Review
Education & Educational Research
Maria R. Belando-Montoro, Maria Naranjo-Crespo, M. Aranzazu Carrasco-Temino
Summary: The study found significant overlap between the barriers and facilitators faced by university students, including economic, cultural, linguistic, family, and motivational aspects.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Robert S. Kerrison, Natalie Gil, Elizabeth Travis, Robyn Jones, Katriina L. Whitaker, Colin Rees, Stephen Duffy, Christian von Wagner
Summary: This study aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators to attending colonoscopy perceived by ethnic minority groups in the UK. The findings showed that people from ethnic minority backgrounds are less likely to attend colonoscopy and more likely to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer at an advanced stage. The study identified targets for culturally-tailored interventions to promote equity in colonoscopy.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Jennifer Cunningham-Erves, Yvonne Joosten, Sheila V. Kusnoor, Stephanie A. Mayers, Jabari Ichimura, Leah Dunkel, Tiffany L. Israel, Devan Ray, Mary Stroud, Paul A. Harris, Consuelo H. Wilkins
Summary: This paper describes the formative research process used to design a Community-Informed Recruitment Plan Template for historically excluded and underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in clinical research. The template was developed through a three-phase process, including a literature review, community engagement studios, community advisory board review, and survey data analysis.
CONTEMPORARY CLINICAL TRIALS
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Wendy Machalicek, Lindsay Glugatch, Buket Erturk, Tasia Brafford, Megan Kunze, Christine Drew, Allaina Douglas, Sloan Storie, Rebecca Crowe, Sandy Magana
Summary: This systematic review summarizes parent-mediated intervention research for children with or at risk for mental health disorders to identify effective recruitment and retention strategies for diverse participants in parent-mediated intervention research for children with autism.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Experimental
Magdalena Bobowik, Marta Doroszuk, Patrycja Slawuta, Nekane Basabe
Summary: Emotional tears can facilitate bonding between individuals and across social categories. This study found that tears had effects on cognitive inferences, affective responses, and prosocial behavioral intentions towards immigrants. Inferred warmth and felt compassion explained the effects of tears on emotional support and donation intentions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lucia Magee, Felicity Knights, Doug G. J. Mckechnie, Roaa Al-Bedaery, Mohammad S. Razai
Summary: This study aimed to explore COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy in primary care patients from South Asian and Black ethnicities. Key themes included concerns about the speed of vaccine roll-out and potential impacts on health, mistrust of official information, and exposure to misinformation. Facilitators included the opportunity to discuss concerns with a healthcare professional, utilising social influences via communities and highlighting incentives.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Maryam Naqvi, Lan Li, Michael Woodrow, Punam Yadav, Patty Kostkova
Summary: This study explores vaccine hesitancy in ethnic minority groups in the UK, focusing on the reasons behind the hesitation, the impact of social media, and strategies to overcome it. The findings show that social media plays a significant role in vaccine hesitancy, with misinformation and concerns about fertility being major factors. However, those with trusted sources of information are more likely to choose to get vaccinated. Building trust, combating misinformation, and addressing concerns are important for an inclusive vaccination program that reduces health inequality.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lucia Magee, Felicity Knights, Doug G. J. Mckechnie, Roaa Al-Bedaery, Mohammad S. Razai
Summary: This study aimed to understand COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among South Asian and Black ethnic groups. The results showed that concerns about the speed of vaccine roll-out, potential impacts on health, mistrust of official information, and exposure to misinformation were key themes contributing to hesitancy. Additionally, negative messages linked to vaccination seemed to outweigh positive messages. Facilitators for vaccine uptake included discussing concerns with healthcare professionals, utilizing social influences via communities, and highlighting incentives.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Russyan Mark Mabeza, Briana Christophers, Sophia A. Ederaine, Emily J. Glenn, Zachary P. Benton-Slocum, Jasmine R. Marcelin
Summary: Racially and ethnically minoritized individuals are underrepresented in graduate medical education, and there is a lack of consensus on strategies to improve representation across specialties.
Review
Neurosciences
Khushnoo K. Indorewalla, Maureen K. O'Connor, Andrew E. Budson, Christina Guess (DiTerlizzi), Jonathan Jackson
Summary: Clinical Alzheimer's disease trials are currently facing a critical shortage of participants, particularly for underrepresented populations, which threatens the generalizability of research findings. Efforts are needed to address recruitment barriers and increase diversity in enrolled cohorts to ensure that research results are representative of the intended population.
