Increase In Average Life Expectancy Research Articles

Are Japanese Older Adults Rejuvenating? Changes in Health-Related Measures Among Older Community Dwellers in the Last Decade.

During the last three decades, Japan has become one of the world's top countries for longevity, and the increase in average life expectancy is accompanied by a sharp rise in older population 65 years of age and above to ∼28%. This study aimed to examine the changes in major health-related measures, including a physical constitution, physical function, and functional capacity of community-dwelling Japanese older people in the last decade. From the data of 13 longitudinal cohort studies on aging conducted in Japan with a total of 13,441 older subjects, this study analyzed the changes in six indices that are related to health and functioning of the older people; height, weight, body mass index, walking speed, grip strength, and instrumental activity of daily living, between 2007 (±2 years) and 2017 (±2 years). Comparison of data for the two periods between subjects matched for age group and gender evidently showed better health status and a slower decline in most of the health-related measures in 2017 compared to a decade ago. The results of this study indicate that the phenomenon of “rejuvenation” is occurring among the new generation of Japanese older adults, and the importance of this older population as a social resource in the super-aged society should be reacknowledged.

Degenerative lumbar spine stenosis: minimally invasive microsurgical methods of treatment

Degenerative lumbar spine stenosis is one of the main causes of chronic pain and radiculopathy in advanced age people. Along with increase in average life expectancy, degenerative lumbar spine stenosis becomes the most common indication for spinal surgery. There is still no consensus regarding the most optimal surgical approach due to the variety of modern surgical methods. In recent years, minimally invasive spinal surgery has become a more advisable alternative to open surgery due to its advanced technical features combined with less soft tissue damage, lower risk of complications and shorter postoperative recovery.

Inhibition of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Replication with Eprosartan and Ribavirin In Vitro and In Vivo

Active search for new antiviral substances is currently underway. The purpose of this work is to identify the inhibitory activity of eprosartan medication in comparison with ribavirin in vitro and in vivo in relation to tick-borne encephalitis virus. The value of the half the maximum cytotoxic concentration (CC50) for eprosartan (8.8±1.2 mg/ml) and ribavirin (1.074±0.16 mg/ml) was established. To obtain a medium effective virus-inhibiting concentration (IC50) of the medications, EIA data were used. Using nonlinear regression analysis of the percentage of antigen positive samples, IC50 values of the studied substances were obtained, which for eprosartan was 0.64±0.23 mg/ml in the treatment regimen. The selective index (SI) or chemotherapeutic index (CTI) was 13.7. The IC50 of ribavirin was 0.0067±0.0015 mg/ml, SI or CTI was 160. The suppression of viral reproduction 2.0 log TCID50 occurred in PEK cell culture under the influence of eprosartan at concentrations of 1.2–3.0 mg/ml (treatment regimen), under the influence of ribavirin — 0.2 mg/ml (prophylactic regimen) and 0.2–0.0125 mg/ml (treatment regimen). Samples with eprosartan (1.5 and 0.6 mg/ml) showed an increase in survival of mice by 50% and 20% compared with the virus control group in the in vivo model and, accordingly, an increase in average life expectancy of 5.2 and 2.1 days. Samples with ribavirin (0.05 and 0.025 mg/ml) increased the survival of mice by 60% and 40% and, accordingly, increased the life expectancy by 7.3 and 4.8 days. The data obtained allow recommending eprosartan as an active agent against tick-borne encephalitis virus along with ribavirin.

EVALUATION OF THE FREQUENCY OF DEVELOPMENT OF POSTOPERATIVE CEREBRAL DYSFUNCTION DEPENDING ON THE METHOD OF PROSTHETICS OF THE AORTAL VALVE OF THE HEART

