RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Food allergy (FA) in children is an important health problem. However, the prevalence of FA in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has not yet been determined. This cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the prevalence of FA among school children aged 6-9 years in Al-Ain city, UAE. METHODS: We used multistage random sampling in order to get a sample of 397 school children whose parents completed a self-administered questionnaire designed to assess the presence or absence of physician diagnosis of FA and other allergic diseases. RESULTS: The study showed that the prevalence of physician-diagnosed FA in children was 8% (95% CI 5.4-10.8%). Eggs, fruits and fish were the main allergies reported. FA was independently related to a family history of FA, to a small sibship size and to a personal history of other atopic diseases. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of FA in Al-Ain city was 8%. A history of FA in first-degree family members and a small sibship size were associated with a higher risk of FA in children. FA was related to a personal history of other atopic diseases.
Assuntos
Alérgenos/efeitos adversos , Ovos/efeitos adversos , Hipersensibilidade Alimentar/epidemiologia , Frutas/efeitos adversos , População Urbana , Alérgenos/imunologia , Criança , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Produtos Pesqueiros/efeitos adversos , Hipersensibilidade Alimentar/imunologia , Humanos , Masculino , Prevalência , Fatores de Risco , Inquéritos e Questionários , Emirados Árabes UnidosRESUMO
On 6 July 2009 the Belgian enhanced surveillance system for influenza-like illness among travellers returning from influenza A(H1N1)v affected areas detected a case linked to a rock festival which took place on 2-5 July. The health authorities implemented communication and control measures leading to the detection of additional cases. This paper describes the outbreak and its impact on the management of the influenza pandemic in Belgium.
Assuntos
Infecções Comunitárias Adquiridas/virologia , Surtos de Doenças/prevenção & controle , Vírus da Influenza A Subtipo H1N1/isolamento & purificação , Influenza Humana/epidemiologia , Adulto , Aniversários e Eventos Especiais , Antibioticoprofilaxia , Antivirais/uso terapêutico , Bélgica/epidemiologia , Infecções Comunitárias Adquiridas/epidemiologia , Busca de Comunicante , Feminino , Humanos , Controle de Infecções/métodos , Vírus da Influenza A Subtipo H1N1/imunologia , Influenza Humana/prevenção & controle , Influenza Humana/virologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Oseltamivir/uso terapêutico , Vigilância da População , Viagem , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Most scheduling problems are highly complex combinatorial problems. However, stochastic methods such as genetic algorithm yield good solutions. In this paper, we present a controlled genetic algorithm (CGA) based on fuzzy logic and belief functions to solve job-shop scheduling problems. For better performance, we propose an efficient representational scheme, heuristic rules for creating the initial population, and a new methodology for mixing and computing genetic operator probabilities.
RESUMO
A simple monophasic-diphasic culture set-up was developed to provide efficient isolation and identification of Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The set-up consisted of a slant medium, the bottom covered with 1 mL of broth, establishing a diphasic solid-liquid environment at the bottom of the test tube surmounted by a monophasic solid one. The specimen was directly inoculated into the liquid phase, mixed, and tilted once or twice to cover the upper slanted portion prior to incubation. The method had several advantages over other techniques including rapid results, elimination of transport medium, and use of two separate environments to accomplish both the detection and identification of M. pneumoniae.