scholarly journals Additive and Interactive Associations of Environmental and Sociodemographic Factors with the Genotypes of Three Glutathione S-Transferase Genes in Relation to the Blood Arsenic Concentrations of Children in Jamaica

Author(s):  
Mohammad H. Rahbar ◽  
Maureen Samms-Vaughan ◽  
Yuansong Zhao ◽  
Sepideh Saroukhani ◽  
Sheikh F. Zaman ◽  
...  

Arsenic (As) is a metalloid that has been classified as a xenobiotic with toxic effects on human beings, especially on children. Since the soil in Jamaica contains As, dietary intake is considered the main source of As exposure in Jamaicans. In addition, glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes, including GSTT1, GSTP1, and GSTM1, play an important role in the metabolism of xenobiotics including As in humans. Using data from 375 typically developing children (2–8 years) in Jamaica, we investigated the environmental and sociodemographic factors, as well as their possible interactions with the children’s genotype for GST genes in relation to having a detectable level of blood As concentration (i.e., >1.3 μg/L). Using multivariable logistic regression, we have identified environmental factors significantly associated with blood As concentrations that include a child’s age, parental education levels, and the consumption of saltwater fish, cabbage, broad beans, and avocado (all p < 0.01). Based on the multivariable analysis including gene x environment interactions, we found that among children with the Ile/Ile genotype for GSTP1 Ile105Val, children who consumed avocado had higher odds of having a detectable blood As concentration compared to children who did not eat avocado.

Author(s):  
Suhardi Suhardi

Mental revolution of education requires efforts to print educated human beings by having the motivation to meet the standards of achievement excellence, such as ethos of progress, ethics, achievement motivation, discipline, optimistic, productive, innovative and active views. This can be implemented with character education. Character education is one of the soft skill tools that can be integrated in learning in each subject. Learning activities using an active learning approach have a strategic role in instilling national character values so that students are able to behave and act on values that have become their personality. The purpose of this study was to find and analyze about: 1) Implementation of Character Education to Build Adiwiyata-Based Mental Revolution and Multiculturalism; 2) Implementation of Character Education to Build Mental Revolution in Organizational Culture. This study uses a qualitative approach with phenomenological naturatistics (phenomenology approach), with a descriptive type of case study research design. Data were analyzed using data analysis techniques: data reduction, data analysis and conclusions. The results of the study are: The application of character education to develop a mental revolution can be started from the character of building the environment. Environmental character is very important for individual development. The implementation of character education in building a mental revolution can emphasize the internalization of multicultural values and Adiwiyata which in the end will form a loving environmental awareness and foster a spirit of tolerance.


Author(s):  
Ellen Haug ◽  
Otto Robert Frans Smith ◽  
Jens Bucksch ◽  
Catherina Brindley ◽  
Jan Pavelka ◽  
...  

Active school transport (AST) is a source of daily physical activity uptake. However, AST seems to have decreased worldwide over recent decades. We aimed to examine recent trends in AST and associations with gender, age, family affluence, and time to school, using data from the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) study collected in 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018 in the Czech Republic, Norway, Scotland, and Wales. Data from 88,212 students (11, 13 and 15 years old) revealed stable patterns of AST from 2006 to 2018, apart from a decrease in the Czech Republic between 2006 and 2010. For survey waves combined, walking to and from school was most common in the Czech Republic (55%) and least common in Wales (30%). Cycling was only common in Norway (22%). AST differed by gender (Scotland and Wales), by age (Norway), and by family affluence (everywhere but Norway). In the Czech Republic, family affluence was associated with change over time in AST, and the effect of travel time on AST was stronger. The findings indicate that the decrease in AST could be levelling off in the countries considered here. Differential associations with sociodemographic factors and travel time should be considered in the development of strategies for AST.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 471
Author(s):  
Jongmin Lee ◽  
Sung-Soo Park ◽  
Tong Yoon Kim ◽  
Dong-Gun Lee ◽  
Dong-Wook Kim

We aimed to identify whether lymphopenia is a reliable prognostic marker for COVID-19. Using data derived from a Korean nationwide longitudinal cohort of 5628 COVID-19 patients, we identified propensity-matched cohorts (n = 770) with group I of severe lymphopenia (absolute lymphocyte counts [ALC]: <500/mm3, n = 110), group II of mild-to-moderate lymphopenia (ALC: ≥500–<1000/mm3, n = 330), and group III, no lymphopenia (ALC: ≥1000/mm3, n = 330). A significantly higher mortality rate was associated with lymphopenia severity: 40% in group I, 22.7% in group II, and 13.0% in group III (p < 0.001). At 28 days, the estimated inferior overall survival associated with intensified lymphopenia: 62.7% in group I, 79.9% in group II, and 89.0% in group III (p < 0.001). Lymphopenia contributed significantly toward a greater need for interventions in all groups but at varying degrees: requirements of invasive ventilation, intensive oxygen supply, or adequate oxygen supply, respectively (p < 0.001). The lymphopenia intensity was independently associated with higher COVID-19 mortality in multivariable analysis; adjusted odds ratios of 5.63 (95% CI, 3.0–10.72), and 2.47 (95% CI, 1.5–4.13) for group I and group II, respectively. Lymphopenia and its severity levels may serve as reliable predictive factors for COVID-19 clinical outcomes; thus, lymphopenia may provide the prognostic granularity required for clinical use in the management of patients with COVID-19.