The worldwide trend towards an increase in average life expectancy is associated with an increase in the prevalence of acquired heart defects, which at a certain stage dictates the need for cardiac surgery. We examined 72 patients (52 men and 20 women) who underwent planned aortic valve prosthetics. All patients were divided into two groups depending on the method of implantation of the prosthesis: the first group-aortic valve replacement when performing open surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass, the second group-endovascular prosthetics. The first group included 48 men and 18 women, whose average age was 66 years old; the second group included 4 men and 2 women, whose average age was 73 years. All patients underwent a comprehensive examination in the preoperative and postoperative periods, including an anamnesis assessment, a neurological examination using the NIHSS and Rankin scales, neuropsychological (Montreal Cognitive Assessment and frontal dysfunction battery) and psychometric (Hospital anxiety and depression scale) tests, as well as computed tomography the head in identifying clinical signs of perioperative stroke. Postoperative cerebral dysfunction was diagnosed in 44.4% (n = 32) of patients. The overall incidence of clinical types of postoperative cerebral dysfunction was as follows: perioperative stroke - 2.8% (n = 2), symptomatic delirium of the early postoperative period - 13.9% (n = 10), delayed cognitive impairment - 33.3% (n = 24) There were no acute clinical types of postoperative cerebral dysfunction in the endovascular treatment group. Delayed cognitive impairment in both groups were detected in 33.3% (in the first group n = 22, in the second group n = 2). According to the results of the study, acute clinical types of postoperative cerebral dysfunction were absent in the endovascular treatment group, cognitive impairment was detected in 1/3 of the patients in both groups.

Socioeconomic Trends of the Regional Development

The article describes the role of high-quality human capital in the modern economy, socioeconomic, and demographic trends in the regions. The research has revealed a certain relationship and mutual influence of economic and social factors on demographic trends. The assessment of the efficiency of the functioning of social sectors at the all-Russian Federal level and in the Ural Federal District revealed a low level of resource provision, insufficient investment in education and healthcare, which affects the state of fixed assets, leads to a low capital-labour ratio, and lags in terms of labour productivity in these sectors compared to indicators on average for the country's economy. An insufficient level of efficiency of the social sphere affects the social and demographic indicators. On the example of Russia and the Ural Federal District, a stable mutual influence of the economic situation and social aspects of population reproduction is shown. For a quantitative assessment of the relationship between economic, social and demographic processes in the Ural Federal District, indicators were selected for 6 subjects of the Ural Federal District for 2000-2018, the calculation was made using the methods of correlation and regression analysis, the coefficient of natural population growth was chosen as the main indicator characterizing the demographic trends. The model of the impact of socioeconomic indicators on demographic trends in the subjects of the Ural Federal Districts were built. With the unconditional impact of the incidence rate on the change in natural population growth, significant values were obtained for the following factors: an increase in the expenditures of the budgets of territorial compulsory health insurance funds, an increase in the share of the working-age population, an improvement in the welfare of the population, which contributes to an increase in average life expectancy, a reduction in mortality, and acceleration of demographic processes in the regions

Prevalence and incidence of cognitive impairment in an elder Portuguese population (65\u201385\u2009years old)

BackgroundThe increase in average life expectancy increases the risk of illness and frailty in the elderly, especially in the cognitive arena. This study has the objective to estimate the prevalence and incidence of cognitive impairment, in a representative sample of 65 to 85 years old followed for a mean period of 6-years.MethodsSubjects aged 65–85 years (n = 586) were screened at baseline (1999–2004) to estimate the prevalence of cognitive impairment using the Mini-Mental State Examination. A total of 287 individuals with a normal MMSE at baseline were reassessed after 6.2 mean years (± 4.30 years) to evaluate the incidence of cognitive impairment, defined as scoring below the age and education-adjusted MMSE cut-off points adapted for the Portuguese population. We did not exclude Dementia.ResultsThe baseline prevalence of cognitive impairment was 15.5% (95% CI: 12.7–18.7). Higher in women (18.9%; 95% CI: 14.9–23.3), that in men (10.4%; 95% CI: 6.7–15.1). Increased with age and was highest for participants without any schooling. The overall incidence rate was 26.97 per 1000 person-years; higher in women (33.8 per 1000 person-years) than in men (18.0 per 1000 person-years). Higher for the oldest participants and those with no schooling. Taking the standard European population, we estimated a prevalence of 16.5% and an incidence of 34.4 per 1000 person-years.ConclusionThe prevalence of cognitive impairment in Portugal is within the estimated interval for the European population, and the incidence is lower than for the majority of the European countries. Women, senior and elders without education have a higher risk of cognitive impairment. In our sample, neither employment nor marital status has a significant effect on cognitive impairment.

