Analysis of In-Home Movement Patterns for Depression Assessment in Older Adults - A Feasibility Study.

Depression significantly impacts the wellbeing of older Australians, posing considerable challenges to their overall quality of life. This study aimed to detect in-home movement patterns of participants that could be indicative of depressive states. Utilising data collected over a 12-month period via smart home ambient sensors, this feasibility study conducted a comparative analysis using machine learning techniques on features derived from motion sensors, sociodemographic variables, and the Geriatric Depression Scale.

An antiracism framework for educating nursing professionals.

Background: A conceptual, methodological, and theoretical framework is needed in Nursing Education to center racism, in the curriculum, as a root cause of health inequity.

Purpose: To provide Nursing and health professions' educators with a comprehensive unifying framework to fundamentally conceptualize and deliver a curriculum which positions racism's impact as a root cause of health inequities.

Methods: Critical race theory is the underpinning for a historical analysis of racism and a critique of scientific racism, whiteness, and white supremacy ideologies that perpetuate harmful and lethal outcomes for racialized individuals and communities.

Detecting Depression-related Movement Changes in Older Adults using Smart Home Motion Sensors - A Feasibility Study.

Smart home sensor data is being increasingly used to identify health risks through passive tracking of specific behaviours and activity patterns. This study explored the feasibility of using motion sensor data to track changes in daytime movement patterns within the home, and their potential association with depression in older adults. This study analysed the motion sensor data collected during a one-year smart home trial, and explored their association with Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) scores collected at three different time points during the trial (i.

Machine Learning to Identify Behavioral Determinants of Oral Health in Inner City Older Hispanic Adults.

We applied machine learning techniques to a community-based behavioral dataset to build prediction models to gain insights about minority dental health and population aging as the foundation for future interventions for urban Hispanics. Our application of machine learning techniques identified emotional and systemic factors such as chronic stress and health literacy as the strongest predictors of self-reported dental health among hundreds of possible variables. Application of machine learning algorithms was useful to build prediction models to gain insights about dental health and minority population aging.

From the Bench to the Barbershop: Community Engagement to Raise Awareness About Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant and Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

Background: Infectious diseases, such as hepatitis C and community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA), are emerging health issues.

Objectives: The CA-MRSA Project (CAMP1) extended its learning collaborative to the barbershop/hair salon settings to increase awareness and prevention of CA-MRSA and hepatitis C infections.

Methods: Education sessions on CA-MRSA and hepatitis C were conducted with 43 estheticians at nine barbershop/hair salons in New York City.

Types of dental fear as barriers to dental care among African American adults with oral health symptoms in Harlem.

To examine the types of dental fear experienced by African American adults and the role of these fears in the utilization of dental care, in-depth interviews were conducted with a street-intercept sample of 118 African Americans living in Harlem, New York City, who had experienced at least one oral health symptom in the past six months. Despite their oral symptoms, participants delayed or avoided dental care (often for years) due to a variety of dental fears, including fears of: 1) pain from needles; 2) the dental drill; 3) having teeth extracted; 4) contracting an illness (e.g.

Insurance-related barriers to accessing dental care among African American adults with oral health symptoms in Harlem, New York City.

Although ability to pay is associated with dental care utilization, provision of public or private dental insurance has not eliminated dental care disparities between African American and White adults. We examined insurance-related barriers to dental care in interviews with a street-intercept sample of 118 African American adults in Harlem, New York City, with recent oral health symptoms. Although most participants reported having dental insurance (21% private, 50% Medicaid), reported barriers included (1) lack of coverage, (2) insufficient coverage, (3) inability to find a dentist who accepts their insurance, (4) having to wait for coverage to take effect, and (5) perceived poor quality of care for the uninsured or underinsured.

Maternal periodontitis treatment and child neurodevelopment at 24 to 28 months of age.

Background: Some maternal infections are associated with impaired infant cognitive and motor performance. Periodontitis results in frequent bacteremia and elevated serum inflammatory mediators.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if periodontitis treatment in pregnant women affects infant cognitive, motor, or language development.

The role of enrichment programs in strengthening the academic Pipeline to dental education.

Academic enrichment programs can be essential to efforts by dental schools to recruit and enroll underrepresented minority students (URM). Many summer academic enrichment programs provide additional preparation and support to URM students in the sciences. They often address barriers to student achievement such as unevenness in academic preparation, less rigorous educational background, family influence on preparation aspiration and success, unease in a new setting, and lack of professional role models.

Serum inflammatory mediators in pregnancy: changes after periodontal treatment and association with pregnancy outcomes.

Background: The purposes of this study were to determine: 1) if periodontal treatment in pregnant women before 21 weeks of gestation alters levels of inflammatory mediators in serum; and 2) if changes in these mediators are associated with birth outcomes.

Methods: A total of 823 pregnant women with periodontitis were randomly assigned to receive scaling and root planing before 21 weeks of gestation or after delivery. Serum obtained between 13 and 16 weeks, 6 days (study baseline) and 29 to 32 weeks of gestation was analyzed for C-reactive protein; prostaglandin E(2); matrix metalloproteinase-9; fibrinogen; endotoxin; interleukin (IL)-1 beta, -6, and -8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

Systemic immune responses in pregnancy and periodontitis: relationship to pregnancy outcomes in the Obstetrics and Periodontal Therapy (OPT) study.

