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Hard-to-heal (chronic) wounds are a challenge to wound care professionals, a burden to the health service and negatively impact affected individuals' quality of life. They also consume a great deal of healthcare resources globally and are found in all settings, including prisons. Therefore, the evaluation of wound care services is essential in order to develop an awareness of where improvement can be made. The main aim of this point prevalence study was to gather data on wounds, wound aetiology and wound management in a Maltese correctional facility. A secondary aim was to compare current practice with the best evidence-based practice and clinical practice guidelines, in order to provide a set of recommendations which can be implemented to improve the service. A retrospective study was carried out, auditing the medical records of people with justice involvement. The results of the audit reported a low prevalence of wounds. While practice met existing standards, for example, no unnecessary wound swab was taken, several shortcomings in wound management were noted. To improve adherence to the clinical guidelines in conjunction with improving the quality of the current service offered in the wound clinic, a number of short- and long-term clinical recommendations were proposed including: the incorporation of pain assessment tools and C-reactive protein blood testing for identifying infection; early referral to specialised care for individuals with diabetic foot ulcers, as well as the necessity for proficient personnel specialising in wound management training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Clinical Healthcare is the property of Chinese Journal of Clinical Healthcare and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The persistence of symptoms for more than three months following infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is referred to as "Long COVID". To gain a deeper understanding of the etiology and long-term progression of symptoms, this study aims to analyze the prevalence of Long COVID and its associated factors in a cohort of Brazilian adults and elders, twelve months after hospital discharge. An observational, prospective, and follow-up study was performed with a cohort of adults and older adults diagnosed with COVID-19 in 2020 in the State of Paraná, Brazil. Twelve months after hospital discharge, patients answered a phone questionnaire about the persistence of symptoms after three levels of exposure to COVID-19's acute phase (ambulatory, medical ward, and intensive care unit). According to the characteristics of participants, the prevalence of Long COVID-19 was calculated, and logistic regression analyses were conducted. We analyzed data from 1822 participants (980 adults [≥18–<60 years] and 842 older people [≥60 years]) across three exposure levels. The overall Long COVID prevalence was 64.2%. Long COVID was observed in 646 adults (55%; of which 326 were women) and 523 older people (45%; of which 284 were women). Females had a higher prevalence of long-term symptoms (52%) compared with men. The most common post-COVID-19 conditions in the 12-month follow-up were neurological (49.8%), followed by musculoskeletal (35.1%) and persistent respiratory symptoms (26.5%). Male individuals were less likely to develop Long COVID (aOR = 0.50). Other determinants were also considered risky, such as the presence of comorbidities (aOR = 1.41). Being an adult and having been hospitalized was associated with the development of Long COVID. The risk of developing Long COVID was twice as high for ward patients (aOR = 2.53) and three times as high for ICU patients (aOR = 3.56) when compared to non-hospitalized patients. Presenting clinical manifestations of digestive (aOR = 1.56), endocrine (aOR = 2.14), cutaneous (aOR = 2.51), musculoskeletal (aOR = 2.76) and psychological systems (aOR = 1.66) made adults more likely to develop Long COVID. Long COVID was present in a large proportion of people affected by the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Presence of Long COVID symptoms displayed a dose–response relationship with the level of disease exposure, with a greater prevalence of symptoms associated with the severe form in the acute period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Despite the advancements in knowledge about health care for older adults, essential gaps persist regarding the effects of chronic diseases as epidemiological markers of the state of functional dependence. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of moderate and severe functional dependence in Brazilian older adults and its association with chronic diseases and verify the multimorbidity patterns by dependence status. Methods This cross-sectional analytical study used data from 11,177 community-dwelling Brazilian older adults from the 2013 National Health Survey conducted in Brazil. The dependent variables were moderate and severe functional dependence in basic activities of daily living (BADLs) and instrumental ADLs (IADLs). The independent variables were defined based on the questions applied to measure each morbidity in a self-reported manner and asked, "Has a doctor ever diagnosed you as having (each disease)? Multimorbidity was simultaneously considered present for older adults with ≥ 2 chronic morbidities. The association between functional dependence on BADLs and IADLs separately by severity and the independent variables was verified from crude and adjusted estimates of the point prevalence ratios and their 95% confidence intervals using the regression model Poisson with robust variance. To group diseases into patterns, exploratory factor analysis was used. Results The prevalences of moderate and severe BADL dependence were 10.2% (95% CI, 9.6–10.7) and 4.8% (95% CI, 4.4–5.2), respectively. Moderate and severe IADL dependence prevalences were 13.8% (95% CI, 13.1–14.4) and 15.6% (95% CI, 14.9%–16.2), respectively. When changing the condition from moderate to severe dependence in BADLs, in the presence of other mental illnesses and stroke, the probability of dependence increased more than four times in the case of other mental illnesses and more than five times for stroke. There was a linear trend for dependence severity, both moderate and severe, whereas, for severe dependence on IADLs, this same factor maintained a linear trend toward an increase in probability as the number of diseases simultaneously increased. Conclusions Chronic diseases are associated with functional dependence, with greater emphasis on mental illnesses and stroke in severe disability, considering their acute adverse effects.

Background: Circumscribed choroidal hemangioma (CCH), a rare benign tumor, poses significant risks to vision due to its proximity to the macula, with epidemiology varying from one population to another. Objectives: The present article emphasizes the need for prevalence studies on CCH in Iraq. Methods: In June 2023, a literature review was conducted on PubMed, followed by a secondary analysis of patients' demographic data from diverse populations and ethnic groups worldwide. Results: The secondary literature analysis revealed demographic variations in CCH, including age and gender (male-to-female) ratios, and across different populations. The exact prevalence remains unclear, particularly in Iraq, due to limited data and asymptomatic cases. Accurate diagnosis through imaging techniques is crucial for symptomatic cases, with treatment modalities like PDT available. Economic challenges persist in Iraq, highlighting the need for collaboration between healthcare and government sectors. Conclusion: The lack of CCH prevalence studies in Iraq impedes understanding and management, impacting ophthalmology care for Iraqi patients. Addressing this gap through research can benefit local healthcare authorities and provide essential data for the Middle East and other regions worldwide

