{"title":"FDA Ban on Triclosan Leads to Major Changes in Levels of Trihalomethanes in Drinking Water Sources across the United States","authors":"Wendy Wilburn, Sujata Guha, Ryan Beni","doi":"10.4236/vp.2023.93015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/vp.2023.93015","url":null,"abstract":"Since its development in the mid-1960s, antimicrobial Triclosan (TCS) has been added to many everyday household products. By 2010, TCS could be found in 93% of soaps and body washes sold nationwide due to its germ-killing capabilities. TCS overuse has led to public concern for the potential emerging health risks raised in the past decades. Although TCS has antibacterial properties that prevent or deter bacterial growth, in 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the sale of consumer antiseptic wash products containing TCS as the active ingredient. The ban stated that these TCS-containing household products may not be environmentally safe and provide minimal benefits. TCS is considered an endocrine disruptor that causes immune dysfunction, microbial resistance, altered thyroid hormone activity and affects human reproductive outcomes. Previous studies have shown that TCS is toxic to aquatic organisms and invertebrates and has been linked to the etiology of breast cancer and tumor metastasis. Research shows positive associations between the occurrence of antivirals and the detection of antibiotic-resistance genes with a higher incidence of antibacterial-related allergies. Our previous research examined the overuse of TCS-containing products, increasing total trihalomethane (TTHM) levels and affecting our water supply quality. To understand the impact of the FDA ban requiring pre-market approval, we analyzed data reported between 2016 and 2020 provided by the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) on the TTHM levels, such as chloroform, a product of free chlorine added to TCS in primary water sources across the United States, as they correlated to decreased production of products containing TCS. Our study found that limiting the production of TCS had the desired effect by lowering levels of organochlorine contaminants, leading to a decrease in TTHMs recorded by metropolitan CCR data before the requirement rollback of the FDA in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.","PeriodicalId":484920,"journal":{"name":"Voice of the publisher","volume":"52 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135750931","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Organochlorine Contaminant, Triclosan Leads to Increased Levels of Trihalomethanes in Drinking Water Sources across the United States","authors":"Wendy Wilburn, Sujata Guha, Ryan Beni","doi":"10.4236/vp.2023.93014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/vp.2023.93014","url":null,"abstract":"Organochlorine contaminants, such as Triclosan (TCS), are present in drinking water sources across the United States. Since TCS was developed in the late 1960s, antimicrobial compounds have been widely used as multipurpose ingredients in everyday consumer products, can be ingested or absorbed through the skin, and are found in human plasma, breast milk, and urine samples. Monitored by the United States Toxic Substances Control Act, TCS production was limited to 1 million pounds per year, yet by 1998 production of TCS steadily increased from 1 million pounds to 10 million, with an estimated production of approximately 14 million globally by 2011. Studies have shown that the expanded use of antimicrobial agents causes them to be found and remain suspended in the ecosystem, most notably the soil and watersheds. Research has shown emerging concerns related to the overuse of TCS, such as dermal irritations, higher incidence of antibacterial-related allergies, microbial resistance, endocrine system disruptions, altered thyroid hormone activity, metabolism, and tumor metastasis and growth, with overexposure playing a role in inflammatory responsiveness, which could cause adverse outcomes and is associated with numerous pathologies, including cardiovascular disease and several types of cancers. To understand the impact of the overuse of TCS-containing products on water quality before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began to require pre-market approval, we have analyzed the data reported between March 2005 and 2015 by Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) on the levels of total trihalomethanes (TTHM), such as chloroform, a product of free chlorine added to TCS in the metropolitan areas primary water sources across the United States, as they correlated to increased production of antibacterial agent, TCS. Our study concluded that increased use of products containing the antimicrobial agent TCS contributes to higher levels of total organochlorine contaminant, trichloromethane, leading to an increase in TTHM levels recorded annually on water quality reports.","PeriodicalId":484920,"journal":{"name":"Voice of the publisher","volume":"281 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135556340","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Importance of Machine Learning Models in Healthcare Fraud Detection","authors":"Leelakumar Raja Lekkala","doi":"10.4236/vp.2023.94017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/vp.2023.94017","url":null,"abstract":"With the advent of technology and the improvements in AI, many healthcare institutions are struggling with the threat of fraud. As such, Healthcare fraud poses a significant threat to the healthcare industry, as it has led to numerous financial losses. In addition, there have been cases of compromised patient care due to the fraudsters being so advanced in their systems. The purpose of this research is to investigate the pivotal role of machine learning models and how they can be used to address the challenge of fraud. Many professionals have stated that machine learning models can enhance the accuracy and fairness of healthcare fraud detection. The ideas stem from the ability to leverage a diverse dataset of healthcare transactions, including claims and billing records. Other ideas include patient demographics, where a range of machine learning algorithms, like (Random et al.) and deep learning models (CNN, RNN), are significant in evaluating the performance of the technology. The results from this research show that machine learning models are better when compared to traditional approaches. These models can achieve high precision and recall scores. The models exhibit robustness, and they are able to show an ability to adapt to variations in fraud patterns. Therefore, machine learning models offer a promising avenue for healthcare organizations to combat fraud.","PeriodicalId":484920,"journal":{"name":"Voice of the publisher","volume":"30 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135261448","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Frank Mhando, Mick Dhamir, Sayed A. H. Qadri, Stephanie S. Seidel, Karen Ackermann, Christine Anderson, Erica Sanga, Omar A. Juma
