Health Sciences Research Research Articles

Injury patterns in motor vehicle collision–youth pedestrian deaths

Objective The objective of this study was to describe fatal pedestrian injury patterns in youth aged 15 to 24 years old and correlate them with motor vehicle collision (MVC) dynamics and pedestrian kinematics using data from medicolegal death investigations of MVCs occurring in the current Canadian motor vehicle (MV) fleet. Methods Based on a systematic literature review, MVC–pedestrian injuries were collated in an injury data collection form (IDCF). The IDCF was coded using the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) 2015 revision. The AIS of the most frequent severe injury was noted for individual body regions. The Maximum AIS (MAIS) was used to define the most severe injury to the body overall and by body regions (MAISBR). This study focused on serious to maximal injuries (AIS 3–6) that had an increasing likelihood of causing death. The IDCF was used to extract collision and injury data from the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario (OCCO) database of postmortem examinations done at the Provincial Forensic Pathology Unit (PFPU) in Toronto, Canada, and other provincial facilities between 2013 and 2019. Injury data were correlated with data about the MVs and MV dynamics and pedestrian kinematics. The study was approved by the Western University Health Science Research Ethics Board (Project ID: 113440; Lawson Health Research Institute Approval No. R-19-066). Results There were 88 youth, including 54 (61.4%) males and 34 (38.6%) females. Youth pedestrians comprised 13.1% (88/670) of all autopsied pedestrians. Cars (n = 25/88, 28.4%) were the most frequent type of vehicle in single-vehicle impacts, but collectively vehicles with high hood edges (i.e., greater distance between the ground and hood edge) were in the majority. Forward projection (n = 34/88, 38.6%) was the most frequent type of pedestrian kinematics. Regardless of the type of vehicle, there was a tendency in most cases for the median MAISBR ≥ 3 to involve the head and thorax. A similar trend was seen in most of the pedestrian kinematics involving the various frontal impacts. Of the 88 cases, at least 63 (71.6%) were known to be engaged in risk-taking behaviors (e.g., activity on roadway). At least 12 deaths were nonaccidental (8 suicides and 4 homicides). Some activities may have been impairment related, because 26/63 (41.3%) pedestrians undertaking risk-taking behavior on the roadway were impaired. Toxicological analyses revealed that over half of the cases (47/88, 53.4%) tested positive for a drug that could have affected behavior. Ethanol was the most common. Thirty-one had positive blood results. Conclusion A fatal dyad of head and thorax trauma was observed for pedestrians struck by cars. For those pedestrians hit by vehicles with high hood edges, which were involved in the majority of cases, a fatal triad of injuries to the head, thorax, and abdomen/retroperitoneum was observed. Most deaths occurred from frontal collisions and at speeds more than 35 km/h.

Ethical Oversight of Data Science Health Research in Africa

Ethical Oversight of Data Science Health Research in Africa

Application of the Parametric Bootstrap Method for Confidence Interval Estimation and Statistical Analysis of PM2.5 in Bangkok

Research in epidemiology and health science indicates that exposure to particles with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) causes harmful health consequences. Probability density functions (pdf) are utilized to analyze the distribution of pollutant data and study the occurrence of high-concentration occurrences. In this study, PM2.5 concentrations (in μg/m^3 ) were recorded daily from January 2011 to December 2022 at 12 air quality monitoring locations in Bangkok. The study utilized two-parameter distributions such as gamma, inverse Gaussian, lognormal, log-logistic, Weibull, and Pearson type V to identify the most suitable statistical distribution model for PM2.5 in Bangkok. The Anderson-Darling test result indicates that the inverse Gaussian and Pearson type V distributions are the most appropriate probability density functions for the daily average PM2.5 concentration at stations in Bangkok. The projected 98th percentile of daily PM2.5 levels at two locations is higher than the 24-hour threshold for daily PM2.5 concentrations in Thailand, posing significant health risks. Additionally, the two parametric bootstrap methods used to estimate confidence intervals for the median, namely percentile bootstrap and simple bootstrap, indicate that two stations have poor air quality for those with sensitive health conditions.

