• Title/Summary/Keyword: World health

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An Approach to Detect Health Risk of Dioxins

  • Pavittranon, Sumol;Sinhaseni, Palarp
    • Toxicological Research
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    • v.17
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    • pp.323-327
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    • 2001
  • March 19, 1999, the renovation qf the runway of the Bo-Fai ai1field in Hua Hin, Prachubk-erikhan, Thailand, unearthed chemicals which were left over from the project "anch Hand Operation" held during the Vietnam war era. The chemical mixtures were analyzed by the US EPA, the Department oj Medical Sciences (DMSc), Ministry oj Public Health (MoPH) and the Pollution Control Department (PCD), the Ministry oj Science Technology and Environment (MOSTE) of Thailand, The samples were found to contain several defoliants used in the operation. They were 2,4-D, 2,4,5-T, Dicamba, Cocydelic acid, and Dioxins. Due to the complexity of the issue, the multiplicity of possible health effects, and the socio-economic implications for imports and exports, the Thai Society of Toxicology submitted a proposal to request World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva. The assistance is for the area of chemical safety and called for immediate action to explore the magnitude qf risk involved with Dioxins. In this paper we present our approach to health risk assessment which takes into an account the epidemiological studies of high-risk group exposed to the Ranch Hand operation. Dioxins are endocrine disruption chemicals which public concerns are developed due to presumption that a hazard exists (www.eva.gov/dioxins/html) for which current methodologies are deemed insufficient. The recent concepts of how oxidative stress toxicants may affect health end points and biomarkers of exposure of exposed individuals are discussed. While research activities are undergoing, The Thai Society of Toxicology do not anticipate significant risk to local residents and the environment due to our concurrence with opinion from the international experts invited by the World Health Organization proposed to the local experts at a workshop in Bangkok.n Bangkok.

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The Colorectal Cancer Mortality-to-Incidence Ratio as a Potential Cancer Surveillance Measure in Asia

  • Sunkara, Vasu;Hebert, James R
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.17 no.9
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    • pp.4323-4326
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    • 2016
  • Background: The cancer mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) has been established as an important measure of health disparities in local and global circumstances. Past work has corroborated a linkage between the colorectal cancer MIR and the World Health Organization (WHO) Health System ranking. The literature further documents many Asian countries having incomplete cancer registries and a lack of comprehensive colorectal cancer screening guidelines. Materials and Methods: The colorectal cancer MIR values for 23 Asian countries were calculated from data obtained from the 2012 GLOBOCAN database. The 2000 World Health Organization (WHO) Health System rankings were used as a proxy for health system infrastructure and responsiveness. A regression equation was calculated with the MIR as the dependent variable and the WHO Health System ranking as the independent variable. Predicted MIR values were next calculated based on the regression results. Actual MIR values that exceeded 0.20 from the predicted MIR were removed as 'divergent' points. The regression equation was then re-plotted. Goodness-of-fit for both regressions was assessed by the R-squared test. Results: Asian countries have a relatively wide colorectal cancer MIR range, from a minimum of 0.24 to a maximum of 0.86. For the full dataset, the adjusted R-squared value for this regression was 0.53. The equation was then used to calculate a predicted MIR, whereby two data points were identified as 'divergent' and removed. The adjusted R-squared for the edited dataset increased to 0.66. Conclusions: Asian countries have a marked range in their colorectal cancer MIR values and there is a strong correlationwith the WHO Health System ranking. These results corroborate the contribution of the MIR as a potentially robust tool in monitoring changes in colorectal cancer care for Asian nations.

The Relationship Between Obesity, Overweight, and the Human Development Index in World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region Countries

  • Ataey, Amin;Jafarvand, Elnaz;Adham, Davoud;Moradi-Asl, Eslam
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.53 no.2
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    • pp.98-105
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    • 2020
  • Objectives: Obesity is regarded as one of the most prominent health threats worldwide and a serious risk factor for non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes mellitus type 2, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, and some types of cancer. Given the role that societal development-as reflected by the Human Development Index (HDI)-may play in the prevalence of obesity and overweight, this study aimed to investigate the degree to which the prevalence of obesity and overweight is affected by HDI and its components. Methods: In this ecological study, the required data on HDI and its components were gathered from the latest report of the United Nations Development Program, and data on obesity and overweight were acquired from the latest reports published on the World Health Organization website. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS version 24.0. Results: The prevalence of obesity was determined to be significantly higher among females than males, and the gross national index per capita was found to be significantly higher for males than females (p<0.05). Significant positive correlations were found between HDI and its components and sex, as well as indices of obesity and overweight. Conclusions: A significant positive correlation exists between HDI and obesity. As policy-makers attempt to improve the general welfare of the people, they should be aware of potential unwanted effects of development on the risk of obesity and overweight among the population.

