METHODS: Data from the medical records of patients who were stepped up to FP/SAL PRD were extracted retrospectively at baseline and follow-up (between 3 and 6 months after stepping up to FP/SAL PRD). The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients with improvement in asthma control assessed via the Asthma Control Test (ACT). Secondary endpoints included safety and the percentage of patients with moderate and severe exacerbations. Additionally, patient-reported use of reliever medication, systemic corticosteroids, emergency department visits, or hospitalization was also analyzed.
RESULTS: One hundred twenty patients with uncontrolled asthma who were stepped up to FP/SAL PRD were enrolled in the study. Of these, 76 (63.3%) patients were on prior budesonide/formoterol PRN, and 44 (36.7%) were on prior ICS with SABA PRN treatment. After stepping up to FP/SAL PRD with a mean follow-up of 5.8 months, 110 (91.7%) patients achieved asthma control at the follow-up visit (p
METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI, Wan fang, and VIP databases were searched for studies published from inception to 2023, without language restrictions. Observational studies were included in this systematic review that analyzed risk factors for accidental falls in pre-frail older adults. The NOS scale was used to evaluate the quality of cohort studies and case-control studies, while the AHRQ scale was used to evaluate the quality of the cross-sectional study. We utilized odds ratios (OR) and their corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (CI) to describe the statistical indicators. OR and 95 % CI values were directly extracted and organized in Excel. In cases where OR and CI values were not directly available, we extracted β and p values, calculated Exp using functions, and subsequently derived OR and 95 % CI using formulas. Finally, data pertaining to each risk factor were incorporated into RevMan 5.4 software for statistical analysis and effect size synthesis. We performed tests for heterogeneity and evaluated publication bias.
RESULTS: A total of 14,370 studies were initially identified, and 26 studies were included in the systematic review. Among these studies, 14 were of high quality, while the remaining 12 were of moderate quality. A total of 16 risk factors were identified as potential risk factors for falls in pre-frail older adults. Significant risk factors were peripheral neuropathy(OR = 3.18, 95 %CI:3.02-3.35), decreased gait speed(OR = 1.90, 95 %CI:1.60-2.27), decreased ability to perform activities of daily living(OR = 1.57, 95 % CI:1.42-1.75), grip strength decreases(OR = 1.53, 95 % CI:1.17-2.00), gender (female)(OR = 1.51, 95 % CI:1.39-1.64), pain(OR = 1.47, 95 %CI:1.41-1.54), history of falls(OR = 1.20, 95 %CI:1.13-1.28) and age(OR = 1.10, 95 %CI:1.07-1.14).
CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of falls in pre-frail older adults is associated with multiple risk factors. These risk factors can provide clinical nursing staff with specific focal points for monitoring this population and devising targeted fall prevention measures, with the aim of reducing the incidence of falls in pre-frail older adults.
REGISTRATION: The systematic review was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Review (CRD42023450670).
AIM: This study seeks to evaluate the effective radiation doses associated with common diagnostic and treatment procedures, as well as propose diagnostic reference levels (DRLs), within two nuclear medicine centers in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
METHODOLOGY: Data from 445 patients were gathered from two nuclear medicine centers in the Madinah region of Saudi Arabia. The data were categorized based on the type of nuclear medicine (NM) procedure, the chemical composition of the administered radiopharmaceutical, as well as patient age and weight. Effective radiation doses for prevalent NM procedures were computed, and suggested DRLs were formulated.
RESULTS: Effective radiation doses were analyzed for 16 adult and 2 pediatric NM procedures (divided into 8 groups). The effective radiation doses for adult diagnostic nuclear medicine procedures range from 0.05 mSv (Nanocoloid) to 29 mSv (67Ga-citrate). For pediatric procedures, the doses range from 0.80 mSv (5-year-old undergoing renal DTPA) to 1.6 mSv (1-year-old undergoing renal DMSA). Furthermore, DRL values were determined for both adult and pediatric NM procedures. The study's findings demonstrated a high degree of concordance between effective radiation doses and DRL values, aligning well with previously published research.
