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BMC Public Health Apr 2024Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common among adolescents. According to the Health Belief Model, cues to action influence preventive behaviors. Cues to action...
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common among adolescents. According to the Health Belief Model, cues to action influence preventive behaviors. Cues to action can include health experiences such as being diagnosed with an STI. The impact of a history of STIs on subsequent condom use among adolescents remains largely unexamined, despite high rates of recurrence and their health impacts. This project aimed to systematically review the literature on the association between curable STIs and subsequent condom use among adolescents. The systematic review, reported following PRISMA guidelines, was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute method. Eligible studies, in the form of cohort studies, case-control studies, or cross-sectional studies, targeted adolescents aged 10 to 24, with or without a history of curable STIs; the outcome was subsequent condom use. MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Elsevier), and Web of Science were searched from January 2012 to December 2022 with the assistance of an information specialist. Two reviewers independently selected articles and extracted data. Risk of bias analysis was performed using ROBINS-E. The review explores results, with tables, based on population characteristics, exposure, and outcome, and addresses the influence of gender, ethnicity, and age. Of 3088 articles identified, seven studies were retained. Almost all the studies focused on African-American, Nigerian, or Rwandan adolescents, and several included only girls. Among girls, a history of STI increased subsequent condom use in combination with other contraceptive methods (n = 4). Among boys and older adolescents of both genders, a history of STI was associated with a decrease in condom use (n = 3). No study distinguished between different STIs. While all the studies (n = 7) presented a high risk of bias, six did not present a threat to conclusion validity. All the studies indicated that a history of STI could influence subsequent protective behaviors, possibly by acting as a cue to action, as posited by the Health Belief Model. This information enhances our understanding of factors leading to the adoption of preventive health measures among adolescents and could apply to other infectious experiences.Registration The protocol is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023397443).
Topics: Female; Adolescent; Humans; Male; Condoms; Cross-Sectional Studies; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Safe Sex; Contraception; Sexual Behavior
PubMed: 38600483
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18322-2 -
Pediatric Blood & Cancer Jul 2024Retinoblastoma, the most common intraocular tumor in childhood, still faces challenges in diagnosis and treatment, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.... (Review)
Review
Retinoblastoma, the most common intraocular tumor in childhood, still faces challenges in diagnosis and treatment, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Identifying strategies to improve the time to diagnosis and access to treatment is crucial to enhance survival rates and preserve ocular health. We conducted a systematic review to identify interventions that have demonstrated potential in addressing these challenges. We performed a comprehensive search across databases until March 2023. Out of the studies reviewed, 21 met the inclusion criteria and were categorized into five main areas: surveillance strategies, genetic counseling, education, public assistance, and international partnership. Despite the obstacles faced, the initiatives identified in this review present acts toward improving the time to diagnosis and access to treatment for retinoblastoma. Based on the extracted data, we propose a comprehensive chain of initiatives. We firmly believe that implementing this chain of initiatives can lead to improved clinical outcomes for retinoblastoma patients.
Topics: Retinoblastoma; Humans; Developing Countries; Retinal Neoplasms; Health Services Accessibility
PubMed: 38594882
DOI: 10.1002/pbc.30987 -
World Journal of Gastroenterology Mar 2024As a critical early event in hepatocellular carcinogenesis, telomerase activation might be a promising and critical biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)...
BACKGROUND
As a critical early event in hepatocellular carcinogenesis, telomerase activation might be a promising and critical biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, and its function in the genesis and treatment of HCC has gained much attention over the past two decades.
AIM
To perform a bibliometric analysis to systematically assess the current state of research on HCC-related telomerase.
METHODS
The Web of Science Core Collection and PubMed were systematically searched to retrieve publications pertaining to HCC/telomerase limited to "articles" and "reviews" published in English. A total of 873 relevant publications related to HCC and telomerase were identified. We employed the Bibliometrix package in R to extract and analyze the fundamental information of the publications, such as the trends in the publications, citation counts, most prolific or influential writers, and most popular journals; to screen for keywords occurring at high frequency; and to draw collaboration and cluster analysis charts on the basis of coauthorship and co-occurrences. VOSviewer was utilized to compile and visualize the bibliometric data.
