scholarly journals Skin Oncoplasties: Is Z-Plasty A Technique of Choice In Situation of Limited Resources? Case of Burkina Faso.

Author(s):  
Nayi ZONGO ◽  
NL Marie Ouédraogo ◽  
Windsouri Mamadou ◽  
Laure SC Yameogo ◽  
Thierry R. KOUCHIKA CHABI ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: In developing countries, the long delays in consultation lead to a delay in diagnosis and management of the skin tumours. The lesions are often large and brings the problem of skin coverage after their resections. Several reconstruction techniques allow skin coverage. The objective of this study is to describe the place of Z-plasty in the surgical treatment of skin cancers in Ouagadougou.Patients and methods: It was a two-centre, retrospective, descriptive study on Z-plasty in skin cancers. It included patients who underwent surgery between January 1st, 2013 and March 30th, 2021 in Ouagadougou. Scar quality and healing time in Z-plasty were compared with those of secondary healing. Results: In 8 years and 3 months, 171 skin cancers were identified. The mean time to consultation was 13.6 months. The average size of the tumours was 9 cm. A Z-plasty was performed in 42 cases, being 58.3% of the patients operated on. The average healing time was 15 days. It was four and a half times shorter in Z-plasty than in secondary healing. Ischaemic necrosis of the Z-corner was noted in 7 cases. The recurrence rate in Z-plasty and secondary healing was 7.1% and 9.1% respectively. Hypertrophic or keloidal scars were noticed in 7 cases and hypochromia in 2 cases.Conclusion: Z-plasty is a technique of choice for skin coverage after large resections in surgical oncology. It reduces the healing time and the cost of postoperative care without increasing the risk of tumour recurrence.

The results revealed that on an overall average size of landholding was estimated to be 0.97 ha. The total cultivated area at all categories of sample farms were found to be irrigated. Overall average, cost of cultivation was estimated `27819.43 per ha. The cost of cultivation showed positive relation with size of holding. The cost of cultivation was highest on medium farms (`32549.25) followed by small (`31528.40 and marginal (`29171.74), respectively. Overall average, cost of production was estimated `2446.44 per hectare. On an average input-output ratio on the basis Costs A1/A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2 were recorded 1:2.86, 1:2.77, 1:1.91, 1:1.89 and 1:1.46, respectively. On the basis of Cost C2 input-output ratio was highest on marginal farms (1:1.47) followed by small (1:1.44) and medium (1:1.43), respectively. Overall average, net income and gross income were found `9859.33 and 40028.69 per ha, respectively.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 687-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fredericus HJ van Loon ◽  
Tina Leggett ◽  
Arthur RA Bouwman ◽  
Angelique TM Dierick-van Daele

Aim: In modern healthcare there is increased focus on optimizing efficiency for every treatment or performed procedure, of which reduction of costs is an important part. With this study, authors aimed to calculate the cost of peripheral intravenous cannulation including all components that influence its price. Methods: This observational cost-utilization study was conducted between May and October 2016. Hospitalized adults were included in this study, who received usual care. Peripheral intravenous cannulation was carried out according to current hospital protocols, based on international standards for peripheral intravenous catheter insertion. Device costs were assumed equal to the number of attempts multiplied by the fixed supply costs and applicable costs for additional attempts, whereas personnel costs for both nurses and physicians were based on their hourly salary. Results: A total of 1512 patients were included in this study, with a mean of 1.37 (±0.77) attempts and a mean time of 3.5 (±2.7) min were needed for a successful catheter insertion. Adjusted mean costs for peripheral intravenous cannulation were estimated to be €11.67 for each patient, but costs increase as the number of attempts for successful cannulation increases. The cost for patients with a successful first attempt was lower, at approximately €9.32 but increased markedly to €65.34 when five attempts were needed. Conclusion: Prevention of multiple attempts may lower the costs, and furthermore, additional technologies applied by nurses to individual patients based on predicted difficult intravenous access will make the application of these additional technologies, in turn, more efficient.


Author(s):  
Mangey Ram ◽  
Ashok Singh Bhandari ◽  
Akshay Kumar

Roads have always been the main source of transportation all over the world. Easy accessibility and more safety are the most important features of road transportation. Improvements in these areas are constantly required and invited. Solar road studs are one of the remarkable improvements in road safety. Solar road studs use solar energy, which is the most sustainable and pollution-free source of energy that provides reliable power supplies and fuel diversification. Solar road studs are flashing solar cell-powered LED lighting devices used in road construction to delineate road edges and centerlines. This research work is dedicated to evaluating the reliability measures which include availability, mean time to failure (MTTF), cost analysis, and sensitivity analysis with their graphical representation by using the Markov process. Along with reliability assessment, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) technique is applied to optimize the cost of the system.


