Association between weight perception and socioeconomic status among adults in the Seychelles.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the association between weight perception and socioeconomic status (SES) in sub-Saharan Africa, and none made this association based on education, occupation and income simultaneously. METHODS: Based on a population-based survey (n = 1255) in the Seychelles, weight and height were measured and self-perception of one's own body weight, education, occupation, and income were assessed by a questionnaire. Individuals were considered to have appropriate weight perception when their self-perceived weight matched their actual body weight. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 35% and 28%, respectively. Multivariate analysis among overweight/obese persons showed that appropriate weight perception was directly associated with actual weight, education, occupation and income, and that it was more frequent among women than among men. In a model using all three SES indicators together, only education (OR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.3-4.8) and occupation (OR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.2-4.5) were independently associated with appropriate perception of being overweight. The OR reached 6.9 [95% CI: 3.4-14.1] when comparing the highest vs. lowest categories of SES based on a score including all SES indicators and 6.1 [95% CI: 3.0-12.1] for a score based on education and occupation. CONCLUSIONS: Appropriately perceiving one's weight as too high was associated with different SES indicators, female sex and being actually overweight. These findings suggest means and targets for clinical and population-based interventions for weight control. Further studies should examine whether these differences in weight perception underlie differences in cognitive skills, healthy weight norms, or body size ideals.

Le zinc viendra-t-il à bout du rhume?: revue Cochrane pour le praticien.

Cet article présente les résultats de la revue systématique: Singh M, Das RR. Zinc for the common cold. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011, Issue 2, Art. No.: CD001364. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001364.pub3. PMID: 21328251.

Appropriateness of colonoscopy in Europe (EPAGE II): presentation of methodology, general results, and analysis of complications.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Appropriate use of colonoscopy is a key component of quality management in gastrointestinal endoscopy. In an update of a 1998 publication, the 2008 European Panel on the Appropriateness of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (EPAGE II) defined appropriateness criteria for various colonoscopy indications. This introductory paper therefore deals with methodology, general appropriateness, and a review of colonoscopy complications. METHODS:The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method was used to evaluate the appropriateness of various diagnostic colonoscopy indications, with 14 multidisciplinary experts using a scale from 1 (extremely inappropriate) to 9 (extremely appropriate). Evidence reported in a comprehensive updated literature review was used for these decisions. Consolidation of the ratings into three appropriateness categories (appropriate, uncertain, inappropriate) was based on the median and the heterogeneity of the votes. The experts then met to discuss areas of disagreement in the light of existing evidence, followed by a second rating round, with a subsequent third voting round on necessity criteria, using much more stringent criteria (i. e. colonoscopy is deemed mandatory). RESULTS: Overall, 463 indications were rated, with 55 %, 16 % and 29 % of them being judged appropriate, uncertain and inappropriate, respectively. Perforation and hemorrhage rates, as reported in 39 studies, were in general < 0.1 % and < 0.3 %, respectively CONCLUSIONS: The updated EPAGE II criteria constitute an aid to clinical decision-making but should in no way replace individual judgment. Detailed panel results are freely available on the internet (www.epage.ch) and will thus constitute a reference source of information for clinicians.

Aspects professionnels associés à des symptômes de détresse psychique chez des spécialistes des urgences pré-hospitalières