RESULTS
A surge of 51 publications on HCC/telomerase research occurred in 2016, the most productive year from 1996 to 2023, accompanied by the peak citation count recorded in 2016. Up to December 2023, 35226 citations were made to all publications, an average of 46.6 citations to each paper. The United States received the most citations ( = 13531), followed by China ( = 7427) and Japan ( = 5754). In terms of national cooperation, China presented the highest centrality, its strongest bonds being to the United States and Japan. Among the 20 academic institutions with the most publications, ten came from China and the rest of Asia, though the University of Paris Cité, Public Assistance-Hospitals of Paris, and the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) were the most prolific. As for individual contributions, Hisatomi H, Kaneko S, and Ide T were the three most prolific authors. Kaneko S ranked first by H-index, G-index, and overall publication count, while Zucman-Rossi J ranked first in citation count. The five most popular journals were the , , , , and , while , , and had the most citations. We extracted 2293 keywords from the publications, 120 of which appeared more than ten times. The most frequent were HCC, telomerase and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). Keywords such as mutational landscape, TERT promoter mutations, landscape, risk, and prognosis were among the most common issues in this field in the last three years and may be topics for research in the coming years.
CONCLUSION
Our bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive overview of HCC/telomerase research and insights into promising upcoming research.
Topics: Humans; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Liver Neoplasms; Telomerase; Oncogenes; Bibliometrics
PubMed: 38577190
DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i9.1224 -
BMC Public Health Apr 2024Effective health promotion responds to the unique needs of communities. Community granting programs that fund community-driven health promotion initiatives are a...
BACKGROUND
Effective health promotion responds to the unique needs of communities. Community granting programs that fund community-driven health promotion initiatives are a potential mechanism to meet those unique needs. While numerous community health-focused programs are available, the various strategies used by granting programs to foster engagement, administer grants and support awardees have not been systematically evaluated. This rapid systematic review explores the administration of community granting programs and how various program components impact process and population health outcomes.
METHODS
A systematic search was conducted across three databases: Medline, SocINDEX, and Political Science Database. Single reviewers completed screening, consistent with a rapid review protocol. Studies describing or evaluating community granting programs for health or public health initiatives were included. Data regarding program characteristics were extracted and studies were evaluated for quality. A convergent integrated approach was used to analyze quantitative and qualitative findings.
RESULTS
Thirty-five community granting programs, described in 36 studies, were included. Most were descriptive reports or qualitative studies conducted in the USA. Program support for grant awardees included technical assistance, workshops and training, program websites, and networking facilitation. While most programs reported on process outcomes, few reported on community or health outcomes; such outcomes were positive when reported. Programs reported that many funded projects were likely sustainable beyond program funding, due to the development of awardee skills, new partnerships, and securing additional funding. From the perspectives of program staff and awardees, facilitators included the technical assistance and workshops provided by the programs, networking amongst awardees, and the involvement of community members. Barriers included short timelines to develop proposals and allocate funds.
CONCLUSIONS
This review provides a comprehensive overview of health-related community granting programs. Grant awardees benefit from technical assistance, workshops, and networking with other awardees. Project sustainability is enhanced by the development of new community partnerships and grant-writing training for awardees. Community granting programs can be a valuable strategy to drive community health, with several key elements that enhance community mobilization.
REGISTRATION
PROSPERO #CRD42023399364.
Topics: Humans; Health Promotion; Public Health; Financing, Organized; Qualitative Research
PubMed: 38561718
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18443-8 -
Medical Care May 2024Home health care serves millions of Americans who are "Aging in Place," including the rapidly growing population of Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollees. This study...
OBJECTIVES
Home health care serves millions of Americans who are "Aging in Place," including the rapidly growing population of Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollees. This study systematically reviewed extant evidence illustrating home health care (HHC) services to MA enrollees.
METHODS
A comprehensive literature search was conducted in 6 electronic databases to identify eligible studies, which resulted in 386 articles. Following 2 rounds of screening, 30 eligible articles were identified. Each study was also assessed independently for study quality using a validated quality assessment checklist.
RESULTS
Of the 30 studies, nearly half (n=13) were recently published between January 1, 2017 - January 6, 2022. Among various issues related to HHC to MA enrollees examined, which were often compared with Traditional Medicare (TM) enrollees, the 2 most studied issues were HHC use rate (including access) and care dosage/intensity. Inconsistencies were common in findings across reviewed studies, with slight variations in the level of inconsistency by studied outcomes. Several critical issues, such as heterogeneity of MA plans, influence of MA-specific features, and program response to policy and quality improvement initiatives, were only examined by 1 or 2 studies. The depth and scope of scientific investigation were also limited by the scale and details available in MA data in addition to other methodological limits.
