It is well known that extremely hot weather causes heat-related health issues. Health problems, especially in urban areas, are becoming increasingly important due to urban heat island effect. ...Understanding the impact of neighborhood characteristics is important for research into the relationship between thermal environment and human health. The objectives of this study were to explore the urban landscape and sociodemographic characteristics affecting heat-related health and identify spatial inequalities for vulnerable groups. A total of 27,807 heat-related EMS incidents were used at the census block group level (N = 285). We used land cover database and Landsat satellite images for urban landscape variables and used 2019 U.S. Census data for sociodemographic variables. Negative binomial regression was used to identify the neighborhood variables associated with the heat-related EMS incidents in each block group. Heat-related health has been alleviated in block groups with high green areas. However, the negative effects of thermal environments on human health were higher in areas with a high percentage of impervious surface, over 65 years, non-white people, no high school diploma, or unemployment. The results indicate that heat-related health problems can be addressed through prevention strategies for block group variables. Local intervention efforts to solve health issues should be targeted at more vulnerable areas and groups.
Summary Background Despite evidence of a genetic role in stroke, the identification of common genetic risk factors for this devastating disorder remains problematic. We aimed to identify any common ...genetic variability exerting a moderate to large effect on risk of ischaemic stroke, and to generate publicly available genome-wide genotype data to facilitate others doing the same. Methods We applied a genome-wide high-density single-nucleotide-polymorphism (SNP) genotyping approach to a cohort of samples with and without ischaemic stroke (n=278 and 275, respectively), and did an association analysis adjusted for known confounders in a final cohort of 249 cases and 268 controls. More than 400 000 unique SNPs were assayed. Findings We produced more than 200 million genotypes in 553 unique participants. The raw genotypes of all the controls have been posted publicly in a previous study of Parkinson's disease. From this effort, results of genotype and allele association tests have been publicly posted for 88% of stroke patients who provided proper consent for public release. Preliminary analysis of these data did not reveal any single locus conferring a large effect on risk for ischaemic stroke. Interpretation The data generated here comprise the first phase of a genome-wide association analysis in patients with stroke. Release of phase I results generated in these publicly available samples from each consenting individual makes this dataset a valuable resource for data-mining and augmentation.
OBJECTIVETo describe the prevalence of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and determine the association between CMBs and β-amyloid burden on PET.
METHODSFrom the population-based Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, ...1,215 participants (53% male) underwent 3-tesla MRI scans with T2* gradient recalled echo sequences from October 2011 to February 2017. A total of 1,123 participants (92%) underwent C-Pittsburgh compound B (PiB)-PET scans. The prevalence of CMBs was derived by adjusting for nonparticipation and standardizing to the Olmsted County, MN, population. The relationship between β-amyloid burden and CMB presence and location was tested using logistic regression models. Ordinal logistic models tested the relationship between CMB frequency and β-amyloid burden.
RESULTSTwo hundred seventy-four participants (22.6%) had at least one CMB. CMB frequency increased with age by decade (11% aged 60–69 years, 22% 70–79 years, and 39% 80 years and older). After adjusting for age, sex, and hypertension, PiB standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) was associated with increased odds of a CMB. The association between PiB SUVR and CMBs was location-specific; PiB SUVR was associated with lobar CMBs but not deep CMBs. Age, hypertension, and PiB SUVR were associated with increasing CMB count. CMB density was greatest in parietal and occipital regions; β-amyloid burden correlated with concentration of CMBs in all lobar regions. Among participants with multiple CMBs, greater PiB uptake occurred in the pre- and postcentral gyri superiorly, the superior parietal lobe and precuneus, the angular gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus, and temporal poles.
CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of CMBs increases with age. In this population-based sample, β-amyloid load was associated with lobar but not with deep CMBs.
The objective of this study was to characterize the clinical features of radiation-induced cavernous malformations (RICMs).
The authors retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological ...characteristics of patients with RICMs. The features of these RICMs were then compared with features of nonradiation cavernous malformations (CMs) in 270 patients.
