Article Reviews Research Articles

Scanning the horizon- environmental health indicator surveillance

Abstract Aim This work aimed to conduct a comprehensive literature review with narrative synthesis of evidence in relation to the surveillance of environmental health indicators by Public Health agencies internationally. This will strengthen the All-Hazards approach to Health Protection in Ireland. Methods The project proposal was registered on PROSPERO. Preferred Reporting Systems for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. A systematic search was conducted across five databases. In addition, relevant websites, reference lists and the grey literature were searched. Data were extracted following TIDieR-PHP guidelines. Risk of bias was considered and quality appraisal was performed using SANRA and AGREE-HS tools. A narrative synthesis of the evidence was completed. Results 12 papers were included in the final review. Four were narrative review articles describing European and worldwide initiatives and the remaining eight described a single health system. Only three papers were deemed high quality. The number of indicators monitored varied widely from one in Italy to over 400 in the USA. The most established programmes described the use of a framework such as Drivers-Pressures-States-Exposures-Effects-Actions (DPSEEA) and indicator selection criteria were applied. The papers described a variety of public health actions arising from the surveillance of environmental health indicators. The knowledge provided by this review can inform the implementation process. Establishment of a project team, and beginning with monitoring one domain is suggested. Air quality is the most frequently monitored domain internationally. The DPSEEA framework is recommended, and Briggs’ indicator selection criteria should be applied to any indicator under consideration. The system should measure both hazard and outcome measures. Finally, meaningful public health action should result from the monitoring. Key messages • Environmental health indicator surveillance is essential to all-hazards health protection. • Few public health agencies internationally are systematically monitoring environmental health outcomes.

Perioperative Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) for Anaesthetists: Is It Time to Introduce Formal Training?

This article reviews point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in the perioperative period. Ultrasound-guided techniques for regional anaesthesia and vascular access have been well-established in anaesthesia for many years. However, integration of whole-body POCUS into UK anaesthetic practice remains limited. There is a growing body of evidence highlighting the benefits of POCUS throughout the perioperative period. Widespread use may help to improve patient care in anaesthesia.

QUALIDADE DE VIDA DE IDOSOS COM DOENÇAS CRÔNICAS

Introduction: The trend of an aging population has highlighted the increasing importance of understanding the quality of life of elderly individuals, especially those with chronic diseases. This quality of life extends far beyond the management of medical conditions and is essential for ensuring the well-being of the elderly and, consequently, their families. Objective: This review aims to explore the quality of life in elderly individuals and how chronic diseases impact it. Method: This work is an integrative bibliographic review that includes both original and review articles to select relevant information for the results of this research. Results: Chronic diseases necessitate greater medical attention, particularly when diagnosed in the elderly, as they not only affect the individual physically but also significantly impact their emotional well-being. Conclusion: To ensure the quality of life for the elderly, it is crucial to adopt healthy habits well before reaching old age, as well as to emphasize the importance of medical and psychological monitoring and family support during this life stage.

Assessing the Prospects and Risks of Delivering Sustainable Urban Development Through 3D Concrete Printing Implementation

The article presents the results of a comprehensive study of the use of 3D Concrete printing (3DCP) technology to create urban infrastructure facilities according to sustainable development principles. The work includes a study of scientific articles on the subject area under consideration, a survey of additive construction market participants, as well as an analysis and generalization of promising areas for technology development and methods for improving the quality of objects erected using 3DCP. As part of the conducted literature review, publications included in the Scopus database for the period 2015–2024 were selected for analysis using the keywords ‘Sustainable development + 3DCP’ and ‘Sustainable construction + 3DCP’. The following conclusions were made: (i) the most popular publications are review articles about the development of materials and technologies for 3DCP and (ii) the most sought-after are the studies in the field of partial application of 3DCP technology, existing equipment and materials for 3DCP, and assessment of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of 3DCP use. For this purpose, a questionnaire was developed consisting of three blocks: equipment and technologies; structures and materials for 3DCP; the ecology and economics of 3DCP applicability. As a result, four main risks have been identified, which represent promising areas for 3DCP development.

Integration Approaches in Forensic Portrait Examination

The article reviews some actual issues of the theory and practice of the production of forensic portrait examinations: the tight deadlines of the preliminary investigation, the increased time expenditures to produce forensic video examination, the need for an integrated approach to the training of forensic portrait experts. The author proposes to revise some approaches to the training of forensic experts in the field of forensic portrait examinations. Along with the possibility of a comprehensive forensic examination, taking into consideration current needs of practice, more attention needs to be paid to software application for processing photo and video images processing in order to improve visual perception of the information displayed and to study montage marks and their detectability. All this will contribute to the evolvement of a portrait examiner as a specialist of double competence.

