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Introduction Randomised controlled trials provide evidence that a treatment works. Real world evidence is required to assess if proven treatments are effective in practice. Method Retrospective data collection on patients given aflibercept for diabetic macular oedema over 3 years from 21 UK hospitals: visual acuity (VA); Index of multiple deprivation score (IMD); injection numbers; protocols used, compared as a cohort and between sites. Results Complete data: 1742 patients (from 2196 eligible) at 1 year, 860 (from 1270) at 2, 305 (from 506) at 3 years. The median VA improved from 65 to 71, 70, 70 (ETDRS letters) at 1, 2 and 3 years with 6, 9 and 12 injections, respectively. Loss to follow-up: 10% 1 year, 28.8% at 3. Centres varied: baseline: mean age 61–71 years (p p p p = 0.0023) and worse VA at baseline (p p = 0.0010). Conclusions The data showed significant variation between treatment centres for starting age, VA and IMD which influenced adherence and chances of good VA. Once treatment was started IMD did not alter likelihood of improvement. Loading dose intensity did not alter outcome at one year.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a DNA virus which belongs to the Herpesviridae family, has been infected with 90% of the world’s population. EBV is transmitted through saliva and associated with different diseases such as Infectious Mononucleosis, Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Burkitt`s lymphoma, Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin`s lymphoma. This study was designed to determine the frequency of EBV DNA and genotyping of this virus in histological tissues of Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Ahvaz, Iran. In this study, 12 samples of Hodgkin and 29 samples of Non-Hodgkin`s lymphoma were examined from Ahvaz Imam Khomeini Hospital. After deparaffinization and DNA extraction, Nested-PCR technique was carried out on Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA-1) and Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 3C (EBNA-3C) regions in order to detect EBV genome and genotype in tumoral tissues. Among 12 cases of Hodgkin`s lymphoma, 3 (25%) cases and among 29 cases of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 14 (48%) cases were positive for EBV. All 3 EBV positive cases of Hodgkin`s lymphoma and a number of 8 (57%) cases of Non-Hodgkin`s lymphoma belonged to the adolescence age group which proves an association between age and EBV positive in Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin`s lymphoma according to Fisher`s exact test (P=0.03). All EBV positive cases in Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin`s lymphoma were EBV-1. The results of this study revealed that EBV played a possible important role in Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin`s lymphoma especially in adults. Also, the main genotype of virus in the current study was EBV-1.

Despite high coverage rates of polio vaccine in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the seroconversion rates of infants may be inadequate. This study measured seroprevalence of antibodies against poliovirus serotypes 1 to 3 (PV1, PV2 and PV3) in 7-month-old infants who had received at least 4 doses of trivalent oral polio vaccine. A serosurvey was conducted in 2010 in rural areas of Chabahar, Sistan-va-Baluchestan province. Using cluster sampling, 72 eligible infants were tested for antibody against the 3 poliovirus serotypes according to WHO guidelines. Antibody titres ≥ 1:10 were considered positive. The seropositive rates for antibody against PV1, PV2 and PV3 were 84.7%, 95.8% and 70.8% respectively. Only 63.9% of participants were seropositive for antibodies against all 3 poliovirus serotypes. Except for PV2, the seroprevalence of antibody against the other 2 poliovirus serotypes, especially PV3, was unsatisfactory.

Background: Transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a frequent diagnosis in the emergency department. Currently, we have not the accurate approach for follow-up in these patients as outpatients or hospitalized. Recently, efforts have been made to stratify high-risk patients presenting with transient ischemic attack through scoring systems such as the ABCD2 score. The aim of study was assessment of ABCD2 score in Iranian population. Methods: Patients hospitalized in neurology department of Rasol Akram hospital, Tehran, Iran, in 2010 and 2011 were enrolled in this study and followed one week later. All the patients had transient ischemic attack without symptoms in brain CT scan within 24 hours of symptom onset. Findings: 100 cases participated in this study at two equal groups: ABCD2 ≤ 4 (low-risk) and ABCD2 > 4 (high-risk). The mean ABCD2 score was 4.7 ± 1.1. One week follow-up showed transient ischemic attack in 11 patients (8 in high-risk and 3 in low-risk groups).The increase of transient ischemic attack incidence and diabetes prevalence were significantly different in two groups (high-risk: P = 0.037 and low-risk: P = 0.029). Sensitivity and specificity rate of ABCD2 score were 72.7% and 52.8%, respectively Conclusion: According to the findings, we can say although ABCD2 score is a useful tool in determining the prognosis of patients with transient ischemic attack in the first week following but it has not high sensitivity and specificity and relying on it alonely cannot be a good result.

