In the perspective of recent bauxite mining in Malaysia, this review aims to identify the potential environmental and health impacts on miners and surrounding communities. The environmental issues of bauxite mining include, air, water and soil pollution due to bauxite dust; leaching of bauxite into water sources resulting in reduced soil fertility as well as affecting agricultural food products and aquatic life. Bauxite occupational exposure affects the health of miners, and has negative consequences on the health of surrounding communities, such as increased respiratory symptoms, contamination of drinking water, other potential health risks from ingestion of bauxite and heavy metals, including noise-induced hearing loss and mental stress. This review discusses the processes of bauxite mining, its constituents and residual trace elements, and their impact on the environment and health of exposed workers and communities. It also explores the Malaysian legal requirements and standards of occupational exposure to bauxite.

INTRODUCTION: Although the EQ-5D questionnaire is widely used to measure health status internationally, there is little evidence of its content validity in Asian populations. This qualitative study aimed to explore the content validity of the EQ-5D in Singapore. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty Singaporeans (Chinese: 20; Malay: 20; Indian: 20) completed semi-structured interviews in which they were asked about health concepts which were important to them and the relevance and comprehensiveness of the EQ-5D descriptive system (DS). Thematic analysis employing open, focused and axial coding was used to identify the themes and subthemes from the interviews. RESULTS: A total of 70 health concepts were identified which fall into the broad categories of 'physical health', 'mental well-being', 'social relationships', 'medical conditions and treatment', and 'health promotion knowledge and behaviours'. The 5 dimensions in the EQ-5D DS were among the health concepts nominated by participants. Some participants suggested that content validity could be improved by adding social relationships, medical conditions and treatment, and health promotion knowledge and behaviours to the EQ-5D DS. CONCLUSIONS This study confirmed that EQ-5D dimensions are important and relevant aspects of health to Asians in Singapore, although some dimensions that could be important to Singaporeans are absent.

Shoulder arthroscopy is an increasingly common procedure. Pneumothorax post-shoulder arthroscopy is a rare complication. Our aim is to highlight a case report of pneumothorax post-shoulder arthroscopy and to conduct a literature review to evaluate the possible risk factors. We report the case of a 75-year-old male non-smoker, who underwent right shoulder arthroscopy without regional anaesthesia in the left lateral position and subsequently suffered a pneumothorax post-operatively. A PubMed Medline and Cochrane database search was carried out, and 32 articles were identified and thoroughly reviewed. Overall, among the articles that propose a mechanism, 75% (9/12) consider the pathogenesis to be multifactorial. The exact mechanism is currently unknown. Awareness of this complication and timely recognition are important to prevent life-threatening sequelae. Surgeons should maintain a low threshold for obtaining diagnostic plain radiographs in the event of clinical suspicion.

This article describes Viet Nam Ministry of Health’s (VMoH) activities to prepare for and respond to the threat Zika virus (ZIKV), including the adaptation of existing surveillance systems to encompass ZIKV surveillance.