scholarly journals The Role of Reference Materials in the Research and Development of Diagnostic Tools and Treatments for Haemorrhagic Fever Viruses

Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 781 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giada Mattiuzzo ◽  
Emma M. Bentley ◽  
Mark Page
Keyword(s):  
Research And Development ◽  
Reference Materials ◽  
World Health Organisation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
International Unit ◽  
Haemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Western Africa ◽  
The World

Following the Ebola outbreak in Western Africa in 2013–16, a global effort has taken place for preparedness for future outbreaks. As part of this response, the development of vaccines, treatments and diagnostic tools has been accelerated, especially towards pathogens listed as likely to cause an epidemic and for which there are no current treatments. Several of the priority pathogens identified by the World Health Organisation are haemorrhagic fever viruses. This review provides information on the role of reference materials as an enabling tool for the development and evaluation of assays, and ultimately vaccines and treatments. The types of standards available are described, along with how they can be applied for assay harmonisation through calibration as a relative potency to a common arbitrary unitage system (WHO International Unit). This assures that assay metrology is accurate and robust. We describe reference materials that have been or are being developed for haemorrhagic fever viruses and consider the issues surrounding their production, particularly that of biosafety where the viruses require specialised containment facilities. Finally, we advocate the use of reference materials at early stages, including research and development, as this helps produce reliable assays and can smooth the path to regulatory approval.

scholarly journals The Impact of Ultraviolet Radiation on the Aetiology and Development of Uveal Melanoma

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1700
Author(s):  
Melissa Chalada ◽  
Charmaine A. Ramlogan-Steel ◽  
Bijay P. Dhungel ◽  
Christopher J. Layton ◽  
Jason C. Steel
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Ultraviolet Radiation ◽  
Uveal Melanoma ◽  
World Health Organisation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Genetic Mutations ◽  
High Incidence ◽  
The World ◽  
The Impact

Uveal melanoma (UM) is currently classified by the World Health Organisation as a melanoma caused by risk factors other than cumulative solar damage. However, factors relating to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) susceptibility such as light-coloured skin and eyes, propensity to burn, and proximity to the equator, frequently correlate with higher risk of UM. These risk factors echo those of the far more common cutaneous melanoma (CM), which is widely accepted to be caused by excessive UVR exposure, suggesting a role of UVR in the development and progression of a proportion of UM. Indeed, this could mean that countries, such as Australia, with high UVR exposure and the highest incidences of CM would represent a similarly high incidence of UM if UVR exposure is truly involved. Most cases of UM lack the typical genetic mutations that are related to UVR damage, although recent evidence in a small minority of cases has shown otherwise. This review therefore reassesses statistical, environmental, anatomical, and physiological evidence for and against the role of UVR in the aetiology of UM.

scholarly journals The role of graphic design in the COVID-19 global outbreak

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-69
Author(s):  
Seda Nur Atasoy
Keyword(s):  
Graphic Design ◽  
World Health Organisation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Positive Thinking ◽  
Common Language ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Wuhan City ◽  
The World ◽  
Graphic Language

Many studies have been performed in the field of graphic design to prevent and monitor the coronavirus disease global outbreak, which emerged in Wuhan City, China, and has been announced as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation. Graphic Design has always taken a stand towards positive thinking by enhancing creative reactions to the challenging conditions (conditions in which there is no physical human connection, movement is restricted, concerns increase, etc.) that human beings have faced up so far and has supported the idea of the world that is trying to heal. The aim of this study is to examine the communication power that graphic design has created during the pandemic process by inspecting the current works of a common language which has been put forward as a graphic language in order to be united in the name of graphic design, both in the information charts of the coronavirus in the name of graphic design and in this troubled process of the world. In this study, the reaction, contribution and support, which have been developed by Graphic design for the COVID-19 pandemic process, were examined and samples were presented from designers by examining illustrations, posters, infographics, graphic products and so on, which have been made around the world. In addition to this, creative problem solutions and the role of graphic design have also been explored for solving these problems.   Keywords: Graphic design, COVID-19, coronavirus, outbreak, epidemic.    

