Vulnerable Age Group Research Articles

Valoración de los factores de riesgo y estrategias de intervención respecto del suicidio y sus tentativas en adolescentes de entre 15 y 24 años en la ciudad de San Francisco (Córdoba, Argentina)

The following article offers an exhaustive study on the problem of suicide in adolescents, assessing the most relevant risk indicators in the most vulnerable age group, considered between 15 and 24 years of age. This study has been carried out by students and teachers from the University of Social and Business Sciences (UCES) in the city of San Francisco (Córdoba, Argentina), and, also, it offers possible intervention strategies to facilitate detection and prevention in significant contexts, particularly, in social, family, and/or educational environments.

The moderating effect of insomnia severity in the association between noise annoyance and psychotic experiences in adolescents

ABSTRACT Adolescence has been identified as a particularly vulnerable age group with a high prevalence of insomnia and a heightened susceptibility to experiencing psychotic experiences, which in turn increases the risk of developing psychotic disorders. In particular, insomnia symptoms were found to be predominant among noise-sensitive adolescents exhibiting a higher level of noise annoyance. This study aimed to assess the moderating effect of insomnia severity between noise annoyance and psychotic disorders among Lebanese adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 527 Lebanese adolescents. Participants filled a self-administered online questionnaire. Insomnia moderated the association between noise annoyance and psychotic disorders. Noise annoyance was significantly associated with a higher risk of emergence of psychotic disorders. At low and moderate levels of insomnia severity, higher noise annoyance was significantly associated with higher psychotic experiences. Understanding how these variables interact provide valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms leading to psychotic disorders among adolescents.

A Novel Deep Learning Framework Enhanced by Hybrid Optimization Using Dung Beetle and Fick’s Law for Superior Pneumonia Detection

Pneumonia is an inflammation of lung tissue caused by various infectious microorganisms and noninfectious factors. It affects people of all ages, but vulnerable age groups are more susceptible. Imaging techniques, such as chest X-rays (CXRs), are crucial in early detection and prompt action. CXRs for this condition are characterized by radiopaque appearances or sometimes a consolidation in the affected part of the lung caused by inflammatory secretions that replace the air in the infected alveoli. Accurate early detection of pneumonia is essential to avoid its potentially fatal consequences, particularly in children and the elderly. This paper proposes an enhanced framework based on convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture, specifically utilizing a transfer-learning-based architecture (MobileNet V1), which has outperformed recent models. The proposed framework is improved using a hybrid method combining the operation of two optimization algorithms: the dung beetle optimizer (DBO), which enhances exploration by mimicking dung beetles’ navigational strategies, and Fick’s law algorithm (FLA), which improves exploitation by guiding solutions toward optimal areas. This hybrid optimization effectively balances exploration and exploitation, significantly enhancing model performance. The model was trained on 7750 chest X-ray images. The framework can distinguish between healthy and pneumonia, achieving an accuracy of 98.19 ± 0.94% and a sensitivity of 98 ± 0.99%. The results are promising, indicating that this new framework could be used for the early detection of pneumonia with a low cost and high accuracy, especially in remote areas that lack expertise in radiology, thus reducing the mortality rate caused by pneumonia.

Seasonal and Weekly Patterns of Korean Adolescents' Web Search Activity on Insomnia: Retrospective Study.