Survey on haptic technologies for virtual reality applications during COVID-19

<p>This paper presents a comprehensive survey on the advancements and applications of haptic technologies, which are methods that facilitate the sense of touch and movement, in virtual reality (VR) during the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to identify and classify the various domains in which haptic technologies have been utilized or can be adapted to combat the unique challenges posed by the pandemic or public health emergencies in general. Existing reviews and surveys that concentrate on the applications of haptic technologies during the Covid-19 pandemic are often limited to specific domains; this survey strives to identify and consolidate all application domains discussed in the literature, including healthcare, medical training, education, social communication, and fashion and retail. Original research and review articles were collected from the Web of Science Core Collection as the main source, using a combination of keywords (like ‘haptic’, ‘haptics’, ‘touch interface’, ‘tactile’, ‘virtual reality’, ‘augmented reality’, 'Covid-19', and ‘pandemic’) and Boolean operators to refine the search and yield relevant results. The paper reviews various haptic devices and systems and discusses the technological advancements that have been made to offer more realistic and immersive VR experiences. It also addresses challenges in haptic technology in VR, including fidelity, ethical, and privacy considerations, and cost and accessibility issues.</p>

Cardiomyopathy: pathogenesis and therapeutic interventions.

Cardiomyopathy is a group of disease characterized by structural and functional damage to the myocardium. The etiologies of cardiomyopathies are diverse, spanning from genetic mutations impacting fundamental myocardial functions to systemic disorders that result in widespread cardiac damage. Many specific gene mutations cause primary cardiomyopathy. Environmental factors and metabolic disorders may also lead to the occurrence of cardiomyopathy. This review provides an in-depth analysis of the current understanding of the pathogenesis of various cardiomyopathies, highlighting the molecular and cellular mechanisms that contribute to their development and progression. The current therapeutic interventions for cardiomyopathies range from pharmacological interventions to mechanical support and heart transplantation. Gene therapy and cell therapy, propelled by ongoing advancements in overarching strategies and methodologies, has also emerged as a pivotal clinical intervention for a variety of diseases. The increasing number of causal gene of cardiomyopathies have been identified in recent studies. Therefore, gene therapy targeting causal genes holds promise in offering therapeutic advantages to individuals diagnosed with cardiomyopathies. Acting as a more precise approach to gene therapy, they are gradually emerging as a substitute for traditional gene therapy. This article reviews pathogenesis and therapeutic interventions for different cardiomyopathies.

CHALLENGES TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IN THE CONTEXT OF INTERNAL MIGRATION IN UKRAINE

The article addresses the challenges faced by public administration in managing internal migration in Ukraine, driven by large-scale population movements due to the Russian-Ukrainian war, and the necessity of maintaining the stability of state institutions amidst social, economic, and demographic shifts. The purpose of the article is to identify the primary challenges confronting public administration in the context of internal migration and propose strategies to address them. To achieve this, the study employs an integrated approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The article identifies the causes of internal migration and the key factors contributing to internal displacement: armed conflict, economic hardships, and social and environmental issues. It analyzes the main challenges to public administration in this context, including organizational difficulties, coordination problems between different levels of government, a lack of resources for effectively managing migration processes, and socio-economic challenges. It is demonstrated that there is insufficient infrastructure to provide housing, employment, and social services for internally displaced persons (IDPs), along with inadequate funding for support programs, and difficulties in integrating IDPs into new communities and fostering interaction with the local population. The article reviews state policy on internal migration, evaluates existing programs and strategies, assesses the effectiveness of current state initiatives, and highlights the barriers to implementing effective IDP policies, such as underfunding and lack of coordination. The author proposes solutions to enhance coordination and management, develop a unified migration management system, engage local communities in addressing IDP issues, increase funding and resources, expand state support programs, attract international assistance to tackle internal migration challenges, and implement legal reforms. Recommendations for improving migration management are also provided to overcome these challenges.

