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We previously reported that asthma prevalence was higher in the United States (US) compared to Mexico (MX) (25.8% vs. 8.4%). This investigation assessed differences in microbial dust composition in relation to demographic and housing characteristics on both sides of the US-MX Border. Forty homes were recruited in the US and MX. Home visits collected floor dust and documented occupants' demographics, asthma prevalence, housing structure, and use characteristics. US households were more likely to have inhabitants who reported asthma when compared with MX households (30% vs. 5%) and had significantly different flooring types. The percentage of households on paved roads, with flushing toilets, with piped water and with air conditioning was higher in the US, while dust load was higher in MX. Significant differences exist between countries in the microbial composition of the floor dust. Dust from Mexican homes was enriched with Alishewanella, Paracoccus, Rheinheimera genera and Intrasporangiaceae family. A predictive metagenomics analysis identified 68 significantly differentially abundant functional pathways between US and MX. This study documented multiple structural, environmental, and demographic differences between homes in the US and MX that may contribute to significantly different microbial composition of dust observed in these two countries.
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Polvo , Vivienda , Polvo/análisis , Arizona , Humanos , México , Asma/epidemiología , Asma/microbiología , Bacterias/genética , Bacterias/clasificación , Bacterias/aislamiento & purificación , Femenino , Composición Familiar , Masculino , Metagenómica/métodosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Despite being the largest racial/ethnic minority group in the United States, Hispanic/Latinos (H/L) are significantly underrepresented among blood donors. A lack of proximal blood donation opportunities may be one factor contributing to these disparities. However, few studies have investigated this possibility. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Proprietary data on mobile blood collections in Maricopa County, Arizona, were gathered for the period of January 01, 2022 to April 30, 2022 and paired with census tract information using ArcGIS. Maricopa County encompasses the city of Phoenix with a total population of approximately 4.5 million people, including 1.5 million H/L residents. Blood drive count was regressed on H/L ethnic density and total population, and model estimates were exponentiated to obtain odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: During the specified period, approximately 27,000 red blood cell units were collected through mobile drives. Consistent with expectations, when controlling for total neighborhood population, each 10% increase in H/L ethnic density lowered the odds of having a blood drive in the corresponding neighborhood by 12% (OR = 0.88, 95% CI (0.83, 0.92), p < .001). DISCUSSION: These findings provide initial evidence of fewer proximal donation opportunities in areas with greater H/L population density which may contribute to H/L underrepresentation in blood donation and the need for more inclusive collection efforts. Improved access to blood collection is modifiable and could help to increase the overall blood supply, enhance the ability to successfully match specific blood antigen needs of an increasingly diverse population, and bring about a more resilient blood system.
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Donantes de Sangre , Hispánicos o Latinos , Humanos , Donantes de Sangre/estadística & datos numéricos , Arizona , Femenino , Masculino , Hispánicos o Latinos/estadística & datos numéricos , Características de la Residencia , Etnicidad , Adulto , Donación de SangreRESUMEN
Palatine tonsils are secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs) representing the first line of immunological defense against inhaled or ingested pathogens. We generated an atlas of the human tonsil composed of >556,000 cells profiled across five different data modalities, including single-cell transcriptome, epigenome, proteome, and immune repertoire sequencing, as well as spatial transcriptomics. This census identified 121 cell types and states, defined developmental trajectories, and enabled an understanding of the functional units of the tonsil. Exemplarily, we stratified myeloid slan-like subtypes, established a BCL6 enhancer as locally active in follicle-associated T and B cells, and identified SIX5 as putative transcriptional regulator of plasma cell maturation. Analyses of a validation cohort confirmed the presence, annotation, and markers of tonsillar cell types and provided evidence of age-related compositional shifts. We demonstrate the value of this resource by annotating cells from B cell-derived mantle cell lymphomas, linking transcriptional heterogeneity to normal B cell differentiation states of the human tonsil.
