Welcome to Biomedicine & Prevention

Biomedicine & Prevention is a peer-reviewed, open access journal that publishes original research articles as well as review articles in several areas of the life sciences. The journal’s Editorial Board covers several subject areas mainly focusing on prevention and health promotion. Prevention is covered not as an exclusive health competence discipline but in a holistic way, including environmental sciences, engineering, physics, legal implications and legislation.

The Governance of Prevention in France

Prevention in France is in a phase of significant development. The strategies and policies in the health field over the last decade have shown an increasing focus on prevention. The most recent reforms approved in early 2016 place the focus of the health system on prevention, with particular reference to the promotion of health and wellbeing in young generations and prevention of health inequalities.

A new approach to assess the health of workers

Occupational health represents a main issue worldwide because workers amount to half the world’s population. Aim of this work is to assess general health status among COVA’s workers, using an innovative approach, integrating elements of epidemiology and of community health. According to clinical records, from 1999 to 2018 hearing disorders (19.6%) represent the most common diseases among Centro Olio Val d’Agri (COVA)’s workers, with a significant increase in prevalence rate compared with Italy (11.29%, p<0.0001). Contrariwise, a number of non-communicable diseases (hypertension, diseases of vertebral column, musculoskeletal disorders, hearth rhythm disorders, gastrointestinal disorders) were significantly decreased compared with national data. Also prevalence rate for neoplasms was lower than Italian benchmark: 12 cases of malignant tumor were detected, with a prevalence of 1.44% (National data 4.90%, p<0.0001). Concerning individual lifestyles, COVA’s workers show significantly worse personal behaviors compared with the national data: an overweight/obesity rate of 62% was recorded, compared with a national data of 42.2% (p<0.0001); sedentary workers represent the 54.3% of the sample (national data 32.5%, p<0.0001); the 81% of the examined workers declares to consume alcohol (national data 55.1%, p<0.0001). Differently, no significant differences in tobacco smoking rate was recorded in comparison with national data.

In vitro experimental models to study the efficiency of the placental barrier for environmental toxicants: tumor cell lines versus trophoblast primary cells.

Mammalian development is characterized by an evolutionary innovation represented by the trophoblast, which contributes to the formation of the placenta, a transient organ regulating exchange of nutrients, gases and waste material between the mother and the developing fetus. Survival of the fetus relies on proper development of the placenta, which is also responsible for the formation of a selective barrier that protects the embryo, at least in part, from xenobiotics. The barrier function of the placenta has been investigated for viral/bacterial transfer and for drug and nanoparticulate matter access to the fetal compartment. Since species specific structural differences exist, results on the ability of xenobiotics to access the placental barrier obtained from animal studies cannot be automatically transposed to humans. However, in vivo studies on human placenta permeability cannot be performed, and the use of in vitro alternative methods are in great need. In the present mini-review we will present and critically discuss the available in vitro methods that have been so far developed and present a new model system that we have recently established.

An informatics tool to analyse child growth indexes: first results of Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) software

Nowadays, health problems related to malnutrition still threats several countries. Undernutrition problems are more spread in low-income countries and high level of this malnutrition usually led to infant and premature deaths. Obesity and overweight usually ran to several diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. The World Health Organization has been produced the child growth standards. These standards are made through statistical models those give how the examined child is far from healthy growth values. They allow to monitor, prevent and mitigate child malnutrition and growth disorders. This work shows a new software able to analyse large numbers of data regarding the Mid-Upper Arm Circumference. Furthermore, the software elaborates statistical data in graphical forms, such as gaussian and cumulative distributions, scatter plots and warnings.

Displaced Population, Refugees of Multiple Traumas and the World Most Harsh, Injustice and Deterrent Immigration Policies

UNHCR report on forced displacement (2016) has suggested quote that “over the past two decades, the global of forcibly displaced population has grown substantially from 33.9 million 1997 to 65.6 million in 2016, and it remains at record high. The growth was concentrated between 2012 and 2015, driven by the Syrian conflict along other conflicts in the region such as Iraq, as well ”. While focusing on harsh and deterrent policies and refugees of multiple traumas of regions such as Syria, Iraq, Libya, Lebanon and those recently displaced Muslim population of Myanmar (formerly Burma), the core issues presented here will be mainly the highlight of recent policies, suffering of women and children of war regions alongside vision of possible UN long-term solutions. Rehabilitation, meetings their needs and rebuilding lives may be the start of such solution which ultimately aims to support resiliency and invest in building infrastructure that meet essential health-care, educational needs of young children of traumatized refugee families.

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