scholarly journals Spatial air pollution modelling for a West-African town

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sirak Zenebe Gebreab ◽  
Danielle Vienneau ◽  
Christian Feigenwinter ◽  
Hampâté Bâ ◽  
Guéladio Cissé ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
West African ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Air Pollution Modelling ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Leave One Out

<p>Land use regression (LUR) modelling is a common approach used in European and Northern American epidemiological studies to assess urban and traffic related air pollution exposures. Studies applying LUR in Africa are lacking. A need exists to understand if this approach holds for an African setting, where urban features, pollutant exposures and data availability differ considerably from other continents. We developed a parsimonious regression model based on 48-hour nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>) concentrations measured at 40 sites in Kaédi, a medium sized West-African town, and variables generated in a geographic information system (GIS). Road variables and settlement land use characteristics were found to be important predictors of 48-hour NO<sub>2</sub> concentration in the model. About 68% of concentration variability in the town was explained by the model. The model was internally validated by leave-one-out cross-validation and it was found to perform moderately well. Furthermore, its parameters were robust to sampling variation. We applied the model at 100 m pixels to create a map describing the broad spatial pattern of NO<sub>2</sub> across Kaédi. In this research, we demonstrated the potential for LUR as a valid, cost-effective approach for air pollution modelling and mapping in an African town. If the methodology were to be adopted by environmental and public health authorities in these regions, it could provide a quick assessment of the local air pollution burden and potentially support air pollution policies and guidelines.</p>

scholarly journals Proton Pump Inhibitors and Risk of Dementia: A Hypothesis Generated but Not Adequately Tested

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
pp. 153331752110624
Author(s):  
Mishah Azhar ◽  
Lawrence Fiedler ◽  
Patricio S. Espinosa ◽  
Charles H. Hennekens
Keyword(s):  
Proton Pump Inhibitors ◽  
Proton Pump ◽  
Real World ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
The United States ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Real World Data ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities

We reviewed the evidence on proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and dementia. PPIs are among the most widely utilized drugs in the world. Dementia affects roughly 5% of the population of the United States (US) and world aged 60 years and older. With respect to PPIs and dementia, basic research has suggested plausible mechanisms but descriptive and analytic epidemiological studies are not inconsistent. In addition, a single large-scale randomized trial showed no association. When the evidence is incomplete, it is appropriate for clinicians and researchers to remain uncertain. Regulatory or public health authorities sometimes need to make real-world decisions based on real-world data. When the evidence is complete, then the most rational judgments for individual patients the health of the general public are possible At present, the evidence on PPIs and dementia suggests more reassurance than alarm. Further large-scale randomized evidence is necessary to do so.

scholarly journals Machine Learning to Forecast Medical Attentions of Pneumonia Cases in Colombian Cities: An implementation with Air Quality, Meteorological and Admission Data

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan David Gutiérrez
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Machine Learning ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Gradient Boosting ◽  
Learning Methods ◽  
Machine Learning Methods ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Admission Data ◽  
Extreme Gradient Boosting ◽  
Public Health Authorities

Abstract Background: Previous authors have evidenced the relationship between air pollution-aerosols and meteorological variables with the occurrence of pneumonia. Forecasting the number of attentions of pneumonia cases may be useful to optimize the allocation of healthcare resources and support public health authorities to implement emergency plans to face an increase in patients. The purpose of this study is to implement four machine-learning methods to forecast the number of attentions of pneumonia cases in the five largest cities of Colombia by using air pollution-aerosols, and meteorological and admission data.Methods: The number of attentions of pneumonia cases in the five most populated Colombian cities was provided by public health authorities between January 2009 and December 2019. Air pollution-aerosols and meteorological data were obtained from remote sensors. Four machine-learning methods were implemented for each city. We selected the machine-learning methods with the best performance in each city and implemented two techniques to identify the most relevant variables in the forecasting developed by the best-performing machine-learning models. Results: According to R2 metric, random forest was the machine-learning method with the best performance for Bogotá, Medellín and Cali; whereas for Barranquilla, the best performance was obtained from the Bayesian adaptive regression trees, and for Cartagena, extreme gradient boosting had the best performance. The most important variables for the forecasting were related to the admission data.Conclusions: The results obtained from this study suggest that machine learning can be used to efficiently forecast the number of attentions of pneumonia cases, and therefore, it can be a useful decision-making tool for public health authorities.

