Teenage pregnancy has been acknowledged as a global public health concern,especially in low-and middle-income nations[1].This is predominantly because teenagers are more likely to experience pregnancy complications(vi...Teenage pregnancy has been acknowledged as a global public health concern,especially in low-and middle-income nations[1].This is predominantly because teenagers are more likely to experience pregnancy complications(viz.anemia,obstructed labour,etc.),higher rates of maternal mortality,and neonatal complications,including mortality[1,2].It is not unusual that many teen mothers have to experience exclusion from their families and communities,which limits access to quality healthcare services and is a major reason for emotional stress and mental health problems[2].展开更多
Tuberculous meningitis(TBM),which accounts for 1%-5%of global tuberculosis cases,is a severe neurological infection with a mortality rate of 30%-50%.Its high fatality and disability rates disproportionately affect low...Tuberculous meningitis(TBM),which accounts for 1%-5%of global tuberculosis cases,is a severe neurological infection with a mortality rate of 30%-50%.Its high fatality and disability rates disproportionately affect low-and middle-income regions(e.g.,sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia),threatening the lives of patients and imposing significant psychosocial burdens.Recent studies have highlighted the crucial role of psychosocial factors,including socioeconomic status,disease severity,and social support systems in recovery.However,research gaps persist in developing TBM-specific psychosocial interventions.This narrative review summarizes and organizes the key findings of observational studies,cohort studies,and intervention trials published between 2015 and 2024.Databases including PubMed,Scopus,and Web of Science were searched for terms related to TBM,psychosocial risk factors and mental health interventions.Studies were screened for relevance and quality,focusing on those that examined the psychological and social determinants of mental health outcomes in patients with TBM.展开更多
BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)management requires sustainable lifestyle modifications.This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the RESET care plan,a comprehensive program that is an integ...BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)management requires sustainable lifestyle modifications.This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the RESET care plan,a comprehensive program that is an integrated personalized diet,exercise,and cognitive behavior therapy,delivered via MyTatva’s digital health application enabled through a body composition analyzer(BCA)and smartwatch.AIM To evaluates the effectiveness of the comprehensive program delivered via My-Tatva’s digital health app enabled through internet of thing devices.METHODS This retrospective observational study analyzed deidentified data from 22 par-ticipants enrolled in the MyTatva RESET care program.Participants were divided into three groups:Group A,diet plan;Group B,diet+exercise plan;and Group C,diet+exercise+cognitive behavioral therapy plan.Participants were provided with a BCA and smartwatch for continuous monitoring of anthropometric para-meters.Statistical analysis,including one-way ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey’s Honest Significant Difference test,was conducted to compare mean changes in anthropometric parameters across the groups.INTRODUCTION Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)has emerged as a global health burden,affecting approximately 1 in 4 in-dividuals worldwide.NAFLD ranges from simple steatosis(fat accumulation)to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH),and its global prevalence in the general population is estimated between 6.3%and 33%,with NASH affecting 3-5%[1,2].Obesity is a major risk factor of NAFLD,with studies showing that the likelihood of developing NAFLD increases 5-fold at a body mass index(BMI)of 30-32.5 kg/m²and up to 14-fold at BMI of 37.5-40 kg/m²compared to a BMI of 20-22.5 kg/m²[3,4].Effective NAFLD management requires both dietary and physical activity modifications.Healthy weight loss with sustained muscle mass plays a pivotal role,with a reduction of 3%-5%decreasing hepatic steatosis,5%-7%improving NASH conditions,and 10%or more needed to reverse hepatic fibrosis[5].Management also normalizes elevated liver enzymes(aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase),enhances insulin sensitivity,and thereby reduces cardiovascular risk by improving endothelial function and increasing cardiorespiratory fitness[6].However,diet or exercise alone is often not as effective as a combined approach.Integrating both balanced dietary changes and increased physical activity yields more sustainable improvements in NAFLD and overall metabolic health[1,7].Traditional intervention methods usually involve in-person consultations,which often lack real-time and continuous patient monitoring.The recommendation of drastic changes in diet and exercise can also be overwhelming for patients,leading to low adherence rates.Many patients struggle to maintain these changes in the long-term due to a lack of con-tinuous motivational support[8,9].In recent years,the health ecosystem has witnessed a significant shift toward digital health platforms,which complement pharmacological treatments in chronic disease management,and increase scala-bility.These platforms provide continuous monitoring and personalized support,helping to bridge the gap between health care setups and patients[10].Recent digital advances enable internet of things(IoT)devices to be integrated into such management plans to track health metrics,to address the limitations of traditional methods[11,12].The MyTatva digital health application offers the RESET plan,a novel comprehensive approach for NAFLD mana-gement by integrating personalized support from nutrition,physiotherapy,and cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT)coaches.We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the RESET plan by analyzing the reduction in anthropometric para-meters across three different digital intervention groups.展开更多
Objective:This scoping review explores digital health interventions used to improve maternal health and the health of children under-5-year-olds in rural areas of low-and middle-income countries(LMICs),identifying cur...Objective:This scoping review explores digital health interventions used to improve maternal health and the health of children under-5-year-olds in rural areas of low-and middle-income countries(LMICs),identifying current practices and research gaps.Methods:Guided by PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews,a comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed,Web of Science,and grey literature search with Google Scholar,and the South African National Elec-tronic Theses and Dissertations Portal.MeSH terms and Boolean operators were used.Studies were screened using the Population,Concept,and Context framework,and data were extracted systematically.Results:Of 5,114 records,63 met inclusion criteria.Digital health interventions,particularly mobile health,were found to enhance service delivery,education,and support for maternal and child health in LMICs.However,challenges such as limited access to technology,digital literacy,and cultural barriers persist.Contextual factors,including geography and sociocultural norms,significantly influenced implementation success.Conclusion:Digital health interventions show promise in improving maternal and child health in LMICs.How-ever,regional disparities,technological limitations,and cultural misalignment hinder scalability.Future research should focus on culturally adaptive,community-engaged approaches and long-term impact assessments to sup-port sustainable health promotion in low-resource settings.展开更多
The objective of this work is to analyze the reasons why community health interventions in Africa do not consider multisectoral approaches. To achieve it, we perform a mini-review of health development policies and pl...The objective of this work is to analyze the reasons why community health interventions in Africa do not consider multisectoral approaches. To achieve it, we perform a mini-review of health development policies and plans available online in seven countries from four regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, two main reasons have been highlighted. First, national strategic plans and policies for health development, in their formulation, neither sufficiently emphasize multisectoral approaches, nor sufficiently make these approaches operational in strategies and activities. Second, the mindset of health professionals due to their initial training orientation based on the biomedical approach, stands that disease is only a result of a physiological imbalance in the body;therefore, to restore health, such an imbalance only needs sophisticated procedures and interventions to be overcome. Such an orientation completely ignores the social, cultural and economic context in which the individual lives, which has an irretrievable influence on the health imbalance. However, health, influenced by the conditions in which people are conceived, born, grow, live, work and aged, cannot be effectively improved in a sustainable way without taking into account all these conditions. Whence the importance of approaches based on every sector of human activity that influences the living conditions.展开更多
