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Introduction We evaluated the risk factors associated with gastrointestinal disorders (GD) among the soldiers of the Army and Marine Aviation community (AMAC) using an exposomic approach. Specifically, we aimed to determine the medical and operational factors associated with reported GD in the Military Health System. Methods Longitudinal data were obtained from the Medical Assessment and Readiness System (MARS) housed at Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Liberty, NC, for a retrospective cohort study that included 79,249 active duty United States AMAC active duty service members (ADSMs) from October 2015 to December 2019. Multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between the incidence occurrence of GD and variables including rank, service time, deployment, Armed Forces Qualification Test score, education, tobacco use, alcohol use, age, gender, race, ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), and marital status. Results The incidence of GD included 22,813 person-years of observations with a rate of 2.2 per 100 person-years and a period prevalence of 3.2%. GD was independently associated with rank, service time, and deployment (all P  < 0.05). Conclusion The high-risk categories associated with GD in the AMAC included age, BMI, race (not ethnicity), marital status, and service time. Our data also show that deployment time, not geographical location, was associated with a higher risk of GD. Together, these analyses suggest that White ADSMs older than 33 years of age who have experienced marriage, longer service time, and deployments appear to have a higher risk of GDs. Our assessment shows the utility of using an exposomic approach to create a member-specific, big data-informed personalized clinical algorithm of health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Injuries are the leading cause of medical encounters with over 2 million medical encounters for musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions and over 700,000 acute injuries per year. Musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs) are by far the leading health and readiness problem of the U.S. Military. The Proceedings of the International Collaborative Effort on Injury Statistics published a list of 12 data elements deemed necessary for injury prevention in the civilian population; however, there are no standardized list of common data elements (CDEs) across the DoD specifically designed to study MSKIs in the Military Health System (MHS). This study aims to address this gap in knowledge by defining CDEs across the DoD for MSKIs, establishing a CDE dictionary, and compiling other necessary information to quantify MSKI disease burden in the MHS. Materials and Methods Between November 2022 and March 2023, we conducted an environmental scan of current MSKI data metrics across the DoD. We used snowball sampling with active engagement of groups housing datasets that contained MSKI data elements to determine CDEs as well as information on readiness databases across the DoD containing up-to-date personnel information on disease, hospitalizations, limited duty days (LDDs), and deployability status for all military personnel, as well as MSKI-specific measures from the MHS Dashboard which tracks key performance measures. Results We identified 8 unique databases: 5 containing demographic and diagnostic information (Defense Medical Surveillance System, Medical Assessment and Readiness Systems, Military Health System Data Repository, Person-Data Environment, and Soldier Performance, Health, and Readiness Database); and 3 containing LDD information (Aeromedical Services Information Management System, eProfile, and Limited Duty Sailor Marines Readiness Tracker). Nine CDEs were identified: DoD number, sex, race, ethnicity, branch of service, rank, diagnosis, Common Procedural Terminology coding, and cause codes, as they may be captured in any database that is a derivative of the Military Health System Data Repository. Medical Assessment and Readiness Systems contained most variables of interest, excluding injury/place of region and time in service. The Limited Duty Sailor Marines Readiness Tracker contains a variable corresponding to "days on limited duty." The Aeromedical Services Information Management System uses the "release date" and "profile date" to calculate LDDs. The eProfile system determines LDDs by the difference between the "expiration date" and "approved date." In addition, we identified 2 measures on the MHS Dashboard. One measures the percentage of service members (SMs) who are on limited duty for longer than 90 days because of an MSKI and the other tracks the percentage of SMs that are not medically ready for deployment because of a deployment-limiting medical condition. Conclusions This article identifies core data elements needed to understand and prevent MSKIs and where these data elements can be found. These elements should inform researchers and result in evidence-informed policy decisions supporting SM health to optimize military force readiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of nasal types has been reported to be influenced by climatic adaptation as the nose is involved in conditioning inhaled air. Previous studies have reported differential nasal types and dimensions among varying populations which is very beneficial in planning for rhinoplasty and in forensic identification. However, there is inadequate data on nasal types and dimensions of the various ethnic groups in the Ghanaian population. Since it is inappropriate to apply nasal dimensions of one ethnic group to another, the current study sought to assess the nasal types and dimensions of Akans and Ewes in the Ghanaian population. Nasal height, nasal length, nasal tip protrusion, morphological nose width, and anatomical nose width were measured from 202 participants (116 Akans and 86 Ewes) aged 18–27 years belonging to the Akan and Ewe ethnic groups. Nasal index was calculated, and the frequencies of the nasal types among the two ethnic groups were determined. Ewe significantly had greater nasal length and nasal tip protrusion than the Akans. For both ethnic groups, sexual dimorphism was observed in morphological nose width and anatomical nose width, with males having greater values than females. The platyrrhine (broad nose) nasal type was predominant among the Akan and Ewe ethnic groups. The average nasal dimensions of the Akan and Ewe ethnic groups for the Ghanaian population have been reported in the present study, which will be useful in rhinoplasty intended for individuals belonging to these ethnic groups and in identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation has been linked to adverse health outcomes, yet it is unclear whether neighborhood-level social determinants of health (SDOH) measures affect overall survival in adolescent and young adult patients with cancer. Methods This study used a diverse cohort of adolescent and young adult patients with cancer (N = 10 261) seen at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Zip codes were linked to Area Deprivation Index (ADI) values, a validated neighborhood-level SDOH measure, with higher ADI values representing worse SDOH. Results ADI was statistically significantly worse (P  < .050) for Black (61.7) and Hispanic (65.3) patients than for White patients (51.2). Analysis of ADI by cancer type showed statistically significant differences, mainly driven by worse ADI in patients with cervical cancer (62.3) than with other cancers. In multivariable models including sex, age at diagnosis, cancer diagnosis, and race and ethnicity, risk of shorter survival for people residing in neighborhoods with the least favorable ADI quartile was greater than for individuals in the most favorable ADI quartile (hazard ratio = 1.09, 95% confidence interval = 1.00 to 1.19, P  = .043). Conclusion Adolescent and young adult patients with cancer and the worst ADI values experienced a nearly 10% increase in risk of dying than patients with more favorable ADI values. This effect was strongest among White adolescent and young adult survivors. Although the magnitude of the effect of ADI on survival was moderate, the presence of a relationship between neighborhood-level SDOH and survival among patients who received care at a tertiary cancer center suggests that ADI is a meaningful predictor of survival. These findings provide intriguing evidence for potential interventions aimed at supporting adolescent and young adult patients with cancer from disadvantaged neighborhoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Mechanisms underlying racial and ethnic disparities in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) vs open radical prostatectomy (ORP) are unclear. We sought to test 2 physician-level hypotheses: 1) Segregated Treatment and 2) Differential Treatment. Methods This observational study used the New York State Cancer Registry linked to discharge records and included patients undergoing radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer from October 1, 2008 to December 31, 2018. For hypothesis 1, we examined the association between patient race and ethnicity and treating surgeon RARP use (high-use surgeons, low-use surgeons, and surgeons at non-RARP facilities). For hypothesis 2, we determined the association between patient race and ethnicity and receipt of RARP when matching on treating surgeon, age, year of procedure, and Gleason group. We explored the role of insurance in both analyses. Results This study included 18 926 patients (8.0% Hispanic, 16.9% non-Hispanic Black, 75.1% non-Hispanic White), with a mean age of 60.4 ± 7.1 years. Compared with non-Hispanic White patients, Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black patients had higher odds of being treated by low-RARP-use surgeons (odds ratio [OR] = 2.