The future of dementia care in rural areas of the world

2020 ◽  
pp. 17-36
Author(s):  
Jane Farmer ◽  
Sharon Grant
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
World Health Organisation ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
World Health ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The World ◽  
Care Improvement

This chapter specifically features the challenges for people living with dementia and their carers in rural areas of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It highlights the vital role of the community and primary health care workers and the need to raise awareness and skill development. The chapter considers how supra-national organisations and responses might specifically affect dementia care and development of policy in LMICs, including the role of the World Health Organisation which has produced planning and strategy guidance plus a range of useful tools for under-resourced settings. Other sectors significant to dementia care improvement, are civil society and the research community – of which key organisations are discussed. In LMIC settings dementia can be a poorly understood and culturally contested issue, and the care of people in resource-depleted rural areas of developing countries still requires significant work and advocacy. While WHO strategies can influence the worldwide burden of dementia substantially in the next 10 years, the chapter highlights that particular attention should be given to development and studies of rural areas of LMICs.

scholarly journals The Role of Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Primary Adult High Grade Gliomas: Assessment of Patients for These Treatment Approaches and the Common Immediate Side Effects

ISRN Oncology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. E. Philip-Ephraim ◽  
K. I. Eyong ◽  
U. E. Williams ◽  
R. P. Ephraim
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Brain Tumours ◽  
World Health Organisation ◽  
World Health ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Primary Brain Tumours ◽  
The World ◽  
The Common ◽  
High Grade Gliomas

Gliomas are the commonest primary brain tumours in adults. They are usually classified and graded according to the criteria by the World Health Organisation. High-grade gliomas are the most malignant primary brain tumours. Conventional therapies include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. The tumours often demonstrate high levels of resistance to these conventional therapies, and in spite of treatment advances the prognosis remains poor.

scholarly journals The Poor and the Pandemic: COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arati Raut ◽  
Ruchira Ankar ◽  
Sheetal Sakharkar
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organisation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Poor People ◽  
Political Status ◽  
The Poor ◽  
The People ◽  
The World ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Impact

COVID-19 was proven to be a pandemic in early 2020 by the World Health Organisation (WHO). At present, 213 countries have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the history of global pandemics, COVID-19 has had a major impact on society as it has killed humans, spread human suffering and uprooted the lives of the people. Across the globe, there are 18,705,096 confirmed cases, 11,922,692 recovered cases, 704,385 deaths, and 6,078,019 active cases as of, 5 August 2020. It has affected the world’s economic, social and political status. Poor people belonging to the lower strata of society face more difficulties during pandemics. They are unable to secure their daily bread as well as other basic needs. The impact of COVID-19 on the poor and the role of society have been addressed.

scholarly journals Battling the COVID-19 infodemic in an Irish context: the role of iHealthFacts

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 81
Author(s):  
Marina Zaki ◽  
Declan Devane ◽  
Thomas Conway ◽  
Sandra Galvin ◽  
Nikita Burke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organisation ◽  
Health Claims ◽  
World Health ◽  
Director General ◽  
The Public ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Irish Context ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Choices

On the 11th of March 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a global pandemic due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This was one month after Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO declared that we are also fighting an ‘infodemic’. The WHO has described an infodemic as an “over-abundance of information – some accurate and some not – that makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance when they need it”. iHealthFacts.ie is an Irish resource where the public can quickly and easily check the credibility and reliability of health claims circulating on social media. Unreliable claims can lead to poorly informed health choices. iHealthFacts is an initiative that supports the public to think critically about health claims and make well-informed choices. Here, we describe the role iHealthFacts plays in providing reliable information to the public and offer reflections from those involved in launching this initiative during a pandemic.

scholarly journals Recent Advances in Next Generation Snakebite Antivenoms

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilie Knudsen ◽  
Andreas Hougaard Laustsen
Keyword(s):  
Research And Development ◽  
Small Molecules ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
World Health Organisation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Development Effort ◽  
Tropical Diseases ◽  
Research Groups ◽  
Recent Advances ◽  
The World

