Conectar
Coal-fired power plants are major sources of air pollution which impact human health. Coal combustion byproducts released into the air include particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide. Exposure to fine particulate matter is associated with increased risk of mortality. This scoping review will examine and summarise the current literature on the health risks of exposure to air pollution in areas in which coal-fired power plants exist.
This scoping review will be conducted according to the Joanna Briggs Institute methodological framework and reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Five electronic databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar) will be searched for relevant articles. Studies will be included up until 31 January 2024. There will be no restriction on geographical area. The searches will be limited to studies published in English. Title, abstract, full-text screening and data extraction of relevant articles will be done by two independent reviewers. Discrepancies will be resolved by group discussion. The findings will be presented in tables with a narrative summary. This review will consider epidemiological studies and grey literature that report on the health risks of exposure to air pollution in areas where coal-fired power plants exist.
All data will be collected from published and grey literature. Ethics approval is therefore not required. We will submit our findings for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
To reach consensus on the definition and attributes of ‘person-centred handover practices’ in emergency departments.
Handover practices between emergency care practitioners and healthcare professionals in emergency departments are important and should be conducted meticulously. Person-centred handover practices may enhance the delivery of person-centred care in emergency departments.
A three-round online Delphi survey.
Nine experts participated in a three round Delphi survey. The expert panel comprised experts from nine countries. Quantitative data were descriptively analysed, and qualitative data were thematically analysed. A consensus of 80% had to be reached before an attribute and definition could be accepted.
Experts reached a consensus of 79% in round one, 95% in round two and 95% in round three. A final set of six attributes were agreed upon and the final concept definition was formulated.
Person-centred handover practices have not been implemented in emergency departments. Yet, person-centred handover practices may enhance the delivery of person-centred care, which has multiple benefits for patients and healthcare practitioners.
Person-centred care is not generally implemented in emergency departments. Person-centred handover practices can lead to person-centred care. Handover practices in emergency departments are a high-risk activity. Despite numerous calls to standardise and improve handover practices, they remain a problem. Developing a standardised definition could be a first step towards implementing person-centred handover practices in emergency departments.
The study adhered to the relevant EQUATOR reporting guidelines: Guidance on Conducting and Reporting Delphi Studies (CREDES) checklist.
Improve handover practices and patient care. Improve person-centred care in emergency departments.
Emergency care practitioners and nurses experienced in handover practices and/or person-centred care, working in clinical and academic fields, participated in the study by sharing their expert knowledge during each of the Delphi rounds.
Given the increasing prevalence of obesity and need for effective interventions, there is a growing interest in understanding how an individual’s body image can inform obesity prevention and management. This study’s objective was to examine the use of silhouette showcards to measure body size perception compared with measured body mass index, and assess body size dissatisfaction, in three different African-origin populations spanning the epidemiological transition. An ancillary objective was to investigate associations between body size perception and dissatisfaction with diabetes and hypertension.
Research visits were completed in local research clinics in respective countries.
Seven hundred and fifty-one African-origin participants from the USA and the Republic of Seychelles (both high-income countries), and Ghana (low/middle-income country).
Silhouette showcards were used to measure perceived body size and body size dissatisfaction. Objectively measured body size was measured using a scale and stadiometer. Diabetes was defined as fasting blood glucose ≥126 mg/dL and hypertension was defined as ≥130 mm Hg/80 mm Hg.
Most women and men from the USA and Seychelles had ‘Perceived minus Actual weight status Discrepancy’ scores less than 0, meaning they underestimated their actual body size. Similarly, most overweight or obese men and women also underestimated their body size, while normal weight men and women were accurately able to estimate their body size. Finally, participants with diabetes were able to accurately estimate their body size and similarly desired a smaller body size.
This study highlights that overweight and obese women and men from countries spanning the epidemiological transition were unable to accurately perceive their actual body size. Understanding people’s perception of their body size is critical to implementing successful obesity prevention programmes across the epidemiological transition.
by Abdou Fatawou Modiyinji, Lange Tchamba Amorgathe Tankeu, Chavely Gwladys Monamele, Moise Henri Yifomnjou Moumbeket, Paul Alain Tagnouokam Ngoupo, Huguette Tchetgna Simo, Abanda Njei Ngu, Kazanji Mirdad, Richard Njouom
BackgroundFebrile jaundice is a common indicator of certain infectious diseases, including hepatitis E. In Cameroon, the yellow fever virus is the only pathogen that is monitored in patients who present with this symptom. However, more than 90% of the samples received as part of this surveillance are negative for yellow fever. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype among yellow fever-negative patients in the Far North and West regions of Cameroon.
