Definitions, terminology, and related concepts of "racial health equity": a scoping review protocol.

BACKGROUND: In the USA, access to quality healthcare varies greatly across racial and ethnic groups, resulting in significant health disparities. A new term, "racial health equity" (RHE), is increasingly reported in the medical literature, but there is currently no consensus definition of the term. Additionally, related terms such as "health disparities," "health inequities," and "equality" have been inconsistently used when defining RHE. METHODS: The primary purpose of this scoping review is to investigate the current use and underlying concepts used to define racial health equity. The study will address two key questions: (1) "What terminology and definitions have been used to characterize RHE?" and (2) "What knowledge gaps and challenges are present in the current state of RHE research and theory?" The review will collect and analyze data from three sources: (1) websites from key national and international health organizations, (2) theoretical and narrative published articles, and (3) evidence synthesis studies addressing interventions targeting racial health equity and minority stakeholder engagement. DISCUSSION: Defining "racial health equity" and related terminology is the first step to advancing racial health equity within the USA. This review aims to offer an improved understanding of RHE constructs and definitions, bringing greater unity to national racial health equity research efforts across disciplines. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: This protocol is registered with the Open Science Framework at https://osf.io/7pvzq .

Optimized variant calling for estimating kinship.

One of the fundamental goals of forensic genetics is sample attribution, i.e., whether an item of evidence can be associated with some person or persons. The most common scenario involves a direct comparison, e.g., between DNA profiles from an evidentiary item and a sample collected from a person of interest. Less common is an indirect comparison in which kinship is used to potentially identify the source of the evidence. Because of the sheer amount of information lost in the hereditary process for comparison purposes, sampling a limited set of loci may not provide enough resolution to accurately resolve a relationship. Instead, whole genome techniques can sample the entirety of the genome or a sufficiently large portion of the genome and as such they may effect better relationship determinations. While relatively common in other areas of study, whole genome techniques have only begun to be explored in the forensic sciences. As such, bioinformatic pipelines are introduced for estimating kinship by massively parallel sequencing of whole genomes using approaches adapted from the medical and population genomic literature. The pipelines are designed to characterize a person's entire genome, not just some set of targeted markers. Two different variant callers are considered, contrasting a classical variant calling algorithm (BCFtools) to a more modern deep convolution neural network (DeepVariant). Two different bioinformatic pipelines specific to each variant caller are introduced and evaluated in a titration series. Filters and thresholds are then optimized specifically for the purposes of estimating kinship as determined by the KING-robust algorithm. With the appropriate filtering and thresholds in place both tools perform similarly, with DeepVariant tending to produce more accurate genotypes, though the resultant types of inaccuracies tended to produce slightly less accurate overall estimates of relatedness.

Study Exploring the Effects of Daily Supplementation with 400 µg of Folic Acid on the Nutritional Status of Folate in Women of Reproductive Age.

BACKGROUND: This investigation determines the nutritional state of serum and red blood cell (RBC) folate concentration and their relation with intake of folate, B6 ,and B12 , with serum vitamin B12 , and with genetic variants after provision of 400 µg/day of folic acid for 3 months to a group of 34 Colombian women of reproductive age. METHODS: We evaluated nutrient intake using 24-hr recall, assessing the levels of serum folate, RBC folate, serum B12 , and homocysteine, as well as determining genetic variants of the enzyme MTHFR (C677T and A1298C) and CßS (844ins68pb). RESULTS: The results show that following intake of 400 µg/day of folic acid, the risk of folate deficiency as seen in regular dietary intake disappears and the nutritional status of this nutrient is increased (p < 0.001). With respect to vitamin B12, the risk of serum deficiency with folic acid consumption increased slightly, and those that were found to be B12 deficient after supplementation also had decreased levels of serum homocysteine. Genetic factors did not influence the nutritional status of folate, although an association was found between the intake of nutrients and biochemical indicators. CONCLUSION: Given the results of our study, subsequent studies evaluating folic acid supplementation should also consider evaluating the status of B12 and B6 , and serum and RBC folate, as they participate interdependently in the cycle of folate and methionine and in homocysteine metabolism.Birth Defects Research 109:564-573, 2017.© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Contribution of formative research to design an environmental program for obesity prevention in schools in Mexico City.

OBJECTIVE: This paper describes the methods and key findings of formative research conducted to design a school-based program for obesity prevention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Formative research was based on the ecological model and the principles of social marketing. A mixed method approach was used. Qualitative (direct observation, indepth interviews, focus group discussions and photo-voice) and quantitative (closed ended surveys, checklists, anthropometry) methods were employed. RESULTS: Formative research key findings, including barriers by levels of the ecological model, were used for designing a program including environmental strategies to discourage the consumption of energy dense foods and sugar beverages. CONCLUSION: Formative research was fundamental to developing a context specific obesity prevention program in schools that seeks environment modification and behavior change.

Contribution of formative research to design an environmental program for obesity prevention in schools in Mexico City / Contribución de la investigación formativa para el diseño de un programa para la prevención de obesidad en escuelas de la Ciudad de México

Objective. This paper describes the methods and key findings of formative research conducted to design a school-based program for obesity prevention. Materials and methods. Formative research was based on the ecological model and the principles of social marketing. A mixed method approach was used. Qualitative (direct observation, indepth interviews, focus group discussions and photo-voice) and quantitative (closed ended surveys, checklists, anthropometry) methods were employed. Results. Formative research key findings, including barriers by levels of the ecological model, were used for designing a program including environmental strategies to discourage the consumption of energy dense foods and sugar beverages. Conclusion. Formative research was fundamental to developing a context specific obesity prevention program in schools that seeks environment modification and behavior change.

Objetivo. Describir los aspectos metodológicos y principales resultados de una investigación formativa realizada para diseñar un programa ambiental para la prevención de obesidad en escuelas. Material y métodos. La investigación formativa se basó en el modelo ecológico y los principios del mercadeo social. Se utilizó un enfoque de métodos mixtos: cualitativos (observación directa, entrevistas en profundidad, grupos de discusión y foto-voz) y cuantitativos (cuestionarios cerrados, inventarios de alimentos y bebidas, antropometría). Resultados. Los principales resultados de la investigación formativa, incluyendo las barreras identificadas en los niveles del modelo ecológico, fueron contemplados para el diseño del programa, que incluyó estrategias ambientales para desincentivar el consumo de alimentos de alta densidad energética y bebidas azucaradas. Conclusión. La investigación formativa fue fundamental para diseñar un programa de prevención de obesidad para la modificación del ambiente y cambios de comportamientos, factible y adaptado al contexto de las escuelas públicas de la Ciudad de México.