International Migration and Cardiovascular Health: Unraveling the Disease Burden Among Migrants to North America and Europe.

Europe and North America are the 2 largest recipients of international migrants from low-resource regions in the world. Here, large differences in cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and death exist between migrants and the host populations. This review discusses the CVD burden and its most important contributors among the largest migrant groups in Europe and North America as well as the consequences of migration to high-income countries on CVD diagnosis and therapy. The available evidence indicates that migrants in Europe and North America generally have a higher CVD risk compared with the host populations. Cardiometabolic, behavioral, and psychosocial factors are important contributors to their increased CVD risk. However, despite these common denominators, there are important ethnic differences in the propensity to develop CVD that relate to pre- and postmigration factors, such as socioeconomic status, cultural factors, lifestyle, psychosocial stress, access to health care and health care usage. Some of these pre- and postmigration environmental factors may interact with genetic (epigenetics) and microbial factors, which further influence their CVD risk. The limited number of prospective cohorts and clinical trials in migrant populations remains an important culprit for better understanding pathophysiological mechanism driving health differences and for developing ethnic-specific CVD risk prediction and care. Only by improved understanding of the complex interaction among human biology, migration-related factors, and sociocultural determinants of health influencing CVD risk will we be able to mitigate these differences and truly make inclusive personalized treatment possible.

A trend, analysis, and solution on women's representation in diagnostic radiology in North America: a narrative review.

Despite the demonstrated benefits of gender diversity in medicine, women in Radiology in North America are still underrepresented. We reviewed the literature to highlight the current status of women in Radiology in North America, identify the underlying causes of the gender gap, and provide potential strategies to close this gap. We conducted a narrative literature review using the terms ("Gender Disparity" OR "Gender Inequality") AND ("Radiology Department" OR "Radiology Residency"), searching data from April 2000 to April 2022 in Ovid Medline, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus. Our results indicate that Radiology in North America lacks gender diversity in its subspecialties, academic leadership, and research productivity, which the COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated. Challenges stemming from a dearth of women role models, limited preclinical contact, and a high rate of burnout contribute to the current gender inequality. Several complementary and supplementary steps can enhance gender diversity in Radiology. These include increasing education and exposure to Radiology at earlier stages and optimizing mentorship opportunities to attract a more diverse pool of talent to the discipline. In addition, supporting resident parents and enhancing the residency program's culture can decrease the rate of burnout and encourage women to pursue careers and leadership positions in Radiology.

The use of environmental data in descriptive and predictive models of vector-borne disease in North America.

Vector-borne disease incidence and burden are on the rise. Weather events and climate patterns are known to influence vector populations and disease distribution and incidence. Changes in weather trends and climatic factors can shift seasonal vector activity and host behavior, thus altering pathogen distribution and introducing diseases to new geographic regions. With the upward trend in global temperature, changes in the incidence and distribution of disease vectors possibly linked to climate change have been documented. Forecasting and modeling efforts are valuable for incorporating climate into predicting changes in vector and vector-borne disease distribution. These predictions serve to optimize disease outbreak preparedness and response. The purpose of this scoping review was to describe the use of climate data in vector-borne disease prediction in North America between 2000 and 2022. The most investigated diseases were West Nile virus infection, Lyme disease, and dengue. The uneven geographical distribution of publications could suggest regional differences in the availability of surveillance data required for vector-borne disease predictions and forecasts across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Studies incorporated environmental data from ground-based sources, satellite data, previously existing data, and field-collected data. While environmental data such as meteorological and topographic factors were well-represented, further research is warranted to ascertain if relationships with less common variables, such as oceanographic characteristics and drought, hold among various vector populations and throughout wider geographical areas. This review provides a catalogue of recently used climatic data that can inform future assessments of the value of such data in vector-borne disease models.

Current Status of La Crosse Virus in North America and Potential for Future Spread.

