Testing Club Convergence in Female Smoking Prevalence.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Ferretti F
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9309502 | biostudies-literature | 2022
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Testing Club Convergence in Female Smoking Prevalence.
Ferretti Fabrizio F Mariani Michele M Sarti Elena E
Frontiers in global women's health 20220711
In this paper, we applied the concept of convergence to examine the evolution of smoking prevalence among women in 191 countries worldwide from 1990 to 2019. First, the non-linear time-varying factor model proposed by Phillips and Sul was adopted to identify potential clusters (clubs), wherein groups of countries converge to similar female smoking rates. Second, an ordered logit regression model was used to assess the impact of cigarette affordability on the probability of falling within a given ...[more]
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Project description:BackgroundSub-Saharan African (SSA) countries that currently face enormous healthcare challenges have implemented national health policies focusing on regional or international health commitments. These health commitments generally promote new healthcare financing policies (e.g., health insurance, user fee exemption and results-based financing) with the objective of providing ever-larger population cohorts with human capital and better health in particular. To achieve this, governments must involve themselves more fully in their respective healthcare sectors through the mobilisation of public funding.ObjectiveThis paper aims to examine convergence in health expenditure throughout SSA. The findings of club convergence will allow a robust comparison of health indicators between countries and will be suitable for the adjustment of health policies to foster the efficiency of such policies at the regional and/or country level. Such findings could also help with the conception and implementation of health policies at the regional level.MethodsWe used the methodology of convergence analysis based on dynamic factor modelling leading to the logt regression to test for full convergence, club convergence and club clustering of health expenditure on a balanced panel of 44 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa spanning the period from 2000 to 2016.ResultsOverall, our results do not support the hypothesis that all SSA countries converge to a single equilibrium state regarding public health expenditure. When testing for club convergence, the results highlight eight convergence clubs and one group of diverging countries. Indeed, performing the club clustering algorithm reveals the existence of three convergence clubs and the diverging group. The three clubs consist of 12, 14 and 14 members, respectively, where convergence is found to occur among different regional economic organisations.ConclusionOur findings indicate that SSA governments should increase spending on healthcare in order to align their healthcare systems with a global convergence model. To foster the convergence to a single equilibrium state in public health expenditure, attention could be paid to strengthening integration within the various regional economic organisations and to the coordination and integration of healthcare policies within and across convergence clubs throughout SSA.
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Project description:The club cell, a small airway epithelial (SAE) secretory cell that uniquely expresses SCGB1A1, plays a central role in host defense in the human lung. Based on data demonstrating that ~50% of club cells express MUC5B, a secretory mucin critical for mucociliary clearance, we hypothesized that subpopulations of club cells with distinct functions may exist. To evaluate this, the SAE of normal nonsmokers and healthy cigarette smokers was sampled by bronchoscopy and brushing followed by single cell sequencing using Drop-seq technology. Subpopulations of SCGCB1A1+KRT5loMUC5AC- club cells were assessed by unsupervised clustering to evaluate club cell subpopulations. Immunostaining of SAE in lung sections, brushed SAE cells, and in vitro air-liquid interface culture was utilized to confirm the transcriptomic-based observations. Unsupervised clustering of SCGCB1A1+KRT5loMUC5AC‾ club cells in the SAE identified 3 unique club cell populations that differed by differentiation state and function, including: (1) progenitor; (2) proliferating; and (3) effector subpopulations. The progenitor club cell population was energetically active with high expression of mitochondrial and ribosomal proteins and the highest KRT5 levels vs other club cell populations. The proliferating population, defined by high expression of cyclins and proliferation markers, was the smallest, representing 2% of club cells. The effector club cell cluster expressed transcripts for host defense genes, xenobiotic metabo-lism, and barrier functions commonly associated with club cell function. Comparison of the club cell subpopulations in smokers vs nonsmokers demonstrated that the proportion of the club cell effector population was significantly decreased in smokers with a concomitant significant in-crease in the proliferating cell population. These observations provide novel insights into both the makeup of human SAE club cell subpopulations and smoking-induced changes in club cell biology.
