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Mediators, peers, and interpreters: Coming to the care sector’s rescue
No full textInternational audienceWe are currently witnessing certain transformations in the health and social care sectors, some of which are peaceful, others not so much. On the one hand, the professions that are practiced within health and social care establishments are in a "weakened" position. For example, psychologists are debating the relevance of developments in public psychiatry services, which include an expansion of the concept of "recovery," and the development of psychosocial rehabilitation, while also reflecting on their own place in these developments. Health care and social workers are raising the problem of the lack of resources available to carry out their job, in facilities described as being "in crisis." On the other hand, certain job roles-some newer than others-are undergoing development, including those of peer health mediators and interpreters, and their number is growing year on year. This change is qualitative even more than it is quantitative, given that the training courses now being offered imply the "increased skill" of these workers
2D+t track detection via relative persistent homology
No full textInternational audienceIn this paper, we demonstrate that algebraic topology can be used to perform 2D+t object detection. After the construction of a topological complex for a 2D+t image sequence, we build a nested sequence of cell complexes on which relative persistent homology is computed. The relative homology adds to “absolute” homology the computation of classes related to the first and last frames of the sequence. By identifying 2D chains with large life spans, the most persistent classes are extracted. This allows for the identification of the interesting parts in a sequence and for the detection of the movement of objects despite continuous deformations in the image domain. The results obtained on a synthetic image and on two real biomedical images with moving vesicles recorded by a quantitative phase time‐lapse technique show the potential of this method. Comparing the method with a newly developed tracking tool proves that the strength of this method is its independence from prior parameters
Olfactory and taste dysfunctions in COVID-19
No full textInternational audiencePurpose of review: Olfactory dysfunction (OD) can be a single and early prominent symptom of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-COV-2 infection unlike middle east respiratory syndrome (MERS) and SARS. OD data are very informative but many are not peer-reviewed, often inconclusive and may reveal variable and sometimes contradictory results. This is often due to incongruent data of subjective and objective OD testing. Mechanistic pathways of OD and taste dysfunction (TD) are slowly unveiling, not infrequently extrapolated from historical models of SARS and MERS and are still partly unclear.Recent findings: We reviewed the literature on OD and TD during the COVID-19 pandemic analyzing current data on pathogenesis and clinical correlates including prevalence, recovery rates, risk factors, and predictive power. Also, we evaluated various methods of subjective and objective olfactory testing and discussed challenges in management of patients with OD and rhinitis during the pandemic.Summary: Subjective evaluation of smell disturbances during COVID-19 pandemic likely underestimates true prevalence, severity, and recovery rates of OD when compared to objective testing. OD is predictive of COVID-19 infection, more so when associated with TD. Recognizing inherent limitations of both subjective and objective OD and TD testing enables us better to manage chemosensory dysfunction in COVID-19 patients. Besides, current mechanistic data suggest neurotropism of COVID-19 for olfactory neuro-epithelium and a potential role of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels. Future studies are needed to explore further the neurogenic inflammation in COVID-19
Une inscription garshouni et syriaque sur un chaudron au Monastère Notre-Dame de Tamich (Dayr Sayyidat Ṯāmīš)
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Exploration and development of colloidal stability of lebanese milk fermented products and drinks
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A Model Based Systems Engineering Approach to Automated Music Arrangement
No full textInternational audienceMBSE (Model Based Systems Engineering) is considered a valuable and effective approach not only in engineering domains, although it appears to bring a potential assistance to artistic visions and initiatives. The cross-domain capitalization is the key to further innovation and advances in technology. This paper describes an MBSE approach, applied to the development of a complex multi-component arrangement system, to generate an automated music arrangement for any melody, with a harmonically correct result. The user introduces the melody in the form of a MIDI file. The system analyzes the melody, detects the scale, then follows algorithms based on thorough theoretical and harmonic studies, to finally generate the arrangement based on the selected music genre (classical, jazz, pop, etc.). Compared to other existing systems in the market, the developed system largely reduces the dissonance between the melody and the arrangement, which makes the final arrangement a good accompaniment to the melody
Association of insomnia with mania in Lebanese patients with bipolar disorder