Sleep deprivation in adolescents is a common but serious public health issue. Adolescents often have a progressive circadian delay and suffer from insufficient sleep during weekdays due to the school schedule. Temporal patterns in internet search activity data can provide relevant information for understanding the characteristic sleep problems of the adolescent population. We aimed to reveal whether adolescents exhibit distinct temporal seasonal and weekly patterns in internet search activity on insomnia compared to adults. We hypothesized that adolescents exhibit larger variations in the internet search volume for insomnia, particularly in association with the school schedule (e.g., academic vacations and weekends). We extracted the daily search volume for insomnia in South Korean adolescents (13-18 years old), adults (19-59 years old), and young adults (19-24 years old) during the years 2016-2019 using NAVER DataLab, the most popular search engine in South Korea. The daily search volume data for each group were normalized with the annual median of each group. The time series of the search volume was decomposed into slow fluctuation (over a year) and fast fluctuation (within a week) using fast Fourier transform. Next, we compared the normalized search volume across months in a year (slow fluctuation) and days in a week (fast fluctuation). In the annual trend, 2-way ANOVA revealed a significant (group) × (month) interaction (P<.001). Adolescents exhibited much greater seasonal variations across a year than the adult population (coefficient of variation=0.483 for adolescents vs 0.131 for adults). The search volume for insomnia in adolescents was notably higher in January, February, and August, which are academic vacation periods in South Korea (P<.001). In the weekly pattern, 2-way ANOVA revealed a significant (group) × (day) interaction (P<.001). Adolescents showed a considerably increased search volume on Sunday and Monday (P<.001) compared to adults. In contrast, young adults demonstrated seasonal and weekly patterns similar to adults. Adolescents demonstrate distinctive seasonal and weekly patterns in internet searches on insomnia (ie, increased search in vacation months and weekend-weekday transitions), which are closely associated with the school schedule. Adolescents' sleep concerns might be potentially affected by the disrupted daily routine and the delayed sleep phase during vacations and weekends. As we demonstrated, comparing various age groups in infodemiology and infoveillance data might be helpful in identifying distinctive features in vulnerable age groups.

Demographic Influences on Suicide Attempts: A Study of Age, Gender, Socioeconomic Status and Profession

Introduction: Suicide remains a significant public health concern globally, with its prevalence reflecting complex interactions among various factors such as age, gender, socio-economic status, and profession. This study aimed to assess the patterns of suicide attempts, focusing on age, gender, socio-economic status, and profession. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at Department of psychiatry, Sheikh Hasina Medical college, Jamalpur, Bangladesh during the period from January 2018 to December 2018. All patients with suicide attempts admitted in the different wards of Community-Based Medical College, Mymensingh, and fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected as a sample for the study. A total of 90 patients were selected as study subjects by purposive sampling technique. Data analysis was done by SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 20. Result: The study revealed that the majority of suicide attempts occurred in the 21-30 years age group (52%), with middle-class individuals contributing the highest number (47.8%) of attempts. Unmarried individuals, particularly females, had the most attempts (58%), while students accounted for the largest percentage of suicide attempts by profession (38%), primarily in the 11-21 years age group. Rural residents had more attempts (70%) compared to urban residents (30%), and individuals from joint families (66%) were more likely to attempt suicide than those from nuclear families (34%). Conclusion: Young adults (21-30 years) and adolescents (11-21 years) are the most vulnerable age groups, with suicide attempts being notably higher among unmarried individuals and those from middle socio-economic backgrounds. Females exhibit a higher rate of attempts than males, especially among the unmarried. Professionally, students and unemployed individuals are particularly at risk.

Pattern Of Fatal Head Injury Due To Vehicular Accidents In Tertiary Care Centre

Head injury is an important cause of mortality worldwide. The present study was undertaken on 100 cases of vehicular accidents, which were autopsied at Thirunelveli Medical college over a period of one year from 2019-2020.Most of accidents has taken place during 8PM to 12 AM with a marked male preponderance of 83%.Vulnerable age group was found to be 21 to 40 years. Two wheeler occupants were commonly involved. Skull fractures were present in 65% of cases. Base of skull fractures found to be 23%,fracture of vault were found in 12%,linear fracture 50% .Among intra cranial hemorrhages, Subdural and sub arachnoid hemorrhage found to be 80.9%.

Correlation between Glycosylated Hemoglobin level with Angiographic findings of Coronary Artery Disease in different ages.

Objective: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is one of major macro vascular complication of Diabetes Mellitus (DM). The object of study is to analyze the correlation of angiographic findings of CAD with changes of glycosylated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in CAD Patients, T2DM Patients and Patients having both CAD and T2DM as compared to normal in different age groups.Methodology: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology (RIC) during 1st December 2020 to 28th February 2021. The study included 1540 (385 subjects in each group) from Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology hospital presenting with symptoms of CAD. A Complete demographic data was taken. They were assessed according to HbA1c level and type of CAD based on angiographic findings. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to HBA1C ranging from &lt;5 % to &gt; 8.0% and 4 age groups ranging from 40 to 79 years.Result: A statistical positive correlation between HBA1c with advancing age. Most vulnerable age group was 50-59 years in all groups of altered HBA1c. A statistical correlation between Angiography findings of CAD with HBA1c was significantly positive. (p&lt;0.001).Conclusion: HbA1c can be used as a predictor of severity of coronary artery disease measured by Angiographic findings as patients with a higher level of HbA1c had significant severe lesions on Angiography. Keywords: Coronary heart disease, type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, HbA1c, Angiographic findings in CAD.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice toward rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease among parents in Al-Baha Region, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional study

