Impact of Local Wellness Policies on District Level Physical Activities

Local wellness policies (LWPs) are state required documents that outline school districts’ goals for improving the physical activity of their students. In Texas, most districts use a template for developing their LWP, which has seven prespecified goals that districts may include or further expand upon to include additional goals. PURPOSE: Determine if physical activity components of districts’ LWPs were related to practices within the district. METHODS: LWPs published by public school districts in Texas were collected from district websites, analyzed for content related to physical activity, and assessed to determine if the district text matched the template. Then, responses were compared to the respective districts’ responses to the Texas\u27 Student Health Policies and Practices Surveys (SHPPS) for the years 2018-2021. The SHPPS data was requested through the Texas Education Agency, and district IDs were used to match the responses to their LWP. On the SHPPS, districts self-report: whether the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) presented policy recommendations (yes/no), whether the district implemented changes recommended by the SHAC (yes/no), the content of changes (e.g., having off-campus physical activity programs), whether the wellness policy addressed specific factors influencing physical activity (e.g., increased opportunities for students to be physically active), and if the district notified parents about their child\u27s physical fitness assessment results (yes/no). Bivariate analysis using logistic [Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI)] and linear regression [Unstandardized Beta (B) and 95% CI] models were used to determine relationships between goals included in LWPs and self-reported practices. RESULTS: Overall, 431 districts had LWPs that could be matched with their SHPPS. LWPs which had additional guidelines (reported as Other_PA_Goals) were marginally more likely to receive feedback from the district’s SHAC (2019-2020 [OR: 1.183, 95% CI: (0.988, 1.416), p= .067], 2020-2021 [OR: 1.19, CI: (0.992, 1.427), p=.061]) and implement more changes recommended by their SHAC during the years of 2018-2019 [OR: 1.19, 95% CI: (0.992, 1.427), p=.061]. Districts with LWPs that included the specific goal to “make physical activity enjoyable for students and staff” were also marginally more likely to notify parents that they could request their children’s physical assessment results in all three years 2018-2019 [OR: 1.447, 95% CI: (0.939, 2.229), p=.094], 2019-2020 [OR: 1.458, 95% CI: (0.967, 2.198), p= .072], 2020-2021 [OR: 1.498, 95% CI (0.976, 2.299), p= .064]). CONCLUSION: Districts with LWPs that further expanded on the template presented by the state or had used alternate text compared to the template, were more likely to report positive physical activity practices in their district, including having the SHAC make policy recommendations and the districts implementing changes recommended by the SHAC. These findings may suggest that SHACs play an important role in the development and implementation of a districts’ LWP

DESIGN OF A HIGH-SENSITIVITY DEVICE FOR DETECTING WEAK MAGNETIC FIELDS

An anti-serial fluxgate sensor configuration is proposed in this report. The design comprises two identical bilayer-rod fluxgate sensors connected anti-serially in a straight line. Each bilayer-rod sensor is constructed of an excitation coil and a pick-up coil wrapped around a core. The core material consists of Metglas ribbon, an amorphous alloy with high permeability, negligible hysteresis, and a high saturated magnetic field. The core is cut into a bar shape and uses double layers to enhance modulated flux density. A high sensitivity of 10 mV/Oe (with excitation of 45 kHz and 250 mA) is obtained experimentally with low noise of 1´10-5 Oe/Ö Hz at 1 Hz. In measurements of weak magnetic fields, the azimuth response indicates its vector feature. The proposed design is suitable for electronic compass and displacement applications

FACTORS RELATED TO THE AWARENESS AND BEHAVIOR OF MARIJUANA USE AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN CAPITAL HANOI, VIETNAM

Abstract The increasing use of addictive substances, especially marijuana, among university students has increased the burden of disease and social issues. However, the specific data about the prevalence and factors relating to marijuana use among university students is still limited. This study aims to provide the initial research literature about factors affecting the awareness and behavior of marijuana use among university students in Hanoi. The study employed two primary methods: a survey questionnaire and an in-depth interview with a sample of 324 diverse university students. According to research findings, students are generally uncertain about the effects of marijuana and take a neutral stance on its social acceptability. The overall prevalence of marijuana use among university students in Hanoi is 7.4%, of which the rate of use in males is 9.4% and in females is 4.1%. Marijuana use is also influenced by peers' behavior, and parents' false perception of their children's drug prevention capability and marijuana's accessibility may also play a factor

