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Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) may develop following interpersonal and cumulative traumatic events, usually during early development. In addition to the core PTSD symptom profile, CPTSD presents emotional dysregulation symptoms that can be resistant to conventional treatments. Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) may be an effective intervention for addressing the more resistant symptoms in the emotional stabilisation phase of treatment rather than the trauma-processing phase. This paper explores the diagnostic validity and prevalence of CPTSD, treatment recommendations and the role of CFT in mediating shame and stabilising emotional dysregulation. We also evaluate current evidence utilising compassion-based interventions for the components of the CPTSD symptom profile and the viability of CFT as a whole. The novelty of CPTSD as a clinical condition means there is limited evidence regarding recommended treatment. Research into the efficacy of CFT and its suitability to target CPTSD's symptom profile will contribute to the current gap in recommended treatment approaches for this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is a global health issue. It is spoken about everywhere and can affect anyone at any age. In the past century, medical technology and preventative medicines have increased in availability and accessibility, resulting in an increase in global life expectancy. However, as a result of increased life expectancy, the number of elderly adults have also increased. Due to chronic conditions, decreased social support, increased physical dependency and other natural events that come with age, it has caused a great number of elderly individuals to be impacted by depression. Furthermore, changes in traditional family and social structures have made it harder for the elderly to be cared for at home by their children and has resulted in an increase of elderly individuals living in nursing homes. Due to the loss of independence associated with nursing homes, it has further increased the prevalence of depression amongst the elderly. Elderly depression is not normal and can greatly impact quality of life and result in poor health outcomes, thus it is imperative that nurses address this issue. The purpose of this paper is to explore the significance of depression to the elderly population and to community health nursing, as well as to explore potential solutions for elderly depression using a strengths-based approach. Furthermore, this paper discussed implications for nursing practice on elderly depression. Depression is a serious health concern to the elderly population that nurses must address using strength and asset-based perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The First 1000 Days (the period from conception to a child's second birthday) is an important developmental period. However, little is known about experiences of parents with refugee and migrant backgrounds during this period. A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Publications were identified through searches of the Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Scopus databases, critically appraised, and synthesised using thematic analysis. A total of 35 papers met inclusion criteria. Depressive symptomatology was consistently higher than global averages, however maternal depression conceptualisations differed across studies. Several papers reported changes in relationship dynamics as a result of having a baby post-migration. Consistent relationships were found between social and health support and wellbeing. Conceptualisations of wellbeing may differ among migrant families. Limited understanding of health services and relationships with health providers may impede help-seeking. Several research gaps were identified, particularly in relation to the wellbeing of fathers, and of parents of children over 12 months old. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) in the form of impregnated papers delivered to prisoners are of particular concern in prison settings, where they are commonly used by vaping. The purpose of this study was to create a qualitative method for identifying the various emerging NPS impregnated onto paper samples sent to prisoners. It helps to demonstrate that these findings can be used to predict drug prevalence and trends in prisons. Between 2018 and 2020, 1250 non-judicial paper samples seized from 12 English prisons were analysed to determine the NPSs being circulated. Approximately 1 cm2 paper were cut and added to 50 % (v/v) methanol in LCMS-grade water. Vortex-mixing was used to prepare extracts (30 min). Q-TOF LC/MS was used to screen the extracts. This study showed that synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist (SCRA) was the most common drug group detected in impregnated paper seizures in English prisons between 2018 and 2020, followed by cocaine, heroin type drugs (A) and amphetamine, ketamine type drugs (B). Male prisons had a higher prevalence of SCRAs, whereas female prisons had a higher prevalence of A drugs. Furthermore, lower security prisons were found to have a higher prevalence of B drugs, pregabalin, gabapentin type drugs (C), and abused and prescription drugs than higher security prisons which unveiled a higher prevalence of nicotine. The findings of this study have revealed new information about drug use in prisons. This study will also aid in the identification of drug smuggling routes into jails, keeping prison staff up to date with the trends. • SCRA was the most prevalent drug group detected in drug-impregnated papers. • SCRAs had higher prevalence in male prisons, wheareas female prisons presented higher prevalence of Class A drugs. • Lower security level prisons had higher prevalence of Class B, Class C drugs compared to higher security level prisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence developments are essential to the successful deployment of community-wide, MRI-driven prostate cancer diagnosis. AI systems should ensure that the main benefits of biopsy avoidance are delivered while maintaining consistent high specificities, at a range of disease prevalences. Since all current artificial intelligence / computer-aided detection systems for prostate cancer detection are experimental, multiple developmental efforts are still needed to bring the vision to fruition. Initial work needs to focus on developing systems as diagnostic supporting aids so their results can be integrated into the radiologists' workflow including gland and target outlining tasks for fusion biopsies. Developing AI systems as clinical decision-making tools will require greater efforts. The latter encompass larger multicentric, multivendor datasets where the different needs of patients stratified by diagnostic settings, disease prevalence, patient preference, and clinical setting are considered. AI-based, robust, standard operating procedures will increase the confidence of patients and payers, thus enabling the wider adoption of the MRI-directed approach for prostate cancer diagnosis. Key Points: • AI systems need to ensure that the benefits of biopsy avoidance are delivered with consistent high specificities, at a range of disease prevalence. • Initial work has focused on developing systems as diagnostic supporting aids for outlining tasks, so they can be integrated into the radiologists' workflow to support MRI-directed biopsies. • Decision support tools require a larger body of work including multicentric, multivendor studies where the clinical needs, disease prevalence, patient preferences, and clinical setting are additionally defined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: Diverticular disease of the colon is a common clinical condition in developed countries, and is associated with significant (direct and indirect) economic burden. The aim of this Position Paper is to provide clinical guidance for appropriate definition, prevalence, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment of colonic diverticular disease. Methods: A working group of recognized experts established by the Board of the Romanian Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (RSGH) screened the literature and the available guidelines on colonic diverticular disease. Statements were formulated based on literature evidence. These statements were discussed within the working group and decision for each of them was taken by consensus. Results: Thirty two statements were elaborated. The grade of recommendation, according to the level of evidence was established for each statement. Short comments with literature support accompany each statement. Conclusion: This Position Paper represents a practical guide for clinicians dealing with patients affected by colonic diverticular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Aims/Introduction: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is increasing rapidly in Japan, and diabetic neuropathy is a major factor decreasing diabetic patients' quality of life, as well as a risk factor for sudden death. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of diabetic neuropathy and raise awareness about it among patients and their physicians. Materials and Methods: Diabetic outpatients ( N = 5077) at 249 medical institutions within Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, were surveyed by questionnaire and underwent foot examinations. The questionnaire included 10 questions about sensory abnormalities of both feet, muscle cramps and autonomic symptoms. Foot examinations included testing for vibratory perception of the medial malleolus, Achilles tendon reflexes and touch sensation of the bottom of the great toe using tissue paper. Results: Of the 5077 patients surveyed, 70.4% reported symptoms. Overall, 75.4% of the patients underwent vibratory perception testing, of whom 44.9% had abnormal thresholds (≤10 s). On the tissue paper touch test, performed in 94.6% of patients, 11.9% had no touch sensation. Of the 2803 type 2 diabetic patients with known background factors who underwent foot examinations, 49.4% had diabetic neuropathy. There was a high prevalence of diabetic neuropathy (36.1%) in patients with <5-year history. Of the patients with no touch sensation on the tissue paper test, 81.3% had diabetic neuropathy. Conclusions: The present study identified the prevalence of diabetic neuropathy in Kanagawa Prefecture. The tissue paper test is a simple and excellent method of evaluating decreased superficial sensation that can help evaluate the severity of diabetic neuropathy. (J Diabetes Invest, doi: 10.1111/j.2040-1124.2011.00174.x, 2011) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heart failure (HF) is a long‐term clinical syndrome, with increasing prevalence and considerable healthcare costs that are further expected to increase dramatically. Despite significant advances in therapy and prevention, mortality and morbidity remain high and quality of life poor. Epidemiological data, that is, prevalence, incidence, mortality, and morbidity, show geographical variations across the European countries, depending on differences in aetiology, clinical characteristics, and treatment. However, data on the prevalence of the disease are scarce, as are those on quality of life. For these reasons, the ESC‐HFA has developed a position paper to comprehensively assess our understanding of the burden of HF in Europe, in order to guide future policies for this syndrome. This manuscript will discuss the available epidemiological data on HF prevalence, outcomes, and human costs—in terms of quality of life—in European countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high prevalence of allergic diseases warrants for sufficient health care provisions available to patients with allergic diseases. Allergy care should be delivered by well‐trained specialists. However, the current status of allergy care is not well documented. For this reason a survey among European and a few non‐European countries was launched by the National Allergy Society Committee from the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and the Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes section and board of Allergology. The survey shows that in the vast majority of countries allergy care services are available. However, a substantial heterogeneity is reported regarding recognition of the full specialty, the number of practicing specialists or subspecialists, and training aspects. Growth but also decline of specialty and subspecialties is reported. In addition, the survey gives insight in strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in this field. It appears that the recognition of the full specialty determines strength as well as weakness. Aging of specialists combined with a decline in the number of trainees form a major threat. Opportunities are seen in creating awareness for allergy, focus on attracting young physicians. The conclusion is that harmonization of allergy services across Europe is needed. Investment in young doctors, creating new opportunities and lobbying for the full specialty is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a common condition with endemic prevalence in some areas of the world. In Romania, the mean prevalence is about 3%. New treatments have become available on the market in recent years and new drugs are in the pipeline. A re-evaluation of HCV therapy was considered mandatory. The Romanian Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology undertook this task for the practitioners of this country. Methodology: A group of recognized experts was created who screened the available literature and the major available guidelines. A list of items requiring attention was created and these were discussed and rated. Decisions were taken by consensus. Recommendations: We present here the second part of the Society's recommendations for chronic HCV infection treatment. An agreement between experts was reached regarding the therapy of the special categories of patients infected with HCV, complications and monitoring of the therapy, follow-up of the patients who reached sustained virologic response and re-treatment of the patients with therapy failure. Conclusions: This Position Paper represents a guide for the assessment and the therapy of HCV infection. The recommendations are in concordance with other guidelines but are applied to real-life conditions in Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is a common condition with endemic prevalence in some areas of the world. In Romania, the mean prevalence is about 3%. New treatments became available on the market in recent years and new drugs are in the pipeline. A re-evaluation of HCV therapy was considered mandatory. The Romanian Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology undertook this task for the practitioners of this country. Methodology: A group of recognized experts was created who screened the available literature and the major available guidelines. A list of items requiring attention has been created. These items were discussed and rated. Decisions were taken by consensus. Recommendations: We present here the first of the two parts of our Society's recommendations for chronic HCV infection treatment. An agreement was reached regarding the diagnostic tools, the assessment of severity and the up-dated therapy schedules. Conclusions: This Position Paper represents a guide for the assessment and the therapy of HCV infection. The recommendations are in concordance with other guidelines but are applied to the real-life conditions in this country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of osteoporosis is reported differently. We designed this systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate pooled prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in patients with MS.Methods: Independently, two researchers searched PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and google scholar along with gray literature (conference abstracts and references of the references) up to March 2021. We collected data regarding first author, country of origin, number of enrolled patients, number cases with osteoporosis/ osteopenia, mean age, F/M ratio, mean EDSS, and mean duration of the disease.Results: Literature search revealed 847 articles and 658 remained after deleting duplicates. Finally, 29 original articles and 6 conference papers remained for meta-analysis. A total of 13,906 patients were evaluated. The pooled prevalence of osteoporosis was 17% (95% CI: 14-20%) (I2 = 90.4%, p < 0.001). The pooled prevalence of osteopenia was 43% (95% CI: 35-51%) (I2 = 97.9%, p < 0.001).Conclusion: Osteoporosis/osteopenia should be considered in patients with MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The 45 and Up Study (the Study) is the largest study of healthy ageing in Australia and one of the biggest in the world. This review considered papers on physical activity in the first 15 years since the cohort was launched. Methods: This narrative review extracted papers in the Study inventory of publications and supplemented by searches in Scopus and Medline databases. Results: A total of 114 papers were identified, but after dual assessor extraction, 92 published articles were included that used physical activity as an exposure or outcome measure or reported physical activity prevalence in the sample studied. Results indicated that half of these physical activity studies used a cross sectional design. The 45 and Up survey responders were a highly active group, with three quarters meeting WHO recommended levels of physical activity. Optimal use of the longitudinal nature of this cohort linked physical activity exposures to a range of new health, environmental and wellbeing outcomes, and these papers were the most cited among 45 and Up physical activity papers. Nineteen of these 92 papers have been cited 50+ times, indicating good usage of 45 and Up physical activity data by the field. Discussion & Conclusion: Physical activity-related research has been an important part of the overall output of the 45 and Up Study, but recommendations for future research include greater use of the longitudinal nature of the cohort, more standardisation in the way physical activity estimates are described, and using waves of the 45 and Up Study physical activity data to explore patterns of activity over time as the exposure variable in relation to