Impact of Plastic Waste on the Human Health in Low-Income Countries: A Systematic Review

Background: Plastic pollution is the accumulation of waste composed of plastic and its derivatives all over the environment. Whether in the form of visible garbage or microparticles, as it slowly degrades, plastic pollution poses significant threats to terrestrial and aquatic habitats and the wildlife that call them home, whether through ingestion, entanglement or exposure to the chemicals contained in the material. Unfortunately, there is a lack of documentation on the impact of plastic waste on human health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: We searched five electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Global Health, CINAHL and Web of Science) and gray literature, following the preferred reporting elements for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA), for the impact of plastic waste on human health in developing countries. We included quantitative and qualitative studies written in English and French. We assessed the quality of the included articles using the Mixed Methods Appraisal tool (MMAT). Results: A total of 3779 articles were initially identified by searching electronic databases. After eliminating duplicates, 3167 articles were reviewed based on title and abstract, and 26 were selected for full-text review. Only three articles were retained. The three articles dealt with practices likely to lead to oral exposure to plastic chemicals in human health, as well as the level of awareness of participants concerning the possible impact of plastic on human health, namely, the use of plastic baby bottles, the use of microwaves to cook food and reheat precooked food, the use of plastic bottles to store water in the refrigerator, water purifier containers with plastic bodies and plastic lunch boxes, the reuse of plastic bags and the inadequacy of treatment facilities. Conclusion: Plastic waste poses different risks to human health at every stage of its life cycle. Hence, strategies must be adopted to raise public awareness of the dangers of plastic waste to their health. Trial registration: The review protocol is registered in the PROSPERO international prospective register of systematic reviews (ID = CRD42023409087).

Human leukocyte antigen-DP loci are associated with the persistent infection of hepatitis B virus in Chinese population

A genome-wide association study recently showed that genetic variants in human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DP loci were strongly associated with a risk of persistent infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Japanese and Thai individuals and variants in interleukin 28B (IL-28B) have been associated with responses to anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the HLA-DP loci and IL-28B were associated with different outcomes of chronic HBV infection (CHB) in Chinese subjects. The rs9277535 near HLA-DPB1,rs3077 near HLA-DPA1, and rs12979860 near IL-28B were genotyped by direct sequencing in 185 CHB patients and 193 self-limited hepatitis B virus (SLHBV)-infected subjects who recovered from HBV infection. The rs9277535 near HLA-DPB1 was strongly associated with CHB (P=0.000 018 1, OR=1.905). This association was observed independent of HBV e antigen (HBeAg) status and HBV viral loads in HBeAg-positive CHB patients (P=0.000 4, OR=1.956), in HBeAg-negative CHB patients (P=0.000 9, OR=1.857), and in HBeAg-negative CHB individuals without detectable levels of HBV DNA in serum (P=0.001 1, OR=2.05). The rs3077 near HLA-DPA1 was associated with CHB (P=0.020 6, OR=0.686 5) and HBeAg-positive CHB infection status (P=0.014 3, OR=0.604 7). Meanwhile, a genetic variation of insertion-deletion (INDEL) polymorphism (rs361527, -/ATAAATGTTGA) near HLA-DPA1 was found to be associated with CHB (P=0.030 7, OR=0.702 8) and HBeAg-positive CHB infection status (P=0.023 3, OR=0.619). However,the rs12979860 genotype near IL-28B had no correlation with CHB. This study demonstrated that in the Han Chinese populations, HLA-DP loci, but not IL-28B, were associated with persistence of infection in different outcomes of HBV-infected patients; however, the mechanism needs to be further investigated.

On the Human Rights Dilemma of “Surplus Population” in Contemporary Western Developed Countries

As capitalist society develops from a producer society to a consumer society, from the dominance of material production to the rise of non-material production, and from the dominance of labor-intensive industries to the rise of knowledge-intensive industries(accompanied by the shift of labor-intensive industries to the Third World countries), the generation and composition of the “Surplus Population” in Western developed countries have demonstrated new historical characteristics. The capitalists not only refuse to solve the problems they have created but even “besiege” these unfortunate victims by moral and legal means. They marginalize and stigmatize the “Surplus Population” with work ethics, to severely damage the moral foundation for them to enjoy human rights. They reach an agreement for the welfare system, criminal practice, and work ethic to reinforce social indifference and hostility towards the “Surplus Population”, pushing them into a more difficult human rights situation, even excluding them from the scope of legal recognition and protection of human rights. However, the “Surplus Population”, which is considered “useless, redundant and dangerous”, is included in the process of capitalist production in a way that is excluded by the above-mentioned morality and law, becoming the “utility of futility.” As a result, the subjectivity of the “Surplus Population” as human beings is deprived.

