Review of the Existing Evidence for Sex-Specific Relationships between Prenatal Phthalate Exposure and Children’s Neurodevelopment

Phthalates are well-known, ubiquitous environmental contaminants influencing children’s health and their neurodevelopment. However, results of the previously conducted studies are not entirely conclusive. The aim of this review is to present the current state of knowledge with respect to the association between the prenatal phthalate exposure and sex-specific child neurodevelopmental outcomes. A systematic search of the literature was carried out to identify the studies that analyse the sex-specific association between prenatal exposure to phthalates and cognitive, psychomotor outcomes and behavioural and emotional problems. The search was conducted in May 2021, and it was limited to the papers published in English between January 2015 and April 2021. The following databases were used: PubMed, Scopus and Elsevier. The selection process was carried out by two independent authors according to the inclusion criteria. Of a total of 7542 records, 17 epidemiological studies met the inclusion criteria with regards to phthalate exposure and sex-specific differences in child neurobehavioural development. The review shows no clear pattern of association between maternal exposure to phthalates during pregnancy and offspring neurodevelopment. No clearly pronounced sex specific effects, except for BBzP exposure and decreased motor ablates among girls, have been indicated. Inconsistences in the results, as well as unsolved issues related to the interpretation of the results in the context of the exposure level, outcomes, confounders, and biological plausibility highlight the necessity for further research in the field.

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SARS-CoV-2 and Acute Cerebrovascular Events: An Overview

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10153349 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (15) ◽

pp. 3349

Author(s):

Mehdi Ghasemi ◽

Raffaella Pizzolato Umeton ◽

Kiandokht Keyhanian ◽

Babak Mohit ◽

Nasrin Rahimian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Outcomes ◽

Case Reports ◽

Critical Role ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Therapeutic Approaches ◽

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽

Cerebrovascular Complications ◽

Current State ◽

Cerebrovascular Events ◽

Brain Homeostasis

Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, accumulating evidence indicates that SARS-CoV-2 infection may be associated with various neurological manifestations, including acute cerebrovascular events (i.e., stroke and cerebral venous thrombosis). These events can occur prior to, during and even after the onset of COVID-19’s general symptoms. Although the mechanisms underlying the cerebrovascular complications in patients with COVID-19 are yet to be fully elucidated, the hypercoagulability state, inflammation and altered angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) signaling in association with SARS-CoV-2 may play key roles. ACE-2 plays a critical role in preserving heart and brain homeostasis. In this review, we discuss the current state of knowledge of the possible mechanisms underlying the acute cerebrovascular events in patients with COVID-19, and we review the current epidemiological studies and case reports of neurovascular complications in association with SARS-CoV-2, as well as the relevant therapeutic approaches that have been considered worldwide. As the number of published COVID-19 cases with cerebrovascular events is growing, prospective studies would help gather more valuable insights into the pathophysiology of cerebrovascular events, effective therapies, and the factors predicting poor functional outcomes related to such events in COVID-19 patients.

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Second-hand smoke and the risk of tuberculosis: a systematic review and a meta-analysis

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268815001235 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 143 (15) ◽

pp. 3158-3172 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

O. F. DOGAR ◽

N. PILLAI ◽

N. SAFDAR ◽

S. K. SHAH ◽

R. ZAHID ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Meta Analysis ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Second Hand Smoke ◽

Significant Heterogeneity ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Tb Treatment ◽

Marked Variability ◽

Shs Exposure ◽

Study Designs

SUMMARYThere is limited evidence and lack of consensus whether second-hand smoke (SHS) increases risk of tuberculosis (TB), which has substantial implications for unrestricted smoking indoors and TB control policies. We aimed to establish the association between SHS and the risk of acquiring and worsening of TB in non-smokers. We identified 428 articles in the initial search and 12 comparative epidemiological studies met our inclusion criteria. Exposure to SHS was found to have a higher risk of TB infection [risk ratio (RR) 1·19, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·90–1·57] compared to non-exposure; however, this did not reach statistical significance. There was marked variability (I2 = 74%, P = 0·0008) between studies’ results, which could be explained by the differences in the diagnostic criteria used. Exposure to SHS was found to be statistically significantly associated (RR 1·59, 95% CI 1·11–2·27) with the risk of TB disease. There was significant heterogeneity (I2 = 77%, P = 0·0006) between studies’ results, which was sourced to the internal characteristics of the studies rather than combining different study designs. We did not find any studies for SHS and TB treatment-related outcomes. Thus, we conclude that SHS exposure may increase the risk of acquiring TB infection and progression to TB disease; however, the evidence remains scanty and weak.

