Status of Methane Emission from Indian Wetlands (Saline vs. Freshwater): A Mini Review

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences - Wetlands are amongst the most important natural ecosystems on earth. India is blessed to have several...     

UN High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases: addressing four questions

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), principally heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases, are a global crisis and require a global response. Despite the threat to human development, and the availability of affordable, cost-effective, and feasible interventions, most countries, development agencies, and foundations neglect the crisis. The UN High-Level Meeting (UN HLM) on NCDs in September, 2011, is an opportunity to stimulate a coordinated global response to NCDs that is commensurate with their health and economic burdens. To achieve the promise of the UN HLM, several questions must be addressed. In this report, we present the realities of the situation by answering four questions: is there really a global crisis of NCDs; how is NCD a development issue; are affordable and cost-effective interventions available; and do we really need high-level leadership and accountability? Action against NCDs will support other global health and development priorities. A successful outcome of the UN HLM depends on the heads of states and governments attending the meeting, and endorsing and implementing the commitments to action. Long-term success requires inspired and committed national and international leadership.     

Communicating the noncommunicable

Since 2008, the World Economic Forum has identified noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) as a leading threat to the global economy both in terms of their cost and likelihood of happening. The Global Agenda Council on NCDs, a think tank of leaders in the field, was created by the World Economic Forum to raise awareness on the issue and support action leading up to the United Nations High Level Meeting on NCDs. The current special issue is the outcome of Council discussions as well as individual work of lead authors to highlight the burden of risk factors for NCDs, identify costs and solutions, and call for joint action and coordination across sectors. The special issue comprises two parts: "Risk Factors and Impact," and "Communicating and Acting on Solutions."     

Smoking and inflammatory bowel disease: trends in familial and sporadic cohorts

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) result from genetic and environmental factors. Never smoking and formerly smoking increase the risk of UC, whereas smoking exacerbates the course of CD. We sought to define the age-dependent effects of smoking on the development of UC and CD in familial and sporadic cohorts. METHODS: University of Chicago patients diagnosed with UC or CD between 1990 and 2002 were surveyed about their tobacco use relative to their diagnosis. Smoking trends were used to estimate age-dependent odds ratios and the attributable risks of smoking in the IBD cohort compared to in the general population. RESULTS: One thousands and thirteen patients were included in the study: 245 with sporadic UC; 216 with sporadic CD; 249 with familial UC; and 303 with familial CD. Being an ex-smoker conferred an increased risk for UC in the 25-44 age group in both the sporadic and familial cohorts, but not in the 45-64 age group in the familial UC cohort. Furthermore, there was no difference in tobacco use between patients with sporadic CD and the general population, although there was a significant increase in smoking in younger patients with familial CD. CONCLUSIONS: Ex-smokers make up an increasing percentage of older patients diagnosed with UC, accounting for more than 35% of the attributable risk of late onset (>45 years) UC and a large component of the second peak in diagnosis. Current smokers account for a large percentage of patients diagnosed at a younger age with familial CD but not with sporadic CD. Families with IBD should be counseled that early tobacco use significantly increases the risk of developing CD or, if an ex-smoker, UC at a young age.