Vitamin D and Cardiovascular Diseases

Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent worldwide and has been implicated in the pathogenesis and complications of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Defining this relationship has been challenging, and the clinical application of vitamin D screening and supplementation for CVD risk prevention and modification remain uncertain. The available evidence includes large observational studies and smaller randomized trials mostly evaluating surrogate endpoints and scarcely directed at CV outcomes as a primary endpoint. Methodological heterogeneity is present among most of these trials. Clarification of the clinical application of this relationship through ongoing large randomized trials should have important implications for public health

Advances in testing for human papillomavirus-mediated head and neck cancer

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: New evidence has recently emerged regarding the utility and benefits of dual p16 INKa (p16) and Human papillomavirus (HPV) status testing when determining the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with oropharyngeal cancer.RECENT FINDINGS: HPV RNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the most accurate diagnostic test. The other assays (HPV DNA PCR, HPV DNA/RNA in-situ hybridization (ISH) and p16) applied to formalin fixed tumour tissue have varying but high sensitivities and specificities. Dual p16 and HPV testing identifies discordant (p16+/HPV- or p16-/HPV+) results in 9.2% of cases, who have significantly poorer prognoses than p16+/HPV+, particularly in smokers. The proportion of discordant cases varies by region, and appears to be highest in regions with lowest attributable (p16+/HPV+) fractions. Dual testing improves prognostication for oropharyngeal cancer cases by identifying discordant cases and improving the prognostic power of the Tumour Node Metastasis (TNM) classification, especially in regions with high discordant rates.SUMMARY: Dual testing is essential when considering patients for clinical trials of treatment de-escalation, and may be important when counselling patients on prognosis, especially in regions with high discordant rates and in smokers.</p

Advances in testing for human papillomavirus-mediated head and neck cancer

Purpose of review New evidence has recently emerged regarding the utility and benefits of dual p16INKa (p16) and Human papillomavirus (HPV) status testing when determining the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with oropharyngeal cancer. Recent findings HPV RNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the most accurate diagnostic test. The other assays (HPV DNA PCR, HPV DNA/RNA in-situ hybridization (ISH) and p16) applied to formalin fixed tumour tissue have varying but high sensitivities and specificities. Dual p16 and HPV testing identifies discordant (p16+/HPV- or p16-/HPV+) results in 9.2% of cases, who have significantly poorer prognoses than p16+/HPV+, particularly in smokers. The proportion of discordant cases varies by region, and appears to be highest in regions with lowest attributable (p16+/HPV+) fractions. Dual testing improves prognostication for oropharyngeal cancer cases by identifying discordant cases and improving the prognostic power of the Tumour Node Metastasis (TNM) classification, especially in regions with high discordant rates. Summary Dual testing is essential when considering patients for clinical trials of treatment de-escalation, and may be important when counselling patients on prognosis, especially in regions with high discordant rates and in smokers

Will I or Will I Not? Explaining the Willingness to Disclose Personal Self-Tracking Data to a Health Insurance Company

Users of digital self-tracking devices increasingly benefit from multiple services related to their self-tracking data. Vice versa, new digital as well as “offline” service providers, such as health insurance companies, depend on the users’ willingness to disclose personal data to be able to offer new services. Whereas previous research mostly investigated the willingness to disclose data in the context of social media, e-commerce and smartphone apps, the aim of our research is to analyze the influence of the privacy calculus of personal risks and benefits on the willingness to disclose highly personal and confidential self-tracking data to health insurance companies. To do so, we develop a conceptual model based on the privacy calculus concept and validate it with a sample of 103 respondents in a scenario-based experiment using structural equation modeling. Our results reveal that privacy risks always have a negative impact on the willingness to disclose personal data, while positive effects of privacy benefits are partly depending on the data sensitivity

A space-time hybrid hourly rainfall model for derived flood frequency analysis

For derived flood frequency analysis based on hydrological modelling long continuous precipitation time series with high temporal resolution are needed. Often, the observation network with recording rainfall gauges is poor, especially regarding the limited length of the available rainfall time series. Stochastic precipitation synthesis is a good alternative either to extend or to regionalise rainfall series to provide adequate input for long-term rainfall-runoff modelling with subsequent estimation of design floods. Here, a new two step procedure for stochastic synthesis of continuous hourly space-time rainfall is proposed and tested for the extension of short observed precipitation time series. First, a single-site alternating renewal model is presented to simulate independent hourly precipitation time series for several locations. The alternating renewal model describes wet spell durations, dry spell durations and wet spell intensities using univariate frequency distributions separately for two seasons. The dependence between wet spell intensity and duration is accounted for by 2-copulas. For disaggregation of the wet spells into hourly intensities a predefined profile is used. In the second step a multi-site resampling procedure is applied on the synthetic point rainfall event series to reproduce the spatial dependence structure of rainfall. Resampling is carried out successively on all synthetic event series using simulated annealing with an objective function considering three bivariate spatial rainfall characteristics. In a case study synthetic precipitation is generated for some locations with short observation records in two mesoscale catchments of the Bode river basin located in northern Germany. The synthetic rainfall data are then applied for derived flood frequency analysis using the hydrological model HEC-HMS. The results show good performance in reproducing average and extreme rainfall characteristics as well as in reproducing observed flood frequencies. The presented model has the potential to be used for ungauged locations through regionalisation of the model parameters.BMBF/FKZ:033068