untreated group A streptococcal pharyngitis and primarily affects children. It can lead to rheumatic heart disease (RHD), a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Awareness and preventive measures are crucial to mitigate its impact, particularly in low-resource settings. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward RF and RHD among parents living in Al-Baha Region. And to determine its association with other different sociodemographic variables. This was a cross-sectional study included 415 parents in Al-Baha region, Saudi Arabia. using a self-administered questionnaire distributed online. Of the total 415 participants, more than half were females 223 (53.7%), and 149 (35.9%) participants aged between 45 and 55 years. The knowledge regarding RF was classified as good 20 (4.8%), fair 104 (25.1%), and bad 291 (70.1%). The attitude towards RF showed that about half of the participants 206 (49.7%) had a negative attitude, 169 (40.7%) natural and 40 (9.6%) positive attitudes. While the total practice level was classified as Bad 15 (3.6%), Fair 113 (27.2%) and Good 287 (69.2%), females were more likely than males to exhibit good practices (p = 0.001). The study concluded that knowledge about RF and RHD among parents in the Al Baha region, Saudi Arabia, is very poor. Most participants lacked sufficient understanding of the definition of RF, its relationship with bacterial sore throats, prophylactic treatments, and the vulnerable age group. Attitudes towards RF were relatively negative. Therefore, healthcare authorities and providers should raise awareness and create educational programs to improve public understanding of RF and RHD, aiding in their prevention and control in the Al Baha region.

The Role of Digital Media and Peer Influence on Adolescent Smoking Behavior: A Critical Analysis of Intervention Strategies

This study is an attempt to explore perceptions and attitudes toward smoking amongst adolescents, where the main objective of the research is to explore the factors that help in understanding how their views and behavior are shaped. This study garnered data through questionnaires given to adolescents between the ages of 10-20, representing varied walks of life. The results bring out intricate interplays of social, psychological, and environmental factors that shape adolescent perceptions. Peer pressure, media representation, and familial attitudes emerge as potent determinant factors. The research therefore stresses the implementation of focused educational programs and policies aimed at dispelling myths in order to reduce smoking initiation rates during this period. Recommendations for further research and intervention are discussed here, which would form the foundation of comprehensive anti-smoking strategies relevant for this most vulnerable age group.

Diurnal temperature range and cardiopulmonary health in Taiwan: Evaluating impacts, thresholds, and vulnerable groups

The health impacts of the diurnal temperature range (DTR), which may be affected by climate change, have received little attention. The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the association of DTR and cardiopulmonary outcomes, (2) to select the proper thresholds for a DTR warning system, and (3) to identify vulnerable groups. The weather and health records in Taiwan from 2000 to 2019, with a maximum DTR of 12.8 °C, were analyzed using generalized additive models. The health outcomes included cardiovascular (CVD) and respiratory disease (RD) categories and several sub-categories, such as ischemic heart disease, stroke, pneumonia, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The results showed that the associations of DTR and cardiopulmonary outcomes were as significant as, and sometimes even stronger than, those of the daily maximum temperature and daily minimum apparent temperature in the warm and cold seasons, respectively. The significant association began at DTR of 6 °C, lower than previously reported. The identified DTR warning thresholds were 8.5 and 11 °C for the warm and cold seasons, respectively. DTR is statistically significantly associated with a 5–36% and a 9–20% increase in cardiopulmonary emergency and hospitalized cases in the warm season with a 1 °C increase above 8.5 °C, respectively. In the cold season, DTR is significantly associated with 7–41%, 4–30%, and 36–100% increases in cardiopulmonary emergency, hospitalized, and mortality with a 1 °C increase above 11 °C, respectively. People with hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia had even higher risks. Vulnerable age and sex groups were identified if they had a lower DTR–health threshold than the general population, which can be integrated into a warning system. In conclusion, DTR may be increased on a local or city scale under climate change; a DTR warning system and vulnerable group identification may be warranted in most countries for health risk reduction.