health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is an executive summary made by a group of experts named Latin American Academy for the study of Lipids (ALALIP). In the current clinical guidelines, atherogenic dyslipidemia (AD) is a poorly recognized entity. Due to the frequent lipid alterations associated with AD in Latin America (LA), we organized a group of experts named (ALALIP) to generate a document in order to analyze their prevalence and to offer practical recommendations. Methodology: using the Delphi methodology, we conducted a comprehensive literature review with emphasis on those publications related to LA. Subsequently, we developed key questions for discussion. As a convention, those recommendations that had a 100% of acceptance were considered unanimous, those with >80% were consensual, and those with <80% were in disagreement. Results: a systematic analysis of national health surveys and regional cohort studies showed a consistently high prevalence of the lipid abnormalities that define AD: low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) range from 34.1% to 53.3% and elevated triglycerides (TG) range from 25.5% to 31.2%. These abnormalities could be related to high consumption of food with a high caloric density, cholesterol and trans fats, a sedentary lifestyle and perhaps epigenetic changes Conclusions lipid abnormalities that define AD have a high prevalence in LA. The interaction between an unfavorable lifestyle, inheritance and epigenetic changes is probably their cause. It is important to design a global study of risk factors in LA to know its true prevalence in the region, its consequences and to derive from its treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is often made based on clinical manifestation. Correct diagnosis and identification of the parasite are crucial for choosing the effective treatment and for epidemiological studies. On the other hand, determination of Leishmania species is necessary for designing appropriate control programs. Diagnosis by PCR is becoming a 'gold standard'. For PCR preparation, storage and shipments of specimens are necessary. In this study, Whatman filter paper (FTA Card) was used to store and transfer samples for Leishmania identification using PCR. Methods: Among the patients who had CL lesion and referred to Parasitology Laboratory of Emam Reza Hospital, Mashhad, Iran, 44 consented cases with positive results in their direct smear were selected. An informed consent form and a questionnaire were completed and three different types of samples (direct smear, NNN culture, and spot on FTA card) were collected. DNA extraction and PCR were carried out on three different samples from each patient. Results: PCR results using Whatman paper samples revealed a significant difference (P<0.0001) compared to the culture method but no significant difference was seen between PCR results using samples stored on Whatman paper and direct smears. Conclusion: The use of FTA cards is simple, rapid, and cost-effective, and can be readily employed for large-scale population screening, especially for regions where the specimens are to be transported from distant places to the laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying tobacco use status is essential to address use and provide resources to help patients quit. Being able to collect this information in an electronic format will become increasingly important, as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has included the assessment of tobacco use as part of its Stage 1 Meaningful Use criteria. The objective was to compare the accuracy of online vs. paper assessment methods to ascertain cigarette smoking status using a face-to-face structured interview as the gold standard. This was a retrospective analysis of a stratified opportunity sample of consecutive patients, reporting in 2010 for a periodic health evaluation, who completed either a scannable paper-based form or an online questionnaire and underwent a standardized rooming interview. Compared with face-to-face structured interview, the overall observed agreement and kappa coefficient for both methods combined (paper and online) were 97.7% and 0.69 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.51-0.86) . For the online form they were 97.4% and 0.61 (95% CI 0.33-0.90), and for the paper form they were 97.9% and 0.75 (95% CI 0.54-0.96). There was no statistically significant difference in agreement between the online and paper-based methods ( P=0.76) compared with a face-to-face structured interview. Online assessment of tobacco use status is as accurate as a paper questionnaire, and both methods have greater than 97% observed agreement with a face-to-face structured interview. The use of online assessment of tobacco use status has several advantages and more widespread use should be explored. ( Population Health Management 2014;17:185-189) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inequalities in immigrants' oral health are often masked in population-level data. Therefore, this paper was planned to assess the prevalence data on oral health diseases, namely dental caries, and periodontitis, among immigrants worldwide. Methods: Following a systematic search in Scopus, Embase, and PubMed for studies published between 2011 and 2023, 1342 records were identified. Following title and abstract screening, 76 studies remained for full-text eligibility-screening based on predefined inclusion criteria. Thirty-two studies were included in the review. Results: Dental caries figures were higher in immigrant populations compared to the local population, regardless of host countries, age, gender, or nationality. In children, the overall mean and standard deviation (SD) for decayed, missing, and filled teeth in the primary dentition (d3mft) was 3.63(2.47), and for D3MFT (permanent dentition), it was 1.7(1.2). Upon comparing overall mean caries counts in children and adults with their control groups in the included studies, untreated dental caries (D3T and d3t) constituted the dominant share of caries experience (D3MFT and d3mft) in immigrant children. For the local population, the highest proportion of caries experience was attributed to filled teeth (FT and ft). Dentin caries prevalence among immigrants ranged from 22% to 88.7% in the primary dentition and 5.6% to 90.9% in the permanent dentition. Gingivitis ranged from 5.1% to 100%. Oral health varied greatly between studies. Regarding oral health accessibility, 52% to 88% of immigrant children had never been to a dentist, suggesting a very limited level of accessibility to dental health services. Conclusion: It is imperative to develop interventions and policies that have been customized to address the oral health disparities experienced by immigrant populations. Additionally, host countries should actively implement measures aimed at enhancing the accessibility of oral health care services for these individuals. The utilization of available data is crucial in establishing a hierarchy of objectives aimed at enhancing the oral health of immigrant populations. Trial registration: The Scoping review protocol was registered at OSF Registries with registration number (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/MYXS4). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a lethal, life-long condition characterized by a mutation in the gene that codes for hemoglobin. To alleviate the pain experienced by sickle cell (SC) patients, adequate nutrition levels are vital as deficiencies of vitamins or minerals may cause other symptoms. This review aims to provide an overview of the nutrient status of SC patients and propose research areas where further study is required. The review summarizes twelve primary research papers that assessed the levels of vitamins A, C, D, E, B-2, B-6, B-12, folate, magnesium, iron, zinc, and copper in SC patients. Most SC patients exhibited suboptimal levels of vitamin A, while deficiencies in vitamin D and B-2 were prevalent. Their zinc and vitamins B-6, B-12, C, and E levels were generally adequate, while elevated folate and copper levels were observed. The magnesium levels in SC patients were lower than those in the healthy population. Determining the status of iron concentration in SC patients was challenging due to the limitations associated with the measurement methods employed in the reviewed papers. There were notable differences in some of the measurement methods used for the same nutrient levels. More research is needed to find the optimal amount of vitamin A supplement for SC patients. The effect of zinc supplementation on copper levels and the cause of low zinc levels in SC patients remains unexplored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Alcohol and marijuana are commonly used by young adults, and use of both substances, particularly at the same time, is prevalent among this population. Understanding the prevalence, patterns, correlates, and consequences of simultaneous alcohol and marijuana (SAM) use is important to inform interventions. However, this literature is complicated by myriad terms used to describe SAM use, including use with overlapping effects and same-day co-use. OBJECTIVES: This scoping review identifies and describes the peer-reviewed literature focused on SAM use by young adults and distinguishes simultaneous use from same-day co-use of alcohol and marijuana. This review also provides a narrative summary of the prevalence of SAM use, patterns of SAM and other substance use, psychosocial correlates, and consequences of SAM use. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: This review is limited to papers written in English and published in peer-reviewed journals between January 2000 and August 2021. It includes papers assessing simultaneous use or same-day co-use of alcohol and marijuana among young adults ages 18 to 30. Review papers, qualitative interviews, experimental lab studies, policy work, toxicology or medical reports, and papers focused on neurological outcomes are excluded. SOURCES OF EVIDENCE: PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases were searched. Databases were selected and the search strategy developed in consultation with an information specialist. CHARTING METHODS: A data charting form was utilized to specify which information would be extracted from included papers. Eight categories of data were extracted: (1) research questions and hypotheses; (2) sample characteristics; (3) study procedures; (4) definition of SAM use; (5) prevalence of SAM use; (6) patterns of SAM and other substance use; (7) psychosocial correlates of SAM use; and (8) consequences of SAM use. RESULTS: A total of 1,282 papers were identified through initial search terms. Through double-blind title/ abstract screening and full-text review, the review was narrowed to 74 papers that met review inclusion criteria. Review of these papers demonstrated that SAM use was prevalent among young adults, particularly among those who reported heavier quantities and more frequent use of alcohol and marijuana. Enhancement-related motives for use were consistently positively associated with SAM use. SAM use was associated with greater perceived positive and negative consequences of alcohol and/or marijuana use. Inconsistencies in prevalence, patterns, correlates, and consequences were found between studies, which may be due to large variations in measurement of SAM use, populations studied, methodological design (e.g., cross-sectional vs. intensive longitudinal), and the covariates included in models. CONCLUSIONS: The literature on simultaneous use and same-day co-use of alcohol and marijuana has expanded rapidly. Of the 74 included papers (61 on SAM use; 13 on same-day co-use), 60 papers (47 on SAM use; 13 on same-day co-use) were published within the last 5 years. Future research focusing on the ways in which SAM use confers acute risk, above and beyond the risks associated with separate consumption of alcohol and marijuana, is needed for understanding potential targets for intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Mentholated cigarettes are at least as dangerous to an individual's health as non-mentholated varieties. The addition of menthol to cigarettes reduces perceived harshness of smoke, which can facilitate initiation. Here, we examine correlates of menthol use, national trends in smoking menthol and non-menthol cigarettes, and brand preferences over time. Methods We estimated menthol cigarette use during 2004-2010 using annual data on persons ≥12 years old from the National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. We adjusted self-reported menthol status for selected brands that were either exclusively menthol or nonmenthol, based on sales data. Data were weighted to provide national estimates. Results Among cigarette smokers, menthol cigarette use was more common among 12-17 year olds (56.7%) and 18-25 year olds (45.0%) than among older persons (range 30.5% to 34.7%). In a multivariable analysis, menthol use was associated with being younger, female and of non-Caucasian race/ethnicity. Among all adolescents, the percentage who smoked non-menthol cigarettes decreased from 2004-2010, while menthol smoking rates remained constant; among all young adults, the percentage who smoked non-menthol cigarettes also declined, while menthol smoking rates increased. The use of Camel menthol and Marlboro menthol increased among adolescent and young adult smokers, particularly non-Hispanic Caucasians, during the study period. Conclusions Young people are heavy consumers of mentholated cigarettes. Progress in reducing youth smoking has likely been attenuated by the sale and marketing of mentholated cigarettes, including emerging varieties of established youth brands. This study should inform the Food and Drug Administration regarding the potential public health impact of a menthol ban. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Scanty and controversial information is available on the impact of macroeconomic fluctuations on smoking behaviour. No study has quantified the effects of fiscal crises on smoking prevalence. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the 2007-2008 economic crisis on smoking prevalence and number of smokers in the USA. Methods Using data from the repeated Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys in pre-crisis (2005-2007) and post-crisis (2009-2010) periods on a total of 1 981 607 US adults, we separated the expected (after allowance for the demographic growth of the US population, secular smoking prevalence trends and changes in sociodemographic characteristics) from the unexpected (assumed attributable to the economic crisis) changes in the number of smokers across different employment statuses. Results Joinpoint regression analysis revealed no significant changes in smoking prevalence trends over the period 2005-2010. The crisis resulted in an increase in the number of smokers in the US by 0.6 million. This is largely due to an unexpected decrease of 1.7 million smokers among employed and an increase of 2.4 million smokers among unemployed individuals, whose smoking prevalence also remains extremely high in the post-crisis period (32.6%). Conclusions The 2008 financial crisis had a weak effect on smoking prevalence. The pro-cyclical relationship (ie, the crisis results in a lower number of smokers) found among the employed is offset by the counter-cyclical relationship (ie, the crisis results in a higher number of smokers) found among unemployed individuals. Public health interventions should specifically target those in unemployment, particularly in hard times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhanced primary care management of common mental and substance use disorders is a key healthcare target. Though primary care may be well placed to achieve this target, a greater understanding of the prevalence and profile of common mental and substance use disorders in primary care settings is needed. We searched the MEDLINE database (2002–2012) to provide an update on biomedical literature describing the prevalence of common mental and substance use disorders in European general practice. Following “PRISMA” guidelines, 17 studies were kept for qualitative synthesis. Prevalence, profile, screening instruments, associated co-morbidities, and gender distribution were tabulated. Depending on the screening method, the prevalence of common mental and substance use disorders ranged from 10.4% (Luxemburg) to 53.6% (Spain). Mood disorders were the most common. High co-morbidity with anxiety and somatisation hindered early identification and management. The continuing burden of common mental and substance use disorders, coupled with poor identification described in the updated EU biomedical literature, suggests that the unmet need for health care – identified by the World Health Organization a decade ago – remains unmet. Understanding the prevalence of common mental and substance use disorders, associated morbidity, and the extent to which general practice represents an important catchment mechanism can enhance their management at this level. General practitioners should be trained in accurate screening. Short screening instruments for general practitioners should be unified and promoted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Over the last few years, there has been a shift toward a more patient-centered perspective of the disease by adopting patient-reported outcomes. Touch-screen formats are increasingly being used for data collection in routine care and research.Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine the equivalence, reliability, validity and respondent preference for a computerized touch-screen version of the Psoriatic Arthritis Impact of Disease 12-item (PsAID-12) questionnaire in comparison with the original paper-and-pencil version, in a cohort of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).Methods: One hundred and fifty-nine patients with PsA completed both the touch screen- and the conventional paper-and-pencil administered PsAID-12 questionnaire. Agreement between formats was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficients. Spearman's rho correlation coefficient was used to test convergent validity of the touch screen format of PsAID-12, while receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to test discriminant validity. In order to assess the patient's preference, the participants filled in an additional questionnaire. The time taken to complete both formats was measured.Results: A high concordance between the responses to the two modes of the PsAID-12 tested was found, with no significant mean differences. Intraclass correlation coefficients between data obtained for touch-screen and paper versions ranged from 0.801 to 0.962. There was a very high degree of correlation between the touch-screen format of PsAID-12 and composite disease activity indices (all at a P level <0.0001), Health Assessment Questionnaire, and Physician Assessment of disease activity. The discriminatory power of the touch-screen format of PsAID-12, assessed using the minimal disease activity - Outcome Measurements in Rheumatology Clinical Trials criteria, was very good, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.937 and a resulting cutoff value of 2.5. The touch-screen questionnaire was readily accepted and preferred. The mean time spent for completing the questionnaire on touch screen was 2 minutes and on paper was 2.7 minutes.Conclusion: The touch-screen mode of administration of PsAID-12 can be a feasible and suitable alternative to the paper-and-pencil mode for the assessment of patients with PsA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent demographic changes in Western countries have resulted in higher rates of partnership dissolution and serial partnering, and an increase in childbearing across multiple partnerships. This has given rise to more complex family dynamics including multi-partner fertility (MPF), defined as having biological children with two or more partners. Yet estimates of MPF in the UK have not previously been available. This paper describes an 'indirect approach' to estimate the prevalence of MPF in the UK, for men and women, given different assumptions. The paper additionally explores differences in MPF according to own and parental educational attainment. Amongst those born in Britain in 1970, 12–14% of men and 15–18% of women experienced MPF by age 42, depending on the assumptions made. For most of the cohort, MPF occurred with two different coresidential partners. We have established that MPF is a common family formation in the UK, but there are large educational disparities in MPF prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To assess how web-based recruitment is comparable to postal surveys. Study Design and Setting: In 2002, we invited female users of major Norwegian websites to join a women''s health study on the Internet. The results of this study on the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) were compared with similar data collected by post in a previous epidemiological study, EPINCONT (Epidemiology of Urinary Incontinence in Nord-Trøndelag). Results: Altogether 1,812 web respondents compared with 27,936 postal respondents from the EPINCONT study. The Internet sample was younger than the EPINCONT sample (37 vs. 48 years, P <0.05). The proportion of women 60 years or older was 3.3% in our study and 29.0% in the EPINCONT study. Unadjusted prevalence of UI was lower in our study (20%) than in the EPINCONT study (25%), but stratified prevalence rates were higher in all individual age groups. In the Internet sample, we found less slight UI in all age groups, and more moderate (30–39 and 50–59-year age groups) and severe UI (30–39, 40–49, and 50–59-year age groups). Conclusion: We attracted a younger population with more severe UI than the EPINCONT study. Web-based approaches are less appropriate for studies on conditions concerning the older population than postal methods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses the prevalence of pica, a condition in which an individual is compelled to consume non-food items like dirt, paper, and other substances, in adults. Topics discussed include a graphic that shows a case from 1929 in which a patient had 1,446 non-food items in his stomach, severe health consequences of eating non-food items such as toxic poisoning and nutritional deprivation, and an increase in number of hospitalizations from 1999 to 2009 by 93 percent due to pica.

Purpose: The UK Mental Health Act (MHA) Reform (2021) on race and ethnicity promotes new governmental strategies to tackle inequalities faced by ethnically racialised communities detained under the MHA. However, there is a scarcity in personality disorder and ethnicity research. This study aims to investigate what is available in the UK in relation to prevalence, aetiology and treatment provisions of personality disorder for ethnically diverse patients, and to understand their interconnectedness with mental health and criminal justice service provisions. Three key areas of investigations were reviewed, (1) UK prevalence of personality disorder amongst ethnically diverse individuals; (2) aetiology of personality disorder and ethnicity; (3) treatment provisions for ethnically diverse individuals diagnosed with personality disorder. Design/methodology/approach: A scoping study review involved a comprehensive scanning of literature published between 2003 and 2022. Screening and data extraction tools were co-produced by an ethnically diverse research team, including people with lived experience of mental health and occupational expertise. Collaborative work was complete throughout the review, ensuring the research remained valid and reliable. Findings: Ten papers were included. Results demonstrated an evident gap in the literature. Of these, nine papers discussed their prevalence, three papers informed on treatment provisions and only one made reference to aetiology. This review further supports the notion that personality disorder is under-represented within ethnic minority populations, particularly of African, Caribbean and British heritage, however, the reasons for this are multi-facetted and complex, hence, requiring further investigation. The evidence collected relating to treatment provisions of personality disorder was limited and of low quality to reach a clear conclusion on effective treatments for ethnically diverse patients. Originality/value: The shortage of findings on prevalence, aetiology and treatment provisions, emphasises the need to prioritise further research in this area. Results provide valuable insights into this limited body of knowledge from a UK perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Roadside observational studies play a fundamental role in designing evidence-informed strategies to address the pressing global health problem of road traffic injuries. Paper-based data collection has been the standard method for such studies, although digital methods are gaining popularity in all types of primary data collection.Objective: This study aims to understand the reliability, productivity, and efficiency of paper vs digital data collection based on three different road user behaviors: helmet use, seatbelt use, and speeding. It also aims to understand the cost and time efficiency of each method and to evaluate potential trade-offs among reliability, productivity, and efficiency.Methods: A total of 150 observational sessions were conducted simultaneously for each risk factor in Mumbai, India, across two rounds of data collection. We matched the simultaneous digital and paper observation periods by date, time, and location, and compared the reliability by subgroups and the productivity using Pearson correlations (r). We also conducted logistic regressions separately by method to understand how similar results of inferential analyses would be. The time to complete an observation and the time to obtain a complete dataset were also compared, as were the total costs in US dollars for fieldwork, data entry, management, and cleaning.Results: Productivity was higher in paper than digital methods in each round for each risk factor. However, the sample sizes across both methods provided a precision of 0.7 percentage points or smaller. The gap between digital and paper data collection productivity narrowed across rounds, with correlations improving from r=0.27-0.49 to 0.89-0.96. Reliability in risk factor proportions was between 0.61 and 0.99, improving between the two rounds for each risk factor. The results of the logistic regressions were also largely comparable between the two methods. Differences in regression results were largely attributable to small sample sizes in some variable levels or random error in variables where the prevalence of the outcome was similar among variable levels. Although data collectors were able to complete an observation using paper more quickly, the digital dataset was available approximately 9 days sooner. Although fixed costs were higher for digital data collection, variable costs were much lower, resulting in a 7.73% (US $3011/38,947) lower overall cost.Conclusions: Our study did not face trade-offs among time efficiency, cost efficiency, statistical reliability, and descriptive comparability when deciding between digital and paper, as digital data collection proved equivalent or superior on these domains in the context of our project. As trade-offs among cost, timeliness, and comparability-and the relative importance of each-could be unique to every data collection project, researchers should carefully consider the questionnaire complexity, target sample size, implementation plan, cost and logistical