Assessment Of Health Status Research Articles

Registered general nurses' health assessment practices in a tertiary hospital: A focused ethnography study.

To explore the assumptions and values that influence nursing health assessment practices among registered general nurses in general medical and surgical wards. The study was designed as a focused ethnography. A semi-structured interview guide was used to explore prevailing nursing health assessment practices of 13 registered general nurses in an attempt to explore the assumptions and values influencing health assessment practices in the study setting. Data were analysed inductively using an interpretive qualitative content analysis method. Nursing health assessment practices, and underlying assumptions and values were underpinned by a central theme of a culture of low expectation relating to nursing health assessment. The culture of low expectation was highlighted in five themes: (1) Unsystematic Assessment of Health Status, (2) Purpose of Nursing Health Assessment, (3) The Role of Nursing Educational and Regulatory Institutions, (4) Ward Ethos and (5) The Role of Organizational and Ward Leadership. The adoption of a holistic nursing health assessment framework with a clearly defined purpose of aiding nursing diagnoses can guide patient-centred care delivery and facilitate early recognition of physiological deterioration. Thirteen registered general nurses were interviewed, and the initial findings returned to them for validation. The potential contribution of nursing health assessment to nursing practice and patient outcomes may not be fully realized if nursing health assessment is not situated within a holistic health assessment model with a clearly defined purpose for nursing practice.

Comprehensive health assessment based on ICF components using the WOMAC index in patients with osteoarthritis

IntroductionOsteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative disease associated with functional impairment, activity limitation, participation restriction, and poor quality of life. Therefore, comprehensive assessment is important to determine how complex problems affect patients with OA. ObjectivesThe first aim of this study was to link and allocate items of The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) OA index with the ICF Comprehensive Core Set for OA. The second aim was to examine the relationship between quality of life and each ICF component score based on WOMAC clinical data in OA. Materials and methodsHealth status was evaluated with WOMAC and quality of life with the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). The WOMAC items were linked with codes of the ICF Comprehensive Core Set for OA and allocated with the ICF components by three researchers. The relationship between WOMAC scores and the NHP was determined by Pearson correlation analysis. Results87 patients with OA were included. As distinguished by the researchers, 7 items of WOMAC covered body function and 17 covered activity-participation. Body function and activity-participation had a moderate correlation with the pain subtest of the NHP and low correlation with the energy level subtest and total score of the NHP. Activity-participation had a high correlation with the physical abilities subtest of the NHP. ConclusionAlthough WOMAC does not cover environmental factors, it is a comprehensive tool to assess health status and quality of life. Our results showed that in OA physical abilities can lead to limitations in activity and participation, and these limitations are associated with the individual's pain, energy level, and quality of life.Clinical trial registration number: NCT04956510.

Crowdsensing-based automatic bridge health condition assessment using drive-by measurements and deep learning

In recent decades, assessing the structural health conditions of aging bridges has emerged as a significant concern. A recent drive-by measurement method has attracted substantial attention, in which only several sensors are installed on crowdsensing vehicles rather than bridges, providing a more economical and convenient solution. This paper proposes an automatic bridge condition assessment framework incorporating drive-by measurements and deep learning techniques. The methodology involves collecting and segmenting accelerations from a vehicle passing a healthy bridge into short-time overlapped frames. Over multiple vehicular passes, all frames are then transformed into frequency-domain responses, forming the input for training an unsupervised deep learning model. The model is then trained to reconstruct the input using these frequency-domain responses. In assessing the bridge with an unknown health state, the trained model is employed to reconstruct the passing vehicle’s new short-time frames, and the response construction error automatically determines the bridge’s health condition. Experimental validation utilizing a laboratory bridge and scaled truck demonstrated that the trained model could consistently identify a healthy bridge during passages, with larger reconstruction errors indicating that the bridge was damaged. The innovative framework showcased promise for efficient and reliable bridge health condition assessment.

Assessment of coastal pollutants and health status of Pacific oysters (Magallana gigas) in the Bahía Blanca Estuary and adjacent beaches (Argentina)

This study assessed the effects of pollutants on Magallana gigas along a coastal zone with different levels of human activity: a highly impacted zone in the Bahía Blanca Estuary and a less impacted zone on the adjacent sandy beaches. Oysters collected in 2021 were analyzed for various factors, including metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorine pesticides, microplastics, oxidative stress and histology. Oysters of both environments exhibited detectable concentrations of all these pollutants in their tissues. However, the estuarine oysters showed higher concentrations of Zn, Cu and As and total PAHs than the beach oysters. Banned organochlorine pesticides were detected only in beach oysters. Estuarine oysters displayed morphological changes in their digestive gland including a reduction in the mean epithelial thickness of the tubule and elevated lipid peroxidation levels, indicating cellular damage. This study underscores the widespread presence of pollutants in M. gigas, indicating the need for effective strategies to safeguard coastal ecosystem health.

