The influence of environmental and health indicators on premature mortality: An empirical analysis of the City of Toronto's 140 neighborhoods

The objective of this paper was to assess the link between premature mortality and a combination of neighbourhood contextual (environmental and health) and compositional (socioeconomic and demographic) characteristics. We statistically and spatially examined six environmental variables (ultrafine particles, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic pollutants, pollution released to air, tree cover, and walkability index), six health service indicators (number health providers, breast, colorectal and cervical cancer screening uptake rates, student nutrition program uptake rates, and healthy food index), and eight socioeconomic indicators (total income, Gini coefficient, two age categories – below and above 40 years, proportion of females to males, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, education, less than grade 9) among 140 neighbourhoods of the City of Toronto in Ontario (Canada). We applied principal component analysis to identify patterns and to reduce the number of explanatory variables into combined component axes that represent unique variation in these confounded and overlapping factors. We then applied regression analysis to model the relationship between the indices of enviro-health and socioeconomics and their potential relationship with premature mortality. Residual spatial analysis was used to investigate any remaining spatial structure (such as neighbourhoods with higher residual premature mortality rates). Neighbourhood Equity Index was correlated with our enviro-health and socioeconomic indices. Premature mortality within neighbourhoods was predicted by poor cancer screenings, pollution, lack of tree canopy, increased uptake of student nutrition programs and high walkability index. A negative association between premature mortality and pollution was associated low walkability index and presence of visible minorities within neighbourhoods. There was some unexplained residual spatial variation in our model of premature mortality - especially along the shores of Lake Ontario and in neighbourhoods with major highways or road corridors: premature mortality in Toronto neighbourhoods was higher than expected along highway-corridor neighbourhoods and shorelines. Our analysis revealed a significant relationship between neighbourhood contextual features – both environmental and health – and premature mortality, suggesting that these contextual components of neighbourhoods can predict rates of urban premature mortality in Toronto.     

健康支持性环境对四川农村人群的不同血压水平的影响分析

目的 探讨健康支持性环境中的不同特征变量对四川省农村人群的不同血压水平的影响。方法 采用多阶段整群抽样的方法，随机抽取四川省7个县（区）8400名的18岁以上常住居民为调查对象。问卷调查一般人口学特征、身体活动行为特征和环境等信息。采用标准方法测量身高、体重、腰围和血压。采用无序多分类logistic回归分析。结果 本调查人群中共检出正常高值血压者4270例，检出率为50.83%，标化率为37.02%，平均年龄（56.22±14.89）岁；高血压患者1498例，检出率为17.83%，标化率为7.92%，平均年龄（65.26±11.28）岁。无序多分类logistic回归结果显示，住宿环境好、获得运动方面的健康信息和参与中等强度活动150Symbol~A@300min/周是正常高值血压和高血压人群的共同保护因素；住宿便利（OR=0.789, 95%CI:0.649~0.958, P=0.017）、医疗服务可及性便利（OR=0.686, 95%CI:0.509~0.924, P=0.013）、对健身步道和健身广场满意为高血压人群的保护因素。结论 多途径合理构建健康支持性环境，对农村正常高值血压者和高血压患者具有保护作用，对遏制农村高血压的流行现状起到一定作用。     

高中一年级学生抑郁情绪及相关因素的研究

目的调查高中一年级学生的抑郁情绪及与其个性、心理健康水平、应对能力和家庭环境的关系。方法采用整群抽样方法和问卷式调查,共调查高一学生488名,资料填写完整者449人(92.01%)。结果449名高一学生SDS平均得分(标准分)为(47.27±10.86),抑郁情绪的发生率为37.86%,不同性别和文理科之间差异无统计学意义。抑郁情绪组性格内向、情绪稳定性差和精神质表现较为突出,其SCL-90的9个因子评分均高于对照组,个人积极应对能力和解决问题的能力差,消极应对和自责表现突出,家庭的亲密度、情感表达、娱乐性和组织性均较对照组差,矛盾性较对照组突出。结论抑郁情绪已是高一学生中较为常见而且需要关注的心理卫生问题,严重影响其心身健康发展,抑郁情绪与个性、心理健康评分、个人应对方式和家庭环境均具有显著关系。     

Influence of mattress characteristics on house dust mite allergen concentration

BACKGROUND: Exposure to a high level of house dust mite allergens (HDMAs) is considered as a risk factor for HDM sensitization and development of asthma in genetically disposed people. Mattresses are one of the most important sources of HDMA in people's living environment. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between mattress characteristics and HDMA concentrations on mattresses. METHODS: Dust samples of mattress surfaces were taken to evaluate the level of Der p 1 allergen. All participants filled in a questionnaire about the type of mattress, the type of covering (upper layer) of the mattress, dwelling characteristics and cleaning habits. Humidity and temperature of the bedroom were measured at the time of dust sampling. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-eight questionnaires were filled in. Synthetic upper layer of the mattress was associated with a higher level of Der p 1 compared with cotton upper layer (2.6 vs. 0.8 microg/g Der p 1). Moreover, higher relative humidity (RH) was associated with significant higher concentrations and density of Der p 1. CONCLUSIONS: Two factors were associated with lower levels of Der p 1 found on mattresses, namely: a cotton upper layer of the mattress compared with a layer of synthetic material and lower RH at the time of sampling. As far as we know, the association between type of upper layer and concentration of Der p 1 has not been described before and could lead to the formulation of practical advices in order to reduce HDMA concentrations on mattresses.     

自制稀土永磁夹板对骨折愈合作用的观察

目的观察稀土永磁夹板对家兔骨折愈合质量及骨形态发生蛋白（BMP-2）、血管内皮细胞生长因子（VEGF）表达情况的影响,从分子生物学水平探讨磁场促进骨折愈合的作用机制。方法健康成年家兔50只,建立双前肢桡骨中段骨折模型。左侧用稀土永磁夹板固定,作为实验侧;右侧用内镶铅片小夹板固定,作为对照侧。分别于术后1、2、3、4、6周摄双前肢X线片后取材,进行HE及BMP-2、VEGF免疫组化染色并在光镜下观察。结果X线片图像定量分析结果比较,实验侧愈合明显快于对照侧。两侧差异有显著性（P〈0.05）。实验侧在1、2、3、4周VEGF的表达均比对照侧强,两侧差异有显著性（P〈0.05）。实验侧在2、3、4周BMP-2的表达均比对照侧强,两侧差异有显著性（P〈0.01）。结论静磁场在骨折愈合过程中可加强BMP-2、VEGF的表达。自制稀土永磁夹板对实验性骨折愈合有明显的促进作用。