Background: The ability of managers of small-scale enterprises (SSEs) to prioritize health, working conditions, and their own physical fitness is an important issue for workplace health promotion in Norway and Sweden,...Background: The ability of managers of small-scale enterprises (SSEs) to prioritize health, working conditions, and their own physical fitness is an important issue for workplace health promotion in Norway and Sweden, where most owner-manager positions are in SSEs. Aim: To assess the physical fitness status of SSE managers compared to a norm population and to study changes in physical fitness status, self-reported physical activity, and sickness outcomes after workplace health interventions. Methods: The study allocated SSE managers to either an intervention or a reference group. The intervention, over twelve months, consisted of motivational input related to lifestyle and physical activity through tests and feedback, individual support, and courses on health and psychosocial working conditions. The participants (N = 28) completed health screening checks, questionnaires and testing before and after the intervention. Results: SSE managers in the study had positive outcomes for BMI levels and strength compared to the norm population, while percentage of fat for both men and women indicated poor results. There were no further improvements in the intervention group after comparison with the reference group. Separately, both groups seemed to improve strength and body composition. Conclusion: Workplace health interventions with essentially motivational components may increase SSE managers’ attention to physical fitness, but appear to have limited effects on objective and subjective physical fitness outcomes.展开更多
A number of evaluations of health education interventions in developing countries for the reduction of neonatal mortality have been reported. These interventions can be divided into two categories： those which includ...A number of evaluations of health education interventions in developing countries for the reduction of neonatal mortality have been reported. These interventions can be divided into two categories： those which include medical professionals and those without medical professionals. No systematic review has yet been performed that compares these two types of interventions. This study is an attempt to determine whether the inclusion of medical professionals in health education interventions more greatly decreases neonatal mortality in developing countries. Databases were searched for impact evaluation studies which： 1） had both experimental and control groups, 2） conducted both pre-tests and post-tests, 3） identified the intervention as a health education package, 4） were published in peer reviewed journals, 5） used neonatal mortality as an outcome measure, and 6） were undertaken in developing countries A total 14 studies were found that fit these criteria---eight of these studies included medical professionals in the intervention, and six studies were without medical professionals. To calculate the net effect of each intervention, both the difference-in-difference method and the use of log odds ratios were tested. Interventions involving medical professionals had significantly lower neonatal mortality rates than those without medical professionals. Interventions meant to decrease neonatal mortality in developing countries are recommended to involve medical professionals.展开更多
Background While mRNA vaccines represent a transformative platform for infectious disease control,their efficacy in antigen-presenting cells(APCs)remains vulnerable to endogenous regulatory networks,particularly micro...Background While mRNA vaccines represent a transformative platform for infectious disease control,their efficacy in antigen-presenting cells(APCs)remains vulnerable to endogenous regulatory networks,particularly microRNA(miR)-mediated translational suppression.This study addresses a critical gap in current vaccine design paradigms by systematically investigating host miR interference-an understudied barrier to robust antigen production.Main text APCs express cell-type-specific miR repertoires capable of binding vaccine mRNAs through conserved seed sequences,as evidenced by synthesis of experimental data from 67 studies demonstrating miR-mediated repression of exogenous transcripts.To decode these inhibitory interactions,the commentary proposes an inte-grated multi-omics framework combining Argonaute immunoprecipitation with crosslinking-based miR-mRNA interactome sequencing,enabling precise mapping of miR-vaccine mRNA binding events in vaccine-transfected APCs.Furthermore,the commentary suggests two actionable strategies for evading miR interference:(1)Synony-mous codon optimization at seed-match regions,achieving binding energy reduction while preserving antigenic-ity through degeneracy of genetic coding;(2)Targeted co-delivery of miR inhibitors.By bridging host RNA biology and vaccine engineering,this work provides a blueprint for developing miR-resistant mRNA vaccines for public health interventions.Conclusions miRs may inhibit mRNA vaccine translation in APCs,potentially reducing antigen production and weak-ening the resulting immune response.To address this,next-generation mRNA vaccines should incorporate"miR-proofing"strategies during design to avoid miR interference.展开更多
Infertility has been regarded as a global public health concern,affecting both men and women irrespective of geographical region,race,ethnicity,and socioeconomic class[1].The available global estimates suggest that al...Infertility has been regarded as a global public health concern,affecting both men and women irrespective of geographical region,race,ethnicity,and socioeconomic class[1].The available global estimates suggest that almost 17%of people of reproductive age experience infertility during their lives[1],with 55 million men and 110 million women living with infertility worldwide and varying estimates across different global regions[2].The consequences of infertility go beyond just medical suffering,and result in huge social and psychological consequences,including marital strains,stigma,and mental health problems[1].The current paper explores infertility in cultural context,enlists herbal remedies and traditional healers for infertility,and proposes targeted public health interventions to minimize the utilization of herbal treatment in dealing with cases of infertility.展开更多
An individual's mental health influences their capacity to think effectively,feel emotionally stable,and perform daily activities.As mental health concerns become more prevalent worldwide,new awareness and diagnos...An individual's mental health influences their capacity to think effectively,feel emotionally stable,and perform daily activities.As mental health concerns become more prevalent worldwide,new awareness and diagnostic and treatment tactics are needed.Digital tools and technology are helping solve these problems by providing scalable,tailored solutions for large populations.This detailed review examines mental health‐promoting internet tools.Smartphone applications,web‐based therapy systems,wearable tech,artificial intelligence‐powered resources,and virtual reality(VR)technologies were evaluated for efficacy and side effects.PubMed,PsycINFO,Scopus,IEEE Xplore,and Google Scholar were carefully searched.Search terms included“digital mental health tools,”“online therapy,”and“AI in mental health.”Randomized controlled trials,cohort studies,cross‐sectional studies,systematic reviews,and meta‐analyses of digital technology and mental health were included from among the literature published after 2010.Cognitive behavioral therapy methods,mood monitoring,and mindfulness exercises are among the numerous features of smartphone applications that have been demonstrated to mitigate symptoms of anxiety,depression,and tension.Online therapy platforms let marginalized individuals obtain therapy remotely.Wearable technology may detect heart rate,blood pressure,and sleep length,which may reveal mental health difficulties.Chatbots employ machine learning algorithms and natural language processing to deliver customized support and show promise for quick intervention.Exposure therapy for anxiety and trauma is increasingly using virtual reality environments.Although digital mental health therapies face challenges in relation to data privacy,limited long‐term efficacy,and technological inequality,digital technologies are modernizing mental healthcare.By offering inexpensive and effective alternatives to traditional therapies,digital technologies may help healthcare systems meet the growing demand for mental health services and overall well‐being.展开更多
In this article,we discuss the recently published article by Soni et al.This study explores the effectiveness of a comprehensive digital health program,RESET care,which integrates personalized dietary plans,structured...In this article,we discuss the recently published article by Soni et al.This study explores the effectiveness of a comprehensive digital health program,RESET care,which integrates personalized dietary plans,structured exercise,and cognitive behavioral therapy delivered through a mobile app equipped with Internet of Things devices such as body composition analyzers and smartwatches.Metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease(MASLD),a global health burden affecting approximately 25%of the population,demands sustainable lifestyle modifications as its primary management strategy.The study reports that 100%of participants in the comprehensive intervention group(diet+exercise+cognitive behavioral therapy)achieved a weight reduction≥7%(6.99±2.98 kg,7.00%±3.39%;P=0.002),a clinically significant threshold for MASLD improvement.In addition,participants showed a mean weight reduction of 6.99 kg(101.10±17.85 vs 94.11±17.38,P<0.001)and a body mass index reduction of 2.18 kg/m²(32.90±3.02 vs 30.72±3.41,P<0.001).These results underscore the potential of digital health platforms to provide scalable,evidence-based solutions for the treatment of MASLD.While these results highlight the potential of digital platforms in the scalable and personalized management of MASLD,the small study sample size and short duration of follow-up limit the generalizability of the results.Future large-scale,long-term trials are needed to confirm sustained benefits,cost-effectiveness,and broader applicability.This letter contextualizes the study within the evolving landscape of MASLD management and emphasizes the clinical implications of integrating digital technologies into standard care.展开更多