A Systematic Review of Literature on Student Voice and Agency in Middle Grade Contexts

This systematic review analyzes the research literature on student voice and agency in the middle grades, focusing on middle-level schools, culture, and learning environments. The idea of student voice and agency was taken up as collaborative decision-making and/or student feedback on issues related to school and pedagogy. After a comprehensive search for peer-reviewed research (2015–2024), an article review framework was developed to determine how, where, and why student voices and agency were engaged in the middle grades. Three themes characterized the research literature: (1) passive student voice and agency: researcher-driven studies to gain understanding; (2) active student voice and agency: partnering with students to improve their learning experiences; and (3) activating the inner voice and agency: helping students to reflect on their own learning. The research on student voice and agency provided information that directly and indirectly benefited students. The literature related to passive student voice and agency tended to be indirect, while active student voice and agency and activating students’ inner voice and agency tended to provide tangible and observable student benefits. While the studies were responsive to different aspects of young adolescent development and included foci on students’ social/emotional development and identity, other areas were lacking—including culturally responsive teaching, international perspectives, and sense of self/peer perceptions.

Metformin: Diverse molecular mechanisms, gastrointestinal effects and overcoming intolerance in type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A review.

Metformin, the first line treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, has alternative novel roles, including cancer and diabetes prevention. This narrative review aims to explore its diverse mechanisms, effects and intolerance, using sources obtained by searching Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science databases, and following Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles reporting guidelines. Metformin exerts it actions through duration influenced, and organ specific, diverse mechanisms. Its use is associated with inhibition of hepatic gluconeogenesis targeted by mitochondria and lysosomes, reduction of cholesterol levels involving brown adipose tissue, weight reduction influenced by growth differentiation factor 15 and novel commensal bacteria, in addition to counteraction of meta-inflammation alongside immuno-modulation. Interactions with the gastrointestinal tract include alteration of gut microbiota, enhancement of glucose uptake and glucagon like peptide 1 and reduction of bile acid absorption. Though beneficial, they may be linked to intolerance. Metformin related gastrointestinal adverse effects are associated with dose escalation, immediate release formulations, gut microbiota alteration, epigenetic predisposition, inhibition of organic cation transporters in addition to interactions with serotonin, histamine and the enterohepatic circulation. Potentially effective measures to overcome intolerance encompasses carefully objective targeted dose escalation, prescription of fixed dose combination, microbiome modulators and prebiotics, in addition to use of extended release formulations.

Internal evaluation of medical programs is more than housework: A scoping review.

The aim of this scoping review was to explore current program evaluation practices across various medical schools. We conducted searches in MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Elsevier) and ERIC (ed.gov) for original research and review articles related to medical education evaluation with key words evaluation, program, medical education, pre-registration, framework, curriculum, outcomes, evaluation, quality. We followed Arksey and O'Malley's (2005) process for scoping reviews. Thirty-two articles were included. Studies were primarily concerned with either proving (n = 21) or improving efficacy of their programs (n = 11). No studies aimed at comparing programs. Nine were literature reviews. Others aimed to develop a new evaluation model (n = 7) or apply (n = 12) or validate (n = 4) an existing model (or part thereof). Twenty-two studies explicitly identified an evaluation model they had used or would recommend. Most frequently used models for evaluation were: Context-Input-Process-Product, Kirkpatrick, World Federation Medical Education, and the Standards by Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation. Overall, evaluations were learner-focused and accreditation driven with a minority considering the broader influences of program success. Program evaluation is fundamental to driving the quality of education delivered to produce workforce-ready healthcare professionals. The focus of current evaluations is on student experience and content delivery with a significant gap in the existing literature on evaluation related to staff, learner/staff well-being, equity, diversity, and meta evaluation.

Public Health Interventions Targeting the Prevention of Adolescent Vaping: A Scoping Review.

Despite a brief decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, vaping behaviors among adolescents continue to be an international public health concern because of associated health risks and harms. A thorough investigation of existing interventions preventing adolescent vaping is needed to help address this public health crisis and reduce serious and avoidable vaping-related health risks. We reviewed the literature to identify public health interventions aimed at preventing adolescent vaping and summarized their key components and outcome measures. We conducted a scoping review of the literature using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology searching in MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO, ProQuest, and Web of Science. Two reviewers screened 589 records for relevance. Studies from any location, reported in English, and described vaping prevention interventions targeting adolescents were included. Records were excluded if they were reported in other languages, published outside the review timeframe, lacked an evaluation, focused on cessation-based interventions, or were review articles. Data extracted included intervention type, key components, and outcome measures. Thirty-eight included articles were identified and categorized into three intervention categories: school-based, public education/risk communication campaigns, and public policies/government regulations. Key components of the interventions included format, duration, and topics. Formats varied from single to multi-sessions. Prominent topics covered included risks and harms associated with vaping, and the most frequently reported outcome measures used were knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs. Our findings summarize existing public health interventions found in the literature and insights into approaches used to address the global adolescent vaping crisis.

