Tag: pubmed

BMC Public Health. 2022 Aug 10;22(1):1522. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-13936-w.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity rates are increasing worldwide, particularly among people with a low socioeconomic status (SES). Care-physical activity (care-PA) initiatives may improve participants’ lifestyles and thereby lower overweight and obesity rates. A two-year care-PA initiative specifically developed for citizens with a low SES, X-Fittt 2.0, was offered free of charge to participants, and included 12 weeks of intensive guidance and sports sessions, and 21 months of aftercare. Here, we study the impact of X-Fittt 2.0 on health, quality of life (QoL) and societal participation using a mixed-methods design.

METHODS: Questionnaires and body measurements were taken from 208 participants at the start of X-Fittt 2.0 (t₀) and after 12 weeks (t₁), one year (t₂) and two to three years (t₃). We also held 17 group discussions (t₁, n = 71) and 68 semi-structured interviews (t₂ and t₃). Continuous variables were analysed using a linear mixed-model analysis (corrected for gender, age at t₀, height, education level and employment status at the different time points), while we used descriptive statistics for the categorical variables. Qualitative data were analysed using a thematic analysis.

RESULTS: Body weight was significantly lower at all three post-initiative time points compared with the baseline, with a maximum of 3.8 kg difference at t₂. Body Mass Index, waist circumference, blood pressure and self-perceived health only significantly improved during the first 12 weeks. A positive trend regarding paid work was observed, while social visits decreased. The latter might be explained by the COVID-19 pandemic, as lockdowns limited social life. Furthermore, participants reported increased PA (including sports) and a few stopped smoking or drinking alcohol. Participants mentioned feeling healthier, fitter and more energetic. Additionally, participants’ self-esteem and stress levels improved, stimulating them to become more socially active. However, the participants also mentioned barriers to being physically active, such as a lack of money or time, or physical or mental health problems.

CONCLUSIONS: X-Fittt 2.0 improved the health, QoL and societal participation of the participants. Future initiatives should take into account the aforementioned barriers, and consider a longer intervention period for more sustainable results. More complete data are needed to confirm the findings.

PMID:35948969 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-022-13936-w

BMC Infect Dis. 2022 Aug 10;22(1):686. doi: 10.1186/s12879-022-07668-w.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To find pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters of vancomycin associated with the optimal outcome of severe infection due to Enterococcus species.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed enterococcal bacteremia cases treated with vancomycin from January 2015 to December 2020. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. We calculated cutoff values of the ratio of vancomycin area under the concentration-time curve over 24 h to the minimum inhibitory concentration (AUC₂₄/MIC) and trough concentration (C_trough) during the initial 72 h of treatment. The optimal cutoff value was determined using the Youden index. Binary variables created based on these cutoffs were further assessed using multivariable analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 65 patients were included. The majority (87.7%) had solid or hematologic malignancies. Thirty-day mortality and nephrotoxicity occurred in nine (13.4%) and 14 (21.5%) patients, respectively. Both vancomycin AUC₂₄/MIC and C_trough showed fair performance in predicting 30-day mortality (AUC of receiver-operator curve for AUC₂₄/MIC, 0.712; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.539-0.886; AUC for C_trough, 0.760; 95% CI 0.627-0.892; pairwise AUC comparison: p = 0.570). C_trough ≥ 13.94 μg/mL, but not AUC₂₄/MIC ≥ 504, had a significant association with 30-day mortality after adjusting for confounders (odds ratio, 8.40; 95% CI 1.60-86.62; p = 0.010).

CONCLUSION: Mean C_trough ≥ 13.94 μg/mL during the initial 72 h was associated with higher 30-day mortality in enterococcal bacteremia. Further studies are warranted to elucidate optimal pharmacokinetic targets for enterococcal bacteremia.

PMID:35948963 | DOI:10.1186/s12879-022-07668-w

Biopsychosoc Med. 2022 Aug 10;16(1):17. doi: 10.1186/s13030-022-00245-2.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Our study sought to investigate the clinical influencing factors of psoriasis patients with depression, and analyze whether the content of monoamine neurotransmitters in plasma was correlated with depression incidence among psoriasis patients.