constraints, and geographical contexts when making the decision between digital and paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Objective. Anconeus epitrochlearis (AE) is an anomalous accessory muscle discovered in 1865. It arises from the vmedial epicondyle of the humerus to the olecranon of the ulna. Its appearance is the result of evolution and has benefits as well as deficits that can be harmful. It is believed that if anconeus trochlearis is present, it replaces the Osborne's ligament. The muscle is most commonly detected incidentally during the diagnosis of cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS). The aim of the study is to review papers on the prevalence of AE, symptoms resulting from its presence, and conclusions drawn from available sources on PubMed. Review Methods. The review is based on 14 papers found in PubMed and PubMedCentral databases after searching for 'anconeus epitrochlearis', 'anconeus epitrochlearis' and 'cubital tunnel syndrome' published between 1874-2023. Brief description of the state of knowledge. Prevalence varies across different types of studies aimed at identifying anconeus epitrochlearis: 8.1%-23% for MRI studies, 4.5%-8.5% for operative reports, and 5.4%-26.5% for cadaveric studies. The mere presence of AE usually does not cause any symptoms. If the presence of anconeus epitrochlearis is symptomatic, patients complain of numbness in the fourth and fifth fingers of the hand and weakness of thenar muscle, which are symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS). Summary. It is likely that AE alone does not cause cubital tunnel syndrome which occurs only when anconeus epitrochlearis undergoes hypertrophy, dispelling doubts about whether the mere presence of the muscle is synonymous with the development of cubital tunnel syndrome. A higher percentage of CuTS was reported in the dominant hand of individuals who had the AE in that limb. Cubital tunnel syndrome caused by the AE is a favourable factor for treatment and postoperative regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) screening is an important procedure to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B (HBV) in a community However, it is difficult, time consuming and expensive. In this study we aim to investigate the efficacy and usefulness of fingerprint blood impregnated paper in HBsAg screening. To our knowledge, blood impregnated paper is a practical, useful method for HBsAg screening in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has surged in recent years, making it the foremost cause of mortality among humans. The Electrocardiogram (ECG), being one of the pivotal diagnostic tools for cardiovascular diseases, is increasingly gaining prominence in the field of machine learning. However, prevailing neural network models frequently disregard the spatial dimension features inherent in ECG signals. In this paper, we propose an ECG autoencoder network architecture incorporating low-rank attention (LRA-autoencoder). It is designed to capture potential spatial features of ECG signals by interpreting the signals from a spatial perspective and extracting correlations between different signal points. Additionally, the low-rank attention block (LRA-block) obtains spatial features of electrocardiogram signals through singular value decomposition, and then assigns these spatial features as weights to the electrocardiogram signals, thereby enhancing the differentiation of features among different categories. Finally, we utilize the ResNet-18 network classifier to assess the performance of the LRA-autoencoder on both the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia and PhysioNet Challenge 2017 datasets. The experimental results reveal that the proposed method demonstrates superior classification performance. The mean accuracy on the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia dataset is as high as 0.997, and the mean accuracy and F 1 -score on the PhysioNet Challenge 2017 dataset are 0.850 and 0.843. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The primary risk regarding Helicobacter pylori infection is that it is associated with gastric cancer. The lack of eradication of Helicobacter pylori has led to an increase in the prevalence of gastric cancer. We examined the literature from the year 2024 related to the Helicobacter pylori/gastric cancer association. Immunological studies increased, but they did not convince in the study of this infection. Most of the examined studies address the clinical treatment of this bacterium. However, to the same extent, other studies have investigated genetically individualized treatment. If, until now, clinical treatments have not yet been able to eradicate this bacterium, we recommend genetically individualized treatment. Numerous studies have been performed on Helicobacter pylori infection because of the high death rate linked to this illness and gastric cancer. An update on the key developments in recent years in the investigation of Helicobacter pylori and gastric cancer is the goal of this review. Using the search term "Helicobacter pylori, gastric cancer", the PubMed database was searched. Only papers published in 2024 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Because case report papers were not part of our investigation, they satisfied the exclusion criteria. Most of the research on the variable genes of Helicobacter pylori is guided by genetics to determine potential treatments. Studies on clinical treatments for the eradication of H. pylori with promising therapeutic options are needed. We found the fewest studies related to the immunopathology of H. pylori infection, which is still unknown. In conclusion, priority should be given to this kind of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Multiplex panel tests identify many individual pathogens at once, using a set of component tests. In some panels the number of components can be large. If the panel is detecting causative pathogens for a single syndrome or disease then we might estimate the burden of that disease by combining the results of the panel, for example determining the prevalence of pneumococcal pneumonia as caused by many individual pneumococcal serotypes. When we are dealing with multiplex test panels with many components, test error in the individual components of a panel, even when present at very low levels, can cause significant overall error. Uncertainty in the sensitivity and specificity of the individual tests, and statistical fluctuations in the numbers of false positives and false negatives, will cause large uncertainty in the combined estimates of disease prevalence. In many cases this can be a source of significant bias. In this paper we develop a mathematical framework to characterise this issue, we determine expressions for the sensitivity and specificity of panel tests. In this we identify a counter-intuitive relationship between panel test sensitivity and disease prevalence that means panel tests become more sensitive as prevalence increases. We present novel statistical methods that adjust for bias and quantify uncertainty in prevalence estimates from panel tests, and use simulations to test these methods. As multiplex testing becomes more commonly used for screening in routine clinical practice, accumulation of test error due to the combination of large numbers of test results needs to be identified and corrected for. Author summary: During analysis of pneumococcal incidence data obtained from serotype specific multiplex urine antigen testing, we identified that despite excellent test sensitivity and specificity, the small error rate in each individual serotype test has the potential to compound and cause large uncertainty in the resulting estimates of pneumococcal prevalence, obtained by combining individual results. This limits the accuracy of estimates of the burden of disease caused by vaccine preventable pneumococcal serotypes, and in certain situations can produce marked bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) was defined as a rare disease in China due to its low prevalence. For a long time, interferon β was the only approved disease-modifying therapy (DMT). Since the first oral DMT was approved in 2018, DMT approval accelerated, and seven DMTs were approved within 5 years. With an increasing number of DMTs being prescribed in clinical practice, it is necessary to discuss the standardized MS treatment algorithms depending on the disease activity and DMT availability. In this review paper, more than 20 Chinese experts in MS have reviewed the therapeutic progress of MS in China and worldwide and discussed algorithms for treating relapsing MS (RMS) based on the available DMTs in China, providing insights for establishing the standardized RMS treatment algorithms in this country. Plain language summary: Treatment algorithms of relapsing multiple sclerosis in China In this review paper, more than 20 Chinese experts in MS have reviewed the therapeutic progress of MS in China and worldwide and discussed algorithms for treating relapsing MS (RMS) based on the available DMTs in China, providing insights for establishing the standardized RMS treatment algorithms in this country: 1) CIS and RRMS account for more than 