Ischemic stroke occurs with disruption of blood perfusion to the brain. Damages from ischemia result in inflammation of the brain cells. Biologics and immunomodulators have been developed to mitigate neuroinflammation after ischemic stroke. Several druggable targets have been identified, including microglia/macrophages, receptors of the complement pathway, inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-ɑ, and others. However, the efficacy of the immunomodulators is in their infant stage largely due to our incomplete understanding of neuroinflammation. Hypothermia has been utilized to alleviate systemic inflammation though its negative effects have been reported. The roles of the liver in systemic inflammation and its association to ischemic stroke are fairly well-known. Local hypothermic induction to the liver may be a desirable treatment option for ischemic stroke while minimizing the systemic side effects of hypothermia. In this mini-review, we briefly summarize the current understanding of the involvement of active inflammatory response in ischemic stroke and the associated organs, particularly the liver.
{"title":"Liver: Could it lead us to a promised land to deflame the brain?","authors":"H. Yun, Yuchuan Ding","doi":"10.4103/ed.ed_20_21","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/ed.ed_20_21","url":null,"abstract":"Ischemic stroke occurs with disruption of blood perfusion to the brain. Damages from ischemia result in inflammation of the brain cells. Biologics and immunomodulators have been developed to mitigate neuroinflammation after ischemic stroke. Several druggable targets have been identified, including microglia/macrophages, receptors of the complement pathway, inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-ɑ, and others. However, the efficacy of the immunomodulators is in their infant stage largely due to our incomplete understanding of neuroinflammation. Hypothermia has been utilized to alleviate systemic inflammation though its negative effects have been reported. The roles of the liver in systemic inflammation and its association to ischemic stroke are fairly well-known. Local hypothermic induction to the liver may be a desirable treatment option for ischemic stroke while minimizing the systemic side effects of hypothermia. In this mini-review, we briefly summarize the current understanding of the involvement of active inflammatory response in ischemic stroke and the associated organs, particularly the liver.","PeriodicalId":11702,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Disease","volume":"9 1","pages":"88 - 90"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91073098","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The weight of evidence indicates occurrences of adverse health effects (AHEs) from living and working near industrial wind turbines (IWTs). Descriptions of the AHEs being reported by those living or working near the turbines are similar. While these occurrences have been associated with exposure to audible and inaudible noise annoyance, the causation of reported wind turbine-associated health effects remains controversial. Establishing an argument of causation of adverse health outcomes has important clinical, scientific, and societal implications. Bradford Hill (BH) criteria have been widely used to establish causality between an environmental agent and risk of disease or disability, but have not previously been used to evaluate the relationship between IWTs and AHEs. The objective was to apply the BH criteria to evaluate the relationship between IWTs and AHEs. The nine criteria include the strength of the association, consistency, specificity, temporal sequence, biological gradient, plausibility, coherence, experimental evidence, and analogous evidence. These nine criteria have been applied to IWT exposure and reported AHEs using peer-reviewed and other published literature that describes clinical, animal, and laboratory studies, testimony and reported experiences, and internet sources. Applying the BH criteria to the IWT-related clinical, biological, and experimental data demonstrates that the exposure to IWTs is associated with an increased risk of AHEs. This analysis concludes that living or working near IWTs can result in AHEs in both people and animals. Our findings provide compelling evidence that the risk of AHEs should be considered before the approval of wind energy projects and during the assessment of setback distances of proposed and operational projects.