METHODS: Ninety patients with psoriasis and 40 healthy volunteers (aged from18 to 60) were recruited and interviewed with a piloted questionnaire in both groups to obtain relevant information. The catecholamine in plasma from the two groups was analyzed by radioimmunoassay. The data were analyzed by SPSS statistical software.

RESULTS: The mean Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and mean Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) scores of the psoriasis patients were higher than the control group. Dopamine content in the plasma was lower (comparing psoriasis patients without depression and the control group, and was negatively correlated with HAMD, AIS, and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores in the psoriasis patients with depression. There was no significant difference in the epinephrine and norepinephrine contents in all groups. PASI scores were positively correlated with HAMD scores in psoriasis patients. The low dopamine content, Dermatology Life Quality Index, and high PASI scores were the risk factors for depression among the psoriasis patients.

CONCLUSION: Psoriasis patients have a significantly higher risk of depression than healthy people, and higher PASI scores were linked to a higher incidence of depression. The dopamine levels of patients were influenced by both psoriasis and depression. The risk factors for depression in psoriasis patients are low dopamine levels in the plasma, severe skin lesions, and lower quality of life.

PMID:35948962 | DOI:10.1186/s13030-022-00245-2

BMC Health Serv Res. 2022 Aug 10;22(1):1016. doi: 10.1186/s12913-022-08412-5.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic led to an unprecedented increase in the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) among medical personnel. The goal of this study was to determine the risk factors and frequency of PPE-induced headache during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS: From January 25 to March 1, 2021, an anonymous online survey was undertaken in the Baltic states.

RESULTS: In total, 2132 individuals participated. 52.3% experienced a PPE-induced headache. Usual onset time was between 2-3 h, lasting up to 1 h after PPE removal. The most common localization was in temporal and frontal regions. Headache usually occurred 2 to 3 days per week with an average pain score of 5.04 ± 1.80 points. Higher risk was associated with discomfort/pressure OR = 11.55, heat stress OR = 2.228, skin conditions OR = 1.784, long PPE use (duration 10-12 h) OR = 2,18, headache history prior PPE use OR = 1.207. Out of 52.3% respondents with PPE-induced headache, 45.5% developed de novo headache, whereas 54.5% had headache history. Statistically significant differences of PPE-induced headache between respective groups included severity (4.73 vs 5.29), duration (≥ 6 h 6.7% vs 8.2%), accompanying symptoms (nausea (19.3% vs 25.7%), photophobia (19.1% vs 25.7%), phonophobia (15.8% vs 23.5%), osmophobia (5.3% vs 12.0%)) and painkiller use (43.0% vs 61.7%).

CONCLUSIONS: Over half of the medical personnel reported headache while using PPE. The risk was higher in individuals with headache history, increased duration of PPE use and discomfort while using PPE. Predisposed individuals reported PPE-induced headache which persisted longer, was more intense and debilitating than in the respondents with de novo headache.

PMID:35948960 | DOI:10.1186/s12913-022-08412-5

BMC Med. 2022 Aug 11;20(1):275. doi: 10.1186/s12916-022-02468-0.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The risk of hip fracture in women on plant-based diets is unclear. We aimed to investigate the risk of hip fracture in occasional meat-eaters, pescatarians, and vegetarians compared to regular meat-eaters in the UK Women’s Cohort Study and to determine if potential associations between each diet group and hip fracture risk are modified by body mass index (BMI).

METHODS: UK women, ages 35-69 years, were classified as regular meat-eaters (≥ 5 servings/week), occasional meat-eaters (< 5 servings/week), pescatarian (ate fish but not meat), or vegetarian (ate neither meat nor fish) based on a validated 217-item food frequency questionnaire completed in 1995-1998. Incident hip fractures were identified via linkage to Hospital Episode Statistics up to March 2019. Cox regression models were used to estimate the associations between each diet group and hip fracture risk over a median follow-up time of 22.3 years.

