Health literacy and mammography screening behaviors among women living in a rural area of Turkey.

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths. and early diagnosis could reduce breast cancer deaths. Therefore, health literacy is one of the most important determinants of participation in cancer screening for early diagnosis. This study aimed to determine the relationship between women's mammography screening behaviors and health literacy levels. METHODS: The cross-sectional study included 312 women aged 40-69 years living in a rural area. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a personal information form and the Turkish Health Literacy Scale (THLS-32). RESULTS: Of the women, 28.5% had mammography in the last 2 years. Of concern was the low health literacy levels. In addition, there were significant differences in the THLS-32 subgroup scores, including the THLS-32 total score, among the mammography screening groups. CONCLUSION: Health literacy levels of women were related to mammography screening rates. For this reason, effective intervention studies aiming to increase society's health literacy levels may contribute to an increase in breast cancer screenings.

Reproductive characteristics, menopausal status, race and ethnicity, and risk of breast cancer subtypes defined by ER, PR and HER2 status: the Breast Cancer Etiology in Minorities study.

BACKGROUND: Associations between reproductive factors and risk of breast cancer differ by subtype defined by joint estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2 expression status. Racial and ethnic differences in the incidence of breast cancer subtypes suggest etiologic heterogeneity, yet data are limited because most studies have included non-Hispanic White women only. METHODS: We analyzed harmonized data for 2,794 breast cancer cases and 4,579 controls, of whom 90% self-identified as African American, Asian American or Hispanic. Questionnaire data were pooled from three population-based studies conducted in California and data on tumor characteristics were obtained from the California Cancer Registry. The study sample included 1,530 luminal A (ER-positive and/or PR-positive, HER2-negative), 442 luminal B (ER-positive and/or PR-positive, HER2-positive), 578 triple-negative (TN; ER-negative, PR-negative, HER2-negative), and 244 HER2-enriched (ER-negative, PR-negative, HER2-positive) cases. We used multivariable unconditional logistic regression models to estimate subtype-specific ORs and 95% confidence intervals associated with parity, breast-feeding, and other reproductive characteristics by menopausal status and race and ethnicity. RESULTS: Subtype-specific associations with reproductive factors revealed some notable differences by menopausal status and race and ethnicity. Specifically, higher parity without breast-feeding was associated with higher risk of luminal A and TN subtypes among premenopausal African American women. In contrast, among Asian American and Hispanic women, regardless of menopausal status, higher parity with a breast-feeding history was associated with lower risk of luminal A subtype. Among premenopausal women only, luminal A subtype was associated with older age at first full-term pregnancy (FTP), longer interval between menarche and first FTP, and shorter interval since last FTP, with similar OR estimates across the three racial and ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS: Subtype-specific associations with reproductive factors overall and by menopausal status, and race and ethnicity, showed some differences, underscoring that understanding etiologic heterogeneity in racially and ethnically diverse study samples is essential. Breast-feeding is likely the only reproductive factor that is potentially modifiable. Targeted efforts to promote and facilitate breast-feeding could help mitigate the adverse effects of higher parity among premenopausal African American women.

The Naples prognostic score serves as a predictor and prognostic indicator for cancer survivors in the community.

OBJECTIVE: Inflammation, malnutrition, and cancer are intricately interconnected. Despite this, only a few studies have delved into the relationship between inflammatory malnutrition and the risk of death among cancer survivors. This study aimed to specifically investigate the association between the categorically defined Naples prognostic score (NPS) and the prognosis of cancer survivors. METHODS: Data from 42,582 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 1999-2018) were subjected to analysis. Naples prognostic scores (NPS) were computed based on serum albumin (ALB), total cholesterol (TC), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR), and participants were stratified into three groups accordingly. Cancer status was ascertained through a self-administered questionnaire, while mortality data were sourced from the National Death Index up to December 31, 2019. Multiple logistic regression was employed to estimate the odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) between NPS and cancer prevalence within the U.S. community population. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the Log-rank test were utilized to compare survival disparities among the three groups. Additionally, Cox proportional regression was utilized to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) with a 95% CI. RESULTS: The incidence of cancers was 9.86%. Among the participants, 8140 individuals (19.1%) were classified into Group 0 (NPS 0), 29,433 participants (69.1%) into Group 1 (NPS 1 or 2), and 5009 participants (11.8%) into Group 2 (NPS 3 or 4). After adjusting for confounding factors, the cancer prevalence for the highest NPS score yielded an odds ratio (OR) of 1.64 (95% CI: 1.36, 1.97) (P(for trend) < 0.05). In comparison to cancer survivors in Group 0, those with the highest NPS had adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of 2.57 (95% CI: 1.73, 3.84) for all-cause mortality, 3.44 (95% CI: 1.64, 7.21) for cardiovascular mortality, 1.60 (95% CI: 1.01, 2.56) for cancer mortality, and 3.15 (95% CI: 1.74, 5.69) for other causes of mortality (All P(for trend) < 0.05). These associations remained consistent when stratified by age, sex, race, and body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the Naples prognostic score (NPS), serving as a novel prognostic metric integrating inflammation and nutritional status, is closely linked to cancer prognosis within the general population.

