WHO Director-General Research Articles

Artificial Neural Networks for Predicting Food Antiradical Potential

Using an artificial neural network (ANN), the values of the antiradical potential of 1315 items of food and agricultural raw materials were calculated. We used an ANN with the structure of a “multilayer perceptron” (MLP) and with the hyberbolic tangent (Tanh) as an activation function. Values reported in the United States Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies (FNDDS) were taken as input to the analysis. When training the ANN, 60 parameters were used, such as the content of plastic substances, food calories, the amount of mineral components, vitamins, the composition of fatty acids and additional substances presented in this database. The analysis revealed correlations, namely, a direct relationship between the value of the antiradical potential (ARP) of food and the concentration of dietary fiber (r = 0.539) and a negative correlation between the value of ARP and the total calorie content of food (r = −0.432) at a significance level of p < 0.001 for both values. The average ARP value for 10 product groups within the 95% CI (confidence interval) was ≈23–28 equivalents (in terms of ascorbic acid) per 1 g of dry matter. The study also evaluated the range of average values of the daily recommended intake of food components (according to Food and Agriculture Organization—FAO, World Health Organization—WHO, Russia and the USA), which within the 95% CI, amounted to 23.41–28.98 equivalents per 1 g of dry weight. Based on the results of the study, it was found that the predicted ARP values depend not only on the type of raw materials and the method of their processing, but also on a number of other environmental and technological factors that make it difficult to obtain accurate values.

Acute toxicity evaluation of methanol, ethanol and aqueous extracts of Balanophora latisepala (V.Tiegh.) Lec.

Balanophora latisepala has been used in traditional medicine in Vietnam for many years with both proven and unproven scientific proofs. This study aimed to evaluate the acute toxicity effects of B. latisepala by testing safety parameters of hot water, ethanol and methanol extracts of B. latisepala in Mus musculus. The acute toxicity was studied according to the World Health Organisations guideline for the evaluation of the safety and efficacy of herbal medicines. During study, a single dose of 1000, 2000 and 5000 mg/kg of each extract was orally administered to Swiss mice. To determine the median lethal dose, experimental mice were observed in behavior and mortality for 72 hours. Data of organ weight, histopathology,biochemical and hematology were also collected. The results showed that hot water, ethanol and methanol extracts at a dose of 5000 mg/kg did not induce mortality in experimental mice; therefore, LD50 is not determined. Insignificant changes were found in relative organ weight at dose 5000 mg/kg for all of the extracts. Similarly, no significant differences were observed in biochemical indices and organ histology. However, changes in hematological indices in both male and female mice were noticed. In male mice, it is likely that all B. latisepala extracts induced anemia. Moreover, clotting or bleeding abnormalities were also observed in female mice. Methanol extracts had the highest effect to hematology indices (p<0.05). Therefore, B.latisepala in different doses was shown its safety under acute toxicity studies with promising applications in drug therapy.

Analysis of industrial pollution in India

Barry Commoner, American biologist once said, “Environmental pollution is an incurable disease. It can only be prevented”. But instead of preventing we are aggravating it. Around 7.4 Lacks people die in India annually because of abnormal temperatures due to climate change according to a recent Lancets study. 51% of air pollution in India is due to industries. Indians are exposed to 25 micrograms per cubic metre above World Health Organisations limit of 10 micrograms per cubic metre of particulate matter. We know how much industrial pollution has been damaging our environment, but do we have effective laws in order to protect citizens of India against environmental offenders? Are existing laws and legislation efficient enough to punish the offenders and protect the victims? We do not have any systematic approach for making Industrial sector accountable and responsible towards proper management of waste effluents as it contributes around 50% of environment pollution. Industries like leather, cement, plastic, garments, sugar, steel and petroleum are the major polluting industries. The objective of this paper is to throw light on the important issue of mismanagement of our future and future of our generations so that some useful solutions can come out.

