Tag: pubmed

JMIR Form Res. 2025 Jun 24;9:e70853. doi: 10.2196/70853.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The common phrase “representation matters” asserts that media has a measurable and important impact on civic society’s perception of self and others. The representation of health in media, in particular, may reflect and perpetuate a society’s disease burden.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, for the top 10 major causes of death in the United States, we aimed to examine how cinematic representation overall and by-gender mortality diverges from reality.

METHODS: Using crowd-sourced data on over 68,000 film deaths from Cinemorgue Wiki, we employ natural language processing techniques to analyze shifts in representation of deaths in movies versus the 2021 National Vital Statistics Survey top 10 mortality causes. We parsed, stemmed, and classified each film death database entry, and then categorized film deaths by gender using a specifically trained gender text classifier.

RESULTS: Overall, movies strongly overrepresent suicide and, to a lesser degree, accidents. In terms of gender, movies overrepresent men and underrepresent women for nearly every major mortality cause, including heart disease and cerebrovascular disease (chi-square test, P<.001); 73.6% (477/648) of film deaths from heart disease were men (vs 384,866/695,547, 55.4% in real life) and 69.4% (50/72) of film deaths from cerebrovascular disease were men (vs 70,852/162,890, 43.5% in real life). The 2 exceptions for which women were overrepresented are suicide and accidents (chi-square test, P<.001), with 39.7% (945/2382) deaths from suicide in film being women (vs 9825/48,183, 20.4% in real life) and 38.8% (485/1250) deaths from accidents in film being women (vs 75,333/225,935, 33.5% in real life).

CONCLUSIONS: We discuss the implications of under- and overrepresenting causes of death overall and by gender, as well as areas of future research.

PMID:40554798 | DOI:10.2196/70853

JMIR Res Protoc. 2025 Jun 24;14:e64405. doi: 10.2196/64405.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Black and Latino men are at increased risk for poor diabetes health outcomes but are underrepresented in lifestyle interventions for weight loss and diabetes prevention. Although relatively few men participate in the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP), it remains the most widely available evidence-based approach to type 2 diabetes prevention in the United States. Thus, an NDPP tailored to Black and Latino men has the potential to address prior limitations of NDPP implementation and reduce gender, racial, and ethnic diabetes disparities. It also provides an opportunity to define a population for targeted outreach and evaluate the reach of our recruitment methods and interventions.

OBJECTIVE: We tailored the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Prevent T2 curriculum for the NDPP for Black and Latino men, called Power-Up, and will evaluate its effects in comparison to standard mixed-gender NDPP groups via virtual delivery. The primary aim of the project is to assess the effect of Power-Up versus NDPP on weight loss among men with prediabetes. The secondary aim is to compare the engagement and retention of men with prediabetes in Power-Up versus NDPP. We will also examine the reach of our recruitment methods and engagement in our screening, consenting, and assessment procedures prior to the point of randomization. We hypothesized that men randomized to Power-Up would achieve greater percent weight loss from baseline at 16 weeks (end of Core sessions) and 1 year (end of Maintenance sessions) than men randomized to standard, mixed-gender NDPP. Power-Up is also expected to have better engagement and retention.

METHODS: Using the electronic health record (EHR) systems of a large academic medical center and a network of small to medium independent primary care practices throughout New York City, we identified Black and Latino men who met eligibility criteria for NDPP and enrolled them in a randomized controlled trial in which they were assigned 1:1 to receive Power-Up or the standard, mixed-gender NDPP over 1 year via online videoconferencing. Coaches delivering these interventions were trained according to the standards for the NDPP. Power-Up will be delivered by men coaches. Weight will be collected with home-based electronic scales for primary outcome analyses. Engagement will be assessed by session attendance logs.

RESULTS: We identified 11,052 men for outreach based on EHR data, successfully screened 26% of them, consented and enrolled 22% of these, and randomly assigned 48% of consented participants. Primary and secondary outcome analyses will be assessed among randomized men.

CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the effort required to reach and engage Black and Latino men for virtually delivered diabetes prevention programs. Forthcoming trial results for weight loss and engagement will further inform efforts to address disparities in diabetes prevention through tailored programming for Black and Latino men.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04104243; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04104243.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/64405.

PMID:40554781 | DOI:10.2196/64405

JMIR Form Res. 2025 Jun 24;9:e65478. doi: 10.2196/65478.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Mental health disorders affect 1 in 8 people worldwide, yet many face barriers to accessing care. E-mental health interventions, including self-guided internet-based programs, offer promising solutions. However, the mechanisms driving knowledge gain in such programs remain poorly understood. The role of medium, topic, sequence, and confidence and their interaction in learning outcomes need further investigation. Additionally, the influence of knowledge gaps on the outcome of psychoeducational intervention is not well understood (eg, whether psychoeducation requires an existing knowledge gap to be effective).

