Evaluation of the Living Conditions and Health Perceptions of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Handlers in the Informal Sector in Dakar

Electrical and electronic devices are becoming an increasingly important part of our society. In Africa, and in Senegal in particular, the handling and management of electronic and electrical equipment (EEE) that has reached the end of its life is mainly informal. This professional environment is characterized by the disintegration of the sector and the social heterogeneity that can be found there. The objective of this study is to assess the standard of living of electrical and electronic equipment waste handlers in the Dakar region, as well as their perception of their health. A survey was used to obtain information on sociodemographic background, living arrangements, perception of health status, and good practices to be implemented in case of work-related health problems. Life style, perception of general health and health problems were ranged as excellent, very good, good, average and poor. Informal recyclers in the Dakar region lived mainly in rooms and buildings as tenants (49.1%), or in family homes (48.4%) before starting this activity, and 51.2% continue to live in rooms and buildings as tenants compared to 41.4% who still live in a family home. The perception of health status ranged from poor to excellent, and 4.9% believe that they are limited in work due to a disability or health problem. Informal work is a heterogeneous phenomenon that makes research and policymaking particularly complex. There are several external factors within informal WEEE re-cyclers that can cause health problems or functional disability. However, the living conditions and the perception they have of their state of health are contradictory to the working conditions and the social environment to which they belong. A biomedical approach would consolidate these achievements by confirming or invalidating them.

Physicochemical Properties and Health Risks of Informal E-Waste Processing at Alaba International Market in Lagos, Nigeria

This study investigated the groundwater quality and health risks associated with informal e-waste processing in the Alaba International Market in Lagos, Nigeria. Twenty-two groundwater samples were collected from hand-dug wells in the market area and analyzed for physicochemical properties and heavy metal concentrations. The results showed that the groundwater quality was poor, with high levels of heavy metals, including cadmium, lead, and chromium. The health index (HI) for children and adults was above the tolerable threshold levels, indicating a potential health risk to the population. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis were used to identify the sources of metals in groundwater, and the results showed that informal e-waste processing was a significant source of contamination. The study highlights the need for effective management strategies to mitigate the potential health risks associated with informal e-waste processing and ensure public health and environmental safety.

Functionalized selenium nanoparticles ameliorated acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity through synergistically triggering PKCδ/Nrf2 signaling pathway and inhibiting CYP 2E1

Selenium nanoparticles(SeNPs)have been demonstrated potential for use in diseases associated with oxidative stress.Functionalized SeNPs with lower toxicity and higher biocompatibility could bring better therapeutic activity and clinical application value.Herein,this work was conducted to investigate the protective effect of Pleurotus tuber-regium polysaccharide-protein complex funtionnalized SeNPs(PTR-SeNPs)against acetaminophen(APAP)-induced oxidative injure in HepG2 cells and C57BL/6J mouse liver.Further elucidation of the underlying molecular mechanism,in particular their modulation of Nrf2 signaling pathway was also performed.The results showed that PTR-SeNPs could significantly ameliorate APAP-induced oxidative injury as evidenced by a range of biochemical analysis,histopathological examination and immunoblotting study.PTR-SeNPs could hosphorylate and activate PKCδ,depress Keap1,and increase nuclear accumulation of Nrf2,resulting in upregulation of GCLC,GCLM,HO-1 and NQO-1 expression.Besides,PTR-SeNPs suppressed the biotransformation of APAP to generate intracellular ROS through CYP 2E1 inhibition,restoring the mitochondrial morphology.Furthermore,the protective effect of PTR-SeNPs against APAP induced hepatotoxicity was weakened as Nrf2 was depleted in vivo,indicating the pivotal role of Nrf2 signaling pathway in PTR-SeNPs mediated hepatoprotective efficacy.Being a potential hepatic protectant,PTR-SeNPs could serve as a new source of selenium supplement for health-promoting and biomedical applications.

