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Open AccessProceeding Paper

Standard Operating Procedure for the Analysis of Microplastics in Larval Fish Diets

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Med. Sci. Forum 2023, 19(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/msf2023019001 - 09 May 2023

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Microplastics (MPs) pollution has increasingly exposed the pelagic biota to physical harm. The small size of micro-particles makes them more suitable for passive ingestion by a wide variety of organisms with serious effects on growth rates, respiration and vital functions, bioaccumulation of pollutants, [...] Read more.

Microplastics (MPs) pollution has increasingly exposed the pelagic biota to physical harm. The small size of micro-particles makes them more suitable for passive ingestion by a wide variety of organisms with serious effects on growth rates, respiration and vital functions, bioaccumulation of pollutants, and, ultimately, species survival. Nevertheless, our knowledge of plastic intake in nursery habitats is still very limited. When encounters with MPs occur at the larval stage, it is suggested that fish can develop altered feeding behaviors with cascading effects on the entire food web. This study provides a step-by-step protocol to identify and enumerate polymer particles found in fish diets. The procedure is intended for the analysis of larval and juvenile fish populations with a developed digestive tract. It includes guiding questions for research design, a list of supplies and reagents to extract and mount the fish diets on microscope slides for semi-permanent conservation, the protocol for microscopic and statistical analysis, and the interpretation of the results. We suggest that the gut content could be used to assess (i) the bioavailability of polymers in water systems, (ii) the incidence of an encounter between larval fish and MPs, and (iii) the possible alternations in fish’ feeding behaviors as soon as they leave their parental stage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of International One Health Conference)

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Occupational Hazards Associated with the Quality and Training Needs of Public Health Inspectors in Greece

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Ioannis Adamopoulos

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Niki Syrou

Med. Sci. Forum 2023, 19(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/msf2023019002 - 15 May 2023

Viewed by 450

Abstract

In terms of evidence of the strong links between occupational risks, training needs, and quality, research on the occupational risks and their consequences to the general wellbeing of public health inspectors has been very limited, despite the fact that the nature of the [...] Read more.

In terms of evidence of the strong links between occupational risks, training needs, and quality, research on the occupational risks and their consequences to the general wellbeing of public health inspectors has been very limited, despite the fact that the nature of the work presents a range of threats to physical and psychological health. The aim of this study was to report the risks presented to public health inspectors (PHIs’) and to investigate their possible relationships with training needs. The study was a cross-sectional, nationwide investigation in Greece, conducted in one phase during the third quarter of 2021. For data collection, an online survey was created, and the web link was distributed to respondents by email. A number of participants were contacted, providing N = 185 responses, which accounted for 27% (185/684) of the population under study. Job risks were measured using a novel instrument, classification, a checklist for risk assessment, and an instrument was developed for measuring training needs and training quality. The findings indicated that 87% of participants provided high ratings in response to psychosocial risks and ergonomic risks, followed by 78% for organizational risks and 74% for biological risks. Physical risks and chemical risks were 55% and 56%, respectively. For organizational risks (β = −0.282, p = 0.001) and perceived training quality (β = 0.195, p = 0.002), 65.41% reported high training requirements. PHIs face a variety of job risks, these findings were among the first to address the occupational health and safety of PHIs worldwide. Adding new information to PHI occupational health and safety could be used to advance the quality of public health services provision. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of International One Health Conference)

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Open AccessProceeding Paper

A Growing Problem: Incidence of Cancer in Foreign Citizens Residing in the Provinces of Catania, Messina, Siracusa, and Enna in 2003–2017

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Antonietta Alfia Maria Torrisi

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Alessia Anna Di Prima

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Antonello Marras

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Margherita Ferrante

Med. Sci. Forum 2023, 19(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/msf2023019003 - 15 May 2023

Viewed by 591

Abstract

Introduction: The “migrant” term indicates a resident born in a country other than the host country. Resident foreigners made up 8.4% of the total Italian population in 2020. The Sicilian trend reflects the national one, with 190,974 resident foreigners as of 1th January [...] Read more.