No full textInternational audienceObjective: To assess: (1) the association between insomnia experienced at admission, sociodemographic and other patients' characteristics and mania; and (2) the variation of insomnia and mania before and after treatment in bipolar patients with manic episodes (type I).Methods: Sixty-two patients were interviewed shortly after their admission to the hospital (after 3 to 5 days). The current symptoms experienced by the patients were assessed upon admission and again at discharge from the hospital.Results: A poorer quality of sleep (higher PSQI scores) (Beta=0.590) was significantly associated with higher mania, whereas the intake of SSRIs (Beta=-5.952) and TCAs (Beta=-8.181) was significantly associated with lower mania. Furthermore, highly significant reductions were reported in the PSQI scores (4.96 vs. 2.75, P<0.001), ISI scores (8.30 vs. 3.45, P<0.001) and YMRS scores (8.60 vs. 3.06, P<0.001) between admission to and discharge from the hospital.Conclusion: Insomnia in patients with bipolar disorder type I is associated with mania, with a significant reduction of sleep problems seen during a period of approximately 20 days of hospitalization. Further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the validity of our results and identify the causes. In the meantime, this research recommends a strategy to improve sleeplessness experienced during inter-episode phases may be helpful in preventing manic episodes in BD
Affective temperaments of Lebanese patients with schizophrenia: comparison by gender and severity of psychosis
No full textInternational audienceObjectives: Our aim in this study was to identify affective temperament differences utilizing the TEMPS-A in a large sample size of Lebanese patients with schizophrenia and compare them to healthy controls. Gender differences, demographic factors and degree of psychotic symptoms were also considered. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross (PHC) from March to June 2019. Two-hundred fifty chronic patients with schizophrenia were compared to 250 healthy controls randomly chosen from the general population. Results: Patients with schizophrenia significantly had higher mean depressive, cyclothymic, irritable and anxious temperament scores compared to healthy controls. Healthy controls significantly had a higher mean hyperthymic temperament score compared to patients with schizophrenia. In the group of patients with schizophrenia exclusively, females scored higher in terms of depressive, cyclothymic and anxious temperaments compared to males. In the group of healthy controls, males scored higher in terms of hyperthymic and irritable temperaments compared to females, whereas a higher mean depressive and anxious temperament scores were significantly found in females compared to males. In addition, higher PANSS total scores, as well as higher positive, negative and general subscales scores were significantly associated with higher depressive, cyclothymic, irritable and anxious temperament scores
Does Adhesive Layer Thickness and Tag Length Influence Short/Long-Term Bond Strength of Universal Adhesive Systems? An In-Vitro Study
No full textBackground: This study investigated the effect of the adhesive layer thickness and the length of resin tags on dentin bond strength of five universal adhesives applied in self-etch mode. (2) Methods: One hundred and fifty extracted human third molars were used. Five different universal adhesives were applied in self-etch mode on the dentin surface. Half of the specimens were subjected to an aging procedure for six months. A shear bond strength (SBS) test was performed and the results were statistically analyzed with a t-test and one-way ANOVA test. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was executed to measure the adhesive layer thickness and tag depth. (3) Results: No statistical differences were found between the five adhesive systems after a 24 h storage period, regardless of layer thickness and tag depth (p < 0.05). After 6 months of aging in water at 37 °C, Iperbond Max and Scotchbond Universal preserved the bond strength over time (p < 0.05), whilst the SBS of Iperbond Ultra, FuturaBond M+, and Ibond Universal decreased significantly after the aging period. No relation was observed between the adhesive thickness or tags’ length on SBS. (4) Conclusions: Within the limitation of this study, the stability over time of the bond strength of universal adhesives depends on their compositions regardless of the adhesive layer thickness and/or tags’ length. Keywords: universal adhesives; layer thickness; self-etch; dentin bonding; shear bond strengt
Economic Burden of Urinary Tract Infections From Antibiotic-Resistant Escherichia coli Among Hospitalized Adult Patients in Lebanon: A Prospective Cohort Study
No full textInternational audienceObjectives: The rising incidence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) attributable to Escherichia coli resistant isolates is becoming a serious public health concern. Although global rates of infection vary considerably by region, the growing prevalence of this uropathogen has been associated with a high economic burden and health strain. This study aims: (1) to estimate the differences in clinical and economic outcomes between 2 groups of adult hospitalized patients with UTIs from E. coli resistant and susceptible bacteria and (2) to investigate drivers of this cost from a payer's perspective.Methods: A prospective multicenter cohort study was conducted in 10 hospitals in Lebanon. The cost analysis followed a bottom-up microcosting approach; a linear regression was constructed to evaluate the predictors of hospitalization costs and a Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the impact of resistance on length of stay (LOS) and in-hospital mortality.Results: Out of 467 inpatients, 250 cases were because of resistant E. coli isolates. Results showed that patients with resistant uropathogens had 29% higher mean total hospitalization costs (2651; P = .004), and an extended median LOS (6 days vs 5 days; P = .020) compared with susceptible cohorts. The selection of resistant bacteria and the Charlson comorbidity index predicted higher total hospitalization costs and in-hospital mortality.Conclusion: In an era of increased pressure for cost containment, this study showed the burden of treating UTIs resulting from resistant bacteria. The results can inform cost-effectiveness analyses that intend to evaluate the benefit of a national action plan aimed at decreasing the impact of antibiotic resistance