ABSTRACT
La falta de información sobre el uso de la tecnología en niños con trastorno del espectro autista (TEA) de diferentes perfiles puede dificultar que docentes y alumnos se estén beneficiando del apoyo tecnológico más eficaz y ajustado a sus necesidades. El objetivo de esta revisión fue analizar y sintetizar la evidencia científica sobre la eficacia de los recursos tecnológicos en la mejora de la comprensión emocional de estudiantes con TEA con perfiles de alto y bajo funcionamiento. Para ello se realizó una revisión sistemática de las publicaciones científicas indexadas en algunas de las bases de datos de mayor relevancia siguiendo los criterios establecidos en la declaración PRISMA. En total se analizaron 38 artículos que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión preestablecidos. Los resultados muestran la importancia de diseñar sistemas versátiles que puedan personalizarse y adaptarse en tiempo real y en contextos naturales con un enfoque claramente inclusivo. Pero también sugieren que la tecnología puede no ser una herramienta de intervención complementaria adecuada para todos los niños con TEA. Lo que subraya la necesidad de ensayos adicionales bien controlados sobre las características que permitan identificar qué estudiantes podrían o no beneficiarse de diferentes modalidades de tecnología. (AU)
The lack of information on the use of technology in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) of different profiles can make it difficult for teachers and students to benefit from the most effective technology support tailored to their needs. The aim of this review was to analyze and synthesize scientific evidence on the effectiveness of technological resources in improving the emotional understanding of students with high and low functioning ASD profiles. A systematic review of the scientific publications indexed in some of the most relevant databases was carried out following the criteria established in the PRISMA declaration. A total of 38 articles that met the pre-established inclusion criteria were analyzed. The results show the importance of designing versatile systems that can be customized and adapted in real time and in natural contexts with a clearly inclusive approach. But they also suggest that technology may not be an appropriate complementary intervention tool for all children with ASD. This underlines the need for additional well-controlled tests on the characteristics that would allow identifying which students might or might not benefit from different technology modalities. (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Child, Preschool , Child , Adolescent , Educational Technology , Autism Spectrum Disorder , Autistic DisorderABSTRACT
La falta de información sobre el uso de la tecnología en niños con trastorno del espectro autista (TEA) de diferentes perfiles puede dificultar que docentes y alumnos se estén beneficiando del apoyo tecnológico más eficaz y ajustado a sus necesidades. El objetivo de esta revisión fue analizar y sintetizar la evidencia científica sobre la eficacia de los recursos tecnológicos en la mejora de la comprensión emocional de estudiantes con TEA con perfiles de alto y bajo funcionamiento. Para ello se realizó una revisión sistemática de las publicaciones científicas indexadas en algunas de las bases de datos de mayor relevancia siguiendo los criterios establecidos en la declaración PRISMA. En total se analizaron 38 artículos que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión preestablecidos. Los resultados muestran la importancia de diseñar sistemas versátiles que puedan personalizarse y adaptarse en tiempo real y en contextos naturales con un enfoque claramente inclusivo. Pero también sugieren que la tecnología puede no ser una herramienta de intervención complementaria adecuada para todos los niños con TEA. Lo que subraya la necesidad de ensayos adicionales bien controlados sobre las características que permitan identificar qué estudiantes podrían o no beneficiarse de diferentes modalidades de tecnología. (AU)
The lack of information on the use of technology in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) of different profiles can make it difficult for teachers and students to benefit from the most effective technology support tailored to their needs. The aim of this review was to analyze and synthesize scientific evidence on the effectiveness of technological resources in improving the emotional understanding of students with high and low functioning ASD profiles. A systematic review of the scientific publications indexed in some of the most relevant databases was carried out following the criteria established in the PRISMA declaration. A total of 38 articles that met the pre-established inclusion criteria were analyzed. The results show the importance of designing versatile systems that can be customized and adapted in real time and in natural contexts with a clearly inclusive approach. But they also suggest that technology may not be an appropriate complementary intervention tool for all children with ASD. This underlines the need for additional well-controlled tests on the characteristics that would allow identifying which students might or might not benefit from different technology modalities. (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Child, Preschool , Child , Adolescent , Educational Technology , Autism Spectrum Disorder , Autistic DisorderABSTRACT