'Healthy Japan 21' : A New Perspective on Health Promotion Policy for Japan in the 21st Century

  • Hasegawa, Toshihiko
    • Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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    • v.22 no.3
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    • pp.135-155
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    • 2005
  • 'Healthy Japan 21' is a new health policy that has been proposed for the 21st century: it embodies a totally new concept for its viewpoints and methods. To start with, for its goal, the focus is placed on the 'quality of life' or a life that is free of diseases, rather than mere prolongation of life. For its doctrine, the emphasis has shifted dramatically from improving the health of the entire population(the traditional approach for health improvement) to 'achieving an ideal health status for each individual. The ultimate aged society that arrives first in Japan is a society in its ultimate form for human being. Why did Japan become westernized, giving up her traditional culture? Why did she go through industrialization, sacrificing her nature? And why does she try so hard to industrialize the developing countries? These efforts are all preparation for the arrival of a ultimate aged society. During the 20th century, we believed in unlimited possibilities and expanded our social frontier. In the 21st century, on the other hand, a super-aged society(the ultimate society), a glimpse of which we have witnessed from time to time, will descend on us sooner or later. It is expected to arrive first in Japan. 'Healthy Japan 21' is intended to prepare for the arrival of the hitherto unheard of super-aged society by building the physiological basis of people. This policy is social experimentation on an immense social scale, in which questions are posed on the understanding of health, the relationship between individuals and society, the relationship between administration and citizens, the manner by which central and local governments operate, and the new relationship between prevention and therapy, 'Healthy Japan 21' may be summarized as an experiment on a huge scale directed to the ultimate form of human society, in which Japan and each of her citizens play a role and set an example for the rest of the world. Even just by considering various approaches newly suggested for this venture, one may be convinced that it is a policy with features suitable for a country that has already achieved the world's highest longevity.

International Health Cooperation and Challenges for Official Development Assistance (보건의료의 공적개발원조 방향과 과제)

  • Nam, Eun Woo
    • Health Policy and Management
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    • v.28 no.3
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    • pp.320-326
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    • 2018
  • As the United Nations announced Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, the world changed its development goals from focusing on efficiency to equity. As a result, in the health sector, universal health coverage (UHC) has become one of the main issues. This paper reviews and discusses on future direction and issue of official development assistance program for developing countries. Korea International Cooperation Agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs published on Korea International Cooperation Agency's mid-term health strategy 2016-2020 developed on participation program with stakeholder including governments, civil society partner organizations, and educational institutions. The SDGs expands non-communicable diseases, UHC, and global health security from the existing Millenium Development Goals health sector. Progress toward UHC underpins the achievement of all other targets under SDG Goal 3. Progress in reducing health inequality across the life course is drawing on overall data and from specific target. In order to achieve SDG 3, a multi-disciplinary approach, convergence between IT and u-health of this development, is desirable.

Preventing Shift Work Disorder in Shift Health-care Workers

  • d'Ettorre, Gabriele;Pellicani, Vincenza
    • Safety and Health at Work
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    • v.11 no.2
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    • pp.244-247
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    • 2020
  • The occurrence of the shift work disorder (SWD) in health-care workers (HCWs) employed in 24/7 hospital wards is a major concern through the world. In accordance with literature, SWD is the most frequent work-related disturb in HCWs working on shift schedules including night shift. In agreement with the Luxembourg Declaration on workplace health promotion (WHP) in the European Union, a WHP program has been developed in a large Hospital, involving both individual-oriented and organizational-oriented measures, with the aim to prevent the occurrence of SWD in nurses working on shifts including night shift. The objective assessment of rotating shift work risk and the excessive sleepiness were detected before and after the implementation of the WHP program, by using the Rotating Shiftwork-questionnaire and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. The findings of this study showed the effectiveness of the implemented WHP program in minimizing the impact of shift work on workers' health and in preventing the misalignment between sleep-wake rhythm and shift working.