A comprehensive study of radon in drinking waters of Hanumangarh district and the assessment of resulting dose to local population.

Study of radon concentration in drinking water from different sources (groundwater and surface water) used across the Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan, India, was done using scintillation-based detector. The concentration of radon in surface water varied from 0.12 to 2.07Bq/l with an average value of 0.62Bq/l and a standard deviation of 0.55Bq/l and in groundwater samples varied from 1.61 to 8.73Bq/l with an average value of 4.8Bq/l and a standard deviation of 2.24Bq/l. The ingestion and inhalation dose were calculated to assess the health risk for infants, children and adults. The resulting average annual effective dose has been found to be considerably lower than the recommended safe limit of 0.1 msv/y (WHO, In: Incorporating first and second addenda, third ed. WHO Press, Geneva. 3rd ed. World Health Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland, 2008). It can be concluded that radon in water does not pose a significant radiological health risk to the population of the studied area.

Counting the carbon cost of heparin: an evolving tragedy of the commons?

Heparin, which is listed in WHO's Model List of Essential Medicines, 1 WHOWorld Health Organization model list of essential medicines—22nd list, 2021. World Health Organization, Geneva2021 Google Scholar was discovered in 1916 and has been used as an anticoagulant since 1935, possessing potentiating effects on antithrombin. The global demand for heparin is rising, with the global heparin pharmaceutical market projected to grow from US$9·38 billion in 2021 to US$12·06 billion in 2028, and there is a possibility that demand might outstrip supply. 2 Fortune Business InsightsHeparin market: market research report. https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/heparin-market-104447Date: 2020 Date accessed: May 8, 2022 Google Scholar In addition to increased usage for treatment of rising cardiovascular disease and thrombosis cases in ageing populations, the demand for heparin has been exacerbated by its use during the COVID-19 pandemic for thromboprophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19-associated thromboembolic disease.

Machine Learning Based Analysis on Behavioural Difference Between Depression and Anxiety Symptoms

Depression and anxiety are two different versions of mood disorders. It is a state in which people used to develop some deep side effects. Depression and Anxiety can develop some serious effects on individual in terms of both physical and mental emotions. It’s main feature is sadness in extreme measures, and can often lead to suicides and mental traumas. Depression is a major illness that affect human minds in a worst sequence. According to a report by WHO (World Health Organisations) , dated June 2019-2020 , India is the most depressed country in the world, due to Covid situations and financial problems with 7% of its total population being traumatized of mental problems. And to take this problem as an illness, the first thing to do is analyzing the main difference . According to Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) anxiety and depression are the most common mental illness among people around United States. If you don’t treat your anxiety disorder you will soon develop some extreme psychological disorders and later suffer with depression . Depression cause people to have sad mood, loss of interest , low esteem , bad taste , sleeping attacks etc. Our application mainly contains mental health problem quiz questionnaire to detect the early symptoms. But this analysis can be deceived easily if a patient tried to answer differently. Hence, we come here to provide one way method to treat and detect depression and anxiety detection using Machine Learning Algorithms. We obtain major questionnaire in the form of quizzes , and users fill it on basis of their mental emotions. This machine learning data is used to analyze the early detection of mental traumas on normal people. This algorithm takes readings of emotions from the answer of quizzes given by the specific user. Classification machine learning algorithm used K nearest neighbour, Naive Bayes theorem, Decision Tree Algorithm and Random Forest classifier have been used for the detection model, Word Clouds to differentiate the positive and negative words. After all the final results the user is immediately warned of their depression level, and they are urged to get professional help given by our website. The overall model not only achieves high accuracy due to its Machine Learning Approach model , but also inherits the scalability regarding one proper input size.

The burden of nicotine-dependent smokers in China: The role of primary healthcare providers

The burden of nicotine-dependent smokers in China: The role of primary healthcare providers

Treating diabetes: combining tradition and science

In April, 2022, the foundation stone of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine, the first and only global outpost centre in the world for traditional medicine, was laid by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India. Others in attendance included the Indian Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus, among other dignitaries.

