Acidic aerosols resulting from gas flaring and refinery operations in the Niger Delta are a serious environmental and public health concern. Several thousand tons of flue gas components (dust particles, SO<sub>x...Acidic aerosols resulting from gas flaring and refinery operations in the Niger Delta are a serious environmental and public health concern. Several thousand tons of flue gas components (dust particles, SO<sub>x</sub>, CO and NO<sub>x</sub>) are released into the atmosphere by flaring billions of cubic meters of natural gas, refining and volatilizing the spilt oil. Heat wave is generated by flaring travels several meters away from flare points, destroying crops, farm lands, exotic species that are hunters delight while causing extinction of fragile soil flora and fuana. The occurrence of acid rain in the region implies that the natural receptors of the area are the final recipient of land and atmospheric pollutants. In effect, the water needs and public health of the populace are greatly impeded. Nitric and sulphuric acids are regarded as the sole contributors of nitrate and sulphate in precipitation influenced by combusted hydrocarbons: fine nitrate aerosols that dissolve in rain water are conversion products of NO<sub>2</sub> that arise from flaring, power plants and motor vehicles. Scientific evidence has shown that rain water and surface water quality in the Niger Delta can accentuate the poor health burden, and may be perpetuated through generations unborn. Diagnostic health risk assessment has revealed that drinking nitrate contaminated water may be associated with spontaneous miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, adult malignant lymphomas, soft tissues sarcomas, cancers and lesions with added health burden associated with heavy metals and other ions. All these pose public health emergency and may significantly entrench health risk for generations to come. Therefore, this manuscript is intended to close certain gaps that were not covered by toxicological information and available data on environmental and food contamination and human internal exposure: it will serve as a continuous reminder and a useful guide to public health policy makers, workers and community based physicians.展开更多
The decision of what kind of labor that should be held is intermittently generating a great debate in Brazil. The growth in the number of cesarean sections has raised worries in some of the involved sectors of the soc...The decision of what kind of labor that should be held is intermittently generating a great debate in Brazil. The growth in the number of cesarean sections has raised worries in some of the involved sectors of the society. It was proposed to investigate the factors which lead the women to take this decision, trying to understand the principle involved. A bibliographic review about the subject was made. The research happened in the town of Formiga, where some data were collected in two hospitals—public and private —about the number of labors during two months. Subsequently, the obstetricians and a group of pregnant women were submitted to a questionnaire, the answers were compiled and transformed into graphs which were analyzed. Finally, the data were compared with the related literature. The number of cesarean sections in the town was above the standard recommended. According to the obstetricians, the main reason would be the preference of the pregnant women, fact which was not confirmed by them, that discrepancy was confirmed by the literature. The level of information about the clinical indications for the type of labor was considered satisfactory by the doctors and the pregnant women, data contestable by the academics. The fear and the pain were identified by obstetricians and pregnant women as a predominant factor for the preference of cesarean sections, provided that, according to the literature, shows the precariousness of information for pregnant women about the normal birth. Another important data is that the doctors can have an important role in the kind of labor to be made. According to the obstetricians, their role would be very limited, but according to some pregnant women, they did trust in the doctors which should be the ideal labor for them. The analysis of most of the data collected shows a discrepancy between the information of pregnant women and obstetricians. Both sides involved in the issue do not admit as responsible for the elevate number of cesarean sections, so, some new approaches are needed for analysis. This analysis and diagnosis indicate the next step of the research: the supervision of the pregnant women, since the beginning of the gestation until the birth, trying to figure out the real factors which lead them to decide what kind of delivery should be taken.展开更多
Anti-hypertensive education is an important public health intervention to decrease the mortality and burden of the disease.Using digital technologies for education as a part of preventive measures for hypertension is ...Anti-hypertensive education is an important public health intervention to decrease the mortality and burden of the disease.Using digital technologies for education as a part of preventive measures for hypertension is a cost-effective approach and helps low-income communities and vulnerable populations overcome barriers to healthcare access.The coronavirus disease 19 pandemic further highlighted the need of new health interventions to address health inequalities.Virtual education is helpful to improve awareness,knowledge,and attitude toward hypertension.However,given the complexity of behavioral change,educational approaches do not always provide a change in behavior.Some of the obstacles in online hypertensive education could be time limitations,not being tailored to individual needs and not including the different elements of behavioral models to enhance behavior change.Studies regarding virtual education should be encouraged and involve lifestyle modifications emphasizing the importance of Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet,salt restriction,and exercise and should be used adjunct to in-person visits for the management of hypertension.Additionally,to stratify patients according to hypertension type(essential or secondary)would be useful to create specific educational materials.Virtual hypertension education is promising to increase awareness regarding risk factors and most importantly motivate patients to be more compliant with management helping to decrease hypertension related complications and hospitalizations.展开更多
