World Health Research Articles

Beta-Lactam Resistance

Objective: Investigate beta-lactam resistance in order to identify the associated factors, the main beta-lactam resistant microorganisms and their complications. Theoretical Framework: Beta-lactam resistance is a worldwide health problem, consisting of the inability to respond to the action of antibiotics. Method: retrospective qualitative cross-sectional study with a descriptive analysis, the data collection technique was a review of scientific articles published from 2018, in Spanish and English, in databases such as Scielo, PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, Organizations such as the World Health and Pan American Health. The information was organized in tables. Results and Discussion: The results obtained revealed that resistance to this group of drugs is as common as their free prescription, being gram-negative the most common germs to present resistance; prolonged hospital stay is an aggravating factor in the casuistry. Research Implications: These implications could span medicine, pharmacêutics, epidemiology, public health and environmental management Originality/Value: The relevance and value of this research are evidenced in magnifying this public health problem and taking action on the matter.

Laws for health and care worker protection and rights: A study of 182 countries.

The unprecedented and multi-faceted challenges health and care workers faced during the COVID-19 pandemic inspired the world's health ministers to call for a new Global Health and Care Worker Compact at the 74th World Health Assembly in 2021. The Care Compact identifies key areas where governments can use law and policy to prevent harm, provide support, ensure inclusivity, and safeguard rights of health and care workers toward improving population health. Using policy surveillance methods, we conducted an empirical analysis of the national law and policy environments on health and care workers' protection and rights in 182 countries. Across 10 indicators, 1,262 laws and policies were identified and analyzed for their alignment with the international legal standards. Analysis shows significant gaps. 62% of all national laws are aligned. Nearly every country has multiple areas where national laws are not yet aligned with the Care Compact. Though alignment is feasible. In 5 of 6 regions at least one country has laws aligned on all indicators. Geographic region was not a significant predictor of alignment, while income level was only weakly associated. Comparing the key legal issues facing health and care workers, well over half of countries studied are fully aligned with the Care Compact on occupational health and safety, fair remuneration, enabling work environments, freedom of association, and collective bargaining. Approximately 50% of countries studied are fully aligned on protections against violence and harassment in the workplace and whistleblower protections. But less than 25% are fully aligned on access to health services in occupational settings and equal treatment and non-discrimination. Together this analysis highlights the need for, and opportunity of, law reform in countries throughout the world to elevate and protect the rights and well-being of health and care workers and, in doing so, improve health systems.

Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases in Metabolism: A New Frontier for Therapeutics.

The increased prevalence of chronic metabolic disorders, including obesity and type 2 diabetes and their associated comorbidities, are among the world's greatest health and economic challenges. Metabolic homeostasis involves a complex interplay between hormones that act on different tissues to elicit changes in the storage and utilization of energy. Such processes are mediated by tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent signaling, which is coordinated by the opposing actions of protein tyrosine kinases and protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). Perturbations in the functions of PTPs can be instrumental in the pathophysiology of metabolic diseases. The goal of this review is to highlight key advances in our understanding of how PTPs control body weight and glucose metabolism, as well as their contributions to obesity and type 2 diabetes. The emerging appreciation of the integrated functions of PTPs in metabolism, coupled with significant advances in pharmaceutical strategies aimed at targeting this class of enzymes, marks the advent of a new frontier in combating metabolic disorders.

