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Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Population health and prevention, including health promotion, disease prevention, environmental health hazards, occupational safety, health policy, and global health initiatives

20 papers

Papers

Potential pediatric tuberculosis incidence and deaths resulting from interruption in programmes supported by international health aid, 2025-2034: a mathematical modelling study.

This mathematical modeling study, presented as a hypothetical analysis from mid-2025, projects that sharp cuts in international health aid from the United States and other donors to TB and HIV programs could lead to millions of additional pediatric tuberculosis cases and deaths between 2025 and 2034. The most severe scenario predicts an additional 8.9 million pediatric TB cases and 1.5 million deaths, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia, underscoring the critical importance of sustained funding.

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Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Oct 22, 03:06 PM

Indigenous Territories can safeguard human health depending on the landscape structure and legal status

This study examined the complex relationship between Indigenous Territories (ITs) and human health in the Amazon, finding that ITs can have both positive and negative effects depending on factors like forest cover outside IT boundaries and fragmentation. While ITs can mitigate the impacts of particulate matter from fires and reduce fire-related diseases in high forest cover areas, they may also increase vector-borne/zoonotic disease incidence depending on fragmentation levels and overall forest cover.

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Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Sep 12, 12:58 PM

The Introduction of Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis and Oral Polio Vaccine Among Young Infants in an Urban African Community: A Natural Experiment

This natural experiment in Guinea-Bissau found a concerning association between DTP vaccination and increased infant mortality among 3-5-month-old children. While co-administration of OPV appeared to lessen the negative effect, DTP-only vaccination was associated with a substantially higher mortality risk.

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Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Sep 10, 02:29 PM

The Experience of Long COVID Among American Indian Individuals in Three Great Plains Communities

An online survey of American Indian individuals in three Great Plains communities found that long COVID is a significant concern, with a majority of respondents reporting ongoing symptoms months after infection. These symptoms clustered into breathing/muscle/sleep problems, concentration/mood problems, and altered smell/dizziness, with varying sociodemographic associations. The study highlights the substantial ongoing impact of long COVID on these communities.

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Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Sep 07, 08:04 PM

An Evidence-Based Approach to Covid-19 Vaccination

This perspective article argues for a more data-driven approach to recommending COVID-19 boosters, especially for healthy adults. The FDA proposes to continue approvals based on immune response data for high-risk groups but will require randomized controlled trials demonstrating clinical benefit for low-risk individuals before granting full approval. This policy relies heavily on trials run by vaccine manufacturers as part of their post-marketing commitment.

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Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Sep 01, 07:34 PM

Global Estimates of Lives and Life-Years Saved by COVID-19 Vaccination During 2020-2024

This study estimates that over 2.5 million deaths and 14.8 million life-years were saved globally due to COVID-19 vaccination between December 2020 and October 2024. The majority of the benefits (around 90% of lives saved and 76% of life-years saved) were among people aged 60 or older, and children and young adults had minimal contributions. It is important to note that these results rely on several assumptions about key parameters with inherent uncertainties, and sensitivity analyses suggest a wide range of possible values for the lives and life-years saved.

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Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Aug 22, 06:04 PM

Neighborhood Threat of Eviction over Time and Risk of Preterm Birth in Black American Women

In a study of Black women, living in a neighborhood with an increasing threat of eviction during pregnancy (compared to before pregnancy) was associated with a 68% increased risk of having a preterm birth. The study controlled for individual and neighborhood socioeconomic factors but relied on participant-reported addresses and lacked data on individual experiences with eviction or other relevant social factors, which could confound the relationship.

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Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Aug 21, 06:23 PM

Effect of HEPA Filtration Air Purifiers on Blood Pressure: A Pragmatic Randomized Crossover Trial

This study found that using HEPA air purifiers can significantly reduce systolic blood pressure in people living near highways who already have elevated blood pressure. The study was limited to fall, winter, and spring months and participants were primarily of higher socioeconomic status and White. No significant changes were seen in those with normal blood pressure or in diastolic blood pressure.

