Pivotal relationship between heavy metal, PM2.5 exposures and tuberculosis in Bangladeshi children: protocol paper of a case-control study

Introduction
Air pollution is a global issue that poses a significant threat to public health. Children, due to their developing physiology, are particularly susceptible to the inhalation of environmental pollutants. Exposure can trigger immune modulation and organ damage, increasing susceptibility to respiratory diseases. Therefore, we aim to examine the association between heavy metal and particulate matter exposure with tuberculosis in children.

Methods and analysis
As a case–control study, we will include children diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis (n=60) and matched healthy controls (n=80) recruited from the same communities in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Exposure data for both cases and controls will be collected by a trained field team conducting home visits. They will administer an exposure questionnaire, measure child anthropometry, collect blood and household dust samples and instal 48-hour air quality monitors. The blood samples will be analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for serum heavy metal concentrations (lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury and chromium), as a representative marker of exposure, and the presence of inflammatory biomarkers. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including independent samples t-tests, analysis of variance and conditional regression analysis, will be used to quantify heavy metal and particulate matter exposure status in tuberculosis cases compared with healthy controls, while accounting for potential confounders. Dust samples and air quality results will be analysed to understand household sources of heavy metal and particulate matter exposure. To test the study hypothesis, there is a positive association between exposure and tuberculosis diseases, we will also measure the accumulated effect of simultaneous exposures using Bayesian statistical modelling.

Ethics and dissemination
This study has been approved by International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh’s Institutional Review Board (PR-22030). The study findings will be disseminated at conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.

Leggi
Febbraio 2024

Does use of GP and specialist services vary across areas and according to individual socioeconomic position? A multilevel analysis using linked data in Australia

Objective
Timely access to primary care and supporting specialist care relative to need is essential for health equity. However, use of services can vary according to an individual’s socioeconomic circumstances or where they live. This study aimed to quantify individual socioeconomic variation in general practitioner (GP) and specialist use in New South Wales (NSW), accounting for area-level variation in use.

Design
Outcomes were GP use and quality-of-care and specialist use. Multilevel logistic regression was used to estimate: (1) median ORs (MORs) to quantify small area variation in outcomes, which gives the median increased risk of moving to an area of higher risk of an outcome, and (2) ORs to quantify associations between outcomes and individual education level, our main exposure variable. Analyses were adjusted for individual sociodemographic and health characteristics and performed separately by remoteness categories.

Setting
Baseline data (2006–2009) from the 45 and Up Study, NSW, Australia, linked to Medicare Benefits Schedule and death data (to December 2012).

Participants
267 153 adults aged 45 years and older.

Results
GP (MOR=1.32–1.35) and specialist use (1.16–1.18) varied between areas, accounting for individual characteristics. For a given level of need and accounting for area variation, low education-level individuals were more likely to be frequent users of GP services (no school certificate vs university, OR=1.63–1.91, depending on remoteness category) and have continuity of care (OR=1.14–1.24), but were less likely to see a specialist (OR=0.85–0.95).

Conclusion
GP and specialist use varied across small areas in NSW, independent of individual characteristics. Use of GP care was equitable, but specialist care was not. Failure to address inequitable specialist use may undermine equity gains within the primary care system. Policies should also focus on local variation.

Leggi
Gennaio 2024

Electrocardiogram Recording in the Prone Position—Reply

In Reply We would like to express our gratitude to Cobos Gil et al for their thought-provoking and insightful comments on our case report, which discussed how anterior leads ST-segment elevation might be missed on the findings of an electrocardiogram (ECG) recorded in the commonly used prone position. Their comments addressed a new prone ECG acquisition method based on the concept of the mirror image electrocardiogram reported by Kors and van Herpen. The ECG acquired by this method shows morphologic findings similar to those of the standard ECG, which makes the diagnosis of arrhythmias (eg, bundle-branch block) more convenient. The comments also mention that this prone ECG acquisition method may have important diagnostic value in anterior ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Leggi
Gennaio 2024

Electrocardiogram Recording in the Prone Position

To the Editor When patients are prone, it is common to perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) by placing the precordial electrodes on the patient’s back, which transposes the usual location of the precordial electrodes to the dorsum (anatomical mirror). The case reported by Zhang et al shows that a substantial anterior ST elevation can go unnoticed in the ECG recorded this way. In another article, based on a case series of 100 patients, Chieng et al demonstrated the limited diagnostic capacity of the ECG obtained in this way, and specifically, showed this method is “unreliable for the detection of anterior myocardial injury.”