Reasonable treatment of large amounts of sludge excavated from landfills has gained increasing attention due to the diminishing availability of landfill space in China. In this study, five landfill sludge (LS) treatment technologies using life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost (LCC) were investigated, i.e., co-incineration in coal-fired power plants (CFPP) and waste incineration power plant (WIPP), co-processing in cement kiln, bricks production, and sintering ceramsite. The LCA results demonstrate that sintering ceramsite outperforms other technologies and LCC results indicate sintering ceramsite also provides the highest economic benefit ($869.94). To further enhance environmental and economic performances of the LS treatment, the substitution of coal with natural gas and biomass can reduce Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction (ECER) index by 74% and 98%, respectively. This substitution can increase economic returns by 24% and 26%, respectively. Furthermore, national-level economic benefit and carbon emission reduction potential of different LS treatment technology alternative scenarios were assessed. Results display that a combination of 50% CFPP, 25% bricks, and 25% ceramsite (biomass) offers the highest economic gain, which is 3.02 times that of 50% CFPP and 50% cement (original case). Conversely, the replacement of 25% brick with 25% cement in the above combination result in the lowest carbon reduction, which is 9.35 times that of the original case.
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Background and Objectives: Technology has potential for providing support for aging adults. This study evaluated the Personal Reminder Information and Social Management 2.0 (PRISM 2.0) software, in terms of enhancing social engagement and quality of life, and decreasing loneliness among older adults. Research Design and Methods: The randomized field trial conducted in diverse living contexts (rural locations, senior housing, and assisted living communities [ALC]). Two hundred and forty-five adults, aged 64 to 99 years, were randomly assigned to the PRISM 2.0 (integrated software system designed for aging through an iterative design process) or a Standard Tablet (without PRISM) Control condition, where participants received the same amount of contact and training as those in the PRISM 2.0 condition. Primary outcomes included measures of loneliness, social support, social connectedness, and quality of life. Secondary outcomes included measures of social isolation, mobile device proficiency, and technology readiness. Data were collected at baseline and 6 and 9 months postrandomization. This article focuses on the 6-month outcomes due to coronavirus disease 2019-related data challenges at 9 months. Results: Contrary to our hypothesis, participants in rural locations and senior housing in both conditions reported less loneliness and social isolation, and greater social support and quality of life at 6 months, and an increase in mobile device proficiency. Participants in the ALCs in both conditions also evidenced an increase in mobile device proficiency. Improvements in quality of life and health-related quality of life were associated with decreases in loneliness. Discussion and Implications: This study provides compelling evidence about the benefits of technology for older adults in terms of enhancing social outcomes and quality of life. However, the findings also underscore that for technology applications to be successful, they need to be adapted to the abilities and needs of the user group and instructional support needs to be provided. Clinical Trials Registration #: NCT03116399.
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Background and Objectives: Over the last decade, hospital-acquired infections, particularly in the critical care setting, have become more common, with Gram-negative bacterial infections having the highest prevalence. This study aims to determine the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Pseudomonas species to WHO's, aware class of antibiotics, which are commonly prescribed across various ICU's, medical and surgical wards of our tertiary care teaching hospital. Materials and Methods: This prospective study conducted from January 2021 to June 2022 at a tertiary care centre of central India identified Pseudomonas species from clinical samples using standard procedures and antimicrobial susceptibility testing performed as per Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines (M100; 32th Edition). Results: A total of 1490 non duplicate Pseudomonas species isolates were grown from 21,019 culture positive clinical samples, of which 1247 were Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Out of these 1247 Pseudomonas aeruginosa 384 were MDR (30.7%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa were most commonly isolated from the pus samples (85%). ICU isolates were significantly more resistant to antibiotics than those from other units. P. aeruginosa strains from ICUs showed the highest rates of resistance to ceftazidime (93.9%). Reserve drug colistin showed good susceptibility (98.2%). All the 18 colistin resistant strains were found to be negative for plasmid mediated mcr-1,2,3 genes. Conclusion: The study shall help to generate and disseminate the data so that proper antibiotic policy can be made for judicious use of Access, Watch and Reserve antibiotics and antibiotic de-escalation plan can be put forth.