Copyright of Hungarian Medical Journal / Orvosi Hetilap is the property of Akademiai Kiado and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Gingival recession (GR) is considered a public health problem which is highly prevalent across different populations. Accuracy of psychometric properties of prevalence estimates of GR reported in epidemiological studies is important to facilitate setting public health goals, planning of public health programs, implementation of best practices and thereby developing public health policy. However, the reported prevalence estimates are influenced by the methodological variations among different studies, as observed in our recently published systematic review and meta-analysis on the global prevalence of GR. It substantially limits the comparability between studies and inferences about the true global variation in the prevalence of GR are difficult to establish. To address these issues, this commentary suggests to follow the standardized principles related to study design, clinical examination protocol, and characteristics of study subjects in future epidemiological studies on prevalence estimates of GR. Furthermore, the inclusion of additional domains in the reporting data is suggested for a deeper insight into the patterns of GR in different populations. Our suggestions are derived from a pragmatic approach and their consistent implementation would improve the reporting quality and achieve uniformity in future studies, thus benefitting the research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gingival recession (GR) is considered a public health problem which is highly prevalent across different populations. Accuracy of psychometric properties of prevalence estimates of GR reported in epidemiological studies is important to facilitate setting public health goals, planning of public health programs, implementation of best practices and thereby developing public health policy. However, the reported prevalence estimates are influenced by the methodological variations among different studies, as observed in our recently published systematic review and meta-analysis on the global prevalence of GR. It substantially limits the comparability between studies and inferences about the true global variation in the prevalence of GR are difficult to establish. To address these issues, this commentary suggests to follow the standardized principles related to study design, clinical examination protocol, and characteristics of study subjects in future epidemiological studies on prevalence estimates of GR. Furthermore, the inclusion of additional domains in the reporting data is suggested for a deeper insight into the patterns of GR in different populations. Our suggestions are derived from a pragmatic approach and their consistent implementation would improve the reporting quality and achieve uniformity in future studies, thus benefitting the research in this area.

ABSTRACT Objective: To estimate the prevalence of adult smokers in the 26 capitals and the Federal District according to the Brazilian Deprivation Index (Índice Brasileiro de Privação – IBP). Methods: Dataset on smoking were obtained from the Surveillance of Risk and Protective Factors for Noncommunicable Diseases by Survey (Vigitel) system for the 26 capitals and the Federal District, in the period from 2010 to 2013. The IBP classifies the census sectors according to indicators such as: income less than ½ minimum wage, illiterate population and without sanitary sewage. In the North and Northeast regions, the census sectors were grouped into four categories (low, medium, high and very high deprivation) and in the South, Southeast and Midwest regions into three (low, medium and high deprivation). Prevalence estimates of adult smokers were obtained using the indirect estimation method in small areas. To calculate the prevalence ratios, Poisson models are used. Results: The positive association between prevalence and deprivation of census sector categories was found in 16 (59.3%) of the 27 cities. In nine (33.3%) cities, the sectors with the greatest deprivation had a higher prevalence of smokers when compared to those with the least deprivation, and in two (7.4%) there were no differences. In Aracaju, Belém, Fortaleza, João Pessoa, Macapá and Salvador, the prevalence of adult smokers was three times higher in the group of sectors with greater deprivation compared to those with less deprivation. Conclusion: Sectors with greater social deprivation had a higher prevalence of smoking, compared with less deprivation, pointing to social inequalities.

An additional canal found in the mandibular first molar (M1M) is the middle mesial canal (MMC), which is often missed during root canal treatment. In this study, the prevalence of MMC in M1M on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images was evaluated in 15 countries, along with the effect of some demographic factors on its prevalence. Deidentified CBCT images were scanned retrospectively, and the ones including bilateral M1Ms were included in the study. A written and video instruction program explaining the protocol to be followed step-by-step was provided to all observers to calibrate them. The CBCT imaging screening procedure consisted of evaluating three planes (coronal, sagittal, and axial) after a 3-dimensional alignment of the long axis of the root(s). The presence of an MMC in M1Ms (yes/no) was identified and recorded. In total, 6304 CBCTs, representing 12,608 M1Ms, were evaluated. A significant difference was found between countries (P <.05). MMC prevalence ranged from 1% to 23%, and the overall prevalence was 7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5%–9%). No significant differences were found between the left and right M1M (odds ratio = 1.09, 95% CI: 0.93, 1.27; P >.05) or between genders (odds ratio= 1.07, 95% CI: 0.91, 1.27; P >.05). As for the age groups, no significant differences were found (P >.05). The prevalence of MMC varies by ethnicity, but it is generally estimated at 7% worldwide. Physicians must pay close attention to the presence of MMC in M1M, especially for opposite M1Ms, due to the prevalence of MMC being significantly bilateral. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Although books and articles guiding the methods of sample size calculation for prevalence studies are available, we aim to guide, assist and report sample size calculation using the present calculators. Results We present and discuss four parameters (namely level of confidence, precision, variability of the data, and anticipated loss) required for sample size calculation for prevalence studies. Choosing correct parameters with proper understanding, and reporting issues are mainly discussed. We demonstrate the use of a purposely-designed calculators that assist users to make proper informed-decision and prepare appropriate report. Conclusion Two calculators can be used with free software (Spreadsheet and RStudio) that benefit researchers with limited resources. It will, hopefully, minimize the errors in parameter selection, calculation, and reporting. The calculators are available at: ( https://sites.google.com/view/sr-ln/ssc ).

