Health-related Activities Research Articles

Balancing public health and public safety: a situational analysis of a substance use pathway

Abstract Background Public health solutions to substance use harms are of interest across Europe, where the level of health need among detainee populations is broadly consistent. A need for multiagency working is widely recognised, as well as role changes with a view to the police engaging in health generating activity, as part of the wider public health workforce. This qualitative study explores the prospect for a multiagency, public health pathway in an English county district. This involved multiagency working across the community and custody settings. Methods 25 semi-structured interviews with senior and frontline staff of diverse agencies involved in pathway development, including public health, police, treatment providers and the NHS. A ‘frame-critical’ situational analysis sought to understand the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats presented by the pathway. Data were organised into themes. Results Three themes highlighted the challenges and opportunities for addressing substance use harms via multiagency collaboration across the community and custody settings. The themes highlighted how 1) agencies’ shared commitment to public health was unsettled by subtle differences on the meaning of prevention; 2) community police were more accepting of new health activity than custody police; 3) a trade-off impeded a proactive approach: the need for substance worker capacity to support police in the custody suite (a reactive approach) meant that limited community outreach was possible, despite opportunities for preventative community work involving substance workers and community police. Conclusions Public health solutions are challenging to develop in a context of contrasting understandings of ‘public health’, unclear national policy and resource constraints. The design of multiagency public health pathways must be participatory and inclusive to ensure staff buy-in: in particular, new health activities need to align with police staff’s sense of role congruence. Key messages • Multiagency public health collaborations should start by establishing a shared understanding of what ‘public health’ and ‘prevention’ mean. • A long-term perspective on training and motivational alignment (e.g., via feedback) is necessary to implement health-related activity among custody police staff.

A long journey from telemedicine to digital (public) health: the vision of different stakeholders

Abstract The healthcare system willingly adopts new innovative means of communication and solutions offered by computer science. Telemedicine was one of the first terms used in this context. It was initially associated with providing medical services but quickly extended to other areas of health-related activities, including public health. The growth of the global web yielded new prospects for the provision of health services, also resulting in new terms to name the use of information and telecommunication technologies in healthcare. E-health, stemming from the end of 90ies in the 20th century, was initially defined as a new domain strongly associated with public health, especially in the context of access to health information. Quickly, its understanding was extended to all health-related interventions based on innovative digital technologies. Today, digital health and digital public health have emerged as the key terms, signifying the next phase of emerging applications that leverage the advancements made on the technical front. The medical community is probably more inclined to use the former term, while public health professionals are dedicated to the latter. But do these terms carry distinct meanings? Or is it merely a matter of the professional group’s background? Is the focus on individual or population health a differentiating factor? In the meantime, business and technical communities have developed the concept of Health 4.0. This concept emphasizes using technologies like the Internet of Things, cloud computing, big data, and artificial intelligence. However, digital (public) health benefits hugely from these solutions. One can ask whether every professional community needs other concepts and new terms for naming fields, resulting from the multidisciplinary effort. And where are the plain people in this landscape? Do they have sufficient digital and health literacies to accept new modes of health service delivery?

Food and housing insecurity, COVID-19 pandemic effects on health-related activities, and care plans for children with obesity

To understand the association between food insecurity (FI) and housing insecurity (HI) risk, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on health-related activities among children with overweight or obesity, and caregivers' and clinicians' challenges and priorities related to pediatric weight management. We conducted surveys with caregivers of children with overweight and obesity and pediatric clinicians at two academic medical centers in the Greater Boston area. We used multivariable logistic regression models to examine associations between FI and HI risk and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on health-related activities and descriptive statistics to summarize caregivers' and clinicians' challenges and priorities related to pediatric weight management. We analyzed data from surveys with 344 caregivers and 100 pediatric clinicians. Overall, 37% of caregivers endorsed both FI+HI, 18% FI alone, 10% HI alone, and 35% neither FI/HI. In the adjusted logistic regression models, combined FI+HI (reference: neither FI/HI) was significantly associated with higher odds of sleeping less (aOR 2.96 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.46, 6.01]) and higher odds of spending less time outside (aOR 2.10 [95% CI: 1.06, 4.16]). Top priorities for pediatric weight management identified by both caregivers and clinicians were related to physical activity and availability of outdoor spaces. Endorsement of both FI+HI was associated with children getting less sleep and spending less time outside during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future innovations in care plans for children with overweight and obesity should be adapted to a family's social context and should incorporate caregivers' and clinicians' challenges and priorities.

