bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Empowering People Experiencing Homelessness for cancer prevention using the Health Navigator Model
Authors: Alhambra-Borrás T , Blanes-Selva V , Schiffler T , Gawronska J , Smith L , Tabaki I , Moudatsou M , Gómez-Trenado R , Benito B , Grabovac I 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Cancer poses a significant public health concern. Reports highlight that cancer-related mortality rates are double among people experiencing homelessness (PEH). CANCERLESS project delivered an innovative solution based on the Health Navigator Model (HNM). The HNM is an evidence-based patient-centred intervention that develops patient empowerment through health education and social support, promoting timely access to cancer prevention services. A pre-post design study conducted across four pilot sites in Europe (Austria, Greece, Spain, UK) involved 652 PEHs. Pilot interventions based on the HNM were implemented, with effectiveness evaluated at baseline and post-intervention. The study assessed the impact of the HNM on various factors including risk behaviors, lifestyles, quality of life, empowerment, health literacy, psychological distress and utilization of health and care services. Preliminary findings from CANCERLESS HNM intervention showed significant improvements (p= .000) in participants’ quality of life (55.82 (27.65) vs. 66.18 (22.27)) and sense of empowerment (25.58 (19.95) vs. 59.94 (43.10)). However, there were no observable impacts in health literacy (p= .509) or psychological distress (p= .140), which remained within acceptable ranges both pre- and post-intervention. Similarly, there were no significant changes observed in lifestyle or risk behaviours among PEHs. Nonetheless, the evaluation of effectiveness suggested that the HNM increase in the uptake of cancer prevention care, such as cancer screening (p= .000). The CANCERLESS HNM intervention significantly improved the quality of life and empowerment of PEHs. Additionally, it successfully promoted their involvement in cancer prevention efforts, addressing disparities in access to preventive healthcare services. Increased engagement in such initiatives can lead to early detection and treatment, ultimately reducing cancer morbidity and mortality rates, thereby positively impacting public health.

Key messages
• By promoting health equity and social justice, interventions like CANCERLESS HNM contribute to building healthier and more resilient public health systems.
• CANCERLESS boosts cancer prevention awareness, tackles healthcare disparities, enhances cancer early detection, benefiting public health.
Environmental burden of disease related to pyrethroid-insecticide exposure and neurodevelopmental toxicity in Europe based on human biomonitoring
Authors: Purece A , Thomsen S T , Plass D , Palmont P , Crépet A , Benchrih R , Devleesschauwer B , Sanchez G , Piselli D , Buekers J 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
As indicated by human biomonitoring (HBM) studies, exposure to pyrethroids is widespread in Europe with significantly higher exposure observed in children compared to adults. Epidemiological, toxicological, and mechanistic studies raise concerns about potential health effects in humans and, particularly, behavioral disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children at low levels of exposure. Based on an exposure-response function from a single European study and on available quality-assured and harmonized HBM data collected in France, Germany, Iceland, Switzerland, and Israel, an initial estimate of the environmental burden of disease for ADHD associated with pyrethroid exposure (measured by the metabolite 3-phenoxybenzoic acid) was made for individuals aged 0-19 years. The estimated yearly number of prevalence-based disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per million inhabitants due to ADHD were 34 DALYs for Israel, 26 DALYs for France, 14 DALYs for both Switzerland and Iceland, and 4 DALYs for Germany. Additionally, a substantial number of ADHD cases, averaging 18%, were associated with pyrethroid exposure. Yet, these figures should be interpreted with caution given the uncertainty of some input parameter. In addition to burden of disease estimates due to ADHD, the associated burden of autism-spectrum disorder (ASD) due to pyrethroid exposure and the health economic costs attributable to ADHD and ASD will also be investigated further. To ensure adequate follow-up of policy measures and more robust disease burden estimates, more HBM studies are recommended, along with increased efforts to harmonize the design of epidemiological studies to ensure more meaningful meta-analyses of exposure-response functions. This is particularly important for pyrethroids as more evidence on potential adverse health effects is continuously emerging.
10.G. Practice session: Innovation technology to promote healthy lifestyles: teachings from multi-national EU funded projects
Authors:   Organised by: EUPHA-FN, -HP, -DH,   Chair persons: Eric Breton (France), Anna Odone (EUPHA-DH -IDC)
Published: October 2024

