Development and Comparison of Dengue Vulnerability Indices Using GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis in Lao PDR and Thailand

Dengue is a continuous health burden in Laos and Thailand. We assessed and mapped dengue vulnerability in selected provinces of Laos and Thailand using multi-criteria decision approaches. An ecohealth framework was used to develop dengue vulnerability indices (DVIs) that explain links between population, social and physical environments, and health to identify exposure, susceptibility, and adaptive capacity indicators. Three DVIs were constructed using two objective approaches, Shannon’s Entropy (SE) and the Water-Associated Disease Index (WADI), and one subjective approach, the Best-Worst Method (BWM). Each DVI was validated by correlating the index score with dengue incidence for each spatial unit (district and subdistrict) over time. A Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) larger than 0.5 and a p-value less than 0.05 implied a good spatial and temporal performance. Spatially, DVIWADI was significantly correlated on average in 19% (4–40%) of districts in Laos (mean r = 0.5) and 27% (15–53%) of subdistricts in Thailand (mean r = 0.85). The DVISE was validated in 22% (12–40%) of districts in Laos and in 13% (3–38%) of subdistricts in Thailand. The DVIBWM was only developed for Laos because of lack of data in Thailand and was significantly associated with dengue incidence on average in 14% (0–28%) of Lao districts. The DVIWADI indicated high vulnerability in urban centers and in areas with plantations and forests. In 2019, high DVIWADI values were observed in sparsely populated areas due to elevated exposure, possibly from changes in climate and land cover, including urbanization, plantations, and dam construction. Of the three indices, DVIWADI was the most suitable vulnerability index for the study area. The DVIWADI can also be applied to other water-associated diseases, such as Zika and chikungunya, to highlight priority areas for further investigation and as a tool for prevention and interventions.

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Impacts of Mainstream Hydropower Dams on Fisheries and Agriculture in Lower Mekong Basin

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12062408 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 2408 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Yuichiro Yoshida ◽

Han Soo Lee ◽

Bui Huy Trung ◽

Hoang-Dung Tran ◽

Mahrjan Keshlav Lall ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Developing Countries ◽

Electricity Generation ◽

Lao Pdr ◽

Mekong River ◽

Environmental Damage ◽

Dam Construction ◽

Mekong Basin ◽

Hydropower Potential ◽

Hydropower Dams ◽

Lower Mekong Basin

The riverine ecosystems of the Mekong River Basin possess the world’s most productive inland fishery and provide highly productive food crops for millions of people annually. The development of hydropower potential in the Mekong River has long been of interest to governments in the region. Among the existing 64 dams, 46 dams have been built in the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) to produce up to 8650 MW of electricity. Additionally, of the 123 proposed built hydropower dams, eleven hydropower plants have been nominated for the river mainstream and are expected to install a total of 13,000 MW in the LMB countries. However, serious concerns have intensified over the potential negative economic consequences, especially on fisheries and agriculture in Cambodia and Vietnam. To date, most of the concerns have concentrated on the impacts on hydrology, environment, livelihood, and diversity in the LMB attributed to hydropower development. This paper, however, discusses the fishery and agricultural sectors of the LMB and focuses on the downstream floodplains of Cambodia and Vietnam. The dam construction has caused greater losses of biodiversity and fisheries than climate change in the LMB. The reduction of 276,847 and 178,169 t of fish, 3.7% and 2.3% of rice, 21.0% and 10.0% of maize will contribute to a decrease of 3.7% and 0.3% of the GDP of Cambodia and Vietnam, respectively. Lao PDR may benefit the most revenue from electricity generation than the other country in the LMB, as most of the proposed dams are projected in the country. Cambodia burdens 3/4 of the reduction of total capture fishery destruction, whilst Lao PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam endure the remaining 1/3 losses. The tradeoff analyses reveal that losses of capture fisheries, sediment or nutrients, and social mitigation costs are greater than the benefits from electricity generation, improved irrigation, and flood control of the LMB region. The socioeconomic and environmental damage caused by hydropower dams in developing countries, including the Mekong, is greater than the early costs in North America and Europe. It is proposed that dam construction for hydropower in the Mekong River, as well as other rivers in developing countries, should be gradually removed and shifted toward solar, wind, and other renewable resources.