Exercise-induced modulation of miR-149-5p and MMP9 in LPS-triggered diabetic myoblast ER stress: licorice glycoside E as a potential therapeutic target

Background:This study explores the relationship between endoplasmic reticulum(ER)stress and diabetes,particularly focusing on the impact of physical exercise on ER stress mechanisms and identifying potential therapeutic drugs and targets for diabetes-related sepsis.The research also incorporates traditional physical therapy perspectives,emphasizing the genomic insights gained from exercise therapy in disease management and prevention.Methods:Gene analysis was conducted on the GSE168796 and GSE94717 datasets to identify ER stress-related genes.Gene interactions and immune cell correlations were mapped using GeneCard and STRING databases.A screening of 2,456 compounds from the TCMSP database was performed to identify potential therapeutic agents,with a focus on their docking potential.Techniques such as luciferase reporter gene assay and RNA interference were used to examine the interactions between microRNA-149-5p and MMP9.Results:The study identified 2,006 differentially expressed genes and 616 miRNAs.Key genes like MMP9,TNF-α,and IL1B were linked to an immunosuppressive state.Licorice glycoside E demonstrated high affinity for MMP9,suggesting its potential effectiveness in treating diabetes.The constructed miRNA network highlighted the regulatory roles of MMP9,IL1B,IFNG,and TNF-α.Experimental evidence confirmed the binding of microRNA-149-5p to MMP9,impacting apoptosis in diabetic cells.Conclusion:The findings highlight the regulatory role of microRNA-149-5p in managing MMP9,a crucial gene in diabetes pathophysiology.Licorice glycoside E emerges as a promising treatment option for diabetes,especially targeting MMP9 affected by ER stress.The study also underscores the significance of physical exercise in modulating ER stress pathways in diabetes management,bridging traditional physical therapy and modern scientific understanding.Our study has limitations.It focuses on the microRNA-149-5p-MMP9 network in sepsis,using cell-based methods without animal or clinical trials.Despite strong in vitro findings,in vivo studies are needed to confirm licorice glycoside E’s therapeutic potential and understand the microRNA-149-5p-MMP9 dynamics in real conditions.

Knowledge, Practices, and Environmental and Occupational Health Risks Associated with Electronic Waste Recycling in Cotonou, Benin

Objective: The e-waste recycling is increasing worldwide, yet there remain outstanding environmental and occupational health concerns. Most research conducted on e-waste recycling has focused on only few countries (e.g., China, Ghana), thus there is a need to increase understanding of e-waste workers’ (recyclers’) knowledge and practices in other locations, that is purpose of this study. Methods: In a cross-sectional study conducted in Cotonou, Benin, 45 e-waste recyclers were interviewed from September to November 2018. Survey data was collected concerning their demographics, professional practices, and knowledge of occupational and environmental risks associated with e-waste recycling. Results: Most participants reported the following methods of material recovery of electronic items in declining orders: dismantling (97.8%) > sorting (91.1%) > incinerating (88.9%). Only 44.2% of the recyclers reported wearing ≥ 1 piece of personal protective equipment (PPE). More than 90% of e-waste workers noted that they disposed the e-waste in natural sites. About half, 46.7% believed that e-waste can pollute water and 71.1% considered that it can pollute air and soil. Recyclers reported several diseases including respiratory (67.4%), heart (62.8%), eye (65.1%), kidney (41.9%) and cancers (30.2%) could be linked to their work, respectively. Interestingly, we also found associations between the number of electronic items dismantled per month and self-report symptoms from the e-waste recyclers such as finding blood in urine and stool, wounds, dizziness, and itchy skin. Our results also indicated associations between the number of hours worked per day and blood in urine, dizziness, itchy skin and airway obstruction. Conclusion: To our knowledge this is the first study to interview e-waste workers in Benin. Doing this increase understanding of their work practices and knowledge to help inform intervention and prevention activities.