Comparative study of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar decompression and traditional revision surgery in the treatment of symptomatic adjacent segment degeneration.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to evaluate and compare the surgical outcomes and complications of Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Decompression (PELD) and traditional revision surgery in treating symptomatic Adjacent Segment Degeneration (ASD). This comparison aims to delineate the advantages and disadvantages of these methods, assisting spine surgeons in making informed surgical decisions. METHODS: 66 patients with symptomatic ASD who failed conservative treatment for more than 1 month and received repeated lumbar surgery were retrospectively collected in the study from January 2015 to November 2018, with the average age of 65.86 ± 11.04 years old. According to the type of surgery they received, all the patients were divided in 2 groups, including 32 patients replaced the prior rod in Group A and 34 patients received PELD at the adjacent level in Group B. Patients were followed up routinely and received clinical and radiological evaluation at 3, 6, 12 months and yearly postoperatively. Complications and hospital costs were recorded through chart reviews. RESULTS: The majority of patients experienced positive surgical outcomes. However, three cases encountered complications. Notably, Group B patients demonstrated superior pain relief and improved postoperative functional scores throughout the follow-up period, alongside reduced hospital costs (P < 0.05). Additionally, significant reductions in average operative time, blood loss, and hospital stay were observed in Group B (P < 0.05). Notwithstanding these benefits, three patients in Group B experienced disc re-herniation and underwent subsequent revision surgeries. CONCLUSIONS: While PELD offers several advantages over traditional revision surgery, such as reduced operative time, blood loss, and hospital stay, it also presents a higher likelihood of requiring subsequent revision surgeries. Future studies involving a larger cohort and extended follow-up periods are essential to fully assess the relative benefits and drawbacks of these surgical approaches for ASD.

Strategies to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer in British Columbia, Canada: a modelling study.

BACKGROUND: To eliminate cervical cancer in Canada by 2040, defined as an annual age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) lower than 4.0 per 100 000 women, the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC) identified 3 priorities for action: increasing human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage, implementing HPV-based screening and increasing screening participation, and improving follow-up after abnormal screen results. Our objective was to explore the impact of these priorities on the projected time to elimination of cervical cancer in British Columbia. METHODS: We used OncoSim-Cervical, a microsimulation model led and supported by CPAC and developed by Statistics Canada that simulates HPV transmission and the natural history of cervical cancer for the Canadian population. We updated model parameters to reflect BC's historical participation rates and program design. We simulated the transition to HPV-based screening and developed scenarios to explore the additional impact of achieving 90% vaccination coverage, 95% screening recruitment, 90% ontime screening, and 95% follow-up compliance. We projected cervical cancer incidence, ASIR, and year of elimination for the population of BC for 2023-2050. RESULTS: HPV-based screening at current vaccination, participation, and follow-up rates can eliminate cervical cancer by 2034. Increasing on-time screening and follow-up compliance could achieve this target by 2031. Increasing vaccination coverage has a small impact over this time horizon. INTERPRETATION: With the implementation of HPV-based screening, cervical cancer can be eliminated in BC before 2040. Efforts to increase screening participation and follow-up through this transition could potentially accelerate this timeline, but the transition from cytology- to HPV-based screening is fundamental to achieving this goal.

Cannabis Use Reported by Patients Receiving Primary Care in a Large Health System.

