17 research outputs found
Assessing the uncertainty around age-mixing patterns in HIV transmission inferred from phylogenetic trees
No full textUnderstanding age-mixing patterns in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) transmission networks can enhance the design and implementation of HIV prevention strategies in sub-Saharan Africa. Due to ethical consideration, it is less likely possible to conduct a benchmark study to assess which sampling strategy, and sub-optimal sampling coverage which can yield best estimates for these patterns. We conducted a simulation study, using phylogenetic trees to infer estimates of age-mixing patterns in HIV transmission, through the computation of proportions of pairings between men and women, who were phylogenetically linked across different age groups (15-24 years, 25-39 years, and 40-49 years); and the means, and standard deviations of their age difference. We investigated also the uncertainty around these estimates as a function of the sampling coverage in four sampling strategies: when missing sequence data were missing completely at random (MCAR), and missing at random (MAR) with at most 30%-50%-70% of women in different age groups being in the sample. The results suggested that age-mixing patterns in HIV transmission can be unveiled from proportions of phylogenetic pairings between men and women across age groups; and the mean, and standard deviation of their age difference. A 55% sampling coverage was sufficient to provide the best values of estimates of age-mixing patterns in HIV transmission with MCAR scenario. But we should be cautious in interpreting proportions of men phylogenetically linked to women because they may be overestimated or underestimated, even at higher sampling coverage. The findings showed that, MCAR was the best sampling strategy. This means, it is advisable not to use sequence data collected in settings where we can find a systematic imbalance of age and gender to investigate age-mixing in HIV transmission. If not possible, ensure to take into consideration the imbalance in interpreting the results.This research was funded by NRF-TWAS grant number 100014 awarded to DN. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Niyukuri, D (corresponding author), Stellenbosch Univ, Div Epidemiol & Biostat, Fac Med & Hlth Sci, Cape Town, South Africa ; Stellenbosch Univ, South African Dept Sci & Technol, Natl Res Fdn DST NRF, Ctr Excellence Epidemiol Modelling & Anal SACEMA, Cape Town, South Africa.
[email protected]
AKULTURASI BUDAYA PADA TATA RIAS PENGANTIN ADAT MANDAR DI KABUPATEN POLEWALI MANDAR
No full textABSTRAK - Tata Rias pengantin adat Mandar merupakan tata rias pengantin yang bersumber dari kebudayaan asli suku Mandar. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan proses akulturasi pada Tata Rias, Penataan Rambut dan Aksesories Pengantin adat Mandar di Kabupaten Polewali Mandar. Jenis penelitian ini adalah deskriptif kualitatif. Teknik pengumpulan data adalah observasi wawancara, dan dokumentasi. Lokasi penelitian di Kabupaten Polewali Mandar Sulawesi Barat. Informan dalam penelitian ialah Pemangku adat, Budayawan, Dinas kebudayaan, Pemandu Museum Mandar, Salon Pengantin di Kabupaten Polewali Mandar. Data diproses melalui tahap reduksi data, penyajian data dan penarikan kesimpulan. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa pengantin adat Mandar Kabupaten Polewali Mandar bermula dari pengantin adat suku mandar yang masih tradisional dan sederhana dalam menggunakan bahan kosmetik, melakukan tata rias wajah, tata rias rambut dan aksesories pengantin, seiring kemajuan zaman, teknologi, ilmu pengetahuan, tren mode semuanya berubah dan mengalami akulturasi terlihat pada proses pemakaian bahan kosmetik, teknik merias wajah, teknik menata rambut dan penggunaan aksesories yang sudah instan digunakan dengan berbagai merek, penataan rambut lebih meniru adat bugis atau memilih berhijab, aksesories yang digunakan sebagian ada yang menambah dan mengurangi jumlahnya dengan model, bentuk dan warna yang dulunya kuning/emas mengganti dengan warna silver/putih sehingga tidak lagi memperhatikan makna, simbol, strata sosial dan nilai-nilai yang terkandung dalam tata rias pengantin adat Mandar, masyarakat seakan menutup mata terhadap kebudayaan yang telah lama dijalankan, dengan bebas memakai riasan wajah, menata rambut dan penggunaan aksesories bahkan busana adat pengantin yang semuanya itu dipengaruhi oleh minat, kemampuan ekonomi masyarakat Kab. Polewali mandar Kata kunci - Akulturasi, Tata Rias Pengantin Adat Manda