Evolving patterns of COVID-19 mortality in US counties: A longitudinal study of healthcare, socioeconomic, and vaccination associations.

The COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the need for pandemic preparedness strategies to mitigate its impacts, particularly in the United States, which experienced multiple waves with varying policies, population response, and vaccination effects. This study explores the relationships between county-level factors and COVID-19 mortality outcomes in the U.S. from 2020 to 2023, focusing on disparities in healthcare access, vaccination coverage, and socioeconomic characteristics. We conduct multi-variable rolling regression analyses to reveal associations between various factors and COVID-19 mortality outcomes, defined as Case Fatality Rate (CFR) and Overall Mortality to Hospitalization Rate (OMHR), at the U.S. county level. Each analysis examines the association between mortality outcomes and one of the three hierarchical levels of the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), along with other factors such as access to hospital beds, vaccination coverage, and demographic characteristics. Our results reveal persistent and dynamic correlations between various factors and COVID-19 mortality measures. Access to hospital beds and higher vaccination coverage showed persistent protective effects, while higher Social Vulnerability Index was associated with worse outcomes persistently. Socioeconomic status and vulnerable household characteristics within the SVI consistently associated with elevated mortality. Poverty, lower education, unemployment, housing cost burden, single-parent households, and disability population showed significant associations with Case Fatality Rates during different stages of the pandemic. Vulnerable age groups demonstrated varying associations with mortality measures, with worse outcomes predominantly during the Original strain. Rural-Urban Continuum Code exhibited predominantly positive associations with CFR and OMHR, while it starts with a positive OMHR association during the Original strain. This study reveals longitudinal persistent and dynamic factors associated with two mortality rate measures throughout the pandemic, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. The findings emphasize the urgency of implementing targeted policies and interventions to address disparities in the fight against future pandemics and the pursuit of improved public health outcomes.

An Overview of Common Infectious Diseases in Children Under Five

Infectious diseases remain a significant concern for children under five, often leading to substantial morbidity and, in some cases, mortality. This review provides an overview of prevalent infectious diseases affecting this vulnerable age group, including Measles, Chickenpox, Common cold, Pertussis, Conjunctivitis, Eczema, Gastroenteritis, Influenza, Sore throat, Fever in children, Malaria, Meningococcal disease, and Urinary tract infection. Each condition is discussed in terms of its etiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and preventive strategies. Understanding the unique aspects of these diseases in young children is critical for effective management and prevention. Vaccination, improved hygiene practices, and early medical intervention play pivotal roles in reducing the incidence and impact of these infections. This comprehensive review aims to equip healthcare providers, caregivers, and policymakers with the knowledge needed to protect and promote the health of children under five. Key words Chickenpox, Common cold, Conjunctivitis, Eczema, Gastroenteritis, Infectious diseases, Influenza, Malaria, Measles, Meningococcal disease, Pertussis, Sore throat, Urinary tract infection.

Age-related driver injury occurrence from crashes at curve–grade combined segments

Objectives Due to their relatively complex roadway characteristics, horizontal and vertical curve segments are associated with decreased visibility and a higher risk of rollovers. Multiple studies have identified the associated risk of young and older drivers separately in such complicated driving environments. This study investigated the relationship between driver age and injury occurrence from crashes occurring along curve–grade combined segments. Methods Crash data recorded in Ohio State between 2012 and 2017 were used in this study. Driver age was categorized into 3 groups: teen (age <20 years), adult (age 20–64), and older adult (age >64). Descriptive statistics were summarized using random forest, gradient boosting, and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) to estimate the probability of a driver incurring an injury in case of a crash at curve–grade combined segments. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC) was used to select the best performing model. Partial dependence plots (PDPs) were used to interpret the model results. Results The probability of injury occurrence is different for older drivers compared to teen and adult drivers. Although teen and adult drivers showed a higher probability of sustaining injuries in crashes with an increase in the degree of curvature, older drivers were more likely to sustain injuries in roadways with higher annual average daily traffic (AADT), steeper grades, and more occupants in the vehicle. Older drivers were observed to have a higher probability of sustaining injuries during peak hours and when unrestrained compared to teen and adult drivers. Conclusions The results emphasize the significance of tailored education and outreach countermeasures, particularly for teen and older drivers, aimed at decreasing the likelihood of injuries in such driving environments. This research adds to the expanding body of knowledge concerning the age-related occurrence of driver injuries resulting from crashes at curve–grade combined segments. The study findings provide insights into the potential over- or underrepresentation of certain age groups in analyzing crash injury occurrence. The insights gained from the machine learning analysis could also assist policymakers, transportation agencies, and traffic safety experts in developing targeted strategies to enhance road safety and protect vulnerable age groups.