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Factors Influencing Intention to Work while Ill: A Systematic Review

American Journal of Health Behavior ◽

10.5993/ajhb.45.6.6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 45 (6) ◽

pp. 1016-1030

Author(s):

Hanizah Mohd Yusoff ◽

Hanani Nabilah Mohd Sobri ◽

Vevya Sundaram

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Selection Process ◽

Behavioral Control ◽

Subjective Norms ◽

Perceived Behavioral Control ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Factors Influencing ◽

Facilitators And Barriers ◽

Initial Knowledge

Objectives: The aim of this systematic review was to identify factors influencing workers' intention to work while ill, using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as a theoretical framework. Methods: A systematic search of articles was carried out from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Eligibility of each article was assessed using PRISMA guidelines. Overall, 22 articles met the inclusion criteria after the selection process and were included in this review. Results: The factors fit into 3 constructs: (1) attitude (good and bad consequences of working while ill), (2) subjective norms (descriptive and injunctive norms on working while ill), and (3) perceived behavioral control (facilitators and barriers of working while ill). Conclusions: The TPB is a practical theory to conceptualize and understand the factors influencing workers' intention to work while ill. These findings provide initial knowledge on the development of a framework to measure workers' intention to work while ill and to propose appropriate interventions for workers with chronic illness.

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Quantifying the Health Benefits of Urban Climate Mitigation Actions: Current State of the Epidemiological Evidence and Application in Health Impact Assessments

Frontiers in Sustainable Cities ◽

10.3389/frsc.2021.768227 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

Author(s):

Maria D. Castillo ◽

Susan C. Anenberg ◽

Zoe A. Chafe ◽

Rachel Huxley ◽

Lauren S. Johnson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

Air Pollutants ◽

Health Benefits ◽

Health Impact ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Health Improvement ◽

Current State ◽

The World ◽

Climate Action ◽

Health Impact Assessments

While ambitious carbon reduction policies are needed to avoid dangerous levels of climate change, the costs of these policies can be balanced by wide ranging health benefits for local communities. Cities, responsible for ~70% of the world's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and home to a growing majority of the world's population, offer enormous opportunities for both climate action and health improvement. We aim to review the current state of knowledge on key pathways leading from carbon mitigation to human health benefits, and to evaluate our current ability to quantify health benefits for cities around the world. For example, because GHGs and air pollutants are both released during fuel combustion, reducing fuel burning can reduce both GHGs and air pollutants, leading to direct health benefits. Air quality improvements may be particularly important for city-scale climate action planning because the benefits occur locally and relatively immediately, compared with the global and long-term (typically, decades to centuries) benefits for the climate system. In addition to improved air quality, actions that promote active transport in cities via improved cycling and pedestrian infrastructure can reap large cardiovascular health benefits via increased physical activity. Exposure to green space has been associated with beneficial health outcomes in a growing number of epidemiological studies and meta-analyses conducted around the world. Finally, noise is an underappreciated environmental risk factor in cities which can be addressed through actions to reduce motor vehicle traffic and other noise sources. All of these environmental health pathways are supported by well-conducted epidemiological studies in multiple locales, providing quantitative exposure–response data that can be used as inputs to health impact assessments (HIAs). However, most epidemiologic evidence derives from studies in high-income countries. It is unclear to what extent such evidence is directly transferable for policies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This gap calls for a future focus on building the evidence based in LMIC cities. Finally, the literature suggests that policies are likely to be most effective when they are developed by multidisciplinary teams that include policy makers, researchers, and representatives from affected communities.

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An effective selection process is the key to quality job positions occupation conditional for long-term competitiveness

Production Engineering Archives ◽

10.30657/pea.2019.24.02 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (24) ◽

pp. 5-9

Author(s):

Katarína Stachová ◽

Zdenko Stacho ◽

Zuzana Papulová ◽

Marek Jemala

Keyword(s):

Labor Market ◽

Selection Process ◽

Employee Selection ◽

Business Environment ◽

Positive Trend ◽

Roles And Responsibilities ◽

Current State ◽

Rapid Changes ◽

Effective Selection

Abstract The need for adaptation to rapid changes in the business environment, both on the part of employees and employers, implies dealing with new challenges, acquisition of new knowledge and skills and assumption of new roles and responsibilities. The base for companies is the availability of qualified human resources, which is ensured by the human resource management department mainly through an effective process of employee selection. The paper is oriented at the analysis of the current state of focus of organizations operating in Slovakia on systematicity and complexity of the selection process, the existence of an effective internal labor market and the regularity of development of used selection tools in the context of technological progress and changes in labor market requirements in regions of Slovakia. Results of the survey on (n = 343) enterprises show a positive trend, an increase of more than 10 percent in the orientation towards improvement of the process of employee selection, but on the other side it also confirm an increase in disparities between individual regions of Slovakia, some regions (Eastern Slovakia) progress much slower than the developed ones (Bratislava).