Trends in, projections of, and inequalities in non-communicable disease management indicators in Vietnam 2010–2030 and progress toward universal health coverage : a Bayesian analysis at national and sub-national levels

Background: Movement towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) can improve health services, risk factor management, and inequality in non-communicable diseases (NCD); conversely, prioritizing and monitoring NCD management can support pathways to UHC in resource-limited settings. We aimed to estimate trends in NCD management indicators in Vietnam from 2010, and projections to 2030 at national and sub-national levels; compute the probability of reaching UHC targets; and measure inequalities in NCD management indicators at demographic, geographic, and socio-economic levels. Methods: We included data of 37,595 households from four nationally representative surveys from 2010. We selected and estimated the coverage of NCD health service and risk management indicators nationally and by six sub-national groups. Using Bayesian models, we provided trends and projections and calculated the probability of reaching UHC targets of 80% coverage by 2030. We estimated multiple inequality indices including the relative index of inequality, slope index of inequality, and concentration index of inequality, and provided an assessment of improvement in inequalities over the study period. Findings: Nationally, all indicators showed a low probability of achieving 2030 targets except sufficient use of fruit and vegetables (SUFV) and non-use of tobacco (NUT). We observed declining trends in national coverage of non-harmful use of alcohol (NHUA), sufficient physical activity (SPA), non-overweight (NOW), and treatment of diabetes (TOD). Except for SPA, no indicator showed the likelihood of achieving 2030 targets at any regional level. Our model suggested a non-achievement of 2030 targets for all indicators in any wealth quintile and educational level, except for SUFV and NUT. There were diversities in tendency and magnitude of inequalities with widening gaps between genders (SPA, TOD), ethnic groups (SUFV), urban-rural areas (TOH), wealth quintiles, and educational levels (TOD, NUT, NHUA). Interpretation: Our study suggested slow progress in NCD management at the national level and among key sub-populations in Vietnam, together with existing and increasing inequalities between genders, ethnicities, geographic areas, and socioeconomic groups. We emphasised the necessity of continuously improving the healthcare system and facilities, distributing resources between geographic areas, and simultaneously integrating economic, education, and gender intervention and programs. Funding: None. © 2022 The Author(s

Depression and Anxiety as Key Factors Associated With Quality of Life Among Lung Cancer Patients in Hai Phong, Vietnam

Background: Cancer is a leading cause of death. People living with cancer experience a variety of symptoms that might profoundly affect their quality of life (QoL).Objective: The study aims to identify factors associated with the QoL of patients with lung cancer at the oncology department of Viet Tiep Hospital, Hai Phong city, Vietnam in 2018.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect data from lung cancer inpatients in Hai Phong city, Vietnam. The EQ-5D-5L and the EuroQol (EQ)-visual analogue scale (EQ VAS) were used to assess health-related quality of life (QoL). A multivariable regression analysis was performed on the EQ-5D utility score and the EQ VAS score as dependent variables, and socioeconomic, social support, and psychological factors as potential predictors.Results: A total of 125 lung cancer patients were enrolled in this study. The highest proportion of respondents reporting any problems was in anxiety/depression (92.8%), pain/discomfort (81.2%), usual activities (75.2%), and mobility (60%) dimensions, while the lowest percentage was in self-care dimension (40.8%). The multivariate analyses showed that a low QoL score was significantly associated with depression, incapacity to pay, low response to treatment, and presence of side effects.Conclusion: QoL of lung cancer patients is associated with anxiety/depression and other factors that can be modified by specific interventions. It is therefore possible to take care of psychological aspects to improve the QoL of Vietnamese people suffering from this condition

PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF LEAF EXTRACTS OFTHUJA ORIENTALIS (L.) ENDL

Abstract The objective of the present study was to investigate the presence of various phytochemicals from the methanolic, ethanolic, aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts of leaf extracts ofThujaorientalis (L.) Endl.Preliminary phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids,tannins, phenols, anthraquinone, glycosides,oils and fats, and carbohydrates. The present study provides evidence that solvent extracts of Thujaorientalis (L.) Endlcontains medicinally important bioactive compounds and this justifies the use of plant species as traditional medicine for treatment of various diseases

