Greater Health Research Articles

Fluoride in Groundwater of Chhattisgarh: A Comprehensive Review of Health Impacts on Humans, Mitigation Strategies and Sustainable Solutions

Fluorosis is a slowly progressing and often neglected disease that poses great health challenges by gradually affecting the human body. Although fluoride toxicity is theoretically reversible, such slow progression leaves with few choices of cure for these side effects, making prevention crucial. Inequitable access to safe sources of drinking water has worsened the prevalence of dental fluorosis, especially in regions where the concentration of fluoride in water is high. This review discusses the association between fluoride exposure, dental fluorosis, and skeletal fluorosis, bringing together an elaborate study of the negative effects that fluoride has on the human body. Skeletal fluorosis is one of the conditions that have received much attention lately. It remains the central theme in this study, which provides information about the latest discoveries made on this condition, detailing its prevalence, health effects, and the course it takes. It also reviews the latest developments in the prevention of fluorosis: new and cheap fluoride removal technologies and mitigation techniques. The conclusions are meant to stimulate further studies on the treatments of fluorosis and on ways to provide clean drinking water inexpensively and sustainably. Fluoride contamination of water is driven by geochemical reactions and natural as well as anthropogenic activities. Although fluoride is necessary for health, quantities over 1.5 mg L⁻¹ are toxic, and prolonged exposure through water has severe health effects, including skeletal fluorosis and oxidative damage to vital organs such as kidneys, the brain, thyroid gland, and liver. The review shows the need of prevention and intervention while shedding light on the multifaceted impacts from fluoride toxicity. By focusing on fluoride pollution, the article aims at unravelling the burden on human health and global water security in safeguarding human lives.

Juggle Between Work, Home, and Stress; A Qualitative Analysis Using Nvivo-12 on Working Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: India and other parts of the world have witnessed a health emergency due to COVID-19 that immensely affected the globe. These infectious diseases changed the lives of people, and the condition of working women worsened due to the responsibility of work, home, children, family, house, etc., altogether simultaneously. In a patriarchal society like India, where women are considered as ‘nurturing sex’ where domestic chores and care giving responsibilities are shouldered on women, the juggle between work and home elevated the work demand and heightened the level of stress. Based on the background discussed above, this research is an attempt to address the condition of working women the juggling between work and home elevated stress, work pressure amid COVID-19. Introduction: The world has been struggling with the greatest health crisis for the last two and a half years, affecting everyone’s life, especially working women. The condition of working women has worsened by bearing the heap of responsibilities of work, home, children, family, house, etc., which undoubtedly results in stress, frustration, and anger affecting women’s physical and mental health. This paper is to study the condition of working women who are juggling between work and home amid this COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: For conducting the comprehensive study, a questionnaire was designed, which consisted of 14 questions excluding the demographic information, namely Name, Age, Gender, Profession, Experience, etc. Questionnaires were floated to 60 working women under different job profiles. Convenience Sampling was used to collect the data. Out of a sample of 60, 50 women recorded their responses via Google Sheets, and 38 questionnaires were finally used for analysis. The authors have utilized qualitative data analysis techniques to address the issue with the help of computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software NVIVO. For analyzing the qualitative data, NVIVO 12 was used by applying three tools Word Cloud Analysis, thematic analysis, and sentiments analysis. Results: The findings of the study show that working women are facing continuous challenges and are under stress due to multiple roles, responsibilities, and work demands since the onset of COVID-19. It is supported by Word Cloud Analysis, thematic analysis, and sentiment analysis. Conclusion: The outbreak of this COVID-19 pandemic, and its exceptional impact on lives, has generated an array of challenges in everyone’s life, but it shattered the lives of working women. The objective of this research is to unearth the stress in working women’s life amid COVID-19 due to the juggling between personal and professional life simultaneously. Results show that amid COVID-19, working women are under stress due to familial responsibility, household chores, work demands, caregiving, etc., all simultaneously without any breather. This societal stereotype lays high pressure and exceptions on working women leading to stress affecting the personal well-being and health of the woman.

