scholarly journals Stillbirth in Canada: anachronistic definition and registration processes impede public health surveillance and clinical care

Author(s):  
K.S. Joseph ◽  
Lily Lee ◽  
Laura Arbour ◽  
Nathalie Auger ◽  
Elizabeth K. Darling ◽  
...  

AbstractThe archaic definition and registration processes for stillbirth currently prevalent in Canada impede both clinical care and public health. The situation is fraught because of definitional problems related to the inclusion of induced abortions at ≥20 weeks’ gestation as stillbirths: widespread uptake of prenatal diagnosis and induced abortion for serious congenital anomalies has resulted in an artefactual temporal increase in stillbirth rates in Canada and placed the country in an unfavourable position in international (stillbirth) rankings. Other problems with the Canadian stillbirth definition and registration processes extend to the inclusion of fetal reductions (for multi-fetal pregnancy) as stillbirths, and the use of inconsistent viability criteria for reporting stillbirth. This paper reviews the history of stillbirth registration in Canada, provides a rationale for updating the definition of fetal death and recommends a new definition and improved processes for fetal death registration. The recommendations proposed are intended to serve as a starting point for reformulating issues related to stillbirth, with the hope that building a consensus regarding a definition and registration procedures will facilitate clinical care and public health.

Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 187
Author(s):  
Dorothee Boehm ◽  
Henrik Menke

Fluid management is a cornerstone in the treatment of burns and, thus, many different formulas were tested for their ability to match the fluid requirements for an adequate resuscitation. Thereof, the Parkland-Baxter formula, first introduced in 1968, is still widely used since then. Though using nearly the same formula to start off, the definition of normovolemia and how to determine the volume status of burn patients has changed dramatically over years. In first instance, the invention of the transpulmonary thermodilution (TTD) enabled an early goal directed fluid therapy with acceptable invasiveness. Furthermore, the introduction of point of care ultrasound (POCUS) has triggered more individualized schemes of fluid therapy. This article explores the historical developments in the field of burn resuscitation, presenting different options to determine the fluid requirements without missing the red flags for hyper- or hypovolemia. Furthermore, the increasing rate of co-morbidities in burn patients calls for a more sophisticated fluid management adjusting the fluid therapy to the actual necessities very closely. Therefore, formulas might be used as a starting point, but further fluid therapy should be adjusted to the actual need of every single patient. Taking the developments in the field of individualized therapies in intensive care in general into account, fluid management in burn resuscitation will also be individualized in the near future.


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1-IT) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario Tanga ◽  
Giacomo Gelati ◽  
Marco Casazza

6Contemporary science and culture show more and more extended and meaningful signs about the increasing explaining power of evolutionary paradigm. This power overcomes the field of the history of living species. We consider “On the Origin of Species” of 1859 by Charles Darwin as the establishment of this paradigm, but this original and fruitful idea has received the several and different contributions from near and (seemingly) far scientific fields. This process happened according distinguishable waves and leaded the evolutionary theory very far from its starting point, making it something wider and different. The current knowledge of this theory involves many kinds of scholars: biologists, zoologists, botanists, development biologists, genetics/genomics scholars and also scholars of many other disciplines, as statistics, mathematics, ecology, environmental sciences, physics, chemistry, linguistics, sociology, neuro-sciences, epidemiology, informatics, immunology. During the end of XX Century, the study of complexity, of self-organization and of emerging properties has been a decisive factor to extend evolution until beyond the boundaries of Biology. These phenomena, or properties, or features, that are shown by “living” and “not-living” systems (so called basing ourselves on traditional definitions), have deeply modified even the “properly” biologic evolution itself and besides this has demonstrated that, mutatis mutandis, evolutionary processes or phenomena happen also out of biologic dominion, referring “biologic” to “wet-ware world”. This is to say the class of evolutionary phenomena is more widely and more inclusively extended than our opinion. We can mean this as a revolution (according to Kuhn’s definition) that imposes us to restructure the definition of evolution itself and even to redraw the boundaries and the map of Biology itself. Aiming to establish a name of this field of study we propose “PanEvolutionary Theory” (PanEvo Theory). No doubt Prigogine offered an important contribution to this area. The thinking and the work of Enzo Tiezzi can be placed seen in the same perspective. Disregarding direct connections and contacts with the Nobel Prize Prigogine, however the studies of Enzo Tiezzi are neither a fully unexpected work nor a theory lacking of important potentialities: it is not a strange or eccentric academic exercise. Except the close contact and the dense exchanges with Prigogine, we collocate Enzo Tiezzi in the same context of Gregory Chaitin, of Rachel Carson, of John Harte and Robert H. Socolow, of James Paul Wesley, of Sertorio, of Oort and Peixoto, just to cite the most strictly related. Our Academy had the privilege and the honor of having Enzo Tiezzi in its ranks. We think that merits and developments of the thinking of this scholar have to produce important and lasting fruits in the future.