RESULTS: Amongst 26,318 women, 822 hip fracture cases were observed (556,331 person-years). After adjustment for confounders, vegetarians (HR (95% CI) 1.33 (1.03, 1.71)) but not occasional meat-eaters (1.00 (0.85, 1.18)) or pescatarians (0.97 (0.75, 1.26)) had a greater risk of hip fracture than regular meat-eaters. There was no clear evidence of effect modification by BMI in any diet group (p-interaction = 0.3).

CONCLUSIONS: Vegetarian women were at a higher risk of hip fracture compared to regular meat-eaters. Further research is needed to confirm this in men and non-European populations and to identify factors responsible for the observed risk difference. Further research exploring the role of BMI and nutrients abundant in animal-sourced foods is recommended.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT05081466.

PMID:35948956 | DOI:10.1186/s12916-022-02468-0

BMC Oral Health. 2022 Aug 10;22(1):340. doi: 10.1186/s12903-022-02372-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To examine the role of dental pain, sense of coherence (SOC) and social support on the relationship between dental caries and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in children aged 12 years.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving 400 schoolchildren selected from public schools in a socioeconomically disadvantaged region in the city of Manaus, Brazil was carried out. The predictors of OHRQoL were selected according to the Wilson and Cleary theoretical model, including number of decayed teeth and its clinical consequence (component D of the DMFT index and PUFA/pufa index), dental pain (symptom status), and SOC and social support (individual and environmental characteristics). Statistical analysis was conducted through structural equation modelling and multivariable negative binomial regression. The significance level established for all analyses was 5%.

RESULTS: Number of dental caries was indirectly linked with OHRQoL (β = 0.19, 95% CI 0.11/0.29) through dental pain, SOC and social support. Clinical consequences of untreated caries directly predicted poor OHRQoL (β = 0.12, 95% CI 0.01/0.23). Dental pain, SOC and social support did not moderate the effect of dental caries measures on OHRQoL.

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest the role of dental pain, SOC and social support as mediator factors on the link between dental caries and OHRQoL. Tackling dental caries along with psychosocial factors may attenuated the impact of oral health on OHRQoL in children.

PMID:35948932 | DOI:10.1186/s12903-022-02372-2

Proteome Sci. 2022 Aug 10;20(1):13. doi: 10.1186/s12953-022-00195-1.

ABSTRACT

Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of ocular injured induced by mustard gas can help better identify complications and discover appropriate therapies. This study aimed to analyze the proteomics of tears of chemical warfare victims with mustard gas ocular injuries and compare it with healthy individuals. In this case-control research, 10 mustard gas victims with long-term ocular difficulties (Chronic) were included in the patient group, while 10 healthy persons who were age and sex matched to the patients were included in the control group. Schirmer strips were used to collect the tears of the participants. Proteomics experiments were performed using the high-efficiency TMT10X method to evaluate the tear protein profile, and statistical bioinformatics methods were used to identify the differently expressed proteins. 24 proteins had different expressions between the two groups. Among these 24 proteins, 8 proteins had increased expression in veterans’ tears, while the remaining 16 proteins had decreased expression. Reactome pathways were used to look at proteins with various expressions, and 13 proteins were found to be engaged in the immune system, 9 of which were effective in the innate immune system, and 5 proteins were effective in the complement cascade. Ocular mustard gas exposure may cause a compromised immune system on the eye’s surface, exposing the cornea to external and endogenous infections, and eventually causing corneal opacity and reduced vision.

PMID:35948930 | DOI:10.1186/s12953-022-00195-1

Clin Epigenetics. 2022 Aug 10;14(1):100. doi: 10.1186/s13148-022-01320-9.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: CpG methylation levels can help to explain inter-individual differences in phenotypic traits. Few studies have explored whether identifying probe subsets based on their biological and statistical properties can maximise predictions whilst minimising array content. Variance component analyses and penalised regression (epigenetic predictors) were used to test the influence of (i) the number of probes considered, (ii) mean probe variability and (iii) methylation QTL status on the variance captured in eighteen traits by blood DNA methylation. Training and test samples comprised ≤ 4450 and ≤ 2578 unrelated individuals from Generation Scotland, respectively.