Abstract

The global burden of disease attributable to lifestyle risk factors is constantly escalating on a worldwide scale. Inadequate diet and sedentary behaviors stand out as particularly impactful contributors to chronic non-communicable diseases, resulting in millions of deaths annually and projecting stable, alarming trends for the foreseeable future. These statistics raise significant concerns among public health experts, particularly regarding the pervasive influence of unhealthy lifestyles on younger generations. This demographic cohort’s susceptibility poses a substantial threat to the future trajectory of non-communicable diseases and places immense strain on healthcare systems and global health outcomes. In light of these challenges, the imperative for public health initiatives and interventions aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles becomes glaringly apparent. Addressing the root causes of unhealthy behaviors through targeted interventions is essential to reverse the projected trends and mitigate future health risks. Public health authorities shoulder the responsibility of prioritizing such endeavors, as they play a pivotal role in shaping environments conducive to healthy living for present and future generations alike. Embracing innovative methodologies, leveraging technological advancements, and adopting modern approaches are imperative to engage and mobilize younger populations effectively. Initiatives funded by entities such as the European Union serve as promising examples, highlighting the potential for collaborative efforts to drive meaningful change. Sharing the methodologies and findings of such projects within the public health community can catalyze knowledge dissemination and foster collaboration, ultimately amplifying the impact of intervention strategies worldwide. By prioritizing intervention studies for behavioral change, stakeholders can collectively address the pressing challenge of lifestyle-related diseases and pave the way for healthier, more resilient communities. The aim of this workshop is to provide an overview of multi-national EU funded projects aiming to promote healthy lifestyles in the Mediterranean region.

Key messages
• Innovative and more modern approaches are needed to improve the diet in the Mediterranean region.
• Children and adolescents are the main targets to counteract the rise of non-communicable diseases.
SWITCHtoHEALTHY: Switching Mediterranean Consumers to Mediterranean Sustainable Healthy Dietary Patterns
Authors: Rosi A , Degli Innocenti P , Bergamo F , Rosi A , Calderon Perez L , Boqué B , Scazzina F 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
In the Mediterranean countries profound changes in diet are taking place, largely due to cultural and socio-economic changes in lifestyle, which are leading to the erosion of the Mediterranean food cultures. The diet modernization process is noticeable; it has generated not only a modification of food choices in the direction of unhealthy foods, but also the habit of sedentary behaviours leading to an imbalance between energy intake and consumption. All of this has negative health impacts, as shown by the ever-increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity, as well as the rise of chronic diet-related diseases. The SWITCHtoHEALTHY project aims to generate an overall change of approach to the modern problem of eating behaviours, by strengthening the role of families towards the promotion of the sustainable Mediterranean food model. The main goal is to generate an actual switch to healthier dietary models, that are more consistent with the Mediterranean Diet. The project SWITCHtoHEALTHY aims to generate a dietary behaviour change in the direction of a greater adherence to the Mediterranean food model, by strengthening the role of families in the process of acquiring and maintaining healthy eating habits. The Mediterranean Diet (MD) is a healthy and sustainable food model, with an essentially plant-based dietary pattern (high consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, cereals, and legumes). This goal will be reached by making available to families a combination of hands-on educational material and digital tools and complementing the dietary and lifestyle recommendations with easy-to-eat healthier snacking products.
A transnational movement to support the sustainable transition towards a healthy and Eco-friendly Agri-Food System through the promotion of MEDIET and its lifestyle in modern society: MEDIET4ALL
Authors: Ammar A 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
The Mediterranean diet is considered the world’s most evidence-based low processed eating pattern for promoting health and longevity while saving water/energy and conserving land. Unfortunately, due to the modern societal trends, adherence to the Mediterranean diet model is decreasing, while the consumption of takeout and ultra-processed foods and drinks (UPFDs) is exponentially growing, with alarming levels in many European-Mediterranean (EUR-MED) regions. The overall objective of “MEDIET4ALL” is to support the transition from UPFs culture to modern and sustainable Mediterranean diet through the creation of transnational movement aiming at implementing best practices and innovative solutions to enhance the convenience, modernity, competitivity, and shelf life of Mediterranean diet. To achieve this overall objective, different multidisciplinary tailored approaches are proposed. Specifically, multicenter databases of ingredients/food and their providers will be created to promote the accessibility. Additionally, a variety of highly nutritional and antioxidant-rich “Quick & Easy” recipes that respond to modern trends while following the Mediterranean diet and considering sustainability aspects will be developed. To preserve the eco-friendly and food safety characteristics and extend the shelf life of the Mediterranean diet products, active bio-packaging will also be designed. A strategic “MEDIET4ALL” platform and m-app integrating the abovementioned MEDIET4ALL products and combined Mediterranean lifestyle interventions tailored to each user profile will be developed. Traditional and technology-based awareness and motivational campaigns with extensive marketing and advertising actions to promote MEDIET4ALL movement are also programmed. Working under the concept of a multidisciplinary approach consortium, multiple impacts, particularly supporting the transition towards a healthy and sustainable MED diet and lifestyle, are expected.
10.I. Scientific session: A National E-Infrastructure for Aging Research to Improve Public Health
Authors:   Organised by: National E-Infrastructure for Aging Research (Sweden),   Chair persons: Ingrid Ekström (Sweden)
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Global life expectancy gains over the last half-century are remarkable. Yet the resulting demographic shift towards an older population poses substantial public health challenges, particularly in healthcare. To address these challenges, a profound and scientifically-based understanding of older adults’ health and care requirements is needed. Recognizing the need for a better understanding of the aging process and public health challenges, the National E-infrastructure for Aging Research (NEAR) was founded in 2018. NEAR seeks to promote and support aging research by facilitating longitudinal population-based data usage from 15 well-known Swedish cohort studies on aging and health. It is based on a collaboration between eight Swedish universities and includes 15 databases with individual assessments. NEAR comprises a broad range of biomedical, clinical, social, and psychological health data from more than 90,000 adults who are 50+ years old. These individuals have been followed between 12 and 52 years. The objective of this workshop is to give an overview of the NEAR infrastructure, present results from three ongoing NEAR projects, and their implications for public health: 1) Temporal trends in dementia incidence in Sweden; 2) Personality and biomarkers of neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s disease in Swedish older adults, and 3) Characterizing risk profiles and transitions across living and care settings in Sweden. Infrastructures such as NEAR offer high-quality epidemiological data for achieving broad, interdisciplinary research goals that single databases often cannot provide. Moreover, the value added to these kinds of data includes enhanced sample sizes, variations, representativeness, and generalizability. In turn, this can address an aging society’s public and clinical health demands. Eventually, this could lead to sustainable intervention strategies for improving older persons’ health in the coming decades.

