scholarly journals Tobacco-Free Ambassador Partnership: Empowering Youth Advocates in Appalachian Communities

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 98S-109S ◽  
Author(s):  
Melinda J. Ickes ◽  
Shannon Sampson ◽  
Josh Parsons ◽  
Mary Kay Rayens ◽  
Min Xiao ◽  
...  

Kentucky youth (14.3%) smoke more cigarettes as compared to the U.S. average (8.8%), and Appalachian communities suffer disproportionately from tobacco-related diseases such as lung cancer. Training youth to become advocates is an effective strategy to improve health equity. This article describes the development and impact of a youth advocacy program to promote tobacco control policies in Appalachian Kentucky. Phase I (2017-2018): two ½-day trainings followed by monthly meetings with one high school ( n = 20 youth). Trainings provided information on tobacco use, consequences, industry tactics, evidence-based tobacco control, and advocacy skills. Results provided support for expansion to Phase II (2018-20119): A 1-day training followed by monthly information sharing implemented in three counties ( N = 80). Youth were surveyed before and 6-months posttraining during both phases. Phase I: At posttraining, 85% of youth believed they could reduce the amount of tobacco use in their community versus 66% at baseline. More students tried at least once to convince school or government officials to be more concerned about tobacco use (77% vs. 47%). Phase II: More students supported tobacco policies at posttraining survey and realized policies are an effective strategy to reduce tobacco use. At posttraining survey, students reported greater interpersonal confidence talking with others about tobacco-related issues, with a 24% increase in confidence talking with adults in their communities, as well as greater advocacy self-efficacy. Youth in Appalachia demonstrate desire to influence tobacco use and policy to improve health equity. Findings reinforce the need for collaborative public health interventions to promote ongoing training and support for youth living in high-risk communities.

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Lapalme

Abstract Population-level public health policies aim to improve health for the entire population. Yet, in doing so, they may unintentionally neglect vulnerable populations' specific needs, which may perpetuate social inequalities in health. As an example, tobacco control policies (e.g. media campaigns, smoke-free places, tax increases, and tobacco product regulation) have been found to significantly reduce overall smoking prevalence in many high-income countries. However, social inequalities in smoking have been increasing, with smoking prevalence being higher, notably for those of low socio-economic status (SES). Low SES individuals start smoking at younger ages, smoke more cigarettes per day, have lower cessation rates, and are exposed to more second-hand smoke than higher SES individuals. These social inequalities in smoking translate into social inequalities in health such that low SES groups carry a disproportionately heavier burden of smoking-related illnesses. Based on data from a critical discourse analysis of tobacco control policy in Quebec, Canada, as well as from a literature review of vulnerable populations' experiences with tobacco control policies, this presentation will: 1) illustrate ways in which tobacco control policies may be increasing social inequalities in smoking, including the absence of vulnerable populations who smoke from policy planning, smoking denormalization's unintended stigmatizing effects, and targeting behaviours rather than the 'causes of the cause' in policy; 2) provide ideas for future population-level policies based on a health equity approach, which includes integrating vulnerable population's voices in policy design, prioritizing vulnerable populations and health equity in policy, and shifting attention towards policies addressing social inequalities in access to social determinants (e.g. education, income, employment security, safe, clean, and affordable housing) to improve health rather than targeting behaviours, such as smoking.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. 2276-2279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah S Dermody ◽  
Jaimee L Heffner ◽  
Josephine T Hinds ◽  
Julia McQuoid ◽  
Amanda J Quisenberry ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals have higher tobacco use prevalence and consequently higher burden of tobacco-caused diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular disease compared with their heterosexual or cisgender counterparts. Yet, there is a critical gap in research focused on measuring SGM tobacco-related health disparities and addressing unmet needs of SGM individuals in the context of nicotine and tobacco research. Aims and Methods In this commentary, we summarize recommendations discussed during a pre-conference workshop focused on challenges and opportunities in conducting SGM tobacco control research at the 2019 Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Annual Meeting. Results Specifically, we recommend defining and measuring SGM identity in all nicotine and tobacco research routinely, using novel methods to engage a demographically diverse sample of the SGM population, and eliciting SGM community voices in tobacco control research. Conclusions Addressing these critical research gaps will enable the scientific community to generate the data to fully understand and support SGM individuals in tobacco use prevention and cessation. Implications Tobacco use and its consequences have become increasingly concentrated in disadvantaged groups, including sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations. Through concrete recommendations in this commentary, we aimed to promote health equity, diversity, and inclusion in tobacco research for SGM populations by urging the scientific community to consider expanding efforts to monitor and address tobacco-related health disparities of SGM populations within their respective research programs.


