Ecology of disease最新文献

{"title":"Colorectal cancer as a disease of the environment.","authors":"P Boyle,&nbsp;D G Zaridze","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Colorectal cancer is common in North America and Europe but is virtually unknown among the native population of sub-Saharal Africa. Within the continent of Europe, colon cancer incidence varies fourfold between cancer registry regions. Within the United Kingdom, colon cancer is, and has been for 70 years, commoner in Scotland than in England and Wales. In Scotland, the disease is one-third commoner in the north of the country than in the south. Colorectal cancer risk is determined by local environmental conditions within the bowel: these are determined to a large extent by diet which in its turn is dictated by environmental conditions, both geographic and economic. Cancer as a group of diseases which causes 40% of all deaths, is a disease of the environment, with colorectal cancer the best example of this in a common tumour.</p>","PeriodicalId":79218,"journal":{"name":"Ecology of disease","volume":"2 4","pages":"241-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1983-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"17152454","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 ecology of infectious and neoplastic disease: a conceptual unification.","authors":"G M Lower","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The ecology of disease is framed in conceptual terms as the study of the relationships of entities and events in the natural history of disease, a definition allowing it to embrace both the infectious and neoplastic (i.e. chronic, non-infectious) diseases. Those relationships of most conceptual interest and operational relevance are the causal relationships, and thus the ecology of disease properly embraces both epidemiologic and pathologic theory. The classic epidemiologic triad of 'agent-host-environment' is integrated into hierarchical, natural historical frameworks embracing both disease causation and course. Within these ecologic frameworks and based upon discipline-related concepts of causation, it is possible to derive conceptual/operational criteria of causality applicable to both infectious and neoplastic diseases. As approaches to the comprehension of infectious and neoplastic disease share considerable conceptual common ground, it follows that approaches to their control share considerable operational common ground. Indeed, insofar as actions follow ideas, the ecology of disease provides the basis for medical ecology and the planning, conduct and evaluation of overall operational approaches to the control of disease, to include both preventive and therapeutic interventions. From these perspectives, contemporary approaches to the control of neoplastic diseases seem to be derived largely from clinical-pathologic viewpoints of effectual disease process and emphasize non-specific (agent-unrelated) therapeutic interventions. Those general approaches most successful in controlling infectious diseases (i.e. preventive interventions and agent/defect-specific therapeutic interventions) need greater emphasis and application in approaches to controlling neoplastic diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":79218,"journal":{"name":"Ecology of disease","volume":"2 4","pages":"397-407"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1983-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"17457251","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":"Population crowding and death rates due to heart disease.","authors":"C E Waddell","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Based upon the methodology of earlier research on death rates due to malignant neoplasms reported in this journal, this paper examines the relations between select social morphological factors of population size and density and rates of deaths due to heart disease. This study supports the findings of that earlier paper: populations having a stable morphological structure have a negative relation with death rates; populations experiencing a change in morphology, particularly an increase in the number of persons per housing unit, have a positive relation with mortality rates. An human ecological perspective is introduced to conceptualize the researches.</p>","PeriodicalId":79218,"journal":{"name":"Ecology of disease","volume":"2 4","pages":"271-5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1983-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"17735616","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":"General practice--a quantitative study, 2. Spatial and temporal variation in morbidity.","authors":"L A Pike,&nbsp;C D Beaumont","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Against the backcloth of te quantitative picture of general practice activity described in the companion paper (Beaumont and Pike, Ecol. Dis. 2, 45, 1983), the question of health-environment interaction is addressed. To this end morbidity analyses of a number of environmentally distinct sub-areas of the general practice facilitate investigation of the geography of morbidity at the primary care level. Despite the inherent spatial variations in environmental conditions within the practice, no significant environmental effect or morbidity is identifiable; even in the most deprived areas minimum sanitary conditions are fulfilled.