Cautionary lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic: Healthcare systems grappled with the dual responsibility of delivering COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 care.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals were challenged to provide both COVID-19 and non-COVID treatment. A survey questionnaire was designed and distributed via email to hospitals empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana(AB-PMJAY), the world's largest National Health Insurance Scheme. Telephonic follow-ups were used to ensure participation in places with inadequate internet. We applied support vector regression to quantify the hospital variables that affected the use vs. non-use of hospital services (Model-1), and factors impacting COVID-19 revenue and staffing levels (Model-2).We quantified the statistical significance of important input variables using Fisher's exact test. The survey, conducted early in the pandemic, included 461 hospitals across 20 states and union territories. Only 55.5% of hospitals were delivering emergency care, 26.7% were doing elective surgery and 36.7% providing obstetric services. Hospitals with adequate supplies of PPE, including N95 masks, and separate facilities designated for COVID-19 patients were more likely to continue providing emergency surgeries and services effectively. Data analysis revealed that large hospitals (> 250 beds) with adequate PPE and dedicated COVID-19 facilities continued both emergency and elective surgeries. Public hospitals were key in pandemic management, large private hospital systems were more likely to conduct non-COVID-19 surgeries, with not-for-profit hospitals performing slightly better. Public and large private not-for-profit hospitals faced fewer staff shortages and revenue declines. In contrast, smaller hospitals (< 50 beds) experienced significant staff attrition due to anxiety, stress and revenue losses. They requested government support for PPE supplies, staff training, testing kits, and special allowances for healthcare workers. The inclusion of COVID-19 coverage under AB-PMJAY improved access to healthcare for critical cases. Maintaining non-COVID-19 care during the pandemic indicates healthcare system resiliency. A state-wide data-driven system for ventilators, beds, and funding support for smaller hospitals, would improve patient care access and collaboration.

Comparison of an Open versus List-Based Dietary Recall Method to Assess Unhealthy Feeding Practices among Infants and Young Children

BackgroundCollecting accurate dietary data is critical for assessing infant and young child feeding practices, identifying populations at risk, and using evidence to inform policy. In 2021, World Health Organization/United Nations Children’s Fund released new indicators of unhealthy food and beverage consumption and recommended that survey administrators use either an open or list-based method. ObjectivesThis study compared infants’ and young children’ unhealthy food consumption estimated using an open 24-h recall (24HR) compared with list-based 24HR among young children living in peri-urban Cambodia and explored the effect of social desirability bias on respondents’ responses. MethodsWe conducted a secondary analysis of unhealthy food consumption estimated in a longitudinal cohort study implemented from June 2021 through January 2022 in the rural/peri-urban district of Khsach Kandal, Kandal Province, Cambodia (567 children aged 10–13.9 mo at baseline). Each month, for 5 mo, data were collected via an open 24HR. At the 6th month, half of the children were randomly assigned to also receive a list-based 24HR to collect data on unhealthy food consumption. ResultsThe prevalence of sweet beverage and unhealthy food consumption and zero fruit and vegetable consumption among young children was high. We observed that the percentage of children consuming sweet foods was significantly higher when estimated using the list-based compared with an open 24HR method (61.6% compared with 43.8%; P = 0.012). An association between social desirability bias and reported consumption of salty/fried foods was also observed across both groups; however, this relationship was more pronounced among caregivers who received the list-based 24HR than the open 24HR (P = 0.004). ConclusionsResearchers must carefully consider the method used for 24HR because this may have implications for respondents’ recall and memory. As more evidence is collected on the rising consumption of unhealthy food and beverages among young children, researchers should take into consideration the effects of caregiver’s susceptibility to social desirability bias when analyzing these consumption patterns.

Time to change implementation units for mass drug administration against schistosomiasis in Uganda: Evidence from Communities levels data validation and its implication in planning

Uganda stated implementing mass drug administration against schistosomiasis in 2003, with district used as an implementation unit. This resulted into misclassification of communities into wrong risk levels, under-or-over treatment and over request of praziquantel (PZQ) drugs. The objective of the current study was to reviewing the community data available at World Health Organization/ESPEN database to understand the status of schistosomiasis and identify pockets with infection. The decision tree assessment tool was used to analyzed schistosomiasis epidemiological data of 7501 communities. Before validation, the schistosomiasis endemicity status of 79 % of communities was not known. After validation, 58.6 %, 22.6 % and 16.3 % of communities were not endemic, had low and moderate endemicity status. Of 2362 communities classified having high endemicity using a district as implementation unit, 41.6 %, 12.7 % and 17.3 % of them were not endemic, had low and moderate endemicity, while only 22.7 % had high endemicity. Using the new treatment guidelines, 2,875,006 school aged children were adequately treated, 18,235 were under-treated and 2,250,013 were over treated. The results show a considerable change in endemicity status when communities were used as an implementation unit compared to district. Thus, the country control programme is recommended to use communities as implementation unit.

