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Cancer Treatment and Research... 2023Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Hispanics in the US. Despite this, Hispanics are being screened for CRC at a much lower rate than...
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Hispanics in the US. Despite this, Hispanics are being screened for CRC at a much lower rate than their non-Hispanic white counterparts. Implementing mailed fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) is a cost-effective intervention for increasing CRC screening rates in vulnerable populations, such as Hispanic populations in border metroplexes. We aimed to describe the effect of introductory calls coupled with mailed in-home FIT kits on CRC screening completion in two federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in a US-Mexico border county. This was a prospective, pragmatic, two-arm intervention study with participants allocated to receive a FIT kit with a reminder call (usual care) or usual care preceded by an introductory call. The primary outcome was the percentage of patients who returned the FIT kits. Participants who returned to the FIT were primarily unemployed (54.4%), had less than a high school education (60.2%), lived in the US for at least 20 years (74.4%), and had poor self-reported health (54.4%). In addition, we observed a statistically significant increase in the absolute rate (4.5%, P = 0.003) of FITs returned when a mailed FIT kit was preceded by an introductory call compared with no initial call. This study demonstrated that adding an introductory phone call significantly improved the screening completion rate in a mailed-out CRC screening intervention in the US-Mexico border population.
Topics: Humans; Prospective Studies; Vulnerable Populations; Mass Screening; Colorectal Neoplasms; Postal Service; Early Detection of Cancer
PubMed: 37659188
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctarc.2023.100756 -
Anais Da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias 2023The Serra do Divisor National Park (SDNP) in the Westernmost Brazilian Amazonia possesses unique Mountain landscapes of sub-andean nature, with high geo-biodiversity and...
The Serra do Divisor National Park (SDNP) in the Westernmost Brazilian Amazonia possesses unique Mountain landscapes of sub-andean nature, with high geo-biodiversity and pristine environments, with a potential high contribution in ecosystems services. We studied and mapped the basic geo-environmental units of the main sector of the Park, evaluating soil carbon stocks as a key ecosystem service provided by the Protected Area. For the identification, characterization and mapping of the geoenvironmental units, we integrated pedological, geomorphological and vegetation data obtained by local soil survey and field campaigns, as well as secondary data. Eight geoenvironmental units were identified and mapped, distributed in three main compartments: the Serra do Divisor (SD) the upper Moa River and the medium Moa River. This region presents similar environments to the sub-Andean region, notably the Ceja Forest at the top surface of the SD. Soils at the SD have high organic carbon accumulation, with close association with the nutrient-poor, quartz-rich rocks, and shows organic matter illuviation indicating active podzolization. The SDNP encompasses important ecosystems and services linked with high geo-biodiversity, and high soil carbon stocks, representing a new frontier for scientific research in the only area of transitional sub-andean forested landscape in Brazil.
Topics: Ecosystem; Soil; Brazil; Forests; Carbon
PubMed: 37585971
DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202320221071 -
Revue Medicale de Liege Jul 2023Winslow's foramen hernia, or Blandin's hernia, is a rare internal hernia with a non-specific clinical presentation and its diagnosis may be difficult. The hernia occurs...
Winslow's foramen hernia, or Blandin's hernia, is a rare internal hernia with a non-specific clinical presentation and its diagnosis may be difficult. The hernia occurs across the omental hiatus, bounded by the inferior vena cava posteriorly and the portal triad anteriorly. CT imaging provides several diagnostic clues in this condition. Prompt surgical management allows reduction before complications arise. We present a case of caecal internal herniation through Winslow's foramen in a patient who underwent gastrojejunal bypass about ten years ago. Laparoscopy with reduction of the caecal bascule and closure of the foramen is performed successfully.
Topics: Humans; Cecal Diseases; Cecum; Hernia; Plastic Surgery Procedures; Vena Cava, Inferior; Herniorrhaphy
PubMed: 37560954
DOI: No ID Found -
PloS One 2023In the United States, increasing access to the internet, the increasing costs of large-scale face-to-face data collections, and the general reluctance of the public to...
In the United States, increasing access to the internet, the increasing costs of large-scale face-to-face data collections, and the general reluctance of the public to participate in intrusive in-person data collections all mean that new approaches to nationally representative surveys are urgently needed. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the need for faster, higher-quality alternatives to face-to-face data collection. These trends place a high priority on the evaluation of innovative web-based data collection methods that are convenient for the U.S. public and yield scientific information of high quality. The web mode is particularly appealing because it is relatively inexpensive, it is logistically flexible to implement, and it affords a high level of privacy and confidentiality when correctly implemented. With this study, we aimed to conduct a methodological evaluation of a sequential mixed-mode web/mail data collection protocol, including modular survey design concepts, which was implemented on a national probability sample in the U.S. in 2020-2021. We implemented randomized experiments to test theoretically-informed hypotheses that 1) the use of mail and increased incentives to follow up with households that did not respond to an invitation to complete a household screening questionnaire online would help to recruit different types of households; and 2) the use of modular survey design, which involves splitting a lengthy self-administered survey up into multiple parts that can be completed at a respondent's convenience, would improve survey completion rates. We find support for the use of mail and increased incentives to follow up with households that have not responded to a web-based screening questionnaire. We did not find support for the use of modular design in this context. Simple descriptive analyses also suggest that attempted telephone reminders may be helpful for the main survey.