Unveiling the epidemiology and community perspectives on bovine brucellosis in North Shewa, Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Brucellosis is a bacterial disease of many domestic and wild animals with great economic and public health importance. Although it has a major constraint in dairy production, comprehensive information regarding the epidemiology of brucellosis in dairy herds is limited. Besides, evaluating the dairy farmers’ knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding brucellosis is crucial for generating information that can enhance control programs and public health interventions. Thus, this study aims to investigate the seroepidemiology of brucellosis and evaluate the dairy farmers’ KAP in North Shewa, central highlands of Ethiopia. A total of 511 blood samples were randomly collected from 142 dairy herds. Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) was used for primary screening, and a complement fixation test (CFT) was conducted on RBPT-positive samples. Retrospective information was collected to associate brucellosis with a history of reproductive disorders. A questionnaire survey assessed farmers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding zoonotic brucellosis. Multivariable Firth’s bias-reduced logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with brucellosis seropositivity. The overall seroprevalence of brucellosis was 0.98% (95% CI: 0.41–2.34%) at the animal level and 3.52% (95%CI: 1.46–8.26%) at the herd level. Cows older than 6 years were four times more likely to be seropositive (OR = 3.82; 95% CI: 1.71–7.97; P = 0.004), while local breeds had a six-fold higher risk (OR = 6.2; 95% CI: 2.08–8.21; P = 0.016). Cattle with a history of abortion (OR = 22.35; 95% CI: 3.90-107.91; P = 0.002) and retained fetal membrane (OR = 18.74; 95% CI: 3.48–63.86; P = 0.020) showed significantly higher seroprevalence. A survey of 120 respondents found that 86% were unaware of zoonotic brucellosis, 74.63% assisted cows during the parturition without protective equipment, and 64% consumed raw meat. Only 9.17% disposed of fetal membranes and aborted fetuses properly. This study revealed evidence of brucellosis in 4% of dairy herds, poor understanding of the disease, various risky practices, and poor biosafety measures. Thus, educating dairy farmers and implementing strict farm biosecurity measures are essential steps to minimize the impacts of the disease on the growing dairy industry and public health.

Diagnostic parameters knowledge, guideline use and dietary approaches in type 2 diabetes and prediabetes care among healthcare providers in Ainamoi sub-County, Kenya

Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes are metabolic diseases which are currently of great public health concern worldwide and which are associated with significant morbidity, mortality and even disability. Correct diagnosis, use of guidelines and optimum dietary care in diabetes care by the healthcare providers (HCPs) are attributed to better outcomes among the patients. This study utilized a cross-sectional design carried out at purposively sampled level 2 to level 5 health facilities of Ainamoi Subcounty, Kericho Kenya. One hundred and fifty participants were recruited by convenience sampling. Structured questionnaire was administered using Open Data Kit (ODK) app and collected by trained enumerators. The questionnaire elucidated data on knowledge of diagnostic parameters for diabetes, access and use of guidelines and dietary approaches prescribed by healthcare providers. Research was approved by University of Eastern Africa Baraton Institutional Ethics Committee and National Commission for Science, Technology Institute, License Number. NACOSTI/P/23/23262. Data was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20 software. Descriptive analyses were conducted for all the variables. Categorical data was summarized as frequencies and percentages. The Chi-square test was used to compare various categorical variables in the study. The statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05. Less than a quarter (21%) of the respondents did not use diabetes guidelines suggestions. Up to 88.3% of HCPs prescribed low carbohydrate and only 8.3% prescribed a Mediterranean diet. Additionally, 82.7% of respondents could correctly identify Fasting Plasma Glucose parameter for Type 2 diabetes diagnosis while about two thirds could identify this parameter in Prediabetes diagnosis. Correct identification of glycated hemoglobin A1C (HBA1C) parameter for prediabetes (p=0.001) and for T2DM (p<0.001) and Fasting Plasma Glucose for Type 2 diabetes diagnoses (0.003) were significantly associated with years of experience. Similarly, statistical significance was noted between access and use of diabetes guideline with level of practice (p <0.001) and with years of experience (p= 0.002). The findings of this study showed limited usage of guidelines in clinical practice which may be linked to the observed limited awareness of diagnostic criteria used in diabetes care. Low carbohydrate diet was majorly prescribed with low emphasis on Mediterranean diet. Improved access to and utilization of standardized guidelines in dietary diabetes care and aggressive advocacy for the same at all levels of healthcare provisions is recommended to ensure timely and optimum care for better outcomes. Key words: Diabetes guidelines, Diagnostic criteria, Dietary Approaches, Health Care Provider

