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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1976

[World health-related indicators].

Many of the statistics given in this report are estimates based on tentative data and on that extent are not reliable in a strict sense. But the picture they present of gross differences in demographic and social characteristics, in vital statistics, and in resources of medical manpower and hospital beds between major areas of the world is real. More than half of the people of the world live in South Asia and East Asia; population density is highest in Western Europe; and highest rates of population growth are in Middle America and Tropical South America. In Europe less than one-third of the population are aged under 20 years, whereas more than half the population are aged under 20 im Middle and Tropical South America and the Carribbean, in Africa and in South Asia. Urbanization is high in Temperate South America, Northern America, Northern and Western Europe, and Oceania. The daily dietary energy supply per person is 50% higher in Northern America, Europe, USSR, and Ocenia than in Africa (excluding Southern Africa, South and East Asia. The Gross National Product in Northern America is 10 times higher than in Tropical South America and 30 to 40 times higher than in Western Middle and Eastern Africa and in Middle South and South East Asia. Crude birth rates are close to three times higher in Africa, Middle America and South Asia than in Europe, North America and USSR. Differences in crude death rates are less--rates in Western, Middle and Eastern Africa are double these of America Europe, USSR and Oceania. The Expectation of Life is over 70 years for Northern America, Europe, USSR and Oceania. It is under 50 years for Western, Middle and Eastern Africa. In all areas the expectation of life at birth has increased--by up to 10 years--in the past quarter century. Infant mortality is less than 20 per 1 000 in Northern and Western Europe and Northern America. It is over 100 in Africa and South Asia. Number of physicians range from 25 per 10 000 population in USSR to less than 1 per 10 000 in Western, Middle and Eastern Africa. There are over 100 hospital beds per 10 000 population in USSR and in Northern and Western Europe, less than 10 per 10 000 in Western Africa, Middle South Asia and South East Asia.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

Socio-demographic determinants of stopping smoking from Italian population-based surveys.

Frequency and determinants of smoking cessation were analysed using data from two Italian National Health Surveys, conducted in 1983 and 1986-87 on samples of 89,753 and 77,155 individuals respectively, randomly selected within strata of region of residence, size of the municipality and of the household, in order to be representative of the general Italian population. Overall stopping ratios or "quit ratios" (i.e., ratios between ex- and ever-smokers) were 20.5% for males and 9.0% for females in the 1983 survey, and rose to 23.2 and 11.9% respectively in 1986-87. With reference to age, stopping rates were slightly higher for females than for males below age 35, but considerably higher for males in each subsequent age group, particularly in middle age. Ratios were apparently higher for the most recent survey for both sexes and each subsequent age group. After standardisation for age, "quit ratios" in both sexes were directly related with education. Cessation of smoking was more common in northern (and richer) areas of the country, and positively associated with the prevalence of smoking-related chronic diseases. The major, and most discouraging, finding from these analyses is the absolute low rate of stopping in Italy as compared to northern America or northern Europe, although some positive tendency towards increasing cessation was evident between the early and the late 1980s. These tendencies, together with some recent drops in smoking prevalence in younger women, first observed after decades of increase, indicate a change at least in attitudes towards reporting smoking, and hence social acceptance of the habit.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Antigenic variants of the Soldado virus (Nairovirus, Bunyaviridae) isolated in different parts of the world.

Antigenic analysis of 9 strains of the Soldado virus, originating from seven different countries of Central and Northern America, Africa, Northern Europe and of the Pacific area was carried out by means of complement fixation (CF) and immunodiffusion (ID) tests. Three strains isolated from Ornithodoros (A.) capensis, including the reference Trinidad strain, were found to be related within the same relatively heterogeneous sub-group C, being characteristic for the New World. Five other strains isolated from Ornithodoros (A.) maritimus were classified to form an another, much more homogeneous subgroup M, characteristic for the Old World (related to the Ireland strain). The South Africa strain, isolated form Ornithodoros (A.), probably capensis, could not be classified in either of the above two subgroups. Thus, the Soldado virus in fact represents a complex of more or less closely related strains, but not a single virus.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed1997

[Re-emergence of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus in French Guiana. Apropos of 1 confirmed case].

Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) is a mosquito-borne viral disease that occurs in equine species and in man. The strains can be grouped epidemiologically into two major categories: enzootic and epizootic. Enzootic strains cause sporadic human disease and are not associated with disease among equines. These strains are found throughout Florida. Central America, northern South America and Brazil. Epizootic strains are associated with enormous morbidity and mortality in equine species. In man, VEE virus infections are largely asymptomatic and in children and young adults there is an increased risk of encephalitis and dead. We report the first case in French Guiana of Venezuelan equine encephalitis. Clinical examination and biological studies showed encephalitis, interstitial pneumonia and acute liver failure. Despite an adequate symptomatic treatment, the young patient died five days after her admission in multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Diagnosis is establishing by virologic test: VEE virus is isolated from the blood. These example of re-emerging infectious disease vividly illustrate that we remains vulnerable and emphasizes the need for an active surveillance system.

Blood↗
PubMed1993

A genotype of hepatitis D virus that occurs in northern South America.

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is the cause of an unusually severe form of liver disease with distinct histologic features (morula cell) that occurs throughout northern South America and certain other areas of the world. Clinical studies of HDV disease worldwide indicate that there is, in fact, a wide variation in pathogenesis, and the reasons for these differences are presently unknown. One possible explanation is that factors associated with the viral genotype are determinants of HDV pathogenesis. In this study, nucleic acid sequences were determined for three different northern South American HDV isolates which were obtained from individuals with severe disease or a family history of severe disease, in areas that are hyperendemic for this disease pattern. The sequences of these three isolates are very similar to one another but only distantly related to other published HDV sequences. Comparison of the sequence of a semiconserved region from a total of 14 isolates indicates that there are at least three HDV genotypes. Most published HDV sequences, including those from North America, Europe, the Middle East, the South Pacific, and Asia, belong to a single genotype which may have some geographically based subtypes. A single Japanese isolate is the sole representative of a second HDV genotype. The South American sequences reported here constitute a third genotype. The association of a particular genotype with the severe form of type D hepatitis that occurs in northern South America supports the hypothesis that HDV genetic factors are important determinants in the pathogenesis of type D hepatitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

[The world is free of pox - Implementation and success of a grandiose program].

At the beginning of this century the compulsory vaccination and revaccination which was legally founded after the introduction of the vaccination by Jenner (1796) led to the removal of the smallpox in Europe and Northern America. However, up to the sixties in the developing countries of Asia, Africa as well as of Southern America and Middle America still fell ill and died of small-pox millions of people. Between 1953 and 1973 importations into countries of Europe and Northern America took place in 51 cases. In 1959 on the motion of the USSR the WHO decided performance of a world-wide eradication programme of small-pox which could be led to success with comprehensive personal, material and financial support of many countries. Flanking scientific, technological and methodical measures were of essential importance. In May 1980 the World Health Assembly in Geneva announced in solemn form the world-wide eradication of the small-pox and gave recommendations to the member countries for concluding measures concerning the small-pox vaccination, the foundation of vaccine reserves and the control of the epidemiological situation in the world. Also in the GDR the small-pox vaccination in childhood could be abolished.

Developing Countries↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Specific histologic features of Santa Marta hepatitis: a severe form of hepatitis delta-virus infection in northern South America.

Stimulated by observations in an outbreak of hepatitis delta-virus infection among Yucpa Indians in Venezuela, in which unusual histologic features were found, we studied 100 cases of fatal hepatitis from Colombia, South America, which had been obtained by autopsy or viscerotomy. These cases were considered to be "Santa Marta hepatitis," or "hepatitis of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta," which has been observed in this region for more than 40 years. Of the 100 cases, 19 had a variety of histologic lesions or were normal, and hepatitis delta-virus antigen was not demonstrated immunocytochemically in any of them. By contrast, 81 cases had a characteristic histologic picture with intense microvesicular steatosis associated with conspicuous eosinophilic necrosis of the hepatocytes, which apparently were sluggishly removed by cytolysis. Hepatitis delta-virus antigen was detected in 70% of the 81 cases, and the absence of detection of this antigen was often associated with poor tissue preservation and more extensive hepatocyte necrosis. A smaller percentage of patients had hepatitis B virus antigens detectable in liver tissue. The characteristic lesion in these 81 cases could be distinguished from other causes of microvesicular steatosis by the extensive eosinophilic necrosis. Other variable accompanying features included intraacinar, mainly macrophagic, scavenger cell inflammation, intense portal inflammation, a parenchymal regeneration, and ductular and arteriolar proliferation. Santa Marta hepatitis as a severe form of hepatitis delta-virus infection differs markedly from fulminant delta-hepatitis in Europe and the United States in which the microsteatosis with marked eosinophilic degeneration is not found. The causes for these differences are unknown but may relate to nutritional factors or environmental toxins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed1984

Peopling of northern North America: clues from genetic studies.

