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Individuals' coping differs based on sociocultural determinants and the nature of illness. This study developed a coping typology for South Asians with chronic illnesses and differentiated the coping profiles based on sociocultural determinants. Individuals (n = 384) with chronic illness were recruited. The Brief COPE scale was used for data collection and latent profile analysis for typology development. The class differences were examined in terms of age, gender, socioeconomic status, education, type of family, smoking, primary decision maker in the family, type of community, number of years living with chronic illness and type of health care services used. Latent profile analysis supported four class model: Avoider‐Emotion (n = 34, 9%), Problem‐Emotion (n = 128, 33.9%), Problem‐Avoider (n = 55, 14.6%) and Emotion‐Avoider (n = 161, 42.6%) copers. Comparison of classes across chronic illness showed that individuals with chronic respiratory disorders were Emotion‐Avoider and Avoider‐Emotion copers, those with cardiac problems were Problem‐Emotional and Problem‐Avoiders copers, those with renal problems were Emotional‐Avoiders and Problem‐Emotions copers, and individuals with mental health issues were mainly Problem‐Emotional and Emotion‐Avoider copers. These class differences were statistically different (χ2 = 134, df = 18, p <.001). The findings can be useful for developing coping programmes for South Asian populations in low‐ and middle‐income countries and South Asian immigrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), a significant predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD), occurs heterogeneously in people with diabetes because of various risk factors. We investigated the role of eGFR decline in predicting CVD events in people with type 2 diabetes in both primary and secondary CVD prevention settings. Materials and Methods: Bayesian joint modelling of repeated measures of eGFR and time to CVD event was applied to the Exenatide Study of Cardiovascular Event Lowering (EXSCEL) trial to examine the association between the eGFR slope and the incidence of major adverse CV event/hospitalization for heart failure (MACE/hHF) (non‐fatal myocardial infarction, non‐fatal stroke, CV death, or hospitalization for heart failure). The analysis was adjusted for age, sex, smoking, systolic blood pressure, baseline eGFR, antihypertensive and lipid‐lowering medication, diabetes duration, atrial fibrillation, high‐density cholesterol, total cholesterol, HbA1c and treatment allocation (once‐weekly exenatide or placebo). Results: Data from 11 101 trial participants with (n = 7942) and without (n = 3159) previous history of CVD were analysed. The mean ± SD eGFR slope per year in participants without and with previous CVD was −0.68 ± 1.67 and −1.03 ± 2.13 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. The 5‐year MACE/hHF incidences were 7.5% (95% CI 6.2, 8.8) and 20% (95% CI 19, 22), respectively. The 1‐SD decrease in the eGFR slope was associated with increased MACE/hHF risks of 48% (HR 1.48, 95% CI 1.12, 1.98, p = 0.007) and 33% (HR 1.33, 95% CI 1.18,1.51, p < 0.001) in participants without and with previous CVD, respectively. Conclusions: eGFR trajectories over time significantly predict incident MACE/hHF events in people with type 2 diabetes with and without existing CVD, with a higher hazard ratio for MACE/hHF in the latter group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular diseases are a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Despite having precursor conditions like peripheral arterial disease (PAD), they are often only diagnosed after the onset of stroke or heart attack. Low‐cost, portable, noninvasive, point‐of‐care (POC), label‐free assessment of deep vascular function benefits PAD diagnosis, especially in resource poor settings of the world. Doppler ultrasound‐based blood flow measurements can diagnose PAD, albeit with limited sensitivity and specificity. To overcome this, here, we propose the first‐of‐its‐kind dual‐modality photoacoustic‐and‐ultrasound (PAUS) imaging system that integrates a multiwavelength pulsed laser diode (PLD) with a compact ultrasound data acquisition unit. The mesoscopic imaging depth of the portable PLD‐PAUS system was validated using tissue phantoms, and its multispectral photoacoustic imaging capabilities were validated using an atherosclerosis‐mimicking phantom. Furthermore, we demonstrated high‐contrast volumetric in vivo photoacoustic imaging of rodent abdominal vasculature and quantified vessel reactivity due to hypercapnia stimulation. The multiparametric functional and molecular imaging capabilities of the PLD‐PAUS system holds promise for POC applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study that examined the effects of empagliflozin, a medication used to treat diabetes, on heart function in patients who had a heart attack. The study found that the medication had similar effects on heart function regardless of the patients' blood sugar levels. The results are consistent with previous research showing the benefits of empagliflozin in heart failure patients. However, more research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects of the medication in heart attack patients. The study was funded by a grant and the authors have no conflicts of interest. [Extracted from the article]

