An image processing and analysis tool for identifying and analysing complex plant root systems in 3D soil using non-destructive analysis: Root1.

The objective of this study was to develop a flexible and free image processing and analysis solution, based on the Public Domain ImageJ platform, for the segmentation and analysis of complex biological plant root systems in soil from x-ray tomography 3D images. Contrasting root architectures from wheat, barley and chickpea root systems were grown in soil and scanned using a high resolution micro-tomography system. A macro (Root1) was developed that reliably identified with good to high accuracy complex root systems (10% overestimation for chickpea, 1% underestimation for wheat, 8% underestimation for barley) and provided analysis of root length and angle. In-built flexibility allowed the user interaction to (a) amend any aspect of the macro to account for specific user preferences, and (b) take account of computational limitations of the platform. The platform is free, flexible and accurate in analysing root system metrics.

Multisectoral development for improved health outcomes: evaluation of community-based initiatives in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Community-based initiatives (CBI) are based on integrated multisectoral socioeconomic development with community participation and intersectoral support to improve the health and quality of life of the people. During 2005-06 the World Health Organization supported an evaluation of CBI in the Islamic Republic of Iran by collecting information from intervention villages on social capital and other indicators, with validation of the findings. The data showed some positive changes in the intervention areas compared with control villages. The evaluation suggests that the CBI approach is a useful tool for improving health and social indicators and providing mechanisms for community-based participation and intersectoral collaboration for health and development at the local level.

Multisectoral development for improved health outcomes: evaluation of community-based initiatives in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Community-based initiatives [CBI] are based on integrated multisectoral socioeconomic development with community participation and intersectoral support to improve the health and quality of life of the people. During 2005-06 the World Health Organization supported an evaluation of CBI in the Islamic Republic of Iran by collecting information from intervention villages on social capital and other indicators, with validation of the findings. The data showed some positive changes in the intervention areas compared with control villages. The evaluation suggests that the CBI approach is a useful tool for improving health and social indicators and providing mechanisms for community-based participation and intersectoral collaboration for health and development at the local level

A new role for Women Health Volunteers in urban Islamic Republic of Iran.

An action research project was carried out by a team from the National Public Health Management Centre in Tabriz, Iran to test the following hypothesis: Health Volunteers are more able to support health improvements by focusing on community participation and empowerment through facilitating communities to define and solve their own problems than by only providing information on health problems. Training on participatory approaches was given to Women Health Volunteers (WHV) in a pilot area. The results gave evidence that local people could identify and act upon their own health needs and request more information from professionals to improve their own health. Further research is needed however to assess how the pilot can be scaled up and how initial enthusiasm can be sustained.

A new role for Women Health Volunteers in urban Islamic Republic of Iran

An action research project was carried out by a team from the National Public Health Management Centre in Tabriz, Iran to test the following hypothesis: Health Volunteers are more able to support health improvements by focusing on community participation and empowerment through facilitating communities to define and solve their own problems than by only providing information on health problems. Training on participatory approaches was given to Women Health Volunteers [WHV] in a pilot area. The results gave evidence that local people could identify and act upon their own health needs and request more information from professionals to improve their own health. Further research is needed however to assess how the pilot can be scaled up and how initial enthusiasm can be sustained

Basic development needs approach in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: from theory to practice.

Poverty and health are mutually reinforcing and deprivation in one area produces negative effects in the other. Unfortunately at the beginning of the 21st century, the number of people living in absolute poverty continues to rise with grim health consequences. Many studies have clearly established that health is related to and influenced by a complex of environmental, social and economic factors ultimately related to each other. Therefore, actions undertaken outside of the health sector are likely to have effects much greater than those obtained through the health sector alone. Thus, the countries of the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region have adopted basic development needs to address all the determinants of health collectively through community empowerment in order to transform social lifestyles and enhance human development. This article presents the contribution made by basic development needs in empowering local communities and vulnerable groups to acquire their essential needs through the efficient use of available resources. The assessment surveys of the ongoing programme conducted periodically in different countries have demonstrated significant reduction in poverty levels and improvement in quality of life indices pertaining to a wide range of fields, including health, nutrition and other social sectors.

Basic development needs approach in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: from theory to practice

Poverty and health are mutually reinforcing and deprivation in one area produces negative effects in the other. Unfortunately at the beginning of the 21st century, the number of people living in absolute poverty continues to rise with grim health consequences. Many studies have clearly established that health is related to and influenced by a complex of environmental, social and economic factors ultimately related to each other. Therefore, actions undertaken outside of the health sector are likely to have effects much greater than those obtained through the health sector alone. Thus, the countries of the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region have adopted basic development needs to address all the determinants of health collectively through community empowerment in order to transform social lifestyles and enhance human development. This article presents the contribution made by basic development needs in empowering local communities and vulnerable groups to acquire their essential needs through the efficient use of available resources. The assessment surveys of the ongoing programme conducted periodically in different countries have demonstrated significant reduction in poverty levels and improvement in quality of life indices pertaining to a wide range of fields, including health, nutrition and other social sectors

Female health workers boost primary care.