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Accelerated and conditional regulatory pathways for drug approvals are intended to enable earlier patient access to potentially life-saving treatments, or treatments that provide benefits in addressing a significant unmet need. However, there are questions about how well such pathways work, how appropriately they are applied, and how the work of regulators can be better coordinated with that of health technology assessment (HTA) and payer bodies, providers and health systems, and other stakeholders. In June 2023, a multi-stakeholder, international workshop was convened in Adelaide, Australia, to deliberate the challenges, goals, and opportunities to improve accelerated access pathways. Workshop attendees included representatives from patient organizations, regulators, HTA/payer bodies, universities (ethicists, health economists), and companies developing and marketing new medicines from Australia, Asia, Europe, and North America. We reviewed the contents of this workshop to identify areas of agreement and disagreement, report the key themes of the discussion, and delineate next steps for improving accelerated access pathways. We found that there was general agreement among workshop attendees that accelerated access could be improved significantly by strengthening processes for stakeholder coordination, and that coordinated efforts will be required to implement meaningful change moving forward.
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The availability of non-invasive drug delivery systems capable of efficiently transporting bioactive molecules across the blood-brain barrier to specific cells at the injury site in the brain is currently limited. Delivering drugs to neurons presents an even more formidable challenge due to their lower numbers and less phagocytic nature compared to other brain cells. Additionally, the diverse types of neurons, each performing specific functions, necessitate precise targeting of those implicated in the disease. Moreover, the complex synthetic design of drug delivery systems often hinders their clinical translation. The production of nanomaterials at an industrial scale with high reproducibility and purity is particularly challenging. However, overcoming this challenge is possible by designing nanomaterials through a straightforward, facile, and easily reproducible synthetic process. Methods: In this study, we have developed a third-generation 2-deoxy-glucose functionalized mixed layer dendrimer (2DG-D) utilizing biocompatible and cost-effective materials via a highly facile convergent approach, employing copper-catalyzed click chemistry. We further evaluated the systemic neuronal targeting and biodistribution of 2DG-D, and brain delivery of a neuroprotective agent pioglitazone (Pio) in a pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) model. Results: The 2DG-D exhibits favorable characteristics including high water solubility, biocompatibility, biological stability, nanoscale size, and a substantial number of end groups suitable for drug conjugation. Upon systemic administration in a pediatric mouse model of traumatic brain injury (TBI), the 2DG-D localizes in neurons at the injured brain site, clears rapidly from off-target locations, effectively delivers Pio, ameliorates neuroinflammation, and improves behavioral outcomes. Conclusions: The promising in vivo results coupled with a convenient synthetic approach for the construction of 2DG-D makes it a potential nanoplatform for addressing brain diseases.