The incidence and prevalence of Huntington's disease (HD) based on a systematic review and meta‐analysis of 20 studies published from 1985 to 2010 was estimated at 0.38 per 100,000 person‐years (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.16–0.94) and 2.71 per 100,000 persons (95% CI, 1.55–4.72), respectively. Since 2010, there have been many new epidemiological studies of HD. We sought to update the global estimates of HD incidence and prevalence using data published up to February 2022 and perform additional analyses based on study continent. Medline and Embase were searched for epidemiological studies of HD published between 2010 and 2022. Risk of bias was assessed using a quality assessment tool. Estimated pooled prevalence or incidence was calculated using a random‐effects meta‐analysis. A total of 33 studies published between 2010 and 2022 were included. Pooled incidence was 0.48 cases per 100,000 person‐years (95% CI, 0.33–0.63). Subgroup analysis by continent demonstrated a significantly higher incidence of HD in Europe and North America than in Asia. Pooled prevalence was 4.88 per 100,000 (95% CI, 3.38–7.06). Subanalyses by continent demonstrated that the prevalence of HD was significantly higher in Europe and North America than in Africa. The minor increase in prevalence (more so than incidence) demonstrated in this updated review could relate to the enhanced availability of molecular testing, earlier diagnosis, increased life expectancy, and de novo mutations. Limitations include variable case ascertainment methods and lacking case validation data. © 2022 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Public Health Agency of Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, many case reports and case series dealt with new-onset psychotic disorders in patients either infected with SARS-CoV-2 or thematically linked to the pandemic, but without an infection. Our aim was to provide a comprehensive collection of these reports to illustrate the nature of these psychoses. Methods: We conducted a literature search in MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, using search terms regarding first-episode psychotic disorders in the context of corona. Results: 96 case reports or case series covering 146 patients (62 without and 84 with SARS-CoV-2 infection) were found. Compared to patients without infection, patients with infection showed significantly more often visual hallucinations (28.6% vs 8.1%), confusion (36.9% vs 11.3%), an acute onset of illness (88.5% vs 59.6%) and less often depression (13.1% vs 35.5%) and a delusional content related to the pandemic (29.5% vs 78.3%). Both groups had an equally favourable outcome with a duration of psychosis ≤2 weeks in half and full remission in two-thirds of patients. In patients with infection, signs of inflammation were reported in 78.3% and increased CRP in 58.6%. While reports on patients with infection are continuously published, no report about patients without infection was found after July 2020. Conclusion: Cases without infection were considered reactive and originated all from the first wave of the corona pandemic. In cases with infection, inflammation was considered as the main pathogenetic factor but was not found in all patients. Diagnosis was impeded by the overlap of psychosis with delirium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of the present study was to examine the prevalence of childhood experiences of physical violence (CPV) and emotional violence (CEV) at the hands of parents over a 57-year period among adults born between 1937 and 1993. Methods: In 2012, a survey among women and men aged 18–74 years in Sweden was undertaken to examine the lifetime prevalence of physical, psychological and sexual violence and associations with current health in adulthood. Questionnaires were based on the Adverse Childhood Experiences study and a previous national survey of violence exposure. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the frequency of exposure to CPV and CEV, and changes over time were analysed using analysis of variance and logistic regression. Results: A total of 10,337 individuals participated (response rates: 56% for women and 48% for men). CPV decreased significantly over the time period studied, particularly for those born after 1983. This decrease was more evident for male respondents. Throughout the time period studied, the proportion of women reporting CEV was higher than for men. Among both genders there was a steady rise in CEV rates from those born in the late 1930s to those born in the mid-1980s, after which there was a decline that was more marked for men. Conclusions: A significant group of children in Sweden experience violence at the hands of parents. However, our data corroborate previous national studies that children's exposure to violence has decreased. Clear gender differences indicate that these changes have affected girls and boys differently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. We intended to explore the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its different stages, as well as CKD associated variables in the adult population in Isfahan province, Iran. Methods. Adults aged ≥ 18 were recruited in a cross-sectional study from 2017 to 2019. Data including demographics, anthropometrics, and laboratory findings were collected from each subject. The equation of chronic kidney disease-Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) was used to estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and eGFR and UACR values were utilized to determine the stages of CKD. Results. Data from a total of 3374 subjects was analyzed. The mean age of participants was 49.3 ± 14.09 years and 59.3% were female. The prevalence of CKD was 18.5%. Only 0.25 and 3.5% of the population were in CKD stage 3 and 4, while most of the patients were in CKD stage 2 (7.6%) and stage 1 (7.1%). CKD patients were mostly on refined grains diet and used lesser dairy products compared to healthy participants. Variables including systolic blood pressure (OR = 1.018; P < .001), diastolic blood pressure (OR = 1.005; P < .05), fasting blood sugar (OR = 1.011; P < .001), female sex (OR = 1.319; P < .05), body mass index (OR = 1.030; P < .05), married status (OR = 1.335; P < .05), and smoking (OR = 1.529; P < .05) were significantly associated with increased risk of CKD in the logistic regression analysis. Conclusion. According to our results, the prevalence of CKD, especially stages 1 and 2, is quite high in central part of Iran. These findings help us to improve the screening for CKD patients and perform larger scale studies to identify the challenges ahead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A systematic review of epidemiological studies of primary dystonia from 1985 and 2010 found an overall prevalence of 16.43 per 100,000 (95% CI = 12.09–22.32). Methods: We performed a systematic review of studies from 2010 and 2022 to determine if there are important differences in epidemiology between these time periods. Results: Nineteen studies were included. Incidence of cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, and oromandibular dystonia were each reported in one study; one study reported incidence for all adult onset idiopathic focal dystonias combined. Using data from 11 studies, we performed random effects meta‐analyses of the prevalence of cervical dystonia (9.95 per 100,000; 95% CI = 3.51–28.17), blepharospasm (2.82 per 100,000; 95% CI = 1.12–7.12), laryngeal dystonia (0.40 per 100,000; 95% CI = 0.09–1.83), upper limb dystonia (1.27 per 100,000; 95% CI = 0.36–4.52), oromandibular dystonia (0.57 per 100,000; 95% CI = 0.15–2.15), and idiopathic or inherited isolated dystonia all subtypes combined (30.85 per 100,000; 95% CI = 5.06–187.74). All studies reported more cases of dystonia in females. There was no significant difference in prevalence by subgroup analysis based on time of study publication (1985–2010 vs. 2010–2022). Subgroup analysis of differences in prevalence by dystonia subtype by continent using all studies published (1985–2022) revealed significant regional differences in the prevalence of cervical and laryngeal dystonia. Conclusion: The incidence and prevalence of idiopathic or inherited isolated dystonia in the last decade was not significantly different from earlier reports. Population‐based studies across multiple geographic areas are needed to obtain a clearer understanding of the epidemiology of this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A common assumption in many public frameworks is that the harms and behavioural risk factors associated with gambling disorder lie on a continuum. At one end is lower risk or recreational gambling, and at the other, problem or disordered gambling. Movements along this continuum are associated with gradual increases or decreases in the level of behaviour and associated harm. This perspective is often advanced in opposition to more clinical or categorical frameworks that view problem gambling as a distinct clinical category from the other groups. In this paper, we investigate these competing perspectives with reference to 15 years of Australian prevalence studies. We examine the relationship between PGSI severity classifications and the endorsement of the principal criteria of the DSM-5 (e.g. tolerance, chasing, impaired control). The results showed that while elements of behavioural dependence increase across the PGSI categories (low to moderate to problem), problem gamblers have disproportionately greater endorsement. The PGSI severity and behavioural dependence relationship corresponds more strongly to a J-curve than a linear or r-curve and therefore lends greater support of a more categorical conceptualisation of the disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Sickle cell disorders are the most common hemoglobinopathies worldwide. Clinical variability of sickle cell disease (SCD) and susceptibility to its complications have been attributed to hematologic, genetic, and other influencing factors. This review aimed to provide further summary and analyses of the prevalence and factors associated with cholelithiasis among patients with SCD. A systematic database search was conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, World Health Organization Virtual Health Library, Cochrane Library databases, and System for Information on Gray Literature in Europe (SIGLE). Pooled prevalence, odds ratio (OR), and standardized mean difference (SMD) with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using Comprehensive Meta‐Analysis Software version 3.3. A total of 34 studies that fulfilled the eligibility criteria were included in the analyses. The overall prevalence of cholelithiasis among SCD patients was 25.3% (95% CI 19.4–32.3%). The risk of developing cholelithiasis was significantly associated with lower total hemoglobin level (SMD = −0.45; P = 0.002), lower hemoglobin F (HbF) level (SMD = −0.85; P = 0.003), higher total serum bilirubin level (SMD = 1.15; P