Universities of the Third Age and Their Role in Education and Preventive Gerontology

Rapid ageing leads to huge transformations in many areas of life - politics, economy, culture, education, medicine and care services, which in turn shapes the future of all people. Active lifestyle, education and better quality of geriatric care will undoubtedly improve the health and well-being of seniors. The growing population of elderly people, caused, among other things, by the increase in average life expectancy, and current trends in reproduction, migration and mortality, necessitate the development of a new vision on the functioning of seniors and their social roles in the transforming social reality. One platform for the activity and cooperation of older people involves universities of the third age. Universities of the Third Age is an international initiative promoting lifelong learning. They are educational institutions for adults whose programme offers are targeted at seniors. Universities of the third age were established in response to rapid socio-demographic changes in society. They are part of the lifelong learning concept, where education in modern gerontology is regarded as a process enabling seniors to develop comprehensively, manage their own lives, be active in late adulthood, and develop and broaden their interests. The purpose of this article is to explain the idea behind universities of the third age as an unquestioned need to support seniors in education and adaptation to old age. Key words: senior, ageing, education, gerontology, university

One-year postoperative mortality rate among the elderly with hip fractures at a single tertiary care center.

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Hip fractures are one of the leading causes of disability and dependency among the elderly. The rate of hip fractures has been progressively increasing due to the continuing increase in average life expectancy. Surgical intervention is the mainstay of treatment, but with an increasing prevalence of comorbid conditions and decreased functional capacity in elderly patients, more patients are prone to postoperative complications.OBJECTIVES: Assess the value of surgical intervention for hip fractures among the elderly by quantifying the 1-year mortality rate and assessing factors associated with mortality.DESIGN: Medical record review.SETTING: Tertiary care center.PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients 60 years of age or older who sustained a hip fracture between the period of 2008 to 2018 in a single tertiary healthcare center. Data was obtained from case files, using both electronic and paper files.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The 1-year mortality rate for hip fracture, postoperative complications and factors associated with mortality.SAMPLE SIZE: 802 patients.RESULTS: The majority of patients underwent surgical intervention (93%). Intra- and postoperative complications were 3% and 16%, respectively. Four percent of the sample died within 30 days, and 11% died within one year. In a multivariate analysis, an increased risk of 1-year mortality was associated with neck of femur fractures and postoperative complications (P=.034, <.001, respectively)CONCLUSION: The 1-year mortality risk in our study reinforces the importance of aggressive surgical intervention for hip fractures.LIMITATION: Single-centered study.CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.

The NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery App in healthy aging and cognitive decline due to Alzheimer’s Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment

Abstract Introduction There has been a significant increase in average life expectancy. This increase brought more focus on aging with more health, autonomy and independence. Among current public health concerns, the detection of cognitive decline in older individuals stands out, namely in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Accurate, brief, practical and automated measures are needed to assess cognitive function throughout the life-span. Since 2015, there is the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery (NIHTB-CB) app that meets these requirements and assesses the neurocognitive subdomains of attention, episodic memory, executive function, language, processing speed, and working memory. The European Portuguese app, developed by our team, will be validated for the Portuguese older adults. Objectives The aim is presenting a literature review of the use of NIHTB-CB in healthy aging and cognitive decline in MCI and AD. Methodology Advanced search in the databases of Web of Science and Google Scholar for studies published between 2016-2019, including articles and meeting abstracts with the words: NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery, AD, MCI, Elder or Senior or Older. Results According to the studies reviewed, NIHTB-CB may be useful in memory clinics (e.g.Hackett et al, 2018; Mayeda et al. 2018); clinical trials (e.g.Buckley et al., 2017; Parsey, Bagger &amp; Hanson, 2019); and healthy aging (e.g.Scott, Sorell, &amp; Benitez, 2019). Preliminary results of the ARMADA study (Weintraub et al, 2019) with people with more than 85 years old became available showing that generally, NIHTB-CB is well accepted, also in MCI patients. No difficulties were found in the use of the iPad with older adults. Conclusion NIHTB-CB measures provide a valid assessment of neurocognitive domains that are important in healthy aging, MCI and AD. As the studies are still scarce, more research is needed.

