scholarly journals Inhaled Anesthetics: Environmental Role, Occupational Risk, and Clinical Use

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1306
Author(s):  
Mariana Gaya da Costa ◽  
Alain F. Kalmar ◽  
Michel M. R. F. Struys

Inhaled anesthetics have been in clinical use for over 150 years and are still commonly used in daily practice. The initial view of inhaled anesthetics as indispensable for general anesthesia has evolved during the years and, currently, its general use has even been questioned. Beyond the traditional risks inherent to any drug in use, inhaled anesthetics are exceptionally strong greenhouse gases (GHG) and may pose considerable occupational risks. This emphasizes the importance of evaluating and considering its use in clinical practices. Despite the overwhelming scientific evidence of worsening climate changes, control measures are very slowly implemented. Therefore, it is the responsibility of all society sectors, including the health sector to maximally decrease GHG emissions where possible. Within the field of anesthesia, the potential to reduce GHG emissions can be briefly summarized as follows: Stop or avoid the use of nitrous oxide (N2O) and desflurane, consider the use of total intravenous or local-regional anesthesia, invest in the development of new technologies to minimize volatile anesthetics consumption, scavenging systems, and destruction of waste gas. The improved and sustained awareness of the medical community regarding the climate impact of inhaled anesthetics is mandatory to bring change in the current practice.

Author(s):  
Dandan Liu ◽  
Dewei Yang ◽  
Anmin Huang

China has grown into the world’s largest tourist source market and its huge tourism activities and resulting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are particularly becoming a concern in the context of global climate warming. To depict the trajectory of carbon emissions, a long-range energy alternatives planning system (LEAP)-Tourist model, consisting of two scenarios and four sub-scenarios, was established for observing and predicting tourism greenhouse gas peaks in China from 2017 to 2040. The results indicate that GHG emissions will peak at 1048.01 million-ton CO2 equivalent (Mt CO2e) in 2033 under the integrated (INT) scenario. Compared with the business as usual (BAU) scenario, INT will save energy by 24.21% in 2040 and reduce energy intensity from 0.4979 tons of CO2 equivalent/104 yuan (TCO2e/104 yuan) to 0.3761 Tce/104 yuan. Although the INT scenario has achieved promising effects of energy saving and carbon reduction, the peak year 2033 in the tourist industry is still later than China’s expected peak year of 2030. This is due to the growth potential and moderate carbon control measures in the tourist industry. Thus, in order to keep the tourist industry in synchronization with China’s peak goals, more stringent measures are needed, e.g., the promotion of clean fuel shuttle buses, the encouragement of low carbon tours, the cancelation of disposable toiletries and the recycling of garbage resources. The results of this simulation study will help set GHG emission peak targets in the tourist industry and formulate a low carbon roadmap to guide carbon reduction actions in the field of GHG emissions with greater certainty.


Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
Ghazal Makvandia ◽  
Md. Safiuddin

Efforts have been put in place to minimize the effects of construction activities and occupancy, but the problem of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions continues to have detrimental effects on the environment. As an effort to reduce GHG emissions, particularly carbon emissions, countable commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential net-zero energy (NZE) buildings were built around the globe during the past few years, and they are still operating. But there exist many challenges and barriers for the construction of NZE buildings. This study identifies the obstacles to developing NZE buildings, with a focus on single-family homes, in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The study sought to identify the technical, organizational, and social challenges of constructing NZE buildings, realize the importance of the public awareness in making NZE homes, and provide recommendations on how to raise public knowledge. A qualitative approach was employed to collect the primary data through survey and interviews. The secondary data obtained from the literature review were also used to realize the benefits, challenges, and current situation of NZE buildings. Research results indicate that the construction of NZE buildings is faced with a myriad of challenges, including technical issues, the lack of governmental and institutional supports, and the lack of standardized measures. The public awareness of NZE homes has been found to be very low, thus limiting the uptake and adoption of the new technologies used in this type of homes. The present study also recommends that the government and the academic institutions should strive to support the NZE building technology through curriculum changes, technological uptake, and financial incentives to buyers and developers. The implementation of these recommendations may enhance the success and popularity of NZE homes in the GTA.