CONCLUSIONS
Wild variations and conflicting findings on HHC to MA beneficiaries exist across studies. More research with rigorous designs and robust MA encounter data is warranted to determine home health care for MA enrollees and the relevant outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Aged; United States; Medicare Part C; Independent Living; Home Care Services; Quality Improvement; Policy
PubMed: 38546388
DOI: 10.1097/MLR.0000000000001992 -
Genes Mar 2024Among aneuploidies compatible with life, trisomy 22 mosaicism is extremely rare, and only about 25 postnatal and 18 prenatal cases have been described in the literature... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Among aneuploidies compatible with life, trisomy 22 mosaicism is extremely rare, and only about 25 postnatal and 18 prenatal cases have been described in the literature so far. The condition is mainly characterized by facial and body asymmetry, cardiac heart defects, facial dysmorphisms, growth failure, delayed puberty, and variable degrees of neurodevelopmental delay.
PROBLEM
The scattered information regarding the condition and the dearth of data on its natural history and developmental outcomes restrict genetic counseling, particularly in prenatal settings. Moreover, a prompt diagnosis is frequently delayed by the negative selection of trisomic cells in blood, with mosaicism percentage varying among tissues, which often entails the need for further testing. Purpose/topic: The aim of our work is to provide assistance in prenatal and postnatal genetic counseling by systematically delineating the current knowledge of the condition. This entails defining the prenatal and postnatal characteristics of the condition and presenting novel data from three cases, both prenatally and postnatally. Additionally, we report the developmental outcomes observed in two new patients.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Mosaicism; Prenatal Diagnosis; Trisomy; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22; Uniparental Disomy; Chromosome Disorders
PubMed: 38540405
DOI: 10.3390/genes15030346 -
Journal of Preventive Medicine and... Mar 2024While several food assistance programs in the United States tackle food insecurity, a relatively new program, "Food is Medicine," (FIM) initiated in some cities not only...
OBJECTIVES
While several food assistance programs in the United States tackle food insecurity, a relatively new program, "Food is Medicine," (FIM) initiated in some cities not only addresses food insecurity but also targets chronic diseases by customizing the food delivered to its recipients. This review describes federal programs providing food assistance and evaluates the various sub-programs categorized under the FIM initiative.
METHODS
A literature search was conducted from July 7, 2023 to November 9, 2023 using the search term, "Food is Medicine", to identify articles indexed within three major electronic databases, PubMed, Medline, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL). Eligibility criteria for inclusion were: focus on any aspect of the FIM initiative within the United States, and publication as a peer-reviewed journal article in the English language. A total of 180 articles were retrieved; publications outside the eligibility criteria and duplicates were excluded for a final list of 72 publications. Supporting publications related to food insecurity, governmental and organizational websites related to FIM and other programs discussed in this review were also included.
RESULTS
The FIM program includes medically tailored meals, medically tailored groceries, and produce prescriptions. Data suggest that it has lowered food insecurity, promoted better management of health, improved health outcomes, and has, therefore, lowered healthcare costs.
CONCLUSIONS
Overall, this umbrella program is having a positive impact on communities that have been offered and participate in this program. Limitations and challenges that need to be overcome to ensure its success are discussed.
Topics: Humans; United States; Food Supply; Food Insecurity; Meals; Food Assistance
PubMed: 38487843
DOI: 10.3961/jpmph.23.505 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2024While Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) have become a prominent topic in road safety research, there has been relatively little discussion about their...
INTRODUCTION
While Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) have become a prominent topic in road safety research, there has been relatively little discussion about their effectiveness in preventing car collisions involving specific vulnerable road users, such as cyclists. Therefore, the primary objective of this systematic literature review is to analyze the available evidence regarding the effectiveness of in-vehicle ADAS in preventing vehicle collisions with cyclists.
METHODS
To achieve this goal, this systematic review analyzed a selection of original research papers that examined the effectiveness of ADAS systems in preventing car-cyclist collisions. The review followed the PRISMA protocol, which led to the extraction of 21 eligible studies from an initial pool of 289 sources indexed in the primary scientific literature databases. Additionally, word community-based content analyses were used to examine the research topics and their links within the current scientific literature on the matter.