证据的权重表明,在工业风力涡轮机(IWTs)附近生活和工作的不良健康影响(ahs)的发生率。那些在涡轮机附近生活或工作的人所报告的ahs的描述是相似的。虽然这些事件与暴露于可听和不可听的噪音烦恼有关,但所报告的与风力涡轮机有关的健康影响的原因仍然存在争议。建立对不良健康结果的因果关系的论证具有重要的临床、科学和社会意义。Bradford Hill (BH)标准已被广泛用于建立环境因素与疾病或残疾风险之间的因果关系,但以前尚未用于评估iwt和ahs之间的关系。目的是应用BH标准来评估iwt和ahs之间的关系。这九项标准包括关联强度、一致性、特异性、时间序列、生物梯度、合理性、一致性、实验证据和类比证据。这九项标准已应用于内河野生动物接触和报告的ahs,使用了同行评审和其他已发表的文献,这些文献描述了临床、动物和实验室研究、证词和报告的经验,以及互联网来源。将BH标准应用于iwt相关的临床、生物学和实验数据表明,iwt暴露与AHEs风险增加有关。这项分析的结论是,在IWTs附近生活或工作可能导致人和动物患上AHEs。我们的研究结果提供了令人信服的证据,表明在批准风能项目之前,以及在评估拟议和运营项目的挫折距离时,应该考虑到ahs的风险。
{"title":"Wind turbines and adverse health effects: Applying Bradford Hill's criteria for causation","authors":"A. Dumbrille, R. Mcmurtry, Carmen M. E. Krogh","doi":"10.4103/ed.ed_16_21","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/ed.ed_16_21","url":null,"abstract":"The weight of evidence indicates occurrences of adverse health effects (AHEs) from living and working near industrial wind turbines (IWTs). Descriptions of the AHEs being reported by those living or working near the turbines are similar. While these occurrences have been associated with exposure to audible and inaudible noise annoyance, the causation of reported wind turbine-associated health effects remains controversial. Establishing an argument of causation of adverse health outcomes has important clinical, scientific, and societal implications. Bradford Hill (BH) criteria have been widely used to establish causality between an environmental agent and risk of disease or disability, but have not previously been used to evaluate the relationship between IWTs and AHEs. The objective was to apply the BH criteria to evaluate the relationship between IWTs and AHEs. The nine criteria include the strength of the association, consistency, specificity, temporal sequence, biological gradient, plausibility, coherence, experimental evidence, and analogous evidence. These nine criteria have been applied to IWT exposure and reported AHEs using peer-reviewed and other published literature that describes clinical, animal, and laboratory studies, testimony and reported experiences, and internet sources. Applying the BH criteria to the IWT-related clinical, biological, and experimental data demonstrates that the exposure to IWTs is associated with an increased risk of AHEs. This analysis concludes that living or working near IWTs can result in AHEs in both people and animals. Our findings provide compelling evidence that the risk of AHEs should be considered before the approval of wind energy projects and during the assessment of setback distances of proposed and operational projects.","PeriodicalId":11702,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Disease","volume":"42 1","pages":"65 - 87"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74274273","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Yadav, A. Saha, A. Chakrabarti, Geoffrey Nengzapum, Anirban Das, Surajit Das
Aim: This pilot cross-sectional study focused on biological monitoring of the benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) urinary metabolites trans, trans-muconic acid (tt-MA), s-phenyl mercapturic acid (SPMA), hippuric acid (HA), mandelic acid (MA), and methylhippuric acid (MHA) and measured the effects of workplace BTEX exposure on pulmonary function of workers engaged in footwear manufacturing. Materials and Methods: Urinary metabolites tt-MA, SPMA, HA, MA, and MHA concentration in urine samples of study participants (N = 35) were analyzed by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. Pulmonary function parameters were measured by spirometer and peak flow meter. Demographic information and work exposure information of study participants were collected by questionnaire interview. Results: In exposed workers, concentration of urinary SPMA, tt-MA, and HA was significantly higher (P < 0.01, in all) than the control group. Reduction in both force expiratory volume in 1 s (Forced expiratory volume in one second) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) were inversely associated (P < 0.01) with growing years of age among all workers. Inverse association was measured between urinary tt-MA and decline in forced vital capacity and PEFR (P < 0.05, for each) in workers. Based on the questionnaire interview, workers were not found to be aware of workplace exposure hazards. Conclusions: Exposure biomarkers of benzene (tt-MA and SPMA) and toluene (HA) were significantly higher in workers than the control group. Study results evident the presence of occupational exposure to benzene and toluene in footwear workers. Deterioration in FEV1 and PEFR were also measured among all workers with growing years of age. The sample size was small in the present study, so further research required to confirm our results.