Thirty-two patients with RICMs were identified (56.2% men), with a median age of 31.1 years at RICM diagnosis. The median latency from radiation treatment to RICM diagnosis was 12.0 years (interquartile range 5.0-19.6 years). RICMs were always within the previous radiation port. RICMs were symptomatic at diagnosis in 46.9%, and were associated with symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage at any time in 43.8%. Older age at the time of radiation treatment and higher radiation dose were associated with shorter latency. RICMs tended to be diagnosed at a younger age than nonradiation CMs (median 31.1 vs 42.4 years, respectively; p = 0.054) but were significantly less likely to be symptomatic at the time of diagnosis (46.9% vs 65.8%, respectively; p = 0.036). RICMs were more likely to be multiple CMs than nonradiation CMs (p = 0.0002). Prospectively, the risk of symptomatic hemorrhage was 4.2% for RICMs and 2.3% for nonradiation CMs per person-year (p = 0.556). In the absence of symptoms at presentation, the risk of hemorrhage for RICMs was higher than for nonradiation CMs (4.2% vs 0.35%, respectively; p = 0.118).
In this patient population, RICMs occurred within the radiation port approximately 12 years after radiation treatment. Compared with nonradiation CMs, RICMs were more likely to occur as multiple CMs, to present at a younger age, and were at least as likely to cause symptomatic hemorrhage.
This article describes a 10-year cooperative effort between the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and five major journals in the field of thermophysical and thermochemical ...properties to improve the quality of published reports of experimental data. The journals are Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data, The Journal of Chemical Thermodynamics, Fluid Phase Equilibria, Thermochimica Acta, and International Journal of Thermophysics. The history of this unique cooperation is outlined, together with an overview of software tools and procedures that have been developed and implemented to aid authors, editors, and reviewers at all stages of the publication process, including experiment planning. Both successes and failures are highlighted. The procedures are now well established and are designed to yield maximum benefit to all stakeholders (authors, editors, reviewers, publishers, readers, data users, etc.) through the establishment of procedures and support tools that efficiently serve the specific interests of those involved. All specially designed tools and procedures are described fully, together with their benefits and examples of application. A key feature of the cooperation is the efficient validation of experimental data after peer review but before acceptance for publication. Nearly 1000 articles per year are considered within the scope of this work, with significant problems identified in roughly one-third of these. Full statistics for the findings are given, and a variety of examples of common problems found are given.
Microclimatic planning and design can ameliorate negative effects of global climate change. Design modifications to outdoor environments can increase thermal comfort, and in extreme cases can be ...life-saving. This is not work for amateurs, or for professionals using their intuition or personal experiences. This work must be based on scholarly evidence acquired through carefully designed studies, accurate and precise measurements, and appropriate analysis. Built landscapes should be evaluated to determine if they achieved their microclimate modifying objectives, and the resulting information should be used to inform future studies. Methods for incorporating microclimate information in design should be made more user-friendly and accessible to designers, and knowledge about the effects of landscape planning and design on climate should be effectively communicated to decision-makers at all levels.
Recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) is often considered at odds with harm reduction strategies. More recently, harm reduction has been categorized as both a pathway to recovery and a series of ...services to reduce the harmful consequences of substance use. Peer recovery support services (PRSS) are effective in improving SUD outcomes, as well as improving the engagement and effectiveness of harm reduction programs.
This study provides an initial evaluation of a hybrid recovery community organization providing PRSS as well as peer-based harm reduction services via a syringe exchange program. Administrative data collected during normal operations of the Missouri Network for Opiate Reform and Recovery were analyzed using Pearson chi-square tests and Monte Carlo chi-square tests.
Intravenous substance-using participants (N = 417) had an average of 2.14 engagements (SD = 2.59) with the program. Over the evaluation period, a range of 5345-8995 sterile syringes were provided, with a range of 600-1530 used syringes collected. Participant housing status, criminal justice status, and previous health diagnosis were all significantly related to whether they had multiple engagements.
Results suggest that recovery community organizations are well situated and staffed to also provide harm reduction services, such as syringe exchange programs. Given the relationship between engagement and participant housing, criminal justice status, and previous health diagnosis, recommendations for service delivery include additional education and outreach for homeless, justice-involved, LatinX, and LGBTQ+ identifying individuals.