Online and Offline Android Based Mobile Application for Mapping Health Facilities Using Google Map API. Case Study: Tanzania and Kenya Borders

The evolution of technology in 1990s resulted in the enormous growth of smartphones and the propagation of mobile applications (App) that marked new opportunities for healthcare centers and medical education. Apps have altered health services from patient’s health monitoring to specialist’s appointments and consultations from specialized health facilities. It can be argued that a healthy society can bring forth sustainable economic development to its full potential while an unhealthy society cannot. However, a free movement of people, labour and right to residence which was built across East Africa (EA) borders enabled Tanzania and Kenya borders to have enormous interactions. Subsequently, increase the risk of highly communicable diseases such as Tuberculosis and Sexually transmitted infections in such a way that medical attention is unavoidable along the borders. Statistically, Android Operating System (OS) owns 83% of Africa’s mobile OS market. In addition, 25,794,560 internet users reported by Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) together with the 22.86 million internet users provided by Kenya Digital which is equivalent to 46% and 43% of internet penetration in year 2020, disclose the need for Android mobile application for mapping health facilities both online and offline using Google map API, which will solve residents’ need to healthcare services on the presence or shortage of internet connections;using either Swahili or English language via Smartphone devices. The App incorporates Monitoring and Evaluation (M & E) tool for tracking application usage which will ease Admin’s task to generate daily and monthly reports in Excel and Comma-Separated Values (CSV) formats. The developed system received positive feedback from EA citizens and residents in the Arusha region and Namanga border crossing where 90.2% of the system evaluation conducted between Dec 2020 and Apr 2021 agreed upon App usage.

Ranking of E-Health Barriers Faced by Saudi Arabian Citizens, Healthcare Professionals and IT Specialists in Saudi Arabia

Many boundaries are hindering successful utilisation of e-health in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). We have previously proposed an integrated framework of knowledge management and knowledge discovery to overcome barriers of e-health in KSA. Our proposed framework facilitates diabetes self-management for diabetic citizens in the Kingdom. In this paper, we will investigate and rank the barriers of e-health in KSA from the prospective of three stakeholders. We designed a questionnaire which constituted of items related to eight different e-health barriers and its associated sub-barriers. Citizens participated in 51 items related to six barriers. Healthcare professionals answered 83 items related to eight barriers. IT specialists participated in 74 items related to six barriers. Within each group of respondents, we compared the mean scores for each factor and sub-factor. The highest possible score for the mean was 5.00 and the lowest was 0.00 where the higher the mean score was the more the barrier constituted an obstacle for e-health in KSA. Citizens ranked the connectivity of information system as the top barrier with the mean of 4.0 whereas the least barrier was the cultural barriers with the mean score of 3.1. Healthcare professionals ranked the connectivity of information systems as the top barriers with the mean score of 3.5 whereas the least barrier was the technical expertise and computer skills with the mean score of 2.2. The top ranked barrier from the perspective of IT specialists was the medication safety with the mean score of 3.5 and the least ranked barrier was security and privacy with the mean score of 2.2. The results showed consistency with the literature review. Our proposed framework will contribute to the successful implementation of e-health initiatives and assist citizens in KSA to self- manage diabetes.

E-Health and Telemedicine: Current State and Future Steps

The article reviews the questions related to building the e-health systems. The key element of the system is electronic healthcare record to be formed according to the modular approach in the form of primary and satellite electronic medical records. Person-centred healthcare is proposed as a foundation for e-health. Such an approach provides a potential opportunity for all the medical doctors to obtain necessary information about their patients at any time via the teleconsultations in particular. Transition to e-health is associated with the creation of new opportunities for making diagnostic and therapeutic decisions based on the use of build-in decision support modules. The computer-assisted software design or hybrid systems are considered as the fourth generation medical information systems. It is reasonable to implement the entire information space of e-health, including the information systems of medical institutions and regional data repositories, based on cloud-optimized storage and computing solutions. This approach is expected to be implemented in Russia as a part of the unified state health information system. The authorized access to integrated databases for medical doctors of various specialties is required. In the framework of e-health, telemedicine is considered as an important component. Main elements comprise the real-time access of medical consultants to personified medical databases and remote follow-up of patients by the means of personal or home-based telemedicine. The use of personal portable devices for the control of vital signs of the organism is especially promising. Electronic stethoscopes and specialized video cameras for acquiring objective information should be increasingly used by remote consultants. Unfortunately, this trend is still underdeveloped in Russia. In perspective, e-health as unified medical space will provide a transition to the integrated analysis of population health by medical doctors of various specialties from different countries and will open new prospects for studying health based on the intelligent analysis of integrated data of patients.