The paper reviews the archaeological evidence for the length of human occupation in N. America and raises the question whether single or multiple movements of people out of Asia into America occurred, pointing out that considerable genetic variation can occur in small isolated populations in relatively short periods of time. The entire subarctic culture area is populated by speakers of either Athapascan or Algonkian language families. The archaeologic record for tracing the origin of these linguistic groups depends on items of material culture and these have been used to trace the origin of the modern peoples back for a few thousand years. Comparison between groups based on genetic data suffers from unevenness of the data for various Athapascan-and Algonkian-speaking groups. The problem is made more difficult by the smallness of populations and inadequate sample size. The gene diversity measure H of Nei has been used on data for the Athapaskan Dogrib. It suggests that there was probably significant gene diversity present in sub-arctic groups in pre-contact times. Probably this is true also for the Algonkians as typified by the Ojibwa. Examination of the apportioned gene diversity shows that the bulk of the diversity exists within groups rather than between groups. Genetic clues to the peopling of the Americas derive from specific marker genes and from genetic distance statistics. The distribution of the Dia and the GmZa; b03st alleles suggest that Athapaskan genetic links are towards the Bering Sea area while Algonkian connections are towards the south. Nei's genetic distance statistic was calculated for 13 populations using 14 blood group and enzyme loci. The dendrogram derived from the D matrix shows that Eskimos and Chukchi cluster together, and the Athapaskans are closer to the Eskimos than are the Algonkians. These relationships could be valid if the origin of Eskimos goes back to a population of Asiatic Beringia and that populations north of the late Wisconsin ice sheets included a group that led to the Athapaskans whilst populations south of the Wisconsin ice sheet led to the Algonkians.

Anthropology, Physical↗
PubMed1976

[World trends in infant mortality since 1950].

Despite the considerable progress made in recent decades, and perhaps even partly because of the very uneven distribution of this progress, infant mortality is still very high in some regions, whereas in other regions it is tending, if not disappear completely, at least to become numerically negligible even though remaining a matter of social concern. Whereas in tropical Africa almost one child in five dies before its first birthday, in Japan or Scandinavia it is one child in a hundred. Infant mortality rate varies between these two extremes, but there is a substantial gulf between the "most developed" regions which are all below 30% and the "least developed" regions which fall into three categories: 65-100% (Latin America, Eastern Asia except Japan), around 140% (Northern Africa, South Asia, Melanesia), and about 200% (topical Africa). These inequalities between countries overlap with inequalities between social groupings by urbanization, social/occupational level, education and income, are all variables that are correlated with infant mortality to a greater or lesser degree. The pace of the progress achieved since 1950 seems to be independent of the starting level. Contrary to the development of mortality at other ages, it is not in the countries with high mortality that infant mortality has decreased most. The pace of reduction divides the most developed regions into three distinct groups: very rapid reduction (Japan), rapid reduction (Scandinavia, Western Europe, Southern Europe and Eastern Europe), and slower reduction (British Isles, Northern America and Australia/New Zealand). Thus Japan rapidly caught up with Western Europe and the English-speaking countries and has now reached the same level as Scandinavia. On the other hand, the English-speaking countries have fallen behind the Scandinavian countries and are now at par with Western Europe. The reduction of infant mortality mainly concerned deaths of children over one month of age or even over one week of age and otherwise is due to reduction of infectious diseases. Consequently, in the most developed regions mortality is highly concentrated in the first week of life and is mainly attributable to the "causes of perinatal mortality" and the "congenital" anomalies". In the least developed regions, on the other hand, the infectious or parasitic diseases are still of decisive importance and the risk of death remains very high throughout the first year of life and even beyond. The risk may be even higher during the second year, when weaning takes place abruptly and results in serious difficulties in feeding.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1997

Distribution and prevalence of major risk factors of noncommunicable diseases in selected countries: the WHO Inter-Health Programme.

The Inter-Health Programme was launched in 1986 by WHO, with the collaboration of a coordination centre (National Public Health Institute, Finland) to control and prevent chronic noncommunicable diseases (CNCDs) among adults. Programmes for action were organized based on the concept that most major CNCDs share common risk factors and that those that are lifestyle related are modifiable through efficient interventions using multifactorial strategies involving community participation and behaviour changes carried out at the primary health care level. Twelve countries from all WHO Regions have joined the programme. A baseline survey was undertaken in all countries with a common protocol, following the criteria and methods employed in the MONICA Project. Altogether 36815 men and women aged 35-64 years were included in the present analysis from the following Inter-Health countries: Chile, China, Cyprus, Finland, Lithuanian SSR, Malta, Mauritius, Russian SFSR, United Republic of Tanzania, and USA. In addition to individual country analysis, centralized analysis was carried out at the Finnish National Public Health Institute and the Department of Community Health, Kuopio University, Finland. Reported here are the mean values of blood pressure, body mass index, and serum total cholesterol as well as specific prevalences of smoking, hypertension, obesity, and hypercholesterolaemia.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Use of multiple clips for tubal occlusion in interval laparoscopic sterilization: circumstances and consequences.