Assessments at week 2 and 3 in Term Newborns Diagnoses with Prolonged Jaundice

Introduction: Jaundice is one of the most common problems at neonatal period and seen in 60-70% of all newborns at first days of life. Prolonged jaundice is defined as hyperbilirubinemia persisting at the end of week 2 in term newborns. In this study, we reviewed term newborns diagnosed with prolonged jaundice. It was aimed to demonstrate delaying laboratory evaluations for a week in infants with favorable clinical presentation can prevent unnecessary tests in majority of newborns. Materials and methods: The study included full-term newborns who presented after day 14 of life and diagnosed with prolonged jaundice at neonatology outpatient clinic of Health Sciences University, Keçiören Teaching and Research Hospital in 2016. Overall, 336 infants with prolonged jaundice were screened. The infants with congenital anomaly, those with findings of sepsis or severe infection, those with history of intrauterine infection, those with history of acholic stool and those with no available data were excluded. In 180 patients included, clinical evaluations, bilirubin levels and advanced test results were assessed at baseline and weekly follow-up. Findings: Of the infants included, 51.7% were boys while 48.3% were girls. The most common blood type was A Rh (+). There was ABO incompatibility alone in 24 infants (14.2%), Rh incompatibility alone in 6 infants (3.5%) and ABO plus Rh incompatibility in 3 infants (1.2%). In 130 infants, total bilirubin was studied on both week 2 and 3. At week 3, total bilirubin value was ≥10 mg/dl in only 36 infants (27.7%) while it was decreased below 10 mg/dL in 94 infants (72.3%). Urinary tract infection (UTI) was detected in 7 of 38 infants with available tests at week 2. Two of 6 infants with UTI had other clinical signs of UTI. Mean total bilirubin value was 17.9 mg/dL in 5 infants. A significant correlation was found between UTI and vomiting, breastfeeding and feeding pattern (p

Mathematical Modeling of Magnesium Homeostasis in Male Rats

Magnesium (Mg2+) is an important cofactor for numerous biological processes, including protein synthesis, nucleic acid stability, and neuromuscular excitability. Extracellular magnesium is tightly regulated, with plasma [Mg2+] maintained relatively constant between 1.6 and 2.3 mg/dL under normal physiological conditions. Almost all of the body’s Mg2+ (approximately 99%) is either stored in bone or within cells (DOI: 10.1053/j.ackd.2018.01.003). A normal daily Mg2+ intake averages around 300 mg, about half of which is absorbed by the intestine. The kidneys reabsorb 95-98% of the filtered Mg2+ and excrete only 2-5% through urine. To understand the interplay between intestine, kidneys, and bones to maintain Mg2+ homeostasis, we developed a computational model of Mg2+ homeostasis for male rats and incorporated it with a male rat calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis model. Our model consists of five compartments: plasma, intestine, kidneys, bones, and parathyroid gland. The model also includes parathyroid hormone and vitamin D3 since they significantly regulate Mg2+ and Ca2+ homeostasis. We used this model to simulate three conditions: change in dietary Mg2+, change in dietary vitamin D3, and administration of proton-pump inhibitors. In the case of variation in dietary Mg2+, our model predicted that the body compensates mainly through decreasing (in case of low dietary Mg2+) and increasing (in case of high dietary Mg2+) urinary Mg2+ excretion and the Mg2+ content in the rapidly exchangeable bone pool. Change in dietary Mg2+ does not have any significant effect on Ca2+ homeostasis. On the other hand, change in dietary vitamin D3 has significant effect on both Mg2+ and Ca2+ homeostasis, with the effect being more pronounced for Ca2+ compared to Mg2+. Our model predicted significant changes in intestinal Mg2+ and Ca2+ absorption, PTH secretion, urinary Mg2+ and Ca2+ excretion, and Mg2+ and Ca2+ content in the rapidly exchangeable bone pool following change in dietary vitamin D3. Administration of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as omeprazole, which are a class of medicine commonly used to reduce stomach acid production, affect Mg2+ and Ca2+ transport in the intestine. PPIs reduce intestinal Mg2+ and Ca2+ absorption by 3.5-fold and 40%, respectively. The body compensates for this huge drop in intestinal Mg2+ absorption by tapping into the Mg2+ stored in the rapidly exchangeable bone pool in addition to decreasing urinary Mg2+ excretion. By contrast, the body can compensate for the drop in intestinal Ca2+ absorption by only decreasing urinary Ca2+ excretion. Thus, this model can be used to understand the compensatory mechanisms adopted by the body to maintain Mg2+ and Ca2+ homeostasis under various pathophysiological conditions and drug administrations. This work was supported by the Canada 150 Research Chair program, National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grant, and Canada Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grant to Anita Layton. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Cardiac Sodium Channel Nav1.5 Arg222Gln Variant Induces a Sex-Specific Arrhythmia and Alters Mitochondrial Function

