Search

Carlos Cruz-Montecinos,1–3 Diego Godoy-Olave,4 Felipe A Contreras-Briceño,5 Paulina Gutiérrez,4 Rodrigo Torres-Castro,2 Leandro Miret-Venegas,3 Roger M Engel6 1Laboratory of Biomechanics and Kinesiology, San José Hospital, Santiago, Chile; 2Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile; 3Unit of Kinesiology and Physical Therapy, San José Hospital, Santiago, Chile; 4Departamento de Kinesiología, Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación, Santiago, Chile; 5Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; 6Department of Chiropractic, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia Background and objective: In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), accessory respiratory muscles are recruited as a compensatory adaptation to changes in respiratory mechanics. This results in shortening and overactivation of these and other muscles. Manual therapy is increasingly being investigated as a way to alleviate these changes. The aim of this study was to measure the immediate effect on lung function of a soft tissue manual therapy protocol (STMTP) designed to address changes in the accessory respiratory muscles and their associated structures in patients with severe COPD.Methods: Twelve medically stable patients (n=12) with an existing diagnosis of severe COPD (ten: GOLD Stage III and two: GOLD Stage IV) were included. Residual volume, inspiratory capacity and oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded immediately before and after administration of the STMTP. A Student’s t-test was used to determine the effect of the manual therapy intervention (P

Introduction: Scapula fractures have a low frequency. They occur mainly in the young population after high-energy trauma. Its treatment has historically been conservative; however, surgical treatment has shown better functional results in selected patients, the surgical indication being still controversial. The literature on patients treated surgically is scarce. General Objective: Characterize the patients operated on for scapular fracture at the Hospital Traumatológico de Concepción during the years 2019-2022. Materials and methods: Descriptive study that includes patients operated on for scapula fracture at the Concepción Trauma Hospital during the years 2019 to 2022, considering the variables sex, age, laterality, mechanism of injury and associated injuries. Results: Twenty patients were studied, of whom 90% were men, recording an average age of 41 years, with right scapula fracture being slightly more frequent than left. The main mechanisms of injury were traffic accidents and falls from a height, with associated injuries only in 45% of the cases. Conclusion: Scapula fractures have a high impact on the functionality of the affected limb, so their treatment today is evolving towards surgery in selected patients, in order to obtain better functional results. The patients operated on are mostly middle-aged male adults, with fractures secondary to high-energy trauma and the presence of associated lesions with low morbidity and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objetivo. Caracterizar cepas de Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxigénicos provenientes de quesos distribuidos en supermercados, tiendas y en ventas callejeras en la ciudad de Bogota, Colombia. Materiales y métodos. Se ecolectaron muestras de quesos provenientes de tiendas, supermercados y ventas callejeras. Se detectó la presencia del gen para enterotoxina A usando un set de primers reportado en estudios previos. Un total de 50 quesos fueron analizados, 13 comercializados en tiendas y en ventas callejeras y 37 en supermercados. Resultados. De las trece muestras de quesos de tiendas y ventas callejeras se aisló Staphylococcus aureus. No hubo presencia de Staphylococcus spp en muestras de quesos de supermercados (n=37). Todos los aislamientos amplificaron para toxina A. Conclusión. Existen diferencias en la calidad de los quesos según sean distribuidos en tiendas de mercado, plazas, ventas callejeras o distribuidos por supermercados, con una alta frecuencia de Staphylococcus aureus coagulasa positivo y productor de toxina A en quesos distribuidos en tiendas y en ventas callejeras.

Effective transmission diameters of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and four bacteriophages as surrogate viruses were evaluated using well-defined- holed filters in a study conducted to verify if a virus particle may pass through a hole whose diameter is greater than the diameter of that particle measured from electron micrographs. Results of the study were consistent with the statement but with low transmission values.

This paper presents three aspects of air pollution in the city of Buenos Aires (Argentina). First, we describe the main features of air pollution climatology in the city: the characteristics of wind flow, atmospheric stability and mixing heights. Then, we present the results of the application of DAUMOD and ISCST3 atmospheric dispersion models to calculate spatial and temporal distributions of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides background concentrations. Finally, we present the main features of carbon monoxide concentrations observed in a narrow street canyon located downtown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an air monitoring site selection procedure to determine the minimum number and location of monitoring stations to identify the occurrence of background concentrations greater than a reference value in an urban area. The objective technique reported here is based on the analysis of concentrations estimated using an urban dispersion model for at least one year of hourly information. As an example, we applied the proposed methodology to NOx emissions in the city of Copenhagen (Denmark). We used the urban dispersion model DAUMOD to obtain horizontal distribution of hourly background concentrations. We obtained that two monitors would be able to identify 97% of the cases with hourly concentrations greater than 0.20 mg/m3 and 95.2% of cases with daily mean concentration greater than 0.12 mg/m3. We found that the differences on network design due to inter-annual variability of atmospheric conditions were less than 5% of the cases of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the methodology to study the impact of air pollution. Compilation of concentration values and threshold values of pollutants; Application of a design of air monitoring network; Appraisal of the use of atmospheric dispersion models.

Gender diverse youth are incredibly resilient but face significant stigma and marginalization. In this article, we argue that in the face of these challenges, researchers must work collaboratively with gender diverse youth and caregivers to identify and address the most important issues affecting them. We use our Navigating Gender Together Project as an example of using community advisory boards in community-engaged research. Although community engagement requires more resources, it overwhelmingly enriches research and increases its relevance for the community. Relevant, evidence-based research is critical in supporting gender diverse youth and their families., (Copyright 2023, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.)

