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  • Interaction of contextual, setting and implementation factors on a podoconiosis intervention in Rural Ethiopia: Results from a qualitative study

    by Kibur Engdawork, Getnet Tadele, Gail Davey, Papreen Nahar, Shahaduz Zaman

    Social science perspectives enable more holistic approaches to the evaluation of health interventions. Balance between context, setting and implementation is key to the sustainable impact of health interventions. However, little is known about how the implementation of interventions against Neglected Tropical Diseases interacts with context and settings, or the influence of the interaction on intervention outcomes. We conducted a qualitative evaluation of a podoconiosis intervention in Northwestern Ethiopia, and collected data on intervention implementation, context, setting and relations among these elements between 10/04/2022 and 29/07/2022. Our system and network analyses revealed that the context, setting and implementation of the intervention interacted formally and informally across macro, meso and micro levels during intervention delivery and created constraints on the intervention. In future, implementers must design programs that can withstand the constraining effects of contextual and related factors to effectively deliver activities and institutionalize NTD services at the community level. These programs must be supported by simultaneous efforts to mobilize institutions and local actors to ensure reflection on priorities and local solutions. Integrating social science perspectives into intervention evaluation enables better analysis and understanding of the factors influencing health interventions.

  • Psychosocial determinants of recidivism risk among incarcerated individuals with a history of substance use: A systematic review

    by Kalaivanan Syasyila, Mohammad Rahim Kamaluddin, Hilwa Abdullah @ Mohd Nor, Paramjit Singh Jamir Singh

    The prevalence of recidivism among individuals with a history of substance use and incarceration remains a significant concern for criminal justice systems worldwide. With significant social and economic ramifications, preventing people with a history of substance use from reoffending is a substantial issue. It is imperative to comprehend the complex connections between psychological and social factors to continue developing successful therapies. To better understand this complexity, this review provides a comprehensive analysis of how psychological vulnerabilities and social barriers combine to influence reoffending. Our search strategies in major databases, including Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), ScienceDirect, PubMed, and PubMed Central (PMC), yielded 34,766 results, which decreased to 858 articles after eliminating ineligible records, duplicates, and records unrelated to the language. Finally, 30 articles qualified to be included in the systematic review following PRISMA guidelines. In addition to social determinants, including family support, community impact, stigma, and peer influence, the review concentrated on psychological issues like drug abuse, dual diagnoses, and early-life adversity. The review highlights the importance of social support, with strong family and community relationships associated with reduced recidivism risk. Mental health issues, particularly those co-occurring with substance use, impede reintegration, with emotional dysregulation and poor decision-making contributing to continued criminal conduct. Other significant risk factors include involvement in a gang, trauma exposure, and a lack of rehabilitative assistance. The results highlight that recidivism is a fundamentally psychological and societal problem rather than just an individual one. Breaking reoffending cycles requires addressing these elements through comprehensive, long-term interventions. Given possible gender disparities in recidivism pathways, future systematic reviews should consider doing separate syntheses for men and women to provide more focused insights.

  • Losartan as a mechanotherapeutic adjuvant: Remodeling the breast tumor microenvironment to improve treatment efficacy

    by Mutaz Dwairy, Alaa Yehya, Feras M. Mohammad, Hiba Alzoubi

    Tumor stiffness is a critical factor influencing cancer progression, therapeutic resistance, and drug delivery. This study investigates the role of mechanical normalization in breast cancer therapy through the anti-fibrotic action of losartan, an angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker. We developed a comprehensive multiphysics model integrating tumor cell proliferation, oxygen transport, interstitial fluid dynamics, and losartan pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD). Simulations demonstrate that losartan reduces tumor stiffness by up to 28%, enhances oxygenation by 8%, and increases tumor porosity by ~45%, thereby enhancing drug penetration and interstitial transport. Furthermore, tumor cell concentration decreased by 88%, reflecting the drug’s dual anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects. Spatial analyses revealed heterogeneity in stiffness reduction and drug response, emphasizing the importance of tumor geometry and perfusion. Our findings support the potential of losartan as a mechanotherapeutic adjuvant to enhance standard cancer treatments by remodeling the tumor microenvironment and overcoming mechanical barriers to therapy.

  • Performance and feasibility of self-microsampling of capillary blood and saliva for serological testing of SARS-CoV-2

    by Ivonne Morales, Josh Bueggeln, Anna Denzler, Vera Sonntag-Buck, Kathleen Börner, Petr Chlanda, Lisa Koeppel, Andreas Deckert, Till Bärnighausen, Michael Knop, Claudia M. Denkinger

    Background

    Serology is a valuable tool to estimate infections, case-fatality rates, and immunity. However, venipuncture and clinical infrastructure hinder scalability. This study evaluated the performance, feasibility and user experience of using a microsampling device for self-collected capillary blood and saliva to determine total SARS-CoV-2 S RBD antibodies.

    Methods

    It included 149 participants with (n = 48) or without (n = 101) a known history of SARS-CoV-2 infection and confirmed antibodies. Venous and capillary blood were self- or professionally collected from all, and saliva was self-collected by 46/48 participants with antibodies. The detection of SARS-CoV-2 S RBD antibodies in all sample types was tested using a high-throughput platform and agreement was calculated. Intra- and inter-rater agreement between serum and capillary blood in participants with an unknown antibody status was also assessed. Participants evaluated the device’s user-friendliness through questionnaires.

    Results

    Among the 48 participants with known past infection and antibodies, agreement was 100% (95% CI: 92.6–100) between serum and capillary blood (self-collected or professionally collected). Self-collected saliva had slightly lower agreement with paired serum samples (95.7%, CI: 85.2–99.5). For the 101 participants without prior evidence of antibodies or infection, serum and self-collected capillary blood had good intra-rater agreement and serum and professionally collected capillary blood had almost perfect intra-rater agreement. Inter-rater agreement was also almost perfect. While 81.8% found the self-finger prick easy, 53.4% found using the microsampler easy. Among those who collected saliva, 84.8% found capillary blood easier to collect compared to saliva (52.2%).

    Conclusions

    Our results show that detecting SARS-CoV-2 antibodies from capillary blood and saliva collected with the VAMS microsampling device is feasible and yields valid results. To ensure accuracy and reliability, additional training in self-sampling techniques may be essential. The positive user experience further underscores the microsampling device’s potential for scalable serosurveillance and strengthening pandemic preparedness efforts.



  • Retraction: Role of metformin in suppressing 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer in diabetic and non-diabetic mice: Effect on tumor angiogenesis and cell proliferation

    by The PLOS One Editors