Decreased inflammatory cytokine production of antigen-specific CD4+ T cells in NMDA receptor encephalitis

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate-receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is the most common autoimmune encephalitis with psychosis, amnesia, seizures and dyskinesias. The disease is mediated by pathogenic autoantibodies against the NR1 subunit that disrupt NMDAR function. Antibody infusion into mouse brains can recapitulate encephalitis symptoms, while active immunization resulted also in strong T cell infiltration into the hippocampus. However, whether T cells react against NMDAR and their specific contribution to disease development are poorly understood. Here we characterized the ex vivo frequency and phenotype of circulating CD4(+) T helper (T-H) cells reactive to NR1 protein using antigen-reactive T cell enrichment (ARTE) in 24 patients with NMDAR encephalitis, 13 patients with LGI1 encephalitis and 51 matched controls. Unexpectedly, patients with NMDAR encephalitis had lower frequencies of CD154-expressing NR1-reactive T-H cells than healthy controls and produced significantly less inflammatory cytokines. No difference was seen in T cells reactive to the synaptic target LGI1 (Leucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1), ubiquitous Candida antigens or neoantigens, suggesting that the findings are disease-specific and not related to therapeutic immunosuppression. Also, patients with LGI1 encephalitis showed unaltered numbers of LGI1 antigen-reactive T cells. The data reveal disease-specific functional alterations of circulating NMDAR-reactive T-H cells in patients with NMDAR encephalitis and challenge the idea that increased pro-inflammatory NMDAR-reactive T cells contribute to disease pathogenesis

Le portail g-INFO pour surveiller la grippe Influenza A

Le portail g-INFO pour surveiller la grippe Influenza

The results of deep magnetotelluric sounding for studying the Nha Trang - Tanh Linh fault

The profile of deep magnetotelluric sounding (MT) from Duc Trong - Tuy Phong has been carried out in Lam Dong and Binh Thuan  provinces. The length of the Duc Trong - Tuy Phong profile is about 80 km with 15 stations and the distance between the stations measures about 5 km. Two-dimensional MT inversion was used to find a resistivity model that fits the data. The 2D resistivity model allows determining position and development formation of the Nha Trang - Tanh Linh  fault. This is the deep fault, which is showed by the boundaries of remarkable change of resistivity. In the near surface of the Earth (from ground to the depth of 6 km), the angle of inclination of this fault is about 60o; in the next part, the direction of the Nha Trang - Tanh Linh  faut is vertical. Geoelectrical section of the Nha Trang - Tanh Linh  profile shows that the resistivity of mid-crust is higher than that of lower-crust and of upper-crust

Trends in, projections of, and inequalities in reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health service coverage in Vietnam 2000-2030: A Bayesian analysis at national and sub-national levels

Background: To assess the reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) service coverage in Vietnam with trends in 2000-2014, projections and probability of achieving targets in 2030 at national and sub-national levels; and to analyze the socioeconomic, regional and urban-rural inequalities in RMNCH service indicators. Methods: We used national population-based datasets of 44,624 households in Vietnam from 2000 to 2014. We applied Bayesian regression models to estimate the trends in and projections of RMNCH indicators and the probabilities of achieving the 2030 targets. Using the relative index, slope index, and concentration index of inequality, we examined the patterns and trends in RMNCH coverage inequality. Findings: We projected that 9 out of 17 health service indicators (53%) would likely achieve the 2030 targets at the national level, including at least one and four ANC visits, BCG immunization, access to improved water and adequate sanitation, institutional delivery, skilled birth attendance, care-seeking for pneumonia, and ARI treatment. We observed very low coverages and zero chance of achieving the 2030 targets at national and sub-national levels in early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding, family planning needs satisfied, and oral rehydration therapy. The most deprived households living in rural areas and the Northwest, Northeast, North Central, Central Highlands, and Mekong River Delta regions would not reach the 80% immunization coverage of DPT3, Polio3, Measles and full immunization. We found socioeconomic, regional, and urban-rural inequalities in all RMNCH indicators in 2014 and no change in inequalities over 15 years in the lowest-coverage indicators. Interpretation: Vietnam has made substantial progress toward UHC. By improving the government\u27s health system reform efforts, re-allocating resources focusing on people in the most impoverished rural regions, and restructuring and enhancing current health programs, Vietnam can achieve the UHC targets and other health-related SDGs