Importance: Despite the changing legal status of cannabis and the potential impact on health, few health systems routinely screen for cannabis use, and data on the epidemiology of cannabis use, and especially medical cannabis use among primary care patients, are limited. Objective: To describe the prevalence of, factors associated with, and reasons for past-3 month cannabis use reported by primary care patients. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study used electronic health record data from patients aged 18 years and older who had an annual wellness visit between January 2021 and May 2023 from a primary care clinic within a university-based health system in Los Angeles, California. Exposures: Factors of interest included age, race and ethnicity, sex, employment status, and neighborhood Area Deprivation Index (ADI). Main Outcomes and Measures: Cannabis use was assessed using the Alcohol Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). Patients were also asked about reasons for use, symptoms for which they used cannabis, and mode of use. Results: Among the 175 734 patients screened, the median (range) age was 47 (18-102) years; 101 657 (58.0%) were female; 25 278 (15.7%) were Asian, 21 971 (13.7%) were Hispanic, and 51 063 (31.7%) were White. Cannabis use was reported by 29 898 (17.0%), with 10 360 (34.7%) having ASSIST scores indicative of moderate to high risk for cannabis use disorder (CUD). Prevalence of cannabis use was higher among male patients than female patients (14 939 [20.0%] vs 14 916 [14.7%]) and younger patients (18-29 years, 7592 [31.0%]; ≥60 years, 4200 [8.5%]), and lower among those who lived in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods (ADI decile 9-10, 189 [13.8%]; ADI decile 1-2, 12 431 [17.4%]). The most common modes of use included edibles (18 201 [61.6%]), smoking (15 256 [51.7%]), and vaporizing (8555 [29.0%]). While 4375 patients who reported using cannabis (15.6%) did so for medical reasons only, 21 986 patients (75.7%) reported using cannabis to manage symptoms including pain (9196 [31.7%]), stress (14 542 [50.2%]), and sleep (16 221 [56.0%]). The median (IQR) number of symptoms managed was 2 (1-4), which was higher among patients who were at moderate to high risk for CUD (4 [2-6] symptoms). Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, cannabis use and risk of CUD were common, and more than three-quarters of patients who reported any cannabis use reported doing so to manage a health-related symptom. These findings suggest that integration of information regarding cannabis use for symptom management could help provide a crucial point-of-care opportunity for clinicians to understand their patients' risk for CUD.

Smoking data quality of primary care practices in comparison with smoking data from the New Zealand Maori and Pacific abdominal aortic aneurysm screening programme: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Quality smoking data is crucial for assessing smoking-related health risk and eligibility for interventions related to that risk. Smoking information collected in primary care practices (PCPs) is a major data source; however, little is known about the PCP smoking data quality. This project compared PCP smoking data to that collected in the Maori and Pacific Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) screening programme. METHODS: A two stage review was conducted. In Stage 1, data quality was assessed by comparing the PCP smoking data recorded close to AAA screening episodes with the data collected from participants at the AAA screening session. Inter-rater reliability was analysed using Cohen's kappa scores. In Stage 2, an audit of longitudinal smoking status was conducted, of a subset of participants potentially misclassified in Stage 1. Data were compared in three groups: current smoker (smoke at least monthly), ex-smoker (stopped > 1 month ago) and never smoker (smoked < 100 cigarettes in lifetime). RESULTS: Of the 1841 people who underwent AAA screening, 1716 (93%) had PCP smoking information. Stage 1 PCP smoking data showed 82% concordance with the AAA data (adjusted kappa 0.76). Fewer current or ex-smokers were recorded in PCP data. In the Stage 2 analysis of discordant and missing data (N = 313), 212 were enrolled in the 29 participating PCPs, and of these 13% were deceased and 41% had changed PCP. Of the 93 participants still enrolled in the participating PCPs, smoking status had been updated for 43%. Data on quantity, duration, or quit date of smoking were largely missing in PCP records. The AAA data of ex-smokers who were classified as never smokers in the Stage 2 PCP data (N = 27) showed a median smoking cessation duration of 32 years (range 0-50 years), with 85% (N = 23) having quit more than 15 years ago. CONCLUSIONS: PCP smoking data quality compared with the AAA data is consistent with international findings. PCP data captured fewer current and ex-smokers, suggesting ongoing improvement is important. Intervention programmes based on smoking status should consider complementary mechanisms to ensure eligible individuals are not missed from programme invitation.

