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Background: While Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) among refugees has recently started to attract scientific attention, knowledge regarding associated psychological factors remains limited. Given the multifactorial context of persecution, trauma, displacement, and exile-related difficulties, obtaining a better understanding of PGD in refugees is crucial because PGD may affect psychological well-being, level of functioning, and social integration., Methods: In a sample of refugees receiving psychological treatment in Switzerland ( N = 88), we examined the relationship between severity of PGD and potentially associated factors such as emotion regulation, perceived self-efficacy, as well as potentially traumatic events and post-migration living difficulties., Results: In a regression analysis, difficulties in emotion regulation and lower perceived self-efficacy were associated with greater severity of PGD, while post-migration living difficulties and potentially traumatic events did not emerge as significant factors., Conclusion: These findings suggest that emotion regulation and perceived self-efficacy are associated with PGD in refugees in psychological treatment and are thus potential targets for treatment interventions., (Copyright © 2020 Lacour, Morina, Spaaij, Nickerson, Schnyder, von Känel, Bryant and Schick.)

Background: Antenatal care (ANC) has the potential to identify and manage obstetric complications, educate women about risks during pregnancy and promote skilled birth attendance during childbirth. The aim of this study was to assess women's knowledge of obstetric danger signs and factors associated with this knowledge in Ambanja, Madagascar. It also sought to evaluate whether the participation in a mobile health (mHealth) project that aimed to provide comprehensive ANC to pregnant women in remote areas influenced women's knowledge of obstetric danger signs., Methods: From April to October 2015, a non-random, convenience sample of 372 women in their first year postpartum were recruited, including 161 who had participated in the mHealth project. Data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression., Results: Knowledge of at least one danger sign varied from 80.9% of women knowing danger sign(s) in pregnancy, to 51.9%, 50.8% and 53.2% at delivery, postpartum and in the newborn, respectively. Participation in the mHealth intervention, higher household income, and receipt of information about danger signs during pregnancy were associated with knowledge of danger signs during delivery, in bivariate analysis; only higher household income and mHealth project participation were independently associated. Higher educational attainment and receipt of information about danger signs in antenatal care were associated with significantly higher odds of knowing danger sign(s) for the newborn in both bivariate and multivariate analysis., Conclusions: Knowledge of obstetric danger signs is low. Information provision during pregnancy and with mHealth is promising., Trial Registration: This trial was retrospectively registered at the International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Register (identifier ISRCTN15798183 ; August 22, 2015).

Bedbugs are hematophagic arthropods spread in the entire world and in all socio cultural environment. An augmentation of isolated or grouped cases (hotels, hostels, retirement homes) is observed in Geneva since 2012. Clinical manifestations can be various, however a psychological impact exists. To get rid of bedbugs, eradication of the insect from the contaminated room, can be made by different chemical or mechanical ways. These different ways are discussed in this article.

Scabies is a parasitic infection known all over the world and particularly in a low socioeconomic context and in institutions. The transmission is mainly direct from skin-to-skin. An increase of cases has been observed in Geneva since October 2011. To confirm the diagnosis, a precise clinical and microbiological examination is required and highly recommended before starting a treatment. Scabies management includes treatment of the patient and his close contacts with antiparasitic drugs as well as thorough cleaning of clothes and bed linen. When available, oral ivermectine is the treatment of choice, topical permethrine is prescribed when ivermectine cannot be used or in association with it in severe presentations. In Switzerland, ivermectine is not readily available, it is expensive and not reimbursed by insurances.

An outbreak of measles is ongoing in Geneva, Switzerland, since January 2011, in the context of a measles epidemic in neighbouring Rhône-Alpes, France. A total of 41 confirmed cases have been reported, the majority among young adults, many unaware of their non-immune status. There is no large clustering of cases and 14 cases were imported or linked to imported cases. Catch-up vaccination, especially among young adults, may be necessary to prevent further extension of this outbreak.

Drainage devices are routinely placed in the eyes of patients with glaucoma to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) by providing controlled outflow of fluid (aqueous humor) via a filtering bleb. However, the natural wound healing response often interferes with fluid outflow by thickening the walls of the bleb over time, so that these devices rarely remain functional for more than 5 years. We investigated the use of controlled release of an antimetabolite, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), within glaucoma drains to determine if the wound healing response could be reduced and the useful life span of the device increased. Collagen plugs containing 1.125 mg of 5-FU were placed in the silicone tubes of modified Baerveldt glaucoma drains. Eight drains with 5-FU and eight drains without 5-FU were implanted in one eye each of 16 New Zealand white rabbits: the contralateral eyes served as unoperated controls. Results were evaluated in terms of IOP, fibrous capsule thickness, macrophage density. and presence of type III collagen surrounding the drain plate, 3 and 6 months after implantation. In general, eyes implanted with antimetabolite-containing drains demonstrated significantly lower values for all evaluated parameters at 3 months and lower or equal values at 6 months, compared with the eyes not receiving 5-FU and the unoperated controls, indicating improved IOP-lowering function, reduced bleb wall thickness, and earlier achievement of a steady-state wound healing response. All eyes remained healthy throughout the 6-month duration of the study with no cytotoxicity complications in any of the eyes. Thus, biodegradable plugs placed within the silicone tubes of glaucoma drains can safely deliver 5-FU to filtering blebs over time, which could prolong the functional life of the bleb by decreasing the thickness of the anterior fibrous capsule and permitting sufficient fluid outflow to reduce IOP to physiological levels.

Purpose: To determine whether a synthetic material, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (E-PTFE), can be used successfully as a reinforcement material over the tubes of glaucoma drainage implants., Methods: Patches of E-PTFE were sutured over the tubes of Baerveldt glaucoma drains implanted in the eyes of New Zealand white rabbits. Two material thicknesses were tested: 0.5 mm in four eyes and 0.25 mm in five eyes. Rabbit donor scleral patches were used in five eyes as the control. Total ocular health and intraocular pressure were monitored every 2 weeks after the procedure. Six months after implantation, the eyes were harvested and analyzed histologically., Results: Two of the four eyes that received 0.5-mm thick E-PTFE patches showed some conjunctival melting over the anterior corners of the material close to the limbus. All five eyes that received 0.25-mm thick E-PTFE patches showed a healthy cellular wound healing response and no conjunctival melting. Cellular infiltration and collagen deposition in the E-PTFE materials showed integration of the patch material into the surrounding tissue. In the control eyes, marked thinning and resorption of the donor sclera immediately above the drainage tube was noted., Conclusion: Thin (0.25 mm) E-PTFE patches were well tolerated in all rabbit eyes tested. Thin E-PTFE should be investigated further as a functional alternative to donor sclera for reinforcement in glaucoma drain surgery.

A 45-year-old man presented to the emergency department complaining of decreased vision and pain in the left eye after blunt trauma to the eye. On evaluation, the vision was limited to detecting hand motions, and the intraocular pressure was 37 mmHg. Secondary acute angle-closure glaucoma, with pupillary block due to anterior dislocation of the lens, was diagnosed. The intraocular pressure remained elevated after medical therapy, and the patient underwent intracapsular cataract extraction and anterior vitrectomy. The possibility of elevated intraocular pressure due to lens dislocation or other types of secondary glaucoma should be considered after blunt ocular trauma.