Risk Factors And Angiographic Profile of Young Adult Less Than 40 Years of Age in Bangladeshi Population

Back ground: : Coronary artery disease (CAD) in young adults under the age of 40 is an increasing medical, social, psychological, and economic concern, owing to the rise of civilization-related diseases and an unhealthy lifestyle. The problem of CAD in young people has not been studied as thoroughly as it has in older people, as current data consists primarily of case reports and small series, which are frequently tied to genetic features and family occurrence of the illness. Aim: To evaluate the risk factors for ischemic heart disease and the angiographic pattern of young adults with CAD who presented with chest pain in the ER. Methods : We conducted this observational study at Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital &amp; Research Institute in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from February 1 to June 30, 2024. Patients with chest discomfort aged 21-40 years who underwent coronary angiography were included in the study. Results: This retrospective analytical investigation was carried out from February 1st to June 30th, 2024, with 110 patients enrolled in the department of cardiology at Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital &amp; Research Institute. Patients aged 21 to &lt;40 years were separated into two groups: 21-30 years and more than 30 to &lt;40 years, with a mean age of 34.28±4.25 years. All patients underwent a coronary angiogram, which revealed that 30% had non-flow limiting coronary arteries, 29.1% had single vessel disease, 22.7% had double vessel disease, 17.3% had triple vessel disease, and 0.9% had left main with or without coronary involvement. Patients aged 30 to under 40 had more coronary artery disease than those aged 21 to 30. Conclusion: Young patients have distinct coronary artery disease patterns, hence the therapeutic plan must be tailored to their demographic. In this vulnerable age group, there should be a stronger emphasis on risk factor identification and management.

National age-specific mortality trends for cervical and breast cancers in urban–rural areas of China from 2009 to 2021: a population-based analysis

BackgroundCervical and breast cancers are among the top 4 leading causes of cancer-related mortality in women. This study aimed to examine age-specific temporal trends in mortality for cervical and breast cancers in urban and rural areas of China from 2009 to 2021.MethodsAge-specific mortality data for cervical and breast cancers among Chinese women aged 20–84 years were obtained from China’s National Disease Surveillance Points system spanning the years 2009 to 2021. Negative binomial regression models were utilized to assess urban–rural differences in mortality rate ratios, while Joinpoint models with estimated average annual percent changes (AAPC) and slopes were employed to compare temporal trends and the acceleration of mortality rates within different age groups.ResultsFrom 2009 to 2021, there was a relative increase in age-specific mortality associated with the two cancers observed in rural areas compared with urban areas. A rising trend in the screening age of 35–64 [AAPC: 4.0%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.5–7.6%, P = 0.026] for cervical cancer was noted in rural areas, while a stable trend (AAPC: − 0.7%, 95% CI − 5.8 to 4.6%, P = 0.78) was observed in urban areas. As for breast cancer, a stable trend (AAPC: 0.3%, 95% CI − 0.3 to 0.9%, P = 0.28) was observed in rural areas compared to a decreasing trend (AAPC: − 2.7%, 95% CI − 4.6 to − 0.7%, P = 0.007) in urban areas. Urban–rural differences in mortality rates increased over time for cervical cancer but decreased for breast cancer. Mortality trends for both cervical and breast cancers showed an increase with age across 4 segments, with the most significant surge in mortality observed among the 35–54 age group across urban and rural areas, periods, and regions in China.ConclusionsSpecial attention should be given to women aged 35–54 years due to mortality trends and rural–urban disparities. Focusing on vulnerable age groups and addressing rural–urban differences in the delivery of cancer control programs can enhance resource efficiency and promote health equity.