Subject(s)
Dendrimers , Deoxyglucose , Drug Delivery Systems , Neurons , Animals , Dendrimers/chemistry , Neurons/drug effects , Neurons/metabolism , Drug Delivery Systems/methods , Deoxyglucose/pharmacology , Deoxyglucose/pharmacokinetics , Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacokinetics , Neuroprotective Agents/administration & dosage , Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology , Mice , Pioglitazone/pharmacology , Pioglitazone/administration & dosage , Pioglitazone/pharmacokinetics , Blood-Brain Barrier/metabolism , Blood-Brain Barrier/drug effects , Brain Injuries, Traumatic/drug therapy , Brain Injuries, Traumatic/metabolism , Brain/metabolism , Brain/drug effects , Brain Diseases/drug therapy , Humans , Disease Models, Animal , Tissue Distribution , MaleABSTRACT
The availability of drugs across the country is a direct measure for fairer public health. Several issues have been reported drastically related to various organizations that fail to provide quality medicines on time. There has been a consistent increase in cases where the treatment, as well as exempted drugs, were supplied due to the unavailability of proper traceability of the supply chain. Several parties are involved in the supply and have similar interests that may defer the adequate shareability of the drugs. The existing system for managing the drug supply chain suffers from several backlogs. The loss of information, unavailability of resources to track the proper medicinal storage, transparency of information sharing between various stakeholders and sequential access. The applicability of the decentralized model emerging from the blockchain can apply to one of the perfect solutions in this case. The drug traceability chain can be deployed to a Ledger-based blockchain that may result in decentralized information. Continuous supply from the Internet of Things (IoT) based devices might be handy as the middleware for providing a trustworthy, safe, and proper transaction-oriented system. The data integrity, along with the provenance resulting from the IoT-connected devices, is an effective solution towards managing the supply chain and drug traceability. This study presents a model that can provide a token-based blockchain that will help provide a cost-efficient and secure system for a reliable drug supply chain.
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BACKGROUND: We report data from Stage 1 of an ongoing two-staged, phase I/II randomized clinical trial (NCT05073003) with a 4-component Generalized Modules for Membrane Antigens-based vaccine against Shigella sonnei and S. flexneri 1b, 2a and 3a (altSonflex1-2-3, GSK). METHODS: 18-50-year-old Europeans (N=102) were randomized (2:1) to receive two injections of altSonflex1-2-3 or placebo at 3- or 6-month interval. Safety and immunogenicity were assessed at pre-specified timepoints. RESULTS: The most common solicited administration-site event (until 7 days post-each injection) and unsolicited adverse event (until 28 days post-each injection) were pain (altSonflex1-2-3: 97.1%; Placebo: 58.8%) and headache (32.4%; 23.5%), respectively. All serotype-specific functional IgG antibodies peaked 14-28 days post-injection 1 and remained substantially higher than pre-vaccination at 3 or 6 months post-vaccination; the second injection did not boost but restored the initial immune response. The highest seroresponse rates (≥4-fold increase in titers over baseline) were obtained against S. flexneri 2a (ELISA: post-injection 1: 91.0%; post-injection 2 [Day {D}113; D197]: 100%; 97.0%; serum bactericidal activity (SBA): post-injection 1: 94.4%; post-injection 2: 85.7%; 88.9%) followed by S. sonnei (ELISA: post-injection 1: 77.6%; post-injection 2: 84.6%; 78.8%; SBA: post-injection 1: 83.3%; post-injection 2: 71.4%; 88.9%). Immune responses against S. flexneri 1b and S. flexneri 3a, as measured by both ELISA and SBA, were numerically lower compared to those against S. sonnei and S. flexneri 2a. CONCLUSIONS: No safety signals or concerns were identified. altSonflex1-2-3 induced functional serotype-specific immune responses, allowing further clinical development in the target population.
What is the context? Shigella bacteria cause severe and often bloody diarrhea, called shigellosis, that affects mostly young children and can be life-threatening. Shigellosis is particularly common in low- and middle-income countries due to inadequate sanitation and limited access to healthcare. Since the immune response to Shigella is serotype-specific, an ideal vaccine should include multiple Shigella serotypes to ensure broad protection. What is new? We developed a novel vaccine against Shigella that includes Shigella sonnei and three prevalent Shigella flexneri serotypes. In Stage 1 (phase I) of the study, healthy European adults received two vaccine injections given 3 or 6 months apart. We found that: The vaccine was well tolerated, and no safety signals or concerns were identified.Regardless of the interval between injections, specific antibodies were elicited against all four Shigella serotypes, with highest levels against Shigella flexneri 2a and Shigella sonnei.Functional antibody levels peaked after the first injection, remaining higher than the baseline up to 6 months. A second injection did not boost responses but restored functional antibody levels to those after the first injection. What is the impact? The vaccine can now be tested in Stage 2 (phase II) of the study in Africa, a region highly affected by shigellosis.
