Diseases Of Circulatory System Research Articles

Assessing Heatwave-Related Deaths among Older Adults by Diagnosis and Urban/Rural Areas from 1999 to 2020 in Slovenia

Background: The association between mortality and heatwaves is well documented. Heatwaves frequency, intensity, and duration increase with global climate change. The most vulnerable group for dying during heatwaves is older people. Knowing which diseases contribute to a higher number of deaths during heatwaves is important for planning appropriate public health preventive measures. Methods: We assessed the short-term association between the number of deaths for older adults (75+ years) and heatwaves in the years 1999 to 2020 in Slovenia. We estimated the relative risks (RR) with a 95% confidence interval for the number of deaths for the observed diagnosis (all causes, circulatory, respiratory) and urban vs. rural areas associated with heatwaves in Slovenia for each year, comparing the number of deaths during heatwaves with reference days. Results: Most years showed no significant increase in deaths during heatwaves for those aged 75 and older. However, in 2006, 2007, 2014, and 2015, there was a significant increase in deaths during heatwaves. For the general population, heatwaves were associated with an increase in deaths due to all causes: 10% more in 2006 and 26% more in both 2007 and 2014. For those aged 75 and older, heatwaves were associated with an increase in deaths due to all causes: 22% more in 2007, 27% more in 2014, and 28% more in 2015. For those aged 75 and older, heatwaves were associated with an increase in deaths due to circulatory system diseases: 25% more in 2006, 33% more in 2007, 30% more in 2014, and 27% more in 2015. Regarding urban vs. rural areas, in 2006 and 2012, the elderly in urban areas were more affected, with 33% and 26% more deaths, respectively. In contrast, in 2007, 2014, and 2015, old age population in rural areas was more affected, with 29%, 26%, and 31% more deaths, respectively. Conclusions: According to the literature data, older adults are most susceptible to the effects of extreme heat due to physiological changes that occur with aging, chronic diseases, certain medications, a sedentary lifestyle, and social isolation. The results of our study will help in planning appropriate preventive public health measures to better protect older adults during the next heatwaves in Slovenia.

Epidemiology and SARIMA model of deaths in a tertiary comprehensive hospital in Hangzhou from 2015 to 2022

BackgroundBy analysing the deaths of inpatients in a tertiary hospital in Hangzhou, this study aimed to understand the epidemiological distribution characteristics and the composition of the causes of death. Additionally, this study aimed to predict the changing trend in the number of deaths, providing valuable insights for hospitals to formulate relevant strategies and measures aimed at reducing mortality rates.MethodsIn this study, data on inpatient mortality at a tertiary hospital in Hangzhou from 2015 to 2022 were obtained via the population information registration system of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The death data of inpatients were described and analysed through a retrospective study. Excel 2016 was utilized for data sorting, and SPSS 22.0 software was employed for data analysis. The statistical inference of single factor differences was conducted via χ2 tests. The SARIMA model was established via the forecast, aTSA, and tseries software packages (version 4.3.0) to forecast future changes in the number of deaths.ResultsA total of 1938 inpatients died at the tertiary hospital in Hangzhou, with the greatest number of deaths occurring in 2022 (262, 13.52%). The sex ratio was 2.22:1, and there were significant differences between sexes in terms of age, marital status, educational level, and place of residence (P < 0.05). The percentage of males in the groups aged of 20 to 29 and 30 to 39 years was significantly greater than that of females (χ2 = 46.905, P < 0.001). More females than males died in the widowed group, and divorced and married males experienced a greater number of deaths than divorced and married females did (χ2 = 61.130, P < 0.001). The proportions of male students with a junior college and senior high school education were significantly greater than that of female students (χ2 = 12.310, P < 0.05). The primary causes of mortality within the hospital setting included circulatory system diseases, injury, poisoning, tumours, and respiratory system diseases. These leading factors accounted for 86.12% of all recorded deaths. Finally, the SARIMA (2, 1, 1) (1, 1, 1)12 model was determined to be the optimal model, with an AIC of 380.23, a BIC of 392.79, and an AICc of 381.81. The MAPE was 14.99%, indicating a satisfactory overall fit of this model. The relative error between the predicted and actual number of deaths in 2022 was 8.02%. Therefore, the SARIMA (2, 1, 1) (1, 1, 1)12 model demonstrates good predictive performance.ConclusionsHospitals should enhance the management of sudden cardiac death, acute myocardial infarction, severe craniocerebral injury, lung cancer, and lung infection to reduce the mortality rate. The SARIMA model can be employed for predicting the number of deaths.