Introduction: The “migrant” term indicates a resident born in a country other than the host country. Resident foreigners made up 8.4% of the total Italian population in 2020. The Sicilian trend reflects the national one, with 190,974 resident foreigners as of 1th January 2020. The aim of this study was to identify the presence of tumors in foreign patients residing in the RTI’s provinces of interest in 2003–2017 and to analyze the clinical-biological variables. Materials and Methods: We analyzed 3541 foreign patients with tumors (out of a total of 160,912 patients) residing in the RTI’s provinces of interest in 2003–2017. Foreign patients were identified by tax code. Tumors are described ((number and percentage). Results: Of the 3541 foreign patients, 36% were male and 64% were female. They resided in the provinces of Catania (42.6%), Messina (29.9%), Siracusa (20.7%), and Enna (6.6%). They came from Europe (57%), Africa (22.4%), the Americas (12.03%), Asia (5.08%), and Oceania (1.80%); 0.3% were stateless. The average age was 58 for males and 54.4 for females. The number of tumors (excluding non-melanoma skin tumors) was 3715. Sixty-two males and 98 females had one or more multiple tumors. In foreign females, the three most common tumors were breast (28%), thyroid (9%), and cervical (6%) tumors. Most breast cancers were diagnosed as stage T1 (35%) or T2 (26%). In foreign males, the three most common tumors were lung (13%), bladder (12%), and prostate (11%) tumors. Conclusions: The growing presence of foreign citizens in the provinces studied calls for more attention on oncology-related problems and more careful surveillance of changes in incidence and mortality by the RTI. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of International One Health Conference)

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Open AccessProceeding Paper

Workplace Environment and Burnout in Public Health Workforce Inspection Services in Greece during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Ioannis Adamopoulos

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Niki Syrou

Med. Sci. Forum 2023, 19(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/msf2023019004 - 15 May 2023

Viewed by 446

Abstract

Evidence regarding the strong links between emotional exhaustion, personal accomplishment, depersonalization, total occupational burnout and workplace environment, and their consequences for the general well-being of employees in public health inspection workforce services, is limited. The aim of this study was to report the [...] Read more.

Evidence regarding the strong links between emotional exhaustion, personal accomplishment, depersonalization, total occupational burnout and workplace environment, and their consequences for the general well-being of employees in public health inspection workforce services, is limited. The aim of this study was to report the burnout of the public health workforce in Greece and investigate possible relationships with the workplace environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a quantitative, cross-sectional, nationwide research study in Greece, conducted in the second quarter of 2021. An online survey was conducted. The response rate was 27%. Burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory Questionnaire; 19.46% of participants reported low burnout levels, 37.84% of participants reported medium burnout levels, and 42.70% reported high (above average) burnout levels. The total burnout score of rural environments was higher compared to all other groups (χ² = 16.017), (β = 0.455), p < 0.001. Medium levels of emotional exhaustion were reported. Depersonalization scores were low. The personal accomplishment score was higher in rural environments compared to all other groups (χ² = 26.417). The depersonalization score was higher in semi-urban environments compared to all other groups (χ² = 6.188). The findings indicate that burnout has proven to be an issue. This study contributes to the limited evidence supporting links associations and correlations between burnout and workplace environment and adds new information regarding occupational health and safety factors for workplace environment, which could be exploited to advance the quality of public health services provision during the COVID-19 pandemic in Greece. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of International One Health Conference)

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Open AccessProceeding Paper

Heat Waves and Cardiovascular Events in Milan, Italy: A Geospatial Case-Crossover Approach Using Data from Emergency Medical Services

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Julia Nawaro

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Lorenzo Gianquintieri

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Med. Sci. Forum 2023, 19(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/msf2023019005 - 15 May 2023

Viewed by 721

Abstract

Heat waves (HWs) are becoming more frequent due to climate change. Their impact on cardiovascular (CV) health has been widely studied, and results vary depending on the disease and the geographic area. Our aim was to study this phenomenon using emergency medical service [...] Read more.

