The warehouse was converted into an isolation area for infected people during the 1918 flu pandemic. Photo: According to Live Science “The research results, although not directly applicable to the Covid-19 pandemic, show that humans can eventually overcome their variants. This is being expected by the world in the context of the corona virus outbreak. evolved with many dangerous mutations today,” evolutionary biologist Sébastien Calvignac-Spencer, lead author of the study, told Live Science. According to Spencer, as now, when focusing on studying the virus that caused the 1918 flu pandemic, the research team questioned whether its new variants worked differently from the original? Since then, the team has studied six human lungs dating from the pandemic years of 1918, which are preserved in formalin at pathological archives in Germany and Austria. The researchers determined that three of the six sample lungs – two from young soldiers who died in Berlin, the other from a young woman who died in Munich – contained the 1918 flu virus. “The virus that caused the 1918 flu pandemic is still around today. But it’s more attenuated, mainly because we are descendants of people who survived the outbreak 103 years ago. Because So we’ve inherited some form of genetic immunity,” explains Calvignac-Spencer. Estimates suggest that the 1918 strain of influenza infected about 1 billion people, while the global population was only 2 billion. About 50-100 million people may have died in three consecutive outbreaks then. The first wave of the pandemic occurred in early 1918, it was less deadly than later waves: “The preserved lungs of two German soldiers were determined to be dead at this time”, the research team at the Institute of Robert Koch confirmed. The researchers extracted viral RNA from those lung samples. Both German soldiers died on the same day and when decoding the genome of the virus that killed them there was almost no difference. Spencer added: “But the form of the flu virus found in the soldiers’ lungs, is somewhat genetically different from the form of the virus that infected the young woman who died in Munich. Presumably, the woman. did not survive a subsequent outbreak.” The scientists also compared viral genomes from the US and Germany, and conducted laboratory studies with synthetic copies of virus samples. They wanted to learn to assess the infectivity and replication ability of different strains inside cells. The findings of German scientists also show that the 1918 flu virus has mutated to make the next outbreak stronger and more dangerous than the previous one, by evolving to overcome the human ability to “defence”. The genetic mutations that emerged between the first and second waves may have made the virus better adapted for human-to-human transmission, rather than between birds, its natural host. The other mutation may have changed the way the virus interacts with a human protein called MxA, which helps regulate the body’s immune response to new pathogens. Although the scientists are not sure how the variants changed the “strength” of the virus, “it can be predicted that these changes helped the virus avoid one of the mechanisms by which cells respond.” to kill the flu virus,” Calvignac-Spencer said. The evolution of the virus that caused the 1918 flu pandemic has similarities to the current Covid-19 pandemic, such as consecutive outbreaks with many different strains, and the following outbreaks are more dangerous than the previous one. . Thanks to the advancement of science, today when understanding the Covid-19 pandemic, researchers can better understand the 1918 influenza pandemic: “The more we understand about the current pandemic, that The more we can understand the pandemic in the past, rather than vice versa,” Calvignac-Spencer emphasized. One significant advance is that researchers have been able to accurately sequence the viral genome in human tissue preserved in formalin for more than 100 years – something that has hitherto been thought to be very difficult. “Thanks to new techniques, the study ended up being much easier than we expected,” added Calvignac-Spencer, adding: “We can now sequence the viral genome from infected humans. buried in permafrost for up to 1,000 years, because the cold can help preserve DNA even longer.” The team of German scientists also wanted to sequence viral genomes that could have been stored in the bodies of ancient Egyptian mummies – the earliest mummies are about 5,000 years old.”The mummies were prepared to prevent biological processes, and that’s exactly what we want. So we will also embark on research to better understand other diseases of the past,” the German scientist said. about the group’s future plans.

