The Spirit of Human Rights: Universal Health Coverage in Makueni County, Kenya.

In view of the United Nations' goal to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030, this paper investigates MakueniCare, the highly successful UHC program in Makueni County, Kenya, to reveal the spirit of human rights underlying it. Drawing on international, Kenyan, and Makueni County law and policy, as well as 30 interviews with government and civil society leaders in health care policy and programming at the national and county levels, we examine the human rights law and principles that underlie the adoption and implementation of MakueniCare. We first set out key human rights principles grounded in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the 2010 Kenyan Constitution, and then describe the research design and methodology of the project.

Social Determinants of Quality of Life in the Last Year of Life Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Multimorbidity.

Quality of life (QOL) at the end of life often declines in relation to various determinants, yet the role of social determinants, including social capital, in end-of-life care is frequently overlooked. This study aims to examine the association between social determinants and QOL in the last year of life and to test the mediating role of social capital in the relationship between social determinants and QOL among older adults with multimorbidity (MM). We used secondary data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) in Rounds 10 and 11, involving 3,085 adults aged 65 and older.

A Phase 1 Study in Healthy Subjects to Evaluate the Safety and Pharmacokinetics of a Human Monoclonal Antibody (S315) Against Diphtheria Toxin.

Background: Diphtheria is a recurrent threat with endemic still occurs in many parts of the world. The standard of care is horse serum-derived diphtheria antitoxin (eDAT), which is in critical short supply globally. S315 is a fully human, monoclonal immunoglobulin G1 neutralizing antibody, specific to the receptor-binding domain of diphtheria toxin.

Association of the affordable care act with perceived health care quality of cancer survivors.

Background: The association between the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and perceptions of health care quality of cancer survivors is not well established. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in perceived health care quality concurrent with the implementation of the ACA among cancer survivors relative to a non-cancer comparison group.

Methods: We used cross-sectional data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (N = 30,542).

Evaluation of a Novel Mechanical Compression Device.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a leading preventable cause of death in hospitalized patients. Current intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) devices used to provide external mechanical compression for VTE prevention are associated with a multitude of clinical challenges that often result in subtherapeutic use. A comparative study was conducted of the real-world clinical use of a novel mechanical compression device (MCD) and a current IPC device.

Roles of Randomized Controlled Trials in Establishing Evidence-Based Gender-Affirming Care and Advancing Health Equity.

This article reviews the design of a recently published randomized controlled trial (RCT) on immediate vs delayed access to gender-affirming hormones for transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) people and outlines key learning points that clinicians should know about how RCTs can and cannot contribute to advancing health equity for TGD people.

The Impact of an Online Preceptorship Training Program on Preceptor Self-Efficacy Among Nurse Case Managers Working in an Acute Care Setting.

Purpose/objectives: The U.S. health care system is experiencing a critical workforce shortage of nurse case managers exacerbated by an older workforce and looming retirements and the growth of this specialty.

The women's health needs study among women from countries with high prevalence of female genital mutilation living in the United States: Design, methods, and participant characteristics.

Background: The Women's Health Needs Study (WHNS) collected information on the health characteristics, needs, and experiences, including female genital mutilation (FGM) experiences, attitudes, and beliefs, of women aged 18 to 49 years who were born, or whose mothers were born, in a country where FGM is prevalent living in the US. The purpose of this paper is to describe the WHNS design, methods, strengths and limitations, as well as select demographic and health-related characteristics of participants.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey from November 2020 -June 2021 in four US metropolitan areas, using a hybrid venue-based sampling (VBS) and respondent-driven sampling (RDS) approach to identify women for recruitment.

Chitosan-Deficient Cryptococcus as Whole-Cell Vaccines.

Creating a safe and effective vaccine against infection by the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans is an appealing option that complements the discovery of new small molecule antifungals. Recent animal studies have yielded promising results for a variety of vaccines that include live-attenuated and heat-killed whole-cell vaccines, as well as subunit vaccines formulated around recombinant proteins. Some of the recombinantly engineered cryptococcal mutants in the chitosan biosynthesis pathway are avirulent and very effective at conferring protective immunity.

Fluorescence and Biochemical Assessment of the Chitin and Chitosan Content of Cryptococcus.

The cell wall of the fungal pathogens Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii is critical for cell wall integrity and signaling external threats to the cell, allowing it to adapt and grow in a variety of changing environments. Chitin is a polysaccharide found in the cell walls of fungi that is considered to be essential for fungal survival.

A non-invasive approach to skin cancer diagnosis via graphene electrical tattoos and electrical impedance tomography.

Making up one of the largest shares of diagnosed cancers worldwide, skin cancer is also one of the most treatable. However, this is contingent upon early diagnosis and correct skin cancer-type differentiation. Currently, methods for early detection that are accurate, rapid, and non-invasive are limited.

Barriers and facilitators to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake and adherence among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Thailand: a qualitative study.

Young MSM (YMSM), aged 15-24, account for nearly half of new HIV infections in Thailand. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective prevention medicine for populations at substantial HIV risk, yet YMSM frequently have suboptimal uptake of and adherence to PrEP. We conducted 35 in-depth interviews with YMSM to explore barriers and facilitators of both PrEP initiation and adherence.

Cancer control collaborations between China and African countries.

Over the past decade, China has emerged as Africa's largest trade partner and source of foreign direct investment, with public health ranked as a top priority in China-Africa collaborations. During the same period, cancer has emerged as a leading cause of death in Africa, with more than 700 000 deaths per year and projections of more than 1 million deaths per year by 2030. In this Review, we explore the effects of increasing China-Africa collaborations on cancer control in Africa.

Immune evasion by in vaccinated mice coinfected with .

and , the etiologic agents of cryptococcosis, cause over 100,000 deaths worldwide every year, yet no cryptococcal vaccine has progressed to clinical trials. In preclinical studies, mice vaccinated with an attenuated strain of deleted of three cryptococcal chitin deacetylases (-ΔΔΔ) were protected against a lethal challenge with strain KN99. While ΔΔΔ extended the survival of mice infected with strain R265 compared to unvaccinated groups, we were unable to demonstrate fungal clearance as robust as that seen following KN99 challenge.

Predictors of Free Sugars Intake Trajectories across Early Childhood-Results from the SMILE Birth Cohort Study.

Foods and beverages high in free sugars can displace healthier choices and increase the risk of weight gain, dental caries, and noncommunicable diseases. Little is known about the intake of free sugars across early childhood. This study aimed to examine the longitudinal intake from 1 to 5 years of free sugars and identify the independent maternal and child-related predictors of intake in a cohort of Australian children participating in the Study of Mothers' and Infants' Life Events Affecting Oral Health (SMILE).