Health status assessment of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attitude control system based on an improved multivariate state estimation method

Health status assessment of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attitude control system based on an improved multivariate state estimation method

Self Operable E-health Diagnosis and Monitoring System with Gesture Control and Voice Assistance

In the present timeline, technology has advanced significantly, and the healthcare sector is constantly expanding. People in rural areas who cannot access corporate hospitals postpone their health check-ups due to the difficulty of traveling long distances. The readily available and expensive nature of diagnostic technologies have prevented many rural residents from seeking clinical examinations, even in cases when they have health issues. Corporate hospitals often make people to wait for long periods of time for health reports and causing delays. These issues highlighted the need for a device which aimed at developing an Arduino based health diagnosis system To resolve this issue, we have introduced a device that offers a comprehensive health diagnosis and monitoring system that uses Arduino technology to store and display vital health information. The system is designed to analyze electrocardiograms (ECG), photoplethysmograms (PPG), body temperature, heart rate and stress levels in real time and then process this information to create meaningful health status assessments and store them in the database for further health assessments. Furthermore, these data could be displayed through web server or an application. Additionally, this system provides voice assistance for the condition of patient when it is critical which helps in early detection of health conditions. Hand gestures are incorporated into this device, which makes it distinctive. Users can control the display of health parameters and easily move through the system's features with simple hand gestures. Users can switch between different types of modes in the system (such as on/off and different operation) by moving their hand in specified patterns. Thus, this makes the system user-friendly so that everyone may use it.

An interpretable spacecraft flywheel system health status assessment method under perturbation

Abstract Health status assessment is an important measure for maintaining the safety of spacecraft flywheel systems. The influence of noise, sensor quality, and other disturbance factors can lead to a decrease in the reliability of the collected information. This can affect the model accuracy. Moreover, a loss of belief in the model is frequently caused by the opaque nature of the procedure and the incomprehensibility of the outcomes, particularly in fields such as aerospace. It is urgent to maintain the interpretability of the model and successfully identify the unreliability of the observed data. Therefore, this paper proposes a spacecraft flywheel system health status assessment method under perturbation based on interpretable belief rule base with attribute reliability (IBRB-r). First, the attribute reliability is calculated based on the average distance method, and a new fusion method of attribute reliability is proposed to reduce the interference of unreliable information. Then, a new interpretable constraint strategy is proposed to improve the rationality and interpretability of the parameters. Finally, the proposed method is validated by a case study of the health status assessment of a spacecraft flywheel system. Experiments show that the IBRB-r maintains high accuracy and interpretability under unreliable observation data.

Synergy of LIDAR and hyperspectral remote sensing: health status assessment of architectural heritage based on normal cloud theory and variable weight theory

Architectural heritage health assessment is the basis of scientific repair and maintenance. However, existing methods do not adequately take into account the fuzziness, randomness and uncertainties unique to architectural heritage assessment. In this paper, a new evaluation model of VM-NCM is constructed by combining variable weight theory and normal cloud model theory. The model enables the combination of qualitative ratings and quantitative calculation, deals with the fuzziness in the assessment process, and resolves the randomness and reflects the uncertainty to a certain extent. Based on constructing the index system combining qualitative and quantitative indexes, the structural index values are acquired by the synergistic coupling of the fine laser point cloud model and finite element structural analysis model. The acquisition of surface index values is completed by the hyperspectral intelligent detection technology of surface materials and diseases. These reduce the generation of ambiguous information in the index detection process. An evaluation study is conducted using the Yingxian wooden pagoda in China as an example. The results show that this method takes into account the fuzziness and randomness in the evaluation process, and obtains more scientific and reliable evaluation results, which provides a research paradigm for assessing the architectural heritage health status.

