From Sea to Skin: Is There a Future for Natural Photoprotectants?

In the last few decades, the thinning of the ozone layer due to increased atmospheric pollution has exacerbated the negative effects of excessive exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR), and skin cancer has become a major public health concern. In order to prevent skin damage, public health advice mainly focuses on the use of sunscreens, along with wearing protective clothing and avoiding sun exposure during peak hours. Sunscreens present on the market are topical formulations that contain a number of different synthetic, organic, and inorganic UVR filters with different absorbance profiles, which, when combined, provide broad UVR spectrum protection. However, increased evidence suggests that some of these compounds cause subtle damage to marine ecosystems. One alternative may be the use of natural products that are produced in a wide range of marine species and are mainly thought to act as a defense against UVR-mediated damage. However, their potential for human photoprotection is largely under-investigated. In this review, attention has been placed on the molecular strategies adopted by marine organisms to counteract UVR-induced negative effects and we provide a broad portrayal of the recent literature concerning marine-derived natural products having potential as natural sunscreens/photoprotectants for human skin. Their chemical structure, UVR absorption properties, and their pleiotropic role as bioactive molecules are discussed. Most studies strongly suggest that these natural products could be promising for use in biocompatible sunscreens and may represent an alternative eco-friendly approach to protect humans against UV-induced skin damage.

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Mycosporine-Like Amino Acids for Skin Photoprotection

Current Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/0929867324666170529124237 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 25 (40) ◽

pp. 5512-5527 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Karl P. Lawrence ◽

Paul F. Long ◽

Antony R. Young

Keyword(s):

Amino Acids ◽

Human Skin ◽

Marine Species ◽

Current Data ◽

Health Concern ◽

Protective Measure ◽

Solar Ultraviolet Radiation ◽

Diverse Range ◽

Wide Range

Background: Excessive human exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) continues to be a major public health concern, with skin cancer rates increasing year on year. The major protective measure is the use of synthetic UVR filters formulated into sunscreens, but there is a growing concern that some of these chemicals cause damage to delicate marine ecosystems. One alternative is the use of biocompatible mycosporine-like amino acids (MAA), which occur naturally in a wide range of marine species. Their role within nature is mainly thought to be photoprotective. However, their potential for human photoprotection is largely understudied. Objective: To review the role of MAA in nature and assess their potential as natural sunscreens for human skin photoprotection. Method: A literature review of all relevant papers was conducted. Conclusion: MAA are natural photostable compounds that are thought to offer photoprotection to marine species. Initially thought of as protective based on their absorption properties in the solar UVR spectrum, it is clear that MAA are multifunctional photoprotective compounds acting as chemical and biological anti-oxidants. This suggests that MAA may offer a novel eco-friendly approach to human skin photoprotection. Most studies have been carried out in vitro and current data strongly suggest that MAA have potential for development as natural biocompatible sunscreens that protect against a diverse range of solar UVR induced adverse effects on human health.

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Prevalence of health misinformation in social media: a systematic review (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.17187 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Victor Suarez-Lledo ◽