90% of the MS patients and most of them are mild to moderate; 2) MS patients should initiate DMT treatments as soon as the disease has been diagnosed in order to reduce the risk of disease progression; 3) Patients who have been diagnosed with MS should start treatment with fundamental DMTs unless the disease course has been highly active; 4) MAGNIMS score may be a suitable and simplified assessment tool for measuring treatment response to DMTs; 5) Patients treated with corticosteroids and NSIS should be switched to the standardized DMT treatment during remission in accordance with disease activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snakebite is a serious injury and a common reason for the increasing death rate. Thus, it should be treated and assessed as highly prior, even in cases that seem well. The paper presents a retrospective investigation of snakebites in Iraq from 2019 to 2021 conveyed by the General Administration of Statistics and Information, Ministry of Health, Republic of Iraq. After obtaining the institutional committee's approval, the authors performed the extraction, analysis, and reporting of the data. A total number of 802 patients were informed throughout three years, with the highest percentage in males (63%). The maximum rate of snake envenomation (P < 0.05) was documented in (41.64%). The highest percentage of anti-venom injections administered in 2021 was 57% (n = 1118). Snakebite cases were mainly reported during June and July in al Yarmouk Hospital, with a total of 17.36% (n = 50) and 17.46% (n = 52), respectively. In Murjan Hospital, the months were September and August with a total of 50% (n = 8) and 40.35% (n = 7), respectively. In Baqubah Hospital, the months were May and August, with a total of 17.3% (n = 52) and 16.8% (n = 50), respectively. Finally, in the Al Hussein Hospital, the months were July and September, with a total of 23.5% (n = 43) and 22.2% (n = 39), respectively. Only 10 cases out of 802 died. The incidence of snakebites showed an increasing trend during the study period, and the incidence mostly occurred in July, August, and September. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Web-based surveys (WBS) are increasingly applied in epidemiological studies as an appealing alternative to traditional survey methods. Rapid data collection, reduced expenditure and ease of access to large populations are some of the clear advantages of online surveys. However, WBS are still subject to limitations in terms of sample size, response rate and other additional biases compared to traditional survey methods. In the present study, we seek to validate data on food allergy (FA) in two independent sample populations collected from a WBS, and compare it to a paper-based survey (PBS). Methods: Data collected from two survey modes were compared by hypothesis testing for independent sample population. The WBS included 1185 respondents, while the PBS included 9039 respondents. Results: Overall, the data from the WBS were comparable to the PBS conducted over the same period of time in Vietnamese adults. There were no effects of different survey modes on the lifetime prevalence of doctor-diagnosed FA (5.7%; P = 0.7795, β = 0.05) and IgE-mediated FA (5.8%; P = 0.9590, β = 0.05). Both surveys showed the dominance of seafood allergy in this population (up to 2.6%), followed by beef allergy. Close correlation was seen in the patterns of FAs and different clinical symptoms. The contribution of family history of allergic diseases and place of residence to FA were confirmed in both surveys. Conclusions: The consistency of the WBS results with the PBS indicates a promising application of online surveys as an economic and validated model for future epidemiological studies, specifically in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Chronic respiratory diseases (CRD), are common public health problems with high prevalence, disability and mortality rates worldwide. Further uneven distribution of the health workforce is a major barrier to the effective diagnosis and treatment of CRDs. Teleconsultation between a specialist and non-specialist could possibly bridge the gap in access to health care and decrease CRD burden in remote areas. This review investigates the evidence for the effective use of specialist to non-specialist teleconsultation in the management of CRDs in remote areas and identifies instances of good practice and knowledge gaps. Methods We searched for articles till November 2020, which focused on specialist to non-specialist teleconsultations for CRD diagnosis or management. Two independent reviewers conducted the title and abstract screening and extracted data from the selected papers and the quality was assessed by Joanna Briggs Institute's (JBI) tool. A descriptive and narrative approach was used due to the heterogeneous nature of the selected studies. Results We found 1715, articles that met the initial search criteria, but after excluding duplicates and non-eligible articles, we included 10 research articles of moderate quality. These articles were from nine different studies, all of which, except one, were conducted in high-income countries. The studies reported results in terms of impact on the patients, and the health care providers including primary care physicians (PCP) and specialists. The teleconsulting systems used in all the selected papers primarily used audio modes in addition to other modes like the audio-video medium. The included studies reported primarily non-clinical outcomes including effectiveness, feasibility, acceptability and usability of the teleconsultation systems and only three described the clinical outcomes. The teleconsultation was predominantly conducted in the PCP's office with the specialist located remotely. Conclusions We found relatively few, papers which explored specialist to non-specialist teleconsultation in management of CRDs, and no controlled trials. Two of the included papers described systems, which were used for other diseases in addition to the CRD. The available literature although not generalisable, encourages the use of specialist to non-specialist teleconsultation for diagnosis and management of CRDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Healthcare is a challenging, yet so demanding sector that developing countries are paying more attention to recently. Statistics show that rural areas are expected to develop a high rate of heart diseases, which is a leading cause of sudden mortality, in the future. Thus, providing solutions that can assist rural people in detecting the cardiac risks early will be vital for uncovering and even preventing the long-termcomplications of cardiac diseases. Methodology. Mobile technology can be effectively utilized to limit the cardiac diseases' prevalence in rural Middle East. This paper proposes a smart mobile solution for early risk detection of hard coronary heart diseases that uses the Framingham scoring model. Results. Smart HeartCare+ mobile app estimates accurately coronary heart diseases' risk over 10 years based on clinical and nonclinical data and classifies the patient risk to low, moderate, or high. HeartCare+ also directs the patients to further treatment recommendations. Conclusion. This work attempts to investigate the effectiveness of the mobile technology in the early risk detection of coronary heart diseases. HeartCare+ app intensifies the communication channel between the lab workers and patients residing in rural areas and cardiologists and specialist residing in urban places. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Malnutrition in hospitalized patients is not evaluated frequently. However, it is a critical issue given that it has been related to a high rate of infectious complications and increased mortality rates. There is a high prevalence of patients with nutritional impairment in the home environment, which favors their clinical worsening, the increase of re-hospitalizations and, consequently, the increase in public health expenditures.Objective: Nutrition experts have thoroughly discussed and written this positioning paper on hospital and homecare malnutrition to describe the prevalence of malnutrition in Brazil. Best practice recommendations for nutrition therapy of patients in hospital and homecare, in particular the use of oral nutritional supplements (ONS), to those who are at risk of malnutrition or malnourished were evaluated, and the impact on clinical and economic data were assessed. In addition, they emphasize that investments in oral nutritional supplementation are also important in the homecare environment (home or nursing homes).Materials and Methods: Selected scientific articles on disease-related malnutrition, especially those carried out in Brazil, were assessed. Data on prevalence, clinical outcomes, and economic burdens were reviewed.Results and Conclusion: Several studies have shown the importance of in-hospital nutritional assessment for early detection of malnutrition and early intervention with nutrition therapy, in particular with oral nutritional therapy. Unfortunately, hospital malnutrition remains high in Brazil, with severe consequences for patients. The implementation of universal nutritional screening and diagnosis as well as the