One Health & Risk Management

Harnessing multidisciplinary expertise to combat antimicrobial resistance: a One Health approach for sustainable solutions

Gloria CÓRDOBA — 2024-10-02

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a threat to global health, thus requiring a collaborative effort from professionals across diverse disciplines to achieve optimal health outcomes for humans, animals, plants, and the environment.

Therefore, it is essential to recognize that effective planning and implementation of sustainable solutions will only be achievable when multidisciplinary research teams, including expertise beyond health sciences, such as implementation scientist and economists, are regarded as a primary source of high-quality evidence rather than merely a supplementary or unconventional approach to scientific research.

For example, a multidisciplinary and One Health approach involves not only creating a comprehensive system for monitoring AMR trends in humans, animals, and the environment but also identifying the most cost-effective methods, as well as understanding the factors that motivate various stakeholders to change their behavior and provide high-quality, timely data. Besides, integrating findings from cost-effectiveness studies into broader AMR programs, enables stakeholders to make informed decisions that would optimize health outcomes while minimizing economic burdens.

The One Health and Risk Management journal =promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and supports innovative research within One Health field, particularly regarding AMR. Thus, I would like to sincerely congratulate the colleagues from Republic of Moldova for their remarkable achievement in publishing the fourth issue of this national journal. This initiative encourages collaboration, stimulate innovative research, as well as contribute significantly to the overall global efforts in tackling the AMR-related challenges. Enjoy reading a good compilation of multidisciplinary work.

Haematococcus pluvialis derived astaxanthin – a powerful bioactive compound for vegetable oils

Ludmila RUDI — 2024-09-29

Introduction: The beneficial effects on health result from the protective action of astaxanthin (AXT) as a powerful antioxidant capable of scavenging free radicals and protecting cells from oxidative stress. The study aimed to evaluate the protective role of astaxanthin derived from Haematococcus pluvialis in reducing the thermal oxidation of fatty acids in vegetable oils. Material and Methods: Astaxanthin, obtained by extraction from the biomass of Haematococcus pluvialis, at a concentration of 0.26-0.29 mg/mL, was added to olive, sunflower, almond, walnut, sesame, and poppy seed oils. The progression of oxidation was monitored based on the formation of conjugated dienes. The formation of conjugated dienes was monitored spectrophotometrically.

Results: Astaxanthin reduced the content of conjugated dienes in sesame, almond, and walnut oils by 30-34%. A strong antioxidant effect of AXT was noted in the case of poppy seed oil, for which the formation of conjugated dienes was decreased by 42% and the oxidation was delayed by 60 min when exposed to high temperatures compared to native oil. For sunflower oil, which exhibited a high degree of thermal oxidation, addition of AXT reduced the formation of conjugated dienes by 22% during the experiment.

Conclusions: Astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis significantly reduced the formation of conjugated dienes, indicating it does not act as a prooxidant in various vegetable oils.

Enhancing sexual and reproductive health literacy among local and refugee’s youth in Moldova - a community participation digital health initiative

Camille THOMAS — 2024-09-29

Introduction. Despite progress in Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) in Moldova, adolescents still face barriers accessing accurate health information and services. To address these issues, a digital resource called the YK App was developed to enhance health literacy and healthcare access for Moldovan and refugee youth.

Material and methods. Three regional focus group discussions were conducted with 50 youths aged 15-24, including Ukrainian refugees. These discussions, held in multiple languages, explored participants' SRH knowledge, information sources, barriers, and enablers Qualitative data and socio-demographic profiles were analyzed thematically and descriptively.

Results. Participants rely strongly on social media for SRH information, revealing significant gaps in awareness, particularly on contraception, sexually transmitted infections, puberty and menstruation. While healthcare professionals are seen as credible sources, shame and fear of rejection often prevent direct involvement with healthcare services. Anonymity, confidentiality, and use of digital platforms were identified as key facilitators for accessing SRH information.

Conclusions. The findings emphasize the potential of a digital, youth-focused SRH resource that adolescents can use independently. Key elements include clear, easy-to-understand formats such as audio and video content, and collaboration with health professionals and official health organizations to ensure credibility.