Author(s):  
Marina Yiasemidou

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic and infection control measures had an unavoidable impact on surgical services. During the first wave of the pandemic, elective surgery, endoscopy, and ‘face-to-face’ clinics were discontinued after recommendations from professional bodies. In addition, training courses, examinations, conferences, and training rotations were postponed or cancelled. Inadvertently, infection control and prevention measures, both within and outside hospitals, have caused a significant negative impact on training. At the same time, they have given space to new technologies, like telemedicine and platforms for webinars, to blossom. While the recovery phase is well underway in some parts of the world, most surgical services are not operating at full capacity. Unfortunately, some countries are still battling a second or third wave of the pandemic with severely negative consequences on surgical services. Several studies have looked into the impact of COVID-19 on surgical training. Here, an objective overview of studies from different parts of the world is presented. Also, evidence-based solutions are suggested for future surgical training interventions.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1122
Author(s):  
Bradley Ridoutt ◽  
Danielle Baird ◽  
Gilly A. Hendrie

Planetary boundaries are an important sustainability concept, defining absolute limits for resource use and emissions that need to be respected to avoid major and potentially irreversible earth system change. To remain within the safe operating space for humanity, there is a need for urgent adoption of climate-neutral diets, which make no additional contribution to warming. In the first study of its kind, a new climate metric, the Global Warming Potential Star (GWP*), was used to assess greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with 9341 Australian adult diets obtained from the Australian Health Survey. Dietary climate footprints averaged 3.4 kg CO2-equivelent per person per day, with total energy intake explaining around one quarter of the variation. Energy-dense and nutrient-poor discretionary foods contributed around one third. With lower climate footprint food choices, a diet consistent with current Australian dietary guidelines had a 42% lower climate footprint. Currently, it is not possible to define a climate-neutral dietary strategy in Australia because there are very few climate-neutral foods in the Australian food system. To bring Australian diets into line with the climate stabilization goals of the Paris Agreement, the most important need is for innovation across the agricultural and food processing industries to expand the range of climate-neutral foods available.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naeem Abas ◽  
Esmat Kalair ◽  
Saad Dilshad ◽  
Nasrullah Khan

PurposeThe authors present the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on community lifelines. The state machinery has several departments to secure essential lifelines during disasters and epidemics. Many countries have formed national disaster management authorities to deal with manmade and natural disasters. Typical lifelines include food, water, safety and security, continuity of services, medicines and healthcare equipment, gas, oil and electricity supplies, telecommunication services, transportation means and education system. Supply chain systems are often affected by disasters, which should have alternative sources and routes. Doctors, nurses and medics are front-line soldiers against diseases during pandemics.Design/methodology/approachThe COVID-19 pandemic has revealed how much we all are connected yet unprepared for natural disasters. Political leaders prioritize infrastructures, education but overlook the health sector. During the recent pandemic, developed countries faced more mortalities, fatalities and casualties than developing countries. This work surveys the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health, energy, environment, industry, education and food supply lines.FindingsThe COVID-19 pandemic caused 7% reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during global lockdowns. In addition, COVID-19 has affected social fabric, behaviors, cultures and official routines. Around 2.84 bn doses have been administrated, with approximately 806 m people (10.3% of the world population) are fully vaccinated around the world to date. Most developed vaccines are being evaluated for new variants like alpha, beta, gamma, epsilons and delta first detected in the UK, South Africa, Brazil, USA and India. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all sectors in society, yet this paper critically reviews the impact of COVID-19 on health and energy lifelines.Practical implicationsThis paper critically reviews the health and energy lifelines during pandemic COVID-19 and explains how these essential services were interrupted.Originality/valueThis paper critically reviews the health and energy lifelines during pandemic COVID-19 and explains how these essential services were interrupted.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (83) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lais De Sá Fonseca ◽  
Alberto José Niituma Ogata