A multilevel intervention to promote HPV vaccination among young adults in Texas: protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections can cause cancers of the cervix, vagina, vulva, penis, anus, and oropharynx. The most recently approved HPV vaccine, Gardasil-9, protects against HPV infection and can prevent HPV-associated invasive cancers. However, Gardasil-9 is one of the most underused vaccines in the US today. Young adults are at risk for HPV infection, but many are not vaccinated. This study uses a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test an innovative multilevel intervention to increase HPV vaccination rates among young adults. In this paper, we describe the research protocol. METHODS: The study uses a two by three factorial design. A total of 1200 young adults in Texas, age 18-26 years, who have not been previously fully vaccinated against HPV will be randomly assigned to one of six conditions to receive: (1) standard CDC information about HPV vaccination (control); (2) video narratives about HPV vaccination; (3) written narratives about HPV vaccination; or (4-6) enhanced access to HPV vaccine combined with (4) standard CDC information, (5) video narratives, or (6) written narratives. The two primary outcomes are the rate of HPV vaccination initiation by 3-month follow-up and rate of HPV vaccination completion by 9-month follow-ups. We will determine the impact of the individual level intervention (i.e., persuasive narratives through video or written format), the systemic level intervention (i.e., enhanced access to HPV vaccines), and the combination of both levels, on HPV vaccination initiation and completion. We will also use purposive sampling to select participants to take part in semi-structured interviews/focus groups to better understand the mechanisms of the intervention. DISCUSSION: Recruitment and data collection began in March 2022. We expect to complete data collection by March 2026. We expect that narratives, enhanced access, and the combination of both will improve HPV vaccination initiation and completion rates among young adults. If proven successful, these individual- and system-level interventions can be easily disseminated in regions with low HPV vaccination rates to improve HPV vaccination, and ultimately decrease HPV-related cancer burden. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05057312.

Trends in prevalence of arthritis by race among adults in the United States, 2011-2018.

BACKGROUND: There is currently a lack of comprehensive prevalence information on arthritis and its various classifications among adults in the U.S., particularly given the notable absence of detailed data regarding the Asian population. We examined the trends in the prevalence of arthritis, including osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and other types of arthritis, among U.S. adults by race between 2011 and 2018. METHODS: We analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), spanning from 2011 to 2018. Our study focused on a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults aged 20 and older. Participants who answered "y es" to the research question "Doctors ever said you had arthritis?" were classified as having arthritis. Further classification into specific diseases was based on responses to the question "Which type of arthritis was it?" with options including "OA or degenerative arthritis, " "RA, " "PsA, " or "Other. " RESULTS: We analyzed 22,566 participants from NHANES (2011-2018), averaging 44.8 years, including 10,927 males. The overall arthritis prevalence rose significantly from 22.98% (95% CI: 21.47-24.55%) in 2011-12 to 27.95% (95% CI: 26.20-29.76%) in 2017-18 (P for trend < 0.001). OA increased from 12.02% (95% CI: 10.82-13.35%) in 2011 to 14.93% (95% CI: 13.47-16.51%) in 2018 (P for trend < 0.001). RA and PsA remained stable (P for trend = 0.220 and 0.849, respectively), while other arthritis rose from 2.03% (95% CI: 1.54-2.67%) in 2011-12 to 3.14% (95% CI: 2.56-3.86%) in 2017-18 (P for trend = 0.001). In Whites, Asians, and other races , arthritis and RA prevalence increased significantly (P for trend < 0.05). OA and other arthritis rose in Whites and other races (P for trend < 0.05), but no significant change occurred in the black population. The prevalence of PsA remained stable across all racial groups, with no statistically significant changes. CONCLUSIONS: In this nationally representative U.S. adult survey spanning 2011 to 2018, we identified a rising prevalence trend in arthritis, OA, and other arthritis, with notable variations among different racial groups.

Palliative care progress in Benin: a situation analysis using the WHO development indicators.

CONTEXT: Palliative care (PC) in most African countries remains under-assessed. Benin has piloted the implementation of a set of indicators proposed by the WHO to measure PC development. OBJECTIVES: To examine the current status of PC in Benin. METHODS: A workshop with stakeholders was organized to assess the WHO indicators in the Beninese context. Indicators were rated based on relevance and feasibility, data sources were agreed upon, and a survey was adapted. Data were collected between March and May 2023. RESULTS: There is emerging community involvement in PC through the presence of patients' rights promoters, as well as a political commitment expressed in the National PC strategy, the inclusion of PC services in the list of basic health services, and an assigned national authority -within the Ministry of Health-responsible for PC. Although no PC-oriented research has been documented, the celebration of the National PC Conference represents the first step to ground PC delivery in evidence. The reported annual consumption of opioids is 0.18 (ME) milligrams per capita, 34% of healthcare establishments have essential medicines for pain and PC, and 16.5% of patients with palliative needs have access to oral morphine. To date, no medical or paramedical schools offer PC training, and there is no official specialization in palliative medicine for doctors. PC is provided by 11 specialist teams (0.08/100,000 inhabitants), none of which provides pediatric care. CONCLUSION: Despite growing political, professional, and community commitments to palliative care, there are challenges in education, research, essential medicines, and access to PC services.

