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International Journal of Environmental... Feb 2024In 2022, the Virginia Chickahominy Indian Tribe partnered with Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center to investigate concerns about a...
The Chickahominy T.R.U.T.H. (Trust, Research, Understand, Teach, and Heal) Project-A Tribal Community-Academic Partnership for Understanding the Impact of Structural Factors on Perceived Cancer Risk in Rural Virginia.
In 2022, the Virginia Chickahominy Indian Tribe partnered with Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center to investigate concerns about a potential cancer cluster near a local landfill. While investigating cancer clusters is complex due to long latency and multifactorial causes, the community's concerns about structural factors driving cancer risk warrant exploration. Thus, the Chickahominy T.R.U.T.H. (Trust, Research, Understand, Teach, and Heal) Project was created as a community-academic partnership to (1) identify structural factors and barriers associated with perceived cancer risk and care; (2) assess cancer knowledge, care access gaps, and perceived risks, including testing private and community water sources; (3) develop and deploy culturally tailored cancer education and resource navigation, including groundwater safety education, policies, and remediation. We will conduct 150 in-person interviews and water tests among residents within a four-mile radius of the landfill, and deploy 1000 structured questionnaires among Charles City County residents. In this paper, we provide an overview of the ongoing project design, development, and progress in support of the project's objectives. This collaborative investigation aims to address cancer health disparities, enhance research and health policy advocacy, and honor the sacred knowledge of an underserved community, laying the groundwork for a long-term partnership to guide future research questions.
Topics: Humans; Virginia; Trust; Health Education; Surveys and Questionnaires; Water; Community-Based Participatory Research; Neoplasms
PubMed: 38541264
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21030262 -
Nature Communications Mar 2024The naked mole-rat Heterocephalus glaber is a eusocial mammal exhibiting extreme longevity (37-year lifespan), extraordinary resistance to hypoxia and absence of...
The naked mole-rat Heterocephalus glaber is a eusocial mammal exhibiting extreme longevity (37-year lifespan), extraordinary resistance to hypoxia and absence of cardiovascular disease. To identify the mechanisms behind these exceptional traits, metabolomics and RNAseq of cardiac tissue from naked mole-rats was compared to other African mole-rat genera (Cape, Cape dune, Common, Natal, Mahali, Highveld and Damaraland mole-rats) and evolutionarily divergent mammals (Hottentot golden mole and C57/BL6 mouse). We identify metabolic and genetic adaptations unique to naked mole-rats including elevated glycogen, thus enabling glycolytic ATP generation during cardiac ischemia. Elevated normoxic expression of HIF-1α is observed while downstream hypoxia responsive-genes are down-regulated, suggesting adaptation to low oxygen environments. Naked mole-rat hearts show reduced succinate levels during ischemia compared to C57/BL6 mouse and negligible tissue damage following ischemia-reperfusion injury. These evolutionary traits reflect adaptation to a unique hypoxic and eusocial lifestyle that collectively may contribute to their longevity and health span.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Oxygen; Longevity; Hypoxia; Mole Rats; Ischemia
PubMed: 38538579
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46470-x -
Marine Drugs Mar 2024Indole is a versatile pharmacophore widely distributed in bioactive natural products. This privileged scaffold has been found in a variety of molecules isolated from... (Review)
Review
Indole is a versatile pharmacophore widely distributed in bioactive natural products. This privileged scaffold has been found in a variety of molecules isolated from marine organisms such as algae and sponges. Among these, indole alkaloids represent one of the biggest, most promising family of compounds, having shown a wide range of pharmacological properties including anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anticancer activities. The aim of this review is to show the current scenario of marine indole alkaloid derivatives, covering not only the most common chemical structures but also their promising therapeutic applications as well as the new general synthetic routes developed during the last years.
Topics: Indoles; Biological Products
PubMed: 38535467
DOI: 10.3390/md22030126 -
European Journal of Investigation in... Mar 2024(1) Background: As the field of artificial intelligence (AI) evolves, tools like ChatGPT are increasingly integrated into various domains of medicine, including medical...