Key messages
• Discover new avenues in public health aging research: Gain insights into cutting-edge aging research opportunities in Sweden, exploring key NEAR projects.
• Recognize the value of national infrastructures using high-quality epidemiological data in fostering collaborative and nationally representative public health research.
Personality and Biomarkers of Neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s Disease in Swedish Older Adults
Authors: Molinder J , Vetrano D , Zetterberg H , Blennow K , Waern M , Johansson L , Falk Erhag H , Sigström R , Skoog I 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Personality is associated with dementia risk. Neuroticism and conscientiousness may be involved in resistance and resilience to Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) pathology (ADP). These traits have also been associated with unspecific biomarkers of neurodegeneration; glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament light (NfL). This study explores the role of personality in cognitive ageing.

Methods
We used data from the Swedish population-based studies H70 (individuals age 70 years only), and SNAC-K (individuals ages 60-104). Personality was assessed with the NEO-five-factor inventory. In H70, biomarkers of ADP were measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF, N = 305), except NfL which was also available in plasma (N = 1082). In SNAC-K (N = 1754), all biomarkers were measured in serum. We used multivariable regression models to evaluate the association between personality traits and ADP biomarkers, GFAP and NfL among individuals without dementia. We further examined if associations differed by age (SNAC-K only) and sex.

Results
In H70, higher neuroticism and was associated with lower Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio (B=-0.01, p = 0.02). In SNAC-K, higher openness was associated with lower NfL (B=-0.04, p = 0.03). For age 60-66, higher openness was associated with lower NfL (B=-0.09, p = 0.01), higher neuroticism was associated with higher GFAP (B = 0.09, p = 0.01), and NfL (B = 0.10, p = 0.003). For age &gt;80, higher openness was associated with higher ptau-181, (B = 0.14, p = 0.01), and ptau-181/Aβ42 ratio (B = 0.15, p = 0.003).

Conclusions
Higher neuroticism and lower openness are associated with neurodegeneration. Higher openness may also be associated with resilience to AD-pathology.

Key messages
• Neuroticism may contribute to neurodegeneration in people &lt;70.
• Openness may contribute to cognitive resilience to ADP in people &gt;80.
A quantitative study on the impact of a new outdoor advertising restrictions policy in Bristol (UK)
Authors: Buckland G , Toumpakari Z , Jago R , Harding S , Nobles J , Horwood J , Sillero-Rejon C , Hollingworth W , Cummins S , de Vocht F 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Bristol was the first city outside London to introduce a policy to restrict adverts for high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) products and other unhealthy commodities (alcohol, gambling, payday loans) on council sites in 2021. This research evaluates the impact of this policy.

Methods
We conducted a controlled repeated cross-sectional study of Bristol (intervention) and neighbouring South Gloucestershire (control) residents before (n = 2,543) and after (n = 2,043) the policy came into effect. Self-reported exposure to adverts of HFSS products, alcohol and gambling and consumption/use of these products was collected. The intervention effect was analysed using a weighted controlled before-after design. In addition, we analysed 2020-23 timeseries of foods and drinks purchased by 1,012 households from Bristol (n = 217) and control areas (n = 795) from Kantar’s Worldpanel Take Home data. A controlled interrupted time series design was used to estimate the impact of the policy on weekly household purchases of energy and nutrients from HFSS products.