Heat waves (HWs) are becoming more frequent due to climate change. Their impact on cardiovascular (CV) health has been widely studied, and results vary depending on the disease and the geographic area. Our aim was to study this phenomenon using emergency medical service (EMS) data relevant to CV events that occurred out-of-hospital during May–Sept in 2020 and 2021 in Milan, Italy. Mean daily temperature (MDT) was computed in the city, and normal (NL), HW, or extreme HW were defined as days with MDT <90th, ≥90th, and ≥98th percentiles, respectively, resulting in 232 NL and 74 HW days, of which 16 were extreme. In total, 20,266 CV events were reported by EMS (53% in women, 55% in ≥65 yo). A case-crossover design was applied to calculate the odds ratio of the events in HW and extreme HW compared to NL days, accounting for diagnosis and geolocation. Increased odds were found for acute myocardial infarction (1.53 and 1.56), congestive heart failure (2.47 and 2.81), and intermediate coronary syndrome (2.08 and 6.11). Our study showed the potential of using EMS for analyzing the effects of HW on CV health, thus the confirming negative impact of rising temperature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of International One Health Conference)

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Open AccessProceeding Paper

Embracing the SDG 2030 and Resilience for Monitoring and Learning in Emergency and Developing Projects

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Francisco J. A. Guachalla

Med. Sci. Forum 2023, 19(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/msf2023019006 - 23 May 2023

Viewed by 353

Abstract

The Project Planning, Monitoring, Systematizing, and Learning (PlaMSyL) method was developed in a period of ten years (1996–2005) and has expanded since then to improve the results of development and emergency projects in developing countries, focusing mainly on the monitoring and learning process [...] Read more.

The Project Planning, Monitoring, Systematizing, and Learning (PlaMSyL) method was developed in a period of ten years (1996–2005) and has expanded since then to improve the results of development and emergency projects in developing countries, focusing mainly on the monitoring and learning process of different local stakeholders beyond the deliverables into the changes and impacts of outcomes. It has been applied in different countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America between 2006 and 2016. Today, it is taught in universities to students of pre- and post-grade levels. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are part of the UN Agenda 2030, signed by 193 governments in 2015, contain 169 Targets, and 232 indicators of social well-being (health, education, zero hunger, equality, and gender), and for economic (food production, industry, zero poverty, consumption, infrastructure, and technology), and ecological development (water, climate, governance, and biodiversity) preserving the planet from a collapse and ensuring the sustainable well-being of all. The SDGs provide the framework for a new circular economy based on clean energy and zero greenhouse gases. One basic principle of the SDG 2030 is “Leave No One Behind” and is what drives to work with the local governments and communities in a bottom-up approach, coordinating with the national level to set up appropriate policies. The PlaMSyL method has been practiced by different professional teams of education, health, engineering, agriculture, disaster risk reduction, and ecologists, and for this reason, the paper explains the use of the PlaMSyL method with the indicators and targets of the SDGs, and the resilience to facilitate local project teams and stakeholders to use the SDGs participatively as a framework, and as a metrics and communication tool. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of International One Health Conference)

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Open AccessProceeding Paper

Climate Change, Sustainable Health and COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria: The Legal Issues in Perspective

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Erimma Gloria Orie

Med. Sci. Forum 2023, 19(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/msf2023019007 - 08 Jun 2023

Viewed by 359

Abstract

The paper examined legal impediments to sustainable health in Nigeria due to the impact of climate change (CC) exacerbated by coronavirus (COVID-19). COVID-19 has presented the world with a crisis greatly accentuated by the urgency with which we need to fight the CC [...] Read more.

The paper examined legal impediments to sustainable health in Nigeria due to the impact of climate change (CC) exacerbated by coronavirus (COVID-19). COVID-19 has presented the world with a crisis greatly accentuated by the urgency with which we need to fight the CC debacle, making the need for sustainable development (SD) more obviously acute than ever and requiring a response rooted in the principles of SD. On 29 September 2020, a total of 1 million COVID-19 deaths had occurred worldwide, while in Africa, there were about 35,954 cumulative fatalities. In Nigeria, the situation was similar. This paper found that despite the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, health is still a low priority in Nigeria; 4.526 percent of the country’s budget was appropriated to the health sector in 2021 and 4.3 percent in 2022, contrary to the 2001 Abuja Declaration by African leaders and the 15 percent value stipulated by the WHO. The challenge is that Nigeria’s efforts in attaining sustainable health and eradication of COVID-19 are arbitrary and have been hampered by the absence of tested laws on CC andCOVID-19, thereby resulting in avoidable fatalities. Using analytical research methodology and drawing from global best practices to achieve sustainable health, this paper recommended the incorporation of legal and institutional frameworks to combat COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of International One Health Conference)

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Promotion of Safe Food to Consumers of Milk and Dairy Products in Kibaha Town Council

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Damas Theobald Msaki

Med. Sci. Forum 2023, 19(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/msf2023019008 - 12 Jun 2023

Viewed by 406

Abstract

A cross-sectional baseline survey was conducted at Kibaha Town Council (KTC), Pwani Region (Tanzania), to assess the awareness and practices of smallholder dairy producers towards antimicrobial use (AMU), a major cause of foodborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in livestock production systems. The aim was [...] Read more.