Lifestyle Habits and Risk of Cardiovascular Mortality in Menopausal Women with Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Current cardiovascular prevention guidelines emphasise considering sex, gender, and gender identity in risk assessment. This study evaluated the impact of lifestyle habits and chronic diseases on cardiovascular mortality risk in women over 50 with high vascular risk and developed a predictive model for menopausal women with cardiovascular risk factors. A retrospective cohort study used data from the 2011 Spanish National Health Survey and the national death register, focusing on menopausal and postmenopausal women without prior cardiovascular events but with at least one major risk factor. Participants were followed for up to 10 years, assessing mortality from circulatory system diseases and other causes. Exposure variables included socio-demographics, lifestyle habits, health status, self-perceived health, health service use, and pharmacological treatments. Of the 21,007 respondents, 3057 women met the inclusion criteria. The 10-year cumulative incidence of mortality from circulatory causes was 5.9%, and from other causes, 12.7%. Independent predictors of cardiovascular mortality were never consuming legumes, poor self-perceived health, diabetes treatment, lack of physical activity, and older age. Lipid-lowering treatment was protective. The model demonstrated good fit and predictive capacity (C-index = 0.773). This study highlights the significant influence of physical activity, legume consumption, self-perceived health, and specific treatments on cardiovascular mortality risk in menopausal women.

Environmental factors affecting the mortality of population in Odesa Region

The presented research covers a significant part of the period of the COVID-19 pandemic and studies the role of environmental factors in formation of population mortality from main causes. The main causes of mortality among the population of Odesa Region during the studied period include diseases of circulatory system, COVID-19, neoplasms, external causes, diseases of digestive organs and diseases of respiratory organs. The aforesaid causes constitute 94-95% of all causes of mortality in Odesa Region. However, out of these six classes of diseases, only diseases of circulatory system, COVID-19 and diseases of respiratory organs and some of their nosological forms have simultaneous peaks in mortality, during which mortality of the Odesa Region population from all causes almost doubles. Over time, there is a certain redistribution of frequency of the causes of mortality among the six main causing diseases of the population`s mortality in the region. But this does not explain occurrence of simultaneous peaks in mortality from diseases of circulatory system, COVID-19, and diseases of respiratory organs. Formation of simultaneous peaks in mortality from non-infectious and infectious diseases cannot be explained by the influence of social or anthropogenic factors. This indicates the need to address a number of environmental factors of natural origin – meteorological, biometeorological and heliocosmic. The study shows the possibility of an existing linear statistical connection between these environmental factors and the mortality of the Odesa Region population from such classes of diseases as diseases of circulatory system, COVID-19 and diseases of respiratory organs, as well as the relevant nosological forms. The results of the correlation analysis between mortality rates from major diseases and the environmental factors studied showed weak correlations between them. It is fully consistent with the World Health Organization's view of the role of environmental conditions in shaping public health.

