The health of adolescents in detention : a global scoping review

Adolescents detained within the criminal justice system are affected by complex health problems, health-risk behaviours, and high rates of premature death. We did a global synthesis of the evidence regarding the health of this population. We searched Embase, PsycINFO, Education Resources Information Center, PubMed, Web of Science, CINCH, Global Health, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Campbell Library, the National Criminal Justice Reference System Abstract Database, and Google Scholar for peer-reviewed journal articles, including reviews, that reported the prevalence of at least one health outcome (physical, mental, sexual, infectious, and neurocognitive) in adolescents (aged <20 years) in detention, and were published between Jan 1, 1980, and June 30, 2018. The reference lists of published review articles were scrutinised for additional relevant publications. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts, and three reviewed full texts of relevant articles. The protocol for this Review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42016041392). 245 articles (204 primary research articles and 41 reviews) were included, with most primary research (183 [90%]) done in high-income countries. A high lifetime prevalence of health problems, risks, and conditions was reported in detained adolescents, including mental disorders (0–95%), substance use disorders (22–96%), self-harm (12–65%), neurodevelopmental disabilities (2–47%), infectious diseases (0–34%), and sexual and reproductive conditions (pregnant by age 19 years 20–37%; abnormal cervical screening test result 16%). Various physical and mental health problems and health-risk behaviours are more common among adolescents in detention than among their peers who have not been detained. As the social and structural drivers of poor health overlap somewhat with factors associated with exposure to the criminal justice system, strategies to address these factors could help to reduce both rates of adolescent detention and adolescent health inequalities. Improving the detection of mental and physical disorders, providing appropriate interventions during detention, and optimising transitional health care after release from detention could improve the health outcomes of these vulnerable young people

Up scalable ITO free organic light emitting diodes based on embedded inkjet printed copper grids

We report on ITO-free OLEDS with a transparent hybrid Cu nanoparticle grid/PEDOT:PSS electrode processed in ambient conditions. An experimentally based methodology was implemented, where studies on alternative PEDOT:PSS derivatives and Cu grid design were performed, to gradually increase the efficiency of lab scale ITO-free OLEDs. To further increase electrode performance, inkjet-printed (IJP) Cu-grids are embedded to flatten the electrode, reduce leakage current and enhance homogeneity and efficiency. Finally, embedded Cu based ITO-free OLEDs showed current and power efficiencies comparable to reference ITO-based OLEDs. Methods to manufacture large area flat embedded IJP Cu-electrodes on glass and flexible substrates are presented and upscaling prospects of the proposed ITO-free electrode are discussed

A Comparison of Risk Factors for Hepatitis C Among Young and Older Adult Prisoners

Internationally, the prevalence of hepatitis C infection is higher among prisoners when compared to the general population, particularly among people who inject drugs. This study estimates the prevalence of, and compares the risk factors for, hepatitis C in young (< 25 years) and older (≥ 25 years) prisoners with a history of injection drug use. Participants were 677 sentenced prisoners in Queensland, Australia, with a lifetime history of injection drug use, recruited in the 6 weeks prior to release from custody. The prevalence of hepatitis C exposure was significantly lower in young prisoners than in older prisoners (20.7% vs. 29.4%, p =.03). Risk factors for hepatitis C varied between young and older prisoners. Young people who inject drugs and who have had shorter time at risk of hepatitis C exposure are an important target group for hepatitis C prevention efforts

Comparison of social circumstances, substance use and substance-related harm in soon-to-be-released prisoners with and without intellectual disability

Background: The transition out of prison is likely to be a challenging time for prisoners with intellectual disability (ID). However, little evidence exists to inform interventions for people with ID making this transition. In this study we aimed to describe social circumstances, patterns of substance use and substance-related harm in soon-to-be-released prisoners with ID. We compare this group with those without ID, to better understand how the healthrelated needs of this group compare with the 'mainstream' prison population.\ud \ud Methods: Data came from face-to-face, confidential interviews with 1325 adult prisoners in seven adult prisons in Queensland, Australia. Prisoners with ID were identified using the Hayes Ability Screening Index (HASI). We used cross-sectional data to examine (i) demographics and criminographics; (ii) social circumstances; and (iii) substance use and substance use related harm. We compared characteristics of those with and without ID using univariable logistic regression. \ud \ud Results: Prisoners with ID (n = 115) were more likely than their peers without ID to be male, to identify as Indigenous Australian, and to report low educational attainment (<10 years) and preincarceration unemployment. Those with ID reported a high prevalence of poly-drug use (28.0%), unsafe tattooing (51.1%), unsafe sex (91.0%) and HCV infection (55.6%), although differences with their peers were non-significant.\ud \ud Conclusions: The health and social needs of prisoners with ID transitioning into the community are a significant concern for researchers, policy makers and practitioners. Our findings highlight the need for proactive, appropriate and targeted service responses from disability, health and justice sectors

