Health Research Articles

Unveiling the patient-centered approach: exploring the needs of Javanese stroke patients in home health services

Home-based care can be effective, efficient, safe, and affordable, if this care is performed using a patient-centered approach. Patient-centered care prioritizes the patient’s needs and preferences. The issue of patient-centered care remains the focus of various parties. This study aimed to explore the expectations of patients who have experienced a stroke, their family caregivers as recipients of home-based care services and healthcare workers as home-based care providers. This study used a qualitative explorative model. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 participants, in addition to 4 focus group discussions. Data was analyzed using a content analysis approach with open code 13 software and the results were presented in COREQ systematics for qualitative studies. There were four main themes present in the results: physical well-being, self-actualization, psychological condition and balance between family burden and coping. Physical limitations were highlighted as the most burden some for the majority of the participants. At the time of the study, the majority of the patients, their family and health workers were diligently working towards to achieving the best outcome regarding physical well-being. Physical well-being is a fundamental need. Reaching this goal, could lead to better self-actualization, better physiological condition and improving the burden on families. This study may be useful as preliminary data to compile a home-based care construct indicators for stroke patients.

Exploring novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying Bisphenol A-induced toxicity: A persistent threat to human health

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a ubiquitous industrial chemical used in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, found in numerous consumer products. Despite its widespread use, its potential adverse health effects have raised significant concerns. This review explores the molecular mechanisms and evidence-based literature underlying BPA-induced toxicities and its implications for human health. BPA is an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) which exhibits carcinogenic properties by influencing various receptors, such as ER, AhR, PPARs, LXRs, and RARs. It induces oxidative stress and contributes to cellular dysfunction, inflammation, and DNA damage, ultimately leading to various toxicities including but not limited to reproductive, cardiotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and endocrine toxicity. Moreover, BPA can modify DNA methylation patterns, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA expression, leading to epigenetic changes and contribute to carcinogenesis. Overall, understanding molecular mechanisms of BPA-induced toxicity is crucial for developing effective strategies and policies to mitigate its adverse effects on human health.

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Wall Painting Types in a New City Development: Impacts on Environment and Human Health

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Wall Painting Types in a New City Development: Impacts on Environment and Human Health

Fabrication of bare and cobalt-doped ZnFe2O4 thin film as NH3 gas sensor with enhanced response through UV-light illumination

This work reports on the deposition of bare and cobalt-doped ZnFe2O4 thin films by chemical spray pyrolysis technique to study ammonia (NH3) gas sensing properties. Colorless and strongly smelling, ammonia (NH3) is readily soluble in water and yields ammonium (NH) ions. These gases mix in the air atmosphere cause climate change, and severely affect human health. Therefore, the detection of NH3 below the exposure limit can avoid the deterioration of human health and environment. Co-doping had a significant effect on surface roughness, surface morphology, crystallite size, and sensitivity at room temperature. Co0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 film (ZFCO5) exhibited an outstanding response (S = 19) towards 10 ppm NH3 gas at room temperature. Compared to the bare film, the ZFCO5 sensor has an eleven-fold higher gas-detection response value for 10 ppm NH3. This is ascribed to the blended effects of small crystallite size, high surface roughness, oxygen vacancies, and angular shape morphology linked into tiny rods in the ZFCO5 film. The ZFCO5 sensor showed a significant speedup in response/recovery times (102 s/34 s) and good response (S = 25) to NH3 under the UV-light (365 nm) illumination at room temperature. The built-in ZFCO5 gas sensor shows promise for real-time NH3 below threshold level monitoring.

Study on surface grafting of hydroxyapatite and its influence on the properties of urea-formaldehyde resin

Urea formaldehyde (UF) is the most widely used resin in the wood composite board industry. UF has formaldehyde emission, which is harmful to the environment and human health. In this paper, hydroxyapatite (HAP) was surface modified by silane coupling agent (HAP-KH). And hydroxyapatite/urea formaldehyde resin (HAP-UF) was prepared by adding different amounts of HAP-KH. The optimal amount of HAP-KH was determined by wet shear strength and formaldehyde release. The degradation performance and degradation kinetics of the resin were also studied. The results show that the addition of HAP-KH can improve the wet shear strength of plywood and reduce the release of formaldehyde. The optimal content of HAP-KH was 3%, and the formaldehyde emission of plywood reached the lowest level of 0.35 mg L−1, 52.32% lower than that of the control resin. The wet shear strength was 1.14 MPa, 14.4% higher than that of the control resin. HAP-KH had no significant effect on the thermal stability of UF resins. However, HAP-KH has a significant effect on the thermal degradation mechanism of UF resins. The most likely kinetics mechanism models for UF and HAP-UF are G(a) = [−ln(1−α)]2 and G(a) = [−ln(1−α)]3, respectively.

