Global Health Opportunities Research Articles

G20 and the global south: opportunities for global health

G20 and the global south: opportunities for global health

Survey of Hematology/Oncology Program Leaders on Equity and Global Health Opportunities for Fellows.

The study assesses the current state of global oncology (GO)/hematology training opportunities in US fellowship programs. We developed a comprehensive survey of 64-Likert multiple-choice and open-ended questions. The survey was electronically distributed to fellowship program leaders at Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited adult hematology/oncology fellowships. Program directors received three reminders after which survey was sent to assistant program directors or division heads for programs not represented. A total of 171 programs were eligible for the survey. We received 42 (24.6%) responses; 40 were included in the analysis, and two were excluded for declined consent and incomplete responses. The programs include large academic (81.6%) and community hospitals (10.5%). Of the respondents, 18 (48.6%) reported offering some opportunities for global health training, and half reported interest among current fellows. Most programs (29, 82.9%) had three or fewer faculty engaged in GO research. Institutional training grants were available in 15 (39.5%) programs, of which six (40%) allowed for global health research. Of the 18 programs offering global health training activities, most (15, 83.3%) report less than a quarter of their trainees currently participate in GO experiences. The most commonly perceived barriers to GO opportunities include competing priorities (85.3%) and lack of faculty mentors with GO-related experience (82.4%). Conversely, the most commonly perceived facilitators include established partnerships outside the United States (97.0%) and dedicated institutional funding (93.9%). Our survey demonstrates that although there is significant interest among fellowship trainees, a minority of the fellowship programs offer GO opportunities. Providing GO opportunities would require programs to establish partnerships with institutions outside the United States and to have systematic approaches of addressing other barriers, including enhancing funding and mentorship.

Expanding global health opportunities for UK-based interventional radiology trainees

As the future workload of interventional radiologists in the UK continues to expand, it is imperative that current IR trainees are given maximal opportunities to expand their skill sets. This paper argues that opportunities for involvement in international collaborative fieldwork should be expanded for interventional radiology trainees in the UK, as a means of maximising their future competency and positive contribution to the advancement of global healthcare. The study builds upon first-hand experience of the authors in the field and a review of the relevant literature. This scoping review aimed to ascertain the current global health opportunities for interventional radiology trainees primarily in Resource Limited Countries (RLCs). This review further contrasted these opportunities with ones provided to trainees within North America and European countries. This review found that the opportunities for international collaborative fieldwork for UK interventional radiology trainees are sparse. The availability of such opportunities in the US is significantly greater as is the awareness and appreciation of the benefits of such international collaborations for trainees. Benefits include greater experience with a variety of pathologies, a potentially larger volume of workload, improved cultural competency and proficiency and greater cost-conscious and more sustainable practices. It is also pertinent that any future global partnership opportunities for UK clinicians are crafted with care to benefit both UK and international healthcare professionals, institutions and patients within RLCs. Significant work is needed to expand opportunities for global health for interventional radiology trainees in the UK. It is incumbent upon the major radiology societies and educational bodies within the UK to expand upon such opportunities to develop a robust, world-leading workforce, which would subsequently enhance our global health positionality and reflexivity.

LEADERSHIP IN GLOBAL HEALTH: NAVIGATING CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPACTFUL OUTCOMES IN AFRICA AND SRI LANKA

Effective leadership is paramount in addressing the complex challenges and harnessing the opportunities in global health, particularly in regions such as Africa and Sri Lanka. This review explores the multifaceted dimensions of leadership within the context of global health, highlighting the unique challenges and opportunities faced by these regions. In Africa, leadership in global health is confronted with a myriad of challenges including limited resources, political instability, and infrastructural deficiencies. The burden of infectious diseases, inadequate healthcare access, and socio-economic disparities further exacerbate the complexities. However, amidst these challenges lie opportunities for transformative leadership. Visionary leaders can leverage partnerships, innovative technologies, and community engagement to strengthen health systems, promote preventive healthcare, and address the root causes of health inequities. Similarly, in Sri Lanka, leadership in global health faces its own set of challenges and opportunities. Despite notable achievements in healthcare infrastructure and disease control, the country grapples with emerging health threats, non-communicable diseases, and disparities in healthcare access. Effective leadership is essential in mobilizing resources, fostering intersectoral collaboration, and implementing evidence-based interventions to ensure equitable health outcomes for all segments of the population. In both regions, transformative leadership in global health necessitates a multidisciplinary approach that integrates political commitment, scientific innovation, and community participation. Leaders must possess strong communication skills, cultural competence, and a deep understanding of local contexts to navigate the intricate socio-political landscapes. Furthermore, fostering leadership capacity at all levels of the healthcare system is crucial for sustainability and resilience in the face of evolving health challenges. By examining the challenges and opportunities for leadership in global health within the contexts of Africa and Sri Lanka, this review underscores the importance of visionary leadership in driving impactful outcomes. Empowering leaders to navigate complexities, foster collaboration, and innovate solutions is essential for advancing the global health agenda and achieving health equity on a global scale.
 Keywords: Leadership, Global Health, Africa, Sri Lanka, Healthcare, Review