2015 ◽  
Vol 125 (4) ◽  
pp. 784-788 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.S. Joseph ◽  
Brooke Kinniburgh ◽  
Jennifer A. Hutcheon ◽  
Azar Mehrabadi ◽  
Leanne Dahlgren ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (46) ◽  
pp. 23284-23291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler S. Brown ◽  
Lavanya Challagundla ◽  
Evan H. Baugh ◽  
Shaheed Vally Omar ◽  
Arkady Mustaev ◽  
...  

Antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) infections pose a major threat to global public health. Similar to other AMR pathogens, both historical and ongoing drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) epidemics are characterized by transmission of a limited number of predominant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) strains. Understanding how these predominant strains achieve sustained transmission, particularly during the critical period before they are detected via clinical or public health surveillance, can inform strategies for prevention and containment. In this study, we employ whole-genome sequence (WGS) data from TB clinical isolates collected in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa to examine the pre-detection history of a successful strain of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB known as LAM4/KZN, first identified in a widely reported cluster of cases in 2005. We identify marked expansion of this strain concurrent with the onset of the generalized HIV epidemic 12 y prior to 2005, localize its geographic origin to a location in northeastern KwaZulu-Natal ∼400 km away from the site of the 2005 outbreak, and use protein structural modeling to propose a mechanism for how strain-specific rpoB mutations offset fitness costs associated with rifampin resistance in LAM4/KZN. Our findings highlight the importance of HIV coinfection, high preexisting rates of drug-resistant TB, human migration, and pathoadaptive evolution in the emergence and dispersal of this critical public health threat. We propose that integrating whole-genome sequencing into routine public health surveillance can enable the early detection and local containment of AMR pathogens before they achieve widespread dispersal.


Author(s):  
Wojciech Paweł Sosnowski ◽  
Roman Tymoshuk

On The dictionary of active Polish and Ukrainian phraseology [Leksykon aktywnej frazeologii polskiej i ukraińskiej]. Contrastive linguistics and cultureThe Dictionary of Active Polish and Ukrainian Phraseology [Leksykon aktywnej frazeologii polskiej i ukraińskiej] is the first publication of its kind in the history of Polish and Ukrainian lexicography. It consists of equivalent phrasal units in Polish and Ukrainian. The innovative aspect of the lexicon is that it uses a semantic metalanguage to establish equivalent units. The authors developed a new method of searching for equivalent units which uses the meaning — not the form — as the starting point. This method enables the identification of equivalent units in both languages. Moreover, it enables the identification of units that do not have equivalents. The units which lack equivalents are usually deeply rooted in Poland’s or Ukraine’s historical and cultural context, and are thus defined as culturemes. Even though they lack equivalents, it was decided not to exclude them from the Leksykon’s structure, as they are actively used by the speakers of Polish and Ukrainian. This paper provides an overview of the Leksykon’s methodology and presents the authors’ definition of phraseologism. The most important points in the paper are illustrated with a number of example entries from the dictionary. The primary focus of the paper rests on phrasal units which lack equivalents. O Leksykonie aktywnej frazeologii polskiej i ukraińskiej. Konfrontacja językowa a kulturaOpracowywany przez nas Leksykon aktywnej frazeologii polskiej i ukraińskiej jest pierwszym dziełem tego typu w historii leksykografii polskiej i ukraińskiej. W leksykonie prezentujemy odpowiedniości jednostek frazeologicznych w języku polskim i ukraińskim za pomocą semantycznego języka pośrednika. Wyznaczenie kierunku od znaczenia ku formie pozwoliło dobrać ekwiwalenty jednostek frazeologicznych w obu językach. Zestawienie polskiego i ukraińskiego materiału pozwoliło również wyodrębnić poszczególne jednostki nieposiadające odpowiedników. Jednostki te są ściśle związane z kulturą i historią narodu polskiego i ukraińskiego. W związku z tym zaliczamy je do kulturemów, ale nie pomijamy w strukturze leksykonu ze względu na ich aktywność w mówionym języku współczesnym. W niniejszym artykule prezentujemy metodologię zastosowaną w leksykonie, definicję roboczą frazeologizmu w leksykonie, przykładowe hasła oraz skupiamy się na pokazaniu jednostek frazeologicznych nieposiadających pełnej odpowiedniości.


Author(s):  
Azza A Abubaker ◽  
Joan Lu

A textbook in any e-educational system is an important element that requires a closer look at its components and structure, as well as identifying the barriers that affect the level of learning. This can be achieved in different aspects such as the analysis of textual content or sentence structure which is one of the concerns of linguists. On the other hand, examining the textual content can determine the appropriateness of the education level for students. This type of assessment is part of educators' concerns and by examining and defining the factors that could affect reading a text on screen, this is usually related to the way of displaying text such as font size, colour, background colour, amount of text and the location of the text on the screen. This is a key focus of this research. In this chapter, the concern will be to define the concepts and the structure of an e- document as a starting point to investigate the usability of e-texts as it covers the following: definition of e-document; history of eBook; structure of e-textbook; contribution of e-textbook for education; comparison between reading electronic and paper book; young people and the use of the internet and computer; statistical data for using the internet in Arabic countries; designing an e-textbook.


