The Effects of Childhood Social Support and Family Resiliency on Mental Health in Adulthood

The effect of social support on the overall health and quality of life in adulthood has been well documented particularly in chronic disease populations. Very few studies examined the relationships between childhood social support, family resiliency and mental health in adulthood in the community and among disadvantaged minority populations. We examined the role of social support and family resilience during childhood on subsequent mental health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adulthood among racial/ethnic minorities. A needs assessment survey which was designed to explore health determinants and quality of life indicators using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach in a low-income community in Tampa was analyzed. Participants were predominantly low-income non-Hispanic black and Hispanic population (n=187). The outcome mental HRQoL was measured using the validated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) “Healthy Days Measure” instrument. We utilized sequential multivariable logistic regression models to examine the independent effects of childhood social support and family resiliency on mental HRQoL in adulthood. Approximately 12.3% of study participants reported poor mental HRQoL (i.e. ≥14 unhealthy days due to mental health). Childhood social support and family resiliency were significant predictors of mental HRQoL in adulthood, after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Sleep and composite health issues in adulthood were also associated with mental HRQoL. Our analyses highlight an opportunity to promote mental health through support of interventions that improve positive family relationships and reduce the burden of chronic health issues among non-Hispanic black and Hispanic children

REVIEW - A reference data set for retinal vessel profiles

This paper describes REVIEW, a new retinal vessel reference dataset. This dataset includes 16 images with 193 vessel segments, demonstrating a variety of pathologies and vessel types. The vessel edges are marked by three observers using a special drawing tool. The paper also describes the algorithm used to process these segments to produce vessel profiles, against which vessel width measurement algorithms can be assessed. Recommendations are given for use of the dataset in performance assessment. REVIEW can be downloaded from http://ReviewDB.lincoln.ac.uk

High prevalence of chronic viral hepatitis B and C in Minnesota Somalis contributes to rising hepatocellular carcinoma incidence

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are known risk factors for liver disease, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There is substantial global variation in HBV and HCV prevalence resulting in variations in cirrhosis and HCC. We previously reported high prevalence of HBV and HCV infections in Somali immigrants seen at an academic medical center in Minnesota. AIM: To determine the prevalence of chronic viral hepatitis in Somali immigrants in Minnesota through a community-based screening program. METHODS: We conducted a prospective community-based participatory research study in the Somali community in Minnesota in partnership with community advisory boards, community clinics and local mosques between November 2010 and December 2015 (data was analyzed in 2020). Serum was tested for hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B core antibody, hepatitis B surface antibody and anti-HCV antibody. RESULTS: Of 779 participants, 15.4% tested positive for chronic HBV infection, 50.2% for prior exposure to HBV and 7.6% for chronic HCV infection. Calculated age-adjusted frequencies in males and females for chronic HBV were 12.5% and 11.6%; for prior exposure to HBV were 44.8% and 41.3%; and for chronic HCV were 6.7% and 5.7%, respectively. Seven participants developed incident HCC during follow up. CONCLUSION: Chronic HBV and HCV are major risk factors for liver disease and HCC among Somali immigrants, with prevalence of both infections substantially higher than in the general United States population. Community-based screening is essential for identifying and providing health education and linkage to care for diagnosed patients

Lifestyle-Related Determinants of Obesity Among Omani Children

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) z-scores and lifestyle-related factors including nutrition, physical activity, screen time and time spent sleeping in 6–10-year-old Omani children. Methods: This cross-sectional study included mother-child dyads that were recruited from five provinces in Oman. Children’s BMI measurements and questionnaires on nutrition intake, physical activity, screen time and time spent sleeping and a single-day dietary recall were collected. Results: A total of 197 dyads were included in this study. The children's mean age was 7.7 ± 1.6 years and 53% were female. In this study, 17.4% of the children were classified as overweight or obese. No significant relationship was found between the children's BMI z-scores and nutrition intake, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity time or screen time (P ≥0.05). Increased time spent sleeping at night was positively associated with childhood obesity (P <0.05). Conclusion: The relationship between obesity and caloric intake, physical activity and screen time among children younger than 10 years seems to be moderated by certain factors that need to be investigated. Qualitative studies and questionnaires that are culturally sensitive are therefore needed.Keywords: Children; Pediatric Obesity; Diet, Food, and Nutrition; Physical Activity; Screen Time; Sleep; Oman

