bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Effectiveness of a Novel Public Health Campaign to Reduce Parental Provision of Alcohol
Authors: Booth L , McCausland T , Keric D , Stafford J , Samsa H , Akesson G , Pettigrew S 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background
Parental provision of alcohol to children is common despite being associated with negative outcomes, including earlier initiation of alcohol use and riskier drinking behaviours. Parental provision can be particularly problematic because it suggests to children that their parents have permissive attitudes to underage alcohol use. This study evaluated the ‘I need you to say no’ mass media public health campaign implemented by the Mental Health Commission in Western Australia (Nov 2018 - Feb 2022). The campaign adopted a novel approach by depicting adolescent children asking their parents to say ‘no’ if they ask for alcohol, alongside information challenging beliefs that provision behaviours are safe and commonplace.

Methods
Parents in Western Australia (n = 297) were surveyed in March 2022 to examine campaign recognition, perceptions of the campaign, and behaviours enacted due to seeing the campaign. Descriptive analyses were conducted. Two generalised linear models were also run to identify variables associated with positive campaign perceptions and behaviours enacted due to the campaign.

Results
The campaign was recognised by 4 in 5 parents and was rated by 70+% as being clear, memorable, and believable. Two-thirds of parents reported that the campaign made them concerned about underage drinking and less likely to supply alcohol to minors. Half the sample reported talking to their children about alcohol as a result of seeing the campaign. Perceptions of the campaign did not differ according to demographic characteristics, suggesting the campaign achieved widespread approval across demographic subgroups. Positive perceptions of the campaign were associated with enacting more of the examined harm reduction behaviours (B = .43, p = .002).

Conclusions
A novel campaign discouraging parental provision of alcohol resonated with parents and motivated harm reduction behaviours. Such campaigns have the potential to reduce alcohol-related harms among underage people.

Key messages
• A campaign advising parents to not provide alcohol to children was well received.
• Such campaigns can challenge permissive attitudes to parental alcohol provision and promote harm-reduction behaviours.
Training of women as promoters of social and emotional health in children and adolescents
Authors: Castro Ramírez C , Sierra Delgadillo V , Ruiz González L , Acosta Fajardo L , Piratova López D , Fonseca Zamora F , Romero Correa J 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the ‘silent pandemics’ associated with mental health became more visible; likewise, the confinement made us reflect on the importance of family environments for health promotion. On the other hand, child and adolescent suicide increases alarmingly; a context that highlights the need to consolidate health promotion actions from the emotional and social dimensions based on educational strategies with the community, be women, key to strengthen the community health system.

Objectives
To train 46 women as social and emotional health promoters in children and adolescents through the gamification methodology; 9 training sessions were held, developing the modules: a) Definition of social health and emotional health and play and gamification tools, b) Social health, c) Emotional health and d) Proposal for health promotion.

Results
Community mothers and women caregivers succeeded: a) Identification and application of the gamification methodology for the formulation of health promotion actions based on the projects implemented, such as: ‘I take care of myself to care for another', ‘Run with My Emotions', ‘Take Care of Myself and Be Happy', ‘Educational Mental Health', ‘Happy Explorers', ‘Active Squad'; b) Recognition of social and emotional health as well as personal and context risk factors; and c) Benefit your 46 families, an average of 5 persons per household, serving 230 persons in the community and 475 children and adolescents belonging to 36 community homes involved in the process.

Conclusions
Installed capacity was generated by certifying 46 women in the course: Gamification, play and playful, fundamental axes in the promotion of social and emotional health in children and adolescents; evidencing the strengthening of social and family ties based on the personal growth of trained women and the recognition of the role of participating women as multipliers and health promoters in their communities.