Blood pressure variability in elderly and senior hypertensive patients

Background. In recent years the deterioration of the demographic situation has been noted in most countries of the world that is due to the steady increase in population of arterial hypertension and the aging of the population. According to the statistical forecast of the UN by 2025, the number of people over 60 will exceed 1 billion which is 15% of the entire global population. In Ukraine, according to epidemiological studies, the prevalence of hypertension among circulatory system diseases in adults (18 years and older) is 46.8% and almost half of patients with circulatory system diseases have elevated blood pressure. In patients aged 65 years and older, the prevalence of hypertension varies in the range of 53-72%. It has long been proven that the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications in hypertensive patients depends not only on the absolute blood pressure level but also on fluctuations in blood pressure over different periods that is blood pressure variability. Blood pressure is not a static parameter but rather undergoes continuous fluctuations over time due to the interaction between environmental factors and behaviour on the one hand and the internal regulatory mechanisms of the cardiovascular system on the other hand. Elevated blood pressure may indicate cardiovascular dysregulation and itself may be a cardiovascular risk factor associated with increased all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality, stroke, coronary artery disease, heart failure, end-stage renal disease and incidence of dementia. Aim. The study aimed to improve the system of prevention and diagnosis of elderly and senior hypertensive patients at the ambulatory-polyclinic stage due to the study of the contribution of blood pressure variability. Materials and methods. The group of examinees was formed taking into account 27 elderly and senile hypertensive patients including those combined with coronary artery disease. For this purpose, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was used. Results. Systolic blood pressure variability (SD) in hypertensive patients was higher than in the control group (p&lt;0.001). So, during the study, SD was 17.9±7.1 mm Hg. while in the control group 12.1±2.6 mm Hg. The frequency of high blood pressure variability detection in elderly and senile hypertensive patients was 51.9% (n=14). High blood pressure variability compared to low blood pressure variability and control was associated with a more pronounced systolic blood pressure variability (during the active monitoring period), and it was equalled 23.7±5.2 mm Hg compared to 14.8±6.5 mm Hg (p&lt;0.001) and 12.1±2.6 mm Hg. (p&lt;0.001). In elderly and senile hypertensive patients with high and low blood pressure variability, the non-dipper group prevailed over the dipper group in the structure of daily blood pressure rhythm (71.4% vs. 28.6% and 84.6% vs. 15.4% respectively). According to the ambulatory blood pressure monitoring data high blood pressure variability group compared to low blood pressure variability and controls was characterised by higher average values of the number of blood pressure indicators. In the group of high blood pressure variability patients, the average daily systolic blood pressure exceeded the control value by 10% (р&lt;0.05). The daily index of systolic blood pressure in the group of high blood pressure variability patients was 111% higher than in patients with low blood pressure variability (p&lt;0.05). The daily index of diastolic blood pressure in the group of high blood pressure variability patients was 140% higher than in patients with low blood pressure variability (p&lt;0.05). The daily index of average blood pressure in the group of high blood pressure variability patients was 191% higher than in patients with low blood pressure variability (p&lt;0.01). Conclusions. 1. High blood pressure variability has occurred in 16 out of 27 (51.9%) hypertensive elderly and senile patients. 2. The non-dipper group has predominated in the structure of blood pressure diurnal rhythm in elderly and senile hypertensive patients with high and low blood pressure variability patients. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Keywords: arterial hypertension; essential hypertension; blood pressure variability; high blood pressure variability; low blood pressure variability; elderly and senile hypertensive patients

Metformin and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway: implications for cancer, cardiovascular, and central nervous system diseases.

Recent findings have brought our understanding of diseases at the molecular level, highlighting upstream intracellular pathways as potential therapeutic targets. The PI3K/AKT pathway, a key regulator of cellular responses to environmental changes, is frequently altered in various diseases, making it a promising target for intervention. Metformin is the most known anti-diabetic agent that is known due to its effects on cancer, inflammatory-related diseases, oxidative stress, and other human diseases. It is clearly understood that metformin modulates the activity of the PI3K/AKT pathway leading to a wide variety of outcomes. This interaction has been well-studied in various diseases. Therefore, this review aims to examine PI3K/AKT-modulating properties of metformin in cancer, cardiovascular, and central nervous system diseases. Our findings indicate that metformin is effective in treating cancer and CNS diseases, and plays a role in both the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. These insights support the potential of metformin in comprehensive strategies for disease management.

Assessment of Radiation Risks of Mortality from Circulatory System Diseases in the Cohort of Liquidators of the Consequences of the Accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Considering the Influence of Other Diseases Identified During the Observation Period

Assessment of Radiation Risks of Mortality from Circulatory System Diseases in the Cohort of Liquidators of the Consequences of the Accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Considering the Influence of Other Diseases Identified During the Observation Period

MEDICAL-SOCIAL SUBSTANTIATION OF THE DIRECTIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONCEPTUAL MODEL OF THE REGIONAL CENTRE OF CARDIOLOGY ON THE PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (on the example of Kyiv region)

