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Topic Review
Biography
Peer Reviewed Entry
Video Entry
Topic Review
Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in Europe
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of preventable vision impairment and blindness in the European Region. Despite the fact that almost all European countries have some kind of prophylactic eye examination for people with diabetes, the examinations are not properly arranged and are not organized according to the principles of screening in medicine. In 2021, the current COVID-19 pandemic moved telemedicine to the forefront healthcare services.
676
30 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Effects of Methylmercury plus Ethanol Exposure on Emotionality
Mercury is a heavy metal found in organic and inorganic forms that represents an important toxicant with impact on human health. Mercury can be released in the environment by natural phenoms (i.e., volcanic eruptions), industrial products, waste, or anthropogenic actions (i.e., mining activity).
675
10 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Ergonomics Evaluation Using Motion Capture Technology
Due to the increasingly high proportion of manual activities in production processes, there is a constant risk of musculoskeletal disorders or work-related injuries. The risk of these problems is exacerbated by the trend towards an ageing working population. European legislation is pressing for improved working conditions to eliminate the risks associated with health problems for workers. For this reason, the application of ergonomics in this field is growing. Musculoskeletal disorders, which are most often caused by inappropriate working postures, are a major problem. There are many methods for evaluating working postures.
668
06 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Salt in Low Back Pain and Comorbid Conditions
Low back pain is the world’s leading disability, but the etiology of the majority of low back pain is non-specific with no known cause. Moreover, overuse of opioids to treat low back pain is a widespread problem. Many global populations consume excess sodium chloride, which can lead to fluid overload in hypervolemia, and cause swelling and temporary weight gain associated with low back pain. Numerous conditions comorbid with low back pain are also potentially mediated by excessive salt intake, including migraine headache, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, venous thromboembolism, liver disease, respiratory disorders, chronic kidney disease, pregnancy complications, and multiple sclerosis.
667
14 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Safety Culture
Safety culture is considered to be the result of personal and collective attitudes, beliefs, and behaviour patterns, and it determines the commitment, willingness, style, and ability of organizations to manage health and safety issues.
665
20 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Urological Safety and COVID-19 Vaccinations
During the COVID-19 pandemic, elective surgeries were suspended for many months, and only high-risk oncological cases were addressed, although an ambulatory follow-up and management of benign conditions, which can cause lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), were essential. In neurologic patients, for example, LUTS have a great impact on quality of life and social life, and their clinical conditions can seriously worsen if not properly addressed.
660
24 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Functional Foods to Ameliorate Neurogenic Muscle Atrophy
Neurogenic muscle atrophy is a debilitating condition that occurs from nerve trauma in association with diseases or during aging, leading to reduced interaction between motoneurons and skeletal fibers. Therapeutic approaches aiming at preserving muscle mass in a scenario of decreased nervous input include physical activity and employment of drugs that slow down the progression of the condition yet provide no concrete resolution. Nutritional support appears as a precious tool, adding to the success of personalized medicine, and could thus play a relevant part in mitigating neurogenic muscle atrophy.
660
15 Dec 2022
Topic Review
NcRNAs in Human Diseases
The mammalian genome comprehends a small minority of genes that encode for proteins (barely 2% of the total genome in humans) and an immense majority of genes that are transcribed into RNA but not encoded for proteins (ncRNAs). These non-coding genes are intimately related to the expression regulation of protein-coding genes. The ncRNAs subtypes differ in their size, so there are long non-coding genes (lncRNAs) and other smaller ones, like microRNAs (miRNAs) and piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs). Due to their important role in the maintenance of cellular functioning, any deregulation of the expression profiles of these ncRNAs can dissemble in the development of different types of diseases, such as cancer, neurodegenerative, or cardiovascular disorders.
659
16 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Effect of Physical Activity on the Circadian System
Circadian rhythms are an inherent property of all living systems and an essential part of the external and internal temporal order. They enable organisms to be synchronized with their periodic environment and guarantee the optimal functioning of organisms. Any disturbances, so-called circadian disruptions, may have adverse consequences for health, physical and mental performance, and wellbeing. The environmental light–dark cycle is the main zeitgeber for circadian rhythms. Moreover, regular physical activity is most useful. Not only does it have general favorable effects on the cardiovascular system, the energy metabolism and mental health, for example, but it may also stabilize the circadian system via feedback effects on the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), the main circadian pacemaker. Regular physical activity helps to maintain high-amplitude circadian rhythms, particularly of clock gene expression in the SCN. It promotes their entrainment to external periodicities and improves the internal synchronization of various circadian rhythms. This in turn promotes health and wellbeing.
659
26 Sep 2022
Topic Review
The Impact of Climate Change on Cholera
Water ecosystems can be rather sensitive to evolving or sudden changes in weather parameters. These changes can result in alterations in the natural habitat of pathogens, vectors, and human hosts, as well as in the transmission dynamics and geographic distribution of infectious agents.
657
27 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Lobomycosis Epidemiology and Management
Lobomycosis is a chronic disease caused by Lacazia loboi, which is endemic to the Amazon rainforest, where it affects forest dwellers in Brazil. There is no disease control program and no official therapeutic protocol. This situation contributes to an unknown disease prevalence and unmet needs of people disabled by this disease who seek access to treatment. An effective therapy for lobomycosis has been found following decades of research led by the State Dermatology Program of Acre in the Amazon rainforest, where the largest number of cases occur. This discovery opened new avenues for future studies.