OBJECTIVE: This randomized controlled trial investigated the role of medium, topic, sequence, and participants’ initial knowledge levels on knowledge gain and confidence in fully automated self-guided e-mental health psychoeducation.

METHODS: A total of 158 adults (mean age 34, SD 12.4 years; n=118, 74.7% female) were randomized to 8 experimental conditions (receiving video, texts, or both containing psychoeducational content on sleep or social competence; n=142) or a control group (neutral video; n=16). The fully automated interventions (videos) were developed for use in web-based e-mental health interventions. They address transdiagnostic symptoms and hence are relevant across various disorders. To assess the added value of video production for knowledge gain, text-based scripts corresponding to the video content were created and compared. All interventions and outcome assessments were delivered on the web via Qualtrics without face-to-face components. Pre- and postintervention knowledge was assessed using a validated 30-item knowledge test (true/false). Confidence in responses was rated on a 0% to 100% scale. Statistical analyses included 3-way ANOVA and multivariate ANOVA.

RESULTS: Knowledge significantly increased across experimental groups (F_1,156=17.272; P<.001; η_p²=0.10). Participants with social competence deficits had significantly lower baseline knowledge (P=.04; d=0.41). For sleep deficits, a nonsignificant trend emerged (P=.09; d=0.28). Participants with social competence deficits demonstrated greater knowledge improvement (t₁₄₁=7.12; P<.001; d=0.60). Participants with sleep deficits showed smaller but significant gains (t₁₄₁=2.43; P=.02; d=0.20). No significant differences in knowledge gain were found between video and text formats. Confidence in correct answers increased significantly in the experimental group (mean 42.82, 95% CI 41.15-44.50 to mean 51.67, 95% CI 49.28-54.04), with larger gains for social competence than sleep. Confidence in the control group remained unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS: Both video and text formats effectively facilitated knowledge gain in e-mental health interventions, with no clear advantage of one medium over the other. Participants with prior deficits learned more in areas where they initially lacked knowledge. Confidence in correct answers increased alongside knowledge, highlighting psychoeducation’s role in promoting self-efficacy. Future research should explore multimedia integration to enhance adherence and symptom improvement.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00026722; https://drks.de/search/en/trial/DRKS00026722.

PMID:40554780 | DOI:10.2196/65478

JMIR Form Res. 2025 Jun 24;9:e59481. doi: 10.2196/59481.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Research dissemination is a vital step in bridging the gap between the publication of cutting-edge research and its adoption into clinical practice. Social media platforms like Twitter (rebranded as X) offer promising channels for dissemination, yet research organizations lack clear guidance on establishing a professional social media presence. We present a structured framework based on our research network’s multiyear experience developing a Twitter account for research dissemination.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to provide a roadmap for organizations aiming to create a professional Twitter account for research dissemination.

METHODS: This was a mixed methods study analyzing the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) Twitter team’s 4-year experience (2020-2023) with building a social media account. Using the nominal group technique qualitative approach, we recorded insights from the 6 team members’ experiences in a round-robin fashion until response saturation. In addition, we analyzed internal Slack (Slack Technologies) communications to identify key developmental events. Together, these were then prioritized by consensus to elucidate key developmental events that enhanced both social media and scientific engagement. This process was informed by quantitative data from Twitter performance metrics and Altmetric Attention Scores for journal publications collected over a 39-month period. Together, these elements informed the design of a logic model framework.

RESULTS: The nominal group technique generated 63 thematic statements which included issues such as organizational structure, content strategy, technologies, analytics, organizational priorities, and challenges. These statements coalesced into the 7 domains (priorities, assumptions, inputs, outputs, outcomes, and external factors) that comprise the logic model. Inputs included organizational support (eg, executive-level champion and funding), specialized personnel (eg, content writer and analytics manager), and operational technologies (eg, communications and data analytics tools). Outputs encompassed targeted activities, such as engaging with other Twitter accounts, publishing high-quality tweets highlighting scholarly work, and developing a dynamic operations manual for the Twitter team. Outcomes were measured through tweet metrics, account analytics, and article-level impact scores.

CONCLUSIONS: Our logic model roadmap, based on our practical multiyear experience and data-driven strategies, can serve as a guide for research organizations or medical institutions aiming to incorporate Twitter or other social media platforms for research dissemination.

PMID:40554778 | DOI:10.2196/59481

J Biol Dyn. 2025 Dec;19(1):2521509. doi: 10.1080/17513758.2025.2521509. Epub 2025 Jun 24.