Prevalence and risk factors for cataracts in the Lao People's Democratic Republic: The Vientiane Eye Study.

Purpose:To determine the prevalence and risk factors for cataracts in the Vientiane Province.Methods:We conducted a population-based study of 1264 participants aged ≥40 years of age from urban and rural areas of Vientiane Province. Data collection included demographic information, smoking history, body mass index, blood pressure, history of trauma and dilated lens examination using the World Health Organization WHO Simplified Cataract Grading System. Aphakic and pseudophakic eyes were included as operated cataracts for statistical analysis.Results:The mean age of the 1264 participants was 57.6 years. The prevalence of any cataract including operated eyes was 46.8% (95% CI: 44.1 – 49.6%): 36.9% nuclear, 21.7% cortical and 10.1% posterior subcapsular cataracts.Conclusion:The prevalence of cataract in the Vientiane Eye Study is similar compared to the prevalence reported in other studies from Asian regions; however, the median age in this study was low, reflecting the age group of the population and the rapid urbanisation occurring in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. A significant association for any cataract was found with elevated blood pressure >148mmHg (OR2.48, 95%CI:1.55 - 3.97, P < 0.01), increasing age (OR1.19, 95%CI:1.17 - 1.22, P < 0.001) and rural inhabitants for cortical cataract (OR1.99, 95%CI:1.37 - 2.90, P < 0.001). An inverse relationship between rural inhabitants with any cataract and nuclear cataract was found (OR 0.63, 95%CI: 0.45 – 0.89, P < 0.01 and OR 0.42, 95%CI: 0.31 - 0.59, P < 0.001) respectively.Nevertheless, cataract remains a high prevalence disease in this population.

Western Centric Medicine for Covid-19 and Its Contradictions: Can African Alternate Solutions Be the Cure?

The full impact of COVID-19 is yet to be fully understood, and while there are many unknowns, the rapid and continued reliance on the social media cannot be denied. Some Global Economy and World Health Organisations have discouraged the usage of traditional medicine for COVID-19 treatment. However, some African states such as Tanzania, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea Conakry, and Togo have engaged with formal researchers to see if traditional medicine can treat COVID-19. Nevertheless, there is still a lot of hesitancy amongst African populations in getting vaccinated. The paper conceptualises the criticism of Western-centric medicine and investigates the promotion of alternate approaches in the African economy. The article situates the study context by exploring the African economy's socio-politics and public health governance. It investigates explicitly African states responses to conventional treatment by analysing the role of traditional medicine and its efficacy as well as the possible effects on the continent. The methodological framework engaged a review approach relying heavily on reputable secondary sources from government publications, journal articles, books and publications from professional bodies and institutional search engines. The data was analysed in themes supporting the study aim's and objectives. The paper concludes that Africa could consolidate the readily available knowledge and give opportunities to traditional medical therapies that are cheap, convenient and safe for public health, especially for COVID-19 supposedly cure.

Enhancing Geriatric Assessment for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma with Intrinsic Capacity: Can we move beyond existing models of Frailty?

