Topographic barriers drive the pronounced genetic subdivision of a range-limited fossorial rodent.

Due to their limited dispersal ability, fossorial species with predominantly belowground activity usually show increased levels of population subdivision across relatively small spatial scales. This may be exacerbated in harsh mountain ecosystems, where landscape geomorphology limits species' dispersal ability and leads to small effective population sizes, making species relatively vulnerable to environmental change. To better understand the environmental drivers of species' population subdivision in remote mountain ecosystems, particularly in understudied high-elevation systems in Africa, we studied the giant root-rat (Tachyoryctes macrocephalus), a fossorial rodent confined to the afro-alpine ecosystem of the Bale Mountains in Ethiopia. Using mitochondrial and low-coverage nuclear genomes, we investigated 77 giant root-rat individuals sampled from nine localities across its entire ~1000 km2 range. Our data revealed a distinct division into a northern and southern group, with no signs of gene flow, and higher nuclear genetic diversity in the south. Landscape genetic analyses of the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes indicated that population subdivision was driven by slope and elevation differences of up to 500 m across escarpments separating the north and south, potentially reinforced by glaciation of the south during the Late Pleistocene (~42,000-16,000 years ago). Despite this landscape-scale subdivision between the north and south, weak geographic structuring of sampling localities within regions indicated gene flow across distances of at least 16 km at the local scale, suggesting high, aboveground mobility for relatively long distances. Our study highlights that despite the potential for local-scale gene flow in fossorial species, topographic barriers can result in pronounced genetic subdivision. These factors can reduce genetic variability, which should be considered when developing conservation strategies.

Removal from the wild endangers the once widespread long-tailed macaque.

In 2022, long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis), a once ubiquitous primate species, was elevated to Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. In 2023, recognizing that the long-tailed macaque is threatened by multiple factors: (1) declining native habitats across Southeast Asia; (2) overutilization for scientific, commercial, and recreational purposes; (3) inadequate regulatory mechanisms; and (4) culling due to human-macaque conflicts, a petition for rulemaking was submitted to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to add the species to the US Endangered Species Act, the nation's most effective law to protect at risk species. The long-tailed macaque remains unprotected across much of its geographical range despite the documented continual decline of the species and related sub-species and the recent IUCN reassessment. This commentary presents a review of the factors that have contributed to the dramatic decline of this keystone species and makes a case for raising the level of protection they receive.

Experiences of families with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in World Health Organization Afro-Regions: A scoping review.

A scoping review on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and its impact on the families of affected children was undertaken due to insufficient information available on the diverse experiences impacting their lives. Using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, eligibility criteria were guided by Population (families), Concept (family experiences), and Context (African region). English-language articles were sought from a variety of databases and search engines. The publication date of the identified articles ranged from 2003 to 2021 with most published in 2020 (n = 10), and the majority using qualitative methodologies (n = 51). Most family members involved were parents (n = 51) and their ages ranged from 18 to 75 years. The families experienced various challenges related to their child with regard to education, healthcare, and the broader community including lack of support. Family coping strategies included believing in God, attending counseling sessions, adapting, and accepting the situation. Healthcare professionals should be prepared and positioned to educate families and siblings on various aspects of ASD. There is a need for active, continued research on families within most countries of World Health Organization Afro-region.

Genetic basis and spatial distribution of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in ecuadorian ethnic groups: a malaria perspective.