We present a novel computational photography technique for single shot separation of diffuse/specular reflectance as well as novel angular domain separation of layered reflectance. Our solution consists of a two-way polarized light field (TPLF) camera which simultaneously captures two orthogonal states of polarization. A single photograph of a subject acquired with the TPLF camera under polarized illumination then enables standard separation of diffuse (depolarizing) and polarization preserving specular reflectance using light field sampling. We further demonstrate that the acquired data also enables novel angular separation of layered reflectance including separation of specular reflectance and single scattering in the polarization preserving component, and separation of shallow scattering from deep scattering in the depolarizing component. We apply our approach for efficient acquisition of facial reflectance including diffuse and specular normal maps, and novel separation of photometric normals into layered reflectance normals for layered facial renderings. We demonstrate our proposed single shot layered reflectance separation to be comparable to an existing multi-shot technique that relies on structured lighting while achieving separation results under a variety of illumination conditions.

Introduction. Intractable diarrhea of infancy (IDI) includes several types of early onset diarrhea; one of the rare etiologies is trichohepatoenteric (THE) syndrome, also known as syndromic diarrhea (SD) which was primarily described by Stankler et al. Hereby we report a family with several affected members which to our knowledge is the first case report from Iran. Report of Cases. A three-year-old boy referred with short stature, poor weight gain, and intermittent steatotic diarrhea to our center. He was born to healthy, relative parents (cousins). He did not gain any weight after four months of age and began having intermittent steatotic diarrhea, abdominal distension, and fever. He was hospitalized several times. Two other children in the family also showed somewhat similar symptoms. Two sweat tests were negative for cystic fibrosis. Workup for Celiac disease was performed several times which was negative; however, gluten-free diet was tried several times which was not effective. Workup for Hirschsprung’s disease was performed but colon was ganglionic. Evidence of liver involvement was approved by elevated liver enzymes and coarse echo of liver on sonography. Discussion. Trichoenterohepatic syndrome should be put in mind in cases of intractable diarrhea presenting in a family with several affected members. Early diagnosis would save patients from unnecessary workups.

Real-time, high-quality, 3D scanning of large-scale scenes is key to mixed reality and robotic applications. However, scalability brings challenges of drift in pose estimation, introducing significant errors in the accumulated model. Approaches often require hours of offline processing to globally correct model errors. Recent online methods demonstrate compelling results, but suffer from: (1) needing minutes to perform online correction preventing true real-time use; (2) brittle frame-to-frame (or frame-to-model) pose estimation resulting in many tracking failures; or (3) supporting only unstructured point-based representations, which limit scan quality and applicability. We systematically address these issues with a novel, real-time, end-to-end reconstruction framework. At its core is a robust pose estimation strategy, optimizing per frame for a global set of camera poses by considering the complete history of RGB-D input with an efficient hierarchical approach. We remove the heavy reliance on temporal tracking, and continually localize to the globally optimized frames instead. We contribute a parallelizable optimization framework, which employs correspondences based on sparse features and dense geometric and photometric matching. Our approach estimates globally optimized (i.e., bundle adjusted) poses in real-time, supports robust tracking with recovery from gross tracking failures (i.e., relocalization), and re-estimates the 3D model in real-time to ensure global consistency; all within a single framework. Our approach outperforms state-of-the-art online systems with quality on par to offline methods, but with unprecedented speed and scan completeness. Our framework leads to a comprehensive online scanning solution for large indoor environments, enabling ease of use and high-quality results.

800x600 Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} "nBackground: With respect to the importance of hepatitis B vaccination of high-risk groups such as prisoners, this study was performed to assess the comparability of a short-course double-dose vaccination schedule with the standard 3-dose schedule. "n"nMethods : Within a randomized clinical trial, a short-course vaccination (at months 0 and 1) with 20 microgram (double-dose) doses of the vaccine was compared to the standard method of hepatitis B vaccination (at months 0, 1 and 6, with 10-microgram doses) in 100 prisoners in Zahedan city in Iran in 2009. We made sure the sera from all the individuals were negative for markers of previous hepatitis B infection. Subsequently serum from all the participants was tested for anti-HBs antibody 1, 2 and 7 months after the first dose of vaccination."n"nResults : Seroconversion rates (HBsAb>10 mIU/ml) 1, 2 and 7 months after the first dose of vaccination were similar in the routine (11%, 79% and 94%, respectively) relative to the double-dose group (26%, 95% and 93 %, respectively). The mean values of anti-HBs antibody titers were similar in the 1st and 2nd months for the two groups but it was significantly higher (P=0.002) in the routine dose (514 mIU/ml) versus the double-dose group (130 mIU/mL), in the 7th month. "n"nConclusion: Demonstrating comparable results with the standard 3-dose schedule, it seems that short-term double-dose vaccination for hepatitis B is a safe and acceptable method for use in high-risk groups such as prisoners.

