People’s perceptions of, willingness-to-take preventive remedies and their willingness-to-vaccinate during times of heightened health threats

Preferences, Perceptions, and Environmental Considerations of Natural and Synthetic Psychedelic Substances: Findings from the Global Psychedelic Survey

Although several studies have well described the characteristics of people who use psychedelics alongside their motivations and beliefs, little research has examined the preferences surrounding the source of psychedelic substances. In an anonymous online survey, we collected data from 6,379 consumers of 11 different psychedelic substances from 85 different countries, exploring their preferences and perceptions on natural and synthetic psychedelics. There was a strong preference of natural sources over synthetic alternatives for psilocybin (75%), DMT (56%), and mescaline (56%). Moreover, 50.8% of respondents believed that the source impacts the psychedelic's psychological and physiological effects, while 34.4% of respondents had a neutral stance on the topic. Despite the preference for natural sources, 67.7% of respondents agreed to switch to using synthetic alternatives to psychedelic substances if it would lessen the environmental impacts caused by the overharvesting of natural sources. This study presents novel insights into consumer preferences on the source of popular psychedelic substances. This international survey is limited to respondents primarily belonging to anglophone regions of the world.

How does collectivism help deal with perceived vaccine artificiality? The case of COVID-19 vaccination intent in European young adults

Vaccine "unnaturalness" (artificiality) is one of the major anti-vaccine arguments raised in public debate. Therefore, health communication should rebut unnaturalness arguments and be cautious when emphasizing human intervention (e.g., advanced vaccine technology), which may entail perceiving vaccines as artificial. Understanding how the relationship between perceived vaccine artificiality and vaccination intent differs across social groups can help enforce the above health communication efforts by focusing them on specific audiences. The objective of the current paper is to assess the moderating role of a particular socio-cultural factor-vertical collectivism (reflecting the orientation on social hierarchy)-in the relationship between perceived vaccine artificiality and vaccination intent. It is proposed that vertical collectivism diminishes the negative effect of perceived vaccine artificiality. Two studies with European young adults measured COVID-19 vaccination intent and vertical collectivism. Study 1 (N = 418) was correlational, measuring perceived vaccine artificiality. The data were analyzed with a moderation model. Study 2 (N = 203) was experimental, manipulating perceived vaccine artificiality by human-intervention appeal (i.e., emphasizing human intervention in vaccine development and operation). The data were analyzed with moderation and moderated mediation models. Study 1 demonstrated that the effect of perceived vaccine artificiality on vaccination intent was less negative when the level of vertical collectivism was higher. In Study 2, with higher levels of vertical collectivism, the effect of human-intervention appeal on vaccination intent was less negative, and the indirect effect through perceived vaccine artificiality turned even positive. Those results contribute to the fields of perceived naturalness/artificiality, vaccination behavior, health communication, and cultural dimensions theory, providing empirical evidence that the negative effect of perceived vaccine artificiality on vaccination intent is diminished by vertical collectivism, as proposed. Health practitioners are guided on how to consider different levels of collectivism of their audiences while referring to vaccine artificiality in their communication. Specifically, it is suggested that rebutting "unnaturalness" anti-vaccine arguments should be focused on people low in vertical collectivism, and messages featuring human intervention (e.g., a vaccine's technological advancement) should be targeted at people high in vertical collectivism.

Dihydromyricetin supplementation improves ethanol-induced lipid accumulation and inflammation

Introduction

Excessive alcohol consumption leads to a myriad of detrimental health effects, including alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). Unfortunately, no available treatments exist to combat the progression of ALD beyond corticosteroid administration and/or liver transplants. Dihydromyricetin (DHM) is a bioactive polyphenol and flavonoid that has traditionally been used in Chinese herbal medicine for its robust antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It is derived from many plants, including Hovenia dulcis and is found as the active ingredient in a variety of popular hangover remedies. Investigations utilizing DHM have demonstrated its ability to alleviate ethanol-induced disruptions in mitochondrial and lipid metabolism, while demonstrating hepatoprotective activity.

