National Institutes Of Health Research Articles

Investigating the Impact of Financial Sponsorship in Dermatology Research

Introduction: Financial sponsorship plays a crucial role in advancing dermatologic research, yet its impact on research quality and visibility is not well-defined. This study aims to evaluate the association between financial sponsorship and the quality of evidence, publication impact, and research collaboration in dermatology. Methods: We analyzed 1,380 dermatology articles published from October 2013 to October 2023 in three leading journals. Data collection was conducted using REDCap. We assessed the proportion of sponsored studies and their impact in terms of citation frequency, author count, and journal impact factors. Statistical analyses were performed using t-tests, chi-squared tests, and regression analysis in STATA VSN 16.1. Results: Sponsored articles comprised 48.2% of the total, with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) being the predominant funder. These articles showed significantly higher citation rates and more authors per article compared to non-sponsored ones. The mean journal impact factor was also higher for sponsored studies. Furthermore, sponsored studies were more likely to employ prospective study designs, indicative of higher evidence quality. Discussion: Financial sponsorship significantly enhances the visibility and quality of evidence in dermatologic research. The findings underscore the need for increased advocacy for funding, particularly in clinical research within dermatology, to foster greater research collaborations and more impactful scientific discoveries.

Leveraging the All of Us Database for Primary Care Research with Large Datasets.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) are supporting the All of Us research program, a large multicenter initiative to accelerate precision medicine. The All of Us database contains information on greater than 400,000 individuals spanning thousands of medical conditions, drug exposure types, and laboratory test types. These data can be correlated with genomic information and with survey data on social and environmental factors which influence health. A core principle of the All of Us program is that participants should reflect the diversity present in the United States population.The All of Us database has advanced many areas of medicine but is currently underutilized by primary care and public health researchers. In this Special Communication article, I seek to reduce the "barrier to entry" for primary care researchers to develop new projects within the All of Us Researcher Workbench. This Special Communication discusses (1) obtaining access to the database, (2) using the database securely and responsibly, (3) the key design concepts of the Researcher Workbench, and (4) details of data set extraction and analysis in the cloud computing environment. Fully documented, tutorial R statistical programming language and Python programs are provided alongside this article, which researchers may freely adapt under the open-source MIT license. The primary care research community should use the All of Us database to accelerate innovation in primary care research, make epidemiologic discoveries, promote community health, and further the infrastructure-building strategic priority of the family medicine 2024 to 2030 National Research Strategy.

The impact of cyberbullying on mental health outcomes amongst university students: A systematic review

Cyberbullying is increasingly prevalent globally, particularly among young individuals. Cybervictims may be at an increased risk of adverse psychological outcomes. This systematic review aims to summarize the mental health effects of cyberbullying among college and university students. A systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases was performed to identify studies reporting mental health effects of cybervictimization among college/university students until April 15, 2023. Risk of bias assessment was conducted using the National Institute of Health (NIH) tool. The review is registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023429187). Thirty-two studies involving 29,593 students were included. Depression showed a significant association with cyber-victimization in 16/20 studies (prevalence: 15–73%). Anxiety was significant in 12/15 studies (27–84.1%), stress in 3/3 studies (32–75.2%), and suicidal behavior in 4/9 studies (2–29.9%). Cybervictimization weakly but significantly correlated with lower self-esteem in 4 out of 6 studies (r = -0.152 to -0.399). Fear of perpetrators was reported in 2 out of 2 studies (12.8–16%), while decreased academic concentration/productivity was found in two studies (9–18%). Cybervictims were more likely to engage in substance abuse (adjusted odds ratio: 2.37 [95% confidence interval: 1.02–5.49]; p = 0.044). The majority of articles were of good quality (22/32). This review demonstrates a high prevalence of adverse mental health outcomes among cybervictims, including depression, anxiety, stress, and suicidal behavior. Based on these findings, we recommend that institutions of higher education worldwide introduce zero tolerance policies against cyberbullying, implement screening processes to identify affected students, and provide psychological therapy within their institutions.

Design, creation, and use of the Test Us Bank (TUB) COVID-19 sample biorepository.

