public health

Background: In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the health crisis left in its wake, our goal is to develop extensive machine-learning techniques to provide a clear picture of the treatment, and possible mistreatment, of specific patient demographics during hospital triaging.Objective: We aim to reveal whether a patient’s treatment and hospital disposition is related to the following attributes - Emergency Severity Index (ESI), gender, employment status, insurance status, race, or ethnicity which our 100 MB dataset included.Materials and methods: Our work is separated into two parts - the classification task and data analysis. As part of the classification task, we used the k-Nearest-Neighbor classifier, the F1-score, and a random forest. We then analyze the data using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) values to determine the importance of each attribute.Results: Our findings show that significance varies for each attribute. Notably, we found that patients with private insurance programs receive better treatment compared to patients with federal-run healthcare programs (e.g. Medicaid, Medicare). Furthermore, a patient’s ethnicity has a greater impact on treatment for patients under 40 years of age for any given ESI level. Surprisingly, our findings show language is not a barrier during treatment.Discussion and conclusion: We, therefore, conclude that although hospitals may not be doing so intentionally, there is a systemic bias in hospital triaging for specific patient demographics. For future works, we hope to aggregate additional patient data from hospitals to find whether specific demographics of patients receive better healthcare in different parts of the United States.

Cancer is a major public health issue and the main cause of death worldwide. Despite improvements in diagnostic techniques and treatment methods, cancer still seriously affects the quality of life of patients, which cause serious social and economic burdens. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify potential biomarkers to improve diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cancer. BTG2 is a cell proliferation suppressor gene that serves as a tumor suppressor gene in the occurrence and development of various tumors. Many studies have shown that BTG2 can serve as a prognostic marker in various tumors. So, fully tap the potentials of BTG2 as a tumor prognostic marker will bring more possibilities to provide a new method or new diagnostic and therapeutic tool for treating cancer.

Internet addiction is a growing addictive behavior and a major public health problem worldwide. Several psychological factors can contribute to the problematic use of the Internet. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Internet Addiction (IA) in a sample of university students and to examine the relationship between IA, self-esteem, and attachment styles.The present study was a cross-sectional study, involving 135 students from the Faculty of Medicine of Monastir. The participants completed a questionnaire, which contained the socio-demographic data, the reasons for Internet use, the Young Cyberaddiction scale to seek IA, the Relationships-style-questionnaire-RSQ to assess attachment style, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES).The mean age of the students was 21.5 ± 1.9 years old. They were 112 (83%) females. The prevalence of Internet addiction was 23.7%. The average connection time was 3.5 ± 1.8 hours/day. The most frequent online activities were chat (online discussion, forums ...) in 94.8% of cases followed by download activities (78.5%), scientific research (75.6%), online games (23.7%), and online shopping (13.3%). IA was associated with school failure, alcohol use, online gaming, and low self-esteem. The majority of the participants (84.4%) in this study reported an insecure attachment style. Logistic regression analysis showed a strong association between IA and fearful attachment style.IA was frequent among students. Fearful attachment style was found to be a risk factor for IA. This study highlights the impact of relationships between child and their caregivers on the development of addiction.

In developing countries, malnutrition represents a public health problem, which affects many children under five, during their complementary feeding period. One way to overcome this problem is through the supplementation of complementary flours with locally available food resources, such as Moringa oleifera leaf (MOL). An experimental study was conducted from June through November 2019 in the southern-Benin, with moderately acutely malnourished (MAM) children, using a porridge made of a mixture of corn, malted sorghum, soybean, peanut, milk, and moringa leaf powder. A total of 150 MAM children aged 12-59 months were recruited and divided into two groups, an intervention group (48) and a control group (75). The intervention group received the test food, a porridge made of maize flour supplemented with Moringa oleifera leaf flour (MOL-flour), at least 5 times/week for 6 months. The control group, whose mothers received nutritional education sessions on food diversification as well as the different ways of preparing MOL meals. Sensory evaluation, anthropometric and dietary diversity data were collected. Z-scores Weight/Height, Weight/Age et Height/Age were determined before and right after the intervention. Results showed that 70% of the children and more than 75% of the mothers assessed the porridge as palatable. A significant average weight gain of 1.720 g (p < 0.005) was observed in the intervention group at the end of the experimentation, with a reduction of the prevalence of underweight by 1,33% (p > 0.05), and the number of acute Malnutrition children by 10,42% (p < 0.005).