CNS Spectrums ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Leanna M. W. Lui ◽  
Yena Lee ◽  
Orly Lipsitz ◽  
Nelson B. Rodrigues ◽  
Hartej Gill ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Benzodiazepine (BZD) prescription rates have increased over the past decade in the United States. Available literature indicates that sociodemographic factors may influence diagnostic patterns and/or prescription behaviour. Herein, the aim of this study is to determine whether the gender of the prescriber and/or patient influences BZD prescription. Methods Cross-sectional study using data from the Florida Medicaid Managed Medical Assistance Program from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. Eligible recipients ages 18 to 64, inclusive, enrolled in the Florida Medicaid plan for at least 1 day, and were dually eligible. Recipients either had a serious mental illness (SMI), or non-SMI and anxiety. Results Total 125 463 cases were identified (i.e., received BZD or non-BZD prescription). Main effect of patient and prescriber gender was significant F(1, 125 459) = 0.105, P = 0 .745, partial η2 < 0.001. Relative risk (RR) of male prescribers prescribing a BZD compared to female prescribers was 1.540, 95% confidence intervals (CI) [1.513, 1.567], whereas the RR of male patients being prescribed a BZD compared to female patients was 1.16, 95% CI [1.14, 1.18]. Main effects of patient and prescriber gender were statistically significant F(1, 125 459) = 188.232, P < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.001 and F(1, 125 459) = 349.704, P < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.013, respectively. Conclusions Male prescribers are more likely to prescribe BZDs, and male patients are more likely to receive BZDs. Further studies are required to characterize factors that influence this gender-by-gender interaction.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (08) ◽  
pp. 606-615
Author(s):  
Halley Darrach ◽  
Pooja S. Yesantharao ◽  
Sarah Persing ◽  
George Kokosis ◽  
Hannah M. Carl ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Postmastectomy secondary lymphedema can cause substantial morbidity. However, few studies have investigated longitudinal quality of life (QoL) outcomes in patients with postmastectomy lymphedema, especially with regard to surgical versus nonoperative management. This study prospectively investigated QoL in surgically versus nonsurgically managed patients with postmastectomy upper extremity lymphedema. Methods This was a longitudinal cohort study of breast cancer-related lymphedema patients at a single institution, between February 2017 and January 2020. Lymphedema Quality of Life Instrument (LyQLI) and RAND-36 QoL instrument were used. Mann–Whitney U and Fisher's exact tests were used for descriptive statistics. Wilcoxon's signed-rank testing and linear modeling were used to analyze longitudinal changes in QoL. Results Thirty-two lymphedema patients were recruited to the study (20 surgical and 12 nonsurgical). Surgical and nonsurgical cohorts did not significantly differ in clinical/demographic characteristics or baseline QoL scores, but at the 12-month time point surgical patients had significantly greater LyQLI overall health scores than nonsurgical patients (79.3 vs. 58.3, p = 0.02), as well as higher composite RAND-36 physical (68.5 vs. 38.3, p = 0.04), and mental (77.0 vs. 52.7, p = 0.02) scores. Furthermore, LyQLI overall health scores significantly improved over time in surgical patients (60.0 at baseline vs. 79.3 at 12 months, p = 0.04). Besides surgical treatment, race, and age were also found to significantly impact QoL on multivariable analysis. Conclusion Our results suggest that when compared with nonoperative management, surgery improved QoL for chronic, secondary upper extremity lymphedema patients within 12-month postoperatively. Our results also suggested that insurance status may have influenced decisions to undergo lymphedema surgery. Further study is needed to investigate the various sociodemographic factors that were also found to impact QoL outcomes in these lymphedema patients.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. e045433
Author(s):  
Suqin Ding ◽  
Jingqi Chen ◽  
Bin Dong ◽  
Jie Hu