Exploring the "led" in health professional student-led experiences: a scoping review.

To support a complex health system, students are expected to be competent leaders as well as competent clinicians. Intentional student leadership development is needed in health professional education programs. Student-led experiences such as student-run clinics and interprofessional training wards, are practice-based learning opportunities where learners provide leadership to clinical services and/or address a gap in the system. Given the absence of leadership definitions and concepts, this scoping review explored how student leadership is conceptualized and developed in student-led experiences. The review was conducted in accordance with best practices in scoping review methodology within the scope of relevant practice-based student-led experiences for health professional students. The research team screened 4659 abstracts, identified 315 articles for full-text review and selected 75 articles for data extraction and analysis. A thematic analysis produced themes related to leadership concepts/theories/models, objectives, facilitation/supervision, assessment and evaluation of curriculum. While responding to system gaps within health professional care, student-led experiences need to align explicit leadership theory/concepts/models with curricular objectives, pedagogy, and assessments to support health professional education. To support future student-led experiences, authors mapped five leadership student role profiles that were associated with student-led models and could be constructively aligned with theory and concepts. In addition to leveraging a student workforce to address system needs, student-led experiences must also be a force for learning through a reciprocal model of leadership and service to develop future health professionals and leaders.

Impact of Antiphospholipid Syndrome on Reproductive Outcomes: Current Insights and Management Approaches.

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a disease characterized by the presence of antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies, thrombosis, and obstetric complications. While patients with APS can have successful pregnancies, many important considerations exist. APS can also cooccur with other systemic autoimmune diseases which can affect pregnancy, particularly systemic lupus erythematosus. This article reviews specific considerations for pregnancy and reproductive health in patients with APS. Similar to other autoimmune diseases, stable or quiescent disease and planning with a rheumatologist and obstetrician prior to conception are vital components of a successful pregnancy. Pregnancy management for patients with aPL antibodies or diagnosis of APS with aspirin and/or anticoagulation depending on disease profile is discussed, as well as the effects of physiologic changes during pregnancy in maternal and fetal outcomes for this population. Given the reproductive span lasts beyond conception through delivery, we include discussions on safe contraception options, the use of assistive reproductive technology, pregnancy termination, menopause, and male fertility. While APS is a relatively rare condition, the effects this disease can have on maternal and fetal outcomes even with available therapies demonstrates the need for more high-quality, evidence-based research.

Modulation of Charge Transport Layer for Perovskite Light-Emitting Diodes.

Perovskite light-emitting diodes (Pero-LEDs) have garnered significant attention due to their exceptional emission characteristics, including narrow full width at half maximum, high color purity, and tunable emission colors. Recent efficiency and operational stability advancements have positioned Pero-LEDs as a promising next-generation display technology. Extensive research and review articles on the compositional engineering and defect passivation of perovskite layers have substantially contributed to the development of multi-color and high-efficiency Pero-LEDs. However, the crucial aspect of charge transport layer (CTL) modulation in Pero-LEDs remains relatively underexplored. CTL modulation not only impacts the charge carrier transport efficiency and injection balance but also plays a critical role in passivating the perovskite surface, blocking ion migration, enhancing perovskite crystallinity, and improving light extraction efficiency. Therefore, optimizing CTLs is pivotal for further enhancing Pero-LED performance. Herein, this review discusses the roles of CTLs in Pero-LEDs and categorizes both reported and potential CTL materials. Then, various CTL optimization strategies are presented, alongside an analysis of the selection criteria for CTLs in high-performance Pero-LEDs. Finally, a summary and outlook on the potential of CTL modulation to further advance Pero-LED performances are provided.

Sarcopenia screening based on the assessment of gait with inertial measurement units: a systematic review

BackgroundGait variables assessed by inertial measurement units (IMUs) show promise as screening tools for aging-related diseases like sarcopenia. The main aims of this systematic review were to analyze and synthesize the scientific evidence for screening sarcopenia based on gait variables assessed by IMUs, and also to review articles that investigated which gait variables assessed by IMUs were related to sarcopenia.MethodsSix electronic databases (PubMed, SportDiscus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus and IEEE Xplore) were searched for journal articles related to gait, IMUs and sarcopenia. The search was conducted until December 5, 2023. Titles, abstracts and full-length texts for studies were screened to be included.ResultsA total of seven articles were finally included in this review. Despite some methodological variability among the included studies, IMUs demonstrated potential as effective tools for detecting sarcopenia when coupled with artificial intelligence (AI) models, which outperformed traditional statistical methods in classification accuracy. The findings suggest that gait variables related to the stance phase such as stance duration, double support time, and variations between feet, are key indicators of sarcopenia.ConclusionsIMUs could be useful tools for sarcopenia screening based on gait analysis, specifically when artificial intelligence is used to process the recorded data. However, more development and research in this field is needed to provide an effective screening tool for doctors and health systems.

