Cadmium in the environment and high risk population groups

Cadmium has been widely used in various industries for the past fifty years, with current world production standing at around 16,755 tonnes per year. Very little cadmium is ever recycled and the ultimate fate of all cadmium is the environment. In view of reports that cadmium in the environment is increasing, this thesis aims to identify population groups 'at risk' of receiving dietary intakes of cadmium up to or above the current Food and Agricultural Organisation/World Health Organisation maximum tolerable intake of 70 ug/day. The study involves the investigation of one hundred households (260 individuals) who grow a large proportion of their vegetable diet in garden soils in the Borough of Walsall, part of an urban/industrial area in the United Kingdom. Measurements were made of the cadmium levels in atmospheric deposition, soil, house dust, diet and urine from the participants. Atmospheric deposition of cadmium was found to be comparable with other urban/industrial areas in the European Community, with deposition rates as high as 209 g ha-1 yr-1. The garden soils of the study households were found to contain up to 33 mg kg-1 total cadmium, eleven times the highest level usually found in agricultural soils. Dietary intakes of cadmium by the residents from food were calculated to be as high as 68 ug/day. It is suggested that with intakes from other sources, such as air, adventitious ingestion, smoking and occupational exposure, total intakes of cadmium may reach or exceed the FAO/WHO limit. Urinary excretion of cadmium amongst a non-smoking, non-occupationally exposed sub-group of the study population was found to be significantly higher than that of a similar urban population who did not rely on home-produced vegetables. The results from this research indicate that present levels of cadmium in urban/industrial areas can increase dietary intakes and body burdens of cadmium. As cadmium serves no useful biological function and has been found to be highly toxic, it is recommended that policy measures to reduce human exposure on the European scale be considered.

Cardiac induced localised motion of the human torso detected by a long period grating fibre optic sensing scheme

Cardiovascular health of the human population is a major concern for medical clinicians, with cardiovascular diseases responsible for 48% of all deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation. Therefore the development of new practicable and economical diagnostic tools to scrutinise the cardiovascular health of humans is a major driver for clinicians. We offer a new technique to obtain seismocardiographic signals covering both ballistocardiography (below 20Hz) and audible heart sounds (20Hz upwards). The detection scheme is based upon an array of curvature/displacement sensors using fibre optic long period gratings interrogated using a variation of the derivative spectroscopy interrogation technique. © 2014 SPIE.

All-fiber loading sensor based on 45° and 81° tilted fiber gratings

Cardiovascular health of the human population is a major concern for medical clinicians, with cardiovascular diseases responsible for 48% of all deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation. Therefore the development of new practicable and economical diagnostic tools to scrutinise the cardiovascular health of humans is a major driver for clinicians. We offer a new technique to obtain seismocardiographic signals covering both ballistocardiography (below 20Hz) and audible heart sounds (20Hz upwards). The detection scheme is based upon an array of curvature/displacement sensors using fibre optic long period gratings interrogated using a variation of the derivative spectroscopy interrogation technique. © 2014 SPIE.

Women, Drug use and Imprisonment. Intersectional Approach

Research on women prisoners and drug use is scarce in our context and needs theoretical tools to understand their life paths. In this article, I introduce an intersectional perspective on the experiences of women in prison, with particular focus on drug use. To illustrate this, I draw on the life story of one of the women interviewed in prison, in order to explore the axes of inequality in the lives of women in prison. These are usually presented as accumulated and articulated in complex and diverse ways. The theoretical tool of intersectionality allows us to gain an understanding of the phenomenon of women prisoners who have used drugs. This includes both the structural constraints in which they were embedded and the decisions they made, considering the circumstances of disadvantage in which they were immersed. This is a perspective which has already been intuitively present since the dawn of feminist criminology in the English-speaking world and can now be developed further due to new contributions in this field of gender studies.