Shortly after the first case of SARS-CoV-2 was diagnosed a public health emergency (PHE) was declared and a multi-agency response was initiated within the US federal government to create and propagate testing capacity. As part of this response, an unprecedented program designated Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) Tech was established by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to facilitate the development of point-of-care tests for the COVID-19. The RADx Tech Clinical Studies Core (CSC), located at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (UMass Chan), with partnering academic, private, and non-governmental organizations around the country, was tasked with developing clinical studies to support this work. This manuscript details development of a biorepository specifically focused on the collection and storage of samples designed for diagnostic platform development. It highlights the unified collection and annotation process that enabled gathering a diverse set of samples. This diversity encompasses the geography and backgrounds of the participants as well as sample characteristics such as variant type and RT-PCR cycle threshold (CT) value of the corresponding reference sample on a uniform clinical reference platform.

Mean platelet volume/platelet count ratio can predict the recurrence-free survival rate of patients after complete resection of gastrointestinal stromal tumors

PurposeThe aim of this study is to compare mean platelet volume/platelet count ratio (PVPR) and other indicators’ predictive abilities. Simultaneously, a new nomogram for predicting recurrence-free survival (RFS) after gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) R0 resection was developed.MethodsFrom January 2010 to July 2019, 295 patients with GIST who were operated on at Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. With a 4-year RFS as the end point, using the Kaplan–Meier methods and log rank test, and then conducting Cox regression analysis, we compared and identified meaningful indicators for predicting prognosis. Finally, a nomogram was developed and validated using calibration curves.ResultsThe receiver operating characteristic curve indicated that a cutoff point of 0.044 was the ideal threshold for PVPR, and patients were divided into a high-PVPR group (≤0.044) and a low-PVPR group (>0.044). Kaplan–Meier curves suggested that PVPR>0.044 had obvious associations with better RFS (p < 0.001). In accordance with multivariate analysis, PVPR (>0.044 vs. ≤0.044) (p = 0.005), National Institutes of Health (NIH) risk category (p < 0.001), and Ki-67 (p = 0.005) were the independent prognostic indicators of RFS. Tumor size, gastrointestinal bleeding, mitotic index, NIH risk category, CD34, and Ki-67 all exhibited an obvious correlation with PVPR (all p < 0.05). The nomogram’s probability of concordance was 0.823, indicating that the nomogram predictions were well calibrated.ConclusionIn GISTs, RFS can be independently predicted by PVPR. Patients with higher PVPR have better RFS. The nomogram including PVPR could be used to assist clinical treatment decision-making.

Groundbreaking Research from NIDA Addressing the Challenges of the Opioid Epidemic.

The 2024 ACMT Ward and Ryan Donovan Memorial Fund lecture was presented by Dr. Nora Volkow, the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This article in an edited version of her keynote address during ACMT's 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting. During the course of her talk, Dr. Volkow discussed the historical factors contributing to the ongoing global opioid epidemic, examined the evidence behind different front-line and policy strategies used to battle the opioid epidemic, and highlighted the importance of recent cultural changes that support more deliberate screening for substance use disorders and pathways for initiating treatment of opioid use disorders in vulnerable populations. An urgent need exists to improve inclusion of social and structural determinants of health in implementation science addressing opioid use disorders, with better attention to special populations, including Native American Indians and Alaskan Natives, African Americans, those over 65years of age, and teenagers.

Molecular imaging in experimental pulmonary fibrosis reveals that nintedanib unexpectedly modulates CCR2 immune cell infiltration

