Environmental health and preventive medicine
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Environ Health Prev Med · May 2012
Tubulointerstitial damage as the major pathological lesion in endemic chronic kidney disease among farmers in North Central Province of Sri Lanka.
Chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu) in North Central Province of Sri Lanka has become a key public health concern in the agricultural sector due to the dramatic rise in its prevalence and mortality among young farmers. Although cadmium has been suspected as a causative pathogen, there have been controversies. To date, the pathological characteristics of the disease have not been reported. ⋯ Although hypertension was identified as one of the common clinical features among the cases, it did not influence the histopathological lesions in all the cases. This study concludes that tubulointerstitial damage is the major pathological lesion in CKDu. Exposure(s) to an environmental pathogen(s) should be systematically investigated to elucidate such tubulointerstitial damage in CKDu.
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Environ Health Prev Med · Jul 2011
Regional disparities in child mortality within China 1996-2004: epidemiological profile and health care coverage.
China was one of the 68 "countdown" countries prioritized to attain Millennium Development Goals (MDG 4). The aim of this study was to analyze data on child survival and health care coverage of proven cost-effective interventions in China, with a focus on national disparities. ⋯ China is on track to meet MDG 4; however, great disparities in health care do exist within the country. It is therefore necessary to specifically target rural areas II-IV. Many causes of child mortality can be prevented or averted through the provision of basic health care. However, the leading predisposing factor contributing to child mortality in China is the insufficient coverage and poor quality of maternal and child health care services. Based on these data, we recommend that the government put more effort to ensure the health of the Chinese people, particularly in terms of providing the most vulnerable populations, i.e., children from the poorest areas and households, with access to good quality essential health care services.
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Environ Health Prev Med · Mar 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyEffectiveness of intervention for low back pain in female caregivers in nursing homes: a pilot trial based on multicenter randomization.
Although the importance of stretching exercise for pain-relieving and patient education is well documented for chronic lumbago patients, it is uncertain how effective on-the-job training (OJT) is for female caregivers in nursing homes. In the present pilot trial based on multicenter randomization, we evaluated the intervention effect of a lecture and stretching exercise on caregivers in nursing homes. ⋯ Even with the conduct of one OJT, and exercises of only 6 min every day, the adherence of caregivers was low, and there appeared to be few effects of the OJT.
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Environ Health Prev Med · Nov 2010
Perception of anesthesia safety and postoperative symptoms of surgery patients in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: a pioneering trial of postoperative care assessment in a developing nation.
Vietnamese patients' views on healthcare are changing as surgical interventions become more commonplace, but their views on perioperative care have remained largely unstudied during this period of rapid change. This study assesses Vietnamese patients' impression of anesthesia safety and postoperative pain in relation to clinical outcomes with the aim of improving patient-centered perioperative care. ⋯ Our results suggest that facilitating patients' communication with staff and families and paying attention to gender differences in pain management are important factors to take into consideration when the aim is to improve perioperative care in the rapidly developing healthcare environment of Vietnam.
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This study aimed to summarize the major health problems among Chinese workers, the strategies and measures for occupational hazards control, the network and organizations of occupational health administration, and the achievements and current challenges of occupational health in China. ⋯ It is necessary to improve the fields related to occupational health, such as the supervision and administration of small- and medium-scale enterprises, research into key techniques for the prevention and control of occupational hazards, systems for the diagnosis and reporting of occupational diseases, and the training of health professionals.