{"title":"Urinary metabolites as exposure biomarkers of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene in footwear workers and assessment of pulmonary function","authors":"A. Yadav, A. Saha, A. Chakrabarti, Geoffrey Nengzapum, Anirban Das, Surajit Das","doi":"10.4103/ed.ed_5_21","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/ed.ed_5_21","url":null,"abstract":"Aim: This pilot cross-sectional study focused on biological monitoring of the benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) urinary metabolites trans, trans-muconic acid (tt-MA), s-phenyl mercapturic acid (SPMA), hippuric acid (HA), mandelic acid (MA), and methylhippuric acid (MHA) and measured the effects of workplace BTEX exposure on pulmonary function of workers engaged in footwear manufacturing. Materials and Methods: Urinary metabolites tt-MA, SPMA, HA, MA, and MHA concentration in urine samples of study participants (N = 35) were analyzed by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. Pulmonary function parameters were measured by spirometer and peak flow meter. Demographic information and work exposure information of study participants were collected by questionnaire interview. Results: In exposed workers, concentration of urinary SPMA, tt-MA, and HA was significantly higher (P < 0.01, in all) than the control group. Reduction in both force expiratory volume in 1 s (Forced expiratory volume in one second) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) were inversely associated (P < 0.01) with growing years of age among all workers. Inverse association was measured between urinary tt-MA and decline in forced vital capacity and PEFR (P < 0.05, for each) in workers. Based on the questionnaire interview, workers were not found to be aware of workplace exposure hazards. Conclusions: Exposure biomarkers of benzene (tt-MA and SPMA) and toluene (HA) were significantly higher in workers than the control group. Study results evident the presence of occupational exposure to benzene and toluene in footwear workers. Deterioration in FEV1 and PEFR were also measured among all workers with growing years of age. The sample size was small in the present study, so further research required to confirm our results.","PeriodicalId":11702,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Disease","volume":"189 1","pages":"91 - 97"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75072108","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Manju, Amrita Ghosh, R. Pal, G. Quiñones-Ossa, Rajashekar Mohan, A. Agrawal
The perception of biosafety on food and supply chains moves around the philosophical axis of “coping and living with occupational health hazards” to upheld the sustainable development of occupational safety. COVID-19 pandemic opened the “Pandora's box” of prevailing lackadaisical attitude on the basic public health aspects principles that should apply to food safety and food supply chain. We must revamp the collaboration of food production and public health-care delivery system to save the community by containing the spread of highly infectious agent from known and unknown natural and artificial reservoirs. Equity of distribution of quality and quantity of the food and nutrition has to be ensured for the majority of the global population at this crossroads of socio-economic crisis which has pauperized en masse as the negative fallout of pandemic. Food safety should be an urgent agenda for comprehensive internalization and be supplemented with the mitigation plan to minimize psychosomatic stresses and revitalize emotional and psychosocial health by targeted interventions. There is dire need of translational research and holistic streamlining of biosafety program in the phase of the rising trend of the cases and sequels epidemiologic pandemic curve on ground. Needless to mention that apart from SARS-COV2, the holistic concept of the implementation of the biosafety programs can interrupt the transmission of innumerable infectious agents from the plant and animal resources. Biosafety models were reviewed for high laboratory standards in the real time “new normal” situation of containment and risk assessment in this unprecedented pandemic of new millennium.
{"title":"Principles and practices of biosafety: Expanding and extending to food safety and food supply chain","authors":"M. Manju, Amrita Ghosh, R. Pal, G. Quiñones-Ossa, Rajashekar Mohan, A. Agrawal","doi":"10.4103/ed.ed_34_20","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/ed.ed_34_20","url":null,"abstract":"The perception of biosafety on food and supply chains moves around the philosophical axis of “coping and living with occupational health hazards” to upheld the sustainable development of occupational safety. COVID-19 pandemic opened the “Pandora's box” of prevailing lackadaisical attitude on the basic public health aspects principles that should apply to food safety and food supply chain. We must revamp the collaboration of food production and public health-care delivery system to save the community by containing the spread of highly infectious agent from known and unknown natural and artificial reservoirs. Equity of distribution of quality and quantity of the food and nutrition has to be ensured for the majority of the global population at this crossroads of socio-economic crisis which has pauperized en masse as the negative fallout of pandemic. Food safety should be an urgent agenda for comprehensive internalization and be supplemented with the mitigation plan to minimize psychosomatic stresses and revitalize emotional and psychosocial health by targeted interventions. There is dire need of translational research and holistic streamlining of biosafety program in the phase of the rising trend of the cases and sequels epidemiologic pandemic curve on ground. Needless to mention that apart from SARS-COV2, the holistic concept of the implementation of the biosafety programs can interrupt the transmission of innumerable infectious agents from the plant and animal resources. Biosafety models were reviewed for high laboratory standards in the real time “new normal” situation of containment and risk assessment in this unprecedented pandemic of new millennium.","PeriodicalId":11702,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Disease","volume":"46 1","pages":"31 - 37"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84034987","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: Women with high-risk pregnancies