scholarly journals Beirut Air Pollution and Health Effects - BAPHE study protocol and objectives

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myriam Mrad Nakhlé ◽  
Wehbeh Farah ◽  
Nelly Ziade ◽  
Maher Abboud ◽  
Marie-Louise Coussa-Koniski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
International Studies ◽  
Annual Average ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Quality Guidelines ◽  
Custom Made ◽  
Pm2.5 And Pm10

Background: Recent studies investigating the health effects of air pollution have proven an existing impact aroundand below international air quality guidelines and standards. These studies were based on accessible data from official registers managed by public authorities. The protocol followed in BAPHE project is described; its benefits and disadvantages are presented and discussed in this paper. Methods: Based on the review of several international studies we developed a custom made approach in BAPHE (Beirut Air Pollution and Health Effects) project in order to analyze the short term health effects of air pollution taking into consideration the lack of data availability from official sources. Results: PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations were measured in Beirut for the period starting from the 1st of January 2012 to the 31st of December 2012. The annual average concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 exceeded WHO’s annual average limits by 150 % and 200 %, respectively. Health data for 11,567 individuals were collected over 12 months. A variation of hospital admission causes was observed by age categories and gender. Conclusions: This article presents a simple protocol and the descriptive results of its application in the frame of an eco-epidemiological study in Lebanon. We believe that this work is not only important on a local scale, but it could be helpful for environmental epidemiological studies in other countries.

scholarly journals O5E.4 Bridging the gap between clinical cases and epidemiological evidence

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. A50.1-A50
Author(s):  
Lode Godderis ◽  
Jelena Bakusic ◽  
Sara Pauwels ◽  
Henk Van der Molen ◽  
Annet Lenderink
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
List Type ◽  
Occupational Physicians ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Occupational Risks ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Societal Level ◽  
Clinical Cases

One of the current gaps in the prevention of work-related diseases (WRDs) is the missing link between the assessment of occupational hazards introduced at the workplace, clinical alerts, epidemiological studies and policy actions. Alert systems aim to bridge this gap, by collecting information on diseases and exposures to raise alerts to different stakeholders and trigger timely prevention.This project started with a review of international alert systems to identifying good practices and learning about prerequisites, drivers and obstacles to implement alert and sentinel systems. Next, the findings led to the implementation of an integrated approach consisting of alert systems on three levels in the Belgian context:Signal detection and assessment: suspected clinical cases of new WRDs (new exposure–disease combinations) can be reported though an online platform called ‘SIGNAAL’. Each reported case is followed by an extensive assessment of exposure– and work–relatedness performed by clinical experts. Since the start, 22 cases have been reported to the platform.Signal strengthening though a network of occupational health physicians. This sentinel approach has been introduced though the PROBE system, in which 47 occupational physicians participated. During the periodic health examinations of workers, the physicians filled in a web survey regarding occupational exposure of a random sample of workers to 22 selected hazardous chemicals during the last working week. Results of the first study showed that 47% of workers were exposed to at least one chemical product from the list, with diesel exhaust being the most frequently reported substance (n=91; 14% of workers).Alerts to public health authorities are mainly communicated though collaboration with Federal Public Services and Federal Agency for Occupational Risks.These agencies provide support in the maintenance of systems and in turn, data from the systems is used as input for potential preventive strategies on company and societal level.

scholarly journals Methodological, political and legal issues in the assessment of the effects of nanotechnology on human health