Introduction: Encoded by the SCN5A gene, cardiac Nav1.5 sodium channels initiate the action potential to trigger a heartbeat. As the predominant sodium channel in the heart, variants can have devastating consequences, leading to potentially lethal arrhythmias. With the gain of function arginine to glutamine (Arg222Gln) variant in Nav1.5, patients develop intermittent arrhythmias and dilated cardiomyopathy. The stress induced by chronic arrhythmias can trigger adverse metabolic reprogramming, exacerbating the underlying condition. We have generated a murine model harboring the human Arg222Gln variant where we observe that only males produce a clear observable arrhythmia. We hypothesize that the maladaptive metabolic response to the arrhythmia caused by the Arg222Gln variant maybe be a potential link to the sex differences. Methods: The human exon containing the Arg222Gln mutation was knocked into a murine model under the endogenous SCN5A promoter. Cellular metabolism (oxygen consumption) was measured using primary adult mouse cardiomyocytes (CMs) with the Seahorse XFe analyzer. Mitochondrial membrane potential was measured using ratiometric JC-1 dye and imaged on a scanning confocal microscope. Heart tissues were diced into 1mm3 cubes and fixed to perform serial block face electron microscopy to obtain 3D structure of mitochondria and mitochondrial morphology. Western blots were used to detect protein levels. Results: Basal respiration of CMs were unchanged, however the maximal respiratory capacity of Arg222Gln males was significantly lower (116.9±13.5pmol O2/min, p<0.05) compared to WT males (407.3±16.4pmol O2/min). There were no differences between WT females (451.4±22.4pmol O2/min) and Arg222Gln females (463.2±33.7pmol O2/min). JC-1 dye revealed that the Arg222Gln males (0.6213±0.0172 red/green ratio, p<0.001) have significantly lowered mitochondrial polarization compared to WT males (0.7550 ±0.0257). There were no differences between WT females (0.6236±0.0154) and Arg222Gln females (0.6466±0.0139). Arg222Gln males have reduced mitochondria area (1.155±0.052μm2, p<0.05) compared to WT males (1.332±0.060μm2) and are more fragmented (p<0.05). Electron transport chain complex protein levels and mitochondrial biomass measured by voltage dependent anion channel protein levels remain unchanged between WT males and Arg222Gln males (P>0.05). The ratio of phosphorylated dynamin related (DRP) / total DRP protein levels were significantly higher in Arg222Gln males compared to WT males, indicative of mitochondrial fission (p<0.05). Conclusion: We demonstrate evidence of a mitochondrial dysfunction in a murine model of arrhythmia caused by a gain of function Nav1.5 variant, adversely affecting overall cellular metabolism and mitochondrial quality. Our data suggests that the difference in metabolic reprogramming could play a role in the cardioprotection against arrhythmia in Arg222Gln females or explain why Arg222Gln males are severely affected by the arrhythmia. Future experiments will aim to elucidate how the difference in sex affects cardiac metabolism in the context of Arg222Gln Nav1.5 variant. This work was supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Project Grant, the SickKids Foundation through the Curtis Joseph and Harold Groves Chair in Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (JTM) and the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Toronto through a Merit Award (JTM). TYTL is supported by the CIHR Canadian Graduate Scholarship — Doctoral Award. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Ready, set, co(produce): a co-operative inquiry into co-producing research to explore adolescent health and wellbeing in the Born in Bradford Age of Wonder project

