bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
COVID-19, Public Transportation, and Public Health Communication
Authors: Hung C , Rojhani A , Cordoba Asprilla M , Kancharla R 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Although necessary for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, public health and social measures (PHSMs) that restricted public transportation in cities diverted people to private motorized vehicle use, a trend that persisted despite evidence that public transit represented a low-risk COVID transmission environment. Mass transit and active modes of transportation in cities are key for preventing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries and for reducing traffic-related emissions. Under the Partnership for Healthy Cities, Buenos Aires, Bangkok, Cali, Ho Chi Minh City, Istanbul, and Kyiv implemented communication campaigns to encourage and inform citizens how to safely resume use of public transportation and alternative safe, active transportation. Between July 2020 and March 2021, campaigns reinforced adherence to the 3Ws (wash hands, watch distance, wear a mask), and promoted walking and cycling as commuting alternatives. In total, the cities conducted social media campaigns, displayed posters (605), billboards (50), and videos (15) at bus, train, and bike stations, cycling lanes, and hospitals. Posters at bus stops in Buenos Aires were visible to 286,000 passengers/day, 16% of the city's passengers. Cali's social media campaign reached 1.7 million people. 70 km of new cycle lane added 1,527 cycling trips, preventing an estimated 266,920 tons of CO2 emissions. Bangkok's social media campaign reached 511,660 people and videos on television reached 1.75 million people. Ho Chi Minh City reached 48,000 passengers/day on public transport and totaled 4 million impressions on social media. Istanbul's social media campaign reached 20,000 people, promoted messaging on 50 billboards across the city's cycling network, and 4 Turkish cities replicated the campaign. Kyiv reached 800,000 transit passengers with 2,200 posters in metro stations. Simple and clear messaging is key for crisis communication and is essential to address overlapping public health and mobility priorities.

Key messages
Cities are at the forefront to use communication campaigns to promote PHSMs and transport alternatives when adapting COVID-19 responses to address negative impact on urban transport and mobility. Simple and clear messaging is key for crisis communication and is essential to address overlapping public health and mobility priorities.
Maternal and paternal dietary quality, dietary inflammation status, and offspring DNA methylation
Authors: Lecorguillé M , Navarro P , Shivappa N , Hébert JR , Mehegan J , Kelleher CC , Suderman M , Phillips CM 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
Altered nutritional conditions at early life stages may increase the risk of future disease in offspring. Recent evidence suggests that developmental programming may involve epigenetic mechanisms. However, few studies have evaluated the effect of parental dietary quality on offspring DNA methylation. We investigated the relationships between dietary quality and inflammatory potential of future parents and DNA methylation of their children at nine years.

Methods
We used data from the Lifeways Cross-Generation cohort, established between 2001 and 2003 in the Republic of Ireland. Maternal dietary intake during the first trimester and paternal diet of the 12 previous months were assessed with a food-frequency questionnaire. Dietary quality and inflammation were determined by the healthy eating index (HEI) 2015 score and the energy-adjusted dietary inflammation index (E-DII), respectively. The Illumina Infinium HumanMethylationEPIC (EPIC array) assessed methylation levels in saliva samples from 264 children. Dietary associations with DNA methylation at individual CpG sites were examined.

Results
After adjusting for multiple tests, maternal HEI-2015 scores were inversely associated with DNA methylation at 1 CpG site (cg21840035, p-value=5.5 × 10-8) located near the PLEKHM1 gene, whose functions involve regulation of bone development. An increase in paternal HEI score was related to lower methylation at one CpG site (cg22431767, p-value=4.1× 10-8) located near cell signaling gene LUZP1. No significant associations between maternal or paternal E-DII and DNA methylation at individual CpG sites were observed.

Conclusions
Parental dietary quality in the prenatal period may influence offspring childhood DNA methylation. A better understanding of the nutritional programming effects on epigenetic markers is essential to design public health strategies that could help women to achieve a healthier diet and optimize the health capital of children and future generations.

Key messages
Our findings suggest that both maternal and paternal dietary quality may have a long-term influence on the offspring epigenome, expand the current understanding of parental nutritional programming. Replication in other populations with contrasted dietary intake is warranted, with a view to informing public health recommendations to benefit the health of future generations.
Mechanisms for addressing the influence of corporations on public health
Authors: Mialon M , Vandevijvere S , Carriedo A , Bero L , Gomes F , Petticrew M , McKee M , Stuckler D , Sacks G 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Introduction
Manufacturers, such as producers of cigarettes, drugs or ultra-processed foods, influence health policy, research and practice. This influence is one of the main barriers against the implementation of public health policies around the world. Our goal was to identify existing mechanisms to limit this influence.