Hearing Loss and Disorders: The Repercussions of Climate Change.

Climate change is considered to be the greatest threat to human health in the 21st century, and its effects are accelerating. Extensive research has clearly demonstrated its increasing impact across the continuum of health conditions. Despite this, there has been limited attention to the ramifications of climate change on hearing loss and hearing disorders. This lack of consideration is somewhat surprising as the environment itself and its changing nature have a substantial effect on hearing. Tackling climate change could be the greatest global health opportunity of the 21st century. To address this issue, this tutorial provides a general introduction to climate change and its three major elements (pollution, infectious diseases, and extreme weather events) and their effects on health. The substantial consequences of climate change for the incidence, development, and exacerbation of hearing loss and disorders are clearly described and detailed. The challenge of responding to this very real and escalating threat to hearing requires a combination of prevention, advocacy, and education. These three roles place audiologists in the perfect position to take action on the far-reaching effects of climate change on hearing loss and disorders. To respond to this challenge and to fulfill these roles, several strategies, ranging from the individual level to the global level, are delineated for audiologists to incorporate into their practice.

1149 Bringing Recycling to the Operating Department - a Sustainability Project in a DGH in London

Abstract Aim The Lancet Commissions report of 2015 suggested that tackling climate change could be the greatest global health opportunity of the 21st century. Both the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the Royal College of Anaesthetists have committed to sustainability task forces and have published guidance on improving care through small, sustainable practices including recycling waste. Method We conducted a theatre staff survey on SurveyMonkey in an operating department in an acute district general hospital without any recycling facilities on the attitudes towards recycling, and how this could be implemented. Results We received 103 responses, including a broad spectrum of the multi-disciplinary team including surgeons, anaesthetists, scrub nurses, operating department practitioners and healthcare assistants. Results showed that little to no recycling occurred (59%), 48% of respondents were not familiar with which material can be recycled, and 96% were agreeable to improving access to recycling in theatres. Two main areas identified as barriers to recycling were inadequate access to recycling bins and inadequate information on what can and what cannot be recycled. In terms of implementation, 75% of respondents indicated that posters around the department would be most useful in raising awareness and providing information on recyclable materials. Conclusions Currently, we are in conversation with the Trust and the waste management company to identify a list of recyclable materials and to incorporate recycling bins as part of the waste management pathway.

Building management and innovation capabilities for global health: a senior executive program.

Accurately approaching the major challenges associated with global health management has become a mandatory key point in the training of medical leaders around the world. The Senior Executive Program in Global Health Innovation Management (SEPGHIM) seeks to provide an answer to the need for innovation and managerial capacity building in Global Health and to address the current detachment between Public Health Organizations and Business Schools. In 2019, SEPGHIM's first edition was led by five prestigious academic institutions on three continents. The first cohort included a total of 27 high-level health professionals and executives from 16 countries with 7-10 years of working experience who participated during the 11 months of the course. The program sought to fill an often-found knowledge gap among health professionals in terms of health innovation, leadership, and management. SEPGHIM relied on multiple pedagogical methods conveyed through a robust theoretical and applied syllabus that included case studies, simulations, guest speakers, debates, site visits, and an executive challenge. The program achieved various results. First, it recruited high-level health professionals that ensured diversity of backgrounds, allowing an exchange of experiences and different ways of addressing global health challenges. Second, it created a network of health professionals for possible future collaborations that can anticipate new trends and opportunities in global health and work together with stakeholders from other sectors. This networking was one of the most highly rated benefits by the students. Finally, the participants expressed great eagerness to recommend the program (4.9 out of 5) to other decision-makers and leaders in the global health field. These results provide positive insights regarding the value of such a training program for senior health professionals.

Ten Questions to Guide Learners Seeking Equitable Global Health Experiences Abroad.