Background: Uterine inversion is a rare obstetric emergency but potentially life-threatening condition. If these are not immediately diagnosed, the massive and underestimated blood loss can lead to hypovolemic shock. Case: Case of 24 years old woman was referred from the district Public Health Center with vaginal bleeding after delivery with abdominal pain. We found fundal height postpartum is 3 fingers above symphysis and confirmed a soft mass protruding inside the vagina at the local examination. The ultrasound cannot present the fundus of the uterus and impressed a uterine inversion. Stabilization for the patient is done with fluid resuscitation and blood transfusion. The patient planned for exploratory laparotomy and we confirmed uterine inversion. We did per abdominal reposition success which was managed by Haultain’s method. Conclusion: Uterine inversion should be considered in any patient with symptoms of hemorrhage and abdominopelvic pain, with the physical findings of a soft, congested, bleeding mass within the vagina on bimanual examination. Prompt treatment consists of fluid resuscitation and anatomical repositioning is needed.

Monkeypox is a rare zoonotic infection originating in the regions of Central and West Africa. The global threat has been arising since monkeypox is spreading outside of the endemic regions. Pakistan has recently exhausted health funds in a quarrel against SARS-CoV-2, by supplying expensive COVID-19 vaccines to the general public, free of cost. Pakistan’s government has remarkably contributed to lowering the suffering of COVID-19-affected patients by granting the Sehat Sahulat Programme and similar health initiatives to restrict viral propagation in the general public. However, despite all efforts the major constraints are a lack of international funds and limitations on the budget of healthcare systems and medical facilities. Newly emerged cases of monkeypox are very threatening to Pakistan’s economy and health. Therefore, it is very necessary that healthcare authorities take effective measures like surveillance, early identification, separation, monitoring of contacts, immunization, and public awareness in order to stop the spread of the virus and control monkeypox outbreaks.

Background: Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is a systemic inflammatory disease resulting from an abnormal immune response to group A β-hemolytic streptococci. ARF is a major public health problem in developing countries, particularly in Senegal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mutation penetrance and genetic diversity of exon 2 of the HLA-DRB1 gene in Senegalese patients with ARF. Results: DNA was extracted from the blood of patients with ARF. Exon 2 of the HLA-DRB1 gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and sequenced using the Sanger method. Bioinformatics software and databases (polyphen-2, SIFT and ProVean) were used to assess the pathogenicity of missense mutations. The results revealed a high level of polymorphism in exon 2 of the HLA-DRB1 gene, with 73 non-synonymous mutations between codons 21 and 89, which lie in the hypervariable region encoded by exon 2. Of the 73 variants tested, 44% were pathogenic, indicating their potential involvement in ARF onset. Conclusion: Our results indicate that the HLA-DRB1 mutations involvement in the onset of rheumatic fever.

Aim: Kidney stone disease, which can affect people of all ages and whose incidence increases day by day, is becoming a public health problem due to treatment costs. This study aims to determine how factors related to kidney stones affect the diagnosis of the disease when taken together, rather than determining their relationship with the disease one by one.Materials and methods: An open-access dataset containing kidney stone status and associated factors was used in the study. Mann Whitney U test and independent sample t-test were used in data analysis. Logistic regression was performed with the backward variable selection method to determine the factors associated with kidney stones. ROC analysis was used to determine the power of the variables that were significant as a result of logistic regression analysis, individually and together, in discriminating kidney stones.Results: According to the results of logistic regression analysis, gravity, cond, and urea calc variables were found to be associated with kidney stones. With ROC analysis, it can be said that urea, calc, and gravity variables with AUC values above 0.60 can distinguish kidney stones. When the combinations of these variables are examined, the AUC values of the binary combinations are between 0.734 and 0.759, while the AUC value obtained for the triple combination is 0.831.Conclusion: According to the results obtained from the article, it can be said that while the factors associated with the disease and used in the diagnosis have little effect on the diagnosis of the disease alone based on the AUC values obtained from the ROC analysis, it can be said that considering them together increases the accuracy in diagnosis. Therefore, considering the factors thought to be associated with the disease together may be more appropriate in diagnosis and may give more accurate results.