La Crosse virus (LACV) is an arthropod-borne RNA virus with substantial potential for future spread in North America. La Crosse virus is responsible for La Crosse encephalitis, a leading cause of arboviral encephalitis in children in the United States. Primarily transmitted by Aedes triseriatus (Eastern treehole) mosquitos and amplified by small mammal hosts, LACV has caused infections throughout the upper Midwest and, more recently, the mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States. Notably, in recent years, infections have also been identified increasingly in the Appalachian region. Anthropogenic and environmental factors have likely contributed to recent LACV spread, including the introduction of invasive vector species (especially Ae. albopictus), biotic interactions between and among vector and host species, land-use change, habitat disturbance, increased human travel and transport, and rising global temperatures. Prevention and control strategies, such as increased surveillance of vector and host populations, increased awareness among populations at risk for infection, and increased awareness among physicians are needed to limit future spread. Continued climate change with increases in global temperatures and erratic weather patterns may result in the expansion of competent mosquito vector species and thus could facilitate the geographic spread of LACV.

Regional variation in cause of death in patients with type 2 diabetes: Insights from EXSCEL.

AIMS: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a risk factor for cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortality. However, global distribution of cause-specific deaths in T2D is poorly understood. We characterized cause-specific deaths by geographic region among individuals with T2D at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS AND RESULTS: The international EXSCEL trial included 14,752 participants with T2D (73% with established CVD). We identified the proportion of deaths over 5-year follow-up attributed to cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular causes, and associated risk factors. During median 3.2-year follow-up, 1,091 (7.4%) participants died. Adjudicated causes of death were 723 cardiovascular (66.3% of deaths), including 252 unknown, and 368 non-cardiovascular (33.7%). Most deaths occurred in North America (N = 356/9.6% across region) and Eastern Europe (N = 326/8.1%), with fewest in Asia/Pacific (N = 68/4.4%). The highest proportional cause-specific deaths by region were sudden cardiac in Asia/Pacific (23/34% of regional deaths) and North America (86/24%); unknown in Eastern Europe (90/28%) and Western Europe (39/21%); and non-malignant non-cardiovascular in Latin America (48/31%). Cox proportional hazards model for adjudicated causes of death showed prognostic risk factors (hazard ratio [95% CI]) for cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular deaths, respectively: heart failure 2.04 (1.72-2.42) and 1.86 (1.46-2.39); peripheral artery disease 1.83 (1.54-2.18) and 1.78 (1.40-2.26); and current smoking status 1.61 (1.29-2.01) and 1.77 (1.31-2.40). CONCLUSIONS: In a contemporary T2D trial population, with and without established CVD, leading causes of death varied by geographic region. Underlying mechanisms leading to variability in cause of death across geographic regions and its impact on clinical trial endpoints warrant future research.

Comparison of patient background between a real-world North American cohort and the Göteborg-2 trial.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the generalizability of the Göteborg-2 findings to a North American cohort. METHODS: We replicated the Göteborg-2 inclusion criteria in our Henry Ford Health (HFH) cohort, by identifying all patients 50-60 years old who had a PSA test from 2013 to 2018. The first PSA within the study period was considered PSA at entry, and included in the analysis. Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables between the Göteborg-2 and HFH cohort, with a particular focus on Black men, who were also analyzed separately. RESULTS: The HFH patients included in the cohort were 49 456, of which 8562 were Black. In patients within the entire HFH cohort, HFH Black cohort, Göteborg Reference cohort, and Göteborg Experimental cohort, the rate of PSA ≥3 ng/mL was, respectively, 6.8%, 10.2%, 6.8%, and 6.6%. The rate of biopsy performed was, respectively, 1.8%, 4.1%, 5.8%, and 2.5%. PCa was found in, respectively, 1.4%, 3.0%, 2.3%, and 1.5%; Gleason score 3 + 3 in, respectively, 0.5%, 0.8%, 1.2%, and 0.6%; Gleason score > 3 + 3 in, respectively, 0.9%, 2.2%, 1.1%, and 0.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Our cohort had a lower biopsy rate and a lower incidence of non-csPCa diagnosis than both Göteborg cohorts, while still maintaining the same incidence of csPCa. This implies that the benefits of reducing non-csPCa diagnosis, as observed in the Experimental Göteborg cohort, are not necessarily replicable in U.S. "real-world practice" patients. Also noteworthy, we had a significantly higher percentage of Black men, who showed more aggressive disease.

Safety of Same-Day Discharge after Bariatric Surgery: Retrospective 6-Year North American Analysis.

