Traditional grain alcohol (bai jiu, 白酒) production and use in rural central China: implications for public health

: World Health Organization (WHO) office in China received the information of pneumonia cases of unknown aetiology from Wuhan, central China on 31st December 2019, subsequently this disease spreading in china and rest of world. Till the March 2020 end, more than 2 lakhs confirmed cases with more than 70000 deaths were reported worldwide, very soon researchers identified it as novel beta Corona virus (virus SARS-CoV-2) and its infection coined as COVID-19. Health ministries of various countries and WHO together fighting to this health emergency, which not only affects public health, but also started affecting various economic sectors as well. The main aim of the current article is to explore the various pandemic situations (SARS, MERS) in past, life cycle of COVID-19, diagnosis procedures, prevention and comparative analysis of COVID-19 with other epidemic situations.

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Spatiotemporal Variations in Gastric Cancer Mortality and Their Relations to Influencing Factors in S County, China

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16050784 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (5) ◽

pp. 784 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Cheng Cui ◽

Baohua Wang ◽

Hongyan Ren ◽

Zhen Wang

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Gastric Cancer ◽

Population Density ◽

Influencing Factors ◽

Cancer Mortality ◽

Socioeconomic Development ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Central China ◽

Environment And Public Health ◽

Spatiotemporal Variations

Increasingly stricter and wider official efforts have been made by multilevel Chinese governments for seeking the improvements of the environment and public health status. However, the contributions of these efforts to environmental changes and spatiotemporal variations in some environmental diseases have been seldom explored and evaluated. Gastric cancer mortality (GCM) data in two periods (I: 2004–2006 and II: 2012–2015) was collected for the analysis of its spatiotemporal variations on the grid scale across S County in Central China. Some environmental and socioeconomic factors, including river, farmlands, topographic condition, population density, and gross domestic products (GDP) were obtained for the exploration of their changes and their relationships with GCM’s spatiotemporal variations through a powerful tool (GeoDetector, GD). During 2004–2015, S County achieved environmental improvement and socioeconomic development, as well as a clear decline of the age-standardized mortality rate of gastric cancer from 35.66/105 to 23.44/105. Moreover, the GCM spatial patterns changed on the grid scale, which was spatially associated with the selected influencing factors. Due to the improvement of rivers’ water quality, the distance from rivers posed relatively larger but reversed impacts on the gridded GCM. In addition, higher population density and higher economic level (GDP) acted as important protective factors, whereas the percentage of farmlands tended to have adverse effects on the gridded GCM in period II. It can be concluded that the decline of GCM in S County was spatiotemporally associated with increasingly strengthened environmental managements and socioeconomic developments over the past decade. Additionally, we suggest that more attentions should be paid to the potential pollution caused by excessive pesticides and fertilizers on the farmlands in S County. This study provided a useful clue for local authorities adopting more targeted measures to improve environment and public health in the regions similar to S County.

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Human-pathogenic relapsing fever Borrelia found in bats from Central China phylogenetically clustered together with relapsing fever borreliae reported in the New World

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽

10.1371/journal.pntd.0009113 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. e0009113

Author(s):

Ze-Min Li ◽

Xiao Xiao ◽

Chuan-Min Zhou ◽

Jian-Xiao Liu ◽

Xiao-Lan Gu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Genetic Diversity ◽