Pulmonary fibrosis is a challenging clinical problem with lung pathology featuring immune cell infiltrates, fibroblast expansion, and matrix deposition. Molecular analysis of diseased lungs and preclinical models have uncovered C-C chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR2)+monocyte egress from the bone marrow into the lung, where they acquire profibrotic activities. Current drug treatment is focused on fibroblast activity. Alternatively, therapeutic targeting and monitoring CCR2+ cells may be an effective patient management strategy. Inhibition of CCR2+ cells and, as a benchmark, the clinical antifibrotic agent, nintedanib, were used in mouse lung fibrosis models. Lungs were evaluated directly for CCR2+ cell infiltration and by non-invasive CCR2+ positron emission tomography imaging (CCR2-PET). Lung CCR2+ cells were significantly elevated in the bleomycin model as determined by tissue evaluation and CCR2-PET imaging. A protective treatment protocol with an oral CCR2 inhibitor was compared to oral nintedanib. While we expected disparate effects on CCR2+ cells, each drug similarly decreased lung CCR2+ cells and fibrosis. Chemotaxis assays showed nintedanib indirectly inhibited C-C motif chemokine 2 (CCL2)-mediated migration of CCR2+ cells. Even delayed therapeutic administration of nintedanib in bleomycin and the silicosis progressive fibrosis models decreased the accumulation of CCR2+ lung cells. In these treatments early CCR2-PET imaging predicted the later development of fibrosis. The inhibition of CCR2+ cell egress is likely a critical controller for stabilising lung fibrosis, as provided by nintedanib. Imaging with CCR2-PET may be useful to monitor nintedanib treatment responses, guide decision-making in the treatment of patients with progressive pulmonary fibrosis, and as a biomarker for drug development. National Institutes of Health (NIH), R01HL131908 (SLB), R35HL145212 (YL), P41EB025815 (YL), K01DK133670 (DHK); Barnes Jewish Hospital Foundation (SLB).

Association between Ureaplasma colonization and bronchopulmonary dysplasia defined by different criteria in very low birth weight infants: A retrospective cohort study.

To study the association between Ureaplasma colonization and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) with different definitions in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. A retrospective cohort study was performed with VLBW infants admitted from January 2019 to October 2021. Neonates with a positive respiratory tract Ureaplasma culture were included in the study group. Control group infants, matched for gestational age (±1 week), birth weight (±100 g), and birth year, had a negative respiratory tract Ureaplasma culture during the same period. The primary outcomes included the incidence and severity of BPD, defined by various criteria. The study included 302 neonates (151 in the study group and 151 in the control group). After adjusting for confounders, Ureaplasma colonization was not associated with BPD as defined by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2001 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.820, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.362-1.860, p = .635). However, it was associated with BPD as defined by the NIH in 2018 (aOR: 2.490, 95% CI: 1.128-5.497, p = .024) and the Neonatal Research Network (NRN) in 2019 (aOR: 2.352, 95% CI: 1.077-5.134, p = .032). Additionally, VLBW infants with Ureaplasma colonization had a higher risk of moderate-severe BPD according to the NIH 2001 (aOR: 2.352, 95% CI: 1.077-5.134, p = .032), NIH 2018 (aOR: 6.339, 95% CI: 1.686-23.836, p = .006), and NRN 2019 definitions (aOR: 3.542, 95% CI: 1.267-9.904, p = .016). Ureaplasma colonization is not associated with BPD by the NIH 2001 definition, but is associated with an increased incidence by the NIH 2018 or NRN 2019 definitions.

Effects of fine particulate matter from wildfire and non-wildfire sources on emergency-department visits in people who were housed and unhoused in San Diego County (CA, USA) during 2012–20: a time-stratified case–crossover study