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Researchers are rapidly developing and deploying highly portable MRI technology to conduct field-based research. The new technology will widen access to include new investigators in remote and unconventional settings and will facilitate greater inclusion of rural, economically disadvantaged, and historically underrepresented populations. To address the ethical, legal, and societal issues raised by highly accessible and portable MRI, an interdisciplinary Working Group (WG) engaged in a multi-year structured process of analysis and consensus building, informed by empirical research on the perspectives of experts and the general public. This article presents the WG's consensus recommendations. These recommendations address technology quality control, design and oversight of research, including safety of research participants and others in the scanning environment, engagement of diverse participants, therapeutic misconception, use of artificial intelligence algorithms to acquire and analyze MRI data, data privacy and security, return of results and managing incidental findings, and research participant data access and control.
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Older people living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are more vulnerable to experiencing social isolation and loneliness due to their cognitive and physical impairments. Increasingly integrating technology into group exercises contributed to the improved resilience and well-being of older adults living with dementia and MCI. The purpose of this scoping review was to identify the various types, feasibility, outcome measures, and impacts of technology-based group exercise interventions for people with dementia or MCI. We utilized the Joanna Briggs Institute approach, a three-step process. A comprehensive literature search on five databases-CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and PsycInfo-until January 2024 yielded 1,585 publications; the final review included 14 publications that recruited a total of 379 participants, with mean age of 69 (SD = 4.21) years to 87.07 (SD = 3.92) years. Analysis of data showed three types of technology-based group exercise interventions for people with dementia or MCI: (a) exergames, (b) virtual cycling or kayak paddling, and (c) video-conferencing platforms. In addition, we identified three key impacts: (a) feasibility and accessibility; (b) physical, psychosocial, and cognitive benefits; and (c) adaptations necessary for persons with dementia or MCI. Our study suggests that technology-based group exercise interventions are feasible and acceptable to persons with dementia or MCI. Future studies should involve individuals with dementia and their caregivers in the design and implementation of technology-based group exercise programs.
Subject(s)
Cognitive Dysfunction , Dementia , Exercise Therapy , Humans , Cognitive Dysfunction/therapy , Cognitive Dysfunction/psychology , Dementia/psychology , Dementia/therapy , Exercise Therapy/methods , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Exercise , Quality of Life , FemaleABSTRACT
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection, affecting both men and women globally. Men and women are at risk of type HPV16 and HPV18 viruses leading to cervical, anal, vulvar, and oropharyngeal cancers. The HPV vaccines are highly effective in preventing various strains of HPV infection, and effective vaccines are available only in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Hence, this systematic review explored knowledge and attitudes toward HPV infection and HPV vaccination and factors influencing HPV vaccination uptake among the MENA populations. Various databases, such as Medline, Science Direct, CINHAL, EBSCO, PsycINFO, and PubMed, were systematically searched to include English studies assessing knowledge, attitudes toward HPV infection, and factors influencing HPV vaccination acceptance in the MENA region. Twenty-two papers met the inclusion criteria. The number of participants ranged from 99 to 7223. While knowledge, attitude, and vaccine hesitancy association factors were generally reported in cross-sectional studies, the HPV vaccine acceptancy over time from longitudinal studies was mixed and inconclusive due to inadequate information on HPV infection and vaccination, the cost of the vaccine, cultural beliefs, and safety concerns. Results demonstrated that low HPV vaccine acceptance is due to a lack of HPV understanding among the MENA population, coupled with access issues. Factors such as awareness, confidence in vaccination, and involvement in decision-making positively influence vaccine uptake. Therefore, tailored programs addressing vaccine hesitancy in the MENA communities are necessary.