BACKGROUND: With increasing implementation of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocols and rising demand for inpatient hospital beds accentuated by COVID-19, there has been interest in same-day discharge (SDD) for bariatric surgery. The aim of this study was to determine the national trends, safety profile, and risk factors for complications of SDD for minimally invasive bariatric surgery. STUDY DESIGN: We analyzed the MBSAQIP database from 2016 to 2021 to characterize trends in SDD for minimally invasive bariatric operation. Multivariate logistic regression was performed on preoperative patient characteristics predictive of increased complications associated with SDD. A comparative analysis of postoperative outcomes within 30 days was performed for SDD and admission after 1:1 nearest neighbor propensity score matching for patient demographics and preoperative comorbidities. RESULTS: SDD increased from 2.4% in 2016 to 7.4% in 2021. Major preoperative factors associated with increased complications for SDD included Black race, history of MI, renal insufficiency, deep vein thrombosis, and smoking. SDD for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass had 72% increased risk of postoperative complications compared with sleeve gastrectomy. The overall major complications were lower in SDD cohort vs admission cohort (odds ratio [OR] 0.62, p < 0.01). However, there was a significant increase in deaths within 30 days (OR 2.11, p = 0.01), cardiac arrest (OR 2.73; p < 0.01), and dehydration requiring treatment (OR 1.33; p < 0.01) in SDD cohort compared with admission cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Nationally, there has been a rise in SDD for bariatric operation from 2016 to 2021. Matched analysis demonstrates that SDD is associated with a significantly higher mortality rate. Additionally, the risk of complications with SDD is higher for RYGB compared with sleeve gastrectomy. Therefore, further studies are required to appropriately select patients for whom bariatric surgery can be safely performed as an outpatient.

Emergency department management of North American snake envenomations.

There are approximately 10,000 emergency department visits in the United States for snakebites every year, and one-third of those involve venomous species. Venomous North American indigenous snakes include species from the Crotalinae (pit vipers) and Elapidae (coral snakes) subfamilies. Treatment relies on supportive care, plus antivenom for select cases. While certain principles of management are widely accepted, controversies exist with regard to prehospital use of pressure immobilization, antivenom use, coagulation testing after copperhead envenomation, and fasciotomy. An evidence-based approach to management of North American venomous snakebites will be discussed, along with a review of the current controversies.

Longitudinal trends in causes of death among adults with HIV on antiretroviral therapy in Europe and North America from 1996 to 2020: a collaboration of cohort studies.

