scholarly journals Animal Venoms—Curse or Cure?

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 413
Author(s):  
Volker Herzig
Keyword(s):  
Prey Capture ◽  
World Health ◽  
Negative Image ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Venomous Animals ◽  
Public Media ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
The One ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Animal Venoms

An estimated 15% of animals are venomous, with representatives spread across the majority of animal lineages. Animals use venoms for various purposes, such as prey capture and predator deterrence. Humans have always been fascinated by venomous animals in a Janus-faced way. On the one hand, humans have a deeply rooted fear of venomous animals. This is boosted by their largely negative image in public media and the fact that snakes alone cause an annual global death toll in the hundreds of thousands, with even more people being left disabled or disfigured. Consequently, snake envenomation has recently been reclassified by the World Health Organization as a neglected tropical disease. On the other hand, there has been a growth in recent decades in the global scene of enthusiasts keeping venomous snakes, spiders, scorpions, and centipedes in captivity as pets. Recent scientific research has focussed on utilising animal venoms and toxins for the benefit of humanity in the form of molecular research tools, novel diagnostics and therapeutics, biopesticides, or anti-parasitic treatments. Continued research into developing efficient and safe antivenoms and promising discoveries of beneficial effects of animal toxins is further tipping the scales in favour of the “cure” rather than the “curse” prospect of venoms.

Obstacles to Claiming Permanence and Injury-Relatedness for “Posttraumatic” Headache

2009 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 3-6
Author(s):  
Robert J. Barth
Keyword(s):  
Complete Recovery ◽  
World Health ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Posttraumatic Headache ◽  
Sixth Edition ◽  
Causative Relationship ◽  
Short Period ◽  
The One ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Subjective Reports

Abstract “Posttraumatic” headaches claims are controversial because they are subjective reports often provided in the complex of litigation, and the underlying pathogenesis is not defined. This article reviews principles and scientific considerations in the AMAGuides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides) that should be noted by evaluators who examine such cases. Some examples in the AMA Guides, Sixth Edition, may seem to imply that mild head trauma can cause permanent impairment due to headache. The author examines scientific findings that present obstacles to claiming that concussion or mild traumatic brain injury is a cause of permanent headache. The World Health Organization, for example, found a favorable prognosis for posttraumatic headache, and complete recovery over a short period of time was the norm. Other studies have highlighted the lack of a dose-response correlation between trauma and prolonged headache complaints, both in terms of the frequency and the severity of trauma. On the one hand, scientific studies have failed to support the hypothesis of a causative relationship between trauma and permanent or prolonged headaches; on the other hand, non–trauma-related factors are strongly associated with complaints of prolonged headache.

Standardization of Factor VIII – IV. Establishment of the 3rd International Standard for Factor VIII: C Concentrate

1983 ◽  
Vol 50 (03) ◽  
pp. 697-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
T W Barrowcliffe ◽  
A D Curtis ◽  
D P Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Factor Viii ◽  
High Purity ◽  
Collaborative Study ◽  
World Health ◽  
Current Standard ◽  
Two Stage ◽  
International Standard ◽  
One Stage ◽  
The One ◽  
Health Organization

SummaryAn international collaborative study was carried out to establish a replacement for the current (2nd) international standard for Factor VIII: C, concentrate. Twenty-six laboratories took part, of which 17 performed one-stage assays, three performed two-stage assays and six used both methods. The proposed new standard, an intermediate purity concentrate, was assayed against the current standard, against a high-purity concentrate and against an International Reference Plasma, coded 80/511, previously calibrated against fresh normal plasma.Assays of the proposed new standard against the current standard gave a mean potency of 3.89 iu/ampoule, with good agreement between laboratories and between one-stage and two- stage assays. There was also no difference between assay methods in the comparison of high-purity and intermediate purity concentrates. In the comparison of the proposed standard with the plasma reference preparation, the overall mean potency was 4.03 iu/ampoule, but there were substantial differences between laboratories, and the two-stage method gave significantly higher results than the one stage method. Of the technical variables in the one-stage method, only the activation time with one reagent appeared to have any influence on the results of this comparison of concentrate against plasma.Accelerated degradation studies showed that the proposed standard is very stable. With the agreement of the participants, the material, in ampoules coded 80/556, has been established by the World Health Organization as the 3rd International Standard for Factor VIII :C, Concentrate, with an assigned potency of 3.9 iu/ampoule.