Background:Many simple,affordable and effective disease control measures have had limited impact due to poor access especially by the poorer populations(urban and rural)and inadequate community participation.A proven ...Background:Many simple,affordable and effective disease control measures have had limited impact due to poor access especially by the poorer populations(urban and rural)and inadequate community participation.A proven strategy to address the problem of access to health interventions is the Community Directed Interventions(CDI)approach,which has been used successfully in rural areas.This study was carried out to assess resources for the use of a CDI strategy in delivering health interventions in poorly-served urban communities in Ibadan,Nigeria.Methods:A formative study was carried out in eight urban poor communities in the Ibadan metropolis in the Oyo State.Qualitative methods comprising 12 focus group discussions(FGDs)with community members and 73 key informant interviews(KIIs)with community leaders,programme managers,community-based organisations(CBOs),non-government organisations(NGOs)and other stakeholders at federal,state and local government levels were used to collect data to determine prevalent diseases and healthcare delivery services,as well as to explore the potential resources for a CDI strategy.All interviews were audio recorded.Content analysis was used to analyse the data.Results:Malaria,upper respiratory tract infection,diarrhoea and measles were found to be prevalent in children,while hypertension and diabetes topped the list of diseases among adults.Healthcare was financed mainly by out-of-pocket expenses.Cost and location were identified as hindrances to utilisation of health facilities;informal cooperatives(esusu)were available to support those who could not pay for care.Immunisation,nutrition,reproductive health,tuberculosis(TB)and leprosy,environmental health,malaria and HIV/AIDs control programmes were the ongoing interventions.Delivery strategies included house-to-house,home-based treatment,health education and campaigns.Community participation in the planning,implementation and monitoring of development projects was reported as common practice.The resources available for these activities and which constitute potential resources for the CDI process include community volunteers,CBOs and NGOs.Others are landlords;professional,women and youth associations;social clubs,religious organisations and the available health facilities.Conclusion:This study’s findings support the feasibility of using the CDI process in delivering health interventions in urban poor communities and show that potential resources for the strategy abound in the communities.展开更多
Background:More than half of the world’s population currently lives in urban settlements that grow both in size and number.By 2050,approximately 70%of the global population will be living in urban conglomerations,mai...Background:More than half of the world’s population currently lives in urban settlements that grow both in size and number.By 2050,approximately 70%of the global population will be living in urban conglomerations,mainly in low-and middle-income countries.Mobility,poverty,different layers of inequalities as well as climate variability and change are some of the social and environmental factors that influence the exposure of human populations in urban settings to vector-borne diseases,which pose eminent public health threats.Accurate,consistent,and evidencebased interventions for prevention and control of vector-borne and other infectious diseases of poverty in urban settings are needed to implement innovative and cost-effective public policy and to promote inclusive and equitable urban health services.Main body:While there is growing awareness of vector-borne diseases epidemiology at the urban level,there is still a paucity of research and action being undertaken in this area,hindering evidence-based public health policy decisions and practice and strategies for active community engagement.This paper describes the collaboration and partnership of the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases(TDR)hosted by the World Health Organization(WHO)and the“VEctor boRne DiseAses Scoping reviews”(VERDAS)Research Consortium as they joined efforts in response to filling this gap in knowledge and evidence by supporting the development of a series of scoping reviews that highlight priority research gaps and policy implications to address vector-borne and other infectious diseases at the urban level.Conclusions:The set of scoping reviews proposed in this special issue presents a critical analysis of the state-of-the-art of research on urban health interventions for the prevention and control of vector-borne and other infectious diseases of poverty.The authors of the 6 reviews highlighted severe gaps in knowledge and identified organizational and theoretical limitations that need to be urgently tackled to improve cities preparedness and vector control response.The more pressing need at present is to ensure that more implementation research on vector-borne diseases in urban settings is conducted,addressing policy and practice implications and calling for more political commitment and social mobilization through adequate citizen engagement strategies.展开更多
Adolescent depression is a growing global health concern,affecting 14%of adolescents and leading to severe consequences such as academic failure,substance abuse,and suicidal ideation.The study by Yu et al,investigates...Adolescent depression is a growing global health concern,affecting 14%of adolescents and leading to severe consequences such as academic failure,substance abuse,and suicidal ideation.The study by Yu et al,investigates the cognitive and social factors influencing depression in 795 Chinese adolescents.Findings reveal that negative life events(NLEs)and dysfunctional attitudes are strongly associated with depressive symptoms,while social support moderates the impact of NLEs but not dysfunctional attitudes.The study highlights the need for cognitivebehavioural interventions targeting perfectionism and autonomy,and the importance of strengthening social support systems in schools and communities.Culturally sensitive,holistic approaches to adolescent mental health are crucial for addressing both the internal vulnerabilities and external pressures contributing to depression.Further research is needed to explore the roles of peer and parental support and the long-term effects of these factors across diverse cultural contexts.展开更多
The coronavirus disease outbreak of 2019(COVID-19)has been spreading rapidly to all corners of the word,in a very complex manner.A key research focus is in predicting the development trend of COVID-19 scientifically t...The coronavirus disease outbreak of 2019(COVID-19)has been spreading rapidly to all corners of the word,in a very complex manner.A key research focus is in predicting the development trend of COVID-19 scientifically through mathematical modelling.We conducted a systematic review of epidemic prediction models of COVID-19 and the public health intervention strategies by searching the Web of Science database.55 studies of the COVID-19 epidemic model were reviewed systematically.It was found that the COVID-19 epidemic models were different in the model type,acquisition method,hypothesis and distribution of key input parameters.Most studies used the gamma distribution to describe the key time period of COVID-19 infection,and some studies used the lognormal distribution,the Erlang distribution,and theWeibull distribution.The setting ranges of the incubation period,serial interval,infectious period and generation time were 4.9-7 days,4.41-8.4 days,2.3-10 days and 4.4-7.5 days,respectively,and more than half of the incubation periods were set to 5.1 or 5.2 days.Most models assumed that the latent period was consistent with the incubation period.Some models assumed that asymptomatic infections were infectious or pre-symptomatic transmission was possible,which overestimated the value of R0.For the prediction differences under different public health strategies,the most significant effect was in travel restrictions.There were different studies on the impact of contact tracking and social isolation,but it was considered that improving the quarantine rate and reporting rate,and the use of protective face mask were essential for epidemic prevention and control.The input epidemiological parameters of the prediction models had significant differences in the prediction of the severity of the epidemic spread.Therefore,prevention and control institutions should be cautious when formulating public health strategies by based on the prediction results of mathematical models.展开更多