Analysis of the pattern of drug use using WHO core drug indicators among general OPD patients in rural Puducherry

ABSTRACT Background: Prescription auditing is a crucial tool for evaluating a range of concerns, including injectable usage, polypharmacy, the use of generic names, and the quality of treatment given to patients in primary care facilities. The objective of the study was to assess, using WHO core drug use indicators, the drug use patterns of general outpatients (OPD) at a rural healthcare facility. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a rural peripheral health centre in Puducherry for a period of one year from September 2019 to August 2020. A total of 1200 prescriptions were analysed using the World Health Organization/International Network of Rational Use of Drugs (WHO/INRUD) monitoring tool to evaluate the prescription practices. Prescriptions of consenting patients attending OPD for general ailments were included in the study. Three to four prescriptions were chosen randomly on a daily basis. Patients who attended special clinics were excluded. The data was entered and analysed in MS Excel. Results: The average number of drugs per encounter was 3.10. The number of drugs prescribed by generic name was 65.7% and 39.8% of the encounters had antibiotics prescribed. Around 23.0% of the prescriptions contained injections. Of the prescribed drugs, 97.4% were available in the essential drug list. The average dispensing time observed was 20.80 sec. Out of the 3723 drugs prescribed 92.2% were actually dispensed and 77.5% were adequately labelled. Out of the 1200 patients interviewed regarding the dosage 72.0% had knowledge regarding the correct dosage. The health centre had a copy of the essential drug list and 83.0% of the drugs were available from the key drug list. Conclusion: Many indicators had shown sub-optimal values when compared to the recommended ones by WHO/INRUD. Timely interventions like continuing medical education for budding physicians, improving the doctor-population ratio, adequate number of pharmacists in public health facilities will improve prescription practices which in turn may contribute to mitigating antimicrobial resistance.

Surgical Castration as an Alternative to Improve Systemic Treatment for Advanced Prostate Cancer: A Window of Opportunity for Developing Countries.

The Brazilian Public Health System (BPHS) serves approximately 71,730 patients with prostate cancer (PC) every year for which androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the primary treatment for patients with advanced hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (aHSPC). Androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs) are not accessible through the BPHS. Using the BPHS as a model, this study assesses the long-term economic effect of surgical versus medical castration in aHSPC treatment to strategize cost reduction and the incorporation of ARPI in developing countries. Data of patients with aHSPC (ie, TxN1M0 ineligible for local treatment or TxNxM1) from the BPHS database were analyzed from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2021, using the TECHTRIALS artificial intelligence platform. The main outcomes were quantitative and descriptive analyses as well as a cost analysis of surgical versus chemical castration. Of the 274,519 patients with aHSPC who received active treatment during the 11-year study period, 90% (n = 246,683) underwent chemical castration and 10% (n = 27,836) underwent bilateral subcapsular orchiectomy (BSO). The median duration of chemical castration was 28 months. The BPHS spent an estimated total of $665,552,091.40 US dollars (USD) on chemical castration and $5,939,348.47 USD on BSO, respectively. The cost per patient was $2,698 USD and $213.37 USD for chemical castration and BSO, respectively. Hypothetically, if all patients with aHSPC had undergone BSO, the total direct cost for the BPHS would have been $42,774,832.20 USD, saving $622,777,259.20 USD over 11 years, making it possible to offer low-dose abiraterone to 65% of aHSPC patients. On the basis of this extensive financial analysis from the world's largest public health system database, BSO appears to be a valuable alternative to chemical castration for treating aHSPC. In resource-limited environments, the cost savings from using BSO may allow access to drugs that will improve survival such as ARPIs.