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.20 to 3.88; OR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.06 to 2.94, respectively) and by surgeons at non-RARP facilities (OR = 4.19, 95% CI = 2.18 to 8.07; OR = 4.60, 95% CI = 2.58 to 8.23, respectively). In the matched cohorts, Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black patients were less likely to receive RARP than non-Hispanic White patients (OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.62 to 0.98; OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.57 to 1.00, respectively). These associations were partially attenuated after accounting for insurance. Conclusions Racial and ethnic disparities in RARP use are related to patients being treated by different surgeons and treated differently by the same surgeons. Identifying and addressing multilevel barriers to equitable surgical treatment is needed to reduce disparities among prostate cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Background Methods Results Conclusions Clinical Relevance This study examines whether racism exists among Jewish and Arab patients in Israel, as reflected in patient preference for receiving treatment from a nurse with the same ethnic background.We examine the relationship between racism and the level of trust in a nurse from a different ethnic group than the patient, as well as the preferred level of social distance, in the context of ongoing conflicts between the Jewish majority and the Arab minority in Israel.A cross‐sectional study was conducted using a unique study questionnaire that asked 534 Jewish and 478 Arab respondents to express their preference for an Arab and a Jewish nurse.Among both the Jews and the Arabs, there is a similar tendency of racism toward nurses of the dissimilar ethnic group. This racism was also prevalent among participants who live in a mixed environment or those who studied or are studying and worked or work in a mixed environment. As the trust in nursing staff members from the other group increases, the level of racism decreases. The greater the social distance the participants felt from the members of the other group, the more racist the attitudes they expressed.Both Jews and Arabs preferred to be treated by nurses of their own ethnic group. In contrast to the contact hypothesis theory, participants who live in a mixed environment did not express fewer racist preferences. We conclude with some useful practical suggestions aimed at decreasing racism in health care.Findings imply that prospective patients prefer to receive nursing care from nurses of their own ethnic group and trust these nurses more than they trust nurses of different ethnic group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Ecuador, cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women and the second most common cause of cancer-related death in women. Although HPV represents a serious public health problem worldwide, the information about its prevalence and genotypes in remote communities of Ecuador is limited. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of HPV genotypes among ethnic minority women from two remote communities of the northwestern region of Ecuador: Afro-Ecuadorians and Chachis (Amerindian group). Methods: We included 291 women who responded to a short survey and were screened for HPV by the amplification of the L1 gene and a nested multiplex PCR to detect 14 high risk (HR) genotypes. A survey collected information on ethnicity, age, community access, and sexual and gynecological history. We identified risk factors associated with HPV infection and co-infection using multivariate logistic regression to calculate odds ratio (OR) and Wald 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Overall, HPV prevalence in the study cohort was 56%, and the five most common HR-HPV genotypes were HPV-58, -16, -68, -39, and -43; however, the distribution of HPV genotypes varied according to ethnicity. We identified lineage A (European variant) for HPV-16 and sublineage A2 for HPV-58 in both ethnic groups. Adjusting for ethnicity, age, community access, and number of sexual partners, we found that Afro-Ecuadorian women were less likely to have an HPV infection than Chachi women (OR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.25, 0.96), and that participants in communities only accessible by river had 64% less chances of an HPV infection when compared to women in communities accessible by road (OR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.71), and women with 2 to 3 sexual partners had 2.47 times the odds of HPV infection than participants with 0–1 partners (OR: 2.47, 95% CI: 1.32, 4.6). Similar associations were observed with prevalence of co-infection. Conclusions: This study provides baseline knowledge regarding the prevalence and distribution of HPV genotypes in ethnic groups of the northwestern coastal Ecuador and essential information for the implementation of appropriate HPV testing and vaccination program to prevent cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction We quantified the linear trend in combustible tobacco smoking among adolescents in the United States from 2014 to 2020, and then compared these trends across racial and ethnic categories. We also tested the effect of e-cigarette use on these trends for all-youth and across racial and ethnic categories. Aims and Methods We pooled and analyzed seven years of National Youth Tobacco Survey data for n  = 124 151 middle and high school students from 2014 to 2020. Weighted logistic regression analyses calculated the annual change in combustible tobacco smoking (ie cigarettes, cigars, and hookah) from 2014 to 2020. Stratified analyses examined linear trends for non-Hispanic White (NHW), NH-Black (NHB), Hispanic/Latino, and NH-Other (NHO) youth. All-models controlled for sex, grade level, and past 30-day e-cigarette use. Results Combustible tobacco smoking from 2014 to 2020 dropped by more than 50% for NHW youth, more than 40% for Latino and NHO youth, compared to just 16% among NHB youth. From 2014 to 2020, the odds of combustible tobacco smoking declined by 21.5% per year for NHWs, which was significantly greater than Hispanic/Latinos (17% per year; p  = .025), NHOs (15.4% per year; p  = .01), and NHBs (5.1% per year; p  < .001), adjusting for sex, grade, and e-cigarette use. Trends and disparities in trends by race and ethnicity were observed independent of e-cigarette use. Conclusions Combustible tobacco smoking declined for all-youth but at significantly different rates across races and ethnicities. Notably, declines in combustible tobacco smoking are lagging among NHB youth. Interventions are critically needed to address this disparity. Implications A direct, evidence-based intervention to reduce combustible tobacco smoking among NHB youth is critically needed. Such tobacco control initiatives should follow the Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Framework, incorporating sustainable funding for school-based intervention, public health education, and adult cessation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Flavorings in cigars increase their appeal, mask the harsh taste of tobacco, and may hinder successful cigar smoking cessation; however, limited evidence has examined whether flavors are associated with short- or long-term cigar smoking cessation. Aims and Methods Using restricted data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study Waves 1–5, we examined whether flavored cigar use was associated with 30-day-plus and 1-year-plus cigar smoking cessation among US adults. Multivariable discrete-time survival models were fit to a nationally representative sample of US adult (18+) respondents who had a current, established cigar use, smoked five or more days in the past 30 days, and did not exclusively smoke traditional premium cigars at baseline. Models adjusted for age, sex, race and ethnicity, income, cigar and cigarette smoking intensity, and blunt use. Results At baseline, 44.6% of respondents (n = 674) were 18–34 years old, 75.0% were male, 56.7% were non-Hispanic White, 78.9% had household incomes of <$50,000, and 56.2% smoked flavored cigars. In fully adjusted models, flavored cigar use was associated with a lower risk of 30-day-plus (HR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.60, 0.97) but not 1-year-plus cigar smoking cessation (HR = 0.81, 95% = 0.62, 1.05). Conclusions We found that flavored cigar use was associated with a lower risk of short-term but not long-term cigar smoking cessation. More work is needed to understand the dynamics of cigar smoking transitions, including initiation, cessation, and relapse, particularly in larger cohorts and among those who exclusively use cigars or dual-use cigars and cigarettes. Implications As local and some state jurisdictions continue to adopt partial or complete bans of flavored cigar products and the United States Food and Drug Administration considers a national ban of all characterizing flavors in cigars, there is a need for more longitudinal work examining the associations between flavorings in cigars and short and long-term cigar-smoking behaviors, including but not limited to initiation, cessation, intensity of use, and relapse, particularly in diverse cohorts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper concerns the analysis of the patterns and peculiarities of the settlement of ethnic groups in the territory of the Altai Republic and identification of cultural landscapes formed by these groups. The main source of information was represented by the results of the 2021 Russian Census. The use of interviewing and literature analysis allowed the verification of some data of the Census related to the ethnic identity of the residents in the region. In particular, some inaccuracies and discrepancies in the assignment of the population to specific subethnic groups of the Altaians were identified and, accordingly, improved indicators of the population count for these groups have been proposed. From the results of the study, a map of ethno-cultural differentiation of the territory of the Altai Republic has been compiled, which shows areas of settlement of main ethnic groups, as well as ethno-contacting zones. The area of settlement of the Russian population spans the low- and mid-mountain regions in the north of the Republic. Also, in Central Altai, old-believers resettling there in the 18th–19th cc. formed yet another isolated areal of Russian population. The Northern Altaians (Chelkans, Tubalars, Kumandins) live in taiga low-mountain regions of North-Eastern Altai (Turochaksky, Choysky and Mayminsky Districts). In doing so, they have mixed to a large extent with the Russian population. The Southern Altaians (Altai-Kizhi and Telengits) have the largest territory of population, living mainly in Ust’-Kansky, Ongudaysky, Ust’-Koksinsky, Shebalinsky, Chemalsky (Altai-Kizhi), Ulagansky, and Kosh-Agachsky (Telengits) Districts. Kazakhs live compactly in the territory of Kosh-Agachsky District, as well as have a smaller enclave in Ust’-Kansky District (the village of Turata).

