Optic Nerve Injuries/diagnosis , Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use , Child , Decompression, Surgical , Ecchymosis/diagnosis , Ecchymosis/drug therapy , Ecchymosis/etiology , Ecchymosis/surgery , Eye Injuries/complications , Eye Injuries/diagnosis , Eye Injuries/drug therapy , Eye Injuries/surgery , Eyelid Diseases/complications , Eyelid Diseases/diagnosis , Eyelid Diseases/drug therapy , Eyelid Diseases/surgery , Humans , Male , Optic Nerve Injuries/drug therapy , Optic Nerve Injuries/etiology , Optic Nerve Injuries/surgery , Papilledema/diagnosis , Papilledema/drug therapy , Papilledema/etiology , Papilledema/surgery , Retinal Detachment/diagnosis , Retinal Detachment/drug therapy , Retinal Detachment/etiology , Retinal Detachment/surgery , Retinal Hemorrhage/diagnosis , Retinal Hemorrhage/drug therapy , Retinal Hemorrhage/etiology , Retinal Hemorrhage/surgery , Young Adult
Chalazion/diagnosis , Conjunctivitis/diagnosis , Corneal Neovascularization/diagnosis , Rosacea/diagnosis , Administration, Oral , Administration, Topical , Adolescent , Azithromycin/administration & dosage , Chalazion/drug therapy , Child , Conjunctivitis/drug therapy , Corneal Neovascularization/drug therapy , Dexamethasone/administration & dosage , Doxycycline/administration & dosage , Drug Therapy, Combination , Female , Humans , Rosacea/drug therapy , Rosacea/pathology
PURPOSE: To analyze clinical, therapeutic and prognostic features of pediatric Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 16 eyes of 8 children diagnosed with VKH disease followed at a teaching hospital over a 10 year period. Diagnosis was based on the revised criteria of VKH disease. All data were analyzed using SPSS® software. RESULTS: There were 62.5% girls and 37.5% boys. The mean age (years) was 14.6±4.4. The mean follow-up (months) was 38.7±28.7. The mean initial visual acuity (VA) (LogMAR) was 1.4 with 68.8% of eyes presenting with severe visual loss at admission. The median time (days) required for resorption of the serous retinal detachment was 10 [8.25-25]. Extraocular signs were present in 62.5% of cases. The mean time until initiation of treatment was 25.6 days. 62.5% of patients received corticosteroids alone, and 37.5% of patients received a combination of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive therapy. Final VA was 0.4 [0.1-2.3]. In our study, the time until consultation, low initial VA and recurrences were statistically associated with severe visual loss (P≤0.05). CONCLUSION: Life expectancy in pediatric cases of VKH disease justifies the early initiation of immunosuppressive treatment or even biological therapy to achieve better steroid sparing and preserve visual function.
Pediatrics/methods , Uveomeningoencephalitic Syndrome/diagnosis , Uveomeningoencephalitic Syndrome/therapy , Adolescent , Age of Onset , Biological Products/administration & dosage , Child , Drug Therapy, Combination , Early Medical Intervention , Female , Glucocorticoids/administration & dosage , Humans , Immunosuppressive Agents/administration & dosage , Male , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Time-to-Treatment , Treatment Outcome , Uveomeningoencephalitic Syndrome/epidemiology , Young Adult
Eye Foreign Bodies/diagnosis , Granuloma, Foreign-Body/diagnosis , Plant Components, Aerial , Scleral Diseases/diagnosis , Administration, Intravenous , Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage , Child , Eye Foreign Bodies/complications , Eye Foreign Bodies/drug therapy , Eye Foreign Bodies/surgery , Granuloma, Foreign-Body/drug therapy , Granuloma, Foreign-Body/etiology , Granuloma, Foreign-Body/surgery , Humans , Male , Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures , Plant Bark/adverse effects , Plant Components, Aerial/adverse effects , Scleral Diseases/drug therapy , Scleral Diseases/etiology , Scleral Diseases/surgery
Granuloma/etiology , Optic Nerve Diseases/etiology , Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary/complications , Disease Progression , Female , Fundus Oculi , Granuloma/diagnosis , Granuloma/pathology , Humans , Middle Aged , Optic Disk/pathology , Optic Nerve Diseases/diagnosis , Optic Nerve Diseases/pathology , Radiography, Thoracic , Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary/diagnosis , Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary/pathology
Pigeon pea is an important grain legume in the tropics and subtropics and it is a valuable source of low-cost plantprotein for humans and animals, but it remains an underutilized legume. Effects of feeding graded levels of raw pigeon pea seed inclusion diets on testicular function in Wistar rats was investigated. Thirty male Wistar rats weighing between 120 and 160 g were assigned into six groups (A-F) of 5 rats each.