Javier Alvarez-Galvez

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Social Media ◽

Eating Disorders ◽

Communicable Disease ◽

Health Concern ◽

Public Health Concern ◽

Medical Treatments ◽

Wide Range ◽

Social Media Platforms

BACKGROUND The propagation of health misinformation through social media has become a major public health concern over the last two decades. Although today there is broad agreement among researchers, health professionals, and policy makers on the need to control and combat health misinformation, the magnitude of this problem is still unknown. Consequently, before adopting the necessary measures for the adequate control of health misinformation in social media, it is fundamental to discover both the most prevalent health topics and the social media platforms from which these topics are initially framed and subsequently disseminated. OBJECTIVE This systematic review aims to identify the main health misinformation topics and their prevalence on different social media platforms, focusing on methodological quality and the diverse solutions that are being implemented to address this public health concern. METHODS This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines (PRISMA). We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus and the Web of Science for articles published in English before March 2019 with a particular focus on studying health misinformation in social media. We defined health misinformation as a health-related claim based on anecdotal evidence, false, or misleading due to the lack of existing scientific knowledge. The criteria for inclusion were: 1) articles that focused on health misinformation in social media, including those in which the authors discussed the consequences or purposes of health misinformation; and 2) studies that described empirical findings regarding the measurement of health misinformation in these platforms. RESULTS A total of 69 studies were identified as eligible, covering a wide range of health topics and social media platforms. The topics were articulated around six principal categories: vaccines (32%), drugs or smoking (22%), non-communicable disease (19%), pandemics (10%), eating disorders (9%), and medical treatments (7%). Studies were mainly based on five methodological approaches: Social Network Analysis (28%), Evaluating Content (26%), Evaluating Quality (24%), Content/Text analysis (16%) and Sentiment Analysis (6%). Health misinformation proved to be the most more prevalent in studies related to smoking products and drugs such as opioids or marijuana. Posts with misinformation reached 87% in some studies focused in smoking products. Health misinformation about vaccines was also very common (43%), but studies reported different levels of misinformation depending on the different vaccines, with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine being the most affected. Secondly, health misinformation related to diets or pro eating disorders (pro-ED) arguments were moderate in comparison to the aforementioned topics (36%). Studies focused on diseases (i.e. non-communicable diseases and pandemics) also reported moderate misinformation rates (40%), especially in the case of cancer. Finally, the lowest levels of health misinformation were related to medical treatments (30%). CONCLUSIONS Prevalence of health misinformation was most common on Twitter and on issues related to smoking products and drugs. However, misinformation is also high on major public health issues such as vaccines and diseases. Our study offers a comprehensive characterization of the dominant health misinformation topics and a comprehensive description of their prevalence in different social media platforms, which can guide future studies and help in the development of evidence-based digital policy actions plans. CLINICALTRIAL

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COVID-19 Trends in Florida – August 10 – November 14, 2020

10.1101/2020.11.24.20235861 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Rebekah D. Jones ◽

Jacob E. Romer

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

The United States ◽

Urban Environments ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

Mitigation Measures ◽

Health Concern ◽

National Database ◽

Wide Range ◽

K 12 ◽

Case Data

AbstractLimited research on the prevalence and characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) in K-12 environments has led to a flurry of speculative, qualitative, non-data-driven analysis with potentially dangerous implications for public health policy. Twenty-four US states provide, at a minimum, outbreak data in K-12 schools. Student enrollment across Florida’s 67 districts totals more than 2.67 million, with five of the ten most populated districts in the country in the state. This study uses Florida as a case study in COVID-19 trends in schools. With no state-wide mask mandate, varying levels of virtual-instruction participation, and a range of rural, suburban, and urban environments, Florida represents the wide range of learning environments and COVID-19 approaches to mitigation observed across the country. The Covid Monitor began tracking case data in K-12 schools in July 2020, and has since reported more than 200,000 confirmed cases of the virus in the K-12 environment nationwide – the largest date repository for cases in schools. The Covid Monitor’s national database allows for analysis of the characteristics and trends of cases in schools over time. The results may inform decisions about continued in-person and virtual learning access and promotion across the United States, as well as mitigation measures related to reopening policies across districts responsive to model results. These results also provide a baseline for monitoring trends and evaluating mitigation strategies.Table of Contents SummaryUsing the most comprehensive database of K-12 COVID-19 case data in the country, Florida provides clues for understanding student and staff cases in schools.What’s known on this subjectFlorida schools began reopening to in-person instruction in August and reported 15,393 student and staff cases of COVID-19 as of November 14, 2020. Incidence of COVID-19 cases in K-12 students and staff is of urgent public health concern.What this study addsCOVID-19 cases reported in Florida schools were most influenced by community case rates and percent of students attending face-to-face. Student case rates were highest in high schools (4.5 per 1,000); staff case rates were highest in elementary levels (4.5-4.8).