Background: Although books and articles guiding the methods of sample size calculation for prevalence studies are available, we aim to guide, assist and report sample size calculation using the present calculators.Results: We present and discuss four parameters (namely level of confidence, precision, variability of the data, and anticipated loss) required for sample size calculation for prevalence studies. Choosing correct parameters with proper understanding, and reporting issues are mainly discussed. We demonstrate the use of a purposely-designed calculators that assist users to make proper informed-decision and prepare appropriate report.Conclusion: Two calculators can be used with free software (Spreadsheet and RStudio) that benefit researchers with limited resources. It will, hopefully, minimize the errors in parameter selection, calculation, and reporting. The calculators are available at: ( https://sites.google.com/view/sr-ln/ssc ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) represent a major Public Health issue. Hospital-based prevalence studies are a common tool of HAI surveillance, but data quality problems and non-representativeness can undermine their reliability. Methods This study proposes three algorithms that, given a convenience sample and variables relevant for the outcome of the study, select a subsample with specific distributional characteristics, boosting either representativeness (Probability and Distance procedures) or risk factors’ balance (Uniformity procedure). A “Quality Score” (QS) was also developed to grade sampled units according to data completeness and reliability. The methodologies were evaluated through bootstrapping on a convenience sample of 135 hospitals collected during the 2016 Italian Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) on HAIs. Results The QS highlighted wide variations in data quality among hospitals (median QS 52.9 points, range 7.98–628, lower meaning better quality), with most problems ascribable to ward and hospital-related data reporting. Both Distance and Probability procedures produced subsamples with lower distributional bias (Log-likelihood score increased from 7.3 to 29 points). The Uniformity procedure increased the homogeneity of the sample characteristics (e.g., − 58.4% in geographical variability). The procedures selected hospitals with higher data quality, especially the Probability procedure (lower QS in 100% of bootstrap simulations). The Distance procedure produced lower HAI prevalence estimates (6.98% compared to 7.44% in the convenience sample), more in line with the European median. Conclusions The QS and the subsampling procedures proposed in this study could represent effective tools to improve the quality of prevalence studies, decreasing the biases that can arise due to non-probabilistic sample collection.

BackgroundSince 2020, Indonesian health professionals have been affected by burnout as the physiological impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Malang has contributed to a substantial number of new daily cases and death rates in East Java, an epicenter of COVID-19 in Indonesia. However, a study about how burnout affected Malang health professionals was never conducted.ObjectivesThis research aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with burnout among health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Malang, Indonesia.Materials and MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out with an online survey conducted in 5 major hospitals in Malang. We conducted a study about the prevalence rate of burnout in Malang and the association between sociodemographic factors, occupational hazards, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS). The associations were presented as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).ResultsWe analyzed 1,077 health professionals in Malang. Our result showed that the prevalence of burnout among health professionals in Malang is 22.0%. Respondents under the age of 30 tend to experience a higher level of burnout by 3.4-fold (OR = 3.43, p-value < 0.001), compared with those over the age of 40 years. Our data showed that respondents working longer than 100 h/week tend to experience burnout by 3.8-fold (OR = 3.83, p-value < 0.001).ConclusionApproximately one-fifth of the health professionals in Malang suffered from burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic, and MBI-HSS subscales are strongly associated with age and work hours.

Abstract Background Sleep disturbance is a common complaint in people living with HIV/AIDS. Despite the influence of sleep disturbance on treatment adherence, quality of life, work productivity, risk of chronic illness, it remains under-recognized and under-studied in Ethiopia. Therefore it is necessary to produce scientific evidence to fill the knowledge gap and areas of management. The current study aimed to assess sleep quality and its associated factors among people living with HIV/AIDS. Methods An institution-based cross-sectional study was utilized among 408 participants who were selected by a systematic random sampling technique at Zewditu memorial hospital from April to May 2018. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire was used to measure sleep quality. Ethical clearance was obtained from the joint ethics committee of the University of Gondar and Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital. Oral informed consent was obtained from each participant. Binary and multivariable logistic regression models were fitted. Odds ratios (OR) with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was computed. Results The magnitude of poor sleep quality was 55.6%. Being female [AOR = 3.40, 95% CI: (1.80, 6.41)], depression [AOR =3.52, 95% CI: (1.95, 6.32)], CD4count ≤ 200 cells/mm3 [AOR = 3.18,95%CI: (1.65,6.13)], duration of HIV/AIDS diagnosis [AOR = 3.43,95% CI: (1.61,7.29)], current use of tobacco [AOR = 5.69, 95% CI: (2.04,15.9)] and chat or caffeinated drinks [AOR = 2.65, 95% CI: (1.06,6.64)] and poor sleep hygiene [AOR = 3.55, 95% CI: (1.85, 6.78)] were significantly associated with poor sleep quality. Conclusions More than half of the study participants were found to have poor sleep quality. A range factors influence quality of sleep of people with HIV/AIDS. Routine screening of sleep condition among people living with HIV/AIDS and early intervention based on the findings is suggested.