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Evaluation of the clinical-functional vulnerability index in older adults

Revista Brasileira de Geriatria e Gerontologia ◽

10.1590/1981-22562019022.190222 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 22 (6) ◽

Author(s):

Arthur Alexandrino ◽

Ellen Karolaine Lucena da Cruz ◽

Pedro Yan Dantas de Medeiros ◽

Caio Bismarck Silva de Oliveira ◽

Djaine Silva de Araújo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Family Health ◽

Multiple Linear Regression Model ◽

The Elderly ◽

Vulnerability Index ◽

P Value ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Health Strategy ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Family Health Strategy

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the clinical-functional vulnerability index (CFVI) of older adults and its relationship with socioeconomic, behavioral, clinical and therapeutic indicators. Method: A cross-sectional epidemiological study with a quantitative design was performed with 318 randomly drawn older adults registered with the Family Health Strategy. Data were collected through the CFVI-20 questionnaire and analysis was supported by descriptive, bivariate and multivariate statistics, with results with p-value <0.05 considered significant. Results: most older adults (59.1%) were considered frail or potentially frail. Among the groups studied, there was a statistically significant difference in the CFVI for the variables age group (p<0.001), functional literacy (p=0.001), alcohol consumption (p<0.001), physical exercise (p<0.001), self-reported health problems (p<0.001) and medication use (p<0.001), as well as a positive correlation with stress (r=0.135; p=0.016). In the multiple linear regression model, the set of sociodemographic predictor variables explained the frailty of the elderly by 30.4% (R2=0.304). Conclusions: The advancement of age, as a non-controllable variable, indicates a need to encourage the maintenance of functionality in old age, based on the health care strategies that prolong longevity with safety, autonomy and vitality.

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Association between Periodontal Status Sociodemographic Profile and Different Level of Oral Hygiene Status among Smokers

10.53350/pjmhs211561490 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (6) ◽

pp. 1490-1493

Author(s):

S. G. S. Shah ◽

H. K. N. Baloch ◽

S. U. Haq ◽

A. Farooq ◽

S. S. Shah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Periodontal Disease ◽

Oral Hygiene ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

Disease Index ◽

P Value ◽

Sociodemographic Profile ◽

Design Case ◽

Different Levels ◽

Control Study

Aim: Association between smoking and periodontal disease with sociodemographic profile and different levels of oral hygiene status. Study Design: Case control study. Place and Duration of Study: Khyber College of Dentistry and Sardar Begum Dental College and Hospital Peshawar KPK from 1st July 2020 to 31st December 2020. Methodology: The were 300 patient from 20-50 years of age were enrolled in the study. The sample was stratified into two groups, cases and controls150 patients in each group. Patients were clinically evaluated by measuring the PDI scores and oral hygiene index. Results: There were (43.3%) smokers and (56.6%) were non-smokers. There were 57.3% smokers and 42.6% were non-smokers with periodontal disease the result was significant (p=0.0001), while 29.3% smokers and 70.6% were non-smokers and did not have periodontal disease. The oral hygiene status was poor among smokers it was 23.1% while 2.9% among non-smokers, with significant result p-value was =0.0001. There was an association between periodontal disease with different levels of smoking the result was significant (p=0.0001). Conclusions: There was an association between smoking, sociodemographic profile with periodontal disease and oral hygiene status. Keywords: Periodontal disease, Smokers, Non-smokers, Periodontal disease index, Oral hygiene index

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OCULAR SURFACE DISEASE AMONG PATIENTS WITH OPEN ANGLE GLAUCOMA USING TOPICAL ANTI-GLAUCOMA MEDICATIONS

Pakistan Armed Forces Medical Journal ◽

10.51253/pafmj.v6i6.4093 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 71 (6) ◽

pp. 2041-44

Author(s):

Hassaan Javaid ◽

Omar Zafar ◽

Seemal Akram ◽

Sana Abbas ◽

Ikram Ullah Khan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ocular Surface ◽

Open Angle Glaucoma ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Armed Forces ◽