New World ◽

Eastern China ◽

Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽

Wide Distribution ◽

Hubei Province ◽

Genetic Distances ◽

Central China ◽

Relapsing Fever

Bats can harbor zoonotic pathogens causing emerging infectious diseases, but their status as hosts for bacteria is limited. We aimed to investigate the distribution, prevalence and genetic diversity of Borrelia in bats and bat ticks in Hubei Province, China, which will give us a better understanding of the risk of Borrelia infection posed by bats and their ticks. During 2018–2020, 403 bats were captured from caves in Hubei Province, China, 2 bats were PCR-positive for Borrelia. Sequence analysis of rrs, flaB and glpQ genes of positive samples showed 99.55%-100% similarity to Candidatus Borrelia fainii, a novel human-pathogenic relapsing fever Borrelia species recently reported in Zambia, Africa and Eastern China, which was clustered together with relapsing fever Borrelia species traditionally reported only in the New World. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and pairwise genetic distances further confirmed the Borrelia species in the bats from Central China as Candidatus Borrelia fainii. No Borrelia DNA was detected in ticks collected from bats. The detection of this human-pathogenic relapsing fever Borrelia in bats suggests a wide distribution of this novel relapsing fever Borrelia species in China, which may pose a threat to public health in China.

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The impact of COVID-19 on primary health care and antibiotic prescribing in rural China: qualitative study

10.1101/2021.03.01.21252602 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Tingting Zhang ◽

Xingrong Shen ◽

Rong Liu ◽

Linhai Zhao ◽

Debin Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Primary Health Care ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Central China ◽

Antibiotic Prescribing ◽

Epidemic Control ◽

Primary Health ◽

Tract Infections ◽

The Impact

ABSTRACTIntroductionPrimary health care (PHC) system is designated to be responsible for epidemic control and prevention during the outbreak of COVID-19 in China, while COVID-19 suspected cases in PHC are required to be transferred to specialist fever clinics at higher level hospitals. This study aims to understand to impact of COVID-19 on PHC delivery and antibiotic prescribing at community level in the rural areas of central China.MethodsQualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 PHC practitioners and seven patients recruited from two township health centres (THCs) and nine village clinics (VCs) in two rural residential areas of Anhui province. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed.ResultsPractitioners’ and patients’ views and perspectives on COVID-19 impacts on PHC services and antibiotic prescribing are organised into four broad themes: switch from PHC to epidemic prevention and control, concerns and challenges faced by those delivering PHC, diminished PHC, and COVID-19 as a different class of illness.ConclusionThe COVID-19 epidemic has had a considerable impact on the roles of rural PHC clinics in China that shifted to public health from principal medical, and highlighted the difficulties in rural PHC including inadequately trained practitioners, additional work and financial pressure, particularly in VCs. Antibiotic prescribing practices for non-COVID-19 respiratory tract infections remained unchanged since the knowledge of COVID-19 was not seen as relevant to practitioners’ antibiotic treatment practices, although overall rates were reduced because fewer patients were attending rural PHC clinics. Since COVID-19 epidemic control work has been designated as a long-term task in China, rural PHC clinics now face the challenge of how to balance their principal clinical and public health roles and, in the case of the VCs, remain financially viable.

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Prevalence and Risk Factors Analysis for Low Back Pain Among Occupational Groups in Key Industries of China

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1106406/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ning JIA ◽

Meibian ZHANG ◽

Huadong Zhang ◽

Ruijie Ling ◽

Yimin Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Central China ◽

Survey Method ◽

Global Public Health ◽

Occupational Groups ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Heavy Loads ◽

Key Industries

Abstract Background: With the acceleration of industrialization and the growth of population aging, LBP has become the main disease of life loss caused by disability, which brings huge economic burden to society and is a global public health problem that needs to be solved urgently. The purpose of this study is to carry out epidemiological investigation and research on a large sample of people in key industries in different regions of China, to find out the incidence and distribution characteristics of LBP in key industries in China, to explore the epidemic law, and to provide reference basis for alleviating the global public health problems caused by LBP.Methods: This study adopts the modified epidemiological cross-sectional survey method and the stratified cluster sampling method. From the representative enterprises in key industries in seven regions of North China, East China, central China, South China, southwest, northwest and Northeast China, all workers on duty and fulfill the criteria are taken as the research objects. The Chinese version of musculoskeletal disease questionnaire modified by a standardized Nordic Questionnaire was used to collect information, and a total of 57501 valid questionnaires were received. Descriptive statistics were used and multivariate logistic regression analysis (p < 0.05) was performed to explore the associations between musculoskeletal disorders and potential risk factors.Results: The annual incidence of LBP in key industries or workers in China is 16.4%. There was significant difference in the incidence of LBP among occupational groups in different industries (P < 0.05). The results of multivariate regression model show that always make the same movements with your trunk, working in the same positions at a high pace, trunk position, always turn round with your trunk, often work overtime, lift heavy loads (more than 20 kg), education level, staff shortage, working age (years), cigarette smoking, use vibration tools at work Body mass index (BMI), lift heavy loads (more than 5 kg) and age (years) were risk factors for LBP. Physical exercise, standing often at work and absolute resting time are protective factors.Conclusion: The incidence of LBP in key industries or workers in China is high. It is urgent to take relevant measures according to individual, occupational and psychosocial factors of LBP to reduce the adverse impact of LBP on workers' health.

