Animals ; Antidiuretic Hormone Receptor Antagonists ; Body Temperature ; drug effects ; Chlorpyrifos ; toxicity ; Female ; Hypothermia ; chemically induced ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to present the data on the frequency and severity of natural disasters in the Philippines, the common diseases in affected communities after a natural disaster, the immediate health effects after a natural disaster and the preceding environmental risk factors, as well as evaluation scheme for pre- and post- disaster management in the Philippines.

METHODS: Data were gathered from local and international agencies dealing with epidemics diseases and health emergencies related to natural disasters. Critical analysis was done in order to come up with an evaluation scheme on both ex ante risk reduction, and ex post disaster response.

RESULTS: The study showed that there are immediate adverse health effects of natural disasters. Drought brings about protein malnutrition; earthquakes can cause crush injuries; and fires can cause poor air quality. The study showed that the most common communicable diseases arisng from disasters and emergencies include diarrhea, acute respiratory infection, measles, and malaria. In the international scene, cholera, diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, measles, meningitis, tetanus, diarrhea, leptospirosis, acute respiratory syndrome, coccidiomycosis, and malaria were reported to be the major epidemics after certain types of natural disaster.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: There are several recommendations proposed in this study for disaster management such as integration of permanent LGU disaster risk management, better coordination among agencies involved in disaster management, strengthened vertical and horizontal integration of disaster risk reduction plans, creation of an overall framework that integrates environmental issues with disaster management strategies, documentation, evaluation and replication of successful local disaster prevention and management strategies, and coordination with health units, and economic development units. The Philippines is challenged to come up with and implement a comprehensive disaster preparedness and mitigation measures for disasters and epidemics.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Earthquakes ; Cholera ; Hepatitis A ; Tetanus ; Emergencies ; Droughts ; Risk Factors ; Economic Development ; Philippines ; Disasters ; Communicable Diseases ; Measles ; Malaria ; Meningitis ; Risk Management ; International Agencies ; Diarrhea ; Leptospirosis ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Documentation ; Risk Reduction Behavior ; Crush Injuries ; Malnutrition ; Air Pollution

Philippines ; Accidents ; Organizations

Introduction. The ever-increasing global road traffic accidents is caused by several risk factors: human factors, vehicle factors, and road environmental factors. In the Philippines, 12,000 road users die annually due to road crashes and almost one-third are alcohol-related crashes.

Objectives. This study aims to investigate the effects of suspected alcohol intoxication on the severity of injuries among drivers and passengers in a major urban region in the Philippines using the Metro Manila Accident Recording and Analysis System (MMARAS) of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority from 2005 to 2020.

Methods. The Metro Manila Accident Recording and Analysis System (MMARAS) was used to determine the data on trends and association for alcohol-related road crashes, while descriptive and inferential statistics such as logistic and multinomial regression were used to determine trends and associations.

Results. Suspected alcohol intoxication road crash cases in Metro Manila have decreased from 45 cases in 2005 to 31 cases in 2020. The year 2011 recorded the highest cases of alcohol-suspected road crashes. The years 2010, 2011, and 2012 recorded the highest number of driver's death while 2005, 2006, 2014, and 2019 recorded higher deaths for passengers. Cars and motorcycles are the most commonly involved vehicles in alcohol-suspected road crashes, while Quezon City (n=307) and Marikina City (n=267) are the common places of incidence for drunk-driving accidents. On the other hand, alcohol intoxication increases the risk of driver's death (OR=9.16; 95% CI [5.388-15.574]) and injury (OR=5.22; 95% CI [4.487-6.074]). While intoxicated, hitting an object (OR = 12.557; 95% CI [1.478-106.694]) and truck collisions (OR=7.176; 96% CI [1.261-40.817]) can increase the risk for driver's death. Meanwhile, side swipe (OR=2.330; 95% CI [1.029-5.277]) and angle impact (OR= 7.972; 95% CI [1.804-35.227]), increase the odds for driver injuries.

Conclusion. Suspected alcohol intoxication road crashes can be prevented; however, a collaborative effort is needed. The government is responsible for road safety education as well as effectively enforcing road safety-related laws, while the road users shall use the roadways responsibly.

