Key Social Determinants to Narrow the Gap between Health-adjusted Life Expectancy and Life Expectancy in Megacities

ObjectiveImprovement in the quality of life is reflected in the narrowing of the gap between health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) and life expectancy (LE). The effect of megacity expansion on narrowing the gap is rarely reported. This study aimed to disclose this potential relationship.MethodsAnnual life tables were constructed from identified death records and population counts from multiple administrative sources in Guangzhou, China, from 2010 to 2020. Joinpoint regression was used to evaluate the temporal trend. Generalized principal component analysis and multilevel models were applied to examine the county-level association between the gap and social determinants.ResultsAlthough LE and HALE in megacities are increasing steadily, their gap is widening. Socio-economic and health services are guaranteed to narrow this gap. Increasing personal wealth, a growing number of newborns and healthy immigrants, high urbanization, and healthy aging have helped in narrowing this gap.ConclusionIn megacities, parallel LE and HALE growth should be highly considered to narrow their gap. Multiple social determinants need to be integrated as a whole to formulate public health plans.     

Hacia el buen gobierno por la salud: incorporación de la diversidad de percepciones en salud urbana

ObjectiveTo analyse the similarities and differences in the discourse surrounding the conceptualisation of health and the perceived health assets and needs in the neighborhoods and city of Bilbao in a participatory process.MethodParticipatory workshops were held with professionals, neighbors and associated citizens. The differences in perceptions of the three content blocks were analysed on the basis of the health model referred, as well as the typologies —of a more individual or structural nature— of identified health needs and assets.ResultsThe conceptualisation of health from a biopsychosocial perspective was clearer among professionals, although both profiles pointed to the importance of its social determinants. The formulation of needs and assets in health by the neighbors was made from the impact on their daily life and from a position of users with respect to a service provider administration. Among the associated citizens and professionals, intermediate and structural determinants were more frequently mentioned, as well as issues related to the administration's scope of action.ConclusionsThe inclusion of the multiplicity and diversity of perceptions in planning is key to good local government for health. To address their contradictions, a commitment by governments to effectively incorporate citizen participation is needed.     

VIROLOGICAL AND SEROLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF RABIES IN BATS FROM AN URBAN AREA IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON

The outbreaks of rabies in humans transmitted by Desmodus rotundus in 2004 and 2005, in the northeast of the Brazilian State of Para, eastern Amazon basin, made this a priority area for studies on this zoonosis. Given this, the present study provides data on this phenomenon in an urban context, in order to assess the possible circulation of the classic rabies virus (RABV) among bat species in Capanema, a town in the Amazon basin. Bats were collected, in 2011, with mist nets during the wet and dry seasons. Samples of brain tissue and blood were collected for virological and serological survey, respectively. None of the 153 brain tissue samples analyzed tested positive for RABV infection, but 50.34% (95% CI: 45.67-55.01%) of the serum samples analyzed were seropositive. Artibeus planirostris was the most common species, with a high percentage of seropositive individuals (52.46%, 95% CI: 52.31 52.60%). Statistically, equal proportions of seropositive results were obtained in the rainy and dry seasons (c² = 0.057, d.f. = 1, p = 0.88). Significantly higher proportions of males (55.96%, 95% CI: 48.96-62.96%) and adults (52.37%, 95% CI: 47.35-57.39%) were seropositive. While none of the brain tissue samples tested positive for infection, the high proportion of seropositive specimens indicates that RABV may be widespread in this urban area.     

Wild Edible Plants and Their Traditional Use in the Human Nutrition in Bosnia-Herzegovina

This article presents first systematical procedure results on traditional usage of wild, edible, vitaminous, and aromatic plants in the nutrition of human population in Bosnia and Herzegovina (W. Balkan peninsula; SE Europe). By method of an ethnobotanical interview, which comprised of over 250 persons, whose average age was 55, and by research on edible wild flora all around Bosnia and Herzegovina that extended over many years, detected were 308 plants belonging to 73 plant families that are being used in nutrition and diet of indigenous population. Edible wild plants are used as delicious vegetables, fruits, peer and spices, in either fresh, raw, or dried condition. Plants are being used for the making of cooked food (33%), fresh salads (19%), mush and bread (17%), or as fresh, wild fruits and drinks (13%) or as spices and ethno-pharmacological potions (10%). The majority of identified, wild edible plants may satisfy the daily human need for elementary nutrition material, particularly those of vitamins C and A, and for some minerals, according to the regulations of World Health Organization (WHO).     

狂犬病蛰伏数年后卷土重来的警示

[目的]警示各级政府务必重视和坚持“预防为主”的方针,采取有力措施,加强对犬类的管理,从根本上控制住“狂犬病”疫情。[方法]广泛地开展防治狂犬病健康教育,提高群众的防范意识和自我保护能力;加强部门协作,对犬只实行“管、免、灭、测”的综合性防疫措施;通过多渠道、多途径全面掌握犬伤人员的伤口处理与疫苗注射情况,对经济困难的犬伤者由政府报销疫苗费等措施保障犬伤人员得到及时处理。[结果]2005年犬伤人员伤口处置与疫苗注射率达99.67%;犬只免疫87320只,免疫率占58.21%;农村捕杀野犬、恶犬22408只、城镇限养区捕杀1189只;随机对3只家犬进行了带毒检测,带毒率达66.67%;2005年1～7月发病数10例,8～12月发病2例。[结论]政府重视,部门协作,措施具体,宣传到位,犬伤人员能及时得到正确处置是控制和降低狂犬病发病的关键。     

