Global Transitions最新文献

To more fully assess the far-reaching effects of fossil fuel combustion on humanity, it is necessary to gain an in-depth understanding of the full impact of fossil fuels on human health and lifetime potential. However, current knowledge of the long-term consequences of fossil fuel use on health damage in early life, such as human capital impacts in adulthood, is still insufficient. This paper aims to summarize the current evidence on the health effects of fossil fuel-driven air pollution and climate change on children and the consequent effect on human capital stemming from these early health damages. Evidence indicates that climate change and air pollution not only deteriorate children's health but also affect the entire human capital in their adulthood and can be deeply affected through damaged early-life health. Fossil fuel combustion can significantly impact the lifelong health and human capital for generations. We call for a more holistic assessment of the full range of impacts borne by children, including direct damages to children's health, losses of human capital, and associated economic costs. Cross-disciplinary collaboration is vital to facilitate research on such assessments, thereby enriching our understanding of the multifaceted impact of fossil fuel combustion on the early life and its long-term implications on human capital and economic potential.

Background

Long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health services utilization is unknown. We aim to assess the long-term effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on health services utilization in China.

Methods

Between Jan 2017 and Dec 2021, we conducted a nationwide longitudinal study using routinely collected data on health services utilization in the National Health Information System of China. We extracted national and provincial data of demographic characteristics, socio-economic characteristics, and health resources. Interrupted time-series segmented negative binominal regression models were used.

Results

A total of 34.2 billion health facilities visits and 1.1 billion inpatients discharged were included. The largest negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the health services utilization was during containment period, that health facility visits were observed 32% reduction in hospitals (adjusted incidence risk ratios [aRRs] 0.68, 95%CI: 0.50–0.92), 27% reduction in community health centers (aRR 0.73, 95%CI: 0.57–0.93), and 22% reduction township centers (aRR 0.78, 95%CI: 0.67–0.91), respectively. The impact on health facility visits and inpatients discharged were reduced and eliminated over time (all p>0.05). However, the negative impact on utilization rate of beds, average length of stay, average inpatient costs, and average outpatient costs in different level of health facilities still existed two years later (all p<0.05).

Conclusions

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health services utilization was largest during containment period and reduced over time, but it still existed two years later. There are disparities in the recovery of health services. Our findings highlighted the importance of maintaining primary healthcare services during the pandemic and strengthen resilient health system on the rapid recovery of medical services.

Pressures from the healthcare systems have led to decreased lengths of hospital stay and home-based long-term rehabilitation for the elderly hospitalized patients, while the elderly patients with home-based rehabilitation remain at high risk of hospital re-admission, adverse events and mortality. As the modern technology advances, previous research has proposed the concept of smart hospital and smart home for the elderly's health. However, no evidence of smart homes tailored to home-based rehabilitation for the elderly patients discharged from hospital is available. Moreover, how to link smart hospitals and smart homes to generate a joint environment for elderly patients' accelerated recovery, is a worthwhile endeavor. To address this important gap between smart hospitals and smart homes for the elderly who require home-based recovery after discharge, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital recently initiated the development of a novel model, named smart home wards (SHWs). The SHWs may have the potential to extend homes as part of the hospital wards by breaking down the information silos between smart hospitals and smart homes, and eventually improve the elderly patients' health outcomes in a cost-effective approach for our aging population.

Background

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as a significant health issue due to its association with a growing proportion of cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases (CLDs). To obtain a profound understanding of the burden of cirrhosis and other CLDs due to NAFLD, we aim to present a comprehensive analysis from 1990 to 2019.

Methods

The study utilized data from the Global Burden of Disease database.

Results

From 1990 to 2019, the global incidence, prevalence, death, and disability-adjusted life year (DALY) numbers increased 93%, 120%, 77%, and 62%, respectively. Despite the age-standardized death rate (ASDR) and the age-standardized DALY decreased, the age-standardized incident rate (ASIR) and age-standardized prevalent rate (ASPR) increased from 1.50 to 1.63 and 12065.15 to 15022.90 per 100,000 people, respectively. A higher incidence rate was observed among middle-aged individuals, while a higher prevalence, death, and DALY rates were among the elderly. Males remained higher number of prevalence, death, DALY cases than females. The low-middle and high socio-demographic index (SDI) region had the highest increase of ASIR and ASPR, respectively. The low SDI region had the largest decrease in ASDR and age-standardized DALY.

Conclusions

An increasing cases of cirrhosis and other CLDs due to NAFLD was observed. The ASIR and ASPR showed a worsening trend, while ASDR and age-standardized DALY showed an improving trend. Middle-aged and older people are more susceptible. Males experienced a higher burden than females.

This review provides an analytic overview of the influence of the health-related United Nations General Assembly High-level Meetings on HIV/AIDS, non-communicable diseases, antimicrobial resistance, tuberculosis and Universal Health Coverage. We consider the temporal association between High-Level Meetings and changes in the global health funding landscape and national financial and programmatic commitments, in order to understand whether global prioritization of selected health issues leads to domestic prioritization and action. Whilst some High-Level Meetings do appear to have galvanized support, funding, and domestic action, this is not always the case. To maximise the value of these meetings, health advocates should view them as a powerful means rather than an end in themselves.