therapeutic approach of malnutrition, particularly with the use, when possible, of oral nutrition supplements as the first step to address this condition is still low, and demands the investment in educational resources to change practices. Routine use of nutritional therapy in hospital and homecare settings improves clinical outcomes, is cost effective, and would be expected to help reduce healthcare costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study design:Systematic literature reviewObjective:To review and assess the quality of available epidemiologic data of spinal cord injury (SCI) in Poland in the context of general International Classification of Functioning (ICF) domains and to answer the question whether there is a need for a comprehensive epidemiologic study of SCI in Poland.Methods:Databases Medline, Embase and Polish Medical Bibliography were searched using keywords 'spinal cord injury', 'paraplegia', 'tetraplegia' and 'Poland'. Inclusion criteria: studies on humans, original papers, publication in 1979 or later. Case reports and studies with unclear inclusion criteria or performed on a population other than Polish were excluded. Full texts were reviewed for data on incidence, prevalence, etiology, mortality, natural history and outcome of comprehensive treatment. Quality of studies was assessed according to the modified Downs and Black criteria. The ICF model was applied to group the studies according to the ICF components.Results:Out of 536 identified papers, 224 articles were extracted and reviewed. Mean quality score was 11.04 points based on a 28-grade scale. Body functions and structures were assessed in 81.6%, activities in 22.4%, participation in 14.8%, environmental factors in 15.2% and personal factors in 47% of the studies reviewed.Conclusion:Current epidemiologic data on SCI in Poland are insufficient and biased toward biomedical aspects. There is a need to develop a long-term research strategy for SCI in Poland in the form of a comprehensive cohort study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Literature suggests that college (ie, post-secondary) students experience food insecurity (FI) at alarming rates. However, the commonly used FI questionnaires have undergone limited evaluations for accuracy in this sub-population. The objective of this exploratory study was to evaluate if FI estimates among college students differ by survey distribution modality. Methods: A test-retest study was conducted from October to December 2017. A random sample of undergraduate students (N = 343) participated in an online survey. After completing the survey, a random sample of these students (N = 66; 29%) completed the same items in paper-and-pencil format. Responses were compared with percent agreement and kappa (κ) coefficients. Results: Students were less likely to affirm each item on paper-and-pencil questionnaires. Percent agreement ranged from 71.2% to 96.9% across items, and κ coefficients ranged from poor to fair. FI prevalence differed by 15% between online and paper-and-pencil assessments (40.9% and 25.8%, respectively). Percent agreement for FI categorization was 75.8% and κ=0.47. Conclusions: Differing survey modalities resulted in varying FI classifications in a sample of undergraduate students. Though limited by size and representativeness, this supports the need for further testing of FI surveys, as accurate FI estimates are essential to serving college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dementia Care Navigators (DCNs) are professionals without clinical training, who provide individualised emotional and practical support to people living with dementia, working alongside clinical services. Navigator services have been implemented but the service offered vary without a consistent overview provided. The aim of this narrative systematic review was to describe and compare existing service formats, and to synthesise evidence regarding their implementation and impacts. Methods: The review was registered on PROSPERO [CRD42021292518]. Three electronic databases were searched and included studies reported on a DCN service, defined as a service in which non‐clinically trained workers provide personalised advice and support to people with dementia and/or carers in the community. Two independent reviewers screened abstracts and titles and read through full papers for inclusion. Risk of bias was assessed using the Standard Quality Assessment QualSyst. Results: We included 14 papers reporting on six studies. All services were US‐based and only varied by integration and training provided. Studies reported different degrees of impact on service utilisation and on symptoms and mental well‐being of people with dementia and their carers, with too little evidence to draw substantial/meaningful conclusions and studies employing different outcome measures. One study evidenced greater impacts on people with more advanced dementia compared to earlier stages. Conclusions: DCN services have the potential to effectively provide non‐clinical support to people with dementia and carers from the point of diagnosis. Further research from countries other than the USA, focusing on the impact on social care and social support service access and utilisation, and utilising similar established outcome measures are required. Key points: Evidence on the impact of Dementia Care Navigators (DCNs) is limited but shows promising benefits for people living with dementia and their carers.More research needs to be conducted in countries other than the US, where all evidence was reported, and with similar outcome measures to allow comparison.DCNs are a highly useful professional group without medical training, who can navigate people living with dementia and their carers to support and provide support themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of diet-related diseases underscores the imperative for innovative management approaches. The deployment of smart solutions signifies a paradigmatic evolution, capitalising on advanced technologies to enhance precision and efficacy. This paper aims to present and explore smart solutions for the management of diet-related diseases, focusing on leveraging advanced technologies, such as connected care, the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), and remote health monitoring systems (RHMS), to address the rising prevalence of diet-related diseases. This transformative approach is exemplified in case studies focusing on tailored RHMS capabilities. This paper aims to showcase the potential of three RHMS in introducing a novel evaluation method and their customisation for proactive management of conditions influenced by dietary habits. The RO-SmartAgeing System uniquely addresses age-related aspects, providing an integrated approach that considers the long-term impact of dietary choices on ageing, marking an advanced perspective in healthcare. The NeuroPredict Platform, leveraging complex neuroinformatics, enhances the understanding of connections between brain health, nutrition, and overall well-being, contributing novel insights to healthcare assessments. Focused on liver health monitoring, the HepatoConect system delivers real-time data for personalized dietary recommendations, offering a distinctive approach to disease management. By integrating cutting-edge technologies, these smart solutions transcend traditional healthcare boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, with the method of epidemic dynamics, we assess the spread and prevalence of COVID-19 after the policy adjustment of prevention and control measure in December 2022 in Taiyuan City in China, and estimate the excess population deaths caused by COVID-19. Based on the transmission mechanism of COVID-19 among individuals, a dynamic model with heterogeneous contacts is established to describe the change of control measures and the population's social behavior in Taiyuan city. The model is verified and simulated by basing on reported case data from November 8th to December 5th, 2022 in Taiyuan city and the statistical data of the questionnaire survey from December 1st to 23rd, 2022 in Neijiang city. Combining with reported numbers of permanent residents and deaths from 2017 to 2021 in Taiyuan city, we apply the dynamic model to estimate theoretical population of 2022 under the assumption that there is no effect of COVID-19. In addition, we carry out sensitivity analysis to determine the propagation character of the Omicron strain and the effect of the control measures. As a result of the study, it is concluded that after adjusting the epidemic policy on December 6th, 2022, three peaks of infection in Taiyuan are estimated to be from December 22nd to 31st, 2022, from May 10th to June 1st, 2023, and from September 5th to October 13th, 2023, and the corresponding daily peaks of new cases can reach 400 000, 44 000 and 22 000, respectively. By the end of 2022, excess deaths can range from 887 to 4887, and excess mortality rate can range from 3.06% to 14.82%. The threshold of the infectivity of the COVID-19 variant is estimated 0.0353, that is if the strain infectivity is above it, the epidemic cannot be control with the previous normalization measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]