Reflections on FDA and WHO recommendations concerning clinical trials

1989 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.-F. Dreyfus ◽  
D. Cremniter ◽  
J.D. Guelfi
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Objective Evaluation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Measuring Instruments ◽  
New Techniques ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The One ◽  
Health Organization

SummaryWe are still confronted by numerous different nosographic models and problems concerning the objective evaluation of patients progress during treatment. It is interesting to consider the consequences of this situation in psychiatry which still involves a relative diversity of practical methods used in clinical trials. The recommendations of the USA Food and Drug Administration, on the one hand, constitute a highly structured and precise reference. The World Health Organization, on the other hand, promulgates general recommendations resulting from a compromise designed to satisfy the greatest number of clinicians.Despite the apparently diverse principles and the different practical methods they propose, both those sets of recommendations have been useful in inspiring clinicians to reflect upon these different methodological approaches. The qualities of the inclusion criteria used in the study of patients and the sensitivity of the different measuring instruments have allowed psychotropic drug users as well as producers to recognize the need for a certain rigour in clinical trials.The FDA and WHO guidelines have certainly improved the quality of clinical trials in psychopharmacology. However, they also represent a source of resistance to innovation.A series of consensus meetings to first reconcile US and European points of view and later to include new techniques in the recognized sets of methods would therefore be helpful.

scholarly journals From Syphilis to Autism, How the Anti-Vaccination Movement of Today is an Echo of the Past

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kayleigh Beaveridge
Keyword(s):  
Personal Narratives ◽  
World Health ◽  
Statistical Characteristics ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Vaccine Preventable Diseases ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
The World ◽  
The One ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The 19Th Century

Introduction: The anti-vaccination movement has led to decreased vaccination rates and increased vulnerability to vaccine-preventable diseases in the general population. In order to better understand the anti-vaccination movement of today, the anti-vaccination movement that emerged in the 19th century is examined and measured against the one observed in the 20th century. Discussion: Though the population of the 19th and 20th centuries differ in many regards and our knowledge of vaccine and immune mechanisms are far greater; the anti-vaccination movement seen today stands on the same pillars as that of the 1800s with the sentiment of fear at its core. Though the façade of these pillars has been altered to suit the world today, both movements exploited the influence of prominent public figures, maintained false associations with dire vaccine consequences and emphasized these through the use of visual media, repetition and personal narratives. The persistence of the anti-vaccination movement lies largely in the use of personal stories which are more impactful and memorable then the statistical characteristics of scientific study. Conclusion: The pro-vaccination movement must respond to the tactics used by the anti-vaccination movement and create accessible, understandable and equally impactful communication strategies in order to prevent the spread of misinformation and counter the efforts of the current anti-vaccination movement. Relevance: Vaccine hesitancy was listed amongst the top 10 global health threats in 2019 by the World Health Organization. In order to shift the negative rhetoric surrounding vaccines, the anti-vaccination movement of today and its historic roots need to be understood.

scholarly journals Is hydroxychloroquine beneficial for COVID-19 patients?