A survey of breastfeeding among women with previous surgery for benign breast disease: a descriptive exploratory study.

BACKGROUND: Surgery is the primary treatment for benign breast disease and causes some disruption to the normal physiology of the breast, even when this disruption is localised, it remains unclear whether it affects women's ability to breastfeed. There are only a few studies describing the experience of breastfeeding in women who have undergone benign breast disease (BBD) surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed data from patients aged 20-40 years in Guangdong, China, who underwent breast lumpectomy for BBD in our department between 01 January 2013 and 30 June 2019, with a follow-up date of 01 February 2022. Patients were included who had a history of childbirth between the time of surgery and the follow-up date. By collecting general information about this group of patients and information about breastfeeding after surgery, we described the breastfeeding outcomes of women of a fertile age who had previously undergone surgery for benign breast disease. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 5.9 years, a total of 333 patients met the inclusion criteria. From the breastfeeding data of the first child born postoperatively, the mean duration of 'exclusive breastfeeding' was 5.1 months, and the mean duration of 'any breastfeeding' was 8.8 months. The rate of 'ever breastfeeding' is 91.0%, which is lower than the national average of 93.7%, while the exclusive breastfeeding rate at six months was 40.8%, was higher than the 29.2% national average. The any breastfeeding rate at 12 months was 30.0%, which was well below the 66.5% national average. The common reason for early breastfeeding cessation was insufficient breast milk. A total of 29.0% of patients who had ever breastfed after surgery voluntarily reduced the frequency and duration of breastfeeding on the operated breast because of the surgery. CONCLUSIONS: There are some impacts of BBD surgery on breastfeeding and some may be psychological. Institutions should provide more facilities for mothers who have undergone breast surgery to help them breastfeed, such as conducting community education on breastfeeding after breast surgery, training professional postoperative lactation consultants in hospitals, and extending maternity leave. Families should encourage mothers to breastfeed with both breasts instead of only the non-operated breast.

Mediating effect of meaning in life on death anxiety and attitude toward palliative care among undergraduate nursing students.

BACKGROUND: This study investigates the mediating effect of meaning in life between death anxiety and attitude toward palliative care among nursing students. METHODS: We enrolled 363 undergraduate nursing students using a convenience sampling method as the respondents and conducted a survey using general information about nursing students, the Chinese version of the FATCOD-B Scale, the Chinese version of the Death Anxiety Scale, and the Chinese version of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire. The SPSS25.0 statistical software was used to analyze the mediating effect. RESULTS: The mean total attitude score toward palliative care was (104.72 ± 10.62). Death anxiety had a significant negative predictive effect on the attitude toward palliative care (ß = -0.520, P < 0.01). When the mediating variable of the presence of meaning in life was included, the negative predictive effect of death anxiety on attitude toward palliative care remained significant (ß = -0.379, P = 0.036); the mediating effect (-0.141) accounted for 27.12% of the total impact (-0.520). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of meaning in life mediates the relationship between death anxiety and attitude toward palliative care. This implies that nursing educators, through their role in educating nursing students about the meaning of life, can significantly influence the development of a positive attitude toward palliative care.

Significance of metastatic lymph nodes ratio in overall survival for patients with resected nonsmall cell lung cancer: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The tumor, node and metastasis stage is widely applied to classify lung cancer and is the foundation of clinical decisions. However, increasing studies have pointed out that this staging system is not precise enough for the N status. In this study, we aim to build a convenient survival prediction model that incorporates the current items of lymph node status. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study and collected the data from resectable nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (IA-IIIB) patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2006-2015). The x-tile program was applied to calculate the optimal threshold of metastatic lymph node ratio (MLNR). Then, independent prognostic factors were determined by multivariable Cox regression analysis and enrolled to build a nomogram model. The calibration curve as well as the Concordance Index (C-index) were selected to evaluate the nomogram. Finally, patients were grouped based on their specified risk points and divided into three risk levels. The prognostic value of MLNR and examined lymph node numbers (ELNs) were presented in subgroups. RESULTS TOTALLY,: 40853 NSCLC patients after surgery were finally enrolled and analyzed. Age, metastatic lymph node ratio, histology type, adjuvant treatment and American Joint Committee on Cancer 8th T stage were deemed as independent prognostic parameters after multivariable Cox regression analysis. A nomogram was built using those variables, and its efficiency in predicting patients' survival was better than the conventional American Joint Committee on Cancer stage system after evaluation. Our new model has a significantly higher concordance Index (C-index) (training set, 0.683 v 0.641, respectively; P < 0.01; testing set, 0.676 v 0.638, respectively; P < 0.05). Similarly, the calibration curve shows the nomogram was in better accordance with the actual observations in both cohorts. Then, after risk stratification, we found that MLNR is more reliable than ELNs in predicting overall survival. CONCLUSION: We developed a nomogram model for NSCLC patients after surgery. This novel and useful tool outperforms the widely used tumor, node and metastasis staging system and could benefit clinicians in treatment options and cancer control.

