Western Countries Research Articles

Exploring ethnic differences in the distribution of blood test results in healthy adult populations to inform earlier cancer detection: a systematic review.

In primary care, health professionals use blood tests to investigate nonspecific presentations to inform referral decisions. Reference ranges for the commonly used blood tests in western countries were developed in predominately White populations, and so may perform differently when applied to non-White populations. Knowledge of ethnic variation in blood test results in healthy/general populations could help address ethnic inequalities in cancer referral for diagnosis and outcomes. This systematic review explored evidence of ethnic differences in the distribution of selected blood test results among healthy/general populations to inform future research aimed at addressing inequalities in cancer diagnosis. We searched PubMed and EMBASE to identify studies reporting measures of haemoglobin, MCV, calcium, albumin, platelet count, and CRP in nondiseased adults from at least 2 different ethnic groups. Two reviewers independently screened studies, completed data extraction and quality assessment using an adapted Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Participants were stratified into White, Black, Asian, Mixed, and Other groups. Data were synthesised narratively and meta-analyses were conducted where possible. A total of 47 papers were included. Black men and women have lower average values of haemoglobin, MCV, and albumin, and higher average values of CRP relative to their White counterparts. Additionally, Black men have lower average haemoglobin than Asian men, whereas Asian women have lower average CRP values when compared with White women. There is evidence of ethnic differences in average values of haemoglobin, MCV, CRP, and albumin in healthy/general populations. Further research is needed to explore the reasons for these differences. Systematic review registration: CRD42021274580.

Model-Informed Precision Dosing Using Machine Learning for Levothyroxine in General Practice: Development, Validation and Clinical Simulation Trial.

Levothyroxine is one of the most prescribed drugs in the western world. Dosing is challenging due to high-interindividual differences in effective dosage and the narrow therapeutic window. Model-informed precision dosing (MIPD) using machine learning could assist general practitioners (GPs), but no such models exist for primary care. Furthermore, introduction of decision-support algorithms in healthcare is limited due to the substantial gap between developers and clinicians' perspectives. We report the development, validation, and a clinical simulation trial of the first MIPD application for primary care. Stable maintenance dosage of levothyroxine was the model target. The multiclass model generates predictions for individual patients, for different dosing classes. Random forest was trained and tested on a national primary care database (n = 19,004) with a final weighted AUC across dosing options of 0.71, even in subclinical hypothyroidism. TSH, fT4, weight, and age were most predictive. To assess the safety, feasibility, and clinical impact of MIPD for levothyroxine, we performed clinical simulation studies in GPs and compared MIPD to traditional prescription. Fifty-one GPs selected starting dosages for 20 primary hypothyroidism cases without and then with MIPD 2 weeks later. Overdosage and underdosage were defined as higher and lower than 12.5 μg relative to stable maintenance dosage. MIPD decreased overdosage in number (30.5 to 23.9%, P < 0.01) and magnitude (median 50 to 37.5 μg, P < 0.01) and increased optimal starting dosages (18.3 to 30.2%, P < 0.01). GPs considered lab results more often with MIPD and most would use the model frequently. This study demonstrates the clinical relevance, safety, and effectiveness of MIPD for levothyroxine in primary care.

MECHANISMS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF FOREIGN TRADE ACTIVITIES IN THE URALS FEDERAL DISTRICT IN THE CONTEXT OF SANCTIONS RESTRICTIONS

The Ural Federal District (UrFO) is one of the most important economic administrativeterritorial units of the Russian Federation. The main branches of specialization of the Ural Federal District are oil and gas production, mining, metallurgy and mechanical engineering. In recent years, the region has faced significant difficulties due to economic sanctions imposed by Western countries. In this regard, the purpose of the study is to analyze the foreign trade activities of the Ural Federal District and develop mechanisms for its development. The tasks of the Ural Federal District include to determine the trade structure, main consumers and suppliers in order to identify the most affected sectors of foreign trade activities from the imposed sanctions; to develop mechanisms for the development of foreign trade activities of the Ural Federal District in relation to each of the regions that make up it. The study revealed that in 2021 the Ural Federal District's foreign trade relations were mainly with unfriendly countries, which currently restrict exports and imports of the Russian Federation. Taking into account the peculiarities of the region, the author proposed the following mechanisms for the development of foreign trade activities of the Ural Federal District: export diversification, orientation to hightech industries, development of transport and digital infrastructure, promotion of small and medium-sized export-oriented enterprises, state support.