An Oral Health Promotion Model Implemented in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County

Background and Objectives: Global research has shown that 60–90% of school children have caries, and that oral health care is of great public health significance. We present the data of an oral health promotion Program conducted in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County (PGC), Croatia, from 2008 to 2019. The Program includes comprehensive preventive oral status assessments of first- and fifth-grade elementary school students, as well as oral health promotional and preventative activities for preschool children, pregnant women, and new mothers. Here, we aimed to analyze the Program data and determine its applicability and sustainability. Materials and Methods: We assessed the changes in caries prevalence in first- and fifth-grade PGC students by comparing the 2008–2019 dental registry data on decayed, missing, and filled teeth for primary teeth (dmft)/decayed, missing, and filled teeth for permanent teeth (DMFT) index means. We also analyzed the data from the administrative Program reports. Results: We analyzed the dental registry data of 44,422 children in the PGC (21,714 first and 22,708 fifth grade). The average Program response rate was 83%. We noted a dmft/DMFT index decrease from 4.66 to 3.73 (first graders) and from 2.50 to 1.00 (fifth graders). The 2017–2019 dmft was significantly smaller than that of 2008–2009. There were 2336 workshops conducted in kindergartens, 1240 in first grades, and 1015 in fifth grades; health visitors educated 26,559 women. There was an increasing trend in the number of insured people under the age of six using pediatric oral health care. Conclusions: The Program improved the behavior and oral health of children and included various stakeholders, avoided additional financial expenses, increased the number of children in care, and proved its necessity and sustainability. It has been recognized on a national level and has led to the creation of two oral health care programs.

Downregulation of the Phosphatase PHLPP1 Contributes to NNK-induced Malignant Transformation of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells (HBECs).

Cigarette smoking (CS) is one of the greatest health concerns, which can cause lung cancer. 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), a tobacco-specific nitrosamine, and has been well-documented for its carcinogenic activity in both epidemiological and laboratory studies. PH domain leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase 1 (PHLPP1) and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) are two well-known phosphatase tumor suppressors that have been reported to be downregulated in human lung cancer tissues. However, the effect of NNK exposure on the expression of PHLPP1 and PTEN is unknown, and such effects may be early events leading to lung carcinogenesis. We explored this question in current studies and found that exposure of human bronchial epithelial BEP2D cells to NNK resulted in cell malignant transformation accompanied by a remarkable downregulation of PHLPP1 and PTEN. Such downregulation of PHLPP1 and PTEN was also consistently observed in vivo in Cigarette Smoking-exposed mouse lung tissues. Our studies further showed that overexpression of PHLPP1 or PTEN alleviated NNK-induced BEP2D cell transformation. Ectopic expression of PHLPP1 promoted PTEN protein expression, while PTEN overexpression did not affect PHLPP1 expression. Mechanistic studies showed that NNK was able to inhibit PP2A-C activity, which directly attenuated c-Jun phosphorylation at Ser63/73, and subsequently inhibited the PHLPP1 transcription and expression. Further, the downregulation of PHLPP1 led to a reduction of pten mRNA stability and expression through the HUR/Jun D/miR-613/NCL axis. Taken together, our studies advance the field of tobacco-induced lung cancer research by uncovering new mechanistic insights and identifying a novel molecular axis that could inform future therapeutic strategies. It also adds a new dimension by exploring the interaction between PHLPP1 and PTEN in the context of tobacco carcinogen exposure.

Reduction in Aedes aegypti Population After a Year-Long Application of Targeted Sterile Insect Releases in the West Valley Region of Southern California.