experience changes in their personal, family, and social lives that can affect their quality of life and depression. Pregnancy, along with other predisposing factors, can cause or exacerbate depression. Eventually, 15% of depressed people commit suicide. The purpose of this research was to see how COVID-19 affected the condition of pregnancy (high risk or normal), as well as well-being and depressive symptoms in pregnant women. Methods: This is an analytical case–control analysis that included 500 pregnant women (250 in the case group and 250 in the control group) who were pregnant during the COVID-19 timeframe for health care during pregnancy. The samples were chosen at random and then grouped into two categories based on the definitions of high-risk pregnancy and normal pregnancy: normal pregnancy (control group) and high-risk pregnancy (case group). A three-part questionnaire with demographic features, the Paloutzian and Ellison Religious Well-Being Questionnaire, and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-42 Depression Inventory were used to gather data. Results: According to the findings of this report, the mean score of religious well-being of pregnant mothers with high-risk pregnancies was lower than that of pregnant women with average pregnancies, as were the mean scores of depression. The distinction between a normal pregnancy and a high-risk pregnancy is important. Furthermore, the Pearson correlation coefficient test revealed a strong association between psychological well-being and depression in all types of mothers with high-risk and average pregnancies (r = −0.7) (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Pregnant women with high-risk pregnancies have less psychological well-being than pregnant women with regular pregnancies. Furthermore, these mothers have a greater risk of depression than pregnant women with normal pregnancies.
{"title":"Spiritual wellbeing and depression for pregnant mothers in Covid-19 crisis","authors":"H. Alimoradi, M. Nazari, R. Nodoushan, A. Ajdani","doi":"10.4103/ed.ed_28_20","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/ed.ed_28_20","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Women with high-risk pregnancies experience changes in their personal, family, and social lives that can affect their quality of life and depression. Pregnancy, along with other predisposing factors, can cause or exacerbate depression. Eventually, 15% of depressed people commit suicide. The purpose of this research was to see how COVID-19 affected the condition of pregnancy (high risk or normal), as well as well-being and depressive symptoms in pregnant women. Methods: This is an analytical case–control analysis that included 500 pregnant women (250 in the case group and 250 in the control group) who were pregnant during the COVID-19 timeframe for health care during pregnancy. The samples were chosen at random and then grouped into two categories based on the definitions of high-risk pregnancy and normal pregnancy: normal pregnancy (control group) and high-risk pregnancy (case group). A three-part questionnaire with demographic features, the Paloutzian and Ellison Religious Well-Being Questionnaire, and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-42 Depression Inventory were used to gather data. Results: According to the findings of this report, the mean score of religious well-being of pregnant mothers with high-risk pregnancies was lower than that of pregnant women with average pregnancies, as were the mean scores of depression. The distinction between a normal pregnancy and a high-risk pregnancy is important. Furthermore, the Pearson correlation coefficient test revealed a strong association between psychological well-being and depression in all types of mothers with high-risk and average pregnancies (r = −0.7) (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Pregnant women with high-risk pregnancies have less psychological well-being than pregnant women with regular pregnancies. Furthermore, these mothers have a greater risk of depression than pregnant women with normal pregnancies.","PeriodicalId":11702,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Disease","volume":"26 1","pages":"45 - 51"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87740777","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is not only associated with an increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in patients on oral anticoagulation, but also associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke. Limited data support the benefits of direct, non-Vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (direct oral anticoagulants [DOACs]) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) and CSVD. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of DOACs in AIS or TIA with AF and CSVD. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study with consecutive patients who experienced AIS or TIA with AF and CSVD from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019 in the Stroke Center at Beijing Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University. Patients are followed for 12 months by outpatient visits or telephone interviews. The safety endpoint of this study was symptomatic ICH (sICH), while the efficacy endpoint was recurrent ischemic events (AIS or TIA). Patients in the DOACs group were compared with patients in the warfarin group using Chi-square tests or the continuity correction Chi-square tests. The safety and efficacy endpoint was progression-free survival assessed by the log-rank test. Results: A total of 542 patients were finally included in this study (353 in the DOACs group and 189 in the warfarin group). There were no significant differences in vascular risk factors, NIH Stroke Scale score at baseline, and CHA2DS2-VASc score between the two groups. There were no significant differences in recurrent events between the two groups (P = 0.68). Patients in the DOACs group showed lower risks of sICH (P = 0.03) and a shorter hospital stay (P = 0.03) compared to patients in the warfarin group followed over 12 months. Conclusion: DOACs were associated with lower risks of sICH and similar risks of the recurrent ischemic event as compared to the warfarin group with AF and CSVD. Patients in the DOACs group had shorter hospital stay when compared to patients in the warfarin group. DOACs may be a better option than warfarin for AIS or TIA patients with AF and CSVD for secondary prevention.
