First- and Second-generation Health Condition Affected by Radiation

Research relevance: article presents the incidence of children and grandchildren for 2018–2019 of liquidator workers who took part in cleaning up the contaminated area around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, as well as residents evacuated from the city of Pripyat and other settlements within a radius of 70 km from the station. The consequences of radiation exposure of Chernobyl accident remain a topical issue. Research objectives: in order to study health status of children and grandchildren of liquidators, outpatient cards and reporting forms no. 15-zdrav “On medical care for people affected by radiation and included in the Kyrgyz State Medical and Dosimetric Register” examined. Research materials and methods: diseases of the endocrine and nervous systems, nutritional disorders, metabolic disorders, mental disorders, diseases of the eye and its adnexa, ear diseases of and mastoid process were studied. Circulatory and respiratory system diseases were analyzed. Research results: animal and cell culture studies show that high doses of ionizing radiation can lead to mutations in offspring. However, there have not been sufficiently large-scale studies on humans that would allow assessing the effect of radiation on the health of offspring. The exposure provokes mutations and incurable diseases, but it is still unclear how it might affect the children affected. It is known that exposure to ionizing radiation increases DNA mutagenesis compared to background values. Conclusions: obtained data substantiate the need for further monitoring of their health, organization of differentiated dispensary observation of this contingent and timely implementation of medical, rehabilitation and preventive measures in order to preserve health of “children and grandchildren of Chernobyl” at all subsequent stages of their life.

Condition Monitoring to Enable Predictive Maintenance on a Six-Die Nut Manufacturing Machine through Force Data Analysis

Nut fasteners are produced by machines working around the clock. Companies generally operate with a run-to-failure or planned maintenance approach. Even with a planned maintenance schedule, however, undetected damage to the dies and non-die parts occurring between maintenance periods can cause considerable downtime and pervasive damage to the machine. To address this shortcoming, force data from the fourth and sixth dies of a six-die nut manufacturing machine were analysed using correlation to the best health condition on the force profile and on the force shock response spectrum profile. Fault features such as quality adjustments and damage to both die and non-die parts were detectable prior to required maintenance or machine failure. This detection was facilitated by the determination of health thresholds, whereby the force SRS profile generated a longer warning period prior to failure. The analytical approach could benefit the industry by identifying damage that would normally go undetected by operators, thereby reducing downtime, extending die life, enabling “as needed” maintenance, and optimising machine operation.

Chronic kidney disease biomarkers and mortality among older adults: A comparison study of survey samples in China and the United States

Objectives Among older adults in China and the US, we aimed to compare the biomarkers of chronic-kidney-diseases (CKD), factors associated with CKD, and the correlation between CKD and mortality. Setting China and the US. Study design Cross-sectional and prospective cohorts. Participants We included 2019 participants aged 65 and above from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Study (CLHLS) in 2012, and 2177 from US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in 2011–2014. Outcomes Urinary albumin, urinary creatinine, albumin creatinine ratio (ACR), serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, plasma albumin, uric acid, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). CKD (ACR ≥ 30 mg/g or eGFR< 60 ml/min/1.73m2) and mortality. Analytical approach Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models. Covariates included age, sex, race, education, income, marital status, health condition, smoking and drinking status, physical activity and body mass index. Results Chinese participants had lower levels of urinary albumin, ACR, and uric acid than the US (mean: 25.0 vs 76.4 mg/L, 41.7 vs 85.0 mg/g, 292.9 vs 341.3 μmol/L). In the fully-adjusted model, CKD was associated with the risk of mortality only in the US group (hazard ratio [HR], 95% CI: 2.179, 1.561–3.041 in NHANES, 1.091, 0.940–1.266 in CLHLS). Compared to eGFR≥90, eGFR ranged 30–44 ml/min/1.73m2 was only associated with mortality in the US population (HR, 95% CI: 2.249, 1.141–4.430), but not in the Chinese population (HR, 95% CI: 1.408, 0.884–2.241). Conclusions The elderly participants in the US sample had worse CKD-related biomarker levels than in China sample, and the association between CKD and mortality was also stronger among the US older adults. This may be due to the biological differences, or co-morbid conditions.