Aquatic noise pollution: implications for individuals, populations, and ecosystems

Anthropogenically driven environmental changes affect our planet at an unprecedented scale, and are considered to be a key threat to biodiversity. According to the World Health Organisation, anthropogenic noise is one of the most hazardous forms of anthropogenically driven environmental change and is recognised as a major global pollutant. However, crucial advances in the rapidly emerging research on noise pollution focus exclusively on single aspects of noise pollution, e.g. on behaviour, physiology, terrestrial ecosystems or by focusing on certain taxa. Given that more than two thirds of our planet is covered with water, there is a pressing need to get a holistic understanding of the effects of anthropogenic noise in aquatic ecosystems. We found experimental evidence for negative effects of anthropogenic noise on an individual’s development, physiology, and/or behaviour in both invertebrates and vertebrates. We also found that species differ in their response to noise, and highlight the potential underlying mechanisms for these differences. Finally, we point out challenges in the study of aquatic noise pollution and provide directions for future research, which will enhance our understanding of this globally present pollutant.

QUALIDADE DE VIDA DAS PESSOAS COM 60 E MAIS ANOS

O aumento da longevidade e o consequente aumento do número de idosos coloca esta temática no plano central das sociedades modernas, nomeadamente na forma como se envelhece. Esta nova tendência demográfica, acarreta consigo novos desafios à responsabilidade individual e coletiva, com impacto significativo no desenvolvimento económico dos países, sendo um deles assegurar que os idosos vivam mais anos, com O presente estudo decorreu no Centro de Saúde de São Martinho do Bispo e teve como objetivos: caracterizar a QV qualidade de vida das pessoas com 60 e mais anos; analisar as variáveis sociodemográficas (idade, sexo, estado civil, coabitação, escolaridade e fonte de rendimento) com a QV qualidade de vida; analisar as variáveis estilos de vida (tabaco, álcool e hábitos alimentares) e o suporte social com a QV. Trata-se de um estudo quantitativo, descritivo-correlacional. A amostra foi constituída por 74 participantes, selecionados e por amostragem acidental . Foi aplicado Oo instrumento de recolha de dados foi composto pela caracterização sociodemográfica da amostra e pelas escalas: WHOQOL-OLD (World Health Organisation Quality of Life) e MSPSS (Multidimensional Scale Perceived Social Support). OS idosos representados na amostra apresentam uma QV moderada (65,85%). Em termos de características sociodemográficas, os homens possuem melhor QV que as mulheres , (p=0,007) e, idosos com maior escolaridade também possuem melhor QV (p=0,008). No que concerne aos estilos de vida, os dados sugerem que as pessoas que consumem álcool de forma moderada , possuem melhor QV (p=0,006). O suporte social apresenta uma correlação significativa, positiva e de força fraca com a QV (r_s=0,377; p=0,001). Conclui-se assim ,que a QV é um fenómeno multidimensional, que vai para além das variáveis sociodemográficas, de estilos de vida e de suporte social, pelo que o seu estudo impele para a análise de outros fatores.

Adaptive regulation or governmentality: patient safety and the changing regulation of medicine

Studies from across the world have shown that clinical mistakes are a major threat to the safety of patient care (World Health Organisation 2004). For the National Health Service (NHS) of England and Wales it is estimated that one in ten hospital patients experience some form of error, and each year these cost the service over £2billion in remedial care (Department of Health 2000). Unsurprisingly, ‘patient safety’ is now a major international health policy priority, questioning the efficacy of existing regulatory practices and proposing a new ethos of learning. Within England and Wales, the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has been created to lead policy development and champion service-wide learning, whilst throughout the NHS the National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS) has been introduced to enable this learning (NPSA 2003). This paper investigates the extent to which, in seeking to better manage the threats to patient safety, this policy agenda represents a transition in medical regulation.

A systematic review of trends and patterns of congenital heart disease in children in Nigeria from 1964-2015.

Background: Congenital heart diseases cause significant childhood morbidity and mortality. Several restricted studies have been conducted on the epidemiology in Nigeria. No truly nationwide data on patterns of congenital heart disease exists. Objectives: To determine the patterns of congenital heart disease in children in Nigeria and examine trends in the occurrence of individual defects across 5 decades. Method: We searched PubMed database, Google scholar, TRIP database, World Health Organisation libraries and reference lists of selected articles for studies on patterns of congenital heart disease among children in Nigeria between 1964 and 2015. Two researchers reviewed the papers independently and extracted the data. Seventeen studies were selected that included 2,953 children with congenital heart disease. Results: The commonest congenital heart diseases in Nigeria are ventricular septal defect (40.6%), patent ductus arteriosus (18.4%), atrial septal defect (11.3%) and tetralogy of Fallot (11.8%). There has been a 6% increase in the burden of VSD in every decade for the 5 decades studied and a decline in the occurrence of pulmonary stenosis. Studies conducted in Northern Nigeria demonstrated higher proportions of atrial septal defects than patent ductus arteriosus. Conclusions: Ventricular septal defects are the commonest congenital heart diseases in Nigeria with a rising burden.