BackgroundCo-production of research with communities and stakeholders is recognised as best practice, but despite this, transparent reporting and reflective accounts on co-producing research is lacking. Born in Bradford Age of Wonder (AoW) is a large longitudinal health research project, following the health trajectories of up to 30,000 young people across the Bradford district; moreover, AoW has been entirely co-produced with teachers, parents, and young people. This paper describes the co-production of the Born in Bradford Age of Wonder (AoW) project and shares general reflections on co-production from peer researchers involved in co-producing AoW.MethodsA co-operative inquiry (CI) approach was used to gather written reflections on co-production from ten peer researchers (one teacher, one parent, eight young people) involved in co-producing the AoW project. Written reflections were collected and rough “themes” were identified using thematic analysis.ResultsFour key ‘themes’ were identified: (1) promoting young people’s voice and views (2) identifying impacts of co-production, (3) fostering a collaborative ethos, and (4) suggested improvements to the co-production work in AoW. Peer researchers’ reflections highlighted how co-production can positively impact research projects such as AoW, whilst also holding broader benefits including giving young people a voice, facilitating their personal development, and fostering a collaborative ethos both within AoW and with partner organisations. Suggested improvements to AoW co-production included supporting greater numbers of young people and researchers to engage in co-production, organising more regular sessions, and establishing clearer communication channels.ConclusionsPeer researchers’ reflections highlight positive impacts of engaging in co-production, both for research projects (including AoW) and for peer researchers’ personal and professional development. That said, continued efforts are needed in AoW to meet young people’s needs and interests, maintain trusting relationships, and foster sustained growth of co-production efforts within and beyond the AoW project. Evaluation of AoW co-production, along with wider partnership building are key to these efforts.

Citizen science in environmental health research: A comparison with conventional approaches and creation of a guidance tool issued from the LILAS initiative

ContextPublic interest for citizen science (CS) in environmental health is growing. The goals of environmental health research projects are diverse, as are the methods used to reach these goals. Opportunities for greater implication of the civil society and related challenges differ at each step of such projects. These methodological aspects need to be widely shared and understood by all stakeholders. The LILAS initiative (acronym for “application of citizen science approaches such as LIving LAbS to research on environmental exposures and chronic risks”) aimed to 1) favor a mutual understanding of the main issues and research methods in environmental health, of their stakes for different actors, but also of the requirements, strengths and limitations of these methods and to 2) identify expected benefits and points of attention related to stronger degrees of participation as part of environmental health research projects. MethodsThe LILAS initiative gathered institutional researchers, academics and civil society representatives interested in environmental exposures. Five meetings allowed to collectively identify different types of environmental health research studies and reflect about the benefits, limitations, and methodological issues related to the introduction of growing citizen participation as part of such studies. An analytic table matrix summarizing these aspects was co-created and filled by participants, as a tool devoted to help stakeholders with the definition of future CS research projects in environmental health. ResultsFor different fields of research (e.g.: studies for assessment of environmental exposures, interventions on these exposures, quantitative risk assessment, epidemiological studies), the matrix lists expected benefits for various stakeholders, the fundamental principles of research methods and related practical constraints, but also advantages and limitations related to the use of CS or conventional research approaches. ConclusionThe LILAS initiative allowed to develop a tool which provides consolidated grounds for the co-creation of research projects on environmental exposures involving CS.

Opportunities and Challenges of Qualitative Research in Academic Health Sciences in Ethiopia

Background. The goal of qualitative research is to learn more about the opinions and experiences of the subjects being studied in relation to a particular question. There is a paucity of information on opportunities and challenges encountered to conduct qualitative research among the academic staffs in the health sciences. The purpose of this study was to examine the opportunities and challenges of conducting qualitative research among academic staff of health sciences in Ethiopia. Methods. A descriptive qualitative study design was conducted among health sciences academic staffs of selected public universities in Ethiopia. The study was conducted at three universities’ health sciences colleges, namely, Addis Ababa University, Dilla University, and Wolaita Sodo University. Data were collected using focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and key informant interviews. MAXQDA 2020 software was used for coding and data management. A thematic analysis approach was followed to present the results. Both inductive and deductive coding approaches were used. Results. Three main themes have been identified as follows: general research practice, opportunities for qualitative research, and challenges to conduct qualitative research. Participants indicated that the availability of research opportunities will have a good impact on qualitative research engagement. Availability of grants, funding, and other incentives and demand for qualitative research in healthcare were described as opportunities for qualitative research practice. Despite the available opportunities, study participants uncovered different challenges that encountered by health academic staffs in conducting qualitative research. Resource limitations, lack of knowledge, negative attitudes or beliefs, publication, and language issues were raised as main challenges. Conclusion. Qualitative research practices were found to be low among health sciences academics. Lack of resources, training, and expertise, problems associated with publication, a lack of funding, and a shortage of experts were the main challenges in conducting qualitative research in health sciences academic settings in Ethiopia.