We read with interest the review by Akhtar et al. on “Geriatric assessment in older adults with non-Hodgkin lymphoma” [ [1] Akhtar O.S. Huang L.-W. Tsang M. Torka P. Loh K.P. Morrison V.A. et al. Geriatric assessment in older adults with non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a young International Society of Geriatric Oncology (YSIOG) review paper. J Geriatr Oncol. 2022; Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (1) Google Scholar ], noting the emphasis and incorporation of geriatric assessment in selected clinically validated screening tools such as the Simplified Geriatric Assessment [ [2] Merli F. Luminari S. Tucci A. Arcari A. Rigacci L. Hawkes E. et al. Simplified geriatric assessment in older patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: the prospective elderly project of the Fondazione Italiana Linfomi. J Clin Oncol. 2021; 39: 1214-1222 Crossref PubMed Scopus (36) Google Scholar ] and the Geriatric-8 Screening Tool [ [3] Bellera C.A. Rainfray M. Mathoulin-Pelissier S. Mertens C. Delva F. Fonck M. et al. Screening older cancer patients: first evaluation of the G-8 geriatric screening tool. Ann Oncol. 2012; 23: 2166-2172 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (501) Google Scholar ]. These abbreviated geriatric assessment screening tools incorporate the assessment of functional impairment and the identification of frailty into clinical decision making and can predict treatment-related adverse events. While evaluating for frailty is key to the comprehensive geriatric assessment of older patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, using frailty as a lens through which these patients are viewed predominantly, may present an unbalanced perspective of their true functional reserve. In 2015, the World Health Organization, building on existing evidence for frailty, introduced the concept of intrinsic capacity as a novel model for capturing an individual's capacities and functions holistically as a multidimensional indicator of aging [ [4] World Health Organization WHO clinical consortium on healthy ageing topic focus: Frailty and intrinsic capacity. Geneva, Switzerland. 2017 Google Scholar ]. This represents a paradigm shift from Fried's phenotypic model of frailty [ [5] Fried L.P. Tangen C.M. Walston J. Newman A.B. Hirsch C. Gottdiener J. et al. Frailty in older adults: evidence for a phenotype. J Gerontol Ser A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2001; 56: M146-M157https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/56.3.M146 Crossref PubMed Google Scholar ] or the cumulative-deficit model of frailty by Rockwood et al. [ [6] Rockwood K. Song X. MacKnight C. Bergman H. Hogan D.B. McDowell I. et al. A global clinical measure of fitness and frailty in elderly people. CMAJ. 2005; 173: 489-495https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.050051 Crossref PubMed Scopus (4166) Google Scholar ] toward a capacity-centred model [ [7] Araujo De Carvalho I. Martin C. Cesari M. Sumi Y. Thiyagarajan J.A. Beard J. Operationalising the concept of intrinsic capacity in clinical settings. Geneva, Switzerland. 2017 Google Scholar ]. Five key domains of intrinsic capacity include: cognition, mood, sensory, locomotion and vitality, with each domain influencing one another and interacting with environmental factors [ [8] Cesari M. Araujo De Carvalho I. Thiyagarajan J.A. Cooper C. Martin F.C. Reginster J.-Y. et al. Evidence for the domains supporting the construct of intrinsic capacity. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2018; 00: 1-8https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/gly011 Crossref Scopus (212) Google Scholar ].

Global Surgery: advent of a new discipline

Global surgery is a rapidly developing multidisciplinary field, aiming to provide equitable and improved surgical care across international health systems often with a focus on underserved populations of low- and middle-income countries1. History is witness that Christian Missionaries, International Committee of the Red Cross, Aga Khan Foundation and Islamic Association of North America have been offering humanitarian health support, including Surgery, to the needy since long. These were joined by League of Nations Health Organization (since 1920; later became the World Health Organization in 1946) and Médecins Sans Frontières (since 1971)2. However, Surgery remained ‘The neglected stepchild of global health’3. Main reason for this was lack of data leading to knowledge gap about the magnitude of the problem. The much needed catalyst for development of Global Surgery was the launch of Lancet Commission on Global Surgery report in January 20144. This report provided the much needed data about unmet needs of Surgery which grabbed the World’s attention: 5 billion people not having access to safe, timely affordable surgery and anaesthesia; leading to 18.6 million preventable early deaths each year - more than the number of people who die from HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined; millions of patients facing catastrophic expenditures when faced with surgical costs and many low- and middle-income countries likely to lose up to 2% of GDP due to loss of proper surgical care leading to loss of productivity. They also predicted that to reach the necessary levels of access to surgery by 2030 would require an investment of $420 billion, which would save an estimated $12 trillion in lost GDP over the same period, making it a very sound investment. And global burden of surgical disease was estimated to be ~ 30%5.