Key messages
• Gamification as a methodology for health education evidence significant learning in women and in their transfer of knowledge to children and adolescents.
• Training women as health promoters makes it possible to strengthen the community health system, recognizing the educational role they have in their families and communities to be multipliers.
Waste-pathogen combinations from land-spreading for a farm-to-fork QMRA of public health in Ireland
Authors: McCarthy J , Frias J , Hynds P , Bolton D 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Recent reports highlight the importance of assessing public health and food safety risks via land-spreading of organic wastes (i.e., biofertilisers) in Ireland. Accordingly, this study established a modular framework for farm-to-fork quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) of targeted waste-pathogen combinations (W-PCs) due to land-spreading. Assessments will also consider resultant cross-contamination of soil, livestock, water, and crops (i.e., One Health approach). A scoping review of the scientific literature was undertaken, employing search strings of relevant terms relating to enteric pathogens in land-spread animal manures and biosolids. The primary eligibility criterion was “spatial relevance” (i.e., Ireland and western Europe). Directed graphical model chains were developed, incorporating both stochastic model parameters and inherent uncertainty and variability associated with model inputs. Mixed effects meta-analyses, likelihood ratio testing, and stepwise multivariate regression were used to pool estimates from extracted farm-level datasets (i.e., harmonisation, weighting, and density function fitting for target pathogen prevalence and concentration). Identified priority W-PCs based on Irish environmental prevalence and epidemiological data were: bovine slurry (BS)-STEC O157/O26, BS-Cryptosporidium parvum, biosolids-noroviruses GI and GII, and broiler litter-Campylobacter jejuni. All distributed baseline prevalence meta-models included: pooled estimates ranging 0.13-0.43, SE ranging 0.04-0.06 (for p ranging &lt;0.0001-0.009, respectively), and bioclimatic indicators, temperature and precipitation seasonality (for p ranging &lt;0.0001-0.01, respectively), explaining 34.91%-54.75% of heterogeneity (system variance). The directed graphical model chains, pooled analyses, and fitted distributions for identified W-PCs provide the first modular framework for spatially explicit QMRA of land-spreading in the Republic of Ireland.
Acknowledgements DAFM R2021453

Key messages
• The modular framework provides the tools to assess the public health and food safety risks of land-spread biofertilisers in Ireland.
• This is the first modular framework for spatially explicit QMRA of land-spreading in the Republic of Ireland.
Polystyrene nanoplastics mediate ROS production and apoptosis in A549 cell line
Authors: Milillo C , Pesce M , Patruno A , Aruffo E , Di Carlo P , di Giacomo V , Marinelli L , Miscia G , Reale M , Ballerini P 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background
The ubiquity of single-use plastics has led to a global plastic pollution challenge with significant environmental and health consequences. Physical, chemical, and biological processes such as erosion, photo-oxidation, and biodegradation cause the plastic to erode, eventually forming debris in the size range from micro-plastics (MP) to nano-plastics (NP). Although NP has been extensively studied as a pollutant in marine and water environments, its potential detrimental effects, when present in the atmosphere, are still poorly investigated. In this study, we used polystyrene NP (PS-NP) in evaluating their potential toxic effects on the A549 cell line as a representative in vitro model of human lung epithelial cells.

Methods
The A549 cells were treated with concentrations of PS-NP (800 nm diameter) in the range of 10-500 mg/ml and for different time intervals up to 96 h. Cell viability, oxidative stress and senescence, were evaluated by commercially available kits, apoptosis was assessed by cytofluorimetric assay. Their capability to cross physiological barriers was assessed by Parallel Artificial Membrane Permeability Assay (PAMPA) and Caco-2 cell monolayer.

Results
PS-NP reduced cell vitality after 72 h of treatment at all the concentrations used. They also induced a marked increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in a dose-dependent manner. Accordingly, PS-NP upregulated ROS-related genes evaluated by qPCR. PS-NP induced apoptosis after 96 h of treatment, whereas they were unable to induce senescence at the size and concentrations used. As expected, PAMPA results revealed no passive diffusion of PS-NP after 3 and 18 h, caco-2 assay excluded additional permeation mechanisms within 24h.

Conclusions
This study showed that atmospheric PS-NPs can represent a hazard to human lung health once inhaled. They cannot be degraded; thus they can be continuously accumulated and able to worsen pre-existing disease states or increase sensitivity to them.

Key messages
• The results indicated a significant effect of polystyrene nanoplastics on airway cell viability, ROS formation, and apoptosis.
• The study helps define the harmful effects of exposure to airborne polystyrene nanoplastics on human health at the respiratory system level.
Potential zoonotic agents in sea turtles: Chlamydia species and Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Barsi F , Baruffaldi M , Vicari N , Taddei R , Sampieri M , Di Donato A , Savini F , Prandini L , Giacometti F , Rubini S 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background
Sea turtles are well recognized sentinels of marine environment as well as carrier of pathogens and contaminants. Chlamydial species have been described in reptiles, but scarce data regarding sea turtles are available in literature (Pace et al., 2022). Hitherto, only one case of listeriosis has been described in marine reptiles (Di Renzo et al., 2022). This study reports the detection of Chlamydia species and Listeria monocytogenes in loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), suggesting the role of these animals as carriers of potential zoonotic agents.