Recovery from tracking failure is essential in any simultaneous localization and tracking system. In this context, we explore an efficient keyframe-based relocalization method based on frame encoding using randomized ferns. The method enables automatic discovery of keyframes through online harvesting in tracking mode, and fast retrieval of pose candidates in the case when tracking is lost. Frame encoding is achieved by applying simple binary feature tests which are stored in the nodes of an ensemble of randomized ferns. The concatenation of small block codes generated by each fern yields a global compact representation of camera frames. Based on those representations we define the frame dissimilarity as the block-wise hamming distance (BlockHD). Dissimilarities between an incoming query frame and a large set of keyframes can be efficiently evaluated by simply traversing the nodes of the ferns and counting image co-occurrences in corresponding code tables. In tracking mode, those dissimilarities decide whether a frame/pose pair is considered as a novel keyframe. For tracking recovery, poses of the most similar keyframes are retrieved and used for reinitialization of the tracking algorithm. The integration of our relocalization method into a hand-held KinectFusion system allows seamless continuation of mapping even when tracking is frequently lost.

Background and purpose: There is a joint link between somatic disorders and psychological stresses. Since presence of underlying special psychological characters predispose persons to development of broken heart syndrome (BHS), we aimed to find out predisposing personal characteristics and their difference between cases with BHS, acute coronary syndromes and healthy subjects. Methods and subjects: This case-control study was performed on 60 cases with diagnosed broken heart syndrome, 60 cases of acute coronary syndrome and 60 healthy subjects. All enrolled participants filed appropriate questionnaires after getting signed informed consent. Data were analyzed using SPSS ver.12 via MANOVA test. Principal results: There was a significant difference in all three groups regarding psychosis (P

Movements of populations from countries where polio has not been eradicated is a concern in the Islamic Republic of Iran. A cross-sectional, community-based study was implemented in 2010 in 2 districts in Sistan-va-Baluchestan Province near the south-east border. The aim was to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies in children aged 20 (± 2) months who had received at least 5 doses of trivalent oral polio vaccine. Using cluster sampling, 365 children were enrolled for serological testing. Antibody titres ≥ 1:10 were considered positive. Seropositive rates for antibody against poliovirus serotypes 1, 2 and 3 were 94.1%, 96.7% and 78.3% respectively. The lowest seropositive rate was for antibody against polio serotype 3 (PV3) among boys (58.3%). Exclusive breastfeeding showed a direct relationship with antibody response to PV3 (OR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.1-3.6). Improving community protection against PV3 is an urgent programme priority.خطر عودة دخول شلل الأطفال في المناطق الحدودية لجمهورية إيران الإسلامية: دراسة للانتشار المصل السكاني للأطفال النين تلقوا 5 جرعات على الأقل من لقاح شلل الأطفالشاهرخ ايزدي، شهرة شاه محمودي، سيد محسن زهرايي، فريبا درستكار، رضا مجدزادهتشعر جهورية إيران الإسلامية بالقلق بسبب تحركات السكان من بلدان لم تحقق استئصال شلل الأطفال. وقد أجرى الباحثون دراسة مستعرضة مجتمعية في عام 2010، في مقاطعتي سيستان وبلوشستان التابعتين لولاية قريبة من الحدود الجوبية الشرقية. وكان هدف الدراسة تحديد معدل الانتشار المصل للأضداد لدى الأطفال بعمر 20 شهراً (± شهرين)، ممن تلقوا 5 جرعات على الأقل من لقاح شلل الأطفال. واستخدم الباحثون طريقة الاعتيان العنقودي، وأدرجوا في الدراسة 365 طفلاً لإجراء الاختبارات المصلية؛ واعتبر الباحثون وجود عيارات تساوي أو تزيد على 1 إلى 10 نتيجة إيجابية. واتضح للباحشين أن معدلات الإيجابية المصلية لأضداد الأنماط المصلية لفيروس شلل الأطفال هي 94.1% بالنسبة للنمط المصلي 1، وهي 96.7% بالنسبة للنمط المصلي 2، وهي 78.3% بالنسبة للنمط المصلي 3. وكان أخفض معدل للإيجابية المصلية للاضداد المضادة للنمط المصل 3 بين الأطفال الذكور (58.3%). وقد اتضح أن الاقتصار على الرضاعة الطبيعية من الثدي له تأثير مباشر على الاستجابة بالأضداد المضادة للنمط المصل الثالث من فيروس شلل الأطفال. (معدل الأرجحية = 0.2، فاصلة الثقة 95%، تتراوح بين 1.1 و3.6). ويُعدُّ تحسين الحماية المجتمعية ضد النمط المصلي 3 لفيروس شلل الأطفال من الأولويات الملحّة لليرنامج.Risque de réintroduction de la poliomyélite dans les régions frontalières de la République islamique d’Iran : étude de la séroprévalence chez des enfants ayant reçu au moins cinq doses du vaccin antipoliomyélitique oral.Les déplacements de population en provenance d’autres pays où la poliomyélite n’a pas été éradiquée représentent une préoccupation en République islamique d’Iran. Une étude transversale communautaire a été menée en 2010 dans deux districts de la province du Sistan-Balouchistan près de la frontière du sud-est. L’objectif était de déterminer la séroprévalence des anticorps chez des enfants âgés de 20 (± 2) mois qui avaient reçu au moins cinq doses du vaccin antipoliomyélitique oral trivalent. L’échantillonnage en grappes était la méthode utilisée ; 365 enfants ont été recrutés pour une analyse sérologique. Des titres d’anticorps supérieurs ou égaux à 1:10 étaient considérés comme positifs. Les taux de séropositivité pour les anticorps dirigés contre les sérotypes des poliovirus 1, 2 et 3 étaient de 94,1 %, 96,7 % et 78,3 %, respectivement. Le taux de séropositivité le plus faible était celui correspondant aux anticorps contre le sérotype 3 du poliovirus chez les enfants de sexe masculin (58,3 %). L’allaitement au sein exclusif présentait un lien direct avec la réponse des anticorps au sérotype 3 du poliovirus (OR = 2,0 ; IC à 95 % : 1,1–3,6). Améliorer la protection de la communauté contre le sérotype 3 du poliovirus représente une priorité programmatique urgente.