Aim: Some people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and declining β‐cell function do require insulin over time. Various laboratory parameters, indices of glucose metabolism or phenotypes of T2D (clusters) have been suggested, which might predict future therapy failure (TF), indicating the need for insulin therapy initiation. This analysis evaluated glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), homeostatic model assessment (HOMA)2‐B, C‐peptide to glucose ratio (CGR) and diabetes clusters as predictive parameters for the occurrence of glycaemic TF in individuals diagnosed with T2D without previous insulin therapy. Materials and Methods: In total, 159 individuals with T2D [41% female, median age 50 (IQR: 53‐69) years, diabetes duration 9 (5‐15) years], without insulin therapy were prospectively evaluated for the occurrence of a composite primary endpoint, including HbA1c increasing or remaining >8.0% (64 mmol/mol) 3 months after baseline on non‐insulin glucose‐lowering agents, insulin initiation or hospital admissions because of acute hyperglycaemic events. Diabetes clusters were formed according to previously described characteristics. Only severe autoimmune diabetes clusters were excluded because of a small amount of glutamate decarboxylase antibody‐positive participants. The other clusters were distributed as mild age‐related diabetes 33%; severe insulin‐deficient diabetes 31%; mild obesity‐related diabetes 20%; and severe insulin‐resistant diabetes 15%. Results: During a median observation of 57 months, higher tertiles of HbA1c at baseline, HOMA2‐B, as well as a lower CGR were significantly predictive for the occurrence of the primary endpoint. The probability of meeting the primary endpoint was the highest for mild obesity‐related diabetes [hazard ratio 3.28 (95% confidence interval 1.75‐6.2)], followed by severe insulin‐deficient diabetes [hazard ratio 2.03 (95% confidence interval 1.1‐3.7)], mild age‐related diabetes and the lowest for severe insulin‐resistant diabetes. The best performance to predict TF with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.77 was HbA1c at baseline, followed by HOMA2‐B (AUC 0.69) and CGR (AUC 0.64). Conclusion: HbA1c, indices of insulin secretion capacity (HOMA2‐B and CGR) and T2D clusters might be applicable tools to guide practitioners in the decision of whether insulin is required in people already diagnosed with T2D. These findings need to be validated in prospective studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the effects of aerobic endurance training on functional capacity and metabolic variables in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The study found that moderate-intensity exercise sessions three times a week for eight weeks significantly improved functional capacity in individuals with T1D. The study also observed improvements in maximum power output, oxygen uptake, and cholesterol levels. However, the improvements in physical performance were less pronounced compared to healthy individuals, and further research is needed to understand the impact of different types and durations of exercise on individuals with T1D. The study was funded by Sanofi and the authors report no competing interests. [Extracted from the article]

Aims: To assess if the risk of all‐cause mortality increases in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) with increasing number of severe hypoglycaemia episodes requiring hospitalization. Materials and methods: We conducted a national retrospective observational cohort study in people with T1D (diagnosed between 2000 and 2018). Clinical, comorbidity and demographic variables were assessed for impact on mortality for people with no, one, two and three or more episodes of severe hypoglycaemia requiring hospitalization. The time to death (all‐cause mortality) from the timepoint of the last episode of severe hypoglycaemia was modelled using a parametric survival model. Results: A total of 8224 people had a T1D diagnosis in Wales during the study period. The mortality rate (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 6.9 (6.1‐7.8) deaths/ 1000 person‐years (crude) and 15.31 (13.3‐17.63) deaths/ 1000 person‐years (age‐adjusted) for those with no occurrence of severe hypoglycaemia requiring hospitalization. For those with one episode of severe hypoglycaemia requiring hospitalization the mortality rate (95% CI) was 24.9 (21.0‐29.6; crude) and 53.8 (44.6‐64.7) deaths/ 1000 person‐years (age‐adjusted), for those with two episodes of severe hypoglycaemia requiring hospitalization it was 28.0 (23.1‐34.0; crude) and 72.8 (59.2‐89.5) deaths/ 1000 person‐years (age‐adjusted), and for those with three or more episodes of severe hypoglycaemia requiring hospitalization it was 33.5 (30.0‐37.3; crude) and 86.3 (71.7‐103.9) deaths/ 1000 person years (age‐adjusted; P < 0.001). A parametric survival model showed that having two episodes of severe hypoglycaemia requiring hospitalization was the strongest predictor for time to death (accelerated failure time coefficient 0.073 [95% CI 0.009‐0.565]), followed by having one episode of severe hypoglycaemia requiring hospitalization (0.126 [0.036‐0.438]) and age at most recent episode of severe hypoglycaemia requiring hospitalization (0.917 [0.885‐0.951]). Conclusions: The strongest predictor for time to death was having two or more episodes of severe hypoglycaemia