1995 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
MA Bogart

BACKGROUND: Compression of the femoral artery to achieve hemostasis is necessary following angiographic and interventional cardiovascular procedures. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate length of time to hemostasis with manual versus mechanical compression of the femoral artery. METHODS: In a prospective study of 503 patients randomized into one of three groups, manual compression with a pressure dressing or vascular stasis button was used on groups 1 and 3, respectively. Mechanical compression with a pressure dressing was used on group 2. The length of time to hemostasis was measured in minutes. Demographic data, current medications, risk factors, laboratory values, and procedural data were analyzed. RESULTS: Mean time to hemostasis was 22 minutes with manual compression and 31 minutes with mechanical compression. Crossover from mechanical to manual compression to achieve hemostasis occurred in 21 of 168 patients (13%). CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study show that advantages of manual compression include shorter time to hemostasis, no requirement for special equipment, and the ability to remove arterial and venous sheaths simultaneously. Disadvantages include upper extremity fatigue and human resource considerations. If the operator is a nurse, the cost of compression increases and the ability to meet patient needs may be restricted. Although mechanical compression is a "hands free" approach, arterial hemostasis is prolonged, special equipment is required, and the total cost per procedure is higher.


2013 ◽  
Vol 95 (8) ◽  
pp. 539-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Mughal ◽  
RJ Baker ◽  
A Muneer ◽  
A Mosahebi

Introduction Perineal defects are commonly encountered in an oncological setting although they may also present as a result of trauma and infection (eg following Fournier’s gangrene). Reconstruction of these poses functional as well as aesthetic challenges. Skin coverage and tissue volume may both be required in addition to anogenital preservation or reconstruction. General prerequisites of an adequate reconstruction of perineal defects include provision of skin cover, well vascularised tissue to fill the dead space (reducing fluid collection and infection), vulvovaginal reconstruction and no faecal or urinary contamination. Methods A literature search was performed using PubMed and MEDLINE®. The search terms included ‘perineal defects’, ‘perineal reconstruction’, ‘perforator flaps for perineum’, ‘vulval flaps’, ‘secondary healing of wound’ and ‘vacuum assisted closure’. Backward chaining of reference lists from retrieved papers was also used to expand the search. Findings Modern developments have led to an increased expectation in improved quality of life as the main goal of reconstruction, therefore necessitating surgery with less morbidity and early return to normal activity. Progress in microsurgical procedures has been the main recent advance in perineal reconstruction and, in future, refinements in perforator flap design and tissue engineering techniques will lead to even better reconstructions.


1967 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 16
Author(s):  
M. A. Condon

Exploration for petroleum in Australia paused in 1966 and this pause is likely to continue in 1967.The number of wells drilled and seismic activity will both be slightly less in 1967 than in 1966, but the work will generally be directed to more specific targets. The cost of exploration will be somewhat higher than in 1966.During the year off-shore drilling should increase and it is expected that five mobile rigs will be drilling in the offshore areas by the end of the year. The immediate structural targets available for these rigs are in the Gippsland, Bass and Otway Basins (Victoria-Tasmania), the North-West Shelf and Timor Sea-Bonaparte Gulf, and in the Gulf of Papua.Onshore exploration will be concentrated in the western Australian basins, the Surat Basin, the central Great Artesian Basin, and the Gidgealpa region of the southwestern Great Artesian Basin.The success or otherwise of the off-shore drilling will determine the rate of exploration over the next few years. If important discoveries are made off-shore, these may and probably would result in more intensive exploration of the same stratigraphic intervals onshore.The exploration patterns of Australia and several other countries before and after first commercial discovery are compared. This indicates that Australian discovery came early, as compared with other countries, where production has developed since the war, but that post-discovery effort in Australia has been very much less. The main obvious differences appear to be that in Australia the average size of the exploration concession is very much larger and the number of operators (having regard to the areas concerned) is much smaller, than in the other successful countries.There has been a gradual movement towards reducing the size of operating areas in Australia either by obligatory relinquihment or by farmout, but if discoveries are to be made at a satisfactory rate more operators are needed in every basin.The economic environment of Australia vis-a-vis Middle East oil and oil markets is probably the main basic reason for the peculiar exploratory pattern, which has impelled the Government to provide financial incentives to encourage exploration and development.


1970 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 70-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Titu Miah ◽  
AKM Aminul Hoque ◽  
Binoy Krishna Tarafder ◽  
Md Kamal Hossain Patwary ◽  
Raihan Rotap Khan ◽  
...  