Being unhoused can increase vulnerability to adverse health effects due to air pollution. We aimed to quantify changes in emergency-department visits during and after exposure to wildfire-specific and non-wildfire particulate matter 2·5 μm or less in diameter (PM2·5) in San Diego County (CA, USA) in people who were both unhoused and housed. For this time-stratified case-crossover study, we used data on exposure to wildfire-specific PM2·5 in California and individual-level data for people admitted to the emergency departments of two hospitals (UC San Diego Health emergency departments at La Jolla and Hillcrest, San Diego) in San Diego County between July 1, 2012, and Dec 31, 2020. People with a postcode outside of San Diego County were excluded. Demographic information was age group, race or ethnicity, and transport to the emergency department. Wildfire-specific PM2·5 concentration at the postcode level was previously estimated using an ensemble model that combined multiple machine-learning algorithms and explanatory variables obtained via data on 24-h mean PM2·5 concentrations from the US Environmental Protection Agency Air Quality System. Conditional logistic regression models were applied, adjusting for specific humidity, wind velocity, and maximum temperature extracted from the US Gridded Surface Meteorological Dataset. Housing status was established by registration staff or triage nurses on arrival at the emergency department. For people who were unhoused, exposure was defined based on the weighted mean PM2·5 concentration at the city level proportional to the number of people who were unhoused in each specific city across urban centres in San Diego County. For people who were housed, we used residence postcode to measure exposure. We assessed the association between PM2·5 from wildfire and non-wildfire sources and emergency-department visits in people who were housed and unhoused. There were 587 562 emergency-department visits at the two hospitals, 76 407 (13·0%) of which were by people who were unhoused. People who were housed had a higher exposure to overall PM2·5 (24-h mean over the study period of 9·904 mg/m3, SD 3·445) and non-wildfire PM2·5 (9·663, 2·977) than people who were unhoused (9·863, 3·221; 9·557, 2·599). However, people who were unhoused had a higher exposure to wildfire-specific PM2·5 (0·305, 1·797) than people who were housed (0·240, 1·690). Overall PM2·5 exposure was associated with increased odds of emergency-department visits for both people who were housed (odds ratio 1·003, 95% CI 1·001-1·004 per 1 μg/m3 PM2·5 for 0-3 days after exposure) and people who were unhoused (1·004, 1·000-1·008 for 0-3 days after exposure). We found that non-wildfire PM2·5 was associated with emergency-department visits among people who were housed (1·003, 1·002-1·005 for 0-3 days after exposure) and wildfire-specific PM2·5 was associated with emergency-department visits in people who were unhoused (1·006, 1·001-1·011 for 0-3 days after exposure). People who were unhoused in San Diego County were more likely to visit emergency departments after exposure to increased wildfire-specific PM2·5. As the intensity and frequency of wildfires increase, understanding risk factors for vulnerable populations, such as people who are unhoused, is crucial to develop effective adaptation strategies. US National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging.

Initiation and continued use of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis among pregnant and postpartum women in South Africa (PrEP-PP): a demonstration cohort study

When used effectively, oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP; tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine) prevents maternal HIV acquisition and reduces the risk of vertical transmission. Our study aimed to better understand PrEP initiation, continued use, and adherence in pregnant and postpartum women. The PrEP in Pregnancy and Postpartum (PrEP-PP) study is a demonstration cohort study that enrolled pregnant women aged 16 years and older without HIV attending their first antenatal care visit in Cape Town, South Africa, between Aug 29, 2019, and Oct 10, 2021. Eligible, consenting women were followed up quarterly up to 12 months postpartum with regular HIV testing and offer of PrEP with ongoing adherence counselling. The primary outcome was distribution of women across the PrEP cascade (ie, initiation and continuation up to 12 months postpartum) with crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs). We also report on HIV incidence by pregnancy and postpartum status. Overall, 1195 pregnant women were recruited and followed up (median age 26 years, IQR 23-31; median gestational age 21 weeks, IQR 15-31); 1009 (84·4%) started PrEP at enrolment. Among women who initiated PrEP at enrolment, 668 (67·5%) of 990 continued PrEP at the 1-month follow-up, 485 (49·9%) of 972 continued at 3 months, 392 (39·4%) of 994 at 6 months, and 275 (27·4%) of 1005 at 12 months. Of 186 women who did not accept PrEP at enrolment, 70 (37·6%) of 186 subsequently initiated PrEP. Overall, 200 (18·6%) of 1076 women continued PrEP at 12 months postpartum. Of 186 women who did not initiate PrEP at baseline, 70 (37·6%) subsequently initiated PrEP during the study. Factors associated with PrEP discontinuation up to 12 months postpartum included being married or cohabiting (adjusted HR 1·32, 95% CI 1·16-1·50), condomless sex since last visit (1·43, 1·23-1·65), reporting intimate partner violence (2·03, 1·59-2·59), or depression in the past 12 months (1·53, 1·14-2·05). Overall, 16 women seroconverted over 1673·8 woman-years (HIV incidence rate 0·96 per 100 woman-years, 95% CI 0·49-1·42); 14 discontinued PrEP use and two never initiated PrEP. HIV incidence was 0·28 per 100 woman-years during pregnancy (95% CI 0·22-0·33), and the incidence rate ratio was 1·77 per 100 woman-years (0·53-5·90) 0-6 months postpartum and 2·19 per 100 woman-years (0·61-7·83) 6-12 months postpartum compared with pregnant women. There is an urgent need for the integration of PrEP into antenatal and postnatal care and interventions that address barriers to continued use, including targeted counselling during pregnancy and postpartum to reduce PrEP discontinuation. National Institute of Mental Health and Fogarty International, US National Institutes of Health. For the French translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Redefining copy number variation and single-nucleotide polymorphism counting via novel concepts based on recent PCR enhancements.