Plasma Neurofilament Light Chain as a Translational Biomarker of Aging and Neurodegeneration in Dogs.

Age is a primary risk factor for multiple comorbidities including neurodegenerative diseases. Pet dogs and humans represent two populations that have experienced a significant increase in average life expectancy over the last century. A higher prevalence of age-related neurodegenerative diseases has been observed across both species, and human diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), have canine analogs, canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD), and degenerative myelopathy (DM) respectively. In humans, protein biomarkers have proved useful in the prediction and diagnosis of neurodegeneration. Molecular signatures of many proteins are highly conserved across species. In this study, we explored the potential of the neuronal cytoskeletal protein neurofilament light chain (NfL) as a biomarker of neuro-aging in dogs using an ultrasensitive single-molecule array assay to measure plasma concentrations. Healthy dogs of different ages and dogs affected with CCD and DM were evaluated. The mean plasma NfL concentrations in the different age groups of the healthy population were as follows: 4.55 ± 1.70pg/mL in puppy/junior group (0.43-2years), 13.51 ± 6.8pg/mL in adult/mature group (2.1-9years), and 47.1 ± 12.68pg/mL in geriatric/senior group (9.3-14.5years). Concentrations in dogs with DM (7.5-12.6years) and CCD (11.0-15.6years) were 84.17 ± 53.57pg/mL and 100.73 ± 83.72pg/mL, respectively. Plasma NfL increases in an age-dependent manner and is significantly elevated in dogs diagnosed with neurodegenerative disease. This work identified plasma NfL as a key clinical index of neuro-aging and neurodegeneration in pet dogs. Our findings mirror recent reports from human neurodegenerative diseases.

Prdx6 Plays a Main Role in the Crosstalk Between Aging and Metabolic Sarcopenia.

With the increase in average life expectancy, several individuals are affected by age-associated non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs). The presence of NCDs, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), leads to the reduction in skeletal muscle mass, a pathological condition defined as sarcopenia. A key factor linking sarcopenia with cellular senescence and diabetes mellitus (DM) is oxidative stress. We previously reported as the absence of Peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6), an antioxidant enzyme implicated in maintaining intracellular redox homeostasis, induces an early-stage of T2DM. In the present study we sought to understand the role of Prdx6 in the crosstalk between aging and diabetic sarcopenia, by using Prdx6 knockout (Prdx6-/-) mice. Absence of Prdx6 reduced telomeres length and Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) nuclear localization. An increase in Sa-β-Gal activity and p53-p21 pro-aging pathway were also evident. An impairment in IGF-1 (Insulin-like Groth Factor-1)/Akt-1/mTOR pathway leading to a relative increase in Forkhead Box O1 (FOXO1) nuclear localization and in a decrease of muscle differentiation as per lower levels of myoblast determination protein 1 (MyoD) was observed. Muscle atrophy was also present in Prdx6-/- mice by the increase in Muscle RING finger 1 (MuRF1) levels and proteins ubiquitination associated to a reduction in muscle strength. The present study, innovatively, highlights a fundamental role of Prdx6, in the crosstalk between aging, sarcopenia, and DM.