INTRODUCTION Historical records have documented considerable changes to the global climate,with significant health,economic,and environmental consequences.Climate projections predict more intense hurricanes;increased ...INTRODUCTION Historical records have documented considerable changes to the global climate,with significant health,economic,and environmental consequences.Climate projections predict more intense hurricanes;increased sea level rise;and more frequent and more intense natural disasters such as heat waves,heavy rainfall,and drought in the future(1;2).The coast along the Gulf of Mexico is particularly vulnerable to many of these environmental hazards and at particular risk when several strike simultaneously-such as a hurricane disrupting electricity transmission during a heat wave.展开更多
文摘Acidic aerosols resulting from gas flaring and refinery operations in the Niger Delta are a serious environmental and public health concern. Several thousand tons of flue gas components (dust particles, SO<sub>x</sub>, CO and NO<sub>x</sub>) are released into the atmosphere by flaring billions of cubic meters of natural gas, refining and volatilizing the spilt oil. Heat wave is generated by flaring travels several meters away from flare points, destroying crops, farm lands, exotic species that are hunters delight while causing extinction of fragile soil flora and fuana. The occurrence of acid rain in the region implies that the natural receptors of the area are the final recipient of land and atmospheric pollutants. In effect, the water needs and public health of the populace are greatly impeded. Nitric and sulphuric acids are regarded as the sole contributors of nitrate and sulphate in precipitation influenced by combusted hydrocarbons: fine nitrate aerosols that dissolve in rain water are conversion products of NO<sub>2</sub> that arise from flaring, power plants and motor vehicles. Scientific evidence has shown that rain water and surface water quality in the Niger Delta can accentuate the poor health burden, and may be perpetuated through generations unborn. Diagnostic health risk assessment has revealed that drinking nitrate contaminated water may be associated with spontaneous miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, adult malignant lymphomas, soft tissues sarcomas, cancers and lesions with added health burden associated with heavy metals and other ions. All these pose public health emergency and may significantly entrench health risk for generations to come. Therefore, this manuscript is intended to close certain gaps that were not covered by toxicological information and available data on environmental and food contamination and human internal exposure: it will serve as a continuous reminder and a useful guide to public health policy makers, workers and community based physicians.
文摘The decision of what kind of labor that should be held is intermittently generating a great debate in Brazil. The growth in the number of cesarean sections has raised worries in some of the involved sectors of the society. It was proposed to investigate the factors which lead the women to take this decision, trying to understand the principle involved. A bibliographic review about the subject was made. The research happened in the town of Formiga, where some data were collected in two hospitals—public and private —about the number of labors during two months. Subsequently, the obstetricians and a group of pregnant women were submitted to a questionnaire, the answers were compiled and transformed into graphs which were analyzed. Finally, the data were compared with the related literature. The number of cesarean sections in the town was above the standard recommended. According to the obstetricians, the main reason would be the preference of the pregnant women, fact which was not confirmed by them, that discrepancy was confirmed by the literature. The level of information about the clinical indications for the type of labor was considered satisfactory by the doctors and the pregnant women, data contestable by the academics. The fear and the pain were identified by obstetricians and pregnant women as a predominant factor for the preference of cesarean sections, provided that, according to the literature, shows the precariousness of information for pregnant women about the normal birth. Another important data is that the doctors can have an important role in the kind of labor to be made. According to the obstetricians, their role would be very limited, but according to some pregnant women, they did trust in the doctors which should be the ideal labor for them. The analysis of most of the data collected shows a discrepancy between the information of pregnant women and obstetricians. Both sides involved in the issue do not admit as responsible for the elevate number of cesarean sections, so, some new approaches are needed for analysis. This analysis and diagnosis indicate the next step of the research: the supervision of the pregnant women, since the beginning of the gestation until the birth, trying to figure out the real factors which lead them to decide what kind of delivery should be taken.
文摘Anti-hypertensive education is an important public health intervention to decrease the mortality and burden of the disease.Using digital technologies for education as a part of preventive measures for hypertension is a cost-effective approach and helps low-income communities and vulnerable populations overcome barriers to healthcare access.The coronavirus disease 19 pandemic further highlighted the need of new health interventions to address health inequalities.Virtual education is helpful to improve awareness,knowledge,and attitude toward hypertension.However,given the complexity of behavioral change,educational approaches do not always provide a change in behavior.Some of the obstacles in online hypertensive education could be time limitations,not being tailored to individual needs and not including the different elements of behavioral models to enhance behavior change.Studies regarding virtual education should be encouraged and involve lifestyle modifications emphasizing the importance of Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet,salt restriction,and exercise and should be used adjunct to in-person visits for the management of hypertension.Additionally,to stratify patients according to hypertension type(essential or secondary)would be useful to create specific educational materials.Virtual hypertension education is promising to increase awareness regarding risk factors and most importantly motivate patients to be more compliant with management helping to decrease hypertension related complications and hospitalizations.
文摘INTRODUCTION Historical records have documented considerable changes to the global climate,with significant health,economic,and environmental consequences.Climate projections predict more intense hurricanes;increased sea level rise;and more frequent and more intense natural disasters such as heat waves,heavy rainfall,and drought in the future(1;2).The coast along the Gulf of Mexico is particularly vulnerable to many of these environmental hazards and at particular risk when several strike simultaneously-such as a hurricane disrupting electricity transmission during a heat wave.