the effect of economic instability and asset poverty on feminine motivated violence, 2016
No full textThis study examines the effects that economic instability and asset poverty can have on a woman's risk for feminine motivated violence. Specifically, the study investigated factors that predict a woman's likelihood of experiencing feminine motivated violence: income, asset ownership, age, marital status, education status, and number of children. The sample size of this study was 49 participants, collected from a subject pool consisting of Black/African American women, ages of 18 years and older. The procedure consisted of answering a survey composed of demographic questions and questions related to the variables under study. The results indicated that age is one of the variables that predict a woman's likelihood of experiencing feminine motivated violence (p< .0405). The results also showed no statistically significant difference in the risk of feminine motivated violence, based on income (p< .412) or assets (p<.384)
Axillary web syndrome after treatment for breast cancer: An exploration of imaging evidence of fascial changes and its relationship to clinical variables
No full textBreast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and surgery remains the primary treatment. Evaluation of tumour spread is done by axillary lymph node assessment by surgical excision. Such invasive treatments, in conjunction with adjuvant therapies such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormonal therapy, may alter patient healing patterns giving rise to complications such as axillary web syndrome (AWS). AWS presents as a puckering web of axillary skin overlying a cord of tissue that tightens with shoulder abduction. It is painful, limits shoulder range of movement (ROM) and reduces the quality of life of the patients. The syndrome is elusive, does not occur in everyone and is thought to be self-limiting in nature with spontaneous cord resolution. Evidence, however, is pointing towards long-term morbidity in some patients. The cord itself has been hypothesised to be lymphatic or vascular in origin and damage during axillary surgery gives rise to the structure. Anatomically, the vascular structures are bound by the connective tissue network of fascia. The adhesive and puckering appearance of the cord on clinical examination and in limited biopsy studies could imply a possible role of damaged fascia in the syndrome. The fascia, as a three-dimensional body-wide network, has been shown to be a functional unit with the musculoskeletal system and is important in coordinating movement. Furthermore, the fascia contains numerous receptors imperative for proprioceptive and nociceptive functioning. The fibroblast cells and fibres that it comprises are involved in tissue healing and scar tissue formation. Chronic inflammation upon fascial damage can lead to tissue adhesions and fibrosis, rendering a non-functional scar. Ultrasonography (US) has been able to visualise fascial differences and has been used to examine fascial abnormalities including scars and adhesions. Physiotherapy treatment has been shown to aid in remobilising scar tissue and in being able to help improve morbidity in AWS patients. The authors therefore hypothesised that damaged fascia contributes to the symptomology of AWS. The present study set out to evaluate whether altered fascia plays a role in the syndrome using fascial explanations for risk factors in the AWS literature and US in patients with AWS to observe anatomical changes. Furthermore, the authors hypothesised that myofascial physiotherapy could aid in cord resolution and symptom improvement and that it would reflect in fascial changes on US. The current descriptive, observational, pilot, proof-of-concept case-series study focused on fascial changes before and after myofascial release physiotherapy in women presenting with AWS following breast cancer treatment (n = 11). At the time points, US in the area of interest (the axilla) and MRI scans of a single patient were done pre-physiotherapy. Furthermore, patient