835 research outputs found
Psychosocial health among immigrants in central and southern Europe.
No full textMigration exposes people to a number of risks that threaten their health, including those related to psychosocial health. Self-perceived health is usually the main indicator used to assess psychosocial health. Electronic databases were used to examine the literature on the psychosocial health of immigrants in Europe and of North Africans living in their own countries. Immigrants of various ethnic groups show a similar risk of psychosocial disorders but generally present a higher risk than the local population. This risk is related to gender (being higher in women), poor socio-economic status and acculturation, discrimination, time elapsed since migration and age on arrival in the new country. Although the stressors and situations the different ethnic groups experience in the host country may be shared, the way they deal with them may differ according to cultural factors. There is a need to collect detailed data on psychosocial health among the various immigrant groups in Europe, as well as to monitor this aspect in North African residents who lack access to specific services
Health, growth and psychosocial adaptation of immigrant children.
No full textThe increasing population diversity in Europe demands clarification of possible ethnic influences on the growth and health of immigrant children and their psychosocial adaptation to the host countries. This article assesses recent data on immigrant children in Europe in comparison to European natives by means of a systematic review of the literature on growth patterns and data on children's health and adaptation. There were wide variations across countries in growth patterns and development of immigrant children and natives, with different trends in Central and Northern Europe with respect to Southern Europe. In general, age at menarche was lower in immigrant girls, while male pubertal progression seemed faster in immigrants than in European natives, even when puberty began after. Owing to the significant differences in anthropometric traits (mainly stature and weight), new reference growth curves for immigrant children were constructed for the largest minority groups in Central Europe. Possible negative effects on growth, health and psychosocial adaptation were pointed out for immigrant children living in low income, disadvantaged communities with a high prevalence of poor lifestyle habits. In conclusion, this review provides a framework for the health and growth of immigrant children in Europe in comparison to native-born children: the differences among European countries in growth and development of migrants and non-migrants are closely related to the clear anthropological differences among the ethnic groups due to genetic influences. Higher morbidity and mortality was frequently associated with the minority status of these children and their low socio-economic status. The observed ethnic differences in health reveal the need for adequate health care in all groups. Therefore, we provide suggestions for the development of health care strategies in Europe
Health, growth and psychosocial adaptation of immigrant children.
No full textThe increasing population diversity in Europe demands clarification of possible ethnic influences on the growth and health of immigrant children and their psychosocial adaptation to the host countries. This article assesses recent data on immigrant children in Europe in comparison to European natives by means of a systematic review of the literature on growth patterns and data on children's health and adaptation. There were wide variations across countries in growth patterns and development of immigrant children and natives, with different trends in Central and Northern Europe with respect to Southern Europe. In general, age at menarche was lower in immigrant girls, while male pubertal progression seemed faster in immigrants than in European natives, even when puberty began after. Owing to the significant differences in anthropometric traits (mainly stature and weight), new reference growth curves for immigrant children were constructed for the largest minority groups in Central Europe. Possible negative effects on growth, health and psychosocial adaptation were pointed out for immigrant children living in low income, disadvantaged communities with a high prevalence of poor lifestyle habits. In conclusion, this review provides a framework for the health and growth of immigrant children in Europe in comparison to native-born children: the differences among European countries in growth and development of migrants and non-migrants are closely related to the clear anthropological differences among the ethnic groups due to genetic influences. Higher morbidity and mortality was frequently associated with the minority status of these children and their low socio-economic status. The observed ethnic differences in health reveal the need for adequate health care in all groups. Therefore, we provide suggestions for the development of health care strategies in Europe
Familial risks of unusual forms of venous thrombosis: a nationwide epidemiological study in Sweden.