Hypertension(HTN)is one of the most common chronic diseases affecting over 30%of the adult population globally,with a growing incidence rate.This review assesses the relationship between health literacy(HL)interventio...Hypertension(HTN)is one of the most common chronic diseases affecting over 30%of the adult population globally,with a growing incidence rate.This review assesses the relationship between health literacy(HL)intervention and hypertension(HTN)self-management among people with HTN.The study design was a systematic review of empirical research articles using a well-defined strategy.Online journals were accessed through databases such as PubMed,CINAHL,Google Scholar,ProQuest,Global Health,WHOLIS,Embase,and EbscoHost,spanning from January 2016 to December 2022 as the scope of the study.Articles selected for inclusion were those published in English during the specified time frame and adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and Sample,Phenomenon of Interest,Design,Evaluation,Research Type framework for systematic review,focusing on criteria related to the sample,the phenomenon of interest,study design,evaluation,and research type.Out of 180 studies initially identified in the database search,20 studies were ultimately included in the review.The findings were reported based on these five emerging themes:Relationship between HL and HTN self-management;Effect of HL intervention on HTN self-management;Factors predicting self-care behaviors among HTN patients with low HL;Effect of HL and self-management efficacy on health-related quality of life(HRQoL);and level of self-care practices.This review highlights a relationship between HL,self-efficacy,self-care,and HRQoL,underscoring the necessity for further well-designed intervention studies focused on enhancing HL in individuals with HTN in Nigeria to enhance their quality of life.展开更多
Depression is a prevalent mental health disorder characterized by high relapse rates,highlighting the need for effective preventive interventions.This paper reviews the potential of reinforcement learning(RL)in preven...Depression is a prevalent mental health disorder characterized by high relapse rates,highlighting the need for effective preventive interventions.This paper reviews the potential of reinforcement learning(RL)in preventing depression relapse.RL,a subset of artificial intelligence,utilizes machine learning algorithms to analyze behavioral data,enabling early detection of relapse risk and optimization of personalized interventions.RL's ability to tailor treatment in real-time by adapting to individual needs and responses offers a dynamic alternative to traditional therapeutic approaches.Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of RL in customizing e-Health interventions and integrating mobile sensing with machine learning for adaptive mental health systems.Despite these advantages,challenges remain in algorithmic complexity,ethical considerations,and clinical implementation.Addressing these issues is crucial for the successful integration of RL into mental health care.This paper concludes with recommendations for future research directions,emphasizing the need for larger-scale studies and interdisciplinary collaboration to fully realize RL’s potential in improving mental health outcomes and preventing depression relapse.展开更多
BACKGROUND Gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM)is a growing public health concern,particularly in regions with diverse ethnic populations.Understanding the incidence and risk factors of GDM is crucial for early preventi...BACKGROUND Gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM)is a growing public health concern,particularly in regions with diverse ethnic populations.Understanding the incidence and risk factors of GDM is crucial for early prevention and management,especially in underrepresented areas like Guizhou Province,China,where geographic and ethnic diversity may influence the disease’s prevalence and risk profiles.AIM To investigate the incidence of GDM and identify its associated risk and protective factors among different ethnic groups in Guizhou Province,providing essential data for early prevention strategies.METHODS A multi-center retrospective study was conducted,dividing participants into GDM and non-GDM groups according to standardized diagnostic criteria.Data were collected from 103629 deliveries across 40 hospitals in Guizhou.Various demographic,clinical,and laboratory parameters were analyzed using logistic regression to identify risk and protective factors for GDM.RESULTS Among the 103629 deliveries,18957 cases of GDM were identified,with an incidence of approximately 18.3%.The risk of GDM was higher in the Han ethnic group compared to minority ethnic groups.The Dong ethnic group had the lowest incidence among the minorities.Key risk factors identified included older age(especially>35 years),higher pre-pregnancy body mass index(BMI),light physical activity,gravidity,family history of diabetes,hemoglobin,aspartate aminotransferase,alanine aminotransferase,and direct bilirubin.Protective factors included higher education level,total protein,and albumin.There were also differences based on blood type,with type A associated with higher risk.CONCLUSION The incidence rate in Guizhou is 18.3%.Older age(especially>35 years),Han ethnicity,lower education level,higher pre-pregnancy BMI,light physical activity,and higher gravidity are the main risk factors for GDM.Laboratory findings indicate that higher hemoglobin,higher liver function parameters(alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,and direct bilirubin),and lower total protein and albumin are associated with a higher risk of GDM.Blood type A has a higher risk of GDM compared to blood types AB and O.展开更多
Background:Hypertension is a significant public health concern and a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases worldwide.Urbanization has contributed to an increased prevalence of hypertension by introducing lifestyle-...Background:Hypertension is a significant public health concern and a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases worldwide.Urbanization has contributed to an increased prevalence of hypertension by introducing lifestyle-related risk factors such as physical inactivity,unhealthy dietary patterns,and stress.Region-specific tools for assessing hypertension risk factors are essential for designing effective public health interventions.Objectives:This study aimed to develop and validate a questionnaire to assess the risk factors for hypertension in the urban population of Mysuru and identify the prevalence of key modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 participants aged 18-60 years in urban Mysuru.A 40-item questionnaire was developed based on literature review and expert input.It included domains such as sociodemographic factors,lifestyle habits,and clinical history.Reliability was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha,while construct validity was assessed through exploratory factor analysis.Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were used for data analysis.Results:The questionnaire demonstrated high internal consistency(Cronbach’s alpha>0.7)and satisfactory construct validity.Key findings included a high prevalence of low physical activity(60%),high salt intake(50%),and overweight individuals(30%).In addition,40%of participants reported a family history of hypertension,and 18%had prediabetes.These findings emphasize the role of modifiable risk factors in the rising hypertension burden in urban settings.Conclusion:The developed and validated questionnaire is a reliable and valid tool for assessing hypertension risk factors in urban populations.展开更多
Chinese Wine Culture influences people’s attitudes toward alcohol.The current study focuses on exploring the main features of a localized digital alcohol consumption intervention mini-program to address the difficult...Chinese Wine Culture influences people’s attitudes toward alcohol.The current study focuses on exploring the main features of a localized digital alcohol consumption intervention mini-program to address the difficulties of abstinence for native drinkers,as a promising way for long-term management of rehabilitation from alcohol use disorder.A mixed-method approach was used in this study.The self-report quantitative questionnaire recruited three groups of participants:89 drinkers,67 drinkers’relatives,and 30 medical staff.The focus group qualitative interview inspected 36 participants’perspectives on the core topics,including 21 drinkers,4 drinkers’relatives,and 11 medical staff.The results of combining the quantitative study and qualitative study indicated that the top difficulties of abstinence for native drinkers are the strong craving from the inside,the environmental influence,and the psychological health status,especially emotional states.Correspondingly,the most desired main features in an alcohol consumption digital intervention tool are the daily track of drinking conditions and craving level,periodic feedback reports that can share with others,and mood improvement training.Moreover,the top factors that influence participants’intention to use/recommend the tool are whether the tool is effective,whether the user experience is good,and whether the tool can replenish the deficiency of the current alcohol treatment.Future work needs to balance what patients want and what others around them expect,so that potential users can benefit best from the digital intervention tool in the context of Chinese culture.展开更多
文摘Teenage pregnancy has been acknowledged as a global public health concern,especially in low-and middle-income nations[1].This is predominantly because teenagers are more likely to experience pregnancy complications(viz.anemia,obstructed labour,etc.),higher rates of maternal mortality,and neonatal complications,including mortality[1,2].It is not unusual that many teen mothers have to experience exclusion from their families and communities,which limits access to quality healthcare services and is a major reason for emotional stress and mental health problems[2].