Investigating the Effects of Elements and Minerals on Public Health: An Overview of Medical Geology

Background & Aims: Medical geology is an emerging branch of geological sciences, which examines the relationship between geological findings and human and ecosystem health, as well as the effect of environmental factors and elements on the geographical distribution of diseases in the field of health and treatment. The aim of this research was to provide a comprehensive understanding of how geological factors and minerals affect public health outcomes. Materials and Methods: A total of 1561 publications including books and papers published from 1992 until 2024 were reviewed, 168 of which were chosen and 21 articles were mentioned. Results: Medical studies on patients showed that there is a direct relationship between minerals and diseases, which is caused by the lack of some minerals in the food chain, or the excessive presence of some of these substances in the food chain of people of different regions of the world. These minerals cause changes in the cellular and molecular structure, which can lead to the development of various diseases. Conclusion: It seems that in the future, with scientific investigations in the field of medical geology, important results can be achieved in the prevention of various diseases. It is obvious that the realization of this requires increased cooperation of medical, health, and earth science researchers and it can be an effective step towards improving the health of the society and preparing and producing new drugs and new treatment methods. It will be presented using this knowledge.

Collaborative design of a health research training programme for nurses and midwives in Tshwane district, South Africa: a study protocol

IntroductionNurses are essential for implementing evidence-based practices to improve patient outcomes. Unfortunately, nurses lack knowledge about research and do not always understand research terminology. This study aims to develop an...

Oznaczanie 1,2-dihydroksybenzenu w powietrzu na stanowiskach pracy metodą chromatografii gazowej z detekcją płomieniowo-jonizacyjną

1,2-Dihydroxybenzene is a colorless crystalline substance with a characteristic odor that turns brown when exposed to air and light. It is used in industry as an antioxidant. Worker exposure to 1,2-dihydroxybenzene can occur during the production, processing and use of the chemical, through inhalation, dermal and gastrointestinal routes. The aim of the study was to develop a method for the determination of 1,2-dihydroxybenzene to assess occupational exposure within 1/10–2 of the proposed MAC value (10 mg/m3 ). The method involves the collection of 1,2-dihydroxybenzene in a system consisting of a glass fiber filter and a tube containing two layers of XAD-7 sorbent, extraction with a solution of N,N-dimethylformamide in methanol, and chromatographic analysis of the resulting solution. The method allows the determination of 1,2-dihydroxybenzene in air in the concentration range from 1.0 to 20.0 mg/m3 . The method has been validated in accordance with PN-EN 482. The scope of the article includes health and environmental health and safety issues being the subject of research in health sciences and environmental engineering.

Oznaczanie antymonu i jego związków w powietrzu na stanowiskach pracy

Antimony is used as an additive in font and bearing alloys along with other metals. Antimony in metallic form is not classified as a health hazard, while its salts have been so classified. Some antimony compounds have been classified as carcinogens. The applicable value of the maximum allowable concentration (MAC) in air at workplaces is 0.5 mg/m3 (MRPiPS ordinance, 2018). The purpose of this study was to develop a method for the determination of antimony for occupational exposure assessment in the range of 1/10–2 of the proposed MAC values. The method consists of collecting antimony and its airborne compounds from an MCE filter, mineralizing the filter in aqua regia at 150°C, then determining the antimony content in the sample using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) with flame atomization. The method for the determination of antimony is presented in the form of an analytical procedure, which is included in the appendix. The scope of the article includes health and environmental health and safety issues that are the subject of research in health sciences and environmental engineering

Design of a Remote Multiparametric Tool to Assess Mental Well-Being and Distress in Young People (mHealth Methods in Mental Health Research Project): Protocol for an Observational Study.