Author(s):  
Francisco-Javier Prado-Galbarro ◽  
Amy H. Auchincloss ◽  
Carolina Pérez-Ferrer ◽  
Sharon Sanchez-Franco ◽  
Tonatiuh Barrientos-Gutierrez

Our objective was to describe the prevalence and changes in tobacco use and tobacco control policies in Latin American countries and cities before and after ratification of the 2003 Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Country-level tobacco policy data came from reports on the global tobacco epidemic (World Health Organization, 2007–2014). Global Youth Tobacco Survey data, 2000–2011, came from six countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru), 31 cities and 132,065 students. Pre- and post-FCTC prevalence and relative changes were estimated. All countries showed improvements in tobacco control policies but Mexico and Peru showed the smallest improvements. In general, adolescents reduced their tobacco use, reported less exposure to smoking at home, more tobacco education, and more retailer refusals to sell them cigarettes. Adolescents reported smaller reductions in secondhand smoke exposure outside the home and no change in exposure to tobacco media/promotions. Pre-FCTC prevalence and relative changes during the post-FCTC period were more heterogeneous across cities than across countries. Despite overall improvements in tobacco policies and the decline in exposure to tobacco, policies related to media/promotions and secondhand smoke need strengthening. There was wide variation in adolescent exposure to tobacco between cities (within countries), which suggested major heterogeneity of policy implementation at the local level.


Praxis ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 107 (17-18) ◽  
pp. 951-958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Wilhelm

Zusammenfassung. Herzinsuffizienz ist ein klinisches Syndrom mit unterschiedlichen Ätiologien und Phänotypen. Die überwachte Bewegungstherapie und individuelle körperliche Aktivität ist bei allen Formen eine Klasse-IA-Empfehlung in aktuellen Leitlinien. Eine Bewegungstherapie kann unmittelbar nach Stabilisierung einer akuten Herzinsuffizienz im Spital begonnen werden (Phase I). Sie kann nach Entlassung in einem stationären oder ambulanten Präventions- und Rehabilitationsprogramm fortgesetzt werden (Phase II). Typische Elemente sind Ausdauer-, Kraft- und Atemtraining. Die Kosten werden von der Krankenversicherung für drei bis sechs Monate übernommen. In erfahrenen Zentren können auch Patienten mit implantierten Defibrillatoren oder linksventrikulären Unterstützungssystemen trainieren. Wichtiges Ziel der Phase II ist neben muskulärer Rekonditionierung auch die Steigerung der Gesundheitskompetenz, um die Langzeit-Adhärenz bezüglich körperlicher Aktivität zu verbessern. In Phase III bieten Herzgruppen Unterstützung.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Ayres ◽  
Alessandro Romano ◽  
Chiara Sotis