Buruli Ulcer in South Western Nigeria: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Patients Treated in Benin

International audience

Relatório de estágio qualidade de vida dos idosos

A Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS) prevê que em 2050, 32% da população mundial será composta por idosos, por conseguinte, a promoção do envelhecimento saudável constitui uma prioridade em matéria de Saúde Pública. O presente relatório tem como finalidade registar de forma clara e objectiva as actividades realizadas, observadas e proporcionadas pela practica clínica referente ao estágio realizado na comunidade no âmbito do 1º curso de mestrado em Enfermagem com especialização em saúde comunitária da Escola Superior de Saúde de Portalegre. Pretendo ainda através deste relatório, reflectir sobre o contributo do mesmo para o meu desenvolvimento pessoal e profissional como futura enfermeira especialista em saúde comunitária. A metodologia seguida neste relatório assim como no estágio realizado foi a metodologia do planeamento em Saúde. O estágio realizado teve como objectivo promover o Envelhecimento Saudável dos idosos pertencentes a três extensões de saúde da Unidade Local de Saúde (ULS) de Castelo Branco e adquirir competências específicas do enfermeiro especialista em Enfermagem comunitária e de Saúde Pública definidas pela Ordem dos Enfermeiros. Após a elaboração do diagnóstico de saúde efectuado a 255 idosos, através do instrumento de colheita de dados: questionário composto por caracterização sócio-demográfica, escalas de avaliação da Qualidade de Vida (QV): WHOQOL-OLD e WHOQOL- BREF da OMS e Índice de Barthel, conclui-se que, de um modo geral, os idosos percepcionam a sua saúde e QV de forma satisfatória. Foram referidos como factores determinantes para melhorar a sua QV: a “saúde”, “ter paz” e “ter dinheiro”. Foram detectados como principais necessidades e problemas dos idosos a falta de actividade física, consumo de álcool e tabaco, segurança do idoso e sentimentos negativos ou isolamento do idoso. Foram realizadas actividades de forma a fomentar mudanças de comportamento efectivas relativamente á aquisição de hábitos de vida saudáveis, tendo como referencial teórico Nola Pender e o seu modelo de promoção da saúde. É necessário que estas intervenções tenham continuidade para que haja mudanças de comportamento efectivas relativamente a adopção de hábitos de vida saudáveis pelos idosos

Bioaccumulation and effects of TBT on molluscs from southern Portugal

Tese de dout. Ciências e Tecnologias do Ambiente, Faculdade de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente, Univ. do Algarve, 2004

Relatório de estágio

A Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS) prevê que em 2050, 32% da população mundial será composta por idosos, por conseguinte, a promoção do envelhecimento saudável constitui uma prioridade em matéria de Saúde Pública. O presente relatório tem como finalidade registar de forma clara e objectiva as actividades realizadas, observadas e proporcionadas pela practica clínica referente ao estágio realizado na comunidade no âmbito do 1º curso de mestrado em Enfermagem com especialização em saúde comunitária da Escola Superior de Saúde de Portalegre. Pretendo ainda através deste relatório, reflectir sobre o contributo do mesmo para o meu desenvolvimento pessoal e profissional como futura enfermeira especialista em saúde comunitária. A metodologia seguida neste relatório assim como no estágio realizado foi a metodologia do planeamento em Saúde. O estágio realizado teve como objectivo promover o Envelhecimento Saudável dos idosos pertencentes a três extensões de saúde da Unidade Local de Saúde (ULS) de Castelo Branco e adquirir competências específicas do enfermeiro especialista em Enfermagem comunitária e de Saúde Pública definidas pela Ordem dos Enfermeiros. Após a elaboração do diagnóstico de saúde efectuado a 255 idosos, através do instrumento de colheita de dados: questionário composto por caracterização sócio-demográfica, escalas de avaliação da Qualidade de Vida (QV): WHOQOL-OLD e WHOQOL- BREF da OMS e Índice de Barthel, conclui-se que, de um modo geral, os idosos percepcionam a sua saúde e QV de forma satisfatória. Foram referidos como factores determinantes para melhorar a sua QV: a “saúde”, “ter paz” e “ter dinheiro”. Foram detectados como principais necessidades e problemas dos idosos a falta de actividade física, consumo de álcool e tabaco, segurança do idoso e sentimentos negativos ou isolamento do idoso. Foram realizadas actividades de forma a fomentar mudanças de comportamento efectivas relativamente á aquisição de hábitos de vida saudáveis, tendo como referencial teórico Nola Pender e o seu modelo de promoção da saúde. É necessário que estas intervenções tenham continuidade para que haja mudanças de comportamento efectivas relativamente a adopção de hábitos de vida saudáveis pelos idosos.

