Nevin Manimala

Psychiatr Pol. 2022 Apr 15:1-15. doi: 10.12740/PP/OnlineFirst/145884. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The source literature points to the increasing number of crimes committed by people with mental diseases. Based on international data, it is estimated that the incidence of mental disorders among inmates is increasing at a disproportionate rate in prisons around the world. It is estimated that even every fourth convict may have a diagnosis of mental illness. It is worth noting that repeat offence rates among mentally ill people are also higher than in the general population of repeat offenders. The repeat offence rate among offenders with a diagnosis of mental illness ranges from 60% to 80%. This paper is intended to describe the situation of people diagnosed with mental illness in Poland, with reference to the available statistical data and international research.

PMID:36370438 | DOI:10.12740/PP/OnlineFirst/145884

Psychiatr Pol. 2022 May 25:1-14. doi: 10.12740/PP/OnlineFirst/147733. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess the predictors quality of life (QoL) in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis.

METHODS: The study was an outpatient, questionnaire-based poll, carried out from June 2018 to May 2019. The study included a group of 198 women, aged 72.31 ± 8.59 years, with diagnosed postmenopausal osteoporosis, treated in two osteoporosis clinics in the city of Lodz (Poland). The inclusion criteria were as follows: a diagnosed osteoporosis in the patients’ medical records according to the ICD-10 – M81.0 and no chronic diseases which would require systematic treatment. The paper utilized the following tools: the Polish version of the QUALEFFO-41 quality of life scale, the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the author’s own survey. The data were analyzed with the use of the multiple linear regression. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica 13.0 software.

RESULTS: The average result of the QUALEFFO-41 was 40.26 ± 16.92 points. An analysis of particular QUALEFFO-41 domains revealed the lowest quality of life in the mental function domain (48.49 ± 18.06 points). The domain of activities of daily living was assessed twice as well compared to the domain of mental functions. Marital status, education and financial situation had a statistically significant impact on the quality of life (p <0.05). The analysis showed that the pain expressed on the VAS scale, pain waking from sleep, taking sleeping pills, and older age of the respondents deteriorate the quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS: The analysis showed that Polish women with postmenopausal osteoporosis enjoy an average quality of life. The quality of life of chronically ill patients and pain severity on the VAS scale are not routinely or commonly assessed in Poland.

PMID:36370434 | DOI:10.12740/PP/OnlineFirst/147733

J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022 Nov 12. doi: 10.1111/jocd.15493. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: It has been proven that there is an increase in intestinal permeability in some autoimmune diseases. In our study, we purposed to assess intestinal permeability in vitiligo disease by looking at zonulin levels. At the same time, we aimed to examine the correlation of inflammatory cytokines and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels with zonulin.

METHODS: Forty-one patients and 41 healthy participants were involved in our study. Blood samples were taken from all patients and controls, and the levels of zonulin, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and LPS were examined.

RESULTS: The mean of zonulin in the patient group was found to be statistically higher than the control group (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between zonulin level and IL-6, TNF-α, and LPS levels (p < 0.05). TNF-α and LPS levels in the vitiligo group were significantly higher than in the control group, but there was no such significance in terms of IL-6 levels.

CONCLUSION: We think that serum zonulin level increases and intestinal permeability increases in vitiligo disease.

PMID:36370419 | DOI:10.1111/jocd.15493

J Glob Health. 2022 Nov 12;12:05046. doi: 10.7189/jogh.12.05046.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Continuous monitoring of the pandemic’s impact on health service provision and mental health, COVID-19 perceptions, and compliance with prevention measures among health care providers (HCPs) can help with mitigating the pandemic’s negative effects.

METHODS: A computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) survey was conducted among 1499 HCPs in Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou), Ethiopia (Addis Ababa), Nigeria (Lagos and Ibadan), Tanzania (Dar es Salaam), and Ghana (Kintampo). Self-reported mental health, perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, and prevention measures available in the workplace were assessed. HCPs’ responses to questions regarding the impact of COVID-19 on nine essential health services were summed into a score; high service disruption was defined as a score higher than the total average score across all sites. Modified Poisson regression was used to identify potential factors related to high service disruption.

RESULTS: Overall, 26.9% of HCPs reported high service disruption, with considerable differences across sites (from 1.6% in Dar es Salaam to 45.0% in Addis Ababa). A considerable proportion of HCPs reported experiencing mild psychological distress (9.4%), anxiety (8.0%), and social avoidance or rejection (13.9%) due to their profession. Participants in Addis Ababa (absolute risk ratio (ARR) = 2.10; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.59-2.74), Lagos (ARR = 1.65; 95% CI = 1.24-2.17), and Kintampo (ARR = 2.61; 95% CI = 1.94-3.52) had a higher likelihood of reporting high service disruption compared to those in Ouagadougou. Reporting ever-testing for COVID-19 (ARR = 0.82; 95% CI = 0.69-0.97) and the presence of COVID-19 guidelines in the workplace (ARR = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.53-0.77) were both associated with lower reported health service disruption among HCPs.

CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt essential health services and present a challenge to HCPs’ mental health, with important differences across countries and settings; interventions are needed to mitigate these negative effects of the pandemic.

PMID:36370415 | DOI:10.7189/jogh.12.05046

J Glob Health. 2022 Nov 12;12:04091. doi: 10.7189/jogh.12.04091.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To better understand factors influencing life expectancy, this paper examines how the availability of publicly funded health care in a country and multiple social determinants of health impact longevity of life.

METHODS: In this descriptive statistical analysis, data regarding publicly funded health care, life expectancy, and social determinants of health were obtained for 196 countries and 4 territories. Social determinants included 10 indicators detailing country-level information to represent 5 key categories: economic stability, education, health & health care, neighbourhood & built environment, and social & community context. Analyses consisted of: 1) comparison of mean life expectancy among countries and territories with- and without- publicly funded health care; 2) correlations in life expectancy across social determinants by health care access and level of burden; and 3) correlations in life expectancy within social determinants for health care access by level of burden.

RESULTS: Overall, life expectancy in countries and territories with- publicly funded health care (Mean (m) = 76.7 years) was significantly longer compared to countries and territories without- publicly funded health care (m = 66.8 years, P < 0.0001). For each social determinant, we observed longer life expectancy continued to be associated with publicly funded health care access across stratum (P < 0.0001), but difference in years of life expectancy existed both by burden of social determinant, as well as access to health care within quartiles of burden (Publicly funded care (yes): 68.12-80.88 years, (no): 62.39-77.33 years, all P < 0.05). Both social determinants as well as the availability of publicly funded health care were individually and simultaneously associated with mean longevity of life between countries and territories worldwide.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate how, if made widely available, publicly funded health care could extend longevity of life. If combined with programs to reduce the burden of social determinants, a substantial impact can be made to promote more equitable distribution of life expectancies across the world. Ultimately, both access to publicly funded care and reducing inequalities in social determinants are needed in order to promote longer and healthier aging in populations worldwide.

PMID:36370409 | DOI:10.7189/jogh.12.04091

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 Nov 12. doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-24078-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study analyzes material footprint (MF), which can be essential in achieving net zero emission targets and sustainable development goals for EURO-26 countries. Increasing the efficiency of MF rather than domestic material consumption is more effective in reducing emissions. Therefore, this study examines the relationship between MF, economic growth, and CO₂ emissions for EURO-26 countries. For empirical analysis, second-generation panel cointegration tests and long-term coefficient estimators, which consider the cross-sectional dependence, are employed. The empirical results indicate that (i) there is a long-term relationship between the variables and (ii) MF increases the CO₂ emissions. However, the positive relationship between economic growth and CO₂ emissions is statistically insignificant. According to the individual results, while the impact of MF on CO₂ emissions is negative in developed countries, MF increases CO₂ emissions in developing countries in general. Overall findings reveal that long-term material footprint strategies should be implemented in EURO-26 countries and material footprint policies can be used as a strategic tool to achieve net zero emission targets and sustainable development goals (SDGs).

PMID:36370305 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-022-24078-2

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 Nov 12. doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-23563-y. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Trace elements emitted by road transport cause long-term contamination of road soils. This study showed the effect of the noise barrier on the spatial distribution of metals in soils at the City Centre Ring Road in Wrocław (Poland). Samples were taken along the barrier every 150 m and across the screen at distances of 0.5, 2.5, 5 (only on the left side), 10, 20, and 50 m from the noise screen on both sides of road no. 5. The contamination of soils was assessed with the use of commonly used individual pollution indices, integrated pollution indices based on the PI index or metal concentrations, and a potential ecological risk index (RI). The geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and the single pollution index (PI) indicate moderate contamination of soils by Cu, Pb, and Zn at most measuring points. The significant risk was reported from Cd in all samples. Integrated pollution indices, especially the PI_Nemerow, PI_avg, and RI confirm the poor quality of studied soils. The presence of elements in soil is related to anthropogenic factors. The spatial distribution of pollution indices and results of statistical analysis (HCA) indicate that Cr and Ni are of natural origin. Remaining elements (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn) are of mixed origin with a large share from car transport (the significant Spearman’s correlation coefficients). In the case of cadmium, dendograms suggest the existence of an additional anthropogenic source, which is also confirmed by moderately strong correlations of this element with other metals.

PMID:36370304 | DOI:10.1007/s11356-022-23563-y

Adv Ther. 2022 Nov 12. doi: 10.1007/s12325-022-02364-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: To assess the prevalence of fatigue and its association with disease activity and patient-reported outcomes among patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn’s disease (CD).