Scientifica ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernard C. K. Choi

This paper provides a review of the past, present, and future of public health surveillance—the ongoing systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of health data for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health action. Public health surveillance dates back to the first recorded epidemic in 3180 B.C. in Egypt. Hippocrates (460 B.C.–370 B.C.) coined the terms endemic and epidemic, John Graunt (1620–1674) introduced systematic data analysis, Samuel Pepys (1633–1703) started epidemic field investigation, William Farr (1807–1883) founded the modern concept of surveillance, John Snow (1813–1858) linked data to intervention, and Alexander Langmuir (1910–1993) gave the first comprehensive definition of surveillance. Current theories, principles, and practice of public health surveillance are summarized. A number of surveillance dichotomies, such as epidemiologic surveillance versus public health surveillance, are described. Some future scenarios are presented, while current activities that can affect the future are summarized: exploring new frontiers; enhancing computer technology; improving epidemic investigations; improving data collection, analysis, dissemination, and use; building on lessons from the past; building capacity; enhancing global surveillance. It is concluded that learning from the past, reflecting on the present, and planning for the future can further enhance public health surveillance.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 205-225
Author(s):  
Danilo Arnaldo Briskievicz

We investigate the history of education in colonial Brazil based on the formation of the city of Serro, one of the first gold towns occupied by the Portuguese metropolis in the 18th century. From the starting point of the colonization of the Serro do Frio mines in 1702 – documented in the book of record of the mines by the clerk Lourenço Carlos Mascarenhas de Araújo, we narrate the tensions between the literate and illiterate, between the colonizers and colonized, between the discoverers, indigenous peoples and African slaves. We show that education occurred in this context through the spontaneous teaching that takes place in daily life, in relations with the patron, with the Senate of the Chamber, and in the corporations of mechanical workshops for the construction of churches, creating an urbanity marked by race, economics and policies. The methodology is historical microanalysis, that is a microhistorical approach, with a reconstruction of narratives from primary and secondary sources. In addition to the narrative that reconstituted the history of education which occurred in the clash between Brazil and Portugal, or between Serro and Portugal, we sought parallels with Norbert Elias’ concept of civilizing process, Max Weber’s definition of modern bureaucratization, and Pierre Bourdieu’s conceptualization of how symbolic power operates to elucidate how and in what way informal education occurred in that context.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Mahashweta Das ◽  
Malabika Ray ◽  
Prabir Chakraborty ◽  
Chiranjib Ghosh

Teenage pregnancies and related induced abortions reveal a major public health issue [1,2]. In many countries such as USA, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, abortion of a previable fetus is legal, while it is illegal in many countries over the world. In the USA, there are many state-specific restrictions such as gestational age restrictions, mandatory waiting periods exist, and there are 50% pregnancies are unintended, while around 40% unintended pregnancies end in induced abortion, about 90% of procedures are done during the 1st trimester [3,4]. In countries where abortion is legal, it is commonly safe with rare complications, while it is very dangerous for women's health issues for the countries where abortion is illegal [3-5]. Induced abortions are highly associated with major health issues. An induced abortion is one of the primary usual gynecological procedures. Despite highly developed abortion methods, there are many known adverse effects and risks that must be considered in public health issues. Completion of an induced abortion can be verified by directly watching removal of uterine contents through ultrasonography used during the procedure. Over the world, 13% of maternal deaths are secondary due to induced abortion, while majority of these deaths take place in countries where abortion is illegal [5-7]. Potential complications associated with induced abortions include bleeding, pain, an infection in the upper genital tract, or an incomplete abortion that causes oophoritis, endometritis, salpingitis, and parametritis [6-9]. Teenage induced abortions trends are very little studied in the previous articles [1,2,10]. In fact in women’s health studies abortions trends are not studied properly. The word “Trend” is related to a data set for a long period of time, known as time series data. Trend is defined as the persevering and gradual movement of the series for a long period of time. Thus, the long term variation of a time series data for smooth downward decrease or upward increase is known as trend [11,12]. Actually the trend problem is one of statistical statements, we have by no means converted the problem to a mathematical basis, nor have we done away with the requisite for necessary investigation of the characteristics of the original data. Very little abortions trends are studied based on statistical modeling [2,10]. The current article aims to derive teenage induced abortions trends based on statistical approach Joint Generalized Linear Models (JGLMs), which are very little studied in the women’s health literature. The article is ordered as follows. The next section presents materials and methods which are used in the article. The following sections are statistical analysis and results, and discussions and conclusions.


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