Associations Between Cognitive Function, Depression, and Olfactory Function in Elderly People With Dementia in Korea

Early detection is important for delaying or preventing cognitive impairment. Since olfactory dysfunction and depression are common symptoms of cognitive dysfunction, they may serve as measurable risk indicators. This study was designed to identify the relationship between olfaction, depression, and each domain of cognitive function in elderly dementia patients in South Korea. Study participants were 108 patients who visited the outpatient clinic between March and September 2019. More significant impairment of olfactory function was found in those with mild (7.48 ± 1.28) or moderate (7.37 ± 2.22) test scores of the Expanded Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale than in those with questionable scores (20.58 ± 6.18). The language domain of cognitive function, age, and education level showed 39.2% explanatory power for olfactory function (F = 5.591, p < 0.001). It is expected that assessment of olfactory function in elderly people can lead to the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of dementia. Furthermore, it is important for future studies to confirm the relationship between each domain of cognitive function and olfactory function according to the type of dementia and to establish criteria for screening dementia in order to utilize olfactory function as a clinical marker.

Risk Indicators and Treatment Needs of Children 2–5 Years of Age Receiving Dental Treatment under General Anesthesia in Saskatchewan

Background: When compared to national averages in Canada, Saskatchewan has one of the highest rates of dental treatment under general anesthesia (GA) and average costs per child. Thus, the purpose of this cross-sectional study is to explore the risk indicators and treatment needs of children receiving dental treatment under GA in Saskatchewan. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited caregivers of children between 24 and 71 months of age in Saskatoon, Canada. Caregivers completed a 40-item questionnaire, which was supplemented with clinical data and then subject to statistical analysis (independent t-tests and one-way ANOVA). Results: A total of 90 caregiver/child dyads were enrolled with the mean age for children being 49.5 ± 12.3 months. The mean age of a child’s first dental visit was 34.7 ± 15.3 months with only 37.9% of children having a dental home. The mean deft index was 11.7 ± 3.4, with an average of 10.9 ± 3.5 teeth receiving treatment. Additionally, location of primary residence (p = 0.03), family income (p = 0.04), family size (p = 0.01), parental education (p = 0.03), dental home (p = 0.04), and body mass index (p = 0.04) had a statistically significant association with a higher mean deft. Conclusions: Our cross-sectional study confirms that children who require dental treatment under GA have a high burden of disease. While individual risk indicators such as diet and oral hygiene play a role in the progression of early childhood caries (ECC), we also demonstrate that children who do not have access to early preventive visits or a dental home are at a higher risk. In addition to improving motivation for oral hygiene at home and nutritional education, improving access to oral health care should be addressed in strategies to reduce ECC.

Monitoring and assessment of fire consequences in the Republic of Buryatia

The article aims to study statistical data on the consequences of fires in the Republic of Buryatia from 2009 to 2020 using the methods of social and mathematical statistics. The study is relevant due to the current situation with fires and integral fire risk indicators in the municipalities. Man-made fires have been a source of increased danger to health and lives of the population, causing great material damage. Fires are a direct threat to the demographic situation in the region since they cause premature mortality. For households, fires undermine social status, destroy social units, cause moral harm aggravating stress, which provokes illnesses. From the technical point of view, man-made fires create risks for dilapidated houses and facilities that do not meet the fire safety requirements. The Republic of Buryatia is a region with a weak degree of industrial development and a vast territory with a low distribution of settlements, i.e. considerable remoteness from the regional centers. The impact of fires (which make up 99% of all types of emergency situation) on the social well-being of the population is studied. Based on the methodology and calculations of fire risks by the number of fires, injured and killed, material damage and destroyed buildings, it was established that the level of protection of residents of Buryatia from fire risks is insufficient. The indicators should encourage the government to develop and implement effective safety measures.