Aedes aegypti is of great public health concern because of its vectorial capacity to transmit various arboviruses such as Zika, yellow fever, dengue, and chikungunya. In California, its expanding geographic distribution has been unrestrained. This urgently calls for innovative tools such as the use of sterile insect technique (SIT) to strengthen invasive Aedes control. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of combining an SIT application into integrated vector management (IVM) strategies in invasive Aedes control in the West Valley region of southern California. A total of 25 Aedes hotspots, grouped into two cohorts-sites that received SIT treatment only (n = 9) and sites that received both SIT and In2Care® Mosquito Stations (n = 16)-were selected for this study. Biweekly, X-ray irradiated male Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were released between April and November 2024. Data from weekly BG Sentinel-2 traps were utilized to compare the mosquito densities between the pre-intervention (2023) and intervention (2024) periods for both cohorts. In addition, a subset of samples (n = 50) of irradiated male mosquitoes were placed in a separate cage with freshly emerged unirradiated female mosquitoes to evaluate the level of sterility of the eggs from these mosquitoes. Aedes-related service requests made by the District's residents were also compared between the pre-intervention and intervention periods to indirectly determine the effect of optimizing the control strategies on overall mosquito problems. A total of 106,608 sterile male Ae. aegypti were released between April and November 2024. The cohort with the SIT only application showed a 44% reduction in the number of female Ae. aegypti per trap-night during the intervention period compared with the pre-intervention period. At sites with In2Care Mosquito Stations that also received SIT treatment, the mosquito density dropped by 65% during the intervention period compared with the pre-intervention period. The number of Aedes-related service requests during the intervention year (n = 367) was 45% lower than the pre-intervention year (n = 656). Over 99.6% eggs collected from female mosquitoes mated with irradiated males did not hatch, indicating a high level of sterility of the irradiated males utilized for our SIT application. Here, we demonstrated the potential of SIT when combined with IVM strategies such as In2Care® Mosquito Stations, offering a holistic approach to reducing the public health risks associated with Aedes-borne diseases.

Effects of different vaccination regimes on the immunodiagnosis of tuberculosis in goats and evaluation of defined antigens

Tuberculosis (TB) in goats is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) organisms that pose a great health and economic challenge for the caprine industry in some European and developing countries. It is also a zoonotic disease posing a risk for public health. The control programs of the disease are based on a test-and-slaughter strategy, and vaccination is not feasible with available vaccines due to its interferences with the current TB immunodiagnosis. There is still a need for the development of an effective TB vaccine and, concurrently, diagnostic methods that allow differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals (DIVA approach). In this study, we investigated the interferences caused by the tuberculin (PPD)-based TB diagnostic tests in goats immunized by different mucosal and parenteral vaccination strategies: three single-dose strategies based on intranasal administration of BCG and two heat-inactivated M. bovis (HIMB) vaccines, and two prime-boost strategies based on parenteral BCG or HIMB priming and intranasal HIMB boosting. In addition, the defined antigens ESAT-6, CPF10, and EspC were evaluated as alternative diagnostic reagents to PPDs. At week 14 after prime vaccination of the animals, skin tests, IFN-γ release assay, and antibody detection assays were performed. The two prime-boosted and the single-dose intranasal BCG groups displayed greater cell-mediated immune responses to PPDs than the two single-dose intranasal HIMB vaccines. However, the use of reagents based on the defined antigens eliminated or reduced the vaccine-induced diagnostic interferences in all groups. Based on these results, the use of defined antigens in the current immunodiagnostic tests appears to be suitable in a future goat TB vaccination scenario.

Handling ‘Poison Books’: Dry Versus Wet Scenarios

ABSTRACT Toxic heavy metal pigments are known to be found in nineteenth-century, mass-produced, Euro-American bookbindings. A lack of data, standards, and regulations for exposure to heavy metal pigments in the cultural heritage sector limits understanding of when such bookbindings might present the greatest health and safety risk and how best to assess such risk. This case study measures the friability of arsenic, chromium, and lead based pigments in a sampling of nineteenth-century bookbindings through three scenarios: first, in their naturally aged, intact state; second, during a water event simulation; and third, after salvage and air-drying from the water disaster simulation. The data demonstrate that the risk of exposure to these heavy metals increases during and after a water event, with exposure to arsenic presenting the highest degree of risk.