Introduction. The transformation of our country's healthcare system is impossible without quality medical reform. One of the reform's starting directions is improving the provision of cardiac care to the population. Aim. Medical and social substantiation of directions for developing a conceptual model of a regional cardiology centre based on the principles of public-private partnership (on the example of the Kyiv region). Materials and methods. Data from state and industry statistical reports of healthcare institutions of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and data from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, as well as materials from a sociological survey of cardiologists and patients and a survey of 31 experts (highly qualified health care organizers) conducted according to specially developed programs) were the materials in this study. The research used complex methods: systematic approach and analysis, synthesis, generalization, interpretation, medical-statistical and sociological method, expert assessment and conceptual modelling method. Results. Stable high levels of circulatory system disease prevalence among the adult population of the Kyiv region and differences depending on different age groups, increase in the mortality rate due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in the studied time intervals and the mortality rate of cardiac patients were established. At the same time, there was a decrease in the level of hospitalization of patients along with a decrease in the average number of beds for the treatment of cardiology patients; there were no significant changes in the staffing indicators of health centres of the Kyiv region, which provide cardiac medical care to patients with CVD in 2018-2022. However, there was an increase in the number of cardiovascular surgeon positions for the adult population of the Kyiv region in 2020 by 12.9%, and then a decrease of 7.01% in 2021. The insufficient resource provision of healthcare facilities in which cardiac medical care is provided as evidenced by a significant decrease in the coverage of echocardiography in the study, despite the reform of the network of healthcare facilities in the region. The results of the survey of patients and cardiology specialists revealed significant levels of dissatisfaction with the possibilities of providing and receiving quality cardiology care. Conclusions. A range of problems in the field of providing high-quality cardiac care to the population was determined on the example of the Kyiv region, and a strategy with phased and complex steps to solve the most acute problematic issues was proposed with the proposed project of the Strategic Plan for the development of the regional system of cardiac care for the population of the region for the period 2024-2029.

Beneficial Consequences of One-Month Oral Treatment with Cannabis Oil on Cardiac Hypertrophy and the Mitochondrial Pool in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

Introduction: It has been demonstrated the dysregulation of the cardiac endocannabinoid system in cardiovascular diseases. Thus, the modulation of this system through the administration of phytocannabinoids present in medicinal cannabis oil (CO) emerges as a promising therapeutic approach. Furthermore, phytocannabinoids exhibit potent antioxidant properties, making them highly desirable in the treatment of cardiac pathologies, such as hypertension-induced cardiac hypertrophy (CH). Objective: To evaluate the effect of CO treatment on hypertrophy and mitochondrial status in spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) hearts. Methods: Three-month-old male SHR were randomly assigned to CO or olive oil (vehicle) oral treatment for 1 month. We evaluated cardiac mass and histology, mitochondrial dynamics, membrane potential, area and density, myocardial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and citrate synthase (CS) activity and expression. Data are presented as mean ± SEM (n) and compared by t-test, or two-way ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc test were used as appropriate. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: CH was reduced by CO treatment, as indicated by the left ventricular weight/tibia length ratio, left ventricular mass index, myocyte cross-sectional area, and left ventricle collagen volume fraction. The ejection fraction was preserved in the CO-treated group despite the persistence of elevated systolic blood pressure and the reduction in CH. Mitochondrial membrane potential was improved and mitochondrial biogenesis, dynamics, area, and density were all increased by treatment. Moreover, the activity and expression of the CS were enhanced by treatment, whereas ROS production was decreased and the antioxidant activity of SOD increased by CO administration. Conclusion: Based on the mentioned results, we propose that 1-month oral treatment with CO is effective to reduce hypertrophy, improve the mitochondrial pool and increase the antioxidant capacity in SHR hearts.

Relationship between short-term ozone exposure, cause-specific mortality, and high-risk populations: A nationwide, time-stratified, case-crossover study

BackgroundPrevious studies reported that short-term exposure to ground-level ozone is associated with mortality risk. However, due to the limited monitored areas, existing studies were limited in assessing the nationwide risk and suggesting specific vulnerable populations to the ozone-mortality risk. MethodsWe performed a nationwide time-stratified case-crossover study to evaluate the association between short-term ozone and cause-specific mortality in South Korea (2015–2019). A machine learning-ensemble prediction model (a test R2 > 0.96) was used to assess the short-term ozone exposure. Stratification analysis was conducted to examine the high-risk populations, and the excess mortality due to non-compliance with the WHO guideline was also assessed. ResultsFor all-cause mortality (1,343,077 cases), the risk associated with ozone (lag0– 1) was weakly identified (odd ratio: 1.005 with 95% CI: 0.997–1.014), and the risk was prominent in mortality with circulatory system diseases. In addition, based on the point estimates, the ozone-mortality risk was higher in people aged less than 65y, and this pattern was also observed in circulatory system disease deaths and urban areas. ConclusionsThis study provides national estimates of mortality risks associated with short-term ozone. Results showed that the benefits of stricter air quality standards could be greater in vulnerable populations.