Valoración del éxito de la educación afectivo-sexual en adolescentes

According to the 'World Health Organisation' (WHO) "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not only the absence of conditions or diseases." Other experts prefer a broad reference context when talking about health, expressing it in three areas: physical, mental and social. Within this context, in 2002 the WHO defined sexual health as a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being related to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or weakness. Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relations, as well as the possibility of obtaining pleasure and safe sexual experiences, free from coercion, discrimination and violence. To achieve good sexual health and guarantee the sexual rights for all people, these rights should be respected, protected and complied with. These sexual rights have been acknowledged by the international community as human rights in declarations, agreements and treaties by different international organisations such as the United Nations (UN), the World Health Organisation (WHO) or the European Union (EU). One of these rights is precisely the right to sex education, which is recognized in Spain in the Ley de Ordenación General del Sistema Educativo (Law of General Regulation for the Educational System), LOGSE that, for the first time, includes sex education in the different education stages and in different areas...

APPROACH AND TREATMENT OF SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR IN THE CLINICAL PRACTICE OF DIFFERENT GROUPS OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN SPAIN: RESULTS OF THE PROJECT EUREGENA.

According to the WHO (World Health Organization) and the European Union, suicide is considered to be a health problem of prime importance and to be one of the principal causes of unnatural death. In Spain, the number of suicides has increased 12% since 2005 . The Research Project “European Regions Enforcing Actions against Suicide (EUREGENAS), funded by the Health Program 2008-2013, has as main objective the description of an integrated model of Mental Health orientated to the prevention of suicide. The differences that allow distinguishing the meaning of prevention in suicide behavior are described and explained through a qualitative methodological strategy and through the creation of discussion groups formed by different groups of health professionals. The results highlight the existing differences between the diverse health professionals who come more in contact with this problem and it shows as well the coincidence of meaning that suicide has to be considered as a priority in the field of health.

Effect on trend estimates of the difference between survey respondents and non-respondents: Results from 27 populations in the WHO MONIICA Project

Introduction: In the World Health Organization (WHO) MONICA (multinational MONItoring of trends and determinants in CArdiovascular disease) Project considerable effort was made to obtain basic data on non-respondents to community based surveys of cardiovascular risk factors. The first purpose of this paper is to examine differences in socio-economic and health profiles among respondents and non-respondents. The second purpose is to investigate the effect of non-response on estimates of trends. Methods:Socio-economic and health profile between respondents and non-respondents in the WHO MONICA Project final survey were compared. The potential effect of non-response on the trend estimates between the initial survey and final survey approximately ten years later was investigated using both MONICA data and hypothetical data. Results: In most of the populations, non-respondents were more likely to be single, less well educated, and had poorer lifestyles and health profiles than respondents. As an example of the consequences, temporal trends in prevalence of daily smokers are shown to be overestimated in most populations if they were based only on data from respondents. Conclusions: The socio-economic and health profiles of respondents and non-respondents differed fairly consistently across 27 populations. Hence, the estimators of population trends based on respondent data are likely to be biased. Declining response rates therefore pose a threat to the accuracy of estimates of risk factor trends in many countries.