Recent WHO publications

Recent WHO publications/Publications recentes OMS Cancer Palliative cancer care Policy statement based on the recommendations of a WHO Consultation Copenhagen, WHO Regional Office for Europe, 1989, viii + 40 pages ISBN 92 890 1059 2 Price: Sw.fr. 15.-/US$ 12.00 The incidence of cancer, which is the second most common cause of death in Europe, is expected to increase worldwide; up to two thirds of these patients cannot be cured. The goal of palliative care is to help them to achieve their maximum physical, emotional, spiritual, vocational and social potential. This book spells out the changes in thinking and the services and resources needed to provide such care to patients and the necessary support to care-givers. The publication ranges in scope from the strategy behind palliative cancer care, through the organization and planning of services, to techniques for quality control. Recommendations for action and a list of further reading are also included. Chemical toxicology, carcinogenicity Indoor air quality: organic pollutants Report on a WHO Meeting Copenhagen, WHO Regional Office for Europe, 1989, 70 pages (EURO Reports and Studies, No. 111). ISBN 92 890 1277 3 Price: Sw.fr. 8.-/US$ 6.40 This report presents a consolidated list of the concen- trations and sources of some 70 organic indoor air pollutants, and their effects on people's health. Most of the pollutants exist indoors in concentrations well below the level at which they do any harm, though some affect the sensory organs. Five are carcinogenic, although their concentrations indoors are so low that their contribution to cancer causation is negligible. A special problem is the complex mixture of pollutants produced by soot and environmental tobacco smoke. They are particularly difficult to characterize but it seems that they have serious carcinogenic potential. Some pollutants have an effect on the central nervous system at the levels found in industry, but these levels are unlikely to be reached in homes. The public and governments, as well as the press, recognize the problem of indoor pollution and are concerned about its possible dangers. This report addresses many of the legitimate questions they have raised. It will also be invaluable to environmental chemists and epidemio- logists, toxicologists, experimental psychologists, and public health officers.' Communicable diseases HIV seropositivity and AIDS prevention and control Report on a WHO Meeting Copenhagen, WHO Regional Office for Europe, 1989, vi + 33 pages ISBN 92 890 1060 6 Price: Sw.fr. 10.-/US$ 8.00 This book begins with an overview of the current situation and trends in the WHO European Region and then concentrates on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) surveillance and its clinical, legal, ethical and economic issues. It suggests that serosurveys could provide information vital to the design, implementation and evaluation of effective policies and programmes. The report includes discussion and recommendations on the methods, problems and usefulness of testing groups at special risk and the general population, on the ethical and practical issues of HIV surveillance, and the scope and characteristics of effective national programmes. This report is interesting and useful reading for decision-makers, health authorities, professionals in health and other sectors, and the public. It can help countries take action against AIDS.' A A note on indoor air quality and biological contaminants, outlining the findings of a Working Group convened by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, appeared in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 67 (2): 217-218 (1989). Another note on air pollution control in eastern Europe, based on the conclusions and recommendations of a workshop convened by the WHO Regional Office for Europe In Warsaw in June 1989 appeared in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 68 (1): 120-121 (1990). b See footnote c in this section. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 66 (2): 275279 (1990) © World Health Organization 1990 275 Recent WHO pubiIcatlons/Publications r6centes OMS Environmental engineering Guidelines for the safe use of wastewater and excreta In agriculture and aquaculture Measures for public health protection prepared by D. Mara & S. Cairncross Published by WHO in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme Geneva, 1989, vii + 187 pages ISBN 92 4154248 9 Price: Sw.fr. 35.