Pairwise Shared Genealogical Ancestry in Structured Populations

Simulation was used to investigate the effects of population structure and migration on metrics of pairwise shared ancestry. Random and hierarchical structures, or migration geometries, were examined. Compared to panmictic populations, progress to all qualitative metrics of pairwise ancestry is delayed in structured populations. However, unless migration is very low, the time required is generally less than triple and often less than twice that required in a panmictic population of the same total size. Population structure also increases, to a similar degree, the time required for a population-wide most recent common ancestor (MRCA). As a result, the relationships between various qualitative metrics of pairwise shared ancestry and MRCA time are relatively unaffected by population structure. For example, the mean time to most recent shared ancestor (MRSA) with global sampling of pairs is 40% - 50% of the MRCA time for almost all simulated structures and migration levels. Quantitative pairwise genealogical overlap is strongly affected by population structure. With global sampling, pairwise quantitative overlap never approaches 1.0, as it does in panmictic populations;and instead eventually becomes stationary at much lower values. Possible implications of the present results for human pairwise shared ancestry are discussed. For globally sampled pairs, the longest time to most recent shared ancestor (MRSA) for humans is suggested to be approximately 2100 years before the present. If generation time is 30 years, then all humans are 69th, or closer, cousins. For people with recent European ancestry, the MRSA time may be only half as long, about 1000 years.

The Origin of Population Diversity: Stochastic Interactions between a Modifier Variant and the Individual Genetic Background

Stochastic epistasis that is one of the characteristics of epistatic gene modules can have an important role in the maintenance of intraspecific population diversity. The effect of an epistatic modifier variant can vary in size and direction among the modifier careers on the basis of stochastic genetic individuality and the entire module effect can be also individually stochastic. This stochastic genetic contribution under a genetic background may be conditional upon the presence of a monomorphic switch locus in the gene module. The genetic background includes multiple modifier variants and the gene module is composed of the switch and the modifiers. The bell-shaped distribution of quantitative traits can be well simulated by the involvement of multiple stochastic epistatic modules. The phenotypic stochasticity makes the presence of switch and modifiers cryptic or missing in the research field and this cryptic gene networks can maintain and innovate in the phenotypic diversity under selection as a process of the evolution of complexity.

The Role of Trace Metals and Environmental Factors in the Onset and Progression of Schizophrenia in Pakistani Population

Exposure to toxic chemicals appears to be one of the major factors in the onset of Schizophrenia. Present study was designed to find out the association of socio-economic, clinical and heavy metals such as chromium (Cr), lead (Pb) copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) selenium (Se) and arsenic (As) as the principle environmental factors that appear to impact schizophrenic condition in Pakistani population. In this study we have tried to expose some factors such as drug abuse, marital status, education, monthly income that could be related to the disease. These parameters were not investigated before in Pakistani subjects. A self-made questionnaire was developed to collect and record the history of patient’s social and economical status. The level of transition metals in the whole blood was also measured by using Inductive couple plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Present study has found higher levels of Cr, Pb, Zn, Se, As and Cu and lower levels of Fe and Mn in the blood of newly diagnosed (ND) patients when compared to the controls. While comparing ND with the patients who were on medication (Old Diagnosed) we, found lower level of these metals except for copper in ND. However no significant differences were observed between any trace metal levels between the studied groups. The survey concludes that economic status, marital status and illegal drugs are significantly associated with schizophrenia. Pakistani men who use cannabis are significantly higher in numbers when compared to women in acquiring the psychiatric symptoms.

Depletion of Forest Resources and Wildlife Population with Habitat Complexity: A Mathematical Model

Nowadays, management and regulation of natural resources like agriculture, fisheries, forestry and wildlife is one of the popular topics in research. The evolution of humankind is largely dependent on the quality of the environment and the resources it provides;but numerous human-induced factors, and climate change may drastically alter the conditions of human sustainability. This paper deals with effect of numerous human-induced activities on the depletion of forestry resources and wildlife population with habitat complexity. A nonlinear mathematical model is proposed and analyzed. In modeling process, we assume that the growth rate of wildlife population wholly depends on forestry biomass. It is depleted by human-induced activities. Local stability analysis of the mathematical model along with the persistence of the system is checked by using theory of nonlinear ordinary differential equations and Butler-McGhee lemma. Analytical results obtained are justified numerically through numerical simulation. Important parameters are investigated and variation of variables with change in these parameters is determined.