Upper Extremity Injuries in Swimming

Given the rise of swimming as a casual, competitive, artistic, and health-related activity in the past few years, it has become increasingly important to look at injuries that can be caused by swimming. Through studying swimming-related injuries to the upper extremities, swimmers can understand how to prevent major, long-lasting injuries and how to treat these injuries if they occur. The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) Database was used to analyze data on swimming-related injuries to the upper extremities in the last five years. In these past five years, 82,834 injuries to the upper extremities of swimmers have been reported to the Emergency Department (ED). The study highlights the most common upper-extremity-related injury in swimming and how to prevent it, as well as how to treat it. In addition, it is vital to note that future research could delve into possible equipment that would help prevent the injury altogether.

Analysis of the structure of Basic Health Units in Brazil to conduct telehealth actions: a comparison of two cross-sectional studies

BackgroundTelehealth uses Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in distance health-related activities between professionals, managers, and patients of health services. This cross-sectional study compared the ICT infrastructure available in Brazilian Basic Health Units (BHU) for telehealth actions, along with evaluation cycles of the National Program for Improving Access and Quality of Primary Care (PMAQ-AB).MethodsData from the second and third cycles of the PMAQ-AB were used. A total of 22,021 BHUs were evaluated concerning the availability of computers, cameras, stereo boxes, microphones, printers, television, and internet available. The presence of each ICT equipment assigned a score to each BHU. The sum of these scores assigned a final score to the BHU and was used for comparison among different Brazilian regions. The data were analyzed descriptively and by Wilcoxon test (p ≤ 0.05) using SPSS v. 25.ResultsThe increase in the median number of ICT equipment was statistically significant in the BHU in Brazil and the Brazilian regions (p < 0.001). The South, Southeast, and Midwest regions had the highest median scores in both cycles.ConclusionsThe availability of ICT equipment for telehealth actions in BHU improved over the PMAQ-AB cycles, with differences in the ICT structure between Brazilian regions.

Impact of retirement on health-related conditions, leisure, and physical activity in older adults

Impact of retirement on health-related conditions, leisure, and physical activity in older adults

The Knowledge and Application of Economics in Healthcare in a High-Income Country Today: The Case of Belgium.

Healthcare is a huge business sector in many countries, focusing on the social function of delivering quality health when people develop illness. The system is essentially financed by public funds based on the solidarity principle. With a large financial outlay, the sector must use economic evaluation methods to achieve better efficiency. The objective of our study was to evaluate and to understand how health economics is used today, taking Belgium as an example of a high-income country. The evaluation started with a historical view of healthcare development and ended with potential projections for its future. A literature review focused on country-specific evaluation reports to identify the health economic methods used, with a search for potential gaps. The first results indicated that Belgium in 2021 devoted 11% of its GDP, 17% of its total tax revenue, and 30% of the national Social Security Fund to health-related activities, totalizing EUR 55.5 billion spending. The main health economic method used was a cost-effectiveness analysis linked to budget impact, assigning reimbursable monetary values to new products becoming available. However, these evaluation methods only impacted at most 20% of the money circulating in healthcare. The remaining 80% was subject to financial regulations (70%) and budgeting (10%), which could use many other techniques of an economic analysis. The evaluation indicated two potentially important changes in health economic use in Belgium. One was an increased focus on budgeting with plans, time frames, and quantified treatment objectives on specific disease problems. Economic models with simulations are very supportive in those settings. The other was the application of constrained optimization methods, which may become the new standard of practice when switching from fee-for-service to pay-per-performance as promoted by value-based healthcare and value-based health management. This economic refocusing to a more constrained approach may help to keep the healthcare system sustainable and affordable in the face of the many future challenges including ageing, climate change, migration, pandemics, logistical limitations, and financial instability.