Introduction: Bacterial resistance is a threat to public health, as it is estimated that 37,000 people die due to hospital infections, most of them due to multidrug-resistant bacteria. In part, this resistance is due to the inappropriate use of antibiotics, with ceftriaxone being one of the most used. Therefore, this article aims to analyze the consequences of using ceftriaxone in the hospital environment. Methodology: This is an integrative qualitative review, following the PICO strategy, using the Embase, BVS, and Pubmed databases, with the guiding question being: “In patients admitted to a hospital environment (P), is ceftriaxone used appropriately (I) for the treatment of infections (CO)?” and the time frame from 2013 to 2023. Results: 272 articles were found in total, 46 obtained from the VHL, 62 from PubMed, and 164 from Embase. Of these, 66 were duplicates, leaving 206 works for title and summary reading. After reading, 79 were selected for full reading, with 7 articles ultimately being selected for the study. An average of 62.3% of inappropriate use was found, with the minimum value found being 19% and the maximum being 87.9%. The main reasons for this use were: indication, dose, frequency, and duration. Conclusion: From reading the articles, it is concluded that the inappropriate use of ceftriaxone is mainly due to: indication, dose, frequency, and duration of treatment. These elements must be monitored, as their inappropriate use increases the length of hospital stay and may be associated with the emergence of bacterial resistance.

Compacted bentonite or sand-bentonite mixtures are considered buffer/backfill materials in the engineering barriers of deep geological repositories for high-level nuclear waste (HLW) disposal in many countries. The design and long-term functionality of nuclear repositories have critical importance for environmental safety and public health. The initially unsaturated buffer material could become re-saturated long after following the sealing of the repository. Although the saturation degree of the buffer might decrease due to high temperatures and evaporation, it tends to increase with groundwater intrusion. Therefore, the soil water characteristic curves (SWCCs) for these unsaturated soils are a key factor in geotechnical engineering. Yet, the determination of SWCCs can be time-consuming and prone to inaccuracies. The HYPROP (Hydraulic Property Analyzer) evaporation technique is a preferred method for accurately determining water retention curves of soils. This reliable method was applied to estimate the water retention curves for sand-bentonite mixtures in the presence of boron minerals. Known for their minimal thermal expansion and commonly used in various industries, boron minerals may improve the thermal stability of sand-bentonite mixtures. The findings revealed that the boron addition increased the water retention capacity of the 10% bentonite mixtures but had a negligible impact on the 20% bentonite mixtures.

This study assesses air pollution in Sichuan Province, China, from January 2019 to December 2023 using Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite data. The analysis reveals distinct seasonal variations in levels of Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂), Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂), and Ozone (O₃), with urban areas experiencing higher concentrations due to industrial and vehicular emissions. CO and O₃ frequently exceeded WHO guidelines, particularly in winter and summer, indicating significant health risks. While most pollutant levels remained within safety limits, the findings highlight the importance of continuous monitoring and targeted mitigation strategies to improve air quality and safeguard public health, especially in urban environments.