MethodsIn a cross-sectional study, yellow fever surveillance-negative samples collected between January 2021 and January 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Anti-HEV IgM and IgG antibodies were tested using commercially available ELISA kits. Anti-HEV IgM and/or IgG positive samples were tested for HEV RNA by real-time RT-PCR, followed by nested RT-PCR, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.
ResultsOverall, 121 of the 543 samples (22.3%, 95% CI: 19.0% - 26.0%) were positive for at least one anti-HEV marker. Amongst these, 8.1% (44/543) were positive for anti-HEV IgM, 5.9% (32/543) for anti-HEV IgG, and 8.3% (45/544) for both markers. A total of 15.2% (12/79) samples were positive for HEV RNA real-time RT-PCR and 8 samples were positive for HEV RNA by nested RT-PCR. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the retrieved sequences clustered within HEV genotypes/subtypes 1/1e, 3/3f and 4/4b.
ConclusionOur results showed that HEV is one of the causes of acute febrile jaundice in patients enrolled in the yellow fever surveillance program in two regions of Cameroon. We described the circulation of three HEV genotypes, including two zoonotic genotypes. Further studies will be important to elucidate the transmission routes of these zoonotic HEV genotypes to humans in Cameroon.
This article presents the study design of the qualitative part of the VersKiK study (Long-term care, care needs and wellbeing of individuals after cancer in childhood or adolescence: study protocol of a large scale multi-methods non-interventional study) aiming to explore actual follow-up needs of childhood and adolescence cancer survivors and their informal caregivers, gaps in current follow-up care provision and trajectories of cancer survivors’ transition from paediatric to adult healthcare.
We will conduct up to 30 interviews with survivors of childhood and adolescence cancer and their informal caregivers with up to 20 participant observations of follow-up appointments. The results of these will be discussed in up to four focus groups with healthcare professionals and representatives of self-help groups. The study design aims to evaluate follow-up care after childhood cancer considering perspectives from survivors, their informal caregivers as well as healthcare providers. The combination of different data sources will allow us to get an in-depth understanding of the current state of follow-up care after paediatric cancer in Germany and to suggest recommendations for care improvement.
The VersKiK study was approved by the Ethics Committee Otto von Guericke University on 2 July 2021 (103/21), by the Ethics Committee of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz on 16 June 2021 (2021-16035), by the Ethics Committee University of Lübeck on 10 November 2021 (21-451), by the Ethics Committee University of Hospital Bonn on 28 February 2022 (05/22). For each part of the qualitative study, a separate written informed consent is prepared and approved accordingly by the ethics committees named above.
Registered at German Clinical Trial Register, ID: DRKS00026092.
by Richard Gebler, Martin Lehmann, Maik Löwe, Mirko Gruhl, Markus Wolfien, Miriam Goldammer, Franziska Bathelt, Jens Karschau, Andreas Hasselberg, Veronika Bierbaum, Toni Lange, Katja Polotzek, Hanns-Christoph Held, Michael Albrecht, Jochen Schmitt, Martin Sedlmayr
BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic revealed a need for better collaboration among research, care, and management in Germany as well as globally. Initially, there was a high demand for broad data collection across Germany, but as the pandemic evolved, localized data became increasingly necessary. Customized dashboards and tools were rapidly developed to provide timely and accurate information. In Saxony, the DISPENSE project was created to predict short-term hospital bed capacity demands, and while it was successful, continuous adjustments and the initial monolithic system architecture of the application made it difficult to customize and scale.
MethodsTo analyze the current state of the DISPENSE tool, we conducted an in-depth analysis of the data processing steps and identified data flows underlying users’ metrics and dashboards. We also conducted a workshop to understand the different views and constraints of specific user groups, and brought together and clustered the information according to content-related service areas to determine functionality-related service groups. Based on this analysis, we developed a concept for the system architecture, modularized the main services by assigning specialized applications and integrated them into the existing system, allowing for self-service reporting and evaluation of the expert groups’ needs.
ResultsWe analyzed the applications’ dataflow and identified specific user groups. The functionalities of the monolithic application were divided into specific service groups for data processing, data storage, predictions, content visualization, and user management. After composition and implementation, we evaluated the new system architecture against the initial requirements by enabling self-service reporting to the users.