Methods
In 2022, a total of 11 sea turtles found stranded along Emilia-Romagna coast, Northwestern Adriatic Sea, were subjected to post mortem investigation. Cloacal swabs were collected from 10 of the investigated animals and screened for Chlamydiaceae family by qPCR targeting 23S rRNA gene, followed by confirmation via 16S rRNA fragment sequencing. For positive samples, Chlamydia species identification was performed by species-specific qPCR for C. abortus, C. pneumoniae, C. pecorum, C. psittaci. One subject showed internal organs disseminated with multiple nodular lesions that were sampled for histopathology analyses, alongside microbiological examination. The cultured isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF (MALDI Biotyper; Bruker Daltonics Inc).

Results
In six out of 10 cloacal swabs Chlamydiaceae DNA was demonstrated by qPCR and confirmed by sequencing of 16S rRNA, but species identification was not achieved. In the turtle with nodular lesions, histopathology revealed the presence of granulomas: the Ziehl-Neelsen stain was negative for acid-fast organisms. L. monocytogenes was isolated from heart and liver and listeriosis was diagnosed.

Conclusions
The results highlight how sea turtles can be carriers, symptomatic or not, of pathogens relevant for public health. Given the zoonotic potential of these microorganisms, particular precautions are recommended especially for professionals handling these animals.

Key messages
• Sea turtles can play an active role as carriers of possibly pathogenetic microorganisms.
• Further studies of molecular identification of Chlamydia spp. from sea turtles are needed in atypical strains.
The next-generation tools for risk assessment and precision food safety in the One Health continuum
Authors: Macori G , Fanning S 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Sequencing technologies and bioinformatics are transforming microbiology and their applications, including aspects of food quality and precision food safety and description of microbial communities in the One Health context. The use of these protocols includes, among others, a deep understanding of the genomes of microorganisms in pure culture using whole genome sequencing and importantly, metagenomics has allowed the extensive comprehension of the microbiota and microbiome of samples. Microbial communities from different sources (clinical samples, environment, food-producing animals) have increasingly been studied to describe the genetic diversity, functionality, and succession of food-borne pathogens and for studying functional microorganisms used for producing novel foods and also using fermentation. This study presents the methods used for the description of microbial communities in a model fermented food, including culturing with a novel in situ culturing approach, full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and shotgun metagenomic sequencing with computational enrichment. Several microorganisms were identified both in culture and as high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes and included prominent probiotic species of the genus Gluconobacter, Liquorilactobacillus, Lactiplantibacillus, Lentilactobacillus and Lacticaseibacillus that have potential health benefits and applications in food production and environment health enhancement. These tools can revolutionise risk assessment approaches, allowing for the pinpointing of contamination events, pathogens, antimicrobial resistance spread, and description of unknown beneficial microorganisms, as in this model study. The integration of these methods in the One Health continuum will allow the precise connection of samples from clinical settings, animals, plants, and their shared environment, achieving a holistic approach to food safety and public health.

Key messages
• technologies are changing food safety by enabling comprehensive analysis of microbiome. This can aid in identifying contamination events, pathogens, and AMR spread, and promote One Health integration.
• Use of sequencing in foods, enables the identification of novel microbial species, providing valuable insights into the functional microorganisms for production and their potential health benefits.
Post-covid policy responses to health workforce capacities: comparing health system resilience
Authors: Burau V , Falkenbach M , Fehsenfeld M , Kotoreva Z , Mejsner S B , Neri S , Wallenburg I , Kuhlmann E 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background
Post-Covid health policies seek to adapt to the ‘new normal'. Their success depends on the capacities of healthcare workforce (HCWF). Policies need to tackle rapidly growing shortages, high levels of stress and increases in violence against the HCWF. We lack more systematic comparisons of how countries respond, also across different sectors. Our study analyses policy responses in six European countries in relation to hospitals and ambulatory care, to provide in-depth insights into on how health system resilience is created, maintained and transformed.

Methods
We used a framework which considers the relationships between health system prerequisites, health workforce capacities, and health system resilience as flexible. We selected Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands for our comparative analysis. We collected data in 2022 and prepared descriptive country cases, based on expert information and written secondary and primary research.