It is quite alarming the increasing rate of antibacterial resistance all over the world considering the public health threat and the re-emergence of multi-drug resistant Enterobacteriaceae. The aim of this study is Antibacterial resistance and phenotypic detection of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae isolated from human and animal fecal samples in selected local government areas of Nasarawa state, Nigeria was carried out in the study. Hundred (100) samples comprising human and animal (goats, cattle, and chicken) were collected and 55 samples were multidrug resistant. A commercial biochemical kit (Eneterosystem 18R) was used for the isolation and identification of Enterobacteriaceae. Kirby Bauer Disk Diffusion Method was used for antibacterial susceptibility testing of Enterobacteriaceae isolates. The Double Disc Synergy Test (DDST) method was also used for the phenotypic confirmation test of Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL). The occurrence of multidrug-resistant isolates shows that Escherichia coli (100.00%) which is the highest, Proteus mirabilis (14.54%), Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Salmonella enterica (10.90%), while the occurrence of Shigella flexneri (9.09%) was the lowest. The Enterobacteriaceae isolates were more resistant to Cefuroxime, Cefexime, Amoxicillin Clavulanate, and Imipenem/Cilastatin with percentage resistance ranges from 66.6% - 100%. The occurrence of ESBL producers shows that Escherichia coli (60.00%) and Proteus mirabilis (62.5%) were high while Shigella flexneri (20.0%) had a low occurrence of ESBL. The sale and in-discriminate use of antibiotics without a prescription is an important regulatory issue in the abuse of antibiotics for both humans and animals. The Beta-Lactam and gentamycin antibiotics were not effective against the Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) isolates and most of the isolates were ESBL producers.

Water deficit is a fundamental factor in public health and economic growth. Water supply and population growth are directly linked to water demand. The physio-chemistry and microbiology analysis of water is utmost significance in dietary requirements. Drinking water has the main concern especially it affects food security. This study includes a number of representative sites where 24 water samples (from wells, reservoirs and tap water) were analysed. These sites are located in the western villages of Baalbeck, the main city of the Bekaa Plain in Lebanon where the analysed water is used mainly for domestic needs and for irrigation. This study  investigates the physiochemical and microbiological properties. Among the selected sites, Hawsh Barada site shows a strong contamination by nitrate. At the Nabi Rashaded (tap), Beit Shema and Bednayel (borehole and tap), contamination above the norm by zinc ion was noted. From a microbiological point of view, Hawsh barada, Nabi-Rashadeh, Hawsh-bay, and Beit shema are markedly polluted and do not meet the standard for drinking water. Hence, water quality in Hawsh barada, Nabi-Rashadeh, Hawsh-bay, Beit shema and Bednayel are not suitable for drinking, and this must be informed to decision makers who can act implementing environmental controls for health protection in the studied region.

Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) is a major public health concern, affecting approximately 900,000 people annually in the United States. In rare cases, a Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) may allow a venous thrombus to cross into the arterial circulation, causing a paradoxical embolism. This case report presents a 46-year-old male who developed left renal artery stenosis after a paradoxical embolism, likely triggered by a prolonged flight and binge alcohol consumption. The patient was found to have a moderate-sized PFO and renal infarction, confirmed by imaging studies. Despite initial anticoagulation therapy and a planned stenting procedure, intraoperative findings revealed only mild stenosis, leading to cancellation of the stent placement. The patient ultimately underwent PFO closure with an Amplatzer Talisman device. This case underscores the diagnostic challenges in managing paradoxical embolism and the need for individualized treatment, particularly concerning anticoagulation duration, the decision for PFO closure, and post-procedural antithrombotic therapy. Further research is required to establish optimal management strategies for cryptogenic embolic events.

This review aims to emphasize the scientific focus on platelet therapies by presenting the results already obtained in mares susceptible to Persistent Breeding-Induced Endometritis (PBIE), as well as highlighting opportunities for further improvement. The recent publication demonstrating the absence of bacterial growth in susceptible mares treated with PRP underscores the potential of regenerative therapies to control infections without promoting the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Alternative therapies have gained prominence in the current public health context, with the World Health Organization listing antimicrobial resistance among the ten most significant global threats. Endometritis is the leading cause of subfertility in mares, and empirical antibiotic therapies are commonly used in the field due to market pressures related to the high financial value of embryos, along with logistical challenges in obtaining laboratory-dependent diagnostic results. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is an alternative therapy derived from whole blood plasma with a high concentration of platelets. Its anti-inflammatory, regenerative, and antimicrobial properties are particularly tested when traditional therapies fail to achieve the desired effect. In recent years, research on the use of PRP in equine reproduction has primarily focused on endometritis, with a particular emphasis on persistent breeding-induced endometritis (PBIE). However, there is a growing interest in other platelet derivatives, such as lyophilized platelet-rich plasma and platelet lysate, which offer practical field applications.