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have produced the WHO/ILO Joint Estimates of the Work-related Burden of Disease and Injury (WHO/ILO Joint Estimates). For these, systematic reviews of studies estimating the prevalence of exposure to selected occupational risk factors have been conducted to provide input data for estimations of the number of exposed workers. A critical part of systematic review methodology is to assess the quality of evidence across studies. In this article, we present the approach applied in these WHO/ILO systematic reviews for performing such assessments on studies of prevalence of exposure. It is called the Quality of Evidence in Studies estimating Prevalence of Exposure to Occupational risk factors (QoE-SPEO) approach. We describe QoE-SPEO’s development to date, demonstrate its feasibility reporting results from pilot testing and case studies, note its strengths and limitations, and suggest how QoE-SPEO should be tested and developed further. Methods: Following a comprehensive literature review, and using expert opinion, selected existing quality of evidence assessment approaches used in environmental and occupational health were reviewed and analysed for their relevance to prevalence studies. Relevant steps and components from the existing approaches were adopted or adapted for QoE-SPEO. New steps and components were developed. We elicited feedback from other systematic review methodologists and exposure scientists and reached consensus on the QoE-SPEO approach. Ten individual experts pilot-tested QoE-SPEO. To assess inter-rater agreement, we counted ratings of expected (actual and non-spurious) heterogeneity and quality of evidence and calculated a raw measure of agreement (Pi) between individual raters and rater teams for the downgrade domains. Pi ranged between 0.00 (no two pilot testers selected the same rating) and 1.00 (all pilot testers selected the same rating). Case studies were conducted of experiences of QoE-SPEO’s use in two WHO/ILO systematic reviews. Results: We found no existing quality of evidence assessment approach for occupational exposure prevalence studies. We identified three relevant, existing approaches for environmental and occupational health studies of the effect of exposures. Assessments using QoE-SPEO comprise three steps: (1) judge the level of expected heterogeneity (defined as non-spurious variability that can be expected in exposure prevalence, within or between individual persons, because exposure may change over space and/or time), (2) assess downgrade domains, and (3) reach a final rating on the quality of evidence. Assessments are conducted using the same five downgrade domains as the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach: (a) risk of bias, (b) indirectness, (c) inconsistency, (d) imprecision, and (e) publication bias. For downgrade domains (c) and (d), the assessment varies depending on the level of expected heterogeneity. There are no upgrade domains. The QoE-SPEO’s ratings are “very low”, “low”, “moderate”, and “high”. To arrive at a final decision on the overall quality of evidence, the assessor starts at “high” quality of evidence and for each domain downgrades by one or two levels for serious concerns or very serious concerns, respectively. In pilot tests, there was reasonable agreement in ratings for expected heterogeneity; 70% of raters selected the same rating. Inter-rater agreement ranged considerably between downgrade domains, both for individual rater pairs (range Pi: 0.36–1.00) and rater teams (0.20–1.00). Sparse data prevented rigorous assessment of inter-rater agreement in quality of evidence ratings. Conclusions: We present QoE-SPEO as an approach for assessing quality of evidence in prevalence studies of exposure to occupational risk factors. It has been developed to its current version (as presented here), has undergone pilot testing, and was applied in the systematic reviews for the WHO/ILO Joint Estimates. While the approach requires further testing and development, it makes steps towards filling an identified gap, and progress made so far can be used to inform future work in this area.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune condition characterised by muscle weakness due to antibodies produced against post-synaptic receptors. The impact of MG can be significant, especially with an ageing population. Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) are polymorphic genes associated with autoimmune conditions. Establishing the HLA alleles associated with MG may aid in the diagnosis, screening and early management of individuals at risk of MG. This research aims to establish the class II HLA alleles associated with the prevalence of MG in various regions of the world and identify the alleles that could predispose to the condition. A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flow chart and various databases including, Scopus and PubMed as well as other sources were used to find appropriate papers on HLA class II alleles associated with MG and the prevalence of MG in various countries. The frequency of selected HLA alleles in selected regions were obtained from the website, allelefrequencies.net. From this, a correlation coefficient and p-value were calculated to investigate whether the frequency of MG and the prevalence of HLA alleles had a significant association.  The results highlighted two HLA alleles, DRB1*04:04 and DRB1*03, to have a significant positive association with the prevalence of MG. The frequency of the alleles showed regional variation, with European countries, particularly Northern Europe, exhibiting the highest frequencies. A significant positive correlation between HLA-DRB1*04:04 and DRB1*03 showed with the prevalence of MG, highlighting these alleles as a possible cause of the disease. Screening for these alleles, particularly in Northern Europe, may help identify individuals susceptible to MG., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Kurian et al.)

A 'Zeitgeist' is defined as 'the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time', and I am pleased to say I think this is what is currently happening with probation and mental health. For too long, mental health has been the poor relation in probation practice -- a situation that seems to be gradually changing. This paper draws from a series of research studies, undertaken locally, nationally and across Europe, to show that we are beginning to understand more and more about probation and the mental health of its clientèle. There are still serious gaps in our research knowledge, for example, about effective interventions, but the last decade has clarified the direction of travel that is required. The paper questions whether clients with mental health problems in probation require 'equivalence'. That is, the same services that other members of the general population can access, who live in the community. I argue that the complexity of clients' presentations does not equate to what is currently available in the community. Thus, new thinking is required, and much more research is needed to examine, for example, the role of assertive-outreach principles and models of service provision -- perhaps alongside a sub-group of specialist Probation Staff specifically trained in mental health. There is a long way to travel before we can say that all probation clients are receiving the mental health services they need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sickle cell disorders are the most common hemoglobinopathies worldwide. Clinical variability of sickle cell disease (SCD) and susceptibility to its complications have been attributed to hematologic, genetic, and other influencing factors. This review aimed to provide further summary and analyses of the prevalence and factors associated with cholelithiasis among patients with SCD. A systematic database search was conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, World Health Organization Virtual Health Library, Cochrane Library databases, and System for Information on Gray Literature in Europe (SIGLE). Pooled prevalence, odds ratio (OR), and standardized mean difference (SMD) with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using Comprehensive Meta‐Analysis Software version 3.3. A total of 34 studies that fulfilled the eligibility criteria were included in the analyses. The overall prevalence of cholelithiasis among SCD patients was 25.3% (95% CI 19.4–32.3%). The risk of developing cholelithiasis was significantly associated with lower total hemoglobin level (SMD = −0.45; P = 0.002), lower hemoglobin F (HbF) level (SMD = −0.85; P = 0.003), higher total serum bilirubin level (SMD = 1.15; P < 0.001), higher reticulocytes count (SMD = 0.44; P = 0.007), and UDP‐glucuronosyltransferase‐1A1 enzyme (UGT1A1) promoter polymorphism. This review provides a comprehensive view of the high rate of cholelithiasis and its associated factors in SCD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) represent a major Public Health issue. Hospital-based prevalence studies are a common tool of HAI surveillance, but data quality problems and non-representativeness can undermine their reliability.Methods: This study proposes three algorithms that, given a convenience sample and variables relevant for the outcome of the study, select a subsample with specific distributional characteristics, boosting either representativeness (Probability and Distance procedures) or risk factors' balance (Uniformity procedure). A "Quality Score" (QS) was also developed to grade sampled units according to data completeness and reliability. The methodologies were evaluated through bootstrapping on a convenience sample of 135 hospitals collected during the 2016 Italian Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) on HAIs.Results: The QS highlighted wide variations in data quality among hospitals (median QS 52.9 points, range 7.98-628, lower meaning better quality), with most problems ascribable to ward and hospital-related data reporting. Both Distance and Probability procedures produced subsamples with lower distributional bias (Log-likelihood score increased from 7.3 to 29 points). The Uniformity procedure increased the homogeneity of the sample characteristics (e.g., - 58.4% in geographical variability). The procedures selected hospitals with higher data quality, especially the Probability procedure (lower QS in 100% of bootstrap simulations). The Distance procedure produced lower HAI prevalence estimates (6.98% compared to 7.44% in the convenience sample), more in line with the European median.Conclusions: The QS and the subsampling procedures proposed in this study could represent effective tools to improve the quality of prevalence studies, decreasing the biases that can arise due to non-probabilistic sample collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background India has a high prevalence of oral potentially malignant disorders and malignant transformation. Cases of oral leukoplakia are not commonly encountered, and only a small cohort of patients undergo biopsies for the same. This study aims to assess the various etiological factors causing leukoplakia, the clinical features, histopathological findings, and treatment received by the patients who were histopathologically diagnosed with oral leukoplakia. Methodology Oral leukoplakia cases were included in this study from total biopsy samples received in the oral pathology department. Details were collected from the Dental Information Archival Software of our institution. The period analyzed was from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2023. Relevant clinical and histopathological details were retrieved and tabulated. Statistical analysis (chi-square test) was used to assess the association between the clinicopathological parameters using SPSS software version 21.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) with a significance level set at a p-value <0.05. Results A total of 76 oral leukoplakia cases were retrieved from 2,600 biopsy samples. The prevalence of oral leukoplakia was 3.1% to 3.4% for the three years. Leukoplakia was commonly observed in those aged 51 to 60 years (33%). Overall, 21% of the patients with leukoplakia showed severe epithelial dysplasia, 22% showed mild epithelial dysplasia, and 39% showed moderate epithelial dysplasia. Moreover, 30% of the patients presented with leukoplakia and oral submucous fibrosis and showed varying degrees of epithelial dysplasia. Finally, 45% of the patients were managed conservatively using pharmacotherapy. Conclusions Severe epithelial dysplasia was commonly associated with oral leukoplakia. Oral submucous fibrosis was also found to be associated with leukoplakia and showed epithelial dysplasia. None of our proliferative verrucous leukoplakia cases showed any association with oral submucous fibrosis. Surgical management was the preferred treatment., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Institutional Human Ethical Committee issued approval IHEC/SDC/PhD/OPATH-1954/19/TH-001. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Prabhu Venkatesh et al.)