Enterobius vermicularis infection among population of General Mansilla,Argentina

AIM: To evaluate the relationships between the personal,sociocultural, and environmental characteristics, and the presence or absence of symptoms with the detection of Enterobius vermicularis ( E. vermicularis) in a population sample in our region (General Mansilla, Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina), by individual and familiar analyses.METHODS: E. vermicularis was diagnosed in 309 people from 70 family units residing in the urban area and the rural area of the city of General Mansilla. Each of them was surveyed so as to register personal, environmental and sociocultural data. Questions about the presence or absence of anal itch, abdominal pain and sleeping disorder were also asked. Significant associations were determined by square chi tests. Logistic regression models were adjusted by using a backward conditional stepwise method to determine the presence of this parasite in the individuals and in the families.RESULTS: The parasites were found in 29.12% (90/309) of the individuals, with a frequency of 14.28% (20/140) among the heads of the families and of 41.42% (70/169) among the children. The only variables showing a significant association were affiliation, where the risk category was 'being the son/daughter of', and the symptoms were abdominal pain, sleeping disorder, and anal itch. Families with a member infected with parasite were considered Positive Families (PF) and they were 40/70 (57.14%), only 5% (2/40) of the PF had 100% of their members infected with the parasite. The logistic regression models applied showed that the risk categories were mainly affiliation (son/daughter) and housing (satisfactory) among others.CONCLUSION: The presence of E. vermiculariswas proved in one third of the studied population. The frequency of families with all their members infected with the parasite was very low. Most of the studied personal, sociocultural,and environmental variables did not rum out to be significantly associated with the presence of the parasite. An association with the category of 'son/daughter' and housing classified as 'satisfactory' was determined. The latter may be due to the fact that the people living in that category of housing have hygienic practices at home that favour the distribution of the eggs in the environment. The presence of the analysed symptoms was associated with the presence of the parasite,thus strengthening the need of periodical control of the population showing at least one of these symptoms.

以数字技术推动人口高质量发展——基于健康人力资本的跨国实证研究

数字技术在促进经济增长和改善社会福祉方面发挥了积极作用,成为实现经济和社会高质量发展的重要引擎。数字技术是促进健康人力资本积累的重要途径和实现人口高质量发展的关键支撑。本文从理论层面系统阐述了数字技术促进健康人力资本积累的逻辑机制,并采用全球118个国家1990—2020年跨国面板数据,结合不同国家经济发展水平差异,从人口“生命长度和生命质量”两个维度,实证检验数字技术对健康人力资本积累的具体影响。研究发现,数字技术在大健康领域的广泛应用,有助于降低人口死亡率、提高人口健康预期寿命,进而促进健康人力资本积累;其作用途径主要通过提高政府卫生支出效率、提升数字健康素养、增加闲暇时间和促进环境改善四个路径来实现;数字技术在改善健康人力资本方面的差异与国家经济发展水平差距密切相关。基于以上分析,研究认为应加大医疗技术创新,发挥新型举国体制的优势,集中力量技术攻关,实现现代数字技术、医疗健康大数据、医疗全流程、医疗健康行业相关方多要素融合,创新中国式精准医疗发展模式。

人口集聚对城市经济韧性的影响研究

伴随城乡二元结构的逐渐打破,人口自由流动产生的人口集聚成为影响城市经济韧性的重要因素。选取2012—2022年中国城市数据,在厘清人口集聚与城市经济韧性之间内在逻辑关系的基础上,实证检验二者间的因果关系及其存在的空间效应。研究结果表明:人口集聚对城市经济韧性具有显著的正向提升作用;人口集聚可以通过人力资本升级和产业多样化来间接提升城市经济韧性;不同地区的人口集聚对城市经济韧性的影响呈现出显著的区域异质性;人口集聚对城市经济韧性的影响具有空间外溢性,能够间接提升邻近城市的经济韧性。

城市人居环境与人口迁移互动效应研究

本文借鉴人类发展指数的构建方法,基于移民福祉角度,从经济环境、公共服务、居住环境、制度环境和城市现代化5个方面重新评估城市人居环境质量,并利用2期人口迁移数据,对中国279个地级市的人居环境进行互动效应分析,探索城市人居环境与人口迁移之间的动态响应机制。研究发现:(1)样本考察期内,中国城市人居环境有一定改善,城市建设水平差距缩小,空间上呈现出“东高西低”特征,中心城市集聚效应明显,东部地区城市出现“俱乐部趋同”现象,中西部内陆地区陷入“低值陷阱”。(2)全国人口净迁移格局呈现出“中间低、周围高”的凹形空间特征,迁移人口主要分布在人口规模超过500万人的特大和超大城市,但迁移人口增长主要动力点是中小规模城市。(3)城市人居环境的改善对提高人口迁移流动具有积极效应,经济发展差异和社会融合水平是引发人口迁移规模空间差异的核心因素,生活舒适性逐渐成为驱动人口迁移的重要来源,在省级尺度上各驱动要素体现出空间异质性。(4)人口迁移规模尚不足以成为城市人居环境变化的稳定主导因素之一。据此提出以增进福祉为要义的城市人居环境建设应适配于新发展阶段人口特征变化以推进新型城镇化高质量发展。