The global and regional prevalence of restless legs syndrome among adults: A systematic review and modelling analysis.

Background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a prevalent neuro-sensory disorder that impairs quality of life. In this systematic review and modelling study, we estimated the global and regional prevalence of RLS and its associated factors. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Medline for population-based studies on RLS prevalence published up to 12 November 2023. The included studies reported prevalence using the International Restless Leg Syndrome Study Group's (IRLSSG) minimal diagnostic criteria without limitations on frequency, duration, or severity. We applied a multilevel multivariable mixed-effects meta-regression to generate the age-specific and sex-specific prevalence of RLS for high socio-demographic index (H-SDI) and low and middle socio-demographic index (LM-SDI) regions. We pooled odds ratios (ORs) for RLS associated factors using random-effects models. Finally, we derived the regional prevalence and cases of RLS based on an associated factor-based model. Results: From 52 articles across 23 countries, the global RLS prevalence in 2019 was estimated to be 7.12% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 5.15-9.76) among adults 20-79 years of age, equating to 356.07 million (95% CI = 257.61-488.09) affected individuals. Prevalence was similar in H-SDI (7.29%; 95% CI = 5.04-10.41) and LM-SDI (7.10%; 95% CI = 5.16-9.70) regions, with the majority of cases in LM-SDI countries (323.06 million; 90.73%). Europe had the highest (7.60%; 95% CI = 5.44-10.52) and Africa the lowest regional prevalence (6.48%; 95% CI = 4.70-8.87). The Western Pacific Region, meanwhile, had the most cases (111.91 million; 95% CI = 80.93-153.42). Factors positively associated with RLS included advanced age (OR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.04-1.24), smoking (OR = 1.46; 95% CI = 1.29-1.64), depression (OR = 1.71; 95% CI = 1.26-2.32), and diabetes (OR = 1.54; 95% CI = 1.19-1.97). Conclusions: A considerable global burden of RLS exists. Effective strategies are needed to increase awareness and optimise resource allocation to address this often-overlooked condition. High-quality epidemiological investigations employing standardised and rigorous criteria for RLS are essential for addressing RLS burden more effectively. Registration: PROSPERO: CRD42020161860.

Evaluation of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a smoking cessation service in Derbyshire: An interrupted time series analysis.

BACKGROUND: Data published early in the COVID-19 pandemic suggested that smokers infected with SARS-CoV-2 were more likely to need hospital treatment or die than non-smokers, and thus this was seen as a motivator to encourage smokers to make a quit attempt. Live Life Better Derbyshire (LLBD) is an integrated lifestyle service providing free support for residents Derbyshire, UK, who want to quit smoking. On 19 March 2020, LLBD converted from offering face-to-face cessation support to a smoking cessation service delivered remotely. METHODS: Interrupted time series analysis to investigate the impact of COVID-19, and the shift to remote delivery of smoking cessation support, on the number of smokers who accessed cessation support with LLBD, set a quit date, and self-reported having quit at 4-week follow-up. RESULTS: 11,393 episodes of smoking cessation support were opened with LLBD between 01 January 2018 and 31 December 2021. The weekly count of all outcomes was increasing prior to the date when LLBD converted to remote-only delivery. There was a 20% immediate drop in the number of episodes opened coinciding with this date (IRR 0.88, 95% CI 0.646-0.992) but no change in the number of quit dates set or 4-week quits or the underlying longer-term trends. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic, and associated shift to remote delivery of smoking cessation support by LLBD, had no substantial sustained overall impact on measures of smoking cessation service activity and success.