(1) Background: As the field of artificial intelligence (AI) evolves, tools like ChatGPT are increasingly integrated into various domains of medicine, including medical education and research. Given the critical nature of medicine, it is of paramount importance that AI tools offer a high degree of reliability in the information they provide. (2) Methods: A total of = 450 medical examination questions were manually entered into ChatGPT thrice, each for ChatGPT 3.5 and ChatGPT 4. The responses were collected, and their accuracy and consistency were statistically analyzed throughout the series of entries. (3) Results: ChatGPT 4 displayed a statistically significantly improved accuracy with 85.7% compared to that of 57.7% of ChatGPT 3.5 ( < 0.001). Furthermore, ChatGPT 4 was more consistent, correctly answering 77.8% across all rounds, a significant increase from the 44.9% observed from ChatGPT 3.5 ( < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: The findings underscore the increased accuracy and dependability of ChatGPT 4 in the context of medical education and potential clinical decision making. Nonetheless, the research emphasizes the indispensable nature of human-delivered healthcare and the vital role of continuous assessment in leveraging AI in medicine.
PubMed: 38534904
DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe14030043 -
Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences Jun 2024Health care and research are increasingly mandating consumer involvement in the planning, design and evaluation of services, quality projects and research. The editorial...
Health care and research are increasingly mandating consumer involvement in the planning, design and evaluation of services, quality projects and research. The editorial reviews the Australian progress with accreditation processes in research and provides practical direction in an area that is unfamiliar to many researchers and clinicians.
Topics: Australia; Community Participation; Humans; Accreditation
PubMed: 38530044
DOI: 10.1002/jmrs.782 -
The Influence of Regiochemistry on the Performance of Organic Mixed Ionic and Electronic Conductors.Angewandte Chemie (Weinheim An Der... Jul 2023Thiophenes functionalised in the 3-position are ubiquitous building blocks for the design and synthesis of organic semiconductors. Their non-centrosymmetric nature has...
Thiophenes functionalised in the 3-position are ubiquitous building blocks for the design and synthesis of organic semiconductors. Their non-centrosymmetric nature has long been used as a powerful synthetic design tool exemplified by the vastly different properties of regiorandom and regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) owing to the repulsive head-to-head interactions between neighbouring side chains in the regiorandom polymer. The renewed interest in highly electron-rich 3-alkoxythiophene based polymers for bioelectronic applications opens up new considerations around the regiochemistry of these systems as both the head-to-tail and head-to-head couplings adopt near-planar conformations due to attractive intramolecular S-O interactions. To understand how this increased flexibility in the molecular design can be used advantageously, we explore in detail the geometrical and electronic effects that influence the optical, electrochemical, structural, and electrical properties of a series of six polythiophene derivatives with varying regiochemistry and comonomer composition. We show how the interplay between conformational disorder, backbone coplanarity and polaron distribution affects the mixed ionic-electronic conduction. Ultimately, we use these findings to identify a new conformationally restricted polythiophene derivative for p-type accumulation-mode organic electrochemical transistor applications with performance on par with state-of-the-art mixed conductors evidenced by a * product of 267 F V cm s.
PubMed: 38528843
DOI: 10.1002/ange.202304390 -
Emerging Infectious Diseases Apr 2024Analyzing vaccine stability under different storage and transportation conditions is critical to ensure that effectiveness and safety are not affected by distribution....
Analyzing vaccine stability under different storage and transportation conditions is critical to ensure that effectiveness and safety are not affected by distribution. In a simulation of the last mile in the supply chain, we found that shock and vibration had no effect on Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo Ebola vaccine regimen quality under refrigerated conditions.
Topics: Humans; Ebola Vaccines; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola; Ebolavirus; Vibration; Computer Simulation; Antibodies, Viral
PubMed: 38526137
DOI: 10.3201/eid3004.231060 -
Laryngoscope Investigative... Apr 2024This county-level epidemiological study evaluated the travel distance to the nearest otolaryngologist for continental US communities and identified socioeconomic...
OBJECTIVES
This county-level epidemiological study evaluated the travel distance to the nearest otolaryngologist for continental US communities and identified socioeconomic differences between low- and high-access regions.
METHODS
Geospatial analysis of publicly available 2015-2022 NPI records was combined with US census data to identify geospatial gaps in otolaryngologist distribution. Moran's index geospatial clustering in distance to the nearest county with an otolaryngologist was used as the core metric for differential access determination. Univariate logistic analysis was conducted between low- and high-access counties for 20 socioeconomic and demographic variables.