CONCLUSION: While the effective radiation doses outlined in this study were generally within acceptable limits and consistent with prior research findings, optimizing radiation doses remains imperative, particularly for pediatric NM procedures.
METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats were divided into five groups (n = 8 each): negative control (NC) receiving food ad libitum without orchiectomized, positive control (PC) receiving daily testosterone enanthate injections, IF with 16/8 time-restricted feeding, PT with 1-h forced swimming sessions, and combined IF + PT. After 8 weeks, DHEA and testosterone levels, AR expression, gastrocnemius muscle histology, and body weight were assessed.
RESULTS: In comparison to the NC group (429.40 ± 26.86 g), body weight in the IF (348.90 ± 15.94 g, PT (391.40 ± 16.35 g), and IF + PT groups, (360.90 ± 29.90 g) was significantly lowered (p
METHODS: A 55 questions survey encompassing nine domains relevant to CeD care (awareness, gluten-free [GF] foods availability/cost/quality, GF labeling, CeD dietician availability, insurance for CeD patients, medical training, research funding, patient support groups, and unmet needs) was generated and sent to CeD experts worldwide electronically. Countries were stratified based on per capita income as high-income (HIC) and lower-income countries (LIC) (including upper-middle-, lower-middle-, and low-income countries). Survey responses were summarized as a single score using principal component analysis.
RESULTS: Valid responses were obtained from 131(37.4%) [HIC: 71; LIC: 60] of contacted CeD experts from 63 countries. Compared with HIC, LIC experts perceived worse availability (HIC:80% vs LIC: 47%; P
METHOD: This systematic review was registered on PROSPERO CRD42020211324. Eligible articles were selected from CINAHL, PsycINFO, EMBASE, PubMed and Science Direct. Original qualitative studies exploring parental perspectives on the influence of cultural values on the uptake of HPV vaccination by their daughters under the age of 18, published in the English language with no restriction dates were reviewed. Two authors independently screened abstracts, conducted the fill-text review, extracted information using a standardized form, and assessed study quality. A third author is needed to resolve the disagreements if necessary.
RESULTS: Of the 1552 citations, 22 were included, with information on 639 parents. Five themes emerged from the data: sexuality-related concerns; upbringing and moral values; obligation to protect; external influences; and vaccine-related concerns.
CONCLUSION: This systematic review is beneficial to identify and understand the culturally related facilitators and barriers to HPV vaccination among young women for the development of strategies to optimize HPV vaccine coverage among this population group by the policymakers.
PURPOSE: Analyze and compare the baseline and 1-year follow-up (1FU) data for PIBD in Asian children.
METHODS: The multinational network included patients with PIBD (aged <19 years) in 5 Asian countries (Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand). The diagnosis of PIBD requires gastrointestinal endoscopy. The patients' demographics, clinical information, disease- related outcomes, and treatment data at 1FU were collected.
RESULTS: In 1995-2021, 368 patients were enrolled (Crohn disease [CD], 56.8%; ulcerative colitis [UC], 38%; and inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]-unclassified, 5.2%). At 1FU, symptoms including diarrhea, bloody stools, and nausea/vomiting subsided in <3%, while abdominal pain persisted in 10.5% of patients with CD and 7.1% of patients with UC. Assessment endoscopy was performed at 1FU in 38% of CD and 31% of UC cases, of which 21% and 23% showed mucosal healing, respectively. Oral prednisolone was administered to 55.3% of patients at diagnosis and 26.8% at 1FU, while infliximab was administered to 2.5% and 7.2% of patients at diagnosis and 1FU, respectively. Independent factors of 1-year clinical remission for CD were oral prednisolone (odds ratio [OR], 0.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.06-0.68), antibiotic use (OR, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.01-0.54), and immunomodulator use (OR, 5.26; 95% CI, 1.52-18.22). A history of weight loss at diagnosis was the only independent risk factor of an IBD flare by 1FU (OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.12-3.63).
CONCLUSION: The proportion of children with PIBD and abdominal pain at 1FU remained high. The rates of repeat endoscopy and infliximab use were suboptimal with high rates of systemic corticosteroid use. Quality improvement based on the aforementioned predictors may enhance PIBD care in this geographic region or similar settings.