A one-year study (May 2007-April 2008) was undertaken to identify the echinoid species of intertidal sandy and rocky shores of the Qeshm Island. An intertidal sandy location and a rocky shore were surveyed in southern coasts of Qeshm Island, in northern Persian Gulf. Specimens were monthly collected along two 30m wide by 30 60m long (according to the tidal range) transects located approximately 300m apart, perpendicular to the sea, in each shore. Sampling was accomplished using 0.25m2 quadrat along each transect in the rocky shore, and by walking along nine 10×10-30m transects along each transect in the sandy shore. Three species of echinoids, belonging to 3 families were identified including: Clypeaster reticulatus, Diadema setosum and Echinometra mathaei. Identifications were verified by National Museum of Natural Science, Taiwan. While Clypeaster reticulatus belongs to sandy habitats, none of the identified species were observed in sandy location.

A case who was suffering from abdominal pain and chronic diarrhea refered to Isfahan Health Training and Research Center, Institute of Public Health. Current treatments for chronic diarrhea incloding a traial of gluten fre diet were performed but these were not effective because he was infected by Dicrocoelium dentriticum. Then he was cured with parasitic treatment.

In this paper, we describe "The Other Brother", a semi-autonomous device that captures images and video of spontaneous moments in the course of everyday life. It was our goal to design a situated, tangible object for life-time capturing purposes. In addition to describing the object and our deployment findings, this paper also discusses the design process and the goals we were aiming to achieve through the design. This was an iterative process from initial sketches, concepts and physical explorations towards a final design and several prototypes. The final prototype acts as an agent that behaves to some extent autonomously, capturing spontaneous moments that enable people to re-experience these moments in a playful way. Testing The Other Brother in a domestic environment, we describe several findings of the impact of the object in the home, reflect on several design and interaction issues, and discuss future directions for continuation of this research.

Here we present LinguaBytes, a modular, tangible play-and-learning system developed to stimulate the language and communication skills of toddlers (with a developmental age between 1 and 4 years) with multiple disabilities. The typical characteristics of these children and their common learning environment call for intelligent systems that are quickly and easily adaptable, or, even better, adjust themselves proactively. Over the last two and a half years we have designed and tested such a system within LinguaBytes. In this paper we will outline starting points, indicate the opportunities of Tangible Interaction and finally give an overview of the current LinguaBytes prototype.