Early Onset of Type 1 Diabetes in Kuwait: Distinct Clinical, Metabolic, and Immunological Characteristics.

Exploring early-onset diabetes in terms of describing characteristics at time of diagnosis might aid in a better understanding of etiology and may have implications on management and prevention. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of early-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D) in Kuwait as well as describe their baseline clinical, biochemical, and immunological characteristics. Medical records of children newly diagnosed with T1D and registered in the Childhood-Onset Diabetes electronic Registry (CODeR) in Kuwait between 2017 and 2022 were reviewed. Early-onset T1D was defined as diagnosis at age younger than 6 years. 2,051 children were registered with new-onset T1D between 2017 and 2022, of which 657 (32.0%) were diagnosed at early onset. There has been a trend of slight increase in the percentage of early-onset T1D after 2020 (15.2%) with a prevalence of 18.4% and 20.2% in 2021 and 2022, respectively (p = 0.056). Age at onset was inversely related to admission to the pediatric intensive care unit (OR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.85, 0.95, p &lt; 0.0001) and was directly related to positive celiac autoimmunity (p = 0.022), higher hemoglobin A1C (p &lt; 0.0001), and C-peptide levels (p &lt; 0.0001). However, age at onset of T1D was inversely related to the higher vitamin D levels (p &lt; 0.0001). These findings reinforce the need for increased attention to be given to study the development of T1D in children of younger age. This in turn will support special management and prevention measures targeted toward this vulnerable age group.

A Study of the Prevalence of Anemia in Children With Severe Acute Malnutrition at a Pediatric Tertiary Care Hospital in South India.

Introduction In developing countries such as India, severe acute malnutrition (SAM) has been a cause for great concern in the pediatric population. SAM is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in children less than 60 months of age and leaves them vulnerable to diseases due to a decrease in immunological response. Children with SAM are prone to infections, and due to nutritional deficiency, many have anemia whichmay be a direct or indirect cause of morbidity and mortality. They are affected by frequent respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted for a period of two months, from December 1,2023, to January 31, 2024, in children with SAM aged less than 60 months. A detailed history and demographic profile were taken and recorded in a predesigned proforma. Anthropometric measurements of the study subjects were recorded, and lab investigations included complete blood picture, serum iron, serum ferritin, serum folate, and serum vitamin B12 levels. The prevalence and severity of anemia were determined by assessing the hemoglobin levels. The data collected was analyzed in Excel sheets (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington, United States) and the results were depicted in the form of graphs. Results A total of 300 children were included in the study of which 22 children were aged less than six months and 278 children were in the age group of 6-60 months. The overall gender distribution was 124 (41.4%) males and 176 (58.6%) females. In the age group of <6 months, of the 22 children, six (27.27%) were females while 16 (72.72%) were male. In the age group of 6-60 months, of the 278 children, 170 (61%) were females while 108 (39%) were males. Of the total 300 children, 232 (77.3%) were found to be anemic, of which 54 (23.2%) had mild anemia, 162 (69.8%) had moderate anemia, and 16 (6.89%) had severe anemia. Low serum iron levels were detected in 134 (44.6%) with iron deficiency being more common in females; below-normal ferritin levels were seen in 153 (51%) cases. Folate levels were found to be deficient in 97 (32.3%) children while vitamin B12 levels were deficient in 186 (62%). Conclusion Anemia is a common occurrence in children with SAM. Prevention of anemia starts from the womb by improvement of maternal nutrition and iron, and folic acid supplementation during pregnancy. Exclusive breastfeeding up to six months of age and further continuation of breastfeeding coupled with initiation of home-available complementary feeding from the age of six months onwards go a long way in maintaining healthy nutrition status inchildren in the vulnerable age group of less than 60 months. Healthcare professionals should utilize thewell-baby and well-child visits to educate the parents and primary caretakers regarding the feeding practicesto prevent, detect, and treatanemia, which will help reduce the morbidity and mortality in children with SAM.