A Pilot Study on the Main Air Pollutants in a Rural Community in Guanajuato, Mexico, Using a Low-Cost ATMOTUBE® Monitor

Air pollution is the second leading cause of death from non-communicable diseases. In Guanajuato, Mexico, the brick industry is the main economic source of polluting emissions, with the greatest health impacts. This sector has initiated government regulatory changes, but there is currently no monitoring of its impact on health. As a first pilot phase, this study’s objective was to measure the main air pollutants in a rural community in Guanajuato, Mexico, using a low-cost ATMOTUBE® monitor and to describe the area and population group at the greatest risk of exposure. An analytical and longitudinal design from September 2023 to February 2024, with the ATMOTUBE® measurement parameters VOC, PM1, PM2.5, PM10, temperature, humidity, and pressure, was used. During the six months of measurement, the results were as follows: a VOC of 4.15 ± 11.79 ppm, an Air Quality Score (AQS) of 65.17 ± 30.11, and a PM1 value of 4.90 ± 18.43 μg/m3. January–February 2024 was the period with the highest concentration of pollutants, with a maximum PM2.5 concentration of 664 ± 12.5 μg/m3, a maximum PM10 concentration of 650 ± 14.8 μg/m3, and a low humidity value (34.1 ± 5.2%). These values were found near two schools. The first inventory of the main air pollutants in this rural community is presented, with children and women being the population at greatest risk. With these data from this pilot phase, it is recommended to start implementing surveillance measures alongside health and nutrition indicators, mainly for the vulnerable population of this rural community.

Urinary metabolic alterations associated with occupational exposure to metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons based on non-target metabolomics.

Long-term occupational exposure to metals and organics have been reported to be under great health risks. However, limited data are available on the molecular mechanism between combined exposure to metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and harmful health effects. In present work, non-target metabolomics study was conducted based on urine samples from nonferrous metal smelting workers (n = 207), surrounding residents (n = 180), and the control residents (n = 187) by using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS). Differential and correlation analyses among metabolic features indicate that total 22 differential metabolites in smelting workers were associated (p < 0.05) with metal and PAH exposure. Particularly, amino acid metabolism was strongly disturbed, and other metabolic pathways, including steroid hormone biosynthesis, citrate cycle, and pantothenate and coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis were also perturbed. Among them, steroid hormone biosynthesis was more affected by PAH exposure than metals, especially for hydroxyphenanthrene. These altered pathways were closely associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and energy metabolism disorder. Additionally, our results indicate that endogenous metabolism in surrounding residents were also affected by nonferrous metal smelting activities to some extent. Our work provides valuable insights into molecular mechanisms of adverse health effects probably induced by combined exposure to metals and PAHs.

Progressive supranuclear palsy: an updated approach on diagnosis, treatment, risk factors and outlook in Mexico.

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a rare, atypical parkinsonism, characterized by the presence of intracerebral tau protein aggregates and determined by a wide spectrum of clinical features. The definitive diagnosis is postmortem and is identified through the presence of neuronal death, gliosis, and aggregates of the tau protein presented in the form of neurofibrillary tangles (MNF) with a globose appearance in regions such as the subthalamic nucleus, the substantia nigra, and the globus pallidus The findings in ancillary imaging studies, as well as fluids biomarkers, are not sufficient to support diagnosis of PSP but are used to rule out similar pathologies because there are still no specific or validated biomarkers for this disease. The current treatment of PSP is focused on reducing symptoms, although emerging therapies seek to counteract its pathophysiological mechanisms. Cellular models constitute a good tool to determine the molecular mechanisms underlying them. Finally, PSP in Mexico has been little studied, and its diagnosis is often confused with Parkinson's disease, it has a great health and socio-economic impact on patients, their families, and caregivers, which is why it requires further investigation at both a basic and clinical level.

COVID-19 and influenza vaccine Hesitancy among adults hospitalized in the United States, 2019-2022.