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Linfocitos B , Tonsila Palatina , Humanos , Adulto , Linfocitos B/metabolismoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Interventions focusing on epilepsy self-management (ESM) are vital for promoting the health of people living with epilepsy. E-technology and mobile health (mHealth) tools are becoming increasingly integrated into practice to promote self-management strategies for chronic diseases, enhance care delivery, and reduce health disparities. Management Information and Decision Support Epilepsy Tool (MINDSET), a bilingual decision support tool (available in English and Spanish), was found to be both feasible and effective in facilitating goal-based ESM in the clinic. PURPOSE: To assess the experience of using MINDSET as an ESM intervention among Hispanic patients with epilepsy to inform future interventional studies. METHODS: This study used a Qualitative Descriptive (QD) framework to provide a rich and straightforward description of patients' subjective experiences using MINDSET. Participants were enrolled in the intervention group of a larger parent study (RCT) to assess the efficacy of MINDSET among Hispanic People with Epilepsy (PWE). The purposive, convenient, criterion-based sample for this qualitative analysis comprised of 42 patients who agreed to participate in a semi-structured interview at the end of the larger RCT. This RCT was conducted between August 2017 and January 2019. Spanish and English-speaking Hispanic adult patients (n = 94) with epilepsy in Arizona (n = 53) and Texas (n = 41) were randomly assigned within 6 neurology clinics to treatment (MINDSET plus Usual Care, hereafter referred to as MINDSET; n = 46) and comparison (Usual Care Only; n = 48) conditions. RESULTS: Patient demographics, epilepsy conditions, and ESM behavioral characteristics were representative of the intervention group. Study participants were Hispanic, mainly of Mexican descent (94 %), with a mean age of 39 years, mostly female (53 %), and most of the participants reported having had one or more seizures per month (54 %). The MINDSET intervention revealed five ESM themes: (1) Awareness and Realization of Epilepsy Self-Management, (2) Communication and Partnership with Health Care Providers HCP, (3) Epilepsy Self-Management and Quality of Life, (4) Seizure Control, and (5) Optimism and Agency. CONCLUSION: The participants who used MINDSET as a self-management intervention reported an overall positive experience. Qualitative data in this study show that MINDSET is a valuable ESM tool for Hispanic patients with epilepsy. Findings from this qualitative study were consistent with results from a larger parent study that recognized MINDSET as an effective platform for improving epilepsy self-management adherence.
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Epilepsia , Aplicaciones Móviles , Automanejo , Telemedicina , Adulto , Humanos , Femenino , Masculino , Calidad de Vida , Epilepsia/terapia , Convulsiones , Hispánicos o LatinosAsunto(s)
Etnicidad , Grupos Raciales , Vacilación a la Vacunación , Vacunas , Humanos , Estados Unidos , Vacunas/efectos adversosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Hispanics in the United States experience a greater burden of type-2 diabetes (T2D), with a prevalence rate (17%) more than twice that of non-Hispanic whites (8%). Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among people with T2D. A culturally appropriate behavioral health intervention that addresses healthy lifestyle promotion is an impactful approach for health systems with scarce medical resources and a high prevalence of chronic conditions, including obesity and high blood pressure, which increase the likelihood of CVD mortality among type-2 diabetics. PURPOSE: To assess the feasibility and outcomes of a behavioral intervention to decrease CVD and complications in a Hispanic diabetic population. METHODS: Meta Salud Diabetes (MSD), a behavioral intervention effective in a Mexican population, consists of a 13-week intervention addressing CVD and T2D knowledge and risk reduction. It was implemented in a sample of Hispanic diabetic patients from two federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). Clinical and behavioral variables were measured at baseline, postintervention, and 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: The feasibility of MSD was rated as successful by all FQHC staff and well-received by both staff and study participants, with positive remarks about the culturally relevant components of the intervention. The sample size was n = 30 (baseline), n = 23 (postintervention), and n = 19 (1-year follow-up). Of note, quantitative results showed trending decreases in Hba1c (7.06; 6.80; 6.30), blood pressure (132/83; 126/80; 123/78), and total cholesterol (160; 159; 154). CONCLUSION: MSD is a feasible intervention and can address the need to improve health outcomes among Hispanic patients with T2D.
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Enfermedades Cardiovasculares , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Humanos , Estados Unidos , Proyectos Piloto , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/epidemiología , Agentes Comunitarios de Salud , Estudios de Factibilidad , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/prevención & control , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/complicacionesRESUMEN
We previously reported that asthma prevalence was higher in the United States (US) compared to Mexico (MX) (25.8% vs 8.4%). This investigation assessed differences in microbial dust composition in relation to demographic and housing characteristics on both sides of the US-MX Border. Forty homes were recruited in the US and MX. Home visits collected floor dust and documented occupants' demographics, asthma prevalence, and housing structure and use characteristics. US households were more likely to have inhabitants who reported asthma when compared with MX households (30% vs 5%) and had significantly different flooring types. The percentage of households on paved roads, with flushing toilets, with piped water and with air conditioning was higher in the US, while dust load was higher in MX. Significant differences exist between countries in the microbial composition of the floor dust. Dust from US homes was enriched with Geodermatophilus, whereas dust from Mexican homes was enriched with Alishewanella and Chryseomicrobium. A predictive metagenomics analysis identified 68 significantly differentially abundant functional pathways between US and MX. This study documented multiple structural, environmental, and demographic differences between homes in the US and MX that may contribute to significantly different microbial composition of dust observed in these two countries.
