Psychosocial impacts of Baby Friendly Spaces for Rohingya refugee mothers in Bangladesh: A pragmatic cluster-randomized controlled trial.

Background: This study evaluated the effectiveness of Baby Friendly Spaces (BFS), a psychosocial support program for Rohingya refugee mothers of malnourished young children in Bangladesh. Because BFS was already being implemented, we examined the benefit of enhancing implementation supports. Methods: In matched pairs, 10 sites were randomized to provide BFS treatment as usual (BFS-TAU) or to receive enhanced implementation support (BFS-IE). 600 mothers were enrolled and reported on maternal distress, functional impairment, subjective well-being and coping at baseline and 8-week follow-up. Data were analyzed using multilevel linear regression models to account for clustering; sensitivity analyses adjusted for the small number of clusters. Results: Significant within-group improvements in BFSIE were observed for distres (-.48, p = .014), functional impairment (-.30, p = .002) and subjective well-being (.92, p = .011); improvements in BFS-TAU were smaller and not statistically significant. Between-group comparisons favored BFS-IE for distress (ß = -.30, p = .058) and well-being (ß = .58, p = .038). Sensitivity adjustments produced p-values above .05 for all between-group comparisons. Discussion: Feasible adjustments to implementation can improve program delivery to increase impact on maternal distress and well-being. Although results should be interpreted with caution, study design limitations are common in pragmatic, field-based research.

How does the use of continuous electronic fetal monitoring influence women's experiences of labour? A systematic integrative review of the literature from high income countries.

BACKGROUND: A variety of technologies are used to monitor fetal wellbeing in labour. Different types of fetal monitoring devices impact women's experiences of labour and birth. AIM: This review aims to understand how continuous electronic fetal monitoring (CEFM) influences women's experiences, with a focus on sense of control, active decision-making and mobility. METHODS: A systematic search of the literature was conducted. Findings from qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods studies were analysed to provide a review of current evidence. FINDINGS: Eighteen publications were included. The findings were synthesised into three themes: 'Feeling reassured versus anxious about the welfare of their baby', 'Feeling comfortable and free to be mobile versus feeling uncomfortable and restricted', and 'Feeling respected and empowered to make decisions versus feeling depersonalised with minimal control '. Women experienced discomfort and a lack of mobility as a result of some CEFM technologies. They often felt anxious and had mixed feelings about their baby's welfare whilst these were in use. Some women valued the data produced by CEFM technologies about the welfare of their baby. Many women experienced a sense of depersonalisation and lack of control whilst CEFM technologies were used. DISCUSSION: Fetal monitoring technologies influence women's experiences of labour both positively and negatively. Wireless devices were associated with the most positive response as they enabled greater freedom of movement. CONCLUSION: The design of emerging fetal monitoring technologies should incorporate elements which foster freedom of movement, are comfortable and provide women with a sense of choice and control. The implementation of fetal monitoring that enables these elements should be prioritised by health professionals.

Advancing GCT Management: A Review of miR-371a-3p and Other miRNAs in Comparison to Traditional Serum Tumor Markers.

MicroRNAs, short non-protein coding RNAs, are overexpressed in GCTs. Circulating levels of germ cell tumor (GCT)-associated miRNAs, such as miR-371a-3p, can be utilized as efficient and cost-effective alternatives in diagnosing and managing patients presenting with GCTs. This quality of miRNAs has demonstrated favorable performance characteristics as a reliable blood-based biomarker with high diagnostic accuracy compared to current serum tumor markers (STMs), including α-fetoprotein (AFP), beta human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-hCG), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The conventional STMs exhibit limited specificity and sensitivity. Potential clinical implications of miRNAs include impact on de-escalating or intensifying treatment, detecting recurrence at earlier stages, and lessening the necessity of cross-sectional imaging or invasive tissue biopsy for non-teratomatous GCTs. Here, we also highlight the outstanding issues that must be addressed prior to clinical implementation. Standards for measuring circulating miRNAs and determining ideal cutoff values are essential for integration into current clinical guidelines.

Participation in Advance Care Planning Among Medically At-Risk Rural Veterans: Protocol for a Personalized Engagement Model.

BACKGROUND: Many of the challenges in advanced care planning (ACP) conversations are linked to the waxing and waning progress of serious illnesses. Conversations with patients about future medical care decisions by a surrogate decision maker have historically been left until late in the patient's disease trajectory. These conversations often happen at a time when the patient is already very ill. The challenge in effective early ACP and serious illness conversations is to create a situation where patients appreciate the link between current and future medical care. Setting the stage to make these conversations more accessible includes using telehealth to have conversations at the patient's place of choice. The personalization used includes addressing the current medical and social needs of the patient and ensuring that expressed needs are addressed as much as possible. Engaging patients in these conversations allows the documentation of patient preferences in the electronic health record (EHR), providing guidelines for future medical care. OBJECTIVE: The objective of our telehealth serious illness care conversations program was to successfully recruit patients who lacked up-to-date documentation of ACP in their EHR. Once these patients were identified, we engaged in meaningful, structured conversations to address the veterans' current needs and concerns. We developed a recruitment protocol that increased the uptake of rural veterans' participation in serious illness care conversations and subsequent EHR documentation. METHODS: The recruitment protocol outlined herein used administrative data to determine those patients who have not completed or updated formal ACP documentation in the EHR and who are at above-average risk for death in the next 3-5 years. The key features of the telehealth serious illness care conversations recruitment protocol involve tailoring the recruitment approach to address current patient concerns while emphasizing future medical decision-making. RESULTS: As of September 2022, 196 veterans had completed this intervention. The recruitment method ensures that the timing of the intervention is patient driven, allowing for veterans to engage in ACP at a time and place convenient for them and their identified support persons. CONCLUSIONS: The recruitment protocol has been successful in actively involving patients in ACP conversations, leading to an uptick in completed formal documentation of ACP preferences within the EHR for this specific population. This documentation is then available to the medical team to guide future medical care. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR1-10.2196/55080.

First-hand accounts of structural stigma toward people who use opioids on Reddit.

People who use opioids face multilevel stigma that negatively affects their health and well-being and drives opioid-related overdose. Little research has focused on lived experience of the structural levels of stigma toward opioid use. This study identified and qualitatively analyzed Reddit content about structural stigma toward opioid use. Iterative, human-in-the-loop natural language processing methods were used to identify relevant posts and comments from an opioid-related subforum. Ultimately, 273 posts and comments were qualitatively analyzed via directed content analysis guided by a prominent conceptualization of stigma. Redditors described how structures-including governmental programs and policies, the pharmaceutical industry, and healthcare systems-stigmatize people who use opioids. Structures were reported to stigmatize through labeling (i.e., particularly in medical settings), perpetuating negative stereotypes, separating people who use opioids into those who use opioids "legitimately" versus "illegitimately," and engendering status loss and discrimination (e.g., denial of healthcare, loss of employment). Redditors also posted robust formulations of structural stigma, mostly describing how it manifests in the criminalization of substance use, is often driven by profit motive, and leads to the pervasiveness of fentanyl in the drug supply and the current state of the overdose crisis. Some posts and comments highlighted interpersonal and structural resources (e.g., other people who use opioids, harm reduction programs, telemedicine) leveraged to navigate structural stigma and its effects. These findings reveal key ways by which structural stigma can pervade the lives of people who use opioids and show the value of social media data for investigating complex social processes. Particularly, this study's findings related to structural separation may help encourage efforts to promote solidarity among people who use opioids. Attending to first-hand accounts of structural stigma can help interventions aiming to reduce opioid-related stigma be more responsive to these stigmatizing structural forces and their felt effects.

Drug Use-Related Discrimination in Healthcare Settings and Subsequent Emergency Department Utilization in a Prospective Cohort Study of People With a History of Injection Drug Use.

BACKGROUND:  People with a history of injection drug use face discrimination in healthcare settings that may impede their use of routine care, leading to greater reliance on the emergency department (ED) for addressing health concerns. The relationship between discrimination in healthcare settings and subsequent ED utilization has not been established in this population. METHODS:  This analysis used longitudinal data collected between January 2014 and March 2020 from participants of the ALIVE (AIDS Linked to the IntraVenous Experience) study, a community-based observational cohort study of people with a history of injection drug use in Baltimore, Maryland. Logistic regressions with generalized estimating equations were used to estimate associations between drug use-related discrimination in healthcare settings and subsequent ED utilization for the sample overall and six subgroups based on race, sex, and HIV status. RESULTS:  1,342 participants contributed data from 7,289 semiannual study visits. Participants were predominately Black (82%), mostly male (66%), and 33% were living with HIV. Drug use-related discrimination in healthcare settings (reported at 6% of study visits) was positively associated with any subsequent ED use (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.15-1.72). Positive associations persisted after adjusting for covariates, including past sixth-month ED use and drug use, among the overall sample (aOR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.04-1.59) and among some subgroups. CONCLUSIONS:  Drug use-related discrimination in healthcare settings was associated with greater subsequent ED utilization in this sample. Further exploration of mechanisms driving this relationship may help improve care and optimize healthcare engagement for people with a history of injection drug use.

Wait and watch: A trachoma surveillance strategy from Amhara region, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Trachoma recrudescence after elimination as a public health problem has been reached is a concern for control programs globally. Programs typically conduct district-level trachoma surveillance surveys (TSS) ≥ 2 years after the elimination threshold is achieved to determine whether the prevalence of trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) among children ages 1 to 9 years remains <5%. Many TSS are resulting in a TF prevalence ≥5%. Once a district returns to TF ≥5%, a program typically restarts costly mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns and surveys at least twice, for impact and another TSS. In Amhara, Ethiopia, most TSS which result in a TF ≥5% have a prevalence close to 5%, making it difficult to determine whether the result is due to true recrudescence or to statistical variability. This study's aim was to monitor recrudescence within Amhara by waiting to restart MDA within 2 districts with a TF prevalence ≥5% at TSS, Metema = 5.2% and Woreta Town = 5.1%. The districts were resurveyed 1 year later using traditional and alternative indicators, such as measures of infection and serology, a "wait and watch" approach. METHODS/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: These post-surveillance surveys, conducted in 2021, were multi-stage cluster surveys whereby certified graders assessed trachoma signs. Children ages 1 to 9 years provided a dried blood spot and children ages 1 to 5 years provided a conjunctival swab. TF prevalence in Metema and Woreta Town were 3.6% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]:1.4-6.4) and 2.5% (95% CI:0.8-4.5) respectively. Infection prevalence was 1.2% in Woreta Town and 0% in Metema. Seroconversion rates to Pgp3 in Metema and Woreta Town were 0.4 (95% CI:0.2-0.7) seroconversions per 100 child-years and 0.9 (95% CI:0.6-1.5) respectively. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Both study districts had a TF prevalence <5% with low levels of Chlamydia trachomatis infection and transmission, and thus MDA interventions are no longer warranted. The wait and watch approach represents a surveillance strategy which could lead to fewer MDA campaigns and surveys and thus cost savings with reduced antibiotic usage.

Management of monogenic diabetes in pregnancy: A narrative review.

Pregnancy in women with monogenic diabetes is potentially complex, with significant implications for both maternal and fetal health. Among these, maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) stands out as a prevalent monogenic diabetes subtype frequently encountered in clinical practice. Each subtype of MODY requires a distinct approach tailored to the pregnancy, diverging from management strategies in non-pregnant individuals. Glucokinase MODY (GCK-MODY) typically does not require treatment outside of pregnancy, but special considerations arise when a woman with GCK-MODY becomes pregnant. The glycemic targets in GCK-MODY pregnancies are not exclusively dictated by the maternal/paternal MODY genotype but are also influenced by the genotype of the developing fetus. During pregnancy, the choice between sulfonylurea or insulin for treating hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-alpha (HNF1A)-MODY and HNF4A-MODY depends on the mother's specific circumstances and the available expertise. Management of other rarer MODY subtypes is individualized, with decisions made on a case-by-case basis. Therefore, a collaborative approach involving expert diabetes and obstetric teams is crucial for the comprehensive management of MODY pregnancies.

Addressing Suicide Risk Among Immigrant Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health problem contributing to multiple morbidities. Immigrant women who experience IPV may be disproportionately vulnerable to poor mental health outcomes, including self-harm and suicidal ideation, due to cultural experiences and contextual factors that prevent them from accessing services. While existing studies identify the risks for suicidal ideation amongst survivors of IPV, there is limited knowledge on how to tailor strategies to support immigrant women survivors of IPV who experience suicidal ideation. This study was conducted as part of the formative phase of a longitudinal research project designed to develop and evaluate a safety planning intervention for immigrant women survivors of IPV. Using qualitative in-depth interviews, we explored the perspectives of immigrant women survivors of IPV (n = 46) from various countries of origin, ages, and educational backgrounds on effective strategies for supporting immigrant women who disclose suicidal ideation. Study participants discussed various strategies for supporting survivors including building trust, providing encouragement, strengthening social support networks, and reminding survivors of parental responsibilities. Participants also pointed to the importance of the following services: domestic violence support, faith-based health resources, supportive immigration programs, mental health support, and emergency and medical treatment. These findings are informative for researchers and practitioners who work with immigrant women survivors of IPV, and they can be used to develop appropriate safety protocols and support strategies for survivors who are experiencing or have previously experienced suicidal ideation to mitigate the risk of self-harm.

Access to healthcare among transgender women living with and without HIV in the United States: associations with gender minority stress and resilience factors.

BACKGROUND: Transgender women (TW) experience significant inequities in healthcare access and health disparities compared to cisgender populations. Access to non-transition related healthcare is understudied among TW. We aimed to assess the association between access to care and gender minority stress and resilience factors among TW living with and without HIV in eastern and southern United States. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data drawn from a cohort of 1613 adult TW from the LITE Study. The cohort permitted participation through two modes: a site-based, technology-enhanced mode and an exclusively online (remote) mode. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses determined measurement models for gender minority stress, resilience, and healthcare access. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the relationships between these constructs. Models were evaluated within the overall sample and separately by mode and HIV status. RESULTS: Higher levels of gender minority stress, as measured by anticipated discrimination and non-affirmation were associated with decreased access to healthcare. Among TW living with HIV, higher levels of anticipated discrimination, non-affirmation, and social support were associated with decreased healthcare access. Among TW living without HIV in the site-based mode, resilience was positively associated with positive healthcare experiences and inversely associated with barriers to healthcare access. Among TW living without HIV in the online mode, anticipated discrimination was associated with barriers to healthcare access; resilience was positively associated with positive healthcare experiences and inversely associated with barriers to healthcare access. CONCLUSIONS: Gender minority stress was associated with increased barriers to healthcare access among TW in the US, regardless of HIV status. Resilience factors did not mediate this effect. Interventions aiming to increase healthcare access among TW can be aided by efforts to mitigate drivers of gender minority stress and improve patient experiences in healthcare facilities.

Randomised placebo-controlled trial of antenatal corticosteroids for planned birth in twins (STOPPIT-3): study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the STOPPIT-3 study is to determine the clinical and cost effectiveness of antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) prior to planned birth of twins in a multicentre placebo-controlled trial with internal pilot. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study will comprise a multicentre, double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in at least 50 UK obstetric units. The target population is 1552 women with a twin pregnancy and a planned birth between 35 and 38+6 weeks' gestation recruited from antenatal clinics. Women will be randomised to Dexamethasone Phosphate (24 mg) or saline administered via two intramuscular injections 24 hours apart, 24-120 hours prior to scheduled birth. OUTCOMES: The primary outcome is need for respiratory support within 72 hours of birth. Secondary and safety outcomes will be included. Cognitive and language development at age 2 years will be assessed in a subset of participants using the Parent report of Children's Abilities-Revised questionnaire. We will also determine the cost effectiveness of the treatment with ACS compared with placebo. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: STOPPIT-3 has been funded and approved by the National Institute of Healthcare Research. It has been approved by the West Midlands Research Ethics Committee (22/WM/0018). The results will be disseminated via publication in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentation and will also be communicated to the public via links with charity partners and social media. TRIAL SPONSOR: The University of Edinburgh and Lothian Health Board ACCORD, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN59959611.

Factors affecting women's participation in cardiovascular research: a scoping review.

AIMS: Women are underrepresented in cardiovascular trials. We sought to explore the proportional representation of women in contemporary cardiovascular research and the factors (barriers and enablers) that affect their participation in cardiovascular studies. METHODS AND RESULTS: Multiple electronic databases were searched between January 2011 and September 2021 to identify papers that defined underrepresentation of women in cardiovascular research and/or reported sex-based differences in participating in cardiovascular research and/or barriers for women to participate in cardiovascular research. Data extraction was undertaken independently by two authors using a standardised data collection form. Results were summarised using descriptive statistics and narrative synthesis as appropriate.From 548 identified papers, 10 papers were included. Of those, four were conducted prospectively and six were retrospective studies. Five of the retrospective studies involved secondary analysis of trial data including over 780 trials in over 1.1 million participants. Overall, women were reported to be underrepresented in heart failure, coronary disease, myocardial infarction, and arrhythmia trials, compared to men. Barriers to participation included lack of information and understanding of the research, trial-related procedures, the perceived health status of the participant, and patient-specific factors including travel, childcare availability, and cost. A significantly higher likelihood of research participation was reported by women following a patient educational intervention. CONCLUSION: This review has highlighted the underrepresentation of women in a range of cardiovascular trials. Several barriers to women's participation in cardiovascular studies were identified. Researchers could mitigate against these in future trial planning and delivery to increase women's participation in cardiovascular research. REGISTRATION: The protocol was published on the public Open Science Framework platform on 13th August 2021 (no registration reference provided) and can be accessed at https://osf.io/ny4fd/.

Identifying incontinence and promoting continence in people living with dementia.

Urinary and faecal incontinence are more prevalent among older people but, like dementia, incontinence is not a normal or inevitable part of ageing. The number of people living with dementia who experience continence issues is likely to be underestimated because many people avoid reporting them as a result of embarrassment and stigma, or because they think incontinence is an inevitable symptom of dementia and that nothing can be done about it. Increased awareness and understanding of the relationship between dementia and incontinence is needed so that nurses can persuade people living with dementia and their family carers to discuss continence issues, assess their needs and provide support. There are several practical strategies that can reduce the incidence of incontinence, counter its negative effects and promote continence in people living with dementia.

Predicting salivary cortisol and sexual behavior stigma among MSM in the American Men's Internet Survey 2019.

Physiological stress levels in response to sexual behavior stigma among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States (US) are understudied. The current study aims to explore the relationship between sexual behavior stigma and salivary cortisol both overall and stratified by race/ethnicity. If such an association exists, it may suggest that sexual behavior stigma can be physiologically measured or indicated by the presence of heightened salivary cortisol. A subsample of 667 MSM participants from the 2019 American Men's Internet Survey (AMIS; N = 10,129) submitted morning (AM) and evening (PM) saliva cortisol samples using at-home mail-in collection kits. Average daily cortisol and daily cortisol change were calculated; simple linear regressions estimated associations between cortisol measures and sexual behavior stigma characterized in four different ways (ever and recent experience of individual stigma items; average ever and recent experience of three stigma scales: stigma from family and friends, anticipated healthcare stigma, general social stigma). Participants reported a mean age of 36.0 years (SD = 14.9), with most being non-Hispanic white (n = 480, 72.0%), Hispanic (n = 164, 12.3%), or Black/African American (n = 146, 10.9%), and identified as homosexual/gay (n = 562, 84.3%). Reporting ever experiencing healthcare providers gossiping was significantly associated with higher PM cortisol (ß = 0.12, p = 0.001) and higher average daily cortisol (ß = 0.11, p = 0.004), while reporting ever experiencing police refusing to protect was associated with higher AM cortisol (ß = 0.08, p = 0.03) and higher average daily cortisol (ß = 0.09, p = 0.02). Recent experiences of stigma were not significant predictors of any measure of cortisol. Measures of salivary cortisol may be used to characterize sexual behavior stigma among MSM populations, however more insight is needed to determine its exact relationship and strength.

The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Recovery from Cardiac Surgery Over Time: Results of the Cardiaccovid Study from three Uk National Lockdowns.

This prospective study (clinicaltrials.gov NCT04366167) explores health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L), event-related distress (IES-R) and depression (CES-D) after cardiac surgery during the three UK national COVID-19 lockdowns. Overall, 253 patients participated (lockdown one n = 196; two n = 45; three n = 12) completing the above-mentioned questionnaires at baseline, one week after discharge and six weeks, six and 12 months after surgery. While EQ-5D-5L values were similar across all cohorts, those having surgery in lockdowns two and three had higher IES-R scores at 1-year and higher IES-R and CES-D baseline scores, respectively. Generally, increased distress, worse depression and poorer HRQoL were observed in women.

Effectiveness of teen Mental Health First Aid in Improving Teen-to-Teen Support Among American Adolescents.

BACKGROUND: teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) is an Australian school-based universal program for grade 10 to 12 students. tMHFA teaches teens how to recognize and respond to a peer in crisis or experiencing mental health concerns. METHODS: Schools implementing tMHFA in 2019 and 2020 were propensity score matched, yielding a sample of instructors (n = 130) and students (n = 1915) in 44 high schools in 24 American states. Effectiveness and acceptability were assessed with student surveys at baseline and after implementation. RESULTS: There were significant findings for primary outcomes, including improved helpful first aid intentions (Cohen ds = 0.57 to 0.58), confidence supporting a peer (ds = 0.19 to 0.31); the number of adults rated as helpful (ds = 0.37 to 0.44); and reductions in stigmatizing beliefs (ds = 0.21 to 0.40) and "harmful first aid intentions" (ds = 0.11 to 0.42). Instructors and students rated the program favorably with students sharing improvements on their recognition and responses to mental health problems and crises. CONCLUSION: tMHFA is an effective, feasible, and scalable training program for increasing mental health literacy and decreasing mental health stigma in adolescents in the short term, consistent with trials of tMHFA in Australian adolescents.

Mental health and psychosocial support in response to onset of the COVID-19 pandemic: Emotional and Stress Management Intervention in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Ivory Coast.

Background: In response to the psychological distress experienced by people affected by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Action Against Hunger (Action contre la Faim, ACF) developed and implemented the Emotional and Stress Management Intervention (ESMI) in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Ivory Coast. ESMI is a person-to-person two-session, non-specialized, mental health and psychosocial support intervention for adults and adolescents in the general population based in problem solving therapy and principles of emotional regulation. Methods: Using de-identified programmatic data for each country, we conducted paired t-tests to assess whether adults and adolescents who received ESMI experienced changes in reported psychological distress and perceived social support following the intervention. We also performed pairwise correlations to test whether there were associations between changes in distress and social support over the course of participation in ESMI. Descriptive analyses were performed for presenting problems and coping strategies reported during the sessions. Results: Mean scores for psychological distress at baseline and follow-up were significantly different in all countries: Sierra Leone (mean (m) = -6.11; 95% confidence interval (CI) = -6.25 to -5.96); Ivory Coast (m = -3.21; 95% CI = -3.33 to -3.10); and Liberia (m = -2.86; 95% CI = -3.15 to -2.56). Changes in perceived social support were also statistically significant for Sierra Leone (m = 6.87; 95% CI = 6.72-7.02); Ivory Coast (m = 3.12; 95% CI = 2.97-3.27); and Liberia (m = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.00-1.27). Correlations (r) between changes in distress and changes in social support varied by country, and ranged from negative in Liberia, (r = -0.88, P = 0.001), to positive in Ivory Coast (r = 55, P = 0.001), and null in Sierra Leone (r = -0.07, P = 0.11). Conclusions: Our findings show changes in psychological distress and perceived social support for participants who completed two sessions of ESMI, suggesting a potential benefit of ESMI as a person-to-person mental health and psychosocial support for individuals in distress affected by a pandemic. A future randomized controlled trial with a focus on key implementation factors (i.e., pre-testing visual analogue scales, treatment fidelity, and comparison of in-person vs remote) is recommended as next steps in research.

Refining the serum miR-371a-3p test for viable germ cell tumor detection.

Circulating miR-371a-3p has excellent performance in the detection of viable (non-teratoma) germ cell tumor (GCT) pre-orchiectomy; however, its ability to detect occult disease is understudied. To refine the serum miR-371a-3p assay in the minimal residual disease setting we compared performance of raw (Cq) and normalized (∆Cq, RQ) values from prior assays, and validated interlaboratory concordance by aliquot swapping. Revised assay performance was determined in a cohort of 32 patients suspected of occult retroperitoneal disease. Assay superiority was determined by comparing resulting receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curves using the Delong method. Pairwise t-tests were used to test for interlaboratory concordance. Performance was comparable when thresholding based on raw Cq vs. normalized values. Interlaboratory concordance of miR-371a-3p was high, but reference genes miR-30b-5p and cel-miR-39-3p were discordant. Introduction of an indeterminate range of Cq 28-35 with a repeat run for any indeterminate improved assay accuracy from 0.84 to 0.92 in a group of patients suspected of occult GCT. We recommend that serum miR-371a-3p test protocols are updated to (a) utilize threshold-based approaches using raw Cq values, (b) continue to include an endogenous (e.g., miR-30b-5p) and exogenous non-human spike-in (e.g., cel-miR-39-3p) microRNA for quality control, and (c) to re-run any sample with an indeterminate result.