Malariology and decolonization: Eastern European experts from the League of Nations to the World Health Organization

AbstractThe article de-centres the global history of disease by examining the agency of Eastern European expertise at international organizations and during decolonization. It challenges accounts of anti-malaria policies at the League of Nations Health Organization and at the World Health Organization written from a Western, particularly North American perspective, or on the basis of local reactions to Western interventions. The contribution proposes an analysis of circulations and ideas across multiple cultural, social and political spaces: post-imperial European states, (post)colonial territories and bureaucracies of international organizations. From the 1920s to the 1960s, Eastern European experts played a crucial role in the transformation of malaria from an imperial disease that tested governance over ‘tropical’ peoples into an issue of global health and nation-state building. However, regional representatives reproduced civilizational hierarchies intrinsic to North–South biomedical relations. The global entanglements of Eastern European malariology show that liberation from disease was less about communism or liberalism, and more about national renewal, statehood and world hierarchies.

Analysis of Physicochemical and Bacteriological Quality of Surface and Groundwater Samples in Offa, Kwara State, Nigeria

The water quality assessment in First Baptist Church, Offa, Kwara State Nigeria was carried out by examining nine samples in and around the church premises. One surface water sample, five borehole water samples and three well water samples were examined. The result obtained from the physicochemical analysis showed a turbidity range of (2-6NTU), electrical conductivity EC (693-893 μs/cm), total dissolved solids TDS (346-542mg/L), pH (6.83-7.62), magnesium Mg (17-53mg/L), manganese Mn (0.02-0.1), aluminium Al (0.02-0.13mg/L), iron Fe (0.10-0.44mg/L), zinc Zn (0.8-3.60mg/L), chromium Cr (0.02-0.13mg/L), lead Pb (0.01-0.04), Sulphate SO4 (3- 20mg/L), Nitrate NO3 (3-18mg/L), phosphate PO4 (1.5-14mg/L), chlorine Cl (14-42mg/L), copper Cu (0.04- 0.7mg/L), chemical oxygen demand COD (62-120mg/L), total hardness TH (80-160mg/L) and total alkalinity TA (80-136mg/L). These results, together with that of the microbial analysis were compared with the standard provided by the World Health Organization WHO. Hence, it is crucial that the water supplies are regularly assessed and properly treated to provide the consumers with safe and healthy water.

To Asses Factors Influencing and Practice of Early Initiation of Breast Feeding

Introduction: Early initiation of breast feeding that is breast feed given within first hour of birth prevents newborn from hypothermia, hypoglycemia and infections. It increases bonding with mother and promotes exclusive breast feeding. Objectives: To assess the factors influencing the mothers for early initiation of breast feeding and how much mothers practice it. Material and Methods: It was a retrospective study conducted at Pak Red Crescent Medical and Dental College, Dina Nath. The study was in form of questionnaire interview taken from delivered women including caesarean section and spontaneous vaginal delivery 293 and 57 women from out-patient department. Total number of women were 350. Duration of study was six months from 1 July 2021 to 31 December 2021. The influencing factors of early initiation of breast feeding and practice of giving milk within an hour after birth was assessed. Results: In our study percentage of early initiation of breast feeding was 13.4%. Maximum age for breast feeding was between 25 to 35 years that is 48.5% and regarding parity maximum in Para2 to 3 had 40%. The women who were willing for breastfeeding within first hour of birth had family support 26.2%, support by doctors or nurses 16.5% and 2% got counselling in antenatal period. Regarding factors that decrease EIBF, 53.4% women failed to initiate breast fed in first hour after birth due to pain, caesarean section under general anesthesia3.1%, discomfort due to episiotomy 6.2% and 10.5% babies were referred to neonatal unit immediately after birth due to danger signs. Conclusion: Counselling of mothers in antenatal period, improving counselling skills of health providers and strengthening community based support are likely to improve early initiation of breast feeding. Keywords: NICU neonatal intensive care unit, WHO World Health Organization EIBF early initiation of breast feeding

Molecular Diagnosis of Y-Chromosome Microdeletions in Some Kurdish Infertile Males: EAA/EMQN PCR Protocol Optimization.