</p>","PeriodicalId":79218,"journal":{"name":"Ecology of disease","volume":"2 1","pages":"55-65"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1983-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"17392648","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":"Modern diseases, seen from a Highland practice. An ecological approach.","authors":"W W Yellowlees","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>There is no agreement among scientists on which particular aspects of civilisation are most to blame for the emergence and undoubted increase in Western nations during this century of common degenerative diseases. Duodenal ulcer, coronary thrombosis, hypertension and other degenerations appear to be as common in quiet rural communities as in the cities. The frequency of these conditions in the Scottish Highlands where the tempo of life remains slow would seem to rule out stress or psychological factors as important. Changes in diet are now thought by many scientists to be the most likely cause for the increase in diseases of civilisation. The work of McCarrison, Cleave and Burkitt suggests that of all dietary developments in advanced nations during the last two centuries the refining of carbohydrates is the most damaging. A high intake of sugar tends to displace protective vitamin-rich foods and adds to the fibre depletion of refined white flour, with the inevitable consequences--widespread constipation and the serious complications of that distressing condition. Cleave has published strong evidence incriminating 'over-consumption' from dependence on refined carbohydrates, rather than traditional animal fats, as the main cause of coronary thrombosis. The high mortality and morbidity of degenerative diseases with all the attendant human suffering can truly be termed an ecological disaster. The cause is the failure of the food and drink industry to give overall priority to the needs of human health. Increasing demand from consumers for unprocessed fresh whole food would reverse modern trends and would have far-reaching effects on agriculture and industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":79218,"journal":{"name":"Ecology of disease","volume":"2 1","pages":"81-91"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1983-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"17392649","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":"Urban malaria control situation and environmental issues, Madras City, India.","authors":"B Hyma,&nbsp;A Ramesh,&nbsp;K P Chakrapani","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Madras was one of 22 urban places in India where centrally sponsored urban malaria control schemes were introduced in 1971-1972. Yet since 1970, malaria cases have actually registered a significant increase in Madras. This paper deals with some critical environmental issues facing malaria control schemes. The overall spatial trends and patterns of malaria incidence are illustrated through maps for the years 1975-1981. Areas of high incidence are shown in the northern part of the city which is also traditionally an endemic area. The City Corporation has identified 17 high risk divisions accounting for 75% of the total registered cases in the city. High risk areas were found to be related to environmentally deteriorating areas such as high density, older, residential areas, slums and squatter settled areas along stretches of two rivers and a canal which traverse the city, and the low-lying poorly drained areas scattered over many parts of the city. The typical breeding grounds and sources of major vectors (anophelines and culicines) are presented. A relationship exists between the density of breeding sources (of Anopheles stephensi), such as private and public wells (in use and in disuse), overhead tanks and cisterns, and malaria cases. Field observations were made in detail in four selected high risk areas. Each area presents different environmental, epidemiological and human (social) factors in understanding malaria resurgence situation and demand different types of control measures. The problems of implementation of urban control schemes are found to be political, administrative, economic, social as well as environmental in nature. The persistence of malaria problems in the city has been attributed to slackening of malaria eradication measures, rapid urban growth and deteriorating environmental conditions with sewage, drainage and sanitation programmes lagging far behind the plans. The advantages and drawbacks of various antimalaria (mostly larval) measures in practice are presented. Biological and chemical control methods of malaria seem to provide only temporary control of the vectors. Some of the problems and constraints faced by Madras City Corporation in enforcing public health measures are discussed. The study also points out that environmental improvement, management techniques and health education, including raising the public awareness and cooperation, involvement and participation at neighbourhood/community levels in a meaningful way, have a long way to go in achieving permanent vector control and eliminating the reservoir of infection.</p>","PeriodicalId":79218,"journal":{"name":"Ecology of disease","volume":"2 4","pages":"321-35"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1983-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"17735623","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":"Correlation of incidence rates for selected cancers in 29 census sub-divisions of Alberta, Canada, 1961-1981.","authors":"G Bako,&nbsp;G B Hill,&nbsp;M Hendin","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Age-adjusted incidence rates for males and females for 36 cancer sites across 29 census sub-divisions of the province of Alberta were correlated with one another. It was hypothesized that cancers which vary together across geographical areas may have common aetiological factors. The correlations were measured by the Pearson product moment coefficient, r, and illustrated by scatter graphs and regression lines. For males moderate correlations were found between prostate and skin cancer and between prostate cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Also moderately correlated were male stomach and small intestine cancers and cancers of the bladder and the buccal cavity and pharynx. Specific site correlations for cancers in females were generally higher than for cancers in males. The highest correlations were found between cancer of cervix (invasive) and cancer of trachea, bronchus and lung, between multiple myeloma and cancer of brain and nervous system, between acute lymphatic leukemia and cancer of the bone and connective tissue, and between melanoma and cancer of bone and connective tissue. Although all these correlations are moderate they nevertheless indicate substantial relationships. Possible common aetiologic factors for correlating pairs of cancers are discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":79218,"journal":{"name":"Ecology of disease","volume":"2 2","pages":"129-33"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1983-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"17392652","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":"Endemic