Articles: disease.
-
Communicable disease control has long been a focus of global health policy. There have been substantial reductions in the burden and mortality of communicable diseases among children younger than 5 years, but we know less about this burden in older children and adolescents, and it is unclear whether current programmes and policies remain aligned with targets for intervention. This knowledge is especially important for policy and programmes in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to use the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019 to systematically characterise the burden of communicable diseases across childhood and adolescence. ⋯ The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Centre for Research Excellence for Driving Investment in Global Adolescent Health and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
-
Associations Among PTSD, Cognitive Functioning, and Health-Promoting Behavior in Post-9/11 Veterans.
PTSD is associated with negative health behaviors that increase chronic disease risk, yet health behaviors and their determinants are not well investigated in this context. One understudied mechanism of health behaviors is cognitive functioning. Deficits in cognitive functioning may undermine engagement in health-promoting behavior, thereby increasing the negative impact of PTSD. We tested three hypotheses: (1) Greater PTSD symptom severity is associated with less health-promoting behavior; (2) greater PTSD symptom severity is associated with poorer cognitive functioning across verbal memory, processing speed, attention, and executive functioning domains; and (3) verbal memory and executive functioning exhibit indirect effects on the relationship between PTSD and health-promoting behavior. ⋯ Therapeutic targeting of these relationships may have implications for the prevention of long-term disease impact in veterans; longitudinal research is needed to elucidate the potential impact on chronic disease.
-
Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) preparations, used for the treatment of antibody deficiencies, provide a glimpse of the general population's antibody profile as each preparation is generated from a pool of thousands of donors. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the virus responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, and a vaccine for the prevention of Covid-19 was authorized for emergency use in December 2020. We completed a longitudinal analysis of SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in commercial IVIG preparations. ⋯ SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in IVIG mirror case prevalence, and vaccination resulted in a far more rapid rate of rise in antibody levels. IVIG preparations or serum repositories can provide an accessible way to model a population's evolving novel pathogen exposure, immunity, and vaccine response.
-
Active duty flight crew plays a critical role in military operations. The occupational demands of the flying environment require a certain level of medical suitability. Additionally, such an environment could be more hazardous for certain populations. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the World Health Organization strongly support exclusive breastfeeding for the health benefit of both the mother and the child in the first 6 months of life, the aeromedical implications of lactating are not widely discussed. Breastfeeding is inherently challenging for many women, in part because of the frequent emptying required to maintain breastmilk supply and avoid complications such as engorgement, clogged ducts, and mastitis. This pilot study evaluated the experiences of individuals concurrently breastfeeding while on active duty Naval flying status to (1) assess whether these individuals experience frequent challenges or complications associated with lactating and (2) establish the need for future expanded studies. ⋯ This study hypothesizes that occupational demands associated with aviation result in a decreased ability to maintain exclusive breastfeeding, an increased risk for engorgement and clogged ducts, and a higher likelihood of early weaning among Naval aviators. It included only the perspectives of Naval officers, thereby lacking the input of enlisted aircrew on flight status, who comprise a large population of active duty flyers. The responses, although limited by a lack of controls and survey limitations, indicate that a future study to expand understanding of the aeromedical implications on lactating individuals would be valuable for improving workplace support and the ultimate success of lactating women in meeting their breastfeeding goals.
-
Musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) are common among U.N. military personnel and cause a substantial toll, but little is known about the actual risks and changes of MSIs. The Chinese level II hospital (CHN L2H) was the highest-level hospital in the Western Sector of the U.N. Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). This study reviewed and analyzed the MSIs managed by the CHN L2H in UNMISS. ⋯ MSIs are common diseases in the CHN L2H in the Western Sector of UNMISS. The universality and complexity of MSIs demonstrate the urgent need to improve prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.