The Design and Development of an Eye Drop Aid for Glaucoma Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Janyut Srihirun ◽  
Prayuth Poowaruttanawiwit
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Thermoplastic Polyurethane ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Eye Drops ◽  
Important Public Health Problem ◽  
Prototype Development ◽  
Flexible Material ◽  
Surgical Methods ◽  
Pharmacy Council ◽  
Permanent Loss

Abstract Visual impairment is an important public health problem. A cataract is the most common eye disease, and surgical methods are mostly used. Unlike a cataract, glaucoma may lead to permanent loss of vision and can be treated appropriately using eye drops. In this study, the researchers aimed to create, design, and develop a device called “Eye Drop Aid of Naresuan University (EDANU).” This research employed mixed methods using an in-depth interview and questionnaire, which were conducted with a group of 10 experts to provide preliminary data for the design and a group of 20 volunteers to test the efficacy and safety of the EDANU compared with the instructions of the Xal-Ease™ eye drop administration and instructions as recommended by the Pharmacy Council of Thailand in the laboratory. It was found that the EDANU, which was designed and developed as a prototype using thermoplastic polyurethane, which is a highly flexible material, was more accurate, reliable, and safer than the Xal-Ease eye drop administration. The EDANU displayed efficient statistical significance and proved to be safe for using in the laboratory.This was a device that could help glaucoma patients and their caregivers have a better quality of life because this device was more accurate, reliable, and safer than the other two methods. However, the EDANU is still in the process of prototype development, and, in the future, it would still be necessary to study with a human clinical trial.

Prevalence of anaemia in Brazilian children in different epidemiological scenarios: an updated meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Haroldo S Ferreira ◽  
Regina Coeli S Vieira ◽  
Aline Roberta S Livramento ◽  
Bruna Larine LFS Dourado ◽  
Girlliany FA Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Random Effects Model ◽  
Important Public Health Problem ◽  
Social Inequities ◽  
Prevalence Ratios ◽  
National Prevalence ◽  
Brazilian Children

Abstract Objective: To update the estimation of the prevalence of anaemia in Brazilian children according to four different epidemiological scenarios. Design: A new systematic review was conducted with a meta-analysis of the results published between 2007 and May 2019. Literature search was carried out in the PubMed and LILACS databases using keywords anaemia, child and Brazil. A total of thirty-seven articles (17 741 children) were selected and categorised according to the origin of their respective samples: childcare centres (Childcare; n 13 studies/2697 individuals), health services (Services; n 4/755), populations with social inequities (Inequities, n 7/6798) and population-based studies (Populations; n 13/7491). Assuming a prevalence of 20·9 % as reference (Health National Survey; n 3455), the combined prevalence ratios (PR) were calculated. A random-effects model was used. Participants: Brazilian children 6–60 months of age. Results: The prevalence of anaemia, by scenario, was: Childcare 24·8 % (PR 1·06; 95 % CI 0·81, 1·40); Services 39·9 % (PR 1·76, 95 % CI 1·33, 2·35); Inequities 51·6 % (PR 2·02, 95 % CI 1·87, 2·18); and Populations 35·8 % (PR 1·42, 95 % CI 1·23, 1·64). Therefore, the values were all higher than the national prevalence; the Inequities had the highest prevalence, and only Childcare did not reach statistical significance. Concerning the previous meta-analysis, there was a reduction in anaemia prevalence in all scenarios: –52·3, –33·7, –22·4 and –10·7 %, respectively. Conclusions: Compared to the situation revealed in the previous meta-analysis, anaemia, although observed to a lesser extent, remains an important public health problem in the different scenarios analysed, especially for children living in Inequities. Access to Childcare mitigates the risk for this condition.

