Geoclimatic influence on the prevalence of asthma in adolescents: a multilevel analysis.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways presenting high global prevalence. Geoclimatic characteristics, especially relative air humidity, play an important role in its epidemiological profile, despite being still understudied. This study aims to evaluate the influence of individual and environmental geoclimatic factors on the prevalence of asthma in adolescents.

Geographic pattern of asthma prevalence in Brazilian adolescents: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Objectives: This study aimed to verify the prevalence of asthma in Brazilian adolescents and its geographic pattern carried through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Sources: A survey of databases (Pubmed, Chocrane, LILACS, SCIELO and SCOPUS) was carried out, following the PRISMA statement, between the years 2013 and 2023 (PROSPERO-ID-CRD42023427988). Articles that presented a measure relative to the prevalence of asthma in adolescents were included.

Babinski-Nageotte syndrome after vertebral artery dissection and foramen arcuale.

Vertebrobasilar ischaemia happens for a myriad of reasons. Among the rarest is the existence of a foramen arcuale (FA). This condition results from the ossification of the lateral edge of the posterior atlantooccipital membrane, closing, completely or partially, the top of this groove, turning it into a foramen or a channel.

Temporo-spatial analysis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Spain: Altitude and land use as new determinants of the disease.

Introduction: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons. Currently, ALS is conceived as the result of the interaction between genetics, environmental factors, and aging. This study analyzed the spatial and temporal patterns of ALS in Spain, delving into the potential relationships between altitude, land cover, and this disease.

A systematic literature review on factors of socio-environmental vulnerability associated with water-borne diseases.

Introduction: Diarrhoeas, acute gastroenteritis with moderate dehydration, malaria and cholera are water-borne diseases with a high incidence in childhood and are one of the principal causes of morbidity and mortality in children under the age of 5 years, and predominantly so in developing countries. Various factors influence the population's vulnerability to these diseases. The objective of this work was to identify the factors of socio-environmental vulnerability associated with the occurrence of water-borne diseases (diarrhoeas, acute gastroenteritis with moderate dehydration, malaria and cholera).

Space-time clusters of cardiovascular mortality and the role of heatwaves and cold spells in the city of São Paulo, Brazil.

The effects extreme air temperature events are related with an increase in cardiovascular mortality among vulnerable groups worldwide. Therefore, we identify spatiotemporal mortality clusters associated with diseases of the cardiovascular system among people ≥ 65 years in São Paulo, from 2006 to 2015, and investigate whether high-risk mortality clusters occurred during or following extreme air temperature events. To detect the clusters, we used daily mortality data and a retrospective space-time scan analysis with a discrete Poisson model.

The influence of the Great Recession on perinatal health-an ecological study on the trend changes and regional differences in Portugal.

Background: Few studies examine the relationship between socioeconomic factors and trends in mortality in high-income European countries. Due to the lack of regional-level data, most recent studies on social inequality in Portugal do not investigate regional differences. This study analyses time trends and regional disparities in the evolution of perinatal mortality (PMR) and infant mortality (IMR) associated with demographic and socioeconomic indicators following Portugal's 2008 economic and financial crisis.

Descriptive analysis of occupational accidents in Spain and their relationship with heatwaves.

Objective: The purpose of this work is to carry out a descriptive analysis of occupational accidents and to evaluate the relationship between heatwaves and work accidents in Spain's three most populated provinces: Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia.

Methods: Daily data of work accidents (including for each case: gender, age, date, length of time in the position, type of work, place of accident and duration of medical leave) was collected. A heatwave was defined when daily mean temperatures above the threshold (95th percentile) of the climatological period (1990-2021) were recorded for at least three consecutive days.

Long-Term Headache and Cognitive Complaints Among Health Care Workers Who Acquired SARS-CoV-2.

Introduction Neurological manifestations are frequent after acquiring COVID-19 and may persist long-term as part of post-COVID-19 syndrome. Cognitive impairment, chronic fatigue, sleep disturbances, and headache complaints are the most reported neurological features. During the COVID-19 pandemic, health care workers were particularly vulnerable due to the high workload and levels of stress associated with this period, but acquiring severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may also contribute.

2008 economic crisis impact on perinatal and infant mortality in Southern European countries.

Introduction: The study of crisis events provides important lessons to prepare for upcoming events. The Great Recession's impact on perinatal health in Europe can provide relevant insights into the healthcare and social protection systems' response to the protection of the health of the most vulnerable groups.

Objective: To assess time trends and international disparities in perinatal mortality rates (PMR) and infant mortality rates (IMR), following the Great Recession, and their association with socioeconomic indicators in Portugal, Greece, Italy and Spain.

Seroepidemiology study of Cytomegalovirus and Rubella in pregnant women in Luanda, Angola: geospatial distribution and its association with socio-demographic and clinical-obstetric determinants.