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Public Health Messages Associated with the Low Exposure Category of the UV Index Need Reconsideration

Proceedings ◽

10.3390/iecehs-1-05711 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 6 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Maria Lehmann ◽

Annette B. Pfahlberg ◽

Henner Sandmann ◽

Wolfgang Uter ◽

Olaf Gefeller

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Uv Radiation ◽

Sun Exposure ◽

Health Messages ◽

World Health ◽

Skin Damage ◽

Health Message ◽

Exposure Category ◽

Published Evidence ◽

Public Health Messages

Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the main modifiable risk factor for skin cancer. The Global Solar Ultraviolet Index (UVI) was introduced as a tool to visualize the intensity of UV radiation on a certain day which should enable and encourage people to take appropriate protective measures. The exposure category ‘low’ of the UVI, including values from 0 to 2, was linked to the health message ‘No protection required’ by the World Health Organization and collaborating centres. However, published evidence corroborating this advice is scarce. Therefore, we analysed ambient erythemal irradiance data of 14,431 daily UVI time series of low UVI days. Data were gathered at nine stations of the German solar UV monitoring networkcovering all major climate areas in Germanyin the years 2007–2016. We compared ambient erythemal doses calculated for various time intervals with average minimal erythemal doses (MEDs) of the Caucasian Fitzpatrick skin phototypes I-IV to assess the potential for skin damage arising from sun exposure on days with low UVI values. The most common months for the occurrence of days with low UVI values in our dataset were January and December, February and November, and March and October for UVI 0, 1 and 2, respectively. Our results indicate that on days with a UVI value of 0, risk of deterministic radiation injury (solar erythema) is negligible. Conversely, the above-mentioned health message appears misleading when melano-compromised individuals spend several hours outdoors on days with a UVI value of 2, as median doses exceed the MEDs of Fitzpatrick skin types I and II after an exposure duration of only 2 h around solar noon. Under very rare specific circumstances, MEDs of those two most sensitive skin types can also be exceeded even on days with UVI 1. Hence, two aspects of current public health messages may need reconsideration: on the one hand, the health message related to an ‘innocuous level’ of the UVI and, on the other hand, a possible adaption of UVI-related health messages to different skin types.

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Depigmentation and Anti-aging Treatment by Natural Molecules

Current Pharmaceutical Design ◽

10.2174/1381612825666190703153730 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 25 (20) ◽

pp. 2292-2312 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Abdel Naser Zaid ◽

Rowa’ Al Ramahi

Keyword(s):

Natural Products ◽

Coenzyme Q ◽

Aging Treatment ◽

Natural Antioxidants ◽

Skin Damage ◽

Aging Effects ◽

Skin Cells ◽

A Value ◽

Wide Range ◽

Licorice Extract

Natural molecules are becoming more accepted choices as cosmetic agents, many products in the market today claim to include natural components. Plants include many substances that could be of a value in the whitening of the skin and working as anti-aging agents. A wide range of articles related to natural skin whitening and anti-aging agents have been reviewed. Many plant-derived and natural molecules have shown to affect melanin synthesis by different mechanisms, examples include Arbutin, Ramulus mori extract, Licorice extract, Glabridin, Liquiritin, Kojic acid, Methyl gentisate, Aloesin, Azelaic acid, Vitamin C, Thioctic acid, Soya bean extracts, Niacinamide, α and β-hydroxy acids, Lactic acid, Chamomile extract, and Ellagic acid. Some of the widely used natural anti-aging products as natural antioxidants, collagen, hyaluronic acid, and coenzyme Q can counteract the effects of reactive oxygen species in skin cells and have anti-aging properties on the skin. It was concluded that many natural products including antioxidants can prevent UV-induced skin damage and have whitening and anti-aging effects. It is very important to develop and stabilize appropriate methods for the evaluation of the whitening and anti-aging capacity of natural products and their exact mechanism of action to ensure real efficacy based on evidence-based studies. The attention should be oriented on the formulations and the development of an appropriate vehicle to ensure suitable absorption of these natural products in addition to evaluating the suitable concentration of these molecules required having the desired effects without causing harmful side effects.