The Way of Starting Smoke and the Frequency of Use: A Nationwide Study in Turkey

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Inanc BB ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Smoking Habit ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Important Public Health Problem ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Frequency Distributions ◽  
Validated Questionnaire ◽  
Chi Square Analysis

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify and appraise the data distribution of reasons behind starting tobacco use of individuals by sex and the individuals’ using status of smoking tobacco products by sex and age group in 2014 and 2016. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with a representative sample of 8 325 adults in Turkey, aged 15 years and over, selected via a stratified, twostage proportionate-to-size sampling method. Data were obtained from faceto- face interviews by trained research assistants, using a standard validated questionnaire. Data is available for the years bienally. The study variables analyzed were years, sex, cause, age groups and using smoke frekans. Chi square analysis was used to predict outcomes. Descriptive statistics were given as frequency distributions and percentages on collected data. In addition, chisquare test was used for statistical evaluation. The level of significance in the study was taken as p <0.05. Results: 50.2% in 2014; 43.5% in 2016 individuals were smoking. Men rates are higher than women. Starting to smoke causes were, curiosity, friend effect and desire were. Statistical significance in between genders, in terms of frequency of smoke and starting smoke causes in 2014 and 2016 (p<0.000). Conclusion: Smoking is an important public health problem in the world and in our country. Young population’s overly smoking habit, the presence of psychosocial reasons which were seen in our study may indicate the need for psychological support in smoking. However, regardless of the reason, the precautions to be determined across the country resolutely and results should be obtained than.

Suicide on the Indian Subcontinent

Crisis ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 104-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Murad M. Khan
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Indian Subcontinent ◽  
Interpersonal Relationship ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Important Public Health Problem ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Formidable Challenge ◽  
Causative Factors

Summary: The Indian subcontinent comprises eight countries (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bhutan, and the Maldives) and a collective population of more than 1.3 billion people. 10% of the world's suicides (more than 100,000 people) take place in just three of these countries, viz. India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. There is very little information on suicides from the other four countries. Some differences from suicides in Western countries include the high use of organophosphate insecticides, larger numbers of married women, fewer elderly subjects, and interpersonal relationship problems and life events as important causative factors. There is need for more and better information regarding suicide in the countries of the Indian subcontinent. In particular, studies must address culture-specific risk factors associated with suicide in these countries. The prevention of this important public health problem in an area of the world with myriad socio-economic problems, meager resources, and stigmatization of mental illness poses a formidable challenge to mental health professionals, policy makers, and governments of these countries.

Study of the efficacy of Pathadi Ghanavati with Lajamanda in the management of Aamatisara

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (03) ◽  
Author(s):  
Madhura Jadhav ◽  
P. D. Londhe
Keyword(s):  
Acute Diarrhoea ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
World Health ◽  
Important Public Health Problem ◽  
Loose Motion ◽  
Economic Class ◽  
Watery Stool ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Effective Remedy ◽  
Trial Drug

Acute Diarrhoea is an important public health problem worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates that there are more than 1000 million cases of Acute Diarrhoea. Loose motion less than 2 weeks that labelled as Acute Diarrhoea. Diarrhoea is described in Ayurvedic classics with the name of ‘Atisara’. It means passing of excessive flow of watery stool through anus. Most important factor in the pathogenesis of Aamatisara is Mandagni. In present study 50 patients of Aamatisara were selected from OPD and IPD of Kayachikitsa department. For the clinical study Pathadi Ghanavati and Lajamanda was selected as the trial drug which was given for the duration of 7 days in the dose of 1gm twice a day. It was observed that 32% patients were from the age group 51-60 years, 70% were females, 62% were from lower-middle socio economic class. Sama Jivha was found in all the patients. Among results loose motion showed 98.75% relief, 97.82% showed improvement in Udarashoola, 97.43% improvement in Agnimandya and Daurbalya each, 100% relief was seen in Aruchi. All the symptoms showed highly significant results. Hence it can be concluded that Pathadi Ghanavati and Lajamanda is very effective remedy in the patients of Aamatisara.

scholarly journals Sarcopenic Obesity in Liver Cirrhosis: Possible Mechanism and Clinical Impact

