Sex and Racial/Ethnic Differences in School Security Measures, Bullying Victimization, and Perceived School Safety: Implications for Pediatric Health Care.

INTRODUCTION: Using the 2017 National Crime Victimization Survey dataset, this study examined the association between the types of school security measures and students' bullying victimization and perceived school safety. METHOD: Using logistic regression and ordinary least square regression analyses, the study addressed whether these associations vary by sex and race/ethnicity, as most research has treated sex and race/ethnicity as covariates. RESULTS: The study found that none of the security measures were associated with bullying victimization among the total sample. However, there were sex and racial differences in the association between security measures and bullying victimization. There were also sex and racial/ethnic variations in the association between security measures and perceived school safety. DISCUSSION: Scholars, health care practitioners, and policymakers must reflect and reconsider whether increasing school security and control would contribute to the safety and well-being of racial/ethnic minority students in school.

Diagnostic Accuracy of 18F-FDG PET - CT Imaging in determining the bone marrow involvement (BMI) in pediatric Hodgkin's Lymphoma (HL).

Objective: To determine diagnostic accuracy of 18F-FDG PET - CT imaging in determining Bone marrow involvement in pediatric HL by taking bone marrow biopsy as standard. Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Indus Hospital and Health Network, Karachi from July 2021 to December 2022. Treatment naïve histologically proven pediatric HL patients of both gender and aged between two to 16 years with both 18F-FDG PET - CT and bone marrow biopsy imaging were included. Basic demographics such as age, gender, height, weight, as well as classification and staging of HL was obtained. Results were assessed by expert reviewers who were blinded to clinical outcome. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and diagnostic precision were assessed. The data was analyzed via SPSS 26.0. Results: Total 131 participants were included with a male predominance i.e. 104 (79.6%). The mean (±SD) age was 8.7 ± 3.4 years. The present study reported PET/CT to have a sensitivity, specificity diagnostic accuracy, PPV and NPV of 94.1%, 92%, 92%, 64% and 99% respectively. Conclusion: Our findings support the idea that BMB should not be routinely conducted in all patients but rather can be reserved exclusively for patients with dubious 18F-FDG bone marrow findings, as this test has strong diagnostic potential for evaluating BMI involvement in HL.

Uses, preparation and phytochemical analysis of anti-diabetic medicinal plants in the rural Murree (Pakistan).

Medicinal plants in most of societies have been a source of quality health care. The indigenous populations are getting many ethnomedicinal products form local biodiversity. The current study aimed to investigate anti-diabetic plants in 8 villages (Patriata, Surasi, Charhan, Lower toppa, Ghikagali, Kashmir point, Pindi point and Shawala) of rural Murree. The methodology included preparation of questionnaire, identification of plants and phytochemical analysis. The informants were asked about vernacular name, part used and folk recipe. The quantitative study included fidelity level, use value and relative frequency of citation of plant species. Data indicated that 30% of patients use local herbs to treat diabetes. The most significant plant species were Berberis lycium with use value of 0.50 followed by Melia azedarach with use value of 0.43 and Himalaiella heteromalla with use value of 0.33. Himalaiella heteromalla was selected for phytochemical analysis. Total flavonoid content was 7.25±0.08mg (ethanol extract) and 6.03±0.13mg (chloroform extract) quercetin equivalent/gm of extract; total phenolic content was 53.92±0.47mg (ethanol extract) and 72.75±0.48mg (chloroform extract) quercetin equivalent/gm of extract; total ß-Carotene content was 29.7µg/g in ethanol extract, and 27.26µg/g in chloroform extract while total lycopene content was 46.33µg/g (ethanol extract) and 41.54µg/g (chloroform extract) in H. heteromalla. The results suggest that medicinal plants of Murree region may be potential natural resources for antidiabetic compounds.

Advancing the application, quality and harmonization of implementation science measures.

BACKGROUND: The field of implementation science (IS) encompasses a broad range of constructs and uses measures from a variety of disciplines. However, there has been little standardization of measures or agreement on definitions of constructs across different studies, fields, authors, or research groups. METHODS: We describe a collaborative, web-based activity using the United States National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Grid-Enabled Measures (GEM) portal that uses a wiki platform to focus discussion and engage the research community to enhance the quality and harmonization of measures for IS health-related research and practice. We present the history, process, and preliminary data from the GEM Dissemination & Implementation (D&I) Campaign on IS measurement. RESULTS: The GEM D&I Campaign has been ongoing for eight weeks as of this writing, and has used a combination of expert opinion and crowd-sourcing approaches. To date it has listed definitions for 45 constructs and summarized information on 120 measures. Usage of the website peaked at a rate of 124 views from 89 visitors on week seven. Users from seven countries have contributed measures and/or constructs, shared experience in using different measures, contributed comments, and identified research gaps and needs. CONCLUSION: Thus far, this campaign has provided information about different IS measures, their associated characteristics, and comments. The next step is to rate these measures for quality and practicality. This resource and ongoing activity have potential to advance the quality and harmonization of IS measures and constructs, and we invite readers to contribute to the process.

Increasing Public Awareness of Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Tests: Health Care Access, Internet Use, and Population Density Correlates.

Uncertainty around the value of and appropriate regulatory models for direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing underscores the importance of tracking public awareness of these services. We analyzed nationally representative, cross-sectional data from the Health Information National Trends Survey in 2008 (n = 7, 674) and 2011 (n = 3, 959) to assess population-level changes in awareness of DTC genetic testing in the U.S. and to explore sociodemographic, health care, Internet use, and population density correlates. Overall, awareness increased significantly from 29% in 2008 to 37% in 2011. The observed increase in awareness from 2008 to 2011 remained significant (OR = 1.39) even when adjusted for sociodemographic variables, health care access, Internet use, and population density. Independent of survey year, the odds of awareness of DTC genetic tests were significantly higher for those aged 50-64 (OR = 1.64), and 65-74 (OR = 1.60); college graduates (OR = 2.02); those with a regular source of health care (OR = 1.27); those with a prior cancer diagnosis (OR = 1.24); those who use the Internet (OR = 1.27); and those living in urban areas (OR = 1.25). Surveillance of awareness-along with empirical data on use of and response to genetic risk information-can inform public health and policy efforts to maximize benefits and minimize risks of DTC genetic testing.