非HIV感染人群肺隐球菌病29例临床特征分析

目的 总结非人类免疫缺陷病毒(HIV)感染人群肺隐球菌病的临床特点和诊治方法,提高临床医师对该病的认识和诊治水平。方法 回顾性分析2016—2021年江西省人民医院确诊的29例非HIV人群肺隐球菌病的临床资料,包括临床症状、实验室检查、肺部影像学资料及治疗、转归情况。结果 29例患者中男21例,女8例,中位年龄为56.5岁。基础疾病情况:肾移植术后5例(5/29),自身免疫系统疾病9例(9/29),糖尿病2(2/29),脾切除1例(1/29),无任何相关基础疾病12例(12/29)。首发症状常见为:咳嗽10例(10/29)、胸痛6例(6/29)、发热5例(5/29);肺部影像表现为结节肿块型19例,浸润型10例,混和型3例。29例患者气管镜灌洗液隐球菌荚膜多糖抗原检测阳性24例(24/29),外周血隐球菌荚膜多糖抗原阳性20例(20/29),脑脊液隐球菌荚膜多糖抗原阳性3例(3/29)。29例患者通过气管镜灌洗及活检确诊8例,手术切除确诊6例,经皮肺穿刺活组织检查确诊5例,另外10例通过血清学及治疗后随访临床确诊。29例患者均按照指南规范治疗,疗程6~12个月不等,治愈25例,失败4例(其中3例为免疫缺陷宿主,1例因经济原因放弃治疗)。结论 非HIV人群肺隐球菌病临床症状不典型,需重视血清学的隐球菌荚膜多糖抗原检测,必要时需要行电子气管镜、经皮肺穿刺等有创检查明确诊断,经过规范治疗大多数患者预后良好。

人口高质量发展赋能新质生产力的理论逻辑与现实路径

促进人口高质量发展和培育新质生产力是我国进入新发展阶段、应对新形势的重要战略举措。基于对我国人口发展的宏观形势和趋势分析,文章讨论了人口高质量发展赋能新质生产力的基础条件和风险挑战,提出了以积极社会投资理念保障人口高质量发展、培育新质生产力的政策框架与实现路径。作为生产力的基本要素,人口规模、结构、质量和分布特征及变化趋势直接影响劳动者与其他生产要素的配置关系,对提升全要素生产率、培育先进生产力的影响也不容忽视;促进人的全面发展是塑造现代化人力资源、赋能新质生产力的有效手段,也是促进人口高质量发展、支撑中国式现代化的基础路径;应客观认识人口和生产力发展的辩证关系,加大“投资于人”的力度,补齐社会投资的阶段性短板,完善生育养育教育成本共担机制,充分释放人口质量和空间配置红利。

上海老年人力资源开发的现状、困境及对策研究

“老有所为”是我国积极应对人口老龄化的一项主动策略,又融入了深具地方特色的解读框架。在上海,处于“初老期”的老年人占比较高,他们具有良好的教育资源禀赋和健康状况,是未被挖掘的重要人力资源储备。上海60—69岁组的低龄老年人口规模约由1990年的115.1万增长为2020年的341.4万,占老年人比例超过60%。60—64岁老人中受教育程度为高中及以上的占比从1990年的9.6%增长为2020年的50%。上海市老年人的预期寿命和健康预期寿命都稳居全国领先位置,60岁男性老人的余寿从1990年的21.35岁增长为2020年的24.71岁,健康预期寿命则由18.55岁增长为21.61岁。但是,同一时期,上海就业老年人的规模从29.6万下降为19.7万,其比例从5.45%下降为3.46%,这也反映出老年人参与社会经济活动的多样性不足。尽管“老有所为”的观念深植人心,但在社会认知、权益保障和就业机会等方面仍面临困境,需要多措并举来推动这一理念的深化和实践。为此,促进“老有所为”观念在社会范围的广泛接受,建立健全法治保障系统,以及提高参与形式的多样性,构成了激活和开发老年人才资源,进而创造银发经济增量的有效举措。

共同富裕背景下公共服务均等化对城乡居民收入差距的作用机制与实践检验

基于2011—2020年省级面板数据,运用固定效应模型、中介效应模型检验了公共服务均等化对城乡收入差距的影响、作用机制及空间差异。结果表明:第一,公共服务均等化水平的提升能够有效降低城乡居民收入差距;第二,公共服务均等化对城乡收入差距的影响存在空间异质性,在西部地区、人口净流出较多的地区,公共服务均等化对城乡收入差距的影响更为显著;第三,公共服务均等化可以通过促进劳动力流动与人力资本积累两个渠道影响城乡收入差距。研究结论为国家和政府在新时期推动经济持续稳定发展、保障和改善民生、全面推动社会建设、促进共同富裕提供了参考。