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 1917
Author(s):  
Hiroki Nishikawa ◽  
Hirayuki Enomoto ◽  
Shuhei Nishiguchi ◽  
Hiroko Iijima
Keyword(s):  
Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Protein Energy Malnutrition ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
Sarcopenic Obesity ◽  
Important Public Health Problem ◽  
Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽  
Protein Energy ◽  
Clinical Consequences

The picture of chronic liver diseases (CLDs) has changed considerably in recent years. One of them is the increase of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. More and more CLD patients, even those with liver cirrhosis (LC), tend to be presenting with obesity these days. The annual rate of muscle loss increases with worsening liver reserve, and thus LC patients are more likely to complicate with sarcopenia. LC is also characterized by protein-energy malnutrition (PEM). Since the PEM in LC can be invariable, the patients probably present with sarcopenic obesity (Sa-O), which involves both sarcopenia and obesity. Currently, there is no mention of Sa-O in the guidelines; however, the rapidly increasing prevalence and poorer clinical consequences of Sa-O are recognized as an important public health problem, and the diagnostic value of Sa-O is expected to increase in the future. Sa-O involves a complex interplay of physiological mechanisms, including increased inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, insulin resistance, hormonal disorders, and decline of physical activity. The pathogenesis of Sa-O in LC is diverse, with a lot of perturbations in the muscle–liver–adipose tissue axis. Here, we overview the current knowledge of Sa-O, especially focusing on LC.

scholarly journals Clinicopathological features of Egyptian colorectal cancer patients regarding somatic genetic mutations especially in KRAS gene and microsatellite instability status: a pilot study

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Neemat M. Kassem ◽  
Gamal Emera ◽  
Hebatallah A. Kassem ◽  
Nashwa Medhat ◽  
Basant Nagdy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Microsatellite Instability ◽  
Cpg Island ◽  
Human Cancer ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cpg Island Methylator Phenotype ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths which contributes to a significant public health problem worldwide with 1.8 million new cases and almost 861,000 deaths in 2018 according to the World Health Organization. It exhibits 7.4% of all diagnosed cancer cases in the region of the Middle East and North Africa. Molecular changes that happen in CRCs are chromosomal instability, microsatellite instability (MSI), and CpG island methylator phenotype. The human RAS family (KRAS, NRAS, and HRAS) is the most frequently mutated oncogenes in human cancer appearing in 45% of colon cancers. Determining MSI status across CRCs offers the opportunity to identify patients who are likely to respond to targeted therapies such as anti-PD-1. Therefore, a method to efficiently determine MSI status for every cancer patient is needed. Results KRAS mutations were detected in 31.6% of CRC patients, namely in older patients (p = 0.003). Codons 12 and 13 constituted 5/6 (83.3%) and 1/6 (16.7%) of all KRAS mutations, respectively. We found three mutations G12D, G12C, and G13D which occur as a result of substitution at c.35G>A, c.34G>T, and c.38G>A and have been detected in 4/6 (66.6%), 1/6 (16.7%), and 1/6 (16.7%) patients, respectively. Eleven (57.9%) patients had microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) CRC. A higher percentage of MSI-H CRC was detected in female patients (p = 0.048). Eight patients had both MSI-H CRC and wild KRAS mutation with no statistical significance was found between MSI status and KRAS mutation in these studied patients. Conclusion In conclusion, considering that KRAS mutations confer resistance to EGFR inhibitors, patients who have CRC with KRAS mutation could receive more tailored management by defining MSI status. MSI-high patients have enhanced responsiveness to anti-PD-1 therapies. Thus, the question arises as to whether it is worth investigating this association in the routine clinical setting or not. Further studies with a larger number of patients are needed to assess the impact of MSI status on Egyptian CRC care.

scholarly journals Effect of Short-Term Carbapenem Restriction on Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Resistant Gram-Negative Bacilli in an ICU

