Health Research Foundation

AimsApproximately 25%–30% of the global population is affected by non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study aimed to explore whether NAFLD could be effectively detected using 341 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) via 10 machine learning (Mach-L) algorithms in a cohort of 1,501 individuals.MethodsParticipants were selected from the Taiwan MJ cohort, which includes comprehensive demographic, biochemical, lifestyle, and VOCs data. NAFLD was diagnosed by experienced gastroenterologists. Exhaled breath samples were collected using a 1.0-L aluminum bag (late expiratory fraction) and analyzed with selected-ion flow-tube mass spectrometry. Ten Mach-L techniques were employed to evaluate two predictive models: Model 1 (demographic, lifestyle, and biochemical data), and Model 2 (Model 1 + VOCs), assessed using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).ResultsSubjects with NAFLD had significantly higher values for age, BMI, blood pressure, and other biomedical markers, except for eGFR and HDL-C. Key predictors of NAFLD included BMI, triglycerides (TG), uric acid (UA), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), γ-GT, gender, LDL-C, and sleep duration. The addition of VOCs to Model 1 improved the AUC from 0.722 ± 0.149 to 0.770 ± 0.264 (p < 0.001). Ten VOCs were identified as the most influential, in order of importance: 2-propanol, acetone, butyl 2-methylbutanoate, diethylethanolamine, urethane, β-caryophyllene, furfural, tridecane, 4-methyloctanoic acid, and (S)-2-methyl-1-butanol.ConclusionIncorporating VOCs into traditional demographic, biochemical, and lifestyle data significantly enhanced the model’s predictive performance. This suggests that VOCs may be associated with the underlying pathophysiology of NAFLD.

There is a high prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders in college students globally. Financial stressors, course workload, peer pressure, and other personal, family, and societal stressors contribute to the high incidence of mental disorders among college students. Despite the high prevalence of mental disorders in college students, barriers such as lack of mental health literacy, stigma of mental health, inadequate numbers of mental health counselors and clinical psychologists supporting students in colleges in both low- and high-income countries, and financial and geographical barriers often hinder college students from accessing the needed mental supports. There is increasing evidence on the effectiveness and feasibility of mobile technology in health promotion and closing psychological treatment gaps. College students are well adapted to the use of mobile technology, particularly text and email messaging daily, which presents a unique opportunity for an innovative way to offer support for their mental health. In this article, we provide a perspective on the ResilienceNHope program, an evidence-based text and email messaging innovation, to close the psychological treatment gap and improve the mental health literacy of college students.

Predicting the viability of species exposed to increasing climatic stress requires an appreciation for the mechanisms underpinning the success or failure of marginal populations. Rather than traditional metrics of long‐term population performance, here we illustrate that short‐term (i.e. transient) demographic characteristics, including measures of resistance, recovery and compensation, are fundamental in the poleward range expansion of hard corals, facilitating the establishment of coral populations at higher latitudes. Through the annual census of subtropical and temperate Acropora spp. colonies in Japan between 2017 and 2019, we show how enhanced transient amplification (i.e. short‐term increases in population growth following disturbance) supports the persistence of coral assemblages within more variable high‐latitude environments. The transient dynamics of both the subtropical and temperate assemblages were strongly influenced by their corresponding recruitment patterns. However, we demonstrate that variation in colony survival and fragmentation patterns between the two assemblages determines their relative capacities for transient amplification. This latitudinal variation in the transient dynamics of Acropora spp. assemblages emphasizes that coral populations can possess the demographic plasticity necessary for exploiting more variable, marginal conditions.

Background: The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has produced adverse health consequences, including mental health consequences. Studies indicate that residents of Fort McMurray, a community which has experienced trauma from flooding and wildfires in the past, may be more vulnerable to the mental health effects of the pandemic. Objective: This study aimed to examine the prevalence and predictors of likely Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) among residents of Fort McMurray during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional approach was adopted utilizing an online survey questionnaire to gather sociodemographic data, COVID-19 related data, and clinical information, including likely MDD using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scale, from the residents of Fort McMurray between the period of 24 April to 2 June 2021. Results: Overall, 186 individuals completed the survey out of 249 residents who accessed the online survey, yielding a completion rate of 74.7%. The prevalence of likely MDD among respondents was 45%. Respondents willing to receive mental health counselling were five times more likely to experience MDD during the COVID-19 pandemic (OR = 5.48; 95% CI: 1.95–15.40). Respondents with a history of depression were nearly five folds more likely to report MDD during the era of the pandemic than residents without a history of depression (OR = 4.64; 95% CI: 1.49–14.44). Similarly, respondents with a history of taking hypnotics (sleeping tablets) were nearly six-fold more likely to express MDD than respondents with no history of receiving sleeping tablets (OR = 5.72; 95% CI: 1.08–30.30). Finally, respondents who reported receiving only partial support from the employer had three times higher odds of having likely MDD than those who received absolute support from the employer (OR = 3.50; 95% CI: 1.24–9.82). Conclusion: In addition to the effect of the pandemic and other measures taken to curb the psychopathological impact of the pandemic, policymakers need to implement policies to manage individuals with preexisting mental health conditions and provide strong employer support.