Background: Both CMV and Rubella virus infections are associated with the risk of vertical transmission, fetal death or congenital malformations. In Angola, there are no reports of CMV and Rubella studies. Therefore, our objectives were to study the seroprevalence of anti-CMV and anti-Rubella antibodies in pregnant women of Luanda (Angola), identify the risk of primary infection during pregnancy and evaluate the socio-demographic risk factors associated with both infections.

Prevalence of HIV and hepatitis B virus among pregnant women in Luanda (Angola): geospatial distribution and its association with socio-demographic and clinical-obstetric determinants.

Background: HIV and HBV infections remain responsible for high rate of morbidity and mortality in many African Countries, affecting women and newborns. This study aims to analyze the spatial pattern of HIV and HBV infections in pregnant women in Luanda, Angola, and the statistical association between HIV and HBV and socio-economic characteristics, hygiene, and health status.

Methods: Detection of anti-HIV antibodies (total anti-HIV-1, anti-HIV-2 and HIV-1 p24 antigen) and Hepatitis B antigens (HBsAg, HBeAg) and antibodies (anti-HBc Total II, HBc IgM, Anti-HBsT II) was performed by Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay (ELFA) in serum samples of 878 pregnant women attended at the Lucrecia Paim Maternity Hospital (LPMH).

Impact of heat waves and cold spells on cause-specific mortality in the city of São Paulo, Brazil.

The impact of heat waves and cold spells on mortality has become a major public health problem worldwide, especially among older adults living in low-to middle-income countries. This study aimed to investigate the effects of heat waves and cold spells under different definitions on cause-specific mortality among people aged ≥65 years in São Paulo from 2006 to 2015. A quasi-Poisson generalized linear model with a distributed lag model was used to investigate the association between cause-specific mortality and extreme air temperature events.

Unhealthy lifestyles, environment, well-being and health capability in rural neighbourhoods: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Non-communicable diseases are a leading cause of health loss worldwide, in part due to unhealthy lifestyles. Metabolic-based diseases are rising with an unhealthy body-mass index (BMI) in rural areas as the main risk factor in adults, which may be amplified by wider determinants of health. Changes in rural environments reflect the need of better understanding the factors affecting the self-ability for making balanced decisions.

Equitable migrant-friendly perinatal healthcare access and quality in public maternity units in Portugal.

Background: Migrant women are at higher risk to face access barriers to perinatal care services and to experience worse pregnancy outcomes compared to native. Assessing the perception of migrant women and health providers discloses a multifaceted view on migrant-friendly care, a multidimensional concept in itself. This study aims to compare self-perceived assessments of migrant women and directors of obstetrics and gynaecology (GYN/OBS) departments on equitable migrant-friendly perinatal healthcare quality and access during the intrapartum and postpartum period at public maternities in Portugal.

Evaluation of the drinking water quality surveillance system in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro.

The present work evaluated the surveillance of the drinking water quality information system database and correlated the findings of the microbiological analysis with the distribution of intestinal protozoa from the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro. From the database, we obtained 1,654 georeferenced monitoring stations that were used in the analysis. The results indicate that the minimum number of samples collected per parameter (free residual chlorine, turbidity, counts of total and fecal coliforms (Escherichia coli)) was not fulfilled, the collection of samples throughout the year was irregular and the representability of sampling points considered strategic was low (48% of municipalities).

North African dust intrusions and increased risk of respiratory diseases in Southern Portugal.

The study of dust intrusions in Portugal is still a subject on which little investigation has been made, especially in terms of their effects. Thus, this work aims to achieve two goals: firstly, to characterize the dust intrusions in the study area; and secondly, to evaluate the possible statistical association between the dust intrusion days and hospital admissions due to respiratory diseases. Dust intrusions in Portugal are prevalent during the summer season.

Serological prevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women in Luanda (Angola): Geospatial distribution and its association with socio-demographic and clinical-obstetric determinants.

We report a study on toxoplasmosis in pregnant women in Luanda, Angola, determining the seroprevalence, geospatial distribution and its association with socio-economic features, dietary habits and hygiene and health conditions. Anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM were quantified in serum samples of women attended at the Lucrecia Paim Maternity Hospital between May 2016 and August 2017. The IgG avidity test and qPCR assay were used for dating the primary infection.

Air pollution and occupational accidents in the Community of Madrid, Spain.

Spain is the EU member country with the third highest total number of accidents in work and has the third highest incidence rate. We have performed a descriptive analysis of occupational accidents in the Community of Madrid (Spain) between 2005 and 2013 to study the impact of air quality on the prevalence of occupational accidents, clarifying how vulnerable to air pollution outdoor workers are. In order to evaluate the association between each air pollutant and work accidents, a quasi-Poisson generalized additive model was fitted.