Leggi
Gennaio 2024

'Nothing About Us Without Us: exploring benefits and challenges of peer support for people with disability in peer support organisations – protocol paper for a qualitative coproduction project

Introduction
One in six people live with disability in Australia with higher levels of disability of people from diverse communities, such as those with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. In Australia, CALD refers to people from diverse ethnicity and cultures, nationalities, societal structures and religions that may or may not speak a language other than English. This study employs researchers with lived experience of disability and peer support to study the impact of peer support for people with disability, including people from CALD backgrounds, in two peer-led organisations in New South Wales (NSW) Australia.

Methods and analysis
This study uses participatory action research and inclusive research design with researchers with lived experience, having lived experience of disability and a peer in the disability community, leading the research.
Over three years, three different groups will be recruited through Community Disability Alliance Hunter (CDAH) and Diversity and Disability Alliance (DDAlliance): (1) peers with disability, (2) peer leaders with disability and (3) researchers with lived experience of disability and peer support. Data collection and creation methods include semistructured interviews, surveys and focus groups. Qualitative data will be analysed using thematic analysis through the lens of the researchers with lived experience.

Ethics and dissemination
Ethical approval was granted by the University of Newcastle Human Research Ethics Committee (Approval No: H-2021-0088). Dissemination includes peer-reviewed publications, presentations at local, national and international conferences and written reports for user-led organisations, disability service providers, disability agencies and people with disability.

Leggi
Dicembre 2023

Dietitian-led cluster randomised controlled trial on the effectiveness of mHealth education on health outcomes among pregnant women: a protocol paper

Introduction
Nutrition education is the cornerstone to maintain optimal pregnancy outcomes including gestational weight gain (GWG). Nevertheless, default for appointments is common and often lead to suboptimal achievement of GWG, accompanied with unfavourable maternal and child health outcomes. While mobile health (mHealth) usage is increasing and helps minimising barriers to clinic appointments among pregnant mothers, its effectiveness on health outcomes has been inconclusive. Therefore, this study aimed to address the gap between current knowledge and clinical care, by exploring the effectiveness of mHealth on GWG as the primary outcome, hoping to serve as a fundamental work to achieve optimal health outcomes with the improvement of secondary outcomes such as physical activity, psychosocial well-being, dietary intake, quality of life and sleep quality among pregnant mothers.

Methods and analysis
A total of 294 eligible participants will be recruited and allocated into 3 groups comprising of mHealth intervention alone, mHealth intervention integrated with personal medical nutrition therapy and a control group. Pretested structured questionnaires are used to obtain the respondents’ personal information, anthropometry data, prenatal knowledge, physical activity, psychosocial well-being, dietary intake, quality of life, sleep quality and GWG. There will be at least three time points of data collection, with all participants recruited during their first or second trimester will be followed up prospectively (after 3 months or/and after 6 months) until delivery. Generalised linear mixed models will be used to compare the mean changes of outcome measures over the entire study period between the three groups.

Ethics and dissemination
Ethical approvals were obtained from the ethics committee of human subjects research of Universiti Putra Malaysia (JKEUPM-2022-072) and medical research & ethics committee, Ministry of Health Malaysia: NMRR ID-22-00622-EPU(IIR). The results will be disseminated through journals and conferences targeting stakeholders involved in nutrition research.

Trial registration number
Clinicaltrial.gov ID: NCT05377151.

Leggi
Novembre 2023