Acceptability of novel lifelogging technology to determine context of sedentary behaviour in older adults

<strong>Objective:</strong> Lifelogging, using body worn sensors (activity monitors and time lapse photography) has the potential to shed light on the context of sedentary behaviour. The objectives of this study were to examine the acceptability, to older adults, of using lifelogging technology and indicate its usefulness for understanding behaviour.<strong> </strong><strong>Method:</strong> 6 older adults (4 males, mean age: 68yrs) wore the equipment (ActivPAL^TM and Vicon Revue^TM/SenseCam^TM) for 7 consecutive days during free-living activity. The older adults’ perception of the lifelogging technology was assessed through semi-structured interviews, including a brief questionnaire (Likert scale), and reference to the researcher&#39;s diary. <strong>Results:</strong> Older adults in this study found the equipment acceptable to wear and it did not interfere with privacy, safety or create reactivity, but they reported problems with the actual technical functioning of the camera. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> This combination of sensors has good potential to provide lifelogging information on the context of sedentary behaviour

Primary graft dysfunction after heart transplantation: a thorn amongst the roses

Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) remains the leading cause of early mortality post-heart transplantation. Despite improvements in mechanical circulatory support and critical care measures, the rate of PGD remains significant. A recent consensus statement by the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) has formulated a definition for PGD. Five years on, we look at current concepts and future directions of PGD in the current era of transplantation

An overview of different methods of myocardial protection currently employed peri-transplantation

Myocardial protection is integral to the functioning of hearts in day to day cardiac surgery. However, due to the longer ischaemic times, it becomes pivotal in the management of organs during transplantation. There are many different strategies employed to ensure diligent and judicious myocardial protection during donor management, transportation of the heart and the post-operative period. Given the limited supply of organs and the increasing waiting lists for heart transplants worldwide, it has become an area of renewed interest with many innovations and inventions using the principles of basic sciences to improve outcomes of transplanted hearts. The heart procurement process encompasses several of the different myocardial protection strategies in tandem to provide the greatest benefit to the recipients. This review looks at the different modalities employed, which include different types of cardioplegia, the role of biomarkers, the cutting-edge novel therapies, hormonal therapies and ischaemic conditioning strategies

Control of atomic currents using a quantum stirring device

We propose a BEC stirring device which can be regarded as the incorporation of a quantum pump into a closed circuit: it produces a DC circulating current in response to a cyclic adiabatic change of two control parameters of an optical trap. We demonstrate the feasibility of this concept and point out that such device can be utilized in order to probe the interatomic interactions.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, uses epl2.cls, revised versio

Using Bluetooth Low Energy devices to monitor visitor activity in remote amenity spaces

Tracking of pedestrian behaviour, particularly route selection and temporal behaviours, can be difficult to undertake. This is especially true of studies at a community or campus level where the anonymity of pedestrians can be difficult to protect. The introduction of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulations 2016 (GDPR) has increased the complexity of this challenge. Advances in Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology in recent years have increased the potential to monitor human behaviour by tracking and triangulating pedestrians. This paper describes an experiment undertaken along The Great South Wall at the Port of Dublin, which is considered a leading amenity location. Monitoring of visitor behaviour in places of this type can provide valuable information about the use of this and other public resources. The aims of this study were to test two prototypes to: i) determine the direction of participants carrying BLE devices, ii) determine the capabilities of two BLE scanning prototypes, (ESP32 & Raspberry Pi3), iii) test the ability of detecting a small number of BLE devices simultaneously while minimising interference or loss of passers-by data, iv) to investigate the use of a hash encoding scheme to anonymise BLE device identifiers. The findings show that the direction of the visitors to the pier can be detected by correlating the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) from multiple Bluetooth scanning devices and this can work where scanning devices are as close as 10m apart. The locations of the BLE scanners has a slight effect on detecting the RSSI from different distances and the distance between scanners needs to be considered to facilitate accurate measurement of direction. As a pier like the South Wall has only one entrance and exit point, this approach can also be used to determine the length of time spent on the pier. The technical performance of the two BLE scanners was also reviewed and the ESP32 was shown to have significantly lower power consumption with only a slight decrease in performance. Finally, it was shown that the BLE scanners can detect multiple carried BLE devices successfully without interference or loss of data as long as those devices are within range of the BLE scanners