DiscussionBy modularizing the monolithic application and creating a more flexible system, the challenges of rapidly changing requirements, growing need for information, and high administrative efforts were addressed.
ConclusionWe demonstrated an improved adaptation towards the needs of various user groups, increased efficiency, and reduced burden on administrators, while also enabling self-service functionalities and specialization of single applications on individual service groups.
Public policymakers are increasingly engaged in participatory model building processes, such as group model building. Understanding the impacts of policymaker participation in these processes on policymakers is important given that their decisions often have significant influence on the dynamics of complex systems that affect health. Little is known about the extent to which the impacts of participatory model building on public policymakers have been evaluated or the methods and measures used to evaluate these impacts.
A scoping review protocol was developed with the objectives of: (1) scoping studies that have evaluated the impacts of facilitated participatory model building processes on public policymakers who participated in these processes; and (2) describing methods and measures used to evaluate impacts and the main findings of these evaluations. The Joanna Briggs Institute’s Population, Concept, Context framework was used to formulate the article identification process. Seven electronic databases—MEDLINE (Ovid), ProQuest Health and Medical, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase (Ovid), CINAHL Complete and PsycInfo—will be searched. Identified articles will be screened according to inclusion and exclusion criteria and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist for scoping reviews will be used and reported. A data extraction tool will collect information across three domains: study characteristics, methods and measures, and findings. The review will be conducted using Covidence, a systematic review data management platform.
The scoping review produced will generate an overview of how public policymaker engagement in participatory model building processes has been evaluated. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and to communities of practice that convene policymakers in participatory model building processes. This review will not require ethics approval because it is not human subject research.
by Luca Finetti, Ian Orchard, Angela B. Lange
The control of reproductive processes in Rhodnius prolixus involves a variety of neuroactive chemicals. Among these, several studies have suggested that the biogenic amine octopamine (OA), might play an active role in these processes. Here, we investigate the molecular profile of the R. prolixus α adrenergic-like OA receptor 1 (RpOAα1-R) and its role in egg production. Comparative molecular analyses confirm that the RpOAα1-R gene codes for a true OAα1 receptor. The RpOAα1-R transcript is highly expressed in tissues associated with egg production, and after a blood meal, which is the stimulus for full egg production in R. prolixus, the RpOAα1-R transcript is upregulated in the ovaries and spermatheca. After RNAi-mediated RpOAα1-R knockdown, an ovarian phenotype characterized by slow egg development is observed. Furthermore, an altered egg phenotype has been characterized with eggs that are deformed. Interestingly, there is no evidence of disruption in vitellogenin (Vg) synthesis by the fat body or uptake by the oocytes. On the other hand, RpOAα1-R downregulation is correlated with defective choriogenesis in the eggs. These results provide critical information concerning the role of OAα1-R in oogenesis in R. prolixus.by Marie Kjærgaard Lange, Vivi Just-Nørregaard, Trine Nøhr Winding
BackgroundYoung people’s mental health is declining. Depression is a public disease which is increasing internationally, and in Denmark an increase is seen especially among young people. Objective social status is known to be associated with mental health and depression, but little is known about the association between adolescent subjective social status at school and depressive symptoms during young adulthood. The aim was to investigate the association between 15-year-old’s subjective social status at school and the development of depressive symptoms at age 18, 21 and 28.
MethodsThe study is a longitudinal study using questionnaire data from The West Jutland Cohort Study Denmark. The study population consisted of adolescents who at baseline, at age 15 (2004), had answered questions about their subjective social status in school using the MacArthur scale-youth version. Answers were categorised into low, medium, and high subjective social status. Outcome data about depressive symptoms was collected at age 18 (2007), age 21 (2010) and age 28 (2017) using the CES-DC and CES-D scales, dichotomised into few or many depressive symptoms. The associations between subjective social status at school at age 15 and depressive symptoms at ages 18, 21 and 28 were analysed using multiple logistic regression.
ResultsStatistically significant associations were found between low subjective social status at school at age 15 and the odds of many depressive symptoms at all three age points in young adulthood. When adjusting for co-variates the odds ratio for many depressive symptoms at age 18 was OR 3.34 [1.84;6.08], at age 21 OR 3.31 [1.75;6.26] and at age 28 OR 2.12 [1.13;3.97].