Issues of the Risk-Based Approach

The purpose of the article was to analyze the problems currently standing in the way of more effective application of the risk-based approach methodology in the field of technogenic safety management. Methods — theoretical, inductive method, analysis of own experience, adopted normative legal acts, other publications. The main results of the work include the following: • despite the broadest use of the concept of “risk” in the field of technogenic safety management, there is no generally accepted interpretation of it to date; • often the evaluative concept of “risk” is mistakenly used instead of objectively existing risk factors; • quantifiably technogenic risk should be characterized by indicators of numerical nature, having vector objects, since two components should be indicated for the complete assignment of the indicator: the probability and the amount of damage; • experience shows that the methods of assessing the probabilistic component of risk indicators recommended by regulatory documents on the analysis and quantification of technogenic risk are accompanied by a very large uncertainty, therefore, instead of the traditional point statement, a more adequate method of assessment is the use of an interval approach that takes into account and allows quantifying this uncertainty; • the analysis showed that the so-called frequency approach, which is most often used to assess the probabilistic component of technogenic risk indicators, is used improperly, has no basis, since, as a rule, the phenomenon of statistical stability is not observed in the object area of the technosphere, there are no general aggregates; • in society and even among specialists, by now there is no understanding of the need to express all three components of damage from an accident (explosion/fire) in monetary terms, without which it is impossible to estimate and express the amount of total damage: — in conclusion, four key problems that hinder the more effective use of the risk-based approach methodology in the field of technogenic safety management are listed; — imperfection of the existing methodological base for the analysis and quantitative assessment of technogenic risk; — the problem of staffing in the field of technogenic risk management; — lack of national criteria for acceptable risk; — complete disregard of the problem of uncertainty of the results of the COR, the lack of methodological support for the procedure of analysis and quantification of this uncertainty. Conclusion — the efforts of the entire community of specialists-researchers, legislators, practitioners engaged in various aspects of the problem of technosphere safety management are necessary to solve the tasks specified in the article.

Aedes aegypti abundance, larval indices and risk for dengue virus transmission in Kinondoni district, Tanzania

Background Tanzania has experienced periodic dengue outbreaks with increased incidence since 2010. However, there is limited information on vector dynamics and transmission risk in most parts of the country. This study was conducted to determine Aedes mosquito abundance, larval indices and dengue virus infection rate as risk indicators for DENV transmission in Kinondoni district, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in three wards of Kinondoni district in Tanzania between December 2019 and January 2020. In each ward, three streets were randomly selected for adult and immature mosquito sampling. The adult mosquitoes were collected using Mosquito Magnet traps, while mosquito larvae and pupae were inspected in water-holding containers in the selected household compounds. The detection of dengue virus (DENV) in female Aedes mosquitoes was done using a one-step reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) method. Results Of the 1416 adult female mosquitoes collected, Ae. aegypti accounted for 16.8% (n = 238). A total of 333 water-holding containers were inspected and 201 (60.4%) had at least an Aedes larvae or pupae. Water-holding containers supporting the breeding of Aedes larvae and pupae included discarded car tires, flowerpots and small and large plastic containers. The overall House Index, Container Index and Breteau Index were 55.1%, 60.4% and 114.2, respectively. None of the 763 female Aedes mosquitoes tested by RT–PCR was found to be infected with DENV. Conclusion The presence and abundance Ae. aegypti mosquitoes and the large proportion of water-holding containers infested with the mosquito larvae and pupae put residents of Kinondoni district at high risk of DENV transmission. Our findings emphasize the need for continuous mosquito vector surveillance and control to prevent the possibility of future DENV outbreaks in Tanzania.