ABSTRACT

This paper is concerned with a stochastic SEIR model with infectivity in the incubation period and homestead-isolation on the susceptible, which is perturbed by white and colour noises. The model has a unique stationary distribution, which reflects the persistence of epidemics over a long period. Using the Has-minskii theorem and constructing stochastic Lyapunov functions with regime switching, we derive an important condition $R_0^s.$ Comparing the expression for $R_0$ and $R_0^s,$ we can see that if there is no environmental noise, then $R_0^s=R_0.$ It ensures the asymptotic stability of the positive equilibrium $E^{\ast }$ of the corresponding deterministic system.

PMID:40554776 | DOI:10.1080/17513758.2025.2521509

Pancreas. 2025 Jun 25. doi: 10.1097/MPA.0000000000002526. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the contributing factors for the development of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in acute pancreatitis (AP) patients and subsequently develop a novel nomogram prediction model.

METHODS: A multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine independent predictors of SIRS, where the variables were chosen based on statistical significance from univariate analysis. Based on their presence, 238 AP patients were grouped into non-sIRS (n=170) and sIRS (n=68). Logistic regression analysis identified independent predictors of sIRS complications. We then developed a visual nomogram prediction model alongside a logistic regression model. The model’s predictive power cut-off was determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, providing sensitivity, specificity, and predictive accuracy.

RESULTS: The study found that in the cohort of acute pancreatitis (AP) patients, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) incidence was 28.6%. From our analysis, we determined that red blood cell distribution width (RDW), fibrinogen (FIB), amylase (AMY), blood glucose (Glu), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were independent risk factors for SIRS. Additionally, we calculated the area under the ROC curve (AUC) for our prediction model of SIRS reached 0.816, which exceeded the AUCs of the individual risk indicators (RDW, FIB, AMY, Glu, LDH) and the bedside index of severity in acute pancreatitis (BISAP) score. In addition, we conducted a correlation analysis to validate the relationships among the predictive factors and to eliminate possible multicollinearity. The calibration curve plot showed that the nomogram agreed well between the predicted SIRS and actual risks. Finally, the clinical decision curve for our model also indicated its clinical utility by guiding decision-making for timely interventions at a threshold probability range of 0.4 to 1.

CONCLUSION: The model predicted non-SIRS with a critical value ≥0.332, a sensitivity of 71.3% and specificity of 87.1%, and a Kappa value of 0.56. These results indicate that this prediction model is based on admission data, with recommended additional validation assessments at multiple time points (e.g., 24, 48, and 72 h) to characterize the progression of SIR’s risk fully. Overall, this nomogram prediction model provides an efficient and simple means to predict SIRS for patients with AP.

PMID:40554769 | DOI:10.1097/MPA.0000000000002526

Womens Health (Lond). 2025 Jan-Dec;21:17455057251347081. doi: 10.1177/17455057251347081. Epub 2025 Jun 24.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Balochistan, Pakistan’s most economically and health system-deprived province, hosts a significant portion of the Afghan refugee population. The province’s already fragile healthcare infrastructure faces additional strain due to the refugees.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the barriers to antenatal and intrapartum care seeking among Afghan refugee women in Balochistan during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

DESIGN: This study employed a cross-sectional survey approach to assess antenatal and intrapartum care-seeking behavior among Afghan refugee women residing in Balochistan, Pakistan. The study focused on refugee women living in Kharotabad Union Council in Quetta city to understand their barriers to accessing maternal healthcare services.

METHODS: The survey focused on antenatal and childbirth care-seeking behaviors among married women of reproductive age (MWRA) with at least one child aged 12-23 months born during the first four waves of COVID-19 in Pakistan.

RESULTS: Of 480 MWRAs, only 36.9% sought antenatal care (ANC); only 13.1% received at least four ANC visits. Furthermore, only 38.8% of MWRA had skilled birth attendance. Only 32.9% of MWRAs received at least one ANC and had skilled birth attendance (i.e., comprehensive care). Accessing comprehensive care was associated with maternal age less than 25 years (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 0.40; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.21, 0.78), Tajik ethnicity (adjusted OR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.23, 0.70) and large family size (adjusted OR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.37, 0.93). Predictors of poor access were concern related to documentation of the refugee women they faced (adjusted OR: 1.52; 95% CI: 1.00, 2.34), women with no one at household to accompany them at health facility (adjusted OR: 1.75; 95% CI: 1.13, 2.70), myths and misconceptions related to available care (adjusted OR: 1.89; 95% CI: 1.18, 3.02), and the transport availability (adjusted OR: 1.76; 95% CI: 1.12, 2.77). Concerns related to COVID-19 had no association.

CONCLUSION: The study highlights the barriers to maternal, neonatal and child health service utilization among Afghan refugee women in Balochistan. Tailoring healthcare services to consider age, ethnicity, cultural dynamics, and system constraints is crucial for improving access.