Mental health conditions have become a substantial cause of disability worldwide, resulting in economic burden and strain on the public health system. Incorporating cognitive and physiological biomarkers using noninvasive sensors combined with self-reported questionnaires can provide a more accurate characterization of the individual's well-being. Biomarkers such as heart rate variability or those extracted from the electrodermal activity signal are commonly considered as indices of autonomic nervous system functioning, providing objective indicators of stress response. A model combining a set of these biomarkers can constitute a comprehensive tool to remotely assess mental well-being and distress. This study aims to design and validate a remote multiparametric tool, including physiological and cognitive variables, to objectively assess mental well-being and distress. This ongoing observational study pursues to enroll 60 young participants (aged 18-34 years) in 3 groups, including participants with high mental well-being, participants with mild to moderate psychological distress, and participants diagnosed with depression or anxiety disorder. The inclusion and exclusion criteria are being evaluated through a web-based questionnaire, and for those with a mental health condition, the criteria are identified by psychologists. The assessment consists of collecting mental health self-reported measures and physiological data during a baseline state, the Stroop Color and Word Test as a stress-inducing stage, and a final recovery period. Several variables related to heart rate variability, pulse arrival time, breathing, electrodermal activity, and peripheral temperature are collected using medical and wearable devices. A second assessment is carried out after 1 month. The assessment tool will be developed using self-reported questionnaires assessing well-being (short version of Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) as the reference. We will perform correlation and principal component analysis to reduce the number of variables, followed by the calculation of multiple regression models. Test-retest reliability, known-group validity, and predictive validity will be assessed. Participant recruitment is being carried out on a university campus and in mental health services. Recruitment commenced in October 2022 and is expected to be completed by June 2024. As of July 2023, we have recruited 41 participants. Most participants correspond to the group with mild to moderate psychological distress (n=20, 49%), followed by the high mental well-being group (n=13, 32%) and those diagnosed with a mental health condition (n=8, 20%). Data preprocessing is currently ongoing, and publication of the first results is expected by September 2024. This study will establish an initial framework for a comprehensive mental health assessment tool, taking measurements from sophisticated devices, with the goal of progressing toward a remotely accessible and objectively measured approach that maintains an acceptable level of accuracy in clinical practice and epidemiological studies. OSF Registries N3GCH; https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/N3GCH. DERR1-10.2196/51298.

Abstract 1833: Antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of Ipomoea cairica extracts on three breast cancer cell lines

Abstract Introduction: Breast cancer was the top cause of cancer deaths in 2020 with a death toll of 685 000 worldwide. Breast cancer treatments are based on drug specificity for unique receptors on the surface of some breast cancer types, there is a search for alternative treatments that are inclusive of different breast cancer types. Evidence suggests that antioxidants offer a protective effect against certain cancers. Studies on Ipomoea cairica have reported potential anticancer activity, hence this study aimed to assess the antioxidant and antiproliferative potentials of the extracts of Ipomoea cairica on three breast cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods: The study protocol was approved by the University of the Free State Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee (HSREC), with approval number: UFS-HSD2022/0353/2607-0001. Ipomoea cairica stem and leaves were harvested and identified by Prof. H. Baijnath, Department of Conservation Science, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, with specimen number 29 30 DD housed at the Ward Herbarium. The dried plant was extracted sequentially using organic solvents ranging from non-polar to polar and water. The extracts were filtered and concentrated using a rotary evaporator and then evaporated to dryness/lyophilized. Cells were cultured according to standard established procedure. The extracts were subjected to phytochemical analyses. FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS assays were done to examine antioxidant activity and MTT assays were used to evaluate the antiproliferative/cytotoxicity of the extracts against normal (Vero) and breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and 4T1). Results and Discussion: Extracts of Ipomoea cairica possess alkaloids, saponins, phenols, flavonoids, phytosterols, tannins, triterpenoids, and anthraquinones. The results from the DPPH and ABTS assays revealed that the methanol and ethyl acetate fractions had significantly the highest antioxidant potentials while the methanol stem extract exhibited the most significant antioxidant activity in the FRAP assay. The DCM stem extract showed the highest antiproliferative activity against all tested cell lines. Conclusion: Extracts of I. cairica possess significant antioxidant properties and antiproliferative activities against a wide array of breast cancer types including the most challenging triple-negative breast cancer. The plant would make for a strong herbal candidate for adjuvant therapy with breast cancer medication. Citation Format: Ayodeji Mathias Adegoke, Doreen Kulabako Kyagaba, Nomonde Hadebe, Nandi Mabaso, Relebohile Patricia Lefojane, Himansu Baijnath, Oyeronke Adunni Odunola, Mamello Patience Sekhoacha. Antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of Ipomoea cairica extracts on three breast cancer cell lines [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1833.