Results
Across our countries, the focus of national policy responses tends to be on hospitals and governments are often limited in developing HWCF capacity in ambulatory care. There are also variations in how fast national governments are moving to post-pandemic policy responses. Policy responses at sub-national levels have a broader focus on HWCF capacity, reflecting decentralisation as well as greater proximity to the consequences of increasing demands and greater shortages in the HWCF. At all levels, medical interests continue to be more influential compared to those of other health workers. Only few countries have adopted major transformative policy responses and capitalised on the possibilities offered by the EU Next Generation programmme.

Conclusions
Considering the scale of the post-Covid challenges, policy responses remain fragmented and often patchy. Securing health system resilience requires more concerted policies directed at the capacities of the entire HCWF.

Key messages
• Success of post-Covid health policies depends on the capacities of the HCWF and needs to tackle growing shortages, high levels of stress and increases in violence against health workers.
• Our comparison analysis shows that policy responses remain patchy and are fragmented across national and local levels, hospitals and ambulatory care, as well as different groups of the HCWF.
Decision-making, training and support:Lessons from public health response to COVID-19 in Ireland
Authors: Kennedy C , Conyard K F , Codd M 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the critical need for a rapid and effective public health emergency response to such crises. This study investigates the public health response to COVID-19 in Ireland, focusing on decision-making, recruitment, training, and specialised support for emergency responders.

Methods
Using a mixed-methods approach, we analysed data from surveys of volunteer contact tracers recruited in the early days of the pandemic, from government reports, and from the Health Service Executive (HSE) COVID-19 Contact Management Programme work instructions that evolved over the course of the pandemic response.

Results
Our findings reveal that the public health response in Ireland was moderately rapid and decisive with innovative recruitment strategies, targeted training programmes and the development of specialised support for frontline responders. While volunteer contact tracers were quickly upskilled, they required ongoing expert support on an evolving IT system and for effective clinical and public health responses. We highlight key lessons learned, including the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, ongoing training and support, and effective communication strategies.

Conclusions
Our study has important policy implications for public health emergency preparedness and response, which include the need for greater investment in training and support for public health professionals, the development of effective communication channels, and the establishment of a coordinated national response system. By implementing these recommendations policymakers can better prepare for, and respond to, future public health emergencies ultimately improving the health and wellbeing of the population. The key lessons presented from this analysis point to the importance of forward planning for early intervention, rather than reactive responses in times of crises.

Key messages
• Improving emergency preparedness by investing in training for public health professionals, developing effective communication channels, and establishing a coordinated national response system.
• The key lessons presented from this analysis point to the importance of forward planning for early intervention, rather than reactive responses in times of crises.
Hungry and warm; cold and fed? The intersection of food and fuel poverty
Authors: Champagne S N , Macdiarmid J I , Phimister E , Guntupalli A M 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background
The UK news has been increasingly reporting of people forced to choose between “heating and eating.” The (self-)rationing of food and fuel has harmful health repercussions, yet the intersection food poverty and fuel (or energy) poverty has been largely neglected in academic literature. This study looks to triangulate reports from the UK news and stakeholders in food and fuel poverty (FFP) mitigation to determine and compare how FFP is framed relationally between the sources.

Methods
Using the Nexis Lexis database, we searched for UK news articles on FFP, published between January 2010 and April 2022. Stakeholders in the FFP mitigation space, identified via hand-searching grey literature and snowball sampling, were interviewed between April and June 2023. Twenty interviews were conducted, and 185 news articles were included. Relying on framing analysis, extracted news data fragments and interview transcripts were thematically coded, analysed, and triangulated.

Results
Three descriptive frames of FFP were inductively identified across both data sources: 1) FFP is experienced as “trade-off” - a choice between heating and eating; 2) FFP is experienced as “mutual cutbacks” - an effort to reduce both necessities; 3) FFP is “not distinct” - the problem is income poverty. A fourth frame, that FFP is “situational” - it does not involve decisions but is a situation people find themselves in, only emerged from interviews. The UK news most prominently framed FFP as a “trade-off” (70%), followed by as a “mutual cutback” (29%), and rarely as “not distinct” (1%). Whereas stakeholders largely framed the issue as “mutual cutbacks” (45%), followed by as a “trade off” (30%), as “not distinct” (25%) and as “situational” (10%).

Conclusions
The varied and mismatched framings between the news and stakeholders suggests that FFP is complex and potentially poorly understood. Centring the framing of people with lived FFP experience may help towards meaningfully tackling FFP.

Key messages
• Food and fuel poverty (FFP) is largely framed differently between the UK news and FFP mitigation stakeholders.
• Centring the framing(s) of people with lived experience may help towards tackling FFP.