A cross-sectional baseline survey was conducted at Kibaha Town Council (KTC), Pwani Region (Tanzania), to assess the awareness and practices of smallholder dairy producers towards antimicrobial use (AMU), a major cause of foodborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in livestock production systems. The aim was to improve consumers’ confidence in the consumption of milk and other dairy products. Quantitative data were collected from a total of 30 randomly selected respondents from a sampling frame of households keeping dairy cattle in 3 administrative wards of Tumbi, Picha ya Ndege, and Maili Moja. A structured questionnaire was administered through face-to-face conversations between the interviewer and the interviewees. Six other respondents participated in the Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) for qualitative data collection. The quantitative data were analyzed using the statistical package for social science (SPSS, Version 16) and MS Office Excel 2010 for window packages. There were more male respondents (63.3%) than female respondents, whereas the level of education was primary for 46.7%, secondary for 33.3%, and tertiary level for the remaining 20%. About 76.6% of them were using antimicrobials to treat lactating dairy cows, mainly oxytetracycline (OTC 20%), penicillin, and Peni-Strep. Twice the number of males (53.3%) used antimicrobials compared to females (23.3%). Respondents with tertiary education rarely administered antimicrobials themselves. The common diseases being treated were diarrhea (46.7%), mastitis (43.3%), and respiratory diseases (36.7%). A proportion of milk from sick animals (those treated with antimicrobials) was fed to calves (33.3%), sold to milk collection centers (26.7%) where it goes through normal market channels, 26.7% fed to other animals while little is consumed by the family at home (6.7%). In conclusion, it should be noted that milk producers administer antimicrobials themselves even when the animals are being milked. This situation poses health challenges among milk consumers. We advise dairy producers to avoid unnecessary AMU. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of International One Health Conference)

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Open AccessProceeding Paper

Evaluation of Microplastic in Caged Fish from Turkish and Iranian Waters with Health Risk Assessment for Human Consumers

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Med. Sci. Forum 2023, 19(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/msf2023019009 - 15 Jun 2023

Viewed by 388

Abstract

The biting behavior of farmed fish on nylon netting raises concerns for microplastic accumulation in caged fish with potential influences on human health via consumption. Indeed, the reason for net biting is due to biofouling on the mesh being a tasty food that [...] Read more.

The biting behavior of farmed fish on nylon netting raises concerns for microplastic accumulation in caged fish with potential influences on human health via consumption. Indeed, the reason for net biting is due to biofouling on the mesh being a tasty food that attracts fish. Hence, it is highly possible that a certain amount of microplastics from the mesh is ingested by fish, which can eventually enter the digestive system of humans through consumption. Caged fish may further receive microplastics from terrestrial flows or marine currents or through the food chain in the oceans. Therefore, the level of microplastic contamination in caged fish has been investigated by drawing a comparison with natural populations of Turkish and Iranian waters, in order to reveal the risks of microplastic transmission from fish to humans. Analyses of water samples, sediments, diets, zooplankton and fish tissues have been conducted and the amounts of microplastics in diets were evaluated. The identification of polymeric materials in collected microplastics was performed by FT-IR spectrometer, and Raman spectrometry was employed to determine the shape, size and polymer type of microplastics. Based on the preliminary results, the impact of cage nets on microplastic accumulation in fish digestive system and the interaction with human health risks upon consumption of contaminated fish have been assessed. The findings in this study may help to establish safe food strategies for future generations, with a healthy material selection approach in sustainable cage aquaculture management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of International One Health Conference)

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Open AccessProceeding Paper

COVID-19 Societal Effects and Perceptions: A Case Study of Italy

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Med. Sci. Forum 2023, 19(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/msf2023019010 - 19 Jun 2023

Viewed by 409

Abstract

This study employs a survey to investigate the societal response to COVID-19 in Italy. Data were collected via snowball sampling during the period April 2020 to April 2021 using the ArcGIS Survey 123 survey instrument. The study collected and analyzed 64 responses to [...] Read more.