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Microplastics - an emerging silent menace to public health

Life Sciences, Medicine and Biomedicine ◽

10.28916/lsmb.5.10.2021.72 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (10) ◽

Author(s):

Li-Yin Pang ◽

Shola Sonagara ◽

Oreoluwatomide Oduwole ◽

Christopher Gibbins ◽

Ting Kang Nee

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Effects ◽

Mammalian Cells ◽

Circulatory System ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Specific Effects ◽

Important Pathway ◽

Living Organisms ◽

Respiratory Conditions

Over the past few decades, microplastics have become increasingly ubiquitous in the environment and now contaminate the bodies of many living organisms, including humans. Microplastics, as defined here, are plastics within the size range 0.1 μm and 5 mm and are a worrying form of pollution due to public health concerns. This mini-review aims to summarise the route of entry of microplastics into humans and explore the potential detrimental health effects of microplastics. Trophic transfer is an important pathway for microplastic to be transferred across different groups of organisms, with ingestion is regarded as one of the major routes of exposure for humans. Other pathways include inhalation and dermal contact. The health consequences of microplastics manifest because these materials can translocate into the circulatory system and accumulate in the lungs, liver, kidney, and even brain, regardless of the route of entry. Health effects include gastrointestinal disturbances such as inflammation and gut microbiota disruption, respiratory conditions, neurotoxicity and potential cancers. Overall, while it is apparent that microplastics are causing adverse effects on different biological groups and ecosystems, current research is largely focused on marine organisms and aquaculture. Therefore, more studies are needed to investigate specific effects in mammalian cells and tissues, with more long-term epidemiological studies needed on human population considered to be at high-risk due to socioeconomic or other circumstance. Knowledge of the toxicity and long-term health impacts of microplastics is currently limited and requires urgent attention.

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Interventions Delivered in the Community Pharmacy to Manage Allergic Rhinitis- A Systematic Review of the Literature

Pharmacy ◽

10.3390/pharmacy8020080 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 80

Author(s):

Jéssica José ◽

Biljana Cvetkovski ◽

Vicky Kritikos ◽

Rachel Tan ◽

Sinthia Bosnic-Anticevich ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Allergic Rhinitis ◽

Community Pharmacy ◽

Selection Process ◽

Symptom Control ◽

Review Of The Literature ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

The Impact ◽

Valuable Role

Pharmacists have a valuable role in the management of allergic rhinitis (AR) at the community pharmacy level. This role has been reported extensively in numerous papers. However, a systematic review of the available literature and a comprehensive analysis of the outcomes has not been published. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the impact of interventions developed by pharmacists on clinical AR outcomes. A thorough search was performed in three electronic databases, including studies published between January 2000 and June 2019. After the selection process, only three articles met the inclusion criteria and were further analysed. Despite the scarcity of the available studies, in all of them was clear that the pharmacist plays a pivotal role in the management of AR, significantly improving the patients’ quality of life and symptom control. This systematic review also stresses the utmost importance to investigate and report practices and interventions developed by pharmacists using measurable outcomes.

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Exposure to environmental chemicals and type 1 diabetes: an update

Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health ◽

10.1136/jech-2018-210627 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 73 (6) ◽

pp. 483-488 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Sarah G Howard

Keyword(s):

Type 1 Diabetes ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Environmental Chemicals ◽

Exposure Level ◽

Environmental Chemical ◽

Timing Of Exposure

This narrative review summarises recently published epidemiological and in vivo experimental studies on exposure to environmental chemicals and their potential role in the development of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). These studies focus on a variety of environmental chemical exposures, including to air pollution, arsenic, some persistent organic pollutants, pesticides, bisphenol A and phthalates. Of the 15 epidemiological studies identified, 14 include measurements of exposures during childhood, 2 include prenatal exposures and 1 includes adults over age 21. Together, they illustrate that the role of chemicals in T1DM may be complex and may depend on a variety of factors, such as exposure level, timing of exposure, nutritional status and chemical metabolism. While the evidence that these exposures may increase the risk of T1DM is still preliminary, it is critical to investigate this possibility further as a means of preventing T1DM.

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Exposure–Response Relationship and Doubling Risk Doses—A Systematic Review of Occupational Workload and Osteoarthritis of the Hip

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16193681 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (19) ◽

pp. 3681 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yi Sun ◽

Annette Nold ◽

Ulrich Glitsch ◽

Frank Bochmann

Keyword(s):

Hip Osteoarthritis ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Cumulative Exposure ◽

Quality Level ◽

Response Relationship ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Osteoarthritis Of The Hip ◽

Workplace Interventions ◽

Exposure Response ◽

Occupational Workload

In this review, we critically evaluated the evidence of exposure–response relationships between occupational workload and the risk of hip osteoarthritis. The existing evidence was evaluated in order for us to extrapolate possible doubling risk doses for hip osteoarthritis. Comprehensive searches for epidemiological studies of hip osteoarthritis and occupational workload were performed in literature databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Work and Google Scholar) and recent reviews up to February 2019. In total, 85 papers met the preliminary inclusion criteria, and 10 studies indicating an exposure-response relationship between occupational workload and hip osteoarthritis were identified. All studies were assessed on the basis of their study design, defined quality scores and relevant confounders considered. An exposure–response relationship between heavy lifting and the risk of hip osteoarthritis is consistently observed among the male populations but not among the female populations. We quantified the doubling risk doses in two studies in which both an exposure–response relationship and cumulative exposure doses were stated. These two studies provided the highest quality level of all studies published to date. The estimated doubling risk doses in these two studies lie between 14,761 and 18,550 tons (daily lifting 2.2–2.8 tons, 220 days/year for 30 years). These results can be used for workplace interventions to prevent hip osteoarthritis.

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