variables of ROM, pain and disability using the SPADI questionnaire, and quality of life using the FACT-B questionnaire, were evaluated to relate to any fascial differences between affected and unaffected arms on US and compared to findings after physiotherapy to determine trends. To observe fascial continuity, alignment of US scans was attempted. The results from the case studies and overall trends indicated thickened fascia, reduced continuity, decreased gliding potential and increased adherence between the different fascial layers on US in the majority of patients on the affected arm in the area of interest suggesting that they are changes resulting from the treatment. The findings related to the external cord appearance. On MRI, a fibrous band of tissue was observed connecting to muscles and skin. The findings were found to descriptively show a trend with reduced ROM and increased SPADI scores. No descriptive relationship with FACT-B was noted. Several patients (n = 6) continued with physiotherapy for six treatments. The treatment proved beneficial for all patients, who improved on ROM and SPADI scores. However, not all their symptoms were completely resolved. The findings corroborate observations on US showing improved gliding, more regular and organised fascia, and less adhesions post-physiotherapy. Cord resolution or reduction occurred in half of the patients. Risk factors for AWS as identified in the literature and related to the patients, such as more invasive treatments and (neo)adjuvant therapies, were explained to cause more fibrosis and possibly contributed to the symptoms seen but could not be verified in the study due to the small, varied sample. Furthermore, due to the difficulty of finding suitable patients and the low sample size, the current study could not statistically corroborate many correlations and hence was limited to descriptive trend description. Using the fascial literature, restricted fascia and adhesions could be explained to lead to biomechanical limitations, explaining reduced ROM and nociceptor activation as seen in pain reported in the study. A fibrosed vessel damaged during axillary surgery as well as surrounding fascial changes, which occurred as the result of the healing response, could explain the varying appearances of the cord. The author concluded that the trends seen suggest a link for morbidity resulting from fascial damage and adds weight to the evidence of fascial involvement in AWS. Wider fascial involvement on US and MRI descriptively related to the presence of cording, limited shoulder ROM and pain before and improvements and changes in the domains after physiotherapy, supported the hypotheses. The present study highlighted that myofascial release can be beneficial for patients suffering from AWS and suggests that US may be a feasible outcome measure to aid in evaluating fascia and fibrosis subsequent to physiotherapy, guide it and determine its efficacy. Furthermore, risk factors need to be identified to implement an early warning system for the sequelae of breast cancer so that patients at risk are identified timeously and receive the help they need to minimise the effect of the syndrome on their wellbeing in order to improve their quality of life
Perception of Neighborhood Crime and Drugs Increases Cardiometabolic Risk in Chilean Adolescents
No full textArtículo de publicación ISIPurpose: Studies report an association between neighborhood risk and both obesity and cardiometabolic
risk factors (CMR) among adolescents. Here we describe the effect of perceived
neighborhood risk on adiposity and CMR among Chilean adolescents.
Methods: Participants were 523 low- to middle-income Chilean adolescents. We assessed
neighborhood risk in early adolescence, adiposity in childhood and in early and later adolescence,
and blood pressure and fasting glucose in later adolescence. Neighborhood risk profiles were
estimated using latent profile analysis (LPA) and based on reported perceptions of crime and drug
sales/use. Using linear and logistic regression, we examined the effect of neighborhood risk on
adiposity and CMR.
Results: Mean age in early and later adolescence was 14 and 17 years, respectively. Participants
were 52% male, with a mean BMI z-score of .67, and 8% met criteria for metabolic syndrome.