Understanding similarities and differences between hesitancy for influenza and COVID-19 vaccines could facilitate strategies to improve public receptivity toward vaccination. We compared hesitancy for COVID-19 vaccines during the first 13months of availability (January 2021-January 2022) with hesitancy for influenza vaccines in the 15months prior to COVID-19 vaccine availability (October 2019-December 2020) among adults hospitalized with acute respiratory illness at 21 hospitals in the United States. We interviewed patients regarding vaccination status, willingness to be vaccinated, and perceptions of vaccine safety and efficacy. We used multivariate logistic regression to identify factors associated with vaccine hesitancy. Among 12,292 patients enrolled during the COVID-19 vaccine period, 5485 (44.6%) were unvaccinated. Patient characteristics associated with not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine included younger age, female sex, higher BMI, lack of health insurance, absence of chronic comorbid medical conditions, no or rare influenza vaccination in prior years, higher CDC social vulnerability index (SVI), a measure of external stresses that may negatively impact health, living in the Midwest or southern US, lack of college or higher education, and not wearing a mask. Among 983 patients enrolled during the influenza vaccination period, 381(37.8%) were unvaccinated. Characteristics associated with not receiving the influenza vaccine included no or one chronic comorbid medical condition, no or rare influenza vaccination in prior years, being a current smoker, and higher SVI. Discussion with healthcare providers was a reason for vaccination for 27.7% (167) for influenza and 8.3% (564) for COVID-19 and to decline vaccination for 0.5% Ten great public health achievements-United States (2011) (2) for influenza and 2.2% (118) for COVID-19. We found that higher SVI scores and lack of prior influenza vaccination were associated with hesitancy for both COVID-19 and influenza vaccines. There were regional variations in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and discussions with HCPs significantly influenced acceptance for both vaccines.

Improvement of Iron and β-Carotene Bioaccessibility in Complementary Foods: Biofortification of Local Crops With Organic Residual Products and Microorganisms.

Micronutrient deficiencies remain a great public health challenge worldwide with iron, zinc, and vitamin A being the most problematic. It has been shown that biofortification through agronomic strategies can increase their micronutrient content, but data on the bioavailability remain limited. In Senegal, consumption of cereals and legumes is high, and orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP), rich in β-carotene, has been introduced a decade ago. The objective of the present work was to assess the bioaccessibility of iron, zinc, and β-carotene in local complementary foods prepared with millet, cowpea, and OFSP alone or in combination, produced using different agronomic biofortification strategies. Organic residual products were used alone or in combination with microorganisms to produce the abovementioned crops that were used to prepare the complementary foods. Static invitro digestion was performed to assess the bioaccessibility of the micronutrients, according to a harmonized protocol. The two organic residual products had different effect, as the cow dung alone was inefficient to increase iron and zinc contents as well as their bioaccessibility in millet porridges. However, the use of poultry litter alone or in combination with microorganisms increased iron bioaccessibility in cooked cowpea (27%-29%) compared to the non-biofortified counterpart (9%). Surprisingly, bioaccessible β-carotene was significantly higher (4.1%) in sample of mashed OFSP biofortified with the combination of the different agronomic strategies than in the others (1.4%-2.5%). Portions (150 g) of porridge prepared from the three biofortified crops would cover up to 100% of the daily vitamin A requirements of children aged 6-23 months. The use of a combination the most promising varieties of crops, together with the agronomic strategies, would be a complementary approach to sustainability limit micronutrient deficiencies in a context of monotonous diets.

Engagement With Digital Health Technologies Among Older People Living in Socially Deprived Areas: Qualitative Study of Influencing Factors.