Women residing in villages in three districts of Pakistan were recruited, trained to deliver primary care and mobilize their communities for health, assigned to limited catchment areas, provided with supervisory and managerial support, and remunerated. Their comprehensive activities substantially reduced infant, child and maternal mortality within a year and generated positive perceptions of family planning in the communities. The programme was cost-effective and appeared suitable as a model for reforming the organization and provision of health care services.

PIP: In 1993, women residing in three rural districts of Pakistan were recruited, hired, trained to deliver primary health care and to promote health-seeking behavior within their limited catchment areas (1000-1500 people), and provided with supervisory and managerial support. Each village nominated candidates for the positions who had a minimum of 8 years of formal education, lived in the villages they would serve, were aged 18-45, and were, preferably, married. Each woman underwent 3 months of initial training in the delivery of primary health care and ongoing training interposed with period of service delivery for the next year. Data collected on the village population included information about births and deaths in the previous year. The health workers kept records about births, deaths, morbidity, and service delivery. Men's and women's community groups organized to identify health priorities and strategies, and the health workers made regular home visits for health promotion, case management, and family planning services. A year after implementation, infant and maternal mortality rates dropped from 130 to 64 and from 596 to 246, respectively. There was also a highly significant drop in the mortality of children aged 1-4 years from acute diarrhea and from measles. Immunization coverage increased, contraceptive use increased, and the provision of sanitation and safe water improved. The cost of the program was US$386 per health worker. Capital and yearly recurrent costs per person of $0.39 and $1.13, respectively, were lower than public sector allocations for the same period. It is clear that trained, locally resident female health workers can improve the delivery of primary health care in Pakistan.

Seven-day viable analysis of some ophthalmic preparations with different concentrations of benzalkonium chloride.

The efficacy of zinc sulphate and boric acid ophthalmic preparations, containing benzalkonium chloride as preservative have been investigated against Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The viability of bacteria was checked after 7 days though they were completely suppressed after 24 hours of inoculation. Zinc sulphate increased the antimicrobial activity of benzalkonium chloride, whereas the boric acid or its combination with zinc sulphate reduced the same. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found to be viable against zinc sulphate, boric acid or its combination at a concentration of 0.01% to 0.005% of the preservative. Escherichia coil and Staphylococcus aureus also exhibited resistance but to a lesser extent than Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This viability may be dangerous in case of multidose ophthalmic preparations.

Studies on the antimicrobial activity of honey.

Ten samples of crude and processed honey were used to determine antimicrobial activity against twenty five species of pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria, commonly encountered in human infections. The antifungal activity was checked against ten parasitic and saprophytic fungi. Most of the samples of honey used in the study showed broad spectrum antibacterial and promising antifungal activity.

Therapeutic efficacy of ACTH in symptomatic infantile spasms with hypsarrhythmia.

The records of twenty-six infants with both symptomatic infantile spasms and classic hypsarrhythmia were reviewed to determine the efficacy of various ACTH dosages and time of initiation of therapy. Mean age of infantile spasm onset was 6.4 months. Most patients (13) had sustained perinatal hypoxic-ischemic insults. Seventeen patients (65%) had complete cessation of spasms. Between these responders and the 9 nonresponders there was no difference in duration of spasms prior to treatment (2.6 and 2.0 months) or mean ACTH dose (87.4 and 84.5 U/m2, respectively). Infants treated with high-dose ACTH (> 100 U/m2) did not have an improved response rate. The most favorable outcomes were associated with spasm onset at > 8 months of age (all of whom were responders, regardless of dose) or when treatment was started within 1 month of onset of infantile spasms with > 80 U/m2 ACTH (88% responders). Infants treated more than 2 months after onset often did not respond (57%) regardless of dose. Nonresponders with spasm onset at < 4 months of age had the worst prognoses; all had poorly controlled seizures and regressed developmentally. Although all infants in the study were neurologically abnormal, development either improved or did not deteriorate in most responder infants following spasm resolution and one-half remained seizure free. Nonresponder infants continued to have infantile spasms or other seizure types. These data suggest that ACTH is valuable in the treatment of significantly impaired infants with symptomatic infantile spasms, but the most important determinants of outcome may be age of onset and rapidity of treatment rather than dosage.