Topics: Humans; United States; Postal Service; Pandemics; COVID-19; Surveys and Questionnaires; Data Accuracy; Internet
PubMed: 37540678
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289695 -
Mathematical Biosciences and... May 2023The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the use of various communication technologies to achieve the interconnection of everything in cyberspace, and to achieve smart...
The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the use of various communication technologies to achieve the interconnection of everything in cyberspace, and to achieve smart home and intelligent transportation, thus generating unprecedented amounts of data. In the financial sharing center, all businesses can extract effective data from these massive databases for analysis, and use data analysis tools to collect business, financial, human, process, knowledge and social data. At present, various types of IT (Internet Technology) systems have been widely used in financial sharing centers. However, a large number of sensitive data have also been generated. In order to protect these sensitive data, there is a high requirement for the personal information of IT system operation and financial sharing center personnel. In order to protect user data privacy, the optimal and most effective use of IT systems is an important issue that must be considered in privacy management. At present, there are many algorithms to protect data and privacy, but the effect is not ideal. Considering the balance between privacy issues, this paper proposed a K-means clustering algorithm based on IoT public cloud privacy protection technology to analyze the performance management of financial sharing center. The research results showed that before the improvement, the average number of employees who were dissatisfied with the post training ability and information platform construction ability of the financial sharing center was 57.9 and 57.8% respectively, more than half of them. After the improvement of IoT based public cloud privacy protection, the average number of employees dissatisfied with the post training ability and information platform construction ability of the financial sharing center was 5 and 3.9%, far less than the data prior to the improvement. It showed that IoT public cloud privacy protection was conducive to the performance management of the financial sharing center, and the relationship between the two was positive.
PubMed: 37501453
DOI: 10.3934/mbe.2023557 -
The Journal of Frailty & Aging 2023Frailty has emerged as one of the major risk factors of loss of autonomy and it can be reverted through early and appropriate interventions. A wide range of available... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
Frailty has emerged as one of the major risk factors of loss of autonomy and it can be reverted through early and appropriate interventions. A wide range of available frailty screening tools are administered, mainly in clinical settings. However, few frailty instruments are self-administered.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic test accuracy of a modified self-administered questionnaire derived from the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF) index against the Fried frailty phenotype in identifying frailty.
DESIGN
Observational, multicenter, diagnostic test accuracy study.
PARTICIPANTS
Participants aged 70 and over, living at home or in community-dwelling (n=5134) in two centers in France were contacted.
MEASUREMENTS
Participants were mailed self-administered questionnaires derived from the SOF index. Responders who accepted the home evaluation were assessed by trained nurses, blinded to results of the questionnaire, using the Fried frailty phenotype as the reference method.
RESULTS
The questionnaire was sent to 5134 participants, of which 1878 (36.6%) met inclusion criteria and returned the questionnaire. Fried frailty assessments were obtained in 691 (35.4%) participants. A total of 639 subjects had a complete evaluation on both the self-administered questionnaire and the Fried phenotype. Mean age was 78.9 (standard deviation [SD]: 5.95) years and 359 (56.2%) participants were women. According to the questionnaire, 159 (24.9%) subjects were considered frail, 172 (26.9%) pre-frail, and 308 (48.2) robust. With the home evaluation, Fried frailty phenotype results were respectively, 114 (17.8%), 295 (46.2%) and 230 (36%). The self-administered questionnaire presented a sensitivity of 66.6% (95% CI: 57.2-75.2) and a specificity of 84.2% (95% CI: 80.8-87.2).
CONCLUSIONS
A self-administered questionnaire can be used in elders and represents an opportunity for empowering them in the management of their health in the context of frailty.
Topics: Humans; Female; Aged; Male; Frailty; Frail Elderly; Predictive Value of Tests; Postal Service; Geriatric Assessment; Independent Living
PubMed: 37493377
DOI: 10.14283/jfa.2023.11 -
Epidemiology and Infection Jun 2023A testing rate for measles above 80% is required by the WHO European Region Measles Elimination strategy to verify elimination. To comply with this rate, we explored...