Not everyone suffers equally: The effect of electoral overlap on mainstream party responses to radical right parties

The rise of radical right parties in Europe has led to a number of strategic responses from mainstream parties (MSPs). However, not all MSPs are equally affected by the rise of challenger parties. This idea has been neglected in much of the quantitative work in the field. This paper extends this argument and investigates electoral overlap in a cross-country study of multiparty systems. Using Propensity to Vote (PTV) data to measure the electoral overlap between MSPs and radical right parties in eight Western European countries, I estimate the effect of right-wing threat on the positions of MSPs on immigration. A higher threat of losing voters to the radical right is associated with a move towards more restrictive immigration policies; on the other hand, a party’s chance to win voters back from the radical right has no significant impact on its positions.

Facing a request for assisted death - views of Finnish physicians, a mixed method study

BackgroundAssisted death, including euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (PAS), is under debate worldwide, and these practices are adopted in many Western countries. Physicians’ attitudes toward assisted death vary across the globe, but little is known about physicians’ actual reactions when facing a request for assisted death. There is a clear gap in evidence on how physicians act and respond to patients’ requests for assisted death in countries where these actions are not legal.MethodsA survey including statements concerning euthanasia and PAS and an open question about their actions when facing a request for assisted death was sent to all Finnish physicians. Quantitative data are presented as numbers and percentages. Statistical significance was tested by using the Pearson chi-square test, when appropriate. The qualitative analysis was performed by using an inductive content analysis approach, where categories emerge from the data.ResultsAltogether, 6889 physicians or medical students answered the survey, yielding a response rate of 26%. One-third of participants agreed or partly agreed that they could assist a patient in a suicide. The majority (69%) of the participants fully or partly agreed that euthanasia should only be accepted due to difficult physical symptoms, while 12% fully or partly agreed that life turning into a burden should be an acceptable reason for euthanasia. Of the participants, 16% had faced a request for euthanasia or PAS, and 3033 answers from 2565 respondents were achieved to the open questions concerning their actions regarding the request and ethical aspects of assisted death. In the qualitative analysis, six main categories, including 22 subcategories, were formed regarding the phenomenon of how physicians act when facing this request. The six main categories were as follows: providing an alternative to the request, enabling care and support, ignoring the request, giving a reasoned refusal, complying with the request, and seeing the request as a possibility.ConclusionsFinnish physicians’ actions regarding the requests for assisted death, and attitudes toward euthanasia and PAS vary substantially. Open discussion, education, and recommendations concerning a request for assisted death and ethics around it are also highly needed in countries where euthanasia and PAS are not legal.

Between capitalism and socialism: Tugan-Baranovsky on cooperatives

Abstract This paper provides a comprehensive discussion of Tugan-Baranovsky’s (1916) seminal study about the working of cooperatives in a capitalist environment, which, due to historical and linguistic circumstances, has left only a limited trace in the subsequent economic literature in the Western world. He claimed to have provided the then only full analytical and historical account of economic cooperation in its several forms, especially producer and consumer cooperatives, and their impact on their members’ welfare. It was not until the 1950s and 1960s that cooperative organisations gradually occupied again the research agenda of economists under the guise of ‘labor-managed firms’. Tugan’s treatise on cooperation has been mentioned in that literature to a limited extent only, in connection with the issue of the life-cycle of producer cooperatives. Tugan’s economic treatment of cooperatives is discussed here as part of his broader social and political views of capitalism and socialism.

Who is at risk of lung nodules on low-dose CT in a Western country? A population-based approach.

This population-based study aimed to identify the risk factors for lung nodules in a Western European general population. We quantified the presence or absence of lung nodules among 12 055 participants of the Dutch population-based ImaLife (Imaging in Lifelines) study (≥45 years) who underwent low-dose chest computed tomography. Outcomes included the presence of 1) at least one solid lung nodule (volume≥30 mm3) and 2) a clinically relevant lung nodule (volume≥100 mm3). Fully adjusted multivariable logistic regression models were applied overall and stratified by smoking status to identify independent risk factors for nodules presence. Among the 12 055 participants (44.1% men; median age 60 years; 39.9% never smokers; 98.7% Caucasian), we found lung nodules in 41.8% (5045 out of 12 055) and clinically relevant nodules in 11.4% (1377 out of 12 055); the corresponding figures among never smokers were 38.8% and 9.5%. Factors independently associated with increased odds of having any lung nodule included male-sex, older-age, low-educational level, former smoking, asbestos exposure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Among never smokers, a family history of lung cancer increased the odds of both lung nodules and clinically relevant nodules. Among former and current smokers, low educational level was positively associated with lung nodules, whereas being overweight was negatively associated. Among current smokers, asbestos exposure and low physical activity were associated with clinically relevant nodules. The study provides a large-scale evaluation of lung nodules and associated risk factors in a Western European general population: lung nodules and clinically relevant nodules were prevalent, and never smokers with a family history of lung cancer were a non-negligible group.