The National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) is a public institution created by Law 9782/1999, which integrates the field of Collective Health and acts in the prevention, control, and inspection of sanitary conditions in various sectors, such as food, health, pharmacies, hospitals, and commercial establishments. Its main objective is to guarantee the protection of public health, ensuring that products, services, and environments comply with established standards, to promote health and preventing diseases. To exercise its inspection and control function, Sanitary Surveillance has the power of sanitary police, which gives it the authority to apply necessary measures and curb practices that pose risks to the health of the population.The performance of the Sanitary Surveillance is fundamental to prevent health risks in any part of society and to guarantee national programs for patient safety. It is also essential to prevent diseases, control risks, and monitor compliance with health standards and specific regulations. The police power of Sanitary Surveillance consists of establishing norms and technical regulations, carrying out inspections and inspections, issuing temporary or permanent interdiction orders in establishments that do not comply with the norms, as well as forwarding complaints to the Public Ministry in cases of crimes against public health. Arrests carried out by Sanitary Surveillance agents are extreme measures and applied in serious situations of risk to public health or when there is repeated disrespect for sanitary regulations. The prohibited establishments have the right of defense and may seek to regularize the situation to obtain the release of activities.The performance of the Sanitary Surveillance has significant impacts on the prevention of disease outbreaks and epidemics. Identifying and correcting inappropriate practices helps to prevent the spread of pathogenic agents and reduce the risk of contagion in collective environments. The institution’s preventive and supervisory activities contribute to reducing risks to the population’s health, preventing disease outbreaks, food poisoning, and the proliferation of pests, among other problems. Finally, the importance of exercising police power with transparency, impartiality, and respect for individual rights is emphasized, always aiming at the collective interest and the promotion of the common good. In summary, Health Surveillance plays an essential role in protecting public health, seeking to ensure that the population has access to safe products and services, contributing to the improvement of quality of life and disease prevention.

This study investigates the impact of socio-political disruptions on air quality in Khartoum, Sudan, focusing on key pollutants: Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂), and Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂). Using Sentinel-5P satellite data (2020–2024) processed in Google Earth Engine (GEE), spatial and temporal variations in pollutant levels were analyzed before and after a significant war event in April 2023. The methodology included data acquisition, preprocessing (e.g., cloud masking, spatial filtering), monthly averages computation, visualization, and statistical analysis using Google Earth Engine (GEE), ArcGIS Pro, and Microsoft Excel. Results showed a marked post-war increase in AOD levels, attributed to infrastructure destruction, fires, and diminished industrial oversight, alongside spatially consistent pollution patterns in some regions. CO concentrations exhibited an overall decline due to reduced industrial activities and transportation, though localized anomalies were linked to concentrated emissions. Similarly, NO₂ levels dropped significantly, reflecting reduced vehicular and industrial activities, while sporadic increases suggested localized emissions like generator use. SO₂ demonstrated mixed trends, with reduced mean levels but increased variability, indicating sporadic high-emission events linked to emergency fuel use or conflict-related disruptions. This study uniquely combines high-resolution satellite data with advanced spatial and temporal analysis techniques to reveal the nuanced and multi-pollutant impact of socio-political conflicts on air quality in Khartoum, providing novel insights into the environmental repercussions of armed conflicts. These findings highlight the profound impact of socio-political events on atmospheric pollution dynamics, underscoring the need for robust urban planning, targeted environmental monitoring, and policies to mitigate air quality deterioration and address public health concerns in conflict-prone regions. The study emphasizes the importance of satellite-based monitoring to provide critical insights into the environmental repercussions of socio-political upheavals.

