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Environmental exposures transported across air, land and water can affect our health making us more susceptible to developing a disease. Therefore, researchers need to face the complex task of integrating environmental exposures and linking them to health events with the relevant spatiotemporal and health context for individuals or populations. We present a usability evaluation approach and study of a semantic framework (i.e. Knowledge Graph, Methodology and User Interface) to enable Health Data Researchers (HDR) to link particular health events with environmental data for rare disease research. The usability study includes 17 HDRs with expertise in health data related to Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) in Ireland and Kawasaki Disease in Japan, and with no previous practical experience in using Semantic Web (SW) technologies. The evaluation results are promising in that they indicate that the framework is useful in allowing researchers themselves to link health and environmental data whilst hiding the complexities of SW technologies. As a result of this work, we also discuss the limitations of the approach together with the applicability to other domains. Beyond the direct impact on environmental health studies, the description of the evaluation approach can guide researchers in making SW technologies more accessible to domain experts through usability studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Wound Management is the property of Cambridge Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Wound Management is the property of Cambridge Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Wound Management is the property of Cambridge Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Wound Management is the property of Cambridge Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Wound Management is the property of Cambridge Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Wound Management is the property of Cambridge Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Wound Management is the property of Cambridge Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Wound Management is the property of Cambridge Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Wound Management is the property of Cambridge Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aim: Continuous topical oxygenation provides a continuous flow of 98% pure and humidified oxygen on the wound bed. Used with an occlusive dressing, it creates an oxygen-rich environment, favouring the recovery / acceleration of reparative phenomena. It is indicated in patients with systemic or local oxygenation deficiency, in wounds with slowing or not healing. The therapeutic decision is based on the assessment of chronicity, degree of infection, depth, exudate and on the quality of the wound bed. This study evaluated epithelialization time, scar quality, exudate management, infection control, perilesional care, pain and satisfaction for operators and patients. Furthermore, the cost contraction has been evaluated. Based on our experience, this technique can improve the outcome of interventions such as angioplasty and/or plastic surgery. Furthermore, we achieved pain reduction and speeding up healing. Method: We carried out our study with a 30 patient group, presenting treatment-resistant diabetical-vascular chronic ulcers. Single-use oxygen delivery system (ODS) placed on wound bed effectiveness in treatment has been evaluated (continuous oxygen providing system). Results / Discussion: We evaluated re-epitelization time, pain, scarring quality, exudate, infection control, surrounding tissue care, physician and patient satisfaction, as well as expense decrease. We achieved complete lesion healing in 80% of patients within 4 weeks and 100% within 7 weeks. Conclusion: ODS allows extrinsic oxygen therapy 24 hour a day, 7 days a week. It's a compact device which can be easily worn by patients, optimal placement is simple, therefore improving patient and physician's compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Wound Management is the property of Cambridge Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aim: Honeycomb expandend polyurethane sponge can be an effective device in hard-to-heal wound management. HEPS reduces on-wound pressure, promoting granulation and reducing counterpressure on recently formed granulation tissue. Mechanical contact with tissue promotes granulation tissue formation as well as performing tissue debridement. It also manages excess exudate production maintaining a moist wound enviroment. Method: In our case report a chronic infected ulcer in a diabetic-vascular patient has been treated. Medication has been performed following our therapeutic protocol by cleansing, disinfection, silver sulfadiazine and sterile lesion-shaped HEPS. Leg bandaging. Medication renewal once a week. Results / Discussion: The result we achieved was brilliant, lesions being completely healed within 50 days. Pain control has been excellent. Scarring result has been very satisfying. Conclusion: HEPS management improves cost-benefit ratio, diminishing hospitalization time and accelerating healing process and improving patient quality of life. Our protocol has proven to be safe, effective and cheap. In addition, scarring aesthetic result was excellent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Polydeoxyribonucleotide is particularly indicated for tissue damage repair and acts by activating healing capacity, accelerating the process of hard-to-heal wounds and chronic ulcers, improving their repairing capacity. Method: In our study we administered deoxyribonucleotide as double dose (n. 2 vials, 5 mL, once a week within a 6 months' time). The group of study consisted of 20 paraplegic male patients, age being 30-70 yrs old, 10 years of disability at least, presenting ischiatic 4th grade pressure ulcers, diameter being greater than 10x10 cm. Administration was done in the surrounding tissues and inside the lesion itself, considering a 2 cm gap in between, using a Loerlock syringe with a 18G needle, infiltrating up to 2 cm deep. Subsequently, medication by cleansing - disinfection, silver sulfadiazine associated to honeycomb extended polyurethane has been performed. Results / Discussion: In our study we present istopathologic images from T0 (before treatment) until T3 (3 months). First results demonstrate deoxyribonucleotide effectiveness in pressure lesions healing improvement, according to tissue repair and neoangiogenesis displayed by punch biopsy images. Conclusion: We have demonstrated that polydeoxyribonuclotide held by phosphodiester bonds can reach inflammation site interacting with elements such as platelets and fibronectin, and facilitates tissue regeneration by positive cellular stimulation, diminishing healing time and activating neoangiogenesis, as well as performing anti-dystrophic action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]