Associations among motor competence, health-related fitness, and physical activity in children: A comparison of gold standard and field-based measures

ABSTRACT This study compared the associations among motor competence, health-related fitness, and physical activity measured by gold standard and field-based methods in children. A total of 248 first-grade children (153 boys) aged 6–7 years participated in the study. Motor competence was assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development, Second Edition (TGMD −2). Gold standard measures were percent body fat using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, peak oxygen uptake per weight using a gas analyser, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity using accelerometers. Field-based measures were body mass index, maximum speed during progressive running on a treadmill, and a physical activity questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis adjusted for age and sex was used to examine the associations of motor competence with one of the health-related variables and compared differences by measurement method. The results indicated that field-based measures models showed lower associations (R2 = 0.02–0.17) than the gold standard (R2 = 0.21–0.27) and lower standardised regression coefficients for sex and motor competence, except for maximum speed. In conclusion, gold standard measures resulted in stronger associations between motor competence, and health-related fitness and physical activity in children. Examining the contribution of motor competence in children’s health using field-based tests can underestimate it.

The Role of Hunters in Wildlife Health Research and Monitoring: Their Contribution as Citizen Scientists in Italy.

In Italy, there are hundreds of research, monitoring, and surveillance activities targeting emerging and re-emerging pathogens. These activities heavily rely on hunters for sample collection and early identification of morbidity/mortality events. The objective of this review is to describe and quantify the contribution of hunters in the context of disease research, monitoring, and surveillance in wild populations. A literature review and descriptive summary statistics were performed following PRISMA-2020 guidelines; articles were obtained from major scientific databases, abstracts from national and international conferences, proceedings, graduate-level theses from online library repositories, and direct contact with academic experts. The contribution of hunters in terms of sample collection for health-related activities on wildlife amounts to 400,000 sampled animals. Wild boars were involved in 158 surveillance systems/research studies, followed by red deer (71), foxes (63), and roe deer (59). The pathogens under surveillance were mainly zoonotic (Salmonella spp.), emerging (Hepatitis E virus), and/or vector-borne (West Nile virus). The temporal distribution of scientific papers followed a positive trend that reflects the growing interest in wildlife from different sectors. These results highlight how wildlife health-related efforts are a paradigm of the concept of One Health, in which the role of hunters is crucial to ensure sample availability, and it constitutes the base of much current wildlife health research, monitoring, and surveillance.

Effects of dental insurance and dental care utilization on oral health-related daily life activities among federally qualified healthcare center patients in the United States.

To assess the association between dental insurance, dental care utilization and oral health-related impact on daily activities among patients visiting Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-funded health centers in the United States. This cross-sectional study examined the 2014 Health Center Patient Survey (HCPS), a survey of patients who received care at US health centers. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the likelihood of the oral health-related impact on daily activities domains such as school/work performance, sleeping, eating/chewing, social and home activities considering sociodemographic, dental insurance, and dental care utilization. Among 7002 total participants, 6890 self-reported oral health-related impact on daily activities. Adults aged 18-44 were 2.6 times more likely to report an overall impact on everyday life activities compared to children and adolescents. After adjusting for sociodemographics, Hispanic patients were less likely to report any oral health-related impacts, while patients visiting rural centres reported higher odds of oral health related impairment. Patients who experienced delays in receiving dental care or were unable to access dental care when needed were 4.5 times more likely to encounter difficulties in their daily activities. This study linked limited dental insurance and care to increased oral health issues impacting daily life, particularly among adults, rural populations, and those facing delay in dental care. This highlights the need for policy reforms and interventions aimed at improving dental care access to mitigate the detrimental effects of poor oral health on daily functions for vulnerable populations.

Exploring Healthcare Trends: A Python-Powered Analysis of Doctor Visits

This project delves into an analysis of the "Dr.Visits" dataset using Python tools and libraries, aiming to uncover insights into patterns and relationships related to doctor visits and health conditions. Through data visualization techniques and statistical methods, the project seeks to reveal key trends and correlations within the dataset. Initial steps involve importing the dataset and exploring its characteristics, including variables like gender, age, income, and illness distribution. The analysis focuses on understanding how these variables impact doctor visits and health-related activities. Notably, the project highlights gender-based variations in reduced activity due to illness, prompting further exploration of potential contributing factors. In summary, this project provides valuable insights into healthcare and patient behavior through the lens of the "Dr.Visits" dataset.