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Preliminary Characterization of Triatomine Bug Blood Meals on the Island of Trinidad Reveals Opportunistic Feeding Behavior on Both Human and Animal Hosts

Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease ◽

10.3390/tropicalmed5040166 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 166

Author(s):

Alexandra Hylton ◽

Daniel M. Fitzpatrick ◽

Rod Suepaul ◽

Andrew P. Dobson ◽

Roxanne A. Charles ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Chagas Disease ◽

Blood Meal ◽

Health Concern ◽

Triatomine Bugs ◽

Wide Range ◽

Local Risk ◽

The Caribbean ◽

Cruzi Infection ◽

Blood Meals

Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by infection with Trypanosoma cruzi. The parasite is endemic to the Americas, including the Caribbean, where it is vectored by triatomine bugs. Although Chagas disease is not considered a public health concern in the Caribbean islands, studies in Trinidad have found T. cruzi-seropositive humans and T. cruzi-infected triatomine bugs. However, little is known about triatomine bug host preferences in Trinidad, making it difficult to evaluate local risk of vector-borne T. cruzi transmission to humans. To investigate this question, we collected triatomine bugs in Trinidad and diagnosed each one for T. cruzi infection (microscopy and PCR). We then carried out a blood meal analysis using DNA extracted from each bug (PCR and sequencing). Fifty-five adult bugs (54 Panstrongylus geniculatus and one Rhodnius pictipes) were collected from five of 21 sample sites. All successful collection sites were residential. Forty-six out of the 55 bugs (83.6%) were infected with T. cruzi. Fifty-three blood meal hosts were successfully analyzed (one per bug), which consisted of wild birds (7% of all blood meals), wild mammals (17%), chickens (19%), and humans (57%). Of the 30 bugs with human blood meals, 26 (87%) were from bugs infected with T. cruzi. Although preliminary, our results align with previous work in which P. geniculatus in Trinidad had high levels of T. cruzi infection. Furthermore, our findings suggest that P. geniculatus moves between human and animal environments in Trinidad, feeding opportunistically on a wide range of species. Our findings highlight a critical need for further studies of Chagas disease in Trinidad in order to estimate the public health risk and implement necessary preventative and control measures.

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Preventing Cancer with Two Injections, A Clinical Review of the HPV Vaccination

Osteopathic Family Physician ◽

10.33181/11063 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 24-29

Author(s):

Gerald Julian ◽

David Go ◽

Jay Shubrook

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Hpv Vaccination ◽

Public Health Intervention ◽

The United States ◽

Infection Process ◽

Health Concern ◽

Effective Vaccine ◽

Papilloma Virus ◽

Wide Range ◽

Patient Refusal

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) has become a major public health concern in the United States. HPV has high subclinical infection rates and is a major cause of preventable cancers (cervical, vaginal, vulvar, anal, penile, and oropharyngeal). Despite availability of an effective vaccine against several common and carcinogenic strains of HPV, it remains the most common STI. Gardasil 9 is a widely available vaccine that protects against nine strains of HPV. Seven of those strains are known to cause a wide range of cancer, and the other two strains are the most common cause of condylomas (genital warts). Yet, patients are not completing this vaccination series. There is a constellation of reasons for this, including the failure of the provider to offer it to patients and patient refusal. Either way, this easy public health intervention is significantly underutilized. This review explores the infection process of HPV; its link to cancer; a comparison of vaccines offered in the past, such as Cervarix and Gardasil 4, compared to the currently offered Gardasil 9; and finally, an exploration of the beliefs and views around vaccination of the STI and cancer by looking at patient/physician stances against the vaccine tied with the ways to help patient compliance.

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Carcass Salmonella and Its Drug Resistance

International Journal of Pathogen Research ◽

10.9734/ijpr/2019/v2i130064 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-21

Author(s):

Gizachew Muluneh Amera ◽

Amit Kumar Singh

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Health Concern ◽

Personal Hygiene ◽

Wide Range ◽

Food Animals

Salmonella are the major pathogenic bacteria in humans as well as in animals. Salmonella species are leading causes of acute gastroenteritis in several countries and salmonellosis remains an important public health problem worldwide, particularly in the developing countries. Isolation of Salmonella from a wide range of sources suggests that Salmonella is widespread in food animals and meat products and underlines the necessity for a joint and coordinated surveillance and monitoring programs for salmonellosis and other major food borne zoonotic diseases. Food animals harbor a wide range of Salmonella and so act as sources of contamination, which is of paramount epidemiological importance in non-typhoid human salmonellosis. Salmonellosis is more aggravated by the ever increasing rate of antimicrobial resistance strains in food animals. The high prevalence and dissemination of multidrug resistant (MDR) Salmonella have become a growing public health concern. Multidrug resistant (MDR) strains of Salmonella are now encountered frequently and the rates of multidrug resistance have increased considerably in recent years. Food animal consumption is a potential cause for antimicrobial resistant Salmonella illnesses besides, the common factors such as overcrowding, poverty, inadequate sanitary conditions, and poor personal hygiene. Practicing good sanitary measures, extensive education programs for proper hygiene and improvement of managements are solutions to eliminate the high bacteriological load as well as prevalence of Salmonella in cattle carcass. Furthermore, restricting the use of antimicrobial agents in food animals, designation of multidrug-resistant Salmonella as an adulterant in ground beef, improving the mechanisms for product trace-back investigations and wise and discriminate use of antimicrobials should be practiced to combat the ever increasing situation of antimicrobial resistance. So, this review used for updating information on their prevalence and resistance patterns is very important to suggest the acceptance of the carcass in relation to the standards and for proper selection and use of antimicrobial agents in a setting.