No full textZöller B, Li X, Sundquist J, Sundquist K. (Center for Primary Health Care Research, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden; Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA). Familial risks of unusual forms of venous thrombosis: a nationwide epidemiological study in Sweden. J Intern Med 2010; doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.2010.02326.x. ABSTRACT.: Objective. This is the first nationwide study to determine familial risks of unusual forms of venous thrombosis amongst offspring of affected parents and amongst siblings. Design and settings. The Swedish Multigeneration Register of 0- to 75-year-old subjects was linked to the Hospital Discharge Register for the period 1987-2007. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated for individuals whose relatives were hospitalized for venous thromboembolism (VTE), as determined by the International Classification of Diseases, compared to those whose relatives were not affected by VTE. Results. The total number of hospitalized patients with VTE was 45 362, of which 1824 (4.0%) were affected by a rare thrombotic condition. The familial SIRs in cases with a history of VTE in parents or siblings were significantly increased for migrating thrombophlebitis (1.81; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.40-2.31), portal vein thrombosis (2.35; 95% CI 1.77-3.06), vena cava thrombosis (1.96; 95% CI 1.42-2.64) and cerebral venous thrombosis (1.74; 95% CI 1.30-2.28). Budd-Chiari syndrome (SIR, 0.92; 95% CI 0.24-2.38) and renal vein thrombosis (SIR, 1.72; 95% CI 0.62-3.77) were not significantly associated with parental or sibling history of VTE; however, these two conditions were very rare, and therefore, we cannot draw any definite conclusions from this finding. Conclusions. Family history is an important risk factor for most unusual forms of VTE. Moreover, even the paraneoplastic phenomenon, migrating thrombophlebitis (Trousseau's syndrome), is associated with a family history of VTE. Thus, our data suggest that most rare forms of VTE have a familial background
A Protein that Blocks Virus Budding
No full textHIV and other enveloped viruses wrap themselves in the cell\u27s external membrane exterior, forming buds. They are then released from cells using membrane-cutting machinery (called the ESCRT pathway) that they "steal" from the cell. This broad dependence upon the ESCRT pathway provides a potential target for blocking the replication of many different viruses. However, cells depend on the ESCRT pathway to; perform critical functions, meaning that ESCRT-blocking strategies can also be toxic for cells. A collaboration between the labs of University of Utah Health researchers Nels Elde, PhD, and Wesley Sundquist, PhD, showed that some mammals contain duplicated and shortened genes for a key ESCRT protein. The resulting "retroCHMP3" proteins block the release of HIV and other enveloped viruses. Remarkably, retroCHMP3 proteins from primates and mice appear to work by delaying ESCRT processes, causing extreme damage to HIV and other viruses but little harm to cells. This discovery creates the possibility of engineering retroCHMP3 mice and testing whether they are broadly protected against enveloped viruses, with the long-term goal of finding new ways to target the ESCRT pathway to counter viral infections
Individual health, neighborhood characteristics, and allocation of primary health care resources
No full textAims: To examine whether neighborhood education and neighborhood income predict incidence rates of coronary heart disease (CHD), beyond individual characteristics (study 1); to examine whether neighborhood deprivation, measured with Care Need Index (CNI), predicts CHD incidence rates, beyond individual characteristics (study 2); to examine whether low scores in a social participation index predict CHD incidence rates, after adjustment for individual characteristics (study 3); and to examine the relationship between CNI and poor self-reported health at neighborhood level, to examine whether the transformed CNI can be used for a total allocation of primary health care resources and to compare the transformed CNI with the official Stockholm model (study 4).Methods: In study 1 25,319 individuals between 1986 and 1993 from the Swedish Annual Level of Living Survey (SALLS) were followed until December 31, 1997, for CHD incidence events. Neighborhood level characteristics were defined by the use of neighborhood education and neighborhood income. Individual level characteristics were defined as age, sex, and education or income. Multilevel Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze the data. In study 2 the whole Swedish population, aged 40 64, was followed from December 31, 1995, to December 31, 1999, for CHD incidence events. Multilevel logistic regression was used in the analysis with individual level characteristics (age, income) at the first level and neighborhood deprivation, measured by CNI, at the second level. In study 3 6,861 individuals from SALLS, interviewed in 1990/91 were followed until December 31, 2000, for CHD incidence events. Individual characteristics were age, sex, education, housing tenure, smoking habits, and a social participation index. Cox regression was used in the statistical analysis. In study 4 the population in Stockholm County was divided into deciles by CNI, according to the level of neighborhood deprivation. CNI ratios were calculated for each decile by dividing the CNI means in each decile 2 10 by the CNI mean in decile 1. A sample from SALLS was used to estimate Odds Ratios (OR) for poor self-reported health in the deciles. The ORs were then compared with the CNI ratios. Hierarchical logistic regression was used in the statistical analysis.Results: In study 1 each neighborhood measure predicted CHD incidence rates after adjustment for individual characteristics (hazard ratios 1.32 and 1.25). CHD events would hypothetically be reduced by 25 26 percent for women and 10 15 percent for men if everyone had the same CHD risk as those living in the most affluent neighborhoods. In study 2 the risk of developing CHD was 87 percent higher for women and 42 percent higher for men in the most deprived neighborhoods than in the most affluent neighborhoods, after accounting for individual characteristics. In both study 1 and study 2 the variance at neighborhood level was small but significant, indicating that there was a neighborhood effect on CHD beyond the individual effect. In study 3 there was a gradient between the social participation index and CHD. After adjustment for individual