文摘Tuberculous meningitis(TBM),which accounts for 1%-5%of global tuberculosis cases,is a severe neurological infection with a mortality rate of 30%-50%.Its high fatality and disability rates disproportionately affect low-and middle-income regions(e.g.,sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia),threatening the lives of patients and imposing significant psychosocial burdens.Recent studies have highlighted the crucial role of psychosocial factors,including socioeconomic status,disease severity,and social support systems in recovery.However,research gaps persist in developing TBM-specific psychosocial interventions.This narrative review summarizes and organizes the key findings of observational studies,cohort studies,and intervention trials published between 2015 and 2024.Databases including PubMed,Scopus,and Web of Science were searched for terms related to TBM,psychosocial risk factors and mental health interventions.Studies were screened for relevance and quality,focusing on those that examined the psychological and social determinants of mental health outcomes in patients with TBM.
文摘BACKGROUND Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)management requires sustainable lifestyle modifications.This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the RESET care plan,a comprehensive program that is an integrated personalized diet,exercise,and cognitive behavior therapy,delivered via MyTatva’s digital health application enabled through a body composition analyzer(BCA)and smartwatch.AIM To evaluates the effectiveness of the comprehensive program delivered via My-Tatva’s digital health app enabled through internet of thing devices.METHODS This retrospective observational study analyzed deidentified data from 22 par-ticipants enrolled in the MyTatva RESET care program.Participants were divided into three groups:Group A,diet plan;Group B,diet+exercise plan;and Group C,diet+exercise+cognitive behavioral therapy plan.Participants were provided with a BCA and smartwatch for continuous monitoring of anthropometric para-meters.Statistical analysis,including one-way ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey’s Honest Significant Difference test,was conducted to compare mean changes in anthropometric parameters across the groups.INTRODUCTION Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)has emerged as a global health burden,affecting approximately 1 in 4 in-dividuals worldwide.NAFLD ranges from simple steatosis(fat accumulation)to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH),and its global prevalence in the general population is estimated between 6.3%and 33%,with NASH affecting 3-5%[1,2].Obesity is a major risk factor of NAFLD,with studies showing that the likelihood of developing NAFLD increases 5-fold at a body mass index(BMI)of 30-32.5 kg/m²and up to 14-fold at BMI of 37.5-40 kg/m²compared to a BMI of 20-22.5 kg/m²[3,4].Effective NAFLD management requires both dietary and physical activity modifications.Healthy weight loss with sustained muscle mass plays a pivotal role,with a reduction of 3%-5%decreasing hepatic steatosis,5%-7%improving NASH conditions,and 10%or more needed to reverse hepatic fibrosis[5].Management also normalizes elevated liver enzymes(aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase),enhances insulin sensitivity,and thereby reduces cardiovascular risk by improving endothelial function and increasing cardiorespiratory fitness[6].However,diet or exercise alone is often not as effective as a combined approach.Integrating both balanced dietary changes and increased physical activity yields more sustainable improvements in NAFLD and overall metabolic health[1,7].Traditional intervention methods usually involve in-person consultations,which often lack real-time and continuous patient monitoring.The recommendation of drastic changes in diet and exercise can also be overwhelming for patients,leading to low adherence rates.Many patients struggle to maintain these changes in the long-term due to a lack of con-tinuous motivational support[8,9].In recent years,the health ecosystem has witnessed a significant shift toward digital health platforms,which complement pharmacological treatments in chronic disease management,and increase scala-bility.These platforms provide continuous monitoring and personalized support,helping to bridge the gap between health care setups and patients[10].Recent digital advances enable internet of things(IoT)devices to be integrated into such management plans to track health metrics,to address the limitations of traditional methods[11,12].The MyTatva digital health application offers the RESET plan,a novel comprehensive approach for NAFLD mana-gement by integrating personalized support from nutrition,physiotherapy,and cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT)coaches.We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the RESET plan by analyzing the reduction in anthropometric para-meters across three different digital intervention groups.
文摘Objective:This scoping review explores digital health interventions used to improve maternal health and the health of children under-5-year-olds in rural areas of low-and middle-income countries(LMICs),identifying current practices and research gaps.Methods:Guided by PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews,a comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed,Web of Science,and grey literature search with Google Scholar,and the South African National Elec-tronic Theses and Dissertations Portal.MeSH terms and Boolean operators were used.Studies were screened using the Population,Concept,and Context framework,and data were extracted systematically.Results:Of 5,114 records,63 met inclusion criteria.Digital health interventions,particularly mobile health,were found to enhance service delivery,education,and support for maternal and child health in LMICs.However,challenges such as limited access to technology,digital literacy,and cultural barriers persist.Contextual factors,including geography and sociocultural norms,significantly influenced implementation success.Conclusion:Digital health interventions show promise in improving maternal and child health in LMICs.How-ever,regional disparities,technological limitations,and cultural misalignment hinder scalability.Future research should focus on culturally adaptive,community-engaged approaches and long-term impact assessments to sup-port sustainable health promotion in low-resource settings.
文摘The objective of this work is to analyze the reasons why community health interventions in Africa do not consider multisectoral approaches. To achieve it, we perform a mini-review of health development policies and plans available online in seven countries from four regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, two main reasons have been highlighted. First, national strategic plans and policies for health development, in their formulation, neither sufficiently emphasize multisectoral approaches, nor sufficiently make these approaches operational in strategies and activities. Second, the mindset of health professionals due to their initial training orientation based on the biomedical approach, stands that disease is only a result of a physiological imbalance in the body;therefore, to restore health, such an imbalance only needs sophisticated procedures and interventions to be overcome. Such an orientation completely ignores the social, cultural and economic context in which the individual lives, which has an irretrievable influence on the health imbalance. However, health, influenced by the conditions in which people are conceived, born, grow, live, work and aged, cannot be effectively improved in a sustainable way without taking into account all these conditions. Whence the importance of approaches based on every sector of human activity that influences the living conditions.