Oral Health Status and Treatment Needs Based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Dental Panoramic Radiograph (DPR) Analysis: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The application of artificial intelligence (AI) is gaining popularity in modern dentistry. AI has been successfully used to interpret dental panoramic radiographs (DPRs) and quickly screen large groups of patients. This cross-sectional study aimed to perform a population-based assessment of the oral health status and treatment needs of the residents of Kielce, Poland, and the surrounding area based on DPR analysis performed by a high-accuracy AI algorithm trained with over 250,000 radiographs. Methods: This study included adults who had a panoramic radiograph performed, regardless of indications. The following diagnoses were used for analysis: (1) dental caries, (2) missing tooth, (3) dental filling, (4) root canal filling, (5) endodontic lesion, (6) implant, (7) implant abutment crown, (8) pontic crown, (9) dental abutment crown, and (10) sound tooth. The study sample included 980 subjects. Results: The patients had an average of 15 sound teeth, with the domination of the lower dental arch over the upper one. The most commonly identified pathology was dental caries, which affected 99% of participants. A total of 67% of patients underwent root canal treatment. Every fifth endodontically treated tooth presented a periapical lesion. Of study group members, 82% lost at least one tooth. Pontics were identified more often (9%) than implants (2%) in replacing missing teeth. Conclusions: DPR assessment by AI has proven to be an efficient method for population analysis. Despite recent improvements in the oral health status of Polish residents, its level is still unsatisfactory and suggests the need to improve oral health. However, due to some limitations of this study, the results should be interpreted with caution.

The muscle strength of the hip joint can be used as a criterion of quality rehabilitation patients after total hip arthroplasty

The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of rehabilitation following total hip arthroplasty (THA) through the assessment of hip joint mobility parameters, namely abduction, extension, and flexion, at 2, 4, and 6 weeks post-surgery. These evaluations coincide with the implementation of rehabilitation exercises recommended by the physiotherapist. The study intends to analyze the progression of hip mobility during these specific time intervals in conjunction with the prescribed rehabilitation program. By examining the relationship between the performed exercises and the observed improvements in hip mobility, the research aims to provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of the rehabilitation protocol in facilitating post-THA rehabilitation. Material and method: The evaluation of hip joint mobility encompassed measurements of abduction, extension, and flexion utilizing a "Active Force 2" digital dynamometer. In tandem, the functional assessment of patients' health status was conducted through the utilization of the WOMAC index (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index). Results: The experimental data acquired in the measurement joint mobility during abduction, extension and flexion at 2, 4 and 6 weeks of exercises performed after THA are presented. Pain: mean score decreased from 3.08 to 1.18 (38.31% improvement); physical difficulties: mean score decreased from 3.10 to 1.01 (32.25% improvement) and joint stiffness: mean score decreased from 3.41 to 0.65 (19.06% improvement). These findings highlight the effectiveness of the recovery exercises in reducing pain, improving physical function, and decreasing joint stiffness post-THA. Conclusions: Our research emphasizes the essential contri-bution of physiotherapists to achieving positive outcomes for patients post-THA surgery. Through a personalized physiotherapy regimen administered during follow-up appointments, patients undergoing THA exhibited notable functional improvements. The study's results high-light the efficacy of this approach in alleviating discomfort, expediting recovery, and enhancing patients' overall quality of life, enabling a smoother transition back to normal daily activities. Keywords: total hip arthroplasty, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, hip joint mobility, muscle strenght

Health status of Hemodialysis Patients with End Stage Kidney Disease in Kirkuk City

Background: Hemodialysis is a treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in which a machine filters waste and excess fluids from the blood for patients whose kidneys can no longer perform this function on their own. The health status of a hemodialysis patient can vary depending on several factors, including the underlying cause of their kidney disease, their overall health and medical history, the effectiveness of their dialysis treatments, and their adherence to their treatment plan. Aim: This study aimed to assess health status of hemodialysis patients with end stage kidney disease in Kirkuk city: 2023-2024. Methods: Cross –sectional study design conducted from 10 February 2023 to 22 May 2024.This study was conducted at Kirkuk City Hospitals . A purposive sample (non-probability) consisting of 100 patients under hemodialysis at Kirkuk city hospitals . . Data were collected using an interview-structured questionnaire. The structured questionnaire consisted of three main domain includes demographic data, medical data and health status domain which includes (independency, daily physical activity, psychosocial, and life adaptation. A three-point Likert scale was employed, with (3) representing always, (2) some times and (1) for never. Mean of score categorized as low significant less than 1.8, moderate significant :1.8 to 2.39 and high significant between 2.4 to 3. The data were prepared, organized and entered into the computer file; Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) (23 version .The significance level for statistical analysis was set at p<0.05.. The descriptive data analysis (frequencies, percentages) and inferential statics by use Anova and T, test was used for categorical variables Results: The results shows the male more than female and constitute 60 (60.0%), most of "Age Groups", between (50-59) years and constitute 35.0% in the dialysis patients Conclusions: health status of patients with hemodialysis patients different according to independency, daily physical activities, psycho- social aspects, and adaptation of life., mean score for hemodialysis patients were high and moderate in most items, Health status of hemodialysis patients were poor, Socio-demographic characteristics of hemodialysis patients age, gender, marital status and occupation has significant effect on health status at p<0.05.