BACKGROUND Due to network effects, Contact Tracing Apps (CTAs) are only effective if many people download them. However, the response to CTAs has been tepid. For example, in France less than 2 million people (roughly 3% of the population) downloaded the CTA. Consequently, CTAs need to be fundamentally rethought to increase their effectiveness. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to show that CTAs can still play a key role in containing the pandemic, provided that they take into account insights from behavioral sciences. Moreover, we study whether emphasizing the virtues of CTA to induce people to download them makes app users engage in more risky behaviors (risk compensation theory) and whether feedback on a user’s behavior affects future behaviors. METHODS We perform a double-blind online experiment (n=1500) divided in two phases. In Phase I respondents are randomly assigned to one of three different groups: Pros of the app, Pros and Cons of the app and Control I. Respondents in the Pros group were shown information on the advantages of CTAs. Participants in the Pros and Cons group were shown information on both the advantages and the problems that characterize CTAs. Last, respondents in the Control I group were not given any information on CTAs. All participants are then asked how worried they are about the pandemic, how likely they are to download the app, and on how they intend to behave (e.g. attend small and large gathering, wear a mask, etc.). A week later we carried out Phase II. Participants in Phase II were randomly assigned to different in-app notifications in which they were informed on how much risk they were taking compared to the average user. We then ask participants their intentions for future behaviors to investigate whether these notifications were effective in making respondents more prudent. RESULTS All 1500 participants completed phase I of the experiment, whereas 1303 (86.9%) completed also phase 2. The main findings are: i) informing people on the pros of the app make them less worried about the pandemic (p=.004), ii) informing people about both the pros and the cons of the app makes them more likely to download the app (p=.07); iii) carefully devised in-app notification induce people to state that they will: attend less large gatherings (p= .05) and less small gatherings (p= .001), see less people at risk (p=.004), that they stay more at home (p=.006) and wear more often the mask (p=.09). We do not find support for the risk-compensation theory. CONCLUSIONS we suggest that CTAs should be re-framed as Behavioral Feedback Apps (BFAs). The main function of BFAs would be providing users with information on how to minimize the risk of contracting COVID-19, e.g. to provide information on how crowded a store is likely to be at a given time of the day. Moreover, the BFA could have a rating system that allows users to flag stores that do not respect safety norms, such as mandating customers to wear a mask or not respecting social distancing. These functions can inform the behavior of app users, thus playing a key role in containing the spread of the virus even if a small percentage of people download the BFA. While effective contact tracing is impossible when only 3% of the population downloads the app, less risk taking by small portions of the population can produce large benefits. BFAs can be programmed so that users can also activate a tracing function akin to the one currently carried out by CTAs. Making contact tracing an ancillary, opt-in function might facilitate a wider acceptance of BFAs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanurup Das ◽  
Abhimanyu Harshey ◽  
Ankit Srivastava ◽  
Kriti Nigam ◽  
Vijay Kumar Yadav ◽  
...  

AbstractThe ex-vivo biochemical changes of different body fluids also referred as aging of fluids are potential marker for the estimation of Time since deposition. Infrared spectroscopy has great potential to reveal the biochemical changes in these fluids as previously reported by several researchers. The present study is focused to analyze the spectral changes in the ATR-FTIR spectra of three body fluids, commonly encountered in violent crimes i.e., semen, saliva, and urine as they dry out. The whole analytical timeline is divided into relatively slow phase I due to the major contribution of water and faster Phase II due to significant evaporation of water. Two spectral regions i.e., 3200–3400 cm−1 and 1600–1000 cm−1 are the major contributors to the spectra of these fluids. Several peaks in the spectral region between 1600 and 1000 cm−1 showed highly significant regression equation with a higher coefficient of determination values in Phase II in contrary to the slow passing Phase I. Principal component and Partial Least Square Regression analysis are the two chemometric tool used to estimate the time since deposition of the aforesaid fluids as they dry out. Additionally, this study potentially estimates the time since deposition of an offense from the aging of the body fluids at the early stages after its occurrence as well as works as the precursor for further studies on an extended timeframe.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Mieszkowska ◽  
Koleta Hemine ◽  
Anna Skwierawska ◽  
Ewa Augustin ◽  
Zofia Mazerska