2017 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina Guseva Canu ◽  
Paul A Schulte ◽  
Michael Riediker ◽  
Liliya Fatkhutdinova ◽  
Enrico Bergamaschi
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Political Support ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) raise questions among the scientific community and public health authorities about their potential risks to human health. Studying a prospective cohort of workers exposed to ENMs would be considered the gold standard for identifying potential health effects of nanotechnology and confirming the ‘no effect’ levels derived from cellular and animal models. However, because only small, cross-sectional studies have been conducted in the past 5 years, questions remain about the health risks of ENMs. This essay addresses the scientific, methodological, political and regulatory issues that make epidemiological research in nanotechnology-exposed communities particularly complex. Scientific challenges include the array of physicochemical parameters and ENM production conditions, the lack of universally accepted definitions of ENMs and nanotechnology workers, and the lack of information about modes of action, target organs and likely dose–response functions of ENMs. Standardisation of data collection and harmonisation of research protocols are needed to eliminate misclassification of exposures and health effects. Forming ENM worker cohorts from a combination of smaller cohorts and overcoming selection bias are also challenges. National or international registries for monitoring the exposures and health of ENM workers would be helpful for epidemiological studies, but the creation of such a registry and ENM worker cohorts will require political support and dedicated funding at the national and international levels. Public authorities and health agencies should consider carrying out an ENM awareness campaign to educate and engage all stakeholders and concerned communities in discussion of such a project.

Air pollution modelling in the Ruhr Area: Land-Use Regression vs. Dispersion Chemistry Transport

2016 ◽  
Vol 78 (08/09) ◽  
Author(s):  
F Hennig ◽  
D Sugiri ◽  
L Tzivian ◽  
K Fuks ◽  
S Moebus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Land Use Regression ◽  
Air Pollution Modelling ◽  
Ruhr Area

Thailand’s national alcohol survey as a policy monitoring tool

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 250-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Udomsak Saengow
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Behavior ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Population Based ◽  
World Health ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
English Articles ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess to what extent the Smoking and Alcohol Drinking Behavior Survey (SADBeS), the national alcohol survey, could be used in monitoring goals and cost-effective measures suggested by the National Alcohol Strategy (NAS) issued by public health authorities in 2010. Design/methodology/approach The NAS was reviewed. Strategies, measures, and corresponding indicators were extracted. Questionnaire items used in the 2014 SADBeS were assessed in comparison with those indicators. Findings Four primary indicators indicate overall success of the NAS. In all, 6 out of 15 measures were in accordance with best-buy or good-buy policies – cost-effective policies suggested by the World Health Organization. After excluding indicators unlikely to be obtained from population-based surveys, the SADBeS could be used in monitoring 5 out of 14 indicators corresponding to best-buy or good-buy measures. Of 103 questionnaire items, 26.2 percent of items could be used to monitor primary indicators of the NAS; 34.0 percent could be used to estimate indicators corresponding to best-buy or good-buy measures. Overall, only 35.0 percent of questionnaire items provided useful information for monitoring primary indicators and cost-effective measures suggested in the NAS. Practical implications The SADBeS questionnaire items should be added or replaced to cover feasibly obtained indicators corresponding to best-buy or good-buy policies in the next wave of the survey. Originality/value This is the first study addressing the compatibility between the national strategy and the national alcohol survey. It also includes the overview of Thailand’s alcohol strategy, which is, to the author’s knowledge, never presented in any English articles.

