Author: Nevin Manimala

Acta Radiol. 2022 May 12:2841851221100317. doi: 10.1177/02841851221100317. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Pisotriquetral joint (PTJ) disorders are an important cause of ulnar-sided wrist pain but are often underrecognized. Ulnar variance (UV) has been associated with several wrist pathologies.

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of UV on PTJ in patients with trauma.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 143 patients (77 men, 66 women; mean age=41.64 ± 18.07 years) were included. Patients with fractures, severe and high-energy trauma, arthritic conditions, avascular necrosis, congenital deformity, bone and soft-tissue tumors, suboptimal image quality, and incorrect joint position were excluded. UV and the amount of PTJ subluxation were evaluated using coronal and sagittal computed tomography images.

RESULTS: PTJ subluxation was divided into five grades. A statistically significant difference was found between the presence of PTJ subluxation and sex (P = 0.045). PTJ subluxation was more common in men (46.8%) than in women (30.3%). There was no significant difference between the presence of PTJ subluxation and age (P = 0.758). The patients were also divided into three groups as positive, neutral, and negative UV. A statistically significant relationship was found between the UV and presence of PTJ subluxation (P = 0.01). PTJ subluxation was significantly less in the neutral (none=51.1%, present=48.9%; P < 0.05) and negative (none=77.8%, present=22.2%; P < 0.05) groups.

CONCLUSION: PTJ subluxation was found to be less among the groups with neutral and negative UV in our study population. PTJ subluxation is more common in men while there is no relationship with age. UV and gender may be risk factors for PTJ subluxation by affecting force dynamics at the wrist joint.

PMID:35549516 | DOI:10.1177/02841851221100317

Scand J Rheumatol. 2022 May 12:1-8. doi: 10.1080/03009742.2022.2058178. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown aetiology that affects approximately 1% of the population. The disease presents a temporal variability in different geographic areas. We investigated RA incidence over a 40-year-period in a defined area of north-west Greece, with a total population of about 400 000 inhabitants.

METHOD: This incidence study was based on retrospective review of clinical records among adults with RA newly diagnosed from 1980 to 2019 at the referral university hospital of Ioannina. An incident case was defined as any patient diagnosed with RA based on the 1987 American College of Rheumatology criteria, over 16-years-old, and resident in the study area for at least 1 year before diagnosis.

RESULTS: Out of 1411 cases diagnosed, women constituted a 2.65-fold higher number than men, with a lower mean age at diagnosis. The overall age-adjusted annual incidence rate (95% confidence interval) was 9.5 (8.5-10.5) for the total observation period, 11.7 (10.7-13.0) in 1980-1989, 10.4 (9.4-10.8) in 1990-1999, 9.8 (8.9-10.8) in 2000-2009, and 6.1 (5.3-6.9) in 2010-2019, presenting a statistically significant decline over time, along with a constant decrease in rheumatoid factor (RF)-positive incidence for both sexes.

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest a decrease in the incidence of RA over 40 years in a geographically defined Greek population. Also, the progressive decrease in the incidence of RF-positive disease may relate to less severe expression of RA in Greek patients. These trends could be explained by different clinical, serological, and genetic factors reported in Greece compared to northern European countries.

PMID:35545952 | DOI:10.1080/03009742.2022.2058178

East Mediterr Health J. 2022 Apr 28;28(4):272-280. doi: 10.26719/emhj.22.013.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Childhood road traffic injuries (RTIs) are a major public health problem worldwide. Reliable and valid information on childhood RTIs is essential to reduce the number of deaths.

AIMS: To determine the burden of deaths from RTIs in children aged 0-14 years from 2006 to 2019 in Turkey.

METHODS: This descriptive study examined the change in road traffic fatalities in children according to age, gender, road user type, and place. The necessary data for this study were obtained from the Turkish Statistical Institute. We used Microsoft Excel to analyse data from 4614 children who died from RTIs in 2006-2019 in Turkey.

RESULTS: The fatality rate from RTIs per 100 000 children aged 0-14 years increased from 1.41 in 2006 to 2.13 in 2019. The fatality rate for boys aged 0-9 and 10-14 years was higher than that for girls of the same age. The fatality rate for girls aged 0-9 years was higher than that for girls aged 10-14 years. The fatality rate for boys aged 10-14 years was higher than that for boys aged 0-9 years. Among the children who died from RTIs, 6.65% were drivers, 41.31% pedestrians and 52.04% passengers. Children lost their lives mostly as pedestrians on urban roads and as passengers on rural roads.