ObjectiveTo examine the association between parental socioeconomic status (SES) and the risk of offspring overweight/obesity and the changes of the association that occur as children grow older.DesignWe used data from the nationally representative longitudinal survey of the China Family Panel Studies of 2010 and its three follow-up waves in 2012, 2014 and 2016.ParticipantsA total of 6724 children aged 0–15 years old were included.Primary and secondary outcome measuresAverage household income and paternal and maternal education levels were used as SES indicators. Logistic regression model for panel data was used to examine the associations between SES indicators and child overweight/obesity. A restricted cubic spline linear regression model was used to estimate body mass index (BMI) trajectories with child growth across parental SES levels.ResultsCompared with the lowest education level (primary school or less), the ORs for fathers who had completed junior high school, senior high school and junior college or higher were 0.85 (95% CI 0.75 to 0.97), 0.77 (95% CI 0.64 to 0.92) and 0.72 (95% CI 0.55 to 0.93), respectively. The corresponding ORs for mothers were 0.76 (95% CI 0.67 to 0.86), 0.59 (95% CI 0.47 to 0.72) and 0.45 (95% CI 0.34 to 0.60), respectively. A negative association between parental education and offspring overweight/obesity was observed in the first 10 years but not in children 11–15 years old. BMI differences across parental education levels emerged from birth and widened before 6–7 years old, but decreased before adolescence. High average household income was related to a low risk of offspring overweight/obesity but not when parental education level was adjusted for.ConclusionHigh parental education levels were associated with a low risk of offspring overweight/obesity, especially before adolescence. Effective approaches need to be adopted in early childhood to reduce socioeconomic differences in overweight/obesity.


2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jürgen Bohnemeyer ◽  
Katharine T. Donelson ◽  
Randi E. Moore ◽  
Elena Benedicto ◽  
Alyson Eggleston ◽  
...  

We examine the extent to which practices of language use may be diffused through language contact and areally shared, using data on spatial reference frame use by speakers of eight indigenous languages from in and around the Mesoamerican linguistic area and three varieties of Spanish. Regression models show that the frequency of L2-Spanish use by speakers of the indigenous languages predicts the use of relative reference frames in the L1 even when literacy and education levels are accounted for. A significant difference in frame use between the Mesoamerican and non-Mesoamerican indigenous languages further supports the contact diffusion analysis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 631-652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adela Soliz

This study is the first large-scale examination of the impact of for-profit colleges on the enrollment and outcomes of students at other postsecondary institutions. Using data primarily from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and a differences-in-differences approach, I estimate the effect of a new for-profit college opening on community college enrollments and degree completions, as well as county education levels. My results suggest that community college enrollments and degree completions do not decline when a new degree-granting for-profit college opens nearby. Furthermore, I find evidence that the county-level production of short- and long-term certificates increases after a new for-profit college opens, though the number of associate’s degrees does not increase. This evidence should serve to broaden conversations about the role of for-profit colleges in the larger landscape of the American higher education system.


2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurten Sargin

AbstractAdolescence is believed to be a highly problematic period when depression is prevalent. This study aims to investigate the relationship between adolescents' depression states and their feelings of guilt and shame in respect to gender, age, school performance and parental education levels. The participants consisted of 187 teenagers; 88 (47.1%) girls and 99 (52.9%) boys. Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), the Guilt and Shame Scale (GES, Şahin), and a personal information form developed by the researcher were used as instruments. The study found a relationship between guilt and shame, that levels of depression were higher in 17-year-olds, and also that levels of depression, guilt and shame were found to be higher in girls than in boys. There was also a negative relationship seen between increased guilt and shame, and a decrease in mothers' education level.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frances Shiely ◽  
Seán R Millar

Abstract Background Accurately measuring BMI in large epidemiological studies is problematic as objective measurements are expensive, so subjective methodologies must usually suffice. A number of subjective methodologies have been shown to be inaccurate, resulting in misclassification to a lower BMI category and a subsequent underestimation of obesity prevalence. The purpose of this study is to explore a new subjective method of measuring BMI, BMI perception. Methods A cross-sectional analysis of the Mitchelstown Cohort Rescreen study, a random sample of 1 354 men and women aged 51–77 years recruited from a single primary care centre. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. BMI perception was measured by asking “Do you think you are underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese?” Weight and height were also objectively measured. Results 79% of the cohort were overweight or obese: 86% of males, 69% of females, P<0.001. The sensitivity for correct BMI perception for normal weight, overweight and obese was 77%, 61% and 11% respectively. 59% of overweight/obese participants underestimated their BMI. In multivariable analysis, gender, higher education levels, being told by a health professional to lose weight, and being on a diet were significantly associated with correct BMI perception. There was a linear trend relationship between increasing BMI levels and correct perception of BMI; participants in the highest BMI quartile had an approximate eight-fold increased odds of correctly perceiving their BMI when compared to participants within the lower overweight/obese quartiles (OR=7.72, 95% CI: 4.59, 12.98). Conclusions BMI perception as a subjective measurement of BMI has the potential to be an important measurement tool in large epidemiological studies. Clinicians need to be aware of disparities between BMI perception at the higher and lower BMI levels among overweight/obese patients and encourage preventative action for those at the lower levels to avoid weight gain and thus reduce their all-cause mortality risk.


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