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s200-s201
Author(s):  
Mariana Melo ◽  
Raquel Bandeira ◽  
lio de Castro Giselle Dias ◽  
Braulio Couto
Keyword(s):  
High Mortality ◽  
Bacterial Resistance ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Resistance Rate ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Intervention Phase ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
The Impact

Background: Carbapenem-resistant GNB infections are a serious public health problem worldwide, particularly due to the high mortality associated with them and the low number of therapeutic options. One approach to this challenge is the development of antimicrobial stewardship programs. Objective: We evaluated the impact of a carbapenem restriction program on reducing of bacterial resistance in an intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: A retrospective study conducted in 2 phases in the 80-bed ICU of an acute-care public hospital in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The preintervention phase lasted 16 months (January 2018–April 2019) and the second phase (carbapenem restriction), after the intervention, lasted 4 months (May–August 2019). The intervention was defined as carbapenem-sparing and the use of meropenem was authorized in 3 situations: (1) treatment of serious infections documented by extended-spectrum β-lactamase–producing Enterobacteriacea (ESBL); (2) therapeutic failure with the use of another antimicrobial; and (3) infectious disease recommendation. Data were obtained through consultation of electronic medical records and microbiological results, as standardized by the CLSI, for patients with a >48-hour stay in the ICU and who met the criteria for healthcare-associated infection (HAI) according to the CDC NHSN definition. Results: Before the intervention, on average, 50 cultures were obtained with positive results for multidrug-resistant GNB–MER-GNB (SD, 12.2) and in the intervention phase, this number was 31 cultures (SD, 12.8; P = .010). Average carbapenem consumption decreased significantly with corresponding increase in cefepime consumption in the same period (Fig. 1). The ATB (DDD per 1,000 patient days) before the intervention for carbapenems was 110.6 (SD, 97.1) and for cefepime was 8.2 (SD, 5.9). In the intervention phase, the ATB for carbapenems was 44.7 (SD, 38.5; P = .015) and for cefepime it was 32.0 (SD, 20.3; P < .001). In terms of multidrug resistance rate, before the intervention, 95 of 149 of Acinetobacter (64%) were resistant and during the intervention, 13 of 30 Acinetobacter (43%) were resistant (P = .043). Other GNB (Klebsiella, Proteus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas) reduced the resistance rate, but without statistical significance. We observed a reduction in the HAI rate per MDR-GNB (Fig. 2): before the intervention, it was 22.7 (SD, 5.5) and during the intervention phase it was 16.5 (SD, 7.7; P = .07), although this change did not reach statistical significance. Nevertheless, the ICU Klebsiella infection rate did significantly decrease; it was 5.5 (SD, 1.9) before the intervention and 2.4 (SD, 1.8) after the intervention (P = .009). Conclusions: Short-term carbapenem restriction may be an effective strategy to reduce the incidence of carbapenem-resistant GNB infections in the ICU. The scarce arsenal available for the treatment of MDR-GNB and the high mortality rate justify the growing need for stewardship programs in Brazilian ICUs.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

Comparative assessment of overweight/obesity among rural and urban reproductive-age women in Ethiopia: Evidence from a cross-sectional 2016 national survey

2021 ◽  
pp. 026010602098234
Author(s):  
Gizachew Worku Dagnew ◽  
Melash Belachew Asresie
Keyword(s):  
Family Size ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Rural Women ◽  
Alcohol Intake ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
P Value ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Reproductive Age Women

