METHODS: Total numbers and age-standardized rates per 100,000 population for MASLD prevalence, annual incidence, and YLDs were compared across regions and countries by age, sex, and sociodemographic index (SDI). Smoothing spline models were used to evaluate the relationship between the burden of MASLD and SDI. Estimates were reported with uncertainty intervals (UI).
RESULTS: Globally, in 2021, the age-standardized rates per 100,000 population of point prevalence of MASLD were 15,018.1 cases (95% UI 13,756.5-16,361.4), annual incidence rates were 608.5 cases (598.8-617.7), and YLDs were 0.5 (0.3-0.8) years. MASLD point prevalence was higher in men than women (15,731.4 vs. 14,310.6 cases per 100,000 population). Prevalence peaked at ages 45-49 for men and 50-54 for women. Kuwait (32,312.2 cases per 100,000 people; 95% UI: 29,947.1-34,839.0), Egypt (31,668.8 cases per 100,000 people; 95% UI: 29,272.5-34,224.7), and Qatar (31,327.5 cases per 100,000 people; 95% UI: 29,078.5-33,790.9) had the highest prevalence rates in 2021. The largest increases in age-standardized point prevalence estimates from 2010 to 2021 were in China (16.9%, 95% UI 14.7%-18.9%), Sudan (13.3%, 95% UI 9.8%-16.7%) and India (13.2%, 95% UI 12.0%-14.4%). MASLD incidence varied with SDI, peaking at moderate SDI levels.
CONCLUSIONS: MASLD is a global health concern, with the highest prevalence reported in Kuwait, Egypt, and Qatar. Raising awareness about risk factors and prevention is essential in every country, especially in China, Sudan and India, where disease incidence and prevalence are rapidly increasing.
IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS: This research provides a comprehensive analysis of the global burden of MASLD, highlighting its rising prevalence and incidence, particularly in countries with varying sociodemographic indices. The findings are significant for both clinicians and policymakers, as they offer critical insights into the regional disparities in MASLD burden, which can inform targeted prevention and intervention strategies. However, the study's reliance on modeling and available data suggests cautious interpretation, and further research is needed to validate these findings in clinical and real-world settings.
METHODS: To assess genetic factors that affect the fitness of seedlings of Rubroshorea curtisii, a dominant canopy tree species in hill dipterocarp forests, the inter- and intra-population genetic structure of individuals from natural populations and individuals at two permanent plots in a hill dipterocarp forest with reproductive stage was studied. Further, a total of 460 seedlings derived from six mother trees in the plot were raised in a nursery, and their pollen donors were identified using genetic marker based paternity assignment. Seed weight, bi-parental genetic relatedness, and bi-parental genetic heterogeneity based on the clustering analysis were used to analyze their effects on seedling fitness.
RESULTS: A Bayesian based clustering analysis revealed that three genetically distinct clusters were observed in almost all populations throughout the distributional range of the species in Malay Peninsula and provided the optimum explanation for the genetic structure of 182 mature individuals in the plots. The two clusters showed larger genetic differentiation from the ancestral admixture population, but the other one was not differentiated. The bi-parental larger genetic heterogeneity was associated with a significantly higher probability of seedling survivorship, and likewise, higher performance of vertical growth of the seedlings; but the seed weight and genetic relatedness did not significantly affect those.
DISCUSSION: This evidence suggests that fitter seedlings derived from mating between parents with different genetic clusters contribute to maintaining genetic diversity through negative frequency-dependent selection and may have an important role in adaptation in the tropical forest plant community.
METHODS: The research compared outcomes between RLRL treatment with Single Vision Spectacles (SVS) for childhood myopia management. We performed a systematic literature search in the PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases using "Myopia" and " Repeated Low-Level Red Light ". Mean differences (MD) were estimated and the effects of therapies measured. Publication bias and heterogeneity analysis were carried out by Inverted Precision Effect Test-Precision Effect Estimate Standard Error (PET-PEESE) (and subsequent Search Sequential Analysis) and Tau test. Bayesian meta-analysis was performed using Jaffrey Amazing Statistical Package (JASP).
