In this article, relationship between respondents’ height and occurrence of diabetes has been investigated. This study uses Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2011 data collected from an observational study. Considering height (tall/normal/short) based on percentiles separately for men and women, logistic regression model was fitted to the propensity score (PS)-adjusted weighted data. No significant relationship between respondents’ height and diabetes was observed. We also found that the occurrence of diabetes significantly varies with respect to sex, education level, wealth index, body mass index (BMI), and region/division. As, in general, women are shorter than men by nature, we strongly argue that height categories should be defined separately whenever estimation of the effect of height on some response is of interest.

Soft-surface exercise infrastructure (ie off-road, mountain, and dirt trails) has been a particularly valuable community asset in mountainous, urban municipalities. This off-road, trail infrastructure can encourage individuals to engage in green exercise (ie physical activity done outside while in nature, for example, mountainous trails and near waterways). Green exercise can be helpful for encouraging individuals to participate in exercise who otherwise may not; it is especially helpful for promoting mental well-being and a sense of being connected to the environment. This study characterizes trail access and predictors among urban, mountainous municipalities in the Utah Wasatch Front region. Access was determined using two-standard deviation ellipses (2SDE) activity space analysis, and predictors were identified using multiple linear regression. About 42% municipalities had no trailhead access (ie no trailhead within its corresponding activity space). Trail density and trailheads were significantly correlated (r = 0.49, P = .004). There was a significant trail density cluster in the southern area of the study region, centered all over the city of Alpine. Reduced-model regression yielded trailheads and home income as being significant predictors of trail density, and trail density and elevation as being significant predictors for trailheads. Results demonstrate patterns of access to green exercise trails that align with socioeconomic and municipal elevation. The results of this research should be insightful for those who work in exercise promotion and urban planners.

Kentucky experiences some of the nation’s worst health outcomes related to obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other age-related chronic diseases linked with oxidative stress and inflammation, which in turn are associated with poor diet, lack of physical activity, and exposure to certain environmental pollutants. In the Commonwealth, deteriorating infrastructure, inappropriate waste disposal, and potential occupational injury related to mining, agriculture, and other regionally important industries exacerbate the need for residents to have basic knowledge of potential environmental health threats. Unfortunately, community-level understanding of the complex connections between environmental exposures and health is limited, with many Kentuckians unaware that the Commonwealth is home to 13 hazardous waste sites included in the United States Environmental Protection Agency Superfund National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL highlights priority sites for long-term remedial action to reduce environmental contaminants. To enhance the understanding of environmental health and protective actions, the University of Kentucky Superfund Research Center Community Engagement Core developed a 9-lesson extension curriculum “Body Balance: Protect Your Body from Pollution with a Healthy Lifestyle” (Body Balance) and partnered with Kentucky’s Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Cooperative Extension Service to pilot the curriculum in Kentucky communities. FCS agents in 4 Kentucky counties delivered the Body Balance pilot study (18-31 participants per lesson). Pre- and post-lesson questionnaires revealed increased knowledge and awareness of the effects of environmental pollution on health and the protective role of dietary strategies. Focus group participants (n = 18) self-reported positive behavior changes because of increases in knowledge and leadership from their FCS agent. The Body Balance curriculum appeared to be a promising mechanism for raising environmental health and diet knowledge, as well as for promoting positive behavior changes among white, middle/older-aged women in rural Kentucky communities.

Landfill leachate, a complex mixture of different solid waste compounds, is widely known to possess toxic properties. However, the fundamental molecular mechanisms engaged with landfill leachate exposure inducing cellular and sub-cellular ramifications are not well explicated. Therefore, we aim to examine the potential of leachate to impair mitochondrial machinery and its associated mechanisms in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. On assessment, the significant increase in the dichlorofluorescein (DCF) fluorescence, accumulation of 8-Oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG), and levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf-2) strongly indicated the ability of the leachate to induce a pro-oxidant state inside the cell. The decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential and alterations in the mitochondrial genome observed in leachate-exposed cells further suggested the disturbances in mitochondrial machinery. Moreover, these mitochondrial-associated redox imbalances were accompanied by the increased level of NF-κβ, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and DNA damage. In addition, the higher DNA fragmentation, release of nucleosomes, levels of polyadenosine diphosphate ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), and activity of caspase-3 suggested the involvement of mitochondrial mediated apoptosis in leachate exposed cells. These observations were accompanied by the low proliferative index of the exposed cells. Conclusively, our results clearly indicate the ability of landfill leachate to disturb mitochondrial redox homeostasis, which might be a probable source for the immunotoxic consequences leading to plausible patho-physiological conditions in humans susceptible to such environmental exposures.

Mini-grant programs are an increasingly popular method for outside organizations (eg, non-profits, state agencies) to support wellness initiatives. However, little is known about mini-grant programs in worksites. The present study explored the implementation and outcomes of a worksite wellness mini-grant program. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 wellness champions representing 12 worksites that were involved in a mini-grant program over a 4-year span. Interviews focused on general use, barriers and facilitators, and outcomes of the mini-grant initiatives. Mini-grants were generally used to support a short-term activity, such as purchasing food, which was not allowed per grant funding, or supporting a one-time event—this type of use diverged from recommended use of funds. Participants reported that outcomes from the mini-grant initiates were largely positive, highlighting culture shifts and increased awareness/perception of employer support for wellness. Barriers included culture (eg, employee attitudes, motivation), environment (eg, infrastructure, weather), and worksite characteristics (eg, multiple locations, number of employees), while facilitators included employee interest and involvement, established wellness culture, awareness and accessibility (eg, providing options, education), and support (eg, employer support, support from outside organizations). There was overlap between certain barriers and facilitators, indicating key areas of focus for future research and mini-grant programs.