Background: Overweight/obesity has become a global health problem for both developed and developing regions. Nowadays, overweight/obesity among childrearing-age women has become rapidly increasing in both urban and rural areas. Aim: This study aimed to assess the variation of overweight/obesity among urban and rural reproductive-age women in Ethiopia. Methods: For this study, the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey data were used. The survey was a community-based cross-sectional study, which used a two-stage stratified cluster sampling technique to select the participants. A total of 13,451 reproductive-age women were included in the analysis. Both descriptive and analytical analysis was performed. A p-value of less than 0.05 was used as the measure of statistical significance. Results: The prevalence of overweight/obesity among urban reproductive-age women was statistically higher ( p = 21.5%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 18.2–25.1) than the rural women ( p = 3.5%; 95% CI: 2.9%–4.2%). Women who attend secondary or above education, women in the age groups 25–34 and ≥ 35 years, and high wealth index (rich) had higher odds of overweight/obesity in both urban and rural women. Moreover, women who were married, who had a large family size, and who have a history of alcohol intake had higher odds of overweight/obesity among urban women. Conclusions: Overweight/obesity among reproductive-age women is a public health problem in Ethiopia, especially for women who are living in urban settings. Therefore, it is important to establish targeted overweight reduction programs with particular emphasis on urban, older aged, educated, and married women. Additionally, encouraging the limitation of the number of family size and alcohol intake can reduce women’s overweight/obesity.

scholarly journals The gut at war: the consequences of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli infection as a factor of diarrhea and malnutrition

2000 ◽  
Vol 118 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulysses Fagundes-Neto ◽  
Isabel Cristina Affonso Scaletsky
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Diarrheal Disease ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Clinical Aspects ◽  
Small Intestinal Mucosa ◽  
Enteropathogenic Escherichia Coli ◽  
Important Public Health Problem ◽  
The Impact

Diarrheal disease is still the most prevalent and important public health problem in developing countries, despite advances in knowledge, understanding, and management that have occurred over recent years. Diarrhea is the leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age. The impact of diarrheal diseases is more severe in the earliest periods of life, when taking into account both the numbers of episodes per year and hospital admission rates. This narrative review focuses on one of the major driving forces that attack the host, namely the enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and the consequences that generate malnutrition in an early phase of life. EPEC serotypes form dense microcolonies on the surface of tissue-culture cells in a pattern known as localized adherence (LA). When EPEC strains adhere to epithelial cells in vitro or in vivo they cause characteristic changes known as Attaching and Effacement (A/E) lesions. Surface abnormalities of the small intestinal mucosa shown by scanning electron microscopy in infants with persistent diarrhea, although non-specific, are intense enough to justify the severity of the clinical aspects displayed in a very young phase in life. Decrease in number and height of microvilli, blunting of borders of enterocytes, loss of the glycocalyx, shortening of villi and presence of a mucus pseudomembrane coating the mucosal surface were the abnormalities observed in the majority of patients. These ultrastructural derangements may be due to an association of the enteric enteropathogenic agent that triggers the diarrheic process and the onset of food intolerance responsible for perpetuation of diarrhea. An aggressive therapeutic approach based on appropriate nutritional support, especially the utilization of human milk and/or lactose-free protein hydrolyzate-based formulas and the adequate correction of the fecal losses, is required to allow complete recovery from the damage caused by this devastating enteropathogenic agent.

scholarly journals Additive Manufacturing of Flexible Material for Pneumatic Actuators Application

Actuators ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 161
Author(s):  
Miranda Fateri ◽  
João Falcão Carneiro ◽  
Achim Frick ◽  
João Bravo Pinto ◽  
Fernando Gomes de Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Material Properties ◽  
Thermoplastic Polyurethane ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Pneumatic Actuators ◽  
Geometry Design ◽  
Flexible Material ◽  
Layer Manufacturing ◽  
Thermoplastic Polyurethane Elastomer ◽  
Manufacturing Techniques ◽  
Circular Design

In this paper, endurance of peristaltic linear pneumatic actuators was studied using different hose geometries. Towards this goal, different hose geometries were additively manufactured using Fused Layer Manufacturing techniques of Thermoplastic Polyurethane Elastomer. Material properties of the elastomer were studied using Differential Scanning Calorimetry and the tensile test. The relations between the sample’s print temperature and build direction on the actuator endurance were investigated. Lastly, the relation between the geometry design of the PLPA actuator and its endurance is also discussed. Based on this methodology, authors present results showing that the use of a customized shaped hose with geometrical reinforcement at sides leads to a considerable rise in the hose endurance, when compared with the conventional circular design.

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