Introduction: Patients with Huntington-Like disorders (HLD) comprise a variety of allelic disorders sharing a Huntington phenotype. The hexanucleotide repeat expansion of the C9orf72 gene could explain part of the HLD etiology. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis looking for the frequency of the hexanucleotide repeat expansion of the C9orf72 gene in HLD patients.Methods: The protocol was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews database (PROSPERO) (registration number: CRD42018105465). The search was carried out in Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase in April 2018, and updated in July 2020. Observational studies reporting patients with HLD carrying the hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene were selected and reviewed; this process was duplicated. The cutoff threshold for considering the hexanucleotide expansion as a pathogenic variant was equal to or >30 G4C2 repeats. Cases with intermediate alleles with 20–29 repeat are also analyzed. Pooled frequency and 95% CI were calculated using random-effects models.Results: Nine out of 219 studies were selected, reporting 1,123 affected individuals with HLD. Among them, 18 individuals carried C9orf72 expansion, representing 1% (95% CI: 0–2%, I2 = 0%) of the pooled frequency. Seven selected studies came from European centers, one was reported at a US center, and one came from a South-African center. We identified five individuals carrying intermediate alleles representing 3% (95% CI: 0–14%, I2 = 78.5%).Conclusions: The frequency of C9orf72 unstable hexanucleotide repeat expansion in HLD patients is very low. Further studies with more accurate clinical data and from different ethnic backgrounds are needed to confirm this observation.