PMID:40554753 | DOI:10.1177/17455057251347081

PLoS Comput Biol. 2025 Jun 24;21(6):e1013202. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013202. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Phenotypic plasticity contributes significantly to treatment failure in many cancers. Despite the increased prevalence of experimental studies that interrogate this phenomenon, there remains a lack of applicable quantitative tools to characterise data, and importantly to distinguish between resistance as a discrete phenotype and a continuous distribution of phenotypes. To address this, we develop a stochastic individual-based model of plastic phenotype adaptation through a continuously-structured phenotype space in low-cell-count proliferation assays. That our model corresponds probabilistically to common partial differential equation models of resistance allows us to formulate a likelihood that captures the intrinsic noise ubiquitous to such experiments. We apply our framework to assess the identifiability of key model parameters in several population-level data collection regimes; in particular, parameters relating to the adaptation velocity and cell-to-cell heterogeneity. Significantly, we find that cell-to-cell heterogeneity is practically non-identifiable from both cell count and proliferation marker data, implying that population-level behaviours may be well characterised by homogeneous ordinary differential equation models. Additionally, we demonstrate that population-level data are insufficient to distinguish resistance as a discrete phenotype from a continuous distribution of phenotypes. Our results inform the design of both future experiments and future quantitative analyses that probe phenotypic plasticity in cancer.

PMID:40554749 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013202

Womens Health (Lond). 2025 Jan-Dec;21:17455057251341999. doi: 10.1177/17455057251341999. Epub 2025 Jun 24.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Prospective nutritional and physical activity data are lacking throughout preconception and pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate (1) intakes of energy, macronutrients and micronutrients, diet quality and physical activity levels in preconception and in each trimester of pregnancy and (2) adherence to recommendations.

DESIGN: Prospective study.

METHODS: Ninety individuals planning a pregnancy in the next year (Quebec, Canada) took part in four online assessments that occurred before conception and during each trimester of pregnancy (T1, T2 and T3). At each assessment, dietary intakes were derived from at least two web-based 24-h recalls, and supplements use was obtained from a web questionnaire. Diet quality was measured via the Healthy Eating Food Index 2019. Physical activity levels were evaluated with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire.

RESULTS: Preconceptionally, participants (30.5 ± 3.6 years) had a mean body mass index of 23.5 ± 3.4 kg/m². Energy intakes (kcal/day) increased over time (preconception: 2172 ± 457; T1: 2284 ± 557; T2: 2382 ± 501; T3: 2434 ± 549; p < 0.0001), while Healthy Eating Food Index 2019 total score remained stable (p = 0.10). Although dietary fiber intake (g/day) increased from preconception to T3 (preconception: 23 ± 9; T1: 25 ± 9; T2: 26 ± 10; T3: 27 ± 9; p < 0.0001), more than 80% of individuals had daily dietary fiber intakes below 14 g/1000 kcal at each assessment. From preconception to T3, total intakes (foods + supplements) increased for iron, folate and vitamin D (p < 0.01), especially from preconception to T1. These intakes came mainly from dietary supplements and met recommendations for most individuals (>52%) at each assessment. Physical activity levels (METs – min/week) decreased from preconception to T3 (preconception: 1754 ± 1431; T1: 1518 ± 1124; T2: 1562 ± 1214; T3: 1258 ± 1218; p < 0.0001), whereas most individuals (64%-82%) complied with the physical activity recommendations at each assessment.

CONCLUSION: Changes in dietary intakes and physical activity levels are observed from preconception to the end of pregnancy. The recommendations are met for most individuals, except for dietary fiber intakes. These results need to be confirmed in a larger, more heterogeneous sample.

PMID:40554727 | DOI:10.1177/17455057251341999

J Can Dent Assoc. 2025 Feb;91:p2.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: A specialized temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dental clinic was created at the Centre hospitalier universitaire (CHU) Sainte-Justine to optimize care of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). In this article, we characteristics of patients with JIA and the resources available in Canadian pediatric hospitals for JIA patients with TMJ involvement.

METHODS: To determine patient characteristics, we compiled retrospective data on patients seen at the TMJ clinic. Regarding resources available for patients with JIA, we sent questionnaires to the departments of rheumatology and dentistry of 13 Canadian pediatric hospitals.

RESULTS: Of the 86 JIA patients included in our study, 42% (95% confidence interval 32-52%) had TMJ involvement. Panoramic radiography was the imaging prescribed most often for patients with JIA (91%) and frequency of follow up was most often every 6 months. In the second part of the study, 7 hospitals were included; 2 had a specialized TMJ clinic. In many cases, reports of types of imaging and available dental specialists differed between the rheumatology and dentistry questionnaires for the same hospital.

CONCLUSION: Few Canadian pediatric hospitals have a specialized TMJ clinic for JIA, and there seems to be a gap in the knowledge of primary care physicians regarding TMJ diagnosis and the management of patients with JIA.

PMID:40554705