The transition from development and disaster risk reduction to humanitarian relief: the case of Yemen during high-intensity conflict.

Discussions on how humanitarian aid and disaster responses can link better with development and disaster risk reduction (DRR) have occurred for decades. However, the reverse transition, from development to relief, is still poorly understood. Using the case of Yemen, this study analyses whether and how development and DRR activities adapted to the emerging humanitarian crisis when conflict escalated in the country. It concentrates on governance strategies, actors, challenges, and opportunities at the nexus of development, disaster, and humanitarian responses. Semi-structured interviews and focus-group discussions with aid and societal actors were conducted remotely and in Jordan. The findings show gaps in knowledge and coordination in the movement from development and DRR to relief, but also reveal spaces and opportunities to advance towards enhanced integration of action before, during, and after an emergency. This paper contributes to the literature on this nexus and critically argues for a more integrated approach to conflicts and disasters.

When Covid-19 meets conflict: politics of the pandemic response in fragile and conflict-affected states.

The Covid-19 pandemic has magnified existing crises and vulnerabilities, but much remains unknown about how it has affected fragile and conflict-affected settings. This paper builds on the theory that hazards become a disaster in interaction with vulnerability and response policies, yet often lead to renewed disaster risk creation. It is based on seven case studies of countries worldwide that experienced social conflict at the advent of the pandemic, covering the period from March-August 2020. The findings show that authorities instrumentalised Covid-19 to strengthen their control and agendas. Responsibility was assumed for lockdowns, but this was not accompanied by care to mitigate their adverse effects. Social conflict shaped the response, as high levels of mistrust in authorities complicated the implementation of measures, while authorities did not support community-based coping initiatives. Whether Covid-19 will trigger or exacerbate conflict and vulnerabilities depends on pre-existing, country-specific conditions, and how a government and other actors frame the issue and respond.

Psychometric properties of the 12-item Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS-12) Spanish version for people with knee osteoarthritis.

To evaluate the validity, reliability, and responsiveness to change of the 12-item Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Spanish version questionnaire. This study was based on a questionnaire validation design. A cross-sectional survey of 199 patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and ten healthy controls was studied to evaluate the validity and reliability of KOOS-12. One hundred and sixteen patients were assessed for test-retest reliability, and 38 patients were included for a responsiveness assessment. Structural validity was assessed by the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Item response theory-based methods were used to determine the performance of the items. Internal consistency reliability was appropriate for all scales (Cronbach's alpha = 0.85-0.94). The intra-class correlation coefficient of KOOS-12 scales ranged from 0.60 to 0.71. The CFA and generalized partial credit model showed that KOOS-12 scales presented a good overall model fit. No differential item functioning was found. Convergent validity was demonstrated by strong correlations (Spearman's rho ≥ 0.70) with KOOS, International Knee Documentation Committee subjective knee evaluation form (IKDC), and Knee Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain (ICOAP). Known-groups validity showed that KOOS-12 well discriminated subgroups of patients (radiographic severity and nutritional status). Standardized response means for KOOS-12 scales were ≥ 0.75. Changes in KOOS-12 scales had a moderate to strong correlation (Pearson's r ≥ 0.40) with the changes in the KOOS, ICOAP, and IKDC scales. The KOOS-12 Spanish version is a valid, reliable, and responsiveness to change questionnaire to measure patients' opinions about their knee and associated problems in Mexican subjects with KOA. Key Points • KOOS-12 is a short self-reported measure that assesses patient's opinions about the difficulties they experience due to problems with their knee and also covers aspects of pain, functional limitations, and knee-related quality of life. • The Spanish version of KOOS-12 questionnaire is a valid instrument for measuring the patients' opinions about their knee and associated problems, and is both reliable and responsiveness to change.

Un caso de queratitis micótica por Fusarium solani en Valdivia, Chile / A case of mycotic keratitis due to Fusarium solani in Valdivia, Chile

Antecedentes: La queratitis micótica es una de las principales infecciones oculares. Se necesita un tratamiento específico que depende de la naturaleza del microorganismo infectante. Su pronóstico suele ser grave y depende de un diagnóstico precoz y una terapia adecuada. Caso clínico: Se describe un caso clínico de queratitis por Fusarium solani en un paciente procedente de un área rural, afectado entre mayo y octubre de 2011 por un traumatismo corneal causado por partículas de polvo en Valdivia, Chile. El examen directo del raspado corneal reveló, en dos ocasiones, la presencia de abundantes hifas septadas. Todos los cultivos fueron positivos para el mismo hongo, que fue identificado como Fusarium solani mediante técnicas fenotípicas y secuenciación de los genes nucleares ribosomales. El paciente fue tratado inicialmente con anfotericina B, y después, con voriconazol oral e intravenoso, tratamiento al que respondió exitosamente, aunque la opacidad corneal persistió. Conclusiones: Aun cuando las queratomicosis en Chile son poco frecuentes, deben tomarse en consideración sus particularidades diagnósticas para poder instaurar el tratamiento más eficaz. Así, se hace indispensable la rápida visualización del hongo en la lesión, un eficiente aislamiento del agente etiológico en cultivo y una rápida identificación, lo que para el caso particular de las especies del género Fusarium requiere el empleo de técnicas moleculares de secuenciación (AU)