Human genes have numerous copy number variations (CNVs) and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that control most of the body’s core functions. On average, 12–16% of human genes have CNVs, and a single gene can have a few hundred to several thousand SNPs. Numerous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have shown that CNVs and SNPs can coexist in certain genomic regions, amplifying their effects on gene expression and regulation and disease susceptibility. Researchers initially categorized CNVs and SNPs into two types: homozygous and heterozygous. However, copy numbers were soon found to have a much wider range, underscoring their significance in certain diseases and microbial interactions. Because of the significant impact of CNVs and SNPs, research groups worldwide have eagerly sought effective methods for detecting both simultaneously. Despite yielding some minor results, these simultaneous counting methods have failed to meet expectations, leaving researchers to measure CNVs and SNPs separately. To overcome these limitations, we developed a novel approach by combining primers designed using the STexS method with matching probes used in the STexS II method. This method successfully detected both CNVs and SNPs in CYP2A6 and CYP2A7 using a single quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Once properly adjusted based on the three core principles, this new method markedly improved the time, cost-effectiveness, and overall accuracy of determining an individual’s genetic status. Further testing of 100 human genomic DNA samples enabled calculations of the overall frequency of the [T] and [G] alleles of the CYP2A6 -48T>G SNP within an East Asian population yielded results that were highly congruent with those in a National Institutes of Health (NIH) database. This novel method will redefine genetic profiling and provide a means to successfully predict genetic characteristics and enhance personalized medicine by pinpointing appropriate individualized treatments.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on participants in pragmatic clinical trials for chronic pain: implications for trial outcomes and beyond.

The COVID-19 pandemic had profound effects on society, including those living with chronic pain. This study sought to examine pandemic impacts on individuals enrolled in pragmatic clinical trials focused on nonpharmacological treatments for chronic pain. We evaluated responses to a questionnaire on COVID-19 impacts that had been administered to participants (n=2024) during study enrollment in 3 pragmatic clinical trials for chronic pain treatment. All trials were part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)-Department of Defense (DOD) Pain Management Collaboratory. COVID-19-related impacts on access to health care, mental health, finances, ability to meet basic needs, and social support were assessed. Pandemic impacts were found in all domains assessed, including access to health care, mental and emotional health, ability to meet basic needs, finances, and social support. Impacts varied by demographic and clinical characteristics. The participants most negatively impacted by the pandemic were younger, Black or Latino, female, more educated, and unemployed and had screened positive for depression. No impact differences were found with regard to alcohol use disorder screenings or a prior history of COVID-19. Higher levels of pain were associated with worse pandemic impacts, and negative impacts declined over time. Negative impacts of the pandemic on individuals living with chronic pain cut across aspects of life that are also central to effective pain management, including access to health care, social support, and mental and emotional health, with differential impacts found across key demographic and clinical factors. These findings should yield consideration of pandemic impacts in clinical practice and as moderating effects of treatment outcomes in clinical trials conducted during the pandemic.

