On the importance of primary and community healthcare in relation to global health and environmental threats: lessons from the COVID-19 crisis

In the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become clear that primary healthcare systems play a critical role in clinical care, such as patient screening, triage, physical and psychological support and also in promoting good community advice and awareness in coordination with secondary healthcare and preventive care. Because of the role of social and…

Effect of a mobile‐based intervention on mental health in frontline healthcare workers against COVID‐19: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial

To evaluate the impact of a psychoeducational, mobile health intervention based on cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness‐based approaches on the mental health of healthcare workers at the frontline against COVID‐19 in Spain. Design We will carry out a two‐week, individually randomized, parallel group, controlled trial. Participants will be individually randomized to receive the PsyCovidApp intervention…

Causal effects of lifetime smoking on breast and colorectal cancer risk: Mendelian randomization study

Background: Observational evidence has shown that smoking is a risk factor for breast and colorectal cancer. We used Mendelian randomization (MR) to examine causal associations between smoking and risks of breast and colorectal cancer. Methods: Genome-wide association study summary data were used to identify genetic variants associated with lifetime amount of smoking (n=126 variants) and…

Towards a taxonomy of judicialisation for access to medicines in Latin America

In Latin America, ‘judicialization’ for access to healthcare refers to thousands of different claims, conditions, technologies and circumstances. Its impact depends on what is ‘judicialized’, why, for which benefit, and at what cost to society. Since judges cannot, by themselves, reduce medical uncertainty – or price tags – their health systems are exposed to costly…

Differences in the management and survival of metastatic colorectal cancer in Europe. A population-based study

Background The management regarding metastatic colorectal cancer throughout Europe is not well known. Aims To draw a European comparison of the management and prognosis of metastatic colorectal cancers. Methods Factors associated with chemotherapy administration were identified through logistic regressions. Net survival was estimated and crude probabilities of death related to cancer and other causes using…

Red blood cell fatty acids and risk of colorectal cancer in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC).

Background: A growing body of evidence suggests that alterations of dietary fatty acid (FA) profiles are associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. However, data from large-scale epidemiological studies using circulating FA measurements to objectively assess individual FA and FA categories are scarce. Methods: To investigate the association between red blood cell (RBC) membrane FAs and…

Physical comorbidities as a marker for high risk of psychological distress in cancer patients

Aims Physical and psychiatric comorbidities are common in cancer patients and could impact their treatment and prognosis. However, the evidence base regarding the influence of comorbidities in the management and health service use of patients is still scant. In this research we investigated how physical comorbidities are related to the mental health and help‐seeking of…

Lifetime alcohol intake, drinking patterns over time and risk of stomach cancer: A pooled analysis of data from two prospective cohort studies

Alcohol consumption is causally linked to several cancers but the evidence for stomach cancer is inconclusive. In our study, the association between long‐term alcohol intake and risk of stomach cancer and its subtypes was evaluated. We performed a pooled analysis of data collected at baseline from 491 714 participants in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer…

Lessons from an International Initiative to Set and Share Good Practice on Human Health in Environmental Impact Assessment

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is applied to infrastructure and other large projects. The European Union EIA Directive (2011/92/EU as amended by 2014/52/EU) requires EIAs to consider the effects that a project might have on human health. The International Association for Impact Assessment and the European Public Health Association prepared a reference paper on public health…

A multilayered post-GWAS assessment on genetic susceptibility to pancreatic cancer

Background Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a complex disease in which both non-genetic and genetic factors interplay. To date, 40 GWAS hits have been associated with PC risk in individuals of European descent, explaining 4.1% of the phenotypic variance. Methods We complemented a new conventional PC GWAS (1D) with genome spatial autocorrelation analysis (2D) permitting to…