Carbon reduction is a primary strategic business development target of every industry. Petrochemical engineering and ferrous metallurgy are raw material industries that are key players in carbon emission control and are also facing huge challenges. Raw material recycling is a subject that has received much focus but is difficult to apply to products that have high quality and functional characteristics. This practical paper introduces two case studies of Company A to illustrate practical suggestions on raw material recycling realization and management for carbon neutrality from the following business strategic aspects: chances and risks of application, technical process innovation, carbon reduction rate and cost. The results show the obvious feasibility and benefit of recycling raw materials into certain strategic selected products. This can reduce carbon effectively in parallel when there is a balance among the maturity level of raw material recycling systems in the market, supplier technical capability, and product demand. This research provides suggestions to firms on how to set up a transformation management strategy and achieve readiness for green innovation.

The normative values of vertical jump (VJ) and sit-and-reach (SR) for Chinese people are still unclear. We aimed to determine these values and their correlations with body composition using data from China National Health Survey which included 19,269 participants aged 8–80 years. Sex-specific smoothed centile tables were generated for the P₁, P₅, P₂₅, P₅₀, P₇₅, P₉₅, and P₉₉ centiles of VJ and SR using lambda-mu-sigma method. The median (Interquartile range) values of VJ and SR in males and females were as follows: 20.3 (8.8) cm and 14.1 (5.5) cm for VJ, 1.8 (11.6) cm and 6.8 (10.4) cm for SR, respectively. In males, VJ values increased to a peak around the age of 18, with the 5^th and 95^th values being 17.7 cm and 41.3 cm, respectively. After reaching the peak, VJ values gradually declined with age. In females, VJ values remained relatively stable from childhood to early adulthood, and then declined after the age of 30. The peak values of SR were observed in early adulthood in both sexes, and remained stable in females but declined with age in males. VJ had a negative association with body composition, particularly in females. SR was found to have a negative association with fat mass indexes in males. However, correlations in females were only marginally statistically significant. The study provides age- and sex-specific percentile reference values for VJ and SR in Chinese people and can aid in the assessment of muscle fitness and facilitate early prediction of neuromuscular disorders.

Background

Natural flood disasters have a devastating effect on society, but the comprehensive assessment of their association with infectious diseases is lacking. We aimed to comprehensively assess the association of natural flood disasters with new cases and deaths of different infectious disease globally from 1990 to 2019, and provide scientific evidence for early warning and measures for the prevention and control of outbreaks and endemic of potential infectious disease following natural flood disasters.

Methods

We used data on natural flood disasters from international disaster database from 1990 to 2019. Data on infectious diseases were from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Quasi-Poisson generalized linear models (quasi-Poisson GLM) were used to calculate the effects size, after controlling other confounders.

Results

From 1990 to 2019, natural flood disasters occurred on 47,368 cumulative days in 168 countries and territories, resulting in a total of 242,516 deaths and affecting 3.55 billion people. The duration of floods showed a trend of increase, with an average increased rate of 5.14% per year (Estimated annual percentage change [EAPC] =5.14%, 95% CI: 3.57%-7.16%; p < 0.05). The incidence rates of most infectious diseases showed decreasing trends in the past 30 years (all p < 0.05), except for dengue (with an EAPC of 1.06%, 95%CI: 0.90%-1.23%). In the multivariable models, increased number of new cases of acute hepatitis A, acute hepatitis E, dengue, malaria, measles, meningitis, typhoid and paratyphoid, tuberculosis, and upper respiratory infections were significantly correlated with the longer duration of floods (all p < 0.05). Increased lasting days of flooding were associated with increased number of deaths from lower respiratory tract infections (0.173%), measles (0.126%), typhoid and paratyphoid (0.043%), tetanus (0.245%), and tuberculosis (0.154%, all p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Natural flood disasters were associated with increased new cases and deaths of enteric infections, neglected tropical diseases, and respiratory infections. Concerted efforts should be made to design better strategies for adaptation to prevent and control the outbreak of floods-related infectious disease and reduce their impact on health and life.

The advancement of deep learning and artificial intelligence has resulted in the development of state-of-the-art language models, such as ChatGPT. This technology can analyze large amounts of data, identify patterns, and assist in the analysis and understanding of risk factors for diseases. Despite its potential, the applications, challenges, and ethical considerations have not been yet fully explored in global health research. This paper examines the applications of ChatGPT in global health research, assesses the challenges in its use, and proposes mitigation strategies. Additionally, it describes the ethical considerations around the use of ChatGPT in global health research and suggests potential avenues for addressing these issues. This paper summarizes that it is crucial to understand the capabilities and limitations of this technology in order to fully realize its potential and ensure its responsible integration into global health research.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a series of outbreaks and related investigations have indicated that the virus can be transmitted via cold-chain environment media. The causal relationship between the cold chain and the introduction and spread of viruses has been established. However, due to its stealthy nature, cold-chain environment media is often overlooked. Herein, we aim to provide a systematic review of the existing evidences and logical chains of virus transmission and introduction through cold-chain, from the perspectives of epidemiological investigations, laboratory researches, and molecular epidemiological evidences of cold-chain-related outbreaks. Additionally, scientific evidences also include the survival capacity of the virus in cold-chain environments, as well as modeling of virus transmission and risk assessment. These evidences and the logical framework related to cold-chain transmission put forward the initiation of cold-chain-based epidemiology (CCBE) as one of the important portions of the epidemiology of infectious diseases. Close multidisciplinary collaboration in this field will be essential for the preparation of future pandemics.