Simultaneous determination of 11 water-soluble synthetic colorants in foods consumed in Chile by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode Array detection

In Chile, limited information is available on colorants in commonly consumed foods among vulnerable age groups. We developed and validated a rapid HPLC-DAD method to simultaneously evaluate 11 synthetic colorants in candies, beverages, ice cream, and cereals. The method exhibited excellent analytical performance for all 11 colorants with LOD (0.44 - 1.55 mgL-1), LOQ v(1.32 - 4.70 mgL-1), precision (4.0 and 7.3% RSD), and recovery (80 - 105%) in fortified matrices (10-50-100 mgL-1). The highest detection frequencies were as follows: cereals > candies > beverages > ice cream. Sunset Yellow was the most prevalent colorant in all food matrices, followed by Allura Red and Azorubine. Positive samples contained between 1 and 5 synthetic colorants. With the exception of cereals, the colorant concentrations in the remaining matrices exceeded the Codex Alimentarius regulations and the values reported in other studies worldwide, indicating the Chilean population is at risk.

Upper respiratory Streptococcus pneumoniae colonization among working-age adults with prevalent exposure to overcrowding.

Most pneumococcal disease occurs among infants and older adults and is thought to be driven by the transmission of Streptococcus pneumoniae from young children to these vulnerable age groups. However, pneumococcal disease outbreaks also affect non-elderly adults living or working in congregate, close-contact settings. Little is known about pneumococcal carriage in such populations. From July to November 2020, we collected saliva from low-income adult farmworkers in Monterey County, California, and tested for pneumococcal carriage following culture enrichment via quantitative PCR assays targeting the pneumococcal lytA and piaB genes. Participants were considered to carry pneumococci if lytA and piaB cycle threshold values were both below 40. Among 1,283 participants enrolled in our study, 117 (9.1%) carried pneumococci. Carriers tended more often than non-carriers to be exposed to children aged <5 years [odds ratio (OR) = 1.45 (0.95-2.20)] and overcrowding [OR = 1.48 (0.96-2.30) and 2.84 (1.20-6.73), respectively, for participants in households with >2-4 and >4 persons per bedroom vs ≤2 persons per bedroom]. Household overcrowding remained associated with increased risk of carriage among participants not exposed to children aged <5 years [OR = 2.05 (1.18-3.59) for participants living in households with >2 vs ≤2 persons per bedroom]. Exposure to children aged <5 years and overcrowding were each associated with increased pneumococcal density among carriers [piaB cT difference of 2.04 (0.36-3.73) and 2.44 (0.80-4.11), respectively]. While exposure to young children was a predictor of pneumococcal carriage, associations of overcrowding with increased prevalence and density of carriage in households without young children suggest that transmission also occurs among adults in close-contact settings.IMPORTANCEAlthough infants and older adults are the groups most commonly affected by pneumococcal disease, outbreaks are known to occur among healthy, working-age populations exposed to overcrowding, including miners, shipyard workers, military recruits, and prisoners. Carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae is the precursor to pneumococcal disease, and its relation to overcrowding in adult populations is poorly understood. We used molecular methods to characterize pneumococcal carriage in culture-enriched saliva samples from low-income adult farmworkers in Monterey County, CA. While exposure to children in the household was an important risk factor for pneumococcal carriage, living in an overcrowded household without young children was an independent predictor of carriage as well. Moreover, participants exposed to children or overcrowding carried pneumococci at higher density than those without such exposures, suggesting recent transmission. Our findings suggest that, in addition to transmission from young children, pneumococcal transmission may occur independently among adults in overcrowded settings.

Trust in Governmental Health Communication on Covid-19

Trust in governmental communication is critical to the successful containment of public health crises. However, in highly politicised crises, trust varies as a function of partisanship. This research report examines the relationship between political preferences and trust in governmental health communication during the Covid-19 pandemic in Germany. We pay particular attention to the interaction between (a) different dimensions of vulnerability to the virus and (b) distrust rooted in partisan preferences. Using original data from a representative, four-wave online survey conducted in Germany in 2020 and 2021, we found moderate to low levels of trust in information from the government. Whereas belonging to a vulnerable age group (65+) and fear of infection were significantly associated with trust, identification as a member of a risk group was not. Voters of the right-wing populist AfD were less likely to trust government information. Finally, the association between fear of infection and trust was stronger among AfD voters than among voters of established parties. We conclude that public health campaigns should account for the fact that politicised individuals may not trust communicators in prolonged crises. Messages targeting members of risk groups and partisans of populist parties should make health risks relatable to them as individuals.