The objective of this study was to analyze possibilities for strategic direction according to the ways in which management processes are arranged in community social organizations which are anchored in local territories. The qualitative processes of data collection and analysis were developed with a phenomenological design through in-depth interviews, considering that reality is understood from the interactions and meanings that social leaders give to the management of community organizations. The findings were constructed inductively from the texts of the interviews to configure three categories: a) The administrative processes of community social organizations; b) Identity with the corporate platform of these organizations and c) Internal and external analysis of their dynamics. It was found that, although these organizations formally have a legal constitution that defines their purpose and government and documentation is available on administrative processes such as planning, their management practices are empirical and based on traditional experience. It was found that deficiencies in the commitment to the corporate platform, situational analysis and business conception are factors that become barriers for social managers to advance with strategic direction, seeking resources and increasing the scope of programs and projects.

Abstract Background In Ecuador, cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women and the second most common cause of cancer-related death in women. Although HPV represents a serious public health problem worldwide, the information about its prevalence and genotypes in remote communities of Ecuador is limited. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of HPV genotypes among ethnic minority women from two remote communities of the northwestern region of Ecuador: Afro-Ecuadorians and Chachis (Amerindian group). Methods We included 291 women who responded to a short survey and were screened for HPV by the amplification of the L1 gene and a nested multiplex PCR to detect 14 high risk (HR) genotypes. A survey collected information on ethnicity, age, community access, and sexual and gynecological history. We identified risk factors associated with HPV infection and co-infection using multivariate logistic regression to calculate odds ratio (OR) and Wald 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Overall, HPV prevalence in the study cohort was 56%, and the five most common HR-HPV genotypes were HPV-58, -16, -68, -39, and -43; however, the distribution of HPV genotypes varied according to ethnicity. We identified lineage A (European variant) for HPV-16 and sublineage A2 for HPV-58 in both ethnic groups. Adjusting for ethnicity, age, community access, and number of sexual partners, we found that Afro-Ecuadorian women were less likely to have an HPV infection than Chachi women (OR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.25, 0.96), and that participants in communities only accessible by river had 64% less chances of an HPV infection when compared to women in communities accessible by road (OR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.71), and women with 2 to 3 sexual partners had 2.47 times the odds of HPV infection than participants with 0–1 partners (OR: 2.47, 95% CI: 1.32, 4.6). Similar associations were observed with prevalence of co-infection. Conclusions This study provides baseline knowledge regarding the prevalence and distribution of HPV genotypes in ethnic groups of the northwestern coastal Ecuador and essential information for the implementation of appropriate HPV testing and vaccination program to prevent cervical cancer.

Background Annual surveillance mammography is recommended for women with a personal history of breast cancer. Risk prediction models that estimate mammography failures such as interval second breast cancers could help to tailor surveillance imaging regimens to women's individual risk profiles. Methods In a cohort of women with a history of breast cancer receiving surveillance mammography in the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium in 1996-2019, we used Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO)-penalized regression to estimate the probability of an interval second cancer (invasive cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ) in the 1 year after a negative surveillance mammogram. Based on predicted risks from this one-year risk model, we generated cumulative risks of an interval second cancer for the five-year period after each mammogram. Model performance was evaluated using cross-validation in the overall cohort and within race and ethnicity strata. Results In 173 290 surveillance mammograms, we observed 496 interval cancers. One-year risk models were well-calibrated (expected/observed ratio = 1.00) with good accuracy (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.64). Model performance was similar across race and ethnicity groups. The median five-year cumulative risk was 1.20% (interquartile range 0.93%-1.63%). Median five-year risks were highest in women who were under age 40 or pre- or perimenopausal at diagnosis and those with estrogen receptor-negative primary breast cancers. Conclusions Our risk model identified women at high risk of interval second breast cancers who may benefit from additional surveillance imaging modalities. Risk models should be evaluated to determine if risk-guided supplemental surveillance imaging improves early detection and decreases surveillance failures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Racial and ethnic disparities in genomic testing could exacerbate disparities in access to precision cancer therapies and survival—particularly in the context of lung cancer where genomic testing has been recommended for the past decade. However, prior studies assessing disparities in genomic testing have yielded mixed results. Methods We conducted a systemic review to examine racial and ethnic disparities in the use of genomic testing among lung cancer patients in the United States. Two comprehensive searches in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus were conducted (September 2022, May 2023). Original studies that assessed rates of genomic testing by race or ethnicity were included. Findings were narratively synthesized by outcome. Results The search yielded 2739 unique records, resulting in 18 included studies. All but 1 study were limited to patients diagnosed with non–small cell lung cancer. Diagnosis years ranged from 2007 to 2022. Of the 18 studies, 11 found statistically significant differences in the likelihood of genomic testing by race or ethnicity; in 7 of these studies, testing was lower among Black patients compared with White or Asian patients. However, many studies lacked adjustment for key covariates and included patients with unclear eligibility for testing. Conclusions A majority of studies, though not all, observed racial and ethnic disparities in the use of genomic testing among patients with lung cancer. Heterogeneity of study results throughout a period of changing clinical guidelines suggests that minoritized populations—Black patients in particular—have faced additional barriers to genomic testing, even if not universally observed at all institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Smoking is a cause of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but the dose–response relationship between secondhand smoke exposure (SHS) and NAFLD is unclear. This study sought to determine the relationship between SHS and NAFLD risk among adult nonsmokers in the United States. Aims and Methods Data from 7412 adult nonsmokers aged ≥20 years who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2007 and 2016 were used in this study. SHS was defined as a nonsmoker with a serum cotinine concentration of 0.05–10.00 ng/mL. NAFLD was identified using the U.S. fatty liver index (USFLI), hepatic steatosis index (HSI), and fatty liver index (FLI). Weighted multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic spline models were applied to evaluate the relationship between SHS and NAFLD risk. Results The participants had a weighted mean age of 49.2 years, and 55.5% were female. SHS was associated with NAFLD (odds ratio [OR] 1.22; 95% confidence interval CI: 1.05 to 1.42), showing a linear dose–response relationship (natural log of cotinine level: OR 1.10, 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.17). Sensitivity analyses using different NAFLD definitions (HSI: OR 1.21, 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.46; FLI: OR 1.26, 95% CI: 1.06 to 1.49), excluding participants taking hepatotoxic drugs, and propensity score-adjusted analysis yielded similar results. The association between SHS and NAFLD was consistent in analyses stratified