Abstract P447: Heart Disease Health Disparities Among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Communities in the United States: A Systematic Review

Background: Heart disease is a leading cause of death among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NH/PI) communities. However, the nature of disease development and risk factors is not well characterized due to poor availability of disaggregated data, hampering efforts towards the design and implementation of culturally-relevant interventions. The purpose of our review is examine known gaps in heart disease prevention measures and programs for NH/PI populations to identify opportunities to mitigate health disparities through structural- and provider-level factors. Methods: We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL databases to identify peer-reviewed articles focused on heart disease (coronary artery disease, heart attack, heart failure) in NH/PI populations. Eligible studies were assessed for their relevance to NH/PI populations living in the US, US territories and Freely Associated States and their coverage of topics such as prevalence, risk factors, cultural determinants, prevention, and management. Results: Of the 1,440 articles initially identified (3 duplicates removed), 1,437 article titles and abstracts were screened, 585 full-text articles were screened for eligibility and 68 articles were included for analysis. The main reasons for exclusion were the absence of NH/PI individuals, lack of focus on heart disease, grouping NH/PI people with Asian American and other racial groups, and studies conducted outside the US (e.g., Australia, New Zealand). Many of the included articles examined prevalence, risk factors, health behaviors, knowledge, and healthcare utilization, from sources such as the Multiethnic Cohort Study, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Systems, National and Hawaii Vital Statistics and claims data. Culturally-grounded interventions, community-based programs, and initiatives (e.g., Native Hawaiian Health Research Project, Ohana Heart Project, Pacific Islander Health Care Project, Wahine Heart Wellness Program), which incorporate traditional practices, were identified as showing promise in reducing risk and improving heart health among NH/PI adults. Conclusion: The review unveiled a disproportionate burden of heart disease and high prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension among NH/PI communities, often attributable to lifestyle behaviors, socioeconomic factors, and limited access to healthcare. These disparities are compounded by the underrepresentation of NH/PI populations in national health surveys and the scarcity of comprehensive epidemiological studies featuring robust NH/PI samples. It is evident that further research and policy initiatives are crucial to increase research investments and promote data equity and disaggregation for this population.

Ethically Determining the Authorship of Health Science Research Publications: A Scoping Review

Authorship is a significant aspect of scientific research publications, serving as a primary means of acknowledging the intellectual contributions of individuals and shaping career trajectories. However, determining authorship ethically and fairly in health science research remains a complex and multifaceted issue. This scoping review aims to explore the existing literature surrounding ethical considerations associated with authorship determination in health science research publications, published between 1989 and 2023. A total of 25 studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings revealed that ethical authorship practices in health science research are complex and multifaceted. This review emphasized how crucial it is to have precise rules and guidelines for deciding who is the author in academic journals, research institutes, and societies. The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) has published several ethical principles to address the difficulties associated with authorship determination. Still, there are differences and disagreements in how these rules are interpreted and applied, which could present moral enigmas. The review also examines new ethical issues arising from multidisciplinary and collaborative research, such as the responsibilities and funding of industry collaborations, shared authorship, and acknowledging the contributions of other groups. Maintaining the integrity of health science research and encouraging responsible collaboration requires making sure that authorship determination is transparent, equitable, and accountable. Authors should disclose any conflicts of interest that could influence their judgment or interpretation of the research findings.

Methods and Annotated Data Sets Used to Predict the Gender and Age of Twitter Users: Scoping Review.