Methods
We conducted a scoping review in 2019. We searched five scientific databases: Web of Science Core Collection; BIOSIS; MEDLINE; Base; Scopus. Twenty-eight institutions and networks related to our research objective were also contacted to identify additional mechanisms and examples. In addition, we identified mechanisms and examples drawn from our collective experience. We have classified the mechanisms into two groups: those of international organizations and governments; those for universities, the media and civil society.

Results
Thirty-one publications were included in our review, including eight scientific articles. Nine mechanisms focused on several industries; while the other documents targeted specific industries. We identified 49 mechanisms that could help limit corporate influence in health policy, science and practice. For 41 of these mechanisms, we found examples, around the world, where they have been implemented. The main objectives of the mechanisms identified were to manage conflicts of interest and ethical issues, while increasing the transparency of public-private interactions. Mechanisms for governments (n = 17) and universities (n = 13) were most frequently identified, with fewer examples existing to protect the media and civil society.

Discussion
The development, implementation and monitoring of these mechanisms are essential to protect public health from industrial influence.

Key messages
We found 49 mechanisms that could help limit corporate influence in health policy, science and practice. There are fewer mechanisms to protect the media and civil society, than to protect governments and universities.
Daily composition of movement behaviors with cardiovascular disease incidence in elderly
Authors: Yerramalla MS , McGregor DE , Hees VTV , Fayosse A , Dugravot A , Tabak AG , Chen M , Chastin SFM , Sabia S 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is proposed as key for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) prevention. At older ages, the role of sedentary behavior (SB) and light intensity physical activity (LIPA) remains unclear. Evidence so far is based on studies examining movement behaviors as independent entities ignoring their co-dependency. This study aims to examine the association between daily composition of objectively-assessed movement behaviors (MVPA, LIPA, SB) and incident CVD in older adults.

Methods
Whitehall II accelerometer sub-study participants free of CVD at baseline (N = 3319, 26.7% women, mean age=68.9 years in 2012-2013) wore a wrist-accelerometer from which times in SB, LIPA, and MVPA were extracted. Compositional Cox regression was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) for incident CVD for daily compositions of movement behaviors characterized by 10 (20 or 30) minutes greater duration in one movement behavior accompanied by decrease in another behavior, while keeping the third behavior constant, compared to reference composition.

Results
Of the 3319 participants, 299 had an incident CVD over a mean (SD) follow-up of 6.2 (1.3) years. Compared to individuals with daily movement behavior composition composed with MVPA at recommended 21 minutes per day (150 minutes/week), composition with additional 10 minutes of MVPA and 10 minutes less SB were associated with smaller risk reduction -8% (HR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.87-0.99) - than the 14% increase in risk associated with a composition of similarly reduced time in MVPA and more time in SB (HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.02-1.27). For a given MVPA duration, the CVD risk did not differ as a function of LIPA and SB durations.

Conclusions
An increase in MVPA duration at the expense of time in either SB or LIPA was associated with lower risk of incident CVD. This study lends support to public health guidelines encouraging increase in MVPA or at least maintain MVPA at their current duration.

Key messages
Older adults should be encouraged to increase their moderate-to-vigorous physical activity or at least maintain at their current levels to lower risk of incident cardiovascular disease. Highly sedentary older adults should increase their moderate-to-vigorous physical activity by decreasing sedentary time rather than light-intensity activity to prevent cardiovascular disease.
2.F. Workshop: Informing COVID-19 responses with longitudinal studies: demonstrating harmonised data infrastructure
Authors:   Organised by: EUPHA-EPI,   Chair persons: Srinivasa Katikireddi (UK), Tea Lallukka (Finland)
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Longitudinal studies which have collected information from participants repeatedly over time have the potential to provide timely intelligence to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The UK has a rich resource of population-based longitudinal studies, which have now collected information during the COVID-19 pandemic. These include multiple national birth cohort studies going back to 1946, the Understanding Society household panel study, ageing cohorts such as the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing and regional cohorts such as ALSPAC, Born in Bradford and Generation Scotland. The UK is therefore well placed to combine COVID-19 surveys with rich pre-pandemic information and provide timely insight into how the pandemic is affecting people with different backgrounds and circumstances. Similar longitudinal studies exist in many other European countries. In this workshop, we will illustrate the potential for collaborative approaches to analysing longitudinal datasets - an approach which could be applied elsewhere in Europe and indeed, across European countries. Four papers present important evidence on health inequalities during the COVID-19 pandemic, each addressing a single topic in up to a dozen longitudinal surveys. Results are meta-analysed showing findings overall and stratified by socio-demographic characteristics. This represents a collaborative effort under the Longitudinal Health and Wellbeing strand of the National Core Studies initiative in the UK: an important advance methodologically, in addition to the substantive value of the questions addressed. Co-ordinated analyses across multiple studies can act as replication for each other and/or differences in study designs and assumptions can be informative, e.g., by comparing findings in cohorts of respondents at different life-stages. While improving understanding of inequalities in the public health impacts of the pandemic, this effort is also building a strong foundation for future multi-study comparative research. This workshop will provide an example of some of the opportunities and practical challenges to conducting such research. Professors Tea Lallukka and Vittal Katikireddi will act as discussants and the potential for collaboration across European cohorts will be explored.