Background: Gender affirmation is a process by which gender-diverse individuals are supported in their gender identity. Parents are critical in how gender-diverse youth, including Black and Latine transgender/nonbinary youth (BLTY), access various forms of gender affirmation-for example, social and medical transition. Culturally relevant supports are needed to bolster how BLTY and their parents navigate gender affirmation., Purpose: This study aimed to explore recommendations for aiding BLTY and parents in navigating the youth's gender journey., Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents of BLTY, BLTY, and BLT young adults (BLTYAs) recruited from clinics, community organizations, and social media. Interviews focused on gender affirmation and recommendations to promote BLTY's gender affirmation. Primary and secondary analysts coded transcripts using a priori and emergent codes. For this analysis, excerpts pertaining to recommended supports were analyzed to identify themes., Results: Ten parents of BLTY, 10 BLTY (14-18 years), and 23 BLTYAs (18-30 years) participated. Participants provided recommendations at different socio-ecological levels. On the societal level, participants recommended improvements in media representation of racial and ethnic minority gender-diverse individuals. For organizations, participants recommended more clinicians who shared minoritized identities, clinicians knowledgeable in gender-affirming care, affordability of gender-affirming services, and school-based education regarding gender diversity. On interpersonal/individual levels, they suggested culturally informed peer support among BLTY and parents, including support groups, peer mentors, and camps with individuals who share their minoritized identities., Conclusions: Participants provided salient insights to supporting gender affirmation of BLTY, which can inform intervention development for BLTY and their families., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Behavioral Medicine.)

Benefits of parental gender-affirming behaviors on the mental health and well-being of the broader gender-expansive youth population have been extensively documented. However, the nature and impact of these behaviors have not been explored by centering Black and Latine transgender/non-binary youth (BLTY). This article offers a new framework called the "Parental Gender Affirmation Model." This framework conceptualizes parental gender-affirming behaviors toward BLTY through the lenses of intersectional stigma and cultural gender norms and uses the Theory of Planned Behavior and Modified Gender Affirmation Model as foundational frameworks. We analyzed qualitative data from 43 interviews with BLTY, parents of BLTY, and Black and Latine transgender/non-binary young adults from California in the United States to develop the framework. The "Parental Gender Affirmation Model" starts with behavioral antecedents and ends with impacts of these behaviors on BLTY's well-being. This framework will inform the development of critically needed, culturally-informed interventions to support parental gender affirmation of BLTY.

There is growing evidence that the microbiome influences host phenotypic variation. Incorporating information about the holobiont - the host and its microbiome - into genomic prediction models may accelerate genetic improvements in farmed animal populations. Importantly, these models must account for the indirect effects of the host genome on microbiome-mediated phenotypes., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The DC Center for AIDS Research Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Pathway Initiative (CDEIPI) is designed to increase the number of underrepresented minority (URM) students engaged in HIV research by providing an opportunity to participate in research and developing a sense of self-efficacy and community., Setting: Currently in its second year, the program provides high school (HS) and undergraduate (UG) URM students (CFAR scholars) HIV mentored-research opportunities, and a range of professional development, outreach, and volunteer opportunities meant to build a sense of community and promote self-efficacy. A near-peer mentoring program, led by graduate students leads (GSL), was added in the second year to enhance community building., Methods: We conducted a descriptive evaluation of the program using both individual surveys distributed to program participants and a series of focus groups conducted with current HS and UG scholars, and GSL., Results: Based on initial evaluation results, this program was able to recruit a diverse group of scholars who have persisted in mentored HIV research, increased interests in pursuing careers in HIV research and care, developed research competencies, and increased confidence and self-efficacy., Conclusion: Our long-term goal is to build on this program by annually recruiting new cohorts, providing multiyear support to UG scholars, and developing additional evaluation tools to measure program impacts on the career trajectories of program participants, and identify program characteristics associated with those impacts., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Uptake of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) remains low among transgender people as compared to other subgroups, despite high rates of HIV acquisition. In California, Latinx people comprise 40% of the population and Latina transgender women experience some of the highest burden of HIV of any subgroup, indicating a critical need for appropriate services. With funding from the California HIV/AIDS Research Programs, this academic-community partnership developed, implemented, and evaluated a PrEP project that co-located HIV services with gender affirming care in a Federally Qualified Heath Center (FQHC). Trans and Latinx staff led intervention adaptation and activities., Methods: This paper engages qualitative methods to describe how a PrEP demonstration project- Triunfo- successfully engaged Spanish-speaking transgender Latinas in services. We conducted 13 in-depth interviews with project participants and five interviews with providers and clinic staff. Interviews were conducted in Spanish or English. We conducted six months of ethnographic observation of intervention activities and recorded field notes. We conducted thematic analysis., Results: Beneficial elements of the intervention centered around three intertwined themes: creating trusted space, providing comprehensive patient navigation, and offering social support "entre nosotras" ("between us women/girls"). The combination of these factors contributed to the intervention's success supporting participants to initiate and persist on PrEP, many of whom had previously never received healthcare. Participants shared past experiences with transphobia and concerns around discrimination in a healthcare setting. Developing trust proved foundational to making participants feel welcome and "en casa/ at home" in the healthcare setting, which began from the moment participants entered the clinic and continued throughout their interactions with staff and providers. A gender affirming, bilingual clinician and peer health educators (PHE) played a critical part in intervention development, participant recruitment, and patient navigation., Conclusions: Our research adds nuance to the existing literature on peer support services and navigation by profiling the multifaced roles that PHE served for participants. PHE proved instrumental to empowering participants to overcome structural and other barriers to healthcare, successfully engaging a group who previously avoided healthcare in clinical settings., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)