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External Communication Barriers among Elderly Deaf and Hard of Hearing People in China during the COVID-19 Pandemic Emergency Isolation: A Qualitative Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182111519 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (21) ◽

pp. 11519

Author(s):

Di Xu ◽

Chu Yan ◽

Ziqing Zhao ◽

Jiaying Weng ◽

Shiwen Ma

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Interpersonal Communication ◽

Hard Of Hearing ◽

Communication Barriers ◽

Central China ◽

Public Health Emergencies ◽

External Communication ◽

Communication And Coordination ◽

Access To Medical Care ◽

Depth Interviews

The COVID-19 pandemic poses a great risk to older people with hearing impairment, who face a higher threshold of external communication after the implementation of the emergency isolation policy. As part of a study on the optimization of external communication among the deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) population in central China, this study employed a qualitative research method based on in-depth interviews to explore the needs and difficulties faced by the older DHH group in external communication during public health emergencies in Wuhan, China, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed that older DHH people had weak reception of critical information about the epidemic, and had suboptimal access to medical care during emergency quarantine, which increased interpersonal communication barriers to this group. The current findings highlight the urgent need for targeted strengthening of the original emergency communication and coordination mechanisms in public health emergencies, and for improving policy inclusiveness for older DHH individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic and emergencies alike.

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Recurrence and Driving Factors of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Central China

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18189535 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (18) ◽

pp. 9535

Author(s):

Yingze Zhao ◽

Dong Jiang ◽

Fangyu Ding ◽

Mengmeng Hao ◽

Qian Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Additive Model ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Driving Factors ◽

Spatiotemporal Distribution ◽

Central China ◽

And Control

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an important vector-borne zoonosis caused by Leishmania spp. that has been spreading in China. It has been posing a significant risk to public health in central China due to its recurrence in recent decades. Yet, the spatiotemporal patterns and the driving factors of VL in central China remain unclear at present. The purpose of this study was to analyse spatiotemporal distribution, explore driving factors, and provide novel insight into prevention and control countermeasures of the VL spreading in central China. Based on data of human VL cases from 2006 to 2019 obtained from the Chinese Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we depicted the map showing the spatiotemporal distribution of VL in central China. We further explored the driving factors contributing to the spread of VL through the general additive model (GAM) by combining maps of environmental, meteorological, and socioeconomic correlates. Most VL cases were reported in Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces, the number of which has been increasing every year in the last 14 years, from 3 new cases in 2006 to 101 new cases in 2019. The results of GAM revealed that environmental (i.e., changes in grasslands/forests), meteorological (i.e., temperature and relative humidity), and socioeconomic (i.e., population density) factors are significantly associated with the prevalence of VL in central China. Our results provide a better understanding regarding the current situation and the driving factors of VL in central China, assisting in developing the disease prevention and control strategies implemented by public health authorities.