655
26 May 2022
Topic Review
Human-Relevant NAMs for Developmental Toxicity Testing
Developmental toxicity testing urgently requires the implementation of human-relevant new approach methodologies (NAMs) that better recapitulate the peculiar nature of human physiology during pregnancy, especially the placenta and the maternal/fetal interface, which represent a key stage for human lifelong health. Fit-for-purpose NAMs for the placental–fetal interface are desirable to improve the biological knowledge of environmental exposure at the molecular level and to reduce the high cost, time and ethical impact of animal studies.
653
07 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Exposure to PM-bound PAHs
Particulate matter (PM) is a major factor contributing to air quality deterioration that enters the atmosphere as a consequence of various natural and anthropogenic activities. In PM, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) represent a class of organic chemicals with at least two aromatic rings that are mainly directly emitted via the incomplete combustion of various organic materials. Numerous toxicological and epidemiological studies have proven adverse links between exposure to particulate matter-bound (PM-bound) PAHs and human health due to their carcinogenicity and mutagenicity. Among human exposure routes, inhalation is the main pathway regarding PM-bound PAHs in the atmosphere. Moreover, the concentrations of PM-bound PAHs differ among people, microenvironment, and areas. Hence, understanding the behaviour of PM-bound PAHs in the atmosphere is crucial.
652
23 Apr 2021
Topic Review
COVID-19 Pandemic in Lifestyle
The spread of the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic worldwide has forced countries to handle the crisis in different ways, declaring a national state of alarm and establishing a mandatory home lockdown. The COVID-19 infection represents a strong stress stimulus, which can induce high levels of perceived risk, fear, and anger, while forced quarantine at home may provoke an experience of boredom and loneliness, eliciting negative mental and behavioural responses in people. Furthermore, the more time people remain at home, the more intense the resulting mental, emotional and lifestyle problems.
652
08 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Social Robots for the Therapy of Communication Disorders
There has been a growing interest in the use of innovative technology in Speech and Language Therapy (SLT). Socially Assistive Robots (SARs) have drawn significant attention in the field of speech and language therapy. While initial results have been promising, further exploration is needed to fully understand the potential and usefulness of SARs in the SLT. It has been observed that the robots provide effective and engaging therapy experiences for children and adolescents with different communication disorders.
645
10 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Emerging Flavored Oral Nicotine Pouches
Oral Nicotine Pouches (ONPs) are the new form of nicotine pouches that have become a type of emerging smokeless tobacco product sold by various tobacco companies. These smokeless tobacco products are marketed for usage all over as snus containing tobacco-derived nicotine (natural) or as tobacco-free nicotine (synthetic) as substitutes for other tobacco products. Based on perception and socio-behavioral aspects, ONPs have become popular tobacco products among adolescents/young adults, and over 50% of young adult users of ONP use flavored ONPs, such as menthol/mint, tobacco, dessert/candy, and fruity, which are the most popular flavors. Various new ONP flavors are currently popular locally as well as in the online market. Tobacco, menthol, and fruit-flavored ONPs could motivate cigarette smokers to change to ONPs.
640
03 May 2023
Topic Review
Risks of Mobile Phones for Children and Teenagers
Mobile phones have become ubiquitous in modern society, with many children and teenagers using them on a daily basis. However, there are growing concerns about the potential health risks associated with mobile phone use, particularly among young people. The risks of mobile phones for children and teenagers, including the potential for radiation exposure, impact on mental health, and effects on sleep were described. The strategies for reducing these risks and promoting safe mobile phone use among young people, as well as the countries and governments that are taking action to address this issue were discussed.
639
22 May 2023
Topic Review
Dietary Antioxidants and Lung Cancer in Smokers, Non-Smokers
Smoking is the major cause of cancer mortality, responsible for 64.2% of global lung cancer (LC)-related deaths in 2019. There is clear evidence from longitudinal and/or case–control studies that support the link between current smoking and LC risk. Secondhand smoke (SHS) as well as other environmental and genetic factors are potential risk factors for the development of LC in non-smokers. Approximately 6% of global non-smoker deaths from LC in 2019 are caused by SHS exposure.
638
21 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Lateral Flow Assays Combat Antimicrobial Resistant
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is today universally recognised as a global threat because of the rapid emergence and dissemination of resistant bacteria and genes among humans, animals, and the environment on a global scale. AMR thus represents a heavy burden for healthcare systems all over the world. ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa et Enterobacter spp.) combined with antibiotic resistance have greatly increased the risk of morbidity and mortality, especially in ICU settings. Lateral flow assays (LFA) are inexpensive, rapid, and efficient tools that are easy to implement in the routine workflow of laboratories as new first-line tests against AMR with bacterial colonies, and in the near future directly with biological media.
634
15 Aug 2022
Topic Review
SARS-CoV-2 Detection from Surface Samples
Contaminated surfaces have been discussed as a possible source of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Under experimental conditions, SARS-CoV-2 can remain infectious on surfaces for several days. However, the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 detection on surfaces in healthcare settings and the public is currently not known. A systematic literature review was performed. On surfaces around COVID-19 cases in healthcare settings (42 studies), the SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection rates mostly were between 0% and 27% (Ct values mostly > 30). Detection of infectious SARS-CoV-2 was only successful in one of seven studies in 9.2% of 76 samples. Most of the positive samples were obtained next to a patient with frequent sputum spitting during sampling. Eight studies were found with data from public surfaces and RNA detection rates between 0% and 22.1% (Ct values mostly >30). Detection of infectious virus was not attempted. Similar results were found in samples from surfaces around confirmed COVID-19 cases in non-healthcare settings (7 studies) and from personal protective equipment (10 studies). Therefore, it seems plausible to assume that inanimate surfaces are not a relevant source for transmission of SARS-CoV-2. In public settings, the associated risks of regular surface disinfection probably outweigh the expectable health benefits.
626
06 Aug 2021
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