American Heart Association and Nonprofit Advocacy: Past, Present, and Future

A Policy Recommendation From the American Heart Association
Larry B. Goldstein, MD, FAHA, Chair; Laurie P. Whitsel, PhD; Neil Meltzer; Mark Schoeberl; Jill Birnbaum, JD; Sue Nelson; Timothy J. Gardner, MD, FAHA; Clyde W. Yancy, MD, FAHA; Raymond J. Gibbons, MD, FAHA; Ralph L. Sacco, MD, FAHA; Loren Hiratzka, MD, FAHA; on behalf of the American Heart Association Advocacy Coordinating Committee, Council on Cardiovascular Nursing, Council on the Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease, Council on Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention, Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia, Council on Clinical Cardiology, Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, Council on Cardiopulmonary, Critical Care, Perioperative, and Resuscitation, Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease, Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, Council on Epidemiology and Prevention, Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity and 
Metabolism, and Interdisciplinary Council on Functional Genomics and Translational Biology

Excerpt:

If the AHA is to achieve its 2020 goals to reduce death and disability resulting from cardiovascular disease and stroke by 20% and to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20%, the association has to prioritize opportunities to address social inequities, issues specific to vulnerable populations (ethnic and racial minorities, those with low income or less education, children, blue collar workers), and the importance of removing barriers and obstacles for risk reduction and behavior change. Often the most disadvantaged members of the population have the greatest need for preventive screenings, health promotion, or programming and have the least access to or are the most reluctant to participate in these opportunities. The fundamental causes of vulnerability are rooted in issues of daily life, most often beyond the scope of
traditional public health, so it will be important for the AHA to consider engaging with nontraditional partners to consider ways to reduce health disparities in communities.
The following list is a summary of some of the specific ways AHA advocacy addresses issues around health disparities and vulnerable populations.

Improving Global Health: Forecasting the Next 50 Years

Será possível prever o futuro quando a China acaba de se tornar a maior economia do mundo??  Ruggiero, Mrs. Ana Lucia (WDC)  to EQUIDAD

PATTERNS OF POTENTIAL HUMAN PROGRESS

Improving Global Health: Forecasting the Next 50 Years - Volume 3 – 2011

The Frederick S. Pardee Center for International Futures at the University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies is the home of the International Futures (IFs) computer simulation modeling project.

Website: http://bit.ly/eAtOHd

“……Improving Global Health is the third in a series of volumes—Patterns of Potential Human Progress—that uses the International Futures (IFs) simulation model to explore prospects for human development. The PPHP series is jointly published by the Pardee Center, Paradigm Publishers, and Oxford University Press India.   The current volume sets out to tell a story of possible futures for the health of peoples across the world.

Questions explored by Improving Global Health include:

·         What health outcomes might we expect given current patterns of human development?

·         What opportunities exist for intervention and the achievement of alternate health futures?

·         How might improved health futures affect broader economic, social, and political prospects of countries, regions, and the world?

 The IFs system of models and its applications are continually evolving. Even so, its foundation continues to rest on two defining characteristics:

1. it is long-range (its forecasting horizon extends to the year 2100), and

2. it encompasses multiple domains of human and social systems for 183 countries (e.g., population, the economy, health, education, energy, agriculture, and aspects of sociopolitical systems) and the interaction effects among them.

Tables in each PPHP volume display dynamic forecasts in all of these domains for major world regions and 183 countries over the next 50 years. 

PATTERNS OF POTENTIAL HUMAN PROGRESS

Improving Global Health: Forecasting the Next 50 Years

VOL UME 3

Content	File Type	Size
PPHP 3: Full Volume	PDF	3,726 kb
Preface and Table of Contents	PDF	142 kb
Chapter 1-Introduction	PDF	181 kb
Chapter 2-Understanding Health	PDF	296 kb
Chapter 3-Forecasting Global Health	PDF	371 kb
Chapter 4-The Current Path as it Seems to be Unfolding	PDF	295 kb
Chapter 5-Analysis of Selected Proximate Risk Factors	PDF	300 kb
Chapter 6-Analysis of Selected Environmental Risk Factors	PDF	375 kb
Chapter 7-Forward Linkages	PDF	319 kb
Chapter 8-Broadening and Integrating our Perspective	PDF	300 kb
Chapter 9-The Future of Global Education	PDF	127 kb
Appendices	PDF	58 kb
Bibliography	PDF	193 kb
Forecast Tables Introduction and Glossary	PDF	92 kb
Maps	PDF	216 kb
Forecast Tables Overview	PDF	55 kb
Forecast Tables	PDF	1,403 kb
Index	PDF	102 kb
Author Notes	PDF	154 kb

Barry B. Hughes, John Evans Professor

Director, Frederick S. Pardee Center for International Futures

Josef Korbel School of International Studies - University of Denver, Denver, Colorado USA

