Socioeconomic inequality in the outcomes of a psychological intervention for depression for South Africans with a co-occurring chronic disease: A decomposition analysis.

Task-shared psychological interventions are effective for reducing the severity of depression symptoms, but differences in treatment outcome by socioeconomic status is uncertain. This study examines socioeconomic inequalities (SEI) in depression outcomes among people with HIV and/or diabetes who participated in a cluster randomised controlled trial in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The trial took place at 24 primary care clinics randomised to deliver a task-shared psychological intervention or treatment as usual (TAU).

Parents' Experiences of Raising 7- to 11-Year-Old Children With ADHD and Perception of a Proposed Parenting Program: A Qualitative Study.

Objective: To examine the experiences of Australian parents raising primary school-aged children with ADHD and gather feedback on a proposed ADHD parenting program.

Methods: Reflexive thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews undertaken with 11 Australian parents of 7- to 11-year-old children with ADHD. Interviews were conducted over Webex, audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed in NVivo Ltd.

Wellbeing and the Lived Experience of Injured Workers Following Finalisation of a Workers' Compensation Claim.

Purpose: Workers' compensation claims can negatively affect the wellbeing of injured workers. For some, these negative effects continue beyond finalisation of the workers' compensation claim. It is unclear what factors influence wellbeing following finalisation of a workers' compensation claim.

Well-being After Finalization of a Workers' Compensation Claim: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Objective: Injured workers can be disadvantaged after a workers' compensation claims ends. This study investigated the association of a range of variables with well-being in injured workers who had finalized a workers' compensation claim >3 months prior.

Methods: On-line, cross-sectional survey (n = 129, 55.

Relationship Between Criminal and Status Offense Behaviors, Substance Use, and HIV Risk Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Cape Town, South Africa.

This study aimed to examine the relationship between externalizing behaviors, substance use, and sexual risk among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Cape Town, South Africa, who experience social disadvantage characterized by poverty and school dropout. We analyzed baseline data from 500 AGYW in a cluster-randomized trial who had dropped out of school. Multivariate logistic regression models explored associations between self-reported criminal behaviors and other status offenses, heavy episodic drinking, polydrug use, and condomless sex.

Correction: An Artificial Therapist (Manage Your Life Online) to Support the Mental Health of Youth: Co-Design and Case Series.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2196/46849.].

Transcription factors ASCL1 and OLIG2 drive glioblastoma initiation and co-regulate tumor cell types and migration.

Glioblastomas (GBMs) are highly aggressive, infiltrative, and heterogeneous brain tumors driven by complex genetic alterations. The basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors ASCL1 and OLIG2 are dynamically co-expressed in GBMs; however, their combinatorial roles in regulating the plasticity and heterogeneity of GBM cells are unclear. Here, we show that induction of somatic mutations in subventricular zone (SVZ) progenitor cells leads to the dysregulation of ASCL1 and OLIG2, which then function redundantly and are required for brain tumor formation in a mouse model of GBM.

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy With Instillation as an Early Intervention for Extensive Wounds From Necrotizing Fasciitis: A Case Study.

Background: Ms. S was a 50-year-old woman hospitalized with necrotizing fasciitis from a labial abscess. After several surgical interventions wound debridements were performed consecutively for 6 days.

Increases in employment over six months following Khanya: A secondary analysis of a pilot randomized controlled trial of a peer-delivered behavioral intervention for substance use and HIV medication adherence in Cape Town, South Africa.

Introduction: Evidence suggests that brief, skills-based behavioral interventions are effective at improving clinical outcomes related to substance use and HIV, but little data exists on whether such interventions can incidentally improve employment. We examined preliminary changes in employment over six months following Khanya, a brief peer-delivered behavioral intervention to reduce substance use and improve antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence compared to enhanced treatment as usual (ETAU).

Methods: Adults living with HIV (N = 61) with at least moderate substance use and ART non-adherence were recruited from a primary care clinic in Khayelitsha, South Africa, a community with high rates of unemployment.

A Structural Mechanism for Noncanonical GPCR Signal Transduction in the Hedgehog Pathway.

The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is fundamental to embryogenesis, tissue homeostasis, and cancer. Hh signals are transduced via an unusual mechanism: upon agonist-induced phosphorylation, the noncanonical G protein-coupled receptor SMOOTHENED (SMO) binds the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A (PKA-C) and physically blocks its enzymatic activity. By combining computational structural approaches with biochemical and functional studies, we show that SMO mimics strategies prevalent in canonical GPCR and PKA signaling complexes, despite little sequence or secondary structural homology.

Using Phosphatidylethanol as an Adjunct to Self-Reported Alcohol Use Improves Identification of Liver Fibrosis Risk.