Oxidative potential associated with reactive oxygen species of size-resolved particles: The important role of the specific sources

Oxidative potential (OP) is a predictor of particulate matter (PM) toxicity. Size-resolved PM and its components that influence OP values can be generated from several sources. However, There is little research have attempted to determine the PM toxicity generated from specific sources. This paper studied the OP characterization and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation of particles from specific sources and their effects on human health. OP associated with ROS of size-resolved particles was analyzed by using dithiothreitol (DTT) method and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy technology. And OP and ROS deposition of specific source PM were calculated for health through the Multi-path particle deposition (MPPD) model. The results evidenced that the highest water-soluble OP (OPws) from traffic sources (OPm: 104.50 nmol min−1·ug−1; OPv: 160.15 nmol min−1·m−3) and the lowest from ocean sources (OPm: 22.25 nmol⋅min−1⋅ug−1; OPv: 54.16 nmol min−1·m−3). The OPws allocation in PM from different sources all have a unimodal pattern range from 0.4 to 3.2 μm. ROS (·OH) displayed the uniform trend as PM OPws, indicating that PM< 3.2 is the major contributor to adverse health impacts for size-resolved PM because of its enhanced oxidative activity compared with PM> 3.2. Furthermore, this study predicted the DTT consumption of PM were assigned to different components. Most DTT losses are attributed to the transition metals. For specific sources, transition metals dominates DTT losses, accounting for 38%–80% of DTT losses from different sources, followed by Hulis-C, accounting for 1%–10%. MPPD model calculates that over 66% of pulmonary DTT loss comes by PM< 3.2, and over 71% of pulmonary ROS generation from PM< 3.2. Among these sources of pollution, traffic emissions are the primary contributors to reactive oxygen species (ROS) in environmental particulate matter (PM). Therefore, emphasis should be placed on controlling traffic emissions, especially in coastal areas.

Effects of glyphosate herbicide ingestion on kidney function in rats on a balanced diet.

Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide worldwide and in Brazil. There is currently increasing concern about the effects of glyphosate on human health. The Brazilian Institute for Consumer Protection showed data on the presence of glyphosate in some of Brazil's most consumed ultra-processed products. Currently, regulations on the upper limit for these residues in ultra-processed foods have yet to be established by the National Health Surveillance, and ultra-processed food consumption is independently associated with an increased risk of incident chronic kidney disease. Since an unbalanced diet can interfere with kidney function, this study aims to investigate the effect of daily intake of 5 mg/kg bw glyphosate in conjunction with a balanced diet and the possible impact on renal function in rats. Kidney function, kidney weight, markers of renal injury, and oxidative stress were evaluated. There was a decrease in kidney weight. The main histopathological alterations in renal tissues were vacuolation in the initial stage and upregulation of the kidney injury marker KIM-1. Renal injury is associated with increased production of reactive oxygen species in mitochondria. This study showed changes in the kidney of rats exposed to a balanced diet with glyphosate, suggesting a potential risk to human kidney. Presumably, ultra-processed food that contain glyphosate can potentiate this risk. The relevance of these results lies in drawing attention to the need to regulate glyphosate concentration in ultra-processed foods in the future.

Associations between urinary concentrations of benzothiazole, benzotriazole, and their derivatives and lung cancer: A nested case-control study