requiring hospitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To demonstrate the gain in predictive performance when cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction tools (RPTs) incorporate repeated rather than only single measurements of risk factors. Materials and methods: We used data from the Exenatide Study of Cardiovascular Event Lowering (EXSCEL) trial to compare the quality of predictions of future major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) with the Cox proportional hazards model (using single values of risk factors) compared to the Bayesian joint model (using repeated measures of risk factors). The risk of MACE was calculated in patients with type 2 diabetes with and without established CVD. We assessed the predictive ability of the following cardiovascular risk factors: glycated haemoglobin, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), non‐HDL‐C, triglycerides, estimated glomerular filtration rate, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), total cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) using the time‐dependent area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curve (aROC) for discrimination and the time‐dependent Brier score for calibration. Results: In participants without history of CVD, the aROC of SBP increased from 0.62 to 0.69 when repeated rather than only single measurements of SBP were incorporated into the predictive model. Similarly, the aROC increased from 0.67 to 0.80 when repeated rather than only single measurements of both SBP and LDL‐C were incorporated into the predictive model. For all other investigated cardiovascular risk factors, the measures of discrimination and calibration both improved when using the joint model as compared to the Cox proportional hazards model. The improvement was evident in participants with and without history of CVD but was more pronounced in the latter group. Conclusions: The analysis demonstrates that the joint modelling approach, considering trajectories of cardiovascular risk factors, provides superior predictive performance compared to standard RPTs that use only a single timepoint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of this systematic review and meta‐analysis was to assess how running and cycling influence the magnitude of blood glucose (BG) excursions in individuals with type 1 diabetes. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ISI Web of Knowledge for publications from January 1950 until February 2021. Parameters included for analysis were population (adults and adolescents), exercise type, intensity, duration and insulin preparation. The meta‐analysis was performed to estimate the pooled mean with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of delta BG levels. In addition, sub‐group and meta‐regression analyses were performed to assess the influence of these parameters on delta BG. Results: The database search identified 3192 articles of which 69 articles were included in the meta‐analysis. Due to crossover designs within articles, 151 different results were included for analysis. Data from 1901 exercise tests of individuals with type 1 diabetes with a mean age of 29 ± 4 years were included. Overall, exercise tests BG decreased by −3.1 mmol/L [−3.4; −2.8] within a mean duration of 46 ± 21 min. The pooled mean decrease in BG for running was −4.1 mmol/L [−4.7; −2.4], whilst the pooled mean decrease in BG for cycling was −2.7 mmol/L [−3.0; −2.4] (p < 0.0001). Overall results can be found in Table S2. Conclusions: Running led to a larger decrease in BG in comparison to cycling. Active individuals with type 1 diabetes should be aware that current recommendations for glycaemic management need to be more specific to the mode of exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: COVID-19; type 1 diabetes; type 2 diabetes; vaccination EN COVID-19 type 1 diabetes type 2 diabetes vaccination 314 318 5 12/13/22 20230101 NES 230101 CONTEXT Up to 1 June 2022, almost 12 billion vaccine doses for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were administered worldwide.[1] People with diabetes were more probable to be hospitalized for COVID-19 and were observed to have in-hospital mortality as high as 25%.[[2]] Hence COVID-19 vaccination is not only recommended with priority in people with diabetes, it has also been shown to be effective in people with diabetes.[[4]] Our research group previously showed that humoral immune response 2-3 weeks after the second COVID-19 vaccination is similar in people with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and healthy controls,[6] irrespective of glycaemic control. The prospective COVAC-DM cohort study However, the decline of the antibody levels after the vaccination appears to be more pronounced in people with diabetes irrespective of glycaemic control, suggesting that shorter vaccination intervals may be necessary in both people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, with the latter group showing the lowest antibody levels 6 months after the second vaccination. GLO:EU1/01jan23:dom14855-fig-0001.jpg PHOTO (COLOR): 1 A, Median anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike protein (SARS-CoV-2S) antibody titres post-second vaccination and pre-third vaccination in healthy controls, type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. [Extracted from the article]

Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the burden of burnout and psychological distress and its association among Pakistani nurses providing care to patients with COVID‐19. Background: Nurses may experience an elevated risk of burnout and psychological distress during epidemics. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted using a convenience sample of 288 nurses. Maslach Burnout Inventory was administered to measure burnout and its domains of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. Screening Tool for Psychological Distress was administered to measure depression, anxiety, stress, anger, and low social support. Results: Burnout was present in 48.6% of nurses, severe emotional exhaustion in 37.2%, severe depersonalization in 36.8%, and low personal accomplishment in 46.9% of nurses. Psychological distress was present in 45% of nurses. Burnout and psychological distress were significantly higher in nurses who: were working in public hospitals, did not receive training for COVID‐19 prevention, and were dealing with increased patient load. Burnout and its domains were significantly associated with depression, anxiety, stress, anger, and low social support. Conclusion: Nurses are experiencing high levels of burnout and psychological distress during the COVID‐19 pandemic with a significant moderate‐to‐strong association between these conditions. These findings accentuate the need for institution‐based interventions to mitigate burnout and preserve the mental health of nurses. Implications for nursing and health policy: Hospitals must screen nurses frequently for the presence of significant burnout and psychological distress and offer supportive interventions to protect their mental health and well‐being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Intermittent fasting, a dietary intervention of alternate eating and fasting, has gained popularity in people trying to lose weight. Intermittent fasting could provide an alternative to classic caloric restriction in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aim of the study is to determine the impact of a 12‐week intermittent fasting regimen compared with usual care in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus receiving insulin therapy. Methods: This open, single‐centre, randomized controlled trial investigates participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus on insulin therapy and a glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of ≥53 mmol/mol (≥7.0%) and a minimum insulin dose of 0.3 IU/kg body weight per day. Participants are randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either 12 weeks of intermittent fasting or the standard care group. All participants receive dietary counselling, continuous glucose monitoring, measurement of the resting metabolic rate, an oral glucose tolerance test, body composition measurement via dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry and stool samples for microbiome analyses at the beginning and at the end of the intervention. Two co‐primary outcomes (analysed in hierarchical order) were chosen for the study: (i) the difference in the change of HbA1c from baseline to 12 weeks and (ii) the difference in the number of participants achieving a combined end point encompassing a body weight reduction of at least 2%, an insulin dose reduction of at least 10% and an absolute HbA1c reduction of at least 3 mmol/mol (0.3%) between the two groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To investigate the seroconversion following first and second COVID‐19 vaccination in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes in relation to glycaemic control prior to vaccination and to analyse the response in comparison to individuals without diabetes. Materials and methods: This prospective, multicentre cohort study analysed people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and a glycated haemoglobin level ≤58 mmol/mol (7.5%) or >58 mmol/mol (7.5%), respectively, and healthy controls. Roche's Elecsys anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 S immunoassay targeting the receptor‐binding domain was used to quantify anti‐spike protein antibodies 7 to 14 days after the first and 14 to 21 days after the second vaccination. Results: A total of 86 healthy controls were enrolled in the study, as well as 161 participants with diabetes, of whom 150 (75 with type 1 diabetes and 75 with type 2 diabetes) were eligible for the analysis. After the first vaccination, only 52.7% of participants in the type 1 diabetes group and 48.0% of those in the type 2 diabetes group showed antibody levels above the cut‐off for positivity. Antibody levels after the second vaccination were similar in participants with type 1 diabetes, participants with type 2 diabetes and healthy controls after adjusting for age, sex and multiple testing (P > 0.05). Age (r = −0.45, P < 0.001) and glomerular filtration rate (r = 0.28, P = 0.001) were significantly associated with antibody response. Conclusions: Anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 S receptor‐binding domain antibody levels after the second vaccination were comparable in healthy controls and in participants with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, irrespective of glycaemic control. Age and renal function correlated significantly with the extent of antibody levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Materials