Cardiovascular effects of early maternal separation and escitalopram treatment in rats with depressive-like behaviour

Depression and cardiovascular diseases are two of the world's major health problems. Escitalopram (ESC) is widely used because of its safety in relation to other drugs in that class; however, it can affect the cardiovascular system. The present study evaluated the cardiovascular parameters of depressive-like male rats and the cardiovascular effects of ESC treatment on that condition. The EMS protocol consisted of separating the litter from the dam for 3 h over 13 days. Animals were anesthetized with tribromoethanol (250 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) and the catheters were inserted into the femoral and into the femoral vein. Depressive-like rats showed an increase in the pressor response to phenylephrine (Emax:depressive = 50.36 ± 2.997 mmHg; non-depressive = 39.51 ± 3.328 mmHg; p < 0.05) and a reduction in the EC50 (depressive = 0.6203 ± 0.03005 μg/kg; non-depressive = 0.7320 ± 0.03519 μg/kg; p < 0.05) with no change in the other cardiovascular parameters. After treatment with ESC, a reduction of intrinsic heart rate was observed in the depressive-like rats (control: 342 ± 6 bpm; ESC: 316 ± 5 bpm; p < 0.05). In addition, ESC treatment increased the bradycardic (control: −97.81 ± 8.3 bpm; ESC: −137.1 ± 12.31 bpm; p = 0.0236; t = 2.502) during the baroreflex response, caused by an increase in cardiac parasympathetic modulation in the heart, in depressive-like rats (p < 0.001). The findings suggest that depressive-like rats showed cardiovascular changes, and that ESC treatment was able to reverse these changes, suggesting that ESC has a good safety profile for depressive patients with cardiovascular disease due to increased parasympathetic modulation.

The impact of social determinants of health on international migrants’ health outcomes: a bibliometric analysis

PurposeThe aim of this study is to conduct an in-depth exploration of the research landscape concerning the impact of social determinants of health (SDH) on the health outcomes of international migrants.Design/methodology/approachLeveraging the extensive Scopus database, this study retrieved a total of 2,255 articles spanning the years 1993–2023. The framework for analysis used the SDH categories outlined by the World Health Organization.FindingsThe research landscape exhibited an apparent increase in the number of publications, but not a net increase in the research productivity. The USA emerged as the leading contributor to research output, with the Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health emerging as the most prolific publication venue, and the University of Toronto ranking as the most prolific institution. The SDH category that received the highest number of publications was the “community and social context”. Migrants from different regions in Asia (East, Central and South Asia) and those from Latin America and the Caribbean region appeared to be the most commonly researched. Highly cited articles predominantly delved into mental health outcomes arising from discrimination and migration policies.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings proffer valuable insights for shaping future research endeavors, accentuating the imperative for diversified studies encompassing underrepresented domains, broader health outcomes and the inclusion of migrant populations from different world regions in investigative pursuits.Originality/valueThis study delivers a comprehensive analysis of the research landscape, unveiling critical trends in the realm of SDH and migrant health outcomes.

The anticancer activity of quercetin, luteolin, myricetin, and kaempferol in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma: a narrative review

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks as the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. It presents a significant and rising global health challenge due to its complex development, high mortality rate, and poor prognosis. The primary treatment methods include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, yet each is associated with severe side effects. While combination therapies can enhance outcomes, they also tend to amplify the adverse effects. For this reason, the prevention of HCC has a major impact on world health. Current knowledge indicates that a healthy lifestyle combined with a healthy diet is an excellent preventive strategy. In this respect, the Mediterranean diet represents a valid preventive strategy widely recognized by the scientific community. Its effectiveness is proven by the presence of several polyphenols in its main foods, including quercetin, luteolin, myricetin, and kaempferol. These polyphenols are present in different functional foods and show anticancer activity. This narrative review aims to assess the anti-HCC activity of these polyphenols that characterize the Mediterranean diet.