At nearly 11 pm, inside the “mangrove forest” near Hung Vuong Bridge (Phan Thiet City) there was still a flash of flashlight. Everyone here is familiar with the image of a lonely man rowing a basket boat, pulling a net in the night. Every day, Mr. Tran Van Phuong regularly casts nets to catch shrimp and fish in this mangrove flora. In the afternoon, taking advantage of the big water, Mr. Phuong dropped more than 50 nets, waiting for a bountiful evening. At night, the sound of frogs intermingled with the buzzing sound of mosquitoes. “If there is no incense, the mosquitoes will cover your face”, said Mr. Phuong while pushing the oars and bringing the basket into the deep creek. Making a living in the “mangrove” Mr. Tran Van Phuong (53 years old, Phu Hai ward) was born and raised in Phan Thiet. He has witnessed the rapid change of the city in the past few years. In his youth, Mr. Phuong followed the boat to the sea. At one point he gathered enough capital to build his own boat. However, later, he was not strong enough, fishing less and less, so this fisherman sold the boat and returned with a basket on the river. Over the past 10 years, Mr. Phuong and his basket boat have been visiting every corner of the mangrove flora. Every day, he gets a few pounds of crabs, fish, and shrimps… He brings them all to the market and sells them for about 300,000-500,000 VND. The 53-year-old man worked hard to remove some fish from the net. Late at night, the space is quieter, only the sound of the nets being pulled up. “Every day, it is 3-4 am to come back, in time for the housewife to bring shrimp and fish to the market to sell,” Mr. Phuong said. The basket boat and the other pile of nets are the means by which Mr. Phuong makes a living and feeds his two school-age children. For a coastal resident like Mr. Phuong, the basket is associated with a lifetime. The next morning, he returned to the work of washing, washing and arranging the nets to take advantage of 15:00 to go to the “forest” to drop the nets. Mr. Phuong recalls that in the past, this “forest” was just a shrimp pond, a salt marsh, after many people failed to do business, they left it. Over time, mangroves and cork trees grow thicker and taller. For nearly 20 years, this place has formed a green “mangrove forest” surrounded by Cau Ke river. From there, birds and storks fly home. In the early morning of the end of April, taking advantage of the water in the river along the “forest” to almost dry up, Mr. Truong Van Ty (Thanh Hai ward) and some fishermen in the area brought tools to find snails. Tying a series of plastic basins to his body, Mr. Ty waded into the river, using a homemade net to pull the brass to be the surface of the water. Continuously like that for about 2-3 hours, the plastic bowls are full of small and long snails. Every year, from about after Tet to the end of the third lunar month, people around Cau Ke River take advantage of raking snails. Snail is an aquatic species with long body, pointed tail, living in brackish coastal waters. In the past few years, they have been bought by many lobster farms as food for shrimp. The closer to noon, the bigger the tide, the water in the middle of the river rose above the head, that’s when Mr. Ty finished his work of scratching snails. On average, Mr. Ty rakes 7-8 sacks of snails every day. “This job is also easy, every 3 hours of continuous work also earns 700,000-800,000 VND for snails,” said Mr. Ty. Like Mr. Phuong, Mr. Truong Van Ty is one of many workers in Phan Thiet who live on this “mangrove”. Retain the entire submerged flora Many people in Phan Thiet city shared that when the Hung Vuong road (the route connecting the center of Phan Thiet city with Mui Ne tourist area) was widened, the new “mangrove forest” was revealed and known to many people. This wetland flora is surrounded by Cau Ke river, located in 3 wards of Phu Thuy, Phu Hai and Thanh Hai, creating a green patch and a unique ecosystem in the heart of Phan Thiet city. The “mangrove” area, also known as project area 5 (Hung Vuong Park), covers an area of ​​more than 32 hectares, which was planned as a park, green tree and sports area. However, in 2009, this place was adjusted to the planning, about 12 hectares used to build residential areas, trade and services, traffic and the park part is about 20 hectares. The separation of 12 hectares for residential, commercial and service areas for the province to organize land auctions for money to build the park. After the inspection trip in April 2021, Binh Thuan Provincial Party Secretary Duong Van An said that it is necessary to keep the entire area of ​​this wetland with regenerated trees as a green park, developing a special ecosystem. this, keep the green lung for Phan Thiet city. Share with Zing Secretary Duong Van An said that the land fund to develop residential areas or commercial services in Phan Thiet City is still very much, it is possible to organize land auctions in other places. “Many places people spend money to plant more mangroves, while here there is a rare population of regenerative wetland plants that need to be kept. If you build a residential area here, Phan Thiet will lose it. part of the flooded ecological zone cannot be regenerated,” said Mr. An. “The Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee has concluded and assigned the Provincial People’s Committee to study and propose solutions to protect and develop the wetland ecosystem in this land, and report to the Provincial People’s Council to adjust the planning in the direction of retaining all this land to make ecological park and some suitable public works”, Party Secretary Duong Van An added. That means no more “cutting” of land for residential areas. According to Mr. Duong Van An, the province will renovate this place into a flooded ecological park, based on the existing space and population of trees, creeks and lakes. “The outside of the canal will be built embankments to protect, prevent erosion, landslides, create pedestrian and bicycle paths around the area. Inside, the creeks connect to the flood drainage channel to get water and create conditions. For aquatic species to develop, it is possible to build a pedestrian bridge system, create a walkway under the trees for people to walk, exercise… or build mounds of land for young people to come and live activities. picnic”, Mr. An said about the idea of ​​preserving and developing a population of submerged plants in the heart of Phan Thiet.