文摘Background: The ability of managers of small-scale enterprises (SSEs) to prioritize health, working conditions, and their own physical fitness is an important issue for workplace health promotion in Norway and Sweden, where most owner-manager positions are in SSEs. Aim: To assess the physical fitness status of SSE managers compared to a norm population and to study changes in physical fitness status, self-reported physical activity, and sickness outcomes after workplace health interventions. Methods: The study allocated SSE managers to either an intervention or a reference group. The intervention, over twelve months, consisted of motivational input related to lifestyle and physical activity through tests and feedback, individual support, and courses on health and psychosocial working conditions. The participants (N = 28) completed health screening checks, questionnaires and testing before and after the intervention. Results: SSE managers in the study had positive outcomes for BMI levels and strength compared to the norm population, while percentage of fat for both men and women indicated poor results. There were no further improvements in the intervention group after comparison with the reference group. Separately, both groups seemed to improve strength and body composition. Conclusion: Workplace health interventions with essentially motivational components may increase SSE managers’ attention to physical fitness, but appear to have limited effects on objective and subjective physical fitness outcomes.
文摘A number of evaluations of health education interventions in developing countries for the reduction of neonatal mortality have been reported. These interventions can be divided into two categories： those which include medical professionals and those without medical professionals. No systematic review has yet been performed that compares these two types of interventions. This study is an attempt to determine whether the inclusion of medical professionals in health education interventions more greatly decreases neonatal mortality in developing countries. Databases were searched for impact evaluation studies which： 1） had both experimental and control groups, 2） conducted both pre-tests and post-tests, 3） identified the intervention as a health education package, 4） were published in peer reviewed journals, 5） used neonatal mortality as an outcome measure, and 6） were undertaken in developing countries A total 14 studies were found that fit these criteria---eight of these studies included medical professionals in the intervention, and six studies were without medical professionals. To calculate the net effect of each intervention, both the difference-in-difference method and the use of log odds ratios were tested. Interventions involving medical professionals had significantly lower neonatal mortality rates than those without medical professionals. Interventions meant to decrease neonatal mortality in developing countries are recommended to involve medical professionals.
基金funded by the Provincial Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi(Grant No.20224BAB206113)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.82141214)+1 种基金the Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Innovation Team Development Program(Grant No CXTD22011)the Top Discipline of Jiangxi Province,Discipline of Chinese and Western Integrative Medicine at Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine(Grant No.zxyylxk20220103)to TLX。
文摘Background While mRNA vaccines represent a transformative platform for infectious disease control,their efficacy in antigen-presenting cells(APCs)remains vulnerable to endogenous regulatory networks,particularly microRNA(miR)-mediated translational suppression.This study addresses a critical gap in current vaccine design paradigms by systematically investigating host miR interference-an understudied barrier to robust antigen production.Main text APCs express cell-type-specific miR repertoires capable of binding vaccine mRNAs through conserved seed sequences,as evidenced by synthesis of experimental data from 67 studies demonstrating miR-mediated repression of exogenous transcripts.To decode these inhibitory interactions,the commentary proposes an inte-grated multi-omics framework combining Argonaute immunoprecipitation with crosslinking-based miR-mRNA interactome sequencing,enabling precise mapping of miR-vaccine mRNA binding events in vaccine-transfected APCs.Furthermore,the commentary suggests two actionable strategies for evading miR interference:(1)Synony-mous codon optimization at seed-match regions,achieving binding energy reduction while preserving antigenic-ity through degeneracy of genetic coding;(2)Targeted co-delivery of miR inhibitors.By bridging host RNA biology and vaccine engineering,this work provides a blueprint for developing miR-resistant mRNA vaccines for public health interventions.Conclusions miRs may inhibit mRNA vaccine translation in APCs,potentially reducing antigen production and weak-ening the resulting immune response.To address this,next-generation mRNA vaccines should incorporate"miR-proofing"strategies during design to avoid miR interference.
文摘Infertility has been regarded as a global public health concern,affecting both men and women irrespective of geographical region,race,ethnicity,and socioeconomic class[1].The available global estimates suggest that almost 17%of people of reproductive age experience infertility during their lives[1],with 55 million men and 110 million women living with infertility worldwide and varying estimates across different global regions[2].The consequences of infertility go beyond just medical suffering,and result in huge social and psychological consequences,including marital strains,stigma,and mental health problems[1].The current paper explores infertility in cultural context,enlists herbal remedies and traditional healers for infertility,and proposes targeted public health interventions to minimize the utilization of herbal treatment in dealing with cases of infertility.
文摘An individual's mental health influences their capacity to think effectively,feel emotionally stable,and perform daily activities.As mental health concerns become more prevalent worldwide,new awareness and diagnostic and treatment tactics are needed.Digital tools and technology are helping solve these problems by providing scalable,tailored solutions for large populations.This detailed review examines mental health‐promoting internet tools.Smartphone applications,web‐based therapy systems,wearable tech,artificial intelligence‐powered resources,and virtual reality(VR)technologies were evaluated for efficacy and side effects.PubMed,PsycINFO,Scopus,IEEE Xplore,and Google Scholar were carefully searched.Search terms included“digital mental health tools,”“online therapy,”and“AI in mental health.”Randomized controlled trials,cohort studies,cross‐sectional studies,systematic reviews,and meta‐analyses of digital technology and mental health were included from among the literature published after 2010.Cognitive behavioral therapy methods,mood monitoring,and mindfulness exercises are among the numerous features of smartphone applications that have been demonstrated to mitigate symptoms of anxiety,depression,and tension.Online therapy platforms let marginalized individuals obtain therapy remotely.Wearable technology may detect heart rate,blood pressure,and sleep length,which may reveal mental health difficulties.Chatbots employ machine learning algorithms and natural language processing to deliver customized support and show promise for quick intervention.Exposure therapy for anxiety and trauma is increasingly using virtual reality environments.Although digital mental health therapies face challenges in relation to data privacy,limited long‐term efficacy,and technological inequality,digital technologies are modernizing mental healthcare.By offering inexpensive and effective alternatives to traditional therapies,digital technologies may help healthcare systems meet the growing demand for mental health services and overall well‐being.
