Reliable acetabular cup orientation with a new gravity-assisted guidance system.

Acetabular cup orientation is a key factor determining hip stability, and standard mechanical guides have shown little help in improving alignment. An in vitro study was carried out to compare the accuracy and precision of a new gravity-assisted guidance system with a standard mechanical guide. Three hundred ten cups were impacted by 5 surgeons, and the final cup orientation was measured. With the new guide, the average error in anteversion was 0.4 degrees , compared with 10.4 degrees with the standard guide and 0.3 degrees and -4.7 degrees , respectively, for abduction angles. The average time required for orienting the cups was similar for both guides. The accuracy and reproducibility obtained with the new guide were better (P < .0001). These good results would require a clinical validation.

Membrane insertion and antibody recognition of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein: an optical study.

The kinetics of binding of a glycolipid-anchored protein (the promastigote surface protease, PSP) to planar lecithin bilayers is studied by an integrated optics technique, in which the bilayer membrane is supported on an optical wave guide and the phase velocities of guided light modes in the wave guide are measured. From these velocities, the optical parameters of the membrane and PSP layers deposited on the waveguide are determined, yielding in particular the mass of PSP bound to the membrane, which is followed in real time. From a comparison of the binding rates of PSP and PSP from which the lipid moiety has been removed, it is shown that the lipid moiety plays a key role in anchoring the protein to the membrane. Specific and nonspecific binding of antibodies to membrane-anchored PSP is also investigated. As little as a fifth of a monolayer of PSP is sufficient to suppress the appreciable nonspecific binding of antibodies to the membrane.

Quelle perception ont les médecins de famille en Suisse de leur rôle dans la prévention et la promotion de la santé? : comprendre les barrières à l'implémentation

Introduction: The importance of health promotion and prevention and the potential of general practitioners (GPs) to conduct individual prevention procedures have been demonstrated in several studies. Clinical recommendations for screening and prevention activities, an important condition for success, are published regularly, but their implementation into daily practice does not necessarily follow. Information is lacking about the actual conditions of how prevention is carried out on a daily basis by Swiss GPs, about their perceptions and needs, their attitudes and the present barriers they face. Such information is essential for the development of new tools and programs targeting better implementation of clinical recommendations for prevention in primary care in Switzerland. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to analyze how Swiss GPs perceive their role in prevention by obtaining information regarding the following issues: What do disease prevention and health promotion mean to them? What are the current incentives and barriers they face? What are their ideas and suggestions to deal with these barriers? What are their needs and expectations regarding prevention guidelines and tools? Methods: We conducted a qualitative research project using focus groups to examine the questions mentioned above. A total of 13 focus groups took place including GPs from eight cantons: five groups in German- speaking Switzerland and eight in French- speaking Switzerland. Each group was composed of 4-11 GPs, making in total 102 participants, who were paid expenses to cover their participation. The sessions were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis: Content analysis of the transcriptions began by classifying the data according to a typology, the first level of which was developed in line with the structure of the interview guide. This typology was extended by successively regrouping similar statements. Synopsis and interpretation was then performed on each category thus obtained. This research report is based on the results from the French-speaking cantons. Results: Physicians perceive a change in their role as a consequence of changes in society and the health system. They emphasize the importance of a personalized and long lasting relationship between the family doctor and his/her patient; a privileged position allowing them to perform individualized prevention activities, considered to be more effective, as they are appropriate to the specific situation and needs of the patient. They point out their need for training and for better information concerning prevention and health promotion interventions, and stress difficulties arising from the lack of a clear political signal conferring them with a mandate for prevention. -- INTRODUCTION L'importance de la prévention et de la promotion de la santé et le potentiel des médecins de famillea à mettre en oeuvre des mesures individuelles de prévention, de dépistage et de conseils, a été démontrée dans plusieurs études. Régulièrement durant les dernières années, de nombreuses associations médicales ont publié des recommandations cliniques concernant les activités de dépistage et de prévention qui sont une condition essentielle pour le succès, mais ne sont pas forcément appliquées de manière systématique dans la pratique médicale quotidienne. Des contraintes spécifiques contribuent à l'écart entre le désir des médecins de pratiquer une médecine préventive et la réalité d'un cabinet médical. Nous n'avons que peu de données sur les conditions actuelles dans lesquelles la prévention et la promotion de la santé sont réalisées par les médecins de famille suisses dans leur travail quotidien. Des informations précises et représentatives sur leurs perceptions et leurs besoins, leurs attitudes et les contraintes auxquelles ils sont confrontés manquent. Or ces données sont essentielles dans le développement de nouveaux outils et programmes visant une meilleure implémentation des recommandations cliniques dans le domaine de la prévention et la promotion de la santé dans la médecine de famille en Suisse. OBJECTIFS Le développement de concepts pour une prévention systématique ainsi que d'outils adéquats, tout comme l'amélioration des conditions qui permettent une implémentation à grande échelle, implique, avant tout, l'analyse de la perception que les médecins de famille suisses ont de leur rôle dans la prévention. Par conséquent, cette étude a eu pour objectif d'obtenir des informations concernant les questions suivantes : ? Que signifient la prévention et la promotion de la santé pour les médecins de famille suisses ? ? Quelles sont leurs incitations et les barrières rencontrées ? ? Quelles sont leurs idées et leurs suggestions pour faire face à ces contraintes ? ? Quels sont leurs besoins et leurs attentes concernant les outils pour la prévention ? METHODES Nous avons mené un projet de recherche qualitative en utilisant la technique des focus groups pour examiner les questions mentionnées ci-dessus. Une telle technique de collecte de données est particulièrement adaptée à un domaine où l'on connaît mal les perceptions des parties prenantes. Nous avons mené 13 focus groups au total, comprenant des médecins issus de huit cantons: cinq groupes ont eu lieu en Suisse alémanique et huit groupes en Suisse romande. Chaque groupe était composé de 4 à 11 médecins de famille, avec au total 102 participants qui ont été défrayés pour leur participation. Les séances ont été audio-enregistrées et transcrites. ANALYSE DES DONNEES L'analyse du contenu des transcriptions a commencé par la classification des données selon une typologie dont le premier niveau a été développé à partir de la structure de la grille d'entretiens. Cette typologie a été affinée et élargie en regroupant successivement des propos similaires. Une synthèse a été effectuée pour chaque catégorie. Ce rapport est basé sur les résultats de l'analyse des données des cantons francophones. RESULTATS Les médecins perçoivent un changement de leur rôle dans une société et dans un système de santé qui évoluent. Ils soulignent l'importance de la relation personnalisée et durable du médecin de famille avec son patient, atout précieux, qui leur permet de réaliser des activités de prévention individualisées et adaptées à la situation et aux besoins du patient, considérées plus efficaces. Afin de surmonter leur doutes et découragement par rapport aux interventions de prévention, ils pointent la nécessité d'une formation aux nouvelles connaissances en prévention et promotion de la santé et d'une meilleure information aux médecins quant à leur efficacité et importance. Ils montrent le besoin d'un signal clair des politiques par rapport à l'attribution de ce mandat aux médecins de famille et de leur reconnaissance en tant qu'acteur de prévention dans le système de santé.

Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) : A pedagogical guide for decision makers in the public sector

This guide introduces Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), a performance measurement technique, in such a way as to be appropriate to decision makers with little or no background in economics and operational research. The use of mathematics is kept to a minimum. This guide therefore adopts a strong practical approach in order to allow decision makers to conduct their own efficiency analysis and to easily interpret results. DEA helps decision makers for the following reasons: - By calculating an efficiency score, it indicates if a firm is efficient or has capacity for improvement. - By setting target values for input and output, it calculates how much input must be decreased or output increased in order to become efficient. - By identifying the nature of returns to scale, it indicates if a firm has to decrease or increase its scale (or size) in order to minimize the average cost. - By identifying a set of benchmarks, it specifies which other firms' processes need to be analysed in order to improve its own practices.

Principes d'evaluation et de prise en charge des patients agés polymorbides: guide a l'intention des cliniciens [Principles for the assessment and management of polymorbid elderly patients: a guide for clinicians].

Providing care to multimorbid older patients is complex, not only because of the coexistence of multiple chronic conditions, but also because of their frequent intrication with psychological and social problems. This article describes a guide for clinicians to assess and manage multimorbid older patients. This guide was adapted from the work of a group of expert US geriatricians. It proposes seven steps: identification of the main problem; identification of patients' preferences; setting of goals of care; estimation of life expectancy; identification of relevant evidence in the literature; revision of the plan of care; and discussion of the options with the patient. The use of this guide is illustrated by a clinical case.

An intramedullary alignment guide lodging within the femoral canal during total knee arthroplasty: a case report.

The usual complications of total knee arthroplasty include thrombo-embolism, infection, and loosening. We report an unusual and potentially serious complication of an intramedullary guide lodging within the femoral canal during the procedure. Considering the risk of fracture and additional exposure, the guide was not removed and was cut in situ. The rest of the operation was completed successfully and the patient made an uneventfully recovery.

A user's guide to the encyclopedia of DNA elements (ENCODE).

The mission of the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) Project is to enable the scientific and medical communities to interpret the human genome sequence and apply it to understand human biology and improve health. The ENCODE Consortium is integrating multiple technologies and approaches in a collective effort to discover and define the functional elements encoded in the human genome, including genes, transcripts, and transcriptional regulatory regions, together with their attendant chromatin states and DNA methylation patterns. In the process, standards to ensure high-quality data have been implemented, and novel algorithms have been developed to facilitate analysis. Data and derived results are made available through a freely accessible database. Here we provide an overview of the project and the resources it is generating and illustrate the application of ENCODE data to interpret the human genome.