The concurrent emergence of dengue fever and the COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges to India’s healthcare system, particularly in Western Rajasthan, a region characterized by its arid climate and unique socio-demographic conditions. This study aimed to investigate the clinical and molecular characteristics of dengue during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on trends, diagnostic challenges, and serotype distribution. Conducted at Dr. S.N. Medical College, Jodhpur, in 2021, the study included 550 dengue-positive patients confirmed via rapid diagnostic tests and further analyzed using Dengue NS1 antigen and IgM antibody ELISA. Molecular characterization was performed using RT-PCR for serotyping.The results revealed a male predominance (72.36%) and a higher incidence in the 21–30-year age group (39.09%). Urban areas accounted for 67.73% of cases, with significant NS1 and IgM positivity (p = 0.042 and p = 0.004, respectively). Most cases (86.91%) were managed outpatient, though IgM positivity was significantly higher among hospitalized patients (19.19%, p < 0.001), indicating severe or prolonged infections. Platelet counts were above 100,000/mm³ in 86.91% of cases, with only 0.37% showing critically low counts (< 20,000/mm³). Seasonal analysis showed a peak in October (n = 325), correlating with post-monsoon vector breeding. Serotyping identified DENV2 as the dominant strain (97.42%), associated with severe dengue manifestations, including Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF).The study highlights the dual burden of dengue and COVID-19, emphasizing the need for enhanced vector control, improved diagnostic strategies and public health interventions during overlapping outbreaks. The predominance of DENV2 underscores the importance of serotype-specific surveillance and preparedness to mitigate future dengue epidemics in the region.

Background: Nutritional awareness among caregivers plays a crucial role in ensuring optimal pediatric health and development. This study assesses the level of nutritional awareness among caregivers and examines its association with demographic factors.Objectives: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness of caregivers regarding dietary advice and complementary feeding for children under five years at Wad-Albasheir Family Health Center, Um-Bada locality.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among caregivers in selected healthcare facilities. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 23. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to evaluate associations between variables.Results: The majority of caregivers demonstrated moderate awareness (60%), while 22.5% had low awareness and 17.5% had high awareness. A significant association was observed between education level and awareness (p < 0.05). Employment status also influenced awareness levels, with employed caregivers showing higher knowledge scores.Conclusion: Nutritional awareness is a key determinant of pediatric health. Strengthening educational programs targeting caregivers can improve child nutrition outcomes.

Introduction: The rise in cesarean section rates globally has led to a growing population of women with uterine scars, necessitating more targeted obstetric care in subsequent pregnancies. These women are faced with the decision of attempting vaginal delivery after cesarean section (VBAC) or opting for an elective repeat cesarean section. The likelihood of a VBAC depends on various factors both maternal and fetal, gathered in two known scores Grobman and Zhang, utilizing them could make VBAC successful and more widely attempted.  This study aims to validate the prognostic of these scores in a Moroccan population.Objectives:•    Validate the international predictive scores (Grobman and Zhang) for the probability of a successful VBAC in the Moroccan population.•    Explore additional criteria specific to the Moroccan population and develop a simplified VBAC score.  Results:•    Out of 2,973 women with a cesarean history, 313 attempted  TOLAC, 79% of these attempts were successful VBAC.•    The characteristics of successful VBAC included lower BMI, previous vaginal birth, lower estimated fetal weight, younger maternal age, and more favorable cervical conditions at admission.•    The Grobman and Zhang scores showed good predictive accuracy, with both models achieving 82.2% accuracy.•    When dividing women into groups based on predicted success (using both Grobman and Zhang scores), significant differences were found in success rates across different probability categories.Conclusion: Both Grobman and Zhang’s models were effective in predicting VBAC success in the Moroccan population, with a slight preference for the Zhang model. However, further research is needed to validate these models in clinical practice. It could involve developing a more population-specific model.