The potential benefits of incorporating digital technologies into health care are well documented. For example, they can improve access for patients living in remote or underresourced locations. However, despite often having the greatest health needs, people who are older or living in more socially deprived areas may be less likely to have access to these technologies and often lack the skills to use them. This puts them at risk of experiencing further health inequities. In addition, we know that digital health inequities associated with older age may be compounded by lower socioeconomic status. Yet, there is limited research on the intersectional barriers and facilitators for engagement with digital health technology by older people who are particularly marginalized. This study aimed to explore factors influencing engagement with digital health technologies among people at the intersection of being older and socially deprived. We conducted semistructured interviews with people who were 70 years or older, living in a socially deprived area, or both. Chronic kidney disease was our clinical context. We thematically analyzed interview transcripts using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology as a theoretical framework. We interviewed 26 people. The majority were White British (n=20) and had moderate health and digital literacy levels (n=10 and n=11, respectively). A total of 13 participants were 70 years of age or older and living in a socially deprived area. Across participants, we identified 2 main themes from the interview data. The first showed that some individuals did not use digital health technologies due to a lack of engagement with digital technology in general. The second theme indicated that people felt that digital health technologies were "not for them." We identified the following key engagement factors, with the first 2 particularly impacting participants who were both older and socially deprived: lack of opportunities in the workplace to become digitally proficient; lack of appropriate support from family and friends; negative perceptions of age-related social norms about technology use; and reduced intrinsic motivation to engage with digital health technology because of a perceived lack of relevant benefits. Participants on the intersection of older age and social deprivation also felt significant anxiety around using digital technology and reported a sense of distrust toward digital health care. We identified factors that may have a more pronounced negative impact on the health equity of older people living in socially deprived areas compared with their counterparts who only have one of these characteristics. Successful implementation of digital health interventions therefore warrants dedicated strategies for managing the digital health equity impact on this group. Future studies should further develop these strategies and investigate their effectiveness, as well as explore the influence of related characteristics, such as educational attainment and ethnicity.

Ranking of Health Problems and Prioritization of Cancer Education Topics by African American Communities in South Carolina.

Despite landmark breakthroughs in cancer research, African American adults (AA) bear the highest cancer burden compared to other racial groups in the United States (US). AA adults have twice the likelihood of dying from prostate and uterine cancers compared to White adults, suggesting that there are fundamental issues yet to be addressed when developing and implementing cancer-preventative programs for AA communities. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) empowers community members to identify and prioritize their health problems and preferred strategies to tackle these issues. In alignment with the CBPR approach, the South Carolina Cancer Disparities Research Center (SC CADRE) undertook a study to inform cancer research priorities and interventions. A survey designed by the SC CADRE team to assess perceptions about health problems (cancer risk factors), prioritization of cancer education topics, and attitudes related to cancer prevention was completed by predominantly AA community members in South Carolina (N = 179). Participants had a mean age of 51.59 ± 16.53years; the majority were AA (72.49%), females (76.44%), had bachelor's/graduate degrees (66.29%), and were from the Lowcountry coastal region of the state (85.26%). Obesity emerged as the greatest health concern, followed by poor diet and low physical activity. The top three priorities for cancer education were to learn about causes of cancer, strategies for healthy eating, and how to access healthcare. These findings could inform cancer education and intervention programs to address the top priority health needs identified by AA communities in South Carolina. They may also be relevant in other states, especially in rural southern parts of the USA.

A Review on Long COVID Screening: Challenges and Perspectives Focusing on Exhaled Breath Gas Sensing.

Long COVID (LC) is a great global health concern, affecting individuals recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection. The persistent and varied symptoms across multiple organs complicate diagnosis and management, and an incomplete understanding of the condition hinders advancements in therapeutics. Current diagnostic methods face challenges related to standardization and completeness. To overcome this, new technologies such as sensor-based electronic noses are being explored for LC assessment, offering a noninvasive screening approach via volatile organic compounds (VOC) sensing in exhaled breath. Although specific LC-associated VOCs have not been fully characterized, insights from COVID-19 research suggest their potential as biomarkers. Additionally, AI-driven chemometrics are promising in identifying and predicting outcomes; despite challenges, AI-driven technologies hold the potential to enhance LC evaluation, providing rapid and accurate diagnostics for improved patient care and outcomes. This review underscores the importance of emerging and sensing technologies and comprehensive diagnostic strategies to address screening and treatment challenges in the face of LC.

Non-Thermal Treatment Mediated by Curcumin for Enhancing Food Product Quality.