Embarazo adolescente identidades masculinas y ejercicio de la paternidad

Teenage pregnancy has been considered a risk factor that affects the mother, while the situation of adolescents and young parents was kept aside, though they also experience the consequences of pregnancy. This study examines the transition from male identity constructed during adolescence towards early parenthood, argumented around its presence. To this end, 7 focus groups were practiced and 18 individual interviews with men between 15 and 24 years of age to obtain data pertaining the models of masculinity and fatherhood, the elements that contribute to its construction process, and their sexual and reproductive behavior. The results show the emergence of new paradigms of masculinity and fatherhood that include notions of gender equality, both in rights and responsibilities. Young male parents look for a space of sentimental approach in the way they relate with their children, drifting away from the traditional and exclusive position of the provider; these new models coexist with the dominant ones and at times oppose each other which proves a transformation in the models of identity facing the lack of newer ones. That is why, concluding, masculinity and fatherhood are structures in constant change and reaffirmation, which directly affect males’ sexual and reproductive behavior. It becomes necessary to take a hard look at the thematic surrounding sexual education being offered to teen and young males, as well as incorporating them to existing health services from a stereotype-free attitude, in order to reason about the constituent elements of their masculinity and their ability to be recognized as parents, from both, the health services and family spaces.El embarazo adolescente ha sido considerado como un factor de riesgo que afecta a la madre, mientras la situación de los padres adolescentes y jóvenes se mantenía al margen, a pesar de que ellos también experimentan las consecuencias del embarazo. Esta investigación analiza el tránsito de la identidad masculina construida durante la adolescencia, hacia la paternidad temprana, razonada en torno a su presencia. Para ello se realizaron 7 grupos focales y 18 entrevistas individuales con varones entre los 15 y 24 años de edad, para obtener datos acerca de los modelos de masculinidad y paternidad, los elementos que aportan a su proceso de construcción, y su conducta sexual y reproductiva. Los resultados presentan el surgimiento de nuevos paradigmas de masculinidad y paternidad que incluyen nociones de igualdad de género, en derechos y en responsabilidades. Los padres jóvenes buscan un espacio de participación afectiva en la relación con sus hijos, distante a la figura tradicional y exclusiva del proveedor, estos nuevos modelos conviven con los dominantes y en ocasiones entran en contraposición, por lo que se evidencia una transformación de los modelos de identidad, frente a la carencia de nuevos referentes. Es por ello, por lo que se concluye que la masculinidad y paternidad son estructuras en permanente transformación y confirmación, las cuales inciden directamente en las conductas sexuales y reproductivas de los varones. El estudio establece la necesidad de replantear la temática en torno a la educación sexual ofertada a los varones adolescentes y jóvenes, así como incorporarlos a los servicios de salud, desde una actitud libre de estereotipos, para razonar acerca de los elementos constitutivos de su masculinidad y sus posibilidades de ser reconocidos como padres

ENQUETE: Tableauer fra hjemmefronten

ENQUETE: Gerd von Buchwald Lütken: Tableauer fra hjemmefronte

INSIGHTS INTO PERSONAL ICT USE: UNDERSTANDING CONTINUANCE AND DISCONTINUANCE OF WEARABLE SELF-TRACKING DEVICES

Wearable self-tracking devices become increasingly common in our society and reflect the trend towards the digitized individual. However, little is known what drives the continuance and dis-continuance usage of such devices. To empirically analyze factors leading to continuance and discontinuance of wearable self-tracking device usage, we develop a conceptual model based on established post-adoption concepts and the dual-factor theory. We validate it by applying structural equation modeling on collected survey data among 357 self-tracking users. Whereas previous research focuses on predicting continuance intentions, our results reveal discontinu-ance to be another decisive determinant of usage behavior. Additionally, we provide insights into factors driving continuance and discontinuance intentions and derive practical implications for producers. Our results advance the theoretical discourse on IS post-adoption behavior in a personal ICT context

Towards Explaining the Use of Self-Tracking Devices: Conceptual Development of a Continuance and Discontinuance Model

Users of digital self-tracking devices benefit from information about themselves. Thereby, the explanatory power of this information heavily depends on post-adoption continued usage of these devices. Thus, the aim of our research is to empirically analyze the factors that lead to continuous use of self-tracking devices. So far, research has largely focused on phases until IS adoption in a work environment and little on post-adoption use in a consumer context which centers on either continuance or discontinuance. To advance research in this area, we develop a conceptual model that combines both in one comprehensive model by building on established post-adoption theories. We will continue our research with a quantitative-empirical evaluation of the developed model. With our research, we aim at contributing to both a better theoretical understanding in the field of IS post-adoption in a consumer context and giving practical implications for producers of self-tracking devices