CONCLUSION: The death of children due to RTIs is a significant health burden in Turkey.

PMID:35545908 | DOI:10.26719/emhj.22.013

Am J Health Promot. 2022 May 11:8901171211041424. doi: 10.1177/08901171211041424. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To assess whether trajectories of children’s physical health problems differ by parental college degree attainment in Louisiana areas highly impacted by the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill (BP-DHOS).

DESIGN: Three waves of panel data (2014, 2016, and 2018) from the Gulf Coast Population Impact / Resilient Children, Youth, and Communities studies.

SETTING: BP-DHOS-impacted communities in coastal Louisiana.

PARTICIPANTS: Parents of children aged 4-18 in a longitudinal probability sample (n = 392).

MEASURES: Reported child physical health problems from the BP-DHOS, parental college degree attainment, and covariates.

ANALYSIS: Linear growth curve models are used to assess initial levels of and the rate of change in child physical unknown. The current study uses 3 waves physical health problems by parental college degree attainment. Explanatory variables are measured at baseline and the outcome variable is measured at all 3 waves.

RESULTS: Compared to children of parents without college degrees, children of college graduates had fewer initial health problems in 2014 (b = -.33; p = .02). Yet, this health advantage decreased over time, as indicated by their positive rate of change (b = .22; p = .01), such that the higher education health advantage was not statistically significant by 2018.

CONCLUSION: Children of college graduates experienced a physical health advantage following the BP-DHOS, but this gap closed over time. The closure of the gap was due to the children of college graduates experiencing significant increases in reported health problems over the study period.

PMID:35545862 | DOI:10.1177/08901171211041424

Brain Tumor Res Treat. 2022 Apr;10(2):108-112. doi: 10.14791/btrt.2021.0028.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Patients with large vestibular schwannomas have various surgical outcomes. The aim of this study is to evaluate facial nerve outcome and surgical complications in patients who underwent total and subtotal resection.

METHODS: Between October 2008 and September 2020, 72 patients underwent surgery in Rajavithi Hospital. Of these, 48 had total or subtotal resection. We classified these participants into two groups: VS ≥3 cm (Group A, n=30); and VS <3 cm (Group B, n=18). Both groups were compared in terms of clinical presentation, imaging data, facial nerve outcomes, and surgical complications. The retrosigmoid approach was used in each case, and all patients had follow-up for at least 1 year. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact test were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: The mean tumor size in Group A was 3.8 cm compared with 1.5 cm in Group B. In Group A, clinical signs of hearing dysfunction, gait ataxia, and facial paresthesia were present in 96.7%, 66.7%, 50% of patients respectively, compared with 100%, 5.6%, and 11.1% respectively in Group B. Radiographic signs of hydrocephalus were observed in 56.7% of Group A subjects, and 5.6% of those in Group B. At 1 year follow-up, 40% of patients with large VS and 94.4% of patients with small to medium size VS had good facial nerve outcomes (House-Brackmann [HB] facial grading scale grade I-III). Significant differences between the two groups were found only in gait ataxia (p<0.001), facial paresthesia (p=0.006), radiographic signs of hydrocephalus (p=0.002), facial nerve outcome 1 month (p<0.001) and facial nerve outcome 1 year (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION: In patients with large size VS, microsurgical resection had poor facial nerve outcomes compared with those of their counterparts with small to medium size VS. Planned subtotal resection with postoperative radiosurgery might attain superior facial nerve outcomes and result in better quality of life in subjects with large VS.

PMID:35545830 | DOI:10.14791/btrt.2021.0028

J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2022 May 12. doi: 10.1097/TA.0000000000003666. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify clinical and traffic factors that influence pediatric pedestrian versus automobile collisions (P-AC) with an emphasis on health care disparities.

METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of pediatric (≤18 years old) P-AC treated at a Level I pediatric trauma center from 2008 to 2018. Demographic, clinical, and traffic scene data were analyzed. Area Deprivation Index (ADI) was used to measure neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage (NSD) based on home addresses. Traffic scene data from the California Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) were matched to clinical records. Traffic safety was assessed by the streetlight coverage, the proximity of the collision to home addresses, and sidewalk coverage. Descriptive statistics and univariate analysis for key variables and outcomes were calculated using Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon, Chi-square, or Fisher’s exact tests. Statistical significance was attributed to p-values <0.05.

