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BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic (COVID-19) is the most important global health crisis to date. In this study, we performed an analysis to find the association between liver damage, FIB-4 score and the severity of COVID-19 disease. METHODS: We included a total of 580 patients that tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection and were hospitalized. No patient included had any known history of liver disease. Liver function tests were performed, and FIB-4 score was calculated in order to assess their involvement in the disease progression. RESULTS: More than half of the patients had elevated liver function tests. Age, high body mass index, associated heart disease and diabetes were associated with poor outcome. Corticosteroids, antibiotics, and anticoagulants strongly correlated with liver injuries. Liver impairment and injury, as well as a FIB-4 score higher than 3.5, also correlated with higher degrees of disease severity. CONCLUSION: Liver injury and elevated FIB-4 score were associated with poor clinical outcome and disease severity, as well as being a valuable tool to predict COVID-19-related mortality.
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BACKGROUND: The growing popularity of mobile phones and the expansion of network infrastructure in Greece have raised concerns about the possible negative health effects on sensitive groups, such as children, from exposure to long-term radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs). AIMS: The objective of this study is to estimate mean RF-EMF exposure levels of primary and secondary education schools located in the municipality of Korydallos, Athens, Greece. METHODS: We performed measurements to all the schools units ($n=62$) in the region in order to calculate the mean value for RF-EMF exposure in the range of 27 MHz-3 GHz, which covers the whole spectrum of RF-EMF sources. RESULTS: At the $97.5\%$ of schools found in Korydallos region, the exposure level is at least 2200 times below the Greek exposure limits. CONCLUSION: The exposure levels in the locations tested are both below $60\%$ of the highest limit set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection regarding school exposures.
Assuntos
Telefone Celular , Campos Eletromagnéticos , Censos , Criança , Cidades , Exposição Ambiental , Grécia , Humanos , Ondas de RádioRESUMO
BACKGROUND: There is an exponential growth of public concern worldwide regarding the exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) generated by wind turbines. The high concern of the general population enhances the fact that EMF exposure remains a crucial issue that demands specific actions and reliable data to evaluate possible health hazards. MATERIALS AND METHODS: EMF exposure measurements were conducted in two wind farm (W/F) areas in Greece. The magnetic field strength concentrated in the proximity of 22 wind turbines (20 type of Gamesa Eolica Siemens of total power of 17 MW and 2 type of E53 Enercon, 800 KW each). Measurements were conducted using a Narda-NBM-550 basic unit (Narda Safety Test Solutions Company) using EHP-50F probe. The EMF exposure measurements were processed applying the weighted peak method (WPM), according to the 2013/35/EU Directive. WPM provides correction of the measured value of pulse signals, taking into account the phases of the various frequency components. The data were classified under two scenarios of EMF exposure: 'high wind' and 'low wind' conditions. RESULTS: The variation of the magnetic field strength was calculated between 1.13 and 1.42% (WPM). Measurements indicate that the intensity of the emitted magnetic field at the base of the wind turbines, in both high and low wind conditions, was relatively low (mean = 0.146 µT), while decreasing rapidly with increasing distance and reaching background values 6 m from the base. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study indicate that EMF levels are similar or even lower compared to those in urban areas and well below the national and international safety limits.