BACKGROUND: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PDd) is an X-linked disorder affecting over 400 million people worldwide. Individuals with molecular variants associated with reduced enzymatic activity are susceptible to oxidative stress in red blood cells, thereby increasing the risk of pathophysiological conditions and toxicity to anti-malarial treatments. Globally, the prevalence of G6PDd varies among populations. Accordingly, this study aims to characterize G6PDd distribution within the Ecuadorian population and to describe the spatial distribution of reported malaria cases. METHODS: Molecular variants associated with G6PDd were genotyped in 581 individuals from Afro-Ecuadorian, Indigenous, Mestizo, and Montubio ethnic groups. Additionally, spatial analysis was conducted to identify significant malaria clusters with high incidence rates across Ecuador, using data collected from 2010 to 2021. RESULTS: The A- c.202G > A and A- c.968T > C variants underpin the genetic basis of G6PDd in the studied population. The overall prevalence of G6PDd was 4.6% in the entire population. However, this frequency increased to 19.2% among Afro-Ecuadorian people. Spatial analysis revealed 12 malaria clusters, primarily located in the north of the country and its Amazon region, with relative risks of infection of 2.02 to 87.88. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study hold significant implications for public health interventions, treatment strategies, and targeted efforts to mitigate the burden of malaria in Ecuador. The high prevalence of G6PDd among Afro-Ecuadorian groups in the northern endemic areas necessitates the development of comprehensive malaria eradication strategies tailored to this geographical region.

Evaluating the effectiveness of Uganda's Supranational TB Reference Laboratory quality management system training program.

BACKGROUND: Achieving the targeted organizational goals through effective training can increase employee satisfaction. Since 2015, the Supranational Reference Laboratory Uganda (SRL Uganda) has trained National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratories (NTRLs) from 21 countries in a variety of areas that cover both technical and programmatic aspects pertinent to TB laboratories. The Laboratory Quality Management System (LQMS) under SRL coordinates actions intended to ensure sustained quality of the laboratory services offered by the National TB Reference Laboratories. In order for laboratory results to be helpful in a clinical or public health setting, they must be accurate, reliable, and timely. The LQMS course aims to provide learners with knowledge on how to attain and maintain this quality. Prior to this study, there was hardly any data available on the effectiveness of LQMS trainings provided by SRL Uganda; using Kirkpatrick model, which is popular among researchers for evaluating the efficacy of the training program, this paper seeks to establish the effectiveness of the LQMS training offered by the SRL Uganda. METHOD: We evaluated the effectiveness of LQMS training within the Uganda's SRL network for courses offered during the period 2017 and 2021 for participants from the Southern and East African sub-Saharan region. RESULTS: In 2017 and 2021, respectively, test results from 10/17 and 9/17 showed overall post-test scores above 80%. Of the 18 labs evaluated, 14 showed improvement; of these, 7 labs were from the Eastern region and the other 7 were from Southern Africa; one facility in this region also maintained its accreditation. In the post-evaluation assessment, attendees of the LQMS course gave feedback of strongly agree and agree variety. CONCLUSION: More SRL Uganda network laboratories in the regions achieved a 5-star SLIPTA level rating and among these, 5 NTRLs got ISO 15189:2012 accredited by the end of 2021, while one maintained its accreditation status. This proves that the Laboratory Quality Management System training program was an effective tool in improving the quality of laboratory services, work practices, and processes.

Daily discrimination, church support, personal mastery, and psychological distress in black people in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: This study used the stress process model to test the mediating effects of personal mastery and moderating effects of church-based social support on the relationship between daily discrimination and psychological distress across three age groups of African American and Afro-Caribbean adults. METHODS: Using a national sample of 5008 African Americans and Afro-Caribbean adults from the National Survey of American Life Study, this study employs structural equation modeling to investigate the relationships between daily discrimination, personal mastery, church-based social support, and psychological distress. RESULTS: Daily discrimination was an independent predictor of psychological distress across all groups. Group- and age-specific comparisons revealed significant differences in the experience of daily discrimination and psychological distress. Mastery was a partial mediator of the relationship between discrimination and psychological distress among Afro-Caribbeans while church support was a significant moderator only among the young and older African Americans. IMPLICATIONS: Together, our study findings provide useful first steps towards developing interventions to reduce the adverse psychological impacts of daily discrimination on African Americans and Afro-Caribbeans. Intervention efforts such as individual psychotherapy aimed to improve Afro-Caribbean individuals' sense of mastery would be a partial solution to alleviating the adverse effects of discrimination on their psychological health.