LPA identified two neighborhood profiles: 61% low risk and 39% high risk. In later adolescence,
being in the high risk profile predicted a higher BMI z-score, waist-to-height ratio, and fat mass
index (p < .05). Adolescents in the high risk profile had three times greater odds of meeting
criteria for metabolic syndrome (OR ¼ 3.1, 95% CI: 1.5, 5.8) compared with those in the low risk
profile.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that there are physiological responses to living in a neighborhood
perceived as “risky,” which may contribute to obesity and CMR even in adolescence. For
Chilean neighborhoods with high crime and drugs, targeted public health interventions and policies
for youth could be beneficial.This research was funded by R01HL088530 (NIH-NHLBI, PI:
Gahagan); R01HD33487 (NIH-NICHD, PIs: Lozoff and Gahagan);
R01DA021181 (NIH-NIDA, PI: Delva). The first author acknowledges
D. Eastern Kang Sim for his support
Gender differences in psychological factors shaping smoking decisions of Chilean adolescents
No full textThis study examined gender differences in how internalizing and externalizing symptoms affect adolescents’ decisions about smoking in Chile, where girls smoke at some of the highest rates in the world. In multivariate logistic regression analyses with 607 adolescents, internalizing symptoms, such as depressed mood and anxiety, predicted smoking among girls more than boys, with girls who were low in internalizing symptoms being more likely to smoke than those who were high in internalizing symptoms. In Chile’s high-risk context, internalizing symptoms may be indirectly protective for girls by decreasing their exposure to peer pressure and related influences that encourage cigarette use.The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study was funded by the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (Grant R01-DA-022720). (R01-DA-022720 - U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse)http://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC5014729&blobtype=pdfhttp://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC5014729&blobtype=pdfAccepted manuscrip
Parental perceptions of neighborhood effects in Latino comunas: the script of "the delinquent" in understanding drug use, violence, and social disorganization
No full textOBJECTIVES: To obtain rich information about how adult Latinos living in high-poverty/high-drug use neighborhoods perceive and negotiate their environment.
METHODS: In 2008, thirteen adult caregivers in Santiago, Chile were interviewed with open-ended questions to ascertain beliefs about neighborhood effects and drug use.
ANALYSIS: Inductive analysis was used to develop the codebook/identify trends.
DISCUSSION: Residents externalized their understanding of drug use and misuse by invoking the concept of delinquent youth. A typology of their perceptions is offered. Learning more about residents’ circumstances may help focus on needs-based interventions. More research with Latino neighborhoods is needed for culturally-competent models of interventions.The present study received support from National Hispanic Science Network Fellows Summer grant awarded to the lead author. The study was also partially supported by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01:DA021181) and the Vivian A. and James L. Curtis School of Social Work Research and Training Center, University of Michigan. (National Hispanic Science Network; R01:DA021181 - National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Drug Abuse; Vivian A. and James L. Curtis School of Social Work Research and Training Center, University of Michigan
Delayed Disease Onset Report in UK Biobank: Implications for Prodromal Studies in Parkinson\u27s Disease
No full text\ua9 2025 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.Background: UK Biobank (UKBB) provides extensive genetic, imaging, and health data for ~500,000 participants, enabling studies of prodromal phases of diseases like Parkinson\u27s disease (PD). However, during analysis, we became concerned about the accuracy of diagnosis timing. Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of PD diagnosis timing in UKBB. Methods: We examined PD diagnosis timing using hospital, primary care, death records, and self-reported data. We assessed discrepancies between sources and identified co-occurring diagnoses recorded on the same date as PD. Results: Among 3979 PD cases, 97% of the 786 participants with both self-reported and electronic health records (EHRs) reported their diagnosis earlier than recorded in the EHR, with a typical delay of 5 to 7 years. Multiple codiagnoses were often logged on the same date, suggesting retrospective or batch data entry. Conclusions: Substantial delays in PD documentation may misclassify already diagnosed individuals as prodromal. This introduces significant bias into studies of early disease markers and distorts the timing between risk factors and clinical onset. \ua9 2025 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Food neophobia levels of Lebanese and American college students