Frequency of Knowledge of Risk and Complications of Cigarette Smoking among Female Smokers

Background: Despite the significant role of smoking in causing preventable diseases, many women smokers lack an understanding of the associated risks. Gaining insights into their knowledge levels is crucial for designing effective health interventions that promote smoking cessation and enhance overall public health. Objective: To assess the level of awareness regarding the risks and complications of cigarette smoking among female smokers. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Outpatient Department of Medicine, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University, Larkana, Pakistan, from July to December 2023. The study involved 126 female smokers. Data were collected using a 15-item questionnaire to evaluate the participants' knowledge about the risks and complications of smoking. The responses were categorized as low, moderate, or high knowledge. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.0. Results: The participants' average age was 31.25 years (SD = 13.55 years). Knowledge levels about smoking risks among the participants were distributed as follows: 54.8% had low knowledge, 30.2% had moderate knowledge, and 15.1% demonstrated high knowledge of smoking risks and complications. Conclusion: Over half of the female smokers surveyed exhibited low awareness of the dangers associated with smoking. This underscores the need for targeted educational and health-related activities to effectively reduce smoking levels among women.

Survey of occupational health-related activities in Hokkaido and Tohoku hospitals

This study aimed to evaluate occupational health-related activities and factors related to the violation of labor-related regulations in hospitals in Hokkaido and Tohoku districts. The study questionnaires were distributed to 1,108 Hokkaido and Tohoku hospitals in April 2024, among whom 307 (answered by June 2) participated. The questionnaires included queries on hospital characteristics, occupational health-related activities, and labor-related laws. Relationships between the hospital location, number of hospital beds, number of employees, and provision of emergency services and the number of labor-related regulation violations (assignments of occupational physicians and health officers, agreement on overtime [per Article 36 of the Labour Standards Act], physician interviews for workers with prolonged overtime, and implementation of the Stress Check program) were analyzed using multivariable ordinal logistic regression. Among the hospitals, 4.2%, 11.9%, 11.1%, 8.5%, and 2.6% did not assign occupational physicians, assigned directors as occupational physicians, did not assign health officers, did not have an agreement on overtime, and did not implement the Stress Check program, respectively. The multivariable ordinal logistic regression analysis revealed that hospitals with few beds and employees and those that did not offer emergency services had significantly higher odds of violating labor-related regulations. Smaller hospitals and hospitals that did not offer emergency services in Hokkaido and Tohoku districts had some difficulties complying with labor-related regulations. These hospitals may need external support for occupational health-related activities.

Adult Day Services for People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Scoping Review.

Adult day services (ADS) are therapeutic, social, and health-related activities that keep people in their homes, rather than institutional settings. While there is a growing body of literature on ADS for older adults, there is far less information available about ADS for younger adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDDs). Researchers conducted a scoping review of 6 databases (892 total articles). After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 74 full articles were reviewed, with 10 articles meeting study requirements. The research team found the literature is limited to simple descriptive reports or interventions that use ADS as a platform. Simply put, we know very little about the services provided to younger adults with IDD in ADS. Implications for future research are discussed, including the need to catalog the services offered in ADS for younger adults with IDD and to evaluate their impact on participant well-being.

Abstract PO1-05-06: Health-related QOL and physical activity collected via wearable device in patients with HR+/HER2− advanced breast cancer in Japan treated with palbociclib+endocrine therapy (ET) or ET alone: 6-month longitudinal study (JBCRG-26)