Disease Index ◽

Ocular Surface Disease ◽

Common Finding ◽

P Value ◽

Open Angle ◽

Ocular Surface Disease Index

Objective: To determine the frequency of ocular surface disease among patients with open angle glaucoma using topical antiglaucoma medications presenting at a tertiary care eye hospital. Study Design: Cross-sectional analytical study. Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology, Rawalpindi, from May 2019 to Jan 2020. Methodology: One hundred and eighty patients aged 18 or more, with open angle glaucoma using any of the topical antiglaucoma medications including preparations of dorzolamide, brimonidine, timolol, levobunolol, betaxolol, latanoprost, travoprost, bimatoprost or a combination of these for more than six months took part in the study. Ocular surface disease index was used to assess the presence and severity of ocular surface disease. Results: Out of 180 patients of glaucoma managed with topical anti-glaucoma medications, 83 (46.1%) did not show presence of ocular surface disease when ocular surface disease index was administered. Twenty-nine (16.1%) patients had mild symptoms, 17 (9.4%) had moderate symptoms while 51 (28.3%) patients reported severe symptoms of ocular surface disease. Advancing age and longer duration of treatment with topical anti-glaucoma medications had statistically significant association with the presence of ocular surface disease (p-value <0.05). Conclusion: Presence of ocular surface disease was a common finding among patients using topical agents for the management of glaucoma. Advancing age and prolonged use of anti-glaucoma medication emerged as risk factors statistically related to the presence of ocular surface disease.

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Benzo[a]pyrene-associated Oxidative Stress is Divergent in Non-atopic Versus Atopic Children, and Suggest They May Represent Asthma Endotypes: A Case-control Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-41716/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hyunok Choi ◽

Miroslav Dostal ◽

Anna Pastorkova ◽

Pavel Rossner ◽

Radim S

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Lung Function ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

Atopic Asthma ◽

P Value ◽

Exposure Level ◽

Ambient Exposure ◽

Elevated Exposure ◽

Control Study

Abstract Background For nearly 50% of the asthmatic children, effective treatments against exacerbation do not exist, because existing therapies do not target the mechanistic origins of discrete sub-diseases (i.e. endotypes). While non-atopic and atopic asthma represent known phenotypes, it is unknown whether they arise from disparate processes. The objective is to classify two phenotypes (non-atopic vs. atopic asthma) into endotypes using polyaromatic hydrocarbon, namely, benzo[a]pyrene, as putative marker of endotype. Methods In a case-control study, lean controls (i.e. reference) are compared against three outcomes of interest – overweight/obese controls, lean asthmatics (without overweight/obesity), and overweight/obese asthmatics – in terms of benzo[a]pyrene exposure level, plasma 15-Ft2-isoprostane, urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2’-deoxyguanosine, as well as their history of co-morbidities until age three, following atopy- and gender-stratification. Results The non-atopic girls are associated with significantly elevated median benzo[a]pyrene for the lean asthmatics (11.2 ng/m3) and the overweight/obese asthmatics (18.0 ng/m3), compared to the non-atopic control girls (4.3 ng/m3; p-value < 0.001). A natural-log (ln) unit increase B[a]P exposure predicts 10-times greater odds of asthma in the lean non-atopic boys, while the same exposure is not associated with asthma among the lean atopic boys. The diagnosis of lung function deficit, which only appear among those with highest median value of B[a]P, appears to be a particularly important predictor of non-atopic asthma only. The non-atopic asthmatic boys with highest exposure to B[a]P (median, 20 ng/m3) were also positively diagnosis with lung function deficit, compared to the non-atopic controls (median, 4.3 ng/m3). An elevated exposure to B[a]P is associated with depressed systemic oxidant levels, and correspondingly elevated odds of non-atopic asthma. On the other hand, low ambient exposure to B[a]P, and weakly pro-inflammatory effect of oxidative stress of such exposure, is not associated with atopic asthma. Conclusions Ambient benzo[a]pyrene is robustly associated with non-atopic asthma, while it has no clear associations with atopic asthma among the lean children. Our observation, once validated in a prospective cohort design, could aid the development of targeted and personalized therapies in children in whom the respiratory injuries are still reversible.

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Topical Cyclosporine in Treatment of Post-LASIK Symptomatic Dry Eye

Pakistan Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.36351/pjo.v36i4.1078 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 36 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Muhammad Saeed Iqbal ◽

Kanwal Latif

Keyword(s):