With the inclusion of snakebite envenoming on the World Health Organisation’s list of Neglected Tropical Diseases, an incentive has been established to promote research and development effort in novel snakebite antivenom therapies. Different technological approaches are being pursued by different research groups, including the use of small molecule inhibitors against enzymatic toxins, as well as peptide and oligonucleotide-based aptamers and antibody-based biotherapeutics against both enzymatic and non-enzymatic toxins. In this article, the most recent advances in these fields are presented, and the advantages, disadvantages, and feasibility of using different toxin-neutralizing molecules are reviewed. Particular focus within small molecules is directed towards the inhibitors, varespladib, batimastat, and marimastat, while in the field of antibody-based therapies, novel recombinant polyclonal plantivenom technology is discussed.

Health literacy and health promotion challenges in performing arts medicine

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-62
Author(s):  
Bronwen J Ackermann
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Performing Arts ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Active Role ◽  
World Health Organisation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Performing Arts Medicine ◽  
The World ◽  
Sources Of Health Information

In recent years, the role of health literacy in determining appropriate attitudes and behaviours to health has received extensive attention. According to the World Health Organisation, health literacy refers to the ability of individuals to access, understand, and use information in ways which promote and maintain good health for themselves, their families, and their communities. It has been increasingly recognised that this information should be tailored to the specific needs of the community (e.g., performing artists) to empower them to take an active role in improving their own health outcomes. One concern recognised for well over a decade now has been the challenge for non-health-trained individuals to recognise what is reliable when searching through the highly variable sources of “health information” published on the internet.

scholarly journals Does India need ministry of public health? – Lessons learnt from COVID-19 and road ahead

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Ravinder Singh
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organisation ◽  
Air Travel ◽  
World Health ◽  
Prevention Strategies ◽  
The World ◽  
Fast Spreading ◽  
Spanish Flu ◽  
Year 2000 ◽  
Vast Network

World over there has been debates on the current emer­gency of COVID-19 and where we failed? Comparing the Spanish Flu 1918 (1) and the COVID-19, it is clear that the prevention strategies like social distancing, hand washing, and mask use, remains only hope for fast-spreading emergencies or disasters like COVID-19 (2). As compared to Spanish Flu-1918, population density is more now and people move across the globe much faster due to the vast network of air travel, posing greater risk to exposed populations. Even today, the challenge remains the lack of vaccines, shortage of appropriate equipment, and healthcare manpower. The basic role of the World Health Organisation and Alma Ata Declaration 1978 was strengthening primary and preventive care by the year 2000 (3). However, the world supported technology to the extent that now we are left with the only option to lockdown city after city across more than 200 counties.

Body Mass Index and Weight Distribution

2009 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 17-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cdr Pengelly ◽  
J Morris
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
World Health Organisation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Insurance Companies ◽  
Life Assurance ◽  
The World ◽  
Hip Measurements

It has been accepted for many years that being overweight or obese, as indicated by a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or over for the former and 30 or over for the latter, is associated with impairment of long term health and prognosis. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has indicated that, in Caucasians, waist measurements of 94cm or more in men, and 80cm or more in women have similar adverse effects on health, with increased risks at 102 cm or more in men and 88 cm in women. The role of waist-hip ratio (W/H) and whether it represents a better index than waist (W) measurement alone is being debated; many papers favour waist measurement alone. But two papers in 2005 discussing 27,098 subjects, 12,461 of whom had myocardial infarction and 14,637 controls, come down firmly in favour of W/H and were followed by a Lancet Editorial entitled ‘Farewell to Body Mass Index?’ Life assurance companies at medical examination usually request height and weight measurements (and therefore BMI). Most ask for waist measurements and a few hip measurements in addition (and therefore W/H). The authors have reviewed the data in 816 consecutive subjects for life assurance examination in whom BMIs, Ws and W/Hs were all recorded. In these the evidence supports the use of W as the best indicator of risk in men (634 cases), but not in the relatively small number of women (182 cases) in whom H appeared better. We believe that BMI, W and W/H should be recorded in every subject at life assurance examination so that the insurance companies in the long term will be able to reach valid conclusions about their individual and collective value

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