Cajanus , Columbidae/metabolism , Testis/pathology , Animal Feed , Animals , Fabaceae/metabolism , Male , Rats, Wistar , Seeds
PURPOSE: To evaluate prognostic factors of vision loss among patients with uveitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This descriptive and retrospective study included all patients diagnosed with uveitis who were seen at the teaching hospital of Rabat, Morocco, over a 5-year period. Information regarding demographic data, uveitis type, bilaterality of the disease, etiology and complications were gathered from patients' records. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-nine eyes of 89 patients were included. There were 60.7 % men and 39.3 % women. The mean age (years) was 31.1±16.8. Median follow-up was 11 months. Median visual acuity (logMAR) on admission was 1.7 [0.7-2] and 1 [0.4-1.7] on the last visit (P<0.001). Fifty-nine percent of eyes had final visual acuity (VA) equal to or less than 1/10. Panuveitis (85.4 %) and posterior uveitis (72.7 %) were responsible for final VA equal to or less than 1/10 (P<0.001). Cataract, posterior synechiae, vitreous opacities, epimacular membrane (ERM) and cystoid macular edema (CME) were the most frequent complications. Using multivariate logistic regression, the prognostic factors associated with severe vision loss were the type of uveitis (posterior and panuveitis), CME, ERM, macular scarring and optic atrophy (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Although this study included a limited number of subjects, the results showed that final VA was equal or less than 1/10 in 59 % of eyes diagnosed with uveitis and was associated with risk factors including posterior segment involvement (panuveitis and posterior uveitis), CME and ERM.
Uveitis/diagnosis , Uveitis/etiology , Adolescent , Adult , Cataract/complications , Cataract/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Macular Edema/complications , Macular Edema/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Morocco/epidemiology , Panuveitis/complications , Panuveitis/epidemiology , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Uveitis/epidemiology , Uveitis, Posterior/complications , Uveitis, Posterior/epidemiology , Young Adult
PURPOSE: To study the prevalence of exfoliation syndrome (XFS) and its association with cardiovascular disease in patients scheduled for cataract surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a retrospective, single center, descriptive study of 260 patients admitted to a tertiary teaching hospital in Rabat, Morocco, between January 2015 and March 2016 and scheduled for cataract surgery. All patients had a preoperative cardiovascular exam, an electrocardiogram and, if needed, echocardiography. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Results with a P-value<0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: This study included 246 patients: 146 women (59.3 %) and 100 men (40.7 %). The mean age (years) was 67.6±10.1. The percentage of XFS increased with age (P=0.02). Sixty-two percent of patients with cardiovascular disease also had exfoliation syndrome (P<0.001). Patients with XFS had hypertension in 46.5 % of cases. 14 subjects (19.7 %) had ischemic heart disease and XFS. Using multivariate logistic regression and after adjusting for age, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischemic heart disease and arrhythmias, smoking was the only factor associated with exfoliation syndrome (P=0.01, odds ratio=5.2, confidence interval 95 %=1.35-20.15). CONCLUSION: Exfoliation syndrome is a common condition in the aging cataract population. Ischemic heart disease and hypertension are frequently associated with XFS. Smoking could be another factor associated with this syndrome.
Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology , Cataract Extraction/statistics & numerical data , Cataract/epidemiology , Exfoliation Syndrome/epidemiology , Aged , Cardiovascular Diseases/complications , Exfoliation Syndrome/complications , Female , Humans , Hypertension/complications , Hypertension/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Morocco/epidemiology , Prevalence , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Smoking/epidemiology
Anemia, Aplastic/complications , Hepatitis/complications , Papilledema/etiology , Retinal Hemorrhage/etiology , Vision Disorders/etiology , Adolescent , Anemia, Aplastic/diagnosis , Fatal Outcome , Fluorescein Angiography , Humans , Male , Papilledema/diagnostic imaging , Retinal Hemorrhage/diagnostic imaging , Tomography, Optical Coherence
Groundwater resources are important sources of drinking water in Africa, and they are hugely important in sustaining urban livelihoods and supporting a diverse range of commercial and agricultural activities. Groundwater has an important role in improving health in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). An estimated 250 million people (40% of the total) live in urban centres across SSA. SSA has experienced a rapid expansion in urban populations since the 1950s, with increased population densities as well as expanding geographical coverage. Estimates suggest that the urban population in SSA will double between 2000 and 2030. The quality status of shallow urban groundwater resources is often very poor due to inadequate waste management and source protection, and poses a significant health risk to users, while deeper borehole sources often provide an important source of good quality drinking water. Given the growth in future demand from this finite resource, as well as potential changes in future climate in this region, a detailed understanding of both water quantity and quality is required to use this resource sustainably. This paper provides a comprehensive assessment of the water quality status, both microbial and chemical, of urban groundwater in SSA across a range of hydrogeological terrains and different groundwater point types. Lower storage basement terrains, which underlie a significant proportion of urban centres in SSA, are particularly vulnerable to contamination. The relationship between mean nitrate concentration and intrinsic aquifer pollution risk is assessed for urban centres across SSA. Current knowledge gaps are identified and future research needs highlighted.
Les ressources en eaux souterraines sont des sources importantes d'eau potable en Afrique, et elles sont d'une énorme importance pour les êtres vivants en milieu urbain et pour le soutien d'une gamme diversifiée d'activités commerciales et agricoles. Les eaux souterraines jouent un rôle important en améliorant la santé en Afrique sub-saharienne (ASS). 250 millions de personnes environ (40% du total) vivent dans des centres urbains à travers l'ASS. L'ASS a connu une expansion rapide de ses populations urbaines depuis les années 1950, avec une augmentation à la fois des densités de population et de leur extension géographique. Les estimations prévoient un doublement de la population urbaine de l'ASS entre 2000 et 2030. L'état qualitatif des ressources en eau souterraine urbaines peu profondes est souvent très pauvre du fait de l'insuffisance de la gestion des déchets et de la protection de la ressource, et pose un risque sanitaire significatif pour les utilisateurs, alors que des ressources plus profondes captées par forage fournissent souvent une source importante d'eau potable de bonne qualité. Etant donné la croissance de la demande future de cette ressource limitée, ainsi que le changement climatique potentiel dans cette région dans le futur, une compréhension détaillée de la quantité et la qualité de cette ressource est exigée pour son utilisation durable. Cet article fournit une évaluation complète de l'état qualitatif, à la fois microbien et chimique, des eaux souterraines urbaines en ASS à travers une gamme de contextes hydrogéologiques et de différents types de point d'eaux souterraines. Les terrains du sous-sol de faible emmagasinement, qui sont situés sous une proportion significative de centres urbains en ASS, sont particulièrement vulnérables à la contamination. Le rapport entre la concentration moyenne en nitrate et le risque intrinsèque de pollution des aquifères est évalué pour les centres urbains de l'ASS. Des lacunes actuelles en matière de connaissances sont identifiées et les besoins de recherches futurs sont mis en évidence.