-/US$ 28.00 This book presents and explains the full range of practical and technical factors that need to be con- sidered when planning, designing, and implementing schemes for the safe reuse of wastewater and excreta in agriculture and aquaculture. In keeping with growing appreciation for the importance of resource conservation, the book also presents compelling arguments for the environmental advantages of reuse schemes, including increased crop yields, reduced requirements for artificial fertilizers, avoidance of surface water pollution, conservation of soil and freshwater resources, and desertification control. The objective is to give policy-makers, senior profes- sionals, and consulting engineers guidance in the technical options available to maximize these environmental benefits without introducing risks to health. Food safety Safe food handling A training guide for managers of food service establishments by M. Jacob Geneva, 1989, vi + 142 pages ISBN 92 4154245 4 Price: Sw.fr. 25.-/US$ 20.00 This book provides a point-by-point guide to measures within the food service industry that can be used to prevent food contamination and protect consumers from foodborne disease. Addressed to managers and supervisors in hotels, restaurants and other catering establishments, the book responds to scientific knowledge indicating that most outbreaks of foodborne disease can be traced to well-defined errors in food preparation and storage. With this view in mind, the book concentrates on facts and advice that can be used to teach food handlers both the principles and the specifics of good hygienic practice. Readers are also reminded of the high costs, including lost clientele and damage to tourism, of foodborne illness and of the protection achieved when food handlers are taught to avoid common errors. Immunization International travel and health Vaccination requirements and health advice Situation as on 1 January 1990 Geneva, 1990, 89 pages ISBN 92 4 158015 1 Price: Sw.fr. 14.-/US$ 11.20 This annual guide issues authoritative advice on the medical and personal precautions needed to protect the health of travellers. Addressed to practising physicians, tourist agencies, airlines and shipping companies, the book presents the latest information concerning health risks and required or recommend- ed vaccinations specific to the intended country of travel. Though the main emphasis is on prevention, country-specific information on common diseases may also help physicians track the cause of illnesses acquired abroad. The most substantial changes in the 1990 edition have been made in the section on malaria, which poses an increasing threat to the health of travellers. Advice to physicians and travellers includes specially updated guidelines for- mulated by a team of international experts. Points highlighted include the importance of protection against mosquito bites, the regular use of carefully selected chemoprophylactic drugs where they are needed (and avoiding the use of potentially toxic drugs where they are not needed), as well as the importance of seeking prompt medical consultation for treatment if signs of malaria develop. The 1990 edition also features a new section alerting physicians on the contraindications for certain drugs in certain population groups. Pharmaceuticals, biologicals WHO Expert Committee on Biological Standardization Thirty-ninth report Geneva, 1989, 184 pages (WHO Technical Report Series, No. 786). ISBN 92 4 120786 8 Price: Sw.fr. 22.-/US$ 17.60 This report records the deliberations and recommen- dations of an expert committee commissioned by WHO to coordinate activities leading to the estab- lishment of international reference materials and the adoption of international requirements for the pro- duction and control of vaccines and other biologicals. An important section presents revised requirements for the collection, processing, and quality control of blood, blood components, and plasma derivatives in order to safeguard the quality of blood and blood WHO Bulletin OMS. Vol 68 1990.276 Recent WHO publicatlons/Publicatlons r4centes OMS products, particularly against contamination with HIV and hepatitis B virus.c Addressed to manufacturers and national control authorities, the report serves as both a record of new or revised requirements for specific substances and an alert to ongoing or planned research likely to affect requirements in the near future. Substance abuse WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence Twenty-sixth report Geneva, 1989, 32 pages (WHO Technical Report Series, No. 787). ISBN 92 4120787 6 Price: Sw.fr. 4.