BACKGROUND: Mortality rates among people with HIV have fallen since 1996 following the widespread availability of effective antiretroviral therapy (ART). Patterns of cause-specific mortality are evolving as the population with HIV ages. We aimed to investigate longitudinal trends in cause-specific mortality among people with HIV starting ART in Europe and North America. METHODS: In this collaborative observational cohort study, we used data from 17 European and North American HIV cohorts contributing data to the Antiretroviral Therapy Cohort Collaboration. We included data for people with HIV who started ART between 1996 and 2020 at the age of 16 years or older. Causes of death were classified into a single cause by both a clinician and an algorithm if International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision or Tenth Revision data were available, or independently by two clinicians. Disagreements were resolved through panel discussion. We used Poisson models to compare cause-specific mortality rates during the calendar periods 1996-99, 2000-03, 2004-07, 2008-11, 2012-15, and 2016-20, adjusted for time-updated age, CD4 count, and whether the individual was ART-naive at the start of each period. FINDINGS: Among 189 301 people with HIV included in this study, 16 832 (8·9%) deaths were recorded during 1 519 200 person-years of follow-up. 13 180 (78·3%) deaths were classified by cause: the most common causes were AIDS (4203 deaths; 25·0%), non-AIDS non-hepatitis malignancy (2311; 13·7%), and cardiovascular or heart-related (1403; 8·3%) mortality. The proportion of deaths due to AIDS declined from 49% during 1996-99 to 16% during 2016-20. Rates of all-cause mortality per 1000 person-years decreased from 16·8 deaths (95% CI 15·4-18·4) during 1996-99 to 7·9 deaths (7·6-8·2) during 2016-20. Rates of all-cause mortality declined with time: the average adjusted mortality rate ratio per calendar period was 0·85 (95% CI 0·84-0·86). Rates of cause-specific mortality also declined: the most pronounced reduction was for AIDS-related mortality (0·81; 0·79-0·83). There were also reductions in rates of cardiovascular-related (0·83, 0·79-0·87), liver-related (0·88, 0·84-0·93), non-AIDS infection-related (0·91, 0·86-0·96), non-AIDS-non-hepatocellular carcinoma malignancy-related (0·94, 0·90-0·97), and suicide or accident-related mortality (0·89, 0·82-0·95). Mortality rates among people who acquired HIV through injecting drug use increased in women (1·07, 1·00-1·14) and decreased slightly in men (0·96, 0·93-0·99). INTERPRETATION: Reductions of most major causes of death, particularly AIDS-related deaths among people with HIV on ART, were not seen for all subgroups. Interventions targeted at high-risk groups, substance use, and comorbidities might further increase life expectancy in people with HIV towards that in the general population. FUNDING: US National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator use in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy in North America and Europe.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are critical for preventing sudden cardiac death (SCD) in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). This study aims to identify cross-continental differences in utilization of primary prevention ICDs and survival free from sustained ventricular arrhythmia (VA) in ARVC. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of ARVC patients without prior VA enrolled in clinical registries from 11 countries throughout Europe and North America. Patients were classified according to whether they received treatment in North America or Europe and were further stratified by baseline predicted VA risk into low- (<10%/5 years), intermediate- (10%-25%/5 years), and high-risk (>25%/5 years) groups. Differences in ICD implantation and survival free from sustained VA events (including appropriate ICD therapy) were assessed. RESULTS: One thousand ninety-eight patients were followed for a median of 5.1 years; 554 (50.5%) received a primary prevention ICD, and 286 (26.0%) experienced a first VA event. After adjusting for baseline risk factors, North Americans were more than three times as likely to receive ICDs {hazard ratio (HR) 3.1 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.5, 3.8]} but had only mildly increased risk for incident sustained VA [HR 1.4 (95% CI 1.1, 1.8)]. North Americans without ICDs were at higher risk for incident sustained VA [HR 2.1 (95% CI 1.3, 3.4)] than Europeans. CONCLUSIONS: North American ARVC patients were substantially more likely than Europeans to receive primary prevention ICDs across all arrhythmic risk strata. A lower rate of ICD implantation in Europe was not associated with a higher rate of VA events in those without ICDs.

Isolation and whole genome sequencing of North American lineage class I avian orthoavulavirus 1 isolated from wild Eurasian teal in South Korea.

We report the first North American origin class I avian orthoavulavirus 1 (AOAV-1) isolated from a faecal dropping of wild Eurasian teal (Anas crecca) in South Korea. Whole genome sequencing and comparative phylogenetic analysis revealed that the AOAV-1/Eurasian teal/South Korea/KU1405-3/2017 virus belongs to the sub-genotype 1.2 of class I AOAV-1. Phylogenetic analysis suggested multiple introductions of the North American sub-genotype 1.2 viruses into Asia and its establishment in the wild bird population in East Asia since May 2011. These results provide information on the epidemiology of AOAV-1, particularly the role of migratory wild birds in exchanging viruses between the Eurasian and North American continents. Enhanced genomic surveillance is required to improve our understanding on the evolution and transmission dynamics of AOAV-1 in wild birds.

Late mortality among 5-year survivors of childhood cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Childhood cancer survivors are at increased risk of late mortality (death ≥5 years after diagnosis) from cancer recurrence and treatment-related late effects. The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide comprehensive estimates of late mortality risk among survivors internationally and to investigate differences in risk across world regions. METHODS: Health sciences databases were searched for cohort studies comprised of 5-year childhood cancer survivors in which the risk of mortality was evaluated across multiple cancer types. Eligible studies assessed all-cause mortality risk in survivors relative to the general population using the standardized mortality ratio (SMR). The absolute excess risk (AER) was assessed as a secondary measure to examine excess deaths. Cause-specific mortality risk was also assessed, if reported. SMRs from nonoverlapping cohorts were combined in subgroup meta-analysis, and the effect of world region was tested in univariate meta-regression. RESULTS: Nineteen studies were included, and cohort sizes ranged from 314 to 77,423 survivors. Throughout survivorship, SMRs for all-cause mortality generally declined, whereas AERs increased after 15-20 years from diagnosis in several cohorts. All-cause SMRs were significantly lower overall in North American studies than in European studies (relative SMR, 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.49-0.80). SMRs for subsequent malignant neoplasms and for cardiovascular, respiratory, and external causes did not vary significantly between world regions. CONCLUSIONS: The current findings suggest that late mortality risk may differ significantly between world regions, but these conclusions are based on a limited number of studies with considerable heterogeneity. Reasons for regional differences remain unclear but may be better elucidated through future analyses of individual-level data.