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Quality

Whites and Reds ◽

10.1093/oso/9780198784821.003.0008 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 200-234

Author(s):

Stephen V. Bittner

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Alcohol Content ◽

Soviet Culture ◽

Beet Sugar ◽

The Press ◽

Grain Alcohol

The final chapter traces the emergence of a Soviet culture of connoisseurship in the 1970s and 1980s. It highlights efforts by Soviet vintners to improve the quality of their wines and to ween consumers from so-called bormotukha, low-quality wines sweetened with beet sugar and strengthened with grain alcohol that comprised the vast majority of Soviet production. Vintners were motivated by concerns that alcoholism was becoming a principal threat to public health, and that bormotukha, which often had an alcohol content as high as 19%, was contributing to the epidemic. The solution, in their view, was to encourage Soviet consumers to purchase conventional dry wine, which they presented in the press as a more cultured and refined drink than vodka and bormotukha.

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Serological survey for sparganum infection in people of central China

Helminthologia ◽

10.2478/s11687-014-0223-x ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 51 (2) ◽

pp. 158-161 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Z. Wang ◽

X. Lin ◽

H. Zhang ◽

B. Xu ◽

X. Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Education ◽

Risk Behavior ◽

Public Health Education ◽

Henan Province ◽

Central China ◽

Serological Survey ◽

Serum Samples ◽

History Of ◽

Spirometra Mansoni

Abstract During 2006–2008, twenty cases with sparganosis caused by eating live tadpoles emerged in Henan province, central China. To determine seroprevalence of anti-sparganum antibodies and obtain information about habits of eating live tadpoles and risks for sparganum infection, a serological survey was carried out in one village of Henan. Antisparganum IgG in 298 serum samples were assayed by ELISA using excretory and secretory (ES) antigens of Spirometra mansoni spargana. The results showed 56.71 % (169/298) of inhabitants had the history of eating live tadpoles. The overall seroprevalence was 5.7 % (17/298). The seroprevalence of the inhabitants who had the habit of eating tadpoles (9.47 %) was obviously higher than those who did not (0.78 %) (P < 0.01). Eating live tadpoles had become the most common risk behavior for sparganum infection. Hence, the comprehensive public health education should be carried out in endemic areas, and the habit of eating live tadpoles must be discouraged.

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Chemical content of unrecorded distilled alcohol (bai jiu) from rural central China: Analysis and public health risk

The International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research ◽

10.7895/ijadr.v6i1.236 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 59-67 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ian M. Newman ◽

Ling Qian ◽

Niran Tamrakar ◽

Yonghua Feng ◽

Ganrong Xu

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Risk ◽

Public Health Research ◽

Central China ◽

Health Concern ◽

Public Health Risk ◽

Home Based ◽

Three Samples ◽

Chemical Content ◽

Cadmium And Lead

Newman, I., Qian, L., Tamrakar, N., Feng, Y., & Xu, G. (2017). Chemical content of unrecorded distilled alcohol (bai jiu) from rural central China: Analysis and public health risk. The International Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Research, 6(1), 59-67. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.v6i1.236Aims: To test 47 samples of locally distilled unrecorded beverage alcohol (bai jiu) obtained in rural central China.Methods: Alcohol samples purchased from home-based makers or from small village shops were analyzed for ethanol, methanol, acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, six higher alcohols, arsenic, cadmium, and lead. Results were judged against the standards for these compounds set by the AMPHORA Project.Findings: Ethanol concentrations ranged from 38.7% to 63.7% (mean 50.4%). Methanol and methyl acetate detected in all samples did not exceed the Alcohol Measures for Public Health Research Alliance (AMPHORA) limits. Acetaldehyde was present in all samples, with three samples exceeding the AMPHORA limit by a small amount. Lead was found in 57.4% of the samples with one sample exceeding the AMPHORA limit; cadmium was found in 89.4% of the samples with two exceeding the AMPHORA limit. Arsenic was found in 46.8% of the samples with none exceeding the AMPHORA limit.Conclusions: The three samples that exceeded AMPHORA limits for cadmium or lead are of concern in terms of the potential of long-term exposure for local people who regularly consume locally made bai jiu. The main health concern from bai jiu appears to be the risk associated with high ethanol concentration—the same health concern as for recorded, commercially produced spirits.

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