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Research Square May 2024Changing built environment conditions to impact health mindsets and health equity may be a promising target for public health interventions. The present study was a...
Changing built environment conditions to impact health mindsets and health equity may be a promising target for public health interventions. The present study was a cluster randomized controlled trial to test the impact of remediating vacant and abandoned properties on factors related to health mindset-including well-being, health interconnectedness, social capital markers, neighborhood disorder and worry-as well as direct and indirect violence experiences and the moderating role of racial and income segregation on outcomes. A residential cohort of 405 participants from 194 randomly assigned geographic clusters were surveyed over five waves from 2019 to 2023. Compared to clusters with no treatment, participants in clusters where both vacant lots and abandoned homes were treated experienced significant increases in sense of community (83%, 95% CI=71 to 96%, =0.01). Among participants in randomization clusters where only vacant lots were treated, there were declines in perceived neighborhood disorder (-55%, 95% CI=-79 to -5, =0.06) and worry about community violence (-56%, 95% CI=-58 to - 12, =0.06). There was also a moderating effect of racial and income spatial polarization, with the greatest changes in sense of community observed among more deprived areas with both homes and lots treated; and the largest changes in neighborhood worry and disorder were seen in more deprived areas with only lots treated. Remediation of vacant and abandoned properties may be one approach to change some but not all mindsets around health, and the effects may depend on the type of remediation as well as larger neighborhood conditions such segregation.
PubMed: 38826356
DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4415610/v1 -
The Veterinary Record Jun 2024BVA director of policy and governance Amelia Findon reflects on a recent equality, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) workshop for staff at BVA HQ.
BVA director of policy and governance Amelia Findon reflects on a recent equality, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) workshop for staff at BVA HQ.
Topics: Humans; United Kingdom; Societies, Veterinary; Veterinary Medicine
PubMed: 38819869
DOI: 10.1002/vetr.4385 -
Fish & Shellfish Immunology Jul 2024Epimedin B (EB), a predominant compound found in Herba Epimedii, has been shown to be effective in the treatment of osteoporosis and peripheral neuropathy. However, the...
Epimedin B (EB), a predominant compound found in Herba Epimedii, has been shown to be effective in the treatment of osteoporosis and peripheral neuropathy. However, the anti-inflammatory effect of EB has not yet been reported. The anti-inflammatory activity of EB was evaluated in a zebrafish inflammation model induced by copper sulfate (CuSO) and tail cutting. Our findings demonstrated that EB effectively inhibited acute inflammation, mitigated the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and ameliorated the neuroinflammation-associated impairment of locomotion in zebrafish. Moreover, EB regulates several genes related to the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)/Nod-like receptor signalling pathways (mapk8b, src, mmp9, akt1, mapk14a, mapk14b, mapk1, egfra, map3k4, nfκb2, iκbαa, pycard, nlrp3 and caspase1) and inflammatory cytokine (stat6, arg1, irfɑ, stat1ɑ, il-1β, il-4, il-6, il-8, cox-2, ptges, tnf-α and tgf-β). Therefore, our findings indicate that EB could serve as a promising therapeutic candidate for treating inflammation.
Topics: Animals; Zebrafish; NF-kappa B; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Signal Transduction; Inflammation; Fish Diseases; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Flavonoids
PubMed: 38801842
DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2024.109657 -
Italian Journal of Pediatrics May 2024Short-acting bronchodilators are a class of medications commonly used to treat asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other respiratory conditions. The use... (Review)
Review
Short-acting bronchodilators are a class of medications commonly used to treat asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other respiratory conditions. The use of these medications has evolved over time as we have gained a better understanding of their effectiveness and safety in the pediatric population. This comprehensive review synthesizes the current understanding of short-acting β2-agonists and short-acting anticholinergics in children. It addresses indications, contraindications, safety considerations, and highlights areas where further research is needed to guide the most effective use of short-acting bronchodilators.
Topics: Humans; Bronchodilator Agents; Child; Asthma; Cholinergic Antagonists; Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
PubMed: 38783314
DOI: 10.1186/s13052-024-01675-0 -
Behaviour Research and Therapy Aug 2024The present study examined cognitive mechanisms underpinning the increased tendency of individuals with high trait anxiety to experience inflation of negative affect...