Abstract Background: Palbociclib (PAL) is a first-in-class cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor (CDK4/6i) for the treatment of HR+/HER2− advanced breast cancer (ABC). In phase 3 clinical trials, PAL+ET prolonged progression-free survival and maintained health-related quality of life (HRQOL) compared with placebo+ET. However, few studies have evaluated the day-to-day effects of PAL+ET treatment on patients’ HRQOL and daily activities in a real-world setting. Here, we report the daily life of the patients treated with PAL+ET or ET alone evaluated with a mobile application and wearable device. Methods: This is a prospective, observational, multicenter study conducted in Japanese women with HR+/HER2- ABC initiating PAL+ET (Group 1) or ET alone (Group 2) in first- or second-line setting. HRQOL was assessed with the EORTC-QLQ-C30 at baseline and Day 15 of each cycle via a smartphone-based application for 6 treatment cycles (24 weeks). Physical activity (PA) data were collected via wearable device (CentrePoint Insight Watch®, ActiGraph LLC, the USA). Patients were instructed to wear the device at all-times, except of while bathing and sleeping, during the baseline period (at least 4 days prior to treatment initiation was recommended) and 6 cycles. PA metrics were averaged on a weekly basis. Patient data, including baseline characteristics, treatment, and adverse events, were collected via electronic case report forms. As primary endpoints, change in Global health status (GHS) of EORTC-QLQ-C30 and “sedentary time” from baseline were evaluated at each time point. No formal hypothesis testing or comparisons between groups was planned. Results: Ninety-nine patients were enrolled (Group 1: 78 patients, Group 2: 21 patients). Patients had a median age of 56/52 years (Group 1/Group 2); 51%/33% had visceral metastases; 86%/86% had ECOG performance status of 0; 76%/91% initiated first-line treatment; 36%/33% were fully employed. Seventy-four of 78 patients (95%) in Group 1 and 20 of 21 patients (95%) in Group 2 completed the 6-cycle observation period. Baseline mean GHS score was 60.9 and 64.3 in Group 1 and 2, respectively. The change from baseline to Cycle 6 in GHS score was 4.6 and 1.2 in Group 1 and 2, respectively, not reaching the deterioration-threshold of 8 points in either treatment group. Results for each functional subscale are summarized in Table 1. Baseline mean “sedentary time” was 580.7 and 565.1 min/day in Group 1 and 2, respectively. The change from baseline to Cycle 6 in “sedentary time” was —67.2 and —139.4 min/day in Group 1 and 2, respectively. Results of other PA metrics are summarized in Table. No new safety signals were identified. Conclusion: In this study, PAL+ET or ET alone did not have any significant adverse impact on HRQOL and PA measured by wearable devices in patients with HR+/HER2- ABC. (NCT04736576) Citation Format: Hiroko Bando, Mari Oba, Aya Ueda, Kaori Terata, Mihoko Doi, Shigenori Nagai, Masaya Hattori, Ken-Ichi Watanabe, Nobuko Tamura, Manabu Futamura, Kei Koizumi, Naoki Niikura, Tempei Miyaji, Yasuaki Muramatsu, Linghua Xu, Norikazu Masuda, Shigehira Saji. Health-related QOL and physical activity collected via wearable device in patients with HR+/HER2− advanced breast cancer in Japan treated with palbociclib+endocrine therapy (ET) or ET alone: 6-month longitudinal study (JBCRG-26) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO1-05-06.

Impact of ankylosing spondylitis on foot health and quality of life: an observational case-control study.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic, inflammatory, and autoimmune disease. This condition primarily affects the axial skeleton and presents direct foot involvement, such as Achilles enthesitis or plantar fascia involvement. This study aimed to investigate the impact of foot health on the quality of life of individuals with AS compared to a control group without AS. A sample of 112 subjects was recruited, with a mean age of 46.80 ± 10.49 years, divided into two groups: 56 individuals with AS (cases) and 56 individuals without AS (controls). Demographic data were collected, and the scores obtained in the Foot Health Status Questionnaire domains were recorded. Of the participants, 27.79% (N = 30) were men and 73.21% (N = 82) were women. The mean age in the group was 46.80 ± 10.49. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in the domains of foot function, foot pain, footwear, overall foot health, general health-related physical activity, and social capacity between the AS group and the control group. Individuals with AS exhibited a decreased quality of life, as indicated by their Foot Health Status Questionnaire scores.

Use of wearable technologies in health promotion in Human Medicine students

INTRODUCTION: In the current era marked by rapid technological advances, the integration of wearable devices into everyday life has been a remarkable phenomenon. These devices, ranging from smart watches to physical activity monitors, have gained popularity and have become ubiquitous tools that track various aspects of health and wellness.OBJECTIVE: To characterize the use of wearable technologies in health promotion in Human Medicine students.METHODS: The research is characterized by its cross-sectional and quantitative nature, with a basic and descriptive non-experimental design. The study population consisted of 128 students of Human Medicine at a private university located in Arequipa, Peru. Data collection was carried out through the use of surveys and questionnaires.RESULTS: Regarding the adoption and use of wearable technologies, 35.94% (46) reported a moderate level, 32.81% (42) indicated a high level, while 31.25% (40) indicated a low level. This finding suggests a balanced and non-extreme adoption of wearable technologies among the students examined in the context of health promotion.CONCLUSIONS: We were able to determine a moderate level of adoption and use of wearable technologies among Human Medicine students to promote health and wellness. This result points to the relevance of these technologies in health-related activities, highlighting a particular emphasis on a moderate level of use.

