ABSTRACT
Robin Fears and co-authors discuss evidence-informed regional and global policy responses to health impacts of climate change.
Subject(s)
Climate Change , Health , Policy Making , Canada , Communicable Diseases/epidemiology , Floods , Food Security , Humans , WildfiresABSTRACT
While there is abounding literature on virus-induced pathology in general and coronavirus in particular, recent evidence accumulates showing distinct and deleterious brain affection. As the respiratory tract connects to the brain without protection of the blood-brain barrier, SARS-CoV-2 might in the early invasive phase attack the cardiorespiratory centres located in the medulla/pons areas, giving rise to disturbances of respiration and cardiac problems. Furthermore, brainstem regions are at risk to lose their functional integrity. Therefore, long-term neurological as well as psychiatric symptomatology and eventual respective disorders cannot be excluded as evidenced from influenza-A triggered post-encephalitic Parkinsonism and HIV-1 triggered AIDS-dementia complex. From the available evidences for coronavirus-induced brain pathology, this review concludes a number of unmet needs for further research strategies like human postmortem brain analyses. SARS-CoV-2 mirroring experimental animal brain studies, characterization of time-dependent and region-dependent spreading behaviours of coronaviruses, enlightening of pathological mechanisms after coronavirus infection using long-term animal models and clinical observations of patients having had COVID-19 infection are calling to develop both protective strategies and drug discoveries to avoid early and late coronavirus-induced functional brain disturbances, symptoms and eventually disorders. To fight SARS-CoV-2, it is an urgent need to enforce clinical, molecular biological, neurochemical and genetic research including brain-related studies on a worldwide harmonized basis.
Subject(s)
Betacoronavirus , Brain/pathology , Coronavirus Infections/pathology , Diagnosis , Pneumonia, Viral/pathology , Blood-Brain Barrier/pathology , Blood-Brain Barrier/virology , Brain/virology , COVID-19 , Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures/trends , Humans , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2 , Time FactorsSubject(s)
Air Pollution/prevention & control , Global Warming/prevention & control , Public Health/statistics & numerical data , Renewable Energy/statistics & numerical data , Research Report , Acclimatization , Air Pollution/statistics & numerical data , Environmental Policy , Floods/statistics & numerical data , Food Supply/statistics & numerical data , Fossil Fuels/supply & distribution , Global Warming/mortality , Global Warming/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Infrared RaysSubject(s)
Food Supply , Nutrition Assessment , Food Supply/methods , Food Supply/standards , HumansABSTRACT
An EASAC working group on genome editing recommends that regulators should focus on specific applications of these new techniques rather than attempting to regulate genome editing itself as a new technology.
Subject(s)
Gene Editing/ethics , Gene Editing/legislation & jurisprudence , Agriculture/methods , Animals , European Union , Gene Editing/methods , Gene Editing/standards , HumansABSTRACT
A working group on gain-of-function research set up by the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) has emphasised the importance of ensuring that the necessary safeguards and policies are in place.
Subject(s)
Biomedical Research/methods , Biomedical Research/trends , Microbiological Techniques , Organisms, Genetically Modified , Virulence Factors/genetics , Virulence Factors/metabolism , Virulence , Containment of Biohazards , Europe , Guidelines as Topic , HumansABSTRACT
Gain-of-function (GoF) studies to understand factors affecting transmissibility of potentially pandemic pathogens are controversial. The European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) recently published consensus recommendations relating to GoF research review and management on self-regulation and harmonization; bioethical considerations; benefit-risk assessment; biosafety, and biosecurity advisory options; and publication of sensitive information. A layered approach to integration of responsibilities must include conforming to the stringent rules and guidance already existing. Further commitment is essential to extend the debate on issues worldwide.
Subject(s)
Biomedical Research/methods , Disease Transmission, Infectious , Influenza, Human/transmission , Orthomyxoviridae Infections/transmission , Orthomyxoviridae/pathogenicity , Pandemics/prevention & control , Virology/methods , Academies and Institutes , Biomedical Research/ethics , Biomedical Research/standards , Europe , Humans , Influenza, Human/virology , Orthomyxoviridae/genetics , Orthomyxoviridae Infections/virology , Virology/ethics , Virology/standards , VirulenceABSTRACT
Enhanced antibiotic innovation depends on many things--defining and validating new and better targets, resourcing and facilitating high-quality preclinical and clinical research, streamlining regulation and solving market problems so as to provide incentives to the private sector. Further detail is provided in our recent report (see further information). Acting on these critical steps in concert to provide long-term solutions requires that urgent attention be paid to tackling policy disconnects. Sustaining the political commitment depends on raising the visibility of the problems and their solutions worldwide. The academies of science in the EU recognize their continuing responsibility to help do this.