Benzothiazole (BTH), benzotriazole (BTR), and their respective derivatives (BTHs and BTRs) are emerging environmental pollutants with widespread human exposure and oncogenic potential. Studies have demonstrated adverse effects of exposure to certain BTHs and BTRs on the respiratory system. However, no study has examined the associations between exposure to BTHs and BTRs and lung cancer risk. We aimed to examine the associations between urinary concentrations of BTHs and BTRs and the risk of lung cancer in the general population from Quzhou, China. We conducted a nested case-control study in an ongoing prospective Quzhou Environmental Exposure and Human Health (QEEHH) cohort, involving 20, 694 participants who provided urine samples during April 2019–July 2020. With monthly follow-up until November 2022, 212 lung cancer cases were recruited and 1:1 matched with healthy controls based on age and sex. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of lung cancer risk associated with urinary BTHs and BTRs concentrations using conditional logistic regression models after controlling for potential covariates. We also examined effect modification by several covariates, including sex, socioeconomic status, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and dietary habit. Creatinine-corrected urinary BTH and 2-hydroxy-benzothiazole (2-OH-BTH) levels were significantly associated with the risk of lung cancer, after adjusting for a variety of covariates. Participants in the highest quartile of BTH had a 95% higher risk of lung cancer, compared with those in the lowest quartile (adjusted OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.08–3.49; p for trend = 0.01). Participants with higher levels of urinary 2-OH-BTH had an 83% higher risk of lung cancer than those with lower levels (adjusted OR = 1.83, 95% CI: 1.16–2.88; p for trend = 0.01). Exposure to elevated levels of BTH and 2-OH-BTH may be associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. These associations were not modified by socio-demographic characteristics.

Multimetal exposure: Challenges in diagnostics, prevention, and treatment.

Extensive use of heavy metals has posed a serious concern for ecosystem and human too. Heavy metals are toxic in nature and their accumulation in human body causes serious disorders such as neurological disease, cardiac disease, gastrointestinal problems, skin disorders, reproductive disease, lungs diseases, and so on. Furthermore, heavy metals not only affect the human health but also have a negative impact on the economy. In the current review, we have elaborated the impact of heavy metal exposure on human health and socioeconomics. We have discussed the molecular mechanism involved in the heavy metal-induced human disorders such as oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and protein misfolding. Finally, we discussed the preventive measure and treatment strategy that could counter the negative effects of heavy metal intoxications. In conclusion, there is a substantial correlation between heavy metals and the onset and advancement of several health issues. Chelation treatment could be a useful tactic to lessen the toxic metal load and the difficulties that come with it.

Distribution, toxicity load and risk assessment of heavy metals in the groundwater of Dhemaji, Assam, India

Metal contamination in drinking water has drawn attention since it gravely jeopardizes human health. This study was conducted in pre- and post-monsoon season in 2021 at Dhemaji, Assam, India. It characterized metal pollutants in groundwater, their distribution, possible sources, and evaluated the potential toxicity and associated health risk assessment. The seasonal mean concentration of Fe in both seasons is observed highest followed by Mn, Zn, Cu, As, and Ni. Furthermore, the metal concentrations during pre-monsoon are comparatively higher. The geogenic processes and agricultural practices are the major sources of groundwater metal contamination as evident from the statistical analysis. The different pollution indices viz. Heavy-metal Pollution Index (HPI), Heavy-metal Evaluation Index (HEI) and Degree of Contamination (Cd) suggested that groundwater is not suitable for drinking uses. The Heavy Metal Toxicity Load (HMTL) suggesting As, Co, Mn and Hg should be removed from the groundwater to ensure safety. Water pollution indices (WPI) suggest that Fe, Mn, As and Ni are the main pollution-causing metals in the study area which may be restored under the BIS and WHO limit by diluting the water. The human health risk has been calculated by carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk assessment. The non-carcinogenic risk for adults and children is within the threshold limit. The carcinogenic risk shows that continuous exposure of As and Ni may give rise to cancer among adults and children in the region. Therefore, comprehensive groundwater quality monitoring with well-planned treatment should be needed to provide safe and clean drinking water in the studied area.

Successful synthesis of eco-friendly Metal-Organic framework ([Ni(BDC)]n) allows efficient extraction of multiresidues pesticides and dyes from fish samples