Kinematic Analyses of Women's Pole Vault in IAAF World Championships, Daegu 2011 (2011 대구 세계육상선수권대회 여자 장대높이뛰기경기 기술의 운동학적 분석)

  • Choi, Kyoo-Jeong;Yi, Kyung-Ok;Kim, Nam-Hee;Kang, Ji-Eun;Kim, Hye-Lim
    • Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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    • v.21 no.5
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    • pp.561-571
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    • 2011
  • The purpose of this study was to perform the kinematic analyses of the women's pole vault skills in IAAF World Championships Daegu 2011. Subjects were the 1st through 8th place finishers in the pole vault. The kinematic analyses were divided into four phases: two dimensional run up analysis, and three dimensional analyses for the remaining plant, swing up, and extension phases. Run-up variables consisted of run up distance, number of steps, average step length, ratio of step length to height, average velocity at the final 5~10 m, approach position. Three variables were analyzed during plant: pole angle, center of gravity (COG) velocity, and COG takeoff angle. Swing up phase variables included: pole flection angle, COG velocity (horizontal, vertical, resultant), COG trajectory and bar approach angle of COG. Compared to the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, the average vault height increased, while run up velocity and approach position were almost unchanged. However, horizontal velocity during the last two steps of the final approach decreased noticeably compared to speeds from 1990. These results reflect the change in both technique and physical fitness in pole vaulters. During extension, the peak height of COG surpassed the clearance height by an average of 0.11m. These specific results can help coaches and athletes modify training and improve performance.

Kinematic Analyses of Men's Pole Vault in IAAF World Championships, Daegu 2011 (2011 대구 세계육상선수권대회 남자 장대높이뛰기경기 기술의 운동학적 분석)

  • Choi, Kyoo-Jeong;Yi, Kyung-Ok;Kim, Nam-Hee;Kang, Ji-Eun;Kim, Hye-Lim
    • Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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    • v.21 no.5
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    • pp.551-560
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    • 2011
  • The purpose of this study was to perform the kinematic analyses of the men's pole vault skills in IAAF World Championships Daegu 2011. Subjects were the 1st through 8th place finishers in the pole vault. The kinematic analyses were divided into four phases: two dimensional run up analysis, and three dimensional analyses for the remaining plant, swing up, and extension phases. Run-up variables consisted of run up distance, number of steps, average step length, the ratio of step length to his height, average velocity at the final 6~11 m, approach position. Three variables were analyzed during plant: pole angle, center of gravity (COG) velocity, and takeoff angle of COG. Swing up phase variables included: pole flexion angle, COG velocity (horizontal, vertical, resultant), COG trajectory and bar approach angle of COG. Compared to the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, the average vault height, run up velocity and approach position increased. However, horizontal velocity during the last two steps of the final approach decreased dramatically compared to speeds from 1990. These results reflect the change in both technique and improved physical fitness in pole vaulters. During extension, the peak height of COG averaged 0.3m higher then COG height when the pole was released. These specific results can help coaches and athletes modify training and improve performance.

Comparative Analyses on Kinematic Variables of Women's Pole Vault Competition at IAAF World Championships Daegu 2011 (2011 대구 세계육상선수권대회 여자 장대높이뛰기 경기 참가선수 경기기술의 운동학적 요인 비교분석)

  • Choi, Kyoo-Jeong;Yi, Kyung-Ok;Kim, Nam-Hee;Kang, Ji-Eun;Kim, Hye-Lim;Moon, Je-Heon;Jung, Bum-Chul
    • Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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    • v.23 no.3
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    • pp.189-200
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    • 2013
  • The purpose of this study was to compare the kinematic analyses of the women's pole vault skills difference between skilled group (1st to 8th place) and less skilled group (10th to 15th place) who participated in IAAF World Championships Daegu 2011. To achieve this goal, 16 women's pole vault player's kinematic analyses was conducted. Player's best performance was recorded by five normal video cameras operating at 60 Hz. The results of this study through the research procedures above are as follows. First, Skilled group's average step length and the ratio of step length to her height were longer than less skilled's group in run-up phase. Second, Skilled group's horizontal velocity was faster than less Skilled group's results. And pole plant angle was lower than less Skilled group's results in take-off phase. Third, Maximum pole flexion angle did not show difference of between two groups in pole bending phase. However, Skilled group's vertical velocity was higher than less skilled group's results.