Physico-chemical,bacteriological and health hazard effect analysis of the water in Taladanda Canal,Paradip area,Odisha,India

The physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters of the water in Taladanda canal and associated water-borne diseases,from which the dwellers have suffered,were studied,by using statistical method.Overuse and the addition of the wastes with sources from urbane industrial sectors,as well as the decrease in water level have caused the canal water quality declined drastically and subsequently led to extensive eutrophication and bacterial contamination.According to the water sample analytical results,the water is lightly acidic with the pH value of 4.5~6.7.The measured indexes,such as total dissolved solid(TDS),electrical conductivity(EC),total suspended solid(TSS),Mn,Zn,Al,Fe,Cu,Cr,and Hg etc,mostly have very high concentrations which are higher than permissible limit,indicating that the canal water is completely unsuitable for human consumption.Furthermore,the biological analysis shows that the total coliform(TC)is in the range of 45.9~30.2 in per 100 mL water in April,30.5~25.3/100 mL in July and 52.9~35.4/100 mL in December,respectively.Similarly,fecal coliform(FC)ranges from 12.8 to 10.1,10.5~7.5 and 13.1~6.4 per 100 mL water in the months of April,July and December respectively.As a result,people who use the water have suffered from different water-borne diseases.On the basis of disease data derived from hospital observations in a period of three years,there had been 4284 people affected by different waterborne diseases from 2016 to 2018.

Research and Practice of the P.E. Information Teaching Design System

In this paper, the physical education information teaching design system is researched and developed based on VB6.0 optimization platform. According to the national physical education and health course standards and the fundamental theories of the constructivisrn, the author adopts the modular-design development method to design two functional areas which are the displaying of the teaching design contents and the online information database （nine modules in total） on the basis of the P.E. teaching design flow. Importantly, this system features the compatibility, scalability and practical applicability, and can effectively improve the ability of P.E. teachers to design their teaching, and hence provides a guarantee for the improvement of teaching quality and efficiency.

Impact of Using m-Health App on Improving Undergraduate Students’ Sports and Health Habits and Their Attitudes toward Its Use

This study aims to explore the Sultan Qaboos University undergraduate students’ perceptions and attitudes towards using m-Health app and its impact on improving their sports and health habits. Triangulation was used by applying a questionnaire and focus groups interviews to answer the research questions. The survey sample was (20) male and female students from four science and humanities colleges. Both quantitative and qualitative findings unequivocally reveal the students’ positive perceptions and attitudes toward the use of the mobile health app. No statistically significant differences were found between the responses of either males or females, or the science and humanitarian colleges of the sample students. In light of these findings, the study set forth its conclusions and recommendations.

MEHECO Traditional Medicines and Health Products I/E Corp

The MEHECO Traditional Medicines and Health Products I/E Corporation is a subsidiary of the China National Medicines and Health Products Import and Export Corporation. It is situated at the Asian Games village in Beijing and started business operation in 1993.

Analysis on the Optimization of the P.E. Course Teaching Plan in Colleges and Universities

In the new period, the physical education in colleges and universities is of greater and greater significance for the enhancement of students＇ learning efficiency. In this paper, the current situation of the current physical education is analyzed, and also related suggestions on the optimization of the P.E. course teaching plan are proposed.

The Design of a Cloud and Mobile Healthcare System

The aging society will become a serious problem for most countries in the world. Under the constraint of limited medical resource, the self-health management becomes important. In this paper, a mobile healthcare system is implemented. One can easily monitor his/her physiological data through the using of a smartphone that is wirelessly connected to different medical detection devices. A cloud database is established for storing and analysing these physiological data. The guidance of suitable physical exercises to individuals is then given in the system. This paper shows the details of the system implementation.