Cuidar de Quem Cuida: Ferramentas de Avaliação dos Cuidadores

O envelhecimento populacional é uma realidade, sendo que o aumento da esperança média de vida acarreta maior morbilidade nos indivíduos idosos e, consequentemente, um maior grau de dependência por parte destes. Na sequência destas alterações demográficas surgem alterações estruturais em termos familiares, com necessidade de estabelecer um prestador de cuidados para determinado indivíduo dependente.As repercussões associadas ao processo de cuidar são várias, atingindo diversas áreas da vida do cuidador. Existem disponíveis vários instrumentos para avaliação da sobrecarga do cuidador: Carer Assessment of Difficulties Index, Carer Assessment of Satisfactions Index, Carer Assessment of Managing Index, Carers’ Assessment of Managing Index, Escala de avaliação da Satisfação com o Suporte Social e a Burden Interview Scale de Zarit. Estas avaliam diferentes áreas da vida do cuidador, desde a saúde física, mental, área social e mesmo financeira. Estes instrumentos devem ser utilizados de forma sistemática para identificar situações de sobrecarga precocemente.

The Impact of HPB on Elderly Diseases (Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Hypercholesterolemia, Minor Stroke, Kidney Failure and Heart Problem): a Logistic Analysis

Despite an increase in average life expectancy among the population due to rapid economic development, there is an epidemic increase in the cases of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including diabetes, hypertension and stroke, which has caused over 1000 deaths over the years. This study aims to add research contribution by investigating the impact of factors of HPB on elderly health diseases. The target population is Malaysian elderly aged 60 years and above. As an ethnic diversity is an important feature of Malaysia, this study includes all the major ethnicity (such as Malay, Chinese and Indian). The sampling frame chosen includes Perak, Penang, Malacca and Kuala Lumpur, as they have been recorded as some of the states with older populations. This study employed the Logistic Regression Model for analysing the data. 400 questionnaires have been administered. The result indicated that elderly health diseases is significantly affected by the factors of HPB. Hence, Health promotion in health care services for elderly needs active support. Findings suggest that more elderly Health Promotion programs and healthcare policies can be the tools to the empowerment of elderly health condition.

Elixhauser comorbidity measures-based risk factors associated with 30-day mortality in elderly population after femur fracture surgery: a propensity scorematched retrospective case-control study.

Background:As the average life expectancy increases, anesthesiologists confront unique challenges in the perioperative care of elderly patients who have significant comorbidities. In this study, we evaluated Elixhauser comorbidity measures-based risk factors associated with 30-day mortality in patients aged 66 years and older who underwent femur fracture surgery. Methods:We used the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III which contains the medical records of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in the United States between 2001 and 2012 to identify patients admitted to the ICU after femur fracture surgery (n=209). Patients who died within 30 days of admission (case group, n=49) were propensity score-matched to patients who did not (control group, n=98). The variables for matching were age, sex, race, anemia (hemoglobin ≤10 g/dl), and malignancy. We attempted to explain mortality via nine independent factors: hypertension, uncomplicated diabetes, complicated diabetes, congestive heart failure (CHF), cardiac arrhythmias, chronic pulmonary disease, renal failure, neurological disorders other than paralysis, and peripheral vascular disease. Results:Logistic regression identified three significant risk factors: CHF, arrhythmias, and neurological disorders other than paralysis. The odds ratio (OR) for the 30-day mortality of CHF was 4.99 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.18 to 12.06). The equivalent ORs for cardiac arrhythmias and neurological disorders other than paralysis were 2.61 (95% CI, 1.14 to 6.21) and 2.40 (95% CI, 0.95 to 6.48), respectively. Conclusions:Identifying patients with these risk factors (CHF, arrhythmias, and neurological disorders other than paralysis) will assist clinicians with perioperative planning and provide caregivers with valuable information for decision-making.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of lipid-lowering agents