RESULTS: This meta-analysis comprised 1,714 participants: 824 in RLRL and 890 in SVS group. Pooled effect size for AL reduction was 0.953 ± 0.294, (95% credible interval (CI) 0.775 to 0.980). Pooled effect size for SER reduction was 1.521 ± 0.662 (95% CI 0.102 to 2.736). PET-PEESE analysis revealed no significant publication bias (p-value 0.407). Random effects models were employed for presence of significant heterogeneity (3.9 and 5.7 for AL; 5.7 for SER), alongside degree of variation (0.828 & 1.665) for Tau (τ), which estimates the between-study variance.
CONCLUSION: Long-term observations indicate that RLRL treatment significantly influences myopia management, leading to considerable reductions in both AL and SER. Additional research is essential to investigate potential long-term rebound effects.
METHODS: This is a prospective observational study. Premature infants at 36-38 weeks' gestational age were recruited, their clinical data recorded, and serum samples collected and assayed for 18 cytokines. Based on follow-up examinations, patients were divided into two groups: No ROP and ROP. The ROP group was further divided into two subgroups: non-vision-threatening ROP (non-VTROP), and vision-threatening ROP (VTROP).
RESULTS: On univariate analysis, among the clinical parameters, gestation age, birth weight, duration of invasive ventilation, and duration of stay in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were found to be significant. The univariate analysis also showed an association between raised levels of VEGF-D and IL-8 in the VTROP group. Multiple logistic regression indicated that gestation age was a significant risk factor across all subgroups. Additionally, VEGF-D levels were found to be significantly associated with VTROP.
CONCLUSION: Higher VEGF-D levels are associated with an increased risk of severe ROP that requires treatment and could potentially be used as a biomarker.
METHODS: In the active trial, patients with chronic kidney disease were randomly assigned to receive either empagliflozin (10 mg once daily) or matching placebo and were followed for a median of 2 years. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of at least 20 but less than 45 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area or an eGFR of at least 45 but less than 90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (with albumin measured in milligrams and creatinine measured in grams) of at least 200. Subsequently, surviving patients who consented were observed for 2 additional years. No trial empagliflozin or placebo was administered during the post-trial period, but local practitioners could prescribe open-label SGLT2 inhibitors, including open-label empagliflozin. The primary composite outcome was kidney disease progression or cardiovascular death as assessed from the start of the active-trial period to the end of the post-trial period.
RESULTS: Of the 6609 patients who had undergone randomization in the active trial, 4891 (74%) were enrolled in the post-trial period. During this period, the use of open-label SGLT2 inhibitors was similar in the two groups (43% in the empagliflozin group and 40% in the placebo group). During the combined active- and post-trial periods, a primary-outcome event occurred in 865 of 3304 patients (26.2%) in the empagliflozin group and in 1001 of 3305 patients (30.3%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72 to 0.87). During the post-trial period only, the hazard ratio for a primary-outcome event was 0.87 (95% CI, 0.76 to 0.99). During the combined periods, the risk of kidney disease progression was 23.5% in the empagliflozin group and 27.1% in the placebo group; the risk of the composite of death or end-stage kidney disease was 16.9% and 19.6%, respectively; and the risk of cardiovascular death was 3.8% and 4.9%, respectively. There was no effect of empagliflozin on death from noncardiovascular causes (5.3% in both groups).
CONCLUSIONS: In a broad range of patients with chronic kidney disease at risk for progression, empagliflozin continued to have additional cardiorenal benefits for up to 12 months after it was discontinued. (Funded by Boehringer Ingelheim and others; EMPA-KIDNEY ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03594110; EuDRACT number, 2017-002971-24.).
METHODS: Ninety-eight healthy volunteers were recruited. SWE was performed on quadriceps, suprapatellar, infrapatellar, and Achilles entheses. The stiffness measurements were measured in shear wave velocity (SWV).
RESULTS: Mann-Whitney test revealed insignificant difference in SWV among gender. Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed significant difference in SWV between left and right Achilles entheses. Spearman correlation test revealed moderate negative correlation between SWV and age group in quadriceps (ρ, -0.45, P
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the independent predictive factors for moderate-severe pulmonary impairment (MSPI) among adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients.
METHODS: The preoperative pulmonary function tests (PFTs) of 102 AIS patients (major Cobb angle ≥45°) operated between 2015 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), respectively. Group 1 had normal/ mild pulmonary impairment (FVC or FEV1 >65% predicted) whereas Group 2 had MSPI (FVC or FEV1 ≤65% predicted). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the predictive factors for MSPI.