"Global health experiences," clinical and research learning opportunities where learners from high-income country (HIC) institutions travel to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), are becoming increasingly popular and prolific in the health sciences. Increased interest has been well documented among medical, pharmacy, and nursing learners who are driving these agendas at their institutions. Although such opportunities have potential to mutually benefit the learner and host, in practice they can be exploitative, benefiting HIC learners without reciprocity for LMIC hosts. Given these and other pervasive ethical concerns in global health, efforts to decolonize global health and emphasize equity are being made at the institutional level. Despite progress toward global health equity from institutions, most learners lack the resources and education needed to critically evaluate the numerous global health opportunities or equitably codesign these experiences for themselves. This article offers 10 guiding questions that learners should answer before selecting or codesigning a global health opportunity through a lens of global health equity. These prompts encompass values including motivations, reciprocity, accountability, sustainability, financial implications, self-reflection, bidirectional communication, and mitigating burden and power dynamics. The authors provide tips, pitfalls to avoid, and pragmatic examples for learners working to actualize partnerships and opportunities aligned with the movement of global health equity. With these guiding questions and accompanying reflection tool, learners, faculty members, and their LMIC partners should be better equipped to engage in mutually beneficial partnership through the framework of global health equity.

Global Health Opportunities – from Residency Through Retirement

Features| April 2023 Global Health Opportunities – from Residency Through Retirement Sara Miller Strowd, MD, MPH; Sara Miller Strowd, MD, MPH Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Sean Miller, MD; Sean Miller, MD Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar John G. Brock-Utne, MA, MD, PhD, FCMSA; John G. Brock-Utne, MA, MD, PhD, FCMSA Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Elizabeth T. Drum, MD, FAAP, FCPP, FASA Elizabeth T. Drum, MD, FAAP, FCPP, FASA Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar ASA Monitor April 2023, Vol. 87, 26–27. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ASM.0000924992.69577.13 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Cite Icon Cite Get Permissions Search Site Citation Sara Miller Strowd, Sean Miller, John G. Brock-Utne, Elizabeth T. Drum; Global Health Opportunities – from Residency Through Retirement. ASA Monitor 2023; 87:26–27 doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ASM.0000924992.69577.13 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll PublicationsASA Monitor Search Advanced Search Topics: internship and residency, world health, knowledge acquisition Have you ever asked yourself how you can get involved in global health as an anesthesiologist? Or felt that time and financial constraints were major barriers to doing so? Fret not. Regardless of where you are in your career, there are abundant opportunities for you to make a lasting impact on global health. The staggering reality is that 5 billion people around the world lack access to safe surgery and anesthesia care (Lancet 2015;386:569-624). This does not need to remain the case. Through educational support, curriculum development, and quality and safety initiatives, anesthesiologists from in-training through retirement can help strengthen health systems around the world to provide high-quality care to their patients. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the severe degree of inequity that exists between health care systems across the globe (J Glob Health 2021;11:05015; Front Public Health 2022;10:928065). More than ever, it is essential that... You do not currently have access to this content.

“…Our support is not enough”: a qualitative analysis of recommendations from informal caregivers of women with female genital fistula in Uganda

Informal caregivers remain critical across the care continuum for complex and stigmatized conditions including female genital fistula, particularly in lower-resource settings burdened by underfunded health systems and workforce shortages. These caregivers often provide significant nonmedical support in both community and facility settings, without pay. Despite their unique insight into the lived experiences of their patients, few studies center the perspectives of informal caregivers. We asked informal caregivers of women seeking surgical treatment of fistula in Kampala Uganda for their ideas about what would improve the recovery and reintegration experiences of their patients. Economic empowerment and community capacity building emerged as primary themes among their responses, and they perceived opportunities for clinical medicine and global health to strengthen strategies for fistula prevention through reintegration. Informal caregivers urged simultaneous investment in women’s economic status and community capacity to build fistula-related awareness, knowledge, and skills to improve inclusion of both fistula patients and their informal caregivers.

CT without borders: Comparison of diagnoses for abdominal pain from a teaching hospital in rural Kenya and a US academic medical center.

