Environmental Determinants of Health
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Daaleman T
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7121497 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) mobilized global commitments to promote health, socioeconomic, and sustainable development. Trends indicate that the health MDGs may not be achieved by 2015, in part because of insufficient coordination across related health, socioeconomic, and environmental initiatives. Explicitly acknowledging the need for such collaboration, the Meikirch Model of Health posits that: Health is a state of wellbeing emergent from conducive interactions between individuals' potentials, life's demands, and social and environmental determinants. Health results throughout the life course when individuals' potentials--and social and environmental determinants--suffice to respond satisfactorily to the demands of life. Life's demands can be physiological, psychosocial, or environmental, and vary across contexts, but in every case unsatisfactory responses lead to disease. This conceptualization of the integrative nature of health could contribute to ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation across actors and sectors to improve individual and population health--leading up to 2015 and beyond.
| S-EPMC4119253 | biostudies-other
Project description:The impact of chronic caloric restriction (CR) on health and survival in model organisms is complex and its underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Genetic background, sex, degree of CR and diet composition are expected modifiers of survival outcomes of this intervention. A recent study in mice addressed the impact of diet composition and feeding patterns used in nonhuman primates. It was found that, while diet composition alone did not impact longevity, fasting and calories were determinant for increased survival. We use here a combined physiological, multi-omics (transcriptomics-metabolomics), and integrated pathway analyses to gain insight into core and specific pathways associated with liver healthspan and lifespan. Main findings show that liver longevity pathways associated with CR predominantly correspond to detoxification, molecular turnover-repair-maintenance, and energy supply processes. Differential responses on lifespan extension provided by the different feeding strategies unveiled a distinct pattern of longevity pathways that centered around amino acid, fatty acid and nucleic acid metabolisms. Glycine-serine-threonine metabolism was a unique metabolic hub associated with lifespan whereas short-chain fatty acids and essential PUFAs metabolism were unique to healthspan. Nonhuman primate serum metabolomics data essentially recapitulated key features in mice.
2020-07-13 | GSE124294 | GEO
Project description:The environment in which people live is known to be important in influencing diet, physical activity, smoking, psychosocial and other risk factors for cardiovascular (CV) disease. However no instrument exists that evaluates communities for these multiple environmental factors and is suitable for use across different communities, regions and countries. This report describes the design and reliability of an instrument to measure environmental determinants of CV risk factors.THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH (EPOCH) INSTRUMENT COMPRISES TWO PARTS: (I) an assessment of the physical environment, and (II) an interviewer-administered questionnaire to collect residents' perceptions of their community. We examined the inter-rater reliability amongst 3 observers from each region of the direct observation component of the instrument (EPOCH I) in 93 rural and urban communities in 5 countries (Canada, Colombia, Brazil, China and India). Data collection using the EPOCH instrument was feasible in all communities. Reliability of the instrument was excellent (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient--ICC>0.75) for 24 of 38 items and fair to good (ICC 0.4-0.75) for 14 of 38 items.This report shows data collection with the EPOCH instrument is feasible and direct observation of community measures reliable. The EPOCH instrument will enable further research on environmental determinants of health for population studies from a broad range of settings.
| S-EPMC3000812 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BACKGROUND:Population health is influenced by interactions between environmental determinants, which are captured by dimensions and indicators. This study aims to systematically review key environmental determinants and respective dimensions and indicators, relevant to evaluate population health in urban settings, and to understand their potential implications into policies. METHODS:A search of literature published between 2008 and 2018 was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and SciELO Portugal databases, on studies with evidence on association between an environmental determinant and a health outcome in urban contexts. Health determinants, dimensions and indicators researched in the selected studies were synthetized, and associations analyzed. An independent assessment of quality of the studies was performed. Key conclusions and policy recommendations were extracted to build a framework to analyze environment related population health and policies in urban settings. RESULTS:Ninety four studies of varied methodological approaches and quality met the inclusion criteria. The review identified positive associations between all environmental determinants -socioeconomic, built environment, natural environment, healthcare, behaviors, and health outcomes - overall mortality and morbidity, in urban settings. Improvements in income, education, air quality, occupation status, mobility and smoking habits indicators have positive impact in overall mortality and chronic diseases morbidity indicators. Initiatives to improve population health in which policymakers can be more evidence-informed include socioeconomic, natural environment and built environment determinants. CONCLUSIONS:There is scope and need to further explore which environmental determinants and dimensions most contribute to population health to create a series of robust evidence-based measures to better inform urban planning policies.