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INTRODUCTION: In a virtual setting at a private university in Lima, Peru, 277 medical students participated in a study in 2021 during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate how information and communication technologies (ICTs) were utilized as educational aids in their field. RESULTS: The findings showed a high level of satisfaction with ICT resources, especially among female students (54%). However, challenges were present: 64% faced technical issues during virtual classes, while 60% saw information availability and internet access as major advantages. Despite connectivity problems affecting 83% of students, 55% believed ICTs supported collaborative learning. Interestingly, while 64% found ICT use distracting, 52% found it easy to use. CONCLUSION: ICTs played a significant role in medical education, introducing new methods and tools despite obstacles and providing a dynamic and adaptable e-learning environment.
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Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health concern, particularly with the emergence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). Traditional methods for diagnosing drug resistance in TB are time-consuming and often lack accuracy, leading to delays in appropriate treatment initiation and exacerbating the spread of drug-resistant strains. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) techniques have shown promise in revolutionizing TB diagnosis, offering rapid and accurate identification of drug-resistant strains. This comprehensive review explores the latest advancements in AI applications for the diagnosis of MDR-TB and XDR-TB. We discuss the various AI algorithms and methodologies employed, including machine learning, deep learning, and ensemble techniques, and their comparative performances in TB diagnosis. Furthermore, we examine the integration of AI with novel diagnostic modalities such as whole-genome sequencing, molecular assays, and radiological imaging, enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of TB diagnosis. Challenges and limitations surrounding the implementation of AI in TB diagnosis, such as data availability, algorithm interpretability, and regulatory considerations, are also addressed. Finally, we highlight future directions and opportunities for the integration of AI into routine clinical practice for combating drug-resistant TB, ultimately contributing to improved patient outcomes and enhanced global TB control efforts.
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BACKGROUND: The recommendation of universal diagnostic testing before malaria treatment aimed to address the problem of over-treatment with artemisinin-based combination therapy and the heightened risk of selection pressure and drug resistance and the use of malaria rapid diagnostic test (MRDT) was a key strategy, particularly among primary healthcare (PHC) workers whose access to and use of other forms of diagnostic testing were virtually absent. However, the use of MRDT can only remedy over-treatment when health workers respond appropriately to negative MRDT results by not prescribing anti-malarial drugs. This study assessed the use of MRDT and anti-malarial drug prescription practices, and the predictors, among PHC workers in Ebonyi state, Nigeria. METHODS: We conducted an analytical cross-sectional questionnaire survey, among consenting PHC workers involved in the diagnosis and treatment of malaria, from January 15, 2020 to February 5, 2020. Data was collected via structured self-administered questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariate generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Of the 490 participants surveyed: 81.4% usually/routinely used MRDT for malaria diagnosis and 18.6% usually used only clinical symptoms; 78.0% used MRDT for malaria diagnosis for all/most of their patients suspected of having malaria in the preceding month while 22.0% used MRDT for none/few/some; 74.9% had good anti-malarial drug prescription practice; and 68.0% reported appropriate response to negative MRDT results (never/rarely prescribed anti-malarial drugs for the patients) while 32.0% reported inappropriate response (sometimes/often/always prescribed anti-malarial drugs). The identified predictor(s): of the use of MRDT was working in health facilities supported by the United States' President's Malaria Initiative (PMI-supported health facilities); of good anti-malarial drug prescription practice were having good opinion about MRDT, having good knowledge about malaria diagnosis and MRDT, being a health attendant, working in PMI-supported health facilities, and increase in age; and of appropriate response to negative MRDT results was having good opinion about MRDT. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence indicate the need for, and highlight factors to be considered by, further policy actions and interventions for optimal use of MRDT and anti-malarial drug prescription practices among the PHC workers in Ebonyi state, Nigeria, and similar settings.