Bibliometrics and National Institutes of Health Funding: Associated Factors in Academic Rhinology

AbstractOur study aims to evaluate demographics and research productivity in academic rhinology and to establish the relationship between bibliometrics such as the Hirsch index (h-index) and the more recently developed relative citation ratio (RCR) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding. Retrospective cohort study. The demographics of academic rhinologists were collected from institutional faculty profiles (N = 207). Funding data were obtained from the NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools Expenditures and Reports Database. The h-index was calculated using Scopus. The mean (m-RCR) and weighted RCR (w-RCR) were calculated using the NIH iCite tool. The majority of academic rhinologists were men (72.9%). Only 8.7% of rhinologists (N = 18) received NIH funding. Rhinologists receiving NIH funding had greater h-index (31 vs. 11), m-RCR (2.6 vs. 1.6), and w-RCR (339.9 vs. 44.7) (P < 0.001). Men had greater h-index (14 vs. 10, P < 0.001) and w-RCR (56.8 vs. 36.9, P = 0.025) but not m-RCR (1.7 vs. 1.6, P = 0.799) than women. Stratifying by academic professorship rank and across all career durations, h-index, m-RCR, and w-RCR were not significantly different between men and women. Among academic rhinologists the h-index, m-RCR, and w-RCR were all associated with receiving NIH funding. Similar h-index, m-RCR, and w-RCR between men and women across all academic professorship ranks and career durations suggests production of similar quality and quantity of research. The m-RCR and w-RCR help to address some of the limitations of the h-index and are useful for assessing research productivity.

Proceedings of the Conference “CMV Vaccine Development—How Close Are We?” (27–28 September 2023)

Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is the most common infectious cause of disability in children, including sensorineural hearing loss. There is interest in developing a pre-conception vaccine that could confer protective immunity on a woman of child-bearing age, hence resulting in a reduced cCMV disease burden. Other populations, including solid organ transplant (SOT) and hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients, could also benefit from CMV vaccination. To review and discuss vaccines that are in clinical development, a workshop, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), was empaneled. At this workshop, correlates of protective immunity against CMV, epidemiologic features of CMV transmission, and vaccine platforms in development were reviewed. Representatives from academia, pharma, and the NIH engaged in discussion on the current state-of-the-art in CMV vaccinology. A summary of the presentations from this is provided in this report.

The TRIKAFTA to treat the Cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis currently has limited treatment options. This review focuses on the therapeutic potential of TRIKAFTA for treating this disease. We have compiled data from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and analyzed the composition and mechanism of action of TRIKAFTA. Specifically, we examine how TRIKAFTA targets the F508del mutation, a common genetic variant in cystic fibrosis that results in the deletion of three nucleotides, leading to the loss of phenylalanine at position 508 of the CFTR protein. Our findings indicate that the components of TRIKAFTA effectively address this mutation. While this review provides a general research direction, further studies are necessary to fully understand and treat cystic fibrosis.

6.O. Scientific session: The unmet needs of LGBTQ+ persons and communities: perspectives from across the globe

Abstract Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer persons suffer from rising anti-LGBTQ+ stigma. Such stigma entails laws that punish being LGBTQ+ such as in Uganda, Russia, Ghana, Iran, etc. The stigmatizing contexts have numerous health-harming effects, including perpetrating mental health harms and creating environments that hamper access & quality of services. Rising global anti-LGBTQ+ stigma and the adverse health impacts require more data on the topic to adequately dispel LGBTQ+ mis- and dis-information. This workshop will give examples of studies that examine LGBTQ+ disparities and inequities in health across different social and cultural contexts, drawing from research in Czechia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Sweden. The workshop will first outline the relevant social and cultural contexts of LGBTQ+ persons in various countries, such as attitudes, beliefs, and values. The workshop will then discuss LGBTQ+ inequities and disparities that arise from health-harming attitudes, beliefs, and values. Afterward, the workshop will discuss public health-oriented solutions & policy directions, including using data for interpretation and advocacy labs and efforts, enhancing data collection, improving knowledge and attitudes, and other implications for public health practice and policy. The workshop will open a session that will situate LGBTQ+ public health for the audience. The first study will be by Andreas Malm from the Karolinska Institute, Sweden, examining LGBTQ+ differences in mental health and treatment disparities in Sweden. This will be followed by Luis Roxo from the Karolinska Institute and Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Portugal, discussing stressors and symptoms that shape inequalities in mental health service use. Then, Michal Pitonák from the National Institute of Mental Health, Czechia, will present treatment and outcome gaps in the mental health of LGBTQ+ persons in Czechia. Lastly, Emmy Kageha Igonya from the African Population Health Research Center, Kenya, will showcase work from a mixed-methods study with LGBTQ+ people in Rwanda and Kenya, examining access to and use of healthcare services. After the individual presentations, which will each last 7-8 minutes, the audience will be invited to a moderated 20-25-minute open discussion on the papers & how the findings can help inform public health practice & policy to address the unmet needs of LGBTQ+ populations globally. The continuing rise in anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments across the globe is problematic from a public health standpoint, given the severe health-harming effects across numerous physical and mental health states and domains. Our workshop aims to facilitate a conversation on understanding the structural situations that shape LGBTQ+ health and identifying strategies to reduce gaps in services and needs that disproportionately burden LGBTQ+ persons. Key messages • LGBTQ+ people across the globe are experiencing rising stigma and discrimination. • Rising anti-LGBTQ+ backlash disproportionately harms LGBTQ+ physical and mental health and creates gaps in care.