RESULTS: Among 770 patients, the majority were male (65%) and Hispanic (54%), with a median age of 8 years (IQR 4-12). Hispanic patients were more likely to live in more disadvantaged neighborhoods than non-Hispanic patients (67% vs. 45%, p < 0.01). There were no differences in clinical characteristics or outcomes across ADI quintiles. Using the SWITRS (N = 272), patients with more NSD were more likely injured during dark streetlight conditions (15% vs. 4% least disadvantaged; p = 0.04) and within 0.5 miles from home (p < 0.01). Pedestrian violations were common (65%). During after-school hours, 25% were pedestrian violations, compared to 12% driver violations (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION: A larger proportion of Hispanic children injured in pedestrian versus automobile collisions lived in neighborhoods with more socioeconomic disadvantage. Hispanic ethnicity and NSD are each independently associated with P-AC. Poor streetlight conditions and close proximity to home were associated with the most socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods. This research may support targeted prevention programs to improve pedestrian safety in children.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, Prognostic and Epidemiological.

PMID:35545801 | DOI:10.1097/TA.0000000000003666

Alzheimers Res Ther. 2022 May 11;14(1):65. doi: 10.1186/s13195-022-01011-w.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Blood phosphorylated tau (p-tau) forms are promising Alzheimer’s disease (AD) biomarkers, but validation in matrices other than ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) plasma is limited. Firstly, we assessed the diagnostic potential of p-tau231 and p-tau181 in paired plasma and serum samples. Secondly, we compared serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from biomarker-positive AD and biomarker-negative control participants.

METHODS: We studied three independent cohorts (n=115 total): cohorts 1 and 2 included individuals with paired plasma and serum, while cohort 3 included paired serum and CSF. Blood-based p-tau231 and p-tau181 were measured using in-house or commercial single molecule array (Simoa) methods.

RESULTS: Serum and plasma p-tau231 and p-tau181 were two- to three-fold increased in biomarker-positive AD versus biomarker-negative controls (P≤0.0008). Serum p-tau231 separated diagnostic groups with area under the curve (AUC) of 82.2% (cohort 3) to 88.2% (cohort 1) compared with 90.2% (cohort 1) for plasma. Similarly, p-tau181 showed AUC of 89.6% (cohort 1) to 89.8% (cohort 3) in serum versus 85.4% in plasma (cohort 1). P-tau231 and p-tau181 correlated slightly better in serum (rho=0.92 for cohort 1, 0.93 for cohort 3) than in plasma (rho=0.88, cohort 1). Within-individual p-tau181 (Quanterix) and p-tau231 concentrations were twice higher in plasma versus serum, but p-tau181 (in-house, Gothenburg) levels were not statistically different. Bland-Altman plots revealed that the relative difference between serum/plasma was larger in the lower range. P-tau levels in paired plasma and serum correlated strongly with each other (rho=0.75-0.93) as well as with CSF Aβ₄₂ (rho= -0.56 to -0.59), p-tau and total-tau (rho=0.53-0.73). Based on the results, it seems possible that serum p-tau reflects the same pool of brain-secreted p-tau as in CSF; we estimated that less than 2% of CSF p-tau is found in serum, being same for both controls and AD.

CONCLUSIONS: Comparable diagnostic performances and strong correlations between serum versus plasma pairs suggest that p-tau analyses can be expanded to research cohorts and hospital systems that prefer serum to other blood matrices. However, absolute biomarker concentrations may not be interchangeable, indicating that plasma and serum samples should be used independently. These results should be validated in independent cohorts.

PMID:35545792 | DOI:10.1186/s13195-022-01011-w

World J Surg Oncol. 2022 May 11;20(1):152. doi: 10.1186/s12957-022-02616-z.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of single gastroscopy, multi-slice spiral CT, HER-2 or tumor markers, and their combination in the diagnosis of gastric cancer.

METHODS: A total of 98 patients with gastric cancer were selected as the research subjects. All patients underwent preoperative gastroscopy, MSCT, and the expression levels of HER-2, CEA, CA199, CA724, and CA242 were detected. A control group of 98 normal adults was selected to compare the risk factors for gastric cancer and to analyze the data.

RESULTS: There was statistical significance in the expression of the 5 markers in tumor size (P < 0.05), but no statistical significance in other clinical data (P > 0.05). The tumor marker CEA in gastric mucosal tissue of patients with gastric cancer had the highest positive detection rate for gastric cancer, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05) compared with gastroscopy, MSCT and other markers. The combined diagnosis had higher sensitivity, specificity and accuracy compared with the single diagnosis of gastric cancer staging, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Compared with normal adults, patients with gastric cancer had statistically significant differences in diet, body mass index, and family genetic history (P < 0.05), while there was no statistically significant difference in whether they had type A blood (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The combined diagnosis of gastroscopy, MSCT, immunohistochemical marker Her-2, and tumor markers CEA, CA199, CA724, and CA242 can more accurately determine the clinical staging and lesion invasion depth of patients with gastric cancer and can significantly improve the sensitivity of diagnosis.