AbstractThe present studies were carried out to evaluate the simultaneous one-pot metabolism of opipramol (IS-opi) and analog (IS-noh) by phase I and phase II enzymes present in rat liver microsomes (RLM) as an alternative to separate testing with recombinant enzymes. This approach allows for more time-saving and cost-effective screening of the metabolism of newly discovered drugs. We also considered that the lack of results for phase II, including UGT, often creates problems in correct selection of valuable compounds. Moreover, microsomes data set is richer in the contest and provides medical scientist to determine also the susceptibility of drugs to undergo phase I and then phase II. In the present work, we have shown that IS-noh was metabolized in vitro by phase I enzymes to the oxidation product, which was next transformed with UGTs to glucuronide. The results showed also that the previously known oxidation product of opipramol was changed to previously no reported glucuronidation product by UDP-glucuronosyltransferases. In addition, unlike IS-noh, opipramol did not prove to be the substrate for UGTs. Therefore, tricyclic antidepressants depending on the structure can trigger a different response after contact with UGT enzymes. Some will metabolize directly with UGTs, others only after activation by phase I enzymes.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. e041711
Author(s):  
Kana Sato ◽  
Yoshimi Kodama

ObjectivesTo explore the type of education needed for nurses when dealing with aggression from patients and their families.DesignA two-phase sequential mixed-methods study.SettingThis study was conducted in Japan, with phase I from March to November 2016 and phase II in November 2018.Main outcome measuresThe challenges faced by nurses when dealing with incidents of aggression from the neutral perspective of neither nurse nor patient/family and perceptions of the educational contents developed in this study. Descriptive analyses were used to examine the data retrieved from both phases.ParticipantsPhase I entailed semistructured interviews among 11 neutral-party participants who observed aggressive incidents between nurses and patients/families. Phase II consisted of a web survey conducted among 102 nursing students and 308 nursing professionals.ResultsPhase I resulted in the identification of the following five main educational components: understanding the mechanisms of anger and aggression, maintaining self-awareness, observant listening, managing the self-impression, and communicating based on specific disease characteristics. Each component was related to improved communication through self-awareness. The results of phase II indicated that participants positively perceived these educational contents as likely to be effective for dealing with aggression from patients/families.ConclusionsThis study clarified the type of education needed for nurses when dealing with aggression based on multiple viewpoints. Specifically, neutral-party interviews revealed that communication should be improved through self-awareness. A subsequent survey among nurses and nursing students showed that the identified educational contents were positively received.


1996 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 603-608
Author(s):  
Moreno Paolini ◽  
Laura Pozzetti ◽  
Renata Mesirca ◽  
Andrea Sapone ◽  
Paola Silingardi ◽  
...  

The use of sodium phenobarbital (PB, CYP2B1 inducer) combined with β-naphthoflavone (β-NF, 1A1) to induce certain Phase I reactions in S9 liver fractions is a standard method for conducting short-term bioassays for genotoxicity. However, because post-oxidative enzymes are also able to activate many precarcinogens, we tested the possibility of adapting S9 liver fractions derived from Phase II-induced rodents to the field of genetic toxicology. In this study, S9 liver fractions derived from Swiss albino CD1 mice fed 7.5g/kg 2-(3)-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (BHA; a monofunctional Phase II-inducer) for 3 weeks, show a clear pattern of induction with an approximately 3.5–9.5-fold increase in glutathione S-transferase activity. In vitro DNA binding of the promutagenic agents, [14C]-l,4-dichlorobenzene (DCB) and [14C]-1,4-dibromobenzene (DBB), is mediated by such metabolic liver preparations and showed a significant increase in covalent binding capability. In some instances, enzyme activity was more elevated when compared to that obtained with traditional (Phase I-induced) S9. Together with DNA binding, the genetic response of these chemicals in the diploid D7 strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae used as a biological test system, revealed the ability of the BHA-derived preparations to activate the promutagenic agents, as exemplified by the significant enhancement of mitotic gene-conversion (up to 5.2-fold for DCB and 3.4-fold for DBB) and reverse point mutation (up to 3.6-fold for DCB and 2.5-fold for DBB) at a 4mM concentration. This novel metabolising biosystem, with enhanced Phase II activity, is recommended together with a traditional S9, for detecting unknown promutagens in genotoxicity studies. The routine use of either oxidative or post-oxidative S9 increases the responsiveness of the test and can contribute to the identification of promutagens not detected when using traditional protocols.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1464.1-1465
Author(s):  
J. Blaess ◽  
J. Walther ◽  
J. E. Gottenberg ◽  
J. Sibilia ◽  
L. Arnaud ◽  
...  