The US Army Public Health Center developed the Creating Active Communities and Healthy Environments (CACHE) Toolkit to help military installations evaluate the quality of their built environments relative to healthy eating, physical activity, and tobacco-free living. This study sought to improve its implementation process and assess subsequent Action Plan Guides’ utility at 5 military installations. Baseline data included a knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs survey (N = 34); post-Toolkit implementation data included focus groups (N = 2) and interviews (N = 10). Although >80% of participants agreed the built environment affects healthy living, only 44%, 53%, and 35% agreed their installations’ built environments promoted healthy eating, physical activity, and tobacco-free living, respectively. Emerging themes comprised “Opportunities to Improve Toolkit and Action Plan Guide Functionality,” the “Sociopolitical Landscape Affects Toolkit Implementation,” and the “Sociopolitical and Physical Landscapes Affect the Toolkit’s Value and Utility.” This study provides concrete lessons for the CACHE Toolkit and other public health-based military initiatives.

In Colombia, the convergence of drug trafficking, illegal armed groups, and gold production and trade threatens peace and stability in the post-FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) era, as had the narcotics trade previously. Armed groups and criminal organizations have increased and consolidated their influence over illegal mining and may be diverting US$5 billion from Colombia’s annual economy. As of 2014, 46% of the total area (78 939 ha) exploited for alluvial gold was in the Afro-Colombian Pacific States, in which unregulated mining was the main driver of deforestation. The informal job market represents 49% of the workforce and absent other economic alternatives, this workforce of ex-guerrillas, organized crime groups and corrupt officials will sustain the black markets that permeate gold mining. Human health consequences of unregulated gold mining are largely unrecognized, but include the spread of malaria and other insect-borne diseases, and we suggest diseases such as babesiosis.

In addition to small for gestational age (SGA) and low birth weight at term (LBWT), critically ill cases of SGA/LBWT are significant events from outcomes and economic perspectives that require further understanding of risk factors. We aimed to assess the spatiotemporal distribution of locations where there were consistently higher numbers of critically ill SGA/LBWT (hot spots) in comparison with all SGA/LBWT and all births. We focused on Edmonton (2008-2010) and Calgary (2006-2010), Alberta, and used a geographical information system to apply emerging hot spot analysis, as a new approach for understanding SGA, LBWT, and the critically ill counterparts (ciSGA or ciLBWT). We also compared the resulting aggregated categorical patterns with proportions of land use and socioeconomic status (SES) using Spearman correlation and logistic regression. There was an overall increasing trend in all space-time clusters. Whole period emerging hot spot patterns among births and SGA generally coincided, but SGA with ciSGA and LBWT with ciLBWT did not. Regression coefficients were highest for low SES with SGA and LBWT, but not with ciSGA and ciLBWT. Open areas and industrial land use were most associated with ciLBWT but not with ciSGA, SGA, or LBWT. Differences in the space-time hot spot patterns and the associations with ciSGA and ciLBWT indicate further need to research the interplay of maternal and environmental influences. We demonstrated the novel application of emerging hot spot analysis for small newborns and spatially related them to the surrounding environment.

Globally, almost 2.78 million deaths that occur annually are attributed to work-related health risks. Worldwide and, especially, in developing countries, about 20% to 50% of the workers are exposed to health risks. Fishing is an ancient occupation, and like many others, it is characterized by numerous health risks and hazards. This study sought to understand the exposure of fisherfolk to human health risks, through fish handling and processing in Lake Baringo, Kenya. The study adopted a cross-sectional social survey design. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select respondents for this study. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to the respondents to collect data on risks involved during the handling and processing of fish. Key informant interviews and observation checklists were also used to collect more information. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data. Inferential statistics included Pearson χ² test, which was used to test the association of various factors on the encounter with occupational health risks. The level of significance was tested at α = 0.05. The study findings reveal the fisherfolk-encountered risks such as cuts, eye irritability, sunburns, skin burn, cold, falls, and musculoskeletal injuries during their work. The results showed that only 12% of the fisherfolk use personal protective equipments (PPEs) at work. Pearson χ² test analysis showed there was an association between gender and gender roles (χ² = 39.517, P < .05). In addition, an association was revealed between occupational health risks and gender (χ² = 16.283, P < .05). There was also an association between occupational hazards and gender (χ² = 21.352, P < .05). However, there was no association revealed between occupational health risk and marital status (χ² = 1.305, P > .05) and PPEs (χ² = 1.089, P > .05). Furthermore, results indicate that 61% of the fisherfolk who suffered from occupational health risks missed work. The study concludes that all the fisherfolk at Kampi Samaki are exposed to various health risks while working, which is thus likely to affect their health. We recommend public health campaigns to sensitize fisherfolk on the associated risks in fish handling and processing. There is also a need for health campaigns for the fisherfolk to appreciate the need for First Aid Kits during the fishing operations.