scholarly journals Impact of free cancer predisposition cascade genetic testing on uptake in Singapore

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eliza Courtney ◽  
Amanda Kay-Lyn Chok ◽  
Zoe Li Ting Ang ◽  
Tarryn Shaw ◽  
Shao-Tzu Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effective ◽  
Cancer Predisposition ◽  
Relationship Type ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Cascade Testing ◽  
Cost Effective Method ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Significant Barrier ◽  
Testing Uptake ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Cascade testing for cancer predisposition offers a highly efficient and cost-effective method for identifying individuals at increased risk for cancer, in whom targeted interventions can often improve survival. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of free cascade testing on uptake and identify other associated factors. Demographic and clinical data were gathered prospectively for 183 probands found to have a pathogenic variant associated with cancer predisposition and their 826 first-degree relatives (FDRs). The provision of free cascade testing was significantly associated with uptake (21.6% vs 6.1%; χ2, P < 0.001). Relationship type between FDR and proband and FDR age also demonstrated significant associations, suggesting greater engagement amongst younger generations. Overall, 29.0% (53/183) of families had at least 1 FDR who underwent cascade testing. Of these families, 67.9% (36/53) had an uptake rate of at least 40.0%. Cost is a significant barrier to cascade testing uptake in Singapore. Tailored interventions targeting underrepresented groups and genetic counseling approaches supporting family communication and decision-making are necessary.

Inflammatory and Epigenetic Pathways for Perinatal Depression

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsey Garfield ◽  
Herbert L. Mathews ◽  
Linda Witek Janusek
Keyword(s):  
Early Life ◽  
Infant Health ◽  
Perinatal Depression ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Perinatal Period ◽  
Early Life Adversity ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Impact

Depression during the perinatal period is common and can have adverse consequences for women and their children. Yet, the biobehavioral mechanisms underlying perinatal depression are not known. Adverse early life experiences increase the risk for adult depression. One potential mechanism by which this increased risk occurs is epigenetic embedding of inflammatory pathways. The purpose of this article is to propose a conceptual model that explicates the linkage between early life adversity and the risk for maternal depression. The model posits that early life adversity embeds a proinflammatory epigenetic signature (altered DNA methylation) that predisposes vulnerable women to depression during pregnancy and the postpartum period. As proposed, women with a history of early life adversity are more likely to exhibit higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines and lower levels of oxytocin in response to the demands of pregnancy and new motherhood, both of which are associated with the risk for perinatal depression. The model is designed to guide investigations into the biobehavioral basis for perinatal depression, with emphasis upon the impact of early life adversity. Testing this model will provide a better understanding of maternal depressive risk and improve identification of vulnerable women who would benefit from targeted interventions that can reduce the impact of perinatal depression on maternal–infant health.

scholarly journals Improving Maternal and Child Health in Bangladesh: The Integration of Midwives in Conjunction With the United Nations Millenium Development Goals Initiative

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Casto
Keyword(s):  
Child Health ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Maternal And Child Health ◽  
Millennium Development Goals ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Cost Effective Method ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
The Impact ◽  
And Child Health

As the United Nations Millennium Development Goals initiative comes to a close, it is important to examine what has been effective in combating disparities in developing nations. In this paper I explore the impact midwives have on improving maternal and child health in Bangladesh by focusing on how the United Nations Millennium Development Goals initiative has helped to change societal views on women and birth as midwives become more integrated into improving maternal and child health. It is a quantitative and qualitative approach analyzing the statistics of implementing midwives as these impact cost-effectiveness and change in mortality rates in addition to social changes that have occurred in the culture towards maternal and child health. The paper further analyzes programs implemented by countries such as India and Sri Lanka comparatively. Data have been collected from published United Nations and governmental reports, media, and research articles. The paper concludes that the implementation of midwives has provided a cost-effective method of reducing maternal and child health in Bangladesh, and will be increasingly efficient as governmental programs continue to improve various aspects and laws of the country. It is important to analyze what is working in order to further improve maternal and child health on both a regional and global level. The use of midwives can provide a fundamental framework in communities that can aid in reducing health disparities as well as all improve all facets of reproductive wellness, providing the support needed at all stages to improve maternal and child health.

scholarly journals Improvement of semen parameters after coil embolization of varicoceles: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio Quilici Belczak ◽  
Vanessa Stefaniak ◽  
Leonardo Garcia Góes ◽  
Felipe Coelho Neto ◽  
Walter Jr. Boim de Araújo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Clinical Studies ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Semen Parameters ◽  
Semen Parameter ◽  
Cost Effective Method ◽  
Prisma Statement ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
The Impact

Abstract This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the 2009 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, including clinical studies in which one of the outcomes was semen parameter improvement after varicocele embolization using coils only. The objective of the review was to assess the evidence on the role of embolization using coils alone for semen parameter improvement in men with varicocele, since embolization using coils is the most cost-effective method of varicocele repair. Study quality was assessed using the methodological index for non-randomized studies (MINORS). Out of six retrospective and two prospective observational or comparative clinical studies involving 701 patients, semen concentration improved significantly in all five studies that assessed this parameter. Mean semen motility improved significantly in seven studies. The impact of embolization on semen density could not be analyzed.

