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Objective: There is no study on the relationship between triglyceride-glucose index (TyG index) and skeletal muscle mass in middle-aged and elderly C population. Therefore, the aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between the TyG index and weight-adjusted relative skeletal muscle index (RSMI) in middle-aged and elderly C population. Methods: We retrospectively studied 947 aged ⩾40 years subjects who got a routine medical examination in the Department of Geriatrics of R Hospital from May 2021 to March 2023. The RSMI was designed to evaluate skeletal muscle mass and calculated based on lean mass of the limbs(kg)/body weight(kg) × 100%. Skeletal muscle mass reduction was defined as a RSMI of 1-2 standard deviations (SD) below of healthy adults aged 30-49 years old. Considering the quartile groups of the TyG index, the subjects were assigned to 4 groups: Q1 (less than or equal to 8.171), Q2 (from 8.172 to 8.569), Q3 (from 8.570 to 8.992), and Q4 (greater than or equal to 8.993). Results: With TyG index increased, RSMI levels significantly reduced(P <.001). Spearman's correlation analysis showed that the TyG index was negatively correlated with RSMI in males (r = −0.320) and females (r = −0.240). The TyG index was positively correlated with body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (P <.05). Besides, binary logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of developing reduced skeletal muscle mass in the group Q4 was 2.131 (95%CI:1.118-4.064) in males; and was 2.472 (95%CI:1.581-3.867) in females compared to the Q1 group. Conclusion: TyG index was negatively correlated with relative skeletal muscle index, and a higher TyG index was associated with the development of reduced skeletal muscle mass independently of other influencing factors. Therefore, the TyG index promises to be a predictor of skeletal muscle mass loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancer patients experience significant changes in their social roles along with various physical and psychological challenges. Despite the growing recognition of the importance of palliative care in Bangladesh, there is a notable gap in research focusing on the psychosocial issues faced by patients with advanced cancer. Aim: This study aims to explore the level of social support perceived by Bangladeshi cancer patients and determine how this support relates to their mental health status. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 115 advanced cancer (stages III and IV) patients admitted to the palliative medicine department of a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh. Perceived social support was measured by the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the mental health status of the patients was assessed by Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21. Data collection was done from June to November 2023. Relationships between perceived social support, depression, anxiety, and stress were assessed by the Spearman correlation test. The moderating effect of perceived social support on patients' mental health variables was determined by multiple linear regression and simple slope analysis. p Value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Result: The study included an almost equal number of male (49.6%) and female (50.4%) patients, with a mean age of 50.7 ± 14.4 years. Overall, perceived social support was moderate to high for most (74.7%) of the participants. Among the participants, 78.3% experienced anxiety, 77.4% suffered from depression, and 70.5% experienced stress. Depression, anxiety, and stress were all negatively and significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with perceived social support. Younger patients reported higher levels of anxiety, stress, and depression. Perceived social support had a significant buffering effect on depression and anxiety among the younger patients. Conclusion: Perceived social support has a profound and significant effect on the mental health of advanced cancer patients. Integrating psychosocial support early in palliative care can be highly beneficial to the mental health of these patients. Plain language summary: Social support and mental health of cancer patients This cross-sectional study was conducted among 115 patients with advanced cancer (stages III and IV) admitted to the palliative medicine department of a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh. The majority of the patients with advanced cancer suffer from depression and anxiety and experience high level of stress. Younger patients report more of these psychological issues. High level of perceived social support is associated with lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. It acts as a buffer against these negative emotions. Patients who experienced a high level of social support while dealing with physical pain reported less depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives : Facial nerve palsy causes blurred vision and ocular discomfort due to deficits in blinking and eye closure. The objective of this study was to determine whether eye-blinks could be elicited by electrical stimulation and whether electrically induced blink would have an effect on the visual acuity and ocular symptoms in patients with acute facial nerve palsy. Methods : The zygomatic branch of the facial nerve of fifteen participants with acute facial nerve palsy was electrically stimulated in order to elicit a blink. In successful cases, the participant proceeded with a two-hour TV watching session in which an electrically induced blink was delivered every 5 seconds. The control condition consisted of an otherwise similar TV watching session without electrically induced blinking. Subjective ocular symptoms were evaluated with a Dry Eye Questionnaire and visual acuity was assessed with a Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution (LogMAR) chart before and after both sessions. Results : The stimulation produced a blink in 8 participants (53%). The visual acuity in the affected eye decreased during the control session, whereas no significant change occurred during the stimulation session. The ocular symptoms were significantly reduced during the stimulation session. Conclusions : Electrically