Latinas and Maternal and Child Health: Research, Policy, and Representation.

Over the last 50 years, the Latino population in the US has grown and changed. Latinos are the nation's largest minority group and among this group, there is incredible diversity. Much of Latino health research and outcomes have been treated interchangeably with immigrant health, but as the US Latino population evolves so should the focus of Latino health research. We contend that as maternal and child health (MCH) outcomes are an utmost important indicator of a country's health, and as Latinos make up 18% of the US's population, it is imperative that we move past dated research frameworks to a more nuanced understanding of the health of Latina women and children. We summarize how acculturation has been used to describe differences in MCH outcomes, discuss how the umbrella term "Latino" masks subgroups differences, explore Afro-Latinidad in MCH, examine the effects of the sociopolitical climate on the health of families, and demonstrate the limited representation of Latinos in MCH research. We conclude that a deeper understanding of Latino health is necessary to achieve health equity for Latina women and their children.

What is already known on the subject? The Hispanic Health Paradox, the phenomenon that Latinos have better health outcomes than their socioeconomic status would predict, breaks down when empirical studies extended beyond descriptive research and examined Latino subgroups. Substantial heterogeneity within Latinos is observed is health outcomes, especially in maternal and child health.What this article adds to the literature? We provide a comprehensive demonstration of the varied determinants of maternal and child health in Latinas such as acculturation, the Latino monolith, race, policies, and representation.

Contextual and individual determinants of tooth loss in the Afro-descendant older adult populations of different countries: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: The Black population has poorer oral health than other racial groups; however, little is known about the mechanisms that explain this difference. OBJECTIVE: To study the association between race and tooth loss and map the evidence on factors associated with tooth loss in Black older populations. METHODS: Scoping review following the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews conducted according to the recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute. A three-step search strategy was applied, and data were collected between April and July 2021. Searches were performed in the PubMed, Lilacs, and SciELO databases. The grey literature was searched using Google Scholar (https://www.scholar.google.com/). The reference lists of included studies were used as additional sources. Studies published in English and Portuguese of the association between tooth loss and different racial groups and the factors associated with tooth loss and tooth retention in Black older adult populations were included. RESULTS: Twenty-one of 913 original articles published between 1995 and 2020 were included. Of these, 75% were research articles, 15% were reports, and 10% dissertations. Eighty per cent reported cross-sectional and 20% longitudinal data. African ancestry was associated with increased odds of tooth loss in older adult populations. Periodontal disease, female sex, and advanced age were the exposures most frequently associated with tooth loss. CONCLUSION: Race, educational level, advanced age, and oral diseases such as periodontitis are associated with increased tooth loss in Afro-descendant older populations.

Incidence, prevalence, and potential risk factors for diabetic foot ulceration: A retrospective review at a multidisciplinary centre in Barbados.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes and lower extremity amputation rates in Barbados are among some of the highest globally, with peripheral neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease found to be independent risk factors for this population. Despite this, there is currently a lack of research evidence on rates of diabetic foot ulceration, which has amputation as its sequela. We aimed to evaluate the incidence and prevalence rates of active ulceration in a population of people with diabetes in Barbados. Secondly, we explored the risk factors for new/recurrent ulceration. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Data were extracted from the electronic medical records for the period January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020 for a retrospective cross-sectional study for patients of a publicly-funded diabetes management programme. Eligible records included people aged 18 years and above with a diagnosis of type 1 or 2 diabetes. Potential risk factors were explored using univariable logistic regression models. RESULTS: A total of 225 patients were included in the study (96% type 2 diabetes, 70.7% female, 98.7% Black Caribbean). The 1-year period prevalence of diabetic foot ulceration was 14.7% (confidence interval [CI]: 10.5, 20.1). Incidence of ulceration in the same period was 4.4% (CI: 4.4, 4.5). Risk factors associated with diabetic foot ulceration included: retinopathy (OR 3.85, CI: 1.24, 11.93), chronic kidney disease (OR 9.86, CI: 1.31, 74.22), aspirin use (OR 3.326, CI: 1.02, 10.85), and clopidogrel use (OR 3.13, CI: 1.47, 6.68). CONCLUSION: This study provided some insight into potential risk factors for foot ulceration in this population, which previous studies have shown to have higher rates of lower extremity amputations. Further research in this understudied group through a larger prospective cohort would allow more meaningful associations with risk factors and would be useful for the creation of risk prediction models.