Short-time mentoring – enhancing female medical students’ intentions toward surgical careers

ABSTRACT Background Women pursuing a career in surgery or related disciplines are still in the minority, despite the fact that women compose at least half of the medical student population in most Western countries. Thus, recruiting and retaining female surgeons remains an important challenge to meet the need for surgeons and increase the quality of care. The participations were female medical students between their third and fifth academic year. In this study, we applied the well-established psychological theory of planned behavior (TPB) which suggests that the intention to perform a behavior (e.g. pursuing a career in surgery) is the most critical and immediate predictor of performing the behavior. We investigated whether a two-part short-mentoring seminar significantly increases students’ intention to pursue a career in a surgical or related specialty after graduation. Method The mentoring and role-model seminar was conducted at 2 days for 90 minutes by six inspiring female role models with a remarkable career in surgical or related disciplines. Participants (N = 57) filled in an online survey before (T0) and after the seminar (T1). A pre-post comparison of central TPB concept attitude towards the behavior, 2) occupational self-efficacy and 3) social norm) was conducted using a paired sampled t-test. A follow-up survey was administered 12 months later (T2). Results The mentoring seminar positively impacted female students’ attitude towards a career in a surgical specialty. Female students reported a significantly increased positive attitude (p < .001) and significantly higher self-efficacy expectations (p < .001) towards a surgical career after participating in the mentoring seminar. Regarding their career intention after the seminar, female students declared a significantly higher intention to pursue a career in a surgical specialty after graduating (p < .001) and this effect seems to be sustainable after 1 year. Conclusion For the first time we could show that short-mentoring and demonstrating role models in a seminar surrounding has a significant impact on female medical student decision´s to pursue a career in a surgery speciality. This concept may be a practical and efficient concept to refine the gender disparity in surgery and related disciplines.

Persepsi dan Implementasi Program Studi Pengembangan Masyarakat Islam di Indonesia

The development of community development science has been studied by Western countries since 1925, with a focus on social development and community welfare. In 1995, Indonesia underwent a knowledge transformation by introducing the applied science of Islamic Community Development, which combines social science and Islamic values. The Islamic Community Development program has been popular in Indonesia until 2023 but remains unknown internationally. The aim of this research is to analyze the perception of the program and the implementation of Islamic community development theories on society as the focal point of community development studies in Indonesia. This research is a qualitative analysis with a phenomenological approach and a holistic perspective. Data collection was conducted through focus group discussions, observations, interviews, and document studies. The results of this research analyze that: (1) The perception of the Islamic community development program, in terms of concepts, scope, and goals, still varies among individuals, thus requiring a comprehensive concept to align perceptions regarding the Islamic community development program.

Abstract PO3-02-13: Breast Cancer in Very Young Adult Women At or Under the Age of 35 Years: Characteristics and Outcomes