Bimetallic MOF‐Based Fibrous Device for Noninvasive Bilirubin Sensing

AbstractNoninvasive and real‐time detection of bilirubin concentration enables rapid assessment of liver health status and the diagnosis of jaundice‐related diseases. Herein, the study proposes a strategy to uniformly grow bimetallic FeCo metal–organic framework (MOF) films onto the surface of carbonized electrospun nanofibers via a stepwise growth strategy involving an induction effect of oxide nanomembrane prepared by atomic layer deposition, to realize high‐performance flexible nanofiber bilirubin sensors. Compared with monometallic MOF, the FeCo bimetallic MOF can attain a larger specific surface area, thus augmenting the exposed active sites. Furthermore, the synergistic interaction between the bimetallic active sites on the MOF film and the carbonized nanofibers enhances the electronic conduction network, thereby significantly enhancing the catalytic activity of the flexible electrode for bilirubin. The current nanofibers sensor exhibits excellent performance in bilirubin detection, in terms of high sensitivity, large linear detection range, and low detection limit. The synthesis of bimetallic MOF films on flexible fibers holds promise for the development of highly sensitive electrodes for wearable bilirubin detection devices.

Simplifying Oral health evaluation: a novel approach through single-item surveys

BackgroundThis study adopts a novel approach of using single-item surveys to simplify the assessment of oral health status and behaviors among Japanese private sector employees. We aimed to establish the validity of self-reported oral health in relation to clinical dental examinations, and to elucidate the relationship between oral diseases, health behaviors, and self-assessments. A secondary aim was to explore the association of self-rated oral health with oral health behaviors.Materials and methodsSelf-administered questionnaires and dental examinations were obtained from 2262 Japanese private sector employees. Workers self-rated their overall oral health status according to five choices: “very good,” “good,” “fair,” “poor,” or “bad.” Self-reports were then compared with the results of clinical dental examinations, which included measuring the oral hygiene index (DI-S), the number of decayed teeth, periodontal status (Community Periodontal Index) and number of missing teeth. Convergent validity was also tested by examining the correlations of self-reported oral health status with oral health behaviors.ResultsOverall, 30.8% of workers reported their oral health as “poor” or “bad.” “Poor” or “bad” oral health status was significantly correlated with missing teeth, periodontitis, and decayed teeth. However, lower correlations were found for gingivitis and the oral hygiene index. Most self-reported oral health behaviors were correlated with self-rated oral health; exceptions were “tooth brushing instructions received in a dental clinic,” “having a primary-care dentist,” and “habitual snacking between meals.”ConclusionsSelf-rated oral health provides reasonably valid data, and correlated well with clinically assessed oral health status, including dental caries, periodontal status, and tooth loss. Convergent validity was also found for oral health behaviors.Trial registrationClinical trial registration number: UMIN000023011 (UMIN-CTR).Date of clinical trial registration: 06/07/2016.

Data-model Interactive Health Condition Assessment for Hydropower Unit

Abstract The health condition assessment (HCA) of hydropower unit plays an important role in enhancing safe operation of hydropower stations and reducing maintenance costs. Due to the harsh environment, there are some problems of sensor data during the unit operations, including abnormal data, missing data and high-noise data. Also, it is difficult to obtain complete monitoring data during run-to-failure maintenance. These issues definitely cause the low-confidence HCA. Thus, a data-model-interactive HCA for hydropower unit was proposed. First, a high-fidelity 3D mechanism simulation model, interacting with the actual unit, was built using unit drawing data provided by manufacturers. Average values of the volute inlet pressure and draft tube outlet pressure were fed into the dynamics simulation model to obtain the simulated pressure pulsation data under working conditions (water head H and power P). Then, a long short-term memory based healthy condition model was constructed using the power parameters, simulation and normal pressure pulsation. After model construction, difference values between simulated pressure pulsation dataset and degradation state pressure pulsation dataset were calculated to build the performance degradation index (PDI), describing the HCA of units. Finally, the PDI was fed into the convolutional neural networks and long short-term memory model to achieve degradation trend prediction. Validation experiment was conducted to verify the effectiveness of proposed method using actual monitoring data and operating parameters of 6# unit in the hydropower station.