{"title":"Direct, non-Vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants compared with warfarin for stroke with atrial fibrillation and cerebral small vessel disease","authors":"Lipeng Cai, Honglian Duan, Sara Saymuah, Ruiqiang Xin, Xiaokun Geng, Yuchuan Ding","doi":"10.4103/ed.ed_9_21","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/ed.ed_9_21","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is not only associated with an increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in patients on oral anticoagulation, but also associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke. Limited data support the benefits of direct, non-Vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (direct oral anticoagulants [DOACs]) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) and CSVD. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of DOACs in AIS or TIA with AF and CSVD. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study with consecutive patients who experienced AIS or TIA with AF and CSVD from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019 in the Stroke Center at Beijing Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University. Patients are followed for 12 months by outpatient visits or telephone interviews. The safety endpoint of this study was symptomatic ICH (sICH), while the efficacy endpoint was recurrent ischemic events (AIS or TIA). Patients in the DOACs group were compared with patients in the warfarin group using Chi-square tests or the continuity correction Chi-square tests. The safety and efficacy endpoint was progression-free survival assessed by the log-rank test. Results: A total of 542 patients were finally included in this study (353 in the DOACs group and 189 in the warfarin group). There were no significant differences in vascular risk factors, NIH Stroke Scale score at baseline, and CHA2DS2-VASc score between the two groups. There were no significant differences in recurrent events between the two groups (P = 0.68). Patients in the DOACs group showed lower risks of sICH (P = 0.03) and a shorter hospital stay (P = 0.03) compared to patients in the warfarin group followed over 12 months. Conclusion: DOACs were associated with lower risks of sICH and similar risks of the recurrent ischemic event as compared to the warfarin group with AF and CSVD. Patients in the DOACs group had shorter hospital stay when compared to patients in the warfarin group. DOACs may be a better option than warfarin for AIS or TIA patients with AF and CSVD for secondary prevention.","PeriodicalId":11702,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Disease","volume":"25 1","pages":"52 - 57"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81962338","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: Maternal hypocalcaemia has adverse outcomes on pregnant women and offspring development. The objective of this study is to test whether parity number is associated with maternal calcium level. Materials and Methods: According to parity numbers, the pregnant women were divided into never parturition group (NPG) and previous parturition group (PPG). Association between parity number and serum calcium was tested in multivariate linear regression models controlling for age, body mass index (BMI), Vitamin D, and Homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The subjects were also subgrouped by recruitment in four seasons and their development of gestational hypertension (GH) and diabetes. Results: Mean serum calcium was lower in the PPG than that in the NPG (2.15 vs. 2.20 mmol/L, P < 0.001). After adjusted for albumin, adjusted serum calcium was still lower in PPG than that in NPG (2.20 vs. 2.23 mmol/L, P < 0.001). Interestingly, adjusted serum calcium level is consistently lower in the PPG in both the diabetic and hypertension subgroups compared to NPG (2.20 vs. 2.23 mmol/L, P < 0.001). In different seasons, the serum calcium level and adjusted serum calcium level in the PPG were significantly lower than the NPG (P < 0.001). Importantly, adjusted calcium correlated negatively with the parity number (r = −0.044, P < 0.001), when adjusting for age, BMI, Vitamin D, and HOMA-IR. In addition, there was a significant increase in the PPG compared to the NPG including age (29.61 vs. 33.39 years old), BMI (22.80 vs. 23.55), triglyceride (2.27 vs. 2.43 mmol/L), and fasting basal blood glucose (4.73 vs. 4.81 mmol/L), and a significant decrease regarding the albumin (38.72 vs. 37.65 g/L) and Vitamin D (20.98 vs. 18.62 ng/ml). There was no difference in the onset of GH and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) between the two groups. Conclusion: Parity negatively correlated with the serum calcium level. The small but significant difference in the calcium levels indicated that parity may play an intricate role in calcium homeostasis. Timely monitoring of maternal calcium could be clinically beneficial to the multiparous women.