Radiology global health opportunities are expanding as more hospitals in low- and middle-income countries utilize CT. This creates opportunities for global health program building, education, service, and research. This study determines the diagnostic yield and variety of abdominopelvic CT diagnoses for abdominal pain in a US academic medical center (UW) compared to a rural Kenyan teaching hospital (Tenwek). A retrospective, cross-sectional sequential sample of 750 adults from both hospitals who underwent abdominopelvic CT for abdominal pain from February 2019 through July 2020was obtained. Exclusion criteria were trauma, cancer staging, and recent hospitalization or surgery. Patient age, sex, comparisonstudies, use of contrast, known cancerdiagnosis, and CT diagnoses were compared. Negative examrate, acute abdomendiagnosis, and new cancer diagnosis were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using R. 750 UW patients met inclusion criteria (mean age 53.3 ± 20years; 442 women) and 750 Tenwekpatients met inclusion criteria (mean age 52.5 ± 18years; 394 women). 72% of UW patients had comparison imaging compared to 6% of Tenwek patients. 11% (83/750) of UW patients had a known cancer diagnosis compared to 1% (10/750) of Tenwek patients. 39% of UW patients had a negative exam compared to 23% of Tenwek patients (p < 0.001). 58% of UW patients had an acute abdomen diagnosis compared to 38% of Tenwek patients (p < 0.001). 10 of the 15 topacute abdomen diagnoses were shared, but in different order of frequency. Diagnoses unique to UW were diverticulitis, constipation, stercoral colitis, and epiploicappendagitis. Diagnoses unique to Tenwek were tuberculosis and hydatidosis. 3% of UW patients received a new cancer diagnosis (7/19 metastatic), compared to 40% of Tenwek patients (153/303 metastatic) (p < 0.001). For adults undergoing CT for abdominal pain, there are differences in the prevalence of abdominal pain diagnoses, new cancer diagnosis, and negative exam rate between the rural Kenyan teaching hospital and the US academic medical center.

The inauguration of Medicine Advances

Over the years, the field of medicine has made important strides in improving the quality of life for millions of people around the world. From groundbreaking treatments for cancer and other diseases to new technologies revolutionizing how we diagnose and treat patients, the past few decades have witnessed an explosion of medical innovation. However, there remains much to be done. The world is facing unprecedented challenges, from global pandemics to chronic diseases, which have profound impacts on individuals, families, and communities. The only way to overcome these challenges is by harnessing the power of science and innovation, which is where Medicine Advances comes in. As its name suggests, this new journal is dedicated to advancing the field of medicine by publishing cutting-edge research, ranging from basic science to clinical practice. Our mission is to provide a platform for the dissemination of knowledge to drive progress and improve patient outcomes. Medicine Advances has been created to bring together researchers, health care professionals, policymakers, and industry leaders to share their knowledge and expertise. Through this journal, we hope to foster collaboration, exchange ideas, and inspire new approaches for tackling the most pressing health issues of our time. We will explore a wide range of topics, including latest developments in precision medicine, the role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in health care, and the impact of genomics on disease prevention and treatment. We will also discuss challenges and opportunities in global health and the importance of equity and access to health care for all. Medicine Advances is an open-access general medical journal with a focus on new technologies, new methods, and new products in the full life cycle of diseases, including development and progression, screening and early warning, diagnosis and classification, treatment and intervention, and prognosis, as well as exploration and innovation in interdisciplinary medical research, including but not limited to new drug development and artificial intelligence applications. Medicine Advances aims to provide a platform for researchers, scholars, and practitioners in health care to communicate and share their scientific findings and innovations. The journal is committed to promoting new medical theories, exchanging new clinical technologies, presenting new medical products, and accelerating the pace of medical development. This journal is dedicated to publishing high-quality original research articles, reviews, survey articles, case reports, editorials, and short communications. As we launch this journal, I want to express my gratitude to the many researchers, clinicians, and other health-care professionals who have contributed to its creation. I also want to thank the editorial board and staff who will no doubt work tirelessly to ensure that Medicine Advances achieves its goals. Finally, I want to invite researchers and clinicians from around the world to join us on this exciting journey by submitting their best work to Medicine Advances, reading our articles, and engaging in the conversation about the future of medicine. Together, we can continue to advance the field of medicine and make a difference in the lives of countless patients. We look forward to receiving your contributions! Xueqing Yu is the only author. None. The author declares no conflict of interests. Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable.