{"title":"Community Advisory Boards: A Bibliometrics Analysis and Future Research Directions","authors":"Frank Mhando, Mick Dhamir, Sayed A. H. Qadri, Stephanie S. Seidel, Karen Ackermann, Christine Anderson, Erica Sanga, Omar A. Juma","doi":"10.4236/vp.2023.93013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/vp.2023.93013","url":null,"abstract":"Community Advisory Boards (CABs) often form the structure for involving community members in a partnership, and can play an important role as collaborators, gatekeepers to the community and a bridge between communities and research institutions. In recognition of this, the Bagamoyo branch of the Ifakara Health Institute established a CAB in 2007 aiming to properly educate and empower elected CAB members to become full partners in all research activities concerning the public within Bagamoyo area. Understanding the challenges faced by the CAB in implementing their activities, the success made, and lessons learned could help guide future public health research and projects. This article presents viewpoints from the Bagamoyo Community Advisory Board members on the challenges, success and lesson learned. It provides the ideas, suggestions and critical reflections on how to improve community engagement in public research and projects.","PeriodicalId":484920,"journal":{"name":"Voice of the publisher","volume":"66 Supplementum 2 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135556334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Relationship of Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Cardiovascular Reactivity, Psychological Distress, and Coping Responses in the South African Context: A Critical Review","authors":"Lelanie Malan, Werner de Klerk","doi":"10.4236/vp.2023.94018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/vp.2023.94018","url":null,"abstract":"Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is known around the world to be one of the most common sleep disorders and a significant risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and death, leading to significant changes in cognitive and daytime functioning, as well as several psychological and physiological challenges. This critical review research study aimed to review scientific literature in order to conceptualize an understanding of the relationship of OSA with both physiological (cardiovascular reactivity) and psychological aspects (psychological distress and coping responses), more specifically within the South African context. The literature search reviewed scientific literature that was peer-reviewed and published in the English language from 2012 to 2022. The SALSA (search, appraisal, synthesis, and analysis) method was used in order to examine the interplay between physiological and psychological aspects associated with OSA in South Africa. However, no studies within the South African context or internationally were found giving account for cardiovascular reactivity, psychological distress, and coping responses in relationship with OSA. Therefore, we provided a summary and discussion on available scientific literature in both the South African context and internationally, on each aspect separately related to OSA. We concluded that OSA has a significant impact on both the physiological and psychological well-being of individuals and it is necessary to gain a deeper understanding of the interplay between these aspects and OSA, in order to inform scientific knowledge and intervention strategies.","PeriodicalId":484920,"journal":{"name":"Voice of the publisher","volume":"10 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135448733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"How AI Analytical Models Can Use FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) Data","authors":"Leelakumar Raja Lekkala","doi":"10.4236/vp.2023.94016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4236/vp.2023.94016","url":null,"abstract":"In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force. Analytical Models (AMs) is a subset of AI used in this space. AMs are used to provide novel predictive functionality that can help advance the quality and outcomes of healthcare. The goal advanced by the organization behind FHIR, FHIR Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR), is to enable electronic health exchange of electronically processed data between health record systems. In order to build a robust framework through which healthcare providers can exchange such information, FHIR Instant Messaging (IM) was developed as an API for health record systems. The framework used to develop IM is known as the Resource Description Framework Specification Versions. This study delves into the symbiotic relationship between AI analytical models and the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) data standard, aiming to unlock new dimensions of interoperability and data-driven decision-making within the healthcare sector. With the healthcare systems continuing to grapple with the challenges of siloed data and inefficiencies in information exchange, it becomes important to have a comprehensive exploration of how AI can bridge these gaps. Leveraging the FHIR standard as a robust foundation, it becomes significant to elucidate the potential of AI in harnessing patient data. They are also facilitating seamless data exchange among healthcare stakeholders while also empowering clinicians with actionable insights.","PeriodicalId":484920,"journal":{"name":"Voice of the publisher","volume":"24 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135211000","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}