Los recursos hídricos subterráneos son una fuente importante de agua potable en África y son sumamente importantes para mantener los medios de subsistencia urbanos y para apoyar una amplia gama de actividades comerciales y agrícolas. El agua subterránea tiene un papel importante en la mejora de la salud en el África Subsahariana (SSA). Se calcula que 250 millones de personas (40% del total) viven en centros urbanos en el África Subsahariana. El SSA ha experimentado una rápida expansión en las poblaciones urbanas desde la década de 1950, con el aumento de la densidad de población, así como la ampliación de la cobertura geográfica. Las estimaciones sugieren que la población urbana en África Subsahariana se duplicará entre 2000 y 2030. El estado de calidad del agua subterránea somera es a menudo muy pobre debido a la gestión inadecuada de los desechos y de la protección de las fuentes, representando un riesgo significativo para los usuarios, mientras que los pozos más profundos proporcionan una fuente importante de agua potable de buena calidad. Dado el crecimiento de la demanda futura de este recurso finito, así como los cambios potenciales en el clima futuro en esta región, una comprensión detallada de su cantidad y calidad es necesaria para utilizar este recurso de manera sostenible. Este artículo ofrece una evaluación integral del estado de la calidad del agua, tanto microbiana como química, del agua subterránea urbana en el SSA a lo largo de una serie de terrenos hidrogeológicos y diferentes tipos de puntos de agua subterránea. Los basamentos de bajo almacenamiento, que subyacen a una proporción significativa de los centros urbanos del África Subsahariana, son particularmente vulnerables a la contaminación. Se evalúa la relación entre la concentración media de nitratos y el riesgo intrínseco de contaminación acuífera para los centros urbanos a través de la SSA. Se identifican las deficiencias actuales de conocimientos y se destacan las necesidades de futuras investigaciones.
As águas subterrâneas são fontes importantes de água para consumo na África, e são amplamente importantes para sustentar o modo de vida urbano e dar suporte a uma amplitude diversa de atividades comerciais e agrícolas. As águas subterrâneas têm um papel importante no desenvolvimento da saúde na África subsaariana (ASS). São estimadas 250 milhões de pessoas (40% do total) vivendo nos centros urbanos na ASS. ASS tem vivenciado uma rápida expansão na população urbana desde os anos 50, com aumento das densidades populacionais assim como expansão da cobertura geográfica. As estimativas sugerem que a população urbana na ASS dobrará entre 2000 e 2030. As condições de qualidade dos aquíferos livres em áreas urbanas estão frequentemente muito pobres por causa do gerenciamento de perdas e proteção das fontes inadequados, e apresenta um risco significativo à saúde dos usuários, enquanto poços mais profundos frequentemente fornecem fontes importantes de água potável de boa qualidade. Dado o crescimento na demanda futura desse recurso finito, assim como mudanças potenciais no clima futuro da região, um entendimento detalhado da sua quantidade e qualidade é necessário para o uso sustentável deste recurso. Esse estudo fornece uma avaliação compreensiva das condições de qualidade da água, tanto microbiológica quanto química, das águas subterrâneas urbanas na ASS por uma gama de terrenos hidrogeológicos e diferentes tipos pontuais de águas subterrâneas. Terrenos de menor armazenamento de base, que fundamentam uma porção significante dos centros urbanos da ASS, são particularmente vulneráveis a contaminação. A relação entre a concentração média de nitrato e o risco intrínseco de poluição do aquífero é avaliado para os centros urbanos na ASS. Lacunas do conhecimento atual foram identificadas e destaca-se a necessidade de pesquisas futuras.
The characteristic pore dimension in the stack is an important parameter in the design of thermoacoustic refrigerators. A quantitative experimental investigation into the effect of the pore dimensions on the performance of thermoacoustic devices is reported. Parallel-plate stacks with a plate spacing varying between 0.15 and 0.7 mm are manufactured and measured. The performance measurements show that a plate spacing in the stack of 0.25 mm (2.5 deltak) is optimum for the cooling power. A spacing of 0.4 mm (4 deltak) leads to the lowest temperature. The optimum spacing for the performance is about 0.3 mm (3 deltak). It is concluded that a plate spacing in the stack of about three times the penetration depth should be optimal (3 deltak) for thermoacoustic refrigeration.
From kinetic gas theory, it is known that the Prandtl number for hard-sphere monatomic gases is 2/3. Lower values can be realized using gas mixtures of heavy and light monatomic gases. Prandtl numbers varying between 0.2 and 0.67 are obtained by using gas mixtures of helium-argon, helium-krypton, and helium-xenon. This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation into the effect of Prandtl number on the performance of a thermoacoustic refrigerator using gas mixtures. The measurements show that the performance of the refrigerator improves as the Prandtl number decreases. The lowest Prandtl number of 0.2, obtained with a mixture containing 30% xenon, leads to a coefficient of performance relative to Carnot which is 70% higher than with pure helium.