Objective: To analyze the distribution characteristics of bacillary dysentery in Beijing during 2004-2015 and evaluate the influence of meteorological factors on the temporal and spatial distribution of bacillary dysentery. Methods: The incidence data of bacterial dysentery and meteorological data in Beijing from 2004 to 2015 were collected. Descriptive epidemiological analysis was conducted to study the distribution characteristics of bacterial dysentery. Linear correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were carried out to investigate the relationship between the incidence of bacillary dysentery and average precipitation, average air temperature, sunshine hours, average wind speed, average air pressure, gale and rain days. Results: A total of 280 704 cases of bacterial dysentery, including 36 deaths, were reported from 2004 to 2015 in Beijing, the average annual incidence was 130.15/100 000. The annual incidence peak was mainly between May and October, the cases occurred during this period accounted for 80.75% of the total, and the incidence was highest in age group 0 year. The population distribution showed that most cases were children outside child care settings and students, and the sex ratio of the cases was 1.22∶1. The reported incidence of bacillary dysentery was positively associated with average precipitation, average air temperature and rain days with the correlation coefficients of 0.931, 0.878 and 0.888, but it was negatively associated with the average pressure, the correlation coefficient was -0.820. Multiple linear regression equation for fitting analysis of bacillary dysentery and meteorological factors was Y=3.792+0.162X(1). Conclusion: The reported incidence of bacillary dysentery in Beijing was much higher than national level. The annual incidence peak was during July to August, and the average precipitation was an important meteorological factor influencing the incidence of bacillary dysentery.
Beijing/epidemiology* ; Child ; China/epidemiology* ; Dysentery, Bacillary/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Linear Models ; Meteorological Concepts ; Multivariate Analysis ; Regression Analysis ; Sex Ratio ; Temperature

This study evaluated, over a 4-month study period, the amount of apical root resorption occurring in maxillary central incisors following their retraction when employing either micro-implant or J-hook headgear anchorage. The prospective randomised clinical trial was conducted in Orthodontic Clinic, College of Stomatology, China from 2008-2009. Subjects are patients requiring fixed appliances on waiting list (n=20). In female Han Chinese patients aged from 16-26 years, standardized periapical radiographs from 10 randomly assigned patients with maxillary protrusions comprising the micro-implant group, and from 10 similar patients comprising the J-hook headgear group, were assessed for maxillary central incisor apical root resorption. Measurements before and after orthodontic therapy were also obtained from lateral cephalometric radiographs to calculate incisor horizontal retraction and vertical intrusion distances. Estimated retraction force vectors were calculated in horizontal and vertical directions for both treatment groups. Data analysis employed t-tests and the Pearson correlation test, with α=0.05 for statistical significance. The results showed that when compared with the J-hook group, significantly more apical root resorption shortening of the maxillary central incisors was observed in the micro-implant group (1.27 mm difference, 95% CI=0.70-1.84, P<0.001), which was associated with a significantly larger retraction distance (P=0.004) and a smaller vertical force component (P<0.0001). We are led to conclude that continuous activation of the nickel-titanium coil springs used in the micro-implant group resulted in significantly more apical root resorption shortening and maxillary central incisor retraction than when intermittent J-hook retraction was employed. The employment of continuous duration orthodontic forces presents a risk for increased apical root resorption that requires careful radiographic monitoring.

We retrospectively analyzed all patients presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding to Seremban Hospital over a one-year period. A quarter of the oesophagogastro-duodenoscopies (OGD) performed were performed as emergency for upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding. Gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers were the two most common findings. Our results suggest that there is a male preponderance of 2:1, the Chinese were more likely to be affected and the elderly (> 60 years) were at highest risk.
Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/ethnology ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/*etiology ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/therapy ; Malaysia ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors

Biosensors are analytical devices for biomolecule detection that compromise three essential components: recognition moiety, transducer, and signal processor. The sensor converts biomolecule recognition to detectable signals, which has been applied in diverse fields such as clinical monitoring, in vitro diagnostics, food industry etc. Based on signal transduction mechanisms, biosensors can be categorized into three major types: optical biosensors, electrochemical biosensors, and mass-based biosensors. Recently, the need for faster, more sensitive detection of biomolecules has compeled researchers to develop various sensing techniques. In this review, the basic structure and sensing principles of biosensors are introduced. Additionally, the review discusses multiple recent works about nucleic acid and exosome sensing.
Biosensing Techniques ; Exosomes ; Food Industry ; In Vitro Techniques ; Nucleic Acids ; Signal Transduction ; Transducers