This study employs a survey to investigate the societal response to COVID-19 in Italy. Data were collected via snowball sampling during the period April 2020 to April 2021 using the ArcGIS Survey 123 survey instrument. The study collected and analyzed 64 responses to investigate various aspects related to COVID-19. The areas covered in the analysis include socioeconomics, changing symptoms, relocation, physical distancing, health, social behaviors (past and future), personal attitudes, perceptions of government/public response and efficacy, beliefs, travel habits, well-being, current event worries, pandemic challenges, depression, vaccine, public opinion, personality, public health measures, social media preference, and contact with others. The study’s results provide a snapshot of how people across Italy experienced the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and can help public health organizations, decision-makers, and the general public address policies related to symptoms, social distance, policy measures/regulations, and social behaviors during the different policy phases and wave measures related to COVID-19 effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of International One Health Conference)

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Open AccessProceeding Paper

Healthcare Quality Indicators as a Tool for Safeguarding Patients with Limited Capacity and Physician Rights

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Marina Loseviča

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Laura Kadile

Med. Sci. Forum 2023, 19(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/msf2023019011 - 27 Jun 2023

Viewed by 307

Abstract

In line with the United Nations’ (UN) sustainable development goal, value-based healthcare (VBHC) aims to deliver outcomes that truly matter to patients at a reasonable cost. A reimbursement system in VBHC encourages physicians to refrain from activities that do not contribute to achieving [...] Read more.

In line with the United Nations’ (UN) sustainable development goal, value-based healthcare (VBHC) aims to deliver outcomes that truly matter to patients at a reasonable cost. A reimbursement system in VBHC encourages physicians to refrain from activities that do not contribute to achieving the goals and to meet the quality indicators (QI) This transforms person–physician relationships and restricts patients’ and physicians’ professional autonomy. Therefore, patients with limited capacity become especially vulnerable, lacking legal protection and dignity. Such practices do not comply with the principles and requirements set out in national and international legislation. The aim of this article is to explore if the legal framework and healthcare QI in Latvia correspond to the principles of patient-centered care and respect the physician’s professional autonomy as enshrined in the law. This research has been implemented by applying a literature review methodology for collecting and analyzing data from legal and medical research focused on the safety, quality of treatment, protection of persons with limited capacity, freedom from coercion; normative legal basis—law and regulations of the Republic of Latvia, case law and policy documents. Within this article, we can conclude, that the current QI do not represent the outcomes and the ability to reach the patient-centered goals, limit physician autonomy and place an excessive administrative burden, jeopardize the patient’s risk of unnecessary interventions. Therefore, patient-centered care standards, clear care goals, and novel QI must be developed. In order to implement international legal norms binding on Latvia, the clash of values between the physician’s right to fair pay and the prohibition of unnecessary medical intervention has to be eliminated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of International One Health Conference)

Open AccessProceeding Paper

Lean Six Sigma: Application of the Methodology in Data Processing for Cancer Registry

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Med. Sci. Forum 2023, 19(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/msf2023019012 - 30 Jun 2023

Viewed by 431

Abstract

Since 2020, the Catania-Messina-Enna Cancer Registry (CR) has operated a transformational and incremental program while also applying a Lean Six Sigma methodology (LSS) to optimize the processes and reduce waste. Each project aimed to raise the performance of the CR while also providing [...] Read more.

Since 2020, the Catania-Messina-Enna Cancer Registry (CR) has operated a transformational and incremental program while also applying a Lean Six Sigma methodology (LSS) to optimize the processes and reduce waste. Each project aimed to raise the performance of the CR while also providing the opportunity for human resources to express their talent. In this context, a machine learning project was developed to reduce the time spent on raw free-text histopathological reports that contain relevant information for cancer evaluation. The ability to extract meaningful information from histopathology reports is really important because reports provide crucial insights into the morphology and topography of cancer, enabling operators to validate oncology cases with the utmost diagnostic precision. However, the CR faced a significant challenge due to the extensive volume of written natural language reports, where only a small fraction contains pertinent information for cancer evaluation. In this paper, we describe how we applied the LSS method, the observed difficulties, and the benefits achieved by adopting a machine learning algorithm as a strategic solution in the Improve phase. Full article

(This article belongs to the Proceedings of International One Health Conference)

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