Genome as a mosaic
Different genomes (DNA) in cells of individuals produce genomic mosaicism1. Is this heresy, offending the central dogma of molecular biology2. Or fact, demanding quantitation? A recent paper starts bluntly with our title3.
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Some clarifications on red meat and cancer
di Paolo Vineis
The evaluation on the carcinogenicity of red meat by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) – and not by WHO as many media reported – has given rise to a range of misunderstandings and is an example of how scientific communication on topics with a major public impact may prove extremely difficult. As coordinator of the epidemiology Working Group that classified the consumption of red meat, I followed the process from
Women and Climate Finance
The twenty-first UN Conference of the Parties on climate change will address the issue of gender inequality also with respect to access to financial resources.
Lifepath: how we will use biomarker research
di Paolo Vineis
Quality of life and life expectancy are not the same for all individuals. Dramatic differentials in these traits, as well as in many other health features, represent one of the biggest challenges for our society. Social and economic factors play a major role in determining these differences, as it has been proved that people from higher socio-economic groups are more likely to live longer and in better health conditions.
Women and climate adaptation
El Mouddaa is a Maroccan Berber village, where 350 people live at an altitude of 2,000 m in the mountains of the Toubkal National Park. Over the last twenty years, the community has been affected by climate change and has experienced increasing insecurity with respect to the availability of food. This has forced people to leave the country to find seasonal work. This particular state of need has increased the responsibilities delegated to women, moreover creating an opportunity for their emancipation and an increasing participation in community decisions.
Gender and climate change: what do women have to do with this issue?
Although at first sight it may appear as a mere contrivance, the question immediately acquires a clearer and more precise outline if the concept proposed is considered with respect to developing countries, where women not only represent 43 percent of the agricultural workforce (with data ranging between 50 percent and 70 percent in sub-Saharan countries) but, for socio-cultural reasons are the members of their communities delegated to the preparation of daily food.
Vaccines: behind the incomprehension
The anti-vaccine movement is the worst threat for public health, European doctors say
di Luca Carra
Over the course of a week, doctors, epidemiologists and sociologists dealing with Public Health gathered in Milan for the 8th European Public Health Conference (15-16 October 2015).
The epigenetic link between inflammation and socioeconomic status
Health and wellbeing are complicated matters. The list of factors that may influence them is long, with social and economic circumstances being far from its bottom. It is well established that people from disadvantaged subgroups of the population are more prone to diseases and unhealthy ageing, especially now, under the ongoing economic crisis.
Health inequities in the European Region
Europe is on track to achieve the Health 2020 target to reduce premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes mellitus and chronic respiratory diseases by 1.5 percent annually until 2020. However, there are other challenges for the European Region, like those concerning health inequalities among countries.