Non-communicable disease mortality in young people with a history of contact with the youth justice system in Queensland, Australia: a retrospective, population-based cohort study

Background Young people who have had contact with the criminal justice system are at increased risk of early death, especially from injuries. However, deaths due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in this population remain poorly described. We aimed to estimate mortality due to NCDs in people with a history of involvement with the youth justice system, compare NCD mortality rates in this population with those in the general population, and characterise demographic and justice-related factors associated with deaths caused by NCDs in people with a history of contact with the youth justice system. Methods In this retrospective, population-based cohort study (the Youth Justice Mortality [YJ-Mort] study), we included all people aged 10-18 years (at baseline) charged with a criminal offence in Queensland, Australia, between June 30, 1993, and July 1, 2014. We probabilistically linked youth justice records with adult correctional records and national death records up to Jan 31, 2017. Indigenous status was ascertained from youth justice and adult correctional records, with individuals identified as Indigenous in either source classified as Indigenous in the final dataset. We estimated crude mortality rates and standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) for comparisons with data from the Australian general population. We identified risk factors for NCD deaths using competing-risks regression. Findings Of 48 670 individuals aged 10-18 years (at baseline) charged with a criminal offence in Queensland, Australia, between June 30, 1993, and July 1, 2014, 11 897 (24·4%) individuals were female, 36 773 (75·6%) were male, and 13 250 (27·2%) were identified as identified as Indigenous. The median age at first contact with the youth justice system was 15 years (IQR 14-16), the median follow-up time was 13·4 years (8·4-18·4), and the median age at the end of the study was 28·6 years (23·6-33·6). Of 1431 deaths, 932 (65·1%) had a known and attributed cause, and 121 (13·0%) of these were caused by an NCD. The crude mortality rate from NCDs was 18·5 (95% CI 15·5-22·1) per 100 000 person-years among individuals with a history of involvement with the youth justice system, which was higher than among the age-matched and sex-matched Australian general population (SMR 1·67 [1·39-1·99]). Two or more admissions to adult custody (compared with none; adjusted sub-distribution hazard ratio 2·09 [1·36-3·22]), and up to 52 weeks in adult custody (compared with none; 1·98 [1·18-3·32]) was associated with NCD death. Interpretation Young people with a history of contact with the justice system are at increased risk of death from NCDs compared with age-matched and sex-matched peers in the general Australian population. Reducing youth incarceration and providing young people's rights to access clinical, preventive, and restorative services should be a priority.Lucas Calais-Ferreira, Jesse T Young, Kate Francis, Melissa Willoughby, Lindsay Pearce, Alan Clough, Matthew J Spittal, Alex Brown, Rohan Borschmann, Susan M Sawyer, George C Patton, Stuart A Kinne

Bone regeneration during distraction osteogenesis

Bone has the capacity to regenerate in response to injury. During distraction osteogenesis, the renewal of bone is enhanced by gradual stretching of the soft connec- tive tissues in the gap area between two separated bone segments. This procedure has received much clinical atten- tion as a way to correct congenital growth retardation of bone tissue or to generate bone to fill skeletal defects. The process of bone regeneration involves a complex system of biological changes whereby mechanical stress is converted into a cascade of signals that activate cellular behavior resulting in (enhanced) formation of bone. Over the last decade, significant progress has been made in understand- ing the bone regeneration process during distraction osteo- genesis. The mechanical and biological factors that are important for the success of the distraction treatment have been partially characterized and are discussed in this review

The role of micro-organisms in the ecological connectivity of running waters

Pusch M, Fiebig D, Brettar I, et al. The role of micro-organisms in the ecological connectivity of running waters. Freshwater Biology. 1998;40(3):453-495