RESULTS: As the number of probes under consideration decreased, so too did the estimates from variance components and prediction analyses. Methylation QTL status and mean probe variability did not influence variance components. However, relative effect sizes were 15% larger for epigenetic predictors based on probes with known or reported methylation QTLs compared to probes without reported methylation QTLs. Relative effect sizes were 45% larger for predictors based on probes with mean Beta-values between 10 and 90% compared to those based on hypo- or hypermethylated probes (Beta-value ≤ 10% or ≥ 90%).

CONCLUSIONS: Arrays with fewer probes could reduce costs, leading to increased sample sizes for analyses. Our results show that reducing array content can restrict prediction metrics and careful attention must be given to the biological and distribution properties of CpG probes in array content selection.

PMID:35948928 | DOI:10.1186/s13148-022-01320-9

BMC Health Serv Res. 2022 Aug 10;22(1):1017. doi: 10.1186/s12913-022-08404-5.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Stroke survivors require continuing services to limit disability. This study assessed the coverage and equity of essential care services received during the first six months of post-stroke follow-up of stroke survivors in the Western Province of Sri Lanka.

METHODS: A multidisciplinary team defined the essential post-stoke follow-up care services and agreed on a system to categorize the coverage of services as adequate or inadequate among those who were identified as needing the said service. We recruited 502 survivors of first ever stroke of any type, from 11 specialist hospitals upon discharge. Six months following discharge, trained interviewers visited their homes and assessed the coverage of essential services using a structured questionnaire.

RESULTS: Forty-nine essential post-stroke follow-up care services were identified and categorized into six domains: monitoring of risk conditions, treatment, services to limit disabilities, services to prevent complications, lifestyle modification and supportive services. Of the recruited 502 stroke survivors, 363 (72.3%) were traced at the end of 6 months. Coverage of antiplatelet therapy was the highest (97.2% (n = 289, 95% CI 95.3- 99.1)) while referral to mental health services (3.3%, n = 12, 95% CI 1.4-5.1) and training on employment for the previously employed (2.2%, n = 4, 95% CI- 0.08-4.32), were the lowest among the six domains of care. In the sample, 59.8% (95% CI 54.76-64.48) had received an ‘adequate’ level of essential care services related to treatment while none received an ‘adequate’ level of services in the category of support services. Disaggregated service coverage by presence and type of limb paralysis within the domain of services to prevent complications, and by sex and education level within the domain of education level, show statistically significant differences (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Apart from treatment services to limit disabilities, coverage of essential care services during the post-stroke period was inadequate. There were no apparent inequities in the coverage of vast majority of services. However focused policy decisions are required to address these gaps in services.

PMID:35948922 | DOI:10.1186/s12913-022-08404-5

BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2022 Aug 10;14(1):153. doi: 10.1186/s13102-022-00547-6.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to check the changes in the level of physical fitness and body composition after a directed training process in cadets-pilots, in relation to control group.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 29 cadets studying at the Air Force Military Academy in Dęblin. Group A (study group)-second year pilots (n = 17), male, with an average age of 19.94 ± 1.3 years, studying to become an aircraft pilot, who realized 35-h directed training process based on the Aviation Synthetic Efficiency Test (ASET) and group B (control group)-second year in the field of ground navigation (n = 12), male, with an average age of 19.83 ± 1.27 years, completing the standard physical education process. In both groups, the fitness tests and physiological studies were conducted twice time: before starting the training process-study I; after the training process-study II. Fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), muscle mass (MM), total body water (TBW), extracellular water (ECW) and intracellular water (ICW) were measurement with using the bioimpedance method with using body composition analyzer the AKERN 101 type BIA 101SE.

RESULTS: In group A in study II, fitness was at a good level, while in group B it was below the standard expected for pilots. There was statistically significant decrease in fat mass (FM) and increase in fat-free mass (FFM), muscle mass (MM), total body water (TBW) in group A compared to group B. In study II, group A showed no significant correlation between ASET and FM, FFM, MM, TBW while group B showed statistically significant correlations.

CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained in study II showed an increase in directed physical fitness in groups A and B, as measured by ASET. In both groups A and B, the training process decreased FM and increased FFM, MM, and TBW, but a greater effect of these changes was observed in group A.

PMID:35948917 | DOI:10.1186/s13102-022-00547-6