Pan American Health Organization

About: Pan American Health Organization is a healthcare organization based out in Havana, Cuba. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Public health. The organization has 1500 authors who have published 2263 publications receiving 83705 citations. The organization is also known as: HO Regional Office for the Americas.

BRICS and global health

Abstract: The influence of the BRICS countries -Brazil the Russian Federation India China and South Africa -in the inter¬national arena has risen enormously in recent decades. These five countries represent around 25% of the world’s gross national income more than 40% of the world’s population and about 40% of the global burden of disease.12 Although great attention has been paid to their economic performance less widely noted is the fact that they are also well positioned to exert a significant influence on global health. This theme issue on BRICS and global health looks at the main factors shaping how the five countries are al¬ready influencing global health as well as some of their major domestic achieve¬ments and challenges. Each country has unique characteristics in terms of health performance and global health diplomacy. (Excerpt)

Reducing automobile traffic: an urgent policy for health promotion

Abstract: In recent decades traffic injuries have become a leading cause of death and disability the world over. In congested urban areas, the noise and emissions from vehicle engines cause discomfort and disease. More than one billion people are exposed daily to harmful levels of atmospheric contamination. Because internal combustion generates carbon dioxide (CO2), the automobile is a principal contributor to the greenhouse effect, which has significantly raised the temperature of the atmosphere. Scientists anticipate that in coming decades the greenhouse effect will produce alterations in climate that are very likely to be harmful and possibly catastrophic. Meanwhile, burgeoning traffic and rural and urban highway infrastructures are already among the principal causes of environmental degradation. Urban development, because it is nearly always "planned" to accommodate automobiles rather than people, reduces the quality of life and tears the social fabric. In contrast to private automobiles, public transportation, bicycles, and walking produce little environmental contamination or injury-related morbidity and mortality. These modes of transport involve more physical activity, with its positive health effects, and avoid contributing to the greenhouse effect. The reduction of automobile traffic and substitution of alternative modes of transport are essential policies for health promotion. They should be incorporated in "healthy cities" programs and general economic policies.

Vertical transmission risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the third trimester: a systematic scoping review.

Abstract: Background: Studies on COVID-19 infection in pregnancy thus far have largely focused on characterizing maternal and neonatal clinical characteristics. However, another evolving focus is assessing and mitigating the risk of vertical transmission amongst COVID-19-positive mothers. The objective of this review was to summarize the current evidence on the vertical transmission potential of COVID-19 infection in the third trimester and its effects on the neonate.Methods: OVID MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trial (CENTRAL) were searched from January 2020 to May 2020, with continuous surveillance.Results: 18 studies met the inclusion criteria, consisting of 157 mothers and 160 neonates. The mean age of the pregnant patients was 30.8 years and the mean gestational period was 37 weeks and 1 d. Currently, there is currently no conclusive evidence to suggest that vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurs. Amongst 81 (69%) neonates who were tested for SARS-CoV-2, 5 (6%) had a positive result. However, amongst these 5 neonates, the earliest test was performed at 16 h after birth, and only 1 neonate was positive when they were later re-tested. However, this neonate initially tested negative at birth, suggesting that the SARS-CoV-2 infection was likely hospital-acquired rather than vertically transmitted. 13 (8%) neonates had complications or symptoms.Conclusions: The findings of this rapid descriptive review based on early clinical evidence suggest that vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from mother to neonate/newborn did not occur. Future studies are needed to determine the optimal management of neonates born to COVID-19-positive mothers.

Pretreatment HIV-1 drug resistance in Argentina: results from a surveillance study performed according to WHO-proposed new methodology in 2014–15

Abstract: BACKGROUND In Argentina, current national guidelines recommend starting with NNRTI-based regimens Recently, there have been some local reports regarding concerning levels of NNRTI-transmitted resistance, but surveillance has never been carried out at a national level OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence of HIV drug resistance in people starting ART in Argentina using a WHO-proposed methodology METHODS This was a cross-sectional, nationally representative study Twenty-five antiretroviral-dispensing sites throughout the country were randomly chosen to enrol at least 330 persons starting ART, to generate a point prevalence estimate of resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) with a 5% CI (for the total population and for those without antiretroviral exposure) All consecutive patients older than 18 years starting or restarting ART in the chosen clinics were eligible Samples were processed with Trugene and analysed using the Stanford algorithm RESULTS Between August 2014 and March 2015, we obtained 330 samples from people starting ART The mean ± SD age was 35 ± 11 years, 634% were male, 166% had prior antiretroviral exposure and the median (IQR) CD4 count was 275 cells/mm3 (106-461) The prevalence of RAMs found was 14% (±4%) for the whole population (3% NRTI-RAMs; 11% NNRTI-RAMs and 2% PI-RAMs) and 13% (±4%) for those without prior antiretroviral exposure (3%, 10% and 2%, respectively) The most common mutation was K103N CONCLUSIONS This surveillance study showed concerning levels of HIV drug resistance in Argentina, especially to NNRTIs Due to this finding, Argentina's Ministry of Health guidelines will change, recommending performing a resistance test for everyone before starting ART If this is taken up properly, it also might function as a continuing surveillance tool