The Personal Impact of Involvement in International Global Health Outreach: A National Survey of Former Operation Smile Student Volunteers

BackgroundHumanitarian surgical organizations such as Operation Smile provide global health opportunities for students and medical trainees. Prior studies have shown a positive benefit for medical trainees. This study aimed to determine if the international global health experiences of young student volunteers impact their career choices as adults. MethodsA survey was sent to adults who were involved with Operation Smile as students. The survey elicited information about their mission trip experience, education, career, and current volunteer and leadership activities. Data were summarized with descriptive statistics and qualitative analysis. Results114 prior volunteers responded. The majority participated in leadership conferences (n = 110), mission trips (n = 109), and student clubs (n = 101) while in high school. Many graduated from college (n = 113, 99%) and completed post-graduate degrees (n = 47, 41%). The most highly represented occupational industry was healthcare (n = 30, 26%), including physicians and medical trainees (n = 9), dentists (n = 5), and other healthcare providers (n = 5). Three-fourths reported that their volunteer experience impacted their career choice, and half reported that their experience allowed them to connect with career mentors. Their experience was associated with the development of leadership skills, including public speaking, self-confidence, and empathy, and increased awareness of cleft conditions, health disparities, and other cultures. Ninety-six percent continued to volunteer. Narrative responses revealed that the volunteer experiences impacted their inter- and intrapersonal development into adulthood. ConclusionsParticipation in a global health organization as a student may encourage a long-term commitment to leadership and volunteerism and foster interest in a healthcare career. These opportunities also encourage development of cultural competency and interpersonal skills. Level of evidenceIII, Cross-Sectional Study.

Opportunities for improving data sharing and FAIR data practices to advance global mental health.

It is crucial to optimize global mental health research to address the high burden of mental health challenges and mental illness for individuals and societies. Data sharing and reuse have demonstrated value for advancing science and accelerating knowledge development. The FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) Guiding Principles for scientific data provide a framework to improve the transparency, efficiency, and impact of research. In this review, we describe ethical and equity considerations in data sharing and reuse, delineate the FAIR principles as they apply to mental health research, and consider the current state of FAIR data practices in global mental health research, identifying challenges and opportunities. We describe noteworthy examples of collaborative efforts, often across disciplinary and national boundaries, to improve Findability and Accessibility of global mental health data, as well as efforts to create integrated data resources and tools that improve Interoperability and Reusability. Based on this review, we suggest a vision for the future of FAIR global mental health research and suggest practical steps for researchers with regard to study planning, data preservation and indexing, machine-actionable metadata, data reuse to advance science and improve equity, metrics and recognition.

Global health competencies in postgraduate medical education: a scoping review and mapping to the CanMEDS physician competency framework.

Global Health opportunities are popular, with many reported benefits. There is a need however, to identify and situate Global Health competencies within postgraduate medical education. We sought to identify and map Global Health competencies to the CanMEDS framework to assess the degree of equivalency and uniqueness between them. JBI scoping review methodology was utilized to identify relevant papers searching MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science. Studies were reviewed independently by two of three researchers according to pre-determined eligibility criteria. Included studies identified competencies in Global Health training at the postgraduate medicine level, which were then mapped to the CanMEDS framework. A total of 19 articles met criteria for inclusion (17 from literature search and two from manual reference review). We identified 36 Global Health competencies; the majority (23) aligned with CanMEDS competencies within the framework. Ten were mapped to CanMEDS roles but lacked specific key or enabling competencies, while three did not fit within the specific CanMEDS roles. We mapped the identified Global Health competencies, finding broad coverage of required CanMEDS competencies. We identified additional competencies for CanMEDS committee consideration and discuss the benefits of their inclusion in future physician competency frameworks.

A global mental health opportunity: How can cultural concepts of distress broaden the construct of immobility?

(Im)mobility studies often focus on people on the move, neglecting those who stay, are immobile, or are trapped. The duality of the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis creates a global mental health challenge, impacting the most structurally oppressed, including immobile populations. The construct of immobility is investigated in the context of socio-political variables but lacks examination of the clinical psychological factors that impact immobility. Research is beginning to identify self-reported emotions that immobile populations experience through describing metaphors like feeling trapped. This article identifies links in the literature between Cultural Concepts of Distress drawn from transcultural psychiatry and immobility studies. Feeling trapped is described in mental health research widely. Among (im)mobile people and non-mobility contexts, populations experience various mental health conditions from depression to the cultural syndrome, nervios. The connection of feeling trapped to CCD research lends itself to potential utility in immobility research. The conceptualisation can support broadening and deepening the comprehension of this global mental health challenge – how immobile populations’ experience feeling trapped. To broaden the analytical framework of immobility and incorporate CCD, evidence is needed to fill the gaps on the psychological aspects of immobility research.