清肾颗粒对大鼠NRK-52E细胞转分化模型miR-23b和PINK1/Parkin通路的影响

目的 探讨TGF-β1诱导大鼠NRK-52E细胞转分化模型中miR-23b对PINK1/Parkin通路的靶向调节机制,并阐明清肾颗粒含药血清对NRK-52E细胞转分化的干预机理。方法 采用超高效液相色谱(UPLC)指纹图谱法对清肾颗粒进行全指纹图谱分析。构建TGF-β1诱导大鼠NRK-52E细胞转分化模型,转染siRNA后分为模拟物空载对照组、miR-23b-5p模拟物组、抑制剂空载对照组、miR-23b-5p抑制剂组,观察miR-23b-5p对PINK1表达量的影响。再将NRK-52E细胞分组为正常组、TGF-β1组、清肾颗粒组、miR-23b-mimic-NC组、miR-23b-mimic组、miR-23b-mimic+清肾颗粒组,Western blot法检测NRK-52E细胞中Pink1、Parkin、LC3Ⅱ、Beclin-1、P62、α-SMA蛋白表达,RT-qPCR法检测NRK-52E细胞中miR-23b-5p、Pink1、Parkin、Beclin-1、α-SMA mRNA的表达,双荧光素酶报告基因实验检测miR-23b-5p与PINK1的靶向关系。结果 UPLC指纹图谱法鉴定出清肾颗粒中11个活性成分。miR-23b-5p过表达后,PINK1 mRNA表达量也显著增加(P<0.05);而miR-23b-5p表达沉默后,PINK1 mRNA表达量也显著减少(P<0.05)。双荧光素酶报告显示,Rno-miR-23b-5p能显著下调Rno-PINK1-WT荧光素酶活性(P<0.05),但未能下调突变Rno-PINK1-mut荧光素酶活性(P>0.05)。清肾颗粒含药血清干预实验发现,TGF-β1组的miR-23b-5p、Pink1、Parkin、Beclin-1、LC3Ⅱ表达及LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ比值均明显低于正常组,P62和α-SMA表达明显高于正常组(P<0.05)。清肾颗粒组和miR-23b-mimic组的miR-23b-5p、Pink1、Parkin、Beclin-1、LC3Ⅱ表达及LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ比值均明显高于TGF-β1组,P62和α-SMA表达明显低于TGF-β1组(P<0.05)。miR-23b-mimic+清肾颗粒组的表现更优于miR-23b-mimic组(P<0.05)。结论 清肾颗粒能够上调NRK-52E细胞内miR-23b-5p表达,并通过增强PINK1/Parkin通路介导的线粒体自噬活性,抑制NRK-52E细胞转分化进程。

Study on the Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Mechanisms of Breast Lump Resolution Detergent in a Rat Model of Breast Hyperplasia

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic mechanisms of a breast lump resolution detergent in a rat model of breast hyperplasia. Methods: A rat model of breast hyperplasia was established using injections of estradiol benzoate combined with progesterone. The effects of the breast lump resolution detergent on nipple height and diameter in the rat model were observed, along with its impact on serum levels of estradiol (E2), prolactin (PRL), and progesterone (P). Additionally, the study examined the morphological changes in breast tissue. The impact of the breast nodule detergent on blood rheology parameters was also observed. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory effect of the breast nodule detergent was assessed using the cotton ball granuloma experiment, and the analgesic effect was observed using the writhing test. Results: The breast lump resolution detergent reduced nipple height and diameter in the rat model, decreased serum levels of E2, PRL, and P, and alleviated pathological changes in breast tissue. It also lowered hemorheological parameters including whole blood high, medium, and low shear viscosity, plasma viscosity, red blood cell hematocrit, red blood cell aggregation index, red blood cell deformability index, red blood cell electrophoresis time, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the acute “blood stasis” rat model. The detergent reduced the weight of cotton ball granulomas in mice and decreased the number of writhing episodes caused by acetic acid. Conclusion: The breast lump resolution detergent demonstrates favorable therapeutic effects in treating breast hyperplasia, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, exerting anti-inflammatory properties, and providing analgesic effects. The downregulation of serum E2 and PRL levels and the upregulation of P levels may be critical mechanisms underlying its efficacy.