Dry Eye ◽

Cyclosporine A ◽

Ocular Surface ◽

Case Series ◽

Tear Film ◽

Disease Index ◽

Ocular Surface Disease ◽

P Value ◽

Statistical Interpretation ◽

Ocular Surface Disease Index

Purpose: To determine the role of 0.05% topical cyclosporine A (CsA) in treatment of symptomatic dry eye after LASIK (Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis). Study Design: Interventional Case Series. Place and Duration of Study: Ophthalmology Department, Sir Syed Hospital, Karachi, from July 2018 to Dec. 2019. Methods: Seventy-five patients who underwent LASIK for myopic refractive error and presented with symptomatic dry eye and showed no response to artificial tears therapy after 1 month of LASIK were selected. The patient had ablation zone diameter of 6mm and flap diameter was 8.5mm to 9mm. Cyclisporine A 0.05% ophthalmic preparation was added to treatment regimen and response was observed at 1, 3 and 6 months. OSDI (Ocular Surface Disease Index) scores, Tear film break up time (TBUT), Schirmer's test (ST) values and Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) were recorded to analyze the treatment response at each visit. The statistical interpretation was done by using SPSS version 21. To interpret the correlation between pre-treatment and 6 month post treatment, Paired sample T test was applied with 95% Confidence Interval; CI and p-value of ≤ 0.05. Results: The mean post-LASIK OSDI score of enrolled patients was 54.25 ± 10.81. After 6 months of treatment mean OSDI score was improved to 21.05 ± 5.13 (p < 0.001). Post-LASIK mean ST value was 5.2 ± 1.2 mm and mean TBUT value was 5.6 ± 1.3 seconds, which changed to 9.8 ± 1.0 mm and 8.9 ± 1.1 seconds respectively. BCVA improved from Log MAR 0.14 ± 0.09 to 0.01 ± 0.03 (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Topical CsA 0.05% was effective in alleviating the symptoms of post-LASIK dry eye. Key Words: LASIK, Dry eye, Ocular Surface Disease Index Score, Cyclosporine A.

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Effect of antenatal care on low birth weight prevention in Lao PDR: A case control study

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.15295.1 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. 1138 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Latsamy Oulay ◽

Wongsa Laohasiriwong ◽

Teerasak Phajan ◽

Supat Assana ◽

Kritkantorn Suwannaphant

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Lao Pdr ◽

Case Control ◽

P Value ◽

Maternal Weight Gain ◽

Maternal Weight ◽

Weight Gain During Pregnancy ◽

Control Study

Background: Low Birth Weight (LBW) is a worldwide public health problem, which subsequently may affect the health status of the child. Lao PDR has high incidence of LBW. Antenatal care (ANC) is provided to improve maternal and child health outcomes. The aim of this study was to identify the effect ANC on LBW prevention in Lao PDR. Methods: This case control study was conducted in tertiary hospitals of Lao PDR. The ratio of case: control was 1:3, of which there were 52 cases and 156 controls that passed the inclusion criteria included in the study. In our analysis information on pregnancy and ANC including height of mother, maternal weight gain during pregnancy, maternal gestational age at delivery, type of delivery, supplementary vitamins, and other covariates including age, marital status, educational attainment, occupation, family income, health insurance, family size and living condition were described and determine their association with LBW using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: There were only 32.69 % of complete ANC among cases and 57.69% in control. Incomplete ANC (<4 times) were significant increased the odds of having LBW (adj. OR=2.97; 95%CI: 1.48 to 5.93; p-value =0.002). Other covariates which also influenced LBW were having maternal weight gain during pregnancy less than 10 kg. (adj.OR=2.28; 95%CI: 1.16 to 4.49; p-value = 0.017), maternal gestation age at delivery less than 40 weeks (adj. OR=3.33; 95%CI: 1.52 to 7.32; p-value =0.003). Conclusion: Complete ANC could help both mother and child in term of weight gain and full term delivery which may effect on LBW reduction.

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The Use of Dam Environmental Vulnerability Index (DEVI) for Assessing Vulnerability of Bengawan Solo Watershed, Indonesia

Agromet ◽

10.29244/j.agromet.34.2.110-120 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 34 (2) ◽

pp. 110-120

Author(s):

Mashita Fauzia Hannum ◽

I Putu Santikayasa ◽

Muh. Taufik

Keyword(s):