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xing Li ◽  
Ying Wang ◽  
Patrizia Agostinis ◽  
Arnold Rabson ◽  
Gerry Melino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Emergency Care ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
World Health ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Effective Drugs

Abstract The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first reported in December 2019. As similar cases rapidly emerged around the world1–3, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020 and pronounced the rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic on March 11, 20204. The virus has reached almost all countries of the globe. As of June 3, 2020, the accumulated confirmed cases reached 6,479,405 with more than 383,013 deaths worldwide. The urgent and emergency care of COVID-19 patients calls for effective drugs, in addition to the beneficial effects of remdesivir5, to control the disease and halt the pandemic.

scholarly journals Assessment of the susceptibility status of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) populations to pyriproxyfen and malathion in a nation-wide monitoring of insecticide resistance performed in Brazil from 2017 to 2018

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kauara Brito Campos ◽  
Ademir Jesus Martins ◽  
Cynara de Melo Rodovalho ◽  
Diogo Fernandes Bellinato ◽  
Luciana dos Santos Dias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Insecticide Resistance ◽  
Mosquito Control ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Adult Emergence ◽  
World Health ◽  
Two Generations ◽  
Wide Scale ◽  
Susceptibility Tests ◽  
The One ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Background Chemical mosquito control using malathion has been applied in Brazil since 1985. To obtain chemical control effectiveness, vector susceptibility insecticide monitoring is required. This study aimed to describe bioassay standardizations and determine the susceptibility profile of Ae. aegypti populations to malathion and pyriproxyfen, used on a national scale in Brazil between 2017 and 2018, and discuss the observed impacts in arbovirus control. Methods The diagnostic-doses (DD) of pyriproxyfen and malathion were determined as the double of adult emergence inhibition (EI) and lethal doses for 99% of the Rockefeller reference strain, respectively. To monitor natural populations, sampling was performed in 132 Brazilian cities, using egg traps. Colonies were raised in the laboratory for one or two generations (F1 or F2) and submitted to susceptibility tests, where larvae were exposed to the pyriproxyfen DD (0.03 µg/l) and adults, to the malathion DD determined in the present study (20 µg), in addition to the one established by the World Health Organization (WHO) DD (50 µg) in a bottle assay. Dose-response (DR) bioassays with pyriproxyfen were performed on populations that did not achieve 98% EI in the DD assays. Results Susceptibility alterations to pyriproxyfen were recorded in six (4.5%) Ae. aegypti populations from the states of Bahia and Ceará, with Resistance Ratios (RR95) ranging from 1.51 to 3.58. Concerning malathion, 73 (55.3%) populations distributed throughout the country were resistant when exposed to the local DD 20 µg/bottle. On the other hand, no population was resistant, and only 10 (7.6%) populations in eight states were considered as exhibiting decreased susceptibility (mortality ratios between 90 and 98%) when exposed to the WHO DD (50 µg/bottle). Conclusions The feasibility of conducting an insecticide resistance monitoring action on a nation-wide scale was confirmed herein, employing standardized and strongly coordinated sampling methods and laboratory bioassays. Brazilian Ae. aegypti populations exhibiting decreased susceptibility to pyriproxyfen were identified. The local DD for malathion was more sensitive than the WHO DD for early decreased susceptibility detection.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the quality of life of clients with chronic ischemic pain

2011 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Débora Fernanda Amaral Pedrosa ◽  
Andressa Karina Amaral Plá Pelegrin ◽  
Hilze Benigno de Oliveira Moura Siqueira ◽  
Talita de Cássia Raminelli da Silva ◽  
Orlando Carlos Gomes Colhado ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
World Health ◽  
Physical Domain ◽  
Ischemic Pain ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
The Social ◽  
Organization Quality ◽  
The One ◽  
Health Organization

The evaluation of quality of life (QOL) faced with chronic ischemic pain involves the clients in their subjectivity and multidimensionality. This descriptive study aimed to evaluate the quality of life of clients who presented chronic ischemic pain. A total of 100 clients of hospital institutes participated in the study. The instrument used to assess pain was an 11 point numerical scale, and to assess the quality of life, the World Health Organization Quality of Life-abbreviated questionnaire. The arithmetic mean for chronic pain was 5.59±3.16 points. The means for quality of life were: in the physical domain, 44.75±16.98; in the overall domain, 50.0±22.40; in the environment, 55.06±13.51, in the psychological, 56.21±17.19 and in the social domain, 68.33±21.84. Thus, the physical domain was, among the areas analyzed, the one which presented a greater impact on the quality of life of the clients with chronic ischemic pain.