The present study examined cognitive mechanisms underpinning the increased tendency of individuals with high trait anxiety to experience inflation of negative affect when approaching potential stressors. Specifically, the roles of (1) disproportionately negative relative to positive expectancies (i.e., negative expectancy bias) and (2) disproportionately interrogating negative relative to positive information (i.e., negative interrogation bias), each concerning the potential stressor, were examined. High and low trait anxiety participants (N = 286) completed the experimental session, in which they were informed they may view a potentially stressful film. As participants approached the putative film viewing, participants' negative and positive affect, as well as their negative and positive expectancies were assessed. Additionally, negative interrogation bias was assessed by providing participants the opportunity to selectively interrogate information from a larger pool of negative and positive information concerning the putative film viewing. Our findings provide evidence indirect associations between trait anxiety and inflation of negative affect is serially mediated via negative interrogation bias and, in turn, negative expectancy bias. Findings are discussed with regards to limitations and potential implications for public health campaigns, and cognitive interventions for anxiety, highlighting the utility of further examining negative interrogation bias as an avenue for improving the efficacy of each.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Anxiety; Young Adult; Affect; Adult; Stress, Psychological; Adolescent
PubMed: 38768554
DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2024.104568 -
Journal of Urban Health : Bulletin of... Jun 2024Police-related violence may be a source of chronic stress underlying entrenched racial inequities in reproductive health in the USA. Using publicly available data on...
Investigating the Black Birth Experience: A Race-Stratified Analysis of Preterm Birth Risk and Exposure to Metropolitan Statistical Area-Level Police-Related Deaths, US 2018-2019.
Police-related violence may be a source of chronic stress underlying entrenched racial inequities in reproductive health in the USA. Using publicly available data on police-related fatalities, we estimated total and victim race-specific rates of police-related fatalities (deaths per 100,000 population) in 2018-2019 for Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) and counties within MSAs in the USA. Rates were linked to data on live births by maternal MSA and county of residence. We fit adjusted log-Poisson models with generalized estimating equations and cluster-robust standard errors to estimate the relative risk of preterm birth associated with the middle and highest tertiles of police-related fatalities compared to the lowest tertile. We included a test for heterogeneity by maternal race/ethnicity and additionally fit race/ethnicity-stratified models for associations with victim race/ethnicity-specific police-related fatality rates. Fully adjusted models indicated significant adverse associations between police-related fatality rates and relative risk of preterm birth for the total population, non-Hispanic Black, and non-Hispanic White groups separately. Results confirm the role of fatal police violence as a social determinant of population health outcomes and inequities, including preterm birth.
Topics: Humans; Police; Premature Birth; Female; United States; Black or African American; Pregnancy; Adult; White People; Violence; Infant, Newborn; Risk Factors
PubMed: 38753137
DOI: 10.1007/s11524-024-00871-x -
Journal of Infusion Nursing : the...Due to low compliance by bedside nursing with a central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) prevention bundle and increased CLABSI rates, a mandatory...
Due to low compliance by bedside nursing with a central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) prevention bundle and increased CLABSI rates, a mandatory re-education initiative at a 1200-bed university-affiliated hospital was undertaken. Despite this, 2 units, housing high-risk immunocompromised patients, continued to experience increased CLABSI rates. A quality improvement before-after project design in these units replaced bedside nursing staff with 2 nurses from the vascular access team (VAT) to perform central vascular access device (CVAD) dressing changes routinely every 7 days or earlier if needed. The VAT consistently followed the bundled components, including use of chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG)-impregnated dressings on all patients unless an allergy was identified. In this case, a non-CHG transparent semipermeable membrane dressing was used. There were 884 patients with 14 211 CVAD days in the preimplementation period and 1136 patients with 14 225 CVAD days during the postimplementation period. The VAT saw 602 (53.0%) of the 1136 patients, performing at least 1 dressing change in 98% of the patients (n = 589). The combined CLABSI rate for the 2 units decreased from 2.53 per 1000 CVAD days preintervention to 1.62 per 1000 CVAD days postintervention. The estimated incidence rate ratio (IRR) for the intervention was 0.639, a 36.1% reduction in monthly CLABSI rates during the postimplementation period.
Topics: Humans; Catheter-Related Infections; Bandages; Chlorhexidine; Catheterization, Central Venous; Quality Improvement; Vascular Access Devices; Infection Control; Hospitals, University
PubMed: 38744242
DOI: 10.1097/NAN.0000000000000545 -
Cells May 2024CD133, a cancer stem cell (CSC) marker in tumors, including melanoma, is associated with tumor recurrence, chemoresistance, and metastasis. Patient-derived melanoma cell...