Cocaine/crack and cannabis use among transgender women in Goiás, Central Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Illicit drug use is a significant public health problem. Studies have shown a high prevalence of cocaine and cannabis use in transgender women (TGW). OBJECTIVE: To describe the consumption patterns of cannabis and cocaine/crack use and variables associated with their use in TGW in Central Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on TGW in Goiás, Brazil. Participants were recruited using a respondent-driven sampling method and were interviewed face-to-face about cannabis and crack-cocaine and the variables associated with them. The Alcohol Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test was used to assess substance use. Unweighted logistic regression was used to identify variables associated with cannabis and crack cocaine use. P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 440 transgender women participated in the study. Their median age was 25 years (interquartile range: 20.5-29.5 years). Most participants were single (85.5%) and had engaged in sex work in their lifetime (58.6%). Cannabis was reported by 68.9% and 53.4% of participants in their lifetime and in the past three months, respectively, and cocaine/crack use was reported by 59.8% and 44.1% of participants in their lifetime and the past three months, respectively. Of the participants, 10.2% reported high-risk cannabis use, and 9.1% reported high-risk cocaine/crack use. Furthermore, 35% of participants reported using both drugs. Previous physical violence (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 2.37), inconsistent condom uses during anal sex (AOR: 2.17), and moderate-/high-risk cocaine/crack use (AOR: 3.14) were associated with high-risk cannabis use. Previous sexual violence (AOR: 2.84), previous STI (AOR: 2.90), moderate-/high-risk cannabis (AOR: 3.82), and binge drinking (AOR; 3.28) were associated with high-risk cocaine/crack use. CONCLUSION: Our study found a high frequency, significant overlap in the use of cannabis and cocaine/crack use and violence associated with these drugs consumption among TGW, highlighting the urgent need for health policies for drug disorders among this socially marginalized group.

Lifestyle practices and associated factors among adults with hypertension: Conquering Hypertension in Vietnam-solutions at the grassroots level study.

BACKGROUND: Vietnam is experiencing an increasing prevalence of hypertension in its adult population. In addition to medical therapy, modifying adverse lifestyle practices is important for effective blood pressure control. There are limited data on unhealthy lifestyle practices in patients with chronic diseases, however, particularly among hypertensive patients living in rural Vietnam. Our study objectives were to examine the prevalence of unhealthy lifestyle practices and associated factors among rural Vietnamese adults with uncontrolled hypertension. METHODS: Data from the baseline survey of a cluster randomized trial among hypertensive Vietnamese adults (2017-2022) were utilized. Information on unhealthy lifestyle practices including smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and inadequate fruit and vegetable intake was collected from study participants. The primary study outcome was having ≥2 unhealthy lifestyle practices. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to examine factors associated with the primary study outcome. RESULTS: The mean age of the 671 patients was 67 years and 45.0% were men. Nearly three out of every four participants had one or fewer unhealthy practices, 24.0% had two, and 3.3% had three or all four unhealthy lifestyle practices. Men, individuals who did unpaid work or were unemployed, and individuals with hypertension level III were more likely to have ≥2 unhealthy lifestyle practices, whereas individuals with higher education were less likely to have ≥2 unhealthy lifestyle practices compared with respective comparison groups. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a high prevalence of unhealthy lifestyle practices among rural Vietnamese patients with uncontrolled hypertension. Several demographic factors were associated with a greater number of unhealthy lifestyle practices. Newer interventions and educational programs encouraging lifestyle modification practices are needed to control hypertension among adults living in rural settings of Vietnam.

[Complications of female genital mutilation: epidemiology and management of cases at Ouahigouya regional teaching hospital, Burkina Faso]. / Complications des mutilations génitales féminines : épidémiologie et prise en charge des cas au Centre hospitalier universitaire (CHU) régional de Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso.