Mangrove forest in Dong Rui commune has just been restored. The sky began to recede, the tide receded into the sandy beach. Nguyen Thi Phuong and many people in Ha hamlet, Dong Rui commune carried hoe down to Bay Mau hill to dig deep soil (also known as sea worms). The hills are locally called but are actually newly restored mangrove forests running along the commune’s dike. In order to catch earthworms, Ms. Phuong bends down and always has to observe, look for extrusions and then quickly dig up the correct strokes. In just a moment, Ms. Phuong’s basket was full of large earthworms…. In every waking season, the commune’s mangrove forest is always an address for people in Dong Rui commune to make a living, especially since the time when they wake up. outbreak of Covid-19 to date. Phuong said: “In the past, these lagoons were covered, the tiger trees and parrots died without any children. Now there are worms, clams, twilight, stilts. On these trees, snails turn out, clinging to the tree to live. As long as there is a tree, there is life, and if you go to the sea, you can make a living. From the elderly to children, most of them make their living from the sea. Students also earn 100,000-150,000 VND every day. Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong from Ha village digs earthworms at Bay Mau hill, Dong Rui commune. Far away from where Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong digs deep into the ground are primeval mangrove forests with black tiger trees, parrots, and mammoth trees that are too high for a person’s head, spreading like raspberries in the shadow of the water. To go to these forests, you have to wait for the water to grow and travel by bamboo boat to reach the tiger trees and parrots that have a lifespan of more than a hundred years. Mr. Nong Van Chien, a resident of Tien Yen said: “In the period of 2010, there was no gas at that time, fuel was limited. People go to the forest to chop down for fuel. In 2013, there was a movement to make shrimp ponds. Everywhere they see zoning, they clear many hectares of forest to make shrimp ponds. Then they realized because the forest was cut down and then due to waves, storms and wind, it greatly affected people’s lives.” After the damage caused by widespread deforestation, new planting projects to fill in the cleared area have been promoted by NGOs and sectors at all levels, increasing the vitality of Dong Rui mangrove forest. . After a while, the vegetation has revived, rising steadily. Under the tree are green fishes, the wider the crabs, the symbiotic snails like affirming the intense vitality of the plants on the mangroves. To protect this forest area, a mangrove management team of Dong Rui commune was established with 3 people, who are responsible for coordinating with forest rangers to patrol, control and remind people to protect the forest. Mr. Hoang Van Thong (62 years old), Leader of the Mangrove Self-Management Group in Dong Rui Commune, said that people now realize the economic values ​​and voluntarily participate in mangrove protection. Under the tree are green fishes, the wider the crabs, the more symbiotic and growing snails. “The three of us regularly check and wade deep into the forest to see if there is any change in the status quo? There is also a lot of reforestation. Since then, people’s awareness has been raised and they know that protecting forests is protecting aquatic resources, especially when being propagated. People here are encouraged to plant forests, they really like it. Many times when they go to the forest, they see newly planted trees leaning against them, “said Thong. Dong Rui is considered one of the most beautiful mangrove forests in the North today with nearly 3,000 hectares, accounting for more than half of the commune’s natural land area. Since being managed and protected closely, the forest is green and lush, resulting in more and more diverse and rich seafood resources. Many households here have a stable income by fishing in the mangroves. The mangrove ecosystem of Dong Rui commune is very diverse and rich in the number of tree species, the ecosystem, and the aquatic species with high economic value such as crabs, crabs, and fish species that bring profit. and good livelihood for the people. Mr. Loc Van Sinh, Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the Commune People’s Committee said that the management of the commune is less difficult than before because there are people in the community. Dong Rui Crab “In the last two years, the commune has planted 25-30 hectares of new mangrove forests to develop mangrove forests in the area. The important role of mangroves has been recognized, both protecting the national breakwater and having aquatic resources. products under the forest canopy to give people a daily income. In order to soon develop the mangroves in the future, it is suggested that the province and the authorities arrange funding sources for the self-managing groups to operate in the future.” Mr. Sinh information. The practical lesson of the negative impacts of mangrove destruction has led people and local authorities in Quang Ninh province to change their awareness and join hands to plant and protect mangroves. The young people of Dong Rui commune now have many new options such as working as workers, opening trading services, but most people in Dong Rui island commune still cling to the sea, cultivate seafood, and stick to mangroves to stay alive. subsistence. The wealth of mangroves is helping the people of Dong Rui change their lives and realize the vital values ​​​​if they work together to “symbiotically” protect the “green lungs” on the island.