UN Assistance to African countries in building climate-resilient agriculture

Relevance. Africa is the mirror and quintessence of modern international processes. The continent faces a gigantic number of challenges, some of an existential nature. But at the same time, there is an active search for ways to solve them.The purpose is to consider the experience of forming climate-resilient agriculture on the example of individual African countries and the role of the UN in this process.Objectives: to characterize the conditions and reasons for the formation of climate-resilient agriculture in the African region; assess the policies of the governments of Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Rwanda on the development of climate-resilient agriculture.Methodology. The comparative research method was used in the study of agricultural development programs in African countries. Chronological and historical methods of studying legal documents, programs of the United Nations, FAO, NEPAD, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda aimed at the formation of climate-resilient agriculture. A statistical research method for operating with data from the statistical databases of Globaleconomy and the World Health Organization.Results. The introduction of new technologies in agriculture is a condition for saving the environment, which is under pressure from two sides: global climate change and unprecedented growth in the population and its needs. One of the most important areas is to increase the productivity of agriculture, the solution of this urgent task will depend on the introduction of new technologies: seeds, fertilizers, irrigation, plant protection, etc.Conclusions. The introduction of programs and technologies for the formation of climate-resilient agriculture in African countries requires significant funding and institutional and legal preparation.

Empowering nurses to support Greener NHS policy

Climate change is a significant global health threat, projected to cause over 250000 deaths annually by 2050, as a result of factors such as extreme heat, flooding and poor air quality caused by pollution. The NHS, as a major healthcare provider, contributes around 4% of the UK's total emissions and in October 2020, became the world's first health service to commit to reaching net zero carbon, in response to the profound and growing threat to health posed by climate change. Nurses, as frontline healthcare providers, are uniquely positioned to drive sustainability initiatives within healthcare settings, reducing environmental impact while improving patient outcomes. Sue Thomas explores how nurses can make a difference in line with the Greener NHS policy.

Assessment of visual impairment and need of rehabilitation services for children attending schools for blind in an urban city of North India.

By understanding the prevalence and causes of childhood blindness, stakeholders can work toward comprehensive strategies that encompass prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and support, ultimately improving the quality of life for affected children. The information about the pattern and causes of childhood blindness in Northern Indian states is limited, it highlights the need for further research and data collection to better understand and address the specific challenges in this region. Therefore, the present cross-sectional study was planned to ascertain the different causes and patterns of childhood blindness and to understand the barriers to the use of LVAs and its compliance among the students attending schools for the blind in a North Indian State. Students from two schools for blind were examined in Chandigarh and its vicinity in North India. The different causes of severe visual impairment/blindness were classified as per the World Health Organization/Prevention of Blindness standard recording form. A total of 89 students attending schools for the blind were examined. The mean age was 13.10 years (range = 4-16 years). Male, female ratio was 3.3:1. The major causes of blindness were congenital anomalies (whole globe anomalies 37.08%), followed by retinal conditions (16.7 = 8%), undetermined/other (12.3), and lenticular conditions (112%). More than one-third of children (34.8%) were blind due to avoidable causes of blindness. The current study data append on the existing national available data about childhood blindness in India. Though the sample size of the current is comparatively low, observed different results as compared to previously published reports from other regions, emphasize the strengthening of pediatric ophthalmology services as well as of low vision services in this particular region of North India.

Neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants

Background and objectives. Preterm is defined as babies born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed. It is one of the world's critical health problems because it may be a significant cause of long-term neurodevelopmental disability. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the impact of premature birth and brain injuries on neurological development and to identify problems as soon as possible in order to prevent or minimize sequelae as much as possible. Materials and methods. Between June 2022 and July 2024, 374 infants were examined at “Prof. Dr. Panait Sarbu” Clinical Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Each baby's gross and fine motor development was assessed, cognitive acquisitions were evaluated using an adapted Denver Developmental Screening Test, and where needed, physical therapy, head ultrasound/MRI, EEG, or genetic tests were recommended. Results. From the 374 infants evaluated (M/F: 142/232), 72 were excluded considering the normal term of birth. Of the other 302, 23 did not present for follow-up checks after one or two appointments, and 54 completed all evaluations up to 21-24 months (the study is ongoing). 5/54 had poor neurodevelopmental outcomes, almost all due to very preterm birth. From the remaining 225 babies, with a few exceptions with variable neurological damage (13/225), no motor or cognitive development abnormalities have been observed in the evaluations carried out so far. Conclusions. In our cohort, almost all babies who completed or did not the follow-up program had normal development (261/279), but in some cases, prematurity, brain lesions, or genetic causes remain associated with a poor long-term outcome. Establishing a follow-up system for premature infants is necessary because early management during the period of higher brain plasticity may prevent neurological complications and improve the quality of life.

The Glycemic Index of Gayam (Inocarpus fagifer Forst) Cookies as a High Dietary Fiber Food

The type 2 diabetes (T2D) is still one of the world's public health problems. It needs serious handling and prevention efforts in the nutritional aspect. The high prevalence of T2D is related to the low intake of dietary fiber. This type of food has a low glycemic index (GI). Gayam is a high-dietary fiber material that can be used for the manufacture of flour and as processed food material for the high-dietary fiber cookies. The objectives of this research were to study the GI evaluation of cookies from gayam flour. Cookies were tested for chemical composition, and glycemic index. The glycemic index evaluation test used 12 volunteers taken from the healthy group/nondiabetic, normal nutritional status (BMI: 18.5-22.9), and age 19-55 years. The results of this study indicate the dietary fiber content of gayam cookies was 4.57 g/100 g and included in the category of high dietary fiber food. The glycemic index of gayam cookies was 43 and the low glycemic index category. The obtained results show for the first time the potential of gayam cookies in hyperglycaemia management. The conclusion of this study was that gayam cookies has high dietary fiber content and low GI level. Gayam cookies can be used as an alternative snack to control blood glucose levels in the prevention of diabetes mellitus.

Antimicrobial Use Among Outpatients at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital in Dodoma Central Zone of Tanzania: A Prospective Descriptive Study.

Irrational antimicrobial use (AMU) has led to an exponential increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in hospitals and communities, which creates challenges in treating infectious diseases caused by bacteria. This study aimed to evaluate antimicrobial prescriptions and usage patterns for treating bacterial infections among outpatients at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital (BMH). A prospective descriptive study design was used to evaluate the AMU trend. The data were collected from August 2022 to October 2022 from outpatient pharmacies at BMH using the World Health Organization/International Network of Rational Use of Drugs (WHO/INRUD) indicators. The simple random sampling method was employed to select the prescriptions. The WHO AWaRe (Access, Watch, and Reserve) classification was used to classify common antimicrobials. We analyzed the prevalence of outpatient AMU, including the types of antimicrobials, indications, and compliance with treatment guidelines. We also examined the number of antimicrobials per prescription and the adherence to drug use. We examined 1557 prescriptions, 406 (26.1%) (WHO recommendation 20.0-26.8%) of which included antimicrobials. All prescriptions with antimicrobials were written in generic names, drug utilization-90% (DU90%) was 100% (WHO recommendation 100%). The number of parenteral antimicrobials prescribed was 79 (19.5%) (WHO recommendation 13.4-24.1%). Furthermore, prescriptions with antimicrobials that complied with the current Standard Treatment Guidelines and National Essential Medicine List in Tanzania (STG/NEMLIT) were 369 (90.9%) (WHO recommendation 100%). Most antimicrobials were prescribed as monotherapy, accounting for 265 (65.3%). There were 1.4 (WHO recommendation 1.6-1.8) antimicrobials per prescription. Our study identified 21 commonly prescribed antimicrobials, whereby 9 (42.9%) (WHO recommendation >60%) antimicrobials were Access, 10 (47.6%) (WHO recommendation <20%) Watch, and 2 (9.5%) (WHO recommendation <1%) Reserved classes. Our study showed that BMH has optimal practices for prescribing and using antimicrobials for outpatients. It further underlined the need to expand and strengthen antimicrobial stewardship efforts to reinforce prescribing antimicrobials.