RESULTS
Nationally, the average person was 22 miles from an otolaryngologist. 444 counties were identified as geospatially "low access" with increased travel distance in the Midwest, Great Planes, and Nevada with a median of 47 miles. 1231 counties in the Eastern United States and Western Coast were identified as "high access" with a 3-mile median travel distance. Areas of low access to otolaryngological care had smaller median populations (12,963 vs. 558,306), had smaller percent Black and Asian populations (2% vs. 11%, 1% vs. 5%, respectively), had a greater percent American Indian population (2% vs. 1%), were less densely populated (8 vs. 907 people per square mile), had fewer percent college graduates (20% vs. 34%), and fewer otolaryngologists per county (median: 0.01-20).
CONCLUSION
These findings highlight disparity in otolaryngology care in the United States and the need for otolaryngology funding initiatives in the Midwest and Great Plains regions.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Level 3.
PubMed: 38525122
DOI: 10.1002/lio2.1239 -
Medical Mycology Case Reports Jun 2024A German Shepherd Dog diagnosed with based on fungal culture and DNA sequencing, is the first documented case in Australia, and the Southern Hemisphere. This species is...
A German Shepherd Dog diagnosed with based on fungal culture and DNA sequencing, is the first documented case in Australia, and the Southern Hemisphere. This species is part of complex, which is an emerging concern in immunocompromised human and veterinary patients. Intraventricular brain hemorrhage, noted on MRI, has not been reported previously in a dog with fungal encephalitis. The patient was euthanized due to progression of clinical signs before a final diagnosis was made, so no treatment was attempted in this case.
PubMed: 38516609
DOI: 10.1016/j.mmcr.2024.100641 -
Malaria Journal Mar 2024Malaria remains a public health problem in regions of Northeastern India because of favourable bio-geographic transmission conditions, poor access to routine healthcare,...
BACKGROUND
Malaria remains a public health problem in regions of Northeastern India because of favourable bio-geographic transmission conditions, poor access to routine healthcare, and inadequate infrastructure for public health and disease prevention. This study was undertaken to better understand community members' and health workers' perceptions of malaria, as well as their knowledge, attitudes, and prevention practices related to the disease in Meghalaya state.
METHODS
The study included participants from three malaria endemic districts: West Khasi Hills, West Jaiñtia Hills, and South Garo Hills from 2019 to 2021. A total of 82 focus group discussions (FGD) involving 694 community members and 63 in-depth interviews (IDI) with health personnel and traditional healers residing within the three districts were conducted. A thematic content analysis approach was employed, using NVivo12 software for data management.
RESULTS
Most participants reported a perceived reduction in malaria during recent years, attributing this to changes in attitudes and behaviours in health seeking, and to more effective government interventions. Local availability of testing and treatment, and an improved, more responsive health system contributed to changing attitudes. Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) were largely preferred over indoor residual spraying (IRS), as LLINs were perceived to be effective and more durable. Community members also reported using personal protective measures such as applying repellents, burning neem tree leaves, straw/egg trays, wearing long sleeve clothes, and applying ointments or oils to protect themselves from mosquito bites. While most participants acknowledged the role of mosquitoes in malaria transmission, other conditions that are not mosquito-borne were also attributed to mosquitoes by some participants. The communities surveyed have largely shifted from seeking treatment for malaria from traditional healers to using public facilities, although some participants reported switching between the two or using both simultaneously. Improved understanding of cerebral malaria, which some participants previously attributed to mental illness due to 'bad spirits', is an example of how cultural and ritualistic practices have changed.
CONCLUSION
The findings reveal diverse perceptions among community members regarding malaria, its prevention, practices to prevent mosquito-transmitted diseases, and their opinions about the healthcare system. A key finding was the shift in malaria treatment-seeking preferences of community members from traditional healers to the public sector. This shift highlights the changing dynamics and increasing acceptance of modern healthcare practices for malaria treatment and prevention within tribal and/or indigenous communities. By recognizing these evolving attitudes, policymakers and healthcare providers can better tailor their interventions and communication strategies to more effectively address ongoing needs and concerns as India faces the 'last mile' in malaria elimination.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Health Personnel; Malaria, Cerebral; India; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Focus Groups; Insecticides
PubMed: 38500097
DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04905-2