Public Health

Objetive: This review aims to approach the impact that airborne fungi have in collections, mainly in libraries, and also their impact in the health of the people who works and visiting there. Methodology: The search was made with the most recent papers, with free access in online databases: Pubmed (National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes), Lilacs (Latin-American and Caribbean Literature in Health Science, acronym in Spanish) and Scielo (Scientific Electronic Library Online), by using key words related with the proposed theme. Results: Libraries have substrates and residuals that allow the presence and proliferation of airborne fungi. These fungi are biodeteriorators that attack the collections but also can cause respiratory diseases, mycoses, or even systemic diseases. The most common genera are Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, Alternaria, Acremonium and Fusarium. These fungi have asexual reproduction by producing tiny dry spores that can remain viable by long periods on the air and can also be transported on it. Preserve collections demands control of air temperature and humidity, to inhibit the airborne fungi proliferation and thus, decreasing the risks to human health. Conclusion: The knowledge about airborne fungi as contaminants in libraries environment it is of utmost importance for the development of preventive actions for preservation of the collections and also for the health of people who works in or visit them.

Background: COVID-19 pandemic mitigation requires evidence-based strategies. Because COVID-19 can spread via respired droplets, most US states mandated mask use in public settings. Randomized control trials have not clearly demonstrated mask efficacy against respiratory viruses, and observational studies conflict on whether mask use predicts lower infection rates. We hypothesized that statewide mask mandates and mask use were associated with lower COVID-19 case growth rates in the United States. Methods: We calculated total COVID-19 case growth and mask use for the continental United States with data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. We estimated post-mask mandate case growth in non-mandate states using median issuance dates of neighboring states with mandates. Results: Earlier mask mandates were not associated with lower total cases or lower maximum growth rates. Earlier mandates were weakly associated with lower minimum COVID-19 growth rates. Mask use predicted lower minimum but not lower maximum growth rates. Growth rates and total growth were comparable between US states in the first and last mask use quintiles during the Fall-Winter wave. These observations persisted for both natural logarithmic and fold growth models and when adjusting for differences in US state population density. Conclusions: We did not observe association between mask mandates or use and reduced COVID-19 spread in US states. COVID-19 mitigation requires further research and use of existing efficacious strategies, most notably vaccination.

Objectives: To determine the existence of a pattern of women most frequently victims of physical violence in Brazil over a period of 10 years. Methods: Data from the DATASUS platform were collected on the records of domestic, sexual and other violence, registered by physical violence against female persons between 2009 and 2018. Data from the Violence and Accident Surveillance System on characteristics of the violent act against women were also collected. The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics was also used to collect data from the National Household Sample Survey (PNAD). For bibliographic reference, the descriptors “Domestic and Sexual Violence against Women”, “Domestic Violence” and “Domestic Violence” were searched on virtual data basis and Brazilian articles that were published within the period of the present study were included. Results: There is a continuous and rapid increase in the first half of the study period, with a slight deceleration between 2014 and 2016, followed by a new jump in records from 2017. As for race, the largest numbers are white women, 348428, and browns, 308902. Black women represent 68.25% of the total records of domestic, sexual and other violence, with 8.3% of the total records of physical violence. Conclusion: It is possible to estimate that black women are not making complaints or possibly are not being seen with due care to make them. As it is data that depends on denunciation, which is often not carried out, the results need consideration regarding assertiveness and reflection of reality.

Objectives: Describe vaccination coverage and measles incidence in Brazil from 2016 to 2019. Methods: Quantitative, descriptive and retrospective study of confirmed cases of measles and vaccination coverage in the last 04 years, in the regions of Brazil. The data were exported from epidemiological bulletins from all regions, made available by the Ministry of Health and State Health Secretariats. Immunization data were collected using Tabnet/DATASUS, and organized in Microsoft Office Excel® (2019). Results: During 2016-2017, Brazil did not report confirmed measles cases. In 2018, 10,322 cases were recorded, with a prevalence of 10.245 (99.25%) in the North, followed by the South 46 (0.44%) and Southeast 23 (0.22%). In 2019, 20,901 cases were recorded, with the Southeast region having the highest incidence, 18.426 (88.15%), followed by the South region with 1.468 (7.02%). Between 2016-2019, the vaccination average was 84.05%. In this period, the North region reached the lowest coverage, 75.79%, followed by the Northeast region, 80.31%. In 2018, the highest incidence of cases was observed in the North region, due to the lower vaccination coverage obtained in the last 4 years. In 2019, the majority of cases were in the Southeast region, because despite the satisfactory vaccination coverage, the disease spreads more easily in large urban centers. Conclusion: Despite the increase in vaccination campaigns, Brazil has not reached the minimum number of vaccinations, in the last 4 years, to obtain herd immunity, increasing the manifestation of the disease in the last 2 years.

