Special Issue "Recent Advances in Public Health"

Editor-in-Chief
Prof. Dr. Paul B. Tchounwou
Molecular Toxicology Research Laboratory, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi 39217, USA
Website: http://www.jsums.edu/cset/Biology/faculty/tchounwou.htm
E-Mail:
Interests: molecular toxicology; mutagenesis and carcinogenesis; environmental epidemiology and health risk assessment; biomarkers of exposure; effect and susceptibility; gene-environment interactions and diseases; natural resource damage assessment and management

Submission

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Enteric Protozoan Infections: What Role for Foodborne Transmission?
Authors: Andrew Thompson and Andrew Smith
Affiliation: School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Australia; E-mails: a.thompson@murdoch.edu.au; Andrew.Smith@murdoch.edu.au
Abstract: Species of the enteric protozoan parasites Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Entamoeba, Blastocystis, Isospora, and Cyclospora are transmitted primarily via the faecal-oral route as well as through contamination of water and food. Depending on the species, contamination may be of human or animal (zoonotic) origin. Unfortunately, the degree to which foodborne transmission contributes to overall prevalence levels remains largely unknown, particularly in developing regions of the world where this mode of infection is likely to be of most significance. Here we review the current status and limitations of knowledge about the epidemiology of foodborne enteric protozoan parasite infections globally, discuss limitations and suggest several methods, including targeted data collection and focussed epidemiological investigations, that may improve our current understanding.

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Public Health Policies in Brazil: Socio-Environmental Strategies to Promotion and Protection Vulnerable Families’ Health
Author: Marta Regina Cezar-Vaz; E-Mail: cezarvaz@vetorial.net
Abstract: The existence of a large number of Brazilian families who live in a situation of socio-environmental vulnerability forced the Ministry of Health to re-structure the model of Primary Health Care in 1994. It implemented the Family Health Program (FHP) in order to decrease inequality regarding the access to health services and to meet the population’s overriding needs equitably. The FHP is an innovative proposal based on the principles of universality, integrality, and equity; it aims at devising new health practices and at developing community groups’ potentialities as multidisciplinary teams have been implemented in different regions around the country. Several studies have monitored the effectiveness of the FHP concerning its coverage range and the level of action resolution. This comprehensive review aims at (1) identifying the effectiveness of the FHP regarding the coverage range in relation to the population’s socio-environmental features, and (2) identifying strategies that are used to improve the program while stressing the main health problems reported by families in a situation of socio-environmental vulnerability.

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Latin America and the Caribbean: Assessment of Recent Advances in Public Health for the Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals
Authors: Amal K. Mitra and Gisela Rodriguez Fernandez
Affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001, USA; E-Mail: amal.mitra@usm.edu
Abstract: To improve health and economy of the world population, the United Nations has set up eight international goals, known as Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), that 192 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015. The goals include: 1) eradicating extreme poverty and hunger; 2) achieving universal primary education; 3) promoting gender equality; 4) reducing child mortality; 5) improving maternal health; 6) combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; 7) ensuring environmental sustainability; and 8) developing a global partnership for development. Having been in the midway from the 2015 deadline, the UN Secretary-General urges countries to engage constructively to review progress towards the MDGs. This paper aims to evaluate advances in public health, with special reference to global burden of disease, neglected tropical diseases, vaccination and vaccine-preventable diseases, antibiotic use, sanitation and safe water, nutrition, tobacco and alcohol use, indicators of health, and disease prevention. The paper also identifies areas of deficits for the achievement of MDGs in Latin America and the Caribbean region (LAC)

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Applied Nanotechnology for the Detection of the Genetic or the Immunogenic Footprint of Mycobacteria
Author: Ikonomopoulos Ioannis
Affiliation: School of Animal Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855, Botanikos, Athens, Greece; ikonomop@aua.gr
Abstract: Despite the progress recorded to this day tuberculosis is still considered a major cause of disability and death. The diagnostic investigation of incidences of the disease in humans and animals is laborious and costly. Recent advances in nanotechnology offer a very promising alternative for easy-to-use assays with small dependency on dedicated equipment. Research on this field has focused mainly on gold nanoparticles and cadmium selenite quantum dots. This review will present the relevant advances for the detection of the genetic or the immunogenic footprint of mycobacteria making reference to the basic properties of the nanoparticles mentioned above. The aim is to facilitate the understanding of this new technology in terms of its potential use in microbial detection.

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Improving Public Health Through Access to Medication Assisted Treatment
Authors: Thomas F. Kresina and Robert Lubran
Affiliation: Division of Pharmacologic Therapies, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, USA; E-Mail: Thomas.Kresina@samhsa.hhs.gov
Abstract: Providing access to medication assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid dependence provides an important opportunity to improve public health through increasing substance abuse treatment capacity. The type and placement of the health services comprising MAT and their relationship to HIV prevention, care and treatment services is fundamental for addressing both substance abuse and co-occurring infectious diseases. Access to services for people who inject drug and their community is fundamental to achieve broad service coverage. An example to be considered is the wheel and spoke model where the wheel is an MAT induction center and the spokes are primary care/ community health programs that provide maintenance treatment services to individuals in recovery. Such a program can provide increased treatment capacity for the community as patients pass through the different stages of MAT. As a HIV prevention intervention, having MAT integrated (same medical record for HIV services and MAT services) into HIV prevention, care and treatment programs provides the best "one stop shopping" approach for health service utilization. Alternatively, MAT and HIV services can be separately managed but co-located to allow convenient utilization of both MAT and HIV services. A third approach is coordinated care and treatment , where MAT and HIV services are provided at distinct locations and case managers, peer facilitators, or others promote direct service utilization at the various locations. As a stigmatized and medical disenfranchised population with multiple medical, psychological and social needs, people who inject drugs have difficulty accessing services and navigating medical systems of coordinated care. MAT programs that offer comprehensive services and care options can best contribute to improving public health.