This protocol describes a non-invasive workflow for quantifying salivary RANKL and OPG gene expression in orthodontic patients undergoing intermaxillary elastic traction. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected by passive drooling at three predefined time points: baseline before elastic initiation (T0), 24…
PurposeAdolescents in Latin America and the Caribbean report poor health outcomes, including the second-highest rate of mortality worldwide. Data on health behaviors can be used to advocate for resources and influence policies and programs for this population. However, such data…
ObjectivesTo assess the extent to which excluding indirect out-of-pocket (OOP) spending leads to an underestimation of the incidence of catastrophic health spending (CHS) in Vietnam, where family members are responsible for essential in-hospital care, resulting in substantial indirect OOP spending.Study…
PurposeObstetrics and gynecology providers may have a unique opportunity to counsel, educate, and encourage penicillin allergy verification testing for patients reporting a childhood penicillin allergy.Materials and methodsWe developed a novel, anonymous, online survey on knowledge and openness to verification testing…
Duodenal self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) are widely used to treat malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO). However, stent migration is a well-known complication. We report a rare case of small-bowel impaction caused by the migration of a duodenal SEMS with a…
This Phase 1 clinical trial evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of COVAC-2, a recombinant protein subunit vaccine as a heterologous booster in adults previously immunized with authorized COVID-19 vaccines (NCT05226702). COVAC-2 contains the SARS-CoV-2 S1 spike protein subunit adjuvanted with…
Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes 39,300 cancers annually in the United States, yet adolescent vaccination coverage remains suboptimal. Community pharmacies are highly accessible and authorized to vaccinate adolescents but remain underutilized for HPV vaccination. This study examined how current pharmacy vaccination…
General practitioners (GPs) play a dual role in influenza prevention and control as both medical decision-makers and a high-risk population for infection. This study, based on the Reasoned Action Approach (RAA), aimed to explore GPs‘ influenza vaccination willingness and its…
Diet is a modifiable determinant of gut microbiome composition, yet the impact of contrasting whole-dietary patterns on microbial metabolic capacity and coordinated host metabolic signatures remains incompletely characterized. In a randomized crossover feeding trial, 34 Australian adults were provided with…
HPV-associated cancers in men represent a growing public health concern in Latin America, yet evidence on burden remains limited. We analyzed national data in Peru (2015-2019) to estimate outpatient consultations, hospitalization, and death rates for HPV-associated cancers and applied site-specific…