Climate change and anthropogenic activities are affecting the entire earth, where urban areas are not an exception, being affected by extreme weather conditions and environmental disturbances. Urban ...expansion and industrial development have negatively affected the local climatic condition due to green space deficiency, soil moisture loss, soil erosion, land subsidence, high runoff, and low infiltration rate. Megacities are needed proper management and awareness for healthy ecosystem. The study investigated the properties of land alteration on the urban heat island (UHI) in the city of Seville, Spain. Earth observational Landsat 5 TM and 8 OLI/TIRS remote sensing datasets were used for generating the urban expansion and related land alteration. The study results indicate that built-up land increased by 139.2 Km
2
while agricultural land decreased by 104.07 Km
2
. Open space and plantation areas also decreased by 62.33 Km
2
and 30.76 Km
2
, respectively. The average temperature increase was around 0.13 °C per year between 1991 and 2021. Megacities need appropriate development, design, and supervision for sustainable urban development to avoid further UHI intensification. UHI map indicates that thermal variation increased from 2.21 °C (1991) to 3.42 °C (2021). The ecological disturbances also identified using UTFVI and the maps denoted that UTFVI values increased by 0.005 from 1991 to 2021. The present study outcomes are obliging for planners, researchers, and other participants for future evidence-based disaster planning and management.
Global climate change and intensifying heat islands have reduced human thermal comfort and health in urban outdoor environments. However, there has been little research that has focused on how ...microclimates affect human thermal comfort, both psychologically and physiologically. We investigated the effect of a range of landscape microclimates on human thermal comfort and health using questionnaires and physiological measurements, including skin temperature, skin conductance, and heart rate variability, and compared the results with the effect of prevailing climate conditions in open spaces. We observed that in landscape microclimates, thermal sensation votes significantly decreased from 1.18 ± 0.66 (warm–hot) to 0.23 ± 0.61 (neutral–slightly warm), and thermal comfort increased from 1.18 ± 0.66 (uncomfortable–neutral) to 0.23 ± 0.61 (neutral–comfortable). In the landscape microclimates, skin temperature and skin conductance decreased 0.3 ± 0.8 °C and 0.6 ± 1.0 μs, respectively, while in the control, these two parameters increased by 0.5 ± 0.9 °C and 0.2 ± 0.7 μs, respectively. Further, in landscape microclimates, subject heart rate variability increased significantly. These results suggest landscape microclimates improve human thermal comfort and health, both psychologically and physiologically. These findings can provide an evidence base that will assist urban planners in designing urban environments for the health and wellbeing of residents.
To study the long-term risk of cerebrovascular events, seizures, and cognitive impairment in patients with transient global amnesia (TGA).
Data for all patients diagnosed with possible TGA in Olmsted ...County, Minnesota, between January 1, 1985, through December 31, 2010, were retrieved from the Rochester Epidemiology Project database. Transient global amnesia was defined clinically. End points were cerebrovascular event (stroke or transient ischemic attack), seizure, or cognitive impairment (mild cognitive impairment or dementia) during follow-up. End points were studied using Kaplan-Meier survival plots and log-rank test.
A total of 221 patients with TGA were identified and 221 age- and sex-matched controls were included in the analysis. The mean duration of follow-up was 12 years in both groups (range, 0.07-29.93). Prevalence of vascular risk factors and history of seizures were similar between both groups. Previous migraine was more common in the TGA group (42 patients 19.1% vs 12 patients 5.4%; P<.001). There was no statistically significant difference between survival curves for the TGA group and the control group using time to any type of cerebrovascular event (log-rank P=.30), time to seizures event (log-rank P=.55), and time to cognitive impair event (log-rank P=.88) as end points. The TGA recurrence occurred in 5.4% of patients after a median interval of 4.21 years (interquartile range, 2.82-8.44). Modified Rankin scale and death rates at last follow-up were also similar between both groups.
Our findings indicate that having an episode of TGA does not increase the risk of subsequent cerebrovascular events, seizures, or cognitive impairment.
PDF