QWIKI Information Experience

Referênia da AMICOR

Maria Ines Azambuja  to me, Fernando

http://www.qwiki.com/

 

nova plataforma criada pelo socio brasileiro do facebook

PRIMARY PREVENTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY REMAINS IN THE EVIDENCE FOR PRIMARY PREVENTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE BY CARL HENEGHAN

• By: Carl Heneghan
• On: January 14, 2011, 15:39

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide,[1] and therefore strategies that aim to improve prevention in people without existing disease (primary prevention) are important for managing the overall burden of disease. This edition of The Cochrane Library adds to the evidence-base in this area with publication of two Cochrane Reviews on such preventive strategies: multiple risk factor interventions for primary prevention of coronary heart disease,[2] and statins for the primary prevention of CVD.[3]

Multiple risk factor interventions aim to alter modifiable risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, high intake of dietary salt, lack of exercise, obesity and high glucose levels in people with diabetes, which increase the risk of coronary heart disease. The Cochrane Review by Ebrahim and colleagues focuses on counselling and educational interventions, and includes 55 trials (an addition of 16 studies compared with the previous version of this review) aimed at modifying one or more cardiovascular risk factors in the adult general population.[2]

Programa Saúde da Família BR

Tasca, Dr. Renato (BRA)

Prezadas e prezados,

Muitos já devem conhecer essa publicação, entretanto, fizemos uma tradução do documento e devido à importância do tema para a construção das Redes de Atenção à Saúde, acreditamos ser interessante ampliarmos esse material.

Trata-se do editorial da British Medical Journal sobre o Programa de Saúde da Família do Brasil.

Os autores Matthew Harris (Kings College London) e Andy Haines (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) publicaram em novembro de 2010 um editorial na British Medical Journal relatando os desafios e os resultados positivos alcançados pelo Programa de Saúde da Familia.

Os autores iniciam o texto com um breve resgate histórico da reforma do setor Saúde no Brasil e relatam os avanços na saúde pública nos últimos 15 anos. Embora tais resultados reflitam avanços em todo o sistema de saúde, há evidência para indicar que o alicerce destes resultados positivos seja o Programa de Saúde da Família.

Os mesmos explicitam a dinâmica de trabalho das equipes de saúde da familia e destacam o papel pró-ativo do agente comunitário de saúde na  promoção e educação em saúde, além da prevenção de complicações.

Entre os desafios listados pelos autores estão o recrutamento e retenção de médicos com formação adequada ao provimento de serviços de APS e a formação das Redes de Atenção à Saúde como instrumento de integração dos serviços de APS aos demais níveis de atenção.

Segundo os autores, o Programa de Saúde da Família do Brasil pode ser considerado como o exemplo mundial mais impressionante de um sistema de atenção primária integral de rápida expansão e boa relação custo-efetividade. Entretanto, a história de sucesso da atenção primária em saúde do Brasil continua pouco compreendida e ainda fracamente difundida ou interpretada para outros contextos.

Acesse o documento traduzido na íntegra no site do Portal de Redes de Atenção à Saúde (http://new.paho.org/bra/apsredes/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=251:british-medical-journal-publica-editorial-sobre-o-programa-de-saude-da-familia-do-brasil&catid=3:noticias&Itemid=42)

Agradeço a atenção.

Att,

  

Renato Tasca

Coordenador

Unidade Técnica Serviços de Saúde

OPS/OMS Brasil

Legalize Drugs

By Ioan Grillo / San Francisco del Rincon 

ENLARGE PHOTO+

Former Mexican President Vicente Fox speaks in La Quinta, Calif., in 2009.

Omar Ornelas / The Desert Sun / AP

As Mexico drowns in drug related bloodshed — suffering almost 12,000 murders in 2010 — it is perhaps unsurprising that government critics turn up their screaming that the war on drugs isn't working. But it was a bit of a bombshell when former president Vicente Fox added his voice to the chorus. The cowboy-boot wearing leader, who ruled Mexico from 2000 to 2006, had once declared the "mother of all battles" against crime and rounded up drug kingpins. But before he left office, he had witnessed the first big spike in violence as the narcos retaliated. In August of 2010, evidence surfaced that his vision had changed when he wrote on his blog that prohibition wasn't working. Now, in a recent interview with TIME in his hometown in Central Mexico, he explains that his views have moved on to the other end of the spectrum: favoring full-on legalization of production, transit and selling of prohibited drugs. Fox is most explicit about marijuana, but argues that the principle applied to all illegal drugs./.../

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2040882,00.html#ixzz1BaG0ROC3