Patient health data collected from a variety of nontraditional resources, commonly referred to as real-world data, can be a key information source for health and social science research. Social media platforms, such as Twitter (Twitter, Inc), offer vast amounts of real-world data. An important aspect of incorporating social media data in scientific research is identifying the demographic characteristics of the users who posted those data. Age and gender are considered key demographics for assessing the representativeness of the sample and enable researchers to study subgroups and disparities effectively. However, deciphering the age and gender of social media users poses challenges. This scoping review aims to summarize the existing literature on the prediction of the age and gender of Twitter users and provide an overview of the methods used. We searched 15 electronic databases and carried out reference checking to identify relevant studies that met our inclusion criteria: studies that predicted the age or gender of Twitter users using computational methods. The screening process was performed independently by 2 researchers to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the included studies. Of the initial 684 studies retrieved, 74 (10.8%) studies met our inclusion criteria. Among these 74 studies, 42 (57%) focused on predicting gender, 8 (11%) focused on predicting age, and 24 (32%) predicted a combination of both age and gender. Gender prediction was predominantly approached as a binary classification task, with the reported performance of the methods ranging from 0.58 to 0.96 F1-score or 0.51 to 0.97 accuracy. Age prediction approaches varied in terms of classification groups, with a higher range of reported performance, ranging from 0.31 to 0.94 F1-score or 0.43 to 0.86 accuracy. The heterogeneous nature of the studies and the reporting of dissimilar performance metrics made it challenging to quantitatively synthesize results and draw definitive conclusions. Our review found that although automated methods for predicting the age and gender of Twitter users have evolved to incorporate techniques such as deep neural networks, a significant proportion of the attempts rely on traditional machine learning methods, suggesting that there is potential to improve the performance of these tasks by using more advanced methods. Gender prediction has generally achieved a higher reported performance than age prediction. However, the lack of standardized reporting of performance metrics or standard annotated corpora to evaluate the methods used hinders any meaningful comparison of the approaches. Potential biases stemming from the collection and labeling of data used in the studies was identified as a problem, emphasizing the need for careful consideration and mitigation of biases in future studies. This scoping review provides valuable insights into the methods used for predicting the age and gender of Twitter users, along with the challenges and considerations associated with these methods.

Establishing research impact assessment in Iran: The first report from a non-high-income country.

This study presents the first report on research impact assessment (RIA) in non-high-income countries, undertaken as a pilot initiative in 2021. Within it, we aimed to explore the feasibility of employing the 'payback' model for evaluating the impact of health research and enhancing the accountability of universities. We focussed on three key impact domains: 'production of decision support documents and knowledge-based products,' 'implementation of research results,' and 'health and economic impact.' We adopted a case study approach to assess the impact of 5334 health research projects conducted by researchers from 18 universities from 2018 to 2020. Researchers were required to submit evidence related to at least one of the specified impact domains; six scientific committees verified and scored claimed impacts at the national level. Only 25% of the assessed projects achieved impact in at least one domain, with the production of decision support documents and knowledge products being the most reported impact. Notably, economic impact was verified in only three projects, indicating room for improvement in this area. Technology research exhibited the highest acceptance rate of claimed impact, suggesting a positive correlation between technology-focused projects and impactful outcomes. This study demonstrates the feasibility of employing a case study approach and the 'payback' model to evaluate the impact of health research, even within the constraints of a moderately equipped research infrastructure. These findings underscore the potential of integrating RIA into the governance of health research in Iran and other non-high-income countries, as well as the importance of using RIA to assess the accountability of health research systems, guide the allocation of research funding, and advocate for the advancement of health research. The study sets a precedent for future assessments in similar contexts and contributes to the ongoing global dialogue on the societal impact of health research.

Improving hospital-based opioid substitution therapy (iHOST): protocol for a mixed-methods evaluation

Background Opioid substitution therapy is associated with improved health and social outcomes for people who use heroin and other illicit opioids. It is typically managed in the community and is not always continued when people are admitted to hospital. This causes opioid withdrawal, discharge against medical advice, and increased costs. We are establishing a project called iHOST (improving hospital opioid substitution therapy) to address these problems. This is an applied health research project in which we will develop and evaluate an intervention that aims to improve opioid substitution therapy in three acute hospitals in England. The intervention was developed in collaboration with stakeholders including people who use opioids, hospital staff, and other professionals who work with this group. It includes five components: (1) a card that patients can use to help hospital clinicians confirm their opioid substitution therapy, (2) a helpline for patients and staff, (3) an online training module for staff, (4) a clinical guideline for managing opioid withdrawal in hospital, and (5) ‘champion’ roles at each hospital. Methods We will do a mixed-methods study including a quasi-experimental quantitative study and a qualitative process evaluation. The primary outcomes for the quantitative study are discharge against medical advice and emergency readmission within 28 days. We will do a difference-in-difference analysis comparing changes in these outcomes for patients at iHOST sites with changes for patients at control hospitals. The process evaluation will use in-depth interviews, focus groups, and site observations with people who use opioids and staff. We will assess acceptability of the intervention, barriers and facilitators to implementation, and contextual factors impacting outcomes. Impact We anticipate that iHOST will improve care for hospital patients who use illicit opioids and/or are receiving community-based opioid substitution therapy. Depending on the results, we will promote the intervention at hospitals across the UK. Dissemination, including through publication, will inform hospital-based services for people who use drugs both in the UK and other countries.