Background: Keratomycosis is one of the most prevalent ophthalmic infections, which needs a specific treatment depending on the nature of the infecting fungus. The prognosis is usually severe and depends on an early diagnosis and suitable therapy. Case report: We describe a case of keratitis due to Fusarium solani in a patient from a rural area, who, between May and October 2011, suffered a corneal trauma caused by dust particles in Valdivia, Chile. On two occasions, direct examination of eye scrapes revealed abundant septate hyphae. All cultures were positive for the same fungus, which was identified as Fusarium solani by phenotypic characterization and sequencing of ribosomal nuclear genes. The patient was initially treated with amphotericin B and afterwards successfully responded to a treatment with oral and intravenous voriconazole, although corneal opacity persisted. Conclusions: Although keratomycosis in Chile is rare, its diagnostic particularities must be taken into consideration to establish the most effective treatment. Thus, a rapid visualization of the fungus in the lesion, an efficient isolation of the etiologic agent in pure culture is essential, as well as its rapid identification, which requires the use of molecular sequencing techniques in the case of Fusarium species (AU)

[A case of mycotic keratitis due to Fusarium solani in Valdivia, Chile]. / Un caso de queratitis micótica por Fusarium solani en Valdivia, Chile.

BACKGROUND: Keratomycosis is one of the most prevalent ophthalmic infections, which needs a specific treatment depending on the nature of the infecting fungus. The prognosis is usually severe and depends on an early diagnosis and suitable therapy. CASE REPORT: We describe a case of keratitis due to Fusarium solani in a patient from a rural area, who, between May and October 2011, suffered a corneal trauma caused by dust particles in Valdivia, Chile. On two occasions, direct examination of eye scrapes revealed abundant septate hyphae. All cultures were positive for the same fungus, which was identified as Fusarium solani by phenotypic characterization and sequencing of ribosomal nuclear genes. The patient was initially treated with amphotericin B and afterwards successfully responded to a treatment with oral and intravenous voriconazole, although corneal opacity persisted. CONCLUSIONS: Although keratomycosis in Chile is rare, its diagnostic particularities must be taken into consideration to establish the most effective treatment. Thus, a rapid visualization of the fungus in the lesion, an efficient isolation of the etiologic agent in pure culture is essential, as well as its rapid identification, which requires the use of molecular sequencing techniques in the case of Fusarium species.

[Treatment of distal radius non-union in a three-stage procedure. Case report]. / Tratamiento de la seudoartrosis distal del radio en tres tiempos quirúrgicos. Reporte de un caso.

INTRODUCTION: Non-union of the distal radius is an infrequent entity. Recently, it has been identified more often and it has been speculated that external fixation and other techniques used to maintain radial length, may create defects that favor the non-union. In chronic injuries, residual deformity and retraction of tissues are difficulties for treatment. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 40-year-old male patient with a nonunion after a Frykman VIII distal radius fracture managed unsuccessfully with external fixation with a Green-type cast, and with one year of evolution showing a serious <

[Treatment of recurrent giant cell tumor of the tibia with en bloc resections, bone transport and arthrodesis using an AO type external fixations system. A case report]. / Resección en bloque, transporte óseo y artrodesis con fijador tubular AO del tumor de células gigantes recurrente de tibia. Reporte de un caso.

INTRODUCTION: The primary treatment for the giant cell tumor (GCT) at the knee level, both distal femur and proximal tibia remains curettage and application of methyl methacrylate. In the cases where recurrence occurs, controversy exists in the decision making algorithm whether to preserve the joint, or to perform en bloc resection. CASE REPORT: We report a case of GCT that relapsed at proximal tibia in a stage III of Enneking, in a 26 year old patient, that was handled with en bloc resection, transportation and bone arthrodesis using an AO type tubular external fixator (Synthes). After two years of evolution there was no evidence of tumor relapse, the limb was preserved and we obtained a solid arthrodesis, and an acceptable gait. DISCUSSION: We believe this procedure is a feasible option and an alternative to tumoral prosthesis and amputation. However, despite the success obtained with this procedure, we strongly recommend to assess the functional reconstruction procedures on an individual basis and according to the need of each patient.