ConclusionsThe subjective social status of 15-year-olds is associated with depressive symptoms at ages 18, 21 and 28, respectively. It seems that subjective social status at age 15 is of greatest importance for the occurrence of depressive symptoms in the short run, and that the impact attenuates over time.
by Ning Chai, Tanja Stachon, Tim Berger, Zhen Li, Berthold Seitz, Achim Langenbucher, Nóra Szentmáry
PurposeTo investigate human corneal epithelial cell and fibroblast migration and growth factor secretion after rose bengal photodynamic therapy (RB-PDT) and the effect of conditioned medium (CM).
MethodsA human corneal epithelial cell line (HCE-T), human corneal fibroblasts (HCF) and keratoconus fibroblasts (KC-HCF) have been used. Twenty-four hours after RB-PDT (0.001% RB concentration, 565 nm wavelength illumination, 0.17 J/cm2 fluence) cell migration rate using scratch assay and growth factor concentrations in the cell culture supernatant using ELISA have been determined. In addition, the effect of CM has been observed.
ResultsRB-PDT significantly reduced migration rate in all cell types, compared to controls (p≤0.02). Migration rate of HCE-T cultures without RB-PDT (untreated) was significantly higher using HCF CM after RB-PDT, than using HCF CM without RB-PDT (p Conclusions
HCE-T, HCF and KC-HCF migration rate is reduced 24 hours after RB-PDT. In contrast, HCE-T migration is enhanced using HCF CM after RB-PDT, and HCF migration rate is increased through HCE-T CM following RB-PDT. Modulation of EGF, KGF, HGF, FGFb, TGF-β and N-Cadherin secretion through RB-PDT may play an important role in corneal wound healing.
by Maximilian Binter, Fridolin Langer, Xiaonan Hu, Migle Lindziute, Carsten Framme, Jan Tode, Heiko Fuchs
PurposeThe outflow pathway, especially trabecular meshwork (TM), plays an essential role in glaucoma, and the availability of TM cells is crucial for in vitro research. So far, the isolation of TM cells from mice has been anything but manageable due to the small size of the eye. Direct isolation using a stereomicroscope and forceps requires a high grade of dexterity. Indirect isolation is based on the phagocytic properties of TM cells and involves injecting magnetic microspheres into the anterior chamber of live mice followed by isolation. Therefore, a simpler, less expensive, and nonexperimental strategy for isolating mouse TM cells would be desirable.
MethodsAfter enucleation, the eyes were cut in half anterior-to-posteriorly. The lens and posterior segment were removed. Iris and the attached ciliary body were gently pulled backward and disconnected from the remaining tissue to expose the TM. By incising through the cornea anteriorly and posteriorly of the TM, the cornea/TM stripe could be isolated. The cornea/TM stripe was cultured with the pigmented side down in a 6-well. The outgrowing pigmented cells were analyzed by immunocytochemistry and mRNA expression for previously described TM cell markers. The phagocytic properties of the cells were additionally confirmed using fluorescent microspheres.
ResultsPigmented phagocytic cells were the first to grow out of the cornea/TM strips after approximately 4–7 days. Cells were positive for Collagen IV, Fibronectin1, Vimentin, and Actin alpha 2 and could phagocytize fluorescent microbeads. Cross-linked actin networks were visible after 9 days of exposure to TGFB2 (transforming growth factor-beta 2). Additionally, treatment with 500 nM Dexamethasone for one week increased myocilin expression, as previously reported for TM cells. In addition, we proved that this method can also be used in albino mice, which lack pigmentation of the trabecular meshwork.
ConclusionsThe isolated cells show phagocytic properties and specific expression of markers reported in TM cells. Therefore, our dissection-based method is inexpensive and reproducible for isolating TM cells in mice.
Toxic reactions can appear after pressurised flushing of soft tissue with octenidine (OCT) containing disinfectants. Their use for surgical disinfection could complicate the diagnosis of possible contamination. In patients with open lacerations of their hand's subcutaneous tissue samples were taken before and after surgical disinfection with Octenisept® and analysed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). In 16 out of 20 tissue samples, OCT was detected after disinfection (lower limit of quantification (LLOQ)=10 pg/mL/mg). The concentration of OCT was below the LLOQ, estimation of mean of 0.6 pg/mL/mg (0.22–0.98 pg/mL/mg, 95%-CI) before disinfection and mean of 179.4 pg/mL/mg (13.35–432.0 pg/mL/mg, 95%-CI) after disinfection. This study shows that the disinfection of open wounds with Octenisept® leads to a quantifiable concentration of OCT in open wounds. In cases of suspected OCT-mediated toxic reaction, the use of antiseptics containing OCT should be avoided.
FreshRSS 