We examine the manner in which the population prevalence of disordered gambling has usually been estimated, on the basis of surveys that suffer from a potential sample selection bias. General population surveys screen respondents using seemingly innocuous "trigger," "gateway" or "diagnostic stem" questions, applied before they ask the actual questions about gambling behavior and attitudes. Modeling the latent sample selection behavior generated by these trigger questions using up-to-date econometrics for sample selection bias correction leads to dramatically different inferences about population prevalence and comorbidities with other psychiatric disorders. The population prevalence of problem or pathological gambling in the United States is inferred to be 7.7%, rather than 1.3% when this behavioral response is ignored. Comorbidities are inferred to be much smaller than the received wisdom, particularly when considering the marginal association with other mental health problems rather than the total association. The issues identified here apply, in principle, to every psychiatric disorder covered by standard mental health surveys, and not just gambling disorder. We discuss ways in which these behavioral biases can be mitigated in future surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Patients with Huntington-Like disorders (HLD) comprise a variety of allelic disorders sharing a Huntington phenotype. The hexanucleotide repeat expansion of the C9orf72 gene could explain part of the HLD etiology. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis looking for the frequency of the hexanucleotide repeat expansion of the C9orf72 gene in HLD patients. Methods: The protocol was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews database (PROSPERO) (registration number: CRD42018105465). The search was carried out in Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase in April 2018, and updated in July 2020. Observational studies reporting patients with HLD carrying the hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene were selected and reviewed; this process was duplicated. The cutoff threshold for considering the hexanucleotide expansion as a pathogenic variant was equal to or >30 G4C2 repeats. Cases with intermediate alleles with 20–29 repeat are also analyzed. Pooled frequency and 95% CI were calculated using random-effects models. Results: Nine out of 219 studies were selected, reporting 1,123 affected individuals with HLD. Among them, 18 individuals carried C9orf72 expansion, representing 1% (95% CI: 0–2%, I 2 = 0%) of the pooled frequency. Seven selected studies came from European centers, one was reported at a US center, and one came from a South-African center. We identified five individuals carrying intermediate alleles representing 3% (95% CI: 0–14%, I 2 = 78.5%). Conclusions: The frequency of C9orf72 unstable hexanucleotide repeat expansion in HLD patients is very low. Further studies with more accurate clinical data and from different ethnic backgrounds are needed to confirm this observation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to perform a quality assessment and provide a scientific-based checklist for prevalence studies on root and root canal anatomy by appraising the methodological quality of in vivo studies using cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) imaging as the assessment tool. A systematic assessment of the literature was conducted, and 211 studies were selected and submitted to a methodological evaluation. Data were grouped into categories such as journal impact factor, open access availability, language, study origin, journal publisher, sample size, and CBCT settings. Interrater agreement was calculated by applying the Holsti method and Cohen kappa. The Kruskal-Wallis test and Pearson correlation coefficient were undertaken to assess the different variables (α = 0.05). The included studies (N = 211) reported data on 247,616 teeth from 41 countries. The maxillary first molar was the most studied tooth (n = 69) and the second mesiobuccal canal the most investigated anatomic feature. The highest scores were associated with high-impact journals (r = 0.482, P <.05), large sample sizes (r = 0.374, P <.05), non–open access availability (P <.05), and English-based language (P <.05), but geographic region and journal publisher also had an impact on quality scores. The identified methodological gaps were used to formulate a scientific-based checklist for this type of study. Although a small improvement in the global quality of the studies was observed over the years, only less than half of the studies correctly addressed the participant recruitment and frame and had an adequate sample size or provided sufficient CBCT imaging settings. The proposed checklist highlights the most pertinent points to guide researchers throughout the experimental design and the implementation of epidemiological cross-sectional studies of this nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although it is often assumed that electronic gaming machines (EGMs) are associated with the highest level of risk, it has proved difficult to find reliable evidence in support of this proposition. In this paper, we analysed statistics from major Australian community prevalence studies for the period 2011-2020 to investigate whether EGMs (in comparison to racing and casino table games) have a stronger association with problem gambling. All prevalence studies reviewed used telephone sampling and the Problem Gambling Severity Index to assess problem gambling. In this paper, we examine the principal hypothesis using several lines of evidence, including whether problem gamblers are more likely to gamble and gamble regularly on EGMs as opposed to racing and casino games and if the EGM-problem gambling association was maintained after controlling for other forms of participation. Results showed that of all gambling activities, EGMs do appear to have the strongest association with problem gambling. Despite having a disproportionately higher level of participation on racing and casino games as compared with other gamblers, problem gamblers are more likely to report regular or weekly participation in EGM gambling and this may be the reason why this activity emerges most strongly as a predictor of problem gambling in multivariate models. This finding is particularly salient, given the very high prevalence of EGM participation, compared to other risky gambling forms. The findings underscore the importance of survey reporting that presents results in a form that can inform policy relevant research relating to the potential impact of different gambling activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this systematic review is to gather all available studies reporting prevalence and incidence rates of iNPH and to assess their methodological quality and consistency. Methods: All available studies published up to June 2019 were retrieved searching the databases PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. All included studies were qualitatively assessed by two independent reviewers using the MORE Checklist for Observational Studies of Incidence and Prevalence. Key results: Bibliographic searches and other sources yielded 659 records. A total of 28 studies were selected and applied the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Fourteen studies were further excluded, and 14 studies (10 on prevalence and 6 on incidence) were included in the qualitative analysis. Results from the prevalence studies reported crude overall rates ranging from 10/100 000 to 22/100 000 for probable iNPH and 29/100 000 for possible iNPH, and age‐specific rates ranging from 3.3/100 000 in people aged 50‐59 to 5.9% in people aged ≥ 80 years. Results from incidence studies reported overall crude rates ranging from 1.8/100 000 to 7.3/100 000 per year, and age‐specific rates ranging from 0.07/100 000/year in people aged < 60 years to 1.2/1000/year in people aged ≥ 70 years. Conclusions & Inferences: The high methodological and clinical heterogeneity of included studies does not allow drawing adequate conclusions on the epidemiology of iNPH. Further, high‐quality, population‐based studies should be carried out to allow for a better understanding of the epidemiology of this condition. Moreover, the implementation in current clinical practice of guidelines on the diagnosis and management of iNPH should also be endorsed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the present diagnostic guidelines of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) in a sample from the general population. Methods: A total of 168 individuals (93 females, 75 males), mean age 75 years (range 66–92) with and without symptoms of iNPH underwent a CT-scan of the brain, a neurological examination with assessment of the triad symptoms, i.e. gait disturbances, memory impairment and urgency incontinence. The participants were then diagnosed as “unlikely”, “possible” and “probable” iNPH according to the American-European and the Japanese guidelines, respectively. Separately, a senior consultant in neurology diagnosed each patient based on the overall clinical picture. Results: Obtaining a diagnosis of “probable iNPH” was three times more likely according to the American-European guidelines (n = 35) compared to the Japanese guidelines (n = 11) or the neurologist (n = 11). The concordance was highest (Kappa = 0.69) between the Japanese guidelines and the neurologist. Conclusions: Considerable discrepancies were found when diagnosing iNPH according to two international guidelines and a neurologist, respectively. The Japanese guidelines, which include a minimum of two triad symptoms, were most concordant with the neurologist. As a step towards widely accepted, standardized diagnostic criteria, we suggest a revision of the current guidelines, preferably into one common diagnostic system.

Despite the health, social and economic impact of arboviruses in French Guiana, very little is known about the extent to which infection burden is shared between individuals. We conducted a large multiplexed serological survey among 2697 individuals from June to October 2017. All serum samples were tested for IgG antibodies against DENV, CHIKV, ZIKV and MAYV using a recombinant antigen-based microsphere immunoassay with a subset further evaluated through anti-ZIKV microneutralization tests. The overall DENV seroprevalence was estimated at 73.1% (70.6–75.4) in the whole territory with estimations by serotype at 68.9% for DENV-1, 38.8% for DENV-2, 42.3% for DENV-3, and 56.1% for DENV-4. The overall seroprevalence of CHIKV, ZIKV and MAYV antibodies was 20.3% (17.7–23.1), 23.3% (20.9–25.9) and 3.3% (2.7–4.1), respectively. We provide a consistent overview of the burden of emerging arboviruses in French Guiana, with useful findings for risk mapping, future prevention and control programs. The majority of the population remains susceptible to CHIKV and ZIKV, which could potentially facilitate the risk of further re-emergences. Our results underscore the need to strengthen MAYV surveillance in order to rapidly detect any substantial changes in MAYV circulation patterns.