Optimizing the efficacy of COVID-19 patient satisfaction surveys in India: A DELPHI- based validation process

Shazina SAEED — 2024-09-29

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic in India led to a significant increase in healthcare costs and a decrease in patient satisfaction. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a questionnaire to gauge patient satisfaction with healthcare services during the COV-19 period in India. Methods: An e-Delphi method was used to design and validate the questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of 18 closed -ended questions aimed at assessing patient satisfaction levels among patients affected by the disease. The instrument was validated by a panel of experts, including healthcare professionals, researchers, and public health professionals, using a series of structured rounds. Results: The developed questionnaire was able to capture the multifaceted patient experiences during the period, providing an essential tool for both policymakers and healthcare providers, facilitating a deeper understanding of and response to patient needs. Moreover, the questionnaire was tailored to the cultural and healthcare-specific contexts of the Indian population, considering language, socio-cultural factors, and healthcare practices unique to the region, ensuring the instrument's relevance and effectiveness. Conclusions: This study aims to fill a critical gap in the assessment of patient satisfaction in the context of a healthcare crisis in India, emphasizing the need for use of Delphi Technique for the purpose of validating a questionnaire and obtaining accurate and meaningful data for healthcare improvements and surveys.

The impact of microalgae chlorella vulgaris and scenedesmus quadricauda on the growth parameters of the ciliate paramecium caudatum

Elena ROSCOV — 2024-09-29

Introduction. An important aspect of research in the field of microbial ecology is understanding the interactions between organisms, particularly the influence they have on one another within aquatic ecosystems. Green microalgae (phylum Chlorophyta) represent a diverse group of photosynthetic organisms, playing a significant role in ecological cycles. Investigations have focused on evaluating the impact of two microalgae species, Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus quadricauda, on the growth parameters of the natural population of Paramecium caudatum, making it a suitable indicator for assessing the influence of these organisms on the food chain.

Material and methods. The research was based on the work of Kokova, V. (1982), and Likhachev, S.V. (2020). The productivity of the ciliates was determined by their division rate, according to Zaika V.E. (1983) and Spinei L. (2009). Experiments were conducted over intervals of 24-144 hours, using microalgae solution concentrations at 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 10 mg/L.

Results. For Chlorella vulgaris the lower doses generated a significant stimulatory effect on P. caudatum, resulting in notable increases in both number and reproduction rate. In contrast, for Scenedesmus quadricauda, lower doses also had a pronounced stimulatory effect, while higher doses yielded varied results, including both increases and decreases in parameters.

Conclusions. Both strains of microalgae demonstrate stimulatory potential on the natural population of P. caudatum, particularly at lower doses.

Ethics institutionalization in healthcare facilities in the Republic of Moldova

Rodica GRAMMA — 2024-11-10

Introduction. The process of institutionalizing ethics is composed of the implementation of tools such as: codes, ethical leadership, training, ethics committees, ethics audits, ethics consultants. The article presents an analysis of the situation on the role of these ethics’ tools on the activity of the healthcare facilities of the Republic of Moldova.

Material and methods. The research was carried out on 2 target groups: 1. a cross-sectional study on a sample of 1070 employees of 120 hospital and primary care institutions and 2. a sample of 134 members of ethics / bioethics committees. Two questionnaires were developed and transposed into Google forms to be completed anonymously. Comparative evaluation was performed using the 95%CI. The standard Chi-Squared Test (α = 0.05) for Independence without Yates' Correction was considered for 3x3 and 7x5 contingency tables.

Results. In the country's medical institutions, the level of institutionalization of ethics was low, and the application of ethics management tools varied significantly. Only 13% (95% CI: 11.0, 15.0) of respondents reported the existence of an institutional ethics code, while 30.4% (95% CI: 27.6, 33.1) admitted they were unaware of such a code within their institution. Furthermore, only 25.5% (95% CI: 22.9, 28.1) of respondents indicated that institutional values were promoted by all employees. Just 36.2% (95% CI: 30.4, 36.1) felt they had the necessary knowledge to make decisions in ethical dilemmas.

Conclusions. The detected gaps lead us to the conclusion that the continuous integration of ethics into institutional activities must become essential for the managers of medical institutions in the country. This is an important condition for ensuring the quality of services. Implementing ethics programs should be an indispensable part of developing institutional strategies.