Abstract Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy among women in Saudi Arabia. Noticeably, it shows a higher incidence in younger age groups than what is reported from Western countries. Age 35 years and less is an applied cut-off age for clinically defining BC in very young women (BCVY). This study describes characteristics, survival and risk of death associated factors in this rare subset of patients. Methods: A retrospective cohort study included females &amp;gt; 18 and &amp;lt; 35 years with histologically confirmed primary non-metastatic breast cancer from an academic hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia between the years 2009-2019. Demographic data, tumor clinicopathological features, and outcomes were obtained. Survival and potential associated factors were examined. A p-value of less than 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. Results: 204 female patients with a confirmed breast cancer diagnosis were included. The mean age at diagnosis was 31.43 ± 2.94 years. Fifty-three percent of the patients had a left-sided tumor with the majority being IDC (92%) and one-third with positive axillary lymph nodes (N+) and multifocal disease in 17%. One-quarter of the tumors showed LVI, 45% revealed associated DCIS and 26% showed tumor necrosis on histopathology examination. The presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) was reported in 23% of TNBC cases. Tubular differentiation score 3 was reported in 79.4%, nuclear pleomorphism score 3 in 79% and mitosis activity score 3 in 19% while the most reported overall grade was II in 48.5% followed by grade III in 34%. HER2-positive in 33.8 %, HR-positive in 34.3 %, TNBC in 24% and unknown in 8% of the patients. Thirty percent had a distant recurrence and 15% were deceased. The mean survival time was 4.61 years with a maximum of 6.54 years and a minimum of 3.67 years. Table 1 shows the multivariate logistic regression analysis of factors influencing the risk of death in very young patients with breast cancer. Conclusions: The current study describes the clinicopathological characteristic, survival and related factors of breast cancer in very young patients &amp;lt; 35 years, which is considered an uncommon presentation. Large, high-grade tumors and a high frequency of HER2 and TNBC were observed in BCVY patients. Involvement of the regional lymph nodes and the development of distant recurrence were associated significantly with an increased risk of death. The presence or absence of TILs, LVI and tumor necrosis on histopathological examination did not influence the risk of recurrence or death in this cohort. Table 1. The multivariate logistic regression analysis of factors influencing the risk of death in very young patients with breast cancer. Citation Format: Atlal Abusanad, Rana Ajabnoor, Aydah Al-Awadhi, Omalkhair Abualkhair. Breast Cancer in Very Young Adult Women At or Under the Age of 35 Years: Characteristics and Outcomes [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO3-02-13.

Appendectomy and the Risk of Parkinson's Disease: A Korean Nationwide Study.

The vermiform appendix is considered a potential reservoir for the abnormal α-synuclein aggregate in Parkinson's disease (PD). Previous epidemiologic evidence on the association between appendectomy and PD risk remains inconclusive, especially outside the Western world. To investigate the association between appendectomy and PD risk in Korea. Among 703,831 eligible adult subjects in the National Health Insurance Service sample cohort, we identified 16,122 patients who underwent appendectomy. The rest formed the control group. PD risk was assessed using time-dependent Cox regression analyses. The appendectomy group did not have altered risk of PD compared with the control group in either unadjusted [hazard ratio (HR) 1.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.97-1.80, P = 0.08] or adjusted model (HR 1.42, CI 0.88-2.30, P = 0.15). No further statistical difference appeared when stratified by sex. Appendectomy is not associated with altered risk of PD in the Korean population.

The Eating Model in Contemporary Taiwan: Destructuration or A New Insight into Compressed Food Modernity in Asia.

In contemporary societies with diverse but often conflicting values attached to eating, it is important to scrutinise what eating well means to a given population. While such attempts have been pioneered, mostly in Western countries, Asia has been rarely explored. Moreover, food scholars in Western countries have called for in-depth analysis of the impacts of food modernisation on our everyday eating models, but empirical data about Asia and its implications for the plurality of food modernisation have been limited. To narrow this knowledge gap, we replicated Ueda's previous survey in Japan by utilising the same web-based questionnaire in a study of the Taiwanese population (n = 920, aged 20-69) to elucidate their eating model across all dimensions; that is, not only meal content but also the temporal, spatial, social, qualitative and affective facets. It was found that, similarly to other parts of the world, the Taiwanese have experienced the so-called 'destructuration' of their eating model, including two out of five habitually skipping meals; one out of four eating out 14 times or more in a week; and three out of five eating alone for breakfast. The destructuration also extended to their dietary norms, which marked a sharp contrast with other countries, such as Japan and France, where many eaters experience dilemmas due to high ideals and reality. We argue that this interesting phenomenon is due to the 'compressed' food modernity that Taiwan experienced. This study is the first attempt to provide comprehensive data about the eating model in Taiwan. Further empirical studies, particularly in other Asian regions, are expected to advance our thinking about a complex relationship between food modernity and well-being.

