyenne a été de9,2% ± 2,23. Un intertrigo  inter orteil a été noté dans 90,2% des cas; l'examen mycologique était positif dans 64,8% des cas, avec 18 cas de Trichophyton rubrum et 11 cas de Candida albicans. Une atteinte unguéale a été  suspectée chez 65,9% patients; la culture a mis en évidence un Trichosporon pathogène chez sept  patients, un Candida albicansdans six cas, un Trichophyton rubrum dans quatre cas, avec trois cas de  Trichophyton  mentagrophytes et deux cas de Scytalidium dimidiatum. L'étude analytique, après  confirmation  mycologique, en fonction des principales caractéristiques des patients a montré que l'atteinte mycosique du pied est significativement corrélée au déséquilibre glycémique. Ce travail a  montré la prédominance du Trichophyton rubrum dans les lésions d'intertrigo inter orteil et du  Trichosporon dans les onychomycoses, avec une prédominance globale plus globale plus élevée du TR.Key words: Diabète, examen mycologique, mycose, onycomycose, pied diabétiqu

Edge detection algorithm based on quantum superposition principle and photons arrival probability

The detection of object edges in images is a crucial step employed in a vast amount of computer vision applications, for which a series of different algorithms has been developed in the last decades. This paper proposes a new edge detection method based on quantum information, which is achieved in two main steps: (i) an image enhancement stage that employs the quantum superposition law and (ii) an edge detection stage based on the probability of photon arrival to the camera sensor. The proposed method has been tested on synthetic and real images devoted to agriculture applications, where Fram & Deutsh criterion has been adopted to evaluate its performance. The results show that the proposed method gives better results in terms of detection quality and computation time compared to classical edge detection algorithms such as Sobel, Kayyali, Canny and a more recent algorithm based on Shannon entropy

Development and optimization of fluoxetine orally disintegrating tablets using Box-Behnken design

Purpose: To develop and optimise some variables that influence fluoxetine orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) formulation.Methods: Fluoxetine ODTs tablets were prepared using direct compression method. Three-factor, 3- level Box-Behnken design was used to optimize and develop fluoxetine ODT formulation. The design suggested 15 formulations of different lubricant concentration (X1), lubricant mixing time (X2), and compression force (X3) and then their effect was monitored on tablet weight (Y1), thickness (Y2), hardness (Y3), % friability (Y4), and disintegration time (Y5).Results: All powder blends showed acceptable flow properties, ranging from good to excellent. The disintegration time (Y5) was affected directly by lubricant concentration (X1). Lubricant mixing time (X2) had a direct effect on tablet thickness (Y2) and hardness (Y3), while compression force (X3) had a direct impact on tablet hardness (Y3), % friability (Y4) and disintegration time (Y5). Accordingly, Box-Behnken design suggested an optimized formula of 0.86 mg (X1), 15.3 min (X2), and 10.6 KN (X3). Finally, the prediction error percentage responses of Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, and Y5 were 0.31, 0.52, 2.13, 3.92 and 3.75 %, respectively. Formula 4 and 8 achieved 90 % of drug release within the first 5 min of dissolution test.Conclusion: Fluoxetine ODT formulation has been developed and optimized successfully using Box- Behnken design and has also been manufactured efficiently using direct compression technique.Keywords: Box-Behnken experimental design, Orally disintegrating tablets, Direct compression, Antidepressant, Magnesium stearate, Mixing tim

Potential use of saline resources for biofuel production using halophytes and marine algae: prospects and pitfalls

There exists a global challenge of feeding the growing human population of the world and supplying its energy needs without exhausting global resources. This challenge includes the competition for biomass between food and fuel production. The aim of this paper is to review to what extent the biomass of plants growing under hostile conditions and on marginal lands could ease that competition. Biomass from salt-tolerant algae and halophytes has shown potential for bioenergy production on salt-affected soils. Halophytes and algae could provide a bio-based source for lignoceelusic biomass and fatty acids or an alternative for edible biomass currently produced using fresh water and agricultural lands. The present paper provides an overview of the opportunities and challenges in the development of alternative fuels from halophytes and algae. Halophytes grown on marginal and degraded lands using saline water offer an additional material for commercial-scale biofuel production, especially bioethanol. At the same time, suitable strains of microalgae cultured under saline conditions can be a particularly good source of biodiesel, although the efficiency of their mass-scale biomass production is still a concern in relation to environmental protection. This review summaries the pitfalls and precautions for producing biomass in a way that limits environmental hazards and harms for coastal ecosystems. Some new algal and halophytic species with great potential as sources of bioenergy are highlighted

Metastatic collecting duct carcinoma of the kidney treated with sunitinib

Collecting duct carcinoma (CDC) of the kidney is a rare and aggressive malignant tumor arising from the distal collecting tubules which has been shown to have a poor response to several kinds of systemic therapy. We present a case of metastatic CDC that responded favorably to a multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitor, sunitinib, achieving a partial response in both lung and skeletal metastases. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing therapeutic activity of sunitinib against CDC. Considering these findings, it would be worthwhile prospectively investigating the role of multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitors, particularly sunitinib, in the management of metastatic CDC

A bibliometric analysis and visualization of decision support systems for healthcare referral strategies

Background: The referral process is an important research focus because of the potential consequences of delays, especially for patients with serious medical conditions that need immediate care, such as those with metastatic cancer. Thus, a systematic literature review of recent and influential manuscripts is critical to understanding the current methods and future directions in order to improve the referral process. Methods: A hybrid bibliometric-structured review was conducted using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Searches were conducted of three databases, Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed, in addition to the references from the eligible papers. The papers were considered to be eligible if they were relevant English articles or reviews that were published from January 2010 to June 2021. The searches were conducted using three groups of keywords, and bibliometric analysis was performed, followed by content analysis. Results: A total of 163 papers that were published in impactful journals between January 2010 and June 2021 were selected. These papers were then reviewed, analyzed, and categorized as follows: descriptive analysis (n = 77), cause and effect (n = 12), interventions (n = 50), and quality management (n = 24). Six future research directions were identified. Conclusions: Minimal attention was given to the study of the primary referral of blood cancer cases versus those with solid cancer types, which is a gap that future studies should address. More research is needed in order to optimize the referral process, specifically for suspected hematological cancer patients