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The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a highly contagious viral illness that has caused the most significant global health crisis in recent human history. Individuals experiencing homelessness represent one of the more vulnerable populations for COVID-19 infection and morbidity. Amongst individuals experiencing homelessness in Phoenix, a student-led interprofessional organization called Street Medicine Phoenix (SMP) sought to both reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission and morbidity/mortality related to infection. Through collaborations with the Maricopa County Department of Public Health and various community organizations, SMP developed a format for street-based vaccination clinics. SMP deployed these clinics on numerous occasions to the streets directly surrounding the community homeless shelter, allowing SMP to vaccinate individuals directly in their encampments. Through SMP's efforts starting in February 2021, 400 individuals experiencing homelessness have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine. Challenges encountered included low health literacy, lack of established rapport and trust, low vaccine confidence, difficulty verifying patients' vaccination status, difficulty obtaining sufficient information from patients to create a record in the Arizona State Immunization Information System (ASIIS), monitoring patients post-vaccination, transporting vaccine supplies from encampment to encampment, and lack of patient awareness of the mobile vaccine clinic services. Despite challenges, SMP's outreach efforts have demonstrated the feasibility and importance of mobile public health services to reach homeless encampments, particularly mobile vaccination clinics in response to disease outbreaks, and the necessity of strategic partnerships with community agencies to effectively meet the needs of underserved populations.
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Equidad en Salud , Humanos , Pandemias , México/epidemiología , Vacunación , Inequidades en SaludRESUMEN
Mpox is a new public health outbreak that particularly threatens the homeless population. Street Medicine Phoenix (SMP) is a student-led interprofessional volunteer organization that provides medical care and other essential services to individuals experiencing homelessness in Phoenix, Arizona. In addition to core services such as wound care; health screenings (blood pressure and blood glucose.); vision screenings; HIV testing; naloxone education and distribution; flu, COVID-19, and Hepatitis A vaccinations; and community resource referrals, SMP began offering mpox education and vaccination at outreach events. During an outreach event shortly after the onset of the mpox outbreak, SMP identified 2 suspected mpox cases. Accordingly, SMP has partnered with the Maricopa County Public Health Department to set up mobile mpox vaccination clinics on the streets outside of Phoenix Arizona's largest homeless shelter. We share the details of these 2 cases along with our early efforts vaccinating individuals experiencing homelessness for mpox via our mobile vaccination clinic. Our experiences demonstrate the importance of community agencies providing direct outreach to underserved populations where they are at, particularly the homeless population, to address public health concerns such as emerging disease outbreaks like mpox. In addition, these cases highlight the potential significant impact that street medicine programs can have on their respective homeless communities in the context of infectious disease mitigation and emphasize the importance of partnerships with local health departments.
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COVID-19 , Personas con Mala Vivienda , Mpox , Vacuna contra Viruela , Humanos , COVID-19/epidemiología , COVID-19/prevención & control , Brotes de Enfermedades/prevención & controlRESUMEN
Fabry disease is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by loss of alpha-galactosidase A (α-Gal A) activity and is characterized by progressive accumulation of glycosphingolipids in multiple cells and tissues. FLT190, an investigational gene therapy, is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in patients with Fabry disease (NCT04040049). FLT190 consists of a potent, synthetic capsid (AAVS3) containing an expression cassette with a codon-optimized human GLA cDNA under the control of a liver-specific promoter FRE1 (AAV2/S3-FRE1-GLAco). For mouse studies FLT190 genome was pseudotyped with AAV8 for efficient transduction. Preclinical studies in a murine model of Fabry disease (Gla-deficient mice), and non-human primates (NHPs) showed dose-dependent increases in plasma α-Gal A with steady-state observed 2 weeks following a single intravenous dose. In Fabry mice, AAV8-FLT190 treatment resulted in clearance of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) and globotriaosylsphingosine (lyso-Gb3) in plasma, urine, kidney, and heart; electron microscopy analyses confirmed reductions in storage inclusion bodies in kidney and heart. In NHPs, α-Gal A expression was consistent with the levels of hGLA mRNA in liver, and no FLT190-related toxicities or adverse events were observed. Taken together, these studies demonstrate preclinical proof-of-concept of liver-directed gene therapy with FLT190 for the treatment of Fabry disease.