First reported outbreak of green tobacco sickness in Brazil

Reported by AMICOR Vera Luiza Costa e Silva
Dermal absorption of nicotine by people harvesting tobacco may cause an acute intoxication called green tobacco sickness. Although Brazil is the second largest producer of tobacco in the world, green tobacco sickness had not been reported in the country to date. We conducted a 1:1 matched case-control study among persons involved in tobacco farming to determine the occurrence of green tobacco sickness in the northeastregion of Brazil and to identify the risk factors involved. A case-patient was a person who received
a diagnosis by health professional of acute intoxication during the study period and had a cotinine level over 10ng/mL detected by High Performance Liquid Chromatography. We identified 107 case-patients. The main signs and symptoms observed were dizziness, weakness, vomit, nausea and headache. Independent risk factors identified were being male, a non smoker and having worked in the harvest of tobacco leaves. Case-patients had higher median urinary cotinine levels than controls (p < 0.05). Epidemiological and laboratory
data indicate for the first time the occurrence of green tobacco sickness in Brazil.
Tobacco; Nicotine; Occupational Diseases; Agriculture

third hand smoking

Correspondence to

1. Georg E Matt, Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92182-4611, USA; gmatt@sciences.sdsu.edu

Abstract

Background This study examined whether thirdhand smoke (THS) persists in smokers' homes after they move out and non-smokers move in, and whether new non-smoking residents are exposed to THS in these homes.

Methods The homes of 100 smokers and 50 non-smokers were visited before the residents moved out. Dust, surfaces, air and participants' fingers were measured for nicotine and children's urine samples were analysed for cotinine. The new residents who moved into these homes were recruited if they were non-smokers. Dust, surfaces, air and new residents' fingers were examined for nicotine in 25 former smoker and 16 former non-smoker homes. A urine sample was collected from the youngest resident.

Results Smoker homes' dust, surface and air nicotine levels decreased after the change of occupancy (p<0.001); however dust and surfaces showed higher contamination levels in former smoker homes than former non-smoker homes (p<0.05). Non-smoking participants' finger nicotine was higher in former smoker homes compared to former non-smoker homes (p<0.05). Finger nicotine levels among non-smokers living in former smoker homes were significantly correlated with dust and surface nicotine and urine cotinine.

Conclusions These findings indicate that THS accumulates in smokers' homes and persists when smokers move out even after homes remain vacant for 2 months and are cleaned and prepared for new residents. When non-smokers move into homes formerly occupied by smokers, they encounter indoor environments with THS polluted surfaces and dust. Results suggest that non-smokers living in former smoker homes are exposed to THS in dust and on surfaces.

O Buraco no muro

Nos envia o AMICOR

Geniberto Campos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx8vCy9eloE

Meus amigos, seria isso, o que na década de 60, nós chamávamos de “ATALHO PARA O DESENVOLVIMENTO?” E QUE NO SÉCULO 21 É UM BURACO NA PAREDE? ...

Bela experiência. Uma revolução - séculos de atraso vencidos em um clique.

O buraco no muro 

Beta-Amyloid in Plasma Predicts Cognitive Decline

By John Gever, Senior Editor, MedPage Today Published: January 18, 2011 Reviewed by Zalman S. Agus, MD; Emeritus Professor University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Action Points   Note that this study indicates that differences in proteins and peptides can be found in peripheral fluids years before clinical onset of dementia. Point out, however, that documentation of an association is not sufficient to prove that any given compound is a true biomarker of actual disease. The ratio of two beta-amyloid protein species in plasma was associated with subsequent cognitive decline in older patients, researchers said. Patients who did not have dementia at baseline but who had a relatively low ratio of the 42- to 40-amino acid form of beta-amyloid showed almost twice the decline in cognitive function scores over a nine-year period than was seen in otherwise similar patients with relatively high beta-amyloid 42/40 ratios, according to Kristine Yaffe, MD, of the University of California San Francisco, and colleagues. Scores on the modified Mini-Mental State Examination declined an average 6.59 points among individuals in the lowest third of beta-amyloid 42/40 ratios, compared with a 3.60-point decline in patients in the highest tertile (P<0.001), the researchers reported in the Jan. 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association./.../

Passive Smoking Worldwide

From Tobacco Info No. 4 - February 2011
Summary - Homepage - Free subscription

WHO study finds passive smoking kills 600,000 worldwide

The first ever global study into the effects of second-hand smoke (SHS) found that it is the root cause of over 600,000 deaths per year worldwide. Some 165,000 or more than a quarter of those deaths are children who are often exposed to what is commonly referred to as ‘passive smoking’ at home.

“Smokers are putting not only themselves at risk, but also 1.8 billion non-smokers,” wrote the World Health Organization (WHO) in a November press release. “In 2004, 40% of children, 33% of male non-smokers and 35% of female non-smokers were exposed to SHS worldwide.”