Background:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most frequent chronic inflammatory diseases with an incidence of 0.5% to 1%. Therapeutic arsenal of RA has continuously expanded in recent years with the recent therapeutic progress with the arrival of conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs), biological (bDMARDs) and targeted synthetic (tsDMARDs), JAK inhibitors. However, there are still some unmet needs for patients who do not achieve remission and who continue to worsen despite treatments. Of note, only approximately 40% of patients are ACR70 responders, in most randomized controlled trials. For these patients, finding new therapeutic avenues is challenging.Objectives:The objective of our study was to analyze the whole pipeline of immunosuppressive and immunomodulating drugs evaluated in RA and describe their mechanisms of action and stage of clinical development.Methods:We conducted a systematic review of all drug therapies in clinical development in RA in 17 databases of international clinical trials. Inclusion criterion: study from one of the databases using the keywords “Rheumatoid arthritis” (search date: June 1, 2019). Exclusion criteria: non-drug trials, trials not related to RA or duplicates. We also excluded dietary regimen or supplementations, cellular therapies, NSAIDs, glucorticoids or their derivatives and non-immunosuppressive or non-immunomodulating drugs. For each csDMARD, bDMARD and tsDMARD, we considered the study at the most advanced stage. For bDMARDs, we did not take into account biosimilars.Results:The research identified 4652 trials, of which 242 for 243 molecules met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The developed molecules belong to csDMARDs (n=21), bDMARDs (n=117), tsDMARDs (n=105).Among the 21 csDMARDs molecules: 8 (38%) has been withdrawn, 4 (19%) are already labelled in RA (hydroxychloroquine, leflunomide, methotrexate and sulfasalazine) and 9 (43%) are in development: 1 (11%) is in phase I/II, 5 (56%) in phase II, 3 (33%) in phase IV.Among the 117 bDMARDs molecules: 69 (59%) has been withdrawn, 9 (8%) are labeled in RA (abatacept, adalimumab, anakinra, certolizumab, etanercept, golimumab, infliximab, rituximab, sarilumab, tocilizumab) and 39 (33%) are in development: 9 (23%) in phase I, 3 (8%) in phase I/II, 21 (54%) in phase II, 5 (12%) are in phase III, 1 (3%) in phase IV. bDMARDs currently under development target B cells (n=4), T cells (n=2), T/B cells costimulation (n=2),TNF alpha (n=2), Interleukine 1 or his receptor (n=3), Interleukine 6 or his receptor (n=7), Interleukine 17 (n=4), Interleukine 23 (n=1), GM-CSF (n=1), other cytokines or chemokines (n=5), integrins or adhesion proteins (n=3), interferon receptor (n=1) and various other targets (n=4).Among the 105 tsDMARDs molecules: 64 (61%) has been withdrawn, 6 (6%) JAK inhibitors, have just been or will probably soon be labelled (baricitinib, filgotinib, peficitinib, tofacitinib and upadacitinib), 35 (33%) are in development: 8 (24%) in phase I, 26 (74%) in phase II, 1 (3%) in phase III and. tsDMARDs currently under development target tyrosine kinase (n=12), janus kinase (JAK) (n=3), sphingosine phostate (n=3), PI3K pathway (n=1), phosphodiesterase-4 (n=3) B cells signaling pathways (n=3) and various other targets (n=10).Conclusion:A total of 242 therapeutic trials involving 243 molecules have been or are being evaluated in RA. This development does not always lead to new treatments since 141 (58%) have already been withdrawn. Hopefully, some of the currently evaluated drugs will contribute to improve the therapeutic management of RA patients, requiring a greater personalization of therapeutic strategies, both in the choice of molecules and their place in therapeutic sequences.Disclosure of Interests:Julien Blaess: None declared, Julia Walther: None declared, Jacques-Eric Gottenberg Grant/research support from: BMS, Pfizer, Consultant of: BMS, Sanofi-Genzyme, UCB, Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Eli Lilly and Co., Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme, UCB, Jean Sibilia: None declared, Laurent Arnaud: None declared, Renaud FELTEN: None declared


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