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Enfermedad de Fabry , Terapia Genética , Animales , Humanos , Ratones , Células Cultivadas , Enfermedad de Fabry/genética , Enfermedad de Fabry/terapia , Fibroblastos , Vectores Genéticos , Hígado/metabolismo , alfa-Galactosidasa/genética , alfa-Galactosidasa/metabolismoRESUMEN
Farmworkers are an essential workforce in the U.S. We assessed the regions in the National Agricultural Workers Survey on the difficulty of accessing health care among farmworkers in the U.S. The study included 9577 farmworkers. Farmworkers in all regions were more likely to report having difficulty accessing health care because it was too expensive. The overall odds ratio for difficulty accessing health care was lower in the MW after adjusting. Farmworkers employed in the SE had greater difficulty accessing health care because of language barriers. Farmworkers employed in CA had difficulty accessing health care in the U.S. because it was too expensive or far away. Results follow previous studies on barriers to access health care among the farmworker population. Understanding regional disparities in the presence of barriers to accessing health care among farmworkers is an essential step to improving equitable health care access in the U.S.
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Agricultores , Migrantes , Humanos , Accesibilidad a los Servicios de SaludRESUMEN
Introduction: The United States is home to 10.5 million undocumented immigrants, of which 5 out of 10 are Mexican or Central American. Their immigration status is an obstacle to secure employment that provides labor benefits such as sick leave and health insurance. Living through the global pandemic in the U.S. had a negative impact on this vulnerable population's mental and physical health. They avoided seeking primary or hospital care fearful that they were undocumented and uninsured. The services provided by the Ventanillas de Salud (VDS) "Health Windows" mitigated this pandemic's negative impact and have become an important source to support and increase access to health services among the immigrant community. Methods: De-identified data from a database system called the Continuous Information System and Health Reports of Mexicans in the United States (SICRESAL-MX) to perform this secondary analysis. The descriptive analysis describes socio-demographic, epidemiological, and situational characteristics of COVID-19. Results: Between January 2020 and July 2021, the VDS and UMS provided 11.5 million individual services to just over 4.3 million people. The main health conditions are overweight and obesity, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol and glucose levels. Between March 2020 to July 2021 a total of 2,481,834 specific services related to COVID-19 were offered. Discussion: The Mexican migrant community in the United States is in a vulnerable situation, largely due to its immigration status which limits their access to health and human services, including primary health care services. Many of them have suffered from chronic diseases since before the pandemic, generating difficulties in monitoring the ailments and exacerbating their conditions.
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COVID-19 , Estados Unidos/epidemiología , Humanos , COVID-19/epidemiología , Hispánicos o Latinos , Servicios de Salud , Pandemias , Accesibilidad a los Servicios de SaludRESUMEN
Agricultural jobs pose many challenges to the health and wellbeing of a disadvantaged population. In the Southwest region, the socioeconomic factors of living along the U.S.-Mexico border, migration patterns, lack of access to health care, low utilization of health care services, lack of health insurance, and highly demanding occupation may uniquely affect health outcomes for farmworkers. This paper presents descriptive information for professionals to improve access to care by tackling barriers afforded by the agricultural industry. The National Agricultural Worker Survey (NAWS) is an employment-based, random-sample survey of U.S. agricultural workers in six regions: East, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, Northwest, and California. We examined farmworkers' self-reported health conditions, including asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, other chronic conditions, or any condition by region from 2013 to 2016. We used logistic regression to determine differences in lifetime prevalence of health conditions between farmworkers in the Southwest region (n = 727) and farmworkers in other regions (n = 8,850) using weighted data. After adjusting for age, gender, income, insurance status, and English-speaking ability, the odds of high blood pressure and other condition were similar in all regions. The prevalence of diabetes was almost double in the Southwest (114.2 per 1,000 farmworkers). The odds of diabetes were 1.31 (95% CI 0.99, 1.74) times greater in the Southwest region than in the other regions. Asthma was the only condition that was lower in the Southwest (22 per 1,000 farmworkers) compared to the other regions. The odds of asthma were 0.61 (95% CI 0.36, 1.03) times lower in the Southwest region than in other regions. The results follow previous studies on the prevalence of asthma among the farmworker population and elevated probability of chronic diseases including diabetes among the Latino population in the U.S.