文摘In this article,we discuss the recently published article by Soni et al.This study explores the effectiveness of a comprehensive digital health program,RESET care,which integrates personalized dietary plans,structured exercise,and cognitive behavioral therapy delivered through a mobile app equipped with Internet of Things devices such as body composition analyzers and smartwatches.Metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease(MASLD),a global health burden affecting approximately 25%of the population,demands sustainable lifestyle modifications as its primary management strategy.The study reports that 100%of participants in the comprehensive intervention group(diet+exercise+cognitive behavioral therapy)achieved a weight reduction≥7%(6.99±2.98 kg,7.00%±3.39%;P=0.002),a clinically significant threshold for MASLD improvement.In addition,participants showed a mean weight reduction of 6.99 kg(101.10±17.85 vs 94.11±17.38,P<0.001)and a body mass index reduction of 2.18 kg/m²(32.90±3.02 vs 30.72±3.41,P<0.001).These results underscore the potential of digital health platforms to provide scalable,evidence-based solutions for the treatment of MASLD.While these results highlight the potential of digital platforms in the scalable and personalized management of MASLD,the small study sample size and short duration of follow-up limit the generalizability of the results.Future large-scale,long-term trials are needed to confirm sustained benefits,cost-effectiveness,and broader applicability.This letter contextualizes the study within the evolving landscape of MASLD management and emphasizes the clinical implications of integrating digital technologies into standard care.
基金This study received financial support from the UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme on Training in Tropical Diseases(IER/TDR/CIR).
文摘Background:Many simple,affordable and effective disease control measures have had limited impact due to poor access especially by the poorer populations(urban and rural)and inadequate community participation.A proven strategy to address the problem of access to health interventions is the Community Directed Interventions(CDI)approach,which has been used successfully in rural areas.This study was carried out to assess resources for the use of a CDI strategy in delivering health interventions in poorly-served urban communities in Ibadan,Nigeria.Methods:A formative study was carried out in eight urban poor communities in the Ibadan metropolis in the Oyo State.Qualitative methods comprising 12 focus group discussions(FGDs)with community members and 73 key informant interviews(KIIs)with community leaders,programme managers,community-based organisations(CBOs),non-government organisations(NGOs)and other stakeholders at federal,state and local government levels were used to collect data to determine prevalent diseases and healthcare delivery services,as well as to explore the potential resources for a CDI strategy.All interviews were audio recorded.Content analysis was used to analyse the data.Results:Malaria,upper respiratory tract infection,diarrhoea and measles were found to be prevalent in children,while hypertension and diabetes topped the list of diseases among adults.Healthcare was financed mainly by out-of-pocket expenses.Cost and location were identified as hindrances to utilisation of health facilities;informal cooperatives(esusu)were available to support those who could not pay for care.Immunisation,nutrition,reproductive health,tuberculosis(TB)and leprosy,environmental health,malaria and HIV/AIDs control programmes were the ongoing interventions.Delivery strategies included house-to-house,home-based treatment,health education and campaigns.Community participation in the planning,implementation and monitoring of development projects was reported as common practice.The resources available for these activities and which constitute potential resources for the CDI process include community volunteers,CBOs and NGOs.Others are landlords;professional,women and youth associations;social clubs,religious organisations and the available health facilities.Conclusion:This study’s findings support the feasibility of using the CDI process in delivering health interventions in urban poor communities and show that potential resources for the strategy abound in the communities.
基金The scoping reviews received funding support from the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases(TDR),Geneva,Switzerland.
文摘Background:More than half of the world’s population currently lives in urban settlements that grow both in size and number.By 2050,approximately 70%of the global population will be living in urban conglomerations,mainly in low-and middle-income countries.Mobility,poverty,different layers of inequalities as well as climate variability and change are some of the social and environmental factors that influence the exposure of human populations in urban settings to vector-borne diseases,which pose eminent public health threats.Accurate,consistent,and evidencebased interventions for prevention and control of vector-borne and other infectious diseases of poverty in urban settings are needed to implement innovative and cost-effective public policy and to promote inclusive and equitable urban health services.Main body:While there is growing awareness of vector-borne diseases epidemiology at the urban level,there is still a paucity of research and action being undertaken in this area,hindering evidence-based public health policy decisions and practice and strategies for active community engagement.This paper describes the collaboration and partnership of the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases(TDR)hosted by the World Health Organization(WHO)and the“VEctor boRne DiseAses Scoping reviews”(VERDAS)Research Consortium as they joined efforts in response to filling this gap in knowledge and evidence by supporting the development of a series of scoping reviews that highlight priority research gaps and policy implications to address vector-borne and other infectious diseases at the urban level.Conclusions:The set of scoping reviews proposed in this special issue presents a critical analysis of the state-of-the-art of research on urban health interventions for the prevention and control of vector-borne and other infectious diseases of poverty.The authors of the 6 reviews highlighted severe gaps in knowledge and identified organizational and theoretical limitations that need to be urgently tackled to improve cities preparedness and vector control response.The more pressing need at present is to ensure that more implementation research on vector-borne diseases in urban settings is conducted,addressing policy and practice implications and calling for more political commitment and social mobilization through adequate citizen engagement strategies.
基金Supported by Basic Science Research Program Through the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)Funded by the Ministry of Education,No.NRF-RS-2023-00237287 and No.NRF-2021S1A5A8062526Local Government-University Cooperation-Based Regional Innovation Projects,No.2021RIS-003.
文摘Adolescent depression is a growing global health concern,affecting 14%of adolescents and leading to severe consequences such as academic failure,substance abuse,and suicidal ideation.The study by Yu et al,investigates the cognitive and social factors influencing depression in 795 Chinese adolescents.Findings reveal that negative life events(NLEs)and dysfunctional attitudes are strongly associated with depressive symptoms,while social support moderates the impact of NLEs but not dysfunctional attitudes.The study highlights the need for cognitivebehavioural interventions targeting perfectionism and autonomy,and the importance of strengthening social support systems in schools and communities.Culturally sensitive,holistic approaches to adolescent mental health are crucial for addressing both the internal vulnerabilities and external pressures contributing to depression.Further research is needed to explore the roles of peer and parental support and the long-term effects of these factors across diverse cultural contexts.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51778382)the National Key R&D Program of China(2016YFC0700400).
文摘The coronavirus disease outbreak of 2019(COVID-19)has been spreading rapidly to all corners of the word,in a very complex manner.A key research focus is in predicting the development trend of COVID-19 scientifically through mathematical modelling.We conducted a systematic review of epidemic prediction models of COVID-19 and the public health intervention strategies by searching the Web of Science database.55 studies of the COVID-19 epidemic model were reviewed systematically.It was found that the COVID-19 epidemic models were different in the model type,acquisition method,hypothesis and distribution of key input parameters.Most studies used the gamma distribution to describe the key time period of COVID-19 infection,and some studies used the lognormal distribution,the Erlang distribution,and theWeibull distribution.The setting ranges of the incubation period,serial interval,infectious period and generation time were 4.9-7 days,4.41-8.4 days,2.3-10 days and 4.4-7.5 days,respectively,and more than half of the incubation periods were set to 5.1 or 5.2 days.Most models assumed that the latent period was consistent with the incubation period.Some models assumed that asymptomatic infections were infectious or pre-symptomatic transmission was possible,which overestimated the value of R0.For the prediction differences under different public health strategies,the most significant effect was in travel restrictions.There were different studies on the impact of contact tracking and social isolation,but it was considered that improving the quarantine rate and reporting rate,and the use of protective face mask were essential for epidemic prevention and control.The input epidemiological parameters of the prediction models had significant differences in the prediction of the severity of the epidemic spread.Therefore,prevention and control institutions should be cautious when formulating public health strategies by based on the prediction results of mathematical models.