-/US$ 3.20 This report publishes the recommendations of a WHO Expert Committee responsible for reviewing information on psychoactive drugs to assess the need for their international control under the Single Con- vention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, and the Conven- tion on Psychotropic Substances, 1971. Evaluations are presented for 14 substances, including four benzo- diazepines, nine "designer drugs" (analogues of fen- tanyl, tenamfetamine and aminorex), and dronabinol. Recommendations are based on a review of phar- macological and epidemiological data together with evidence indicating the potential of serious abuse- related social and health problems. c See note on reducing the risk of transmission of HIV by blood transfusion on pages 262-264. Abus de substances Comith OMS d'Experts de la Pharmaco- dependance Vingt-sixi6me rapport Gen6ve, 1989, 36 pages (OMS, S6rie de Rapports techniques, No 787). ISBN 92 4 220787 X Prix: Fr.s. 4.- Ce rapport publie les recommandations d'un comite OMS d'experts charges d'examiner les donnees relatives aux substances psychodctives afin d'ap- precier la necessite de les placer sous controle inter- national en vertu de la Convention unique sur les Stupefiants de 1961 et de la Convention sur les Substances psychotropes de 1971. On y trouvera evaluees 14 substances-quatre benzodiazepines, neuf produits "bricoles" (analogues du fentanyl, de la tenamfetamine et de l'aminorex) et le dronabinol. Les recommandations ont ete etablies a partir d'une etude des donnees pharmacologiques et epidemio- logiques et des indications sur les potentialites de graves problemes sanitaires et sociaux lies a l'abus de ces substances. Pr6pare sous 1'6gide conjointe du Programme des Nations Unies pour i'Environnement et de i'OMS Gen6ve, 1989, vii + 61 pages (OMS, Publication Offset No 100). ISBN 92 4 270100 9 Prix: Fr.s. 12.- On trouvera dans cette publication des principes de base, un cadre schematique et une methodologie pour s'attaquer aux enormes problemes de sante lies aux conditions de vie dans les taudis urbains, les bidonvilles et autres etablissements precaires des clas- ses misereuses. Devant le nombre atterrant d'in- dividus vivant dans de telles conditions, et l'insuf- fisance notoire des fonds publics face aux besoins en logements, I'approche preconisee par cet ouvrage repose sur la communaute et son interet a faire evoluer la situation pour ameliorer les conditions de vie. On examine aussi l'importance du soutien des autorites gouvernementales et autres institutions locales. Environnement Amhlioration des conditions d'hygiene de l'environnement dans les habitats pour falbles revenus Comment dMfinkr besoins et prioriths au niveau communautaire WHO Bulletin OMS. Vol 68 1990. 2n7 Recent WHO publicatlons/Publicatlons recentes OMS Maladies cardio-vasculaires Los programmes integres de lutte contre les maladies cardlo-vasculaires au niveau de la collectivite en Europe publie sous la direction de P. Puska, en collaboration avec E. Leparski, G. Lamm, H. Heine, J. Pereira, Z. Pisa & D. Thelle Copenhague, Bureau r6gional de l'OMS pour l'Europe, 1989, vii + 100 pages (Rapports et Etudes EURO, No 106). ISBN 92 890 2272 8 Prix: Fr.s. 9.- Cet ouvrage decrit le programme OMS complet de lutte contre les maladies cardio-vasculaires au niveau de la collectivite (PCCC), la participation de neuf pays et le role du programme dans la poursuite de la lutte contre les maladies cardio-vasculaires en Europe. En evoluant, le PCCC a pris la forme d'un programme qui est a la fois une intervention contre les facteurs de risque des maladies cardio-vasculaires et une etude sur son efficacite. A partir de 1974, le PCCC s'est appuye sur les travaux executes dans les pays et l'OMS a mis a leur disposition le savoir-faire methodologique et organisationnel necessaire pour creer des programmes pilotes adaptes a leur situation et a leurs besoins. A l'issue du programme PCCC, en 1984, la faisabilite de l'approche communautaire pour la prevention des maladies cardio-vasculaires etait etablie et les activites axees sur la reduction des facteurs de risque dans les pays se poursuivaient, ce qui ouvrait la voie aux programmes integres a l'echelle d'un pays pour la lutte contre les maladies non transmissibles (CINDI).d Cet ouvrage expose les grands principes et me- thodes utilises, les rapports finals sur les PCCC des pays et les conclusions sur l'impact du programme. Sa lecture sera utile aux professionnels de la sante, aux scientifiques et aux decideurs du secteur de la sante concernes par les maladies cardio-vasculaires et autres maladies non transmissibles, ainsi qu'aux membres du grand public dont la vie est encore menacee par ces maladies. Maladies transmissibles Utlilsatlon d'antigenes de synthese pour le diagnostic des maladies Infectieuses Rapport d'un Groupe scientifique de i'OMS d Une note sur ces programmes paraitra sous la rubrique Notes et activitAs OMS du Bulletin de l'Organisation mondiale de la Sant6, 66 (3), 1990 (sous presse). Gen6ve, 1989, 82 pages (OMS, Serie de Rapports techniques, No 784). ISBN 92 4 220784 5 Prix: Fr.s. 9.