Background: Female genital mutilation is still common in Burkina Faso, despite decades of struggle against its practice. The northern region of this country has one of the highest prevalence of this practice at the national level with 76% of women mutilated. The objective of our study was to describe the health complications of female genital mutilation treated in the referral hospital in this region. Patients and methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection over a 13-year period, from September 15, 2009 to September 14, 2022. Patients admitted for genital or loco-regional complications related to genital mutilation were included. Mutilated parturients without infibulation, victims of vulvar tears or who had undergone episiotomy were not included. Results: We recorded 204 patients, representing 3,1% of consultants, and an annual frequency of 15.7 cases. The ages of the victims ranged from 15 months to 31 years. The 15-20 age group was the most represented (49.3%). Victims were more likely to come from urban than rural areas. The main reasons for consultation were vulvar stricture, dyspareunia, impossibility of sexual intercourse, and dysuria. These were medium- and long-term complications of the mutilation. These complications were related to infibulation in 81.8% of cases and to type II mutilation in 18.2%. Surgery accounted for 89.9% of treatments, with drug treatments alone accounting for 10.1%. Deinfibulation was the most common surgical procedure. No clitoral reconstruction was performed. The outcome was favourable in all cases. Conclusion: There are many local and regional complications of genital mutilation, but fortunately their treatment has a good anatomical prognosis. However, psychological complications remain to be evaluated and managed in our context. The management of these complications should be an opportunity to raise awareness among the patients' family circles to abandon the practice.

Nasal carriage rate, associated factors, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of methicillin resistance Staphylococcus aureus among pre-clinical undergraduate students at the College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Ethiopia.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage has been linked to higher rates of infection and morbidity. People with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus can be a potential source of infection for others. University students living together in crowded conditions increase their risk of acquiring infections. The prevalence of S. aureus, particularly Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage, in Ethiopian university students is sparse. Objective: This study aimed to determine the nasal carriage rate, associated factors, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among pre-clinical students at the College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Ethiopia, from 1 July to 30 August 2022. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 270 randomly selected pre-clinical Health and Medical Sciences students. Data on associated factors were collected using pre-tested, structured questionnaires. A nasal swab was taken from each participant and sent to the microbiology laboratory via Amies transport media in a cold chain. There, it was cultivated using conventional techniques. The isolated colonies were found to be S. aureus, and its antimicrobial susceptibility was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method on Muller-Hinton agar. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus expressing using cefoxitin based on CLSI breakpoint. Data were entered into Epi-Data version 4.4.2.1 and exported to the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 25 for analysis. Pearson's chi-square test was performed to predict the associations between variables. A p-value less than 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. Result: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage was 5.9% (95% CI: 3.09-8.7) of cases of S. aureus nasal colonization, which was found to be 12.96% (95% CI: 8.85-16.96). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization was significantly associated with the history of cigarette smoking (p = 0.000), intake of khat (p = 0.042), nose-picking habit (p = 0.003), history of sharing personal goods (p = 0.021), and history of hospitalizations (p = 0.00). All of the Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates were resistant to ampicillin and cefoxitin. Conclusion: Based on the findings, a considerable proportion of healthy students harbored Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains associated with behavioral factors. Furthermore, these isolates showed high resistance to cefoxitin and ampicillin. Hence, it is crucial to regularly test pre-clinical students to prevent endogenous infections and the spread of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Associations between specific volatile organic chemical exposures and cardiovascular disease risks: insights from NHANES.

Introduction: An increasing body of research has demonstrated a correlation between pollutants from the environment and the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, the impact of volatile organic chemicals (VOC) on CVD remains unknown and needs further investigation. Objectives: This study assessed whether exposure to VOC was associated with CVD in the general population. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted utilizing data from five survey cycles (2005-2006, 2011-2012, 2013-2014, 2015-2016, and 2017-2018) of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) program. We analyzed the association between urinary VOC metabolites (VOCs) and participants by multiple logistic regression models, further Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) models and Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS) regression were performed for mixture exposure analysis. Results: Total VOCs were found to be positively linked with CVD in multivariable-adjusted models (p for trend = 0.025), independent of established CVD risk variables, such as hypertension, diabetes, drinking and smoking, and total cholesterol levels. Compared with the reference quartile of total VOCs levels, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratios in increasing quartiles were 1.01 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.78-1.31], 1.26 (95% CI: 1.05-1.21) and 1.75 (95% CI: 1.36-1.64) for total CVD. Similar positive associations were found when considering individual VOCs, including AAMA, CEMA, CYMA, 2HPMA, 3HPMA, IPM3 and MHBMA3 (acrolein, acrylamide, acrylonitrile, propylene oxide, isoprene, and 1,3-butadiene). In BKMR analysis, the overall effect of a mixture is significantly related to VOCs when all chemicals reach or exceed the 75th percentile. Moreover, in the WQS models, the most influential VOCs were found to be CEMA (40.30%), DHBMA (21.00%), and AMCC (19.70%). Conclusion: The results of our study indicated that VOC was all found to have a significant association with CVD when comparing results from different models. These findings hold significant potential for public health implications and offer valuable insights for future research directions.