文摘Hypertension(HTN)is one of the most common chronic diseases affecting over 30%of the adult population globally,with a growing incidence rate.This review assesses the relationship between health literacy(HL)intervention and hypertension(HTN)self-management among people with HTN.The study design was a systematic review of empirical research articles using a well-defined strategy.Online journals were accessed through databases such as PubMed,CINAHL,Google Scholar,ProQuest,Global Health,WHOLIS,Embase,and EbscoHost,spanning from January 2016 to December 2022 as the scope of the study.Articles selected for inclusion were those published in English during the specified time frame and adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and Sample,Phenomenon of Interest,Design,Evaluation,Research Type framework for systematic review,focusing on criteria related to the sample,the phenomenon of interest,study design,evaluation,and research type.Out of 180 studies initially identified in the database search,20 studies were ultimately included in the review.The findings were reported based on these five emerging themes:Relationship between HL and HTN self-management;Effect of HL intervention on HTN self-management;Factors predicting self-care behaviors among HTN patients with low HL;Effect of HL and self-management efficacy on health-related quality of life(HRQoL);and level of self-care practices.This review highlights a relationship between HL,self-efficacy,self-care,and HRQoL,underscoring the necessity for further well-designed intervention studies focused on enhancing HL in individuals with HTN in Nigeria to enhance their quality of life.
文摘Depression is a prevalent mental health disorder characterized by high relapse rates,highlighting the need for effective preventive interventions.This paper reviews the potential of reinforcement learning(RL)in preventing depression relapse.RL,a subset of artificial intelligence,utilizes machine learning algorithms to analyze behavioral data,enabling early detection of relapse risk and optimization of personalized interventions.RL's ability to tailor treatment in real-time by adapting to individual needs and responses offers a dynamic alternative to traditional therapeutic approaches.Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of RL in customizing e-Health interventions and integrating mobile sensing with machine learning for adaptive mental health systems.Despite these advantages,challenges remain in algorithmic complexity,ethical considerations,and clinical implementation.Addressing these issues is crucial for the successful integration of RL into mental health care.This paper concludes with recommendations for future research directions,emphasizing the need for larger-scale studies and interdisciplinary collaboration to fully realize RL’s potential in improving mental health outcomes and preventing depression relapse.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81960284Science and Technology Support Program of Science and Technology Department of Guizhou Province,No.Qian Ke He Zhi Cheng[2022]Yi Ban 183.
文摘BACKGROUND Gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM)is a growing public health concern,particularly in regions with diverse ethnic populations.Understanding the incidence and risk factors of GDM is crucial for early prevention and management,especially in underrepresented areas like Guizhou Province,China,where geographic and ethnic diversity may influence the disease’s prevalence and risk profiles.AIM To investigate the incidence of GDM and identify its associated risk and protective factors among different ethnic groups in Guizhou Province,providing essential data for early prevention strategies.METHODS A multi-center retrospective study was conducted,dividing participants into GDM and non-GDM groups according to standardized diagnostic criteria.Data were collected from 103629 deliveries across 40 hospitals in Guizhou.Various demographic,clinical,and laboratory parameters were analyzed using logistic regression to identify risk and protective factors for GDM.RESULTS Among the 103629 deliveries,18957 cases of GDM were identified,with an incidence of approximately 18.3%.The risk of GDM was higher in the Han ethnic group compared to minority ethnic groups.The Dong ethnic group had the lowest incidence among the minorities.Key risk factors identified included older age(especially>35 years),higher pre-pregnancy body mass index(BMI),light physical activity,gravidity,family history of diabetes,hemoglobin,aspartate aminotransferase,alanine aminotransferase,and direct bilirubin.Protective factors included higher education level,total protein,and albumin.There were also differences based on blood type,with type A associated with higher risk.CONCLUSION The incidence rate in Guizhou is 18.3%.Older age(especially>35 years),Han ethnicity,lower education level,higher pre-pregnancy BMI,light physical activity,and higher gravidity are the main risk factors for GDM.Laboratory findings indicate that higher hemoglobin,higher liver function parameters(alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,and direct bilirubin),and lower total protein and albumin are associated with a higher risk of GDM.Blood type A has a higher risk of GDM compared to blood types AB and O.
文摘Background:Hypertension is a significant public health concern and a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases worldwide.Urbanization has contributed to an increased prevalence of hypertension by introducing lifestyle-related risk factors such as physical inactivity,unhealthy dietary patterns,and stress.Region-specific tools for assessing hypertension risk factors are essential for designing effective public health interventions.Objectives:This study aimed to develop and validate a questionnaire to assess the risk factors for hypertension in the urban population of Mysuru and identify the prevalence of key modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 participants aged 18-60 years in urban Mysuru.A 40-item questionnaire was developed based on literature review and expert input.It included domains such as sociodemographic factors,lifestyle habits,and clinical history.Reliability was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha,while construct validity was assessed through exploratory factor analysis.Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were used for data analysis.Results:The questionnaire demonstrated high internal consistency(Cronbach’s alpha>0.7)and satisfactory construct validity.Key findings included a high prevalence of low physical activity(60%),high salt intake(50%),and overweight individuals(30%).In addition,40%of participants reported a family history of hypertension,and 18%had prediabetes.These findings emphasize the role of modifiable risk factors in the rising hypertension burden in urban settings.Conclusion:The developed and validated questionnaire is a reliable and valid tool for assessing hypertension risk factors in urban populations.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82171484)the Interdisciplinary Program of Shanghai Jiao Tong University(No.YG2023ZD25)。
文摘Chinese Wine Culture influences people’s attitudes toward alcohol.The current study focuses on exploring the main features of a localized digital alcohol consumption intervention mini-program to address the difficulties of abstinence for native drinkers,as a promising way for long-term management of rehabilitation from alcohol use disorder.A mixed-method approach was used in this study.The self-report quantitative questionnaire recruited three groups of participants:89 drinkers,67 drinkers’relatives,and 30 medical staff.The focus group qualitative interview inspected 36 participants’perspectives on the core topics,including 21 drinkers,4 drinkers’relatives,and 11 medical staff.The results of combining the quantitative study and qualitative study indicated that the top difficulties of abstinence for native drinkers are the strong craving from the inside,the environmental influence,and the psychological health status,especially emotional states.Correspondingly,the most desired main features in an alcohol consumption digital intervention tool are the daily track of drinking conditions and craving level,periodic feedback reports that can share with others,and mood improvement training.Moreover,the top factors that influence participants’intention to use/recommend the tool are whether the tool is effective,whether the user experience is good,and whether the tool can replenish the deficiency of the current alcohol treatment.Future work needs to balance what patients want and what others around them expect,so that potential users can benefit best from the digital intervention tool in the context of Chinese culture.