Proposal for an assistance model for an expanding supplementary health company in the city of São PauloIntrodução: O sistema de saúde suplementar enfrenta atualmente, assim como o setor público, os efeitos do aumento dos custos assistenciais. O setor saúde é influenciado pelo cenário econômico e sua atividade contribui com a geração de empregos e renda, e estimula o crescimento em investimentos e capital. O incremento das despesas neste segmento, está associado ao envelhecimento da população, às mudanças no perfil de consumo dos produtos de saúde, à incorporação de novas tecnologias, à falta de eficiência das ações preventivas e aos modelos de remuneração. Dessa forma, as operadoras passam a transformar as maneiras de ofertar cuidados através de novas diretrizes que buscam otimizar recursos e obter melhores resultados assistenciais, e assim, sustentabilidade no mercado de saúde privado. Objetivos: O presente trabalho visa propor a uma operadora de saúde privada em expansão de atividades um modelo assistencial baseado em referenciais teóricos e nas práticas do mercado de saúde suplementar atual. Método: Trata-se de pesquisa qualitativa com estratégia de estudo de caso. A análise descreve a operadora e suas características e detalha opções de modelo assistencial a serem aplicados em função da expansão do número de beneficiários. Resultados: A proposta de modelo para abordagem assistencial incluiu o foco em estrutura de atenção primária, a implantação de unidades de transição e cuidados paliativos e a prática de saúde integrativa. Conclusões: O estudo propõe alternativas para inserir o paciente no centro do cuidado e buscar melhor experiência, valor e fidelidade do cliente. A proximidade de equipe multidisciplinar exclusiva aos pacientes favorece, aliada ao segmento de diretrizes clínicas de indicadores processuais, o monitoramento sobre a utilização dos serviços disponíveis no sistema e a avaliação dos resultados operacionais.Palavras-chaves: Saúde Suplementar, Gestão em Saúde, Governança Clínica, Planejamento em Saúde, Sistemas de Saúde, Doenças Crônicas. ABSTRACTIntroduction: The supplementary health system is currently facing, as well as the public system, the effects of rising health care costs. The health sector is affected by the economic scenario and its activity contributes to generation of jobs, income, and stimulates growth in investments and capital. The increase in expenses in this segment is associated with ageing of population, changes in the consumption profile of health products, the incorporation of new technologies, the lack of efficiency in preventive actions and payment models. Thus, health companies begin to transform the ways of offering care through new guidelines that seek to optimize resources and obtain better care results, and thus, sustainability in the private health market. Objectives: The present study aims to propose to a private health operator in expansion of activities a care model based on theoretical references and on the practices of the current supplementary health market. Method: It is a qualitative research with a case study strategy. The analysis describes the company and its characteristics and details care model options to be applied due to the expansion in the number of customers. Results: The proposed model for the care approach included the focus on primary care structure, the implementation of transition units and palliative care and the practice of integrative health. Conclusions: The study proposes alternatives to insert patient centered care and seek better experience, value and customer loyalty. The proximity of an exclusive multidisciplinary team to patients favors, together with the segment of clinical guidelines for procedural indicators, the monitoring of the use of services available in the system and the evaluation of operational results.Keywords: Supplemental Health. Health management. Clinical Governance. Health Planning. Health Systems. Chronic Diseases.


Author(s):  
Hasan Naveed ◽  
Victor Leung ◽  
Mehran Zarei-Ghanavati ◽  
Christopher Leak ◽  
Christopher Liu

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitates implementation of exposure control measures in all facets of the healthcare sector. Healthcare professionals who work in busy ophthalmology clinics and theaters are amidst the highest at-risk of contracting COVID- 19. The authors review the up-to-date scientific evidence of SARS-CoV-2 transmission to demystify and explain the exposure control options available for ophthalmic workplace and offer insights from an industrial hygiene standpoint. As the we enter the post-COVID world, these measures will be critical to enhance workplace safety, and thus protect patients and staff alike.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zuofang Zheng ◽  
Junxia Dou ◽  
Conglan Cheng ◽  
Hua Gao