| S-EPMC7271472 | biostudies-literature
Project description:A major goal of health disparities research is to identify and intervene upon modifiable risk factors that help explain the observed associations between social factors and adverse health outcomes. To this end, statistical methods incorporating mediation analysis have shown promise, as they quantify the contribution of an intermediate variable in an exposure-outcome association. A growing body of literature suggests that environmental chemicals can contribute to health disparities. However, evaluating environmental chemicals as an important component of health disparities introduces methodological complexities that may make standard mediation approaches inadequate. Specific to environmental health is the issue of evaluating both the source and biomarker of the environmental toxicant in order to calculate the proportion of the disparity that would remain had we intervened on the modifiable factors. Recent methodological developments on multiple mediators can improve efforts to integrate both source and biomarker of exposure into epidemiological studies of health disparities. We illustrate a conceptual framework and present how mediation techniques can be used to address environmental health disparities questions. With this, we provide a methodological tool that has the potential to advance this growing field, while simultaneously informing public health prevention and policy surrounding the impact of environmental factors on health disparities.
| S-EPMC6748334 | biostudies-literature
Project description:IntroductionSub-Saharan Africa lags in adoption of mobile health (m-health) applications and in leveraging m-health for sustainable development goals. There is a need for a comprehensive investigation of determinants of hospitals' adoption of m-health in Sub-Saharan Africa to inform policies, practices and investments.MethodsThis investigation used a logit regression model to analyze the determinants of m-health adoption in Kenyan hospitals applying the Technological, Organizational and Environmental (TOE) framework and the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory. A representative sample of 211 executives of Level 4-6 hospitals in 24 counties provided primary data on Patient-Centered (PC) and Facility-Centered (FC) m-health applications.ResultsBoth PC and FC m-health adoption were predicted by competition for patients (PC p = 0.041, FC p = 0.021), IT human resource capacity (PC p = 0.048, FC p = 0.037), and hospital pursuit of market growth through technological leadership (PC p = 0.010, FC p = 0.020). Further determinants of PC m-health adoption included hospital access to slack financial resources (p = 0.006), acquisition strategy (p = 0.011), compatibility with the hospital systems (p = 0.015), trialability (p = 0.019), medical insurance company support (p = 0.025),patient pressure (p = 0.036), and perceived effect of global medical tourism (p = 0.039). FC m-health adoption was predicted by hospital size (p = 0.008), ICT infrastructure capacity (p = 0.041), and government support (p = 0.013).ConclusionA differentiated approach is required to scale up m-health adoption. PC m-health requires emphasis on establishing national and regional compatibility and interoperability, developing trialability processes and validation mechanisms, incentivizing patient competition and mobility, establishing innovative and cost-effective acquisition strategies, and ensuring integration of digital services within national insurance schemes and policies. These policies require support from patients and communities to drive demand and spur investment in adequate IT human resources to maintain reliability. Pilot PC m-health projects should prioritize hospitals with slack financial resources, while FC m-health should target large facility size. FC m-health applications are more complex and costly than PC, requiring government incentives to trigger hospital investments and national investment in ICT infrastructure. Investors and hospital managers should integrate m-health into market growth strategies for sustainable m-health scale-up in Kenya and beyond.