背景:母体低钙血症对孕妇和后代发育有不良影响。本研究的目的是测试胎次是否与母亲钙水平有关。材料与方法:根据胎次将孕妇分为未分娩组(NPG)和曾分娩组(PPG)。在控制年龄、体重指数(BMI)、维生素D和胰岛素抵抗的稳态模型评估(HOMA-IR)的多元线性回归模型中,检验胎次数与血清钙之间的关系。受试者还根据四季招募和妊娠期高血压(GH)和糖尿病的发展情况进行分组。结果:PPG组平均血钙低于NPG组(2.15 vs. 2.20 mmol/L, P < 0.001)。经白蛋白校正后,PPG组校正后的血清钙仍低于NPG组(2.20 vs 2.23 mmol/L, P < 0.001)。有趣的是,与NPG相比,糖尿病和高血压亚组PPG中调整后的血清钙水平始终较低(2.20 vs 2.23 mmol/L, P < 0.001)。不同季节,PPG组血清钙水平和调整后血清钙水平均显著低于NPG组(P < 0.001)。重要的是,当校正年龄、BMI、维生素D和HOMA-IR时,校正钙与胎次数负相关(r = - 0.044, P < 0.001)。此外,与NPG相比,年龄(29.61 vs. 33.39)、BMI (22.80 vs. 23.55)、甘油三酯(2.27 vs. 2.43 mmol/L)和空腹基础血糖(4.73 vs. 4.81 mmol/L)的PPG显著增加,白蛋白(38.72 vs. 37.65 g/L)和维生素D (20.98 vs. 18.62 ng/ml)显著降低。两组间生长激素和妊娠期糖尿病(GDM)的发病没有差异。结论:胎次与血钙水平呈负相关。钙水平的微小但显著的差异表明,平价可能在钙稳态中起着复杂的作用。及时监测产妇钙含量对多产妇女有临床意义。
{"title":"Effect of parity on the serum calcium in the pregnancy: A retrospective study","authors":"Nannan Wu, Bin Cao, Jianan Lang, D. Zhao","doi":"10.4103/ed.ed_6_21","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/ed.ed_6_21","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Maternal hypocalcaemia has adverse outcomes on pregnant women and offspring development. The objective of this study is to test whether parity number is associated with maternal calcium level. Materials and Methods: According to parity numbers, the pregnant women were divided into never parturition group (NPG) and previous parturition group (PPG). Association between parity number and serum calcium was tested in multivariate linear regression models controlling for age, body mass index (BMI), Vitamin D, and Homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The subjects were also subgrouped by recruitment in four seasons and their development of gestational hypertension (GH) and diabetes. Results: Mean serum calcium was lower in the PPG than that in the NPG (2.15 vs. 2.20 mmol/L, P < 0.001). After adjusted for albumin, adjusted serum calcium was still lower in PPG than that in NPG (2.20 vs. 2.23 mmol/L, P < 0.001). Interestingly, adjusted serum calcium level is consistently lower in the PPG in both the diabetic and hypertension subgroups compared to NPG (2.20 vs. 2.23 mmol/L, P < 0.001). In different seasons, the serum calcium level and adjusted serum calcium level in the PPG were significantly lower than the NPG (P < 0.001). Importantly, adjusted calcium correlated negatively with the parity number (r = −0.044, P < 0.001), when adjusting for age, BMI, Vitamin D, and HOMA-IR. In addition, there was a significant increase in the PPG compared to the NPG including age (29.61 vs. 33.39 years old), BMI (22.80 vs. 23.55), triglyceride (2.27 vs. 2.43 mmol/L), and fasting basal blood glucose (4.73 vs. 4.81 mmol/L), and a significant decrease regarding the albumin (38.72 vs. 37.65 g/L) and Vitamin D (20.98 vs. 18.62 ng/ml). There was no difference in the onset of GH and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) between the two groups. Conclusion: Parity negatively correlated with the serum calcium level. The small but significant difference in the calcium levels indicated that parity may play an intricate role in calcium homeostasis. Timely monitoring of maternal calcium could be clinically beneficial to the multiparous women.","PeriodicalId":11702,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Disease","volume":"93 1","pages":"58 - 63"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91382053","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S. Tandukar, D. Bhandari, R. Shrestha, S. Sherchan, Anil Aryal
Background: Preliminary evidence suggests that environmental factors may modify the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although the role of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) on the reduction of SARS-CoV-2 transmission rate is well explored, the role of local climate across different geographical transects on the onset and transmission of SARS-CoV-two remains unclear. Aims and Objectives: In this study, we explored the potential association among climatic factors, non-climatic factors and COVID-19 burden, via Pearson correlation analysis. We also investigated the association between COVID-19 cases and cumulative effect of NPIs or behavioral changes during lockdown as non-climatic factors in our analysis. Setting and Design: The research was carried out in the COVID-19 impacted districts across Nepal. Material and Methods: The meteorological/climatic factors consisting of temperature and rainfall as predictor variables and total laboratory confirmed COVID-19 cases reported between January and May 2020 were considered in the study. Statistical Analysis Used: The statistical tests were carried out using R programming language. Results: Of the