Results
Preliminary results did not indicate significant changes in exposure to unhealthy commodity adverts or consumption/use of unhealthy commodities post-intervention. However, the majority of results suggested a potential reduction; with for example a -22.1 (95% CI -47.3, 16.2) percentage point decrease in reported consumption of fast-food compared to controls. We also did not observe significant differences in weekly energy purchased from HFSS products compared to counterfactual; 897.6Kcal, 95%CI -57.7, 1,853.0, nor in purchases of fat (39.0g, 95%CI -20.1, 98.1), sugar (48.0g, 95%CI -19.8, 115.7) or salt (-0.4g, 95%CI -4.1, 3.2) from HFSS products.

Conclusions
Preliminary results indicate the new policy had no clear impact on exposure to unhealthy commodity adverts or purchasing and consumption of HFSS products. This may be attributable to the relatively small amount of total advertisement space owned by Bristol City Council (∼30%).

Key messages
• Policies restricting adverts of HFSS products and other unhealthy commodities are potentially effective tools to improve diet and to reduce diet-related diseases and public health inequalities.
• We did not observe a measurable impact of this policy in Bristol, which may be attributable to the relatively small Council-owned advertisement estate within the total available advertisement space.
What works to reduce regional health inequalities? A case of East vs West Germany post reunification
Authors: Simpson J , Albani V , Bambra C 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Regional inequalities in mortality are rising across the globe. The case of German reunification offers a unique opportunity to explore how such inequalities can be reduced, or even eliminated: following reunification, a long-standing life expectancy gap between East and West Germany was closed for women and markedly reduced for men in a period of less than 15 years. Drawing from theory on health inequalities, we investigate the contribution of material, behavioural and psychosocial factors likely related to the narrowing of the life expectancy gap between East and West Germany following reunification. We used regional data from official national statistics covering the period 1994-2020 for 15 regions in East and West Germany. Using fixed-effects models with an interaction term for regions in the East, we investigated whether within-region changes in key hypothesised factors (social security expenditure, healthcare improvements, changes in alcohol consumption, and life satisfaction), have had differential impacts on life expectancy at birth and at 65 years. We find that increases in social security benefits in the East following reunification has been the most important factor for lowering inequalities between the two parts of Germany: for every standard deviation increase in social security benefits, life expectancy at birth increased by an additional 0.20 [0.07,0.33] years for males and by 0.15 [-0.01,0.31] years for females in East relative to West Germany. We find the protective effect of social security benefits also for women at 65 years (additional 0.14 years [0.006,0.268]) but not for men. Overall, our findings suggest that increasing social security expenditure could be an effective policy-based tool for reducing health disparities across regions with different levels of economic development. This provides additional support for the relevance of the materialist hypothesis and the political economy of root causes of health inequalities.

Key messages
• Our findings suggest that increasing social security expenditure could be an effective policy-based tool for reducing regional health disparities.
• We find support for the materialist and political economy approaches to explaining health inequalities.
Reinterpreting the NRA’s Eddie Eagle GunSafe® program as a corporate political activity
Authors: van Schalkwyk MCI , Hawkins B , Maani N , Petticrew M 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
In the US firearm injuries are the leading cause of death among children and adolescents. However, and despite there being limited evidence to support the adoption of gun safety education programs, firearm industry-funded groups like the National Rifle Association (NRA) promote the delivery of their education-based Eddie Eagle Gunsafe® program while lobbying against other firearm policies less favourable to the firearm industry. The study aimed to address an important research gap by examining how the NRA frame gun ownership, safety and the role of the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® program as an effective firearm safety intervention and whether the design, promotion and delivery of the program serves the corporate political interests of the firearm industry, and if so, how.

Methods
We conducted a critical analysis of program-related texts and films and the NRA’s practices to promote its legitimacy and effectiveness, guided by the application of published taxonomies of corporate framing and action strategies. Data was collected from the program-specific websites and other NRA outlets to capture the breadth of strategies used to promote their education program.

Results
The NRA’s practices support the corporate political agenda of the firearm industry. The NRA adopts framing and action strategies that present the presence of firearms in homes and communities as inevitable and normal and the education of children through the delivery of their “lifesaving” program as the common-sense and effective way of keeping children safe from firearm injuries. They make misleading claims about the effectiveness of the program while undermining the credibility of those who advocate for the safety of children and adolescents.

Conclusions
The ongoing delivery of the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® program needs to be questioned. Policies based on a recognition that children and adolescents are safest when their homes and communities are free of firearms are needed to prevent firearm injuries.

Key messages
• The NRA makes misleading claims about their program’s effectiveness and distorts understanding of what is needed to prevent firearm injuries and ensure the safety of all children.
• The firearm industry needs more attention from the global public health community. Evidenced policy measures that prioritize the prevention of firearm injuries are needed to save children’s lives.