Increasing antibiotic resistance is one of the world's greatest health problems, and biocide use in food disinfection, alongside other application fields, could increase antibiotic resistance. Effective and eco-friendly food decontamination treatment with minimal chemical intervention in food production is urgently needed. Synergistic antimicrobial interaction of photoactive compounds and blue-light-emitting diodes have recently been proven effective in agricultural and environmental applications. Curcumin-based non-thermal treatment has been reviewed in this work for the development of a safe and effective decontamination tool that could be adapted to the food industry. The antimicrobial mechanism of the synergistic interaction and the inhibitory efficacy against foodborne pathogens (bacteria in both vegetative form and spore, as well as in biofilms) are discussed. Further studies on curcumin and its derivative, as well as light illumination patterns, were compared for enhanced bactericidal efficacy. Moreover, studies relating to photodynamic inactivation treatment for food sanitation and food quality enhancement (cereal grains and other food products) were summarized, as well as the impact on food organoleptic and nutritional quality.

Design and Synthesis of Novel Spiro [Chromane‐2,4′‐Piperidin]‐4‐One Derivatives: Anti‐Proliferative Investigation and Molecular Docking Studies

AbstractChemists around the globe are extensively working for remedial solutions to cancer, one of the greatest health hazards. We have synthesized twenty‐three novel spiro [chromane‐2,4′‐piperidin]‐ 4 ‐one derivatives (KBS and KMS series of analogues) as part of our ongoing research to combat this deadly disease, and confirmed their structures using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, HRMS, and FT‐IR. Furthermore, we employed single‐crystal XRD to identify the compound structures of KBS4 and KMS10. We have tested the compounds on the cell line such as MCF‐7; U87‐MG; SCC‐25; and HEK‐293T, via WST‐1 assay. Eight compounds showed IC50 values ranging 3.9–10 μM; against the cell line MCF‐7. The best compounds of all were KMS9 (IC50=3.83 μM), KMS5 (IC50=4.14 μM), and KBS8 (IC50=8.24 μM), which promoted apoptosis in MCF‐7 cells. KMS5 and KMS9 compounds showed G1 cell cycle arrest, while compound KBS8 showed G2 cell cycle arrest. Insilco ADME studies were carried out. Molecular docking and dynamics experiments showed how KMS5, KMS9, and KBS8 bind to the active region of the EGFR family – a group of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) proteins (PDB ID: 7JXP, 2.16 Å). Further structural modifications of the KMS5, KMS9, and KBS8 may improve their activity against breast cancer.

A portrait of older adults in naturally occurring retirement communities in Ontario, Canada: A population-based study.

Naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs) are geographical areas that have naturally become home to a large concentration of older adults. This density means that NORCs have the potential to become a pillar for aging in place strategies, but at present, there is limited data on residents and their health needs. Our objective was to describe and compare the health and healthcare use of older adults living in high-rise NORC buildings to those in all other housing types in the community. We conducted a population-based descriptive study of community-dwelling older adults aged ≥65 years by linking a provincial NORC registry in Ontario, Canada with health administrative records. Individuals were classified as NORC residents if their residential postal code on January 1, 2020 matched the NORC registry. Sociodemographic, clinical, and healthcare use characteristics were compared by NORC status using standardized differences (STD) and stratified by rurality, and further by age and sex in urban settings. Overall, 219,995 (7.7%) of 2,869,706 older adults were NORC residents. Compared to community-dwelling older adults, NORC residents were older (mean 77.4 vs 74.6 years; STD 0.34), and more were female (61.8% vs 52.2%; STD 0.19) and had low income (16.0% vs 9.3%; STD 0.11). NORC residents also had more active chronic conditions (mean 1.9 vs 1.5; STD 0.27), medications (mean 3.4 vs 2.8; STD 0.21), home care use (15.3% vs 9.8%; STD 0.17), and primary care visits (mean 9.7 vs 7.6 visits in prior 2 years; STD 0.22). Findings were robust across rurality, age, and sex. Our findings suggest that NORC residents have greater health needs than other older adults living in the community and underscore NORCs as important targets for equity-focused strategies to support aging in place.