total 375 confirmed positive cases until May 19, 2020, clusters of the cases were diagnosed from the Terai region, which was associated with comparatively higher temperature and open border to India. Upon time series and spatial analysis, the number of positive cases increased after the end of April, possibly due to expansion of diagnostic tests throughout the country. We found a positive correlation betweenCOVID-19, and temperature indices (mean and minimum) (P < 0.05). Conclusions: In the absence of an effective vaccine, these findings can inform infection control division of Nepal on the implementation of effective NPIs based on the observed variability in meteorological factors, especially in prevention of possible second wave of infection during winter.
{"title":"Association between climatic and nonclimatic parameters and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Nepal","authors":"S. Tandukar, D. Bhandari, R. Shrestha, S. Sherchan, Anil Aryal","doi":"10.4103/ed.ed_2_21","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/ed.ed_2_21","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Preliminary evidence suggests that environmental factors may modify the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although the role of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) on the reduction of SARS-CoV-2 transmission rate is well explored, the role of local climate across different geographical transects on the onset and transmission of SARS-CoV-two remains unclear. Aims and Objectives: In this study, we explored the potential association among climatic factors, non-climatic factors and COVID-19 burden, via Pearson correlation analysis. We also investigated the association between COVID-19 cases and cumulative effect of NPIs or behavioral changes during lockdown as non-climatic factors in our analysis. Setting and Design: The research was carried out in the COVID-19 impacted districts across Nepal. Material and Methods: The meteorological/climatic factors consisting of temperature and rainfall as predictor variables and total laboratory confirmed COVID-19 cases reported between January and May 2020 were considered in the study. Statistical Analysis Used: The statistical tests were carried out using R programming language. Results: Of the total 375 confirmed positive cases until May 19, 2020, clusters of the cases were diagnosed from the Terai region, which was associated with comparatively higher temperature and open border to India. Upon time series and spatial analysis, the number of positive cases increased after the end of April, possibly due to expansion of diagnostic tests throughout the country. We found a positive correlation betweenCOVID-19, and temperature indices (mean and minimum) (P < 0.05). Conclusions: In the absence of an effective vaccine, these findings can inform infection control division of Nepal on the implementation of effective NPIs based on the observed variability in meteorological factors, especially in prevention of possible second wave of infection during winter.","PeriodicalId":11702,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Disease","volume":"30 1","pages":"38 - 44"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90556227","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The ongoing coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has forced the public health authorities to implement stringent measures, with an aim to reduce the mobility of the general population and thus interrupt the chain of transmission. An extensive search of all materials related to the topic was carried out in the PubMed search engine and World Health Organization website, and a total of six articles were selected based upon the suitability with the current review objectives. Keywords used in the search include COVID-19, Lockdown, and Exit. To contain the rapid spread of the disease, some of the affected nations have imposed complete lockdown within their settings. However, it is important to consider that the strategy of lockdown cannot be there for prolonged periods of time as it interrupts the social life and negatively affects the economy of the nation immensely. Thus, it is quite essential to lift these restrictions, but of course, the decision should be not taken in haste as it will again result in the resurgence of the cases and will overwhelm the health system. In conclusion, the decision to impose a lockdown has been an effective strategy to reduce the risk of transmission. However, it is also important to plan for revoking the same, and this will obviously require strengthening of the health system and the complete support from the community.