Background: and Purpose Mental illness is disproportionately common in people with epilepsy (PWE). This systematic literature review identified original research articles that reported the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities based upon clinical assessments in a sample of PWE and assessed the clinical features of the populations found in studies included in our review of mental health comorbidity. Methods: The included articles were written in English and published from 2008 to 2018, and focused on adults aged ≥18 years who had psychiatric diagnoses determined in clinical assessments, such as those found in medical records, clinician psychiatric evaluations, structured diagnostic interviews, and mental health screening questionnaires specific for a psychiatric disorder. The primary outcome was the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities as a percentage of the total sample of PWE. Additional data included the overall sample size, mean age, epilepsy type, study design, and method of diagnosis. A modified Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of the studies. All 23 articles that were consistent with the inclusion criteria were related to observational studies. Results: Mood disorders and anxiety disorders were the most common psychiatric comorbidities, with prevalence rates of 35.0% and 25.6%, respectively. Major depressive disorder was the most common mood disorder, with a prevalence of 24.2%. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) had the highest reported prevalence among anxiety disorders, at 14.2%, followed by general anxiety disorder at 11.1%. Other comorbidities included psychosis (5.7%), obsessivecompulsive disorder (3.8%), schizophrenia (1.7%), bipolar disorder (6.2%), and substance abuse (7.9%). The pooled prevalence of suicidality, as reported for two studies, was 9.3%. Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) was associated with higher levels of psychiatric comorbidity. Two (8.7%) of the 23 studies compared psychiatric comorbidities in TLE with that of extratemporal lobe epilepsy (ETLE), and one of these two studies found that depression was more common in TLE (53.8%) than in ETLE (25%). Regarding seizure types, partial seizures were associated with a higher prevalence of depression vs generalized seizures. Conclusions This systematic literature review of recent original research found a relatively high prevalence of mental health comorbidities in PWE. Mood and anxiety disorders are the most common comorbidities, while psychotic spectrum conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are much rarer. The prevalence of comorbidity may vary with the epilepsy type and treatment responsiveness. These findings suggest that screening tools for depression and anxiety should be included as part of the training for epilepsy care, while resources for other relatively common conditions such as PTSD and substance abuse disorders should be readily available to neurology specialists who treat PWE.

Background: and Purpose Mental illness is disproportionately common in people with epilepsy (PWE). This systematic literature review identified original research articles that reported the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities based upon clinical assessments in a sample of PWE and assessed the clinical features of the populations found in studies included in our review of mental health comorbidity. Methods: The included articles were written in English and published from 2008 to 2018, and focused on adults aged ≥18 years who had psychiatric diagnoses determined in clinical assessments, such as those found in medical records, clinician psychiatric evaluations, structured diagnostic interviews, and mental health screening questionnaires specific for a psychiatric disorder. The primary outcome was the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities as a percentage of the total sample of PWE. Additional data included the overall sample size, mean age, epilepsy type, study design, and method of diagnosis. A modified Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of the studies. All 23 articles that were consistent with the inclusion criteria were related to observational studies. Results: Mood disorders and anxiety disorders were the most common psychiatric comorbidities, with prevalence rates of 35.0% and 25.6%, respectively. Major depressive disorder was the most common mood disorder, with a prevalence of 24.2%. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) had the highest reported prevalence among anxiety disorders, at 14.2%, followed by general anxiety disorder at 11.1%. Other comorbidities included psychosis (5.7%), obsessivecompulsive disorder (3.8%), schizophrenia (1.7%), bipolar disorder (6.2%), and substance abuse (7.9%). The pooled prevalence of suicidality, as reported for two studies, was 9.3%. Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) was associated with higher levels of psychiatric comorbidity. Two (8.7%) of the 23 studies compared psychiatric comorbidities in TLE with that of extratemporal lobe epilepsy (ETLE), and one of these two studies found that depression was more common in TLE (53.8%) than in ETLE (25%). Regarding seizure types, partial seizures were associated with a higher prevalence of depression vs generalized seizures. Conclusions This systematic literature review of recent original research found a relatively high prevalence of mental health comorbidities in PWE. Mood and anxiety disorders are the most common comorbidities, while psychotic spectrum conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are much rarer. The prevalence of comorbidity may vary with the epilepsy type and treatment responsiveness. These findings suggest that screening tools for depression and anxiety should be included as part of the training for epilepsy care, while resources for other relatively common conditions such as PTSD and substance abuse disorders should be readily available to neurology specialists who treat PWE.