Acute-phase protein concentrations in serum of clinically healthy and diseased European bison (Bison bonasus) – preliminary study

Background This is the first report describing levels of APPs in European bison. Serum concentration of acute phase proteins (APPs) may be helpful to assess general health status in wildlife and potentially useful in selecting animals for elimination. Since there is a lack of literature data regarding concentration of APPs in European bisons, establishment of the reference values is also needed. Methods A total of 87 European bison from Polish populations were divided into two groups: (1) healthy: immobilized for transportation, placing a telemetry collar and routine diagnostic purposes; and (2) selectively culled due to the poor health condition. The serum concentration of haptoglobin, serum amyloid A and α1-acid-glycoprotein were determined using commercial quantitative ELISA assays. Since none of the variables met the normality assumptions, non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test was used for all comparisons. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Statistical analyses were performed using Statistica 13.3 (Tibco, USA). Results The concentration of haptoglobin and serum amyloid A was significantly higher in animals culled (euthanised) due to the poor condition in respect to the clinically healthy European bison. The levels of α1-acid-glycoprotein did not show statistical difference between healthy and sick animals. Conclusions Correlation between APPs concertation and health status was proven, therefore the determination of selected APPs may be considered in future as auxiliary predictive tool in assessing European bison health condition.

Living with pathological narcissism: core conflictual relational themes within intimate relationships

Background Pathological narcissism is a severe mental health condition that includes disturbances in interpersonal functioning. Interpersonal difficulties by those affected include aggressive, domineering, cold and coercive behaviours which often result in strong negative reactions from others. We sought to examine the moment-to-moment patterns that emerge within close relationships between intimate partners and family members. Methods Participants (N = 15) were romantic partners (73.3%) and family members (26.6%) in a close and long-term relationship (+ 10 years) with an individual with pathological narcissism. Participants told verbatim relationship narratives involving five narrative interactions with their relative with pathological narcissism and five narrative interactions with others. Transcripts were coded using the using Core Conflictual Relationship Theme method. Participants also completed three versions of the Relationship Questionnaire, reporting on 1. their relationship style ‘in general’, 2. their relationship style ‘with their relative’ and 3. the relationship style of their relative. Results A total of 133 relationship episodes were analysed, comprising 783 components (wishes, responses of others and responses of self). While the identified wishes (e.g., for love, for support) were consistent between relative and non-relative narratives, there was significantly higher disharmony and lower harmony in narratives involving relatives with pathological narcissism. Described disharmony in these relationships involved the relative’s rejecting, subjugating and attacking behaviours, and participants rejecting and withdrawing behaviours. There was a prominent deactivation of participants attachment system when interacting with their relative with pathological narcissism, endorsing predominately dismissing relationship styles. Individuals with pathological narcissism were similarly rated as predominately dismissing. Conclusions Together, these results reflect the cycles of interpersonal dysfunction for individuals with pathological narcissism and their partners and family members. Treatment implications point to the risk of therapists withdrawing and dismissing a patient with high pathological narcissism in the countertransference. Strategies to monitor and manage these core relational themes in treatment remain a challenge.

Internet of Things Concept in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multi-Sensor Application Design

In this paper, we present the design, development and implementation of an integrated system for the management of COVID-19 patient, using the LoRaWAN communication infrastructure. Our system offers certain advantages when compared to other similar solutions, allowing remote symptom and health monitoring that can be applied to isolated or quarantined people, without any external interaction with the patient. The IoT wearable device can monitor parameters of health condition like pulse, blood oxygen saturation, and body temperature, as well as the current location. To test the performance of the proposed system, two persons under quarantine were monitored, for a complete 14-day standard quarantine time interval. Based on the data transmitted to the monitoring center, the medical staff decided, after several days of monitoring, when the measured values were outside of the normal parameters, to do an RT-PCR test for one of the two persons, confirming the SARS-CoV2 virus infection. We have to emphasize the high degree of scalability of the proposed solution that can oversee a large number of patients at the same time, thanks to the LoRaWAN communication protocol used. This solution can be successfully implemented by local authorities to increase monitoring capabilities, also saving lives.