Metabolic syndrome and prostate cancer in Afro-Caribbean men.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a group of risk factors that increases the likelihood of developing cardiovascular diseases. Although suggested, the relationship between MetS and prostate cancer (PCa) is still inconclusive. Very few studies have addressed this question in populations of African descent, which are disproportionately affected by PCa. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of MetS among incident cases of Afro-Caribbean PCa and estimate its association with adverse clinicopathological features and the risk of biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy (RP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 285 consecutive patients with incident cases of PCa attending the University Hospital of Guadeloupe (French West Indies). MetS was evaluated at the time of diagnosis by collecting information on blood pressure, glycaemic status, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and obesity through various surrogates, including two waist circumference indicators (≤94 cm, ≥102 cm), the waist-to-hip ratio (≥0.95), and body mass index (BMI; ≥30 kg/m2 ). We followed 245 patients who underwent RP as primary treatment of localized PCa. RESULTS: The prevalence of MetS varied greatly, from 31.6% to 16.4%, when a waist circumference ≥94 cm or BMI were used as obesity surrogates, respectively. No significant associations were found between MetS, regardless of the obesity criteria employed, and the risk of adverse pathological features or BCR. CONCLUSIONS: The high variability in MetS resulting from the diversity of obesity criteria used may explain the discordant associations reported in the literature. Further studies using strict and uniform criteria to define MetS on homogeneous ethnic groups are encouraged to clarify the association, if any, between MetS and PCa outcomes.

Prevalence of BRCA1 and BRCA2 Germline Mutations in Patients of African Descent with Early-Onset and Familial Colombian Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Pathogenic germline mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) genes contribute to hereditary breast/ovarian cancer (OC) in White/mestizo Colombian women. As there is virtually no genetic data on breast cancer (BC) in Colombians of African descent, we conducted a comprehensive BRCA1/2 mutational analysis of 60 Afro-Colombian families affected by breast/OC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mutation screening of the complete BRCA1/2 genes for small-scale mutations and large genomic alterations was performed in these families using next-generation sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification analysis. RESULTS: Four pathogenic germline mutations, including one novel mutation, were identified, comprising 3 in BRCA1 and one in BRCA2. The prevalence of BRCA1/2 mutations, including one BRCA1 founder mutation (c.5123C>A) previously identified in this sample set, was 3.9% (2/51) in female BC-affected families and 33.3% (3/9) in those affected by both breast and OC. Haplotype analysis of 2 BRCA2_c.2701delC carriers (one Afro-Colombian and one previously identified White/mestizo Colombian patient with BC) suggested that the mutation arose in a common ancestor. CONCLUSION: Our data showed that 2/5 (40%) mutations (including the one previously identified in this sample set) are shared by White/mestizo Colombian and Afro-Colombian populations. This suggests that these 2 populations are closely related. Nevertheless, variations in the BRCA1/2 mutational spectrum among Afro-Colombian subgroups from different regions of the country were observed, suggesting that specific genetic risk assessment strategies need to be developed.

Reproductive one health in primates.