JOURNAL OF ALZHEIMERS DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Studies
Stefan Bouzarovski, Manon Burbidge, Amish Sarpotdar, Mari Martiskainen
Summary: This paper examines the relationship between ethnicity and energy injustices in the UK, focusing on fuel poverty and energy vulnerability experienced by ethnic minorities. Using evidence from interviews, surveys, and secondary data, the paper provides insights into the manifestation and persistence of inequalities, as well as the patterns of deprivation resulting from marginalization and exclusion. The study finds that Black African communities are particularly affected by multiple vulnerabilities. The paper suggests the need to consider differentiated, intersectional and compounding energy vulnerabilities among ethnic minorities in future research and policy.
ENERGY RESEARCH & SOCIAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Education & Educational Research
Belen Masso-Guijarro, Purificacion Perez-Garcia, Cristina Cruz-Gonzalez
Summary: The interdisciplinary field of Applied Theatre has significantly expanded over the past decade in exploring the social and educational applications of theatre, revealing a rich array of possibilities for addressing social vulnerability. However, challenges such as power distribution in applied theatre processes and the complexities of an instrumental vision of the arts have also been uncovered in this developing area.
EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Leslie Sanchez, Travis Warziniack, Michael Knowles
Summary: Socially vulnerable populations in the United States bear the highest costs of water scarcity, but prior research has only focused on singular dimensions of vulnerability, leaving an incomplete understanding of the national scope of shortage risks. This study combines data on water shortages with the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) to identify hotspots of high shortage and vulnerability across the country. The study found that approximately 15 million people in the lower 48 states live in high-SVI, high-shortage areas. Water shortages disproportionately affect socially vulnerable groups, but the specific dimensions of vulnerability vary across regions and hotspots, requiring tailored adaptation strategies.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Barbara C. Schouten, Myrte Westerneng, Anne-Marike Smit
Summary: This study identified the most influential barriers that midwives perceive in communicating about depression-related symptoms with ethnic minority clients. The results showed that educational-related barriers and client-related barriers were the most significant obstacles, indicating a need for culturally sensitive screening tools and patient education materials to improve communication about depression.
PATIENT EDUCATION AND COUNSELING
(2021)
Article
Economics
Christoph van Duelmen, Martin Simon, Andreas Klaerner
Summary: This article examines the spatial mobility of disadvantaged populations to enhance understanding of transport poverty. The study, based on participatory GPS tracking data from rural areas in Czechia and Germany, finds that individual social disadvantage is more important than regional spatial disadvantage in determining mobility. Daily mobility is influenced by individual strategies and social networks. The study also highlights the varying mobility patterns among socially disadvantaged groups and the impact of car access on different levels of social disadvantage. The findings emphasize the importance of understanding how social ties mediate automobility in rural areas and its implications for social participation.
JOURNAL OF TRANSPORT GEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Parisa Montazeri, Serena Fossati, Diana B. P. Clemente, Lourdes Cirugeda, Roberto Elosua, Silvia Fernandez-Barres, Silvia Fochs, Raquel Garcia-Esteban, Sandra Marquez, Nuria Pey, Tim S. Nawrot, Martine Vrijheid
Summary: The study revealed that childhood BMI trajectories characterized by accelerated growth are associated with preclinical macrovascular measurements in young adolescents, but not with microvascular measurements.
JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL ORIGINS OF HEALTH AND DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Laurens J. De Sadeleer, John E. McDonough, Jonas C. Schupp, Xiting Yan, Arno Vanstapel, Anke Van Herck, Stephanie Everaerts, Vincent Geudens, Annelore Sacreas, Tinne Goos, Celine Aelbrecht, Tim S. Nawrot, Dries S. Martens, Dominique Schols, Sandra Claes, Johny A. Verschakelen, Eric K. Verbeken, Maximilian Ackermann, Anabelle Decottignies, Manon Mahieu, Tillie-Louise Hackett, James C. Hogg, Bart M. Vanaudenaerde, Stijn E. Verleden, Naftali Kaminski, Wim A. Wuyts
Summary: This study identified molecular traits that characterize the morphological progression of fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (fHP) and their associations with clinical behavior. Comparing with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the transcriptome landscape is determined by local disease extent rather than diagnosis alone.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Elmar W. Tobi, Diana L. Juvinao-Quintero, Justiina Ronkainen, Raffael Ott, Rossella Alfano, Mickael Canouil, Madelon L. Geurtsen, Amna Khamis, Leanne K. Kupers, Ives Y. Lim, Patrice Perron, Giancarlo Pesce, Johanna Tuhkanen, Anne P. Starling, Toby Andrew, Elisabeth Binder, Robert Caiazzo, Jerry K. Y. Chan, Romy Gaillard, Peter D. Gluckman, Elina Keikkala, Neerja Karnani, Sanna Mustaniemi, Tim S. Nawrot, Francois Pattou, Michelle Plusquin, Violeta Raverdy, Kok Hian Tan, Evangelia Tzala, Katri Raikkonen, Christiane Winkler, Anette-G Ziegler, Isabella Annesi-Maesano, Luigi Bouchard, Yap Seng Chong, Dana Dabelea, Janine F. Felix, Barbara Heude, Vincent W. V. Jaddoe, Jari Lahti, Brigitte Reimann, Marja Vaarasmaki, Amelie Bonnefond, Philippe Froguel, Sandra Hummel, Eero Kajantie, Marjo-Riita Jarvelin, Regine P. M. Steegers-Theunissen, Caitlin G. Howe, Marie-France Hivert, Sylvain Sebert
Summary: Maternal hyperglycemia is associated with lower cord blood DNAm at TXNIP, and these CpGs may be candidate loci for future causal and mediation analyses.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Roger Pero-Gascon, Lieselot Y. Hemeryck, Giulia Poma, Gwen Falony, Tim S. Nawrot, Jeroen Raes, Lynn Vanhaecke, Marthe De Boevre, Adrian Covaci, Sarah De Saeger
Summary: FLEXiGUT is the first large-scale exposomics study focusing on chronic low-grade inflammation. By analyzing biomonitoring data and applying advanced omics techniques in two Flemish prospective cohorts, this study aims to uncover the associations between environmental exposure and gut inflammation.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Esmee M. Bijnens, Stijn Vos, Veerle V. Verheyen, Liesbeth Bruckers, Adrian Covaci, Stefaan De Henauw, Elly Den Hond, Ilse Loots, Vera Nelen, Michelle Plusquin, Greet Schoeters, Tim S. Nawrot
Summary: The study found that green space surrounding the residence and school is associated with better sustained and selective attention in adolescents, especially trees. However, there was no significant association between green space and behavioral development in adolescents.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
G. Schoeters, V. J. Verheyen, A. Colles, S. Remy, L. Rodriguez Martin, E. Govarts, V. Nelen, E. Den Hond, A. De Decker, C. Franken, I. Loots, D. Coertjens, B. Morrens, M. Bastiaensen, C. Gys, G. Malarvannan, A. Covaci, T. Nawrot, S. De Henauw, M. Bellemans, M. Leermakers, N. Van Larebeke, W. Baeyens, G. Jacobs, S. Voorspoels, F. Nielsen, L. Bruckers
Summary: The Flemish Environment and Health Study (FLEHS) collects information on internal exposure to a broad range of environmental chemicals in the general population in Flanders, Belgium. The study found that there may be concerning levels of exposure to certain chemicals in the Flemish population, and factors such as educational attainment and urbanicity significantly influence exposure levels.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Charlotte Cosemans, Nicolas Van Larebeke, Bram G. Janssen, Dries S. Martens, Willy Baeyens, Liesbeth Bruckers, Elly Den Hond, Dries Coertjens, Vera Nelen, Greet Schoeters, Hans-Wolfgang Hoppe, Esther Wolfs, Karen Smeets, Tim S. Nawrot, Michelle Plusquin
Summary: Glyphosate and its metabolite AMPA may be associated with biomarkers of biological aging, with AMPA exposure possibly being related to telomere biology.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Silvie Daniels, Diana B. P. Clemente, Steffie Desart, Nelly Saenen, Hanne Sleurs, Tim S. Nawrot, Robert Malina, Michelle Plusquin
Summary: The study found that exposure to nature during working hours reduces stress, improves cognitive performance, and enhances visual information processing speed. This suggests that nature-based interventions have positive effects in the working environment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Parisa Montazeri, Serena Fossati, Charline Warembourg, Maribel Casas, Diana B. P. Clemente, Raquel Garcia-Esteban, Tim S. Nawrot, Martine Vrijheid