Subject(s)
Antimalarials , Diagnostic Tests, Routine , Health Personnel , Malaria , Primary Health Care , Humans , Nigeria , Antimalarials/therapeutic use , Cross-Sectional Studies , Malaria/drug therapy , Malaria/diagnosis , Female , Adult , Male , Middle Aged , Surveys and Questionnaires , Drug Prescriptions/statistics & numerical data , Rapid Diagnostic TestsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases prior to pregnancy is an important measure of primary prevention both for the mother and the unborn child. We analyzed immunity rates against measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, and pertussis in pregnant employees in Germany prior to significant changes in legal conditions in 2020, to provide a basis of comparison for future research. METHODS: We analyzed occupational-medical routine data in three collectives of pregnant women with an occupational risk of infection in the years 2018 and 2019: 1: hospital staff with regular access to an in-house company physician (n = 148); 2: employees in childcare with regular access to external occupational-health services (n = 139); 3: teachers with no regular access to occupational healthcare (n = 285). Immune status was assessed by a physician based on vaccination certificates, laboratory results, and medical documentation on prior infections. We compared immunity rates against measles, rubella, varicella, and pertussis as well as full immunity against all targeted vaccine-preventable diseases. RESULTS: Altogether, n = 572 pregnant women were included in our study. Of these women, 96.5 % were immune to rubella, 95.8 % to varicella, 88.3 % to measles, 82.7 % to mumps, and 67.8 % to pertussis. Only 56.2 % of the women had full immunity against all targeted vaccine-preventable diseases. Collective 1 showed the highest immunity rates against measles and pertussis as well as the highest rate of full immunity against all targeted vaccine-preventable diseases. The immunity rates against rubella and varicella did not differ significantly between the collectives. With the exception of rubella, the lowest immunity rates during pregnancy were found in Collective 3. CONCLUSION: We found pregnancy-relevant immunity gaps in all our study groups with significant differences between the collectives. Considering the potentially devastating consequences of infections during pregnancy, all medical professionals and health-policy makers should be involved in an increased effort to improve vaccination rates prior to pregnancy.
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Significant advancements have been made in the application of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T treatment for blood cancers during the previous ten years. However, its effectiveness in treating solid tumors is still lacking, necessitating the exploration of alternative immunotherapies that can overcome the significant challenges faced by current CAR-T cells. CAR-based immunotherapy against solid tumors shows promise with the emergence of macrophages, which possess robust phagocytic abilities, antigen-presenting functions, and the ability to modify the tumor microenvironment and stimulate adaptive responses. This paper presents a thorough examination of the latest progress in CAR-M therapy, covering both basic scientific studies and clinical trials. This study examines the primary obstacles hindering the realization of the complete potential of CAR-M therapy, as well as the potential strategies that can be employed to overcome these hurdles. With the emergence of revolutionary technologies like in situ genetic modification, synthetic biology techniques, and biomaterial-supported gene transfer, which provide a wider array of resources for manipulating tumor-associated macrophages, we suggest that combining these advanced methods will result in the creation of a new era of CAR-M therapy that demonstrates improved efficacy, safety, and availability.