One Health is a collaborative trans-disciplinary approach to health; integrating human, animal, and environmental health. The focus is often on infection disease transmission and disease risk mitigation. However, One Health also includes the multidisciplinary and comparative approach to disease investigation and health of humans, animals, and the environment. One key aspect of environmental/ecosystem health is conservation, the maintenance of healthy, actively reproducing wildlife populations. Reproduction and reproductive health are an integral part of the One Health approach: the comparative aspects of reproduction can inform conservation policies or breeding strategies (in situ and ex situ) in addition to physiology and disease. Differences in reproductive strategies affect the impact poaching and habitat disruption might have on a given population, as well as ex situ breeding programs and the management of zoo and sanctuary populations. Much is known about chimpanzees, macaques, and marmosets as these are common animal models, but there is much that remains unknown regarding reproduction in many other primates. Examining the similarities and differences between and within taxonomic groups allows reasonable extrapolation for decision-making when there are knowledge gaps. For example: (1) knowing that a species has very low reproductive rates adds urgency to conservation policy for that region or species; (2) identifying species with short or absent lactation anestrus allows ex situ institutions to better plan contraception options for specific individuals or prepare for the immediate next pregnancy; (3) recognizing that progestin contraceptives are effective contraceptives, but may be associated with endometrial hyperplasia in some species (in Lemuridae but not great apes) better guides empirical contraceptive choice; (4) recognizing the variable endometriosis prevalence across taxa improves preventive medicine programs. A summary of anatomical variation, endocrinology, contraception, pathology, and diagnostics is provided to illustrate these features and aid in routine physical and postmortem examinations as well as primate management.

Changes in Pregnant Patients' Beliefs About COVID-19.

COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus with data suggesting a more serious clinical course in pregnancy. We aimed to assess changes in knowledge, behaviors, and intentions of pregnant women regarding COVID-19. This was a cross-sectional survey study of 58 and 77 predominantly African-American and Afro-Caribbean pregnant patients presenting for prenatal care in Brooklyn, NY in 2020 (during the first surge of the pandemic) and 2021, respectively. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed. Many beliefs and intentions were unchanged between 2020 and 2021 (e.g. believing pregnant women were at higher risk of COVID-19 infection and subsequent ICU admission due to pregnancy, having the desire to breastfeed, among others). Other beliefs and behaviors changed between 2020 and 2021 (fewer women believed they received information from their provider regarding COVID-19 and fewer would miss a prenatal visit for fear of COVID-19 contagion). Patients' behaviors and intended behaviors in both 2020 and 2021 were directly influenced by their beliefs, many of which were based on unsupported data regarding COVID-19 and pregnancy (ie: babies were at increased risk of being born with congenital malformation following a mother's COVID-19 infection). Patients who held these beliefs were more likely to say that they did not attend prenatal visits and did not receive information from their provider regarding COVID-19. Knowledge of patient beliefs is useful for structuring care as the pandemic evolves. This study demonstrates that pregnant patients make decisions regarding behaviors based on beliefs grounded in misinformation. Accordingly, it is the provider's responsibility to ensure that beliefs regarding COVID-19 are based in fact, so patients can make informed decisions.

Street-Race in Reproductive Health: A Qualitative Study of the Pregnancy and Birthing Experiences among Black and Afro-Latina Women in South Florida.

OBJECTIVE: The lived-experience of race and racism among historically vulnerable populations needs critical examination in the United States' (US) maternal and reproductive healthcare system. This study aims to measure how street-race influences the experiences of pregnancy and birthing among Black and Afro-Latina women in the South Florida region. Street-race, in this study, focuses on the lived experiences of phenotype and colorism (as real consequences due to structural racism) imposed on women during clinical encounters. METHODS: Twenty-five women who self-reported their racial and street-identity as Black and / or Afro-Latina were interviewed, utilizing the qualitative approaches of narrative medicine and phenomenology. Study participants also had to have at least one recent pregnancy or birth of a living child (< 24 months). RESULTS: Adverse maternal mortality outcomes also do not tell the full story of what it means to be Black while giving birth in North America. The dominance of White-presenting Latinx individuals in South Florida (a seemingly "diverse" urban region) is also historical and persistent. These oppositional consequences at the clinical encounter, regarding street-race, further illustrate how White-dominance (via phenotype and skin color) are ever-present across US healthcare institutions serving pregnant women. RELEVANCE: The lived experience of hegemonic racial hierarchies (e.g., Black and White), ongoingly contributes to the racialization of maternal and reproductive healthcare in the US, as more attention is needed to achieve health equity.