Outcomes of SADI and OAGB Compared to RYGB from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Quality Improvement Program: The North American Experience.

BACKGROUND: Rapid adoption of sleeve gastrectomy (SG) in the last decade aptly reflects the desire of patients and surgeons for alternatives to RYGB and DS. While SG provides good outcomes, other options that address specific patient needs are warranted. Recently approved by ASMBS, SADI, and OAGB have garnered increasing interest due to their single anastomosis technique. METHODS: Using the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Quality Improvement Program database, we examined laparoscopic and robotic cases from 2018 to 2021 to understand the percentage of primary bariatric surgery cases that are SADI and OAGB. We used coarsened exact matching to match patients who underwent SADI or OAGB to patients who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). We examined outcomes of matched patients using logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 667,979 patients that underwent bariatric-metabolic surgery, 1326 (0.2%) underwent SADI, and 2541 (0.4%) underwent OAGB. SADI was not identified in the database until 2020. In 2020, there were 487 SADI procedures compared to 839 in 2021. From 2018 to 2021, OAGBs went from 149 to 940. Compared with RYGB, SADI was associated with higher rates of anastomotic or staple line leak (OR 2.21 (95% CI 1.08-4.53)) and sepsis (OR 3.62 (95% CI 1.62-8.12)). Compared with RYGB, OAGB was associated with lower rates of gastrointestinal bleeding (OR 0.29 (95% CI 0.12-0.71)) and bowel obstruction (OR 0.10 (95% CI 0.02-0.39)). Of note, there were no differences between these procedures and RYGB for 30-day mortality. CONCLUSION: More SADIs and OAGBs are being performed. However, there were higher complication rates associated with the SADI procedure. Further studies will be needed to better understand the key drivers for these outcomes.

Diabetes mortality: trends and multi-country analysis of the Americas from 2000 to 2019.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes has been increasing worldwide and is now among the 10 leading causes of death globally. Diabetic kidney disease (DKD), a complication of poorly managed diabetes, is related to high mortality risk. To better understand the situation in the Americas region, we evaluated diabetes and DKD mortality trends over the past 20 years. METHODS: We analysed diabetes and DKD mortality for 33 countries in the Americas from 2000 to 2019. Data were extracted from the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Health Estimates and the World Population Prospects, 2019 Revision, estimating annual age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) and gaps in the distribution of diabetes and DKD mortality by sex and country. Trend analyses were based on the annual average percentage of change (AAPC). RESULTS: From 2000 to 2019, the overall mortality trend from diabetes in the Americas remained stable [AAPC: -0.2% (95% CI: -0.4%-0.0%]; however, it showed important differences by sex and by country over time. By contrast, DKD mortality increased 1.5% (1.3%-1.6%) per year, rising faster in men than women, with differences between countries. Central America, Mexico and the Latin Caribbean showed significant increases in mortality for both diseases, especially DKD. In contrast in North America, diabetes mortality decreased whereas DKD mortality increased. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in DKD mortality is evidence of poorly controlled diabetes in the region. The lack of programmes on prevention of complications, self-care management and gaps in quality health care may explain this trend and highlight the urgent need to build more robust health systems based on primary care, prioritizing diabetes prevention and control.

COVID-19 disease among children and young adults enrolled in the North American Pediatric Renal Trials and Collaborative Studies registry.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) has disproportionately affected adults with kidney disease. Data regarding outcomes among children with kidney disease are limited. The North American Pediatric Renal Trials Collaborative Studies Registry (NAPRTCS) has followed children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) since 1987 at 87 participating centers. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 among participants enrolled in the three arms of the registry: CKD, dialysis, and transplant. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of COVID-19 among participants in the NAPRTCS CKD, dialysis, and transplant registries from 2020 to 2022. Where appropriate, t-tests, chi-square analyses, and univariate logistic regression were used to evaluate the data. RESULTS: The cohort included 1505 NAPRTCS participants with recent data entry; 260 (17%) had documented COVID-19. Infections occurred in all three registry arms, namely, 10% (n = 29) in CKD, 11% (n = 67) in dialysis, and 26% (n = 164) in transplant. The majority of participants (75%) were symptomatic. Hospitalizations occurred in 17% (n = 5) of participants with CKD, 27% (n = 18) maintenance dialysis participants, and 26% (n = 43) of transplant participants. Fourteen percent (n = 4) of CKD participants and 10% (n = 17) of transplant participants developed acute kidney injury (AKI), and a total of eight participants (one CKD, seven transplant) required dialysis initiation. Among transplant participants with moderate to severe illness, 40-43% developed AKI and 29-40% required acute dialysis. There were no reported deaths. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 was documented in 17% of active NAPRTCS participants. While there was no documented mortality, the majority of participants were symptomatic, and a quarter required hospitalization.