A cross-sectional study of data linkage and artificial intelligence practices across European countries

Abstract Background The availability of different data sources is increasing with the possibility to link them with each other. However, linked administrative data can be complex to use and may require advanced expertise and skills in statistical analysis. The main objectives of this study were to describe the use of data linkage and artificial intelligence (AI) in routine public health activities and the constraints to linking different data sources. Methods A cross-sectional survey was performed across European countries to explore the current practices applied by national institutes of public health, health information and statistics for innovative use of data sources (i.e., the use of data linkage and/or AI). Results In Europe, the use of data linkage and AI at national institutes of public health, health information and statistics varies. The use data linkage in routine by applying a deterministic method or a combination of two types of linkages (i.e., deterministic & probabilistic) for public health surveillance and research purposes is common in majority of European countries. The use of AI to estimate health indicators is not frequent among these institutes. The complex data regulation laws, lack of human resources, skills and problems with data governance, were reported by European countries as main constraints to routine data linkage for public health surveillance and research. Conclusions Our study showed that the majority of European countries have integrated data linkage in their routine public health activities but only a few use AI. A sustainable national health information system allowing to link different data sources are essential to contribute to public health research. Moreover, it supports evidence-informed health policy making processes with an overview of various aspects affecting population health and may contribute to European pandemic preparedness.

The impact of high-intensity statin on 3-year clinical outcomes in elderly acute myocardial infarction patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents

Abstract Background There is limited data on role of high-intensity statin for secondary prevention in elderly acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients above 75 years old. Therefore, this study aimed to show the impact of high-intensity statin on 3-year clinical outcomes in elderly AMI patients (>75 years) underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DES). Methods Among the 13,104 patients included in the Korea AMI registry (KAMIR)-National Institutes of Health (NIH), the elderly patients (>75 years, n=2063) were divided into three groups according to statin treatment at discharge; the high-intensity statin group (n=521), the low/moderate-intensity statin group (n=1419), and the no statin group (n=123). The primary endpoint was 3-year composite of cardiac death and recurrent myocardial infarction (MI). Results During the 3-year clinical follow-up, the cumulative incidence of primary endpoint in the high-intensity statin group was similar to that of the low/moderate-intensity statin group (11.5% versus 12.5%; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.053; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.780-1.423; P=0.739) and was significantly lower than that of the no statin group after adjustment (11.5% versus 22.0%; aHR: 2.433; 95% CI: 1.377-4.298; P=0.002). The incidences of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), target lesion failure (TLF), target vessel failure (TVF), procedure free cardiac events (PFCE), total death, cardiac death, and re-hospitalization due to heart failure (HF) in the high-intensity statin group were significantly lower than those of the no statin group after adjustment. However, the incidences of primary endpoint and other clinical events in the high-intensity statin group were similar to those of the low/moderate-intensity statin group. Conclusions In elderly AMI patients (>75 years) underwent PCI with DES, high-intensity statin was associated with significantly reduced 3-year major clinical outcomes than no statin therapy group. This clinical benefit was similar to low/moderate-intensity statin therapy.