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Asma , Diabetes Mellitus , Hipertensión , Humanos , Agricultores , Ocupaciones , Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiología , Asma/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Over the years, the Mexican population in the United States has faced high prevalence of health-related inequalities and disadvantages and represents one of the most vulnerable migrant groups in the country. To help reduce the gaps in health care for the Mexican population, the Mexican government, in collaboration with strategic allies from various sectors, launched the Ventanillas de Salud (VDS) strategy, which was subsequently reinforced through the Mobile Health Units (MHU) care model. Both the VDS strategy and the MHU care model are intended to contribute to the development of initiatives, projects, and actions in health that will benefit the Mexican community living in the United States, which lacks or has difficulty accessing health services. This article provides a descriptive, analytical analysis of the VDS strategy and the MHU care model, as unique collaborative models, which can be replicated, and have achieved a positive impact on the health of Mexican and other Hispanic communities in the United States, at both the individual and community level.
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Unidades Móviles de Salud , Migrantes , Estados Unidos , Humanos , Atención a la Salud , Prevalencia , MéxicoRESUMEN
The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an ongoing public health concern that is rapidly evolving and has impacted individuals and communities differently. We analyzed deidentified survey datasets to evaluate the perceptions, experiences, and impacts of COVID-19 among Arizona residents. The survey included 1,472 eligible Spanish-speaking participants in Southern (Pima, Santa Cruz, Cochise, Yuma County) and Central Arizona (Maricopa County). Eighteen questions which included participants' health and socio-economic status, source of information on COVID-19, preventive measures, the impact of COVID-19 on household income, and vaccination status were administered to the survey respondents. The analyzed data showed an unequal proportion of the reported source of COVID-19 information between Southern and Central Arizona participants. More male respondents (n = 833, 57%) participated in the study than did the female respondents (n = 638, 43%). Of the 1,472 total participants in both regions, 1,011 (68.7%) participants represented Southern Arizona while 461 (31.3%) participants represented Central Arizona. Of the 461 participants in Central Arizona, the majority reported television (56%) and social media (20%) as their primary source of information. Whereas, of the 1,011 participants in Southern Arizona, the majority reported social media (37%) and television (32%) as their major source of information on COVID-19. Overall, 82% of the participants were vaccinated, with a statistically significant difference between the proportion of vaccinated individuals in the Southern and Central Arizona (chi-square p-value of 0.00139). More individuals in Southern Arizona participated in the survey than in Central Arizona across both genders, with 58% of women reporting loss of jobs due to COVID-19. This study demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic profoundly had a more socio-economic impact on women than men, particularly Hispanic women in this subset.
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COVID-19 , Medios de Comunicación Sociales , Femenino , Masculino , Humanos , COVID-19/epidemiología , Pandemias , Arizona/epidemiología , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
Background: SARS-CoV-2 prevalence is elevated among people who inject drugs (PWID). In Tijuana, Mexico, COVID-19 vaccines became available to the general population in June 2021, but uptake among PWID was <10%. We studied COVID-19 vaccine uptake among PWID in Tijuana following implementation of a pop-up vaccination clinic. Methods: Beginning in October, 2020, PWID in Tijuana aged ≥18 years were enrolled into a longitudinal cohort study. At baseline and semi-annually, participants underwent interviewer-administered interviews on health behaviors and COVID-19 exposures through April 5, 2022. From June 21-September 20, 2021, staff referred PWID to a temporary COVID-19 vaccine pop-up clinic that was coincidentally established near the study office. Participants attending the clinic completed a short interview on barriers to vaccination and were offered facilitated access to free Janssen® COVID-19 vaccine. All participants were reimbursed $5 for this interview, regardless of whether or not they chose to be vaccinated. Poisson regression was used to evaluate the effect of the pop-up clinic on COVID-19 vaccination uptake, controlling forpotential confounders. Results: Of 344 participants, 136 (39.5%) reported having received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose during the 10 months follow-up period, of whom 113 (83.1%) received vaccine at the pop-up clinic and 23 (16.9%) elsewhere. One third of those receiving COVID-19 vaccine during the pop-up clinic were previously vaccine hesitant. Attending the pop-up clinic was independently associated with higher rates of COVID-19 vaccination Adjusted Rate Ratio (AdjRR: 9.15; 95% CI: 5.68-14.74). Conclusions: We observed a significant increase in COVID-19 vaccine uptake associated with attending a temporary pop-up vaccine clinic in Tijuana suggesting that efforts to improve vaccination in this vulnerable population should include convenient locations and staff who have experience working with substance using populations. Since COVID-19 vaccination rates remain sub-optimal, sustained interventions to increase uptake are needed.