{"title":"Scope of imposing lockdown in the containment of coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic and the decision to relax","authors":"S. Shrivastava, P. Shrivastava","doi":"10.4103/ed.ed_35_20","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/ed.ed_35_20","url":null,"abstract":"The ongoing coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has forced the public health authorities to implement stringent measures, with an aim to reduce the mobility of the general population and thus interrupt the chain of transmission. An extensive search of all materials related to the topic was carried out in the PubMed search engine and World Health Organization website, and a total of six articles were selected based upon the suitability with the current review objectives. Keywords used in the search include COVID-19, Lockdown, and Exit. To contain the rapid spread of the disease, some of the affected nations have imposed complete lockdown within their settings. However, it is important to consider that the strategy of lockdown cannot be there for prolonged periods of time as it interrupts the social life and negatively affects the economy of the nation immensely. Thus, it is quite essential to lift these restrictions, but of course, the decision should be not taken in haste as it will again result in the resurgence of the cases and will overwhelm the health system. In conclusion, the decision to impose a lockdown has been an effective strategy to reduce the risk of transmission. However, it is also important to plan for revoking the same, and this will obviously require strengthening of the health system and the complete support from the community.","PeriodicalId":11702,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Disease","volume":"49 1","pages":"1 - 3"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78175416","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Metabolic disease is a pandemic in modern times. However, understanding of the genomic basis associated with metabolism remains to be further elucidated. CpG islands are the genomic regions enriched in cytosine nucleotide (C) and guanine nucleotide (G), mostly located at promoters and contain the 5' end of the gene transcript. In this study, we utilize the UCSC Genome Browser to map the genomic locations and extract the CpG island tracks that are associated with the genes encoding functions in cell metabolism or metabolic disease. We identified a new genomic signature, namely inter-3' end CpG island (ITCI), associated with the genes encoding major metabolic regulators or enzymes in the human chromosome 19p13.3 region. In this region, the gene encoding a major metabolic regulator, CREB3L3, possesses a conserved CpG island in its 3' end. This unique ITCI genomic signature has been found in nine pairs of genes in the human chromosome 19p13.3 region. Many of these genes are associated with metabolism. In conclusion, we discovered a new type of genomic signature, ITCI, which is featured by a dozen of metabolic genes possessing conserved CpG islands in their 3' ends, in a specific human chromosome. Identification of ITCI signature and decoding of the ITCI-associated associated metabolic genes provide important insights into the genomic basis of metabolism or metabolic disease.
{"title":"Inter-3' ends CpG islands are enriched in human chromosome 19p13.3 region: A genomic signature of metabolism-associated genes","authors":"Ze Zheng, Kezhong Zhang","doi":"10.4103/ed.ed_4_21","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/ed.ed_4_21","url":null,"abstract":"Metabolic disease is a pandemic in modern times. However, understanding of the genomic basis associated with metabolism remains to be further elucidated. CpG islands are the genomic regions enriched in cytosine nucleotide (C) and guanine nucleotide (G), mostly located at promoters and contain the 5' end of the gene transcript. In this study, we utilize the UCSC Genome Browser to map the genomic locations and extract the CpG island tracks that are associated with the genes encoding functions in cell metabolism or metabolic disease. We identified a new genomic signature, namely inter-3' end CpG island (ITCI), associated with the genes encoding major metabolic regulators or enzymes in the human chromosome 19p13.3 region. In this region, the gene encoding a major metabolic regulator, CREB3L3, possesses a conserved CpG island in its 3' end. This unique ITCI genomic signature has been found in nine pairs of genes in the human chromosome 19p13.3 region. Many of these genes are associated with metabolism. In conclusion, we discovered a new type of genomic signature, ITCI, which is featured by a dozen of metabolic genes possessing conserved CpG islands in their 3' ends, in a specific human chromosome. Identification of ITCI signature and decoding of the ITCI-associated associated metabolic genes provide important insights into the genomic basis of metabolism or metabolic disease.","PeriodicalId":11702,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Disease","volume":"167 1","pages":"24 - 29"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75977568","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}