The use of multiple clips for the occlusion of the Fallopian tubes has been reported in interval laparoscopic sterilization, but the circumstances leading to the performance of the multiple-clip procedure and its effects on safety and efficacy have not been carefully studied. A data set from international multi-center clinical trials of Filshie clips and Wolf (Hulka) clips was used to examine the possible reasons for performing this procedure for 102 women. Their complications, complaints, and surgical and post-surgical events before discharge and during one month of follow-up were compared with those of the 408 women whose tubes were occluded by single clip. Results indicate that multiple clips were most often used when surgical difficulties (and to a much lesser degree, tubal and/or mesosalpingeal injury) were encountered during the sterilization procedure. No increased risk of short-term complications or complaints (including pelvic pain) was found at one-month follow-up for those patients who received multiple clips.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

The international occurrence of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Through December 1984, 9932 cases of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome have been reported, mainly from North and South America and Europe; 85% of these cases occurred in the United States. Haiti and the United States have the highest incidence rates, 59 and 36 per million population, respectively. Rates in the United States range from 0.3 (beginning of 1981) to 10.4 (end of 1984). Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Switzerland, France, West Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands show a slower increase. Homosexual men and intravenous drug users are still the main risk groups in the United States and Europe. The disease is prevalent in heterosexual Haitians and Africans whether they live in their own countries or abroad. Cases of the syndrome have been identified in Zaire, Rwanda, Zambia, and Uganda, but its full extent is not yet known. Consistent with the general history of epidemics, the appearance of geographically separated sites of incidence of the syndrome could be linked to population migrations; however no evidence has been found to identify an index location.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

Risk factors for cervical cancer in Greenland and Denmark: a population-based cross-sectional study.

The incidence of cervical cancer in Greenlandic women aged 20-39 years is nearly 6 times higher than in Danish women of the same age. Possible determinants of cervical cancer incidence were investigated in a population-based cross-sectional study. From Nuuk (Greenland) and Nykøbing Falster (Denmark) a sample of 800 women aged 20-39 years was drawn at random. A total of 586 and 661 women were studied in Greenland and Denmark, respectively. All underwent a personal interview. In Greenland, 13% of the women reported first intercourse before the age of 14 in contrast to 3.5% in Denmark, and nearly 85% of the Greenlanders had their sexual debut before the end of the 16th year of age whereas this applied to only 45% of the Danish women. The prevalence of women with 0-1 lifetime sexual partner was 20.4% in Denmark, and only 1.7% in Greenland. In contrast, 53.2% of the Greenlandic women reported more than 20 partners and 22.4% more than 40 partners. The corresponding figures for Denmark were 3.6% and 0.3%, respectively. In Greenland the most common contraceptive method was the use of intra-uterine devices (73.6%), whereas, in Denmark, oral contraceptive use was most frequent (87.9%). Few Greenlanders had ever used "barrier" contraceptives (diaphragm: 1.4%; condom: 18.1%) compared to Denmark (diaphragm: 10.1%; condom: 53.9%). As many as 87.4% were current smokers in Greenland (Denmark: 53.6%) and 5.6% claimed to have never smoked, whereas this applied to 35.3% in Denmark. The indications of a higher sexual activity (multiple partners, early age at first intercourse) in Greenland compared to Denmark are in line with the observed higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases and with the hypothesis that differences in cervical cancer incidence between Greenland and Denmark are determined by aspects of sexual background.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

The use of intrauterine contraceptive devices, pelvic inflammatory disease, and Chlamydia trachomatis infection.

With the same epidemiologic approach taken in a recent study that suggested that oral contraceptive use may not protect against chlamydial pelvic inflammatory disease, the risks of chlamydial pelvic inflammatory disease were evaluated for intrauterine contraceptive device users. Compared with women using no method of contraception, intrauterine contraceptive device users were not found to be at any higher risk of cervical chlamydial infection. Whether this places intrauterine contraceptive device users at no increased risk of chlamydial pelvic inflammatory disease cannot be ascertained from the available data. Further research is needed before any conclusions can be made regarding the risks of chlamydial pelvic inflammatory disease to users of intrauterine contraceptive devices, oral contraceptives, and other contraceptive methods.

Chlamydia Infections↗