- Destine aux chercheurs, ce rapport evalue plus de 200 etudes recentes en vue de definir les axes de recherche les plus indiques pour une nette amelioration du diagnostic. Y sont examinees les applications de cette technique dans le domaine des infections virales et des maladies bacteriennes et parasitaires, ainsi que la mise au point eventuelle d'epreuves diagnostiques ameliorees pour la detection et la surveillance de l'infection due au virus de l'immunodeficience humaine (VIH). Tout au long du rapport, les auteurs se sont attaches a signaler les cas particuliers ou' l'utilisation d'antigenes de synthese presente des avantages manifestes sur les epitopes naturels. On trouvera egalement des indications sur l'utilisation des peptides de synthese existants. Le lecteur apprend comment la production d'an- tigenes de synthese ouvre d'excitantes perspectives dans divers domaines: mise au point de nouveaux reactifs pour le depistage et d'epreuves requises d'urgence pour suivre les progres de l'infection et du traitement, suivi systematique des porteurs asymp- tomatiques et formulation d'un pronostic pour les porteurs et les malades aux differents stades de la maladie. Vu les avantages pratiques et commerciaux ainsi que les resultats scientifiques que l'on compte tirer des antigenes de synthese, le rapport devrait se reveler particulierement utile en aidant les scien- tifiques a faire le point de la question et a determiner les axes de recherche les plus a meme de donner des resultats utiles. Pr6parations pharmaceutiques, prodults biologiques Comite OMS d'Experts de la Standardisatlon blologlque Trento-neuvl6me rapport Genbve, 1989, 196 pages (OMS, S6rie de Rapports techniques, No 786). ISBN 92 4 220786 1 Prix: Fr.s. 22.- Ce rapport presente les debats et recommandations d'un comite d'experts charges par l'OMS de coor- donner les activites en vue de l1'tablissement de sub- stances internationales de reference et de l'adoption de normes intemationales relatives a la production et au controle de vaccins et autres substances biolo- giques. Une partie importante est consacree aux normes revisees relatives a la collecte, au traitement 278 WHO Bulletin OMS. Vol 681990. Recent WHO publicatlons/Pubflcatlons r6centes OMS et au controle de qualite du sang, de ses constituants et des derives du plasma afin de garantir la qualite du sang et des produits sanguins, surtout pour eviter la contamination par le VIH et le virus de l'hepatite B.' Destine aux fabricants et aux autorites natio- nales de controle, le rapport enonce les normes nouvelles ou revisees applicables a des substances specifiques et rend attentif aux recherches en cours ou prevues qui risquent d'influencer les normes dans un proche avenir. Vaccination Voyages internationaux et sante Vaccinations exIgbes et conselis d'hygiine Situation au lbr lanvier 1990 Gen6ve, 1990, 94 pages ISBN 92 4 258015 5 Prix: Fr.s. 14.- Ce guide annuel donne des avis autorises sur les precautions d'ordre medical et individuel que doivent prendre les voyageurs pour se proteger. Destine au corps medical, aux agences de tourisme et aux compagnies aeriennes et maritimes, il presente les faits ' Voir note sur la r6duction du risque de transmission du VIH par la transfusion sanguine aux pages 268-271. les plus recents concernant les risques pour la sante et indique les vaccinations qui sont exigees ou recom- mandees dans les pays ocu comptent se rendre les voyageurs. Tout en mettant I'accent sur la preven- tion, il donne des renseignements sur les maladies courantes dans differents pays, ce qui peut aider le medecin a determiner l'origine d'une maladie con- tractee a l'etranger. C'est dans la partie relative au paludisme qu'ont ete apportes les principaux changements avec cette edition 1990. Parce que le paludisme represente une menace croissante pour les voyageurs, on a inclu dans les conseils aux medecins et aux voyageurs des recommandations specialement actualisees qui ont ete formulees par un groupe d'experts internationaux. Le guide insiste parti- culierement sur l'importance de la protection contre les piq'ures de moustiques, la prise reguliere de medicaments prophylactiques soigneusement choisis lorsque cela est necessaire (en evitant les medicaments potentiellement toxiques s'ils ne sont pas indispensables) et sur l'importance de consulter sans retard un medecin si des signes de paludisme apparaissent. L'edition 1990 comporte aussi une nouvelle partie destinee a attirer l'attention des medecins sur les contre-indications a l'utilisation de certains medicaments dans certains groupes de population. WHO Bulletin OMS. Vol 681990. 279