CD133, a cancer stem cell (CSC) marker in tumors, including melanoma, is associated with tumor recurrence, chemoresistance, and metastasis. Patient-derived melanoma cell lines were transduced with a Tet-on vector expressing CD133, generating doxycycline (Dox)-inducible cell lines. Cells were exposed to Dox for 24 h to induce CD133 expression, followed by RNA-seq and bioinformatic analyses, revealing genes and pathways that are significantly up- or downregulated by CD133. The most significantly upregulated gene after CD133 was amphiregulin (), validated by qRT-PCR and immunoblot analyses. Induced CD133 expression significantly increased cell growth, percentage of cells in S-phase, BrdU incorporation into nascent DNA, and PCNA levels, indicating that CD133 stimulates cell proliferation. CD133 induction also activated EGFR and the MAPK pathway. Potential mechanisms highlighting the role(s) of CD133 and AREG in melanoma CSC were further delineated using AREG/EGFR inhibitors or siRNA knockdown of mRNA. Treatment with the EGFR inhibitor gefitinib blocked CD133-induced cell growth increase and MAPK pathway activation. Importantly, siRNA knockdown of AREG reversed the stimulatory effects of CD133 on cell growth, indicating that AREG mediates the effects of CD133 on cell proliferation, thus serving as an attractive target for novel combinatorial therapeutics in melanoma and cancers with overexpression of both CD133 and AREG.
Topics: Humans; AC133 Antigen; Amphiregulin; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; ErbB Receptors; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Melanoma; Up-Regulation
PubMed: 38727313
DOI: 10.3390/cells13090777 -
Journal of Medical Case Reports May 2024Sirenomelia or sirenomelia sequence, also known as mermaid syndrome, is a rare congenital anomaly involving the caudal region of the body. The syndrome is characterized...
BACKGROUND
Sirenomelia or sirenomelia sequence, also known as mermaid syndrome, is a rare congenital anomaly involving the caudal region of the body. The syndrome is characterized by partial or complete fusion of lower extremities, renal agenesis, absent urinary tract, ambiguous external genitalia, imperforate anus, and single umbilical artery. Sirenomelia is often associated with several visceral congenital malformations, rendering it invariably incompatible with extrauterine life.
CASE PRESENTATION
We present the case of 22-year-old Black African woman who delivered a term newborn by caesarean section at a gestation age of 37 weeks due to obstructed labor with fetal distress. The newborn was a fresh stillbirth weighing 2100 g and had fusion of the lower extremities, a single upper limb, ambiguous genitalia, imperforate anus, and a cleft lip. The mother had made only two prenatal visits, at which she was found to be normotensive and normoglycemic. She was not screened for routine fetomaternal infections and missed supplementation for folic acid during the critical first trimester. She did not undergo any obstetric ultrasonography. The parents of the newborn were not close relatives and there was no family history of consanguinity. Further genetic testing was not performed due to lack of laboratory capacity, and post mortem examination was not permitted due to cultural taboo and restrictions relating to handling of deceased newborns.
CONCLUSION
Sirenomelia is a rare congenital malformation with very poor prognosis. Specific interventions during pre-conception and early prenatal care are critical in the prevention of specific congenital anomalies. Early obstetric ultrasonography is invaluable for diagnosis of sirenomelia as well as counseling for possible termination of pregnancy.
Topics: Humans; Female; Infant, Newborn; Ectromelia; Cleft Lip; Pregnancy; Abnormalities, Multiple; Young Adult; Stillbirth; Tanzania
PubMed: 38706003
DOI: 10.1186/s13256-024-04549-5 -
Stem Cell Research Jun 2024GM3 synthase deficiency (GM3SD) is caused by biallelic variants in the ST3GAL5 gene. Early clinical features of GM3SD include infantile onset of severe irritability and...
GM3 synthase deficiency (GM3SD) is caused by biallelic variants in the ST3GAL5 gene. Early clinical features of GM3SD include infantile onset of severe irritability and feeding difficulties, early intractable seizures, growth failure, hypotonia, sensorineural hearing impairment. We describe the generation and characterization the human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) line derived from fibroblasts of a 13-year-old girl with GM3 synthase deficiency resulted compound heterozygous for two new variants in the ST3GAL5 gene, c.1166A > G (p.His389Arg) and the c.1024G > A (p.Gly342Ser). The generated hiPSC line shows a normal karyotype, expresses pluripotency markers, and is able to differentiate into the three germ layers.
Topics: Humans; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells; Female; Sialyltransferases; Adolescent; Cell Line; RNA; Genetic Vectors; Cell Differentiation
PubMed: 38703669
DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2024.103431