9.Y.1. Breaking down silos: Maximizing the impact of different EU funding schemes in health

Abstract The European Commission (EC) has established various funding schemes to support large health initiatives, such as EU4Health, Horizon Europe, and Digital Europe. These initiatives aim to support research and innovation in order to tackle different health challenges faced by EU member states, improve the health and well-being in European citizens and invest in resilient health systems Funding can come in different forms such as grants, subsidies, loans, prizes, and procurements and is managed by different Directorates General of the European Commission. The EC offers a wealth of financial resources, enabling health scientists to conduct cutting-edge research. However, to make the full potential of the EC funding programmes it is essential to achieve interactions and synergies. Thematic interactions consider the underlying policies of specific actions, striving to connect projects focused on related topics rather than letting them work in isolation, and transferring results from one to another. Implementation interactions involve the sequential or cumulative funding of one or multiple projects. Moreover, the abundance of financial sources poses the possibility for duplication of efforts and redundancy among the various programmes. In addition, complexities in rules and guidelines pose challenges for researchers to fund their long term research projects through cumulative funding. To avoid redundancy and tackle health issues efficiently, it is essential to ensure collaboration and coordination across funding schemes to effectively address both overarching and specific health topics. The aim of this roundtable is to share with the audience the different funding mechanisms provided by the European Commission, explore barriers and challenges to fostering collaborative innovation through the funding programs, and demonstrate best practices for optimizing synergies across different programs. This round table gathers panelists from a variety of backgrounds covering the European Commission, national health institutes, NGOs and SMEs. Key messages • The European Commission provides diverse and rich funding schemes supporting health research and innovation to tackle European health challenges. • Complexities in rules and guidelines pose challenges and combined efforts of both the European Commission and research communities can foster collaborative innovation across the funding schemes. Speakers/Panelists Jinane Ghattas Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium Agnès Mathieu-Mendes HaDEA, EC, Brussels, Belgium Anabela Isidro Agência de Investigação Clínica e Inovação Biomédica, Lisbon, Portugal

Evidence-Based Programs in France: Insights and Strategies for Implementation Support

Abstract Issue In France, both regional and national health institutions increasingly support and fund the implementation of evidence-based programs (EBP), promoted at the national level by the French Public Health agency. Description of the problem practitioners who implement EBP face several operational questions: scaling issues, implementation in specific and varying contexts, integration and adjustment to daily regional practices. Results/effects In 2023, the French Society for Public Health initiated a collaborative effort to create a platform for discussion among practitioners, researchers, and decision-makers involved in EBP implementation. The first step was to assess EPB implementation experiences, using 3 types of data: an analysis of 6 documented EBP (capitalization works), an online questionnaire answered by 29 stakeholders, and four focus groups with funders, researchers, practitioners, and institutions. Data analysis was based on thematic content analysis and structural data analysis. Lessons Different ways to implement EBP were identified through a typology. The results highlight favorable conditions and levers for EPB implementation in France: • Facilitate access and adoption of EBP by concerned stakeholders, including through clear communication and knowledge sharing; • Strengthen and value support for implementation support (i.e., providing necessary resources and continuous monitoring); • A ‘favorable environment’ is also required (i.e. regional context acceptability and information on program themes or topics); • Breadthen perspectives and promote mutual learning through sharing and comparing implementation experiences across regions; • Value transferability and adaptation studies, which are key to enable EBP adaptations to account for context specificities while maintaining effectiveness. The platform’s next steps are to develop deployment tools and structure an advocacy strategy to mobilize stakeholders around the issue. Key messages • Achieving wide-scale implementation of EBP requires to tackle key implementation issues such as scaling, context adaptation, etc. and to give support to implementing stakeholders. • A collaborative assessment helped identify levers and barriers to EBP implementation in France. Involvement in EBP fosters an evidence-based mindset among practitioners.