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Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Aug 15, 07:21 AM

Long-Term Leisure-Time Physical Activity Intensity and All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality: A Prospective Cohort of US Adults

This large study found that reaching a specific amount of vigorous or moderate weekly physical activity provides the most benefit for a longer life, and going beyond that doesn't provide further reductions in mortality risk. The study relied on self-reported physical activity data, which has limitations, but the authors tried to address these by using repeated measurements over 30 years and excluding early deaths to reduce bias. For cause-specific mortality (CVD versus non-CVD), the relationship with physical activity had a similar pattern.

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Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Aug 14, 03:06 PM

Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field Emissions and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Infants: A Prospective Cohort Study

This study suggests that high levels of radiation in the house may be associated with some developmental delays in babies, particularly in cognitive and social areas. Low birth weight was also linked with poorer motor development. However, it's essential to note that this research used parent-reported questionnaires and may not have captured all influencing factors, so more research is definitely needed.

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Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Aug 12, 11:34 AM

P-2352. Post-pandemic SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and infection status and risk of influenza-like illnesses and work absenteeism in healthcare workers a prospective cohort study

In a study of healthcare workers, increasing the number of COVID-19 vaccinations did not lead to fewer influenza-like illnesses (ILI) or days off work. Smoking and male sex were linked to more ILI, while the seasonal flu vaccine was linked to a lower risk.

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Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Aug 11, 10:40 AM

Association of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status with risk of influenza-like illness and loss of workdays in healthcare workers

This study of healthcare workers in Switzerland found a temporary increase in the risk of flu-like illness after a COVID booster shot, but the observed association may be due to unmeasured confounders or biases inherent in observational studies. The seasonal influenza vaccine, in contrast, was associated with a lower risk of these illnesses. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and understand the underlying biological mechanisms.

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Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Aug 10, 07:37 PM

COVID-19 Excess Deaths in Peru's 25 States in 2020: Nationwide Trends, Confounding Factors, and Correlations With the Extent of Ivermectin Treatment by State

This ecological study found a correlation between ivermectin use and decreased excess deaths in Peru during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. However, confounding factors like differing public health measures, population demographics, and the timing of interventions across regions could not be fully controlled. Therefore, the study's results do not confirm a causal relationship between ivermectin and reduced mortality.

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Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Aug 09, 12:08 PM

Mortality Attributable to Low Levels of Education in the United States

Based on U.S. mortality data from 1986-2006, an estimated 145,243 deaths in 2010 alone could be attributed to adults not having a high school degree. Much of the link between education and mortality appears causal, with the impact greatest for cardiovascular disease, and a growing gap between the least and most educated over time. Hundreds of thousands of fewer deaths would occur annually if everyone had at least a Bachelor's degree.

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Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Aug 08, 03:28 PM

Blue care: a systematic review of blue space interventions for health and wellbeing

This systematic review of blue space interventions (BSIs) found evidence suggesting potential benefits for mental health and psychosocial wellbeing, particularly in the short term. However, the studies were methodologically limited by small sample sizes, heterogeneous interventions, and short-term follow-up, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about the effectiveness of BSIs.

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Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Jul 19, 02:14 PM

Single-cell analysis of human ovarian cortex identifies distinct cell populations but no oogonial stem cells

This single-cell analysis of the human ovarian cortex identified six major cell populations: oocytes, granulosa cells, immune cells, endothelial cells, perivascular cells, and stromal cells. The study found no evidence of oogonial stem cells and suggests that previously identified "OSCs" are likely perivascular cells misidentified due to antibody cross-reactivity.

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Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Jul 14, 06:48 AM

Key to the females of Afrotropical Anopheles mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae)

This paper presents an updated pictorial key for identifying adult female Anopheles mosquitoes in the Afrotropical region. It revises a 1987 version to include newly described species, particularly highlighting the addition of Anopheles stephensi, a malaria vector recently detected in Africa. While primarily morphological, the key acknowledges the need for complementary methods in identifying species complexes.

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Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Jul 14, 06:48 AM