Diagnostic measures for monitoring and follow-up in periodontology and implant dentistry.

This review discusses the role of diagnostic measures in the lifelong management of periodontal disease and peri-implant complications. After active treatment, these conditions require regular monitoring of the supporting structures of teeth and dental implants to assess bone and soft tissue health over time. Several clinical measures have been developed for the routine assessment of periodontal and peri-implant tissues, including periodontal and peri-implant probing, bleeding on probing, intraoral radiography, biomarker analysis, and microbiological testing. This review highlights the evolution of diagnostic practices, integrating traditional methods with emerging technologies such as resonance frequency analysis and ultrasound imaging to provide a holistic view of peri-implant health assessment. In addition to objective measurements, patient risk factors are considered. The goals of periodontal and peri-implant maintenance are to control disease activity and stabilize tissues through supportive care, which includes diagnostic measures at follow-up visits. This enables clinicians to monitor treatment outcomes, assess health status, and detect recurrence or progression early through routine evaluation, allowing additional interventions, including adjustment of supportive therapy intervals, to further improve and maintain periodontal and peri-implant stability over time.

Association between high assessment of Primary Health Care and health state and use of health services in Brazil

Association between high assessment of Primary Health Care and health state and use of health services in Brazil

Dietary supplementation with sea buckthorn meal alone and in combination with bilberry leaves: assessment of growth performance, health status and intestinal microflora in broiler chickens

Abstract This experiment aimed to investigate the effect of sea buckthorn meal alone and in combination with bilberry leaves on growth performance, health status and intestinal microflora in broiler chickens. A total of 90 healthy 1-day-old Cobb 500 broilers were randomly divided into 3 treatment groups and housed in digestibility cages under controlled environmental conditions. The dietary treatments included a basal diet (T0), a basal diet +1% sea buckthorn meal (T1) and a basal diet + 1% sea buckthorn meal and bilberry leaves (T2). The results showed that experimental diets did not influenced the growth performance. At 42 d, T2 had the highest serum iron level among the three groups. Compared to T0, T1 and T2 significantly reduced Enterobacteriaceae, E.coli and staphylococci in the cecal and intestinal contents and improved the lactobacilli populations number. The most effective way to reduce the number of harmful bacteria in the cecal content was through the diet that contained sea buckthorn meal alone. In conclusion, adding sea buckthorn meal in the diet of broiler chickens can be an effective solution to promote a healthy gut microflora. This aligns with the current strategy of reducing agro-industrial food waste by repurposing it in other industries.

Patient-reported symptom interference with activity- and mood-related functioning prior to start of an early-phase oncology combination trial including immune checkpoint blockade.

12084 Background: We examined symptom interference with activity- and mood-related functioning at baseline in early-stage trials of combination treatments that included at least one immune checkpoint inhibitor, and its association with quality of life (QOL)-, clinical-, and trial-related factors. Methods: Patients scheduled to begin an early-phase trial of a combination treatment with immune checkpoint blockade, and who had not received trial-related treatment were recruited into a prospective longitudinal study design (NCI R01CA242565), and completed the following validated patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures prior to trial start: MD Anderson Symptom Inventory- Immunotherapy (score range: 0-10, higher scores = worse symptom interference); NCI’s PRO Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (0-4, higher = worse severity); EuroQoL-5 dimensions assessing health status (0-100, higher = better health) and problems with self-care, and the Sloan Global QOL scale (0-10, higher = better QOL). Statistical tests included Spearman’s correlation rho (r) and multivariable linear regression. Results: 977 baseline PRO measures were completed by 247 patients (median age = 59 y; 46% female). Worst symptom-related interference was with activity (3.0 on a 0-10 scale), work (2.9), and enjoyment of life (2.4). Composite score means were 2.8 for symptom interference with walking, activity, and work (WAW; activity-related functioning), and 2.1 for interference with relationships, enjoyment of life, and mood (REM; mood-related functioning). Symptoms most associated with worse WAW were fatigue (P<0.001) and appetite loss (P=0.001). Worse WAW was linked to worse REM (r=0.78, P<0.001). Diminished sexual interest/mood (DSI) was associated with worse WAW (r=0.35, P<0.001) and REM (r=0.33, P<0.001). Worse WAW was linked to shorter trial duration (P=0.003) and worse response (progression of disease/immune-related progression) on the clinical trial (P=0.05). Conclusions: This first, comprehensive and prospective examination of symptom interference with functioning at trial baseline found that worse symptom interference was linked to worse QOL, poorer clinical outcomes, and shorter trial duration. These findings suggest that baseline patient-reported symptom interference with functioning can serve as a potential biomarker of poor prognosis in investigational trials, and that trial patients may benefit from initiation of supportive care prior to trial start. [Table: see text]