characteristics, the risk of CHD for persons with low social participation remained high (hazard ratio = 1.69). In study 4 the CNI was transformed into a positive scale. CNI ratios corresponded to the ORs of poor self-reported health in the deciles. The transformed CNI showed a high degree of agreement with the official model.Conclusions: CHD prevention needs to combine both individual- and neighborhood-level approaches, in order to reduce socioeconomic disparities in CHD. Although the neighborhood effect was small, it is of importance since the outcome, CHD, is highly prevalent among the entire population. The CNI model, which is an exclusively need-based tool, constitutes an attractive approach for the total allocation of primary health care resources.List of scientific papersI. Sundquist K, Winkleby M, Ahlén H, Johansson SE (2003). Neigbourhood socioeconomic and incidence of coronary heart disease: A prospective follow-up study of 25,319 women and men in Sweden. [Submitted]II. Sundquist K, Malmstrom M, Johansson SE (2003). Neighbourhood deprivation and incidence of coronary heart disease: A multilevel study of 2.6 million women and men in Sweden. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. [Accepted]III. Sundquist K, Lindstrom M, Malmstrom M, Johansson SE, Sundquist J (2003). Social partcipation and coronary heart disease: A follow-up study of 6,900 women and men in Sweden. Social Science and Medicine.IV. Sundquist K, Malmstrom M, Johansson SE, Sundquist J (2003). Care Need Index, a useful tool for the distribution of primary health care resources. J Epidemiol Community Health. 57(5): 347-52. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12700218</p
Familial risks of unusual forms of venous thrombosis: a nationwide epidemiological study in Sweden
No full textZöller B, Li X, Sundquist J, Sundquist K. (Center for Primary Health Care Research, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden; Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA). Familial risks of unusual forms of venous thrombosis: a nationwide epidemiological study in Sweden. J Intern Med 2010; doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.2010.02326.x. ABSTRACT.: Objective. This is the first nationwide study to determine familial risks of unusual forms of venous thrombosis amongst offspring of affected parents and amongst siblings. Design and settings. The Swedish Multigeneration Register of 0- to 75-year-old subjects was linked to the Hospital Discharge Register for the period 1987-2007. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated for individuals whose relatives were hospitalized for venous thromboembolism (VTE), as determined by the International Classification of Diseases, compared to those whose relatives were not affected by VTE. Results. The total number of hospitalized patientswith VTE was 45 362, of which 1824 (4.0%) were affected by a rare thrombotic condition. The familial SIRs in cases with a history of VTE in parents or siblings were significantly increased for migrating thrombophlebitis (1.81; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.40-2.31), portal vein thrombosis (2.35; 95% CI 1.77-3.06), vena cava thrombosis (1.96; 95% CI 1.42-2.64) and cerebral venous thrombosis (1.74; 95% CI 1.30-2.28). Budd-Chiari syndrome (SIR, 0.92; 95% CI 0.24-2.38) and renal vein thrombosis (SIR, 1.72; 95% CI 0.62-3.77) were not significantly associated with parental or sibling history of VTE; however, these two conditions were very rare, and therefore, we cannot draw any definite conclusions from this finding. Conclusions. Family history is an important risk factor for most unusual forms of VTE. Moreover, even the paraneoplastic phenomenon, migrating thrombophlebitis (Trousseau's syndrome), is associated with a family history of VTE. Thus, our data suggest that most rare forms of VTE have a familial background
HIV Drug Development
No full textOur NIH P50 CHEETAH Center supports basic research in HIV structural biology and molecular virology, with the long-term goal of identifying effective new strategies for therapies, vaccines, and cures. Fundamental studies of HIV capsid structure and function performed by Sundquist, Hill, and colleagues formed the basis for Gilead\u27s development of highly potent, and remarkably long-lasting HIV capsid inhibitors that support quarterly dosing. These inhibitors have now entered Phase II clinical trials. Similarly, pioneering studies of D-peptide inhibitors by Kay and colleagues produced a highly potent inhibitor of HIV entry that will enter Phase I trials in 2020
Familial risk of dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy : a national family study in Sweden
No full textAIMS: This study aims to determine the familial incidence of dilated (DCM) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in first-degree, second-degree, and third-degree relatives of affected individuals.METHODS AND RESULTS: In this population-based multigenerational cohort study, full-siblings, half-siblings, and cousin pairs born to Swedish parents between 1932 and 2015 were included, and register-based DCM and HCM diagnoses among relatives were ascertained. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for DCM and HCM were calculated for relatives of individuals with DCM and HCM compared with relatives of individuals without DCM and HCM for reference. Total study population included 6 334 979 subjects and consisted of 5 577 449 full-siblings, 1 321 414 half-siblings, and 3 952 137 cousins. Overall, 10 272 (0.16%) unique individuals were diagnosed with DCM and 3769 (0.06%) with HCM. Of these, 7716 (75.12%) and 2375 (63.01%) were males, respectively. Familial risk ORs for DCM were 5.35 [95% confidence intervals (CI): 4.85-5.90] for full-siblings, 2.68 (95% CI:1.86-3.87) for half-siblings, and 1.72 (95% CI:1.12-2.64) for cousins of affected individuals. The ORs for HCM were 42.44 (95% CI:37.66-47.82) for full-siblings, 32.70 (95% CI:21.32-50.15) for half-siblings, and 36.96 (95% CI:29.50-46.31) for cousins of affected individuals. In sex-stratified analysis, relatives of affected females were found more likely to be affected than were relatives of affected males, with stronger aggregation observed for HCM.CONCLUSIONS: Familial risk of HCM and DCM is high and associated with genetic resemblance, with strongest aggregations observed in relatives of affected females with HCM, whereas this association was distinctly attenuated for DCM. The finding of a Carter effect, more pronounced in HCM, suggests a multifactorial threshold model of inheritance
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