Mechanisms of Abnormal Lipid Metabolism in the Pathogenesis of Disease.

Lipid metabolism is a critical component in preserving homeostasis and health, and lipids are significant chemicals involved in energy metabolism in living things. With the growing interest in lipid metabolism in recent years, an increasing number of studies have demonstrated the close relationship between abnormalities in lipid metabolism and the development of numerous human diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular, neurological, and endocrine system diseases. Thus, understanding how aberrant lipid metabolism contributes to the development of related diseases and how it works offers a theoretical foundation for treating and preventing related human diseases as well as new avenues for the targeted treatment of related diseases. Therefore, we discuss the processes of aberrant lipid metabolism in various human diseases in this review, including diseases of the cardiovascular system, neurodegenerative diseases, endocrine system diseases (such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus), and other diseases including cancer.

Novel Genes Associated With Atrial Fibrillation and the Predictive Models for AF Incorporating Polygenic Risk Score and PheWAS-Derived Risk Factors

BackgroundAtrial fibrillation (AF), the most common atrial arrhythmia, presents with varied clinical manifestations. Despite the identification of genetic loci associated with AF, particularly in specific populations, research within Asian ethnicities remains limited. In this study we aimed to develop predictive models for AF using AF-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on a substantial cohort of Taiwanese individuals, to evaluate the predictive efficacy of the model. MethodsThere were 75,121 subjects, that included 5694 AF patients and 69,427 normal control subjects with GWAS data, and we merged polygenic risk scores from AF-associated SNPs with phenome-wide association study-derived risk factors. Advanced statistical and machine learning techniques were used to develop and evaluate AF predictive models for discrimination and calibration. ResultsThe study identified the top 30 significant SNPs associated with AF, predominantly on chromosomes 10 and 16, implicating genes like NEURL1, SH3PXD2A, INA, NT5C2, STN1, and ZFHX3. Notably, INA, NT5C2, and STN1 were newly linked to AF. The GWAS predictive power using polygenic risk score-continuous shrinkage analysis for AF exhibited an area under the curve of 0.600 (P < 0.001), which improved to 0.855 (P < 0.001) after adjusting for age and sex. Phenome-wide association study analysis showed the top 10 diseases associated with these genes were circulatory system diseases. ConclusionsIntegrating genetic and phenotypic data enhanced the accuracy and clinical relevance of AF predictive models. The findings suggest promise for refining AF risk assessment, enabling personalized interventions, and reducing AF-related morbidity and mortality burdens.

Traditional Use, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Applications of Persicae Semen: A Review.

Persicae Semen (Taoren), the seed of mature peaches consumed as both food and medicine, is native to the temperate regions of China, distributed in the provinces of North and East China, and currently cultivated worldwide. The primary components of Persicae Semen include volatile oil, protein, amino acids, amygdalin, and prunasin, all of which have pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune regulatory effects, and are clinically used in the treatment of gynecological, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, orthopedic, and digestive system diseases. This review provides a comprehensive perspective on the resource status, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology, as well as the trend of Persicae Semen patent, global distribution, and clinical applications. This review will help facilitate the development and utilization of Persicae Semen in clinical settings.

Hospitalization among adults with chronic kidney disease: results from the KoreaN cohort study for Outcomes in patients With Chronic Kidney Disease (KNOW-CKD) study.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are hospitalized for various conditions. Hospitalization increases the readmission rate and mortality rate, seriously deteriorating patients' quality of life. Consequently, it is crucial to analyze the reasons for hospitalization in CKD patients from a broader perspective according to CKD grade. This is a prospective cohort study of CKD patients entitled the KoreaN Cohort Study for Outcomes in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease (KNOW-CKD). A total of 2,238 patients were examined, and the reasons for hospitalization were classified into 16 disease categories. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) according to CKD stage was compared using negative bimodal regression analysis. The all-cause hospitalization incidence was 184.96 per 1,000 person-years. The most common reason for hospitalization was circulatory system disease, followed by infection and digestive system disease. Among hospitalizations for acute kidney injury, endocrine-nutrition-metabolic-related illness, blood-related disease, and diseases of the nervous system and sensory organs, IRR increased as CKD grade advanced. The incidence of ophthalmologic surgery during hospitalization increased according to the CKD stage. The IRR of KNOW-CKD patients was 6.19 (95% confidence interval, 5.92-6.48; p < 0.001) compared with the general population. This in-depth analysis of hospitalizations among CKD patients confirmed that CKD patients were hospitalized for various reasons, such as metabolic, ophthalmic, and hematologic diseases. Early detection and intervention regarding causative diseases of CKD are important to reduce the hospitalization burden and improve patients' quality of life.