Introduction: Accurate assessment of alcohol use informs prevention and management of liver disease. We examined whether phosphatidylethanol (PEth, an alcohol metabolite) blood concentrations are associated with liver fibrosis risk independently of self-reported alcohol use, among persons with and without HIV.

Methods: We pooled individual-level data from 12 studies from the United States, Russia, Uganda, and South Africa with PEth, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C), and fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) measurements.

Repeated presentation of visual threats drives innate fear habituation and is modulated by environmental and physiological factors.

To survive predation, animals must be able to detect and appropriately respond to predator threats in their environment. Such defensive behaviors are thought to utilize hard-wired neural circuits for threat detection, sensorimotor integration, and execution of ethologically relevant behaviors. Despite being hard-wired, defensive behaviors (i.

In Silico Design of Novel RGS2-G Interaction Inhibitors with Anticancer Activity.

Regulators of G-protein signaling (RGS) are a family of approximately 30 proteins that bind to and deactivate the alpha subunits of G-proteins (G) by accelerating their GTP hydrolysis rates, which terminates G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling. Thus, RGS proteins are essential in regulating GPCR signaling, and most members are implicated as critical nodes in human diseases such as hypertension, depression, and others. Regulator of G-protein signaling 2 (RGS2), a member of the R4 family of RGS proteins, is overexpressed in many solid breast cancers, and its levels in prostate cancer significantly correlate with the metastatic stage and poor prognosis.

Social determinants of health and diabetes self-care management in South Africa.

Objective: Diabetes is an incapacitating condition affecting millions of people in South Africa. Maintaining optimal glycaemic control is crucial in preventing diabetes complications, highlighting the importance of diabetes self-care. This study examined how Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) are associated with self-care management practices in individuals with diabetes in South Africa using the framework developed by the Healthy People 2020 initiative.

Participant experiences with a text message and contingency management intervention for alcohol use during pregnancy and lactation in Cape Town, South Africa.

Background: The Western Cape region of South Africa has one of the highest global rates of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), underscoring the urgent need for effective interventions. This qualitative study explores pregnant and lactating participants' perceptions and experiences of a text message and contingency management (CM) intervention.

Methods: The study involved post-intervention interviews with 10 pregnant participants and 10 post-partum lactating participants.

A protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial of unguided internet cognitive behaviour therapy for grief in adolescents.

Grief is highly prevalent in adolescents, however, there have been no studies investigating internet delivered cognitive behaviour therapy for grief in adolescents (ICBT-G-A). In this paper, the co-design of an unguided ICBT-G-A intervention is described, and a protocol outlined for a pilot randomised controlled trial of the intervention. Participants will be randomised to the intervention (delivered via eight modules over a four-week period) or a four-week waitlist control.

Hip Strength, Change of Direction, and Falls in Recreational Pickleball Players.

Background: While a high incidence of pickleball-related falls is reported, little is known regarding factors differentiating persons with and without a fall history during play.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine differences between recreational pickleball players who fell while playing and those who did not. Additional aims were to determine reasons for falling and to investigate associations among assessed factors.

Sex-specific cardiac remodeling in aged rats after adolescent chronic stress: associations with endocrine and metabolic factors.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death worldwide. Rates of cardiovascular disease vary both across the lifespan and between sexes. While multiple factors, including adverse life experiences, impact the development and progression of cardiovascular disease, the potential interactions of biological sex and stress history on the aged heart are unknown.

Barriers to and enablers of the transition from child and adolescent to adult mental health services for autistic young people and/or those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: protocol for a scoping review.

Introduction: Autistic young people and/or those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who have co-occurring mental health conditions experience significant challenges when transitioning from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to adult mental health services (AMHS). However, barriers and facilitators to this service transition are poorly understood for this population. This scoping review aims to synthesise the available evidence on barriers and enablers to the transition from CAMHS to AMHS for autistic young people and/or those with ADHD.

Patient and provider perceptions of the relationship between alcohol use and TB and readiness for treatment: a qualitative study in South Africa.

Background: Unhealthy alcohol use is widespread in South Africa and has been linked to tuberculosis (TB) disease and poor treatment outcomes. This study used qualitative methods to explore the relationship between TB and alcohol use during TB treatment.

Methods: Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 34 participants who had previous or current drug-susceptible TB and self-reported current alcohol use.

Associations between childbirth, gang exposure and substance use among young women in Cape Town, South Africa.

The prevalence and influence of gangs on adolescents and young adults remain a concern in Western Cape, South Africa-particularly as they have one of the largest gang presence. While less attention has been focused on young women, there is a need to elucidate the relationship between gang exposure and health behaviors, such substance use, in addition to understanding whether becoming a caregiver impacts this relationship. This study uses baseline data from 496 participants enrolled in a NIDA-funded R01 trial that recruited young women aged 16 to 19 who were out of school and reported recent alcohol or other drug use and sexual risk behavior.