| S-EPMC6910672 | biostudies-literature
Project description:In light of the high and rising prevalence of obesity, we studied females and males aged 25-54 years with excess weight in the Kolkata metropolitan region, one of India's main cities, to understand the perception, environmental determinants and health complications of obesity. We resorted to primary fieldwork. The close-ended quantitative survey questionnaire was designed to capture the perception and health complications of the sampled population, while a semi-structured interview guide comprising open-ended questions was prepared to capture the target population's in-depth views. Following the WHO guidelines on BMI and WC cut-off for Asian adults, the sampled population comprised females and males aged 25-54 with a waist circumference of 80 cm and 90 cm or higher, respectively, and a BMI of 25 or higher in the Kolkata metropolitan area. Using a concurrent mixed methods approach, we collected and analysed quantitative and qualitative data separately using descriptive statistics and inductive coding before combining them. In the study area, we completed 120 surveys and 18 in-depth interviews. Some environmental factors promoting obesity were the lack of access to healthy, fresh foods, lack of health awareness programmes, advertisements, and weather conditions in Kolkata. Interview participants also extended their concerns about food adulteration and the food industry. Participants confirmed that obesity could increase the risk of developing diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol and heart disease. Further, participants felt squatting was challenging for them. Hypertension was the most common existing health complication found among the study participants. Participants suggested raising awareness, promoting and making access to healthy food and wellness programs more accessible, and regulating fast foods and sugary beverages at institutional, community and social/public policy levels to prevent obesity. Health education and better policies are required to combat obesity and related complications.
| S-EPMC10088635 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Given the enormous suffering and death associated with human cancers, there is an urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches to target tumor growth and metastasis. While initial efforts have focused on the dysregulated oncogenic program of cancer cells, recent focus has been on the modulation and targeting of many "cancer-friendly," non-genetic tumor microenvironmental factors, which support and enable tumor progression and metastasis. Two prominent examples are anti-angiogenesis and immunotherapy that target tumor-supporting vascularization and the immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), respectively. Lately, there has been significant interest in the therapeutic potential of ferroptosis, a natural tumor suppression mechanism that normally occurs as a result of oxidative stress, iron imbalance, and accumulation of lipid peroxides. While numerous studies have identified various cell intrinsic mechanisms to protect or promote ferroptosis, the role of various TME stress factors are also recently recognized to modulate the tumor cells' susceptibility to ferroptosis. This review aims to compile and highlight evidence of these factors, how various TME stresses affect ferroptosis, and their implications in various stages of tumor development and expected response to ferroptosis-triggering therapeutics under development. Consequently, understanding ways to enhance ferroptosis sensitivity both intracellularly and in the TME may optimize therapeutic sensitivity to minimize or prevent tumor growth and metastasis.
| S-EPMC10417744 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Dental enamel is a specialized tissue that has adapted over millions of years of evolution to enhance the survival of a variety of species. In humans, enamel evolved to form the exterior protective layer for the crown of the exposed tooth crown. Its unique composition, structure, physical properties and attachment to the underlying dentin tissue allow it to be a resilient, although not self-repairing, tissue. The process of enamel formation, known as amelogenesis, involves epithelial-derived cells called ameloblasts that secrete a unique extracellular matrix that influences the structure of the mineralizing enamel crystallites. There are over 115 known genetic conditions affecting amelogenesis that are associated with enamel phenotypes characterized by either a reduction of enamel amount and or mineralization. Amelogenesis involves many processes that are sensitive to perturbation and can be altered by numerous environmental stressors. Genetics, epigenetics, and environment factors can influence enamel formation and play a role in resistance/risk for developmental defects and the complex disease, dental caries. Understanding why and how enamel is affected and the enamel phenotypes seen clinically support diagnostics, prognosis prediction, and the selection of treatment approaches that are appropriate for the specific tissue defects (e.g., deficient amount, decreased mineral, reduced insulation and hypersensitivity). The current level of knowledge regarding the heritable enamel defects is sufficient to develop a new classification system and consensus nosology that effectively communicate the mode of inheritance, molecular defect/pathway, and the functional aberration and resulting enamel phenotype.
| S-EPMC10048525 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Untangling determinants of health and lifespan
| PRJNA511484 | ENA