elicited blink is a promising method for reducing the eye symptoms in individuals with acute facial nerve palsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To develop a French Short Version of the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders-Negative Statements (Fr-sQOD) to assess the quality of life impairments of patients with olfactory dysfunction (OD). Methods: Patients with OD and controls were enrolled from 2 academic centers. Individuals completed the Fr-sQOD, an OD visual analog scale severity, and the French version of the sinonasal outcome tool-22 (SNOT-22). Cronbach α was used to measure the internal consistency of Fr-sQOD. The reliability and the external validity of Fr-sQOD were assessed through a test–retest approach and by correlating Fr-sQOD with SNOT-22 scores, respectively. The external validity was assessed by correlation analysis between Fr-sQOD and the result of an assessment of the severity of OD on a visual analog scale. Results: Eighty patients completed the evaluations. The internal consistency was adequate (Cronbach α.96), and the test–retest reliability was high in the entire cohort (rs = 0.877, P <.001). The correlation between Fr-sQOD total scores and the severity of OD was moderate but significant (rs = −0.431; P =.001) supporting an acceptable external validity. Patients with OD had a significantly higher score of Fr-sQOD than healthy individuals (P <.001), indicating a high internal validity. Conclusion: The Fr-sQOD is a reliable and valid self-administered tool in the evaluation of the impact of OD on quality of life of French-speaking patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Groote Schuur Hospital is a large Academic Hospital in South Africa that is in the process of integrating palliative care (PC) via a vertical nurse-led doctor-supported (VNLDS) service that was initially established to deliver clinical care. PC integration should occur across multiple dimensions and may result in variable degrees of integration between levels of the healthcare system. This research evaluates the VNLDS through a theory-driven evaluation to describe how the service affected integration. Methods: A mixed-method sequential design consisting of a narrative literature review on the theory of integration and PC, retrospective quantitative data from a PC service delivery database, qualitative data from semi-structured interviews and document analyses. It was structured in three phases which assisted in confirming and expanding the data. Statistical analyses, deductive thematic coding and documentary analyses were conducted according to the conceptual framework of PC integration. Results: The PC integration process was facilitated in the following ways: (i) the service provided good clinical PC; (ii) it was able to integrate on a professional level into specific diseases, such as cancer but not in all diseases; (iii) developing organizational structures within the service and (iv) the observed benefit of good clinical care increased the value stakeholders assigned to PC, thereby driving the adoption of PC. However, there are still clinicians who do not refer to PC services. This gap in referral may be grounded in assumptions and misconceptions about PC, especially at the organizational level. Discussion: Observed PC service delivery is core to integrating PC across the healthcare system because it challenges normative barriers. However, the VNLDS could not achieve integration in leadership and governance, education and hospital-wide guidelines and policies. Whole system integration, foregrounding organizational commitment to PC excellence, is core to integrating PC. Conclusion: The VNLDS service has effectively linked PC in specific disease profiles and normalized the PC approach where healthcare workers observed the service. These integrational gaps may be grounded in assumptions and misconceptions about PC, especially at the organizational level. Plain language summary: How does a nurse led palliative care service affect palliative care integration in a big teaching hospital? This article evaluates a nurse led doctor supported service in providing palliative care and how it affected the integration of palliative care in an Academic Hospital in South Africa. This study will help us understand the goals of integration, the extent of integration achieved by this service and how and why it was achieved or not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe associations between patients' demographic characteristics and access to telemedicine services in an urban tertiary academic medical system across the COVID-19 pandemic, and to identify potential barriers to access. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted at a single-center tertiary academic medical center. The study included adult patients undergoing outpatient otolaryngologic care in person or via telemedicine during 8 week timeframes: before the pandemic, at the onset of the pandemic, and during later parts of the pandemic. Patients were characterized by age, sex, race, insurance type, primary language, portal activation status, income estimate, and visit type. Where appropriate, chi-squared tests, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and logistic regression were used to compare demographic factors between the cohorts. Results: A total of 14,240 unique patients [median age, 58 years (range, 18-107 years); 56.5% were female] resulting in a total of 29,457 visits (94.8% in-person and 5.2% telemedicine) were analyzed. Patients seen in person were older than those using telemedicine. Telemedicine visits included a higher proportion of patients with private insurance, and fewer patients with government or no insurance compared to in-person visits. Race, income, and English as primary language were not found to have a significant effect on telemedicine use. Conclusion: In an urban tertiary medical center, we found significant differences in sociodemographic characteristics between patients who accessed otolaryngologic care in person versus via telemedicine through different phases of the COVID pandemic, reflecting possible barriers to care associated with telemedicine. Further studies are needed to develop interventions to improve access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]