Introduction.Nowadays, lipid-lowering therapy is considered an essential strategy for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular outcomes, which is confirmed by numerous studies. Nevertheless, researches are often guided by analysis of surrogate endpoints, which becomes not just everyday practice, but also an actual problem. Surrogate endpoints are wellknown sources of bias that can distort the risk-benefit analysis.Theobjectiveof the study was to assess the significance of lipid-lowering therapy with statins in relation to mortality.Methods and materials.The analysis of prospective controlled trials was carried out with a sample of 2000 patients and more, in which mortality rate was assessed for 2 or more years of statin therapy, as well as systematic literature reviews with a meta-analysis of mortality rates. The search was carried out on websites of the Russian scientific electronic libraries eLibrary and сyberleninka , English-language works – on the PubMed website.Results.An increase in survival during treatment with statins in case of secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases reached about 2 % after five years’ treatment and was absent after ten years’ treatment. The average increase in life expectancy was only 4.1 days. Primary prevention with statins has not been shown to increase survival significantly.Conclusion.Effectiveness of lipid-lowering therapy with statins as a part of secondary prevention of cardiovascular outcomes assessed by surrogate endpoints could be greatly exaggerated. A biased approach to selecting surrogate endpoints can lead to incorrect results. Similarly, the encouraging results of therapy with statins in the prevention of cardiovascular mortality may be biased when the effect of statins on other causes of death is not considered. Mortality refers to a universal endpoint that characterizes both the effectiveness and safety of a drug.

Эффективность и безопасность выполнения первичного чрескожного коронарного вмешательства в группе пациентов старческого возраста с острым коронарным синдромом

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is the gold standard of treating patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The results of major clinical trials on ACS patients’ treatment are reflected in modern guidelines, where PPCI is of high evidence level and is superior to conservative therapy in long-term treatment results. Treatment of elderly patients over 75 years old is carried due to modern clinical guidelines, even though few patients of this age group are included in the studies. The increase in population average life expectancy causes the increase in number of elderly ACS patients with comorbid pathology. In its turn, it affects both the choice of treatment tactics and PPCI volume. Therefore, a study of this age group is required. The present review reflects the main clinical studies and analysis of elderly patients’ treatment

Radiofrequency therapy in esthetic dermatology: A review of clinical evidences

Chronological skin aging causes the modification of genetic material through enzymes and proteins changes. The process reduces cellular proliferation, along with loss of tissue elasticity, reduced ability to regulate aqueous exchanges, and inefficient tissue replication. Appearance is negatively affected by cumulative changes in coloration, texture, and elasticity over time. The increase in the population's average life expectancy boosts the search for cosmetic therapies that can delay aging, mostly for the noninvasive modalities. Among the various options, radiofrequency therapy is a technique that can help reduce the effects of skin aging. Therefore, this study aims to review clinical evidence provided by scientific literature on the benefits of using radiofrequency therapy in reducing skin aging effects. A review of the literature concerning skin aging, characteristics of radiofrequency therapy, and radiofrequency therapy in the treatment of skin laxity and mechanism of action was conducted using PubMed. The included studies have suggested that the mechanism of radiofrequency action is heating the dermis while preserving the epidermis. This heating causes immediate collagen denaturation, which is followed by the formation of new collagen, naturally providing skin tightening and greater elasticity. Even when used as single therapeutic modality, radiofrequency seems to meet the expectations in reducing the effects of skin aging.

Effects of European emission reductions on air quality in the Netherlands and the associated health effects

Policies implemented in Europe since the 1970s to improve the air quality have resulted in decreases in emissions in many countries with corresponding reductions in concentrations of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM). We report here how much the air quality and associated health effects in the Netherlands have improved since 1980 and which countries, sectors and policies are responsible for this. To quantify the effects of emission reduction policies since 1980 we calculated the ambient concentrations of air pollutants in the Netherlands from 1980 to 2015, using two scenarios. A Baseline scenario with reported emissions in Europe and a World Avoided scenario which assumed that no air quality policies were adopted from 1980 onwards which would result in the growth in emissions of air pollutants. In the World Avoided scenario, the annual average PM2.5 concentration in the Netherlands increases from 59 μg m−3 in 1980 to 102 μg m−3 in 2015, while in reality (Baseline scenario) concentrations decreased to about 12 μg m−3. The avoided PM2.5 concentration in 2015 accounts for more than half (56%) of reductions in emissions in sectors outside the Netherlands. Foreign (38%) and domestic (16%) industry is the main contributing sector, followed by agriculture (23%) and transport (15%). In 2015, the avoided concentrations of air pollutants correspond to about 700,000 avoided years of life lost in the Netherlands per year, with an associated number of avoided attributable deaths of about 66,000 per year, and an increase in average life expectancy of about 6 years. The corresponding avoided monetary health damage amounts to between € 35 and € 77 billion per year in 2015.