2021-09-22 | GSE155515 | GEO
Project description:Aims: Socioeconomic and environmental factors influence childhood asthma prevalence across the world. In-depth epidemiological research is necessary to determine the association between asthma prevalence and socio-environmental conditions, and to develop public health strategies to protect the asthmatic children against the environmental precipitators. Our research was based on aggregative data and sought to compare the asthma prevalence between children of two different age-groups across the world and to identify the association among the key socio-environmental conditions with increased childhood asthma prevalence. Method: We included forty countries with available data on various socio-environmental conditions (2014-2015). Childhood asthma prevalence of two different age groups (6-7 and 13-14 years) were obtained from global asthma report 2014. Because of significant diversities, the selected countries were divided into two groups based on human developmental index (HDI), a well-recognized parameter to estimate the overall socioeconomic status of a country. Robust linear regression was conducted using childhood asthma prevalence as the dependent variable and female smoking prevalence, tertiary school enrollment (TSE), PM10 (particulate matter ≤10 μm in diameter) and gross domestic product (GDP) as predictors. Results: Asthma prevalence was not different between two age groups. Among all predictors, only female smoking prevalence (reflecting maternal smoking) was associated with asthma prevalence in the countries with lower socio-economic conditions (HDI), but not in the higher HDI group. The results were unchanged even after randomization. Conclusions: Childhood asthma prevalence did not change significantly with age. Female smoking may have a positive correlation with childhood asthma prevalence in lower HDI countries.
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Project description:BackgroundWe recently reported that convergence insufficiency (CI)-type visual symptomatology was more prevalent in participants with Parkinson's disease (PD), compared to controls. The objective of this work was to determine the prevalence of a confirmed clinical diagnosis of CI in PD, compared to controls.MethodsParticipants with (n = 80) and without (n = 80) PD were recruited and received an eye exam. Published criteria were used to arrive at a clinical diagnosis of CI. The Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey (CISS-15) questionnaire was administered to each participant, with a score of ≥21 being considered positive for CI symptomatology. Student t test, chi-square, or nonparametric tests at the 0.05 level were used for statistical significance.ResultsA total of 43.8% of participants with versus 16.3% without PD had a clinical diagnosis of CI (P ≤ 0.001). A total of 53.8% of participants with versus 18.8% without PD had scores on the CISS-15 of ≥21 (P ≤ 0.001).ConclusionsThese results indicate that individuals with PD have a higher prevalence of CI and CI symptomatology than controls. These data provide evidence supporting the notion that treatment for symptomatic CI should be investigated in individuals with PD.
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Project description:IntroductionUnequal female representation in the field of advanced therapeutic endoscopy (ATE) has been recently highlighted in the United States. Previous attempts to determine the barriers to entry into the career have reported a lack of mentorship, patriarchy, inflexible hours/calls and exposure to fluoroscopy. Canadian trainee exposure to ATE and differences in experience between men and women is unknown.ObjectivesWe sought to determine the barriers to pursuing a career in ATE, specifically focussing on the perspectives of Canadian female gastroenterology fellows.MethodsAn online survey was developed and distributed to Canadian gastroenterology fellows enrolled in Royal College-accredited programs in 2021-2022.ResultsResponses were received from gastroenterology fellows at 12 of the 14 Canadian programs. The response rate was 46% (n = 42, 16 female respondents and 26 male respondents). An equal proportion of male (42%, n = 11) and female (38%, n = 6) trainees indicated interest in a career in ATE. Thirty-eight per cent (n = 6) of female trainees felt that they had inadequate mentorship opportunities/role models within ATE, in comparison to 4% (n = 1) of males (P = .004). Furthermore, 19% (n = 3) of females felt that this lack of mentorship/role models was a primary deterrent from pursuing ATE as a career, in comparison to 0% of males (P = .02). There was equal self-perceived competency surrounding ATE knowledge between both men and women.ConclusionsFemale gastroenterology fellows in Canada lack mentorship and role models in ATE, which seems to be a primary deterrent from pursuing it as a career when compared to their male counterparts. Recognizing and addressing the lack of female leadership and visibility is necessary to improve parity and encourage women to train in the male-dominated field of ATE.