and Methods Results Conclusions This study assessed the achievement rates of metabolic risk factor targets and their association with clinical characteristics and comorbidities among individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) treated in the primary care in Austria.A countrywide cross‐sectional study, the AUSTRO‐PROFIT, was conducted in Austria from 2021 to 2023 on 635 individuals with T2D. Metabolic risk factor targets were defined as the percentage of people achieving low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) <70 mg/dL (or < 55 mg/dL if cardiovascular or microvascular disease was present), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) <7% (53 mmol/mol) and blood pressure < 140/90 mmHg.The mean age of the participants was 65.7 ± 11.2 years; the median duration of T2D was 8 (4–14) years; and 58.7% of the participants were male. The percentages of participants achieving LDL‐C, HbA1c, blood pressure and all targets were 44%, 53%, 57% and 13%, respectively. Older age, longer T2D duration, cardiovascular disease and microvascular complications were associated with suboptimal achievement of metabolic risk factor targets.The AUSTRO‐PROFIT study revealed notable variations in metabolic targets achievement with respect to clinical characteristics and comorbidities. These findings underscore the importance of establishing national diabetes registries and implementing multifactorial targeted and individualized interventions to further improve the quality of T2D care in primary care settings in Austria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To assess predictors of in‐hospital mortality in people with prediabetes and diabetes hospitalized for COVID‐19 infection and to develop a risk score for identifying those at the greatest risk of a fatal outcome. Materials and Methods: A combined prospective and retrospective, multicentre, cohort study was conducted at 10 sites in Austria in 247 people with diabetes or newly diagnosed prediabetes who were hospitalized with COVID‐19. The primary outcome was in‐hospital mortality and the predictor variables upon admission included clinical data, co‐morbidities of diabetes or laboratory data. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify significant predictors and to develop a risk score for in‐hospital mortality. Results: The mean age of people hospitalized (n = 238) for COVID‐19 was 71.1 ± 12.9 years, 63.6% were males, 75.6% had type 2 diabetes, 4.6% had type 1 diabetes and 19.8% had prediabetes. The mean duration of hospital stay was 18 ± 16 days, 23.9% required ventilation therapy and 24.4% died in the hospital. The mortality rate in people with diabetes was numerically higher (26.7%) compared with those with prediabetes (14.9%) but without statistical significance (P =.128). A score including age, arterial occlusive disease, C‐reactive protein, estimated glomerular filtration rate and aspartate aminotransferase levels at admission predicted in‐hospital mortality with a C‐statistic of 0.889 (95% CI: 0.837‐0.941) and calibration of 1.000 (P =.909). Conclusions: The in‐hospital mortality for COVID‐19 was high in people with diabetes but not significantly different to the risk in people with prediabetes. A risk score using five routinely available patient variables showed excellent predictive performance for assessing in‐hospital mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To investigate the effect of hypoglycaemia on platelet and coagulation activation in people with type 2 diabetes. Materials and methods: This monocentric, open, single‐arm, mechanistic trial included 14 people with established type 2 diabetes (four women, 10 men, age 55 ± 7 years, glycated haemoglobin concentration 51 ± 7 mmol/mol) receiving metformin monotherapy. A stepwise hyperinsulinaemic‐hypoglycaemic clamp experiment (3.5 and 2.5 mmol/L, for 30 minutes respectively) was performed, aiming to investigate platelet and coagulation activity during predefined plateaus of hypoglycaemia, as well as 1 day and 7 days later. Results: While platelet activation assessed by light transmittance aggregometry did not significantly increase after the hypoglycaemic clamp procedure, the more sensitive flow cytometry‐based measurement of platelet surface activation markers showed hypoglycaemia‐induced activation 24 hours (PAC1posCD62Ppos, PAC1posCD63Ppos and PAC1posCD62PposCD63pos; P <.01) and 7 days after the hypoglycaemic clamp (P <.001 for PAC1posCD63pos; P <.01 for PAC1posCD62Ppos and PAC1posCD62PposCD63pos) in comparison to baseline. Coagulation markers, such as fibrinogen, D‐dimer, plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1, von Willebrand factor activity and factor VIII, were also significantly increased, an effect that was most pronounced 24 hours after the hypoglycaemic clamp. Conclusion: A single event of insulin‐induced hypoglycaemia led to an increase in markers of platelet activation and coagulation in people with early stages of type 2 diabetes on metformin therapy. However, the activation occurred with a delay and was evident 24 hours and 7 days after the actual hypoglycaemic episode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To determine the epidemiology and characteristics of transverse myelitis (TM) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Methods: Retrospective chart review at four large government‐run