Il y a relativement peu d'études portant sur la santé au travail des professionnels des urgences préhospitalières. Toutefois, quelques études suggèrent que les problèmes de santé mentale sont particulièrement fréquents et graves pour cette population de travailleurs et travailleuses. Notre étude visait d'une part à identifier certains facteurs professionnels associés à différents symptômes chez des professionnels des urgences pré-hospitalières. D'autre part, cette étude visait à identifier et à documenter diverses stratégies de préservation de la santé utiliséespar ces professionnels dans le cadre de leur travailDans un premier temps, une phase qualitative centrée sur l'observation du travail réel a été effectuée. Au cours de cette phase, les chercheurs ont accompagné des équipages de professionnels des urgences pré-hospitalières pour la durée entière de la journée de travail et pour une moyenne d'environ une semaine (4 X 12 heures) par équipage. Les analyses des données d'observation ont été réalisées en équipe multidisciplinaire. Certaines interventions ont été filmées et utilisées dans le cadre d'entretiens en auto-confrontation. Les observations ont été effectuées dans 11 services pour un total de 416 heures d'observation et 70 interventions. L'analyse de l'activité réelle de travail a été effectuée à travers diverses thématiques comme par exemple le travail d'équipe, l'organisation, ou la charge physique. Dans un second temps, un questionnaire a été développé et administré à l'ensemble des ambulanciers (N=669) en Suisse francophone. Cette démarche visait 1-à documenter l'état de santé de ces professionnels et 2- à mettre en évidence des associations entre certains facteurs liés au travail et des indicateurs de santé.Au total, 374 questionnaires ont été retournés. Cette démarche a permis de constater que les professionnels des urgences pré-hospitalières sont nombreux (14 %) à avoir un score élevé (associé à un risque augmenté de troubles psychiques) pour le General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Des associations ont été observées entre le fait d'avoir un score élevé pour le GHQ et certaines caractéristiques du travail (le type d'intervention, le ratio efforts-récompenses de Siegrist, de même que certains aspects organisationnels ou liés à la supervision). 20 % des participants mentionnentaussi souffrir de séquelles psychiques attribuables à des interventions particulièrement diffi ciles sur le plan émotionnel. Les stratégies observées concernent par exemple l'utilisation des ressources disponibles (médecin conseil, collègues, psychologues), différentes stratégies de coping psychologique, des aménagements spontanés des rôles entre collègues, diverses modalités visant à développer/maintenir les compétences.Notre étude confi rme l'importance des problèmes de santé psychique pour des collectifs de professionnels des urgences pré-hospitalières. Notre démarche a aussi permis de constater que ces professionnels ont recours à diverses stratégies pour réguler leur activité de travail. Ces stratégies comportent un potentiel pour la préservation de la santé mentale.

A travers Paris . Texte et dessins par Crafty

Mécénat texte imprimé : Cet ouvrage a été numérisé grâce à Pascal Frand

Allostatic working memory processing in schizophrenia: Human and animal model coherence

The most evident symptoms of schizophrenia are severe impairment of cognitive functions like attention, abstract reasoning and working memory. The latter has been defined as the ability to maintain and manipulate on-line a limited amount of information. Whereas several studies show that working memory processes are impaired in schizophrenia, the specificity of this deficit is still unclear. Results obtained with a new paradigm, involving visuospatial, dynamic and static working memory processing, suggest that schizophrenic patients rely on a specific compensatory strategy. An animal model of schizophrenia with a transient deficit in glutathione during the development reveals similar substitutive processing, masking the impairment in working memory functions in specific test conditions only. Taken together, these results show coherence between working memory deficits in schizophrenic patients and in animal models. More generally, it is possible to consider that the pathological state may be interpreted as a reduced homeostatic reserve. However, this may be balanced in specific situations by efficient allostatic strategies. Thus, the pathological condition would remain latent in several situations, due to such allostatic regulations. However, to maintain a performance based on highly specific strategies requires in turn specific conditions, limitating adaptative resources in humans and in animals. In summary, we suggest that the psychological and physical load to maintain this rigid allostatic state is very high in patients and animal subjects.

Speed Dating y el mercado de solteros

Encontrar tu media naranja ocupa recursos, es un hecho crucial en el ser humano ser capaz de optimizarlos y hacer una elección que, como demostraremos, es racional aunque parezca que el amor sea ilógico.Considerando los posibles candidatos parte de la oferta y/o la demanda, los economistas crean modelos para explicar un mercadomatrimonial en el que la base de estudio son los clientes de Speed Dating, un sistema de citas rápidas. Siendo ésta la base principal,nuestro objetivo es realizar un proyecto en el que seamos capaces de establecer un prototipo de cliente, tanto femenino como masculino observando los posibles sesgos que tal población pueda mostrar para estudios de inferencia estadística sobre la población de los solteros.Las diferencias entre sexos son una motivación esencial, preguntarnos si puede marcar una diferencia en el punto de partida también. Éstas y demás preguntas las resolveremos en las siguientes páginas, ¿sabéis que en realidad nos unen más aspectos que el estado civil?, ¿no essospechoso que seamos aparentemente tan iguales?Si realmente la guerra de sexos existe aquí demostramos que avanzamos en aras de la igualdad: Los solteros del Speed Dating tienen altos niveles de estudios, dedican su tiempo de ocio a actividades culturales y de entretenimiento y disponen de una mentalidad abierta.La paz es posible pero no deja de implicar la incertidumbre sobre si una diferencia es positiva o negativa, cuestiones morales a parte. Si los candidatos de un sexo determinado superan al contrario, es lógico que, al haber mayor competencia busquen la diferenciación como ventaja comparativa para acceder a mejores términos de comercio, así que si no existe tal diferencia puede ser por dos motivos: realmente la igualdad impera en la sociedad como estudios sociológicos determinan, resaltando la homogamia, concepto propio de un mercado matrimonial “sin restricciones” o quizás, la heterogamia en las uniones está quedando en segundo lado, perdiendo en términos de apertura social.