Riesgo de diabetes mellitus tipo 2 y sus determinantes

Objective: Describe the relationship between social determinants of health and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Mexican population.Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive correlational study of a sample of 256 individuals from a rural community in Sinaloa, Mexico. Data collection was carried out from October 2020 to February 2021. A snowball non-probability sampling method was used. The Instruments used were the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), short version, the IPAQ-A for adults, the IPAQ-C for children, and a sociodemographic, anthropometric, and clinical data sheet.Results: The most frequent risk indicators for T2DM for adults are hypertension (81.7%) and overweight/obesity (68.6%); in children, it was overweight/obesity (34.9%). The risk of T2DM increased according to age (r = .560, p < .01) but decreased as education level increased (r = −.127, p < .05)Conclusions: The approach to T2DM risk factors from the perspective of social determinants of health allows strategic healthcare planning that considers the contextual factors associated with a lifestyle that reinforces the actions of healthcare providers. Objetivo: Describir la relación de los determinantes sociales de salud con el riesgo de DMT2 en población mexicana.Métodos: Estudio descriptivo correlacional transversal, con una muestra de 256 individuos de una comunidad rural de Sinaloa, México. La recolección de datos se realizó durante octubre de 2020 y febrero de 2021. El muestreo fue no probabilístico por bola de nieve. Los instrumentos utilizados fueron el cuestionario internacional de actividad física (IPAQ) versión corta, IPAQ-A, IPAQ-C y una hoja de registro datos sociodemográficos, antropométricos y clínicos.Resultados: Los indicadores de riesgo de DMT2 con mayor frecuencia para adultos fue padecer hipertensión arterial (81.7%) y SP/OB (68.6%) y para menores de edad fue tener SP/OB (34.9%). Resultó que el riesgo de DMT2 se acrecentaba según lo hacía la edad (r = .560, p < .01) pero disminuía al aumentar la escolaridad de las personas (r = -.127, p < .05).Conclusiones: El abordaje de factores de riesgo de DMT2 bajo la perspectiva de los DSS brinda la oportunidad de plantear estrategias de salud que contemplen factores contextuales simultáneos al estilo de vida que refuercen las acciones del personal de salud para contribuir a la reducción de los índices de morbimortalidad causados por la DMT2.

Work environment risk indicators for pharmacists in the preparation of extemporaneous medicines

The pharmaceutical sector is one of the leading sectors of the Latvian economy, but the extemporary prepared medicines still occupy a small market share. The study involved 44 pharmacists and pharmacist assistants preparing extemporal medicines, while the control group included pharmacists and pharmacist assistants who only attend customers in pharmacies. The aim of this study was to identify work environment risk indicators for pharmacists preparing extemporal medicines in open-type pharmacies. In the research, we used methods of observation and survey to identify the views of pharmacists and pharmacist assistants preparing medicines in open-type pharmacies. The study concluded that pharmacists and pharmacist assistants who prepare medicinal products in open type pharmacies are exposed to a wide range of work environment risks, especially to the chemical risks. During our investigation, we identified the main work environment risk indicators: occupational accidents, workload, lack of information, exposure to chemicals, length of service, work environment quality, and use of personal protective equipment.

Lipid profile of Wistar rats fed normolipid diets with different fatty acid profiles / Perfil lipídico de ratos Wistar submetidos a dietas normolipídicas com diferentes perfis de ácidos graxos

The development of cardiovascular diseases is characterized by changes in the blood lipid profile, among other factors, which are closely related to the population's eating habits. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the effects of diets with different lipid sources on the lipid profile of Wistar rats. Forty male and adult rats were used, divided into 5 groups (control - 7% soybean oil, CA - 7% canola oil, CO - 7% coconut oil, SO - 7% sunflower oil and LD - 7% lard) and fed normolipidic diets for 30 days. The variables food consumption, weight gain, weight of organs and adipose tissues, blood glucose, lipid profile and cardiovascular risk indicators in the experimental groups were evaluated in the study. The results showed strong compatibility between the CA and control groups, which did not differ in all variables, however, divergences were identified for the other groups. The LD group consumed 11% more than the control group and together with the CO group, gained the least weight. For the variables weight of organs and adipose tissues, glycemia and cardiovascular risk indicators, no significant differences were observed. Among the lipid profile parameters, the levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol and HDL of animals that consumed sunflower oil and lard were significantly reduced compared to those of animals that consumed soybean oil. For the LDL fraction, all groups were similar to the control group, except for the LD group, which had a 58% lower content. The effects observed in the CO, SO and LD groups seem to result from a deficiency of essential fatty acids, since the respective sources do not meet the requirements of these nutrients.