Racial and geographical disparities in oesophageal cancer incidence, mortality and county-level risk factors in the state of Mississippi between 2003 and 2019: a descriptive analysis.

Background: Oesophageal cancer is one of the most aggressive cancers. The aim was to describe the disparities in oesophageal cancer incidence and mortality, and county-level factors in the state of Mississippi from 2003 to 2019 by sex, race, and geolocation.

Methods: This study used data from the Mississippi Cancer Registry, linked to county-level data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, the American Community Survey, and the Institutes for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

Barriers and facilitators for low-dose computed tomography lung cancer screening in rural populations in the United States: a scoping review protocol.

Objective: The objective of this scoping review is to identify barriers and facilitators for low-dose computed tomography lung cancer screening uptake and adherence among rural populations in the United States.

Introduction: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, and cancer patients from rural areas have poorer outcomes than those from metropolitan areas. Evidence exists that lung cancer screening by low-dose computed tomography significantly increases survival time but is also significantly underutilized.

Immunization data quality and decision making in pertussis outbreak management in southern Ethiopia: a cross sectional study.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the quality of immunization data and monitoring systems in the Dara Malo District (Woreda) of the Gamo Administrative Zone, within the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) of Ethiopia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from August 4 to September 27, 2019, in Dara Malo District. The district was purposively selected during the management of a pertussis outbreak, based on a hypothesis of 'there is no difference in reported and recounted immunization status of children 7 to 23 months in Dara Malo District of Ethiopia'.

Comparison of maternal and child health service performances following a leadership, management, and governance intervention in Ethiopia: a propensity score matched analysis.

Background: Leadership, management, and governance (LMG) interventions play a significant role in improving management systems, enhancing the work climate, and creating responsive health systems. Hence, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health with the support of the USAID Transform: Primary Health Care project has been implementing LMG interventions to improve performances of primary healthcare entities. The purpose of this evaluation was to compare maternal and child health service performances and overall health system strengthening measurement results of primary health care entities by LMG intervention exposed groups.

Implementing a Social Accountability Approach for Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health Service Performances in Ethiopia: A Pre-Post Study Design.

Background: Social accountability approaches, such as the community scorecard (CSC), can improve the performance of health systems in low-income countries by providing a mechanism for obtaining and incorporating community input. This longitudinal study assessed the effects of CSCs implemented by primary health care units (PHCUs) on health system performance in Ethiopia.

Methods: This study used a pre-post design and was conducted from October 2018 to September 2019 in 159 PHCUs in 31 districts in Amhara and Southern, Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' regional states.

Pertussis outbreak in southern Ethiopia: challenges of detection, management, and response.

Background: Despite the availability of effective vaccines, pertussis remains endemic with high fatality rates in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). This study aims to describe an outbreak of pertussis in a health district of Ethiopia. The study highlights the challenges faced by the health system in identifying pertussis cases and appropriately responding to the outbreak at the district level.

Making Breast Screening Convenient: a Community-Based Breast Screening Event During a Historically Black University's Homecoming Festivities.

A breast screening event was conducted during the homecoming festivities of a historically Black university located in a rural county in Mississippi. Two healthcare providers performed clinical breast exams for 26 African American women during the event. This was a prime opportunity to make breast screening accessible for non-elderly African American women.

Report card on tobacco use in Mississippi, 2009.

Mississippians are failing in their health status particularly as it relates to tobacco use. According to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2008, 22.7% of Mississippi adults are current smokers compared to 18.

Use of state cancer surveillance data to estimate the cancer burden in disaster-affected areas--Hurricane Katrina, 2005.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to estimate the burden of cancer in counties affected by Hurricane Katrina using population-based cancer registry data, and to discuss issues related to cancer patients who have been displaced by disasters.

Methods: The cancer burden was assessed in 75 counties in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi that were designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as eligible for individual and public assistance. Data from the National Program of Cancer Registries were used to determine three-year average annual age-adjusted incidence rates and case counts during the diagnosis years 2000-2002 for Louisiana and Alabama.

Distribution of the receptor for advanced glycation end products in the human male reproductive tract: prevalence in men with diabetes mellitus.

Background: Diabetics have a significantly higher percentage of sperm with nuclear DNA (nDNA) fragmentation and increased levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), in their testis, epididymis and sperm. As the receptor for AGEs (RAGE) is important to oxidative stress and cell dysfunction, we hypothesise, that it may be involved in sperm nDNA damage.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine the presence of RAGE in the human testis and epididymis.