Stream Water ◽

Vulnerability Index ◽

Dam Construction ◽

Stream Network ◽

Environmental Vulnerability ◽

Water Stage ◽

High Level ◽

The Impact ◽

Environmental Vulnerability Index ◽

Type Stream

Bengawan Solo is the longest river in Java, but current conditions show that its watershed is in a critical condition. Deforestation was very intensive in the last three decades that contributed to degradation of the watershed. Other factor contributing to the degradation is dam construction. However, our knowledge on the impact of dam construction on the environment and its vulnerability is poorly understood. Here, we assessed vulnerability of the watershed based on physical properties such as existing dams, morpho-dynamic activities, and deforested area. The study aims to identify the vulnerability of the Bengawan Solo watershed based on dam environmental vulnerability index (DEVI) approach, and to analyse the dominant variable contributing to DEVI. For calculating DEVI, several data were needed including land cover, rainfall, stream water stage, soil type, stream network, and dams. The results showed that Bengawan Solo watershed had moderate to high vulnerability (60%). Moderate level was identified for Madiun and Wonogiri sub-watershed, while high level was in Cepu and Babat sub-watershed. Our findings revealed that morpho-dynamic activities as represented by sediment rate and stream water stage had contributed to the high DEVI value as in Cepu and Babat sub-watershed. Further, influence of dams in this research was not dominant implying that any improvement to the DEVI approach remains research challenges. The improvement of the approach is expected to better identify the impact of dam construction on environment, situated in other regions than Amazon, where it was firstly developed.

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INCREASING BLINK RATES: REDUCING DRIED EYE SYMPTOMS WITH EYE REST-BREAK APPLICATION

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine ◽

10.37268/mjphm/vol.20/no.special1/art.696 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (Special1) ◽

pp. 186-191

Author(s):

Dian D.I. Daruis ◽

Hairunnisa Osman ◽

Ezrin Hani Sukadarin ◽

Fauzana Mustaffa ◽

Henderi Ardimansyah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Disease Index ◽

P Value ◽

Video Display ◽

Ocular Surface Disease Index ◽

Rest Break ◽

Display Unit ◽

Before And After ◽

Laboratory Workers ◽

Eye Symptoms ◽

Video Display Unit

Long working hours with video display unit without appropriate breaks could drain the eyes. This study intends to investigate the efficiency of eye rest-break application to reduce dried eye symptoms by increasing blink rates. Blink rates and dried eye symptoms score among laboratory workers before and after the implementation of eye rest-break application were compared. The numbers of blink rates were recorded using a webcam for 5 minutes without the subjects aware when the recording starts or ends. Then, the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) was used to measure the dried eye symptoms. For eyes rest-break, EyeLeo© application was used. It is computer application that gives reminders to video display unit (VDU) users to take short breaks for their eyes. Six laboratory workers who are constantly working with VDU were selected as subjects. Data was analysed using Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test, to test the comparison between variables before and after intervention by reporting its median (inter quartile range, IQR). The findings showed that the median after intervention (39.5, 10) is significantly higher (p-value = 0.028) than the median before intervention (7.3, 3). As for dried eye symptoms, median for Ocular Surface Disease Index after intervention (27.9, 8.9) is significantly lower (p-value = 0.027) than the median before intervention (36.5, 9.4). As a conclusion, application such as EyeLeo© eye rest-break is a potential intervention and may be used to increase blink rates and reducing dried eye symptoms among visual display unit workers.

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Physical environments of water containers and Aedes sp larvae in dengue endemic areas of Tanjungpinang Timur District

Berita Kedokteran Masyarakat ◽

10.22146/bkm.57738 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 13

Author(s):

Rinaldi Daswito ◽

Kholilah Samosir

Keyword(s):

Water Temperature ◽

Air Temperature ◽

P Value ◽

Air Humidity ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Physical Environments ◽

Water Ph ◽

Container Closure ◽

Physical Environmental Factors ◽

Relationship Of

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the relationship of the container environment's type and condition to the existence of Aedes sp larvae in Tanjungpinang Timur District. Methods: An observational study with a cross-sectional approach involved 401 houses with containers in Tanjungpinang Timur District, Tanjungpinang City. Data on the existence of larvae was performed using the single larvae method. Data on container type and container environmental conditions (water pH, water temperature, air temperature, air humidity) and larvae's presence were collected by observing and measuring. Results: 863 containers were observed, 138 of them (15.99%) were found larvae of Aedes sp, containers inside the house (65.57%), and not closed (88.53%). The types of containers were controllable sites (95.13%), disposable sites (3.36%), and under controllable sites (1.51%). The measurement of water pH (76.13%) and water temperature (82.73%) of the containers were categorized as good. Container temperature 98.38% showed results with a range of unfavorable conditions (<200C &> 300C) and air humidity of 99.07% with a range (<81.5% &> 89.5%). Type, location, condition of container closure, water pH, water temperature, and air temperature of containers were related to larvae in Tanjungpinang Timur District (p-value <0.05), while the variable humidity was not related to the existence of larvae. Conclusion: Physical environmental factors strongly support the reproduction of DHF vectors in the East Tanjungpinang District. It is necessary to increase public knowledge and routine home eradication of mosquito nests (PSN), especially controllable site containers widely used as water reservoirs.

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