Associations between perceived occupational stressors and symptoms severity of depression, anxiety and stress among academic faculty: First cross-sectional study from Qatar

BackgroundMental health concerns among university faculty are on the rise, with reports of anxiety, depression, and occupational stress, impacting the higher education community. In Qatar, an assessment of faculty mental health has not been previously realized. The objectives of the current study were twofold: Firstly, to evaluate the extent of perceived occupational stress, depression, anxiety, and stress, and secondly, to assess the association among these mental health parameters.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among faculty using an online, self-administered, anonymous, voluntary survey. All faculty were included by sending the survey to their institutional emails. In addition to faculty demographics and general health status, the survey measured perceived stress due to academic job roles using the Faculty Stress Index (FSI) with its five distinct domains, and assessed faculty mental health using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 items (DASS-21). Modified Poisson regression with robust variance was used to assess how FSI influences levels of depression, anxiety, and stress.ResultsA total of 112 faculty responded to the survey. The highest faculty self-perceptions of mental health conditions were for anxiety (63% at least moderate), followed by depression (30% at least moderate), and least for stress (26% at least moderate). The overall mean FSI score was 48.8 ± 29.4; time constraint and rewards and recognition domains scored highest (18.5 ± 11.4 and 13.3 ± 9.3 respectively) while the departmental influence domain scored least (4.8 ± 4.4). Increased risk of at least moderate levels of self-perceived depression and stress were significantly associated with higher FSI score (p˂0.001). Increased risk of at least moderate levels of depression were less likely among faculty aged 50 years and above (p = 0.034), while increased risk of at least moderate levels of anxiety were more likely among faculty from humanities colleges (p = 0.027).ConclusionsThis is the first investigation of university faculty mental health in Qatar, indicating multifactorial perceived occupational stress, associated with higher perceived severity of mental health conditions. These baseline results establish links between specific occupational stressors for faculty and their mental well-being. As such, assessment of mental health conditions, controlling occupational stress, and developing tailored mental health interventions for faculty, are strategic to implement and foster well-being of academics. Further research into mental health of faculty and designing effective interventions that consider their specific stressors and associated factors are warranted.

Trace Elements in Stenella coeruleoalba: Assessment of Marine Environmental Pollution and Dolphin Health Status.

Heavy metals are environmental contaminants and can easily accumulate and biomagnify in various marine species (fishes and mammalians) at the top of the aquatic food chain. Among marine mammalians, the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) is the most abundant cetacean in the Mediterranean Sea and is considered to be a sentinel species to monitor the environmental marine pollution. In this study, the contents of toxic metals and metalloids (Cd, Pb, Hg, and As), micro-elements (Ni, Cr, Cu, Fe, Co, Mn, Se and Zn) and macro-elements (Na, Ca, K, Mg and P) were evaluated by ICP-MS analysis in several organs/tissues (lung, skin, muscle and liver) of Stenella coeruleoalba. The assessment of marine environmental pollution and dolphins health status was carried out through further analysis of the same specific parameters such as the metal pollution index (MPI) and coefficient of condition (K). Finally, the correlation between toxic metals and metalloids and essential micro-elements, expressed as molar ratios, was analyzed to evaluate the detoxifying ability (effectiveness) of Zn, Se and Cu. Data obtained showed the presence of toxic metals and metalloids analyzed in the Stenella coeruleoalba samples but the MPI values suggested a low environmental contamination of the Mediterranean Sea where dolphins lived. The content of micro- and macro-elements was found to be in a normal range for this species and predictive of dolphins good health status, as confirmed by the coefficient of condition K. However, the correlation between toxic and essential metals, expressed as molar ratios, showed that the following toxic metals cannot be detoxified by the essential metals: 66Zn/201Hg, 82Se/201Hg, 63Cu/201Hg and 66Zn/52Cr, 82Se/52Cr, 63Cu/52Cr. Therefore, this study highlights the key role of dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba to assess marine pollution and the importance of analyzing the complete mineral profile to evaluate the animal health status.