Core requirements of frailty screening in the emergency department: an international Delphi consensus study.

Introduction: Frailty is associated with adverse outcomes among patients attending emergency departments (EDs). While multiple frailty screens are available, little is known about which variables are important to incorporate and how best to facilitate accurate, yet prompt ED screening. To understand the core requirements of frailty screening in ED, we conducted an international, modified, electronic two-round Delphi consensus study.

Clinical signs of trachoma and laboratory evidence of ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection in a remote Queensland community: a serial cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To compare the findings of standard clinical assessments and of complementary clinical and laboratory methods for determining whether community-wide treatment for trachoma is warranted in a remote Queensland community.

Design: Three cross-sectional screening surveys, 2019-2021, complemented by laboratory pathology testing.

Setting: Small community in northwest Queensland with geographic and cultural ties to Northern Territory communities where trachoma persists.

Addressing Tobacco Use in Underserved Communities Through a Peer-Facilitated Smoking Cessation Program.

Communities Engaged and Advocating for a Smoke-Free Environment (CEASE) is a long-standing research partnership between a university and the neighboring community that was established to reduce tobacco use among poor and underserved residents. The CEASE tobacco cessation program was implemented in four phases, with each new phase applying lessons learned from the previous phases to improve outcomes. This study describes CEASE's community-based approach and reports results from implementing the second phase of the intervention which, among other things, varied in the type of incentives, setting, and providers used.

REDCap for Biocontainment Worker Symptom Monitoring.

The Ebola epidemic of 2014 demonstrated that outbreaks of high-consequence infectious diseases, even in remote parts of the world, can affect communities anywhere in the developed world and that every healthcare facility must be prepared to identify, isolate, and provide care for infected patients. The Nebraska Biocontainment Unit (NBU), located at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska, cared for 3 American citizens exposed in West Africa and confirmed with Ebola virus disease (EVD). Symptom monitoring of healthcare workers caring for these patients was implemented, which included twice daily contact to document the absence or presence of signs of fever or illness.

What Differentiates Underserved Smokers Who Successfully Quit From Those Who Do Not.

Poor persons continue to smoke at high rates and suffer grave health effects. We have been working with our community partners since 2008 to help poor people in the surrounding neighborhoods stop smoking through a multi-phase CBPR intervention known as CEASE. Our study used qualitative methods to identify factors that characterized those who successfully quit smoking (doers) and those who did not (non-doers).

Association Between Socioeconomic Status and Tumor Grade Among Black Men with Prostate Cancer.

Background: Prostate cancer affects black men disproportionately. Black men have an increased incidence of prostate cancer diagnoses at earlier ages and higher grade as indicated by Gleason score, compared to other races. This study investigates the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on prostate cancer tumor grade among black men.

Examining Smoking Cessation in a Community-Based Versus Clinic-Based Intervention Using Community-Based Participatory Research.

Tobacco use remains a major public health problem in the U.S. disproportionately affecting underserved communities.

A Novel Public Library-Based Sexually Transmitted Infection Screening Program for Younger High-Risk Groups in Omaha, Nebraska, USA.

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) are the two most commonly reported sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States (U.S.) and Douglas County, Nebraska has STI rates consistently above the U.

Comparison of Opt-In Versus Opt-Out Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Inmates in a County Jail.

A majority of jails in the United States rely on an opt-in (voluntary) rather than opt-out (universal) approach to testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This study compares an opt-out approach at intake to opt-in testing during incarceration and estimates the prevalence of common STIs among jail inmates. Data derive from a universal intake pilot testing program (n = 298) and an established, student-led voluntary testing program (n = 1,963), respectively.

Smallpox Vaccination of Laboratory Workers at US Variola Testing Sites.

To evaluate the need to revaccinate laboratory workers against smallpox, we assessed regular revaccination at the US Laboratory Response Network's variola testing sites by examining barriers to revaccination and the potential for persistence of immunity. Our data do not provide evidence to suggest prolonging the recommended interval for revaccination.

Assessment of mental distress among prison inmates in Ghana's correctional system: a cross-sectional study using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale.

Background: Applying global estimates of the prevalence of mental disorders suggests that about 2.4 million Ghanaians have some form of psychiatric distress. Despite the facts that relatively little community-based treatment is available (only 18 psychiatrists are known to actively practice in Ghana), and that mental disorders are more concentrated among the incarcerated, there is no known research on mental disorders in Ghana prisons, and no forensic mental health services available to those who suffer from them.

Levels and determinants of low birth weight in infants delivered under the national health insurance scheme in Northern Ghana.

This research determined the levels and odds ratios for low birth weight (LBW) infants delivered under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) compared to LBW infants delivered under the previous "Cash and Carry" system in Northern Ghana. Birth records of infants delivered before and after implementation of the NHIS in Northern Ghana were examined. Records of each day's births during the identified periods were abstracted.

Do Infant Birth Outcomes Vary Among Mothers With and Without Health Insurance Coverage in Sub-Saharan Africa? Findings from the National Health Insurance and Cash and Carry Eras in Ghana, West Africa.

Background: Beginning in the late 1960's, and accelerating after 1985, a system known as "Cash and Carry" required the people of Ghana to pay for health services out-of-pocket before receiving them. In 2003, Ghana enacted a National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) (fully implemented by 2005) that allowed pregnant women to access antenatal care and hospital delivery services for low annual premiums tied to income. The objective of this study was to compare trends in low birth weight (LBW) among infants born under the NHIS with infants born during the Cash and Carry system when patients paid out-of-pocket for maternal and child health services.

Improving health services for residents through community-based participatory research: a public housing leadership perspective.

Background: In response to feedback from a health forum, resident leaders of public housing in Washington, DC, were inspired to create a health survey for and by the residents.

Objective: The survey was designed to document residents' concerns about health, health care, and environmental threats. It also explored tobacco use and support for smoke-free housing.

Health care access and utilization among ex-offenders in Baltimore: implications for policy.

The U.S. has the highest rate of incarceration in the world, releasing 12 million ex-offenders each year.

Covalent selection of the thiol proteome on activated thiol sepharose: a robust tool for redox proteomics.

Protein thiols contribute significantly to antioxidant defence and selective oxidation of cysteines is important in signal transduction even in sub-stress scenarios. However, cysteine is the second rarest residue in proteins and it can be difficult to target low-abundance thiol (-SH)-containing proteins in proteomic separations. Activated thiol sepharose (ATS) allows covalent selection of -SH-containing proteins which can then be recovered by reduction with mercaptoethanol or dithiothreitol.

The role of tobacco advertising and promotion: themes employed in litigation by tobacco industry witnesses.

Objectives: To identify key themes related to tobacco advertising and promotion in testimony provided by tobacco industry-affiliated witnesses in tobacco litigation, and to present countervailing evidence and arguments.

Methods: Themes in industry testimony were identified by review of transcripts of testimony in the Tobacco Deposition and Trial Testimony Archive (http://tobaccodocuments.org/datta) from a sample of defence witnesses, including three academic expert witnesses, six senior executives of tobacco companies, and one industry advertising consultant.