No full textFood neophobia, defined as the reluctance to eat novel foods, is a personality trait that influences everyday human food choices. The objectives of this work were first, to compare food neophobia levels among American and Lebanese college students (n = 1122), second to assess the effect of personal variables such as country of residence, socio-economic status (SES) on food neophobia levels, and third to examine the effect of food neophobia levels on the familiarity and willingness to try ratings of familiar and novel foods. Average food neophobia scale (FNS) score for all respondents was 33.1 ± 11.3. Differences on FNS scores were obtained between American (29.8) and Lebanese (36.4) students (P 0.05). Number of trips taken outside the country, frequency of eating ethnic foods and history of sickness after eating a new food were significant (P 0.05). Food neophilic subjects had higher familiarity and willingness to try scores for familiar and novel foods. © 2009.Arvola A, 1999, APPETITE, V32, P113, DOI 10.1006-appe.1998.0181; Backstrom A, 2004, APPETITE, V43, P75, DOI 10.1016-j.appet.2004.03.004; Batsell WR, 1998, LEARN MOTIV, V29, P383, DOI 10.1006-lmot.1998.1016; BIRCH LL, 1982, APPETITE, V3, P353; Borders TF, 2007, J RURAL HEALTH, V23, P314, DOI 10.1111-j.1748-0361.2007.00109.x; Bures J., 1998, CONDITIONED TASTE AV; Delva J, 2007, AM J PREV MED, V33, pS178, DOI 10.1016-j.amepre.2007.07.008; Falciglia GA, 2000, J AM DIET ASSOC, V100, P1474, DOI 10.1016-S0002-8223(00)00412-0; Flight I, 2003, APPETITE, V41, P51, DOI 10.1016-S0195-6663(03)00039-4; Galloway AT, 2003, J AM DIET ASSOC, V103, P692, DOI 10.1053-jada.2003.50134; Hursti UKK, 1997, APPETITE, V29, P89, DOI 10.1006-appe.1997.0108; Loewen R, 1999, APPETITE, V32, P351, DOI 10.1006-appe.1998.0216; MacNicol SAM, 2003, PERS INDIV DIFFER, V35, P1753, DOI 10.1016-S0191-8869(02)00404-X; Martins Y, 2005, APPETITE, V45, P214, DOI 10.1016-j.appet.2005.08.002; Meiselman HL, 1999, FOOD QUAL PREFER, V10, P1, DOI 10.1016-S0950-3293(98)00013-5; PLINER P, 1982, APPETITE, V3, P283; PLINER P, 1993, APPETITE, V20, P111, DOI 10.1006-appe.1993.1013; PLINER P, 1992, APPETITE, V19, P105, DOI 10.1016-0195-6663(92)90014-W; Raudenbush B, 1999, APPETITE, V32, P261, DOI 10.1006-appe.1999.0229; Rigal N, 2006, APPETITE, V46, P207, DOI 10.1016-j.appet.2006.01.001; Rigal N, 2005, ARCH PEDIATRIE, V12, P1714, DOI 10.1016-j.arcped.2005.02.031; Ritchey PN, 2003, APPETITE, V40, P163, DOI 10.1016-S0195-6663(02)00134-4; ROZIN P, 1986, LEARN MOTIV, V17, P180, DOI 10.1016-0023-9690(86)90009-3; Tuorila H, 2001, FOOD QUAL PREFER, V12, P29, DOI 10.1016-S0950-3293(00)00025-2; US Census Bureau, 2006, AM COMM SURV15171
Delayed Disease Onset Report in UK Biobank: Implications for Prodromal Studies in Parkinson's Disease
No full textBACKGROUND: UK Biobank (UKBB) provides extensive genetic, imaging, and health data for ~500,000 participants, enabling studies of prodromal phases of diseases like Parkinson's disease (PD). However, during analysis, we became concerned about the accuracy of diagnosis timing. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of PD diagnosis timing in UKBB. METHODS: We examined PD diagnosis timing using hospital, primary care, death records, and self-reported data. We assessed discrepancies between sources and identified co-occurring diagnoses recorded on the same date as PD. RESULTS: Among 3979 PD cases, 97% of the 786 participants with both self-reported and electronic health records (EHRs) reported their diagnosis earlier than recorded in the EHR, with a typical delay of 5 to 7 years. Multiple codiagnoses were often logged on the same date, suggesting retrospective or batch data entry. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial delays in PD documentation may misclassify already diagnosed individuals as prodromal. This introduces significant bias into studies of early disease markers and distorts the timing between risk factors and clinical onset. © 2025 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