by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Conclusions Among this nationally representative sample of U.S. adults, SHS had a linear dose–response relationship with the risk of NAFLD, suggesting that measures to lower SHS might lower NAFLD risk. Implications This study assessed the association between secondhand smoke exposure and the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using data from 7412 adult nonsmokers aged 20 years or older who participated in the United States NHANES between 2007 and 2016. Secondhand smoke exposure was measured using serum cotinine levels. Three different noninvasive indexes were used to measure NAFLD. Secondhand smoke exposure was associated with an increased risk of NAFLD, with a linear dose–response relationship. The results of sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses were consistent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into perceptions of land and forest tenure (in)security among Indigenous and mestizo populations in the Peruvian Amazon. Despite all having collective lands, the selected communities vary in their formalisation processes. This research seeks to enhance comprehension of tenure security perceptions in the Peruvian Amazon by investigating sources of security and insecurity across key tenure components. A combination of descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses is employed, based on fieldwork conducted between July 2015 and December 2017 in 22 Native and Peasant Communities in Loreto and Madre de Dios, utilising 1006 intra-household surveys, 52 in-depth interviews, and 44 focus group discussions. The results reveal similarities and differences in (in)security sources between titled and untitled communities. The study also explores the influence of gender and ethnicity on these perceptions, finding ethnicity-based variation in security perception over the past 20 years (1995–2015). Recognising these differences in perception is critical for assessing the robustness of exercising acquired collective rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background Secondary rhinoplasty in patients with bilateral cleft lip poses ongoing challenges and requires a reliable method for achieving optimal outcomes. Objectives The purpose of this study was to establish a safe and effective method for secondary bilateral cleft rhinoplasty. Methods A consecutive series of 92 skeletally matured patients with bilateral cleft lip and nasal deformity were included. All had undergone secondary open rhinoplasty, performed by a single surgeon with a bilateral reverse-U flap and septal extension graft, between 2013 and 2021. Medical records of these 92 patients were reviewed to assess the clinical course. A 3-dimensional (3D) anthropometric analysis and panel assessment of 32 patients were performed to evaluate the aesthetic improvement, with an age-, sex-, and ethnicity-matched normal control group for comparisons. Results The methods showed statistically significant improvement in addressing a short columella (columellar height), short nasal bridge (nasal bridge length), de-projected nasal tip (nasal tip projection, nasal dorsum angle), poorly defined nasal tip (nasal tip angle, dome height, and panel assessment), and transversely oriented nostrils (columellar height, alar width, nostril type). Importantly, these improvements were accompanied by a low complication rate of 4%. However, upper lip deficiency over the upper lip angle and labial-columellar angle remained without significant improvement. Conclusions In this study we described effective secondary rhinoplasty, which was composed of a bilateral reverse-U flap and septal extension graft, with acceptable outcome. The 3D anthropometric analysis and panel assessment clarified that our rhinoplasty procedure could bring the nasal morphology in these patients closer to the normal data. Level of Evidence: 3 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) are rare diseases caused by inherited defects in various biochemical pathways that strongly correlate with early neonatal mortality and stunting. Currently, no studies have reported on the incidence of IEMs of multi-ethnic groups in Huaihua, China. Methods: A total of 206,977 neonates with self-reported ethnicity who underwent IEM screening at Huaihua from 2015 to 2021 were selected for observation. Among them, 69 suspected IEM-positive neonates were referred for urine gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, biochemical detection, next-generation sequencing, and Sanger sequencing. Results: Sixty-nine newborns were diagnosed with IEMs, with an overall incidence of 1:3,000. The two most common disorders were 2-methylbutyryl glycinuria (1:7,137) and phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency (1:22,997). Moreover, the incidence of IEMs in the minority ethnic group (Miao, Dong, Tujia and Yao) (1:1,852) was markedly higher than in the Han ethnic group (1: 4,741). Some ethnic features variants were identified; NM_001609.4:c.1165A>G in the ACADSB gene for Miao and Dong ethnic groups, NM_014251.2:c.852_ 855del in the SLC25A13 gene for Miao ethnic groups. Conclusion: This study revealed the IEM incidence within the minority ethnic groups is markedly higher than among the Han nationality and the gene variant spectrum is dramatically different in Huaihua, China. Hence, It serves as a theoretical reference for the screening and diagnosing of neonatal IEMs of multi-ethnic groups in the Huaihua area, and across China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) has an ethno-variety white characterized by the absence of anthocyanin in its epicarp, differing from violet açai. White ethno-variety is under strong anthropic pressure, which can lead to genetic erosion. Studies with white açaí that allow the selection of possible cultivars to stimulate their cultivation are scarce. Therefore, this work aimed to verify which characteristics best discriminate selected progenies of white açaí. The experiment contains 52 progenies installed, in a completely randomized design, with ten replications of one plant per plot in a lowland area belonging to Embrapa Amazônia Oriental. The characteristics evaluated were total bunch weight (PTC) in kilogram; fruit weight per bunch (PFC) in kilogram; fruit yield per bunch (RFC) in %; one hundred fruit weight (PCF) in grams; rachillas number per bunch (NRC); and rachilla length in the bunch (CRC), in centimeter. The conclusions are that there exists a correlation between the characteristics in different intensities through multivariate analysis; the Box Plot indicates that the plants respond to the annual water quantity specifically in the characteristics PTC, CRC, and PFC; for the ADC, the characteristics with the greatest contribution to the variance are PTC, CRC and PFC, being similar for the ACP mainly in the PTC and PFC characteristics; by the canonical Biplot the characteristics PTC, PFC, CRC and NRC are preferentially evaluated, discarding RFC and PCF, reducing the effort to be effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Industrial facilities are not located uniformly across communities in the United States, but how the burden of exposure to carcinogenic air emissions may vary across population characteristics is unclear. We evaluated differences in carcinogenic industrial pollution among major sociodemographic groups in the United States and Puerto Rico. Methods We evaluated cross-sectional associations of population characteristics including race and ethnicity, educational attainment, and poverty at the census tract level with point-source industrial emissions of 21 known human carcinogens using regulatory data from the US Environmental Protection Agency. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals comparing the highest emissions (tertile or quintile) to the referent group (zero emissions [ie, nonexposed]) for all sociodemographic characteristics were estimated using multinomial, population density–adjusted logistic regression models. Results In 2018, approximately 7.4 million people lived in census tracts with nearly 12 million pounds of carcinogenic air releases. The odds of tracts having the greatest burden of benzene, 1,3-butadiene, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and nickel emissions compared with nonexposed were 10%-20% higher for African American populations, whereas White populations were up to 18% less likely to live in tracts with the highest emissions. Among Hispanic and Latino populations, odds were 16%-21% higher for benzene, 1,3-butadiene, and ethylene oxide. Populations experiencing poverty or with less than high school education were associated with up to 51% higher burden, irrespective of race and ethnicity. Conclusions Carcinogenic industrial emissions disproportionately impact African American and Hispanic and Latino populations and people with limited education or experiencing poverty thus representing a source of pollution that may contribute to observed cancer disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex disorder in which environmental and genetic factors interact modifying disease risk and course. This multicentre, case–control study involving 18 Italian MS Centres investigated MS course by ethnicity and native-country economic status in foreign-born patients living in Italy. Methods: We identified 457 MS patients who migrated to Italy and 893 age- and sex-matched native-born Italian patients. In our population, 1225 (93.2%) subjects were White Europeans and White Northern Americans (WENA) and 89 (6.8%) patients were from other ethnical groups (OEG); 1109 (82.1%) patients were born in a high-income (HI) Country and 241 (17.9%) in a low-middle-income (LMI) Country. Medical records and patients interviews were used to collect demographic and disease data. Results: We included 1350 individuals (973 women and 377 men); mean (SD) age was 45.0 (11.7) years. At onset, 25.45% OEG patients vs 12.47% WENA (p = 0.039) had > 3 STIR spine lesions. At recruitment, the same group featured mean (SD) EDSS score of 2.85 (2.23) vs 2.64 (2.28) (p = 0.044) reached in 8.9 (9.0) vs 12.0 (9.0) years (p = 0.018) and underwent 1.10 (4.44) vs. 0.99 (0.40) annual MRI examinations (p = 0.035). At disease onset, patients from LMI countries had higher EDSS score than HI patients (2.40 (1.43) vs 1.99 (1.17); p = 0.032). Discussion: Our results suggested that both ethnicity and socio-economic status of native country shape MS presentation and course and should be considered for an appropriate management of patients. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting on the impact of ethnicity in MS at an individual level and beyond an ecological population-perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the potential effects of gender and country factors on palmar creases by examining the palmar creases of young adults from various countries. Materials and Methods: The study involved a total of 220 volunteers, including 120 males and 100 females aged 18-30, from seven different countries (Jordan, Sudan, Somalia, Iran, Iraq, Tanzania and Turkey), as well as students from Karabuk University. Hand types were evaluated based on palmar creases and the number of origins for both hands. Total Degree of Transversality (TDoT) values for palmar creases were calculated. Classification of palmar creases and comparison of T-DoT values for both hands were performed between genders and countries. Results: The study analyzed 440 hands from 220 individuals, identifying 1 Simian, 8 Suwon, and 5 Sydneytype hands, while categorizing the remaining 426 hands as normal type. Regarding the number of palmar crease origins, it was observed that there was a single origin in 3 hands, two origins in 309 hands and three origins in 119 hands. Significant associations were found between genders and countries in the number of palmar crease origins. In addition, significant differences in right hand TDoT values were found between genders and countries. Conclusion: In spite of limitations in sample selection and size, these results are important in providing a basis for future in-depth research on palmar creases at later stages, although generalizability to the specific countries represented in the sample may be limited. Consequently, this study highlights variations among countries concerning both the number of palm crease origins and right-hand T-DoT values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background Sleep problems following childhood cancer treatment may persist into adulthood, exacerbating cancer-related late effects and putting survivors at risk for poor physical and psychosocial functioning. This study examines sleep in long-term survivors and their siblings to identify risk factors and disease correlates. Methods Childhood cancer survivors (≥5 years from diagnosis; n = 12 340; 51.5% female; mean [SD] age = 39.4 [9.6] years) and siblings (n = 2395; 57.1% female; age = 44.6 [10.5] years) participating in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Multivariable Poisson-error generalized estimating equation compared prevalence of binary sleep outcomes between survivors and siblings and evaluated cancer history and chronic health conditions (CHC) for associations with sleep outcomes, adjusting for age (at diagnosis and current), sex, race/ethnicity, and body mass index. Results Survivors were more likely to report clinically elevated composite PSQI scores (>5; 45.1% vs 40.0%, adjusted prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.13 to 1.27), symptoms of insomnia (38.8% vs 32.0%, PR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.18 to 1.35), snoring (18.0% vs 17.4%, PR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.23), and sleep medication use (13.2% vs 11.5%, PR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.12 to 1.45) compared with siblings. Within cancer survivors, PSQI scores were similar across diagnoses. Anthracycline exposure (PR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.03 to 1.25), abdominal radiation (PR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.04 to 1.29), and increasing CHC burden were associated with elevated PSQI scores (PRs = 1.21-1.48). Conclusions Among survivors, sleep problems were more closely related to CHC than diagnosis or treatment history, although longitudinal research is needed to determine the direction of this association. Frequent sleep-promoting medication use suggests interest in managing sleep problems; behavioral sleep intervention is advised for long-term management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Young adult cancer survivors face medical financial hardships that may lead to delaying or forgoing medical care. This study describes the medical financial difficulties young adult cancer survivors in the United States experience in the post–Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act period. Method We identified 1009 cancer survivors aged 18 to 39 years from the National Health Interview Survey (2015-2022) and matched 963 (95%) cancer survivors to 2733 control individuals using nearest-neighbor matching. We used conditional logistic regression to examine the association between cancer history and medical financial hardship and to assess whether this association varied by age, sex, race and ethnicity, and region of residence. Results Compared with those who did not have a history of cancer, young adult cancer survivors were more likely to report material financial hardship (22.8% vs 15.2%; odds ratio = 1.65, 95% confidence interval = 1.50 to 1.81) and behavior-related financial hardship (34.3% vs 24.4%; odds ratio = 1.62, 95% confidence interval = 1.49 to 1.76) but not psychological financial hardship (52.6% vs 50.9%; odds ratio = 1.07, 95% confidence interval = 0.99 to 1.16). Young adult cancer survivors who were Hispanic or lived in the Midwest and South were more likely to report psychological financial hardship than their counterparts. Conclusions We found that young adult cancer survivors were more likely to experience material and behavior-related financial hardship than young adults without a history of cancer. We also identified specific subgroups of young adult cancer survivors that may benefit from targeted policies and interventions to alleviate medical financial hardship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This mini review delves into the complex issue of mortality linked to malnutrition, highlighting its multifaceted nature beyond just biomedical factors, presenting it as an intricate intersectional phenomenon.MethodThe mini-review methodology involved a systematic literature search across databases like PubMed and Scielo, focusing on malnutrition and infant mortality in Colombia. We used specific keywords and Boolean operators to identify relevant studies, emphasizing socio-economic, gender, and ethnic factors, while excluding non-peer-reviewed and outdated publications.ResultsThe relationship between gender and food/nutrition has deep historical and cultural roots. Patriarchal norms influence dietary habits based on gender roles, often placing undue responsibility on mothers for children’s nutritional health, reflecting profound social intersections. Mortality due to malnutrition is most prevalent among indigenous and Afro-descendant children in rural, conflict-affected areas with limited access to healthcare. Unpaid domestic work restricts women’s economic independence, intensifying challenges for single-parent households.ConclusionA comprehensive understanding can shift institutional attitudes toward mothers, leading to more coherent policy strategies and effective interventions.