Background and context: Across all cancer types, two-thirds of Canadians diagnosed with cancer today will survive long-term, reflecting great progress in cancer detection and treatment. Many survivors, however, will experience substantial and long-term impacts of their diagnosis and treatment. Within this context, the Canadian Cancer Research Alliance (CCRA) sought to inform the cancer research funding community on how, and what kinds of research are needed, to enable research that will make a difference to patients as they move from treatment to the posttreatment phase. Aim: To develop and implement a national framework and recommendations to enable coordinated and strategic action among cancer research funders that advances cancer survivorship research in Canada in ways that improve survivors' care and experiences. Strategy/Tactics: Multiple approaches were used to inform framework development: a strategic literature review; an analysis of cancer survivorship research funding from 2005-13; and an online survey and key informant interviews from the broader stakeholder community. An Expert Panel and Patient Advisory Committee were also engaged to provide guidance and feedback. Program/Policy process: Over the course of one year, the project team and a working group of CCRA members met regularly to steer framework development. This involved activities such as developing data collection approaches and tools, reviewing data and emerging findings, and translating findings into priority areas and recommendations. In total, &gt; 200 Canadian and international stakeholders provided input through the survey and interviews. Outcomes: Released March 2017, the Pan-Canadian Framework for Cancer Survivorship Research provides four recommendations for cancer research funders: 1) ensure ongoing and meaningful involvement of cancer survivors; 2) align funding calls with existing needs and potential for impact; 3) create opportunities for the translation of research into practice and policy; and 4) build and maintain infrastructure and expertise to advance research. Specific research priorities were emphasized across three research domains: survivors' experiences and outcomes; late and long-term effects; and models of care. The priorities ranged from investigating the mechanisms of late/long-term effects to conducting intervention research to improve psychosocial outcomes, prevent and ameliorate late effects, and improve integration of follow-up care. What was learned: A broad range of stakeholders came together to develop a national framework to maximize the impact of shared targeted research investment in cancer survivorship research. Survivors' voices were key to agreeing on definitional issues of survivorship, identifying priority research areas, and ultimately lending credibility to the resulting framework. Implementation of the framework is the next step of work for CCRA members. Planning has commenced on identifying an initial priority for joint action.

The volar aspect of the thumb often requires local flaps for reconstruction. This study characterizes perforators of the princeps pollicis artery (PPA) and evaluates the potential of a local propeller-type flap raised using these perforators for reconstruction of these defects. Cadavers underwent whole-body lead-oxide injection and were then imaged using a 64-slice spiral computed tomographic scanner. The DICOM images were imported into Materialise's Interactive Medical Imaging Control System (Materialise, Belgium) for 3-dimensional reconstruction of the microvasculature. The number, length, caliber, and location of perforators arising from the PPA were determined and a plot was generated illustrating the relative distribution of perforators. A total of 16 PPA perforators were identified in the 8 specimen hands. Perforators had a mean (SD) diameter of 1.2 (0.4) mm and mean (SD) length of 8.9 (4.8) mm. The PPA perforators were consistently identified along the radial aspect of the thenar region. Seventy percent of all PPA perforators can be found over the distal 50% of the MC [20%-54%; mean (1SD)]. Perforators of the PPA were found in all hands and the average caliber and length of the perforators identified is sufficient for the creation of a local perforator flap. This, coupled with the mean location of these perforators, arising near the base of the thumb, confirms that a cutaneous flap from the thenar region can be raised based on this perforator as a propeller flap to obtain coverage of distal cutaneous defects of the thumb.

The Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (BJSQ) developed by us in the year 2000 has been widely used in the workplace.The BJSQ consists of three factors; Job stressors, psychological stress reactions and social supports.The government which felt uneasy about deterioration of mental health in a workplace worked out a new policy; the Stress Check System that the BJSQ was utilized.This system is aimed for the primary prevention of mental health disorder, which is linked to remind the worker of his/her own condition of stress and to improve of the workplace environment, and is thought to be an advanced policy.However, various problems are left in this system.There are in particular some problems that should be improved in use this system, such as the choice of the person of high stress.In this special issue, three experts in the field of the occupational health report the problems of the system.

【目的】乳がん専門医によるうつ病診療の実態調査 【方法】乳がん専門医352名に, うつ病診療状況に関する調査票を郵送した. 【結果】110名(31.3％)から回答を得た. 乳がん患者のうつ病罹患割合は, 90％の医師が20％以下, 約半数が5％以下と回答した. 第一選択薬はベンゾジアゼピン系抗不安薬(BZD)が最多で(41.5%), 次が選択的セロトニン再取り込み阻害薬(SSRI)だった(30.9%). BZD使用の医師は, 使用経験の豊富さ(オッズ比[OR] 8.20), 安全性(OR 6.27)で選んでおり, SSRIは, 効果の高さ(OR 7.07)で選ばれていた. 【結論】乳がん専門医の乳がん患者のうつ病診療では, 調査票に基づく診断や薬物療法等において高い水準の医療が均しく行われているとは言い難く, 精神科系専門家との連携も含め, 診療環境整備の必要性が示唆された.