Appropriate management of special situations in Crohn's disease (upper gastro-intestinal; extra-intestinal manifestations; drug safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding): results of a multidisciplinary international expert panel-EPACT II

Introduction: High-grade evidence is lacking for most therapeutic decisions in Crohn's disease. Appropriateness criteria were developed for upper gastro-intestinal, extra-intestinal manifestations and drug safety during conception, pregnancy and breastfeeding in patients with Crohn's disease, to assist the physician in clinical decision making. Methods: The European Panel on the Appropriateness of Crohn's Disease Therapy (EPACT II), a multidisciplinary international European expert panel, rated clinical scenarios based on evidence from the published literature and panelists' own clinical expertise. Median ratings (on a 9-point scale) were stratified into three categories: appropriate (7-9), uncertain (4-6 with or without disagreement) and inappropriate (1-3). Experts were also asked to rank appropriate medications by priority. Results: Proton pump inhibitors, steroids, azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine and infliximab are appropriate for upper gastro-duodenal Crohn's disease; for stenosis, endoscopic balloon dilation is the first-tine therapy, although surgery is also appropriate. Ursodeoxycholic acid is the only appropriate treatment for primary sclerosing cholangitis. Infliximab is appropriate for Pyoderma gangrenosum, ankylosing spondylitis and uveitis, steroids for Pyoderma gangrenosum and ankylosing spondylitis, adalimumab for Pyoderma gangrenosum and ankylosing spondylitis, cyclosporine-A/tacrolimus for Pyoderma gangrenosum. Mesalamine, sulfasalazine, prednisone, azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine, ciprofloxacin, and probiotics, may be administered safety during pregnancy or for patients wishing to conceive, with the exception that mate patients considering conception should avoid sulfasalazine. Metronidazol is considered safe in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters whereas infliximab is rated safe in the 1st trimester but uncertain in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Methotrexate is always contraindicated at conception, during pregnancy or during breastfeeding, due to its known teratogenicity. Mesalamine, prednisone, probiotics and infliximab are considered safe during breastfeeding. Conclusion: EPACT II recommendations are freely available online (www.epact.ch). The validity of these criteria should now be tested by prospective evaluation. (C) 2009 European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Laboratory-based versus non-laboratory-based CVD risk analysis.

Commentaire de: Gaziano TA, Young CR, Fitzmaurice G, Atwood S, Gaziano JM. Laboratory-based versus non-laboratory-based method for assessment of cardiovascular disease risk: the NHANES I Follow-up Study cohort. Lancet. 2008;371(9616):923-31. PMID: 18342687

Lessons learned from developing a national NCD programme in low- and middle-income countries (Seychelles)

This paper identifies selected issues and lessons learned from the implementation of a national program of prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCD) during the past 20 years in the Seychelles, a small island state in the African region. As early as in 1989, population-based surveys demonstrated high levels of several cardiovascular risk factors, which prompted an organized response by the government. The early creation of a NCD unit within the Ministry of Health, coupled with cooperation with international partners, enabled incremental capacity building and coherent development of NCD programs and policy. Information campaigns and screening for hypertension and diabetes in work/public places raised awareness and rallied increasingly broad awareness and support to NCD prevention and control. A variety of interventions were organized for tobacco control and comprehensive tobacco control legislation was enacted in 2009 (including total bans on tobacco advertising and on smoking in all enclosed public and work places). A recent School Nutrition Policy prohibits the sale of soft drinks in schools. At primary health care level, guidelines were developed for the management of hypertension and diabetes (these conditions are managed in all health centers within a national health system); regular interactive education sessions were organized for groups of high risk patients ("heart health club"); and specialized "NCD nurses" were trained. Decreasing prevalence of smoking is evidence of success, but the raising "diabesity epidemic" calls for strengthened health care to high-risk patients and broader multisectoral policy to mould an environment conducive to healthy behaviors. Key components of NCD prevention and control in Seychelles include effective surveillance mechanisms supplemented by focused research; generating broad interest and consensus on the need for prevention and control of NCD; mobilizing leadership and commitment at all levels; involving local and international expertise; building on existing efforts; and seeking integrated, multi-disciplinary and multisectoral approaches.