Protein Arginine Methyltransferases: Emerging Targets in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and metabolic disorders stand as formidable challenges that significantly impact the clinical outcomes and living quality for afflicted individuals. An intricate comprehension of the underlying mechanisms is paramount for the development of efficacious therapeutic strategies. Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs), a class of enzymes responsible for the precise regulation of protein methylation, have ascended to pivotal roles and emerged as crucial regulators within the intrinsic pathophysiology of these diseases. Herein, we review recent advancements in research elucidating on the multifaceted involvements of PRMTs in cardiovascular system and metabolic diseases, contributing significantly to deepen our understanding of the pathogenesis and progression of these maladies. In addition, this review provides a comprehensive analysis to unveil the distinctive roles of PRMTs across diverse cell types implicated in cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, which holds great potential to reveal novel therapeutic interventions targeting PRMTs, thus presenting promising perspectives to effectively address the substantial global burden imposed by CVDs and metabolic disorders.

The status and influencing factors of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with COPD

In this study, we investigated the status and influencing factors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A questionnaire on COVID-19 vaccination in patients with COPD was developed. The clinical characteristics, COVID-19 vaccination status, other relevant vaccinations, and vaccination status of the patients with COPD were collected anonymously. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the factors influencing COVID-19 vaccination in patients with COPD. There were 1898 returned questionnaires, of which 1874 were valid. The proportion of patients who completed the COVID-19 vaccination program was 78.60%. Factors influencing the COVID-19 vaccination rate were: the age of individuals who were 75–85 years old and > 85 years old, acute exacerbation 3–4 times in the previous year, comorbid cardiovascular and endocrine system diseases, failure to take regular medication for COPD, application of non-invasive ventilation machines, believing that their current health condition has deteriorated, believing that the current COVID-19 vaccine is not safe, medical staff not specifying whether they would recommend vaccination against COVID-19, medical staff not recommending the COVID-19 vaccine, and fear of adverse reactions and aggravation of COPD. Patients with COPD had a high COVID-19 vaccination rate in China, whereas patients with pneumonia, influenza, and herpes zoster had a low vaccination rate. Improving the patients’ understanding of the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine and promoting effective communication between medical staff and patients would help increase the vaccination rate of patients with COPD.

A Machine Learning Approach to Evaluating the Impact of Natural Oils on Alzheimer’s Disease Progression

Alzheimer’s Disease is among the major chronic neurodegenerative diseases that affects more than 50 million people worldwide. This disease irreversibly destroys memory, cognition, and the overall daily activities which occur mainly among the elderly. Few drugs are approved for Alzheimer’s Disease management despite its high prevalence. To date, the available drugs in the market cannot reverse the damage of neurons caused by the disease leading to the exacerbation of symptoms and possibly death. Medicinal plants are considered a rich source of chemical constituents and have been contributing to modern drug discovery in many therapeutic areas including cancer, infectious, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative and Central Nervous System (CNS) diseases. Moreover, essential oils that are extracted from plant organs have been reported for a wide array of biological activities, and their roles as antioxidants, antiaging, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and enzyme inhibitory activities. This article highlights the promising potential of plants’ essential oils in the discovery of novel therapeutic options for Alzheimer’s Disease and halting its progression. In this article, 428 compounds were reported from the essential oils isolated from 21 plants. A comparative study is carried out by employing a variety of machine learning techniques, validation, and evaluation metrics, to predict essential oils’ efficacy against Alzheimer’s Disease progression. Extensive experiments on essential oil data suggest that a prediction accuracy of up to 82% can be achieved given the proper data preprocessing, feature selection, and model configuration steps. This study underscores the potential of integrating machine learning with natural product research to prioritize and expedite the identification of bioactive essential oils that could lead to effective therapeutic interventions for Alzheimer’s Disease. Further exploration and optimization of machine learning techniques could provide a robust platform for drug discovery and development, facilitating faster and more efficient screening of potential treatments.

