Cardiovascular disease and the changing face of global public health : a focus on low and middle income countries

Eighty percent of the global 17 million deaths due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) occur in low and middle income countries (LMICs). The burden of CVD and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) is expected to markedly increase because of the global aging of the population and increasing exposure to detrimental lifestyle-related risk in LMICs. Interventions to reduce four main risks related to modifiable behaviors (tobacco use, unhealthy diet, low physical activity and excess alcohol consumption) are key elements for effective primary prevention of the four main NCDs (CVD, cancer, diabetes and chronic pulmonary disease). These behaviors are best improved through structural interventions (e.g., clean air policy, taxes on cigarettes, new recipes for processed foods with reduced salt and fat, urban shaping to improve mobility, etc.). In addition, health systems in LMICs should be reoriented to deliver integrated cost-effective treatment to persons at high risk at the primary health care level. The full implementation of a small number of highly cost effective, affordable and scalable interventions ("best buys") is likely to be the necessary and sufficient ingredient for curbing NCDs in LMICs. NCDs are both a cause and a consequence of poverty. It is therefore important to frame NCD prevention and control within the broader context of social determinants and development agenda. The recent emphasis on NCDs at a number of health and economic forums (including the September 2011 High Level Meeting on NCDs at the United Nations) provides a new opportunity to move the NCD agenda forward in LMICs.

En face optical coherence tomography of foveal microstructure in full-thickness macular hole: a model to study perifoveal müller cells.

PURPOSE: To characterize perifoveal intraretinal cavities observed around full-thickness macular holes (MH) using en face optical coherence tomography and to establish correlations with histology of human and primate maculae. DESIGN: Retrospective nonconsecutive observational case series. METHODS: Macular en face scans of 8 patients with MH were analyzed to quantify the areas of hyporeflective spaces, and were compared with macular flat mounts and sections from 1 normal human donor eye and 2 normal primate eyes (Macaca fascicularis). Immunohistochemistry was used to study the distribution of glutamine synthetase, expressed by Müller cells, and zonula occludens-1, a tight-junction protein. RESULTS: The mean area of hyporeflective spaces was lower in the inner nuclear layer (INL) than in the complex formed by the outer plexiform (OPL) and the Henle fiber layers (HFL): 5.0 × 10(-3) mm(2) vs 15.9 × 10(-3) mm(2), respectively (P < .0001, Kruskal-Wallis test). In the OPL and HFL, cavities were elongated with a stellate pattern, whereas in the INL they were rounded and formed vertical cylinders. Immunohistochemistry confirmed that Müller cells followed a radial distribution around the fovea in the frontal plane and a "Z-shaped" course in the axial plane, running obliquely in the OPL and HFL and vertically in the inner layers. In addition, zonula occludens-1 co-localized with Müller cells within the complex of OPL and HFL, indicating junctions in between Müller cells and cone axons. CONCLUSION: The dual profile of cavities around MHs correlates with Müller cell morphology and is consistent with the hypothesis of intra- or extracellular fluid accumulation along these cells.

Les transhumanistes face à la crise écologique

Notre réflexion s'ouvre sur un appel à décontracter les sentiments d'urgence et d'irréversibilité pour tenter d'aménager une écologie capable d'accueillir non seulement la nature et les humains, mais également les objets techniques.

Les comportements face au VIH/sida parmi les migrants originaires d'Afrique subsaharienne en Suisse : Enquête ANSWER 2013-2014

L'enquête Internet ANSWER (African Net Survey WE Respond!) auprès des migrants provenant d'Afrique subsaharienne (ASS) a été menée entre septembre 2013 et février 2014, sur mandat de l'OFSP et avec la collaboration de l'ASS. Cette enquête s'inscrit dans le cadre du mandat de surveillance épidémiologique de deuxième génération du VIH et des autres IST auquel l'IUMSP participe activement. Le but de cette enquête a été de décrire dans cette population les connaissances, attitudes et comportements (en particulier, les comportements sexuels, l'usage de préservatifs et la réalisation de tests de dépistage du VIH) en lien avec la prévention du VIH et des autres infections sexuellement transmissibles. Une analyse exploratoire de facteurs associés à certains comportements (partenaires multiples, utilisation de préservatifs, réalisation de tests) a également été menée. Il s'agissait d'une enquête par Internet auto-administrée disponible en 7 langues, à laquelle les personnes originaires d'Afrique subsaharienne étaient invitées à participer. Un groupe d'accompagnement composé de professionnels de la prévention du VIH et de médiateurs culturels de différents pays africains a participé activement à toutes les étapes du projet (conception du questionnaire, traductions, cognitive testing, promotion de l'enquête, mobilisation communautaire).