Contaminants such as pesticides and dyes pose substantial challenges to environmental and human health, especially when found in aquatic ecosystems and ingested through the food chain. This requires the development of methods that are efficient, safe and environmentally friendly. In this scenario, this study presents the synthesis and characterization of a metal–organic framework (MOF), specifically [Ni(BDC)]n, designed as a solid adsorbent for the determination of pesticides, including atrazine, bifenthrin, chlorpyrifos, endrin, heptachlor, flutriafol and permethrin, as well as dyes such as crystal violet (CV) and Congo red (CR) in fish samples. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), we verified the success of the MOF synthesis. BET analysis indicated MOF surface area and total pore volume of 2700 m2/g and 0.0136 cm3 g−1, respectively. The adsorption study revealed high affinity of the MOF for the target analytes, with qmax = 208.33 mg g−1 for pesticides and qmax = 4.18 mg g−1 for dyes. The kinetic study demonstrated that the adsorption mechanism follows a pseudo-second order model for all analytes. Furthermore, employing [Ni(BDC)]n, we have developed an efficient extraction method using Matrix-Solid Phase Dispersion (MSPD) combined with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) and UV/Vis spectrophotometry for determination of pesticide and dyes, respectively, with pre-concentration factor ranging from 10 to 100 times for the studied analytes. The methods showed satisfactory linearity for both contaminants (pesticides and dyes), with recovery efficiency ranging from 81-103 % and precision < 13 % (n = 3) for the analytes. Linear ranges covering 10.0–500.0 μg L−1 (R2 > 0.995) for pesticides and 100.0–1000.0 μg L−1 (R2 > 0.988) for dyes. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) ranged from 0.5-1.6 μg L−1 and 1.7–5.6 μg L−1 for pesticides, respectively, while for dyes, LOD and LOQ ranged from 2.0-12.0 μg L−1 and 7.6–39.6 μg L−1, respectively. These results highlight the potential of [Ni(BDC)]n as a promising material for efficient and selective extraction in the sustainable determination of pesticides and dyes in fish samples, with satisfactory reuse.

High-performance Smart Home System based on Optimization Algorithm

Background: With the recent COVID-19 pandemic, people have become increasingly concerned about their physical health. Therefore, the ability to monitor changes in the surrounding environment in real-time and automatically improve the environment has become a current hot topic to improve the overall health level. Objective: This article describes the design of a high-performance intelligent home system that can simultaneously perform monitoring and automatic adjustment functions. Methods: The ESP8266 was used as the core controller, and the DHT11 and G12-04 sensors were used to collect data, such as temperature, humidity, and ambient light intensity. The sampling frequency was increased and the sampled data were processed to improve data accuracy. The sampled data were wirelessly transmitted to a PC or mobile terminal for real-time display. When the sampled data underwent sudden changes, an alert message was sent via the mobile terminal. Based on the real-time changes in ambient light, an improved lighting brightness adjustment algorithm combining bang-bang and single neuron adaptive PID control was used to adjust the lighting brightness. Results: After testing the system designed in this paper and analyzing the errors compared to standard values, the temperature measurement error ranged from 0% to 0.01107%, and the humidity measurement error ranged from 0% to 0.03797%. The improved algorithm was simulated and tested using MATLAB software and compared with traditional PID algorithms and single-neuron adaptive PID algorithms. The improved algorithm did not overshoot during adjustment, and the system reached a steady state much faster than traditional algorithms. Conclusion: The system showed good performance in real-time, stability, and accuracy, fully demonstrating the effectiveness of the devices and algorithms used in the system. This provides ideas for the design and improvement of future smart homes.

Neural responses to gaming content on social media in young adults

Excessive gaming can impair both mental and physical health, drawing widespread public and clinical attention, especially among young generations. People are now more exposed to gaming-related content on social media than before, and this exposure may have a significant impact on their behavior. However, the neural mechanisms underlying this effect remain unexplored. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), this study aimed to investigate the neural activity induced by gaming-related content on social media among young adults casually playing online games. While being assessed by fMRI, the participants watched gaming-related videos and neutral (nongaming) videos on social media. The gaming-related cues significantly activated several brain areas, including the medial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, superior/middle temporal gyrus, precuneus and occipital regions, compared with the neutral cues. Additionally, the participants’ gaming desire levels positively correlated with a gaming-related cue–induced activation in the left orbitofrontal cortex and the right superior temporal gyrus. These findings extend previous studies on gaming cues and provide useful information to elucidate the effects of gaming-related content on social media in young adults. Continued research using real-world gaming cues may help improve our understanding of promoting gaming habits and provide support to individuals vulnerable to gaming addiction.