SUSTAINABLE IMPACT OF BUILDING ENERGY RETROFIT MEASURES

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 69-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amirhosein Jafari ◽  
Vanessa Valentin
Keyword(s):  
Social Impact ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Building Energy ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Energy Retrofit ◽  
Cost Effective Method ◽  
Impact Index ◽  
The Impact

Energy retrofitting is argued to be the most feasible and cost-effective method for improving existing buildings' energy efficiency. As a sustainable development, building energy retrofits require the consideration and integration of all three sustainability dimensions: environmental, economic and social. The objective of this study is to estimate and compare the sustainable impact of building energy retrofits to determine the maximum sustainable benefit when implementing different energy-related measures. The proposed analysis consists of integrating three approaches for evaluating these benefits. Economic benefits are measured by estimating the payback period of energy-related measures, environmental benefits are measured by estimating the CO2 equivalent saving per year due to the implementation of energy-related measures, and social benefits are measured by defining a “social impact index” that establishes the impact of energy-related measures on buildings' users. A case study is used to demonstrate the framework for four potential scenarios. The results show that for the case study, energy-related “controlling” and “upgrading mechanical system” measures have the highest sustainable impact among the identified energy retrofitting measures.

scholarly journals Locating microseismic sources with a single seismometer channel using coda wave interferometry

Geophysics ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. A19-A24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youqian Zhao ◽  
Andrew Curtis ◽  
Brian Baptie
Keyword(s):  
Single Channel ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Coda Wave ◽  
Probabilistic Framework ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Cost Effective Method ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Coda Wave Interferometry ◽  
Selection Of

A novel source location method based on coda wave interferometry (CWI) was applied to a microseismic data set of mining-induced events recorded in Nottinghamshire, England. CWI uses scattered waves in the coda of seismograms to estimate the differences between two seismic states. We used CWI to estimate the distances between pairs of earthquake locations, which are then used jointly to determine the relative location of a cluster of events using a probabilistic framework. We evaluated two improvements to this location technique: These account for the impact of a large difference in the dominant wavelength of a recording made on different instruments, and they standardize the selection of parameters to be used when implementing the method. Although the method has been shown to produce reasonable estimates on larger earthquakes, we tested the method for microseismic events with shorter distinguishable codas in recorded waveforms, and hence, fewer recorded scattered waves. The earthquake location results are highly consistent when using different individual seismometer channels, showing that it is possible to locate event clusters with a single-channel seismometer. We thus extend the potential applications of this cost-effective method to seismic events over a wider range of magnitudes.

scholarly journals The Association of Chronic Diseases with Covid-19 Outcomes and its Role on Risk Perception (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Almeida Laires ◽  
Sónia Dias ◽  
Ana Gama ◽  
Ana Marta Moniz ◽  
Ana R Pedro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Chronic Diseases ◽  
Renal Diseases ◽  
Self Perception ◽  
Perception Of Risk ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Study Results ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND COVID-19 is a viral respiratory disease, which became a global threat to public health. Further understanding of the epidemiology of this virus and on the risk perception of the community may better inform health authorities for targeted interventions to reduce the impact and spread of COVID-19. OBJECTIVE In this study we aimed to examine the association between chronic diseases and worse outcomes following COVID-19 infection, and to explore its role on the self-perception of risk for worse COVID-19 outcomes. METHODS This study draws from 2 databases: 1) The nationwide database of all confirmed COVID-19 cases in Portugal, extracted in 28th of April 2020 (n=20,293); and 2) the community-based survey “COVID-19 Barometer”, which contains data on health status, perceptions and behaviors during the first wave of COVID-19 (n=171,087). We assessed the association of relevant chronic diseases (i.e. respiratory, cardiovascular, renal disease, diabetes, and cancer) with death and ICU use following COVID-19 infection, and identified determinants of self-perception of risk for severe COVID-19 disease using logistic regression models. RESULTS Respiratory, cardiovascular, and renal diseases were associated with mortality and ICU use among patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 infection (ORs [95%CI]: 1.48 [1.11-1.98]; 3.39 [1.80-6.40]; 2.25 [1.66-3.06]). Diabetes and cancer are associated with such outcomes but only when considered the full sample of COVID-19 infected cases in the country (ORs: 1.30 [1.03-1.64]; 1.40 [1.03-1.89], respectively). Older age and male sex were both associated with mortality and ICU use. The prevalence of at least one of the analyzed health conditions is high in the country’s population, particularly on those aged 65 years old or over (19.6% and 44.6%, respectively). Self-awareness of risk for severe COVID-19 disease in the country’s population is 23.9%, which is markedly increased on older people (46.4%), those with at least one chronic disease (51.7%), or those under both conditions (67.7%). All the analyzed diseases were associated with self-perception of high risk in the population. CONCLUSIONS Our study results demonstrate the association of some prevalent chronic diseases with increased risk of worse COVID-19 outcomes. It also brings further understanding on the current population risk perception for COVID-19 severe disease and useful insights into factors influencing if, in particular morbidity. Hence, this study may aid health authorities to better adapt measures to the real needs of the population and to identify those more vulnerable requiring further education and awareness on due preventive measures. CLINICALTRIAL NA