Snake bite is a serious global health problem. Incidence is high in Bangladesh and mortality is identified to be one of the highest in the world. Most bites are occurred by nonpoisonous snakes and as many as 40% bites inflicted by venomous snakes do not produce features of envenoming. They need supportive treatment only. Poisonous bites are treated with antivenin. But most people apply tight tourniquet and take useless and harmful treatment from traditional healers before getting admitted in hospital. Delay in diagnosis and treatment causes fatality in many cases. 46 patients admitted in department of Medicine, MMCH from April,07 to March,08 with snake bites were studied. Among them 35% were poisonous and 65% were nonpoisonous bites. Male and female ratio was 3.6:1. Mean age (years) was 34.9 ± 16.2 SD. Mean time of interval between bite and hospitalization (hours) was 7.8 ± 9.5 SD. 94% bites occurred in land and 7% in water. 100% patients applied multiple tourniquets in the affected limb. 24% patients received treatment from traditional healers with development of cellulitis in 64% of them. None received proper first aid management. Most incidences were in July - August. Snakes could not be identified in 50% poisonous and 77% non-poisonous cases. Among the identified poisonous snakes, kraits were 84%. Clinical features were also suggestive of krait bite in 88% poisonous cases. Among poisonous cases, 94% presented with neurological manifestation and ptosis was present in all of them. 75% poisonous snake-bite patients received antivenin and none of them developed anaphylaxis. Among 4 poisonous snake bite patients who did not receive antivenin, 2 survived. Mortality in poisonous cases was 44%. All of the non-poisonous cases improved with supportive treatment. DOI: 10.3329/jbcps.v27i2.4249 J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2009; 27: 70-75


1994 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 13-17
Author(s):  
Tim B. Vander Wood

Questions about samples consisting entirely of a collection of microparticles come from people involved in a wide variety of industries dealing with powders, from Pharmaceuticals to industrial minerals, powdered coatings to industrial hygiene concerns. The questions often asked are morphological. How big? How long? How wide?, and often pose a special problem for the microscopist. The time and tedium associated with answering these questions for a significant subset of the sample particles without an automated system causes the cost to skyrocket and sends the requester off to the light scatterers who at least give cheap answers, never mind that nobody knows what they really mean (What is the average size of a particle with an aspect ratio of 5? And did you calibrate your scattering system for my particles in my dispersant or are you still using latex spheres in water?). A common additional question is “How many are quartz, or titania, or organic, or….?” The inherent advantages of microscopy—the ability to determine detailed morphology in two dimensions (and maybe three), and to discriminate different particle types in a mixture—were usually overwhelmed by the cost and time involved.


2020 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 9341-9347
Author(s):  
Stalin Santacruz ◽  
Gabriela Cobo

Almojábana is a kind of food that varies in its composition depending on the geographical place where it is baked. In Ecuador, almojábana is based on cheese, wheat flour and Canna edulis starch. C. edulis planting has diminished, leading to a high cost of the starch and less availability on the market. The present work studied C. edulis starch substitution by a mixture of potato and cassava starches on the elaboration of almojábanas. Specific volume, crumb structure, textural properties and sensory analyses were used to find the best starch substitution. Mixtures of cassava and potato starch (25/75, 35/65, and 45/55) and starch dough resting time (10, 15, and 20 h) were investigated. Hardness, elasticity, chewiness, specific volume, average size cell, the number of cells per area and the total area of cells of almojábanas were determined. Results showed that a mixture of 25% potato, 75% cassava and 20 h resting time could substitute C. edulis starch in almojábana baking. The obtained almojábanas had different flavor compared to a control sample (based on C. edulis starch). Starch substitution reduced the cost of raw materials (starch) by 60%.


Author(s):  
M. A. Korotkevich ◽  
S. I. Podgaiskiy ◽  
A. V. Golomuzdov

The assessment of the suitability of cables of 6–110 kW with XLPE insulation in comparison with cables of the same voltage but possessing paper-oil insulation has been fulfilled on the basis of the method of multi-objective optimization that makes it possible to account not only the quantitative characteristics (of reduced costs), but also qualitative ones. As an indicator of the reliability of the cable line the maximum mean time to failure (the value inversely proportional to the parameter of succession of failures), which is an order more for cable lines with XLPE insulation than for cable lines with paper insulation, is adopted. A comprehensive assessment of the convenience of installation of cable lines revealed that the installation of cable with XLPE insulation features a 1.2–1.6 times easier installation as compared to three-wire (voltage 10 kW) and 1.4 times easier installation as compared to single-core oil-filled cables (voltage of 110 kW). The efficacy of the cables 6–110 kW with XLPE insulation is proved on the basis on the method of multi-objective optimization, that took into account as the costs for the construction and operation of cable lines and the reliability of its operation, ease of its installation and other quality indicators. If the goals taken into account are considered as equally important, the polyethylene-insulated cables for a voltage of 10–110 kW is more efficient as compared to three-wire (voltage 10 kW) and solid (110 kW) cables with paper insulation. Herewith, the cost of the cable with XLPE insulation may exceed the cost of cable with paper insulation up to two times. If the most important aim is to provide the minimum reduced costs for the construction and operation of the cable line, the use of cables with XLPE insulation for voltage of 10 kW is most advisable in individual cases.


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