RESULTS
Although the current number of studies available is still scarce (most sources focus on car-motorcyclist or car-pedestrian crashes), the overall quality of the available studies has been reasonably good, as determined by the selected evaluation methods. In terms of studies' outcomes, the literature supports the value of in-vehicle ADAS for preventing car-cyclist crashes. However, threatful side effects such as unrealistic expectations of these systems and users' overconfidence or desensitization are also highlighted, as well as the need to increase driver training and road user awareness.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study suggest that Advanced Driver Assistance Systems have significant potential to contribute to the prevention of driving crashes involving cyclists. However, the literature emphasizes the importance of concurrently enhancing user-related skills in both ADAS use and road-user interaction through educational and training initiatives. Future research should also address emerging issues, such as ADAS-related behavioral ergonomics, and conduct long-term effectiveness assessments of ADAS in preventing car-cycling crashes and their subsequent injuries.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
PROSPERO, unique identifier CRD42024505492, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=505492.
Topics: Accidents, Traffic; Automobiles; Bicycling; Databases, Factual; Educational Status
PubMed: 38439758
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1335209 -
Annali Di Igiene : Medicina Preventiva... Mar 2024The recent surge in migration to and within the European Union and European Economic Area has brought the development of migration policy, including health policy, to...
Infectious risk profile and strategies for prevention and control of outbreaks in refugee, asylum seekers and migrant populations in EU/EEA countries: a systematic narrative review of evidences.
INTRODUCTION
The recent surge in migration to and within the European Union and European Economic Area has brought the development of migration policy, including health policy, to the forefront of regional priorities. While migrants, in general, do not pose a health threat to the host population, specific subgroups of migrants, including refugees, asylum seekers, and irregular migrants, are particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases. To support public health policies in this area, the Emergency Preparedness and Management' working group of the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health has conducted a systematic narrative review with the aim to comprehensively analyze the infectious disease risk within the refugee and asylum seeker populations in EU, EEA, and EU-applicant countries.
METHODS
Forty-two studies were systematically selected from scientific articles in the MEDLINE/PubMed database from January 1, 2008, to June 1, 2023. The infectious risk associated with each infectious disease among refugees and asylum seekers, as well as the strategies to prevent and control outbreaks, was collected from all available studies.
RESULTS
The congregate living conditions in refugee camps, transit centers, and temporary housing facilities make this population particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases. As such, implementing stringent hygiene and preventive measures is critical to safeguarding the health of refugees and reducing the risk of outbreaks that may affect both the refugee population and the host communities.
CONCLUSION
Effective vaccination and preventive strategies for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers are vital for public health and the well-being of these populations. They should be delivered as part of universal health care. By addressing barriers and implementing tailored programs, we can ensure equitable access to vaccines and protect the health of these vulnerable individuals.
PubMed: 38436078
DOI: 10.7416/ai.2024.2610 -
Journal of Public Health (Oxford,... May 2024Food insecurity and obesity are increasing both globally and in the UK. In this review we systematically assess the lived experiences of people with obesity who are food...
BACKGROUND
Food insecurity and obesity are increasing both globally and in the UK. In this review we systematically assess the lived experiences of people with obesity who are food insecure and often turn to food banks.
METHODS
We systematically searched electronic databases from January 2007 until October 2022. Data from eligible studies were extracted and the studies assessed for quality. Thematic analysis and narrative synthesis approach was used to analyse the extracted data.
RESULTS
Six themes were identified among 25 included studies, including: the financial cost of food; psychological aspects related to food insecurity; geographical access and the food environment; food practices in the home; experience of food assistance; and parental-child relationships. The cost of healthy food and psychological factors were identified as key driving factors of the relationship between food insecurity and obesity. Psychological factors such as depression, low self-esteem and stress played an important part in the lived experience of people with obesity and food insecurity.
CONCLUSION
The food environment provides context in which food decisions are made, therefore, systems change is necessary to ensure families can afford the food that enables a healthy diet. For clinicians, identification, and attention to the impact of food insecurity on people with obesity are important.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Food Insecurity; Food Supply; Obesity; Qualitative Research; United Kingdom
PubMed: 38409966
DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdae016