Bridging the Gap: Engaging Black Men in Lung Cancer Research Through Barbershop Collaboration.

Health disparities persist among Black men, notably in the context of lung cancer and stress-related health outcomes. This study explores these disparities through a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, citizen science, and social network theory, leveraging the expertise and trust of Black barbers as community leaders. The purpose is to understand the nuanced connections between stress and lung cancer in this demographic. Engaging 161 Black men across four Chicago neighborhoods, the study successfully collected hair samples and survey data, emphasizing the importance of culturally sensitive recruitment strategies. Findings highlight the effectiveness of the collaboration, showcasing the role of barbershops as community hubs for research. The study concludes by advocating for sustained partnerships with community leaders, emphasizing transparency in research communication, and promoting culturally grounded approaches to address health disparities and enhance research participation among underrepresented populations.

A saúde da haste capilar e do couro cabeludo: saberes de cabeleireiros / Health of capillary stem and hairdressing leather: knowledge of hairdressers

Introdução: o cabelo tem uma forte representação para os seres humanos, causando grande impacto na estrutura emocional, imagem pessoal e qualidade de vida e saúde. Objetivo: investigar, junto a profissionais cabeleireiros, saberes acerca das principais patologias e/ou intercorrências de interesse ao profissional de estética capilar. Metodologia: pesquisa descritiva, realizada em salões de um município ao noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul, no primeiro semestre de 2020. A coleta de dados foi feita por meio de um questionário e o tratamento dos dados se deu pela análise de conteúdo temática. Foram respeitados os aspectos éticos da pesquisa com seres humanos legislados pela Resolução 466/2012. Resultados: identificou-se, que apesar da formação destes profissionais ser voltada quase que totalmente para o tecnicismo, com quase nenhuma base teórica e científica, os mesmos denotam algum saber em torno das questões relativas ao exercício da sua profissão tais como biossegurança, autocuidado, transmissão de doença no ambiente de trabalho e execução de suas técnicas. No que tange às doenças relativas a haste capilar e ao couro cabeludo, pode-se observar lacunas sobre esse tema por parte dos participantes, visto que, grande parte dos seus conhecimentos demonstrados valem-se de saberes empíricos, seja pela deficiência formativa seja pela escassez de material produzido por profissionais da área. Conclusão: foram observadas algumas deficiências nos saberes dos profissionais sobre o tema. Destaca-se a importância do estímulo para a produção de objetos de aprendizagem, bem como a elaboração de cursos de atualização direcionados a este setor.

Introduction: hair has a strong representation for human beings, causing great impact on emotional structure, personal image and quality of life and health. Objective: to investigate, together with hairdressing professionals, knowledge about the main pathologies and / or complications of interest to the professional of hair aesthetics. Methodology: descriptive research, carried out in salons of a municipality in the northwest of Rio Grande do Sul, in the first semester of 2020. The data collection was done through a questionnaire and the treatment of the data was done through the analysis of thematic content. The ethical aspects of research with human beings legislated by Resolution 466/2012 were respected. Results: it was identified that, although the training of these professionals is almost totally focused on technicality, with almost no theoretical and scientific basis, they show some knowledge around issues related to the exercise of their profession such as biosafety, self-care, transmission of disease in the work environment and execution of its techniques. Regarding diseases related to the hair shaft and the scalp, gaps on this topic can be observed on the part of the participants, since most of their demonstrated knowledge is based on empirical knowledge, either due to the training deficiency or the scarcity of material produced by professionals in the field. Conclusion: some deficiencies were observed in the knowledge of professionals on the subject. The importance of the stimulus for the production of learning objects is highlighted, as well as the elaboration of refresher courses directed to this sector.

Evaluation of Aids and Hepatitis-B knowledge and job satisfaction among hairdressers and barbers in Turkey

Blood-borne viruses, includingthe human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B virus, have certain common epidemiological characteristics and these viruses infect millions of people worldwide. This study aimed to determine the job satisfaction and the level of knowledge and practices regarding infectious diseases of employees working as hairdressers and barbers.This descriptive and cross-sectional study comprised 1200 hairdressers and barbers. The study sample comprised 628 people who consented to participate in the study. The mean age of the participants who participated in the study was 28, 13 ± 6. 9 years. The mean job satisfaction score of the participants was 3.85 ± 0.58. The job satisfaction score was found to be higher among those with sufficient knowledge of hepatitis B (p < 0.005). Employees should be provided performance trainings to achieve job satisfaction. It is recommended that employees be encouraged to wear gloves and gowns to protect their health and prevent contamination.

Maternal occupation as a nail technician or hairdresser during pregnancy and birth defects, National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997-2011.

OBJECTIVE: Nail technicians and hairdressers may be exposed to chemicals with potential reproductive effects. While studies have examined birth defects in children of hairdressers, those in children of nail technicians have not been evaluated. We investigated associations between selected birth defects and maternal occupation as a nail technician or hairdresser versus a non-cosmetology occupation during pregnancy. METHODS: We analysed population-based case-control data from the multisite National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997-2011. Cases were fetuses or infants with major structural birth defects; controls were live-born infants without major birth defects. Expert raters classified self-reported maternal jobs as nail technician, combination nail technician-hairdresser, hairdresser, other cosmetology work or non-cosmetology work. We used logistic regression to calculate adjusted ORs and 95% CIs for associations between occupation during pregnancy and birth defects, controlling for age, smoking, education and race/ethnicity. RESULTS: Sixty-one mothers worked as nail technicians, 196 as hairdressers, 39 as combination nail technician-hairdressers and 42 810 as non-cosmetologists. The strongest associations among nail technicians included seven congenital heart defect (CHD) groups (ORs ranging from 2.7 to 3.5) and neural tube defects (OR=2.6, CI=0.8 to 8.4). Birth defects most strongly associated with hairdressing included anotia/microtia (OR=2.1, CI=0.6 to 6.9) and cleft lip with cleft palate (OR=2.0, CI=1.1 to 3.7). All oral cleft groups were associated with combination nail technician-hairdresser work (ORs ranging from 4.2 to 5.3). CONCLUSIONS: Small samples resulted in wide CIs. Still, results suggest associations between maternal nail technician work during pregnancy and CHDs and between hairdressing work and oral clefts.

Protocol for a systematic review of health promotion interventions for African Americans delivered in US barbershops and hair salons.

INTRODUCTION: African American adults are disproportionately burdened by chronic diseases, particularly at younger ages. Developing culturally appropriate interventions is paramount to closing the gap in these health inequities. The purpose of this systematic review is to critically evaluate health promotion interventions for African Americans delivered in two environments that are frequented by this population: barbershops and hair salons. Characteristics of effective interventions will be identified and evidence for the effectiveness of these interventions will be provided. Results of this review will inform future health promotion efforts for African Americans particularly focused on the leading health inequities in obesity-related chronic diseases: cardiovascular disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Subject headings and keywords will be used to search for synonyms of 'barbershops,' 'hair salons' and 'African Americans' to identify all relevant articles (from inception onwards) in the following databases: Academic Search Ultimate, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science (Science Citation Index and Social Sciences Citation Index) and ProQuest Dissertations. Experimental and quasi-experimental studies for adult (>18 years) African Americans delivered in barbershops and hair salons will be included. Eligible interventions will include risk reduction/management of obesity-related chronic disease: cardiovascular disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes. Two reviewers will independently screen, select and extract data and a third will mediate disagreements. The methodological quality (or risk of bias) of individual studies will be appraised using the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool. Quality and content of the evidence will be narratively synthesised. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Since this is a protocol for a systematic review, ethical approval is not required. Findings from the review will be widely disseminated through conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications and traditional and social media outlets.

Contact urticaria and protein contact dermatitis in the Finnish Register of Occupational Diseases in a period of 12 years.

BACKGROUND: Although occupational contact urticaria (CU) and protein contact dermatitis (PCD) are considered frequent among workers with exposure to proteinaceous materials, data on occupations at risk and the main causes of these occupational skin diseases are relatively limited. OBJECTIVES: To report the causative agents and risk occupations for CU and PCD in the Finnish Register of Occupational Diseases (FROD). METHODS: We retrieved from the FROD all recognized cases of CU/PCD in the years 2005-2016. RESULTS: With 570 cases, CU and PCD constituted 11% of all recognized cases of occupational skin diseases in the study period. Occupations with the highest incidence of CU/PCD included bakers, chefs and cooks, farmers and farm workers, veterinarians, gardeners, and hairdressers. The most common causative agents were cow dander and flour and grain, followed by natural rubber latex (NRL) and other food. In food-related occupations, wheat and other flours were by far the most common cause of CU/PCD, with 76 cases, whereas fish and other animal-derived food caused 33 and other plant-derived food caused 23 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Apart from the Finnish peculiarity of cow dander allergy, a striking finding was a large share of CU/PCD caused by flours in food handlers as compared to other food.

Malignant mesothelioma following repeated exposures to cosmetic talc: A case series of 75 patients.

BACKGROUND: Asbestos is the primary known cause of malignant mesothelioma. Some cosmetic talc products have been shown to contain asbestos. Recently, repeated exposures to cosmetic talc have been implicated as a cause of mesothelioma. METHODS: Seventy-five individuals (64 females; 11 males) with malignant mesothelioma, whose only known exposure to asbestos was repeated exposures to cosmetic talcum powders, were reviewed in medical-legal consultation. Out of the 75 cases, 11 were examined for asbestiform fibers. RESULTS: All subjects had pathologically confirmed malignant mesothelioma. The mean age at diagnosis was 61 ± 17 years. The mean latency from exposure to diagnosis was 50 ± 13 years. The mean exposure duration was 33 ± 16 years. Four mesotheliomas (5%) occurred in individuals working as barbers/cosmetologists, or in a family member who swept the barber shop. Twelve (16%) occurred in individuals less than 45 years old (10 females; 2 males). Forty-eight mesotheliomas were pleural (40 females; 8 males), 23 were peritoneal (21 females; 2 males). Two presented with concomitant pleural and peritoneal disease. There was one pericardial, and one testicular mesothelioma. The majority (51) were of the epithelioid histological subtype, followed by 13 biphasic, 8 sarcomatoid, 2 lymphohistiocytoid, and 1 poorly differentiated. Of the 11 individuals whose nontumorous tissues were analyzed for the presence of asbestiform fibers, all showed the presence of anthophyllite and/or tremolite asbestos. CONCLUSIONS: Mesotheliomas can develop following exposures to cosmetic talcum powders. These appear to be attributable to the presence of anthophyllite and tremolite contaminants in cosmetic talcum powder.

12-year data on skin diseases in the Finnish Register of Occupational Diseases II: Risk occupations with special reference to allergic contact dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Detailed epidemiological studies on occupational skin diseases (OSDs) are scarce. OBJECTIVES: To analyze risk occupations for OSDs in the Finnish Register of Occupational Diseases (FROD). METHODS: We retrieved numbers of OSD cases (excluding skin infections) for different occupations from the FROD in 2005-2016. In the FROD, Finnish ISCO-08-based classification of occupations was used since 2011, and the preceding ISCO-88-based version until 2010. We combined cases from the earlier and the later period using conversion tables provided by Statistics Finland. We included occupations with at least five cases and analyzed them in detail. We calculated incidence rates for OSDs and separately for allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) in different risk occupations using national labor force statistics. We also studied causes of ACD in these occupations. RESULTS: Risk occupations with the largest number of OSD cases included farmers, hairdressers, assistant nurses, cooks, cleaners, machinists, and nurses. Occupations with the highest incidences of OSDs comprised spray painters (23.8/10 000 person years), bakers (20.4), and dental technicians (19.0). Epoxy compounds and acrylates were prominent causes of ACD in occupations with the highest incidences of ACD. CONCLUSIONS: Uniform use of International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) would facilitate comparisons of OSD figures in different countries.

Avaliação da efetividade do uso de meias de compressão na prevenção do edema ocupacional em cabeleireiras / Evaluation of the effectiveness of wearing compression stockings for prevention of occupational edema in hairdressers

Resumo Contexto O edema ocupacional (EO) de membros inferiores (MMII) é um importante fator de queda na qualidade de vida, e a sua prevenção impõe a prescrição de medidas profiláticas, como o uso de meias de compressão (MCs). Objetivos Avaliar a efetividade das MCs na prevenção do EO e a sua repercussão na qualidade de vida de cabeleireiras. Métodos Este ensaio clínico realizou medidas de tornozelo e panturrilha de 38 cabeleireiras sem doença venosa no início e no final da jornada de trabalho em um momento sem e em outro usando MCs. Também responderam um questionário sobre sintomas e qualidade de vida em doença venosa. Resultados Os valores do ponto B foram de 21,1±2,2 cm no momento inicial sem meias, 22,1±2,3 cm no momento final sem meias (p = 0,0001 em relação ao inicial sem meias), e 21,2±2,1 cm no momento final com meias (p = 0,0001 em relação ao final sem meias). Não foi significante a diferença entre os valores médios do ponto B inicial sem meias e final com meias (p=0,324), ou seja, não houve formação de edema nos MMII ao final da jornada de trabalho em ortostatismo prolongado quando em uso de MCs. Pôde-se observar melhora da limitação sobre as atividades laborais (p = 0,0001), domésticas (p = 0,008) e de lazer ou sociais em pé (p = 0,0001). Conclusões As MCs são efetivas na prevenção do EO de MMII, e a atenuação de sintomas como dor e fadiga contribui diretamente para melhor qualidade de vida de cabeleireiras.

Abstract Background Occupational lower limb edema is an important factor in deterioration of quality of life. Prevention involves prescription of prophylactic measures, such as wearing compression stockings. Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of compression stocking for prevention of occupational edema and its repercussions for the quality of life of hairdressers. Methods A clinical trial involving measurements of the ankles (point B) and calves (Point C) of 38 hairdressers without venous disease at the beginning and end of workdays spent wearing or not wearing compression stockings. Participants also answered a questionnaire about symptoms and quality of life in venous disease. Results Point B measurements were: 21.1 ± 2.2 cm in the morning without stockings; 22.1 ± 2.3 cm at the end of the day without stockings (p = 0.0001 compared to baseline without stockings); and 21.2 ± 2.1 cm at the end of the day wearing compression stockings (p = 0.0001 compared to the end of day not wearing compression stockings). The comparison between point B values for the start of the day without compression stockings and the end of the day with stockings (p = 0.324) was not significant, showing that there was no lower limb edema at the end of the working day when compression stockings were worn. Improvements were observed in ratings for limitations of work activities (p = 0.0001), domestic activities (p = 0.008) and leisure or social activities performed standing up(p = 0.0001). Conclusions Compression stockings are effective for preventing occupational lower limb edema and the attenuation of symptoms such as pain and fatigue directly contributes to better quality of life for hairdressers.

Study protocol for developing #CuttingCRC: a barbershop-based trial on masculinity barriers to care and colorectal cancer screening uptake among African-American men using an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design.

INTRODUCTION: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is preventable, as screening leads to the identification and removal of precancerous polyps. African-American men consistently have the highest CRC mortality rates, and their CRC-screening uptake remains low for complex reasons. Culture-specific masculinity barriers to care may contribute to the low uptake among African-American men. Examining these barriers to care is vital as CRC screening may challenge cultural role expectations of African-American men, whose tendency is to delay help-seeking medical care. Barbershops provide a pathway for reaching African-American men with masculinity barriers to care who are not regularly receiving healthcare services and CRC screening. This study aims to develop and pilot test a theory-driven, culture-specific, barbershop-based intervention targeting masculinity barriers to care and CRC-screening uptake among African-American men ages 45-75. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Guided by the theory of planned behaviour and the behaviour change wheel, we will use a multistage mixed-methods study design, beginning with an exploratory sequential approach to validate items for subsequent use in a pilot mixed-methods intervention. First, we will collect and analyse qualitative data from focus groups, cognitive interviews and expert item review to validate and test a culture-specific Masculinity Barriers to Care Scale (MBCS) among African-American men. Next, we will administer the MBCS to our target population as an online quantitative survey and evaluate the association between scores and CRC-screening uptake. Then, we will consider existing evidence-based approaches, our integrated results (qualitative +quantitative), and community input to design a culture-specific, behavioural intervention aimed at increasing CRC-screening uptake among African-American men and feasible for barbershop delivery. We will test the peer intervention in a pilot study with a two-arm cluster randomised design (six barbershops, randomised by site) to reduce contamination and account for barbershop culture differences. Our primary outcomes for the pilot are recruitment, sample size estimation, preliminary efficacy and acceptability. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval was obtained from the University of Utah Institutional Review Board (00113679), who will also be responsible for receiving communication updates regarding important protocol modifications. To ensure confidentiality, data dispersed to project team members will be blinded of any identifying participant information. Study results will be disseminated through publications in peer-reviewed journals, community dialogue sessions, and presentations at conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03733197 (Pre-results);https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03733197.

Genetic variants of filaggrin are associated with occupational dermal exposure and blood DNA alterations in hairdressers.

Hairdressers are exposed to high levels of chemicals, including possible carcinogens. For dermal exposure, the skin protects against the uptake of chemicals and the protein filaggrin (encoded by FLG) has a key role in skin barrier function. This study investigated if variants of FLG previously linked to impaired skin barrier function, i.e. null mutations and copy number variation (CNV) alleles (CNV10), are associated with cancer-related DNA changes. Blood and questionnaire data were collected from hairdressers (n = 295) and controls (n = 92). Exposure to aromatic amines was measured as hemoglobin adducts by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. DNA from peripheral blood was used to test for FLG null mutations and CNV (10, 11, or 12 repeats), telomere length, and methylation of selected cancer-related genes. Hairdressers had a lower frequency of FLG null mutations (4.1 vs. 7.6%, P = 0.18) and CNV10 (43.2 vs. 56%, P = 0.0032) than controls. In hairdressers, CNV10 carriers had a decreased risk of high ortho-toluidine adducts in blood compared with non-carriers (odds ratio, OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.30-0.81). Further, telomere length was shorter for carriers of any FLG null allele (ß = -0.18, 95% CI = -0.31 to -0.044) and CNV10 carriers (ß = -0.054, 95% CI = -0.11 to -0.00051, linear regression adjusted for age, passive smoking, residence, and education) compared to non-carriers. Carriers of any FLG null allele showed higher methylation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A gene CDKN2A (OR = 6.26, CI = 1.13-34.7), but not of the other genes analyzed. These associations were not found among the controls. Our study showed that the frequency of FLG CNV10 was lower among hairdressers than controls, which may indicate a healthy worker selection. Moreover, FLG null and CNV10 were associated with cancer-related DNA changes in hairdressers, which may influence their risk of cancer.

Artesanos de servicio: Apreciaciones sobre los Barberos, Sangradores, Sacamuelas / Craftsmen of service: appreciations on the barbers, tappers, dentists

Los barberos a través del tiempo, han dejado una estela para muchos, poco apreciada. El presente relato intenta dar un poco más de lustre a su nombre, observándolo sucintamente desde varias facetas: tocador de guitarra y cantador, navegante, artesano; intentando romper la creencia de que fueron personas incultas y sin conocimientos. También se realizará un acercamiento hacia los barberos que laboraron en nuestra Cuenca de los Andes desde el siglo XVI hasta su extinción en el siglo XX.

Barbers over time, have left a trail which is little appreciated. The present account tries to enhance its name, observing it briefly from several aspects: guitar player and singer, navigator and craftsman; trying to break the belief that they were uncultured and uneducated people. There will also be an approach to the barbers who worked in our city "Cuenca de los Andes" from the sixteenth century until its extinction in the twentieth century.

UK trends of allergic occupational skin disease attributed to fragrances 1996-2015.

BACKGROUND: Fragrances are well known to cause allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Occupationally related cases occur, with certain groups being at higher risk. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of occupationally related cases of cutaneous fragrance allergy and to evaluate trends. METHOD: Data on incident cases of occupational ACD caused by fragrances between 1996 and 2015 (inclusive) reported to the EPIDERM surveillance scheme were analysed. RESULTS: Of the cases reported to EPIDERM during the study period, 5.2% had ACD attributed to fragrances. The highest annual incidence rates were observed in women. Hairdressers, beauticians and people working in related occupations had a 47-fold higher incidence rate ratio than the reference category (the average of all other occupations combined). Trends analysis suggested a non-significant increase in fragrance allergy over the study period among all occupations, and beauty and food workers, and a slight decrease in healthcare workers. CONCLUSIONS: Fragrance allergy is a significant problem in an occupational setting. Although there was no significant change in the incidence of fragrance-related allergic occupational contact dermatitis (OCD) during the 20-year study period, this does not mirror the trend in OCD, which is falling. Fragrance allergy continues to be a major contributor to OCD, and contributes to a greater proportion of cases.