Child Pedestrian Casualties as a Public Health Problem

1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 168-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. J. Havard
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Pedestrian Accidents ◽  
Available Information ◽  
And Control

The importance to public health authorities of the mortality and morbidity from child pedestrian accidents is reviewed and attention is drawn to the inadequate state of the available information on morbidity from such accidents. The need to improve the existing statistics is emphasized and the contribution which can be made by epidemiological studies is discussed in the light of the available evidence concerning the human and environmental factors influencing the risk of mortality and morbidity from such accidents. Attention is drawn to the need for public health authorities to become more actively involved in the prevention and control of child pedestrian accidents. The importance of countermeasures being based on proven epidemiological studies is emphasized and it is suggested that countermeasures should be subjected to the same degree of preparation and evaluation as is accorded by public health authorities to other high-risk groups in the population.

scholarly journals Occurrence of Congenital Anomalies in Iran and Implications of Osr-o-Haraj "Denegation of Intolerable Hardship Rule" in Shia Fiqh

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 393-401
Author(s):  
saeed dastgiri ◽  
Abdolhassan Kazemi ◽  
Mohammad heidarzadeh ◽  
Morteza Alian ◽  
Bahram Samadi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Birth Defects ◽  
Congenital Anomalies ◽  
Genetic Disorders ◽  
Medical Abortion ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Community Genetics ◽  
Statistical Estimates ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Total Prevalence ◽  
Public Health Authorities

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to explain the examples of "the Jurisprudential Rule of "Osr o- Haraj" or Denegation of Intolerable Hardship in the occurrence of congenital anomalies and genetic disorders and show that according to the current laws of the country, more of these diseases can be prevented. Material and Methods: Data for occurrence of congenital anomalies were derived from two major regional and national epidemiological studies based on 6,465,849 births in the country. A comprehensive review of literature was carried out on the details of ‘Denegation of Intolerable Hardship Rule. The details of medical termination of pregnancies diagnosed for congenital anomalies and the role of ‘Denegation of Intolerable Hardship’ principle in the prevention of birth defects were explored in several Focused Group Discussions formed by peditricians, geneticists, psychiatrists, neotatalogists and expert jurisprudents. Results: The statistical estimates indicate that there are now nearly 100,000 births with one of the birth defects occurring every year in Iran. The total prevalence of the anomalies has more than tripled in the last 18 years. Conclusion: The occurrence of congenital anomalies and genetic disorders will undermine the gene pool of the population if preventive measures are not properly implemented in the community genetics services to control those disorders. According to the current law on therapeutic abortion, disorders that lead to the hardships of father, mother, family, community, as well as future generations may be diagnosed by the three specialists (before the 16th week of pregnancy, the time of onsetting the soul). They can then be referred for medical abortion. A minimum of 70,000 birth defects may be avoided using the therapeutic termination of pregnancies diagnosed for congenital anomalies if the ‘no hardship and negation of distress and constriction’ principle is suitably explored in maternal, pediatric, neonatal settings and for public health authorities.

scholarly journals Hydatidosis cases in one of Mar del Plata City hospitals, Buenos Aires, Argentina

2007 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 635-639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcela Cecilia Dopchiz ◽  
María Celina Elissondo ◽  
María Alejandra Rossin ◽  
Guillermo Denegri
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Buenos Aires ◽  
Length Of Hospital Stay ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Buenos Aires Province ◽  
Worldwide Distribution ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Clinical Records

Hydatidosis is a zoonosis of worldwide distribution produced mainly by the metacestode Echinococcus granulosus. In Argentina, its distribution reaches endemic levels. The aims of this investigation were to contribute to the knowledge of hydatidosis in the southeast of Buenos Aires province, study its evolution at the Interzonal General Hospital for Acute Diseases between 1992 and 2002 and discuss its importance. Clinical records of operated and/or diagnosed patients were reviewed with regard to this disease. One hundred and twenty cases were analyzed. Among the patients, 56.7% were women. The average age was 42.2+16.8 years. 68.3% lived in urban areas. In 75% of the cases, ultrasonography was used. Hepatic location was most frequently seen. 89.2% received surgical treatment. Albendazole was used for 19 patients. The mean length of hospital stay was 16 days. We conclude that this zoonosis is a disease that generates high costs in medical care and for this reason more epidemiological studies should be carried out and public health authorities should implement control and prevention strategies in the region.

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