The Role of Ahara in Health: Analyzing Nitya Sevaniya Dravya Amidst Modern Dietary Shifts

In the Upanishada, food is regarded as Brahma, the supreme entity. Acharya Charaka highlights that both the body and diseases are formed from food, with wholesome food leading to happiness and unwholesome food leading to misery. Similarly, Acharya Kashyapa refers to food as Mahabheshaja (the supreme medicine). World Health Day, celebrated on April 7th, underscores the importance of food safety with the slogan "From farm to plate, make food safe," reflecting the critical role of Ahara (food) in health. Objectives: To examine the role of Ahara in Ayurveda, particularly its influence on health and disease, and to explores the consequences of modern dietary changes on traditional Ayurvedic recommendations. Methods: First, a literary study was conducted using classical Ayurvedic texts such as the Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Kashyapa Samhita etc. Following this, additional literature was reviewed using various modern textbooks, research journals, and electronic databases. Results: In the contemporary era, many of the traditional Ahara Dravya (foods) recommended by Ayurveda have been replaced by their degraded versions, driven by taste and compatibility preferences. This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of these dietary changes, highlighting the impact on health and alignment with Ayurvedic principles. Conclusion: Ahara, as a foundational element in Ayurveda, plays a crucial role in determining health outcomes. The shift from traditional Ayurvedic dietary recommendations to modern alternatives has both positive and negative implications, which require careful consideration to maintain health and well-being.

Frequency of exposure incidents in hospital workers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic based on the hospital status and the use of personal protective equipment: a descriptive study with a historical comparison group

BackgroundAn occupational exposure, i.e. exposure incident (EI), is contact with potentially contaminated material that may contain bloodborne pathogens and that occurs during occupational activities inside or outside a health care facility, either during direct work with a patient or during contact with a patient’s body fluids and tissues. This study aimed to compare the frequency of EIs in a university hospital before and during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.MethodsThis was a descriptive study with a historical comparison group conducted at the Dubrava University Hospital (DUH) in Zagreb, Croatia. We compared the frequency of EIs among healthcare and non-healthcare workers before (from March 11, 2018, to March 10, 2020) and during (from March 11, 2020, to March 11, 2022) the COVID-19 pandemic, expressed as the number of EIs per number of hospitalized patients and the total number of hospital activities. We analyzed data based on the status of the hospital (a COVID-19 hospital or not) and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as recommended by the World Health Organization.ResultsDuring the total analyzed period, 241 EIs were reported in DUH. Before the pandemic, 128 EIs were reported, compared to 113 during the pandemic. Before the pandemic, 91% of EIs were recorded in healthcare workers, while during the pandemic, 96% of EIs were recorded in healthcare workers. Slightly more EIs were recorded during the period of mixed work form and de-escalation of PPE. The rate of EIs relative to the total number of hospital patients was significantly higher during the pandemic (3.9/1000) than in the pre-pandemic period (2.5/1000). The rate of EIs relative to the total number of hospital activities was significantly higher during the pandemic (0.4/1000) than in the pre-pandemic period (0.2/1000).ConclusionThe rate of EIs relative to the total number of hospitalized patients and the total number of hospital activities in DUH was significantly higher during the pandemic, and the rate of total EIs increased among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this study show that it is necessary to constantly and effectively work on the prevention of EI.

Prostate cancer incidence and mortality in Europe and implications for screening activities: population based study

ObjectiveTo provide a baseline comparative assessment of the main epidemiological features of prostate cancer in European populations as background for the proposed EU screening initiatives.DesignPopulation based study.Setting26 European countries, 19...