Shaping the Discourse around Quality EdTech in India: Including Contextualized and Evidence-Based Solutions in the Ecosystem

Shaping the Discourse around Quality EdTech in India: Including Contextualized and Evidence-Based Solutions in the Ecosystem

Learning in the workplace: Development of a simple language statement assessment tool that supports second-level nurse practice

To focus learning through clarity of the enrolled nurse (EN) role (a second tier nurse position) through development of a user-friendly workplace performance assessment tool commensurate with EN standards for practice. Internationally, the nursing workforce comprises regulated and unregulated staff. In Australia, similar to other western countries, there are two tiers of regulated workforce, namely Registered Nurses (RNs) and Enrolled Nurses (ENs). Differences in RN and EN standards based on the education preparation are not always clearly differentiated in workplace practice. Roles are often seen as interchangeable: Improved clarity of both regulated and unregulated roles, when numbers of healthcare workers are burgeoning, assists performance assessment that guides further learning and safe practice. Two phase sequential, non-experimental design. Phase one used focus groups (n=48), expert reference panel (n=8) and end-users (n=16) to develop simple language statements. Phase two involved field testing of the statements. A 30-item, criterion-based workplace performance tool was developed. Principal component analysis of completed tools indicated work could be organised around three key areas of practice, namely, higher order thinking and problem solving, routine daily activities of care and personal and social attributes. Participants reported the statement items assisted in determining suitable activities and accompanying cues in discussing learning needs. Analysis assisted with discriminating broader elements of EN workplace performance. Workplace learning is important for nurses to continue to build their capacity to deliver optimum care. Assessment tools that describe professional capability in plain language statements and provide examples of supportive behavioural cues help guide on-going learning through improving the validity and thereby consistency of assessment processes. Furthermore, comprehensible and meaningful statements and cues can readily be adopted by students and educators to target learning and feedback thereby enhancing clarity of the EN role, to distinguish from other nursing roles.

PARP Inhibitors in Colorectal Malignancies: A 2023 Update.

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies in the Western world, and metastatic disease is associated with a dismal prognosis. Poly-ADpribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors gain increasing attention in the field of medical oncology, as they lead to synthetic lethality in malignancies with preexisting alterations in the DNA damage repair (DDR) pathway. As those alterations are frequently seen in CRC, a targeted approach through PARP inhibitors is expected to benefit these patients, both alone and in combination with other agents like chemotherapy, immunotherapy, antiangiogenics, and radiation. This review article aims to better clarify the role of PARP inhibitors as a treatment option in patients with metastatic CRC with alterations in the DDR pathway. We used the PubMed database to retrieve journal articles and the inclusion criteria were all human studies that illustrated the effective role of PARP inhibitors in patients with metastatic CRC with homologous repair deficiency (HRD) and the correct line of therapy. Current evidence supports the utilization of PARP inhibitors in CRC subgroups, as monotherapy and in combination with other agents. Up to now, data are insufficient to support a formal indication, and further research is needed. Efforts to precisely define the homologous repair deficiency (HRD) in CRC - and eventually the subgroup of patients that are expected to benefit the most - are also underway. DOI: dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.dm6gp3ey8vzp/v1.

Delayed presentation and management approach of autonomic dysfunction associated with severe tetanus

Introduction: In 2019, there were over 73 000 estimated tetanus cases globally, including more than 27 000 cases of neonatal tetanus, and the worldwide deaths caused by tetanus were almost 34 684. The mortality rate of tetanus is greater than 50% in countries without ICUs and 10% in developed countries, mostly attributed to autonomic dysfunction. Countries with the greatest rates of post-neonatal tetanus mortality (greater than five fatalities per 100 000 people) were Somalia, South Sudan, and Kenya. Case presentation: A 66-year-old unvaccinated male patient came to our hospital emergency department with generalized rigidity, neck stiffness, lockjaw, and an altered level of consciousness for 5 days. His symptoms started with stiffness in his neck and back 4 days before. The patient was diagnosed with tetanus, as he was unimmunized, had a recent injury, and presented clinical findings. The authors started treatment by administering intramuscular human tetanus immunoglobulin and metronidazole. He was admitted to the ICU and placed in an isolation room with minimal auditory and visual stimuli. Following 2 weeks after admission his blood pressure began to fall, and his pulse rate started to fluctuate with alternating tachycardia and bradycardia. After 1 month in the ICU, he was discharged from the ICU and transferred to the ward. A catch-up immunization regimen was established. Clinical discussion: Tetanus is a rare condition in the Western world, primarily due to widespread vaccination programs from infancy to adulthood. There are crucial barriers that still exist to overcoming this disease in our country, including a lack of reliable immunization programs. In tetanus, the increase in survival is associated with the use of intensive care facilities for the management of tetanus, besides expanding the knowledge of the disease, which is a challenge for developing countries. Conclusion: It is essential to have enough immunization at an early stage of trauma since severe autonomic dysfunction linked to tetanus might be lethal.

