BiomedGrid

  A Comprehensive Look at Environmental Factors Affecting Chronic Health in Coal-Dependent Appalachian Communities Abstract Health disparity and poverty are prevalent in central Appalachian communities. Literature on health in rural communities is sparse, yet a prolific group of researchers associated coal production with high prevalence rates of chronic conditions. The aim of this research was to provide a fair, comprehensive and thorough assessment of health in rural, coal dependent communities. A three-phase study was developed with the objective of identifying demographic, geographic, economic, and social determinants of health contributing to high rates of common chronic health conditions in regions of southern Virginia. A systematic data collection tool designed for objective evaluation allowed for assessment of published literature on coal, health, and Appalachia. Analysis of mortality records from the Virginia Department of Health generated chronic disease prevalence. For t...

  Antimicrobial Resistance: How Healthcare Professionals and the General Public can make a Difference Opinion Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been reported in all regions throughout the world and it still remains a global threat to public health. This problem is also compounded by the limited antimicrobial drugs (antibiotics or antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antimalarials and anthelmintics) under development. Among all antimicrobials, antibiotics tend to be the most frequently prescribed drugs in primary healthcare. Antibiotics which have previously been referred as miracle drugs have revolutionized medicine and saved millions of lives from infectious diseases. For decades, antibiotics have played a pivotal role in treating bacterial infections such as pneumonia, meningitis, diarrhea, and tuberculosis. However, resistance to all classes of antibiotic has emerged compromising the ability of these drugs to treat lifethreatening infections [1]. Modern medicine depends on eff...

Use of a Customized Device for Correction of Antebrachial Angular Deformity in a Dog Abstract Angular deformity is a common condition in dogs that can cause serious malformations and is a challenge for surgeons to correct. A 15-monthold male Saint Bernard was evaluated due toright foreleg lameness. Orthopedic examination revealed a valgus deformity with external rotation and anteversion of the forelimb. Carpal examination revealedthe decreased range of motion with slight disturbances in carpal flexion. Radiography of both forelimbs showed angular deviation because of possible premature physeal closure of the distal ulnar growth plate.Surgical intervention was selected to correct the angular deformity. A closed-wedge osteotomy was planned using 3D reconstruction, obtained via computed tomography (CT). In order to accomplish this, a custom-made device was developed to aid the surgeon in establishing the position and orientation of the cutting planes during the intervention.Long-term foll...

  SARS-CoV-2-Infection in Children and Newborn: Less Severe Than in Adults? Introduction SARS-CoV-2 Corona virus infection has been reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China [1-4]. SARS-CoV-2 virus was first described in 2003. Globally, the WHO classified the outbreak as pandemic situation with worldwide rapid spreading in March 2020. First reports shed light on cases in newborn and children, mostly published by chinese medical doctors and researchers. Few reports described first small series of SARS-CoV-2 infections in pregnant women, who delivered SARS-CoV-2 negative babies [5,6]. A number of 190.000 new cases of CoV-2-pneumonia have been reported in adults, including 7807 deaths (date 19/03/2020). In children and neonates, no death was described so far. A possible explanation for this entity could be immature angiotensin II receptors, the primary docking site of spike protein of SARSCoV- 19 virus. SARS-Cov-2 infections results in a loss of human life and economy [1,4]. Till the ...

  Drugs (sometimes) Work Abstract Prescription drug use continues to rise in the U.S. As more people take more drugs and health care costs climb towards $4 trillion per year, it is worth examining the data behind a couple commonly recommended therapies. Keywords:  COPD; statin; Pharmacotherapy Discussion In the era of WebMD and Google, it is easy to learn basic information about any prescription drug. But knowing when or even if a drug should be used is complicated. While knowledge of disease physiology and drug pharmacology is essential, optimal use of prescription drugs also requires knowledge of the clinical trials which describe the benefits and harms of that drug. Those factors must then be applied to a specific patient case. In the United States, many factors affect the increasing use of prescription drugs. Patients have opinions about the drugs they want to take. Drug manufacturers sponsor advertising which is aimed at increasing drug sales and can often be misleading. ...

  Strengths and Shortcomings of Short-Segment Pedicle Instrumentation for the Treatment Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures Abstract The incidence of thoracolumbar fracture has increased globally, most of these fractures occur at the thoracolumbar junction (Th11-L2). The traumatic thoracolumbar burst fractures of the spine represent 50% of all thoracolumbar injuries, they associated with increased mortality, major morbidity, and cost for hospital care. To date, the AOSpine thoracolumbar spine injury severity system is widely adopted to the clinical practice; according to this classification the burst fractures are categorized to the incomplete burst fractures- AOSpine type A3, whereas the complete burst fractures- AOSpine type A4. To date, in management of thoracolumbar fractures remains a several controversial challenges. Therefore, the aim of this review to consider some recent publications to analyze the pros and cons of up-to-dated surgical approaches and techniques, which are implem...