Implementing epidemic intelligence in the WHO African region for early detection and response to acute public health events.

Epidemic intelligence activities are undertaken by the WHO Regional Office for Africa to support member states in early detection and response to outbreaks to prevent the international spread of diseases. We reviewed epidemic intelligence activities conducted by the organisation from 2017 to 2020, processes used, key results and how lessons learned can be used to strengthen preparedness, early detection and rapid response to outbreaks that may constitute a public health event of international concern. A total of 415 outbreaks were detected and notified to WHO, using both indicator-based and event-based surveillance. Media monitoring contributed to the initial detection of a quarter of all events reported. The most frequent outbreaks detected were vaccine-preventable diseases, followed by food-and-water-borne diseases, vector-borne diseases and viral haemorrhagic fevers. Rapid risk assessments generated evidence and provided the basis for WHO to trigger operational processes to provide rapid support to member states to respond to outbreaks with a potential for international spread. This is crucial in assisting member states in their obligations under the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005). Member states in the region require scaled-up support, particularly in preventing recurrent outbreaks of infectious diseases and enhancing their event-based surveillance capacities with automated tools and processes.

Factors associated with childhood anaemia in Afro-descendant communities in Alagoas, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate factors associated with anaemia in preschool children. DESIGN: A home survey was conducted in 2018. Anaemia in children (capillary blood Hb level < 110 g/l) was the outcome, and socio-economic, demographic and health factors of the mother and child were the independent variables. The measure of association was the prevalence ratio, and its 95 % CI was calculated using Poisson's regression with robust variance and hierarchical selection of independent variables. SETTING: Afro-descendants communities living in the state of Alagoas, northeast Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: Children aged 6-59 months and their mothers (n 428 pairs). RESULTS: The prevalence of child anaemia was 38·1 % (95 % CI 33·5, 42·7). The associated factors with child anaemia were male sex, age < 24 months, larger number of residents at home (> 4), relatively taller mothers (highest tertile) and higher z-score of BMI for age, after further adjustment for wealth index, vitamin A supplementation in the past 6 months and clinical visit in the last 30 d. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of anaemia observed reveals a relevant public health problem amongst children under five from the quilombola communities of Alagoas. Considering the damage caused to health and multiplicity of risk factors associated with anaemia, the adoption of intersectoral strategies that act on modifiable risk factors and increase vigilance concerning those that are not modifiable becomes urgent.

Multiple burdens of malnutrition and relative remoteness in rural Ecuadorian communities.

OBJECTIVE: Social and economic changes associated with new roads can bring about rapid nutritional transitions. To study this process, we: (1) describe trends in adult overweight and obesity (OW/OB) among rural Afro-Ecuadorians over time and across a gradient of community remoteness from the nearest commercial centre; (2) examine the relationship between male and female adult OW/OB and factors associated with market integration such as changing livelihoods and (3) examine the co-occurrence of adult OW/OB and under-five stunting and anaemia. DESIGN: Adult anthropometry was collected through serial case-control studies repeated over a decade across twenty-eight communities. At the same time, anthropometry and Hb were measured for all children under 5 years of age in every community. SETTING: Northern coastal Ecuador. PARTICIPANTS: Adults (n 1665) and children under 5 years of age (n 2618). RESULTS: From 2003 and 2013, OW/OB increased from 25·1 % to 44·8 % among men and 59·9 % to 70·2 % among women. The inverse relationship between remoteness and OW/OB in men was attenuated when adjusting for urban employment, suggesting that livelihoods mediated the remoteness-OW/OB relationship. No such relationship was observed among women. Communities with a higher prevalence of male OW/OB also had a greater prevalence of stunting, but not anaemia, in children under 5 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: The association between male OW/OB and child stunting at the community level, but not the household level, suggests that changing food environments, rather than household- or individual-level factors, drove these trends. A closer examination of changing socio-economic structures and food environments in communities undergoing rapid development could help mitigate future public health burdens.

