[Physical medicine and rehabilitation in Morocco]

This survey was conducted in order to assess the degree of knowledge of physical medicine and rehabilitation [PMR], as an emerging medical discipline, by Moroccan Doctors and to evaluate its place in their daily practice. 500 questionnaires were distributed to interns and residents in Rabat and Casablanca teaching hospitals. 307 questionnaires were analyzed. The mean score of the knowledge of PMR on a scale ranging 0 to 25 was 15.63 +/- 4.51 [3-25]. The comparison of means between different groups puts Rheumatology residents in the top rank with a mean score of 20.18 +/- 3.00 with a significant difference when compared to the other group [p= 0.001]. On the other hand, 57.7% of doctors declared never having sought the advice of a Physiatrist. Finally, 85% of participants felt that the introduction of PMR in the curriculum of general medicine would be very useful. PMR is poorly known to doctors training in Moroccan teaching hospitals. More efforts must be combined to promote this discipline that has become essential in patient care

effect of focal spot size on the spatial resolution of variable resolution X-ray CT scanner

A variable resolution X-ray [VRX] CT scanner provides a great increase in the spatial resolution. In VRX CT scanners, the spatial resolution of the system and its field of view [FOV] can be changed according to the object size. One of the main factors that limit the spatial resolution of VRX CT scanner is the effect of the X-ray focal spot. A theoretical study of the effect of X-ray focal spot on the spatial resolution of VRX CT is presented in this paper. In this study, we used the parameters of an actual VRX CT scanner. By using the relevant equations, the effects of foal spot sizes of 0.6 and 0.1 mm were calculated on spatial resolution of the system at various opening half angles. Focal spot size of 0.6 mm had no significant effect on spatial resolution of the system for opening half angles of above 14°. Even focal spot sizes of larger than 0.6 mm could not affect the spatial resolution of the system. For opening half angles of below 14°, foal spot size of 0.6 mm limited the spatial resolution of the system to 5.7 cycle/mm and caused great spatial resolution non-uniformity along the detector length. By focal spot size of 0.1 mm, the spatial resolution varied as a function of the opening half angle and increased to more than 30 cycle/mm. Additionally, focal spot size of 0.1 mm minimized the spatial resolution non-uniformity along the detector length

Molecular characterization [Pcr-Based Methods] of Staphylococcus aureus isolated on dogs and cats

A total of 36 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from hospitalised and out patient dogs and cats were typed by RAPD-PCR, and 36 isolates were selected for further typing by ERIC-PCR and Coagulase gene-PCR and Coagulase gene RFLP, indicating a low degree of polymorphism in the coagulase genes. In this study, it is noticeable that RAPD-PCR displayed desirable typing quality by its ability to group the apparently related isolates from outpatient and hospitalised cats and dogs, whereas ERIC-PCR has the tendency to group the isolates into a single major cluster

SDS page of whole cell protein, immunoblotting and protein A assay for typing of staphylococcus aureus isolated on dogs and cats

A total of 36 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from hospitalised and out patient dogs and cats were typed using SDS PAGE of whole cell protein, immunoblotting and protein A assayment by ELISA test. 15/24 and 14/24 profiles were recognised using SDS PAGE and immunoblotting respectively. It is concluded that SDS PAGE of whole cell protein and immunoblotting could be used as a typing methods for the characterisation of S. aureus strains. Protein A assayment could be used for the detection of S. aureus strains in samples but could not be used to differentiate between different strains