Methods

Female c57BL/6J mice (n = 12/group) were treated using the Lieber DeCarli forced-drinking and ethanol (EtOH) containing liquid diet, for 5 weeks. Mice were randomly divided into three groups: (1) No-EtOH, (2) EtOH [5% (v/v)], and (3) EtOH [5% (v/v)] + DHM (6 mg/mL). Mice were exposed to ethanol for 2 weeks to ensure the development of ALD pathology prior to receiving dihydromyricetin supplementation. Statistical analysis included one-way ANOVA along with Bonferroni multiple comparison tests, where p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Dihydromyricetin administration significantly improved aminotransferase levels (AST/ALT) and reduced levels of circulating lipids including LDL/VLDL, total cholesterol (free cholesterol), and triglycerides. DHM demonstrated enhanced lipid clearance by way of increased lipophagy activity, shown as the increased interaction and colocalization of p62/SQSTM-1, LC3B, and PLIN-1 proteins. DHM-fed mice had increased hepatocyte-to-hepatocyte lipid droplet (LD) heterogeneity, suggesting increased neutralization and sequestration of free lipids into LDs. DHM administration significantly reduced prominent pro-inflammatory cytokines commonly associated with ALD pathology such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-17.

Discussion

Dihydromyricetin is commercially available as a dietary supplement. The results of this proof-of-concept study demonstrate its potential utility and functionality as a cost-effective and safe candidate to combat inflammation and the progression of ALD pathology.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Trinidad and Tobago: A Qualitative Study

Background After three years of COVID-19, the WHO declared that the pandemic was no longer a global health emergency. Vaccination remains part of the management strategy, given the current phase of the pandemic. This study explored the reasons for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Trinidad and Tobago (TT). Methodology A qualitative study of persons 18 years and over from the eastern, northwest, northcentral, and southwestern geographical areas of TT, who are unvaccinated and hesitant, was done by convenience sampling. Formal in-depth virtual interviews were done on a one-to-one basis using a semi-structured questionnaire. The interviews were recorded and transcribed using the principles of reflexive thematic analysis of participants' responses.  Results From 25 participants' responses, the main themes for being vaccine-hesitant were fear, inefficacy, information inadequacy, perceived susceptibility, mistrust, herbal alternatives, and religious hesitations. Additionally, their motivations for receiving the vaccine in the future were surrounded by themes of necessity, perceived susceptibility, health benchmark, and assurance. Conclusion and recommendations This qualitative investigation identified traditional factors contributing to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and unique determinants such as herbal use and religious beliefs within the TT context. These insights could inform future research and facilitate the development of tailored strategies to address persistent vaccine hesitancy for COVID-19.

Susceptibility to COVID-19 Nutrition Misinformation and Eating Behavior Change during Lockdowns: An International Web-Based Survey

To understand the susceptibility to nutrition-health misinformation related to preventing, treating, or mitigating the risk of COVID-19 during the initial lockdowns around the world, the present international web-based survey study (15 April-15 May 2020) gauged participants' (n = 3707) level of nutrition-health misinformation discernment by presenting them with 25 statements (including unfounded or unproven claims circulated at the time), alongside the influence of information sources of varying quality on the frequency of changes in their eating behavior and the extent of misinformation held, depending on the source used for such changes. Results revealed widespread misinformation about food, eating, and health practices related to COVID-19, with the 25 statements put to participants receiving up to 43% misinformed answers (e.g., 'It is safe to eat fruits and vegetables that have been washed with soap or diluted bleach'). Whereas higher quality information sources (nutrition scientists, nutrition professionals) had the biggest influence on eating behavior change, we found greater misinformation susceptibility when relying on poor quality sources for changing diet. Appropriate discernment of misinformation was weakest amongst participants who more frequently changed their eating behavior because of information from poor quality sources, suggesting disparities in the health risks/safety of the changes performed.

Attitudes of healthcare workers and members of the public toward the COVID-19 vaccine: A cross-sectional survey

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the rapid development and implementation of vaccines. However, uncertainty about their safety and effectiveness among some people has led to vaccine hesitancy. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in March 2021 among individuals from the general Israeli population and health-care workers (HCWs) to examine risk perception toward the COVID-19 vaccine, trust in health-care providers and information sources used for making health-related decisions. The study population included 739 respondents: 42.6% HCWs and 57.4% members of the public. Participants' perceived risk toward the vaccine was relatively low in both populations. Higher perceived benefit of the vaccine, higher perceived extent of knowledge that doctors have about the risk associated with the vaccine, higher perceived freedom to choose whether to get vaccinated and higher trust in health-care providers predicted lower perceived risk toward the vaccine. Individuals who showed greater health responsibility, those who usually get vaccinated against influenza and those who had greater objective knowledge on the COVID-19 vaccine demonstrated lower perceived risk. No statistically significant difference in trust level was found between HCWs and members of the public. Both populations regarded information from medical sources as their greatest influence on health-related decisions. The study points to the factors influencing the perceived risk toward the COVID-19 vaccine and emphasizes the unique status of HCWs having their own views and concerns about the vaccine as individual members. Policymakers should consider these factors when planning national vaccination campaigns.