福州市区蚊虫孳生习性调查分析

目的:探讨福州城区蚊虫孳生习性与分布现状。方法:调查不同环境孳生地种类与分布,捕捞幼虫计数密度（条/勺）,以人工小时诱捕蚊数计算刺叮率（只/h.m）。结果:调查各类水体 33种 16257处,发现阳性水体32种45522处,阳性率27.8％。建筑工地、高层建筑地下层积水池、开放式排水沟和下水道口等环境积水是城区致倦库蚊的主要孳生环境,建筑工地积水池最高幼虫密度1065～2342条/勺,成蚊刺叮率141.5只/h.m,是普通居民区的16.2倍。白纹伊蚊的孳生环境多达28种,主要为建筑工地和高层建筑地下层水泥池、阳台积水和水缸、桶类、轮胎等容器型积水。结论:城市蚊虫孳生环境与50～60年代明显不同,建筑工地、高层建筑地下层、阳台等建筑类积水和花圃蓄水缸成为现代都市蚊虫重要的孳生环境。     

The spectrum of opportunistic filamentous fungi present in the CBS culture collection

The mould collection of the Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Baarn, The Netherlands, was screened for isolates originating from warm-blooded animals. The range of species indicates that distribution of clinically relevant, pathogenic or opportunistic strains over the fungal kingdom is non-random. Some opportunistic fungi possess adaptations to life under hostile environmental conditions, enabling them to survive inside the human body. Presence of melanin or carotene seems to be an important virulence factor. Opportunistic fungi which sporulate in submersion are able to disseminate or cause severe local mycoses when the aspecific immune system of the host is impaired. Mycoses caused by a few dimorphic fungi, mostly in their natural ecological niche living in association with vertebrates, are promoted by specific immune deficiencies.     

中国城乡空巢老人社会隔离状况及其影响因素分析

目的 分析我国城乡空巢老人社会隔离状况及其影响因素差异。方法 社会隔离可被分为主观社会隔离和客观社会隔离,基于2014年中国老年社会追踪调查（CLASS）数据,纳入4 705名空巢老人,运用二分类logistic回归模型分析城乡空巢老人社会隔离的影响因素差异。结果 本研究空巢老人社会隔离发生率为51.3%,主、客观社会隔离同时发生率为11.9%,且农村社会隔离发生率（57.3%）高于城镇（47.4%）（χ2 = 43.871,P＜0.001）。无配偶、自评健康较差（OR = 1.635,95%CI:1.322～2.022;OR = 1.410,95%CI:1.119～1.777）、患有慢性病、低个人年收入、与子女见面（OR = 2.322,95%CI:1.457～3.701;OR = 2.858,95%CI:1.648～4.955）和电话联系频率低是城乡空巢老人出现社会隔离的危险因素,且ADL受损也是城乡空巢老人同时出现主、客观社会隔离的危险因素;教育程度和个人年收入是城镇空巢老人社会隔离发生的特有因素。结论 我国空巢老人社会隔离存在城乡差异,农村空巢老人社会隔离发生率高于城镇,应对城乡空巢老人采取针对性的干预措施。     

城乡空巢老人抑郁症状及影响因素差异研究

目的 分析我国城乡空巢老人的抑郁症状及影响因素的差异。方法 基于2018年中国健康与养老追踪调查（CHARLS）数据,纳入2 911名空巢老人,运用χ2检验及二分类logistic回归分析城乡空巢老人抑郁影响因素及差异。结果 我国空巢老人抑郁状况得分为（9.1±6.8）,抑郁发生率为36.4%;农村空巢老人抑郁发生率（39.9%）高于城市空巢老人（26.2%）。女性、低文化水平、低夜间睡眠时间、与子女见面频率低、自评健康差、躯体疼痛、活动受限是城乡空巢老人抑郁的共同危险因素。有社会参与（ OR =0.673,95% CI :0.423~0.959, P =0.031）是城市空巢老人特有的保护因素;吸烟（ OR =1.491,95% CI :1.110~2.004, P =0.008）、患慢性病（ OR =1.349,95% CI :1.102~1.650, P =0.004）是农村空巢老人特有的危险因素,受教育程度高（ OR =0.619,95% CI :0.385~0.996, P =0.048）是农村空巢老人特有的保护因素。结论 我国空巢老人抑郁水平较高且存在城乡差异。农村地区空巢老人抑郁水平更高,影响因素更复杂。应制定有效措施有针对性的干预城乡空巢老人心理健康。     

Associations of park features with park use and park-based physical activity in an urban environment in Asia: A cross-sectional study

Park use is associated with health, yet our understanding of park features related to their use is limited. Singapore's parks were audited for 30 micro-features, then geospatial analysis characterized micro-features scores for parks nearest to participants' homes. Adults (3,435) reported their park use and park-based physical activity. Using linear regression models, we found living near a park with higher micro-features scores was associated with more time in parks and park-based physical activity. Specific micro-features were associated with more park time (wildlife areas, water features, forested areas, unpaved trails (2–2.6 h/month, p < 0.05)) and with physical activity in parks (water features, forested areas, large playground, open green spaces (1.8–2.2 h/month, p < 0.05)). These findings could inform parks planning to support population-health.