A versatile surface micro structure design strategy for porous-based pressure sensors to enhance electromechanical performance

Pressure sensors based on porous structures offer comfortable user experiences and can adapt to the flexible movement of human limbs, which makes them attractive options for human–computer interaction and health monitoring. However, ascribed to the limitation of porous surfaces, foam-based pressure sensors are difficult to achieve accurate electric responses and stable signal output, limiting their great potential in wide application fields. Herein, a surface structure design strategy is proposed for improving the performance of porous foam-based pressure sensors. The coupling of microstructures and the collaboration of dual sensing mechanisms endow the sensor with high performance, achieving a ∼ 12 times signal fluctuation stability when compared to the sensor without any surface design. Even when working under complex vibration conditions, the developed sensor can also maintain a ∼ 7 times more stable output. An intelligent insole based on the algorithm model of a sensor array and multi-layer perceptron was developed for the diagnosis of human foot arch health. The sensors with surface structure could capture and differentiate signals more accurately, which results in a diagnostic accuracy of 99.75 % for the smart insole. The strategy for enhancement of sensor performance proposed in this work can be applied to foam sensors with multiple material systems, which is expected to broaden the potential application of porous flexible devices in fields like the Internet of Things, medical monitoring and brain-computer interface.

Study of spatiotemporal evolution of coupled airflow–gas–dust multi-field diffusion at low-gas tunnel

The increasing level of mechanization in coal mining means more dust and gas are generated during excavation operations in tunnels. The high concentrations of dust and gas severely affect production efficiency and the physical and mental health of workers. Here, Ansys Fluent simulations were performed to derive the spatiotemporal evolution of coupled airflow–dust–gas diffusion in a low-gas excavation face. The aim was to optimize pollution control by determining the optimal duct distance, L, from the working face in the excavation tunnel. Our results showed that the airflow field affects the coupled diffusion and transport of dust and gas. According to a comparison of the effects of different duct distances from the working face, when L = 6 m, the average dust concentration in the tunnel is low (257.6 mg/m3), and the average gas concentration in the tunnel is 0.28 %, which does not exceed the safety limit. Accordingly, the optimal distance of the duct for pollution control is 6 m. The results of field measurements supported the validity of the simulation. Our findings can be used to improve the air quality in tunnels, thereby keeping miners safe and the working area clean.

Metformin Improves Sarcopenia-Related Quality of Life in Geriatric Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

ObjectivesMetformin protects against age-related muscle decline, termed sarcopenia. However, the effects on sarcopenia quality-of-life (SarQoL) are unknown. We investigated the effects of metformin on SarQoL and associated mechanisms in older adults. MethodThis double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled trial included geriatric adult men, divided into non-sarcopenic controls (age = 72.2 ± 4.3 years, n = 52) and two groups of patients with sarcopenia randomized into placebo (age at baseline = 74.4 ± 5.7 years, n = 54) and metformin (age at baseline = 71.2 ± 3.9 years, n = 47) groups. Patients in the metformin group received 1.7 grams twice daily for four months. We evaluated SarQoL, handgrip strength (HGS), plasma zonulin, c-reactive protein (CRP), and 8-isoprostanes. ResultsPatients with sarcopenia had lower HGS and SarQoL than controls (both p <0.05). Metformin improved the HGS and the SarQoL domains related to physical and mental health, locomotion, and leisure activities, as well as cumulative SarQoL scores (all p <0.05). Metformin also prevented the decline in the SarQoL domains for functionality and fear. Among plasma biomarkers, metformin reduced the levels of zonulin, CRP, 8-isoprostanes, and creatine kinase. We also found a significant correlation of plasma zonulin with cumulative SarQoL in patients with sarcopenia taking metformin, suggesting a role for intestinal repair in improving SarQoL. Finally, metformin did not affect body composition and gait speed. ConclusionOverall, metformin improved HGS and SarQoL by repairing intestinal leakage. Our data have clinical relevance for improving the quality of life in older adults with sarcopenia.