S-FHMC710型煤泥重介质旋流器在吕家坨选煤厂的应用

吕家坨矿选煤厂为了解决粗煤泥分选效果差的问题,采用S-FHMC710型超级煤泥重介质旋流器分选粗煤泥,并通过工业性试验对超级煤泥重介质旋流器进行工艺性能进行检测。试验结果表明:大于0.5 mm粒级可能偏差0.050 kg/L,数量效率99.64%;0.50~0.25 mm粒级可能偏差0.060 kg/L,数量效率98.76%;0.25~0.10 mm粒级可能偏差0.087 kg/L,数量效率96.99%,有效分选下限达到0.10 mm。该超级煤泥重介质旋流器应用效果良好,对于提高精煤质量、产率和选煤厂经济效益具有显著的效果。

A Comparative Analysis of the Old Medical Structure and the ACO Vision 2030 in Saudi Arabia

This article explores the progress of the healthcare sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over the past two decades. Through continuous coordination and efforts to improve the quality and quantity of health services, the government has significantly increased the availability of health facilities across the nation. This steady growth has allowed the country to maintain an upward trajectory in healthcare sector development in comparison to other countries. The Saudi Arabian government is preparing to implement Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) as part of their “Vision 2030.” By aligning with the goals of this visionary roadmap, the government aims to address the challenges faced by the existing healthcare system under the Ministry of Health (MOH). This strategic move is expected to transform the healthcare sector, positioning Saudi Arabia at par with its international counterparts and bolstering its economic competitiveness. This article highlights the historical context of Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system, and compares it with the forthcoming ACO implementation under “Vision 2030.” This information provides valuable insights into the trajectory of the country’s healthcare landscape and the potential impact of ACOs in shaping the Kingdom’s future in healthcare and economic development overall.

Linc01419调控miR-34a-5p/E2F3轴促进膀胱癌细胞增殖与侵袭

目的:探讨长链非编码RNA Linc01419对膀胱癌细胞增殖和侵袭的影响及作用机制。方法:通过UALCAN软件(https://ualcan.path.uab.edu/)分析TCGA数据库中Linc01419在膀胱癌组织与正常膀胱组织中的表达差异;采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应(real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction,RT-qPCR)检测Linc01419在不同膀胱癌细胞系、22例经病理证实为膀胱癌的手术患者的肿瘤组织及癌旁正常膀胱组织中的表达水平;应用细胞增殖/毒性检测(cell counting kit-8,CCK-8)实验和Transwell小室侵袭实验检测敲低Linc01419表达对膀胱癌细胞增殖与侵袭的影响;采用双荧光素酶报告基因检测法分析Linc01419与miR-34a-5p及miR-34a-5p与E2F3之间的靶向调控关系。结果:UALCAN数据库分析显示相较正常膀胱组织,Linc01419在膀胱癌组织中显著高表达(P<0.001);RT-qPCR分析结果显示相较癌旁正常膀胱组织,Linc01419在22例膀胱癌组织中表达明显上调(P<0.001),与UALCAN数据库分析结果一致;Linc01419在4株膀胱癌细胞中的表达明显高于正常膀胱上皮细胞(P<0.01);敲低Linc01419表达,可显著抑制膀胱癌细胞的增殖、侵袭及N-cadherin、PCNA蛋白的表达,而显著促进E-cadherin的蛋白表达(P<0.05);miR-34a-5p过表达对膀胱癌细胞具有类似的抑制作用;双荧光素酶报告基因实验、RIP及Pull-down实验证实Linc01419可靶向结合miR-34a-5p,而后者进一步介导了对E2F3的靶向调控;抑制miR-34a-5p表达,可显著削弱Linc01419沉默对膀胱癌细胞生物学行为及E-cadherin、N-cadherin、PCNA、E2F3表达的影响。结论:Linc01419在膀胱癌中异常高表达,其通过调控miR-34a-5p/E2F3轴促进膀胱癌细胞增殖和侵袭,很可能是膀胱癌发生、发展过程中的一个重要环节。

基于eHEALS的广东省老年人电子健康素养研究

利用eHEALS健康素养量表,调查老年人电子健康素养水平,并深入分析探讨老年人电子健康素养现状及其影响因素。研究显示:受教育程度、互联网利用情况、健康自评状态、健康信息源获取渠道、给定健康信息源利用倾向和信息回避行为对老年人电子健康素养水平存在显著的直接影响。基于此,从公共图书馆视角提出了提升老年人电子健康素养水平的策略。