The Diabetes Simulation Challenge: Enhancing Patient Perspective-Taking for Medical Students

The Diabetes Simulation Challenge is a unique training tool to foster empathy, a key facet of patient-centered care, for medical students. Thirty-two medical students participated in a 24-hour perspective-taking activity as part of their curriculum, during which they simulated some common experiences of living with a chronic health condition, specifically type 1 diabetes. Students’ written reflections were analyzed using a phenomenological qualitative approach to provide a composite description of the experience. An exhaustive, iterative method of thematic analysis that included manual coding was used to determine whether this activity led to expressions of empathy or thoughts and beliefs consistent with patient-centered health care. Nine unique themes emerged, six of which indicated that students adopted the perspective of an individual with a chronic illness. Most of the students’ reflections illustrated an understanding of the behavioral, social, and emotional challenges related to living with type 1 diabetes, as well as increased empathy toward individuals with the disease. Medical students who aim to provide patient-centered care benefited from this perspective-taking exercise, and training programs should consider using such methods to extend learning beyond traditional didactic education.

Pelatihan Skrining Penyakit Tidak Menular dan Pencegahannya Bagi Kader Kesehatan

Non-communicable disease (NCD) screening training aims to provide skills in determining a person's health condition based on body mass index (BMI) and simple blood tests. Health cadres who have been equipped with the skills to determine BMI and simple blood tests can then detect NCD in the community independently. Nutrition training aims to provide skills in calculating nutritional adequacy from a daily menu. Educational videos on simple blood tests were made to replace hands-on training due to limitations of the covid19 protocol. Before and after training, pre and posttest were carried out. The training was attended by 15 health cadres in Gamping Kidul Village, Ambarketawang, Gamping, Sleman, Yogyakarta. The average score before training was 67.14, increasing to 73.57 thereafter. Paired T-test analysis showed no significant difference in pre and posttest scores (p = 0.076). After receiving the training, it is hoped that health cadres can carry out screening independently around their respective homes, so that early detection of NCD in the community can take place, then prevention can be carried out so that it does not become a fatal complication. It was concluded that the training could improve health cadres' understanding of PTM screening, prevention and calculating a balanced nutritious diet but not significant.

Association Between Levels of Radon And Bioaerosols (Bacteria And Fungi) By Living Conditions

This study aimed to measure the levels of airborne radon (Rn) and bioaerosols—culturable airborne bacteria (CAB) and culturable airborne fungi (CAF)—in South Korea’s residential environments, considering living conditions such as the number of ventilations, number of windows, floors, temperature, and relative humidity. These levels were evaluated for 32 houses of residents from the socially vulnerable class. Rn gas and bioaerosols were sampled twice: in fall and summer. A self-report survey gathered residents’ information on their general characteristics (daily residence time, heating and cooking type, cleaning and washing cycle, etc.) and health condition scores (0–100 points) on the day of sampling. The range of Rn levels was 0.43–7.439 pCi/L with a median of 0.70 pCi/L. The CAB levels were 239–488 colony-forming unit (CFU)/m3 with a median of 309 CFU/m3, and CAF levels were 174–366 CFU/m3 with a median of 233 CFU/m3. Thus, this study found that semi-basement residential indoor environments negatively affected Rn and bioaerosol levels, and living in such residences resulted in high health condition scores.

Factors Associated with COVID-19 Testing among People who Inject Drugs: Missed Opportunities for Reaching those Most at Risk

People who inject drugs (PWID) are vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. We examined correlates of COVID-19 testing among PWID in the U.S.-Mexico border region and described encounters with services or venues representing potential opportunities (i.e., "touchpoints") where COVID-19 testing could have been offered. Between October, 2020 and September, 2021, participants aged ≥18 years from San Diego, California, USA and Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico who injected drugs within the last month completed surveys and SARS-CoV-2, HIV, and HCV serologic testing. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with COVID-19 testing prior to enrollment. Of 583 PWID, 30.5% previously had a COVID-19 test. Of 172 PWID who tested SARS-CoV-2 seropositive in our study (30.1%), 50.3% encountered at least one touchpoint within the prior six months where COVID-19 testing could have been offered. Factors independently associated with at least two fold higher odds of COVID-19 testing were living in San Diego (versus Tijuana), having recently been incarcerated or attending substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and having at least one chronic health condition. In addition, recent homelessness, having had at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and having been tested for HIV or HCV since the pandemic began were independently associated with COVID-19 testing. We identified several factors independently associated with COVID-19 testing and multiple touchpoints where COVID-19 testing could be scaled up for PWID, such as SUD treatment programs and syringe service programs. Integrated health services are needed to improve access to rapid, free COVID-19 testing in this vulnerable population.