RESULTS: 41.2% (N = 42) and 52.0% (N = 53) of the total patients were categorised into Group 2 (MSPI) based on predicted FVC and FEV1, respectively. In general, Group 2 had more patients with a major main thoracic (MT) curve, larger MT curve with lower MT flexibility, a larger MT apical vertebra translation (MT-AVT), and a smaller thoracolumbar-lumbar (TL/L) AVT than Group 1 (P < .05). When analyzing the MT Cobb angle for every 10° increment, patients with MT Cobb angle ≥70° had MSPI (N = 31.4%). Body mass index (BMI) (FVC: aOR .8; FEV1: aOR .9) and MT Cobb angle (for every 10° increment, FVC: aOR 1.7; FEV1: aOR 1.8) were the significant independent predictive factors for MSPI.
CONCLUSION: MSPI was evident in patients with MT Cobb angle ≥70°, with MT Cobb angle and BMI being the significant independent predictive factors.
METHODS: Electronic database searches were performed on PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, Scopus, Ovid, and Clinicaltrial.gov through 17 November 2023. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) tool was used to assess the risk of bias and applicability concerns of the methodologic quality of the articles.
RESULTS: A total of 12 in vitro studies were selected. Five studies reported the accuracy of 3D-printed retainers and another seven reported on aligners. For the 3D-printed retainer group, only Naeem et al. [1] reported both T&P and found that stereolithography (SLA) and PolyJet photopolymer (PPP) printers demonstrated higher accuracy than digital light processing (DLP) and continuous digital light processing (cDLP) printers. For the 3D-printed aligners group, only Koenig et al. [2] reported both T&P and found that 3D-printed aligners fabricated with photopolymerizable polyurethane resin demonstrated higher trueness (0.14 ± 0.020 mm) compared to conventional thermoformed aligners (0.188 ± 0.074 and 0.209 ± 0.094).
CONCLUSION: The existing digital workflow involving various printing materials, angulations, printing thickness, and printing technologies is feasible for the fabrication of direct 3D printing of R&A with variable degrees of accuracy. Most techniques worked within the clinically acceptable level of accuracy of 0.25 mm.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO CRD 42022312907.
OBJECTIVE: The first objective is to identify the PA levels and screen time of students in middle school. The second objective of the study is to examine the PA levels and screen time among students of different genders.
METHODS: Participants from four consecutive two-year cycles of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2011-2012, 2013-2014, 2015-2016, and 2017-2018) were included in this study. Spearman correlation model was used to identify the correlation between participants' demographics, PA, and screen time data. Negative binomial regression model was used to describe students' PA and screen time (Dependent variable) in different grades (Independent variables). Gender and Age were taken as control variables.
RESULTS: After the data preprocessing, 2516 participants were included in this study. A significant correlation has been found between grade and PA, instead of screen time. Negative binomial regression shows that students have the lowest PA in their transition year grade 6, and their screen time decreased with the grade increased. Significant differences can be found across gender. Future efforts should focus on developing school transition support programs designed to improve PA.
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to persons with leadership roles related to blood banking and transfusion medicine in their countries/areas/centers, to document the implementation of modern technologies for platelet manufacturing, preservation, and transfusion risk reduction.
RESULTS: Responses to the questionnaire finally came from 52 contributors in 40 countries/areas. Adult platelet doses ranged between 2.0×1011 and 3.0×1011 (median 2.5×1011). In approximately 10 % of centers, apheresis platelets comprised more than 90 % of the platelet inventory. More than 70 % of centers adopted universal or near universal leukocyte-reduction by filtration, apheresis, or both. Almost 20 % of centers irradiated all platelet products. Cold-stored platelets were rarely reported; only 3 centers produce such components for 1 % to 5 % of their supply. The use of platelet additive solution was reported by 18 responders (45 %), mainly in Europe, USA, and Australasia. Bacterial detection systems were reported by 18 responders from around the globe. One fatality was reported after transfusion of a platelet product contaminated with Bacillus cereus, whereas no sequelae were observed after transfusion of >350 platelet products contaminated by Cutibacteriae. Pathogen-reduction/pathogen-inactivation technology has been adopted in 15 centers, with little or no extended expiration period. Export of platelets across national borders was extremely rare.
CONCLUSION: With this addition to the literature on platelet transfusion, considerable heterogeneity in collection, processing, and transfusion can be seen across the globe, through which readers may adopt, and adapt, best practices for their unique local circumstances.