Background and aim: To perform a systematic review of anatomical studies using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to assess the influence of demographic factors (age, gender and geographic region) on the prevalence of C‐shaped canal anatomy in maxillary molars, mandibular premolars and molars. Data sources: A search was conducted between May and August 2018 in four electronic databases and five peer‐reviewed journals. The authors of included articles were also contacted for additional studies and the bibliographic references hand‐searched. Study eligibility criteria, participants and interventions: The research protocol was previously registered in the International Prospective Register of Ongoing Systematic Reviews (CRD42018095201) and included defined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Prevalence studies on C‐shaped canal anatomy in maxillary molars, mandibular premolars and molars were searched. Study appraisal and synthesis methods: The selected studies were submitted to full‐text analysis and critical appraisal by two evaluators using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tool. The final group of papers (n = 25) were pooled and forest plots with proportions and odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval performed. Meta‐regression was undertaken to evaluate possible sources of heterogeneity and funnel plot visual analysis to assess publication bias. Results: The included studies reported data on 25 445 teeth of 13 142 patients. A significant difference in the average prevalence proportion of C‐shaped configuration was observed between mandibular first (0.3%; 0.1–0.6%) and second (12%; 10.3–13.7%) molars (P < 0.05). No significant difference in the prevalence of C‐shaped configurations was observed comparing males (13.5%; 8.8–18.3%) and females (20.5%; 13.7–27.4%) in mandibular second molars (P > 0.05), although males were associated with significantly lower odds (0.573; 0.511–0.641) (P < 0.05). The pooled proportion of C‐shaped anatomy in mandibular second molars in East Asian countries (39.6%; 36.0–43.1%) was significantly higher compared with other regions. Limitations: Because of the limited number of studies, no statistical analysis was performed for maxillary molars and mandibular premolars. Conclusion: Meta‐analysis revealed that gender and geographic region may act as a confounding factor for the prevalence of C‐shaped anatomy in mandibular second molars, whilst age did not influence the prevalence of C‐shaped configurations in this tooth group. Knowing these preoperative factors would help to anticipate complex morphologies in clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The study aimed to gain knowledge about low back pain (LBP) in nurses working in the orthopedic departments of tertiary hospitals in Sichuan province, China. We used a cross-sectional survey to examine the prevalence of LBP among 797 inpatient nurses who had worked for 1 year in an orthopedic department in one of 29 hospitals (Grade 3A) in Sichuan province. The survey included a questionnaire to determine the prevalence of LBP and factors related to LBP, a screening graph of LBP symptoms, the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), and the Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) for LBP. The 1-year period prevalence of LBP in the nursing population was 66.8% and the point prevalence was 51.3%. Among the 523 nurses who had experienced LBP, the mean total number of days that LBP had been experienced during the past year was 20.2 ± 16.3 days (range = 1-90 days). The annual number of episodes of LBP was 5.7 ± 4.5 times/year (range = 1-20 times/year). More than half the orthopedic nurses (51.1%) planned to quit, and 5.8% thought of leaving their job due to LBP. These study findings indicate that nurses in this region experience a burden of LBP similar to those in other regions in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine differences in prevalence and risk factors of dementia by race/ethnicity and immigrant status using a nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study performed in the United States among non-Hispanic white (NHW), non-Hispanic black (NHB), Hispanic, and other Medicare beneficiaries from round 1 of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (N = 7,609). The authors used log-binomial regression analyses to investigate risk factors and interactions between race/ethnicity and immigrant status and dementia. Stratified log-binomial regression analyses by race/ethnicity were used to interpret the results of interaction effects of immigrant status found in these surveys. Analyses were conducted in three forms: probable dementia versus possible and no dementia, probable and possible dementia versus no dementia; and probable dementia versus no dementia.Results: Consistent with previous studies, U.S.-born NHBs have a higher prevalence of dementia than U.S.-born whites, Hispanics, and others. Immigrant status moderated the relationship between race/ethnicity and dementia. NHWs, Hispanics, and other immigrants had a higher prevalence of dementia compared with their U.S.-born counterparts. However, U.S.-born NHBs had a higher prevalence of dementia compared with NHB immigrants. Results were consistent across the three forms of analysis. Greater age predicted higher dementia across the four racial/ethnic groups.Conclusion: Immigrant status may have complex effects on dementia risk. Selection factors affecting immigration-varied health and educational systems in diverse countries of origin, acculturative stress, and validity of dementia assessment across diverse groups-deserve further attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We sought to analyze all cases of nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC) in Oman to determine the most common clinical presentation, whether it is associated with certain tribes in Oman, and its distribution in different regions of the country. We also looked at the histopathological diagnosis, treatment modality, recurrence, and metastasis. Methods: This retrospective chart analysis was performed using the data of all patients with NPC who presented to the Al Nahdha Hospital (the main tertiary hospital of head and neck surgery in Oman) from January 2003 until August 2011. Results: Twenty-six cases of NPC were included in the final study population. Muscat (the capital city of Oman) had the highest number of cases followed by the Ash Sharqiyah, Al-Batinah, and Dhofar regions. The largest number of cases were found in the Al-Balushi tribe. Cases had a bimodal distribution within two age groups (20–30 years and 50–60 years). Follow-up ranged between six months and seven years. Conclusion: Neck mass and nasal symptoms were the most common presentations of NPC in Oman. Further studies, with a larger sample size are required in order to support our results.

Abstract Objectives The aim of this systematic review was to examine the incidence and prevalence of comorbidity between Cerebral Palsy (CP), Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Methods We searched for articles indexed in PubMed, EBSCOhost, Scopus, Web of Science and other potentially relevant internet sources using a combination of expressions including "cerebral palsy" AND "autism" OR "ASD" OR "pervasive development disorder" AND "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder" OR "ADHD". Results We identified 2542 studies on CP and ASD and 998 studies on CP and ADHD. After screening titles and abstracts and removing duplicated studies, 47 full papers (CP and ASD n = 28; CP and ADHD n = 19) were downloaded and screened for eligibility. Twenty-eight (CP and ASD n = 16; CP and ADHD n = 12) studies were identified in the peer-review literature. Based on this systematic review, ASD and ADHD seem to be more common in people with CP than in the general population, yet the gold standard methods for diagnosing ASD or ADHD are not suitable for children with motor problems. Conclusions Assessing the occurrence of ASD and ADHD would improve the significant cost of healthcare, therapies, and overall daily living for families with children affected by CP. However, psychometric studies are needed in the future to promote development of measures suitable for individuals with CP. In addition, this review highlights the paucity of peer-reviewed studies investigating the occurrence of ASD and ADHD in children with different CP subtypes or functional abilities, and there are still some open questions about pathogenic mechanisms common to CP, ASD and ADHD. Highlights • The NICE Guideline stresses the importance of investigating the prevalence of ASD and ADHD in CP. • The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of ASD and ADHD in the CP population. • ASD seems to be more common in children with CP than in the general population. • ADHD shows a higher prevalence in CP than the general population. • Recognizing other NDDs might help to develop improved therapies for children with CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]