The effect of stress exposure on depressive symptoms and major depressive episode among US Afro-Caribbean women.

PURPOSE: This study examines whether stress exposures experienced within and across various life domains (e.g., interpersonal, financial) are predictors of depression among Afro-Caribbean women, an understudied ethnic group within the US Black female population. METHODS: A sample of Afro-Caribbean women (N = 878) was drawn from the National Survey of American Life (NSAL), the first nationally representative psychiatric epidemiology survey focused on the mental health of the US Afro-Caribbean and African American populations. Negative binomial regression analysis was conducted for depressive symptoms, and binary logistic regression results are presented for past-year and lifetime major depressive episode. Analyses examined the relative effect of five stress exposures on depression: major discrimination, everyday discrimination, past-month chronic stress, financial strain, and negative interactions with family. RESULTS: Of the five stress exposures, chronic stress and financial strain were associated with increased risk for both recent (e.g., past week) and more distal (i.e., past-year and lifetime) experiences of depression. Though experiences with discrimination were associated with depression, its effects were attenuated when other stressors were taken into account. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health prevention and intervention programs must address stress concerns that are chronic in nature and stressors that reflect financial instability for Afro-Caribbean women.

The Cancer Prevention Project of Philadelphia: preliminary findings examining diversity among the African diaspora.

Objective: Cancer mortality inequity among persons of African Ancestry is remarkable. Yet, Black inclusion in cancer biology research is sorely lacking and warrants urgent attention. Epidemiologic research linking African Ancestry and the African Diaspora to disease susceptibility and outcomes is critical for understanding the significant and troubling health disparities among Blacks. Therefore, in a cohort of diverse Blacks, this study examined differences in genetic ancestry informative markers (AIMs) in the DNA repair pathway and the cancer related biomarker 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL).Methods: Participants completed a questionnaire and provided bio-specimens. AIMs in or around DNA repair pathway genes were analyzed to assess differences in minor allele frequency (MAF) across the 3 ethnic subgroups. NNAL concentration in urine was measured among current smokers.Results: To date the cohort includes 852 participants, 88.3% being Black. Of the 752 Blacks, 51.3% were US-born, 27.8% were Caribbean-born, and 19.6% were Africa-born. Current and former smokers represented 14.9% and 10.0%, respectively. US-born Blacks were more likely to be smokers and poor metabolizers of NNAL. Two-way hierarchical clustering revealed MAF of AIMs differed across the 3 ethnic subgroups.Conclusion: Our findings are consistent with the emerging literature demonstrating Black heterogeneity underscoring African Ancestry genetic subgroup differences - specifically relevant to cancer. Further investigations, with data harmonization and sharing, are urgently needed to begin to map African Ancestry cancer biomarkers as well as race, and race by place\region comparative biomarkers to inform cancer prevention and treatment in the era of precision medicine.

Quantifying the impact of braiding and combing on the integrity of natural African hair.