A testing rate for measles above 80% is required by the WHO European Region Measles Elimination strategy to verify elimination. To comply with this rate, we explored factors associated with the return of oral fluid kits (OFK) by suspected measles cases. We described the cases and conducted a mixed-effects analysis to assess the relationship between socio-demographic and public health management characteristics and the likelihood of returning an OFK to the reference laboratory. Of 3,929 cases who were sent a postal OFK, 2,513 (67%) returned the kit. Adjusting for confounding, registration with a general practitioner (GP) (aOR:1.48, 95%CI:1.23-1.76) and living in a less deprived area (aOR:1.35, 95%CI:1.04-1.74) were associated with an increased likelihood of returning the OFK. The odds of returning the OFK also increased if the HPT contacted the parents/guardians of all cases prior to sending the kit and confirmed their address (aOR:2.01, 95%CI:1.17-3.42). Cases notified by a hospital (aOR:1.94, 95%CI:1.31-2.87) or GP (aOR:1.52; 95%CI:1.06-2.16) also had higher odds of returning the OFK. HPTs may want to consider these factors when managing suspected cases of measles since this may help in increasing the testing rates to the WHO-recommended level.
Topics: Humans; Cohort Studies; England; London; Measles; Risk Factors; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
PubMed: 37350246
DOI: 10.1017/S095026882300095X -
BMJ Open Jun 2023To determine the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among school workers within the Greater Vancouver area, British Columbia, Canada, after the first Omicron wave.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among school workers within the Greater Vancouver area, British Columbia, Canada, after the first Omicron wave.
DESIGN
Cross-sectional study by online questionnaire, with blood serology testing.
SETTING
Three main school districts (Vancouver, Richmond and Delta) in the Vancouver metropolitan area.
PARTICIPANTS
Active school staff enrolled from January to April 2022, with serology testing between 27 January and 8 April 2022. Seroprevalence estimates were compared with data obtained from Canadian blood donors weighted over the same sampling period, age, sex and postal code distribution.
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES
SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibody testing results adjusted for test sensitivity and specificity, and regional variation across school districts using Bayesian models.
RESULTS
Of 1850 school staff enrolled, 65.8% (1214/1845) reported close contact with a COVID-19 case outside the household. Of those close contacts, 51.5% (625/1214) were a student and 54.9% (666/1214) were a coworker. Cumulative incidence of COVID-19 positive testing by self-reported nucleic acid or rapid antigen testing since the beginning of the pandemic was 15.8% (291/1845). In a representative sample of 1620 school staff who completed serology testing (87.6%), the adjusted seroprevalence was 26.5% (95% CrI 23.9% to 29.3%), compared with 32.4% (95% CrI 30.6% to 34.5%) among 7164 blood donors.
CONCLUSION
Despite frequent COVID-19 exposures reported, SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among school staff in this setting remained no greater than the community reference group. Results are consistent with the premise that many infections were acquired outside the school setting, even with Omicron.
Topics: Humans; British Columbia; Cross-Sectional Studies; SARS-CoV-2; Bayes Theorem; Seroepidemiologic Studies; COVID-19; Antibodies, Viral
PubMed: 37308276
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-071228 -
AIMS Public Health 2023A primary care pharmacy (PCP) is operated by hospital pharmacists in Thailand. This study aims to explore the level of PCP provisions operated by hospital pharmacists,...
A primary care pharmacy (PCP) is operated by hospital pharmacists in Thailand. This study aims to explore the level of PCP provisions operated by hospital pharmacists, to identify health service components that affect PCP operation and to collect opinions from pharmacists regarding factors influencing PCP operation. A postal survey was conducted in northeastern Thailand. A questionnaire included: (1) the PCP checklist (36 items), (2) questions investigating the health service components required for PCP operation (13 items), and (3) queries to pharmacists concerning factors influencing PCP operation (16 items). Questionnaires were mailed to 262 PCP pharmacists. The PCP provision score was calculated with a max score of 36, and reaching at least 28.8 points was deemed as having 'met expectation'. Multivariate logistic regression with a backward approach was used to determine health service components which affected PCP operation. Most respondents were female (72, 60.0%), aged 36.0 years (IQR 31.0-41.0) and PCP work experience of 4.0 years (IQR 2.0-10.0). Overall, the PCP provision score had met expectation (median = 29.00, Q-Q = 26.50-32.00). Tasks that met expectation involved managing the medicine supply, a home visit with a multidisciplinary team and protecting consumer health. Improving medicine dispensary and promotion of self-care and herbal use were below expectation. PCP operation depended on doctor involvement ( = 5.63 95% 1.07-29.49) and public health practitioner involvement ( = 3.12 95% 1.27-7.69). The pharmacist's responsibility, i.e., a good relationship with the community, likely increased PCP provision. The PCP has been widely instituted in Northeast Thailand. Doctors and public health practitioners should get involved regularly. Further research is needed to monitor the outcomes and value of PCPs.
PubMed: 37304590
DOI: 10.3934/publichealth.2023020