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Project description:The club cell, a small airway epithelial (SAE) cell, plays a central role in human lung host defense. We hypothesized that subpopulations of club cells with distinct functions may exist. The SAE of healthy nonsmokers and healthy cigarette smokers were evaluated by single-cell RNA sequencing, and unsupervised clustering revealed subpopulations of SCGCB1A1+KRT5loMUC5AC- club cells. Club cell heterogeneity was supported by evaluations of SAE tissue sections, brushed SAE cells, and in vitro air-liquid interface cultures. Three subpopulations included: (1) progenitor; (2) proliferating; and (3) effector club cells. The progenitor club cell population expressed high levels of mitochondrial, ribosomal proteins, and KRT5 relative to other club cell populations and included a differentiation branch point leading to mucous cell production. The small proliferating population expressed high levels of cyclins and proliferation markers. The effector club cell cluster expressed genes related to host defense, xenobiotic metabolism, and barrier functions associated with club cell function. Comparison of smokers vs. nonsmokers demonstrated that smoking limited the extent of differentiation of all three subclusters and altered SAM pointed domain-containing Ets transcription factor (SPDEF)-regulated transcription in the effector cell population leading to a change in the location of the branch point for mucous cell production, a potential explanation for the concomitant reduction in effector club cells and increase in mucous cells in smokers. These observations provide insights into both the makeup of human SAE club cell subpopulations and the smoking-induced changes in club cell biology.
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Project description:BackgroundFemale smoking prevalence is dramatically lower in developing countries (3.1%) than developed countries (17.2%), whereas male smoking is similar (32% vs 30.1%). Low female smoking has been linked to high gender inequality. Alternatively, to protect their offspring from teratogenic substances, pregnant and lactating women appear to have evolved aversions to toxic plant substances like nicotine, which are reinforced by cultural proscriptions. Higher total fertility rates (TFRs) in developing countries could therefore explain their lower prevalence of female smoking.ObjectiveTo compare the associations of TFR and gender inequality with national prevalence rates of female and male smoking.MethodsData from a previous study of smoking prevalence vs gender inequality in 74 countries were reanalysed with a regression model that also included TFR. We replicated this analysis with three additional measures of gender equality and 2012 smoking data from 173 countries.ResultsA 1 SD increase in TFR predicted a decrease in female smoking prevalence by factors of 0.58-0.77, adjusting for covariates. TFR had a smaller and unexpected negative association with male smoking prevalence. Increased gender equality was associated with increased female smoking prevalence, and, unexpectedly, with decreased male smoking prevalence. TFR was also associated with an increase in smoking prevalence among postmenopausal women.ConclusionsHigh TFR and gender inequality both predict reduced prevalence of female smoking across nations. In countries with high TFR, adaptations and cultural norms that protect fetuses from plant toxins might suppress smoking among frequently pregnant and lactating women.
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Project description:BackgroundThe process of alternative splicing provides a unique mechanism by which eukaryotes are able to produce numerous protein products from the same gene. Heightened variability in the proteome has been thought to potentiate increased behavioral complexity and response flexibility to environmental stimuli, thus contributing to more refined traits on which natural and sexual selection can act. While it has been long known that various forms of environmental stress can negatively affect sexual behavior and reproduction, we know little of how stress can affect the alternative splicing associated with these events, and less still about how splicing may differ between sexes. Using the model of the rock dove (Columba livia), our team previously uncovered sexual dimorphism in the basal and stress-responsive gene transcription of a biological system necessary for facilitating sexual behavior and reproduction, the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. In this study, we delve further into understanding the mechanistic underpinnings of how changes in the environment can affect reproduction by testing the alternative splicing response of the HPG axis to an external stressor in both sexes.ResultsThis study reveals dramatic baseline differences in HPG alternative splicing between males and females. However, after subjecting subjects to a restraint stress paradigm, we found a significant reduction in these differences between the sexes. In both stress and control treatments, we identified a higher incidence of splicing activity in the pituitary in both sexes as compared to other tissues. Of these splicing events, the core exon event is the most abundant form of splicing and more frequently occurs in the coding regions of the gene. Overall, we observed less splicing activity in the 3'UTR (untranslated region) end of transcripts than the 5'UTR or coding regions.ConclusionsOur results provide vital new insight into sex-specific aspects of the stress response on the HPG axis at an unprecedented proximate level. Males and females uniquely respond to stress, yet exhibit splicing patterns suggesting a convergent, optimal splicing landscape for stress response. This information has the potential to inform evolutionary theory as well as the development of highly-specific drug targets for stress-induced reproductive dysfunction.
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Project description: Not available
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