Subject(s)
Immunotherapy, Adoptive , Neoplasms , Receptors, Chimeric Antigen , Tumor Microenvironment , Humans , Neoplasms/therapy , Neoplasms/immunology , Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/immunology , Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/genetics , Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods , Tumor Microenvironment/immunology , Animals , Immunotherapy/methodsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Prescription drug misuse has been identified as a global issue of concern. Nurses' prescription drug misuse is linked to personal health problems and impaired nursing care. This study explored the level of South Korean hospital nurses' prescription drug misuse and examined associations with workplace access and burnout. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from 1142 nurses working in South Korean hospital settings. Nurses completed the online survey anonymously. Descriptive analysis, logistic regression, and Shapley value assessment were conducted. RESULTS: Pain relievers (44.2%), IV drips (26.8%), and antibiotics (13.5%) were the most commonly misused drugs among hospital nurses. Accessibility in the workplace was high, with nurses reporting frequent administration of IV drips, pain relievers, and antibiotics and perceiving these drugs as easily accessible. Logistic regression demonstrated that perceived availability was significantly related to misuse across all drug types. Burnout was associated with IV drips, sleeping pills, and steroids, increasing the likelihood of misuse. Shapley feature importance analysis highlighted perceived availability as the most influential factor for IV drips, pain relievers, and steroids, while burnout emerged as crucial for antibiotics and sleeping pills. Notably, age played a significant role in appetite suppressant misuse, distinguishing it from other drugs. CONCLUSION: Our results revealed that workplace access and burnout are associated with nurses' prescription drug misuse. Effective educational strategies are essential for enhancing nurses' willingness to seek help for personal health issues. Hospital organizations play a crucial role in facilitating access to healthcare and fostering a supportive environment for nurses to seek treatment when necessary. Additionally, governmental policies should prioritize the implementation of active surveillance systems to monitor medication usage in healthcare settings, thereby mitigating drug misuse among healthcare professionals. By addressing these issues, we can ensure the well-being of nurses and promote a safer healthcare environment.
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OBJECTIVES: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the shortage of the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH)-approved N95 respirators, the Food and Drug Administration granted an Emergency Use Authorization to allow the use of non-NIOSH approved respirators provided that these respirators must undergo tests by a protocol of TEB-APR-STP-0059, similar methods of NIOSH standard testing procedure. This initiative safeguards the quality of respirators and the effectiveness of occupational protection. The dataset of all the testing results could benefit further analysis of COVID-19 infection rates in relation to different types of N95 respirators used and identify potential correlations of various test parameters in the testing system for validation. The analysis enhances understanding of the quality, effectiveness, and performance of N95 respirators in the prevention of respiratory infectious transmission and develops improved occupational safety measures. DATA DESCRIPTION: The dataset was transformed, transcribed, and compiled from the official testing data of non-NIOSH-approved N95 respirators reported in the NIOSH website under the Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention in the United States. The dataset included details of 7,413 testing results of N95 respirators (manufacturer, model, and maximum and minimum filtration efficiency) and test parameters (flow rate, initial filter resistance, and initial percent leakage). Supplementary items were added to increase the availability of data analysis and enhance the interpretability of the assessments of the quality of N95 respirators.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , N95 Respirators , National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S. , Humans , United States , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/transmission , N95 Respirators/standards , N95 Respirators/virology , Laboratories/standards , SARS-CoV-2 , Respiratory Protective Devices/standards , Occupational Exposure/prevention & controlABSTRACT
Due to the inevitable differences in physiological and/or genetic factors between genders, the possibility that differences in pharmacokinetics between genders may occur when exposed to the same dose of the same drug is subject to reasonable inference and suspicion. Nevertheless, a significant number of medicines still rely on empirical usage and uniform clinical application without consideration of inter-individual diversity factors. In particular, in the pharmacokinetic diversity of medicines related to central nervous system (CNS) activity, consideration of gender factors and access to comparative analysis are very limited. The purpose of this study was to conduct an integrated analysis and review of differences in pharmacokinetics between genders that have not been specifically reported to date for medicines related to CNS effects, which are a group of drugs with relatively significant concerns about systemic side effects. This study was accessible through extensive data collection and analyzes using a web-based scientific literature search engine of pharmacokinetic results of CNS-related drugs performed on humans, taking gender into account. As a result, significant differences in pharmacokinetics between genders were identified for many drugs related to CNS. And most of the pharmacokinetic differences between genders suggested a higher in vivo exposure in females. This study suggests that consideration of gender factors cannot be ignored and will be an important point of interest in the precision medicine application of CNS-related medicines.