BACKGROUND: Afro hair breakage is most commonly attributed to grooming practices such as braiding, hair extensions and weaves, both for chemically treated hair and natural Afro hair. These grooming practices are also frequently associated with traction alopecia in clinical studies. However, there is little to no quantitative scientific data on the surface and internal hair fibre damage caused by grooming, including combing, on Afro hair. METHODS: Qualitative and quantitative techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, cuticle cohesion and tensile testing were used to determine the effects of frequent braiding on the integrity of female Afro hair in 15 frequent braiders and 15 occasional braiders (control group) in Johannesburg, South Africa. Frequent braiders were women who braided more than 8 times per year, while occasional braiders typically limit braiding to only twice 2 per year. The severity of traction alopecia was quantified in both groups using the standard Marginal Traction Alopecia Scoring system. Surface damage on naturally curly Afro hair, that was combed but not braided, was assessed as another hairstyle option. RESULTS: All measurements showed a relationship between surface and internal hair fibre damage and braiding frequency. Frequent braiders had thinner hair, with more cuticle damage as shown by SEM and cuticle cohesion assessments. Their hair fibres were also significantly weaker (p < 0.05), as shown by the tensile testing. In addition, they also had higher traction alopecia severity scores. In the combing impact assessment, a linear trend was observed between surface hair fibre damage and the number of combing strokes. Cuticle damage from 480 combing strokes was more severe than that from frequent braiding. CONCLUSION: Frequent braiding and combing damage natural Afro hair. Quantification of damage caused by different grooming practices identifies a need to develop products that could help mitigate specific hair damage associated with grooming practices. The degree of damage and subsequent hair loss could also be minimized by education on best braiding practices to protect the hair fibre and avoid hair follicle miniaturization caused by high traction hairstyles.

CONTEXTE: La casse des cheveux d'origine Africaine est le plus souvent associées à des pratiques cosmétiques telles que le tressage et les extensions de cheveux, à la fois pour les cheveux traités chimiquement et les cheveux naturels. Ces pratiques cosmétiques sont également fréquemment associées à une alopécie de traction, comme le relatent les études cliniques. Cependant, il existe peu ou pas de données scientifiques quantitatives sur l'impact de ce type de pratiques, y compris le peignage, sur les dommages internes et de surface des cheveux d'origine africaine. MÉTHODES: Des techniques qualitatives et quantitatives, comme la microscopie électronique à balayage (MEB), la cohésion cuticulaire et des tests de traction, ont été utilisés pour déterminer les effets du tressage sur l'intégrité des cheveux de deux groupes de 15 femmes Africaines (à Johannesburg, Afrique du Sud) : un premier groupe de femmes pratiquant un tressage fréquent et un autre groupe un tressage occasionnel. Le groupe des tresseurs fréquents correspond à des femmes qui pratiquent le tressage plus de 8 fois par an, tandis que les tresseurs occasionnels limitent généralement le tressage à seulement deux fois par an. La gravité de l'alopécie de traction a été également quantifiée dans les deux groupes à l'aide du système standard de notation de l'alopécie tractionnelle. Parallèlement, à titre de comparaison, les dommages de surface ont été également évalués sur des cheveux d'origine Africaine naturellement bouclés, non tressés, mais qui ont subi un peignage répété. RÉSULTATS: Toutes les mesures ont montré une relation entre les dommages de surface et internes de la fibre et la fréquence de tressage. Les tresseurs fréquents ont des cheveux plus fins, avec un endommagement plus important de la cuticule, comme le montrent les évaluations MEB et la cohésion cuticulaire. Les cheveux sont également significativement plus fragiles (p <0,05), comme le montrent les tests de traction. De plus, ces femmes ont également des scores d'alopécie de traction plus élevés. Dans le cas spécifique du peignage répété, une tendance linéaire a été observée entre les dommages en surface de la fibre capillaire et le nombre de coups de peigne. On peut également noter que l'endommagement de la cuticule causé par 480 coups de peigne est plus important que celui causé par des tressages fréquents. CONCLUSION: Les tressages et peignages fréquents endommagent les cheveux naturels d'origine Africaine. La quantification des dommages causés par différentes pratiques cosmétiques met en évidence le besoin de développer des produits qui pourraient aider à atténuer les dommages liés à des pratiques spécifiques. Le niveau de dommage et la perte de cheveux pourraient également être minimisés par un apprentissage de meilleures pratiques de tressage pour protéger la fibre et éviter la diminution des follicules pileux causée par des coiffures qui entrainent un forte traction sur la fibre.