International journal of environmental research and public health
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Int J Environ Res Public Health · Sep 2020
Epidemiology of Exertional Heat Illness in the Military: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies.
Exertional heat illness (EHI) is an occupational hazard among military personnel. This systematic review describes the incidence, risk factors, clinical manifestations, and biomarkers of EHI in the military. Six databases from inception to 28 May 2020 were systematically reviewed using the PRISMA guidelines. ⋯ The mean core temperature ranged from 40 to 41.6 °C, while elevated levels of creatine phosphokinase, liver enzymes, and creatinine were common biochemical markers of EHS. The findings of the review suggest a variation in the incidence of EHI among military populations possibly due to the varying definitions used. Although some risk factors of EHI were identified, more analytical studies are needed to investigate the association between EHI and other important factors such as acclimatisation and occlusive clothing.
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Int J Environ Res Public Health · Sep 2020
ReviewChronic Facial Pain: Trigeminal Neuralgia, Persistent Idiopathic Facial Pain, and Myofascial Pain Syndrome-An Evidence-Based Narrative Review and Etiological Hypothesis.
Trigeminal neuralgia (TN), the most common form of severe facial pain, may be confused with an ill-defined persistent idiopathic facial pain (PIFP). Facial pain is reviewed and a detailed discussion of TN and PIFP is presented. A possible cause for PIFP is proposed. (1) Methods: Databases were searched for articles related to facial pain, TN, and PIFP. ⋯ Well-established TN treatment protocols include pharmacotherapy, neurotoxin denervation, peripheral nerve ablation, focused radiation, and microvascular decompression, with high rates of relief and varying degrees of adverse outcomes. No such protocols exist for PIFP. (3) Conclusion: PIFP may be confused with TN, but treatment possibilities differ greatly. Head and neck muscle myofascial pain syndrome is suggested as a possible cause of PIFP, a consideration that could open new approaches to treatment.
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Int J Environ Res Public Health · Sep 2020
ReviewMinimum Sizes of Respiratory Particles Carrying SARS-CoV-2 and the Possibility of Aerosol Generation.
This study calculates and elucidates the minimum size of respiratory particles that are potential carriers of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); furthermore, it evaluates the aerosol generation potential of SARS-CoV-2. The calculations are based on experimental results and theoretical models. In the case of maximum viral-loading derived from experimental data of COVID-19 patients, 7.18 × 10-4% of a respiratory fluid particle from a COVID-19 patient is occupied by SARS-CoV-2. ⋯ There are limitations to this analysis: (a) assumption that the viruses are homogeneously distributed in respiratory fluid particles and (b) considering a gene copy as a single virion in unit conversions. However, the study shows that high viral loads can decrease the minimum size of respiratory particles containing SARS-CoV-2, thereby increasing the probability of aerosol generation of the viruses. The aerosol generation theory created in this study for COVID-19 has the potential to be applied to other contagious diseases that are caused by respiratory infectious microorganisms.
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Int J Environ Res Public Health · Sep 2020
ReviewIs there a link between wheezing in early childhood and adverse birth outcomes? A systematic review.
We aimed to provide a summary of the existing published knowledge on the association between adverse birth outcomes and the development of wheezing during the first two years of life. We carried out a systematic review of epidemiological studies within the MEDLINE database. ⋯ Following the application of the eligibility criteria we identified nine studies. A positive association and an excess risk of wheezing during the first two years of life were revealed for adverse birth outcomes.
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Int J Environ Res Public Health · Sep 2020
ReviewIs there a link between wheezing in early childhood and adverse birth outcomes? A systematic review.
We aimed to provide a summary of the existing published knowledge on the association between adverse birth outcomes and the development of wheezing during the first two years of life. We carried out a systematic review of epidemiological studies within the MEDLINE database. ⋯ Following the application of the eligibility criteria we identified nine studies. A positive association and an excess risk of wheezing during the first two years of life were revealed for adverse birth outcomes.