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is seriously threatening and altering human society. Although prevention and control measures play an important role in preventing the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, signals of climate impact can still be detected globally. In this paper, the data of 265 cities in China were analyzed. The results show that the correlations between COVID-19 and air quality index (AQI) and PM2.5 concentration were very weak and that the correlations between COVID-19 and meteorological factors were significantly different in different climate backgrounds. So, a fixed model is not enough to describe the correlations. Overall, high humidity, low wind speed, and relatively lower air temperature are conducive to the spread of COVID-19. The climate background suitable for the spread of COVID-19 in China is air temperature 0~15°C, specific humidity <3 g kg−1, and wind speed <3 m s−1. The Granger causality test shows that there is a causal relationship between daily average air temperature and the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in some cities of China, and air temperature is indicative of the number of confirmed cases the next day. However, this phenomenon is not universal due to regional climate differences.


10.2196/11643 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. e11643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Ferreri ◽  
Alexis Bourla ◽  
Charles-Siegfried Peretti ◽  
Tomoyuki Segawa ◽  
Nemat Jaafari ◽  
...  

Background New technologies are set to profoundly change the way we understand and manage psychiatric disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Developments in imaging and biomarkers, along with medical informatics, may well allow for better assessments and interventions in the future. Recent advances in the concept of digital phenotype, which involves using computerized measurement tools to capture the characteristics of a given psychiatric disorder, is one paradigmatic example. Objective The impact of new technologies on health professionals’ practice in OCD care remains to be determined. Recent developments could disrupt not just their clinical practices, but also their beliefs, ethics, and representations, even going so far as to question their professional culture. This study aimed to conduct an extensive review of new technologies in OCD. Methods We conducted the review by looking for titles in the PubMed database up to December 2017 that contained the following terms: [Obsessive] AND [Smartphone] OR [phone] OR [Internet] OR [Device] OR [Wearable] OR [Mobile] OR [Machine learning] OR [Artificial] OR [Biofeedback] OR [Neurofeedback] OR [Momentary] OR [Computerized] OR [Heart rate variability] OR [actigraphy] OR [actimetry] OR [digital] OR [virtual reality] OR [Tele] OR [video]. Results We analyzed 364 articles, of which 62 were included. Our review was divided into 3 parts: prediction, assessment (including diagnosis, screening, and monitoring), and intervention. Conclusions The review showed that the place of connected objects, machine learning, and remote monitoring has yet to be defined in OCD. Smartphone assessment apps and the Web Screening Questionnaire demonstrated good sensitivity and adequate specificity for detecting OCD symptoms when compared with a full-length structured clinical interview. The ecological momentary assessment procedure may also represent a worthy addition to the current suite of assessment tools. In the field of intervention, CBT supported by smartphone, internet, or computer may not be more effective than that delivered by a qualified practitioner, but it is easy to use, well accepted by patients, reproducible, and cost-effective. Finally, new technologies are enabling the development of new therapies, including biofeedback and virtual reality, which focus on the learning of coping skills. For them to be used, these tools must be properly explained and tailored to individual physician and patient profiles.


Author(s):  
Alexander Berler ◽  
Ioannis Apostolakis

The 21st century started with some significant efforts globally in the e-health sector. This was mainly pushed as a generic strategy from many nations and international organizations in order to cope with issues such as ageing population, demographic shift, social security limitations, and financial instability. A second reason was the introduction of new technologies such as cloud computing, Web interoperability standards, mobile health, and social media that are steadily changing the way healthcare has been seen in the last decades. In addition to that, globalization, commuting, immigration, and increased mobility raised the issue of cross-border healthcare and the right to access normalized healthcare services anywhere, anytime. In that context, the authors analyze the technological offerings and result of the epSOS (European Patient Smart Open Services) framework and how it has affected strategic decisions in electronic prescription in Greece, thus creating a new useful e-health national application. They prove that by rethinking healthcare, reusing established standards such as HL7 CDA (Health Level Seven Clinical Document Architecture) and IHE (Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise) profiles, it is possible to propose a new innovative system that is in fact based upon new technological propositions such as REST (Representational State Transfer) architecture and cloud computing.


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