Collective activities of the Thai Coordinating Unit for One Health (CUOH): Past activities and future directions

In Thailand, One Health concepts have been implemented among government agencies, academic institutions, intergovernment, and civil society organizations. The Thai Coordinating Unit for One Health (CUOH) was established as a collaborating body for One Health-related activities in the country in 2014. To better understand what activities CUOH has completed thus far and to assess future activities, we conducted a network analysis to identify and visualize linkages between organizations and activities from 2015 to 2021. Activities were divided into four categories: organizing meetings, developing products, providing funds, and managing resources. Most of the 114 CUOH-managed meeting participants were representatives from 72 government and 20 academic institutions. The Thai Ministry of Public Health's Department of Disease Control participated in 148 meetings, the highest attendance among all organizations working with CUOH. The first CUOH guideline or manual was published in 2020, and 11 were published in 2021. In funding management, the CUOH worked with 25 organizations to carry out 71 projects from 2015 to 2021. Additionally, the CUOH played an important role in allocating COVID-19 vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic. The CUOH has connected organizations working in different health sectors to collaborate jointly through meetings and projects that use a One Health approach, which can holistically improve health management in Thailand. Diverse funding sources are needed to ensure the sustainability of the unit in the future.

Problematizing Managerial Militarization: Claims to Military Logistical Expertise in the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil

The Brazilian Armed Forces have had a prominent role in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We take this participation as an entry point to confront traditional assumptions of studies on civil-military relations and militarization, investigating a particular claim used to justify the mobilization of the Brazilian military in health-related activities: their credentials in a managerial expertise in logistics. In doing so, we argue that there is an ongoing re-articulation in the discursive regime used to justify their expansion of roles—not one anchored on the efficiency in the use of violence associated with a “war ethos” specific to the military professional, but another, grounded on a managerial expertise to efficiently procure, manage and distribute resources across the national territory, especially in contexts of “crisis.” We claim that the historical transformation of such discourse is a particular expression of global processes that have historically vested “managerial expertise” with political authority to solve social problems in critical situations. We also contend that this managerial dimension has been largely neglected in the critique of militarization articulated in traditional and contemporary civil–military relations studies. In light of these processes, this article seeks to contribute to critical work regarding the conditions for and effects of the expansion of military roles under the regime of justification here analyzed, thereby stimulating us to rethink the assumptions upon which militarization can be problematized in the contemporary period.

Baohuoside I inhibits virulence of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by targeting the transcription Staphylococcus accessory regulator factor SarZ

BackgroundStaphylococcus aureus is a versatile pathogen that can cause a wide range of infections in humans. Biofilms play a crucial role in the pathogenicity of S. aureus and contribute to its ability to cause persistent and chronic infections. Baohuoside I has garnered increasing recognition as a natural flavonol glycoside with a wide spectrum of health-related activities. PurposeThe antibacterial and anti-biofilm properties of Baohuoside I have not been extensively investigated. Our study aimed to assess its inhibitory effects and the underlying mechanisms on biofilm formation and hemolytic capacity in S. aureus. Study Design/MethodsThe impact of Baohuoside I on the biofilm and virulence of S. aureus was evaluated through in vitro experiments and Galleria mellonella as an in vivo infection model. The mechanisms were explored by Drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) and validated in genetic knockout strain and through molecular biological experiments using DARTS, molecular docking, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), and bio-layer interferometry (BLI). ResultsBaohuoside I significantly inhibits the formation of S. aureus biofilms and hemolytic activity at 6.25 µM. Proteomics analysis revealed that treatment with Baohuoside I led to a reduction in the expression of quorum-sensing system agr-regulated genes. DARTS analysis identified Staphylococcus accessory regulator factor (SarZ), a key regulator involved in the expression of virulence factors in S. aureus by acting as activator of the agr quorum-sensing system, was the direct target of Baohuoside I. Molecular docking, DARTS, BLI and EMSA assays collectively confirmed the direct binding of Baohuoside I to SarZ, inhibiting its binding to downstream promoters. Furthermore, it is found through site-directed protein mutagenesis that the Tyr27 and Phe117 residues are key for Baohuoside I binding to SarZ. Additionally, the knockout of SarZ significantly diminished the hemolytic ability of S. aureus, underscoring its crucial role as a pivotal regulator of virulence. Lastly, in vivo tests utilizing the G. mellonella infection model demonstrated the efficacy of Baohuoside I. ConclusionThis study provides valuable insights into the mechanism by which Baohuoside I inhibits the virulence of S. aureus through its interaction with SarZ. These findings highlight the significance of SarZ as an effective target against the virulence of S. aureus.