Editors’ welcome

Tēnā koutou katoa and welcome to Issue 34 of Te Hautaka o ngā Akongā Rongoā, the New Zealand Medical Student Journal (NZMSJ). The theme of this issue is “Global Health,” which is an important topic for medical students and health professionals. It is our privilege to share with our readers a wide range of insightful and high-quality articles by health care professional students, clinicians, and academics from Aotearoa and abroad. Global health has been thrust into the spotlight by the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, but it has long been a focus of international collaboration. The United Nations published its sustainable development goals (SDGs) in 2012 and included its third goal: to “ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages.”1 The wording of this SDG reflects the changing perspective of global health as an entity. Inequity is now recognised as the fundamen- tal obstacle that must be overcome in pursuing health and wellbeing for all. Inequity takes many different forms, including a lack of access to health care and the continuing disparities in representing certain groups in research and decision-making.2,3 In this complex health land- scape, at the crossroads of geopolitical, socioeconomic, and biophysi- cal influences, it can be challenging to know where we fit in as medical students and clinicians with a passion for global health. The scale of the task at hand can also be overwhelming, especially for those just beginning their journey. We believe current and future health care professionals in Aotea- roa have a vital role in our collective global health. Through education and sustainable changes, the ambitious goals that we see can become achievable. We hope that this issue of the NZMSJ will highlight the stories of people who have found diverse opportunities in global health and inspire a new generation of health professionals to con- tribute to this critical work.

Climate change and allergies.

The climate crisis poses a major challenge to human health as well as the healthcare system and threatens to jeopardize the medical progress made in recent decades. However, addressing climate change may also be the greatest opportunity for global health in the 21st century. The climate crisis and its consequences, such as rising temperatures, forest fires, floods, droughts, and changes in the quality and quantity of food and water, directly and indirectly affect human physical and mental health. More intense and frequent heat waves and declining air quality have been shown to increase all-cause mortality, especially among the most vulnerable. Climate warming alters existing ecosystems and favors biological invasions by species that better tolerate heat and drought. Pathogen profiles are changing, and the transmission and spread of vector-borne diseases are increasing. The spread of neophytes in Europe, such as ragweed, is creating new pollen sources that increase allergen exposure for allergy sufferers. In addition, the overall milder weather, especially in combination with air pollution and increased CO2 levels, is changing the production and allergenicity of pollen. The phenomenon of thunderstorm asthma is also occurring more frequently. In view of the increasing prevalence of allergic diseases due to climate change, early causal immunomodulatory therapy is therefore all the more important. During a climate consultation, patients can receive individual advice on climate adaptation and resilience and the benefits of CO2 reduction—for their own and the planet’s health. Almost 5% of all greenhouse gas emissions in Europe come from the healthcare sector. It thus has a central responsibility for a climate-neutral and sustainable transformation.

LGBTQ youth mental health during COVID-19: unmet needs in public health and policy

LGBTQ youth mental health during COVID-19: unmet needs in public health and policy

A Breakthrough in Understanding the Pathogenesis of Molar Hypomineralisation: The Mineralisation-Poisoning Model.

Popularly known as “chalky teeth”, molar hypomineralisation (MH) affects over 1-in-5 children worldwide, triggering massive amounts of suffering from toothache and rapid decay. MH stems from childhood illness and so offers a medical-prevention avenue for improving oral and paediatric health. With a cross-sector translational research and education network (The D3 Group; thed3group.org) now highlighting this global health opportunity, aetiological understanding is urgently needed to enable better awareness, management and eventual prevention of MH. Causation and pathogenesis of “chalky enamel spots” (i.e., demarcated opacities, the defining pathology of MH) remain unclear despite 100 years of investigation. However, recent biochemical studies provided a pathomechanistic breakthrough by explaining several hallmarks of chalky opacities for the first time. This article outlines these findings in context of previous understanding and provides a working model for future investigations. The proposed pathomechanism, termed “mineralisation poisoning”, involves localised exposure of immature enamel to serum albumin. Albumin binds to enamel-mineral crystals and blocks their growth, leading to chalky opacities with distinct borders. Being centred on extracellular fluid rather than enamel-forming cells as held by dogma, this localising pathomechanism invokes a new type of connection with childhood illness. These advances open a novel direction for research into pathogenesis and causation of MH, and offer prospects for better clinical management. Future research will require wide-ranging inputs that ideally should be coordinated through a worldwide translational network. We hope this breakthrough will ultimately lead to medical prevention of MH, prompting global health benefits including major reductions in childhood tooth decay.