METHODS: Data from a cross-sectional survey conducted with gastroenterologists and their consulting adult patients with UC or CD were analyzed. Data were collected via gastroenterologist-completed patient record forms and patient-self completion forms. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, disease activity and medication use were reported by the gastroenterologist, while current symptoms (fatigue, rectal urgency, abdominal pain, sleep disturbance), work productivity and the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ) were reported by the patient. Logistic regression models were used to identify measures associated with fatigue and expressed as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: A total of 1057 patients with UC and 1228 patients with CD were included in this analysis. Fatigue was reported in 22.6% of UC and 26.0% of patients with CD. Higher proportion of patients with UC and fatigue had moderate/severe disease activity (p = 0.0001), had a higher Mayo score (5.0 vs. 4.0, p < 0.0001) and were unemployed (5.6% vs. 3.9%, p = 0.0149) compared to those without fatigue. In patients with CD reporting fatigue, a higher proportion were female (55.9% vs. 48.2%, p = 0.0193), were unemployed (5.8% vs. 4.9%, p = 0.0069), had moderate/severe disease (p < 0.0001) and had a higher mean Crohn’s Disease Activity Index score (145.0 vs. 96.2, p < 0.0001) than patients without fatigue. Patients with UC and fatigue had higher mean level of pain (p < 0.0001) and sleep disturbance (p < 0.0001), whereas patients with CD and fatigue had lower SIBDQ scores (p < 0.0001) and greater work impairment (p = 0.0015) than patients without fatigue. Abdominal pain (OR: 2.01, p = 0.001) and use of immunomodulators (OR: 1.69, p = 0.006) increased the odds of having fatigue in patients with UC. In patients with CD, abdominal pain (OR: 2.29, p < 0.001) and use of biologics or biosimilars (OR: 2.02, p = 0.003) increased the odds of having fatigue.

CONCLUSION: Fatigue is a common symptom among patients with UC or CD that is associated with higher levels of disease activity and decreased work productivity and is driven by various factors. A multidisciplinary approach may be needed to manage fatigue.

PMID:36370288 | DOI:10.1007/s12325-022-02364-2

J Behav Med. 2022 Nov 12. doi: 10.1007/s10865-022-00378-3. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Harmful effects of weight self-stigma on quality of life and health behaviors have been well-established. However, the processes that lead to these negative outcomes are less understood. Psychological inflexibility is defined as a pattern of rigid psychological reactions dominating over values and meaningful actions. A lack in valued action is characterized by the absence of activities that are connected to what is personally meaningful. In this secondary analysis, we aim to extend research by examining two subprocesses of psychological inflexibility, experiential avoidance and lack of valued action, as statistical mediators of the relations between weight self-stigma and quality of life/health behavior outcomes. Baseline data from a clinical trial comparing weight loss maintenance interventions in a sample of 194 adults living with overweight or obesity and seeking treatment is analyzed. Results show that greater experiential avoidance and lower valued action were significantly related to lower quality of life and satisfaction with social roles, as well as greater depression, anxiety, and binge eating. Further, results from a parallel mediation analysis indicated that weight self-stigma is indirectly related to anxiety, disinhibited eating, and hunger through the relationship with experiential avoidance and lack of valued action.

PMID:36370244 | DOI:10.1007/s10865-022-00378-3

J Clin Monit Comput. 2022 Nov 12. doi: 10.1007/s10877-022-00927-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Recent publications have suggested that pulse oximeters exhibit reduced accuracy in dark-skinned patients during periods of hypoxemia. Masimo SET® (Signal Extraction Technology®) has been designed, calibrated, and validated using nearly equal numbers of dark and light skinned subjects, with the goal of eliminating differences between pulse oximetry saturation (SpO₂) and arterial oxygen saturation (SaO₂) values due to skin pigmentation. The accuracy concerns reported in dark-skinned patients led us to perform a retrospective analysis of healthy Black and White volunteers. Seventy-five subjects who self-identified as being racially Black or White underwent a desaturation protocol where SaO₂ values were decreased from 100 to 70%, while simultaneous SpO₂ values were recorded using Masimo RD SET® sensors. Statistical bias (mean difference) and precision (standard deviation of difference) were – 0.20 ± 1.40% for Black and – 0.05 ± 1.35% for White subjects. Plots of SpO₂ versus SaO₂ show no significant visible differences between races throughout the saturation range from 70 to 100%. Box plots grouped in 1% saturation bins, from 89-96%, and plotted against concomitant SaO₂ values, show that occult hypoxemia (SaO₂ < 88% when SpO₂ = 92-96%) occurred in only 0.2% of White subject data pairs, but not in any Black subjects. There were no clinically significant differences in bias (mean difference of SpO₂-SaO₂) found between healthy Black and White subjects. Occult hypoxemia was rare and did not occur in Black subjects. Masimo RD SET® can be used with equal assurance in people with dark or light skin. These laboratory results were obtained in well-controlled experimental conditions in healthy volunteers-not reflecting actual clinical conditions/patients.

PMID:36370242 | DOI:10.1007/s10877-022-00927-w