With dozens of years old, Nga Son mangrove trees are quite thick, 5-7m high, the sour cork trees are even higher than 10m. With Mr. Mai Van Cong, Secretary of the Party Committee of Nga Thuy commune (Nga Son) and some local people, we went down the mangrove forest which was full of life. Although I have returned to this “green wall” nearly a dozen times, each time I come here, I have more interesting experiences. Standing on the sea dyke adjacent to the mouth of the Len River, zooming in on the green color, the end of the forest cannot be seen with the naked eye. According to research, the length of this coastal mangrove forest is more than 5 km, extending through the coastal area of ​​Nga Tan, Nga Thuy, Nga Tien, and Nga Thai communes. The deeper you go into the forest, a cool air spreads. The forest is a “crowded” of swamp plants, such as: cork, mangrove, tiger, parrot, creating a mutual plant population, resisting the harshness of storms and tidal waves. The forest trees here are on average 5 to 7 m high, many cork oak trees are about 10 m high. From the shaggy trunks, sprouted a dense root system like millions of arms embracing the marshy ground. Under the trees, when the tide recedes, all kinds of crabs, fishes, goby fish… fences and runs away when they see people’s shadows. That is to see, the “green lung” at this Nga Son estuary is an important habitat for aquatic species to grow and develop. This place is considered desolate, quite far from these residential areas, it is also the shelter and feeding place of many migratory birds, especially white storks and many native birds. Formerly deputy director of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Nga Son district, who was assigned to monitor and manage the district’s mangrove forests, Mr. Mai Van Cong knows quite well the development history of each area of ​​the forest. According to him, with 450 hectares of coastal wetlands, from 1995 to 1996, Nga Son district was supported to plant mangroves under the sponsorship program of the Vietnam Red Cross. In the years 2005 – 2006, the forest continued to be intercropped and expanded by the Government’s new project of 5 million hectares of forest. According to management data of the District Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the area of ​​Nga Son mangrove forest is 347 hectares, of which Nga Thuy commune has 290 hectares. Currently, there are more than 20 local households in the district contracted to protect each forest area, so the conservation of the mangrove forest is quite good. When we came here, it was also the season when the mangrove trees were in bloom. According to local people, from April to July every year, the color of the flowers of tiger, parrot, cork, and mangrove species cover the whole forest. This is also the time, hundreds of households in the area bring tens of thousands of honey bee colonies to the forest edge to take advantage of the huge source of flowers. Honey from mangrove flowers has a characteristic aroma, light sweetness, and is loved by many people. Through each flowering season, the fruits of forest trees continue to fall into the swamp, many young buds and buds bloom, continue to grow and expand to the surrounding areas. The roots continue to deepen, creating a strong tree position, playing the role of preventing wind and waves, and protecting the safety of the dike. Inside the forest, the brackish water aquaculture area is considered the second largest in Thanh Hoa province, which is protected from storms and high tides. Well-preserved, Nga Son mangrove forest is considered to have the largest biomass in Thanh Hoa today with a system of mature trees that are decades old. The forest has been covered with a permanent green color, in addition to protecting the ecological environment, it also creates many livelihoods for residents around the area.

Recently, Tiktok social media users are hand-in-hand clips of cigarette smoke under a microscope to clearly see the level of toxicity. Accordingly, the person who made the plastic bottle for fresh water used up poured filtered water near the bottle and covered it. On the lid of this bottle will be punched a hole so that it fits the smoking head. They set the cigarette on fire and put all the smoke through the bottle. Then tobacco smoke will pass through the filter.

As a result, removing the filter plate is obtained filter plate imbued with tobacco essential oil. “This essential oil contains a lot of toxic substances such as lead, arsenic, ammonia, cyanide – which is the main cause of lung cancer, sudden infant death syndrome and many other diseases.”