Energy efficiency practices: A case study analysis of innovative business models in buildings

Over the last two decades, the European Union has significantly improved its legal framework for building energy efficiency. New mandatory standards have led governments to adopt incentive measures that, in turn, encourage the growth of innovative entrepreneurial practices. This study analyzes emerging business models that capitalize on energy efficiency in the building industry. Thirty-seven energy efficiency projects − either retrofit or new construction, supported exclusively by innovative business models featuring the presence of an individual contractor − in five Central and Western European countries are considered. Data is collected on property characteristics, business environment, and energy efficiency measures. Using the Rough Set approach, the analysis identifies core attributes that associate or differentiate the case studies. They include building ownership, energy-related services to be provided to the users, and the duration for which the contractor must be involved. Additionally, other attributes − such as the types of retrofit work, investment costs, access to monetary incentives, and expected payback period − allow us to identify the cases representing best practices for each innovative model. There remain open questions concerning where the boundary between different business models lies and long-term economic self-sustainability, regardless of the availability of incentives.

Is there any difference between Eastern and Western clinical practice guidelines in management of gastric cancer?

Gastric cancer (GC) has been known as one of the most common causes of cancer mortality both in Western and Eastern countries. However, there might be differences between how it is managed in different countries. Thus, we aimed to investigate these differences. The most well-known clinical guidelines in field of GC management including Korean GC Association (KGCA), Japanese GC Association (JGCA), National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG), and National Institute for health and Care Excellence (NICE) have been reviewed. The contents of these guidelines were categorized under eight headings including (1) genetic predisposition, (2) prevention, (3) management of gastric polyp, atrophy, dysplasia and metaplasia, (4) diagnosis, (5) pathology and molecular biology, (6) treatment, (7) supportive and palliative care, and (8) follow up. Difference in each section was discussed. Considering KGCA and JGCA as Eastern and NCCN, ESMO, BSG, and NICE as Western guidelines, it is revealed that both sets of guidelines share common practices such as prioritizing comprehensive diagnostic evaluations, personalizing treatment plans, and palliative care. However, main differences can be seen in treatment regimens, the adoption of newer therapies like immunotherapy, and the utilization of emerging techniques such as HIPEC. These differences reflect the diverse clinical landscapes, research focuses, and healthcare systems within these regions.

Exploring individual-level predictors of punitive attitudes in Australia

ABSTRACT Western countries tend to display preferences for the harsh punishment of people with criminal justice involvement. Drawing on a representative survey of the Australian population, the present study explores punitive attitudes and what factors shape the development of these attitudes at an individual level. More specifically, the study considers the role of age, sex, level of education, geographic location, perceptions of crime, fear of crime, confidence in the criminal justice system, media consumption, crime causation, beliefs in redeemability, interpersonal trust, political ideology, racial essentialism, and minority threat in predicting the punitive attitudes of Australians. The results indicate that generally Australians are somewhat punitive and that the strongest predictors of these attitudes are: internal attribution of crime, perceptions of crime, belief in redeemability, geographic location, interpersonal trust, and lack of support for multicultural principles. This study fills a gap in the literature by examining these predictors together, creating a more robust understanding of punitive attitudes in Australia, which is currently lacking.

Application of artificial intelligence in hypertension.

Hypertension is an important modifiable risk factor for morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular disease. The incidence of hypertension is increasing not only in Korea but also in many Western countries due to the aging of the population and the increase in unhealthy lifestyles. However, hypertension control rates remain low due to poor adherence to antihypertensive medications, low awareness of hypertension, and numerous factors that contribute to hypertension, including diet, environment, lifestyle, obesity, and genetics. Because artificial intelligence (AI) involves data-driven algorithms, AI is an asset to understanding chronic diseases that are influenced by multiple factors, such as hypertension. Although several hypertension studies using AI have been published recently, most are exploratory descriptive studies that are often difficult for clinicians to understand and have little clinical relevance. This review aims to provide a clinician-centered perspective on AI by showing recent studies on the relevance of AI for patients with hypertension. The review is organized into sections on blood pressure measurement and hypertension diagnosis, prognosis, and management.