Introduction. The article is devoted to the analysis of the relationship between the state and ethnic group, state and ethnic identity. It reveals the mechanisms of state formation based on the development of cultural baggage created within the framework of the ethnic communicative space. Theoretical analysis. One of the distinctive features of modern states is the complex nature of the identities that comprise their citizens. The article shows in what ways and due to what the president of the state asserts the beginning of the state. On the one hand, the state is trying to bring in the best examples of ethnic culture. On the other hand, it seeks to use the possibilities of new types of identity in its manifestations (digital identity). Materials borrowed from other types of identity are improved and adapted to the situation of their use in the process of development. They tend to be integrated into modern mass culture. In the process of development of the state, there is a change in the balance of “I” and “We” identities towards strengthening individual identity. The state is trying to counter this. Conclusion. The state uses ethnic communicative space and ethnic identity as a source of borrowing valuable plots, historical characters, and holidays. It also seeks to attract to its side ethnic activists who are the carriers of this information.

The quality of maternity and newborn care and training in the hospitals in North Macedonia is still inadequate today. This study aimed to examine their readiness for discharge and the first breastfeeding time according to ethnic groups in mothers who were postnatal in Tetovo State Hospital North Macedonia. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 202 Macedonian, Albanian, Turkish, Bosnian, and Romanian mothers who were hospitalized in the maternity service of Tetovo State Hospital in North Macedonia. Data were collected before discharge with a survey form and face-to-face interviews. The mothers reported that the first postpartum breastfeeding started after an average of 22.0±20.6 hours. Macedonian mothers reported that they received more training on shower and hygiene (p

Abstract Color vision deficiency is a common X-linked genetic disorder affecting the day-to-day lives of individuals, in which school-aged children’s academic performance can be negatively affected. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and genotypic frequency of congenital color vision defects (CVD), among primary schoolchildren in Adama, Ethiopia. A school-based cross-sectional study design was used. Students were purposively selected based on their ethnicity but were randomly selected from their sections, resulting in a final sample size estimated at 846 schoolchildren who had received informed consent from their families. Data was gathered using the Ishihara color vision test, 38-plate edition. The result of the study revealed that the total prevalence of CVD was much higher (5.6%) among the male children than that of the females, which was only about 1.79%. The prevalence rates of CVD among the targeted ethnic groups were found to be the highest among Amhara (7.45%) > Oromo (5.00%) > Gurage (2.13%) children, respectively, in descending order. 62.76% of the study subjects were homozygous dominant (AA), followed by those with a heterozygous genotype (Aa) (32.51%), and the remaining 4.73% had recessive (aa) genes.

Background Childhood cancer survivors have increased risk of dyslipidemia and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and associated cardiovascular risks of specific lipid abnormalities among childhood cancer survivors. Methods Comprehensive lipid panel measurements were obtained from 4115 5-year survivors, with 3406 (mean age at evaluation = 35.2 years, SD = 10.4 years) not having previous dyslipidemia diagnosis, as well as 624 age, sex, and race and ethnicity matched community controls. Results Previously undiagnosed dyslipidemia with abnormal low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (>160 mg/dL), non–high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (>190 mg/dL), HDL cholesterol (<40 mg/dL for men, <50 mg/dL for women), and triglycerides (>150 mg/dL) were identified in 4%, 6%, 30%, and 17%, respectively. Survivors without previous dyslipidemia diagnosis had higher LDL cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol than community controls. Cranial radiotherapy (relative risk [RR] = 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.6 to 3.0 for non-HDL cholesterol) and total body irradiation for hematopoietic cell transplantation (RR = 6.7, 95% CI = 3.5 to 13.0 for non-HDL cholesterol; RR = 9.9, 95% CI = 6.0 to 16.3 for triglycerides) were associated with greater risk of dyslipidemia. Diagnoses of low HDL cholesterol (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.8 to 4.7) and elevated triglycerides (HR = 3.1, 95% CI = 1.9 to 5.1) were associated with increased risk for myocardial infarction, and diagnoses of high LDL cholesterol (HR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.3 to 3.7), high non-HDL cholesterol (HR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.3 to 3.7), low HDL cholesterol (HR = 3.9, 95% CI = 2.8 to 5.4), and elevated triglycerides (HR = 3.8, 95% CI = 2.7 to 5.5) were associated with increased risk for cardiomyopathy. Conclusions Previously undiagnosed dyslipidemia among childhood cancer survivors was associated with increased risk for myocardial infarction and cardiomyopathy. Comprehensive dyslipidemia evaluation and treatment are needed to reduce cardiovascular morbidity in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to propose a knowledge organization system (KOS) for the ethnic groups of Laos by utilizing linked open data (LOD) to standardize the metadata. Data of 49 Laos ethnic groups and the techniques of Linked Open Data were used. Linked data of ethnic groups in Lao PDR from other external standardized data sources, including DBpedia and Wikidata, was found. The results indicate that there is limited an information on the ethnic groups of Laos in online databases. This study aims to link and improve data on Laos ethnic groups by utilizing ontology and reconciliation techniques to link incomplete or outdated data, as well as using OpenRefine and RDF extension to link the source database. Although the country has implemented policies to promote the national identity and the tourism economy, much of the related information remains inaccessible to the public as it is only available in official documents. The available information in the online database system would be compared to foreign languages like Vietnamese, Thai, etc., because these areas and ethnic groups were close to each other, and the languages were in the same family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The researcher sought to investigate mate selection for marital purposes during COVID-19 pandemic, which may be tasking for undergraduates in Nigerian universities. Mate selection is a vital aspect in the process leading up to marital relationships and personal mate selection is common practice across societies, except for the very few wherein individuals are given a mate instead of selecting their mates. Given that most marriages result from the relationships that are formed during studies in tertiary institutions, selecting a good mate from the onset determines the quality of the marriage later on in life. The study investigated how the mate selection experience was affected by the adversaries, brought to the fore by the onset of COVID-19 restrictions. The study employed descriptive research of the survey type. The population for this study consisted of all University of Ilorin undergraduates. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 420 respondents who were undergraduates at the University of Ilorin, Kwara-State. A research instrument titled "Factors Determining Mate Selection among Undergraduates (FDMSUQ)" was used to elicit information, needed from the respondents. The face and content validity of the instrument were ensured while a 0.72 reliability coefficient was obtained. Three research questions were raised and four hypotheses were formulated. All the research questions and hypotheses were tested using descriptive and inferential statistics at 0.05 level of significance. It was found that age, religion, ethnic group, and family structure significantly influence mate selection among undergraduates. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that Professional Counsellors in collaboration with the parents of undergraduates and religious organisations should constantly make programmes available to undergraduates of all age groups on how, when and what it entails to select a mate, that they will live together with till death do them part. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound global impact on health-care systems and patient outcomes. However, the specific effects of the pandemic on cancer incidence rates in the United States during its initial year remain unknown. Methods In this study, we analyzed data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results–22 registries, which encompass approximately 50% of the US population. We investigated changes in monthly incidence rates stratified by various factors, including cancer type, stage, age group, sex, race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, rural-urban status, and registry locations. We compared the incidence rates observed during the pandemic with those from the previous year. Results Our findings revealed a decline in incidence rates for all cancer sites combined starting in March 2020, coinciding with the implementation of stay-at-home orders. This decline reached its lowest point in April 2020 and persisted at a lower level until May 2020. Notably, compared with April 2019, the incidence rates in April 2020 dropped by 48.1% and did not consistently return to prepandemic levels. The reduction in cancer rates was more pronounced in urban and affluent counties. Across all cancer types, there was a statistically significant decrease in incidence rates during the pandemic, with the largest declines observed in thyroid (71.2%), prostate (57.9%), breast (54.9%), and colon and rectum cancers (54.1%). Furthermore, these decreases were primarily observed in early stage rather than late-stage disease. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic had a statistically significant impact on cancer outcomes. Monitoring long-term consequences of the pandemic on cancer incidence, stage at diagnosis, and mortality trends will be crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In patients without ethnicity risk factors for acute rheumatic fever (ARF), our local guidelines recommend limiting antibiotic use following a positive throat swab culture (TSC). If symptoms are severe, a 5–7 day course is recommended. Despite this, most local patients with a positive TSC for group A Streptococcus (GAS) or Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (SDSE) were being prescribed 10 days of antibiotics. In response, we added comments to positive TSC reports recommending shorter treatment durations in those without ARF risk factors. No other antimicrobial stewardship initiatives were implemented. Objectives To assess the effect of these comments on antibiotic course duration after positive TSC. Methods All community TSC results from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2023 (1 year pre- to 6 months post-change) were matched to antibiotic dispensing data. Patients who had been empirically dispensed an antibiotic prior to the culture report were excluded. The outcome of interest was the antibiotic duration dispensed in the 5 day period after the TSC report. Results Following introduction of the comments, median course duration reduced from 10 (IQR 5–10) to 7 days (IQR 0–10; P < 0.01) and from 7 (IQR 0–10) to 0 days (IQR 0–5; P < 0.01) following GAS- and SDSE-positive TSC, respectively, in those without ARF risk factors. The percentage of people receiving 10 days of antibiotics decreased from 63.0% to 37.0% (P < 0.01) and 41.2% to 14.6% (P < 0.01) for GAS and SDSE, respectively. Conclusions The introduction of comments providing direct prescribing advice to requestors appears to have been highly effective at improving guideline-compliant prescribing following positive TSC report. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction On May 9, 2016, the State of California passed a law to increase the licensing fee for tobacco retailers from a one-time-only fee of $100 to an annual fee of $265, effective on June 9, 2016. This study investigates the association between this fee increase and retailer densities by neighborhood income and race/ethnicity characteristics. Methods We obtained quarterly data on the number of active tobacco retailer licenses from 2011 to 2020 in every zip code in California from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. These data were then linked to zip code-level income, race/ethnicity, and population measures. We used a single-group segmented interrupted time-series analysis to assess the association between the increase in licensing fees and retailer densities by neighborhood income and race/ethnicity. Results After the implementation of the annual licensing fees, the retailer density decreased both immediately and gradually. Specifically, the retailer density dropped by 0.47 in the first quarter following the intervention. Compared to the pre-intervention time trend, the retailer density decreased quarterly by 0.05. Furthermore, the impacts of increasing licensing fees were more pronounced in low-income and the majority Black zip codes. Conclusions Given that higher smoking prevalence is associated with greater tobacco outlet density, the licensing fee increase could be an effective policy tool to reduce tobacco use among economically disadvantaged and minority Black communities, thereby addressing tobacco-use disparities. Implications This study used the single-group segmented interrupted time-series analysis to assess the association between the licensing fee increase and tobacco retailer densities by neighborhood income and race/ethnicity. We found that this licensing fee increase was associated with reduced retailer densities and the total number of active retailers right after the implementation. We further found that the annual licensing fee policy had a continuous effect in reducing tobacco retailer densities in all zip codes. The impacts of increasing licensing fees were more pronounced in low-income and majority of Black zip codes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The study of Y-chromosomal variations provides valuable insights into male susceptibility in certain diseases like cardiovascular disease (CVD). In this study, we analyzed paternal lineage in different Iranian ethnic groups, not only to identify developing medical etiology, but also to pave the way for gender-specific targeted strategies and personalized medicine in medical genetic research studies. Methods: The diversity of eleven Iranian ethnic groups was studied using 27 Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat (Y-STR) haplotypes from Y-filer® Plus kit. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) based on pair-wise RST along with multidimensional scaling (MDS) calculation and Network phylogenic analysis was employed to quantify the differences between 503 unrelated individuals from each ethnicity. Results: Results from AMOVA calculation confirmed that Gilaks and Azeris showed the largest genetic distance (RST = 0.35434); however, Sistanis and Lurs had the smallest considerable genetic distance (RST = 0.00483) compared to other ethnicities. Although Azeris had a considerable distance from other ethnicities, they were still close to Turkmens. MDS analysis of ethnic groups gave the indication of lack of similarity between different ethnicities. Besides, network phylogenic analysis demonstrated insignificant clustering between samples. Conclusion: The AMOVA analysis results explain that the close distance of Azeris and Turkmens may be the effect of maledominant expansions across Central Asia that contributed to historical and demographics of populations in the region. Insignificant differences in network analysis could be the consequence of high mutation events that happened in the Y-STR regions over the years. Considering the ethnic group affiliations in medical research, our results provided an understanding and characterization of Iranian male population for future medical and population genetics studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Immigrant Muslim Arab women are a fast-growing and underserved minority group in the United States. Immigrant Muslim Arab women face breastfeeding challenges in accessing and seeking healthcare. Little is known about breastfeeding challenges that immigrant Muslim Arab women face to establish successful breastfeeding. This study aimed to identify the barriers and facilitators to adequate breastfeeding among immigrant Muslim Arab women who reside in a metropolitan area of the Southwestern United States and inform recommendations for practice. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was used to identify facilitators and barriers to adequate breastfeeding using the social–ecological model of health promotion. A survey was carried out with a convenience sample of 116 immigrant Muslim Arab women with at least one child, 5 years or younger, from a large metropolitan area between September and November 2016. Results: Facilitators of breastfeeding within the sample were high intentions to breastfeed, positive breastfeeding attitudes related to the benefits of breastfeeding, religious teachings promoting breastfeeding, and encouragement to breastfeed from the mothers' social support system. Several barriers to successful breastfeeding were related to lacking the specific knowledge of the benefits of breastfeeding and discomfort with breastfeeding in public and in front of strangers. Conclusions: Nurses and healthcare providers need to apply ecological breastfeeding interventions to promote optimal breastfeeding in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Color vision deficiency is a common X-linked genetic disorder affecting the day-to-day lives of individuals, in which school-aged children's academic performance can be negatively affected. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and genotypic frequency of congenital color vision defects (CVD), among primary schoolchildren in Adama, Ethiopia. A school-based cross-sectional study design was used. Students were purposively selected based on their ethnicity but were randomly selected from their sections, resulting in a final sample size estimated at 846 schoolchildren who had received informed consent from their families. Data was gathered using the Ishihara color vision test, 38-plate edition. The result of the study revealed that the total prevalence of CVD was much higher (5.6%) among the male children than that of the females, which was only about 1.79%. The prevalence rates of CVD among the targeted ethnic groups were found to be the highest among Amhara (7.45%) > Oromo (5.00%) > Gurage (2.13%) children, respectively, in descending order. 62.76% of the study subjects were homozygous dominant (AA), followed by those with a heterozygous genotype (Aa) (32.51%), and the remaining 4.73% had recessive (aa) genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in burn care have been identified in the literature, there is a paucity of research into specific underlying causes of these disparities. Here, we sought to characterize whether time to initial burn consult might contribute to racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic differences in burn care outcomes. We performed a retrospective review of all patients evaluated by the burn surgery service at a single regional ABA-verified burn center between June 2020 and April 2022. Patients without data for the time of onset of burn injury were excluded. Time to burn consult was defined as the time from onset of burn injury to the time of first burn consult. Three hundred and sixty-five patients met the inclusion criteria. Average age was 33.3 years, and 65.8% of patients were male. Average time to burn consult for all patients was 17 hours and 07 minutes. There were no significant differences in this variable among our cohort when stratified by race, ethnicity, or insurance status. Rates of surgical management (Chi-squared P = 0.05) and length of stay (ANOVA P < 0.0001) significantly differed by insurance status, but not among racial or ethnic groups. Medicare patients had the highest rates of surgical intervention and longer hospital stays; patients without insurance had the lowest rates of surgical intervention and shorter hospital stays. These results indicate that time from burn onset to burn consult is unlikely to contribute meaningfully to racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in burn care. Further studies are needed to better understand other aspects of burn care that may contribute to the noted disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective: The cardioprotective effects of nuts are well established. However, the positive impacts of nuts in preventing CVD at a younger age, a condition known as premature coronary artery disease (PCAD), is still debated. Therefore, we aim to determine the association between nuts and PCAD occurrence and its severity in different Iranian ethnicities. Design: This case–control study was conducted within the framework of the Iran-premature coronary artery disease (I-PAD) study, an ongoing multi-centric study on Iranian patients of different ethnicities. Setting: This multi-centric case–control study was conducted in among 3253 persons under the age of 70 years in women and 60 years in men from different ethnicities in Iran. Participants: Information on nut consumption was collected using a validated FFQ. Subjects were selected from among the candidates for angiography. Cases were those whose coronary angiography showed stenosis of more than 75 % in at least one vessel or more than 50 % of the left main artery, while the control group participants had normal angiography results. Results: In the crude model, compared to the first quartile, the highest quartile of nut consumption was significantly associated with a lower risk of PCAD (OR = 0·26, 95 % CI (0·21, 0·32); P for trend = 0·001). In the top quartile of nut intake, a substantial decrease in PCAD was observed after controlling for putative confounders (OR = 0·32; 95 % CI (0·24, 0·43); P for trend = 0·001). Additionally, a 75 % decrease in the risk of severe PCAD was observed in the participants in the highest quartile of nut intake. Conclusion: A significant inverse association was observed between nut intake and the risk and severity of PCAD in the Iranian population. Large-scale clinical trials are required to confirm these findings.