Frequency of colorectal surveillance colonoscopies for adenomatous polyps: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The purpose of this study was to assess evidence on the frequency of polyp surveillance colonoscopies performed earlier than the recommended follow-up intervals in clinical practice guidelines. METHODS: A systematic review was performed based on electronic searches in PubMed and Embase. Research articles, letters to the editors, and review articles, published before April 2022, were included. Studies that focused on the intervals of polyp surveillance in adult populations were selected. The Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Exposure (ROBINS-E) was used to assess the risk of bias. A meta-analysis was performed with Forest plots to illustrate the results. RESULTS: In total, 16 studies, comprising 11 172 patients from Australia, Europe, and North America, were included for analysis. The quality of the studies was moderate. Overall, 38% (95% CI: 30-47%) of colonoscopies were undertaken earlier than their respective national clinical guidelines. In risk-stratified surveillance, 10 studies contained data relating to low-risk polyp surveillance intervals and 30% (95% CI: 29-31%) of colonoscopies were performed earlier than recommended. Eight studies contained data relating to intermediate-risk polyp surveillance and 15% (95% CI: 14-17%) of colonoscopies were performed earlier than recommended. One study showed that 6% (95% CI: 4-10%) of colonoscopies performed for high-risk polyp surveillance were performed earlier than recommended. CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of polyp surveillance was performed earlier than the guidelines suggested. This provides evidence of the potential overuse of healthcare resources and the opportunity to improve hospital efficiency.

A clinical overview of adolescent e-cigarette use (vaping).

E-cigarette use (also known as "vaping") has become increasingly popular among adolescents over the past decade and grown into a significant public health concern in North America, the United Kingdom, and other countries. Concerns about this new trend have generated numerous new research studies. This aim of this study was to summarize recent scientific findings, with a focus on their relevance to clinicians working with adolescents. The first half covers epidemiology, risk factors for e-cigarette use, characteristics of e-cigarette use, youth perceptions of e-cigarettes, physical health risks of e-cigarettes, evidence for "gateway effects" of e-cigarette exposure on subsequent substance use, and the relationship between e-cigarette use and mental health. The review concludes with a clinical focus on assessment of youth who vape, psychoeducation for youth and families, clinical management of vaping, and regulatory considerations.

Awareness of human papillomavirus infection among Indigenous males in North America and Oceania: a Scoping Review.

PURPOSE: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most commonly transmitted sexually transmitted infection. HPV infections have been on the rise among males, especially in the form of oropharyngeal cancer. Despite this, there is a gap in healthcare guidelines to increase HPV vaccine administration among males. In this study, we focus on the Indigenous population of North America and Oceania to determine existing barriers resulting in low HPV vaccination rates among the population. METHOD: We surveyed peer-reviewed literature on the awareness of HPV infection among Indigenous males in North America and Oceania. Using keywords HPV plus male, men or boy, and ethnical filters such as Indigenous, Aboriginal or First Nations, we retrieved 54 articles based on titles, of which 15 were included after reading the abstracts. RESULTS: Reported HPV awareness was generally low in Indigenous males in North America, with no peer-reviewed data from Oceania. The lower understanding by males compared to females was largely attributable to misconceptions about HPV-related diseases, their transmission, and prevention. Lack of awareness and concern toward the risk of contracting HPV infection in Indigenous males suggests an impediment in disseminating health information about this cancer-causing virus. CONCLUSION: Culturally sensitive education, with emphasis on Indigenous males, is needed to improve this group's HPV knowledge. Researchers should also engage meaningfully with Indigenous communities by building rapport to achieve a positive change in attitude.