Background: Our previous studies reported on the obstetric, periodontal, and microbiologic outcomes of women participating in the Obstetrics and Periodontal Therapy (OPT) Study. This article describes the systemic antibody responses to selected periodontal bacteria in the same patients.

Methods: Serum samples, obtained from pregnant women at baseline (13 to 16 weeks; 6 days of gestation) and 29 to 32 weeks, were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody to Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (previously Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans), Campylobacter rectus, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythia (previously T.

Change in periodontitis during pregnancy and the risk of pre-term birth and low birthweight.

Aim: Determine whether periodontitis progression during pregnancy is associated with adverse birth outcomes.

Methods: We used clinical data and birth outcomes from the Obstetrics and Periodontal Therapy Study, in which randomly selected women received periodontal treatment before 21 weeks of gestation (N=413) or after delivery (410). Birth outcomes were available for 812 women and follow-up periodontal data for 722, including 75 whose pregnancies ended <37 weeks.

A novel method for detection of phosphorylation in single cells by surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) using composite organic-inorganic nanoparticles (COINs).

Background: Detection of single cell epitopes has been a mainstay of immunophenotyping for over three decades, primarily using fluorescence techniques for quantitation. Fluorescence has broad overlapping spectra, limiting multiplexing abilities.

Methodology/principal Findings: To expand upon current detection systems, we developed a novel method for multi-color immuno-detection in single cells using "Composite Organic-Inorganic Nanoparticles" (COINs) Raman nanoparticles.

Increasing minority enrollment utilizing dental admissions workshop strategies.

Oral Health in America, the landmark U.S. surgeon general's report, inextricably connects oral health disparities with poor access to oral care by vulnerable populations.

Multiparameter analysis of intracellular phosphoepitopes in immunophenotyped cell populations by flow cytometry.

This unit presents protocols for measuring intracellular phosphoepitopes by flow cytometry for biochemical investigations in both human and murine primary cells as well as in cell lines. Conventional methods that require cellular lysis cannot discriminate between proteins from different cellular subsets. Intracellular detection of phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated signaling molecules, on the other hand, has recently exposed the heterogeneity that can be observed upon signal transduction.

Examining the safety of dental treatment in pregnant women.

Background: Although clinicians generally consider it safe to provide dental care for pregnant women, supporting clinical trial evidence is lacking. This study compares safety outcomes from a trial in which pregnant women received scaling and root planing and other dental treatments.

Methods: The authors randomly assigned 823 women with periodontitis to receive scaling and root planing, either at 13 to 21 weeks' gestation or up to three months after delivery.

The oral health status of adolescents in northern Manhattan.

Objectives. This study was designed to describe the oral health status of adolescents residing in northern Manhattan. Methods.

Inhibition of HMGcoA reductase by atorvastatin prevents and reverses MYC-induced lymphomagenesis.

Statins are a class of drugs that inhibit 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMGcoA) reductase, a critical enzyme in the mevalonate pathway. Several reports document that statins may prevent different human cancers. However, whether or not statins can prevent cancer is controversial due to discordant results.

Increasing the enrollment of underrepresented minority dental students: experiences from the dental pipeline program.

Dental educators have been trying to increase enrollment of underrepresented minority (URM) students for many years with limited success. The Pipeline, Profession, and Practice: Community-Based Dental Education program has developed or been affiliated with several innovative strategies for increasing the enrollment of URM students in U.S.

Differential role of ICAM ligands in determination of human memory T cell differentiation.

Background: Leukocyte Function Antigen-1 (LFA-1) is a primary adhesion molecule that plays important roles in T cell activation, leukocyte recirculation, and trans-endothelial migration. By applying a multivariate intracellular phospho-proteomic analysis, we demonstrate that LFA-1 differentially activates signaling molecules.

Results: Signal intensity was dependent on both ICAM ligand and LFA-1 concentration.

Treatment of periodontal disease and the risk of preterm birth.

Background: Maternal periodontal disease has been associated with an increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight. We studied the effect of nonsurgical periodontal treatment on preterm birth.

Methods: We randomly assigned women between 13 and 17 weeks of gestation to undergo scaling and root planing either before 21 weeks (413 patients in the treatment group) or after delivery (410 patients in the control group).

Addressing health care disparities and increasing workforce diversity: the next step for the dental, medical, and public health professions.

The racial/ethnic composition of our nation is projected to change drastically in the coming decades. It is therefore important that the health professions improve their efforts to provide culturally competent care to all patients. We reviewed literature concerning health care disparities and workforce diversity issues--particularly within the oral health field--and provide a synthesis of recommendations to address these issues.

Cultural diversity and its role in reducing oral health disparities.

African-American, Hispanic and Native-American/Alaskan Native dental students and professionals are often referred to as underrepresented minorities (URMs) because of their poor representation in the profession compared to their proportion in the U.S. population.

Breaking the code.

University Physician Associates of New Jersey learned a number of lessons in implementing electronic charge capture: Using informal physician leaders to support the training process helped encourage adoption of new technology. Training was best accomplished in a group setting, where physician leaders could serve as role models. Approaching the project incrementally helped to achieve reasonable comfort levels.