scholarly journals Nutritional composition of fad diets published on websites and blogs

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daiane Cristina de Assis BRAGA ◽  
Hillary Nascimento COLETRO ◽  
Maria Tereza de FREITAS
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Nutritional Composition ◽  
World Health ◽  
Intermittent Fasting ◽  
Dietary Reference Intake ◽  
The World ◽  
Carb Diet ◽  
The One ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Deficiency Diseases

ABSTRACT Objective To analyze quantitatively the diets available on blogs and websites. Methods The following 15 diets were analyzed: low-carb diet, gluten-free diet and intermittent fasting diet using the Virtual Nutri software program. The nutrients analyzed were as follows: carbohydrates, fibers, proteins, lipids, iodine, sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, vitamins A, C, B6, B12, D, niacin, and folate. The nutrient values were compared with the Dietary Reference Intake recommendation for adults between the ages of 19-50 years. The macronutrient adequacy percentage was based on a 2000-kcal diet for a healthy life, as recommended by the World Health Organization. Results It was observed that most of the composition of macro and micronutrients was lower than the one established by the World Health Organization and the Dietary Reference Intake recommendation for adults between the ages of 19-50 years. Conclusion Long-term dieting can be a risk factor for several deficiency diseases and may endanger the health of individuals.

Community Nurses and Health Promotion: Ethical and Political Perspectives

1996 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Thomas ◽  
Paul Wainwright
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Health Gain ◽  
Individual Responsibility ◽  
World Health ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Central Council ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
The One ◽  
Health Organization

This paper brings together ideas from two perspectives on ethics and health promotion. A discussion of the ethical dimension of the health promotion practice of community nurses is set in the wider context of health policy, with particular reference to health gain and individual responsibility. It is widely held that nurses have a key role to play in health promotion and that this is particularly the case for nurses working in primary health care. This assumption is reinforced by policy documents from the World Health Organization, the Department of Health and statutory bodies such as the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting. The approach of many nurses to health promotion has tended on the one hand to be somewhat naive and on the other to be authoritarian and didactic; there has been little discussion in the nursing literature of the ethical aspects of health promotion. However, recent developments in nurse education, such as Project 2000 and the consequent changes to preregistration programmes, have resulted in increased attention to both ethics and health promotion within the curriculum.

scholarly journals Love Bites – Do Venomous Arachnids Make Safe Pets?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias J. Hauke ◽  
Volker Herzig
Keyword(s):  
Lower Risk ◽  
Pet Ownership ◽  
Negative Image ◽  
Global Estimate ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Media ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Bites And Stings ◽  
Industrialised Countries ◽  
Domestic Care

With a global estimate of tens of thousands of arachnid enthusiasts, spiders and scorpions are gaining increasing popularity as pets in industrialised countries in Europe, Northern America and Asia. As most spiders and all scorpions are venomous and due to their mostly negative image in the public media, several governments are already considering introducing legislation to regulate the domestic care of potentially dangerous captive animals. We aimed to investigate the circumstances and effects of exposure to arachnids kept in captivity. Thus, we collected and analysed data from 335 reported bites and stings attributed to pet arachnids. Our data revealed that on average there were less than 20 recorded envenomations per year with ~90% preventable by due care. We also categorized the severity of the resulting symptoms and found that the vast majority of symptoms were either local (60.9%) or moderate (33.4%), 4.8% were asymptomatic, only 0.9% were severe and no fatalities were recorded. Based on our database of bite and sting reports, we performed a risk assessment for arachnid pet ownership and concluded that with the proper care arachnids can be safely kept as pets and pose a lower risk than many other recreational activities.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document