The ethnographic history of the four lands Kurinji, Mullai, Marudham and Neithal indicated in Tamil Sangam literature is confined to the culture and dialectical life of the respective ancient inhabitants of Tamil Nadu. The inherited anthropological and conceptual ecological themes and transgenerational transmission of the ethnic group become the history of the respective ethnic groups. It entails knowledge, belief, habit, art, morals, laws, attitudes, actions, literature, language, and religion and each forms the morals of humankind. Further, a natural environment is the basic of these bioethics, which spread like a food chain. Everyone is concern about the environment in contemporary circumstances, it is imperative to ensure that the Tamil ethnic groups who live in the four types of land are inclined to different natural environments and have been preserving nature for a long time. The proclaimed so-called environmentalists nowadays are upholding the western connotations of environment protection, it is indicated from the Sangam literature that Tamil ethnic groups have been pioneers in preserving, cultivating and rejuvenating natural resources. The Tamil society also entails the tradition of the sound concept of "sharing and relationship" rituals with nature implying the responsibility-driven utilization of the natural resources without exploiting the same for selfish incentives. The inferences from the literature also implied that the Tamil inhabitants of all four lands had a moral in re-creating the biodiversity environment, giving them as valuable resources to the future generation.

The review provides a detailed and thorough analysis of the work of Doctor of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor, Elizaveta Nikolaevna Kvilinkova, dedicated to the Gagauz of Belarus and Moldova. The monograph was written on the basis of various sources and, primarily, the materials from field ethnographic studies conducted using the participant observation method among representatives of the Gagauz community. It is emphasized that the author used a new scientific approach, which made it possible to obtain original results. Elizaveta Kvilnikova studied the Gagauz using methods and approaches typical for such scientific disciplines as ethnology, ethnosociology and ethnopolitical science. She notes that among the Turkic peoples, the Gagauz have long held a unique place. The basis of their ethno-cultural code is Orthodoxy and Turkic background. According to E.N. Kvilinkova, the difficult position of Gagauzia in choosing its cultural and civilizational landmarks lies in the fact that the Balkan identity does not fit into the modern “strategy” of self-preservation of the Gagauz people and is in conflict with their dominant Turkic identity at this stage, with the eastern / Turkish vector of the foreign policy development strategy.

Objectives: A scoping review was selected to explore what non-pharmacological and non-invasive pain management interventions are available for individuals from Turkish-speaking ethnic groups with chronic pain and what represents the most appropriate intervention. Inclusion Criteria: Adults with non-malignant chronic pain from Turkish-speaking ethnic groups residing in or outside of Turkey. All non-pharmacological and non-invasive pain management interventions were considered. No limits were placed on geographic location, gender, sex or healthcare setting. Methods: The MEDLINE database was searched for published literature in April 2022. An English language filter was applied. No limits were placed on study design or date of publication. Data was charted from eligible studies into a data extraction table. Key concepts were identified during data extraction by DN. Results: Eleven studies were included in the final review. All were conducted within a quantitative research paradigm. The studies were completed in Turkey (7), Belgium (1), Sweden (1) and Switzerland (1). One was a multi-country review. No studies were conducted in the UK. The primary interventions were heterogenous and included: pain science education (2), cognitive behavioural therapy (2), transcranial magnetic stimulation (1), balneotherapy (1), extracorporeal shockwave therapy (1), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (1), wool therapy (1), exercise and patient dialogues (1) and aromatherapy massage and reflexology (1). Location of pain, outcome measures and timings of follow-ups were heterogeneous. Conclusions: Intervention heterogeneity, exclusively quantitative methodology and absence of studies completed in the UK meant no conclusions could be made on what represents the most appropriate non-pharmacological and non-invasive interventions intervention for individuals from Turkish speaking ethnic groups with non-malignant chronic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The cardioprotective effects of nuts are well established. However, the positive impacts of nuts in preventing CVD at a younger age, a condition known as premature coronary artery disease (PCAD), is still debated. Therefore, we aim to determine the association between nuts and PCAD occurrence and its severity in different Iranian ethnicities. Design: This case–control study was conducted within the framework of the Iran-premature coronary artery disease (I-PAD) study, an ongoing multi-centric study on Iranian patients of different ethnicities. Setting: This multi-centric case–control study was conducted in among 3253 persons under the age of 70 years in women and 60 years in men from different ethnicities in Iran. Participants: Information on nut consumption was collected using a validated FFQ. Subjects were selected from among the candidates for angiography. Cases were those whose coronary angiography showed stenosis of more than 75 % in at least one vessel or more than 50 % of the left main artery, while the control group participants had normal angiography results. Results: In the crude model, compared to the first quartile, the highest quartile of nut consumption was significantly associated with a lower risk of PCAD (OR = 0·26, 95 % CI (0·21, 0·32); P for trend = 0·001). In the top quartile of nut intake, a substantial decrease in PCAD was observed after controlling for putative confounders (OR = 0·32; 95 % CI (0·24, 0·43); P for trend = 0·001). Additionally, a 75 % decrease in the risk of severe PCAD was observed in the participants in the highest quartile of nut intake. Conclusion: A significant inverse association was observed between nut intake and the risk and severity of PCAD in the Iranian population. Large-scale clinical trials are required to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]