Molecular Diagnosis of Y-Chromosome Microdeletions in Some Kurdish Infertile Males: EAA/EMQN PCR Protocol Optimization.

A framework for good health governance during the Covid-19 pandemic response and recovery in South Africa

From the Ubuntu philosophy to peace management, good governance application enables socioeconomic and environmental development. It happens that a fear atmosphere due to global disaster in health care management compromise good governance sustainability. This study seeks to design a framework for good health governance during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic response and recovery in South Africa. Using a case study, research data were collected through questionnaire and analysed using correlation, variance and regression tools in statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS). 75%, 74%, 69% and 82% of respondents agreed and strongly agreed that good health governance metrics, government modernisation, pandemic governance strategies and pandemic governance challenges constitute the components of an effective framework for good health governance during the response and the recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, there was a positive, strong and significant connection between the framework for good health governance and its constituents. Although health measures were taken at the early stage to limit the severe consequences of the pandemic in South Africa, the government is still required to redouble efforts in implementing rules of laws, initiate and develop capacity building, build integrity cultures together with the implementation of e-governance to ensure effective responsiveness and recovery. Countries in respective regions around the world should join forces to combat the spread of the virus through adoption of international good health governance solutions as proposed by the World Health Organisations. In South Africa specifically, government should incessantly initialise post-pandemic resolutions beforehand to counterattack continuous shocks on the country’ economic growth.

COVID-19 vaccine inequity, dependency, and production capability in low-income and middle-income countries: the case of Bangladesh

COVID-19 vaccine inequity, dependency, and production capability in low-income and middle-income countries: the case of Bangladesh

Використання лікарських рослин як допоміжна терапія вірусних гепатитів

Вірусні гепатити становлять велику групу інфекційних захворювань людини, що характеризуються переважним ураженням печінки. Лікування вірусних гепатитів є складним завданням і обов’язково передбачає використання клінічних рекомендацій. Питання щодо лікування вірусних гепатитів лікарськими травами вивчається давно. У статті наводяться огляди результатів рандомізованих досліджень, які вивчали ефективність препаратів, що містять лікарські трави, у лікуванні вірусних гепатитів (Yarnell E., Abascal K. та iн). Огляд досліджень було проведено в регістрі контрольованих досліджень гепатобіліарної групи Кокрейн, бібліотеки Кокрейн, MEDLINE, EMBASE, BIOSIS, а також китайських та японських баз даних. Аналіз рандомізованих клінічних досліджень виявив доведену позитивну роль при лікуванні вірусних гепатитів таких лікарських трав: софори японської, розторопші плямистої, солодки, андрографіса волотистого, звіробою звичайного, плодів лимонника китайського, кореня кульбаби лікарської, кореня лопуха великого, кореневищ куркуми довгої, кореня шавлії червонокореневищної та ін. Автори цієї статті рекомендують групи рослин, що використовуються при лікуванні вірусних гепатитів, принципи, а також рецепти зборів лiкарських рослин, методику приготування і рекомендації щодо застосування приготованих препаратів — доза, частота прийому та тривалість фітотерапії для цієї групи пацієнтів. Вказується, на якому етапі захворювання і які трави можна додавати в збір залежно від загального стану та скарг хворого, збудника вірусного гепатиту і результатiв лабораторних дослiджень. Рекомендовано використання лікарських трав тільки як доповнення до основного лікування противірусними препаратами згідно з клінічними рекомендаціями щодо лікування вірусних гепатитів.

Peripheral Nerve: Health and Medicine in Cold War Latin America

Peripheral Nerve: Health and Medicine in Cold War Latin America