The prevalence of gastrointestinal and urinary tract parasites among students of Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education (IJBCOE), Bayelsa State was investiagted. Faecal and urine samples were collected from 273 presumably healthy students of the college. The samples were analyzed in the laboratory using sedimentation method for urine and formol-ether concentration method for the stool samples. A self-structured questionnaire was used to obtain some risk factors associated with the transmission of the parasites. Out of the 273 students investigated, 60 (22.0%), 31(11.4%) and 12(4.4%) were positive for gastrointestinal parasites, urinary tract parasites and coinfection of gastrointestinal and urinary tract parasites respectively. Entamoeba histolytica recorded the highest prevalence among the gastrointestinal parasites identified (62%), followed by Entamoeba coli (18.3%), Giardia lamblia (11.7%), Blastccytis homonis (5%), and Enterobius vermicularis (3.3%). Among the two urinary tract parasites identified, Trichomonas vaginalis was more prevalent (90.3%) while Schistosoma haematobium had 9.7%. More Female students (37.8%) were infected than males (25.7%) by gastrointestinal parasites. The age range prevalence for gastrointestinal parasites recorded 45%, 37.3%, 28.3% and 25% for 26 – 30 years, 16 – 20 years, 21 – 25 years, and 31 – 35 years respectively. Lack of awareness, consumption of faecal matter-contaminated food and water, poor sanitation, defaecation into drinking water sources were identified as risk factors for gastrointestinal parasites while engagement in unprotected sex and multiple sexual partners were recorded as risk factors for the transmission of Trichomonas vaginalis. Increased personal hygiene and sanitation, provision of toilet facilities and health education will mitigate the prevalence of the parasites in the study area.

Transgender identities, with or without surgical changes are produced by individual decisions which resonate nevertheless with a series of information deficits and also spill from the biophysical effects of artificial sources of contamination. Findings from other researchers and the author’s experience are brought together to prove the point.

Objectives: To present the current panorama of the distribution of cases of COVID-19 among the indigenous population in the state of Pernambuco. Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted on secondary electronic databases in the public domain, reflecting the exemption of appreciation by the Ethics Committee. The database consulted was of the Center for Strategic Information on Health Surveillance (CIEVS) in the State of Pernambuco. The reference period for collection was from April 1st to October 2nd, 2020. Epidemiological bulletins and virtual monitoring reports, available on the CIEVS website, were analyzed. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques based on obtaining absolute and percentage frequencies. Results: According to the last Census, Pernambuco corresponds to the 4th state with the largest self-declared indigenous population (53,284 people), with twelve ethnic groups spread across the statte territory. Related to the distribution of cases of infection by COVID-19, a data from the last Bulletin (No. 215/2020) indicated that among the most affected indigenous ethnic groups with confirmed cases, Funi-Ô stands out with 214 confirmed cases and five deaths while the Xucuru group had 110 confirmed cases and one registered death. Conclusion: The results showed that the CODIV-19 pandemic is a serious Public Health problem among the indigenous popultion of the state of Pernambuco. Thus, the responsibility of the state health management to define strategies that minimize the transmission of the disease in the indigenous population is reinforced, together with the development of health promotion and prevention and infection control actions.

These diseases can be called sexual diseases thanks to retro-analysis of the global process of development and degenerescence and combination of the author’s earlier works with research of other authors that demonstrate in new ways the argument. Cultures that encourage sexual repression produce diseases mechanically and exogeneous factors of internal contamination with alpha emitters demultiplicate the effects spilling from these cultural choices. It is possible that researchers investigating Parkinson’s have already years ago understood the link with alpha decay and “flagged” it but because they thought that Parkinson patients had to suffer due to their full responsibility in depriving their own prostate whereas homosexuality shows how stimulating it creates well-known powerful orgasms went not beyond the allegory of alpha emitting nanoparticulates in their articles (which is why this is called “flagging” – “signaling”).

Introduction: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most endocrine disorders in young women during their reproductive years. PCOS is associated with the incidence of type 2 DM and infertility, which in turn increases the financial burden to healthcare system. The aim of this study is to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice of polycystic ovary syndrome among female Qassim region. Methods: An observational, cross-section study recruited young women age between 18 and 50 years from September 2019 to November 2019 in Al Qassim region. The data is obtained through an online survey that is posted in commonly used social media applications: namely, Instagram, Snapchat, Telegram, WhatsApp, and twitter. EPI INFO 7 is used to determine the association among demographical factors and knowledge, attitude, and practice of polycystic ovary syndrome. Results: Over 400 participated women there is 84% have knowledge about PCOS, 73% know the correlation between PCOS and obesity, 46% know that PCOS is heredity. At the same time, 63% did not realize that PCOS can cause type 2 DM. Moreover, knowledge has a significant association with age, social status, and education level with P-value 0.003, 0.02, 0.018, respectively. In terms of prevalence, 22% of participants have PCOS, while 17% of their mother or sister has PCOS. Conclusion: Knowledge of PCOS is a significant association with age, social status, and education level. To increase awareness of women related PCOS, these factors should keep in mind to produce an effective education program/campaign.

Do as I say, not as I do is a common phrase that applies to the case of Notre Dame’s president as he began the Fall 2020 semester chastising students for gathering in large groups off campus leading to the spread of COVID-19 while he, just a month later, gathered unmasked in the U.S. White House Rose Garden to celebrate the nomination of a Notre Dame alum to the Supreme Court. This study draws upon image restoration strategies in crisis response literature to examine Notre Dame and its president’s public response to both the two-week move to remote education in Fall 2020 following COVID-19 outbreak among its students and the unmasked attendance to an event that resulted in Notre Dame’s president testing positive for COVID-19. Overall, evasion of responsibility and corrective action typified the university’s response to students’ behaviors that led to public health risk, but mortification along with contradictory messages evading responsibility typified the individual response of the university’s president that led to public health risk. Of interest to the case is the lack of religious appeal intertwined in the image restoration strategies used in the president’s apology yet the use of religious appeal in the university’s accusations against student public health behavior. Given that Notre Dame is a religiously affiliated university and the president is clergy, the inconsistent use of religious appeal may undermine the image restoration rhetoric of the president.