Key messages
Co-ordinated analysis of multiple UK longitudinal datasets to inform the COVID-19 response has been achieved and this approach could be extended across Europe. Existing health inequalities may be exacerbated during the pandemic as disadvantaged groups experience greater disruption.
A conceptual framework for supporting the mental health of the health workforce and key determinants
Authors: Lionis Christos 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
EXPH members and Opinion collaborators
A conceptual framework was developed to guide the Opinion. The visual representation shows how determinants of mental health interact and displays the evolution of various mental health profiles of an individual over time under different stressful scenarios. Mental health is a continuum of two dimensions - mental wellbeing and mental health-illness. Mental health is influenced by a complex interplay of determinants. At work, these include both non-occupational and occupation-specific factors that interact. Following a particularly stressful event, an individual may face a possible deterioration in their mental health. There are various trajectories. The individual can respond or cope effectively and maintain his/her current level of mental health. If the stressor is intense, severe, and/or prolonged, deterioration in mental health may result. The level of deterioration depends on prior mental health and the interaction of non-occupational and occupation-specific factors. A recovery in mental health from the stressor may occur spontaneously or some form of intervention may be needed. Intervention could help to mitigate the appearance of a stressor (primary prevention), to mitigate impact of the stressor on mental health and/or ensure a rapid recovery from the stressor (secondary prevention), and/or decrease the rate of deteriorating mental health (tertiary prevention).
Work-related risk factors related to mental health in the health workforce include issues related to role, relationships, control, demand, job-related factors, organizational environment, career-related factors, and interaction with non-work factors. Exposure-related concerns, burnout, and moral injury have received considerable attention during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Health related quality of life measured by in Tunisian female patients with breast cancer
Authors: Bannour I , Kacem I , Azem A , Bannour R , maalel O , Mrizek N 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
Breast cancer is a worldwide public health issue. In Tunisia It is the leading cause of cancer mortality and morbidity and accounts for 20-25% of malignant tumors in women in all age groups. There is limited information about the long-term quality of life (QOL) in disease-free breast cancer survivors

Aim
To assess the quality of life of women with breast cancer in remission.

Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted among women with breast cancer, treated at the maternity ward of the University Hospital Farhat Hached in Sousse during the period from January 1, 2013 to December 31; 2017. The patients were surveyed 24 to 60 months after their cancer diagnosis. The quality of life was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and its breast cancer supplementary measure (QLQ-BR23).

Results
100 breast cancer patients were recruited with a mean age of 52 ± 8 years. The mean Global Health Status was 77.5 (SD = 25.5). From the QLQ-C30, the mean score in the functioning scale was highest for ‘social functioning' (93; SD = 16.3), while the mean score in the symptom scale was highest for ‘Pain' (39, SD = 20.5). From the QLQ-BR23, the mean score for functioning scale was highest for ‘Sexual Pleasure' (88.33; SD = 21.9) while the mean score in the symptom scale was highest for ‘upset by hair loss' (56; SD = 15.2). The global health Status was significantly associated with professional category; health condition; age and type of treatment.

Conclusions
The results of the present study demonstrated the importance of a global therapeutic management that specifically targets the physical and psychological needs of breast cancer survivors. Improving doctor-patient communication has a central role during clinical approach to ensure the success of diagnostic and treatment strategies.

Key messages
Importance of a global therapeutic management tha target the quality of Life of cancer patients. Improving doctor-patient communication has a central role during clinical approach to ensure the success of diagnostic and treatment strategies.
The Evolving HTAi Statement on COVID-19 Vaccines
Authors: Postma M , Boersma C , Hagens A , van der Schans J 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Developments in COVID-19 have gone unprecedently fast, and HTAs have tried to keep pace, for example, in HTA-committees like the Joint Committee of Vaccination & Immunization. Necessarily, HTAs of COVID-19 related issues have been numerous and of a dynamic character to adequately cope with the rapidly changing landscape. HTAi drafted a statement on COVID-19 vaccines in the 2nd half of 2020 and an update in the 1st half of 2021. Here, we will address the role of real-world data (RWD) on effectiveness, safety and benefit/risk coming from the close monitoring programs around implementation in selected countries. Notably, an abundance of data came from Israel and the United Kingdom. Where the initial vaccination programs were designed based on clinical trials, HTA-committees continuously monitored observational data and dynamically re-designed the programs based on these. RWD have sometimes enhanced an increasing generic view on the vaccines, for example, concerning the use in older adults, as well as prioritizing specific ones for specific groups. RWD clearly show the effects of the vaccination programs on hospitalizations and deaths, in particular in those countries with an early kick-start of vaccination. Typically, cost-effectiveness analysis has so far not played any role in HTAs within crisis situations. We will address this in our presentation, illustrating potential value-for-money of the current vaccines in various country-specific settings looking at dynamic modelling and extensive data needs underlying economic assessments. Correspondingly, these models were initially populated with clinical trial data and are currently undergoing continuous updates as RWD come. Increasing interest in cost-effectiveness, dynamic pricing, tiered pricing in different parts of the world and enhanced competition will further shift attention to the economic aspects, further illustrating the dynamic character of HTAs in this field and HTAi's statement as an overall concept.
COVID-19 vaccination: what are the costs we should include?
Authors: Santos J 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
As for previous communicable diseases, the vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 can be a truly “game-changing” factor to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. A lot has been discussed about what is the less expensive vaccine and how health expenditures might be overrun with pandemic containment measures. There are interesting questions on cost estimation of this technology that should be discussed. The focus has been mainly on vaccine costs rather than on immunization delivery costs, which might also represent an important constraint. This includes human resources, equipment or maintenance which cannot be ignored. Such programs are highly dependent on labor supply, as well as on opportunity costs of reallocating an important share of health care workers for COVID-19 vaccination. On the other hand, costs regarding prevented health care use on COVID-19, from testing to intensive care unit, cannot be neglected, with associated opportunity costs as well. However, prevention of potentially needed measures such as lockdowns with effects in all spheres of society, such as economy and education, are of utmost relevance and are not commonly accounted for in health technology assessments. Furthermore, vaccines have important effects that are not commonly present in prescription drugs such as herd effect, protection against comorbidities or others to be explored in such a recent disease. Only a few efforts for COVID-19 vaccines' economic evaluations exist. However, at the same time, vaccines (and the rollout of vaccination programs) continue to be developed and improved. Therefore, such assessments will be important for studying boosters or revaccinations later on, but also for future pandemic preparedness. Moreover, such efforts on estimating vaccination cost-effectiveness, considering a wide range of costs, might be essential for sub-population prioritization.
Selection of equalization scale and its effect on income-health gradient in the EU countries
Authors: Karvonen S , Moisio P 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background
It has become customary to adjust income across different household types by using an equalization scale. When assessing inequalities in personal health using the equalized income entails, however, a number of assumptions that are rarely discussed in the socioeconomic health inequality studies. Earlier studies show, e.g. that rather small changes in equalization scale can produce different poverty and income inequality estimates. The aim of this study is to analyse the effect of selection of the scale on socioeconomic health inequalities.

Methods
For this we utilize the 2018 data of the Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) for 32 European countries. Health is measured with a five choice question on self-perceived health to the household reference person. Household income is measured with the total disposable household (previous year) annual income. Two widely used equalization scales (OECD and OCED modified) are used to for calculating incomes per consumption unit, and then ranked into five income quintiles. A multidimensional frequency table is analyzed with nonparametric tests and log-linear modelling.

Results
Preliminary analyses from a smaller group of the countries indicate that the OECD modified scale produces more “flat” income-health gradient than the OECD scale. Also a smaller proportion of those reporting poor health are classified as having low income. The finding accounts probably for the fact that those living in a single household tend to report poorer health and lower personal income compared to respondents living in a bigger household.

Conclusions
Adjusting for income for the household size appears to affect more on larger households - who also report higher perceived health. Due to this effect, selecting an equivalence scale that imposes a bigger weight on additional household members, such as the OECD modified scale, produces less steep income-health gradient.

Key messages
Adjusting income for household size using standard scales affects the steepness of income-health gradient. Even relatively small changes in the modification scale may have large effects on the health gradient.