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Conceptual Framework Based On Type-2 Fuzzy Logic Theory for Predicting Childhood Obesity Risk

International Journal of Online and Biomedical Engineering (iJOE) ◽

10.3991/ijoe.v16i03.12701 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (03) ◽

pp. 95

Author(s):

Khalid Almohammadi

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Fuzzy Logic ◽

Childhood Obesity ◽

Conceptual Framework ◽

Health Concern ◽

Fuzzy Logic Systems ◽

Wide Range ◽

Logic Systems

Obesity is a critical public health concern affecting a wide range of people globally. The rise in obesity is limited to not only the wealthiest countries but also the poorest. Childhood obesity has grown exponentially in the last few years, and its progression is significant contribution to the increase in mortality rates. Childhood obesity is linked with a wide range of risk factors. These include individual and parental biological factors, sedentary behavior or decreased physical activity, and parent restriction. This paper focuses on reviewing the techniques of artificial intelligence (AI) utilized in the management of obesity in children. The paper will also propose a conceptual framework to use novel type-1 and type-2 fuzzy logic methods capable of predicting risks for developing childhood obesity. The proposed approach will address factors such as family characteristics, unhealthy food choices and lack of exercise, and others related to children and their home environment. The procedure will help in the prevention of childhood obesity, promote public health, and reduce treatment costs for a wide range of obesity-related conditions. The paper will also plan an examination of type-1 and type-2 fuzzy logic systems on approximately one thousand families in Saudi Arabia. The proposed methods can handle the encountered uncertainties to enhance modeling and promote the accuracy of predictions of the risk for childhood obesity. Type-1 and type-2 fuzzy logic systems can also encode extracted rules comprehensively to provide insight into the best childhood obesity prevention behaviors.

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A study to assess smoking habits and smoking exposure in sportspeople

QJM ◽

10.1093/qjmed/hcaa189 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

B O’Sullivan ◽

P Scully ◽

R J Curtin ◽

B J Plant

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Role Models ◽

Electronic Cigarettes ◽

Tobacco Consumption ◽

Health Concern ◽

Second Hand Smoke ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Injury Occurrence ◽

Smoking Exposure ◽

Sporting Performance

Summary Background Tobacco smoking is a leading public health concern and is the most preventable cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Sportspeople are no exception and those who smoke are predisposed to the same hazardous health effects as the general public, in addition to the potential effects it may have on their sporting performance. Aim We aimed to ascertain the prevalence of tobacco consumption in a sporting population. We also endeavoured to quantify the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and assess exposure to passive smoking. Design Observational study. Methods A web-based e-questionnaire was distributed to participants from various sports across Ireland between November 2017 and January 2018, and data were analysed using SPSS. Results A total of 546 sportspeople completed the survey with more than twice as many male respondents. Of whom, 16% of participants were current smokers, with males significantly more likely to smoke (P < 0.001), 26% of rugby players were current smokers which was significantly higher when compared with other sports (P < 0.01), 10% of all participants were exposed to second-hand smoke for more than 1 h per day and 2% of all participants were current users of e-cigarettes. Conclusion The prevalence of smoking in our study population was higher than other literature reports. Further studies are essential to evaluate the potential negative effects this may be having on sporting performance, career progression and indeed injury occurrence/rehabilitation. It is imperative to address the matter of smoking in athletes, not only for public health concerns but also considering they are important role models in our society.

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