hospitals in Abu Dhabi between 2010 and 2016. Data collected included year of onset, presentation, laboratory results including aquaporin‐4 immunoglobulin G (IgG)/myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein IgG antibodies and the occurrence of any relapses. Results: A total of 46 individuals were identified. Of these, 23 (50%) were Emirati citizens. Within the overall group including pediatrics, the crude prevalence rate for monophasic TM was 1.0 per 100 000, and for NMOSD was 0.34 per 100 000. Incidence rates within the overall group for TM and NMOSD were 0.18 per 100 000 and 0.05 per 100 000, respectively. For Emirati citizens aged ≥20 years, the prevalence rate for monophasic TM was 2.46 per 100 000 and 1.76 per 100 000 for NMOSD, and the incidence was 0.57 per 100 000 and 0.17 per 100 000, respectively. The incidence of monophasic TM and NMOSD within the Emirati pediatric population (aged ≤19 years) was 0.18 per 100 000 and 0.06 per 100 000, respectively. The mean age of onset for monophasic TM was 36 years, and for NMOSD was 43 years. Nine patients had a positive aquaporin‐4 IgG or anti‐myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein IgG antibody result. Of the 30 participants with available laboratory cerebrospinal fluid analysis, 36.6% had elevated white blood counts (>5.0 × 106/L), and 43% had elevated protein levels. A total of 19 participants had documentation of oligoclonal bands or IgG index, and just four (21%) had either oligoclonal bands or elevated IgG index. Conclusion: The present study describes the epidemiology and characteristics of TM and NMOSD among populations in Abu Dhabi. The adult prevalence rate for Emirati citizens was 2.46 per 100 000 for monophasic TM, and 1.76 per 100 000 for NMOSD. The overall incidence was 0.18 per 100 000 and 0.05 per 100 000, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To use point‐of‐care testing to screen and facilitate treatment for anaemia and to establish an estimate of the prevalence of anaemia in the local population. Design: An uncontrolled before and after study design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention on the anaemia status of participants. Setting: This study took place in a rural mountain community (population approximately 1000) in the Haripur district in northern Pakistan. Participants: Women of child‐bearing age (15–49 years) and children (12–14 years) were included in this study. Interventions: The intervention included point‐of‐care testing for haemoglobin, treatment with mebendazole and oral iron supplementation, and an education campaign about anaemia delivered by community health workers and medical students. Main outcome measures: The main outcome measure was an increase in blood haemoglobin over the study period. A secondary outcome measure was a positive change in anaemia status or classification post‐intervention. Results: Anaemia was initially detected in 64 (53%) women and 15 (47%) children. The mean haemoglobin concentration increased significantly (P < 0.001) from 118 to 130 g L−1 (women) and 120 to 130 g L−1 (children) post‐intervention. Overall prevalence of anaemia in women (P < 0.001) and children (P < 0.001) decreased significantly (by 30% and 34%, respectively) post‐intervention. Conclusions: Point‐of‐care testing used for the detection of anaemia in this rural community helped to identify the burden of disease and to reduce this significantly by way of rapid diagnosis, education and immediate medical intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives Hospital visits are an opportunity to engage smokers in tobacco treatment. However, little is known about engagement in follow-up referrals. The purpose of this study is to report the rates of program engagement and smoking cessation outcomes of patients referred to a specialist outpatient tobacco treatment program after a hospital visit or other referral. Methods A retrospective chart review was used to examine the outcomes of 486 participants referred to a hospital-based smoking cessation clinic provided by tobacco treatment specialists. Referral sources, demographics and smoking, medical, psychiatric, and substance use history were obtained. The main outcomes of interest were engagement in the program and 7-day point-prevalence of smoking abstinence. Results Sixty-eight percent of participants who were referred to the program were considered 'engaged,' of which 70% were from hospitals, 4% from community programs, 11% were from general practitioners, and 16% were self-referrals. Thirty-percent (98/331) of engagers were abstinent by time of chart review (30% from the hospital, 8% from community programs, 19% from general practitioners, and 39% of self-referrals). Having quit for 1 month or longer at the past quit attempt, greater confidence in quitting smoking, lower expired carbon monoxide levels at baseline, and greater duration in the program were significant predictors of successful smoking cessation. Discussion and Conclusion Providing tobacco treatment follow-up and referral for smokers after a hospital visit is important to enhance smoking cessation efforts. Scientific Significance Referral to evidence-based tobacco treatment after hospital visits is effective. Models of tobacco treatment based on sources of referral should further be explored. (Am J Addict 2015;24:561-570) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]