In front of the clip of cigarette smoke under a microscope, many people left comments expressing awe even though the harm of tobacco has so far been greatly mentioned. One account commented: “This is just a cigarette and the filter is so golden, it is not understood to those who one day smoke 1 sack, 2 bags, what their lungs will be like.”. Many others expressed their horror, their desire to see e-cigarettes…

How dangerous is smoking really?

As noted by the World Health Organization, tobacco is the main cause of deaths worldwide, and is the leading cause of disease that can actually be prevented. Every year, tobacco lives nearly 8 million people around the world, including more than 5 million who have been and are smoking, 1 million of them innocent – they are passive smokers.

Prof. Luong Ngoc Khue (Director General of The Medical Examination and Treatment Management Department, Ministry of Health, as well as Director of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund) shared that Vietnam has 33 million people who do not smoke but regularly inhale smoke at home and more than 5 million non-smoking adults regularly inhale smoke in the workplace. These figures are enough to show how dangerous the horrific harm of passive smoking is.

The percentage of patients with lung cancer who smoke is 96.8%. Diseases and premature death from tobacco use account for 12% of the total burden of disease in Vietnam.

Tobacco is the main cause of deaths worldwide, and is the leading cause of disease that can actually be prevented.

Diseases directly caused by tobacco use such as stroke, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer are the leading causes of death in both men and women. Tobacco causes 25 different diseases but in general, tobacco causes 90% of lung cancer cases, 75% of chronic obstructive pulmonary cases and 25% of isotonic heart disease cases.

Speaking about the harmful effects of tobacco, Former Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien cited that 90% of the more than 600,000 people with lung cancer annually in the world are smokers. Smoking is also the cause of 75% of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.

Obviously, smoking is very harmful to health. But it is worth mentioning here that smoking not only harms the person who directly smokes, but is also dangerous for those who do not smoke but accidentally have to inhale the smoke released by others. In particular, there are cases where the victims are extremely tragic women and children. They may be wives, children of smokers so that when the heartbreak happens, the husband, the father, even regrets, can not be saved.

Children who inhale tobacco smoke (passive smoking) are subjected to

the most severe consequences

According to information from the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund (Ministry of Health), globally, it is estimated that every year up to 165,000 children die before the age of 5 from lower respiratory tract infections caused by passive smoking.

It is estimated that up to 165,000 children die before the age of 5 from lower respiratory tract infections caused by passive smoking.

Representatives of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund said that children who smoke passive cigarettes are at risk of developing asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, respiratory infections … In addition, children who inhale second-line smoke may suffer health consequences in adulthood such as an increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to frequent lower respiratory tract infections. Babies exposed to toxins in smoke from the time they are in the womb will experience delayed development of lung function.

Ass. Dr. Nguyen Tien Dung (former Head of Pediatrics Department, Hospital Bach Mai) added that there is a fact that children admitted to hospital due to respiratory diseases with parents smoking cigarettes are much higher than children whose parents do not have this behavior.

“Young children are the most affected when there are smokers in the house.”, the expert asserts.

He voiced a profound warning to children with parents who smoke cigarettes the increased risk of sudden infant death, an increased risk of children with acute asthma and asthma. When you smoke, your smoking smoke increases the risk of asthma exacerbated, increasing the risk of chronic otitis in children. If you smoke, that risk doubles. If both parents smoke together, the risk increases even more.

Pregnant women who inhale tobacco smoke face a range of risks

Tobacco smoke contains up to 7,000 types of chemicals. Among these, there are more than 70 types of chemicals that are toxic to humans, leading to cancers, with typical ingredients such as nicotine, carbon monoxide, cyanide, lead … If the mother actively or actively inhales tobacco smoke, these toxic substances can follow the blood and transmit it to the fetus.

For pregnant women, passive smoking can cause still life and miscarriage. When pregnant women inhale tobacco smoke, nicotine and other toxic substances will pass through the lungs into your bloodstream and go directly to the baby. This can cause risks such as fetal developmental delay, increased risk of premature birth, causing brain and lung damage to the fetus, increasing the risk of still life…

It is worth mentioning that pregnant women often have weaker-than-normal resistance. Whether accidentally or intentionally exposed to tobacco smoke causes serious effects on the mother and fetus, which can lead to thyroid problems, premature amniotic rupture.

Therefore, preventing the effects of tobacco smoke on pregnant mothers is necessary to protect the health of both the mother and the fetus. Pregnant women should avoid going to crowded places as well as family members also actively eliminate smoke when there are pregnant women.