Ophthalmic drug films in the therapy of experimental herpetic keratoconjunctivitis.

The complexity of the treatment of herpetic keratoconjunctivitis is due to the severity of the disease, complications, the transition to chronic relapsing forms and the insufficient effectiveness of the drugs used, which leads to a steady increase in the number of patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of the eye drug films «GlazAvir» in the experimental model of acute herpetic eye infection in rabbits. to study the specific activity of «GlazAvir» and compare the long-term indicators of the level of manifestation of individual clinical signs of keratoconjunctivitis. In the work we used rabbits of the Chinchilla breed, the herpes simplex virus type 1 and the eye drug films «GlazAvir». A model of ophthalmic herpetic infection was formed by infection of rabbits with virus-containing material of a pre-scarified eye cornea against the background of local anesthesia. Аnimals were treated with the drug «GlazAvir» - 1 application per day for 7 days. Animals were observed daily for 15 days, then every 3 days until the 25th day of observation. The effectiveness of the drug was evaluated at the peak of the development of the pathological process. There was a decrease in mortality from 50 to 20%, and an increase in average life expectancy by 27.87%, compared with the control in animals treated with «GlazAvir». It was noted after activation of herpetic keratoconjunctivitis on the 2nd - 5th day, at the peak of the disease (6-9th day) a statistically significant decrease in the activity of the pathological process (p<0.05) by rabbits treated with the «GlazAvir» ophthalmic drug films. The tendency to normalization by the rabbits treated with the «GlazAvir» preparation was observed until the 14th day. The data obtained indicate the pronounced effectiveness of the «GlazAvir» preparation in the treatment of experimental herpesvirus keratoconjunctivitis.

Changing the urban design of cities for health: The superblock model

BackgroundCar-dependent city planning has resulted in high levels of environmental pollution, sedentary lifestyles and increased vulnerability to the effects of climate change. The Barcelona Superblock model is an innovative urban and transport planning strategy that aims to reclaim public space for people, reduce motorized transport, promote sustainable mobility and active lifestyles, provide urban greening and mitigate effects of climate change. We estimated the health impacts of implementing this urban model across Barcelona. MethodsWe carried out a quantitative health impact assessment (HIA) study for Barcelona residents ≥20 years (N = 1,301,827) on the projected Superblock area level (N = 503), following the comparative risk assessment methodology. We 1) estimated expected changes in (a) transport-related physical activity (PA), (b) air pollution (NO2), (c) road traffic noise, (d) green space, and (e) reduction of the urban heat island (UHI) effect through heat reductions; 2) scaled available risk estimates; and 3) calculated attributable health impact fractions. Estimated endpoints were preventable premature mortality, changes in life expectancy and economic impacts. ResultsWe estimated that 667 premature deaths (95% CI: 235–1,098) could be prevented annually through implementing the 503 Superblocks. The greatest number of preventable deaths could be attributed to reductions in NO2 (291, 95% PI: 0–838), followed by noise (163, 95% CI: 83–246), heat (117, 95% CI: 101–137), and green space development (60, 95% CI: 0–119). Increased PA for an estimated 65,000 persons shifting car/motorcycle trips to public and active transport resulted in 36 preventable deaths (95% CI: 26–50). The Superblocks were estimated to result in an average increase in life expectancy for the Barcelona adult population of almost 200 days (95% CI: 99–297), and result in an annual economic impact of 1.7 billion EUR (95% CI: 0.6–2.8). DiscussionThe Barcelona Superblocks were estimated to help reduce harmful environmental exposures (i.e. air pollution, noise, and heat) while simultaneously increase PA levels and access to green space, and thereby provide substantial health benefits. For an equitable distribution of health benefits, the Superblocks should be implemented consistently across the entire city. Similar health benefits are expected for other cities that face similar challenges of environmental pollution, climate change vulnerability and low PA levels, by adopting the Barcelona Superblock model.