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COVID-19 , Consumidores de Drogas , Abuso de Sustancias por Vía Intravenosa , Adolescente , Adulto , COVID-19/epidemiología , COVID-19/prevención & control , Vacunas contra la COVID-19 , Humanos , Estudios Longitudinales , México/epidemiología , SARS-CoV-2 , Abuso de Sustancias por Vía Intravenosa/complicaciones , Abuso de Sustancias por Vía Intravenosa/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Given the burgeoning prevalence of Type-2 Diabetes (T2D) in Benin and other sub-Saharan countries, tailored diabetes self-management interventions are urgently needed. Human-centered designs can be useful for identifying beneficiaries' needs while keeping in mind feasibility and viability in a given context. Therefore, this study examined the acceptability and community perceptions of a self-directed lifestyle program for T2D patients in Cotonou, southern Benin. Data were collected using focus group discussions (FDGs) with T2D patients (n = 3; 32 participants), academic partners (n = 2; 16 participants), and community partners (n = 2; 12 participants). All FDG sessions were audio-recorded, transcribed from French into English verbatim, and analyzed using MAXQDA 2020. Most participants found the program to be useful and feasible. However, they preferred pictorial brochures as training materials and suggested community health workers as facilitators, assisted by clinicians or dietitians. They recommended community-based delivery mechanisms and mobile applications like WhatsApp to enhance patient adherence. Participants' characteristics, tangible health benefits, incentives, and simple curriculums were cited as critical to program feasibility, effectiveness, and acceptability. This study provides a deeper understanding of potential diabetes self-management participants' needs and concerns. Moreover, it highlights the need to consider key stakeholders' needs and voices for effective intervention.
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Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Fluorodesoxiglucosa F18 , Benin , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/terapia , Humanos , Estilo de Vida , Investigación CualitativaRESUMEN
Background: Medical cannabis (MC) has been hypothesized as an alternative therapy for migraines, given the undesirable side effects of current migraine medications. The objective of this review was to assess the effectiveness and safety of MC in the treatment of migraine in adults. Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Web of Science for eligible studies in adults aged 18 years and older. Two reviewers independently screened studies for eligibility. A narrative synthesis of the included studies was conducted. Results: A total of 12 publications involving 1,980 participants in Italy and the United States of America were included.Medical cannabis significantly reduced nausea and vomiting associated with migraine attacks after 6 months of use. Also, MC reduced the number of days of migraine after 30 days, and the frequency of migraine headaches per month. MC was 51% more effective in reducing migraines than non-cannabis products. Compared to amitriptyline, MC aborted migraine headaches in some (11.6%) users and reduced migraine frequency. While the use of MC for migraines was associated with the occurrence of medication overuse headaches (MOH), and the adverse events were mostly mild and occurred in 43.75% of patients who used oral cannabinoid preparations. Conclusions: There is promising evidence that MC may have a beneficial effect on the onset and duration of migraine headaches in adults. However, well-designed experimental studies that assess MC's effectiveness and safety for treating migraine in adults are needed to support this hypothesis.
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Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) adversely affects health-related quality of life (QoL). However, little is known about the QoL of diabetic patients in Benin, where the disease is a growing concern. Thus, this study aims to assess the QoL and its associated factors among T2D patients in Cotonou, southern Benin. Methods: A total of 300 T2D patients (age > 18 years) were enrolled, and the diabetes-specific quality of life (DQoL) and Natividad self-care behaviors' (SCB) instruments were used for data collection. DQoL scores were calculated, and factors associated with DQoL explored using logistic regression. Results: The mean of patients' DQoL was 38.1 ± 4.1, with 43% having low QoL. In terms of DQoL, 56.3% reported a high diabetes impact, followed by low life satisfaction (53%) and high worry about diabetes (32.7%). In the logistic regression analysis, education, marital status, occupation, family history of diabetes, complications, and social support were associated with DQoL. SCB factors, including healthy eating, problem-solving, coping strategies, and risk reduction, were significant predictors of DQoL. Conclusions: Patients' empowerment, starting with self-management education, is essential to improve the QoL of T2D patients in Cotonou. However, the programs need to target low education, low socioeconomic status, low social support, and overweight patients.