Augmented Reality Marketing: Breakthroughs and Opportunities

The impact of augmented reality (AR) technology on consumer behavior has increasingly attracted academic attention. While early research has provided valuable insights, many challenges remain. This article reviews recent studies, analyzing AR’s technical features, marketing concepts, and action mechanisms from a consumer perspective. By refining existing frameworks and introducing a new model based on situation awareness theory, the paper offers a deeper exploration of AR marketing. Finally, it proposes directions for future research in this emerging field.

The impacts of climate change on violent conflict risk: a review of causal pathways

Abstract The potential impacts of climate change on violent conflict are high on the agenda of scholars and policy makers. This article reviews existing literature to clarify the relationship between climate change and conflict risk, focusing on the roles of temperature and precipitation. While some debate remains, substantial evidence shows that climate change increases conflict risk under specific conditions. We examine four key pathways through which climate affects conflict: (i) economic shocks, (ii), agricultural decline, (iii) natural resources competition, and (iv) migration. Key gaps include limited long-term data, insufficient integrated studies, and the inadequate understanding of causal mechanisms, necessitating transdisciplinary research that addresses social vulnerability and underlying pathways

Awareness of the Link Between Human Papilloma Virus Infection and Head and Neck Cancer Among the General Population and Practitioners: A Literature Review

Background: Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection is responsible for 4.5% of cancers worldwide, i.e., for around 630,000 new cases per year. Around 38,000 cases per year of HPV-related cancers arise in the head and neck region, of which 21,000 cases are oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs), with an increasing frequency in high-income countries. In our work, we aimed to collect the available evidence about the awareness of the relation between HPV infection and head and neck cancer among patients and practitioners. Methods: This review was based on all available prospective and retrospective studies, case reports, and review articles published up to May 2024 in PubMed. The search keywords used included “human papilloma virus” plus “head and neck cancer”, “awareness”, “infection”, “vaccination”, “awareness in patients and practitioners”, “oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma”, “HPV16-18”, “HPV awareness”, “cervical cancer”. Results: In the U.S.A., with more than 150.00 participants interviewed through different studies, the identification of HPV infection as a risk factor for head and neck cancer (HNC) was made by only 12–39% of the participants. Similar conclusions were drawn from European studies in which only 10–52% of the participants recognized HPV as a risk factor for HNC. HPV-related HNC awareness in health care providers and medical/dental students showed a high variability among studies, being otolaryngology and dental sciences specialists the most conscious in comparison to general practitioners, who demonstrated a low level of awareness. Conclusions: There is a dangerous lack of awareness about HPV infection and its potential role in HNC among both general populations and health care practitioners. A great effort should be made to increase awareness in both practitioners and the general population on this topic, also aiming to increase the HPV vaccination coverage.

Emergency Preparedness for Waterborne Diseases in the Wake of Floods in Northern Cameroon: A Call for Immediate Action

Severe flooding in Northern Regions of Cameroon (Far North, North and Adamawa Regions), triggered by torrential rains, has led to widespread displacement, destruction of infrastructure, and significant disruptions in essential services, particularly water, sanitation, and healthcare. This article, issued by public health researchers from Science For Life Foundation and Pinnacle University Institute, highlights the heightened risk of waterborne diseases following the recent floods and underscores the urgent need for enhanced emergency preparedness and response measures. Floods create conditions conducive to the spread of diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery, and viral hepatitis by contaminating drinking water supplies with sewage and waste. Vulnerable populations, including children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions, are at increased risk. Overcrowding in temporary shelters further exacerbates the potential for disease outbreaks. The impact of climate change is intensifying the frequency and severity of such flooding events, making timely and effective intervention critical. This article reviews best practices for preventing and mitigating waterborne disease outbreaks, offering guidance to government authorities, health agencies, humanitarian organizations, and local communities. It aims to catalyze immediate action to safeguard public health and prevent a major crisis in the aftermath of the flooding Keywords: Waterborne Diseases, Flooding, Emergency Preparedness.