PMID:35545785 | DOI:10.1186/s12957-022-02616-z

BMC Health Serv Res. 2022 May 12;22(1):630. doi: 10.1186/s12913-022-08031-0.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Facilitating the primary health care (PHC) system and maintaining people’s reasonable healthcare-seeking behavior are key to establishing a sustainable healthcare system. China has employed a multitiered copayment system/medical insurance differentiated payment policies to incentivize the public to utilize PHC services through its hierarchical medical care system; however, most people still prefer visiting tertiary care hospitals. We question whether the quality gap in healthcare services reduces the effect of the multitiered copayment system, which is considered an important factor in the lack of reform in the Chinese healthcare system. Thus, we explore the effect and influencing factors of the multitiered copayment system that drives primary healthcare-seeking behavior under the current situation with a large quality gap. We also consider the hypothetical situation of a reduced gap in the future.

METHODS: This study used the hypothetical quality improvement scenario to elicit people’s hypothetical behaviors, and a multistage stratified cluster random sampling method. This preliminary study was conducted in 2016 using 1829 individuals from four regions of Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province: Ouhai, Ruian, Yongjia, and Taishun. A descriptive statistical analysis, chi-square analysis, Fisher’s exact test, and multinomial logistic regression model were performed to introduce the effect of the multitiered copayment system, and to explore the factors affecting the selection of PHC institutions at pre- and post-change phases.

RESULT: The results show that compared with the large quality gap phase, the number of respondents who believed the multitiered copayment system had an effect on their selection of PHC institutions after the equalization of healthcare services quality increased threefold (from 14.0% to 50.8%). Moreover, the main determinants in people’s selection of PHC institutions changed from age and needs variables (self-rated health status) to age, needs variables (self-rated health status) and enabling variables (distance to a medical care facility).

CONCLUSION: The results indicate limited initial effects of the multitiered copayment system. However, they become more pronounced after the equalization of healthcare services quality. This study confirms that changes in the quality gap in healthcare services influence the effect of the multitiered copayment system. Hence, reducing this gap can help achieve the intended outcome of the tiered healthcare insurance schedule.

PMID:35545782 | DOI:10.1186/s12913-022-08031-0

BMC Endocr Disord. 2022 May 11;22(1):123. doi: 10.1186/s12902-022-01041-3.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM), cardio-cerebrovascular diseases (CCVDs) has increased during recent decades. We aimed to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and each of several outcomes (DM, CCVDs, or mortality) based on the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening cohort.

METHODS: BMI was categorized as appropriate for Asian populations, into underweight (< 18.5 kg/m²), normal (18.5-< 23 kg/m²), overweight (23-< 25 kg/m²), grade 1 obesity (25-< 30 kg/m²), grade 2 obesity (30-< 35 kg/m²), and grade 3 obesity (≥35 kg/m²). In addition, BMI was further stratified into one unit. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between BMI category and the primary outcomes (DM, CCVDs, or mortality).

RESULTS: A total of 311,416 individuals were included. The median follow-up was 12.5 years. Compared to normal BMI, underweight, overweight, and grade 1-3 obese individuals had a higher risk of the primary outcomes (hazard ratio [95% confidence intervals] 1.293 [1.224-1.365], 1.101 [1.073-1.129], 1.320 [1.288-1.353], 1.789 [1.689-1.897], and 2.376 [2.019-2.857], respectively, in men and 1.084 [1.010-1.163], 1.150 [1.116-1.185], 1.385 [1.346-1.425], 1.865 [1.725-2.019], and 2.472 [2.025-3.028], respectively, in women). Setting the reference BMI to 20-< 21 kg/m² and categorizing into one unit increment, BMI was associated with the primary outcomes in a J-shaped manner in both sexes. The risk of DM increased with higher BMI in both sexes, while all-cause mortality decreased in men with a BMI 21-< 31 kg/m² and women with BMI 22-< 30 kg/m².

CONCLUSIONS: BMI was associated with all-cause mortality in a J-shaped manner in both sexes, while it was associated with risk of DM in a dose-response relationship. The relationship between BMI and the primary outcomes was J-shaped.

PMID:35545762 | DOI:10.1186/s12902-022-01041-3