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the association between prenatal exposure to phthalates and phenols and macro- and microvascular health during early adolescence. The results showed little evidence to suggest that prenatal exposure to these chemicals is associated with cardiovascular health, except for a few associations with certain compounds.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Liese Gilles, Eva Govarts, Laura Rodriguez Martin, Anna-Maria Andersson, Brice M. R. Appenzeller, Fabio Barbone, Argelia Castano, Dries Coertjens, Elly Den Hond, Vazha Dzhedzheia, Ivan ErZen, Marta Esteban Lopez, Lucia Fabelova, Clemence Fillol, Carmen Franken, Hanne Frederiksen, Catherine Gabriel, Line Smastuen Haug, Milena Horvat, Thorhallur Ingi Halldorsson, Beata Janasik, NataSa Janev Holcer, Reka Kakucs, Spyros Karakitsios, Andromachi Katsonouri, Jana Klanova, Tina Kold-Jensen, Marike Kolossa-Gehring, Corina Konstantinou, Jani Koponen, Sanna Lignell, Anna Karin Lindroos, Konstantinos C. Makris, Darja Mazej, Bert Morrens, Lubica PalkoviCova Murinova, Sonia Namorado, Susana Pedraza-Diaz, Jasmin Peisker, Nicole Probst-Hensch, Loic Rambaud, Valentina Rosolen, Enrico Rucic, Maria Ruether, Dimosthenis Sarigiannis, Janja Snoj Tratnik, Arnout Standaert, Lorraine Stewart, Tamas Szigeti, Cathrine Thomsen, Hanna Tolonen, Asa Eiriksdottir, An Van Nieuwenhuyse, Veerle J. Verheyen, Jelle Vlaanderen, Nina Vogel, Wojciech Wasowicz, Till Weber, Jan-Paul Zock, Ovnair Sepai, Greet Schoeters
Summary: This study describes the organization of the first HBM4EU-aligned studies in Europe, aiming to monitor the internal exposure of European citizens to environmental chemicals by collecting comparable human biomonitoring data.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Raf Aerts, Naomi Vanlessen, Sebastien Dujardin, Benoit Nemery, An Van Nieuwenhuyse, Mariska Bauwelinck, Lidia Casas, Claire Demoury, Michelle Plusquin, Tim S. Nawrot
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the associations between different types and quantities of green space and the sales of mood disorder medication in Belgium. The results suggest that living in green environments may be beneficial for adult mental health, with woodland exposure being the most beneficial and the quantity of green space being more important than the type. The findings underscore the importance of conserving green space in our living environment for biodiversity conservation and human health.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anran Cai, Lutzen Portengen, Eva Govarts, Laura Rodriguez Martin, Greet Schoeters, Juliette Legler, Roel Vermeulen, Virissa Lenters, Sylvie Remy
Summary: This study used data from two Belgian cohorts and found that prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may affect infant growth, particularly in terms of changes in body mass index (BMI) during the first two years after birth. However, there were no clear effects on longer-term growth trajectories during childhood. No evidence of effect modification by child sex was found.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Leen Rasking, Celine Roelens, Ben Sprangers, Bernard Thienpont, Tim S. Nawrot, Katrien De Vusser
Summary: This review discusses the relationship between aberrant epigenetic regulation, the environment, and the development of SLE. Studies have demonstrated that interferon-regulated genes are hypomethylated in SLE patients, suggesting they are epigenetically poised for rapid expression upon stimulation by environmental factors. Environmental studies have also identified DNA (hypo)methylation changes as a potential mechanism for environmentally induced health effects. Additionally, epidemiologic studies have established air pollution as a crucial risk factor for SLE, showing an association between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and SLE biomarkers related to disease flare and hospital admissions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Stijn Everaert, Greet Schoeters, Karel Claes, Jean-Marie Raquez, Bart Buffel, Tamara Vanhaecke, Jonas Moens, Juha Laitinen, Nicolas Van Larebeke, Lode Godderis
Summary: Firefighters are exposed to various chemicals that may lead to health issues. Wearing nitrile butadiene rubber undergloves is a preventive measure against toxic accumulation, although its safety is questioned.
Article
Cell Biology
Charlotte Van der Stukken, Tim S. Nawrot, Rossella Alfano, Congrong Wang, Sabine A. S. Langie, Michelle Plusquin, Bram G. Janssen, Dries S. Martens
Summary: This study found that the gene p53 may be an important factor associated with the telomere-mitochondrial axis of aging at birth, both at the protein and methylation level.