Association Between Physical Activity and Osteoarthritis of Knee with Quality of Life in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Older adults are relatively physically active compared to other age group. A lack of physical activity (PA) can cause chronic diseases including osteoarthritis of knee (OA knee) and might eventually reduce quality of life (QOL). This present study was aimed to investigate association between levels of PA and OA knee with levels of QOL in community-dwelling older adults. One thousand and sixty-seven community-dwelling older persons were recruited to this descriptive study. PA activity questionnaire was invented. Standardized Oxford knee score and World Health Organization's Quality of Life scale (WHOQOL-BREF) were used to measure OA knee and QOL levels. Results showed that levels of PA in older adults were significantly associated with levels of OKS (χ2 = 78.565, P-value < .001) and levels of OA knee in older adults were significantly associated with levels of overall QOL (χ2 = 57.738, P-value < .001). Pearson's correlation also showed interrelation among PA, OA knee, and QOL. In conclusion, PA, OA knee, and QOL are interrelated. Therefore, close monitoring and design of proper PA activity should be implemented in community-dwelling older adults with OA knee.

Pesticides use and health impacts on farmers in Thailand, Vietnam, and Lao PDR: Protocol for a survey of knowledge, behaviours and blood acetyl cholinesterase concentrations.

Pesticides use in Southeast Asia has increased steadily, driven by the growth of large-scale commercial farming, as well as a desire to maximise food production in rural subsistence economies. Given that use of chemical pesticides, such as organophosphates and carbamates, has known potential health impacts, there are concerns about the safety of agricultural workers, and a need for a better evidence base to underpin regulation and worker education. This study, undertaken in 9 districts in Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam, will interview agricultural workers to investigate how they use pesticides, their knowledge of risks and self-protective practices, and their self-reported illness symptoms. In each district researchers will recruit and interview 120 participants engaged in vegetable farming, who have recently used pesticides, making a total of 1080 subjects divided equally between the three study countries. Workers' degree of pesticides exposure will be determined from acetyl cholinesterase concentrations in capillary blood samples collected using field test kits, and these data will be analysed together with the interview findings. Country findings will be compared and contrasted, and general patterns noted. Knowledge gained about risky behaviours, self-protective practices and degree of association with serious pesticides exposure will assist policy makers and inform health improvement programmes.

Statistical Analysis of Air Pollutants Concentration and Health Information Related to Respiratory Disease Patients in Bangkok, Thailand.

Air pollution can lead to exposure to foreign particles, air that can be inhaled deep into the lungs and cardiovascular system, causing diseases such as stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, and respiratory infections. The Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient (r) was used to determine the strength of association between a pair of variables, to test the relationship between these variables and to test whether the association is greater than could be expected by chance. The linear regression between respiratory disease patients, PM10, and other air pollutants were used in this study. Among PM10 together with CO, O3, and NOx was statistically significant with P-value of <0.01 (r = .031, .307, .561; 95% CI = -.570-1.437, .275-.445, and .223-.289 respectively).

Numerical Analysis of Conventional Air Pollutants and PM10 Concentration Affected to Respiratory Disease Patients in Bangkok, Thailand.

Ambient air pollution is a major cause of death and disease globally. The linear regression between respiratory disease patients, PM10 and other criteria pollutants were used in this study. Among respiratory disease patients and CO was statistically significant with P-value of <0.01 (r=0.198, 95% CI=48.74-288.16). As for respiratory disease patients and NOx was statistically significant with P-value of <0.01 (r=0.190, 95% CI=1379.74-9241.43).