The Effectiveness of Dynamic Compaction Under Various Water Levels

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing-Wen Chen ◽  
Fu-Cheng Chen
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Effect ◽  
Single Point ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Soil Liquefaction ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Dynamic Compaction ◽  
Cost Effective Method ◽  
Compaction Energy ◽  
Soil Densification ◽  
The Impact

Dynamic compaction is currently regarded as one of the quick but cost-effective method for soil densification to resist the potential of soil liquefaction during earthquake. Most practices and studies reveal the depth of densification is mainly limited by the compaction energy without considering the effect of water table. In this experimental study, the impact performances under both presence and absence of water level without changing the compaction energy were presented. The Single-point Impact Test is developed to perform a series of tests on soils under different water levels and drained conditions. Meanwhile, an automatic cone penetrometer is also developed to evaluate the effectiveness. The boundary effect of soil container used in the test is also discussed. The impact-induced pore pressures and dissipation periods are measured and compared with a field measurement. The relationship between the effective dynamic stresses and corresponding cone resistances in soils is highlighted. The performance of dynamic impacts is evaluated by a term of improvement ratio.

scholarly journals Intestinal helminth co-infection is an unrecognised risk factor for increased pneumococcal carriage density and invasive disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice E. Law ◽  
Rebecca K. Shears ◽  
Andrea A. Lopez Rodas ◽  
Richard K. Grencis ◽  
Philip J. Cooper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Invasive Disease ◽  
Intestinal Helminth ◽  
Infection Model ◽  
Pneumococcal Carriage ◽  
Helminth Infections ◽  
Cost Effective Method ◽  
Lower Income Countries ◽  
The Impact

AbstractInfection with Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading cause of death in children and burden of disease is greatest where helminth infections are also common. We investigated the impact of intestinal helminth co-infection on pneumococcal carriage; a risk factor for invasive disease. We used a mouse co-infection model and clinical data to assess the impact of co-infection on carriage density. Co-infection in mice was associated with increased pneumococcal carriage density and dissemination into lungs. Helminth-infected children also exhibited increased carriage density as compared to uninfected children. Anthelmintic treatment may be a cost-effective method of reducing pneumococcal disease burden in lower-income countries.

scholarly journals A Facile Method for Preparing a Superhydrophobic Block with Rapid Reparability

Coatings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1202
Author(s):  
Jiyuan Zhu ◽  
Kaijin Liao
Keyword(s):  
Preparation Method ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Superhydrophobic Surfaces ◽  
Sliding Angle ◽  
Cost Effective Method ◽  
Zinc Oxide Powder ◽  
Die Pressing ◽  
Outdoor Environments ◽  
Stable Performance ◽  
The Impact

Superhydrophobic surfaces are fragile and are prone to failure in harsh outdoor environments. The preparation of robust superhydrophobic surfaces with stable performance and excellent properties can extend their application. In this paper, we report a simple and cost-effective method to prepare a superhydrophobic block using superhydrophobic zinc oxide powder and die pressing. The prepared sample has a contact angle of 163° and a sliding angle of 7°. Tests show that the superhydrophobic block can resist the impact of water flow, maintain its superhydrophobicity after friction or knife scraping, and quickly repair the destroyed surface by sandpaper abrasion. The sample exhibited excellent self-cleaning effect, robust mechanical property, and rapid repairability. This preparation method is also environmental-friendly and easy to operate. It will have a wide application prospect in many important fields.

E-cigarette Perceptions among HIV-positive Smokers in a Switching Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 384-391
Author(s):  
Patricia A. Cioe ◽  
Jennifer W. Tidey ◽  
Alana N. Mercurio ◽  
Catherine Costantino ◽  
Christopher W. Kahler
Keyword(s):  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Electronic Cigarettes ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Tobacco Harm Reduction ◽  
Cost Effective Method ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Viable Approach

Objectives: Cigarette smoking is highly prevalent among persons with HIV (PWH), which is concerning due to their increased risk of developing smoking-related cancers compared to those without HIV. Smoking cessation rates are substantially lower among PWH compared to the general population and less than half report a goal of total abstinence. Given these factors, a switch to electronic cigarettes (ECs), as a form of tobacco harm reduction, may be a viable approach to decreasing tobacco-related morbidity and mortality in PWH. The US Food and Drug Administration has the authority to implement product standards for cigarettes, including ECs and favors. Methods: This qualitative study enrolled 19 HIV-positive smokers into an EC switch study. At Week 12, qualitative interviews were conducted to examine EC perceptions and favor preferences. Results: ECs were viewed as a less harmful, cost-effective method of reducing or eliminating CC smoking, and non-tobacco favors were an essential part of EC appeal and use. Conclusions: Flavored EC liquid seems to enhance the user experience and may influence the user's ability to make a complete switch. Tobacco harm reduction, as a strategy, will only be effective if current evidence guides tobacco regulatory decisions.

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