goiter in western Colombia.","authors":"E Gaitan","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Goiter continues to occur in some areas of western Colombia despite iodine supplementation for 30 years. In 1973-1977, an average goiter prevalence of 15% (range 1-42%) still persisted among schoolchildren of 41 localities. Significant relationships were found between goiter prevalence and both the geological composition of watersheds and bacterial contamination of water supplies. Together, these associations account for 80% of the observed variation in goiter prevalence. The presence of sedimentary rocks rich in organic matter (coals, shales, etc.) was the best indicator of disease. The second best indicator, presence of K. pneumoniae in the water source, was associated with lower goiter prevalence but, as in other investigations, contamination of the pipeline system (households and schools) with gram-negative bacteria was associated with higher disease rates. Thus, epidemiological evidence indicates a cause-effect relationship between sources of drinking water and the persistence and development of goiter in this part of the world. Furthermore, identification of resorcinol, phthalate esters, and sulfur-bearing organic compounds, possibly aliphatic disulfides, in the water supplying the endemic goiter district of Candelaria town in western Colombia adds experimental support to this hypothesis. Resorcinol is derived from coal and humic substances, high molecular weight complex polymeric organic compounds present in sedimentary rocks, soils and water. Resorcinol is goitrogenic in man and experimental animals. Phthalate esters, also related to humic materials, undergo biodegradation by gram-negative bacteria with production of intermediate metabolites possessing antithyroid activity. Like phthalates and resorcinol, organic disulfides have also been identified as water contaminants in other parts of the world, and are known to be potent antithyroid compounds. The goitrogenic effect of organic and bacterial pollutants in water supplies is more pronounced in segments of the population with dietary iodine deficiency--as seen prior to the iodine prophylaxis program--and/or poor socio-economic conditions. Studies are underway to provide both insight into the biogeochemical cycle of water-borne goitrogens and knowledge essential to the development of rapid, inexpensive, and precise methods for detecting and quantifying the offending agents, as well as devising effective sanitation techniques for their inactivation and/or elimination. The impact of such measures will be determined on goiter prevalence and other parameters of health and nutrition of the communities under study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)</p>","PeriodicalId":79218,"journal":{"name":"Ecology of disease","volume":"2 4","pages":"295-308"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1983-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"17457250","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":"Seasonal and monthly variation of Streptococcus pneumoniae and other pathogens in bacteremia (1961-1981).","authors":"D J Flournoy,&nbsp;F H Stalling,&nbsp;T L Catron","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Laboratory data, on positive blood cultures, were reviewed for the period 1961-1981. A total of 1809 episodes of bacteremia and fungemia were evaluated as to monthly occurrence. Of these, 42% were due to Gram positive cocci, 51% to Gram negative bacilli, 5% to anaerobes and 2% to yeasts. When seasonal patterns were categorized, most were bi- or multiphasic except Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus which yielded mono- and aphasic patterns, respectively. These results show the occurrence of certain pathogens, like S. pneumoniae, to be linked with seasons or months of the year.</p>","PeriodicalId":79218,"journal":{"name":"Ecology of disease","volume":"2 2","pages":"157-60"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1983-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"17733561","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":"Toxoplasma gondii--an environmental contaminant.","authors":"J Hay,&nbsp;W M Hutchison","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Toxoplasma gondii, the causal agent of toxoplasmosis, is a ubiquitous protozoan parasite which has the potential to infect man and all warm-blooded animals. It has as its definitive host the cat. Infections acquired by the human adult are generally subclinical. However, if acquired for the first time during pregnancy, the parasite can invade the developing foetus. Under these circumstances infection can result in abortion, stillbirth or production of live-born offspring with severe multiple organ involvement. Alternatively, offspring can be symptomless at birth but may manifest neurological and ocular sequelae of toxoplasmosis in later life. The degree of clinical involvement is thought to be dependent upon the time of acquisition of infection by the pregnant female. Recent investigations have been concerned with behavioural aspects of predator-prey relationships between cats and rodents. Since these aspects affect the spread of toxoplasmosis in the environment, they have strong epidemiological and ecological implications. Toxoplasma infection in the environment, they have strong epidemiological and ecological implications. Toxoplasma infection in mice is associated with subtle alterations in exploratory behaviour which are almost certainly maladaptive, rendering infected mice more susceptible to predation by cats. Consequently the behavioural abnormalities in mice associated with Toxoplasma infection would be of major importance for the continuation of the life-cycle of the parasite. Ingestion of Toxoplasma-infected mice leads to oocyst production in cats and this opens up the well-known pathway whereby Toxoplasma infection reaches the human species.</p>","PeriodicalId":79218,"journal":{"name":"Ecology of disease","volume":"2 1","pages":"33-43"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1983-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"17733630","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}