Assessing the impact of particulate matter and formaldehyde in atmospheric air on public health

Introduction. The urgent task at hand is to establish a causal link between the occurrence of public health risks to the public and the impact of air pollution. To ensure the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the public, it is important to consider the intake and distribution of pollutants in the atmosphere. In addition to anthropogenic sources of pollution, it is also necessary to take into account natural sources. The purpose of the work is to assess the influence of atmospheric pollution with formaldehyde and particulate matter on public health. Additionally, it aims to propose measures and recommendations to improve the environmental, health, and epidemiological well-being of the population. Materials and methods. Quantitative chemical analyses of particulate matter (PM) and formaldehyde in atmospheric precipitation were performed using the gravimetric and fluorometric methods, respectively. The general trend of annual changes in the content of PM in the atmosphere is shown to be based on the results of a study of atmospheric precipitation and air. Data on morbidity in the population was obtained from annual government reports. Results. A high correlation was found between general morbidity and atmospheric particulate matter for all population groups. However, formaldehyde was not found to be correlated with the general morbidity of the population, except for children, who may develop respiratory diseases under the influence of formaldehyde. Adults are the most vulnerable population to developing circulatory diseases, due to their high susceptibility to atmospheric particulate matter. Limitations. The gradation of particulate matter into specific fractions (PM10, PM2.5) and &lt;0.45 microns was not considered. Conclusion. The level of formaldehyde in the air does not significantly impact the environment or the health of the general population. However, an increase in airborne particulate matter can create an unfavourable environmental condition that poses a threat to public health. Adult populations are particularly vulnerable to these conditions, as they have a high risk of developing cardiovascular system diseases that are highly dependent on the content of particulate matter in the air. To reduce this negative impact, a number of measures need to be implemented including expanding monitoring of atmospheric air quality to monitor particles with sizes of PM10, PM2.5, notifying the public about predictions of particulate matter concentrations; conducting in-depth scientific research on the biomedical impacts of particulate matter on human health.

Morphological Analysis of Nanocapsules Processed based on Deer Antler Extract

The research work is devoted to the acquisition of nanocapsules, which are one of the drug delivery systems, and their morphological analysis. In modern times, the development of new drug delivery systems from natural raw materials in the treatment and prevention of diseases of various origins is considered a priority issue of pharmacy. From this point of view, the preparation and analysis of nanocapsules based on the extract from the studied deer antlers is of great importance. As a result of the morphological analysis of nanocapsules prepared from deer antlers grown in the climatic conditions of Azerbaijan, carrageenan-coated nanocapsules have sizes 118.3-243.6 nm in SEM, 10-248 nm in TEM, and tragacanth-coated nanocapsules have sizes 33.15-224.1 nm in SEM, TEM was determined to be 15-254 nm. During numerous studies, it was determined that nanocapsules prepared with tracagant proved to be more intense and more stable. Researches were carried out in the pharmaceutical technology laboratory of Azerbaijan Medical University and AHTARC (DAYTAM) of Atatürk University of the Republic of Turkey. As a result of the conducted research, it was clear that the use of nanocapsules developed by an effective technological method from deer antlers, which has sufficient raw material reserves in Azerbaijan, is considered appropriate for future treatment of diseases in oncology, infertility, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular, and nervous system.

Hospitalizations and hospital expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic

The study aimed to analyze the epidemiological profile of hospital admissions and hospital expenditures during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an epidemiological, quantitative and retrospective study, with data collection from DATASUS, by consulting the SIH/SUS of Brazil. In 2020 a total of 10,531,196 and in 2021 a total of 11,479,416 hospitalizations were recorded in Brazil, 13.6% and 9% lower than in 2019. There was a reduction in hospitalizations for pregnancy, childbirth, and puerperium (15.9%), digestive system diseases (25.2%), neoplasms (14.2%), external causes (19.1%), circulatory system diseases (20.9%), and for respiratory system diseases (36.1%). However, they increased for infectious and parasitic diseases, about 79.2%. Although hospitalizations reduced in 2020 (13.6%) and 2021 (5.8%), the average value increased by 19.8% and 50.1% and total costs by 19.8% and 50.1%, respectively. We emphasize the importance of subsidizing policies that strengthen primary care in Brazil and that also encompass programs aimed at improving the social determinants of health, thus reducing the number of hospitalizations and expenditures in Brazil.