Understanding the impact of laziness and pedestrian intervention on car dependence within the context of a European island

Sedentary behaviour, including sitting in motorised vehicles, has been linked with negative physical and psychological health repercussions, even in sufficiently physically active individuals. It is therefore pivotal to identify factors and potential determinants associated with this sedentary behaviour, including the role of the urban environment. Within the plethora of studies analysing habits and experiences as psychological determinants, few have delved into the concept of laziness and car use. This research explores the phenomenon of laziness by measuring people's perceived physical exertion to walk for short-distance trips and applies the ‘Lazy User Theory’ to examine the constructs of people's lazy user behaviour in modal choice. Using questionnaires, interviews and workshops, the paper seeks to understand the link between laziness and car use for short-distance trips by using pedestrian intervention as a tool for analysis. The findings show significant links between higher frequencies of car use and increased perceived exertion of walking for short-distance trips. Although the preliminary application of the Lazy User Theory model was not able to fully explain the behaviour of car-use for short-distance commuting trips, the construct of mental effort provided the best explanation for this behaviour within this context. The paper concludes with policy-relevant feedback from the community on pedestrian interventions to encourage a shift to walking and the next steps for further research into understanding laziness as a determinant of travel behaviour.

Scaling up One Health: A network analysis in Lao PDR

BackgroundOne Health focuses on sustainable health for humans, animals, and ecosystems. The approach has been well demonstrated, yet most efforts have not been scaled up. Understanding the organisations involved in scaling up processes is critical to translating research into practice. The Lao People's Democratic Republic has successfully implemented One Health projects for multiple decades; however, the organisational network has not been described and scaling up efforts have been limited. MethodsData from organisations involved in One Health projects over the past five years were collected by key-informant interview or workshop. The network was investigated using a mixture of quantitative network analysis and qualitative thematic analysis. ResultsThe organisational network was quantitatively described as sparse and centralised. Organisations were required to harness pre-existing relationships to maximise scarce resources and make co-ordination and alignment of priorities more efficient. A lack of international organisations in the top 10% of resource sharing metrics suggests a potential disconnect between donors. This was reflected in the challenges faced by national organisations and a feeling of being stretched thin over numerous externally funded projects with donor-driven priorities. ConclusionsIt appears that high-level political support for country ownership of development and aid priorities remains unrealised. Developing network capacity and capability may assist scaling up efforts and build resilience in the network and its core organisations. This may allow for the inclusion of more development, education, environment, and water, sanitation, and hygiene organisations that were perceived to be lacking. Future One Health programmes should focus on practical activities that do not overload staff capacity. There is much for One Health to learn about the art of scaling up and organisations are encouraged to include implementation science in their research to inform future scaling up efforts.

Mg alloys with antitumor and anticorrosion properties for orthopedic oncology: A review from mechanisms to application strategies.

As a primary malignant bone cancer, osteosarcoma (OS) poses a great threat to human health and is still a huge challenge for clinicians. At present, surgical resection is the main treatment strategy for OS. However, surgical intervention will result in a large bone defect, and some tumor cells remaining around the excised bone tissue often lead to the recurrence and metastasis of OS. Biomedical Mg-based materials have been widely employed as orthopedic implants in bone defect reconstruction, and, especially, they can eradicate the residual OS cells due to the antitumor activities of their degradation products. Nevertheless, the fast corrosion rate of Mg alloys has greatly limited their application scope in the biomedical field, and the improvement of the corrosion resistance will impair the antitumor effects, which mainly arise from their rapid corrosion. Hence, it is vital to balance the corrosion resistance and the antitumor activities of Mg alloys. The presented review systematically discussed the potential antitumor mechanisms of three corrosion products of Mg alloys. Moreover, several strategies to simultaneously enhance the anticorrosion properties and antitumor effects of Mg alloys were also proposed.

Risk of bias in cross-sectional studies: Protocol for a scoping review of concepts and tools

Cross-sectional studies are commonly used to study human health and disease, but are especially susceptible to bias. This scoping review aims to identify and describe available tools to assess the risk of bias (RoB) in cross-sectional studies and to compile the key bias concepts relevant to cross-sectional studies into an item bank. Using the JBI scoping review methodology, the strategy to locate relevant RoB concepts and tools is a combination of database searches, prospective review of PROSPERO registry records; and consultation with knowledge users and content experts. English language records will be included if they describe tools, checklists, or instruments which describe or permit assessment of RoB for cross-sectional studies. Systematic reviews will be included if they consider eligible RoB tools or use RoB tools for RoB of cross-sectional studies. All records will be independently screened, selected, and extracted by one researcher and checked by a second. An analytic framework will be used to structure the extraction of data. Results for the scoping review are pending. Results from this scoping review will be used to inform future selection of RoB tools and to consider whether development of a new RoB tool for cross-sectional studies is needed.